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itered  as  Second  Class  matter  at  Postoftlce  at  Kansas  City, 
under  Act  of  March  3.  1879.  25c  Per  Copy.  Per  Year,  57.60. 


:tion 


in 


<‘TH ey  lo0^J1i 
Leo 


like  yow 


Aw  gee 
M oms” 


1941  COMES  IN 
LIKE  FOUR  LIONS! 


This  is  a good  year  to  be  on  the  safe  side.  Momentous  changes  are  ahead  for 
all  of  us  in  this  industry  and  there’s  a comforting  sense  of  calm  and  security 
when  your  theatre  is  anchored  to  the  wise,  kindly,  seasoned  executive- 
management  represented  by  the  Friendly  Company. 

1941  truly  comes  in  like  four  lions.  Imagine  starting  a New  Year  with  a 
barrage  of  such  big-time  entertainments  (“ Comrade  X”,  “Flight  Command”, 
“T he  Philadelphia  Story ”,  “Come  Live  With  Me”).  They  will  be  followed  by 
many  others  of  equal  importance. 


Happy  M-G-M  New  Year  to  Youl 


PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

ASSOCIATED 

PUBLICATIONS 

BEN  SHLYEN 

Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor-in-Chief 

William  G.  Formby, 
Editor;  Jesse  Shlyen, 
Managing  Editor; 
Louis  Rydell,  Adver- 
tising Manager;  Mor- 
ris Schlozman,  Busi- 
ness Manager;  J. 
Harry  Toler,  Editor 
Modern  Theatre  Sec- 
tion; A.  J.  Stocker, 
Eastern  Represent- 
■ ative;  Ivan  Spear, 
Western  Manager. 

Editorial  Offices : 9 

ROCKEFELLER  PLAZA,  NEW 

york  city;  Publication 
Offices:  4804  east  Sth 

ST.,  KANSAS  CITY,  MO.,' 

Hollywood : 6404  hol- 
; lywood  blvd.;  Chi- 
t cago:  332  south  mich- 

\ IGAN  BLVD. 

T 

January  4,  1941 

Volume  38  - Number  7 


They’ll  Remember  This  One 


HERE  we  are  once  more  bowing  to  the 
year-in  custom  of  writing  a piece  about 
events  to  come  with  some  deference,  no  mat- 
ter how  casual,  to  those  now  maneuvering 
their  way  into  the  covers  of  the  twelve  months 
which  have  gone. 

Off  to  the  immediate  right,  staring  us  hard 
in  the  lace,  is  the  prognostication  lor  1940. 
Written,  of  course,  one  year  ago,  on  a re- 
reading it  turns  out  to  be  somewhat  on  the 
discouraging  side.  The  war,  then,  was  a lew 
months  old.  Foreign  markets  were  collaps- 
ing with  dull  thuds  on  all  sides.  The  crying 
need  for  self-sufficiency  in  the  domestic  field, 
even  at  that  time  a persistent  discussion  on 
this  page,  slowly  was  engaging  more  serious 
attention. 

Those  were  the  days,  too,  when  the  govern- 
ment's suit  hung  heavily  and  like  a pall  over 
the  industry.  When  individual  anti-trust  ac- 
tions were  piling  up.  When  Hollywood  was 
worried  about  the  outcome  and  when  that 
worry  was  beginning  to  bear  fruit  in  the  form 
of  minus  marks  chalked  up  against  the  product. 

Those  were  the  days  when  the  normal  func- 
tions of  making,  selling  and  exhibiting  'em 
were  giving  ground  to  conferences  with  law- 
yers, the  preparation  of  evidence,  the  wear- 
ing down  of  pencils  in  the  endeavor  to  dope 
out  what  the  trial,  if  it  ever  came  off,  would 
cost  and  who  in  thunder  was  to  pay  for  it.  It 
was  one  helluva  mess. 

And  Now  It's  1941 

THE  war  is  still  raging.  Predictions  in  that 
direction  flourish  in  direct  ratio  to  the 
points  of  view  you  either  hear  or  encourage. 
Foreign  markets  are  largely  a fond  dream  of 
another  and  lush  day  and  the  need  for  self- 
sufficiency  here  is  more  alive  now  than  then; 
the  situation  changing  only  in  the  realization 
the  need  is  greater  and  some  effort  having 
been  applied  in  the  cause  of  attaining  it. 

The  government  suit,  with  provisos,  has  been 
dropped,  of  course,  in  favor  of  the  consent  de- 
cree and  there  yet  remains  a disposal  of  the 
action  against  the  "Little  Three."  A new  sell- 
ing order  has  been  determined  for  '41-42.  Ar- 
bitration, voluntary  for  the  exhibitor  and  com- 
pulsory for  the  five  consenting  distributors, 
stands  athwart  the  changing  scene.  In  New 
York,  leading  executives  talk  of  the  decree  as 
a cleanser  which  will  purge  the  industry  of 
many  of  its  poisons  and  once  more  sweeten 


the  body  corporate.  In  short,  it's  a new  day 
you  will  find  if  you  begin  to  scan  the  horizon. 

Aware  as  most  certainly  we  are  of  exhibitor 
opposition  to  the  decree  and  its  five-in-a-block, 
see-them-if-you-want-to  plan,  it  happens  to  be 
our  opinion  that  resting  in  the  formula  is  a 
genuine  opportunity  of  outstanding  propor- 
tions to  bring  about  long-needed  adjustments 
in  the  functioning  of  this  industry.  Come 
scathing  denunciation  or  not,  it's  our  opinion 
and  behind  it  we  line  up  solidly. 

Five  at  a time  and  only  if  finished,  for  in- 
stance, suggests  the  immediate  need  for  all 
three  arms  of  the  business  to  make  real  at- 
tractions more  attractive.  This  is  why:  Be- 
cause those  who  make  them  will  hold  on  only 
through  merit  or  give  way  to  someone  who 
can  deliver;  because  those  who  sell  them  will 
have  small  packages,  not  bales,  to  dispose  of 
and  will  find  individual  merchandising,  in- 
tensified as  never  before,  part  of  their  new 
routine;  because  those  whose  job  it  is  to  bang 
home  the  entertainment  message  directly  to 
the  ticket  buyer  will  have  to  keep  on  hitting 
it  if  they  want  to  stay  in  the  parade. 

A New  Pattern 

IT  MEANS  work.  And  work  may  mean  less 
comfort.  It  will  mean  a breather  for  the 
easy  chair.  No  doubt,  less  fishing  and  less 
hunting,  shorter  vacations  at  Arrowhead,  Palm 
Springs  or  Florida.  It  means  clearer  and  more 
agile  thinking  and  harder  punching  from  raw 
stock  to  ticket  collections.  It  means  the  studio 
that  delivers  will  murder  its  competition.  And 
inevitably,  it  means  that  phoney  values,  by 
all  the  signs  of  this  impending  future,  will  give 
ground  to  the  real  thing. 

And  so,  if  a more  sharply  etched  mark  of 
sterling  should  emblazon  the  product  and  if 
the  theatreman,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life 
can  see  what  he  buys  before  he  buys  it,  we 
believe  the  exhibitor  is  being  given  a free 
ride  in  the  general  direction  of  Utopia. 

As  the  effective  date  of  unwound  selling 
draws  closer,  perhaps  the  shortening  calendar 
will  swing  dissenting  opinion  around  to  this 
point  of  view.  It  is  evident  the  business  must 
do  the  best  it  can  under,  and  with,  the  decree. 
That  best,  however,  need  not  be  negative.  It 
can  be  a highly  charged  power  Une  crackling 
with  opportunity,  burning  the  lead 
out  of  a lot  of  feet  that  have  been 
riveted  in  cement  and  once  more 
returning  them  to  action. 


CLEARANCE  ROWS  SEEN  KNOTTY 
PROBLEM  FACING  ARBITRATION 


"Little  3”  May  Tie  In 

New  York — The  industry  is  so  closely  knit  that,  as  arbitration  rulings  become  more 
or  less  standardized  on  certain  type  trade  practices  all  distributors,  possibly  includ- 
ing the  "Little  Three/'  may  adopt  them  automatically. 

This,  in  the  opinion  of  an  AAA  spokesman,  was  the  answer  to  the  question  put 
to  him  over  whether  an  exhibitor  who  had,  for  instance,  won  a clearance  arbitration 
against  one  of  the  "Big  Five"  had  any  right  to  ask  the  other  four  signatories  to  the 
consent  decree  to  follow  the  same  procedure. 

Pointing  out  that  precedents  have  no  standing  in  arbitration  and  that  each  case 
is  decided  on  its  own  merits,  the  spokesman,  nevertheless,  feels  decisive  trends  in 
arbitration  rulings  will  go  a long  way  toward  eliminating  the  necessity  for  bringing 
new  complaints  to  tribunals  on  similar  controversies.  Corollary  to  this  thought  is  that 
parties  to  a dispute  that  recognize  a similarity  in  the  basis  of  the  complaint  will  settle 
their  differences  on  the  strength  of  precedents  and  thus  relieve  the  tribunals  of  con- 
siderable work. 

Another  significant  observation  has  the  same  source  envisioning  exhibitors  relying 
on  arbitration  rather  than  going  to  court  on  disputes  not  arbitrable  under  the  consent 
decree  once  "arbitration  is  accepted  by  the  industry." 

V 

Mayer  Top  Salary  Executive 
At  M-G-M,  Report  Will  Show 


Local  Problems,  Variety 
Of  Zones  Expected  to 
Complicate  Cases 

New  York — Clearance  disputes  are  ex- 
pected to  be  the  most  complex  cases  fac- 
ing local  arbitration  boards  as  soon  as  the 
tribunals  are  set  up  in  all  key  cities  in 
accordance  with  the  decree.  Some  thea- 
tre men  see  such  territories  as  New  York, 
Chicago  and  the  west  coast  as  particularly 
perplexing  for  the  arbitrators  in  view  of 
the  local  problems  and  variety  of  zones  and 
theatres  in  those  areas. 

Industry  lawyers  are  not  unmindful  of 
the  NRA  days  when  clearance  presented 
the  chief  source  of  complaint  and  con- 
tinued to  remain  a disputed  topic  with 
the  deathknell  of  the  Blue  Eagle. 

In  the  NRA  days,  arbitration  boards 
were  composed  of  industry  factors  with  one 
impartial  man  sitting  in  to  decide  in  the 
event  of  a tie  vote.  Under  the  decree  the 
practice  will  be  changed  in  that  an  impar- 
tial AAA  representative  will  hear  each 
case,  ask  questions  and  decide  for  himself 
what  clearance  is  proper. 

Non-Industry  Appeal  Board 

Where  the  appeals  board  under  the  NRA 
was  made  up  of  an  equal  number  of  ex- 
hibitor-distributor representatives,  the  de- 
cree provisions  leave  the  final  jurisdiction 
of  all  appealed  cases  to  three  non-indus- 
try factors.  How  men  who  are  not  fami- 
liar with  the  internal  problems  of  the  busi- 
ness can  possibly  make  fair  rulings  on 
clearance  is  what  some  skeptics  want  to 
know. 

It  is  pointed  out  that  in  numerous  cases 
exchange  managers  and  salesmen  them- 
selves have  had  to  visit  theatres,  gauge 
distances  and  make  surveys  before  grant- 
ing requests,  if  such  were  the  case,  on 
clearance. 

Whether  AAA  men  will  be  inclined  to  do 
the  same  to  satisfy  their  own  minds  before 
rendering  opinions  and  decisions  is  not 
known.  It  is  likely  exhibitors  making  ap- 
peals for  changes  in  protection  may  en- 
gage their  own  experts  to  qualify  on  dis- 
tances, but  then  again,  it  is  held,  one  ex- 
pert’s opinion  is  as  good  as  another,  the 
arbitrator  being  the  other. 

In  one  quarter  it  is  felt  the  decree  itself 
is  not  explicit  in  its  clearance  section.  This 
inquirer,  for  instance,  asks  does  an  hour’s 
difference  in  opening  between  two  houses 
constitute  clearance,  or  must  it  be  in  terms 
of  days?  Then,  if  an  arbitrator  decides  to 
cut  down  clearance  he  must  take  into  con- 
sideration, above  all,  the  right  of  the  dis- 
tributor not  to  have  his  revenue  reduced 
from  the  engagements  involved. 

In  other  words,  it  is  held,  suppose  an 
arbitrator  finds  that  a theatre’s  two-week 
clearance  over  a subsequent  house  is  ex- 
cessive. He  decides  £9  cut  the  protection 
to  one  week,  finding  this  proper  in  his 
own  estimation.  The  first  theatre  then 
(Continued  on  page  17) 


New  York — Louis  B.  Mayer,  production 
head  of  M-G-M,  continued  as  the  highest 
paid  executive  in  the  company  and  in  the 
industry  for  1940,  it  will  be  revealed  short- 
ly when  SEC  makes  public  the  annual 
listing  of  salaries. 

Mayer’s  net  earnings  will  more  than 
double  Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  president, 
who  is  understood  to  be  third  on  the 
M-G-M  list.  Hunt  Stromberg,  producer, 
is  second. 

Principally  responsible  for  the  largest 
figure  is  Mayer’s  four-year  contract  as 
managing  director  of  production  and 

C(  0 

Top  Hits  of  the  Week 

As  culled  from  first  run  reports  in 
the  sectional  editions  of  Boxoffice. 
Average  is  100  per  cent. 


Love  Thy  Neighbor — 

Denver  230 

New  York  City  170 

Christmas  in  July — 

New  Orleans  200 

Kansas  City  175 

North  West  Mounted  Police — 

Pittsburgh  175 

Thief  of  Bagdad — 

New  Orleans  150 

Los  Angeles  (dual) 150 

Milwaukee  (dual)  135 

No,  No,  Nanette — 

New  Orleans  150 

Fantasia — 

New  York  City  145 

Second  Chorus — 

Los  Angeles  (with  “Alice  in 
Wonderland”  for  juvenile 

matinees)  140 

Santa  Fe  Trail — 

New  York  City  135 

^ - J 


which  expires  December  31,  1942.  Under 
the  terms  of  the  pact,  he  receives  a week- 
ly salary  of  $3,000  plus  additional  com- 
pensation of  6.77  per  cent  of  the  com- 
bined annual  net  profits,  after  provision 
for  dividends,  taxes  and  other  commit- 
ments. 

Stromberg,  under  his  arrangement  which 
expires  December  5,  1944,  calls  for  a week- 
ly salary  of  $5,000  plus  1.05  per  cent  of 
the  combined  annual  net  profits,  after 
taxes,  etc.  The  percentage  arrangement 
went  into  effect  as  of  January  1,  1939, 
when  a previous  clause  providing  for  a 
bonus  of  $15,000  for  each  picture  he  pro- 
duces over  eight  in  a given  year  was  can- 
celled. 

Schenck’s  total  salary  for  the  year  will 
approximate  $300,000  under  his  agreement 
for  $2,500  a week  plus  2.5  per  cent  of  the 
profits.  The  five-year  contract  which  ex- 
pires December  31,  1941,  is  up  for  renewal 
on  the  same  terms.  Stockholders  will  be 
asked  February  11  to  ratify  the  arrange- 
ment, which  also  calls  for  stock  options. 

17  Drew  $3,000,000 

The  annual  Loew  statement,  due  short- 
ly, will  show  that  approximately  $3,000,000 
was  paid  in  1940  to  17  officers  and  di- 
rectors. While  no  individual  salaries  must 
be  listed  under  the  new  SEC  law,  those 
whose  compensation  are  embraced  in  the 
total  include  Schenck,  David  Bernstein, 
Arthur  M.  Loew  jr„  J.  Robert  Rubin,  A1 
Lichtman,  Edgar  J.  Mannix,  Sam  Katz, 
E.  A.  Schiller,  Leopold  Friedman,  Benja- 
man  Thau,  Jesse  T.  Mills,  Charles  C.  Mos- 
kowitz,  Joseph  R.  Vogel,  Charles  K.  Stern, 
Nicholas  Nayfack,  Len  Cohen,  R.  Lazarus 
and  Hattie  Helborn.  All  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Vogel  are  officers. 

Directors  who  do  not  receive  compensa- 
tion from  the  company  are  George  N. 

(Continued  on  page  17) 


4 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


OXOffICf 


the  latent 


IBoXOFFICE  submitted  its  improved  serv- 
ice plan  to  a "test"  among  its  oldest  sub- 
scribers and  PICTURE  GUIDE  users.  It  re- 
ceived a virtually  unanimous  Exhibitor  Ap- 
proval. 

Here  are  some  of  the  comments: 

“I  think  the  new  review  plan  is  as  far  ahead  of 
the  old  as  Boxoffice  is  ahead  of  all  other  trade 
papers  and  that  really  is  far.” 

—ROY  E.  CAMPBELL,  Shafer  Theatre, 
Garden  City,  Mich. 

‘‘It  is  pleasing  to  note  that  Boxoffice  is  continually 
striving  to  improve — and  succeeding.” 

— J.  W.  FAIR,  Rivoli  Theatre, 
North  Sydney,  Novia  Scotia. 

‘‘Much  easier  and  more  efficient  method  of  filing 
reviews.  Another  service  by  Boxoffice  that  is  ap- 
preciated.” 

—J.  A.  OWEN,  Pix  Theatre, 

Philadelphia,  Miss. 

‘‘Something  to  crow  about.” 

— W.  J.  STRAUB,  Hippodrome, 

Gloversville,  N.  Y. 

“Excellent.  Great  improvement.  Time  saver.” 

—ED  C.  ROWDEN, 

Golden  State  Theatre, 

Oakland,  Calif. 


‘Rf  VI  f UJS 
SERVICE 

STARTS  THIS  ISSUE  ON  PAGE  23 


SINCE  the  introduction  of  the 
first  PICTURE  GUIDE,  seven 
years  ago,  we  have  effected 
a number  of  changes,  each  mak- 
ing for  greater  simplicity  in  filing 
BOXOFFICE  reviews  in  this  handy, 
pocket-fitting,  loose-leaf  binder. 

Now,  we  have  perfected  another 
change — this  time  eliminating: 

1.  The  need  to  cut  out  each  review  separately. 

2.  The  requirement  of  moistening  gummed  strips. 

3.  The  time-loss  in  doing  those  things. 

Simply  fold  page  on  the  middle 
line — and  you  have  four  pages  of 
reviews,  already  punched,  ready 
to  put  into  your  PICTURE  GUIDE. 


“Unquestionably  a decided  improvement.” 

—HERMAN  COVI,  Covi  Theatre, 
Hermlnie,  Pa. 


“Think  it  a splendid  plan.  Thanks.” 

— W.  ROY  WRIGHT, 

Hempstead  Theatre, 

Hempstead,  Tex. 


These  reviews  will  regularly  be 
indexed  in  BOXOFFICE'S  Booking 
Chart  — by  date  of  review  and 
by  PG  page  number.  Then,  four 
times  a year,  we  will  publish  quar- 
terly index,  also  designed  to  fit  your 
PICTURE  GUIDE. 


That’s  SERVICE  That  SERVES! 


As  Viewed  by  Red  Kann 


Associated  Publications 


Editorial  Offices:  9 Rockefeller  Plaza,  New 
York  City.  Louis  Rydell,  Advertising:  Man- 
ager. Wm.  Ornstein,  Eastern  Editor.  Tele- 
phone Columbus  5-6370,  5-6371,  5-6372.  Cable 
address:  “BOXOFFICE,  New  York.” 

Western  Offices:  6404  Hollywood  Blvd.,  Hol- 
wood,  Calif.  Ivan  Spear,  Manager.  Tele- 
phone Gladstone  1186. 

Publication  Offices:  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kan- 
sas City,  Mo.  Morris  Schlozman,  Business 
Manager.  Telephone  Chestnut  7777. 

Other  Associated  Publications:  BOXOFFICE 
BAROMETER,  BOXOFFICE  RECORDS, 
BOXOFFICE  PICTURE  GUIDE,  published 
annually:  THE  MODERN  THEATRE,  pub- 
lished monthly  as  a section  of  BOXOFFICE. 

ALBANY — 21-23  Walter  Ave.,  M.  Berrigan. 
ATLANTA— 183  Walton  St.,  Helen  Hardy. 
JAckson  5331. 

BOSTON — 14  Piedmont  St.,  Brad  Angier, 
Liberty  9305. 

BUFFALO — Buffalo  Theatre,  G.  C.  Maurer. 
CHARLOTTE — 216  W.  4th,  Pauline  Griffith. 
CHICAGO — 332  S.  Michigan  Blvd.,  Hal 
Tate.  Wabash  4575. 

CINCINNATI — 127  Tremont  St.,  Ft.  Thomas, 
Ky.,  Clara  Hyde.  Highland  1657. 
CLEVELAND — 12805  Cedar  Road,  Cleveland 
Heights,  Elsie  Loeb.  Fairmount  0046. 
DALLAS — 408  S.  Harwood,  V.  W.  Crisp, 
Southwestern  editor.  Telephone  7-3553. 
DENVER— 319  S.  Clarkson  St.,  J.  A.  Rose. 

Telephone  Spruce  0318. 

DES  MOINES — The  Colonade,  Rene  Clayton. 
DETROIT — 424  Book  Bldg.,  H.  F.  Reves. 

Telephone  Cadillac  9085. 

HOLLYWOOD — 6404  Hollywood  Bvd.,  Ivan 
Spear,  Western  editor.  GLadstone  1186. 
INDIANAPOLIS — 42  West  11th  St.,  Kol- 
man  Hirschman. 

KANSAS  CITY— 4804  East  Ninth  St.,  Jesse 
Shlyen,  Midwest  editor.  CHestnut  7777. 
LITTLE  ROCK — P.  O.  Box  253,  Lynn  Hub- 
bard. 3-0156. 

MEMPHIS — 399  So.  2nd  St.,  Carolyne  Miller. 
MILWAUKEE — 210  East  Michigan  St.,  H. 

C.  Brunner.  Kilbourn  6670-J. 
MINNEAPOLIS — Essex  Bldg.,  Maurice  Wolff. 
NEW  HAVEN — 42  Church  St.,  Suite  915, 
Gertrude  Pearson.  6-4149. 

NEW  ORLEANS — 1136  Behrman  Ave.,  J.  W. 
Leigh. 

NEW  YORK  CITY — 9 Rockefeller  Plaza, 
William  Ornstein,  Eastern  editor. 
OKLAHOMA  CITY — Box  4547.  E.  W.  Fair. 
OMAHA — 5640  Woolworth.  Monte  Davis. 
PHILADELPHIA — 426  Pine  St.,  Joseph 
Shaltz.  WALnut  0860. 

PITTSBURGH — 1701  Blvd.  of  the  Allies,  R. 

F.  Klingensmith.  ATlantic  4858. 
PORTLAND,  ORE.— 925  N.  W.  19th  St., 
Harold  Donner.  Broadway  0136. 

ST.  LOUIS — 5149  Rosa  Ave.,  David  F.  Bar- 
rett. Flanders  3727. 

SALT  LAKp  CITY — 167  South  State  St., 
Viola  B.  Hutton.  WAsatch  165. 

SAN  FRANCISCO — 1095  Market  St.,  A1 
Scott.  Market  6580. 

SEATTLE — 2418  Second  Ave.,  Joe  Cooper. 
Seneca  2460. 

WASHINGTON— 1426  G St.,  Earle  A.  Dyer. 
IN  CANADA 

CALGARY — The  Albertan,  Wm.  Campbell. 
HAMILTON — 20  Holton,  N„  Hugh  Millar. 
LONDON— 97  Adelaide  St.,  S.,  John  Gore. 
MONTREAL — 4330  Wilson  Ave.,  N.  D.  G., 
Roy  Carmichael.  Walnut  5519. 

REGINA — The  Leader-Post.  Bruce  Peacock. 
ST.  JOHN — 161  Princess  St.  D.  Fetherston. 
TORONTO — 242  Millwood.  Milton  Galbraith. 
VANCOUVER— 615  Hastings.,  C.  P.  Rutty. 
VICTORIA — 434  Quebec  St.,  Tom  Merriman. 
WINNIPEG — 709  Selkirk  Ave.,  Ben  Lepkin. 


WIDELY  recognized  as  one  of  the 
sanest  columns  giving  birth  in 
Hollywood  are  Douglas  W.  Churchill's 
Sunday  articles  in  the  "New  York 
Times.''  Reviewing  the  kind  of  a year 
it  was  there  in  '40  and  finding  himself 
inevitably  wondering  about  the  decree 
and  its  impact,  he  has  this  to  report 
by  way  of  a studio  reaction: 

"While  the  suit  and  settlement 
are  popularly  believed  to  be  an 
aid  to  the  exhibitor,  there  is  strong 
feeling  in  Hollywood  that  it  is  the 
producer  who  will  benefit.  He  will 
milk  the  theatre  man  for  every 
possible  penny  when  he  has  a 
good  picture  and  he  will  lump  the 
bad  ones  into  bargain  package 
deals.  Some  executives  envision 
conditions  in  which  some  films  will 
virtually  be  boycotted  in  cities 
where  exhibitors  refuse  to  meet 
studio  terms.  This  will  be  fought 
by  selling  the  films  to  the  custom- 
ers first  and,  with  a demand  cre- 
ated to  see  a certain  picture,  it  is 
believed  that  the  theatres  will  be 
compelled  to  play  it. 

"The  system  of  warfare  is  com- 
pared with  that  employed  by  man- 
ufacturers when  chain  stores  re- 
fuse to  stock  a product;  advertis- 
ing campaigns  are  launched  and 
the  patrons  start  demanding  the 
wares.  Along  this  line  the  stu- 
dios foresee  publicity  and  adver- 
tising campaigns  in  newspapers  . 
on  a scale  hitherto  unknown.'' 

Brother  Churchill  has  something 
there. 

No  Catch 

It  is  a strange  approach  to  the  de- 
cree that  finds  its  way  into  a current 
MPTOA  bulletin.  There,  Ed  Kuyken- 
dall is  saying  this: 

"Talk  of  exhibitor  cooperation 
'to  make  it  work'  and  'to  give  it 
a fair  trial'  is  more  or  less  non- 
sense. There  is  no  provision  any- 
where in  the  decree  for  exhibitor 
participation  or  cooperation  in 
the  administration  or  operations 
under  the  decree.  It  actually  makes 
no  particular  difference  whether 
the  exhibitor  is  willing  to  cooper- 
ate or  whether  he  isn't. 

"The  new  methods  and  restric- 
tions on  selling  are  to  be  under- 
taken entirely  by  the  distributors. 
The  arbitration  system  is  placed 
entirely  in  the  hands  of  the  Amer- 


ican Arbitration  Association  with 
any  exhibitor  cooperation  or  par- 
ticipation other  than  submitting 
complaints  strictly  forbidden." 

But  does  it  make  no  difference 
whether  the  exhibitor  is  willing  to  co- 
operate or  whether  he  is  not?  It  seems 
apparent  to  this  watchtower  that  it 
does,  and  vastly  so.  Arbitration,  in- 
sofar as  the  theatreman  is  concerned, 
is  voluntary.  But  under  the  theory,  at 
least,  of  the  plan,  a chance  is  of- 
fered to  adjudicate  many  of  the  dif- 
ferences that  have  beset  him  for  years. 
We  maintain  this  is  a decided  advan- 
tage in  that,  if  it  furnishes  nothing  else, 
it  does  furnish  an  opportunity  before 
impartial  arbiters  to  get  a fairer  shake, 
provided  merit  is  present. 

In  Defense 

The  other  issue  carried  a reprint  of 
a series  of  cracks  at  film  advertising. 
"Printer's  Ink"  was  indulging  in  the 
cracking,  charging  generally  no  attrac- 
tion possibly  could  live  up  to  the 
promises  made  for  it  in  paid  copy. 
"Sucker-bait  doctrine  of  advertising 
and  publicity"  was  the  term,  applied 
to  a point  where  "the  audience  sim- 
ply expects  too  much,  so  that  the  nor- 
mal good  picture  disappoints  and  the 
bad  one  enrages." 

We  thought  the  criticism  in  great 
measure  applied,  but  also  asked  for 
defenders.  Dave  Martin,  manager  of 
the  Fox  Granada  in  Inglewood,  Calif., 
rides  to  the  rescue.  He  writes: 

"Might  be  a fine  gesture  on  the 
part  of  the  publishers  of  'Printer's 
Ink'  to  address  an  editorial  or  two 
about  the  honesty  of  commodity 
advertising  to  the  advertising 
writers  who  subscribe  to  that  pub- 
lication. 

"The  sad  spectacle  of  national 
- advertisers  on  the  receiving  end 
of  cease  and  desist  orders  from 
the  federal  government  with  re- 
spect to  their  unethical  advertis- 
ing involving  fraudulent  claims 
and  injurious  products  has  never, 
to  my  knowledge,  been  the  lot  of 
motion  picture  producers. 

"Pick  up  a national  magazine 
and  glance  through  the  ads.  It 
won't  take  you  long  to  uncover  a 
score  of  half  truths  about  the  mer- 
chandise flaunted  in  the  face  of  the 
reading  public.  But  then,  of  course, 
'it's  fun  to  be  fooled.'  " 

Next? 


6 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


! 


£Re/eabe(l  //iff  fy/ni/ecl  '■jdt/i&h 


\ 


THE  WOMAN  THEY  WHISPERED  ABOUT... 


Occasionally  there  comes  out  of  Hollywood  a pic- 
ture so  truthful  in  its  portrayals,  so  universally 
human  in  its  story,  that  it  reaches  deep  down  into 
the  hearts  of  all  who  see  it— until  it  becomes,  not  a 
series  of  incidents  flashed  upon  a screen,  but  a rich, 
vivid,  personal  experience. 

Such  a picture  was  “Stella  Dallas”.  Such  a picture 
was  “The  Old  Maid”.  To  this  gallery  of  great  films 
which  tell  earnestly  and  powerfully  of  women  who 
love  with  every  fibre  of  their  being,  you  will  add 
“Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop”. 

For  here  is  a story  of  a woman  in  love— deeply, 
overwhelmingly.  And — as  is  ever  the  case  with  emo- 
tions like  these— the  world,  with  its  narrow  code 


of  conduct,  refused  to  understand.  And  yet  — with 
gossip  and  malice  and  misunderstanding  arrayed 
against  her,  Ella  Bishop  found  the  greatest  happi- 
ness a woman  can  ever  know! 

As  you  share  her  struggle  for  the  joy  that  belongs 
by  right  to  any  beautiful  woman  ...  as  you  help 
her  cope  with  a problem  in  romance  which  only  a 
very  clever  woman  could  hope  to  solve  ...  as  you 
thrill  to  the  sheer  intimacy  of  her  love  story. . .then, 
lost  in  the  magic  of  a brilliantly  conceived  perform- 
ance of  the  role  by  talented  Martha  Scott,  you  will 
become  one  with  Ella  Bishop.  And  you  will  find  it 
one  of  the  most  enjoyable  and  exciting  experiences 
you  have  ever  known. 


RICHARD  A.  ROWLAND  presents 


Cheers  lor  Miss  Bishop 

MARTHA  with  WILLIAM^ 

SCOTT • GARGAN 


and  featuring 

EDMUND  GWENN  * SIDNEY  BLACKMER  • DOROTHY  PETERSON 
STERLING  HOLLOWAY  • DONALD  DOUGLAS  • MARSHA  HUNT  • LOIS  RANSON 
and  introducing  MARY  ANDERSON  • Directed  by  TAY  GARNETT 

From  tire  Novel  "Miss  Bishop"  by  BESS  STREETER  ALDRICH 
Screen  adaptation  by  STEPHEN  VINCENT  BENET 
Screenplay  by  ADELAIDE  HEILBRON  and  SHERIDAN  GIBNEY  - Released  thru  United  Artists 


remiere  — Stuart  Theatre,  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  Tuesday,  January  14 


a and  a.  series  translates 

ARBITRATION  INTO  EASY  TERMS 


fr 


And  So  He  Got  the  Billing 

New  York — The  AAA  offers  the  following  as  a typical  case  of  arbitration.  The 
speed  with  which  the  dispute  was  arbitrated  and  a decision  rendered  is  not  especially 
illustrative  of  the  speed  that  will  otain  in  film  cases,  but  rather  the  flexibility  of  the 
system  and  procedure,  according  to  AAA. 

A few  months  ago  on  the  same  day  that  a new  Broadway  play  was  scheduled  to 
open,  the  leading  man  declared  he  would  not  go  on  because  his  name  was  not  in 
lights  on  the  marquee.  He  claimed  that,  due  to  the  importance  of  his  role,  he  was  en- 
titled to  top  billing.  When  the  producer  agreed  to  the  demand  the  leading  lady  pro- 
tested on  the  ground  she  deserved  star  billing.  This  all  happened  a few  hours  before 
the  opening  night  curtain.  The  AAA  was  called  in  and  stress  was  laid  on  the  im- 
portance of  speed.  In  a few  hours  the  parties  to  the  dispute  and  the  arbitrators,  who 
were  hurriedly  called  in,  met  in  a conference  room.  A decision  was  reached  at  once. 
The  leading  man  won  the  case.  When  the  curtain  rose  that  evening,  electricians  were 
still  busy  putting  his  name  in  lights. 

-V 


Covers  Practical  Side 
Of  Operation  Under 
Decree  Provisions 


New  York — What  is  arbitration  all 
about? 

What  makes  it  tick? 

How  will  it  work? 

After  a study  of  the  consent  decree  and 
its  application  to  exhibitor  problems,  a 
Boxoffice  reporter  figured  out  it  would  be 
a good  idea  to  ask  the  American  Arbitra- 
tion Ass’n  some  questions  that  either  called 
for  answer  or  for  clarification,  all  in  the 
interest  of  removing  supposition. 

And  so  he  did. 

AAA  executives  thought  the  questions 
“excellent,”  because  of  their  simplicity. 
The  reporter  was  encouraged  to  ask  more 
than  he  originally  intended  or  had  thought 
about  on  his  own.  In  fact,  he  was  en- 
couraged to  invite  still  others  from  exhibi- 
tors. Not  all  of  them  necessarily  will  be 
answered  because  procedures,  in  some 
cases  are  expected  to  develop  out  of  ex- 
perience springing  from  the  actual  appli- 
cation of  arbitration  under  the  mandate 
of  the  decree. 

23  Questions 

At  any  event,  23  different  questions  were 
worked  out  under  this  prearranged  plan: 
Boxoffice  asked  them. 

The  American  Arbitration  Ass’n  an- 
swered them.  Here  goes: 

What  is  arbitration? 

Arbitration  is  a method  of  settling 
differences  between  two  or  more  per- 
sons, out  of  court.  Decisions  are  ren- 
dered by  one  or  more  arbitrators  who 
are  selected  by  the  disputants.  The 
awards  of  the  arbitrators  are  legally 
enforceable  because  the  parties  to  the 
dispute  have  signed  an  agreement  to 
abide  by  the  decision,  in  accordance 
with  arbitration  law. 

What  kind  of  differences  may  be  arbi- 
trated? 

Practically  any  disputes  which  are 


actionable  in  a civil  court. 

Is  arbitration  a new  procedure? 

No.  It  is  one  of  the  oldest  methods 
of  settling  controversies  known  to  man. 

It  has  been  practiced  in  this  country 
since  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims. 

What  advantages  does  arbitration  offer 
over  court  procedure? 

(a)  It  is  speedy.  Experience  has 
shown  that  very  few  cases  are  not  set- 
tled after  a single  arbitration  hearing. 

(b)  It  is  comparatively  inexpensive. 
The  average  cost  of  an  arbitration  is 
about  one  per  cent  of  the  amount  in- 
volved 

(c)  Arbitration  preserves  goodwill. 
Because  the  hearings  are  informal,  in- 
expensive and  speedy  it  is  customary 
for  the  disputing  parties  to  maintain 
good  relations.  A hand  shake  rather 
than  acrimony  is  the  usual  climax  to 
an  arbitration  hearing. 

Are  lawyers  necessary? 

Not  unless  the  parties  retain  them. 
The  arbitration  hearings  are  held  in- 
formally and  the  strict ' rules  of  evi- 
dence and  other  court  room  restric- 
tions play  no  part  in  the  proceedings. 
Each  side  is  allowed  to  tell  its  story 
without  legal  objections  or  interfer- 
ence. 

What  is  the  American  Arbitration  Ass’n? 

The  AAA  is  a non-profit  making  or- 
ganization with  nation-wide  facilities 
for  arbitrating  disputes.  It  maintains 
a panel  of  7,000  expert  arbitrators  in 
1,600  cities  and  is  supported  primarily 


by  memberships,  contributions  and 
arbitration  fees. 

Do  many  industries  use  arbitration  to 
settle  their  disputes? 

Yes,  many.  There  are  over  400 
trade  groups  throughout  the  country 
which  use  this  method.  It  now  encom- 
passes virtually  the  entire  amusement 
field,  including  Actors  Equity,  Screen 
Actors’  Guild,  Dramatics’  Guild  and 
the  “Big  Five.”  Also  the  garment 
trades,  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange, 
the  silk  industry  and  the  grain,  hay 
and  feed  dealers  use  the  AAA. 

Are  there  differences  between  commer- 
cial and  industrial  arbitration  and  that 
provided  for  under  the  consent  decree  for 
the  industry? 

(1)  In  commercial  and  industrial 
arbitration  under  AAA  rules  the  ar- 
bitrators are  not  paid.  Under  the  con- 
sent decree  they  will  receive  compensa- 
tion for  each  hearing.  (2)  In  arbitra- 
tion under  AAA  there  is  no  appeal 
from  the  arbitrator’s  award.  The  con- 
sent decree  provides  for  an  appeals 
board  of  three  to  review  cases  appealed 
from  the  local  tribunals. 

On  the  Cost 

What  will  it  cost  the  exhibitor  to  start 
an  arbitration? 

There  are  two  established  costs.  The 
first  is  a filing  fee  of  $10;  the  second 
is  the  arbitrator’s  fee.  The  arbitrator 
may  assess  his  fee  and  the  filing  fee 
on  the  losing  party,  or  he  may  appor- 
tion the  costs  among  the  parties. 
Therefore,  if  the  exhibitor  wins  his 
case  he  may  not  have  to  pay  anything 
for  the  arbitration. 

What  will  the  arbitrator’s  fee  be? 

The  decree  provides  that  an  arbitra- 
tor shall  be  paid  a maximum  of  $50  a 
hearing.  However,  that  figure  will  be 
applied  only  in  the  rarest  instances. 

Are  there  any  other  costs? 

Any  other  costs,  such  as  steno- 
graphic fees,  etc.,  are  entirely  optional 
with  the  parties  and  to  be  paid  for  by 
the  individual  demanding  them. 

Is  there  any  cost  for  appealing  a case? 

There  is  a filing  fee  of  $25  for  cases 
which  are  appealed,  but  this  fee  is 
(Continued  on  page  18) 


t r = ■ = = - -ft 

From  Radio  to  Silk  to  Acting 

New  York— Ample  evidence  of  the  responsibility  with  which  reputable  persons  in 
many  walks  of  life  regard  their  choice  as  arbitrators  for  the  AAA  is  offered  in  the  fol- 
lowing incidents  taken  from  the  AAA  files. 

In  one  case,  three  of  the  country’s  most  prominent  attorneys  spent  nine  days  away 
from  their  practice  to  settle  a wage  dispute  between  the  three  national  radio  net- 
works and  its  employes.  This  was  one  of  the  longest  cases  on  record  and  the  arbi- 
trators received  nothing  in  compensation. 

In  another  instance  three  arbitrators — a prominent  economist,  a statistician  and  a 
business  man — traveled  from  New  York  to  Connecticut  in  order  to  study  methods  for 
weaving  silk  in  order  to  understand  the  issues  of  a dispute  between  two  large  New 
England  mills. 

In  still  another  case  a prominent  newspaper  editor  spent  three  days  away  from  his 
office  in  order  to  study  the  testimony  in  an  Actor's  Equity  dispute.  His  decision  was 
hailed  by  both  sides  for  its  understanding  and  fairness.  He  received  no  pay,  of  course. 

_ = — - JJ 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


11 


' HIGHEST  RATING!  - N.  Y.  Daily  Nevus 


Kate  Cameron,  ace  critic  gives  th 


First  it  was  ARISE , MY  LOVE  ; Then  it 


AND 


says 


ONE  OF  THE  BEST  PICTUI 


HEREBY  RECOMMENDED 


«ki  • »“? '!“ 


Sir  Cedric  HardwicKe 

Jerome  Cowan 

Directed  by  John  Cromwell 


Screen 


Ploy  by  John  L.Bclders.on 


an  island  tale 

. Based  on  .he  Novel  by  Joseph  Conro 


“Absorbing  screen  melodrama... full  o 
cinematic  magic.  The  production  i; 
first-rate.  Terrific  climax.  Well  worth 
seeing.  Striking  and  satisfying  1“ 

— Herald  Tribune 


picture  ...  v 

■ ' ’ ' ' ' ..  ' ' 

OF  THE  YEAR  AND  IS 


WITHOUT  RESERVATION! 


“Deserves  a high  place  on  any 
movie-goer’s  list!"  —Daily  Mirror 

“One  of  the  finest  dramas  of  the 
year.  It’s  excellent  melodrama !" 

— Journal -American 


“Fine  and  penetrating  motion  picture  melo- 
drama. Don’t  miss  this  one!“ — World-Telegram 

“Starts  off  on  a high  note  of  melodrama 
and  keeps  there  till  the  final  fadeout.  It 
is  exciting  stuff !“  — Sun 


FORESEE  CONGRESS  IN  A MOVE 
TO  TAX  TICKETS  FROM  10 -CENTS 


East,  West,  North  and  South 


Date 


New  York— Forty -four  state  legislatures,  all  of  them  after  revenue,  will  meet  in 
regular  session  this  year.  If  the  record  of  other  years  prevails,  laws  aimed  at  one 
phase  or  another  of  the  industry  will  be  introduced. 

California,  Idaho,  Montana,  Ohio  and  Tennessee  started  the  activity  on  Jan- 
uary 2,  but  by  the  end  of  that  month  virtually  all  state  law-making  bodies  will  be 
in  session.  This  is  the  schedule: 

Time  Limit 
Regular 
(In  Days) 

50 

60 

9 60 

2  None 

4 None 

4 1st  Wednesday  after 

1st  Monday  in  June 

3  60 

4  60 

60 

60 

Jan.  4 None 

Jan.  6 61 

Jan.  9 None 

Jan.  10 None 

None 

None 


States — 

Alabama  

Arizona  

Arkansas  .... 
California  .. 
Colorado  .... 
Connecticut 


ol  Meeting 

.Jan.  10 

.Jan.  9 

.Jan. 

.Jan. 

.Jan. 

.Jan. 


Delaware  

Florida  

Georgia  

Idaho  

Illinois  

Indiana  

Iowa  

Kansas  

Kentucky  

Louisiana  

Maine  

Maryland  

Massachusetts  ... 

Michigan  

Minnesota  

Mississippi  

Missouri  

Montana 

Nebraska  

Nevada  

New  Hampshire 

New  Jersey  

New  Mexico  

New  York  

North  Carolina  ... 
North  Dakota  ... 

Ohio  

Oklahoma  

Oregon  

Pennsylvania  

Rhode  Island  

South  Carolina  . 

South  Dakota  

Tennessee  

Texas  

Utah  

Vermont  

Virginia  

Washington  

West  Virginia  

Wisconsin  

Wyoming  


.Jan.  3 
.Apr.  4 
..Jul.  17 
.Jan.  2 


Jan. 

.Jan. 

.Jan. 

.Jan. 

Jan. 


4 None 

4 90 

4 None 

4 None 

3 90 

None 

Jan.  4 70 

Jan.  2 60 

Jan.  3 Not  less  than  60  days 

Jan.  16 60 

Jan.  4 None 

Jan.  10 None 

Jan.  10 60 


.Jan. 

..Jan. 

.Jan. 

..Jan. 

.Jan. 

.Jan. 

.Jan. 

.Jan. 


4 None 

4 None 

3 60 

2  None 

3  60 

9 40 

3 None 

3 60 

.Jan.  10 40 

.Jan.  3 60 

.Jan.  2 75 

.Jan.  10 120 

.Jan.  9 60 

.Jan.  4 None 

None 

.Jan.  9 60 

.Jan.  11 60 

..Jan.  11 None 

..Jan.  10 40 


Increased  Taxes  New  Congress  Theme 


Usual  Regulatory  Crop 
Also  Expected;  State 
Assemblies  Draw  Eye 


New  York — There  is  much  more  than 
meagre  evidence  among  Washington  ob- 
servers to  indicate  the  most  important, 
single  piece  of  1941  federal  legislation 
aimed  at  the  industry  will  be  an  attempt 
to  start  the  10  per  cent  tax  on  admissions 
at  10  cents  instead  of  21  cents. 

(George  J.  Schaefer,  RKO  president, 
in  New  York  a few  days  ago  declared 
such  a move  is  “essential”  in  order  to 
curb  the  “disastrous”  effect  that  has 
grown  up  among  certain  exhibitors 
who  are  cutting  their  normal  25 -cent 
scales  to  20  cents  to  avoid  paying  the 
federal  levy). 

Otherwise,  however,  there  seems  to  be 
no  more,  no  less,  than  the  usual  crop  of 
bills  that,  while  possibly  affecting  the  in- 
dustry indirectly,  cannot  be  construed  as 
designed  specifically  for  that  purpose. 
These  now  appear  to  be  a new  personal 
income  tax,  a manufacturers’  sales  tax 
and  additional  excise  taxes.  It  is  doubt- 
ful if  a federal  sales  tax  will  be  passed. 

Larger  State  Picture 

State-wise,  however,  the  picture  looms 
larger.  Illinois  may  see  a censorship  bill 
introduced  growing  out  of  the  present  Chi- 
cago controversy  on  censorship. 

In  Maryland,  the  committee  authorized 
by  the  legislature  of  1939  to  consider  pro- 
posed legislative  matters  for  1941  have 
been  approached  by  the  chairman  of  the 
Maryland  board  to  increase  censorship 
fees  from  $2  to  $3  per  reel  on  originals 
and  from  $1  to  $2  on  duplicates.  There 
may  also  be  introduced  a bill  similar  to 
that  proposed  in  1939  classifying  pictures 
for  children  under  18  years  of  age. 

Louisiana,  whose  1940  legislature  re- 
pealed the  sales  tax,  effective  December 
31,  1940,  may  find  it  necessary  to  raise 
money  and  introduce  new  bills. 

New  York’s  money-raising  problem  has 
been  largely  offset  from  the  revenue  raised 
from  pari-mutual  betting  on  horse  racing, 
which  indicates  there  may  not  be  any  fur- 
ther need  for  taxation.  However,  there 
probably  will  be  the  usual  run  of  regula- 
tory outdoor  advertising  and  labor  bills. 

New  Jersey  at  present  has  no  sales  tax. 
It  is  difficult  to  predict  what  new  revenue 
producing  measures  will  be  introduced 
when  the  new  governor  takes  office  on 
January  20.  The  state  needs  money. 

In  Delaware,  where  a committee  was  ap- 
pointed in  1939  to  investigate  blue  laws  of 
the  state,  it  is  possible  the  findings  of  this 
committee  may  result  in  repeal  of  the  Sun- 
day law  prohibiting  exhibition  of  films. 

In  Ohio,  it  appears  that  an  effort  will 
be  made  to  reduce  censorship  fees. 

In  Colorado,  there  are  indications  a bill 
permitting  dog  racing  will  be  introduced. 


Washington — Increased  taxes  appeared 
to  be  the  most  important  legislation  af- 
fecting the  motion  picture  industry  to 
come  before  the  new  Congress  which  con- 
vened January  3. 

Aside  from  the  possibility  that  a new 
effort  may  be  made  to  secure  legislation 
requiring  distributors  to  sell  their  pictures 
singly,  backed  by  exhibitors  fighting  the 
provisions  of  the  consent  decree  in  the  all- 


industry suit,  there  appears  to  be  little 
legislation  directly  affecting  the  industry 
planned  at  the  present  time. 

Picture  interests,  however,  will  find  their 
future  course  dominated  more  or  less  by 
the  general  legislation  enacted  during  the 
session  to  carry  out  the  Administration’s 
defen' ? program.  This  will  be  particu- 
larly true  ir.  the  event  general-industry 
(Continued  cn  page  22) 


14 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


What  they  want  to 
do  now  is  laugh — 
so  what  does  20th 
do?  Gives  you  a 
new  fun  formula! 


with  excitement . . . 
and  all  hit  songs: 

“'Hello  Ma ! I Done  It  Again!" 
“Did  / Have  Fun?”  •“ Vm  Alive  and 
Kickin’’”  • “Wishful  Thinking” 


■ C( 

FLASHES  FROM  THE  NEWS  FRONT 


Cheer  Balaban  Policy 

Minneapolis — The  promise  of  Barney 
Balaban,  Paramount  president,  that  sub- 
sequent blocks  of  five  will  not  be  condi- 
tioned upon  deals  for  the  first  block  is 
“entirely  satisfactory”  to  Northwest  Allied. 
The  pledge,  via  an  open  letter  from  Bala- 
ban to  Fred  Strom,  secretary  of  the  ex- 
hibitor unit,  stated  that  if  Paramount  of- 
fers blocks  of  five  pictures  to  an  exhibitor 
the  latter  will  be  free  to  buy  or  not  to 
buy,  and  that  subsequent  blocks  will  not 
be  withheld  until  preceding  blocks  are  sold 
and  booked. 

From  a trade  press  interview  given  by 
Balaban,  the  Allied  unit  officials  had  gath- 
ered that  there  would  be  such  condition- 
ing sales  and,  in  an  open  letter  to  the 
Paramount  president,  charged  this  would 
violate  the  spirit  and  letter  of  the  consent 
decree  at  the  start. 


No  Bank  Night  Stay 

Columbus — Tests  of  the  legality  of  Bank 
Night  may  proceed  without  interference 
of  the  Ohio  supreme  court,  that  tribunal 
ruled  in  denying  an  injunction  to  the  Troy 
Amusement  Co.  enjoining  Troy  officials 
from  halting  the  giveaway  at  the  May- 
flower there.  The  court  declined  to  pass 
on  the  legality  of  the  drawing. 


Waldo  Hearing  Continues 

Boston — The  Waldo  Theatre  Corp.  suit 
against  Joseph  Dondis,  et  al„  continued  in 
federal  court  here  with  testimony  on  buy- 
ing and  booking  practices  of  the  M&P 
circuit,  Paramount  affiliate. 


New  York- — Bolstering  its  position  in 
RKO  and  KAO,  Atlas  Corp.  has  purchased 
a substantial  block  of  M.  J.  Meehan’s  pre- 
ferred shares  in  KAO.  In  addition,  an  op- 
tion has  been  taken  on  the  remainder  of 
the  Meehan  interest  in  the  theatre  com- 
pany. 

The  specific  amount  of  shares  and  the 
investment  involved  have  not  been  made 
public,  but  the  indication  is  that,  if  the 
entire  transaction  is  completed,  approxi- 
mately $4,000,000  will  be  involved. 

Under  the  terms  of  the  deal  the  stock 
purchased  is  subject  to  terms  of  a voting 
trust  whereby  representatives  of  Meehan 
will  exercise  voting  rights  for  an  extended 
period  of  time  if  the  option  is  not  picked 
up. 

At  the  November  meeting  of  the  RKO 
board,  the  subject  of  purchasing  Meehan’s 
interest  in  KAO  came  up  and  was  tabled 
becauses  of  officially  ascribed  unsettled 
conditions  resulting  from  the  war.  Several 
deals  have  been  on  and  off  for  the  stock 
by  RKO  over  the  past  few  years.  It  is 
believed  the  Atlas  deal,  when  finally  con- 
summated, will  give  the  investment  house 


Prepare  Decree  Attack 

Minneapolis  — Asserting  that  member- 
ship reaction  supports  plans  of  Northwest 
Allied  for  state  legislation  to  nullify  “ob- 
jectionable” provisions  of  the  consent  de- 
cree, the  board  of  governors  will  meet  soon 
to  set  a date  for  a convention  to  map  such 
a program.  One  of  the  proposals  is  that  the 
exhibitors  go  en  masse  from  their  conven- 
tion hall  to  the  state  legislature  to  present 
their  case. 


Detroit  Suit  Delay 

Detroit — Trial  of  the  suit  of  Midwest 
Theatres  against  Co-Operative  Theatres 
of  Michigan,  which  already  has  consumed 
a month  in  federal  court  here,  has  been 
postponed  until  January  7 because  of  the 
illness  of  A.  J.  Levin,  defendant  attorney 
...  An  amended  bill  of  complaint  has  been 
filed  here  by  Jacob  Schreiber  in  his  suit 
to  recover  ownership  of  five  local  theatres 
from  his  nephew,  Raymond  Schreiber, 
operating  them  as  Midwest  Theatres. 


Miscellany 

John  Balaban  has  been  named  midwest 
director  for  theatre  participation  in  the 
Greek  war  relief  drive  . . . B&K  circuit 
starts  community  singing  in  State  Lake 
in  Chicago  loop  to  introduce  latest  songs 
via  the  theatre.  Reason  is  Ascap-BMI 
music  fight  . . . Joseph  Bernhard  paused 
in  Chicago  for  conference  with  Warner 
circuit  officials  en  route  to  Hollywood  . . . 
Frank  Lydon,  Dorchester,  Mass.,  is  expect- 
ed to  be  unopposed  this  year  for  re-election 
as  president  of  Independent  Exhibitors, 
Inc.,  Boston  Allied  affiliate. 


control  of  both  KAO  and  RKO.  In  the 
last  Atlas  financial  report,  the  company 
stated  it  held  29,881  shares  of  RKO  six 
per  cent  cumulative  stock  and  832,418 
shares  of  RKO  common  and  327,811  RKO 
warrants  for  an  aggregate  investment  of 
$3,695,911.06. 

The  deal  comes  fast  on  the  heels  of  an 
$8,000,000  financing  arrangement  under- 
stood to  have  been  worked  out  by  George 
J.  Schaefer  with  Boston  interests.  Part  of 
the  loan  was  to  apply  to  the  Meehan  pur- 
chase and  the  rest  to  RKO  requirements. 

Monogram  St.  Louis  Meet 
Shitted  to  January  11 

St.  Louis — Monogram  franchise  holders 
have  postponed  for  a week  their  scheduled 
two-day  meeting  here  January  4-5.  Be- 
cause of  the  holidays,  it  was  decided  to 
hold  the  session  January  11-12.  The  men 
will  discuss  current  output  as  well  as  fu- 
ture plans. 

It  is  reported  George  W.  Weeks  may  in- 
crease his  “Range  Busters”  series  from 


Harry  Talks  to 
Katie  Once  More 

New  York — Harry  Brandt,  president  of 
the  ITOA  of  New  York,  knows  his  pub- 
licity values.  He  also  recognizes  a hit 
attraction  when  it  does  about  $125,000  in 
one  week  at  the  Music  Hall  where  paid 
admissions  totaled  110,168  in  four  Christ- 
mas-New Year's  week  days. 

Magnanimously,  Brandt  now  deter- 
mines Katharine  Hepburn  is  no  longer 
boxoffice  "poison.”  She's  off  his  deadly 
list.  So  completely  off  it  that  Howard 
Dietz,  acting  for  M-G-M,  is  sending  out 
long  telegrams  to  newspapers  advising 
of  the  news. 

IS  >J 

M-G-M  Striving  for 
Pledge  of  36  "A's" 


Palm  Springs,  Cal. — It  is  M-G-M’s  earn- 
est intention  to  deliver  its  promised  quota 
of  36  “A”  films  this  season  despite  the 
complexities  of  preparing  the  1941-42 
schedule  to  comply  with  the  decree,  ac- 
cording to  William  F.  Rodgers,  general 
sales  manager,  who  is  taking  a short  vaca- 
tion here  before  going  on  to  the  studios 
for  production  conferences.  With  him  are 
his  two  sons,  Thomas  and  William  jr.,  who 
will  remain  until  late  this  month  and  re- 
turn east  with  Rodgers. 

Declining  to  hazard  a guess  on  when  his 
company  will  begin  selling  next  season’s 
product,  Rodgers  is  of  the  opinion  nothing 
concrete  will  be  available  until  late  in 
March.  His  last  visit  to  the  studios  about 
six  weeks  ago,  he  indicates,  was  for  the 
purposes  of  advising  production  executives 
of  his  selling  problems  for  1941-42.  When 
he  confers  with  them  again  in  about  a 
week  he  expects  to  get  some  form  of  reply 
that  will  permit  him  to  formalize  plans. 
The  company  may  hold  a sales  convention 
in  June.  . 

Rodgers  makes  it  clear  every  effort  will 
be  made  to  fulfill  the  current  program,  but 
indicates  the  latter  part  of  the  season  may 
find  a few  “B”  productions  dropped  to  get 
the  new  lineup  under  way.  The  company 
has  delivered  13  of  the  36  “A’s”  promised 
for  1940-41 ; this  through  December,  and 
will  have  four  more  by  the  end  of  Janu- 
ary. With  a policy  committed  to  44  to  52 
Rodgers  foresees  little  difficulty  in  meeting 
it.  So  far  three  “B’s”  have  been  delivered 
of  the  16  promised,  with  at  least  one  com- 
ing up  this  month.  If,  according  to  Rodg- 
ers’ calculations,  the  entire  group  of  36 
“A’s”  is  delivered  and  the  company  fin- 
ishes at  least  four  more  “B’s,”  which  seems 
a certainty,  the  minimum  of  44  promised 
will  be  attained  easily. 


12  to  18  for  the  season.  These  westerns 
are  understood  to  be  popular.  Edward  A. 
Golden,  former  general  sales  manager,  has 
become  a partner  with  Weeks  in  the  new 
unit  which  is  to  produce  the  additional 
“Range  Busters”  series. 

Plans  for  some  of  the  bigger  pictures 
scheduled  for  the  next  few  months  will 
be  outlined  by  President  Ray  Johnston. 


Atlas  Deeper  in  RKO-KAO 
Via  Buy  of  Meehan  Stock 


16 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


Awaiting  Word  From  Hays 
On  MPPDA  Pact  Renewal 


(r 

Cannot  Use  Frozen 
Funds  tor  Theatres 

London — Commenting  on  the  new  Brit- 
ish remittance  plan,  Ernest  W.  Fredman 
observes  in  "The  Daily  Film  Renter": 

“It  will,  of  course,  leave  a terrific 
amount  of  unremittable  funds  in  this 
country,  and  your  speculation  is  as  good 
as  mine  as  to  what  will  happen  to  them 
— though  I don't  think  you  need  have  any 
apprehension  that  they  will  be  used  in 
the  buying  of  kinemas  because  I just 
don't  think  that's  possible.  Certainly,  if 
my  information  from  a very  high  official 
in  the  treasury  is  correct,  it  can't  be 
done." 

0 

Clearance  as  Knotty 
Arbitration  Problem 

(Continued  from  page  4) 
can  claim  he  does  not  wish  to  pay  as 
much  in  rentals,  and,  since  the  second 
theatre  has  gained  a week,  it  is  hardly 
likely  he  will  be  asked  to  pay  more  for  his 
film.  Hence,  the  distributor  finds  himself 
in  the  middle,  but  can  ask  the  higher  board 
to  review  the  case. 

While  the  indication  will  be  to  get 
quicker  playoff  under  the  decree’s  block- 
of-five  sales  plan,  it  is  understood  dis- 
tributors will  not  waive  any  clearance 
rights  where  rentals  may  be  affected.  As 
one  attorney  expressed  it,  ‘‘The  arbitrators 
are  not  gods.  They  will  have  their  hands 
full  when  it  comes  to  clearance.” 

A special  crew  of  lawyers  is  being  as- 
signed to  arbitration  by  home  offices,  the 
theory  being  that  for  the  first  year  clear- 
ances will  easily  take  first  place  in  the 
number  of  complaints  to  be  filed  and  ad- 
judicated. 


Mayer  Top  Metro  Salary , 
SEC  Report  Will  Show 

(Continued  from  page  4) 

Armsby,  John  R.  Hazel,  William  A.  Parker, 
David  Warfield  and  Henry  Rogers  Win- 
throp. 

Other  officers  who  hold  percentage  con- 
tracts and  who  are  included  among  the 
top  brackets  include  Bernstein,  Katz, 
Lichtman,  Mannix,  Rubin  and  Thau. 

After  various  deductions,  as  provided  in 
other  employment  agreements,  Bernstein 
receives  $2,000  a week  plus  1.5  per  cent 
of  the  net  earnings;  Katz,  $3,000  a week, 
plus  1.4  per  cent;  Lichtman,  $3,000,  plus 
1.05  per  cent;  Mannix,  $2,500  salary  and 
$500  expense,  plus  1.4  per  cent;  Rubin, 
$2,000,  plus  1.4  per  cent;  Thau,  $1,750  plus 
7/10  of  one  per  cent. 


Bernhard  on  Coast 

Hollywood— Joseph  Bernhard,  general 
manager  of  the  Warner  circuit,  is  here 
from  New  York  to  confer  with  Harry  M. 
and  Jack  L.  Warner. 


New  York — Twice  reported  on  the 
agenda  of  the  MPPDA  directors,  just  so 
many  times  has  the  renewal  of  Will  H. 
Hays’  contract  as  president  of  the  associa- 
tion failed  to  come  up  for  discussion,  sim- 
ply because  there  appears  nothing  further 
to  discuss. 

That  he  will  continue  in  the  post  he  has 
held  consecutively  for  the  last  18  years  is 
no  longer  subject  of  speculation.  The 
heads  of  the  companies,  many  weeks  ago, 
so  agreed  and  now  it’s  up  to  Hays.  The 
strongest  indication  of  the  final  outcome, 
however,  is  seen  in  his  voluntary  offer  to 
reduce  his  yearly  salary  from  $100,000  to 
$80,000  and  his  traveling  expenses,  now 
fixed  at  another  $100,000  annually,  by 
$20,000.  It  seems  pretty  much  on  the 
foregone  conclusion  side  that  the  MPPDA 
head  would  not  advance  his  own  proposal 
unless  he  had  all  intention  of  remaining 
in  his  post. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  of  the  direc- 
tors last  Friday,  the  association’s  budget 
of  $750,000  for  1941  was  presented  by  Hays 


No  Letup  in  Record 
Production  Pace  Seen 

Hollywood  — All  dispensers  of  gloom 
anent  the  Hollywood  scene  to  the  con- 
trary, actual  statistics  reveal  there  is  to 
be  no  letdown  in  production  pace  during 
the  first  weeks  of  January  and,  according 
to  schedules  already  set  up,  a fast  picture- 
making tempo  seems  set  to  maintain 
through  February  also.  The  lineup  for  this 
month  includes  five  each  from  Republic 
and  Universal;  four  from  Warner,  expe- 
riencing the  most  intensive  mid -season 
boom  in  studio  history;  four  each  from 
Metro  and  Paramount;  two  each  from  Co- 
lumbia and  20th  Century-Fox;  three  from 
RKO  Radio;  and  one  from  Monogram  for 
a grand  total  of  30.  In  February  ten  starts 
are  slated.  The  breakdown  finds  Uni- 
versal to  roll  two,  Columbia  two,  20th 
Century-Fox  two,  and  Argosy,  Alexander 
Korda,  Sol  Lesser  and  Republic  one  each. 
More  than  two-thirds  of  the  January  cam- 
era entries  are  of  the  big-budgeted  variety. 

Still  Emphasize  Campaigns 
For  the  Early  Runs 

Still  turning  their  hand  toward  selling 
pictures  in  early  runs,  studio  publicity- 
advertising executives  announced  such  en- 
terprises as:  Warner  is  arranging  a bill- 
board campaign  on  “Flight  From  Destiny,” 
using  1,000  boards  in  32  cities.  Advertising 
budget  is  boosted  to  $150,000  . . . Pacific 
Coast  premiere  of  Walt  Disney’s  “Fan- 
tasia” will  be  in  Los  Angeles  late  this 
month.  National  exploitation  is  being  han- 
dled by  Frank  Braden  and  roadshow  treat- 
ment in  a dozen  or  more  key  cities  will 
follow  as  Fantasound  sound  units  are  built. 


and  accepted  by  the  member  companies. 
The  total  matches  the  budget  for  1940. 
Acceptance  was  voiced  despite  the  under- 
stood fact  the  budget  committee,  composed 
of  Joseph  Hazen,  Sidney  R.  Kent  and 
Nicholas  M.  Schenck  had  not  prepared  a 
formal  presentation.  It  is  further  under- 
stood there  was  mild  opposition  against 
voting  the  new  one  on  a flat,  one-year 
basis  but  that,  when  Hays  pointed  out  any 
staggering  plan  on  the  basis  of  a three- 
month  period,  as  recommended,  would  pre- 
sent difficulties  in  operation,  the  original 
proposal  was  voted  unanimously. 

Joseph  I.  Breen,  production  code  ad- 
ministrator, who  is  spending  a vacation 
here  and  in  Philadelphia  with  members  of 
his  family,  appeared  before  the  board  Fri- 
day. He  is  reported  to  have  registered  his 
difficulties  in  keeping  studio  heads  and 
producers  constantly  in  line.  He  was 
voted  confidence  by  the  company  heads 
who,  however,  pointed  out  the  product  is 
made  in  Hollywood  and  that,  therefore, 
code  administration  is  a matter  for  direct 
handling  at  the  scene  of  production. 


Five  Large-Scale  Independent 
Productions  Are  Scheduled 

Five  large-scaled  independent  produc- 
tions are  slated  to  roll  within  the  next  30 
days.  Included  are  two  for  RKO  Radio — 
Herbert  Wilcox’s  “Sunny”  and  William 
Hawks’  “My  Life  With  Caroline”  . . . 
Universal  will  distribute  two  others,  Frank 
Lloyd’s  “Lady  From  Cheyenne”  and  Law- 
rence Fox’s  “The  Man  Who  Lost  Him- 
self” . . . Walter  Wanger  will  add  Argosy’s 
“The  Eagle  Squadron”  to  his  United  Art- 
ists schedule. 

Lewis  Leaves  Sherman; 

Studio  Payrolls  Climb 

Most  important  personnel  change  in  a 
rather  quiet  week  concerned  the  resigna- 
tion of  Myke  Lewis  as  sales  head  for  Harry 
Sherman  Productions.  No  successor  has 
been  named  and  Lewis  has  announced  no 
future  plans  beyond  a month’s  holiday 
. . . November’s  increased  production  tem- 
po also  occasioned  a boost  in  weekly  pay- 
rolls and  the  studio  employment  index. 
12,428  workers  earned  $557,957  during  the 
month — $8,636  more  than  was  paid  12,295 
payrollees  in  October.  Average  weekly 
November  paycheck  was  $44.90. 

Miscellany: 

Several  top  assignments  in  the  acting 
and  directorial  divisions  found  Merle 
Oberon  signed  for  the  top  spot  opposite 
Dennis  Morgan  in  Warner’s  “Affectionate- 
ly Yours”  . . . Martha  Scott  has  the  lead 
opposite  George  Brent  in  “They  Dare  Not 
Love”  at  Columbia  . . . Randolph  Scott 
draws  a topline  in  RKO  Radio’s  “True  to 
Form.”  David  Butler  produces  and  directs. 


WHAT  THE  STUDIOS  ARE  DOING 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


17 


Q.  and  A.  Translates 
Decree  Arbitration 

(Continued  from  page  11) 
paid  by  the  party  which  makes  the  ap- 
peal. 

Will  the  exhibitor  have  to  appear  per- 
sonally in  an  appeals  case? 

No,  he  can  present  his  material  in 
writing  and  oral  arguments  may  be 
heard  only  upon  the  written  agree- 
ment of  all  parties  and  if  ordered  by 
the  appeals  board. 

Where  will  the  appeal  board  sit? 

In  the  Radio  City  development  in 
New  York.  The  exact  location  has 
not  yet  been  selected. 

How  can  an  exhibitor  start  an  arbitra- 
tion? 

He  does  this  by  making  his  com- 
plaint in  writing  to  the  clerk  of  the 
local  tribunal.  The  AAA  is  prepar- 
ing special  forms  for  such  purposes. 
Where  will  hearings  be  held? 

In  the  office  having  jurisdiction  in 
the  particular  area.  There  will  be  31 
such  offices.  Each  hearing  will  be 
scheduled  as  to  time,  date  and  place 
in  order  to  avoid  delay.  The  local 
clerk  will  set  the  time  after  conferring 
with  the  parties. 

How  will  arbitrators  be  chosen? 

Each  party  to  a dispute  will  be  given 
a list  of  available  arbitrators  in  the 
area.  There  will  be  not  less  than  10 
names.  Each  party  will  cross  off  the 
names  of  the  arbitrators  objected  to 
and  will  indicate  the  order  of  prefer- 
ence of  the  names  remaining  on  the 
identical  lists. 

May  the  arbitrators  have  any  connection 
with  the  industry? 

No,  because  the  decree  forbids  the 
appointment  as  an  arbitrator  of  any 
one  connected,  directly  or  indirectly, 
past  or  present,  with  the  industry. 

Will  this  in  any  way  hamper  the  pro- 
ceedings? 

No.  Experience  has  shown  that  a 
lawyer  or  intelligent  business  man 
can  grasp  the  issue  at  stake  even 
though  he  is  not  familiar  with  the 
industry.  Each  arbitrator  selected  by 
the  AAA  will  be  a thoroughly  experi- 
enced business,  professional  or  educa- 
tional person  well  known  for  his  in- 
tegrity, patience,  understanding  and 
judicial  competence. 

Is  the  exhibitor’s  presence  essential  at  a 
local  hearing? 

Yes,  because  he  will  be  needed  to 
offer  testimony  concerning  the  dis- 
pute. However,  he  may  be  represented 
by  an  attorney  or  agent. 

Can  a settlement  be  made  before  the 
parties  have  entered  into  an  arbitration 
hearing? 

Yes,  this  is  very  frequently  done.  Al- 
most one-third  of  the  cases  scheduled 
for  hearings  in  other  tribunals  of  the 
AAA  are  settled  after  a complaint  has 
been  filed.  When  this  occurs  the  only 
cost  is  the  amount  paid  for  the  filing 
fee. 

Do  precedents  hold  in  arbitration? 

No.  Each  case  is  decided  on  its  own 


Scollard  Is  Executive 
Assistant  to  Agnew 


New  York — C.  J.  “Pat”  Scollard  on 
Monday  assumes  a new  post  at  Paramount 
as  executive  assistant  to  Neil  F.  Agnew, 
vice-president  in  charge  of  distribution. 

His  chief  duties,  however,  will  continue 
as  in  the  past,  in  charge  of  advertising 
budgets  in  association  with  Robert  M.  Gill- 
ham,  director  of  advertising  and  publicity, 
who,  incidentally,  is  in  Hollywood  on  a 
short  trip. 


UA  Field  Changes  Set- 
Masters  Now  in  N.  Y. 

New  York — UA  field  changes,  headed 
by  appointment  of  Haskell  M.  Masters  as 
western  sales  manager  succeeding  L.  Jack 
Schlaifer,  now  a special  representative, 
are  now  in  effect.  Masters  arrived  from 
Toronto  during  the  week. 


Lipton  Assumes  His  Post 
As  Columbia's  Ad  Chief 

New  York — David  A.  Lipton  on  Monday 
launches  himself  as  director  of  advertising, 
publicity  and  exploitation  of  Columbia  Pic- 
tures. He  arrived  from  Hollywood  late  last 
week. 


merits  and  the  arbitrator  does  not 
have  to  follow  any  precedent.  It  is  pos- 
sible, however,  that  accumulations  of 
decisions  will  set  standards  for  these 
practices. 

Can  an  arbitrator  be  removed? 

Yes,  upon  written  application  of  any 
party  prior  to  the  date  the  arbitrator’s 
award  becomes  final.  The  removal 
may  be  made  by  the  AAA  upon  proof 
that  the  arbitrator  has  a financial  in- 
terest or  connection  with  the  industry 
or  is  otherwise  disqualified. 

How  will  an  exhibitor  know  if  he  has 
won  or  lost  a case? 

Copies  of  the  award  will  be  mailed 
by  the  clerk  of  the  tribunal.  The  award 
must  be  made  in  writing  and  notarized. 

Is  there  a difference  between  “arbitra- 
tion” and  “mediation?” 

Yes.  Arbitration  is  a legal  procedure 
which  results  in  a legally  enforceable 
award.  Mediation  aims  at  compromise 


Wrighi  Heading  Gov't 
"Little  Three"  Action 

New  York — With  the  departure  of  James 
V.  Hayes  from  participation  in  future 
anti-trust  actions  against  film  companies, 
Robert  L.  Wright,  special  assistant  to  the 
attorney  general,  will  have  complete  charge 
of  the  prosecution  of  the  amended  and 
supplemental  bill  of  complaint  against  UA, 
Columbia  and  Universal  when  trial  is 
scheduled  in  the  local  federal  court  some- 
time in  the  spring. 

Hayes  has  been  assigned  to  another  in- 
dustry in  the  department  of  justice  in- 
vestigation of  monopolies.  He  was  in  town 
Tuesday  to  confer  with  a local  federal 
judge  on  another  matter. 

Assisting  Wright,  who  will  also  be  the 
government’s  overseer  on  the  operation  of 
the  decree  entered  with  the  “Big  Five,” 
and  on  the  suit  against  the  “Little  Three” 
will  be  John  F.  Clagett,  Seymour  Simon,  J. 
Stephen  Doyle  and  J.  Frank  Cunningham. 


Suits  and  Decree  Tour 
To  Keep  Phillips  Busy 

Chicago  — Louis  Phillips,  Paramount 
home  office  attorney,  arrived  here  over  the 
weekend  for  the  La  Crosse  Theatre  anti- 
trust action  which  comes  up  Monday  in 
Madison,  Wis.,  federal  court. 

As  soon  as  the  action  is  completed, 
Phillips  will  return  to  Chicago  for  the 
defense  in  a plagiarism  suit  filed  against 
Paramount  on  “Professor,  Beware.”  This 
is  slated  to  come  up  January  13. 

Following  the  two  hearings,  he  will  be- 
gin a tour  of  Paramount  exchanges  in 
conjunction  with  Austin  C.  Keough,  gen- 
eral counsel,  to  explain  all  phases  of  the 
consent  decree  to  branch  managers  and 
their  personnel. 

Keough  and  Phillips  will  divide  the 
country  so  that  all  exchanges  are  cov- 
ered in  the  least  possible  time. 


and,  if  it  fails,  no  binding  decision  is 
made. 

How  can  an  exhibitor  determine  what 
arbitration  district  has  jurisdiction  over 
his  dispute? 

He  can  do  so  by  writing  to  the  AAA 
at  8 West  40th  Street,  New  York,  un- 
til the  end  of  January,  then  to  the 
U.  S.  Rubber  Building,  1230  Sixth  Ave- 
nue, New  York. 

How  often  will  the  same  arbitrator  be 
called  to  hear  cases? 

That  will  depend  entirely  on  the 
number  of  disputes  in  a particular 
area.  In  ordinary  arbitration  few  ar- 
bitrators are  called  to  serve  more  than 
three  times  a year. 

How  do  you  account  for  the  fact  that 
such  high  calibre  men  are  willing  to  give 
up  their  time  to  act  as  arbitrators  for  the 
AAA? 

Acting  as  an  arbitrator  is  deemed  by 
many  as  a public  service.  Day  after  day, 
men  whose  names  are  household  words 
in  American  industry  spend  valuable 
time  away  from  their  business  to  arbi- 
trate a dispute.  Records  show  the  lead- 
ing business  men  sit  in  judgment  on 
cases  involving  as  little  as  $5. 


18 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4.  1941 


lisiii 


HIGH  SIERRA 

starring  . ^ < ~ : 

IDA  LUPINO 
HUMPHREY  BOGART 


with 

Alan  Curtis*  Arthur  Kennedy  • Joan  Leslie 
Henry  Hull  * Henry  Travers 
Directed  by  RAOUL  WALSH 

Screen  Play  by  John  Huston  and  W.  ft.  Burnett 
Burnett 


From  the  Novel  by  W.  R. 


86  HOUSES  OPEN,  82  BUILDING, 

63  PLANNED  AT  CLOSE  OF  1940 

( — - - - ■ ' ' 


Where  and  What  They  Are 

Theatres  in  work,  planned  and  opened  for  the  quarter  beginning  October  1 and 
ended  December  29,  covering  41  states,  and  also  Canada,  as  correlated  by  Boxoffice 
correspondents.  Statistically,  here  is  a state-by-state  breakdown: 

State — I?i  Work  Planned  Opened 

Alabama  2 ....  3 

Arizona  1 

Arkansas  2 4 

California  14  6 

Colorado  ....  3 

Connecticut  2 12 

Delaware  ....  1 

District  of  Columbia  ....  2 

Florida  6 6 4 

Georgia  5 1 

Illinois  3 ....  1 

Indiana  2 

Iowa  4 

Kansas  3 2 1 

Kentucky  5 4 

Louisiana  3 ....  2 

Maine  1 1 

Maryland  3 

Massachusetts  2 ....  3 

Michigan  4 2 2 

Minnesota  ....  1 

Mississippi  2 ....  2 

Missouri  2 1 

Nebraska  ....  2 

Nevada  1 

New  Jersey  1 

New  Mexico  2 ....  1 

New  York  2 12 

North  Carolina  1 ....  4 

Ohio  5 4 2 

Oklahoma  1 3 

Pennsylvania  3 3 8 

Rhode  Island  1 ....  1 

South  Carolina  4 12 

Tennessee  2 ....  3 

Texas  7 4 9 

Utah  2 11 

Virginia  2 1 

West  Virginia  5 16 

Wisconsin  1 

Canada  3 10  6 

Totals  82  63  86 

VS-  - - — - 


Compares  With  91  During 
Earlier  Quarter;  Texas 
Still  Tops  Field 


With  41  states  reporting,  the  greatest 
number  in  any  quarter,  including  Canada, 
Boxoffice  correspondents  tallied  86  new 
theatres  opened  in  the  last  three  months 
of  1940.  This  compares  with  91  new  struc- 
tures for  the  quarter  ended  October  1. 

The  latest  survey  also  shows  a total  of 
82  projects  under  various  stages  of  con- 
struction, as  compared  with  64  for  the 
previous  three  months.  New  theatres 
planned  for  the  last  tally  showed  63  as 
compared  with  39  for  the  previous  quar- 
ter. 

Signs  of  army  theatres  cropping  up  all 
over  the  country  are  indicated  by  Box- 
office  reporters  for  the  first  time.  About 
a half  dozen  have  been  completed  or  are 
in  work. 

Pennsylvania  came  to  the  fore  with  a 
total  of  eight  newly  opened  structures  in 
the  final  quarter.  This  is  the  same  num- 
ber reported  for  the  July-September 
months.  However,  Texas  took  the  lead 
with  nine  new  houses  as  compared  to  eight 
for  the  previous  quarter. 

Canada  has  shown  signs  of  activity  again 
after  a dull  July-September  with  lb  thea- 
tres planned  and  six  opened. 

Alabama 

Andalusia — The  new  Martin  Theatres 
house,  the  Martin,  seating  1,200  has 
opened. 

Birmingham — A new  colored  house,  the 
Carver,  operated  by  Fred  Levi,  has  opened. 

Decatur — The  new  Roxy,  operated  by 
Crescent  Amusements,  will  open  early  in 
January. 

Montgomery — The  Charles,  a 1,000-seat 
subsequent  run  house,  has  opened. 

Sheffield — A February  opening  is  sched- 
uled for  the  new  Muscle  Shoals  Theatres’ 
house  now  under  construction. 

Arizona 

Tempe — Dwight  Harkins  has  started  con- 
struction on  a new  500-seat  house  to  be 
called  the  College. 

Arkansas 

Batesville — Bill  Headstream  has  opened 
the  new  Melba  seating  725. 

Fordyce — K.  Lee  Williams  has  taken  a 
long-term  lease  on  a local  business  struc- 
ture for  conversion  into  a theatre  soon. 

Hughes — K.  H.  Kinney  has  opened  the 
New  Hays.  It  seats  500. 

North  Little  Rock — Your  Family  Thea- 
tres, Inc.,  has  opened  a new  theatre  on 
Main  St. 

Malco  Realty  Co.  plans  to  build  a new 
750-seat  theatre  in  the  Park  Hill  section. 

Springdale  — W.  F.  Sonneman  has 
opened  his  new  Shilo. 

California 

Burbank — A1  Minor  has  opened  his  new 
Magnolia,  a 700-seat  house. 

Casa  Grande — Bill  Cox  has  opened  his 
new  Chief,  seating  450. 


National  City — Harry  Goldfarb  will  start 
construction  on  a new  de  luxe  900-seat 
theatre. 

Pomona — Fox  West  Coast  has  opened  the 
State.  It  seats  500. 

Roseville — Peters  & Lehman  have  opened 
their  new  Tower. 

San  Francisco — The  Blumenfeld  circuit 
has  opened  the  new  Esquire  downtown. 

San  Leandro — Golden  State  Theatres  has 
started  construction  on  a new  theatre. 

San  Luis  Obispo — Fox  West  Coast,  in 
association  with  Lou  Rosenberg,  plans  a 
1,000-seat  theatre  to  cost  $150,000. 

Santa  Barbara — Louis  Kaplan  plans  to 
construct  a 900-seat  de  luxe  house. 

Santa  Monica — Burke  and  Bayliss  will 
build  a 1,000-seat  house.  Construction  is 
due  to  start  in  February. 

Winnemucca — Bill  Cook  has  opened  his 
new  theatre. 

Colorado 

Couches  Dam  — Jim  Thompson  has 
opened  the  new  Tunnell,  a 400-seater. 

La  Junta — Fox-Intermountain  has  open- 
ed the  new  700-seat  Fox,  which  cost  ap- 
proximately $43,000. 


Saguache — New  304-seat  theatre,  known 
as  Ute,  has  been  opened  by  Ross  Labart. 

Connecticut 

Bridgeport — Lou  Anger  expects  to  build 
a new  theatre  here  in  1941. 

Bristol — Joe  Faith  will  open  his  new  700- 
seat  theatre  in  February. 

New  Haven — Connon  Cannon’s  new 
house  is  in  operation.  It  has  700  seats. 

Westville — The  new  Westville,  a 750- 
seat  house,  has  opened. 

Wethersfield  — Construction  on  the 
Schulman’s  Wethersfield  is  progressing. 

Delaware 

Seaford — Thomas  E.  Ayres’  new  house, 
seating  800  and  costing  $75,000  is  open. 

District  of  Columbia 

Washington — Fairlawn  Amusement  Co. 
has  opened  the  new  Highland  in  southeast 
Washington. 

The  Apex  is  the  latest  addition  in  the 
Fred  Kogod  circuit. 

Florida 

Coral  Gables — Paramount  Enterprises 
(Continued  on  page  21) 


20 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


In  this  issue 


The  MODERN 


Specifically  devoted  to  "Func- 
tional Planning,"  with  emphasis 
on  renovation  and  other  aspects 
of  theatre  operation  and  mainte- 
nance. 


86  Theatres  Opened 
In  Final  Quarter 


(Continued  from  page  20) 

has  opened  the  Coral  here. 

Jacksonville — L.  H.  Holloway  of  Cor- 
dele,  Ga.,  is  constructing  a 700-seat  house 
to  be  located  in  the  Murray  Hill  section. 
It  is  expected  to  be  open  soon. 

E.  J.  Sparks  is  planning  three  theatres 
here. 

Construction  has  started  on  a new  1,- 
000-seat  theatre  by  Arthur  J.  Seigel  of 
New  York. 

Lake  Wales — Sparks  circuit  has  under 
construction  a 600-seat  house. 

Miami  — Paramount  Enterprises  has 
opened  the  new  Lincoln  Road  at  Miami 
Beach.  The  circuit  is  also  building  two 
other  houses,  the  Dade  and  the  Boulevard 
here. 

Orlando — George  Pekany  has  opened  a 
new  900-seat  house  here. 

Sparks  has  opened  the  new  Cameo,  seat- 
ing 500. 

St.  Petersburg — Construction  has  start- 
ed on  a new  drive-in  theatre  by  the  Sparks 
circuit  to  accommodate  500  cars. 

Starke — Mina  Manassa  Grady,  operator 
of  the  Ritz,  plans  a new  1,000-seat  house. 

Tampa — Butler  E.  Gore,  manager  of 
Broadway  Theatres,  announces  plans  for 
two  theatres  here. 

Georgia 

Atlanta — Lucas  and  Jenkins  have  opened 
their  new  Gordon. 

Carrollton — The  Martin  chains  plans  to 
build  a 400-seat  house. 

Dalton — Manning  and  Wink  plan  a new 
theatre  for  this  community. 

Fort  Benning — The  Ivy  Construction  Co. 
has  submitted  bids  for  the  construction  of 
two  theatres  on  the  nearby  military  reser- 
vation. 

Lawrenceville — Owners  of  the  Colonial 
here  have  purchased  a site  for  the  con- 
struction of  an  800-seat  theatre. 

Illinois 

Cairo — The  I.  W.  Rogers  circuit  is  build- 
ing the  new  Gem  here. 

Chicago — The  Glencoe  in  the  suburb  of 
the  same  name  has  been  opened  by  Sam 
Meyers. 

A second  newsreel  house  to  be  called 
Today  will  open  soon  in  the  Loop.  It  will 
seat  600. 


Decatur — Dominic  Frisina  has  a thea- 
tre costing  $125,000  under  construction.  It 
will  be  the  47th  house  in  the  Frisina  chain. 

Indiana  • 

La  Grange — Mrs.  Florence  Wigdon  will 
start  building  a 400-seat  theatre  here  in 
1941. 

South  Whitley — Don  LeBrun,  operator  of 
the  Kent,  plans  to  build  another  theatre. 

Iowa 

Akron — Mel  Smith  is  building  a new 
theatre  to  seat  480. 

Newton — A building  is  being  remodeled 
into  a theatre  in  this  town.  It  will  open 
in  February. 

Ottumwa — A modern  $35,000  theatre  is 
being  built  for  Elmer  J.  Tilton.  It  will 
seat  600. 

The  Ottumwa  Theatre  Corp.  is  building 
another  theatre. 

Kansas 

Colby — Don  Phillips  is  building  a new 
theatre. 

Galena — Art  Pugh  has  opened  the  new 
Star. 

Iola— A new  560-seat  theatre  is  under 
construction  for  E.  Van  Hyning.  It  will 
cost  $20,000. 

Junction  City — A new  theatre  is  pro- 
jected by  H.  J.  Griffith  near  the  Fort  Riley 
army  encampment. 

Parsons — Ted  Davis  will  convert  a build- 
ing into  a 650-seat  theatre. 

Wichita — R.  E.  Conrad  is  building  a new 
house  in  the  downtown  section. 

J.  C.  Hartman  is  planning  a film-vaude- 
ville house  in  the  suburbs. 

Kentucky 

Barbourville — Charles  Mitchell  is  break- 
ing ground  for  his  second  house. 

Beattyville — Max  Goldberg  plans  a new 
house. 


63  in  Planned  Stage 
At  Close  of  Year 


Dayton — A site  has  been  purchased  by  a 
local  exhibitor  for  a new  800-seat  house. 

Ervin e — J.  F.  Carnahan  will  build  a new 
theatre. 

Louisville — A new  theatre.  The  Ohio,  will 
open  in  May.  It  will  seat  1,000.  The  Set- 
tos  chain  is  building. 

Wayne  Kimball  is  pondering  another 
theatre. 

Pineville — Dona  Reda  has  the  founda- 
tions for  his  new  house  ready. 

Sand  Gap — J.  F.  Carnahan  and  M.  C. 
Hughes  are  building  a new  theatre. 

Winchester — The  Winchester  Amuse- 
ment Co.  is  remodeling  a store  building 
into  a theatre. 

Louisiana 

Crowley — Southern  Amusement  Co.  is 
building  a new  theatre. 

Gretna — Construction  is  under  way  on 
a new  1,000-seat  house  for  Berenson  Thea- 
tres, Inc. 

Lake  Charles — Southern  Amusement  Co. 
is  building  a new  Paramount  which  will 
seat  1,056. 

New  Orleans — The  new  United  Chain 
house  on  the  west  side  has  opened. 

Maine 

Bingham — A new  theatre,  equipped  with 
RCA  sound,  is  being  built  by  Colby  W. 
Robinson. 

Woodford’s  Corner — A new  theatre  will 
be  constructed  here. 

(Continued  on  page  22) 


HAVE  THIS  TO  SAY: 


■ 


★ 77 Reaction  terrific  ...the  patrons  howled . . . asked 
for  more/7  F.  B.  Schlax,  Kenosha  Theatre,  Kenosha,  Wis. 

• 

★ "Audience  reaction  very  enthusiastic  . . . should 
play  every  theatre  . . " 

Lou  B.  Metzger,  Spreckles  Theatre,  San  Diego,  Cal. 

★ "Audience  reaction  excellent  . . ." 

Harry  Zeitz,  State  Theatre,  New  Bedford,  Mass. 

• 

★ " . . . fine  entertainment  ...  77  Chas.  Bierbauer, 

Wilmer  & Vincent’s  Colonial,  Allentown,  Pa. 

• 

★ All  of  which  means  there  is  a great  reel  in 
BOB  HAWK'S  sensational  CBS  CoasMo-Coast 
network  smash  . . /7TAKE  IT  OR  LEAVE  IT77 
A COLUMBIA  77QUIZ77  REEL -NOW  BOOKING 


V ; 


; 

; 


* 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


21 


82  in  Construction; 
Mideast  Is  Active 


(Continued  from  page  21) 

Maryland 

Ellicott  City — I.  Taylor,  a local  mar- 
chant,  is  planning  a new  house. 

Leonardtown — Kenneth  Duke  announces 
he  will  build  a new  theatre. 

Sykesville — Local  business  men  are  re- 
ported planning  a new  theatre. 

Massachusetts 

Boston — The  new  M&P  Circle  seating  1,- 
200  has  opened. 

Dorchester — F.  E.  Lieberman’s  new  1,- 
300-seat  house  has  opened. 

Falmouth — Two  new  theatres  are  being 
built  near  Camp  Edwards. 

Ludlow — The  new  Royal,  operated  by 
Harry  Lamere,  has  opened. 

Michigan 

Battle  Creek — The  Butterfield  circuit 
will  build  an  800-seat  theatre  near  the 
army  training  camp. 

Detroit — A new  1,000-seat  theatre  will 
be  built  in  suburban  Allen  Park  by  Max 
Allen. 

The  new  Royal,  operated  by  UDT,  and 
W&W  has  opened.  It  seats  2,500. 

The  Circle-Midway  Theatre  Co.  has  be- 
gun construction  on  a 2,200-seat  theatre. 

Melvindale — Louis  Schlussel  is  building 
a 2,000-seat  theatre. 

Kalkaska — O.  W.  Keelor  has  opened  a 
new  300-seat  theatre.  It  is  the  Kal. 

Lapeer — George  Smith  has  bought  RCA 
sound  for  the  new  theatre  he  is  building. 

River  Rouge — Bernard  Brooks  has  be- 
gun excavating  for  a new  theatre. 


Minnesota 

Crookston — C.  L.  and  Ernotte  Hillers 
have  opened  their  second  theatre,  the  800- 
seat  Gopher. 

Mississippi 

Greenwood — Frank  Bishop  and  Ben 
Ward  of  Ellisville  are  building  the  Fran. 

Bob  Sigler,  owner  and  manager  of  the 
Royal,  Hattiesburg,  Miss.,  has  opened  a 
new  theatre  here. 

McComb — A.  L.  Royal’s  new  house  has 
opened. 

Meriden — A.  L.  Royal  has  a $5,000  house 
in  construction  here. 

Missouri 

Lee’s  Summit — The  new  Vogue  operated 
by  Johnson,  Abend  & Harttmann  has 
opened. 

St.  Louis — The  St.  Louis  Amusement  Co. 
is  negotiating  for  a site  on  which  to  build 
a new  1,500-seat  theatre. 

Nebraska 

Friend— Wally  Johnson  has  opened  the 
new  Vogue,  a 252-seater. 

Lincoln — Nebraska  Theatres,  Inc.,  has 
opened  the  Kiva,  seating  440,  as  a sub- 
sequent run. 

Nevada 

Ely — P.  W.  Hull,  who  operates  a string 
of  theatres  in  this  state,  is  building  a 775- 
seater  here. 

New  Jersey 

Passaic — Work  is  under  way  on  the  new 
Central,  to  seat  2,400,  and  scheduled  to 
open  in  April. 


Additional  detail  covering  the  final 
'40  quarter  will  appear  shortly. 


"Grapes"  Best  '40  Film 
To  New  York  Critics 

New  York — The  New  York  Film  Critics 
have  chosen  “The  Grapes  of  Wrath’’  as 
the  best  film  of  1940  in  their  sixth  annual 
vote  and  awarded  scrolls  for  the  best  male 
and  female  performances  of  the  year  to 
Charles  Chaplin  in  “The  Great  Dictator” 
and  to  Katharine  Hepburn  in  “The  Phila- 
delphia Story.” 

John  Ford  was  voted  the  year’s  best  di- 
rector on  the  basis  of  “The  Grapes  of 
Wrath”  and  “The  Long  Voyage  Home,” 
marking  the  second  successive  year  in 
which  he  has  been  singled  out  by  the 
critics  for  this  honor.  The  critics’  special 
award,  omitted  last  year,  was  restored  and 
assigned  to  Walt  Disney,  Leopold  Sto- 
kowski and  their  associates  for  “Fantasia.” 

“The  Baker’s  Wife,”  French  film,  was 
selected  as  the  best  foreign-language  pic- 
ture. 

Increased  Taxes  New 
Congress'  Theme  Song 

(Continued  from  page  14) 
control  becomes  necessary  to  carry  out  the 
rearmament  effort. 

The  increased  taxes,  which  will  be  de- 
signed to  raise  revenue  to  defray  some  of 
the  costs  of  defense,  will  call  for  greater 
contributions  by  individuals  and  corpora- 
tions— probably  additional  admission  taxes, 
either  through  a further  cut  or  even  total 
elimination  of  the  exemption  or  by  an  in- 
crease in  the  rate — more  excise  taxes,  and 
so  on. 

These  new  taxes,  however,  probably  will 
not  go  into  effect  before  the  beginning  of 
the  new  fiscal  year  on  July  1.  Before  con- 
sideration can  be  given  new  legislation,  it 
is  probable  the  treasury  will  want  to  de- 
termine the  effects  of  the  bills  passed  last 
year,  which  cannot  be  done  until  the  1940 
returns  are  filed  March  15. 

With  the  administration  definitely  com- 
mitted to  a program  of  aiding  Britain  in 
every  way  short  of  war,  which  will  re- 
quire the  United  States  to  become  one 
vast  arms  factory,  the  new  Congress  will 
have  as  its  chief  concern  the  enactment 
of  such  legislation  as  may  be  necessary  to 
bring  this  about,  including  staggering  ap- 
propriations. 

As  a result,  it  is  now  expected  that  lit- 
tle consideration  will  be  given  matters  not 
connected  with  the  defense  effort,  par- 
ticularly those  which  are  of  a contro- 
versial nature.  Accordingly,  it  is  ques- 
tioned whether  any  thought  will  be  given 
to  such  matters  as  block  booking  legisla- 
tion, particularly  in  view  of  the  fact — 
which  will  be  emphasized  for  all  it  is 
worth,  if  the  question  comes  up — that  the 
consent  decree  has  not  yet  had  a chance 
to  show  whether  it  will  adequately  reform 
the  industry. 


Make  Short  in  East 

New  York — The  first  “Quiz  Kids”  short 
for  Paramount  will  start  at  the  Eastern 
Service  Studio  January  5. 


GO  TO  WAR  . . . AND 
THE  WAR  GOES  NUTS! 


ii 


BOOBS  IN  ARMS 


A COLUMBIA  SHORT- SUBJECT  PRESENTATION 

. / -NOW  BOOKING! 


. J 


22 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


Opinions  on  Current  Productions,  and 
Cxploitips  for  Selling  to  the  Public 


FEATURE  REVIEIli 


Keeping  Company  F Melodrama 

M-G-M  ( ) 87  Minutes  Rel.  

This  is  the  initialer  in  a new  family  series  which  Leo 
is  projecting  as  a runner-up  to  the  popular  "Hardy"  clan 
pictures.  If  the  first  one  is  criterion,  the  new  family  will 
have  to  do  a lot  of  running  before  it  can  even  see  the  dust 
of  Andy  and  his  tribe.  Among  the  more  naive  patrons  the  + 7 
offering  will  slide  by  as  supporting  fare.  Impish  Virginia  , ? 
Weidler  imparts  a few  bright  moments.  She  and  other 
members  of  the  cast  are  well  selected  but  it  was  apparently 
impossible  for  them  to  appear  advantageously,  handicapped 
with  sluggish  lines  and  situations.  The  film  concerns  the 
courtship  and  early  married  life  of  a young  couple,  with 
the  bride's  parents,  her  sisters,  and  the  husband's  boss 
standing  by  to  contribute  counsel  and  guidance  and  gen- 
erally complicating  the  proceedings.  There  is,  of  course, 
a jealousy-inspired  separation  and  the  inevitable  recon- 
ciliation. In  fact,  there  are  few  celluloid  cliches  which 
haven't  been  dragged  into  the  overlong,  snail-paced  and 
purposeless  screenplay.  S.  Sylvan  Simon's  direction  does 
nothing  to  lift  the  ensemble  from  the  doldrums. 

John  Shelton,  Ann  Rutherford,  Frank  Morgan,  Virginia  Weid- 
ler, Virginia  Grey,  Gene  Lockhart,  Sara  Haden. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Concentrate  the  bulk  of  selling  efforts  around 
John  Shelton  and  Ann  Rutherford,  building  them  up  as 
the  co-stars  in  a new  series  of  films.  Frank  Morgan  and 
Virginia  Weidler  are  other  selling  names.  Hold  a "Keep- 
ing Company''  night  at  which  young  couples  are  ad- 
mitted at  a two-for-one  rate.  Title  can  be  tied  into  dis- 
plays of  men's  and  women's  clothing,  attesting  to  the  popu- 
larity of  the  wearers  of  the  new  1941  garments.  Hold  a 
contest  to  discover  the  local  couple  which  has  been  mar- 
ried and  "keeping  company"  the  longest. 

CATCHLINES:  It's  Just  What  the  Doctor  Ordered  ...  As 
an  Entertainment  Prescription  ...  To  Give  You  That  Youth- 
ful Feeling  Again. 

We  Guarantee  That  You  Haven't  Seen  a More  Delightful 
Show  All  Season  . . . And  That  You'll  Be  Asking  for  More. 


The  Invisible  Woman  F Comedv 

Universal  ( ) 72  Minutes  Rel.  Dec.  27,  '40 

Those  who  remember  "The  Invisible  Man''  and  his  return 
— and  buy  this  one  expecting  a comparable  quota  of  chills 
might  be  disappointed  if  it  weren't  for  the  fact  that  they  have 
is  v a very  pleasant  surprise  in  store  for  them.  There  isn't  a 
for  } shudder  in  its  entire  length.  But,  laughs?  That's  what  it 
has  nothing  else  but.  The  horror  element  is  completely 
eliminated  to  make  way  for  the  emphasis  on  humor.  The 
picture  is  decidedly  of  the  “Topper"  school  and  nothing  of 
its  kind  has  been  better  done.  There  are  a weighty  cast,  a 
screenplay  from  the  typewriters  of  craftsmen,  unstinting  pro- 
duction mountings  and  expert  direction.  They  combine  to 
make  a feature  which  should  click  all  along  the  line.  John 
Barrymore,  who  dominates  the  acting  department,  is  a 
scientist  who  has  spent  ten  years  perfecting  a machine  to 
make  people  invisible.  He  is  financed  by  a rich  playboy.  A 
beautiful  model,  Virginia  Bruce,  submits  to  the  first  experi- 
ment because  she  wants  to  discipline  her  tyrannical  em- 
ployer. The  playboy  falls  for  her — invisible  or  not — and  com- 
plications arise  when  mobsters  steal  the  machine.  Directed 
by  A.  Edward  Sutherland. 

John  Barrymore,  Virginia  Bruce,  John  Howard.  Charlie  Rug- 

gles,  Oscar  Homolka,  Edward  Brophy,  Donald  MacBride. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Selling  names  here  include  John  Barrymore, 
Virginia  Bruce,  Charlie  Ruggles  and  John  Howard.  Send 
out  mailing  pieces  with  a woman's  head  drawn  in  outline, 
but  without  the  features.  Under  it  carry  a caption  such  as-. 
“The  Invisible  Woman — Who  Is  She?"  Make  tieups  with 
beauty  parlors  on  cold  creams  and  other  preparations,  along 
the  lines:  "They  won't  make  you  invisible — but  we  guaran- 
tee all  your  blemishes  will  vanish."  Plant  a magician,  doing 
disappearing  tricks,  in  the  lobby. 

CATCHLINES:  He  Was  a Bankrupt  Playboy  . . . Who  Fell 
in  Love  With  an  Invisible  Woman  . . . With  Amazing,  Amus- 
ing Results. 

We  Guarantee  Your  Troubles  Will  Vanish  When  You  See 
a Beautiful  Woman  Disappear. 


*+ 

4+  iJ 

Flight  From  Destiny  F Drania 

WB  (520)  74  Minutes  Rel.  

Is  there  such  a thing  as  a “socially  useful"  murder? 

Are  there  circumstances  which  justify  an  ordinary  citizen's 
taking  the  life  of  a fellow-being,  no  matter  how  richly  the 
latter  deserves  to  die?  These  are  the  questions  posed  by 
this  highly  philosophical  problem  picture.  What's  more, 
they  are  answered — and,  of  course,  in  a way  that  satisfies 
the  stipulations  of  the  production  code,  if  not  the  consensus 
of  audience  opinion.  Discriminating  patrons  will  find  the 
film  engrossing  and  will  undoubtedly  be  loud  in  their 
praises  of  its  approach  to  an  entirely  different  celluloid 
theme.  Further,  they  will  be  deeply  appreciative  of  a 
standardly  fine  performance  by  Thomas  Mitchell.  It  is  doubt- 
ful, however,  that  there  will  be  sufficient  interest  on  the 
part  of  the  common  majority  to  elevate  the  offering  to  the 
financial  hit  class.  Directed  by  Vincent  Sherman. 

Geraldine  Fitzgerald,  Thomas  Mitchell,  Jeffrey  Lynn,  James 
Stephenson,  Mona  Maris,  Jonathan  Hale,  David  Bruce. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Thomas  Mitchell  and  Jeffrey  Lynn  are  the 
marquee  names,  with  James  Stephenson  also  worthy  of 
mention  in  support.  The  story,  in  which  a college  professor 
discovers  he  has  only  six  months  to  live,  can  be  exploited 
along  various  lines.  Conduct  a letter-writing  contest  in 
which  entrants  cite  the  five  things  they  would  do  if  they 
found  themselves  in  similar  circumstances.  Conduct  a 
search  for  individuals  who,  pronounced  "incurable,"  made 
miraculous  discoveries  and  have  them  attend  the  showing 
as  your  guests. 

CATCHLINES:  An  Unusual  Experience  in  Your  Enter- 
tainment Habits  ...  Is  This  Story  of  a Man  Who  Met  and  1 
Conquered  His  Destiny.  evie1 

A Powerful  Cast  ...  A Story  Packed  With  Emotion  and 
Suspense  . . . Makes  the  Season's  Most  Unusual  Picture. 


I Wii 

'vrw'' 

The  Girl  in  the  News  F Draina 

20th  Century-Fox  ( ) 77  Minutes  Rel.  Jan.  31.  '41 

Here  is  as  compelling  a study  in  crime  and  the  workings 
of  the  British  judiciary  as  has  come  out  of  England  in  a 
long  while.  The  story  has  been  expertly  handled  by  Direc- 
tor Carol  Reed;  performances  by  a cast  of  worthies  are  given 
subtly,  discreetly  and  with  telling  dramatic  effect.  Audiences 
should  hang  onto  its  every  tense  situation  raptly,  respond 
to  the  shadings  of  comedy  and  be  properly  thrilled  as  the 
turn  of  events  indicates.  Briefly,  the  plot:  A young  nurse  to 
a neurotic  invalid  stands  trial  when  her  patient  dies  from 
an  overdose  of  sleeping  pills.  She  is  acquitted  by  a promis- 
ing young  attorney.  Later,  by  a queer  turn  of  events,  she 
again  is  in  a similar  predicament  and  faces  the  gallows.  A 
courtroom  ruse  by  her  counsel  uncovers  the  real  criminals. 
This  one  should  be  looked  into.  It  has  definite  possibilities. 

Margaret  Lockwood,  Barry  K.  Barnes,  Emlyn  Williams,  Roger 
Livesey,  Margaretta  Scott. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Name  values  for  the  marquee  should  be  con- 
sidered in  the  light  of  past  acceptance.  Miss  Lockwood  has 
successfully  appeared  in  British  product  in  this  country  and 
has  had  an  appreciative  audience.  Williams  is  noted  for 
writing  “Night  Must  Fall"  and  appearances  in  other  British 
films.  Tie-ins  with  circulating  libraries  are  indicated.  The 
author  of  this  one  is  Roy  Vickers.  Get  up  a clue  display  of 
a copy  of  the  London  “Times"  with  a fake  want  ad  marked 
out,  a vial  of  harmless  pills,  a collection  of  unique  keys  and 
a phoney  autopsy  report  indicating  poison  in  the  coroner's 
findings.  The  film  should  do  best  with  the  more  intelligent 
audiences. 

CATCHLINES:  A Lone  Girl  and  Her  Battle  Against  Circum- 
mec\  stantial  Evidence. 

„y  Once  Acquitted,  She  Faces  the  Gallows  Again  for  a 
Similar  Crime. 

A Study  of  Justice  and  Circumstantial  Evidence  Across  the 
Sea. 


4 


BOXOFFICE 


January  4,  1941 


1 


An  Interpretative  Analysis  of  Opinions  Deduced 
From  the  Language  of  Lay  and  Trade  Press  Reviews 


AhvnyH  a Bride  (FN.) 

Angela  Over  Broadway  (Col) 

Ape,  The  (Mono) 

Argentine  Nights  (Univ) 

Arise,  My  Love  (Para) 


krl/f 


(Rep) 


Barnyard  Follies  (Rep) 

Before  I Hang  (Col) 

Behind  the  News  (Rep) 

Beyond  the  Sacramento  (Col)  . 
Bitter  Sweet  (M-G-M) 

Billy  the  Kid  in  Texns  (PRC) 

Blackout  (UA)  

Blondlc  Plays  Cuphl  (Col) 

Boom  Town  (M-G-M) 

Border  legion  (Rep) 

Bride  Wore  Crutches  (20tll-Fox) 
Brigham  Young — Frontiers- 
man (20th-Fox)  

Bury  Me  Not  on  the  Lone 

Prairie  (Unlv)  


Calling  All  Husbands  <WB) . . 
Cnsc  of  the  Black  Parrot  (WB) 
Chad  Banna  <20tli-Fox) 
Chamber  of  Horrors  (Mono) 
Chnrlle  Chan  at  the  Wax 


City  for  Conquest  (WB) 

Colorado  (Rep)  

Coinin'  Round  the  Mount 


Banco,  Girl,  Dance  (KKO) 
Dancing  on  n Dime  (Para) 
Dark  Streets  of  Cairo  (On 
Devil's  Pipeline  (Cnlv) 
Diamond  Frontier  (Unlv)  ■ 
Dispatch  From  Reuter's  (1 
Dr.  Kildare’s  Crisis  (fil-G-R 
Dr.  Kildare  Goes  Home 


•e 

1 

a ' 

£ 

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1 t 

£ 

‘1 

* | 

ii 

B 

s 

1 | 

S 

t s 

■:=' 

E 

a 

E X 

* 

E 

S X 

«> 

E" 

(0 

— 

- 

_ 

_ 

± 

4+  7- 

± 

+ 

+ 

+ 

44 

+ 

+ 

+ 

9+  2- 

+ 

— 

+ 

+ 

+ 

± 

5+  3— 

± 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

— 

7+  3- 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

+ 

44 

15+ 

44 

44 

+ 

44 

44 

44 

44 

13+ 

* 

+ 

“ 

— 

— 

4+  4- 

44 

+ 

+ 

44 

44 

+ 

+ 

± 

11+  1- 

+ 

+ 

± 

+ 

+ 

+ 

± 

7+  2- 

+ 

+ 

4- 

+ 

+ 

= 

± 

— 

6+  3— 

± 

± 

+ 

44 

+ 

± 

7+  3- 

+ 

1+ 

44 

+ 

44 

+ 

44 

44 

+ 

+ 

12+ 

+ 

1+  1- 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

&+ 

+ 

± 

± 

+ 

+ 

+ 

± 

7+  3- 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

+ 

+ 

12+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

44 

+ 

± 

7+  2- 

± 

- 

- 

± 

3+  5- 

4f 

+ 

44 

44 

44 

44 

+ 

+ 

13+ 

+ 

1+ 

± 

_ 

+ 

_ 

_ 

_ 

± 

— 

6+  7- 

+ 

± 

2+  1- 

± 

± 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

8+  2- 

± 

- 

3+  3— 

+ 

_ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

6+  2— 

+ 

+ 

— 

+ 

44 

± 

+ 

± 

8+  4- 

44 

8+ 

+ 

+ 

± 

+ 

44 

+ 

7+  1- 

44 

+ 

± 

44 

44 

44 

+ 

+ 

12+  1— 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

+ 

+ 

14+ 

- 

- 

+ 

± 

- 

4+  4— 

_ 

_ 

_ 

± 

_ 

4+  8- 

44 

+ 

44 

44 

44 

44 

+ 

44 

14+ 

+ 

1+ 

+ 

44 

-j- 

-4 

± 

+ 

_ 

9+  4- 

± 

+ 

± 

+ 

+ 

+ 

6+  3— 

— 

± 

+ 

+ 

4+  3- 

+ 

± 

— 

+ 

+ 

± 

± 

7+  tt- 

zp 

± 

— 

+ 

+ 

— 

+ 

6+  7- 

44 

44 

44 

44  44 

44 

44 

+ 

15+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

6+ 

+ 

44 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

8+ 

Doomed  Carnvnn  (Cnlv) 

Down  Argentine  Way  (20-Fox) 
Dreaming  Out  Loud  (RICO)...  ± 

Drums  of  the  Desert  (Mono)..  ± 

Dulcy  (RI-G-M)  + 

Durango  Kid,  The  (Col) ± 


+ -H-  44  44  44  + + 13+ 

+ - ± + + ± 6+  C 

+ + + ± + + ’+  '! 


tlve  (Col)  

Escape  (M-G-M)  

Escape  to  Glory  (Col) 


4+  4+  J 

± + 


44  44  44  44  + 


±±  + ±±±  + 8+0- 

44  + 44  44  44  44  + 14+ 


± ± + - + + 


± 44  44  + + l«+  2- 


44  + 44  =P  + 44 

± + 44  44  44 


4f  44  + 44  + 


44  +4  »*+ 


Father  Is  a Prince  (FN) ± 

Fight  for  Life,  The  (Col) + 

Five  Little  Peppers  In 

Trouble  (Col)  ± 

Flight  Command  (RI-G-M) -+ 

Flight  From  Destiny  (WB) 

Flowing  Gold  (WB)  ± 

Foreign  Correspondent  (1>A) . . -+ 

Four  RIothers  (WB) 44 

Four  Sons  (20th-Fox) ++ 

Friendly  Neighbors  (Rep) ± 

Frontier  Vengeance  (Univ) ....  o 
Fugitive  From  Justice  (WB)  . ± 

Fugitive  From  a Prison  Camp 
(Col)  

G 

Gallant  Sons  (RI-G-RI) + 

Gay  Caballero,  The  (20tli-Fox)  + 

Girl  From  Havana  (Rep) ± 

Girl  in  the  News  (20th-Fox)  . . 

Girls  Under  21  (Col) — 

Give  Us  Wings  (Unlv) — 

Clamour  for  Sale  (Col) ± 

Go  West  (M-G-RI) + 

Golden  Fleecing,  The  (RI-G-RI)  + 

Gone  With  the  Wind  (RI-G-RI) 

Great  Commandment  (20-Fox) 

Great  Dictator,  The  (UA) ■+ 

Great  RIcGinty,  The  (Para) ...  - +• 

Great  Plane  Robbery  (Col) ....  + 

Great  Profile,  The  (20th-Fox)  . + 

H 

Haunted  Honeymoon  (M-G-RI)  + ±±±  = ± + + ’+6- 

He  Stayed  for  Breakfast  (Col)  44  44  + 44  44  44  + + 13+ 

Her  First  Romance  (Mono) + + 44  + + 6+ 

Here  Comes  the  Navy  (WB)  . . 44  2+ 

Hired  Wife  (Unlv)  H + 44  44  44  44  + + 13+ 

Hlt  Parade  of  1941  (Rep) + ± ± +4  + + + 8+2— 

Hold  That  Woman  (PRC) + — ± + — ±4+4— 

Howards  of  Virginia  (Col) ++  + ++  44  4t  +4  44  + ™+ 

Hudson’s  Boy  (20th-Fox) + ± ± + 44  + 7+2— 

Hullabaloo  (M-G-RI)  + ± + ± = ± + + 7+6- 

I 

I .Married  Adventure  (Col) ....+  ± 3:  ± ± + + — 8+  5— 

I Want  a Divorce  (Para) + 44  + 44  44  44  + +*»+ 

I’m  Nobody’s  Sweetheart 

Now  (Unlv)  + + + + + + ± ± 8+2- 

I'm  StlU  Alive  (RKO) + ± + + ± + + ±8+5- 

Jennle  (20th-Fox)  + + + + + »+ 

K 

Keeping  Company  (RI-G-RI)...  44  — 3+  1 — 

IUt  Carson  (UA)  + + ± + ± 44  + ± 9+3- 

Kitty  Foyle  (KKO)  44  44  44  44  +4  + n+ 

Knute  Rockne — All  American 

(WB)  44  44  44  44  44  44  44  + ™+ 

L 

Lnddie  (RKO)  + ± ± + + + ± + 8+4— 

Lady  With  Red  Hair  (WB)  + ± + + 44  + + ± 9+2- 

I.aughing  nt  Danger  (RIono) ...+  ± ± + + + ± + 8+  4— 

Law  and  Order  (Unlv) ± + + 3+1- 

I-eathcr  Pushers,  The  (Unlv) . . + ± ± + + ± + 7+4— 

Let's  RIake  RIuslc  (RKO)  + ± + + ± + + 7+3- 

Letter,  The  (FN)  44  + 44  44  44  44  + 44  M+ 

Ll'l  Abner  (KKO)  + + + ± — 4+4- 

Littlc  Bit  of  Heaven  (Unlv)  ..  41  + + +44444  + +12+ 

Little  RIen  (RKO)  — ± = ± 44  + ± ± 7+7- 


The  plus  and  minus  signs  indicate  the  degree  of  favor  or  disfavor  of 
the  review.  Where  our  compiler  is  unable  to  form  any  opinion  from 
the  review  the  sign  "o"  is  used.  Blank  spaces  indicate  no  review. 
This  department  serves  also  as  an  Alphabetical  Index  to  feature  re- 
leases. Listings  cover  reviews  appearing  by  the  Saturday  preceding 


date  of  this  issue.  It  will  be  brought  up  to  date  from  week  to  week. 
The  meaning  of  the  various  signs  and  their  combinations  is  as  follows: 

44  Very  Good;  + Good;  — Fair;  + Mediocre;  — Poor;  = Very  Poor 

In  the  summary  44  is  rated  as  2 pluses;  = as  2 minuses. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4.  1941 


25 


24 


FEATURE  REVIEWS 


Bowery  Boy  F Ml|„llra„m 

Republic  ( ) 71  Minutes  Rel.  Dec.  27,  '40 

As  a sociological  expedition  through  the  unsanitary  abodes 
of  the  Bowery,  this  film  just  rates  the  label.  As  melodra- 
matic entertainment,  after  the  first  few  hundred  feet  it  slips 
perceptibly  into  a routine  groove.  The  audience  gets  the 
plight  of  a young  doctor,  an  "Okie,"  who  takes  a post  with 
a public  health  station  and  runs  smack  into  romantic  con- 
flict with  his  nurse  and  a Park  Avenue  deb.  To  increase 
his  consternation,  there  is  an  adolescent  brat  who  carries  the 
bravado  of  the  "Dead  End"  type  throughout  the  story’s  telling. 
Torn,  but  lightly,  between  reforming  the  boy,  romancing 
with  Park  Avenue  and  discovering  he  loves  the  nurse,  the 
doctor  has  to  curb  an  epidemic  and  trap  a gangster  before 
he  can  really  settle  down  to  work.  The  story  throughout 
twangs  a familiar  and  none-too-interesting  chord.  Suitable 
mainly  for  the  lower  portion  of  run-of-the-mill  duals.  William 
Morgan  directed. 

Dennis  O'Keefe,  Louise  Campbell,  Jimmy  Lydon,  Helen  Vin- 
son, Roger  Pryor. 

EXPLOITIPS:  The  selection  of  names  from  the  cast  for 
adorning  the  marquee  is  anybody's  guess.  In  the  line  of 
performances  the  troupe  gives  the  story  a merry  whirl.  Each 
characterization  fits  the  story's  bill  more  than  adequately. 
Feminine  interest  might  be  aroused  in  Miss  Vinson  who  is 
supposed  to  have  a reputation  as  one  of  the  10  best-dressed 
women.  Miss  Campbell  deserves  better  roles.  She  has  real 
acting  ability.  Young  Lydon's  performance  has  become  more 
or  less  stereotyped  and  by  this  time  rather  dull.  The  film's 
atmosphere  compared  with  the  real  thing  is  heavily  imagina- 
tive. 

CATCHLINES:  Algiers  Has  Its  Kasbah  . . Paris  Its  Mont- 
marte  . . . And  New  York  Its  Bowery  . . . Fundamentally 
Neighborhoods  Under  the  Skin. 

Where  Life  Goes  on  With  the  Strongest  and  Slyest  Sur- 
viving. 

Park  Avenue  Romancing  in  the  Bowery  . . He  Takes 

Time  Out  to  Stop  an  Epidemic  and  Trap  a Gangster. 


The  Saint  in  Palm  Springs  F 

RKO  ( ) GG  Minutes  Rel.  

Followers  of  the  crime-solving  activities  of  Leslie  Charteris' 
"Saint"  will  find  his  film  adventure  in  California's  desert 
playground  measuring  up  to  the  same  high  standards  which 
were  to  be  found  in  the  series'  previous  chapters.  George 
Sanders  again  is  cast  in  the  title  role  of  the  debonair  and 
slightly  sinister  criminologist  who  captures  crooks  and  hearts 
with  equal  ease.  The  supporting  cast  is  adequate,  while 
production  values  and  direction  are  of  high  order.  The  plot 
revolves  around  three  extremely  valuable  postage  stamps 
which  were  smuggled  out  of  a foreign  nation  as  the  only 
means  through  which  a fortune  could  be  brought  to  Amer- 
ica. Their  custodian  is  murdered  in  New  York,  and  the 
Saint  accepts  the  commission  to  deliver  them  to  their  right- 
ful owner  (Wendy  Barrie)  in  Palm  Springs.  From  then  on 
it  is  a Button-Button-Who’s-Got-the-Button  procedure,  with 
a gang  of  crooks  representing  the  foreign  power  trying 
everything — including  two  more  murders — to  steal  the 
documents  from  whomever  happens  to  have  them  at  the  mo- 
ment. Directed  by  lack  Hively. 

George  Sanders.  Wendy  Barrie.  Paul  Guilfoyle.  Jonathan 
Hale,  Linda  Hayes,  Ferris  Taylor,  Harry  Shannon. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Widely  followed  by  detective  story  fans,  the 
"Saint"  novels  by  Leslie  Charteris  have  a ready-made  audi- 
ence of  considerable  proportions.  Tie  up  with  bookstores 
and  libraries  for  displays,  liberally  garnished  with  stills  from 
the  picture.  George  Sanders  is  being  generally  accepted  in 
the  title  role,  so  give  the  marquee  play  to  him  along  with 
Wendy  Barrie.  Hold  a stamp  collection  contest,  giving  term 
passes  as  prizes  for  the  largest,  most  valuable  and  neatest 
collections.  Display  the  entries  in  the  lobby,  with  an 
"armed"  attendant  on  guard  duty.  Run  a "Stamp  Matinee" 
with  admission  a cancelled  postage  stamp  from  a point  out 
of  the  city,  plus  a slightly-reduced  fee. 

CATCHLINES:  The  Famous  Phantom  of  Fiction  . . . Back 
in  a Thrill-Packed  Story  of  a Fortune  in  Stamps. 

Breathless  Action  and  High  Adventure  as  the  Saint  Out- 
wits a Gang  of  Murderers. 


The  Man  of  the  Hour  A 


Trio  Films  (SR)  93  Minutes  Rel.  

American  audiences  who  remember  Maurice  Chevalier 
via  Hollywood  and  enjoyed  him  that  way  won't  derive  a 
like  measure  of  entertainment  in  this  French  effort,  but  if 
it's  just  Chevalier  they  want  they'll  find  reels  and  reels  of 
him.  He's  backed  up  with  a very  substantial  production, 
some  risque  situations,  a topflight  scenarist  and  Director 
Julien  Duvivier.  But  for  all  that,  the  film  doesn't  evoke  the 
fun  it  is  designed  for.  It's  sort  of  a three-ring  circus,  cen- 
tering mostly  about  comedy,  taking  in  a few  songs  and 
winding  up  on  a dramatic  note.  Chevalier,  a hospital  elec- 
trician, donates  some  blood  to  a famed,  but  eccentric, 
actress  and  thereby  rises  to  fame  over  night.  Since  it  is 
her  habit  to  convert  her  closest  admirers  to  the  theatre, 
Chevalier  is  put  through  the  paces  of  a tragedian.  But  he 
flops,  as  does  his  fiancee  who  was  being  sponsored  as  a 
singer  by  the  actress'  husband.  Photography  and  sound 
are  noticeably  below  par. 


Maurice  Chevalier,  Elvire  Popesco,  Alerme,  Josette  Day. 
Marcelle  Geniat,  Robert  Lynen. 


EXPLOITIPS:  There  seems  to  be  little  doubt  that  the  best 
sales  impression  can  be  created  through  the  use  of  the  names 
in  this  film  and  what  they  stand  for.  Of  course,  Chevalier 
should  be  sold  first.  Then  Duvivier,  who,  in  French  circles, 
created  some  memorable  films  such  as  "Carnet  de  Bal" 
and  "End  of  A Day."  Then  there's  scenarist  Charles  Spaak, 
who  wrote  these  two  films  as  well  as  Grand  Illusion.  In 
building  up  Chevalier  it  would  be  best  to  link  this  effort 
with  the  type  of  musical  comedy  he  pursued  so  vigorously 
in  Hollywood.  There  are  a few  catchy  songs  which  could 
either  be  played  over  the  p.  a.  system,  in  French,  of  course, 
or  whose  English  lyrics  could  be  used  for  lobby  eye-catch- 
ers. Full-size  cutouts  of  Chevalier  for  window  displays,  with 
"Chevalier  Is  Back"  should  get  attention. 

CATCHLINES:  Maurice  Chevalier— The  Man  Who  Intro- 
duced America  to  Paree. 


Among  Human  Wolves  F 

Film  Alliance  of  U.  S.  (SR)  59  Minutes  Rel. 

A melodramatic  thriller  from  the  old  school.  It  is  also 
very  British  and  very  much  underexposed,  photographically. 
It's  spy  stuff,  pre-war  vintage.  Performances  are  mediocre, 
the  story  is  all  too  familiar.  When  a new  type  cartridge 
is  stolen,  a British  Intelligencer  and  his  sister  go  to  Berlin 
to  get  it  back.  There  they  work  themselves  into  the  home 
of  the  arch  spy  and  through  a ruse  recover  the  cartridge, 
leaving  a trail  of  baffled  police,  broken  hearts,  outsmarted 
counter  spies.  What  can  be  favorably  said  for  this  film  is 
that  when  the  mad  dash  for  the  border  gets  under  way  it  is 
satisfactorily  in  the  best  tradition.  On  the  debit  side,  is  the 
poor  handling  of  story  material  that  in  more  competent 
hands  might  have  emerged  as  exciting  and  adventuresome 
fare.  Directed  by  John  Baxter.  Nothing  was  spared  in  model 
work  or  on  the  process  screen. 

Basil  Radford,  Silvia  St.  Claire,  Thorley  Walters, 

Peter  Cawthome. 

EXPLOITIPS:  This  one  must  be  introduced  and  put  over 
as  a spy  thriller  with  all  the  contributing  props.  It  also 
calls  for  a display  case  which  might  contain  a woman's 
suitcase  the  lock  of  which  has  a human  hair  so  intertwined 
as  to  form  a seal.  When  it  is  tampered  with,  the  hair,  of 
course,  is  broken.  For  close  inspection  have  a magnifying 
glass  handy.  The  gag  is  used  in  the  scenario.  Miss  St. 
Claire  is  quite  an  English  beauty.  Radford  has  been  seen 
before  to  better  advantage, 

CATCHLINES:  International  Intrique  in  the  Capitals  of 
Europe  . . . Spies  and  Counter  Spies  , One  Trying  to 
Outwit  the  Other. 

A Thrilling  Story  of  Kill  or  Be  Killed  . . With  the  Sur- 

vivor Escaping  by  a Hair's  Breadth 

Tom  Between  Love  and  Duty  . Against  a Background  of 
European  Intrigue  and  Espionage. 


BOXOFFICE 


January  4,  1941 


3 


REVIEW  DIGEST 


44  Very  Good;  + Good;  ^Fair;  ■+-  Mediocre;  — Poor;  —Very  Poor 


Title  Distr. 

Boxoffice 

Harrison’s 

Reports 

Variety 

Film  Daily 

Hollywood 

Reporter 

Hollywood 

Variety 

Parents’ 

Magazine 

New  York 
Daily  News 

Summary 

Little  Nellie  Kelly  (M-G-M) . . 

44 

++ 

+ 

± 

44 

44 

+ 

3+3 

12+  2— 

Lone  Star  Raiders  (Rep) 

+ 

± 

P= 

3+3 

4+  3— 

Lone  Wolf  Keeps  a Date  (Col) 

+ 

+ 

3+3 

+ 

+ 

3+3 

6-J-  2— 

Long  Voyage  Home  (UA) 

+ 

++ 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

13+ 

Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para)  .... 

++ 

4+ 

44 

++ 

44 

44 

+- 

-4 

14+ 

Lucky  Partners  (RKO) 

+4 

++ 

+ 

44 

44 

44 

+ 

-4 

13+ 

M 

Margie  (Univ)  

— 

± 

3+3 

3+3 

+ 

3+3 

7+  8— 

Mark  of  Zorro,  The  (20tli-Fox) 

++ 

+ 

+ 

44 

44 

44 

4- 

+ 

12+ 

-4- 

-+- 

-f- 

-+- 

— 

5+  6— 
6+  5- 
8+  1_ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

44 

-+- 

+ 

44 

-+- 

Melody  Ranch  (Rep)  

4- 

+ 

Melody  and  Moonlight  (Kei>) . . 

3+3 

44 

44 

-4 

3+3 

8+  3— 

Men  Against  the  Sky  (RKO)  . . 
Mexican  Spitfire  Out  West 

4- 

4- 

+ 

+ 

3+3 

4- 

+ 

7+  1- 

(RKO)  

-f 

+ 

— 

+ 

+- 

— 

7+  3- 

Michael  Shayne,  Private 

Detective  (20th-Fox)  

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

± 

6+  1- 

Misbehaving  Husbands  (PRC) . 

4- 

+ 

44 

+ 

5+ 

Missing  People  (Mono) 

pi 

2+  2- 

Money  and  the  Woman  (WB) 

± 

± 

3+3 

+ 

3+3 

± 

3+3 

8+  7— 

Moon  Over  Burma  (Para) 

+ 

+ 

3+3 

+ 

44 

+ 

+ 

± 

9+  2- 

Mortal  Storm,  The  (M-G-M)  . . 

+ 

44 

44 

44 

44 

4- 

44 

+ 

13+ 

Mummy’s  Hand,  The  (Univ) . . 
Murder  Over  New  York 

+ 

-1- 

— 

+ 

+ 

3+3 

3+3 

7+  5- 

-+- 

+ 

-1- 

+ 

-+- 

+ 

+ 

-+- 

8+  4- 

N 

Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s  (Para) 

- 

3+3 

— 

3+3 

± 

3+3 

+ 

5+  7- 

Night  Train  (20th-Fox) 

4- 

+ 

+ 

+ 

4- 

5+ 

Nobody’s  Children  (Col) 

— 

-+- 

± 

3+3 

± 

4+  5— 

No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO) 

3+3 

3+3 

+ 

— 

± 

it 

± 

6-f  6— 

No  Time  for  Comedy  (FN)  .... 

North  West  Mounted  Police 

44 

+ 

4- 

44 

+ 

3+3 

-4 

+ 

10-J-  1— 

(Para)  

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

16-f- 

o 

Oklahoma  Renegades  (Rep) . . . 

+ 

+ 

+ 

3+3 

4+  1- 

OI’  Swimmin’  Hole  (Mono) .... 

+ 

3+3 

+ 

+ 

3+3 

+ 

6+  2— 

On  the  Spot  (Mono) 

4- 

— 

4- 

4- 

3+3 

-+- 

5+  3— 

One  Million  B.  C.  (CA) 

One  Night  in  the  Tropics 

— 

— 

— 

+ 

3+3 

5+  3— 

(Univ)  

— 

+ 

3+3 

+ 

+ 

+ 

— 

+ 

8+  3- 

P 

Passport  to  Alcatraz  (Col)  ... 

+ 

3+3 

+ 



4+  4— 

Pastor  Hall  (UA) 

it 

4+ 

3+3 

+ 

44 

+ 

44 

+ 

11+  2— 

Phantom  of  Chinatown  (Mono) 

± 

3+3 

+ 

pi 

± 

pi 

6+  5- 

Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  . . 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

1«+ 

Pier  13  (20th-Fox) 

_L 

± 

3+3 

4- 

3+3 

+ 

+- 

± 

8+  4- 

Play  Girl  (RKO)  

+ 

3+3 

44 

+ 

5+  1- 

Pony  Post  (Univ)  

3+3 

— 

— 

3+3 

2+  4— 

Prairie  Law  (RKO) 

+ 

3+3 

+ 

4- 

+ 

PI 

6+  2— 

Prairie  Schooners  (Col) 

H- 

— 

= 

+ 

P1 

3+  5- 

Public  Deb  No.  1 (2 Oth -Fox)  . . 

3+3 

3+3 

— 

+ 

+ 

6+  5— 

Q 

({uarterback.  The  (Parn) 

3+3 

3+3 

± 

+ 

+ 

3+3 

3+3 

3+3 

8+  6— 

Queen  of  the  Yukon  (Mono) . . . 

4- 

— 

+ 

-4 

* 

-+— 

7+  4 

R 

Ragtime  Cowboy  Joe  (Univ) . . 

+ 

3+3 

-f 

+ 

_ 

5+  2- 

Ramparts  We  Watch  (RKO) . . 

O 

Ij= 

+ 

+ 

44 

+ 

44 

44 

10+  1— 

Range  Busters  (Mono) 

44 

± 

+ 

+ 

-4 

4- 

3+3 

8+  2— 

Rangers  of  Fortune  (Para)  .... 

+ 

± 

44 

4+ 

44 

44 

3+3 

-4 

12+  2— 

Remedy  for  Riches  (RKO) .... 

+ 

3+3 

+ 

+ 

-4 

-4 

6+  1- 

Return  of  Frank  James  (20-Fox) 

+ 

4- 

3+3 

44 

44 

+ 

+ 

+ 

10-|-  1— 

Rhythm  on  the  River  (Para).. 

+ 

44 

++ 

+4 

44 

44 

+ 

+ 

13+ 

Ride,  Tenderfoot,  Ride  (Rep)  . 
Romance  of  the  Rio  Grande 

4- 

+ 

4- 

44 

+- 

7+  1- 

(20th-Fox)  

+ 

+ 

-A» 

2+  1- 

8+  3- 

s 

Sandy  Gets  Her  Man  (Univ) . . . 

+ 

3+3 

+ 

3+3 

+ 

+ 

Safari  (Para)  

3+3 

pi 

3+3 

+ 

+ 

PI 

7+  5- 

Sandy  Is  a Lady  (Univ) 

+ 

-+- 

-+- 

+ 

4- 

3+3 

3+3 

7+  4- 

26 


In  the  summary  44  is  rated  as  2 pluses;  — as  2 minuses. 


© 

s 

to 

fl  „ 

o to 

© 

'u 

'5 

Q 

£ 

ft  u 

9 a> 

t ~ 

£ ° 

= c. 

© 

».s 

1 « 

£ in 

to 

X.  Z 
c £ 

z 

0 

E 

E 

Title  Distr. 

o 

PQ 

Cj  O 

S - 

cs 

> 

5 

o a 

SK 

a £ 

St  s 

a 5 

Vi 

San  Francisco  Docks  (Univ)  . . 

-+- 

3+3 

+ 

+ 

± 

3+3 

6+  4— 

Santa  Fe  TraU  (FN) 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

+ 

13+ 

Sea  Hawk,  The  (WB) 

44 

3+3 

+ 

44 

44 

+ 

44 

+ 

12+  1- 

Second  Chorus  (Para) 

44 

+ 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

13+ 

Secret  Seven  (Col)  

PI 

3+3 

3+3 

+ 

— 

— 

It 

pi 

6+  7- 

Seven  Sinners  (Univ) 

3+3 

4- 

3+3 

44 

+ 

+ 

+ 

8+  2— 

She  Couldn’t  Say  No  (FN) 

+ 

2+  1- 

Sky  Murder  (M-G-M) 

3+3 

— 

~h 

= 

= 

— 

— 

44-10— 

Slightly  Tempted  (Univ) 

3+3 

-+- 

3+3 

+ 

± 

+ 

pi 

8+  6— 

So  You  Won’t  Talk  (Col) 

— 

3+3 

3+3 

3+3 

— 

PI 

dt 

It 

«+  8— 

Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (UA) .... 

+ 

3+3 

pi 

3+3 

PI 

44 

it 

It 

9+  (i— 

South  of  Suez  (WB) 

4- 

3+3 

3+3 

+ 

PI 

It 

it 

pi 

8+  6— 

Spring  Parade  (Univ) 

Stranger  on  the  Third  Floor 

44 

44 

+ 

44 

44 

44 

44 

+ 

14+ 

(RKO)  

+ 

3+3 

3+3 

+ 

+ 

± 

+ 

8-f-  4— 

Street  of  Memories  (20th-Fox) . 

3+3 

it 

— 

+ 

H- 

+ 

6+  5— 

Strike  Up  the  Band  (M-G-M) . 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

+ 

+ 

14  + 

T 

Take  Me  Back  to  Okla.  (Mono) 

+ 

44 

4- 

+ 

4- 

6+ 

Texas  Rangers  Ride  Again 

( Para ) 

+ 

3+3 

± 

— 

pi 

4- 

5+  4- 

Texas  Terrors  (Rep) 

+ 

— 

4- 

3+3 

3+  2— 

That  Gang  of  Mine  (Mono)  .... 

3+3 

3+3 

4- 

— 

3+3 

— 

It 

5-J—  6 — 

They  Knew  What  They  Wanted 

(RKO)  

44 

3+3 

44 

44 

4- 

44 

44 

44 

14-f  1— 

Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA) 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

+ 

15+ 

Third  Finger,  Left  Hand 

(M-G-M)  

44 

+ 

4- 

44 

44 

44 

4- 

4- 

12+ 

This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col)  . . 

+ 

44 

44 

5+ 

Three  Men  From  Texas  (Para) 

4- 

4- 

4- 

4- 

4- 

54- 

Thundering  Frontier  (Col)  .... 

— 

-+- 

— 

± 

PI 

3+  5— 

Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox) 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

+ 

+ 

144- 

Too  Many  Girls  (RKO) 

4- 

3+3 

4- 

44 

44 

44 

+ 

+ 

11+  1- 

Torpedo  Raider  (Mono) 

41 

1+  1- 

Trail  Blazers  (Rep) 

4- 

+ 

4- 

+ 

4+ 

Trail  of  the  Vigilantes  (Univ) . 

+ 

3+3 

3+3 

-+- 

4- 

4- 

+ 

7+  3— 

Trailin’  Double  Trouble  (Mono) 

PI 

+ 

4- 

+ 

3+3 

3+3 

3+3 

7+  4- 

Triple  Justice  (RKO) 

+ 

3+3 

+ 

4- 

4- 

It 

6-j-  2— 

Tugboat  Annie  Sails  Again 

(WB)  

+ 

3+3 

3+3 

4- 

+ 

4- 

4- 

8-f  3— 

Tulsa  Kid,  The  (Rep) 

3+3 

H- 

+ 

4- 

3+3 

4- 

3+3 

7+  4- 

Under 

u 

Texas  Skies  (Rep)  . . . . 

••  4- 

±4-  4-  — 

5+  2- 

Up  in 

the  Air  (Mono).. 

4- 

± ± + + + + 

7+  3- 

V 

Victory  (Para)  

Villain  Still  Pursued  Her, 

..  + 

4-  ± 

44 

44 

4- 

8+  1- 

The  (RKO)  

-+- 

p=  _ 

3+3 

3t 

5+  6- 

w 

Wagon  Train  (RKO)  

4- 

+ 

4- 

4- 

3+3 

5+ 

1 — 

Wagons  Westward  (Rep) 

4- 

4- 

3+3 

4- 

— 

3+3 

«+ 

4— 

West  of  Pinto  Basin  (Mono)  . . 

3+3 

It 

+ 

44 

± 

4- 

P= 

8+ 

4— 

Westerner,  The  (UA) 

3+3 

4- 

4- 

44 

44 

+ 

4- 

+ 

10+ 

1— 

WJiere  Did  You  Get  That  Girl 

(Univ)  

+ 

4- 

4- 

3+ 

Who  Is  Guilty?  (Mono) 

— 

It 

3+3 

It 

4- 

4+ 

4— 

Who  Killed  Aunt  Maggie? 

(Rep)  

4- 

+ 

3+3 

4- 

+ 

4- 

± 

8+ 

2— 

Wildcat  Bus  (RKO) 

= 

3+3 

•+- 

= 

It 

4+ 

8— 

Wild  Horse  Range  (Mono) 

PI 

1+ 

1— 

World  in  Flames  (Para) 

+ 

44 

44 

4- 

+ 

+ 

8+ 

Wyoming  (M-G-M)  

4- 

+ 

3+3 

4- 

+ 

4- 

+ 

4-' 

8+ 

1— 

Y 

Yesterday’s  Heroes  (20th-Fox) 
Young  Bill  Hickok  (Rep) 

+ 

3+3 

A 

3+3 

T 

+ 

3+3 

4- 

4- 

3+3 

6+  3— 
4+  3— 

You’ll  Find  Out  (RKO) 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

4- 

-f- 

14+ 

Young  People  (20th-Fox) 

Youth  Will  Be  Served 

4- 

4- 

4- 

44 

4- 

4-: 

4- 

+ 

9+ 

(20th-Fox)  

Yukon  Flight  (Mono) 

3+3 

4- 

3+3 

3+3 

3+3 

4- 

— 

4- 

— 

3+3 

7+  7— 
24- 

BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


New  Year  Is  Viewed 
With  "More  Cheer" 


New  York — The  industry  is  looking  for- 
ward to  this  year  “with  a good  deal  more 
cheer  than  when  it  surveyed  the  world 
outlook  a year  ago,”  writes  Sydney  B.  Self 
in  a year-end  review  for  the  Wall  Street 
Journal. 

Then,  he  observes,  Hollywood  was  faced 
with  “two  major  ominous  uncertainties 
one  of  which,  the  war  abroad,  had  al- 
ready cut  heavily  into  income;  the  other, 
Thurman  Arnold’s  anti-trust  suit,  held  un- 
known terrors  but  threatened  possible  dis- 
ruption of  the  industry.” 

However,  the  writer  concludes: 

“Now  that  both  threats  have  taken  con- 
crete form,  the  industry  has  found  itself 
able  to  cope  with  them  a great  deal  bet- 
ter than  had  been  hoped.  Neither  one 
had  results  as  serious  as  had  been  feared 
and  both  may  eventually  prove  to  be  bless- 
ings in  disguise. 

Need  for  More  Order 

“The  moving  picture  industry,  in  spite 
of  its  enormous  daily  cash  income,  has 
been  honeycombed  with  costly  disorders  of 
all  sorts  and  recurring  attempts  to  straigh- 
ten things  out  have  met  with  little  prog- 
ress until  lately.  The  show  business  can 
never  become  an  orderly  industry.  Like  its 
product,  it  thrives  on  the  unexpected. 
However,  a great  deal  can  be  done  to  re- 
duce needless  and  foolish  uncertainties  and 
disorderliness  to  a minimum. 

“Already  earnings  of  several  of  the  lead- 
ing film  producers  have  shown  a sharp 
recovery  above  the  levels  of  those  months 
in  1939  and  1940  when  the  first  impact 
of  the  war  was  felt.  Paramount,  Loew’s 
and  Warner  are  reporting  profits  far 
ahead  of  what  they  were  earning  a year 
ago  and  this  trend  should  continue. 

“Budgets  have  been  pared  down,  debts 
have  been  reduced  and,  with  domestic 
business  picking  up  as  a result  of  em- 
ployment gains  from  the  defense  boom, 
there  is  a good  chance  that  boxoffice  re- 
ceipts will  be  on  the  upgrade  for  some 
time. 

Adjusting  Foreign  Losses 

“The  industry  has  by  now  pretty  well 
adjusted  itself  to  the  losses  of  a large  part 
of  its  foreign  revenues,  even  though  the 
full  effect  of  the  war  on  revenues  from 
Britain  has  not  yet  been  felt.  They  have 
done  this  partly  by  cutting  expenses  and 
partly  by  spending  less  for  total  film  prod- 
uct on  costs;  in  other  words,  by  cutting 
the  budget.  They  have  had  time  to  revise 
their  amortization  tables  and  to  set  up 
reserves  to  bring  the  writing  down  of  pic- 
ture costs  into  line  with  current  condi- 
tions. 

“Film  companies  are  writing  off  their 
films  a good  deal  more  rapidly  than  they 
used  to  do  and  it  is  probable  that  amorti- 
zation scales  may  be  speeded  up  still  more. 
This  will  mean  that  damage  done  by  un- 
successful films  to  profits  will  be  more 
promptly  reflected  in  income.” 

On  the  decree,  Self  thinks  this: 

“So  far  none  of  the  leaders  in  the  in- 
dustry seems  to  feel  that  its  terms  will 
mean  any  serious  damage  to  business  or 
profits  . . . One  of  the  probable  results 
flowing  from  this  decree  will  be  that  pro- 


Decree  Needs  12  Years  to 
Work,  Reports  Kuykendall 


MEMBER 

MOTION 

PICTURE 

COMMITTEE 

(Co/ mtaTe’nf/n 

NATIONAL 

DEFENSE 

THEATRES 

DIVISION 


Defense  Plaques — 

Into  the  mails  sooji  will  go  these 
plaques  for  display  in  boxoffice  win- 
dows. They  are  being  mailed  by  the 
Theatre  Division  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Committee  cooperating  for  national 
defense,  which  is  headed  by  Joseph 
Bernhard,  general  manager  of  War- 
ner Theatres.  One  will  be  sent  to 
each  theatre  that  joins  in  the  indus- 
try's defense  effort. 


Weshner  to  Exploitation 
Helm  for  United  Artists 

New  York — Monroe  Greenthal,  director 
of  advertising  and  publicity  for  United 
Artists,  has  appointed  David  E.  Weshner 
as  director  of  exploitation,  effective  Janu- 
ary 13.  Weshner  leaves  his  current  post 
as  supervisor  of  Warner  key  runs  in  Phila- 
delphia on  January  10. 


ducing  companies  will  be  obliged  to  tie  up 
more  money  in  inventories  since  they  will 
be  compelled  to  have  a stock  of  films  on 
their  shelves  to  show  and  consequently 
will  be  obliged  to  defer  release  dates.  In 
other  words,  a picture  cannot  be  released 
as  soon  as  it  comes  out  of  the  studios. 
Time  must  be  given  for  buyers  to  inspect 
it.  This  may  mean  that  producers  will 
require  larger  working  capital,  but,  since 
most  of  the  larger  companies  have  big 
cash  balances,  this  will  not  be  a serious 
handicap. 

“Heavier  working  capital  demands,  plus 
the  smaller  gross  revenues  coming  in  due 
to  the  loss  of  foreign  markets,  may  also 
mean  a sharp  curtailment  in  the  number 
of  films  produced  since  the  money  to  fi- 
nance current  production  programs  will 
be  available.” 


Miami  — Assistant  Attorney  General 
Thurman  Arnold  told  him  it  will  take  12 
years  to  get  the  consent  decree  to  work 
properly,  E.  L.  Kuykendall,  MPTOA  presi- 
dent, informed  a luncheon  of  50  exhibitors 
here  Tuesday.  Mitchell  Wolfson  of  Wo- 
metco  Theatres  was  host. 

“Out  of  seven  lawyers,  no  two  would 
agree  on  points,”  Kuykendall  stated  in 
declaring  he  still  does  not  know  what  the 
decree  means.  He  described  it  as  a buga- 
boo and  added  he  failed  to  see  how  the 
instrument  could  be  described  as  a consent 
decree  when  he  has  found  no  one  who  has 
consented.  Other  Kuykendall  fears: 

1 —  Arbitration  by  outsiders,  as  provided 
in  the  decree. 

2 —  That  it  is  a fallacy  to  call  upon  the 
government  to  control  the  industry. 

3 —  That  the  decree  will  affect  indepen- 
dents who  are  badly  needed  for  legislative 
fights  and  burden  them  with  prohibitive 
arbitration  costs. 

“Sincerity  is  a lost  word  in  our  busi- 
ness,” Kuykendall  stated  in  giving  one  rea- 
son why  he  feels  the  industry  is  in  its 
present  predicament.  He  also  hit  the  de- 
cree in  that  theatre  divorcement,  the  origi- 
nal reason  for  the  government  suit,  had 
been  forgotten. 

Nizer  Urges  Cooperation 

Louis  Nizer,  New  York  attorney,  urged 
theatremen  present  to  cooperate  with  the 
government  and  gave  it  as  his  opinion  the 
decree  probably  will  work  with  revisions. 
He  pleaded  with  exhibitors  to  aid  the  gov- 
ernment in  this  connection  and  not  to  en- 
deavor to  sabotage  the  consent  for  that,  he 
said,  would  be  against  the  government  and 
not  the  decree.  If  the  decree  fails,  he  con- 
tinued, it  would  fail  on  its  own  and  the 
government  would  so  realize  it. 

Wolfson  asked  all  present  to  sign  a 
pledge  to  cooperate  with  the  motion  pic- 
ture committee  on  national  defense. 
Guests,  most  of  them  regular  Florida  vaca- 
tionists, included  Jack  Cohn,  Herman  Rob- 
bins, A1  Steffes,  Herman  Weingarten,  P.  S. 
Harrison,  Albert  Bernstein,  Jack  Alicoate, 
Maxie  Rosenbloom,  Thomas  Brandon, 
SETOA  secretary;  C.  Coushon,  Gonzalo 
Bezanilla  and  Sidney  Meyer,  the  latter 
Wolfson’s  partner. 

Repeat  Dates  for  "Wind" 
At  Advanced  Prices 

New  York — “Gone  With  the  Wind”  is 
slated  to  play  repeat  engagements  at  ad- 
vanced admission  prices  in  35  Loew  out- 
of-town  theatres  between  the  period  pf 
January  16  to  January  31.  All  bookings 
are  for  a minimum  of  one  week  on  a 
single  feature  basis. 

In  a move  designed  to  center  important 
attention  on  the  engagement,  M-G-M  is 
working  closely  with  state  and  city  of- 
ficials to  open  “Land  of  Liberty,”  feature 
contribution  of  the  industry  to  the  World’s 
Fair  of  1940  and  now  condensed  for  thea- 
tre showing,  in  the  capital  cities  of  every 
state  in  the  country  on  January  24. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


N1 


27 


Broadway  Revels  in 
New  Year  Grosses 

New  York — Boxoffice-wise,  the  New 
Year’s  Week  just  past  fulfilled  not  only 
the  fondest  hopes  of  Broadway  operators 
but,  in  some  instances,  substantially  ex- 
ceeded them.  Screen-wise,  the  product  was 
strong,  affording  the  sort  of  competition 
that  could  be  expected  in  this  most -fav- 
ored of  all  weeks.  Weather-wise,  perfect. 
In  fact,  the  only  wise  the  situation  could 
have  been  more  profitable  would  have  been 
in  the  form  of  rubber  walls. 

Far  and  away  the  big  noise  was  “The 
Philadelphia  Story’’  at  the  5,960-seat  Music 
Hall.  Hitting  a significant  $125,000,  the 
film  was  exceeded  only  by  “Top  Hat”  in 
1935  for  top  honors  in  the  money  and  at- 
tendance columns.  Slated  to  go  a mini- 
mum of  five  weeks,  the  film  had  an  open- 
ing week  advantage  of  the  theatre’s  re- 
nowned Christmas  stage  show,  which  was 
held  over.  While  this  holdover  reduced 
the  “nut”  and  likewise  attracted  in  itself 
a sizeable  portion  of  each  audience,  it  is 
seen  as  a deterrent  to  first  week  attend- 
ance. This  is  on  the  argument  that  many 
persons  who  saw  the  Christmas  stage  show 
with  the  previous  attraction — “No,  No, 
Nanette” — did  not  want  to  see  it  again 
the  first  week  of  “Philadelphia  Story.” 

Benny-Alien  in  Top  Brackets 

Up  in  the  very  top  brackets,  too,  was 
“Love  Thy  Neighbor,”  which  in  its  second 
week  at  the  Paramount  chalked  up  about 
$75,000.  The  stage  show  of  Tommy  Dorsey 
and  his  orchestra  and  other  acts  was  no 
little  attraction  to  the  younger  set;  the 
kids  with  whom  Dorsey  is  a dancing  favo- 
rite. The  theatre  completely  revised  its 
scale,  not  in  money,  but  in  hours  at  which 
admissions  were  altered,  to  bring  the  total 
up.  This  saw  a New  Year’s  Eve  scale  of 
$1.10  from  7 to  8 p.  m.,  and  $1.50  from 
then  on. 

The  Capitol  with  “Comrade  X”  hit  a 
very  profitable  $60,000,  the  best  the  thea- 
tre has  had  in  many  months.  The  Roxy, 
with  “Chad  Hanna”  and  a stage  show,  and 
the  Strand,  with  “Santa  Fe  Trail”  and  a 
stage  show  featuring  Abe  Lyman  and  his 
orchestra,  played  to  absolute  capacity. 
“Fantasia”  at  the  Broadway  and  “The 
Great  Dictator”  at  the  Astor,  both  road- 
shows and  both  holdovers,  were  jammed  to 
the  rafters.  In  fact,  every  Broadway  house 
did  excellently.  Those  few  that  did  not 
book  especially  attractive  films  were  more 
than  compensated  with  the  overflow  from 
the  de  luxers. 

The  detail  that  follows  is  for  the  week 
preceding  the  holidays,  with  “Love  Thy 
Neighbor”  the  unrivalled  leader. 


t (Average  is  100) 

Astor — The  Great  Dictator  (UA),  11th  road- 
show wk 110 

Broadway — Fantasia  (Disney),  6th  roadshow 

wk 145 

Capitol — Dr.  Kildare’s  Crisis  (M-G-M) 80 

Criterion — Hullabaloo  (M-G-M)  80 

Globe — Here  Conies  the  Navy  (WB),  6 days..  90 
Paramount — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t), 

plus  stage  show  170 

Radio  City  Music  Hall — No,  No,  Nanette 

(RKO),  plus  stage  show  100 

Rialto — Ellery  Queen,  Master  Detective  (Col)...  85 

Rivoli — Little  Men  (RKO),  2nd  wk 50 

Roxy — One  Night  in  the  Tropics  (Univ), 
plus  stage  show  85 


Strand — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN).  plus  stage  show  135 


' Bagdad ' and  'NWMP'  Tops 
In  Philly  Xmas  Week 

Philadelphia — “Thief  of  Bagdad”  at  the 
Aldine  with  Sabu  in  person  opening  day; 
“North  West  Mounted  Police”  at  the  Stan- 
ley and  “Four  Mothers”  at  the  Fox,  all 
holdovers  and  “Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s” 
plus  socko  stage  show  in  Clyde  McCoy’s 
Band  plus  Three  Stooges  in  person  at  the 
Earle,  copped  practically  all  the  business 
in  sight  Xmas  week. 

“Second  Chorus”  at  the  Boyd  had  tough 
sledding  and  “Gallant  Sons”  at  the  Stan- 
ton proved  a weakie. 

Detail  for  week  ending  December  31: 


(Average  is  100) 

Aldine — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA)  95 

Held  over  for  2nd  wk. 

Boyd — Second  Chorus  (Para’t)  70 

World  Premiere  “Kitty  Foyle”  (RKO)  now. 

Earle — Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s  (Para’t) 100 

Stage  show  featuring  Clyde  McCoy’s  Band  and 
3 Stooges  in  person. 

Fox — Four  Mothers  (WB)  95 

Held  over  for  2nd  wk. 

Karl  ton — The  Letter  (FN),  3 days;  No,  No, 

Nanette  (RKO),  3 days;  both  2nd  run 70 

Keith’s — Go  West  (M-G-M),  2nd  run  70 

Stanley — North  West  Mounted  Police  ( Para’t )..  110 

Stanton — Gallant  Sons  (M-G-M)  75 


Tenlaiive  AAA  Panels 
Set  for  Functions 

New  York — In  order  to  assure  efficient 
service  when  nation-wide  tribunals  begin 
functioning  around  February  1,  the  Ameri- 
can Arbitration  Ass’n  has  tentatively  set 
up  minimum  panels  of  arbitrators  in  areas 
commensurate  with  the  traffic  expected. 

All  “A”  offices  will  have  40  arbitrators 
to  draw  from;  “B”  offices  20,  and  “C” 
tribunals  from  10  to  20.  However,  New 
York,  where  particularly  heavy  traffic  is 
expected,  will  have  from  50  to  60  arbitra- 
tors. The  AAA  expects  to  have  the  fol- 
lowing personnel  in  the  three  classifica- 
tions of  tribunals:  “A,”  one  clerk  and  one 
to  two  assistants;  “B,”  one  clerk  and  one 
assistant,  and  “C,”  one  clerk. 

It  is  pointed  out  that  the  panels  as  cur- 
rently conceived  are  only  tentative,  being 
based  on  the  amount  of  work  that  may  be 
required  of  arbitrators  under  the  few  trade 
practices  arbitrable  under  the  consent  de- 
cree before  the  actual  selling  for  1941-42 
begins.  Likewise,  it  is  said  the  panels  may 
be  enlarged  after  September  1 when  a 
larger  number  of  trade  practices  are  arbi- 
trable under  the  decree. 


Keough  Explains 
Decree  Contents 

New  York — Austin  C.  Keough,  general 
counsel  for  Paramount,  met  with  the  en- 
tire local  exchange  sales,  booking  and  ship- 
ping forces  Friday  to  explain  the  contents 
of  the  decree.  Questions  were  asked  by 
the  employes  on  points  in  doubt.  This  is 
the  first  of  the  Paramount  meetings  to  ex- 
plain the  decree.  Several  home  office  ex- 
ecutives also  were  on  hand. 

Warner  and  M-G-M  are  not  planning  to 
send  attorneys  out  to  the  field  at  this  time, 
it  is  stated,  and  will  wait  for  the  next 
sales  convention  when  a general  detailed 
analysis  will  be  given  the  sales  force  and 
bookers  by  home  o’ffice  counsel,  in  addi- 
tion to  individual  meetings  with  exchange 
groups. 


Wanls  Larger  Share 
Of  British  Money 

New  York — Although  the  eight  majors 
have  accepted  Great  Britain’s  figure  of 
$12,900,000  to  be  remitted  for  the  year 
starting  November  1,  1940,  M-G-M  is  de- 
manding that  the  percentage  of  allocations 
among  the  eight  companies  be  based  on 
available  remittances  rather  than  gross 
figures  for  the  forthcoming  year. 

M-G-M  executives  are  basing  their  de- 
mands on  the  method  set  up  by  the  Brit- 
ish government  in  allowing  the  $12,900,- 
000  this  year  as  against  $17,500,000  the 
year  before.  The  government,  in  determ- 
ining the  figure,  did  not  use  the  gross 
business  figures  of  the  eight  companies 
but  amounts  remittable  as  compared  with 
last  year. 

It  is  figured  by  M-G-M  that  its  busi- 
ness in  England  is  higher  than  any  other 
American  company  and  that  for  the 
amount  of  gross  its  operating  expenses  are 
less.  Hence,  in  view  of  this  executives  are 
demanding  that  the  money  to  be  taken  out 
of  England  should  be  based  not  on  the 
gross,  but  on  the  remittable  allowances. 

The  matter  is  being  turned  over  to  arbi- 
tration. No  date  has  been  set,  neither  the 
arbitrators. 

M-G-M  figures  that,  if  the  system  used 
last  year  is  applied  again,  it  will  not  bene- 
fit as  greatly  as  under  the  plan  it  sug- 
gested. The  $12,900,000  is  understood  to 
be  a compromise  figure  and  includes  re- 
mittances available  for  Universal  which 
last  year  did  not  work  with  the  other 
seven  majors. 


Rose  Sailing  to  Renew 
Paramount's  U.  K.  Program 

Hollywood  — David  E.  Rose,  Para- 
mount’s managing  director  in  England, 
will  sail  for  London  January  25  to  re- 
sume production  there.  He  has  been  here 
several  weeks  lining  up  new  properties, 
two  being  A.  J.  Cronin’s  “Hatters  Castle” 
and  James  M.  Barrie’s  “The  Admirable 
Crichton.” 

The  last  British-made  Paramount  pic- 
ture was  "French  Without  Tears,”  although 
several  were  scheduled  after  that  and 
never  launched  because  of  the  war.  I.  J. 
Goldsmith,  who  produced  “The  Stars 
Look  Down,”  acquired  by  M-G-M,  will  ac- 
company Rose  and  act  as  associate  pro- 
ducer. Laurence  Olivier  is  being  sought 
for  the  Cronin  yarn. 


Metro  Auditors  Meet  in 
A Three-Day  Session 

New  York — M-G-M  home  office  and 
field  auditors  met  for  three  days,  starting 
Thursday,  at  the  Astor  at  their  annual 
roundup  session  with  Alan  Cummings, 
chief  auditor  at  the  home  office. 

Attending  were  Charles  Aaron,  John 
Ash,  Parke  Agnew,  "Pop”  Cummings, 
Thomas  Grady,  William  Marsh,  Robert 
Long,  Nat  Rochlin,  Charles  J.  School,  Ben 
Wolf  and  Jay  Zimmerman.  Sidney 
Schwartz,  foreign  department  traveling 
auditor,  also  was  on  hand. 


28 


BOXOFFICh  : : January  4,  1941 


B R O A ID)  WAY 


QVER  3,000  Warner  Club  members,  their 
children,  grandchildren,  brothers  and 
sisters  attended  the  club’s  annual  Christ- 
mas Kiddie  Party  held  at  the  Brooklyn 
Vitaphone  studio.  The  affair  was  the 
largest  in  the  club’s  history,  according  to 
Ralph  Budd  who  handled  arrangements. 
A group  of  British  refugee  children,  spend- 
ing their  first  Christmas  in  the  United 
States,  were  guests  of  the  club.  A troop  of 
Brooklyn  boy  scouts  presented  the  colors 
to  the  British  children,  with  the  Midland 
Park,  N.  J.,  Drum  and  Bugle  Corps  sup- 
plying the  music.  During  the  rest  of  the 
afternoon’s  show,  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asy- 
lum band  furnished  the  musical  back- 
ground. 

One  of  the  attractions  of  the  party  was 
Santa  Claus’  work  shop,  featuring  ani- 
mated figures  built  in  miniature.  In  addi- 
tion, there  was  a complete  one-ring  cir- 
cus starring  “Jumbo,”  the  elephant  fea- 
tured in  Billy  Rose’s  show;  Tony,  the 
Camel;  the  boxing  kangaroo,  clowns,  trap- 
eze artists,  acrobats,  trained  ponies  and 
horses.  A “Santa  Fe”  pageant  was  staged 
with  stage  coaches,  the  Lone  Ranger  jr„ 
cowboys,  cowgirls  and  Indians.  Refresh- 
ments were  served  after  the  entertainment 
and  the  children  were  presented  with  at- 
tractive gifts. 

Mel  Heyman  of  Metro  home  office  pub- 
licity fought  off  three  days  of  la  grippe 
in  order  to  enjoy  welcoming  the  New  Year 
. . . Leonard  Picker,  Columbia  attorney,  is 
taking  his  wife  and  himself  to  Florida  on 
January  9 for  about  three  weeks  . . . 
Jonas  Rosenfeld,  copy  writer  and  a former 
assistant  to  Paul  Lazarus  jr.,  at  Warner, 
is  well  along  now  on  a similar  post  with 
the  Walt  Disney  organization  under  Hal 
Horne.  Lazarus  celebrated  the  New  Year 
playing  host  to  a new-born,  his  second.  It’s 
a boy,  John,  weight,  seven  pounds,  point 
seven.  Mrs.  L.  is  at  Woman’s  Hospital  . . . 
Carl  E.  Milliken,  MPPDA  secretary,  and 
Mrs.  M.  are  due  in  a few  days  from  a 
southern  cruise  aboard  the  America. 

B.  S.  Moss,  chairman  of  the  enrollment 
committee  of  the  amusement  division  of 
the  New  York-Brooklyn  Federations,  has 
appointed  Harry  Hersh field  chairman  of 
a newspapermen’s  committee.  Among  the 
vice-chairmen,  representing  different 
branches  of  the  field,  are  Ed  Sullivan, 
Cecelia  Ager,  Marvin  Kirsch,  Charles  E. 
Lewis,  Elias  Sugarman,  Martin  Quigley, 
Sam  Shain,  Damon  Runyon  and  Red  Kann 
. . . Leonard  Beier  of  the  Warner  home  of- 
fice publicity  department  is  now  married 
to  Lillian  Kirschner  of  Highland  Park,  N. 
J.  . . . Lawrence  Stessin,  press  contact  for 
the  American  Arbitration  Ass’n,  will  speak 
before  the  Columbia  University  School  of 
Journalism  on  public  relations.  His  subject 
ivill  be  in  the  vein  of  “How  to  Be  a Press 
Agent  and  Get  Away  With  It.” 

Max  A.  Cohen  will  leave  January  15  for 
Palm  Springs  and  Arrowhead  . . . Tom 
Connors  may  go  to  Cuba  for  his  vacation, 
providing  the  fishing  is  up  to  snuff  . . . 
Joe  Seider  is  thinking  of  a South  Ameri- 
can vacation  this  year  . . . Tyree  Dillard 
of  M-G-M’s  legal  staff  returned  early  in 
the  week  from  a holiday  at  Greensboro, 


N.  C.,  his  home  town  . . . Harry  C.  Ar- 
thur and  his  brother,  Eddie,  were  in  from 
St.  Louis  to  spend  the  holidays  at  Shrub 
Oak  . . . Sam  Rinzler  has  become  a grand- 
father for  the  third  time.  His  son,  Dr. 
Seymour  Rinzler,  became  a father  of  a 
girl  at  Doctor’s  Hospital  the  day  after 
Christmas  . . Si  Fabian  returned  from 

his  Bermuda  vacation  which  meant  Sidney 
Dennow,  his  chief  booker,  took  a weekend 
train  for  Miami  for  a two-week  rest  . . . 
A.  L.  Prachett,  Paramount’s  Central 
American  manager,  is  in  town  on  a regu- 
lar visit  . . . David  Rose  is  due  the  middle 
of  the  month  from  the  coast  en  route  for 
England.  John  W.  Hicks  has  tried  to  per- 
suade Rose  not  to  return  until  after  the 
war,  but  it  was  no  dice. 


— Metropolitan  Photos 

Producer  on  Visit — 

David  Hempstead,  who  made  “Kitty 
Foyle”  for  RKO,  comes  to  New  York 
on  a brief  vacation  which  includes  a 
round  of  the  new  plays.  S.  Barret  Mc- 
Cormick, RKO’s  director  of  adver- 
tising and  publicity,  meets  him  at 
Grand  Central. 


Leopold  and  Ruth  Friedman  got  back 
over  the  weekend  from  Miami  where  they 
spent  the  Christmas-New  Year’s  holiday 
. . . Murray  Cohen,  formerly  of  the  Alpine, 
Bronx,  has  been  transferred  by  Rosenz- 
weig  & Gulkin  to  the  Taft,  Flushing , as 
assistant  manager  . . . E.  M.  Saunders  has 
left  for  Salt  Lake.  He  plans  to  make  a 
stopover  at  Denver  to  install  John  P.  Byrne 
as  district  manager  for  the  Des  Moines, 
Omaha  and  Denver  areas  . . . Irving  B. 
Schlosberg,  assistant  to  Harold  Cleary  at 
Loew’s,  is  going  haywire  with  his  new  alti- 
meter . . . Accompanying  Charles  Skouras 
were  his  wife  and  three  daughters,  among 
them  Edith,  wife  of  Jack  Jungmeyer . The 
Jungmeyers  are  20 th-Fox  writers  and  re- 
turned to  the  studio  over  the  weekend 
after  a vacation  here  . . . Nate  J.  Blum- 
berg  is  not  due  to  return  from  the  coast 
until  the  first  week  in  February.  Bill 
Scully  has  gone  to  Miami  for  a vacation. 


from  Hollywood  . . . Eddie  Rugoff  is  so- 
journing  on  Miami  beaches  . . . George  J. 
Schaefer  is  looking  forward  to  another 
coast  trip  soon. 

The  Lynn  Farnols  are  in  Charleston,  S. 
C.,  for  a few  days  and  from  there  travel 
on  to  New  Orleans  for  their  first  visit  and 
an  orgy  in  Creole  cooking.  Last  Friday,  the 
entire  UA  advertising,  publicity  and  ex- 
ploitation departments  were  hosts  at  a 
farewell  cocktail  party  for  the  retiring 
chief.  Company  executives,  starting  with 
Murray  Silvers  tone  and  Arthur  W.  Kelly 
and  then  variously  down  the  line,  were  on 
hand  as  were  producers’  representatives 
like  Eddie  Peskay,  Jim  Mulvey  and  Harry 
Kosiner.  Farnol  was  presented  with  a 
handsome  wrist  watch,  properly  inscribed, 
and  glasses  lifted  on  high  in  all  direc- 
tions . . . Mary  and  Dave  Palfreyman  cele- 
brated their  18th  wedding  anniversary  last 
Saturday  . . . It’s  custom  for  Spyros 
Skouras  to  hold  a Christmas  party  at  his 
Mamaroneck  home.  This  time,  however, 
he  converted  it  into  still  another  appeal 
for  relief  for  Greek  civilians  and  garnered 
$3,000  for  that  cause. 

Frank  Donovan,  Pathe  News  vice-presi- 
dent, took  himself  a week  off  and  spent  it 
at  Lake  Placid  . . . Bob  Kohn,  former  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  55 th  St.  Playhouse, 
et  al.,  has  quit  the  post.  Now  he’s  with 
Guild  and  Goodman,  publicity  agents  . . . 
David  Hempstead,  producer  of  “Kitty 
Foyle”  which  has  RKO  in  a complete 
dither,  came  east  over  the  weekend  for  a 
round  of  the  plays  . . . Groucho  Marx  and 
his  family  have  returned  to  the  coast  . . . 
Tamara  is  back  from  personal  appearances 
in  Chicago.  She  has  a featured  role  in  “No, 
No,  Nanette.”  Anna  Neagle,  by  the  way, 
did  a series  of  neighborhood  personal  ap- 
pearances following  the  week’s  run  of  the 
film  at  the  Music  Hall;  now  she’s  back  in 
Hollywood  to  start  work  in  “Sunny”  . . . 
Wolfe  Cohen,  district  manager  for  War- 
ner in  Canada,  went  into  a huddle  with 
Roy  Haines,  then  returned  to  Toronto  . . . 
Will  Horwitz,  Houston  exhibitor,  was 
around  for  a spell  . . . Animated  three- 
some walking  west  on  44 th  Street:  Barney 
Balaban,  Austin  C.  Keough  and  Joe  Hazen. 

Otto  Bolle,  20th-Fox  South  African 
head,  plans  to  leave  for  home  about  the 
first  of  February.  He  spent  the  Christmas 
holidays  in  Detroit  where  he  saw  his 
grandson  for  the  first  time.  He  is  trying 
to  take  a boat  leaving  from  the  east  in- 
stead of  from  the  coast  for  his  return 
journey  . . . The  one  day  Ben  Goetz  spent 
in  town  was  to  show  Nicholas  M.  Schenck 
the  first  print  of  “Come  Live  With 
Me,”  his  latest  . . . While  on  the  subject 
of  Schenck  his  new  1941  license  plate  is 
NM  23,  the  same  as  last  year.  C.  C.  Mosko- 
witz  has  CM  2,  same  as  1939  . . . Rudy 
Vallee  will  make  his  debut  as  a ventrilo- 
quist in  “Picture  People,”  a Pathe  short 
. . . Merian  C.  Cooper,  producing  “The 
Eagle  Squadron"  for  Walter  Wanger,  is  en 
route  to  Washington  and  New  York  for 
additional  data. 

Norma  Davis,  secretary  to  John  J. 
O’Connor,  celebrated  another  birthday 
(Continued  on  page  30-B) 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


29 


PRESENT  at  the  White  House  last  Sun- 
day evening,  when  President  Roose- 
velt spoke  to  the  nation,  were  Clark  Gable 
and  Carole  Lombard;  their  capital  visit 
being  part  of  their  itinerary  to  Johns  Hop- 
kins Hospital  in  Baltimore  where  Gable 
will  favor  an  injured  shoulder. 

Following  the  unique  screening  of  “ Flight 
Command,”  the  Loew  publicity  staff  took 
another  page  out  of  the  same  book  when 
it  arranged  the  screening  of  ‘‘Comrade  X” 
for  the  critics  in  a street  car,  on  an  out- 
lying siding,  to  afford  an  atmosphere  in 
keeping  with  the  theme  of  the  picture. 

Variety  News:  Installation  and  dedica- 
tion of  the  dental  clinics  at  Providence  and 
Children’s  hospitals  will  take  place  on 
January  15,  with  Beverly  Rohrs,  daughter 
of  UA’s  Fred  Rohrs,  officiating  in  the  un- 
veiling ceremonies  . . . New  resident  mem- 
bers: David  Legum,  Bernie  Harrison,  Sam 
Jack  Kaufman,  Shirley  Povich,  Arch  Mer- 
cey,  Herbert  Jacoby,  Max  Rosenberg,  S. 
Meyer  Barnett,  Sam  Solomon,  Dr.  Sylvan 
Danzansky,  and  David  Max  ...  At  a meet- 
ing of  the  board  of  governors,  arrangements 
were  made  whereby  the  welfare  committee 
will,  in  the  future,  completely  furnish  and 
dedicate  a hospital  room  in  honor  and 
in  memory  of  deceased  members  . . . The 
Xmas  party  for  the  kiddies  turned  out  to 
be  a chorus  of  50  strong. 

“U”  Notes:  Tom  Murray,  Universal’s 
manager  of  branch  operations,  Jules  Lapi- 
dus,  district  manager,  visited  with  Branch 
Manager  Max  Cohen  . . . Al  Myles,  home 
office  auditor,  is  in  for  a check  . . . Alice 
Reighly,  cashier,  and  veteran  of  many 
years  in  the  film  colony,  resigned  her  posi- 
tion to  accept  a similar  berth  with  Warner 
Bros.  Tier  co-workers  presented  her  with 
a purse  . . . Samuel  Kremer  joins  the  ac- 
counting department  in  her  stead  . . . The 
Universal  Pep  Club  will  hold  its  annual 
New  Year’s  party  at  the  Hay- Adams  house, 
January  11  . . . Jimmie  Davidson  of  the 
Big  U exchange,  and  his  sister,  Vilma,  paid 
a holiday  visit  to  Branch  Manager  Max 
Cohen. 

Charles  Goldsten,  publicist  for  the  Alex- 
andria Amusement  Corp.,  was  married  to 
Mabel  Sugnet,  formerly  of  Ann  Arbor,  in 
Baltimore,  December  22.  They  will  reside 
in  Alexandria  . . . John  Smith  of  Rising 
Sun,  Md.,  opened  his  new  venture,  the 
Sun,  on  December  25.  It  is  a 190-seater 
and  will  run  on  a six-day  schedule  . . . 
Willie  Hicks  of  Baltimore  journeyed  to 
New  York  to  catch  “Fantasia”  . . . Major 
Harry  and  Mrs.  Knierin  of  Pittsburgh 
visited  with  NSS’s  Art  Jacobson  over  the 
weekend  . . . RKO’s  Branch  Manager  Bob 
Folliard  and  family  are  frolicking  on  the 
sand  dunes  . . . Joe  Kushner,  Columbia 
head  booker,  was  conspicuous  in  absence 
due  to  a sudden  illness. 

Warner  Theatre  Items:  Frank  and  Rick 
LaFalce  journeyed  to  their  home  in  New- 
ark to  hang  their  stockings,  returned  to 
their  desks,  and  then  double-featured  their 
homecoming  to  Newark  by  returning  to 
ring  out  the  old  and  usher  in  the  new  . . . 
Norma  Newnam’s  attendance  record  of 
five  years  blossomed  a red  mark  when  she 


capitulated  to  a mean  cold  . . . Ann  De- 
Mello  made  a matinee  exit  for  the  same 
reason  . . . Caroline  Dize  journeyed  to  her 
Crisfield,  Md.  home  to  join  in  ‘‘Auld  Lang 
Syne”  . . . The  girls  of  the  publicity  staff 
held  their  annual  post-Xmas  soiree  and 
the  usual  resolutions  were  made  . . . Helen 
Hopkins  of  the  contract  department  is  still 
reminiscing  over  her  Xmas  visit  to  her 
Vermont  home  and  her  fill  of  native  tur- 
key . . . Charles  McGowan  enjoyed  a holi- 
day visit  from  his  parents  of  Newark,  who 
then  joined  with  his  wife  for  a six-week 
Florida  sojourn  . . . John  J.  Payette 
weathered  a siege  of  the  sniffles  . . . Bill 
Ewing  entertained  his  parents  from  Frede- 
rick over  the  holiday. 

Metrograms:  John  Allen,  the  newly  ap- 
pointed branch  manager,  will  make  his  de- 
but January  6 . . . Harry  Sheeran  of  the 
Cincinnati  sale  staff  visited  the  exchange 
during  his  capital  holiday  sojourn  . . . 
Buddy  Hall,  secretary  to  Rudy  Berger, 
visited  the  home  office  for  a few  days,  and 
toasted  the  old  year  curfew  in  the  in- 
terim . . . Bertha  Gerfeld  is  resigning 
January  11  . . . Installation  of  officers  of 
Local  B-13  IATSE  was  held  Thursday  eve. 

Harry  Mersay  of  20  th-Fox  exchange 
operations  visited  with  Sam  Wheeler  . . . 
Lillian  Blumenthal’s  natal  day  calls  for 
the  melody  duet  of  ‘‘Happy  Birthday  and 
New  Year  to  You”  . . . Tom  McCaskey  of 
the  Williamsburg , Williamsburg , Va.,  visit- 
ed and  advised  that  the  town  fathers  of 
that  historic  township  observed  the  Xmas 
holiday  in  18 th  century  fashion,  with  deco- 
rations of  that  era,  the  burning  of  the  yule 
log,  and  illumination  confined  to  candle- 
light . . . Incidentally , the  Williamsburg 
will  celebrate  its  eighth  anniversary  on 
January  13. 

His  third  anniversary  with  M-G-M  will 
be  observed  on  January  10  by  George  Tor- 
ney  of  the  local  exchange.  Three  days  later, 
Mary  Curtain  will  make  it  seven  years 
with  Leo. 


Long  Lease  on  Rex 

New  York — Berk  and  Krumgold,  theatre 
real  estate  firm,  has  closed  a long-term 
lease  on  the  1,000  seat  Rex  at  East  Ruth- 
erford, N.  J.,  at  an  aggregate  rental  of 
$130,000.  The  lessee  is  Acme  Theatres, 
Inc.,  and  the  lessor,  Biro  Theatres,  Inc., 
which  had  acquired  the  theatre  in  1930. 


SPG  Hearing  Soon 

New  York — The  Screen  Publicists  Guild 
expects  a formal  date  to  be  set  within  a 
week  by  the  national  labor  relations  board 
on  the  guild’s  demands  of  major  com- 
panies. 


Loew  Dividend 

New  York — Loew’s,  Inc.,  has  declared  a 
quarterly  dividend  of  $1.62y2  on  the 
cumulative  preferred,  payable  February  15 
to  stockholders  of  record  January  31. 


Astoria  Clearance  Is 
Headed  for  Tussle 

New  York — Frank  Moscato,  who  books 
and  buys  for  17  Long  Island  theatres,  has 
retained  Emil  K.  Ellis  to  work  out  a set- 
tlement with  Skouras  and  Loew’s  on  an 
Astoria  clearance  situation  which  resulted 
from  Skouras  taking  over  Loew’s  Astoria 
a few  weeks  ago. 

With  the  acquisition  of  the  Astoria,  and 
the  formation  of  a four-way  pool  between 
Skouras  and  Loew’s  for  the  Astoria,  Tri- 
boro,  Grand  and  Steinway,  Moscato’s  Dit- 
mars  in  the  same  section  has  been  pushed 
back  from  a second  to  fifth  run. 

All  product  that  had  been  playing  first 
run  at  the  Triboro  and  Astoria  ran  clear 
of  the  Broadway  and  Grand  in  the  Dit- 
mars.  Now,  under  the  new  setup,  the 
Broadway  and  Grand  follow  the  Triboro 
and  Astoria  and  seven  days  later  it  goes 
into  the  Stein  way.  Seven  days  after  the 
Steinway  the  films  are  played  in  the 
Crescent,  also  a Skouras  house,  before  they 
become  available  to  the  Ditmars. 

Moscato  says  he  is  prepared  to  take  the 
matter  to  court  unless  the  two  circuits 
work  out  an  arrangement  with  Ellis.  Ellis 
has  also  contacted  the  circuits  and  dis- 
cussions are  under  way  to  remedy  the 
situation  before  it  becomes  acute,  it  is 
stated. 

New  York  Film  Critics 
Host  at  Awards  Party 

New  York — The  New  York  film  critics 
ran  their  annual  party  at  the  Rainbow 
Room  atop  the  RCA  Building,  Sunday — 
the  only  party  at  which  they  play  host. 

The  guests  numbered  about  500,  most- 
ly from  among  the  major  distributors, 
many  varieties  of  press,  many,  many 
varieties  of  press  agentry  and  not  a few 
from  the  theatre.  The  occasion  was  the 
presentation  of  awards  to  the  critics’ 
choices  for  “best  of  the  year.” 

Bosley  Crowther  of  the  New  York  Times 
who  is  president,  and  Ben  Grauer  of  NBC, 
shared  the  microphone  for  a half  hour 
from  6 to  6:30  in  announcing  the  winners. 
It  was  a Blue  network  affair,  hooking  in 
Hollywood  and  Dallas.  In  person  for 
awards  were  Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  who  ac- 
cepted the  plaque  for  “The  Grapes  of 
Wrath,”  chosen  the  best  picture  of  the 
year;  and  John  Ford,  director  of  the  same 
film,  selected  best  director  for  his  work 
in  the  same  picture  and  “The  Long  Voy- 
age Home.”  Scrolls  awarded  to  Walt  Dis- 
ney for  “Fantasia,”  to  Katharine  Hepburn 
as  best  actress,  and  to  Charles  Chaplin  for 
best  actor,  were  sent  to  the  winners  di- 
rectly. 

Robert  Hakim,  representing  Marcel  Pag- 
nol, accepted  the  scroll  for  “The  Baker’s 
Wife,”  designated  the  best  foreign  picture 
of  the  year. 

During  the  broadcast,  Henry  Fonda  and 
Jane  Darwell  re-enacted  the  farewell  scene 
from  “The  Grapes  of  Wrath”  from  Holly- 
wood. Miss  Hepburn  did  a bit  from  Dal- 
las, where  she  is  on  tour  with  “The  Phila- 
delphia Story.”  Disney  and  Chaplin  con- 
tributed “thank  you”  bits  from  out-of- 
town. 


30 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


Posen  Sues  Again; 
"U"  Is  Siill  Calm 


New  York — Samuel  I.  Posen,  Universal 
director  since  March  15,  1938,  and  holder 
of  100  shares  of  common  and  50  of  pre- 
ferred, has  filed  suit  in  the  supreme  court 
against  the  company  seeking  to  enjoin 
Universal’s  purchase  of  its  preferred.  Jus- 
tice Morris  Eden  has  denied  Posen’s  re- 
quest for  a temporary  injunction,  finding 
the  Universal  director  has  “a  meritorious 
cause  of  action,”  but  has  failed  to  show 
sufficient  cause  for  such  drastic  relief. 

On  December  12,  Universal,  in  a letter  to 
its  stockholders,  stated  its  intention  was 
to  borrow  $1,000,000  for  the  retirement  of 
its  first  preferred.  Posen  claims  the  com- 
pany has  15,300  shares  of  first  preferred 
at  a $100  par,  20,000  shares  of  second  pre- 
ferred at  $100  par  and  250,000  shares  of 
common  at  $1  par.  According  to  Univer- 
sal, the  company  had  a net  profit  of  $2,- 
400,000  for  the  year  ended  November  2, 
1940  and  could  afford  to  borrow  the  money. 
It  is  also  claimed  that,  under  the  present 
management,  during  the  past  four  years 
the  company  has  shown  a profit  of  $41,- 
725.  This  statement,  says  Posen,  is  false, 
because  it  fails  to  show  that  Universal  has 
$1,560,000  tied  up  in  England  for  the  dura- 
tion of  the  war.  If  this  sum  is  eliminated 
the  company’s  profit  becomes  a loss  of 
$1,514,274  over  the  same  period  and  it  now 
is  in  the  red  for  upwards  of  $6,500,000,  by 
Posen’s  calculations. 

Retirement  Plan  ’’Unfair" 

To  retire  any  shares  of  first  preferred 
now  is  unlawful  because  it  will  result  in 
dividends  to  some  stockholders  while 
others  will  receive  nothing,  as  $1,000,000 
will  only  retire  about  half  of  the  outstand- 
ing stock,  it  is  charged.  It  is  also  charged 
that,  under  the  retirement  plan,  stockhold- 
ers are  not  protected  against  discrimina- 
tion and  to  borrow  $1,000,000  in  the  com- 
pany’s present  financial  position  would  be 
folly. 

Posen  filed  suit  against  the  company, 
its  affiliates,  officers  and  directors  sev- 
eral months  ago,  charging  mismanage- 
ment and  asking  an  accounting.  This  ac- 
tion is  still  pending. 

Universal  continues  unperturbed. 


Suit  Against  Dietrich 
Highlights  Slow  Week 

New  York — Court  news  of  the  week  was 
slowed  up  considerably  due  to  the  holi- 
days with  the  action  of  Forrester  Parant 
Productions,  French  film  company,  against 
Marlene  Dietrich  featuring  the  week.  The 
company  seeks  $98,450  in  damages  against 
the  actress  for  alleged  breach  of  contract 
whereby  she  was  to  have  made  a film  for 
the  plaintiff  in  France.  During  the  week, 
the  plaintiff  secured  an  order  from  Justice 
Benedict  Dineen  in  the  supreme  court  to 
examine  Peyton  Gibson,  treasurer  of  Uni- 
versal, before  trial  so  that  it  may  deter- 
mine how  much  property  and  money  of 
the  actress  the  film  company  has,  and  at- 
tached $2,000  due  the  actress  on  a broad- 
cast made  December  12. 

RKO  applied  to  the  federal  court  to  pre- 
vent Helen  Twelvetrees  from  attempting 


to  continue  her  action  against  it  in  the 
supreme  court.  The  film  company  switched 
the  suit  to  the  federal  court  due  to  di- 
versity of  citizenship.  It  recently  lost  an 
application  to  delay  start  of  the  trial  past 
January  3 in  the  supreme  court  and  had 
been  ordered  to  appear  to  defend  itself  or 
allow  an  injunction  to  be  entered  against 
it.  To  gain  more  time,  the  suit  was  shift- 
ed. The  action  seeks  $100,000  for  alleged 
libel  in  the  film  “I’m  Still  Alive,”  which 
Miss  Twelvetrees  claims  to  be  based  on  her 
life  with  that  of  her  husband,  Jack  Woody, 
a Hollywood  stunt  man. 

William  Lustig,  agent,  filed  a $525,000 
supreme  court  suit  against  Gloria  Jean 
Schoonover,  Ferman  and  Eleanor  Schoon- 
over, parents  of  the  Universal  starlet,  seek- 
ing damages  for  alleged  breach  of  a 10- 
year  managerial  contract.  Lustig  claims 
to  be  the  exclusive  manager  of  the  ac- 
tress-singer and  says  her  contract  with 
Universal  and  subsequent  concert  and 
radio  appearances  were  made  without  his 
consent  or  knowledge  and  without  pay- 
ment of  10  per  cent  to  him. 

Plagiarism  Suit  Involves  Metro 

Stephen  Van  Gluck  and  Joseph  Eisinger 
filed  a federal  court  action  against  M-G-M 
Pictures  Corp.,  Distributing  Corp.,  Culver 
Export  and  Loew’s  seeking  an  injunction, 
accounting  of  profits  and  damages  against 
"Murder  Man”  which  is  claimed  to  be  a 
plagiarism  of  plaintiff’s  play,  “The  Last 
Edition.”  Also  named  in  the  action  are  Guy 
Bolton  and  Tim  Whelan,  authors  of  the 


REVIEW 


FLASHES 


BREAK  THE  NEWS  (Trio  Films) — As  enter- 
tainment, this  English-made  film  is  a little 
better  than  fair.  A few  highly  comic  mo- 
ments stand  out  in  this  good  story  idea 
which  went  astray  in  its  handling.  Maurice 
Chevalier,  Jack  Buchanan,  June  Knight. 

CAVALCADE  OF  FAITH  (Jeffrey  Film)— Not 
in  any  sense  of  the  word  is  this  Catholic 
subject  entertainment  in  the  accepted  sense 
for  average  theatre  consumption.  It  is  a 
compilation,  and  not  a very  good  one,  of 
scenesMaken  at  various  church  functions  in 
Rome,  for  the  most  part,  and  at  Eucharistic 
Congresses  in  Chicago,  Buenos  Aires  and 
other  cities. 

ROMANCE  OF  THE  RIO  GRANDE  (20th-Fox) 
— In  which  the  love  bug  nearly  catches  up 
with  the  Cisco  Kid,  and  while  the  tender 
passion  is  engulfing  that  perennial  Cabal- 
lero, audiences  will  be  delighted  to  see 
the  very  marked  improvement  in  this  chap- 
ter of  the  established  western  series  as 
compared  to  its  predecessors.  The  feature 
is  definitely  above  average  as  program 
material,  and  will  be  more  than  welcomed 
by  Cisco's  fans  and  cannot  help  but  please 
all  patrons,  whether  sagebrush  enthusi- 
asts or  not.  Sol  Wurtzel  produced.  Herbert 
I.  Leeds  directed. 


Selwyn-Veiller  Suii 
Is  Set  tor  Feb.  3 

screenplay,  and  Edward  E.  Cohen,  who 
claims  five  per  cent  of  the  play. 

Suit  of  Selwyn  and  Co.  against  Bayard 
Veiller  was  set  for  a federal  court  trial  on 
February  3,  1941.  The  action  seeks  to  re- 
cover $7,500  given  the  defendant  by  Loew’s 
for  his  play,  “The  Miracle.”  The  plaintiff 
claims  to  have  secured  all  rights  to  the 
play  in  1914  from  the  author  and  asserts 
any  monies  turned  over  by  Loew’s,  belong 
to  it.  Veiller  claims  Selwyn  was  dis- 
solved in  1936  before  the  transaction  and 
has  no  rights  in  the  play  now. 

Joseph  H.  Ream,  secretary  of  CBS,  was 
examined  before  trial  in  the  supreme 
court  in  connection  with  a suit  by  the 
Epoch  Producing  Corp.  against  it.  Epoch, 
owner  of  the  film  rights  to  “Birth  of  a 
Nation,”  claims  the  defendant  broadcast  a 
program  with  a similar  title  September  2. 
1940,  over  WABC.  An  injunction,  account- 
ing of  profits  and  damages  are  sought. 

Film  Alliance  of  the  U.  S.  filed  a pair 
of  suits  in  the  supreme  court  against  Gau- 
mont  British  Pictures  Corp.  of  America 
and  Isidor  Ostrer,  seeking  damages  of 
$200,000  for  alleged  breach  of  contract. 
The  plaintiff  claims  its  assignor,  Albert  P. 
De  Courville,  paid  GB  $2,500  for  the 
American  rights  to  “Things  Are  Looking 
Up”  and  that  the  defendants  are  refusing 
to  deliver  a print.  The  film  stars  Vivien 
Leigh. 

Seek  to  Examine  Kent 

Unable  to  obtain  satisfaction  with  an 
examination  before  trial  of  W.  C.  Michel, 
executive  vice-president  of  20th  Century- 
Fox,  Izola  Forrester  and  Mann  Page  ap- 
plied to  the  supreme  court  to  examine  Sid- 
ney R.  Kent,  president  of  20th-Fox.  The 
suit  claims  the  film  company  lifted  a story 
called  "Joyous”  in  “Poor  Little  Rich  Girl.” 
An  injunction,  accounting  of  profits  and 
damages  are  sought. 

RKO  applied  to  the  federal  court  for 
permission  to  examine  Irving  K.  Wolfson 
and  Charles  Haar  of  Brooklyn  before  trial 
in  connection  with  a triple  damage  anti- 
trust suit  of  the  Folley  Amusement  Hold- 
ing Corp.  against  it,  the  rest  of  the  majors, 
Monogram,  Republic,  Randforce  Amuse- 
ment Holding  Corp.,  Samuel  Rinzler,  and 
Louis  Frisch.  RKO  wants  to  examine  the 
men  on  January  15.  The  suit  seeks  $750,- 
000  damages  for  allegedly  putting  the 
Brooklyn  Folly  out  of  business  by  depriv- 
ing it  of  product. 

The  Lakewood  Amusement  Corp.,  opera- 
tors of  the  Strand  and  Palace,  Lakewood. 
N.  J.,  applied  to  the  supreme  court  to  ap- 
point two  arbitrators  and  an  umpire  to 
settle  a dispute  it  has  with  Barney  Ferber, 
manager  of  the  theatres,  whom  it  seeks  to 
discharge.  Ferber  has  a five-year  contract 
at  $2,954  yearly  and  cannot  be  discharged 
without  the  consent  of  two  men,  one  of 
whom  is  refusing  to  agree  to  the  firing, 
and  who  has  rejected  all  submitted  arbi- 
trators. 


Assign  Sidney  Franklin 

Hollywood — Sidney  Franklin  will  pro- 
duce “The  Youngest  Profession,”  Judy 
Garland’s  next  for  Metro. 


BOXOFFICE 


January  4,  1941 


30-A 


BROADWAY. 


(Continued  from  page  29) 


Booth  Provision 
Bill  Poised 


Saturday  . . . Mrs.  O'Connor  is  mourning 
the  loss  of  her  father  . . . Nat  Levy.  RKO 
district  manager  with  headquarters  in 
Philadelphia,  and  Charles  Boasberg,  who 
has  Cincinnati,  Cleveland  and  Detroit  for 
the  same  company,  were  in  town  to  see  the 
new  year  in  and  the  old  one  out  . . . 
Harry  McDonald,  N.  E.  circuit  head  for 
RKO,  was  in  town  for  home  office  confabs 
the  early  part  of  the  week  . . . Leon  Gold- 
berg and  the  missus  spent  the  holidays  at 
Lake  Placid  . . . Joe  McConville,  Colum- 
bia foreign  head,  is  planning  another  trip 
to  South  America  shortly. 

Arthur  Hirschman  of  Loew’s  publicity 
department  is  coming  along  nicely  at 
French  Hospital  where  he  has  been  in  an 
oxygen  tent  for  the  past  few  weeks.  He 
continues  to  hold  his  own,  which  is  a good 
sign  . . . Louis  Weinzimmer  and  Hari'y 
Egert,  National  Screen  executives,  and 
their  families  left  for  Miami  Beach  Friday 
for  a three-week  vacation  . . . E.  K.  “Ted” 
O’Shea,  M-G-M  division  manager,  has  had 
his  left  eye  swollen  for  the  past  few  days 
. . . Sam  Rinzler  has  been  making  all  local 
exchanges  in  person  wishing  well  his 
friends  for  the  New  Year  . . . Monty  Gaw- 
thorpe  returned  from  a southern  tour  of 
Paramount  theatres  in  time  to  spend  New 
Year’s  Eve  with  his  family. 

News  at  the  U A exchange  is  bountiful 
with  Harold  Sugarman,  upstate  salesman 
a benedict.  He  married  Seymour  Poe’s  sis- 
ter, Edna,  and  the  couple  is  honeymooning 
in  the  south  . . . Olga  Haley  of  the  con- 
tract department  has  announced  her  en- 
gagement to  Paul  Stoney  of  Manufac- 
turer’s Trust  . . . Harriett  Seiden  of  the 
same  department  also  broke  forth  with  the 
glad  tidings  of  her  engagement.  And  Al- 
vira  Hiller,  same  department,  is  leaving  to 
take  up  duties  as  a housewife  . . . The  ex- 
change employes  have  cooked  up  a wel- 
come home  luncheon  party  for  Charles 
Stern  on  his  return  Monday  from  Miami. 
It  will  probably  be  held  at  the  Lincoln.  It’s 
good  to  see  Stern  back  after  a recent  ill- 
ness. 

Ben  Sherman  of  Belle  Theatres  has  gone 
to  Miami  for  a couple  of  weeks  . . . Spyros 
Skouras  got  back  from  Dayton  and  Co- 
lumbus on  Tuesday  after  a quick  trip 
on  the  Greek  War  Relief  drive  . . . Mike 
Kaufman,  an  old  hand  at  handling  road- 
shows, is  house  manager  at  the  Broadway 
for  “Fantasia”  . . . While  on  the  subject 
of  Disney,  Roy  has  gone  back  to  the  coast 
where  a deal  is  on  tap  to  open  the  pic- 
ture soon  at  the  Carthay  Circle  . . . Grace 
Rosenfeld  is  back  from  a week’s  siesta  at 
Lake  Placid  . . . Bob  Benjamin  is  due  back 
in  a few  days  from  the  coast  where  he 
made  a special  trip  on  Pathe  business  . . . 
Harry  Decker  hasn’t  gone  to  Miami  after 
all.  The  local  Warner  salesman  decided, 
at  the  last  minute,  to  postpone  his  vaca- 
tion for  another  two  months.  When  the 
weather  is  better,  maybe. 

F.  Stein  has  taken  over  the  Costello  in 
Washington  Heights.  The  last  operator  was 
Ed  London  . . . Al  Suchman  says  the  Ca- 
sino, Bronx,  definitely  drops  vaudeville  on 


Saturdays  and  Sundays  this  week.  He 
claims  the  idea  was  an  experiment  and 
didn’t  work  out  . . . Sol  Schwartz  canceled 
Krums  Quiz  New  Year’s  Night  at  the  Ford- 
ham,  the  Wednesday  in  question  being  a 
holiday  night  . . . Virginia  Aaron  and  Lil- 
lian Silver  of  the  M-G-M  home  office  cele- 
brated birthdays  December  29. 

Lou  Johnson,  head  shipper  at  the  local 
M-G-M  exchange,  celebrated  his  21st  year 
with  the  company  Friday  . . . Other  New 
Yorkers  marking  anniversaries  with  the 
company  include  William  Rickarts,  10 
years;  Eugene  Leppert,  five;  Emanuel 
Lowe,  six.  On  Tuesday  Vincent  Del  Gaudio 
chalks  up  five  years;  on  Thursday,  Ruth 
Holtz,  13  years;  on  Saturday,  Dorothy 
Kaplan,  15  years;  on  Sunday  Frank  Dick, 
eight  years. 

It’s  February  14,  otherwise  known  as  St. 
Valentine’s  Day,  for  the  annual  shindig  of 
the  Press  Photographer’s  Association  and 
the  place  is  the  Astor.  The  12 th  amiual 
dance  is  promised  as  a gala  event  with 
loads  of  entertainment  supplied  by  head- 
liners of  radio,  screen  and  the  stage.  Well 
known  personalities,  normally  pictured  by 
members  of  the  association  as  part  of  their 
jobs  throughout  the  year,  are  expected  to 
be  on  hand,  as  usual  and,  en  toto,  about 
3,500  guests  are  expected.  Those  who  go  to 
this  annual  party,  usually  agree  it’s  one  of 
the  best  of  the  year  in  these  parts  . . . An 
exhibition  of  photographs  of  Mexico  by 
Jimmy  Sileo,  the  Music  Hall’s  official 
photographer , is  on  display  in  the  thea- 
tre’s grand  lounge  in  connection  with  “Pan 
Americana,”  the  stage  show  now  current 
there.  The  exhibition  includes  views  of  gov- 
ernment buildings  and  cathedrals  in  Mex- 
ico City,  shore  scenes  and  Marines  of  the 
bay  of  Acapulca  and  views  of  the  mountain 
city  of  Tasco.  Sileo  made  the  album  while 
gathering  background  material  for  the  cur- 
rent show,  produced  by  Florence  Rogge. 

Howard  Dietz  is  on  his  way  to  Palm 
Springs  for  a vacation.  He  left  Friday  night 
with  Arthur  Schwartz,  the  composer  . . . 
Al  Lichtman  and  Bernie  Hyman  arrive  at 
the  M-G-M  lot  Monday  after  a week  in 
New  York  visiting  all  the  plays  possible 
in  the  short  time  . . . Neil  F.  Agnew  and 
Charles  M.  Reagan  left  Thursday  for  Chi- 
cago, Agnew  continuing  on  to  the  coast 
and  Reagan  remaining  in  the  Wi^idy  City 
for  business  and  due  back  Monday  or 
Tuesday  . . . Joe  Hornstein  returns  from 
a Miami  vacation  Monday  or  Tuesday  . . . 
Joe  Unger  was  in  Boston  the  other  day 
. . . Joe  Phillipson,  general  manager  of  the 
Joe  Cooper  circuit  in  Oklahoma  City,  has 
resigned  to  join  the  Paramount  home  of- 
fice distribution  department.  He  is  due  to 
take  his  new  post  within  the  next  few 
days. 

Mort  Spring  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
best  bowlers  in  the  local  film  industry  . . . 
Ben  Cohen,  M-G-M  India  head,  is  plan- 
ning to  return  to  his  headquarters  soon. 
He  has  been  vacationing  in  New  England, 
his  home  town,  and  hereabouts  the  past 
few  weeks  . . . Morey  Marcus,  head  of 
Japan  for  the  same  company,  will  be  leav- 
ing for  home  in  another  fortnight. 


Albany — The  bill  prescribing  sweeping 
specifications  for  the  construction  of  mo- 
tion picture  projection  booths  is  said  to 
be  scheduled  for  reinlroduction  when 
the  legislature  convenes  this  week 
(January  8). 

The  measure  was  put  in  last  March  by 
Senator  William  F.  Condon  of  Yonkers. 

It  was  reported  from  the  committee  on 
labor  and  industry  and  was  advanced  to 
third  reading.  However,  the  Senate  did 
not  act  upon  the  bill  before  adjourn- 
ment. 

^ ■ J 

A New  Eastman  Process 
For  Color  Developing 

Philadelphia — Eastman  Kodak  has  ef- 
fected what  it  declares  is  a new,  quicker 
and  more  effective  process  of  developing 
colored  motion  picture  films,  according  to 
Dr.  C.  E.  K.  Mees,  director  of  research 
for  the  company. 

Three  separate  developments  currently 
used  are  supplanted  by  a single  operation, 
described  as  resembling  the  production  line 
of  an  automobile  factory.  Mees  states  the 
effect  is  a better  quality  coupled  with  less 
risk  of  damage  to  the  negative.  The 
emulsion  on  the  film  used  under  the  new 
process  has  three  super-imposed  layers 
which  take  three  images,  one  directly  atop 
the  other.  The  top  image  is  taken  in  blue 
light  and  the  top  layer  of  the  film  is 
designed  to  reflect  sensitivity  to  blue  alone. 
The  middle  image  is  in  green  and  the 
third,  red.  Whereas  the  current  method 
provides  for  the  printing  of  each  color 
separately,  the  new  method  provides  for 
a continuous  run.  Black  and  white  images 
appear  first  but,  as  the  film  strikes  a red 
light,  that  portion  of  the  negative  shot  in 
red,  prints  that  color.  The  same  idea  ap- 
plies to  the  other  two. 


"U"  Will  Deliver  Full 
List . Says  Blumberg 

Hollywood — Despite  “almost  total  loss 
of  European  markets,”  Universal  will  de- 
liver the  full-season  program,  Nate  Blum- 
berg, president,  stated  over  the  weekend. 

Of  the  63  pledged,  39  are  completed  or 
finally  editing.  Eight  more  will  be  ready 
by  February,  leaving  16  between  February 
15  and  August  31. 

“Our  production  position  has  never  been 
better,”  the  Universal  head  said  at  the 
conclusion  of  studio  meetings  attended  by 
J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  board  chairman;  Wil- 
liam A.  Scully,  general  sales  manager  and 
Joseph  Seidelman.  foreign  sales  manager, 
from  the  east. 


Heads  New  House 

Philadelphia — Harold  Brason  has  been 
promoted  to  the  helm  of  the  Diamond 
Theatre,  newly  acquired  by  the  Warner 
circuit.  Perry  Lessy  succeeds  Brason  at 
the  Lindley.  Both  houses  are  in  Stan- 
ley Benford’s  district. 


30-B 


BOXOFFICE  January  4,  1941 


Depinet  Drive  Meet 
A Tour  Springboard 

Chicago — Leo  Devaney,  captain  in  the 
latest  Ned  E.  Depinet  drive  for  RKO,  met 
here  Friday  with  Jack  Osserman,  local 
manager;  Walter  Branson,  midwest  dis- 
trict manager  and  former  captain;  A.  W. 
Smith  jr„  general  sales  manager,  and 
Harry  Gittelson,  editor  of  Flash,  house 
organ. 

Following  the  session,  Devaney,  Branson 
and  Gittelson  began  a tour  of  exchanges 
with  L.  E.  Goldhammer,  prairie  district 
manager,  joining  the  party  at  Omaha  for 
a circuit  of  his  branches.  At  Denver,  J.  H. 
MacIntyre,  western  district  manager,  will 
meet  the  campaigners  and  accompany 
them  on  his  exchange  area. 

The  first  complete  tour  will  wind  up 
February  7 with  a meeting  at  the  New 
York  exchange.  The  drive  started  Janu- 
ary 25  and  will  conclude  May  9. 

Hoyts-GUT  Negotiations 
For  Merger  Broken 

New  York  — It’s  off  again  and  again 
Finnegan  for  the  Hoyts-GUT  merger  in 
Sydney,  Australia. 

After  many  months  of  negotiation  fol- 
lowing which  an  accord  was  reached,  at 
least  orally,  the  20-year  merger  has  been 
declared  off  once  and  for  all. 

Dan  Michalove  of  the  20th -Fox  home 
office  was  scheduled  to  sail  for  Sydney 
this  month,  but  has  canceled  plans. 

The  merger  was  to  have  gone  into  effect 
January  1,  1941.  The  two  circuits  several 
years  ago  ended  a five-year  joint  oper- 
ating agreement,  following  which  a fight 
developed  over  first  run  product.  It  was 
believed  the  merger  would  bring  about  a 
20-year  truce,  but  this  is  far  from  reach- 
ing the  final  stages  now. 

NSS  Consolidating  Home 
Office  Departments 

New  York— National  Screen  is  con- 
solidating its  various  departments  in  the 
Film  Center  where  it  makes  its  headquar- 
ters. Chief  executive  offices  will  be  main- 
tained on  the  14th  floor  with  a number 
of  executives  to  be  switched  to  the  10th 
floor.  The  library  now  at  the  company’s 
43rd  St.  plant  is  being  moved  to  the  third 
floor  as  well  as  its  advertising  accessories 
now  located  in  the  Paramount  exchange 
here.  Some  of  the  sales  force  located  on 
the  fifth  floor  are  being  moved  to  the 
third  and  10th  floors.  The  trailer,  ship- 
ping and  booking  departments  will  be 
continued  on  the  second. 

Grant  Time  Extension 
In  Clearance  Action 

New  York— An  extension  of  time  to 
January  15  has  been  granted  in  the  River 
Theatre  Corp.  action  against  Skouras  in- 
volving clearance.  At  that  time  the  de- 
fendants will  have  an  opportunity  to  make 
motions  in  respect  to  the  complaint  or 
present  an  answer. 


PRACTICALLY  all  the  Philly  houses  had 
midnight  shows  New  Year’s  Eve,  with 
the  last  shows  in  the  downtown  spots 
starting  around  2 a.  m.  and  with  the 
Victoria  and  the  Palace  joining  the  24- 
hours-a-day  Family  in  staying  open  all 
night  . . . The  S-W  Earle  had  one  of  those 
six-hour  opening  shows  last  Friday  with 
the  belated  arrival  of  Larry  Clinton  and 
his  orchestra,  the  stage  show  headliner,  the 
reason.  House  showed  practically  all  the 
short  subjects  available  and  dished  up  an 
extra  and  rather  lengthy  stage  show  con- 
sisting of  whatever  acts  they  could  gather 
together  plus  the  house  orchestra.  The 
Clinton  band  rushed  from  station  to  stage 
without  a moment’s  rest;  did  a few  num- 
bers, and  saved  the  refunds  with  the  house 
taking  the  next  several  hours  trying  to  get 
back  on  regular  schedule. 

The  latest  to  join  what  seems  to  be  a big 
parade  of  independent  poster  exchanges 
opening  up  here  are  John  Schaefer  and 

Cc  

: ROCHESTER  : 

VS  ■ j 

gMBASSY  has  reopened  under  operation 
of  E.  M.  Loew,  Inc.,  Boston,  Mass.,  with 
Harry  Rodman  as  manager.  Opening  with 
duals,  the  house  will  have  three  changes 
of  program  weekly,  with  admission  set  at 
10-15-20.  Enamelware  to  women  patrons 
is  given  on  Wednesday  and  Thursday.  Rod- 
man  comes  here  after  being  associated 
with  Loew  interests  in  Providence,  R.  I., 
12  years. 

More  than  300  employes,  their  wives  and 
families  attended  Schine’s  Christmas  party 
at  the  Terrace  Gardens.  Door  prizes,  cash 
Bingo  and  a floor  show  were  included  . . . 
Lester  Pollock,  Loew’s  manager,  enter- 
tained ushers  and  cashiers  at  a party  at 
Odenbach’s,  distributed  the  annual  bonus. 
And  Bud  Silverman,  Schine’s  city  man- 
ager, played  host  to  all  Schine  managers 
at  a Christmas  party  in  the  Madison  of- 
fices. Managers  reciprocated  by  giving  Sil- 
verman a desk  pencil  set. 

Bowling  teams  have  been  formed  by 
Riviera  employes.  Other  Schine  houses  are 
expected  to  follow  suit.  Games  already 
have  been  arranged  between  the  Riviera 
and  State  teams  . . . Alden  Allen,  Monroe 
manager,  paid  a visit  to  his  home  in  El- 
mira . . . Cigars  were  being  passed  out  by 
Hy  Gordon,  Cameo  manager.  He’s  the 
father  of  a son  born  on  Christmas  Eve. 

Sol  Shafer  of  the  Liberty  is  out  of  the 
hospital  and  back  at  ivork  . . . All  Schine 
houses  played  to  big  audiences  when  they 
staged  their  Christmas  cartoon  shores  . . . 
Lester  (Loew’s)  Pollock  made  a trip  to 
Boston  for  party  held  for  Loew’s  managers 
in  the  northeastern  division  . . . Jose  Itur- 
bi,  conductor  of  the  Rochester  Philhar- 
monic, and  pianist  of  note,  has  joined 
Local  66  of  the  Musicians’  Union. 

Downtown  Palace  and  Temple  had  stage 
shows  New  Year’s  Eve,  along  with  pic- 
ture program.  Ozzie  Nelson  and  Harriet 
Hilliard  headlined  the  Temple  bill. 


Jack  Weiss  who  are  calling  themselves  the 
Keystone  Poster  Exchange  at  262  N.  12th 
. . . Quality  Premium  Co.  has  taken  over 
Universal’s  old  building  at  1308-12  Vine  for 
display  rooms  and  warehouse  . . . Allied  of 
E.  Pa.  have  decided  not  to  hold  a dinner 
in  conjunction  with  their  scheduled  meet- 
ing January  14.  Abram  F.  Myers,  however, 
is  expected  to  address  the  gathering  on 
“Arbitration”  . . . Wilbur  Evans,  star  of 
“Her  First  Romance,”  visited  Monogram 
Exchange,  met  the  gang,  chatted  with 
Branch  Head  Sam  Rosen  . . . Dave  M Oli- 
ver has  opened  his  “Quiz-O”  and  Coulter 
Premium  headquarters  here  . . . And  Jules 
Kerns,  from  Premium  Promotion  Syndi- 
cate, New  York,  is  handling  Cash  Quiz  . . . 
Variety  Club  distributed  362  baskets  the 
day  before  Xmas  . . . Wilma  Kaspar,  one 
of  the  Variety  Club  “Miss  Philadelphia” 
contestants,  was  chosen  Kitty  Foyle’s 
double  in  contest  held  in  conjunction  with 
the  opening  of  that  picture  at  the  Boyd. 

Frank  McNamee,  former  RKO  manager, 
is  business  manager  of  the  Infantile 
Paralysis  Drive,  which  is  culminated  by 
the  annual  President’s  Ball.  James  P. 
Clark  is  chairman  of  the  drive  . . . Charlie 
Goldfine  heads  the  m.  p.  committee  of  the 
Salvation  Army  . . . Plans  for  the  testi- 
monial dinner  to  those  real  old  timers, 
Mike  Lessy  and  Bill  Butler,  are  progres- 
sing nicely  . . . Mrs.  S.  D'Francesco  opens 
her  new  Rex  Theatre,  Nuremberg,  Pa. 

Hill  Theatre  here  ivas  purchased  last 
week  by  Edward  I.  Singer  and  will  be  re- 
modeled and  air-conditioned  . . . Sabu, 
star  of  “Thief  of  Bagdad,”  made  personal 
appearances  at  Aldine  on  the  picture’s 
opening  day  . . . David  Hempstead,  ex- 
ecutive producer  of  “Kitty  Foyle,”  visited 
Nat  Levy,  local  RKO  exchange  manager. 

All  the  S-W  theatres  broadcast  the 
President’s  speech  of  last  Sunday  night.  At 
one  nabe  house  two  femme  patrons  got 
into  a hair-pulling  argument  . . . Local 
Musician’s  Union  have  worked  out  a share- 
the-work  plan  similar  to  that  in  effect 
among  the  stagehands.  Doesn’t  cost  the 
theatres  any  more;  but  means,  in  some 
cases,  two  different  orchestras  who  play  at 
alternate  times  . . . Iz  Lit  win,  assistant  to 
the  purchasing  agent  of  the  S-W  Thea- 
tres, has  resigned  to  enter  the  fur  business 
here. 

Benny  Harris,  American  Film  Exchange, 
spoke  at  a meeting  of  governmental 
agencies  in  Pittsburgh,  at  which  tune  plans 
for  publicizing  government  functions  were 
discussed  . . . Installation  of  the  newly 
elected  officers  in  Film  Exchange  Em- 
ployes’ Union,  Local  B- 7,  will  take  place 
January  10  at  the  Broadioood  Hotel  . . . 
Upon  request  of  20 th  Century-Fox  attor- 
neys, suit  of  the  Ellis’  Towers  Theatre, 
Camden,  N.  J .,  against  20  th-Fox,  was 
shifted  into  U . S.  district  court  and  is  ex- 
pected to  be  heard  soon. 

P.  A.  Bloch,  long  with  Paramount  Ex- 
change here,  has  opened  a premium  ex- 
change at  1235  Vine  . . . “Baker’s  Wife”  is 
in  its  12th  week  at  the  Studio,  Philly’s 
only  remaining  art  house  . . . Showmen’s 
Club  New  Year’s  Eve  shindig  sold  out  in 
advance. 


BOXOFFICE  : ; January  4,  1941 


30-C 


Ampa  Voting  Rights 
Extended  to  Women 

New  York — Full  voting  privileges  for 
women  as  for  men  are  among  the  revisions 
in  the  Ampa  constitution  acted  upon  favor- 
ably by  an  overwhelming  majority  of  mem- 
bers. Dues  for  women  have  been  boosted 
from  $5  to  $10  per  year.  The  organization 
will  hold  a 25th  anniversary  dinner-dance 
in  the  Hotel  Edison,  April  4,  proceeds  of 
which  will  be  for  the  new  Ampa  welfare 
and  relief  fund.  The  next  open  meeting 
will  be  on  January  9,  with  Barney  Bala- 
ban.  Paramount  president,  as  guest 
speaker. 


50-50  for  " Dictator " in 
Loew's  Met  Circuit 

New  York — Loew’s  deal  for  "The  Great 
Dictator”  in  its  metropolitan  circuit  calls 
for  50  per  cent  of  the  gross  from  the  first 
dollar.  The  picture  will  open  over  the 
circuit  after  the  extended  Astor  two-a-day 
run  at  popular  prices.  In  a number  of 
out-of-town  spots,  Loew’s  has  played  the 
Chaplin  film  on  a roadshow  basis  of  $1.10 
and  on  a policy  of  70-30. 

Indications  are  the  Astor  run  will  be 
continued  at  $2.20  top  for  several  months 
yet. 


More  Contributions  tor 
Greek  War  Reliet  Fund 

New  York — Among  recent  contributions 
to  the  Greek  War  Relief  Ass’n  fund  for 
civilian  aid  in  Greece,  was  one  for  $2,000 
from  Altoona  Publix  Theatres  of  Altoona, 
Pa.  Another  of  $100  from  E.  J.  Churchill 
of  Donahue  & Coe,  advertising  agency,  has 
helped  swell  the  fund  to  close  to  $900,000 
in  the  appeal  for  $10,000,000. 


Fabian  Drattees  Receive 
Four  Weeks'  Salary 

Albany — Fabian  employes  who  join  the 
military  forces  receive  four  weeks’  salary 
and  paid  up  company  insurance  for  a 
year  and  20  days,  it  was  revealed  when 
Division  Manager  Lou  H.  Golding  pre- 
sented checks  to  two  Palace  ushers.  They 
were  Harold  Niles,  who  is  with  a local 
National  Guard  regiment  at  Fort  Mc- 
Clellan, Ala.,  and  Warren  Caulfield,  who 
is  going  south  with  a Guard  anti-tank 
battalion. 


Delphine  Meyer  Weds 

Hollywood  — Delphine  Meyer  is  now 
Mrs.  Raymond  Shire,  the  ceremony  having 
taken  place  at  Yuma  a few  days  ago.  The 
former  Miss  Meyer  is  the  daughter  of 
Fred  S.  and  Mrs.  Meyer;  he  is  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox’s studio  executive  in  charge  of 
labor  relations.  The  bride  is  an  attorney 
in  her  own  right.  The  groom  is  an  as- 
sistant federal  attorney  and  also  a deputy 
district  attorney,  the  youngest  in  the  state. 


fr 

: Incorporations  : 

k — — >j 

Albany — Phonovision  Distributing  Com- 
pany, Inc.,  has  been  formed  to  carry  on  a 
business  in  motion  pictures  and  sound  re- 
cordings. Offices  are  in  New  York;  capital 
stock  is  100  shares,  no  par.  Incorporators 
are  Desmond  Fitzgerald,  Clarence  E.  Gait- 
son  and  Andre  Maximov,  40  Wall  St.  At- 
torneys: Spence,  Windels,  Walser,  Hotch- 
kiss and  Angell,  40  Wall  St. 


Arsog  Pictures  Corporation  has  been 
formed  to  conduct  business  in  New  York. 
Capital  stock  is  100  shares,  no  par.  In- 
corporators are  Benjamin  Raskin,  J.  Jack 
Brown  and  Myron  Goldman,  2 Lafayette 
St.  Attorney:  Emanuel  Strauss,  2 Lafay- 
ette St. 


Dale  Amusement  Corporation  has  been 
formed  to  conduct  business  in  New  York. 
Capital  stock  is  $20,000:  $100  par.  In- 
corporators are:  Emil  J.  Dante,  117  Mont- 
gomery Ave.,  Tompkinsville,  S.  I.;  Tobia 
Lenzo,  88  Montgomery  Ave.,  Tompkinsville; 
Michael  J.  Galgano,  140-20  Sanford  Ave., 
Flushing. 


DeGraw  Amusement  Corporation,  Kings 
County,  has  reduced  its  capital  stock  from 
$117,000  to  $40,000,  and  Dean  Amusement 
Company,  Kings,  from  $43,000  to  $30,000. 

Metro  Realignment  Brings 
Sales  Staff  Transfers 

New  York — In  a realignment  of  M-G-M 
home  office  sales  personnel  to  conform  with 
recent  territorial  revisions,  Charles  Dee- 
sen,  former  assistant  to  Thomas  J.  Con- 
nors, and  William  Madden,  former  student 
booker,  have  been  transferred  as  assist- 
ants to  E.  K.  O’Shea,  newly  appointed  Cen- 
tral division  manager.  I.  L.  Hirsch  and 
Harold  Postman  remain  as  assistants  to 
Connors. 

Ralph  Pielow,  newly  appointed  New  York 
branch  manager,  has  arrived  from  Albany 
to  succeed  O’Shea,  who  transfers  to  the 
home  office  around  January  14.  O’Shea 
will  tentatively  occupy  the  office  used  by 
Hirsch. 

Rites  in  Brooklyn  for 
Ed  Schnitzer's  Father 

New  York — Services  were  held  Thurs- 
day for  Max  Schnitzer,  father  of  Edward 
M.,  eastern  district  manager  for  Warner, 
at  New  Lots  Temple,  Brooklyn,  with  inter- 
ment at  United  Hebrew  Cemetery.  Schnit- 
zer’s  father,  who  was  76,  had  recently  re- 
covered from  a heart  attack. 

In  addition  to  the  Warner  executive, 
the  deceased  is  survived  by  his  widow, 
Rose,  four  daughters  and  another  son, 
Louis,  who  is  with  the  Randforce  circuit. 


Gets  Museum  Reel 

New  York — Columbia  has  contracted  to 
distribute  “Exploring  Space,”  one-reeler 
produced  by  Ansulon,  Inc.,  in  cooperation 
with  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  His- 
tory. The  subject  will  be  released  on  the 
current  program. 


Simplify  Language 
For  Decree  Study 

New  York — National  Theatres  has 
completed  a summary  in  simple  layman’s 
language  of  the  context  of  the  consent  de- 
cree for  its  bookers,  partners  and  man- 
agers. 

Aubrey  Schenck,  home  office  booker  with 
a legal  background,  made  up  the  analysis 
which  lists  each  section  of  the  decree  and 
tells  in  as  few  words  as  possible  what  is 
expressed  therein. 

An  index  and  cross  reference  is  attached 
so  that  a reader  wishing  to  look  for  arbi- 
tration, prints,  theatre  acquisitions,  or 
any  other  topic  will  find  a handy  refer- 
ence preluding  the  boil  downed  text. 

Canadian  Trade  Realigns 
Organizational  Setup 

Toronto — Henceforth  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Distributors  of  Canada  will  deal  only 
with  distributors’  problems  under  new  lines 
of  distinction  adopted  between  producers 
and  exhibitors  in  the  operation  of  repre- 
sentative organizations. 

Under  the  arrangement,  which  will  leave 
the  Ontario  Clearance  Board  to  function 
on  its  own,  the  only  common  meeting 
place  of  all  branches  of  the  industry,  in- 
cluding producers,  equipment  officials,  ex- 
hibitors and  exchange  managers,  will  be 
the  motion  picture  section  of  the  Toronto 
Board  of  Trade  which  will  deal  with  trade 
developments  in  which  all  are  interested. 

Dembow  Is  Recuperating 
At  Home  in  Larchmont 

New  York — Sam  Dembow  jr.,  Para- 
mount theatre  executive  who  was  injured 
recently  when  hit  by  a taxi  here,  is  recu- 
perating nicely  at  his  Larchmont  home. 
The  cast  in  which  his  almost  broken  leg 
now  reposes,  will  be  removed  shortly,  but 
Dembow  probably  will  remain  indoors  for 
another  several  weeks.  Thereafter,  he  an- 
ticipates returning  to  his  desk  with  the 
aid  of  crutches. 


Southern  New  Jersey's 
Allied  Meets  Jan . 6 

Philadelphia  — The  recently  created 
southern  group  of  New  Jersey  Allied  will 
meet  at  the  Broadwood,  January  6.  The 
southern  and  northern  groups  meet  at  New 
York  headquarters  three  days  later  for  a 
buffet  luncheon  session. 


Distributing  "Pieges" 

New  York — I.  E.  Lopert  has  contracted 
to  distribute  “Pieges,”  French  drama 
starring  Maurice  Chevalier,  in  this  coun- 
try. It  will  be  available  late  in  January. 


Closes  With  Select  for  10 

New  York — Harry  Brown  of  Standard 
Film  has  closed  with  Select  Attractions  for 
10  releases  for  the  local  territory. 


30-D 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


mm 


IN  THIS  BOOK  IS  THE  ANSWER  TO 


Profitable  Air  Conditioning 
for  Your  Theatre 


25  YEARS  EXPERIENCE 

is  summed  up  in  this 
handsome  brochure. 

Be  sure  you  see  it! 


factory  perfected;  quickly  installed; 
lower  than  ever  in  cost;  higher  than 
ever  in  dependability,  economy  and 
profitable  comfort. 


Comfort  alone  is  no  longer  enough 
for  modern  theatre  air  conditioning. 
To  make  air  conditioning  pay  a 
profit  ...  to  keep  attendance  up  and 
overhead  down  . . . these  are  the 
qualities  the  theatre  man  asks  for 
today.  That  is  why  theatres  large 
and  small — the  Palace,  Salem,  N.  J.; 
the  Riviera,  Charleston,  S.  C.;  the 
Missouri,  St.  Louis,  and  many  others 
— have  come  to  Carrier  for  assurance 
of  low  cost,  dependable  performance 
and  profits  saved. 

For  Carrier  knows  your  profit 
angles.  Knows,  for  example,  how  to 


fit  comfort  to  requirements,  from 
opening  show  to  night-time  peak. 
How  to  cool  the  lobby  but  not  the 
street  . . . how  to  place  comfort 
where  it  pays,  instead  of  running  up 
overhead  costs. 

Big  Savings  Over  Former  Costs 

Creating  comfort  that  pays  a profit 
has  been  Carrier’s  business  for  more 
than  25  years.  Today,  because  of  its 
pioneering  and  its  experience  in 
whipping  every  kind  of  air  con- 
ditioning problem.  Carrier  can  offer 
you  air  conditioning  to  fit  your  needs  : 


Find  Out  How  Your  Business 
Can  Profit 

The  complete  story  of  Carrier  Air 
Conditioning,  the  activities  and 
achievements  of  more  than  a quarter 
century,  form  the  exciting  contents 
of  a new  brochure  just  off  the  press. 
It’s  a story  you’ll  want  to  know  . . . 
a story  that  shows  the  wav  others 
have  profited  with  Carrier  Air  Condi- 
tioning. The  Carrier  representative 
will  be  glad  to  show  you  how  your 
business  can  profit  too.  Call  him. 
He  is  listed  in  your  classified  phone 
book.  Or  mail  the  coupon  today. 


AIR  CONDITIONING'S 
FIRST  NAME 


Carrier  Corporation  Desk  A 1 1 

"Weather  Makers  to  the  World ” 

Syracuse,  New  York 

(In  Canada,  30  Bloor  St.  West,  Toronto,  Ontario) 

^ es,  have  your  Carrier  representative  show  me  the  record  of 
Carrier  achievement  and  how  it  can  mean  more  profits  for  me. 

NAME 

ADDRESS 

CITY  


2>ufiu/MteJL  iuf, — NATIONAL  THEATRE  SUPPLY  COMPANY 

"c7Uesie.'J  a fen&ttclt  Aleasi  rLf&u" 


This  largely  depends  upon  your  equipment, 
and  particularly  your  projection  equipment, 
for  after  all,  it  is  the  picture  on  your  screen 
which  you  are  merchandising. 


One  of  the  most  radical  changes  in  years 
occurred  with  the  introduction  of  the 
19,000  Series. 


INTERMEDIATE  CAPACITY 
PROJECTION  ARC  LAMP  HOUSE 

and  associated  rectifier  equipment.  It 
marked  the  passing  of  low  intensity  pro- 
jection and  the  advent  of  de  luxe  pro- 
jection in  those  medium  sized  houses 
which  heretofore  had  been  deprived  by 
prohibitive  operating  costs  of  brilliantly 
projected  pictures  and  correct  color  ren- 
dition. 


The  Simplex  High  is  a low  cost  arc  designed  especially  for  thea- 
tres of  up  to  800  seats  and  using  screens  as  large  as  18  feet  in 
width.  It  projects  twice  as  much  light  as  the  low  intensity,  a 
snow-white  light,  characteristic  of  the  high  intensity  arc,  which 
is  so  necessary  to  the  projection  of  colored  pictures.  Yet  the  over- 
all operating  costs  are  only  slightly  higher  because  this  arc 
operates  at  only  27  volts  as  compared  to  55  volts  in  the  low 
intensity,  and  each  14-inch  7 m.m.  suprex  positive  carbon  burns 
for  at  least  two  hours. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


31 


American  Seating  Company 

announces 


OUTSTANDING  NEW 
THEATRE  CHAIRS 


featuring 


•••IN  COMFORT 


. . . By  super  ior  utilization  of  spring  arch  and  foam  rub- 
ber construction. 


••■IN  BEAUT 


. . . By  inspiring  style,  intriguing  new  fabrics  and  har 
monious  color  tones. 


•••IN  VALUE 


...  By  advanced  manufacturing  methods  with  planned 
volume  material  purchases. 

Again  American  steps  up  the  value 

. . . but  not  the  price! 

Advance  showing  at  all  American  Seat- 
ing Company  offices  early  in  January. 

AMERICAN  SEATING  COMPANY 

Grand  Rapids,  Michigan 


32 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


Issue  of  JANUARY  4,  1941 


(Title  registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 


J.  HARRY  TOLER,  Managing  Editor  : Vol.  VIII.  - No.  1 


Topics: 


Toledo’s  Twin  Theatres  Take 

a Beauty  Treatment  34 

by  Frank  R,  Hawkins 

X 

The  Portage ■ — a Progressive 

Modernizing  Project  36 

by  Helen  Kent 

X 

See  Your  Theatre  as  Your 

Patrons  See  It 38 

by  Ansel  M.  Moore 

* 

A Lawyer -Showman  Lets  Us 


in  on  a Secret 43 

-X 

The  Great  “Good  Will”  Mystery 

Simply  Exposed 44 

by  Ernest  W.  Fair 

-X 


Ridding  the  Rivoli  of  a Riot  of  Ren- 
aissance— Our  Responsibility 46 

by  Rex  Davis 

-X 

A Case  of  ‘“Mental  Planning”  and  a 

Practical  Dream  Come  True 52 

X 

Why  Not  a Spirit  of  More  Fraternity 

Amongst  Our  Frantic  Idea  Men?.. 56 

by  Gordon  H.  Simmons 

X 

The  Fantasound  System  in  Principle 

and  Its  Future  Possibilities ..60 

by  Fred  W.  Wentker 

X 

News  of  What’s  New  in  Modern 

Theatre  Equipment  64 


Published  by  Associated  Publications  every  fourth 
Saturday  as  a section  of  BOXOFFICE  and  in- 
cluded in  all  Sectional  Editions  of  the  AP  group. 
Contents  copyrighted,  1941;  reproduction  rights 
reserved.  All  editorial  or  general  business  cor- 
respondence relating  to  The  MODERN  THEATRE 
section  should  be  addressed  to  Publisher’s  Repre- 
sentative, Harrison  Toler  Company,  332  S.  Michi- 
gan Ave.,  Chicago,  111.,  or  Eastern  Representa- 
tive: A.  J.  Stocker,  9 Rockefeller  Plaza,  New  York. 


The  Unhappy  Consequence  of 
Cutting  Specifications 

"Cut  that  out!  The  customers  won't  know  the  dif- 
ference, so  we  may  as  well  save  the  cost." 

Curtly,  and  without  regard  to  the  consequences,  the 
theatre  owner  delivers  his  ultimation  to  his  agent,  the 
architect,  and  a well-made  theatre  plan  starts  going 
hay-wire. 

Such  things  happen  regularly,  but  the  pity  of  it  is 
they  offer  only  a slight  hitch  to  the  proceedings.  The 
good  architect  winces,  swallows  his  pride,  and  the 
dangerous  process  of  elimination  starts.  One  such  cut 
usually  leads  to  others  and  when  the  house  finally 
opens  there  is  little  left  to  remind  the  designer  of  his 
original  purpose. 

In  preparing  plans  for  a modern  theatre  the  com- 
petent theatre  architect  studies  the  objective  from 
every  possible  angle.  There  is  a useful  purpose  in 
every  line  of  his  renderings  and  premeditation  in  every 
point  of  his  specifications.  The  purpose  is  to  attract  pat- 
ronage and  create  prestige  for  the  business  of  his  em- 
ployer, within  the  limits  of  the  budget  allotted  to  him. 

House  Appeal  is  a combination  of  many  practical 
things — mostly  small  things — that  serve  the  main  pur- 
pose. To  peremptorily  order  the  architect  to  cut  them 
out  on  the  foolish  theory  that  prospective  customers 
won't  know  or  care  is  frequently  the  cause  of  a pitiful 
predicament  in  the  end. 

In  a foregoing  paragraph  we  bold  faced  the  com- 
petent theatre  architect  to  caution  the  selection;  to 
emphasize  his  importance  and  proclaim  him  as 
your  most  capable  purchasing  agent. 

But  he  can't  perform  against  your  will. 

You  must  pull  with  him — not  against 
him. 


Toledo  s Twin  Theatres  Take 

a heautv  Treatment 


by  FRANK  R. 

^3  CORES  of  compliments  are  being  re- 
ceived by  Howard  Feigley,  manager  of  the 
Rivoli  and  Palace  theatres  in  Toledo,  since 
the  recent  completion  of  a moderniza- 
tion program.  Congratulations  have  come 
from  civic  organizations,  newspapers  and 
all  classes  of  patrons.  On  one  point  all 
of  the  compliments  have  agreed;  the  re- 
modeling has  improved  the  appearance  of 
the  entire  street  and  the  theatres  have 
been  made  a great  deal  more  inviting. 

“We  know  that  our  modernizing  was  a 
smart  investment  because  we  have  been 
attracting  bigger  crowds  since  the  work 
was  finished,”  Mr.  Feigley  stated.  “Peo- 
ple prefer  to  go  to  a theatre  which  has 
a sparkling,  colorful  front  and  marquee 
just  as  they  would  rather  go  to  a res- 
taurant or  store  that  has  an  inviting  ex- 
terior. After  all,  they  are  spending  money 
on  entertainment,  just  as  they  do  on  gro- 
cex-ies  or  handkerchiefs,  and  they  are  go- 
ing to  go  to  the  place  that  appears  to 
be  the  most  progressive  and  uptodate.” 

An  Investment  for  Patronage 

The  new  front  on  the  twin  theatres, 
which  are  operated  by  Willard  Theatres, 
Inc.,  and  interior  improvements  in  both 
houses  cost  approximately  $45,000,  accord- 
ing to  Mr.  Feigley.  He  and  W.  N.  Skir- 
ball,  president  of  the  corporation,  believe 
that  every  cent  invested  will  come  back 
through  greater  patronage. 

♦Publicity  Department,  Libbey-Owens-Ford  Glass 
Company. 


HAWKINS* 


Pictures  here  shown  give  a good  con- 
ception of  the  beauty  which  was  achieved 
with  modern  materials.  The  front  of  each 
theatre  was  faced  with  sparkling  struc- 
tural glass,  which  remains  permanently 
colorful  and  lustrous  without  any  main- 
tenance beyond  cleaning  with  a damp 
cloth.  Ivory  colored  glass  was  used  at 
the  Rivoli  over  the  doors  and  to  face  the 
panels  between  them.  Bordering  the  ivory 
are  two  red  bands  of  the  same  glass  ma- 
terial, while  black  was  used  at  the  base. 
The  bottom  of  the  protruding  ticket  of- 
fice is  red.  Extruded  metal  was  utilized 
as  trim  on  the  project,  and  it  gives  the 
whole  facade  a finished  touch  that  is  just 
right. 

A different  color  scheme  was  used  on 
the  Palace  front,  where  gray  squares  of 
structural  glass  were  installed  with  bands 
of  Cadet  blue.  The  base  of  the  ticket  booth 
matches  the  trim. 

The  seven  pairs  of  doors  in  the  two 
theatres  carry  out  the  modern  decorative 
motif  of  the  front  for  they  are  glazed 
vertically  with  a new  type  of  fluted  glass 
which  minimizes  glare  and  diffuses  light 
as  it  enters.  Customers  have  shown  the 
same  enthusiasm  for  these  portals  as  they 
have  for  the  entire  job,  it  is  reported  by 
Mr.  Feigley. 

T5'Cip,^,^T?  t1  the  program  of  improve- 
ments  was  started  the  twin 
theatres  presented  this  drab  sight  to  Toledoans. 
The  contrast  with  today’s  sparkling  appearance 
is  striking. 


THE  i 
*.!l8tAT8»s 


S p'[‘  HP  This  daytime  view  of  the  twin 
iJjil  theatres  shows  the  sharp  con- 
trast in  their  appearance  since  modernization 
has  made  them  the  talk  of  Toledo. 


Enhanced  Advertising  Value 

New  fluorescent  lighting  equipment  was 
installed  behind  the  sign  panels  to  give 
evenly-illuminated  information  about  pic- 
tures showing.  The  words  stand  out  bold- 
ly against  the  lighted  glass  background. 
New  canopies  were  installed  also. 

The  Toledoans  did  not  stop  their  mod- 
ernizing at  the  doors,  but  continued  in- 
side so  that  patrons  would  not  feel  a let- 
down after  entering.  Both  theatres  were 
re-carpeted  throughout  and  new  lighting 
fixtures  were  installed  inside.  Hanns  R. 
Teichert  of  Chicago  was  in  charge  of  re- 
decorating the  two  theatres. 

The  complete  program,  which  was  car- 
ried out  by  Willard  Theatres,  Inc.,  at  its 
two  houses  in  Toledo,  is  a good  example 
of  what  is  being  done  by  more  and  more 
owners  of  theatre  properties.  Throughout 
the  nation  motion  picture  houses  are  be- 
ing given  new  fronts  in  the  general  move- 
ment to  “lift  the  face  of  Main  Street.” 
Every  resource  of  materials,  lighting  and 
equipment  is  being  drawn  upon  to  create 
a tempting  invitation  to  the  public  to 
enter  and  later  depart  with  a feeling  of 
satisfaction. 

One  of  the  modern  materials  which  is 
proving  most  adaptable  and  practical  for 
theatre  front  remodeling  is  structural 
glass,  such  as  that  selected  by  Mr.  Feig- 
ley. It  is  an  opaque  material  fused  at 
high  temperature,  and  its  colorful  beauty 
will  never  diminish  nor  fade  inasmuch  as 
the  color  is  made  right  into  the  glass. 
The  back  is  ribbed  to  make  application 
to  any  existing,  permanent,  dry  back- 
ground possible  with  mastic.  The  material 
has  a minimum  tensile  strength  of  937 
pounds  per  square  inch,  and  a crushing 
strength  of  31,658  pounds  per  square  inch, 
which  assures  long  life  and  resistance  to 
abrasion. 

There  are  numerous  other  qualifications 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


OTHER  VIEWS 

Above — The  Kivoli  Theatre 
in  Toledo  presents  this  strik- 
ing: appearance  at  night 
since  i t s modernization. 

Ivory  colored  structural  glass 
with  red  bands  of  the  same 
material  covers  the  front. 

The  bottom  of  the  ticket 
office  is  likewise  red.  Flu- 
orescent lights  make  the 
signs  stand  out. 

Top  Right — The  ivory  and 
red  structural  glass  front  of 
the  Kivoli  shows  up  to  as 
much  advantage  in  the  day- 
time as  at  night. 

Right — Next  door  to  the 
Rivoli  is  the  Palace  Thea- 
tre which  is  shown  here  in 
a daytime  view.  Gray  struc- 
tural glass  with  Cadet  blue 
trim  and  ticket  office  en- 
hances this  motion  picture 
house.  The  popcorn  shop  to 
the  left  and  the  jewelry 
store  on  the  right  of  the  Pal- 
ace were  included  in  the 
“face  lifting”  project.  The 
high  polish  of  this  modern 
front  material  is  attested  to 
by  the  way  it  reflects  the 

marquee  lights.  — (All  photos  courtesy  Libbey- 


which  make  these  materials  highly  satis- 
factory for  modern  theatre  fronts.  They 
will  not  warp,  swell,  or  craze;  absorb 
liquids,  grime,  smoke  or  odors,  and  can 
be  quickly  and  easily  cleaned  by  wiping 
with  a damp  cloth  or  in  extreme  cases  by 
washing  with  soap  and  water.  All  of  these 
characteristics  make  structural  glass  an 
extremely  sanitary  product  to  fit  modern 
requirements. 

Decorative  effects  or  letters  may  be  se- 
cured in  plain  or  colored  sandblasted  or- 
nament, and  by  inlays  of  thin  colored 
opaque  glass  or  mirrors.  An  effective  re- 
lief sign  results  from  the  cementing  of 
letters  made  of  glass  or  wood  to  a struc- 
tural glass  background. 

Combination  Effects 

An  increasing  number  of  theatre  own- 
ers are  learning  that  tempered  plate  glass 
is  a perfect  companion  for  structural  glass 
fronts.  This  new  product  with  color  fused 
to  its  back  makes  a sign  panel  a brilliant 
beacon  for  a theatre  when  properly  il- 
luminated. Lights  correctly  placed  behind 
it  make  the  entire  panel  glow  with  a soft, 
evenly-distributed,  colored  illumination 
that  is  the  warmest  kind  of  welcome  to 
customers.  It  is  practical  for  other  areas 
of  a theatre  front  besides  the  sign  panel, 
of  course,  and  any  part  of  it  can  be  made 
to  radiate  light  and  gay  color. 

There  is  almost  no  limit  to  the  variety 
of  effects  which  can  be  achieved  with  glass 
materials  in  a lobby  or  foyer  of  a motion 
picture  house.  Whether  it  covers  entire 
walls,  just  the  wainscoting,  or  is  used  for 
decorative  panels,  the  structural  glass  does 
its  part  to  please  patrons. 

Owners  of  theatres  realize,  too,  that  the 
toilets  and  washrooms  in  their  buildings 
must  be  modern  and  sanitary.  The  day 
when  unsightly  and  offensive  restrooms 
were  accepted  by  the  public  is  past.  People 


IDENTIFICATION 

(Rivoli-Palace  Theatres) 
ARCHITECT::  Myron  T.  Hill. 

DECORATING:  Hanns  R.  Teichert. 

GENERAL  CONTRACTOR:  E.  H.  Voss. 

LIGHT  FIXTURES:  Mutual  Metal  Products  Co. 
MARQUEES:  Gustav  Hirsch  Organization. 
STRUCTURAL  GLASS:  Vitrolite,  Vitrolux  and 
Flutex,  by  Libbey-Owens-Ford,  through  Toledo 
Plate  & Window  Glass  Co. 

Additional  particulars  on  the  project  may  be  se- 
cured upon  request  to  The  Modern  Theatre 
Information  Bureau. 


Ovvens-Ford  Glass  Company). 


have  become  as  discriminating  about  the 
comfort  facilities  of  the  theatre  they  at- 
tend as  they  are  about  those  provided  by 
gas  stations  they  patronize  on  trips. 

Many  Novel  Applications 

There  is  no  reason  why  theatre  wash- 
rooms and  toilets  should  be  the  loath- 
some, smelly  places  that  once  “got  by” 
with  patrons.  With  structural  glass 
wainscoting  and  toilet  partitions,  they  can 
be  made  as  inviting  and  beautiful  as  the 
auditorium  and  lobby.  The  impervious 
surface  of  such  materials  will  never  ab- 
sorb substances  that  cause  discolorations 
or  give  off  unpleasant  odors.  It  is  diffi- 
cult for  dirt  and  grime  to  cling  to  the 
polished  surface  of  the  material,  and  it 
resists  attempts  to  mark  or  otherwise  de- 
face it.  Wiping  with  a damp  cloth  keeps 
it  spotlessly  clean  and  ever  new  looking,  a 
condition  much  desired  in  theatre  wash- 
rooms. The  saving  in  upkeep  will  pay  for 
the  modernizing  outlay  in  a short  time. 

We  have  mentioned  in  the  foregoing 
that  a diffusing  glass  was  used  in  the 
doors  of  the  Rivoli  and  Palace  theatres. 
Another  type  of  door  which  is  thoroughly 
modern  and  eye-arresting  in  appearance 
is  made  of  extra-heavy  plate  glass.  Doors 
made  of  this  %-inch  thick  tempered  glass 
have  no  frames,  and  so  permit  an  unob- 
structed view  into  the  interior  of  a build- 
ing. The  glass  is  so  clear  as  to  be  al- 
most invisible,  and  used  for  theatre  doors 


it  makes  the  foyer  one  big  display  space 
easily  viewed  from  the  outside. 

Regardless  of  the  size  of  the  town  in 
which  a theatre  is  located,  it  will  profit 
the  owner  to  modernize  its  front.  People 
are  pretty  much  the  same  all  over;  they 
are  going  to  spend  their  entertainment 
money  where  the  outside  beckons  the 
brightest  and  where  comfort,  beauty  and 
healthful  conditions  prevail  inside. 

Note — An  interesting  description  of  the 
decorative  treatment  applied  in  the  mod- 
ernization of  the  interiors  of  the  Rivoli — 
Palace  theatres  will  be  found  in  the  Deco- 
rating Department  of  this  issue,  on  page  50. 


FADISM  OR  FUNCTION? 


Can  a theatre  owner  afford  to  give  much 
consideration  to  style  in  buying  furnish- 
ings? Yes;  if  freakish  styles  are  to  be 
avoided.  Here’s  a trouble-saving  tip. 
There  are  three  kinds  of  “fashion”  in 
furnishings:  Fads,  currently  fashionable 
styles,  and  classic  styles.  Fads  “go  out” 
within  a year  or  two.  The  average  fash- 
ion runs  in  cycles  that  change  about  every 
six  or  seven  years.  But  certain  “classic” 
styles,  based  on  good  taste  and  high  stand- 
ards of  quality,  remain  in  good  standing 
for  many,  many  years. 


BOXOFFICE  ; ; January  4,  1941 


35 


The  Portage ...  a Progres- 
sive Modernizing  Project 


c 

EVERAL  years  ago,  the  plans  of  an 
enterprising  Chicago  theatre  architect  for 
more  action  in  old  property  moderniza- 
tion were  presented  in  this  publication. 
This  “plan  of  action”  was  termed  Pro- 
gressive Modernization,  and  it  was  based 
on  the  premise  that  more  and  higher  qual- 
ity theatre  modernization  could  be  accom- 
plished if  the  work  were  done  in  easy 
stages  and  permitted  to  pay  for  itself  by 
the  increase  in  patronage  which  each  stage 
of  beautification  would  bring. 

The  idea’s  motivating  element,  of 
course,  was  the  original  design  plan,  in 
which  the  entire  modernization  would  be 
considered  as  a whole.  But  by  dove-tailing 
each  successive  step,  each  part  could  be 
treated  as  a small  bit  of  modernization. 
Thus,  a front  could  be  modernized  and 
after  a short  time  during  which  increased 
profits  would  be  amassed  as  a result  of 
new  interest  in  the  house,  the  lobby  and 
foyer  would  be  treated,  and  eventually  the 
auditorium  and  other  parts  of  the  house — 
but  each  element  would  be  an  integral 
part  of  the  original  modernization  plan. 

Logic  and  Results 

In  this  way,  harmony  would  be  pre- 
served and  work  would  progress  in  a 


by  HELEN  KENT 


systematized  manner  with  no  severe  drain 
on  the  finances  of  the  theatre  owner.  How- 
ever, without  the  all-important  original 
modernization  plan,  and  the  supervision 
of  the  architect  who  proposed  the  project, 
such  an  idea  might  go  haywire  in  execu- 
tion. Hence  it  was  almost  imperative  that 
consultation  with  an  experienced  theatre 
architect  be  the  first  consideration  of  any 
theatre  owner  contemplating  moderniza- 
tion of  his  property  in  this  progressive 
manner. 

Mark  D.  Kalischer,  the  young  architect 
who  pioneered  this  plan  for  more  con- 
certed action  on  the  part  of  theatre  own- 
ers whose  properties  were  badly  in  need 
of  remodeling,  has  been  highly  successful 
in  its  execution.  Several  theatres  in  and 
about  Chicago  have  passed  painlessly 
through  the  ofttimes  hazardous  throes  of 
modernization  under  his  direction,  and  he 
has  seen  the  plan  adopted  by  remodelers 
of  theatres  in  other  parts  of  the  country  as 
well.  The  logic  of  the  scheme  cannot  be 
denied,  and  the  happy  ending  which 
planned  modernization  implies  is  its  ulti- 
mate and  practically  assured  goal. 

One  of  the  latest  progressive  remodeling 
projects  designed  and  handled  by  Mr. 


BEFORE 


modernization 


the  Portage  Theatre’s  lobby  was 
heavy  with  Renaissance  atmos- 
phere and  not  in  the  least  indu- 
cive  to  the  mood  for  entertain- 
ment which  such  a provision 
should  inspire.  An  attempt  at 
advertising  display  was  to  be 
noted,  but  it  would  hardly  be 
termed  proper  promotion  for  mod- 
ern moving  picture  presentation. 

AFTER 

A J-Jil  modernization  the 
Portage  lobby  has  become  a 
stunning  example  of  functional- 
ism in  the  modern  manner.  The 
light  touch  is  here  evident  in 
simple  lines,  luxurious  furnish- 
ings and  scientific  indirect  light- 
ing. Advertising  display  now  is 
full  of  punch  yet  dignified  and 
inviting  to  the  eye. 


Kalischer  was  that  un- 
dertaken at  the  Port- 
age Theatre  in  Chi- 
cago. The  Portage,  a 
2,000-seat  house,  is 
one  of  a group  of 
seven  theatres  owned 
and  operated  by  G.  C. 

S.  Circuit,  president  of 
which  is  Mort  D.  Gold- 
berg, who  is  inter- 
viewed elsewhere  in 
this  issue.  The  busi- 
ness-like theatre  oper- 
ation tactics  of  this  comparatively  new 
circuit  organization  are  characterized  by 
its  remodeling  activity,  whereby  all  of  its 
theatres  have  been  progressively  modern- 
ized and  made  really  money-making  places 
of  business  which  attract  patronage  in 
their  own  right  despite  neighboring  com- 
petition. 

The  Portage  was  an  old  Renaissance- 
type  house,  showing  first-run  pictures  in 
its  neighborhood,  Chicago’s  northwest  side. 
It  was  truly  antiquated  and  not  in  the  least 
appealing  to  modern-minded  patronage.  It 
was  old  and  sombre  in  every  respect  and 
since  neither  antiquity  nor  soberness  are 
particularly  compatible  with  entertain- 
ment, it  was  decided  to  banish  this  ele- 
ment as  speedily  as  possible  in  the  inter- 
ests of  the  theatre’s  boxoffice  potentiali- 
ties. 

Renaissance  Gives  Way 

Mr.  Kalischer  was  called  in  by  the  man- 
agement who  decided  to  do  something 
about  it,  and  plans  and  designs  for  com- 
plete remodeling  were  put  under  way.  The 
Portage  was  to  be  beautified  in  the  modern 
manner  — but  progressively  — and  the 
Renaissance  was  gradually  to  give  way  to 
a style  more  in  keeping  with  modern  en- 
tertainment practices. 

The  interior  of  this  house  was  deemed 
most  in  need  of  a modern  beauty  treat- 
ment by  Mr.  Kalischer,  and  it  was  de- 
cided to  remodel  and  redecorate  the  lobby 
and  foyer  as  the  first  step  in  bringing  the 
Portage  under  the  influence  of  modern 
trends.  New  innovations  in  design  and  ap- 
plied functionalism  were  involved  in  the 
plans  for  treatment  throughout  the  house 
and  particularly  was  this  first-to-be-con- 
sidered portion  of  the  theatre — the  lobby 
and  foyer — to  be  made  a stunning  example, 
since  it  was  confidently  expected  that  in- 
terest in  its  changed  appearance  would 
help  pay  for  those  other  parts  of  the  pro- 
gressive remodeling  plan  that  would  be 
considered  in  the  near  future. 

Among  the  first  considerations  in  chang- 
ing the  style  of  the  Portage  Theatre’s 
lobby  and  foyer  was  a desire  to  remove  the 
coldness  and  heaviness  of  atmosphere 
which  its  Renaissance  decorations  and 
furnishings  gave  it.  This  modern  age  de- 

The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


M.  I».  KALISCHER 


mands  lightness  and  informality  and  com- 
plete harmony  in  its  decorative  effect — 
and  particularly  is  this  true  in  the  pub- 
lic entertainment  field.  Hence  the  Port- 
age was  to  be  stripped  of  all  its  forbidding 
interior  effects,  thus  to  bring  about  a re- 
newal of  its  patrons’  interest  in  the  house 
as  an  institution  rather  than  just  another 
movie. 

The  cold  Italian  marble  with  which  the 
lobby  walls  were  lined  was  first  to  go. 
There  was  no  place  for  this  too  formal 
and  awe-inspiring  material  in  the  modern 
interior  which  was  designed  for  the  Por- 
tage. In  its  place,  flame-crotch  mahog- 
any veneer  in  a four-way  match  was  used. 
This  modem  and  most  decorative  material 
gives  the  effect  of  an  intricate  and  bizarre 
Rococco  design.  It  is  feathery  and  airy  in 
feeling  and  altogether  appropriate  to  its 
surroundings — rich,  yet  not  gaudy. 

Display  Made  Decorative 

Large  display  cases  with  recessed  illumi- 
nation form  an  integral  part  of  the  design 
inasmuch  as  they  are  placed  on  both  side- 
walls  and  alternated  with  indirect  lighting 
units  of  unique  design.  The  lighting  for 
the  display  cases  is  indirect  by  fluorescent 
tubes  on  three  sides  to  prevent  glare,  and 
the  troughs  are  equipped  with  hinged  cov- 
ers fitted  with  louvre  glass.  This  is  a new 
type  of  plastic  with  integral  louvres  which 
mask  the  light  rays  in  one  direction,  thus 
preventing  glare  and  specular  reflection. 
The  functional  stainless  steel  lighting 
troughs  which  flank  the  cases  are 
equipped  with  lumiline  bulbs  for  emer- 
gency lighting. 

The  ceiling  of  the  lobby  is  painted  ceru- 
lean blue  and  formed  in  a barrel- vault  ef- 
fect. A plaster  cornice  at  the  ceiling  line 
which  runs  the  length  of  the  two  side-walls 
conceals  two  rows  of  fluorescent  lighting 
troughs.  This  indirect  lighting  treatment 
provides  the  general  illumination  for  the 
lobby  and  casts  a warm  glow  over  the  en- 
tire decorative  scheme.  The  floor  of  this 
part  of  the  house  is  now  carpeted  at  the 
outer  sides,  but  for  utility  rubber  matting 
is  recessed  into  the  center  portion. 

The  inner  lobby,  or  foyer,  which  is  im- 
mediately behind  the  doors  of  the  newly 
treated  outer  lobby,  came  up  for  attention 


In  the  redecorated  rest-rooms  of  the  Portage 
Theatre,  built-in  electric  hand-driers  styled  to 
harmonize  with  tile  were  installed  as  a pa- 
tron convenience.  (Photo  courtesy  Chicago 
Hardware  Foundry  Co.) 


next.  Here,  dignity,  elegance,  spacious- 
ness and  beauty  were  combined,  and  all 
that  formerly  bespoke  cold-heartedness 
was  removed  from  the  scene.  Many  startl- 
ing changes  were  made,  but  all  in  the  in- 
terest of  bringing  greater  warmth  and 
invitation  to  this  most  hospitable  part  of 
any  theatre. 

Novel  Indirect  Lighting 
One  of  the  new  innovations  in  Mr. 
Kalischer’s  design  which  exerts  the  most 
influence  on  this  part  of  the  Portage’s 
decorative  scheme  is  a huge  oval-domed 
ceiling  in  its  frontal  portion  which  is  il- 
luminated by  peach-colored  zeon  tubes. 
Immediately  below  this  dome,  the  luxurious 
carpet  was  designed  by  the  architect  to 
reflect  exactly  the  oval  contours  of  the 
ceiling.  This  is  accomplished  by  the  use 


The  redecorated  and  refurnished  foyer  is  a 
thing  of  beauty  and  a joy  forever  to  the  moods 
of  entertainment-seekers.  Contour  and  simple 
modern  ornamentation  along  with  functional 
furnishings  make  this  an  outstanding  model  of 
modern  progressive  remodeling — which  is  de- 
signed to  pay  boxoffice  dividends. 


of  plain  colored  carpet  in  a warm  salmon 
shade  bordered  by  a rich  Delft  blue. 

In  this  front  portion  of  the  foyer  also, 
mirrors  were  used  effectively  to  complete- 
ly cover  the  side-walls.  These  are  im- 
mense wheel-cut  Venetian  mirrors  which 
serve  as  a backdrop  for  luxuriously  styled 
settees,  and  they  are  flanked  on  either 
side  by  plaster  niches  that  are  illuminated 
by  pale  blue  fluorescent  lamps  concealed 
in  stainless  steel  troughs.  The  entire  ef- 
fect is  breath-taking  in  beauty,  yet  simple 
withal. 


The  inner  foyer  with  doors  leading  to  the 
auditorium  was  completely  denuded  of  all 
plaster  and  gilt  ornament  which  formerly 
so  filled  this  house  and  the  walls  were  re- 
plastered in  a streamlined  effect.  The 
walls  were  then  painted  in  a warm  cham- 
pagne color  and  the  ceiling  was  done  in 
a complementary  green-blue.  Large  and 
showy  floral  murals  designed  by  the  archi- 
tect complete  the  stunning  effect  in  vivid 
emerald  green  and  orchid  shades  with  ac- 
cents of  red  and  orange.  Huge  pillars  be- 
tween the  inner  and  outer  portions  of  the 
room  and  lesser  ones  at  the  entrance  doors 
to  the  auditorium  lend  a lofty  feeling  to 
this  foyer. 

Special  lounge  furniture  in  the  foyer 
forms  an  integral  part  of  the  new  decora- 
( Continued  on  page  48) 


Cover  Plate 

FUNCTIONAL  PLANNING  is  often 
best  exemplified  by  the  modern  treat- 
ment accorded  smaller  theatres  in 
neighborhood  or  village  locatioiis.  In 
such  places,  economy  will  be  found 
combined  with  simplicity  of  form  to 
provide  an  attractiveness  that  is  last- 
ing  and  practical  in  its  appeal  to  pa- 
tronage . . . An  example  of  the  ap- 
plication of  planned  functionalism  is 
the  new  Russell  Theatre  in  Millersburg, 
Ohio,  described  in  full  elsewhere  in  this 
issue.  Its  foyer  and  standee  area,  pic- 
tured on  the  cover,  is  simple  in  design, 
depending  upon  contour  and  surface 
interest,  luxuriousness  of  modern  car- 
pet which  lends  a feeling  of  spacious- 
ness, and  modernly  diffused  indirect 
lighting  for  attraction  qualities.  Econ- 
omy teas  involved,  but  its  usual  limita- 
tions are  not  apparent  in  this  instance 
because  Functional  Planning  and  all  the 
savings  and  practicalities  which  it  in- 
volves was  the  motif  in  the  design  and 
construction  of  the  new  Russell  Theatre. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


37 


See  Your  Theatre 
as  Tour  Patrons  See  It 

by  ANSEL  M.  MOORE 


j N HIS  famous  ode  "To  a Louse,’’  the 
beloved  Scottish  Bard,  auld  Bobby  Burns, 
penned  a wonderful  morsel  of  thought  for 
mankind  when  he  wrote: 

‘‘Oh  wad  some  power  the  giftie  gie  us 

To  see  oursels  as  others  see  us! 

It  wad  frae  monie  a blunder  free  us, 

An’  foolish  notion” 

Stanza  No.  8 of  that  famous  poem  fair- 
ly drips  with  logic,  although  it’s  forlorn  to 
hope  that  we  mortals  will  ever  attain  the 
accomplishment  called  for. 

Our  egos  prevent  it.  Our  innate  and 
foolish  senses  of  importance  stand  as  a 
bar  to  impartial  self  analysis.  Our  per- 
sonal pride  prohibits  our  even  trying  to 
see  ourselves  as  others  see  us. 

So  we  perish  the  thought  and  go  right 
on  blundering  our  ways  into  oblivion  via 
the  route  of  make  believe;  kidding  our  own 
selves  perhaps,  but  nobody  else  in  par- 
ticular. 

That’s  the  personal  side  of  us,  of  course, 
and  there  isn’t  much  we  can  do  about 
“seeing  ourselves  as  others  see  us.”  Proba- 
bly the  view  would  displease  us  greatly 
if  we  could. 

The  Business  Angle 

On  the  business  side  of  it,  however, 
there  is  some  hope.  While  our  business — 
and  theatre  business  in  particular — re- 
flects our  personalities  rather  sharply, 
nevertheless  there  is  less  opportunity  for 
concealment  in  our  houses  than  there  is 
in  our  haughty  minds.  In  other  words  we 
can’t  very  well  hide  the  shortcomings  of 
our  houses  from  those  who  may  patronize 
them,  try  as  we  may  to  hide  them  from 
ourselves. 

It  is  not  therefore,  we  believe,  beyond 
the  realm  of  reasonable  possibility  to  hope 
that  every  theatre  owner,  for  still  purely 
selfish  reasons,  will  try  to  see  his  theatre 
as  his  patrons  actually  see  it.  Self  satis- 
faction is  the  easiest  accomplishment  of 
mankind.  The  customer  fellow’s  opinion 
is  of  more  importance  to  us  than  our  own, 
after  all. 

Volumes  have  been  written  lately  about 
the  vagaries  of  picture  show  business. 
There  is  nothing  really  new  to  be  said 
about  What’s  Wrong  with  Picture  Show 
Business  that  hasn’t  already  been  ex- 
pounded by  experts,  among  themselves, 
so  we  shan’t  attempt  a rehash  here.  But 
may  we  raise  a small  piping  voice  to  in- 
quire, “What  About  the  Patrons?  Maybe 
they  know  the  answer!” 

Now  let’s  put  ourselves  aside  momen- 
tarily and  try  to  assume,  insofar  as  our 
places  of  business  are  concerned,  the  at- 


titude of  the  patrons — to  see  the  points 
at  issue  as  they  see  them. 

The  Patrons  Perspective 

Stepping  into  the  character  of  the  com- 
mon garden  variety  of  theatre  patron,  let’s 
try  to  make  a thorough  and  unbiased  test 
of  our  troubles.  Forgetting  for  the  nonce 
our  position  as  the  owners  of  theatres, 
let’s  push  back  from  the  dinner  table, 
pick  up  the  evening  paper  as  per  custom 
and  scan  the  evening’s  entertainment  pos- 
sibilities on  the  amusement  page.  Here’s 
competition  for  us  right  off  the  bat — 
plenty  of  it.  The  family  forum  finally 
decides  which  and  where,  and  we’re  off 
to  see  a movie. 

It  just  happens  that  the  one  of  the 
dual  features  playing  at  one  of  our  own 
theatres  this  evening  appeals  to  us,  but 
we’re  still  out  of  character  and  in  the 
guise  of  an  innocent  patron  we’re  simply 
on  the  lookout  for  some  entertainment  and 
relaxation — something  that  will  compen- 
sate for  the  good  radio  program  we’re 
about  to  pass  up. 

So  we  pile  into  Plymouth  and  away  we 
go!  Our  route  leads  us  past  a new  thea- 
tre, just  recently  opened.  Good-looking 
front  there;  plenty  of  illumination  and 
color  and  gaiety.  The  attractively  worded 
sales  message  on  the  modem  marquee 
sort  of  makes  us  want  to  change  our 
minds;  but  no,  we’re  still  picture-minded 
and  besides  a parking  space  isn’t  handy. 
But  that  layout  sure  appeals  to  us.  Won- 
der what  it  looks  like  inside. 

We  pass  another  place.  Not  interested; 
because  we  went  there  once  and  the  sound 
was  terrible.  Gosh  why  didn’t  we  go  over 
to  Gimmicks  and  have  a round  of  bridge? 
Well,  we’re  coming  to  it.  Just  a couple 
of  blocks  down  the  next  street.  We  turn 
the  corner.  Where  is  that  damned  theatre? 
Ought  to  be  able  to  see  some  bright  lights 
from  here.  Should  be  next  door  to  that 
beauty  parlor  with  the  big  bright  sign. 

The  Illusion  Lags 

Ah,  there  it  is,  right  here.  Nearly  missed 
it.  The  guy  who  runs  it  must  be  prac- 
ticing up  for  a black-out.  Hell,  no  place 
to  park!  Maybe  we  can  squeeze  in  some 


place  farther  down.  Should’ve  stayed 
home.  That  picture  better  be  good! 

Hoofing  it  back  from  three  blocks  down 
we  dubiously  approach  the  ticket  window 
and  upon  inquiry,  a sour-puss  ticket  seller 
tells  us  that  the  picture  we  want  to  see 
follows  the  one  we  hadn’t  even  thought 
about.  But  Hell’s  Bells  we’re  here  now. 
May  as  well  wiggle  through  it.  Four 
tickets,  please! 

Junior  wants  a drink.  What,  no  foun- 
tain? Oh,  down  stairs!  Where’s  the  rest 
room?  Apparently  they  don’t  believe  in 
signs  here.  Be  careful  Junior  it’s  dark 
down  these  steps.  Boy  is  this  a dump. 
Better  wait  kid,  and  I’ll  buy  you  a “coke” 
next  door.  This  place  stinks. 

Mama  and  Sis  meet  us  upstairs.  May 
as  well  go  in  the  auditorium  and  sit  it 
out.  Lounges  don’t  look  so  good.  Let’s 
get  it  over  with.  Katchoo!  Jeeze,  what  a 
draft  in  here.  Let’s  sit  over  there  on  the 
side.  There’s  four  seats  if  we  can  squeeze 
in.  Whatda  they  think  we  are — sardines! 
Dam  it’s  dark  in  here.  Maybe  to  hide 
the  Gay  Ninety  decorations. 

And  so  now,  with  all  the  painful  pre- 
liminaries attended  to  we’re  ready  to  see 
the  picture  we  had  really  wanted  to  see. 
This  floppola  ought  to  be  finished  in  a 
few  minutes  now.  Wonder  how  old  it  is? 
Tired.  Should’ve  stayed  home  where  it’s 
comfortable  at  least  and  listened  to  Fred 
Allen.  He  should  stay  out  of  pictures. 
These  seats  are  like  saw  bucks.  We’ll  try 
the  other  cheek  now.  Smells  terrible  in 
here,  too.  Maybe  it’s  the  picture.  Lord, 
how  much  longer?  Hope  we  can  see  and 
hear  the  next  picture  better.  This  one  is 
probably  old  and  scratched  up.  That’s 
why  they  get  ’em  so  cheap.  Picture’s  hard 
on  our  eyes,  too. 

Point  of  Exhaustion 

Ah,  at  last.  That’s  all  of  that.  Nuts! 
We’ve  got  to  see  a flock  of  previews  now. 
Who  in  hell  cares  what’s  coming  to  this 
dump?  We  don’t.  Our  bones  are  break- 
ing. Believe  we’re  catching  cold  in  here. 
Ought  to  be  a law  against  what  dump 
theatres  and  double  features  do  to  people. 
Ah-h-h!  Now  dammit  we’re  gettin’  sleepy. 
Much  be  lack  of  fresh  air  or  something. 

Alright,  bring  on  that  special  feature. 
We’re  just  in  the  right  mood  to  give  it 
the  Royal  Razzberry — and  that  goes  for 
you  and  your  whole  gol-damed  picture 
show  business.  Even  if  this  picture’s  as 
good  as  your  publicity  experts  say  it  is, 
we’re  in  no  frame  of  mind  to  enjoy  it. 

The  foregoing  somewhat  rambling  nar- 
rative of  a theatre  owner  in  the  charac- 
ter of  a customer  calls  for  a bit  of  can- 
did imagination,  of  course.  It  is  not  so 
very  difficult  to  imagine  what  is  wrong 
if  we  but  try  to  see  things  as  others  see 
them.  And  the  customers  viewpoint  is 
vital.  Try  sampling  the  food  you  serve 
— and  the  way  you  serve  it. 


Gentlemen,  Be  Seated! 

The  golden  age  of  minstrelsy  will  be  recalled  by  Ansel  Moore  in  next 
issue,  to  emphasize  the  salient  points  of  comfortable  theatre  seating:  The 
general  theme  for  next  (February  1)  issue  is  "Seating  Service." — The  Editor. 


38 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


rfifc  k 


• A light  for  the  moderate  sized  theatre 
using  a screen  up  to  18  feet  in  width;  where 
the  vivid  brilliancy  of  high  intensity  projec- 
tion has  been  heretofore  denied  by  prohibi- 
tive operating  costs. 

In  order  to  secure  the  desired  screen 
brilliancy  with  the  present  dense  black  and 
white  and  the  colored  films,  twice  as  much 
light  is  required  as  is  possible  to  project  by 
any  low  intensity  lamp. 

A doubling  in  light  over  the  low  intensity 
was  made  possible  at  an  increased  combined 

. V, 

current  and  carbon  cost  of  less  than  2c  per 
hour. 

Projects  that  snow  white  light  so  essential 
to  the  satisfactory  projection  of  colored 
pictures. 


STRONG  MOGUL 

HIGH  INTENSITY  ARC  LAMP 


Designed  to  project  a volume  of  light  even  beyond 
the  normal  requirements  of  theatres  employing  large 
screens  of  non-reflective  surface,  screens  that  require 
a tremendous  increase  in  light  value  to  maintain  a 
satisfactory  level  of  illumination. 


Designed  to  produce 
power  even  beyond  the 
normal  requirements  of 
the  largest  theatres,  as 
well  as  drive-in  theatres, 
where  the  enormous 
screenstax  lighting  equip- 
ment to  the  utmost. 


■a 


S'e<  "..cl'00 


Designed  especially  as  a power  supply  for  inter- 
mediate high  intensity  arc  lamps,  which  requires 
a fixed  current  of  40  amperes  at  27  volts  and  an 
open  circuit  potential  of  35  volts. 


C'C'®*""  v><3' 

o*e  ,\o^9 

. rv  & 

\\0 * 


CO 


\o'®' 


The  competent,  dependable 
Independent  Theatre  Supply 
Dealers,  located  in  principal 
cities  throughout  America  will 
cooperate  with  you  in  solving 
any  projection  problem.  Dem- 
onstrations of  Strong  equip- 
ment can  be  arranged  in  your 
own  theatre  without  obligating 
you.  Write  or  call  on  the  dealer 
nearest  you. 


STRONG 


STRONG  DEALERS 
ARE  DEPENDABLE  DEALERS 


American  Theatre  Supply  Co. 
Commerce  Guardian  Bldg., 
Toledo.  Ohio 


United  Theatre  Equipment  Co. 
121  Golden  Gate  Avenue, 

San  Francisco,  Calif. 


W.  G.  Preddey  Theatre  Supply, 
187  Golden  Gate  Ave., 

San  Francisco,  Calif. 


American  Theatre  Supply  Co., 
200  W.  10th  St.. 

Sioux  Falls,  S.  D. 


Exhibitors  Supply  Co., 
3236  Olive  St., 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 


Quality  Theatre  Supply  Co., 
1531  Davenport  St., 

Omaha,  Nebraska. 


Amusement  Supply  Co.,  Inc., 
341  W.  44th  St.. 

New  York,  N.  Y. 


Falls  City  Theatre  Equip.  Co., 
427  S.  Third  St., 

Louisville,  Ky. 


Queen  Feature  Service,  Inc. 
1912 V2  Morris  Ave., 
Birmingham,  Ala. 


Auburn  Theatre  Equipment  Co., 
No.  5 Court  St., 

Auburn,  N.  Y. 


Breck  Photoplay  Supply  Co., 
1969  S.  Vermont  Ave., 

Los  Angeles,  Calif. 


Ger-Bar,  Inc., 

444  N.  Illinois  St., 
Indianapolis,  Ind. 


J.  M.  Rice, 

202  Canada  Bldg., 
Winnipeg,  Canada. 


Bryant  Theatre  Supply  Co., 
227  S.  Church  St., 
Charlotte,  N.  C. 


Graham  Bros., 
546  Lincoln  St., 
Denver,  Colo. 


Sharps  Theatre  Supplies, 
Film  Exchange  Bldg., 
Calgary,  Canada 


Capitol  City  Supply  Co. 
161  Walton  St..  N.  W., 
Atlanta,  Ga. 


Guercio  & Barthel, 
1241  S.  Wabash, 
Chicago,  111. 


Smith  Theatre  Supply  Co., 
617  First  Ave., 

Spokane,  Wash. 


Charleston  Theatre  Supply, 
506  State  St., 

Charleston,  W.  Va. 


Hardin  Theatre  Supply  Co. 
714  Hampton  Road, 

Dallas,  Texas 


Standard  Theatre  Supply  Co., 
124  E.  Washington  St., 
Greensboro,  N.  C. 


Joe  Cifre,  Inc., 

37  Winchester  St., 
Boston,  Mass. 


Herber  Bros., 

408  S.  Harwood  St., 
Dallas,  Texas. 


Stebbins  Theatre  Equip.  Co., 
1804  Wyandotte  St., 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 


J.  F.  Dusman, 

213  N.  Calvert  St., 
Baltimore,  Md. 


Independent  Theatre  Sup.  Co. 
47  Church  St., 

Boston,  Mass. 


Superior  Motion  Picture  Sup.  Co. 
84  Van  Braam  St., 

Pittsburgh,  Pa. 


Electrical  Supply  Co., 
201  Magazine  St., 
New  Orleans,  La. 


Inter-Mountain  Theatre  Sup.  Co. 
142  E.  First  South  St., 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 


Theatre  Equipment  Supply  Co. 
906  Davis  St., 

Vancouver,  Canada 


Elliott  Film  Co., 

72  Glenwood  Avenue, 
Minneapolis,  Minn. 


Oklahoma  Theatre  Supply  Co. 
708  W.  Grand  Avenue, 
Oklahoma  City,  Okla. 


Theatre  Utilities  Service  Co., 
528  N.  W.  12th  St., 

Portland,  Ore. 


Empire  Theatre  Supply  Co., 
1003  Broadway, 

Albany,  N.  Y. 


National  Equipment  Co., 
4024  Gilliat  St., 

Duluth,  Minn. 


Portland  Moving  Picture  Ma- 
chine Co., 

912  W.  Burnside  St., 

Portland,  Ore. 


The 


Strong  Electric  Corporation 

2501  Lagrange  St.,  Toledo,  Ohio,  U.  S.  A* 

— Export  Office — 


Room  2002,  220  W.  42nd, 


1 Lawyer-Showman  Lets  Us  in  on 

a Secret 


W 

I V HEN  recently  Mark  Kalischer,  Chi- 
cago theatre  architect,  asked  the  editor  if 
he’d  like  to  have  a story  on  one  of  his 
(Kalischer’s)  latest  modernizing  projects, 
the  offer  was  accepted  and  your  inquir- 
ing reporter  got  the  assignment. 

Early  in  the  quiz  proceedings  the  in- 
evitable question  regarding  ownership  of 
the  Portage  Theatre  (more  particularly 
described  elsewhere  in  this  issue)  brought 
out  the  fact  that  it  was  the  property  of 
the  G.C.S.  Circuit  of  six  nifty  neighbor- 
hood movie  houses  all  located  on  the  north- 
west section  of  Chicago  and  a seventh 
in  the  city  of  Neenah,  Wisconsin. 

Further  questioning  disclosed  that  the 
initials  “G.  C.  S.”  identified  a firm  of  Chi- 
cago attorneys  at  law,  namely,  Goldberg, 
Courshon  and  Solomon.  So  an  interview 
appointment  was  arranged  with  Mort  D. 
Goldberg,  president  of  the  circuit,  who 
acted  as  spokesman  for  the  trio  of  suc- 
cessful lawyer-showmen. 

From  Mr.  G.,  it  was  learned  that  the 
chain  of  independent  theatres  got  its  start 
in  1930  with  the  acquisition  of  the  Drake, 
a costly  but  then  emaciated  1,700-seat  at- 
mospheric theatre  of  the  boom  period 
which  had  been  closed  and  opened  in- 
termittently, but  frequently,  for  a period 
of  five  years  prior  to  its  final  acquire- 
ment. It  has  stayed  open  continuously 
since  then  and  this,  mind  you,  right 
through  the  midst  of  a depression. 

Then  followed  later  additions  to  the 
chain  including  the  1,500-seat  Admiral,  the 
1,900-seat  Portage,  the  550-seat  Review; 
the  800-seat  Fox,  the  400-seat  Jeff  and 
the  800-seat  Embassy,  the  latter  at  Nee- 
nah, Wisconsin. 

Having  long  listened  to  the  painful  re- 
citals of  hazard  and  handicaps  attending 
the  operation  of  independently  owned  pic- 
ture theatres  in  and  around  Chicago  we 
naturally  sensed  a secret  in  this  instance 
and  forthwith  proceeded  to  fathom  it. 

Here  were  seven  second-run  houses, 
three  of  them  with  sizeable  capacities, 
apparently  doing  business  profitably  and 
permanently  under  the  many  competitive 
restraints  that  we’d  often  heard  recited. 
We  asked  Mr.  Goldberg  to  give  us  his 
special  formula.  He  gave  it  succinctly 
and  straight  from  the  shoulder.  Quoting 
Mr.  Goldberg; 

“As  an  independent  theatre  owner  run- 
ning pictures  in  ‘repeat  position’  and  from 
necessity  rather  than  choice,  I am  un- 
alterably opposed  to  booking  systems  and 
distributing  policies  that  deprive  my  the- 
atres of  the  privilege  of  showing  fresh, 
first-run  pictures.  But  the  attendant  evils 


of  the  business  can 
not  be  overcome  by 
merely  squawking 
helplessly  about  con- 
ditions. 

“We  own  all  our 
theatre  properties  out- 
right, representing  real 
e s t a te  investments 
running  into  the  mil- 
lions. We  must  make 
them  sustain  the  in- 
vestment. To  offset  the  disadvantages  of 
our  secondary  position  on  play  dates,  we 
must  manage  our  theatres  and  maintain 
them. 

“Yes,  we  run  double  features  despite  the 
fact  that  we  don’t  approve  of  them.  Com- 
petition compels  us  to  give  quantity  as 
well  as  quality  in  certain  of  our  locations. 
Realizing  that  a great  many  persons  dis- 
like double  features  and  knowing  from  our 


own  experience  that  many  others  do  like 
them,  we  try  to  adjust  the  opposition 
with  the  best  means  at  our  disposal. 

“Early  in  our  theatre  operating  experi- 
ence came  the  realization  that  the  exhibi- 
tor must  offer  his  patrons  an  atmosphere 
of  pleasantry  and  and  comfort  before  he 
can  satisfactorily  entertain  them.  Such 
physical  provisions  create  a subconscious 
feeling  or  mood  that  makes  patrons  much 
easier  to  please  with  what  we  are  able 
to  put  before  them. 

“Since  our  reopening  of  the  Drake,  which 
has  now  operated  continuously  since  1930 
we  have  adhered  to  the  policy  of  pro- 
viding the  proper  atmosphere  for  enter- 
tainment, keeping  our  theatres  up-to-date 
in  service  and  appearances  and  with  the 
best  possible  equipment.  Our  most  re- 
cent modernization  of  the  Portage  The- 
atre typifies  our  general  policy  in  this 
respect.” 

Thus  Mr.  Goldberg  told  us  how  he  man- 
ages to  stay  in  theatre  business  inde- 
pendently against  the  odds. 


PHANTOM  DOORMAN  NEW  FUNCTIONAL  DEVICE 


A decided  novelty  effect  for  publicity  but  functional  in  the  practical  performance  of  duty  is  to  be 
noted  in  this  application  of  a photo-electric  cell  operated  door  opener  and  closer,  for  theatre 
entrances.  Becoming-  extensively  used  in  other  classes  of  business,  the  Phantom  Doorman,  as 
the  device  is  called,  should  find  ready  application  to  theatre  door  control.  (Photo  courtesy  The 
Yale  & Towne  Mfg.  Co.) 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


43 


The  Great  "Good  Will 


Mystery”Simply  Exposed 


“I 

Jl  DON’T  know  what  it’s  all  about 
and  you  don’t  either  so  let’s  just  inven- 
tory the  business  and  add  ten  per  cent 
for  goodwill.” 

That  statement  has  been  repeated  so 
often  in  the  theatre  business  that  the 
most  valuable  asset  of  the  business  is 
sometimes  juggled  around  unmercifully. 
We  all  understand  what  goodwill  is  but 
converting  it  into  dollars  and  cents  is 
something  else  again. 

Yet  there  should  be  no  such  mystery 
about  goodwill;  tackled  along  the  right 
lines  it  can  readily  be  computed.  No 
theatre  man  ever  knows  the  value  of  his 
business  without  knowing  what  dollar  and 
cents  value  his  intangible  goodwill  asset 
can  command.  Naturally  it  is  important 
to  know  this  in  the  sale  of  one’s  business, 
but  it’s  also  important  to  know  it  for 
transferring  properties,  purchasing  other 
theatres,  modernization,  expansion,  con- 
solidation, reorganization,  new  financing, 
determining  income  tax  valuations  and 
other  tax  valuations,  for  rate  purposes 
and  for  internal  business  adjustments. 

Five  Points  to  Follow 

Estimates  of  the  value  in  goodwill  of  a 
theatre  enterprise  should  be  built  up 
through  a study  of  earning  power.  The 
estimate  may  take  the  form  of  capitaliza- 
tion of  net  earning  power  as  a whole,  the 
estimated  value  of  the  tangible  assets  be- 
ing deducted  from  the  result  to  yield  the 
value  of  intangibles. 

In  dealing  with  earning  power  for  the 
purpose  of  measuring  the  value  of  good- 
will and  other  intangibles  five  things 
should  be  borne  in  mind: 

1.  This  value  must  depend  on  future, 
not  past  or  present  earnings. 

2.  In  using  the  past  as  a guide  to  the 
future,  take  neither  too  long  nor  too  short 
a period. 

3.  The  odds  are  against  current  earn- 
ing power  remaining  fixed  as  at  present. 

4.  The  normal  earnings  and  normal 
rates  must  constantly  be  kept  in  mind. 

5.  It  is  wisest  to  use  a high  rate  of 
capitalization  in  determining  the  value  of 
the  excess  earnings. 

We  must  also  stop  to  consider  whether 
those  conditions  that  have  built  up  this 
earning  power  can  be  transferred  from 
one  ownership  to  another  and  whether  or 
not  they  are  durable  in  themselves. 

The  Five-Year  Plan 

There  is  one  excellent  rule  to  remember 
in  appraising  the  goodwill  value  of  any 
business  under  consideration;  goodwill  is 
the  value  of  differential  or  excess  profits, 
without  regard  to  form  or  method  of  fi- 
nancing. 

Naturally  since  goodwill  purchased  or 


by  ERNEST  W.  FAIR 


otherwise  acquired  today  must  be  cashed 
in  on  tomorrow,  we  cannot  too  closely 
study  earning  power.  The  first  step  in  the 
study  of  earnings  is  the  past.  The  period 
covered  should  be  from  two  to  five  years. 
It  is  usually  either  unnecessary  or  un- 


Coin-operated  beverage  venders  have 
become  increasingly  popular  in  hundreds 
of  the  nation’s  picture  theatres  during  the 
last  several  years  because  of  their  space- 
saving features  and  the  economy  of  opera- 
tion involved. 

According  to  the  Coin  Machine  Indus- 
tries, Inc.,  national  trade  association  of 
vending  machine  manufacturers,  refrig- 
erated coin-operated  beverage  venders 
have  provided  theatre  owners  with  a means 
of  making  available  the  drinks  patrons 
desire  without  expensive  outlays  of  money 


desirable  to  go  back  more  than  five  years; 
on  the  other  hand  one  year  is  too  short 
a period  to  afford  a basis  for  judgment. 
A single  year  is  not  a sufficient  period 
for  the  high  or  low  profits  of  that  year 
may  be  altogether  due  to  exceptional  tem- 
porary conditions.  Nor  should  too  long  a 
period  be  considered  lest  the  condition  of 
the  remoter  years  be  so  different  from 
those  prevailing  at  the  time  of  valuation 
as  to  make  an  average  of  little  significance. 

The  U.  S.  Treasury  Department  recog- 
nizes the  use  of  a minimum  of  five  years. 
Always  bear  in  mind  that  the  periodic 
deductions  recognized  for  depreciation  of 
equipment  may  have  been  insufficient  or 
they  may  have  been  excessive.  Considera- 
tion must  also  be  given  to  the  methods 


or  space  and  without  the  necessity  of 
added  personnel  for  service. 

The  theatre  is  one  of  the  many  fields 
served  by  coin-operated  venders.  The 
machines,  in  addition,  have  made  bev- 
erages available  in  offices,  factories  and 
schools  where  the  over-the-counter 
method  of  selling  is  impractical. 

A representative  display  of  coin-oper- 
ated beverage  venders  of  the  latest  stream- 
lined type  has  been  arranged  for  the  1941 
exposition  of  the  Coin  Machine  Indus- 
tries, Inc.,  which  is  to  be  held  January  13 
to  16  in  the  Hotel  Sherman,  at  Chicago. 


THE  PAUSE  THAT  REFRESHES  PICTURE  PATRONS 


Typical  of  the  automatic  beverage  service  provided  by  a number  of  motion  picture  theatres  in 
various  parts  of  the  country  is  this  installation  in  the  Oriental  Theatre  in  Chicago.  Refrigerated 
coin-operated  venders  have  given  owners  a means  of  providing  this  type  of  service  without  ex- 
pensive outlays  of  money  or  space  and  at  considerable  profit  to  themselves.  (Photo  courtesy  Coin 
Machine  Industries,  Inc.) 


44 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


In  our  last  -previous  issue  (which  if  you 
didn’t,  please  see)  the  importance  of 
Good  Will  as  a business  asset  to  thea- 
tre operation  was  expounded  editorially 
under  the  title,  “Removing  the  Stress 
from  Over-Strained  Public  Relations.’’ 
Its  negotiability  is  further  expressed  by 
another  authority  in  this  article,  which 
deals  with  methods  of  computation  for 
property  transfer,  taxation,  purchasing 
for  maintenance  and  other  purposes, 
such,  for  instance,  as  “Computing  the 
Little  Profit  Who  Wasn’t  There.” — The 
Editor. 


employed  in  valuing  properties,  particu- 
larly with  respect  to  change  in  methods 
in  the  period  under  consideration. 

Having  calculated  the  past  earnings  the 
next  step  is  the  translation  of  this  in- 
formation into  an  estimate  of  future  earn- 
ings; an  element  in  the  theatre  business 
being  sold.  The  trend  of  recent  earnings 
is  always  an  important  point  to  consider. 
All  factors  which  are  likely  to  have  a 
bearing  on  the  profits  of  the  next  few 
years  should  be  taken  into  consideration. 

Estimating  the  normal  earning  rate  in 
connection  with  goodwill  evaluation  has 
always  been  a ticklish  proposition.  The 
normal  rate  is  that  rate  of  return  which 
will  attract  to  and  maintain  in  a particu- 
lar field  a supply  of  capital  and  ability 
sufficient  to  maintain  its  relative  posi- 
tion in  view  of  conditions  of  supply  and 
demand. 

When  we  proceed  to  calculate  the 
amount  of  the  normal  earnings  this  nor- 
mal earning  rate  is  usually  applied  to  the 
book  value  of  the  investment  in  tangible 
assets. 

How  Long  Will  It  Last? 

One  of  the  most  important  considera- 
tions in  the  appraisal  of  goodwill  is  the 
question  of  the  duration  of  the  earnings 
which  can  reasonably  be  assured  on  the 
basis  of  present  conditions  and  factors. 
It  is  unsafe  to  assume  that  these  earnings 
can  continue  indefinitely.  Competition 
tends  to  reduce  such  earnings  over  the 
years  time.  Depreciation  of  property,  if 
allowed  to  persist,  also  has  its  peculiar 
effect.  Then  also  it  is  reasonable  to  as- 
sume that  within  a short  time  after  the 
purchase  of  a business  a part  of  the  earn- 
ing power  will  be  a result  of  the  efforts 
of  the  new  management  and  conditions 
which  will  arise  after  purchase  rather 
than  the  factors  and  conditions  present 
at  the  time  of  purchase. 

An  infallible  rule  to  remember  is  that 
goodwill  based  upon  personal  relations 
and  the  peculiar  abilities  of  an  individual 
owner  can  be  transferred  only  to  a limit- 
ed extent  and  can  be  expected  to  disap- 
pear shortly. 

These  are  the  basic  principles  that  un- 
derlie the  problem  of  estimating  goodwill 
for  any  theatre  enterprise;  the  rest  of  the 
procedure  is  a matter  of  actual  figuring 
and  adapting  these  principles  to  one’s  own 
system  of  operation. 

Studied  closely  it  can  be  observed  that 
there  is  neither  anything  mysterious  about 
goodwill  nor  difficult  about  its  calculation 
for  no  matter  what  the  purpose  may  be. 

Realizing  the  day-in-and-day-out  good- 
will value  of  our  own  theatre  institution 
is  another  step  that  will  enable  us  to 
operate  it  more  intelligently  and  profit- 
ably. 


c 


itnhtalle 


the 

fecured 

^°boeSi 

STLi 


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be 


LEXANDER  SMITH 

Crestwood  Carpet 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


45 


ECORATING 


Advisory  Service 


THE  ARTISTIC  SIDE  OF  ARCHITECTURE 
AS  APPLIED  TO  THEATRE  DECORATION 


Ridding  the  Rivoli  uf  a Riot  of  Renaissance— 

Our  Responsibility 


w 

I I E HAVE  written 
many  times  of  the  vast 
difference  in  decorat- 
ing a new  theatre  and 
the  redecorating  of  an 
outmoded  one.  In  the 
hope  that  many  of  you 
will  be  interested  in 
the  latter  type  of 
house,  let’s  cite  an  ac- 
tual example  and  tell 
you  briefly  the  way 
we  handled  our  end 
of  the  contract. 

The  Rivoli  and  Palace  theatres,  in  To- 
ledo, also  described  elsewhere  in  this  is- 
sue, were  built  quite  a few  years  ago  and 
during  the  period  when  heavy  ornamental 
plaster  just  had  to  be  applied  to  every  ceil- 
ing and  wall  surface.  In  other  words,  their 
interiors  were  examples  of  “Italian — Eng- 
lish— French  Renaissance,”  and  meant  to 
look  just  like  every  other  theatre  present- 
ing “vaudeville-moving-picture  entertain- 
ment.” 

We  thoroughly  understand  the  problems 
of  the  architects  who  designed  these 
“palaces.”  In  the  majority  of  cases,  they 
were  following  the  wishes  of  owners  who 
wanted  more  and  grander  ornamentation 
to  impress  the  public,  as  well  as  their 
competitors.  Architects,  too,  must  live,  so 
they  did  everything  in  their  power  to 
satisfy  their  clients  and  the  public,  who 
readily  accepted  and  actually  expected 
grandeur. 

The  Changing  World 

Well,  times  and  conditions  have  a way  of 
changing,  and  theatres,  along  with  them, 
grow  older  and  dated.  The  problem  of 
preventing  that  out-moded  appearance 
haunts  every  theatre  owner  in  the  world. 
An  educated  public  likes  to  associate  with 
success,  likes  to  patronize  theatres  that 
look  modern  and  are  clean  and  comfort- 
able. But — and  here  comes  the  catch — 
when  redecoration  of  such  a house  becomes 
necessary,  owners  insist  that  their  inter- 
iors must  be  made  to  look  just  like  that 
brand-new  modern  theatre  around  the 
corner!  That,  without  architectural 
changes,  is  an  order  for  Aladdin!  The  bud- 
get usually  makes  no  provision  for  an 
architect,  much  less  any  for  construction 
work.  All  that  has  been  appropriated  is 
a modest  sum  for  painting.  And  not  the 


by  REX  DAVIS* 


complete  house,  but  just  where  the  redeco- 
rations will  create  the  most  effect. 

The  main  problem  to  be  met  and  solved 
in  a house  of  this  type  is  this  well-known 
heavy  Renaissance  plaster  ornamentation 
previously  mentioned.  This,  though  good 
taste  in  its  time,  is  the  stamp  of  its  age; 
for  the  mark  of  modernity  is  simplicity  of 
architectural  background  and  the  use  of 
large  areas  of  reiterant  and  correlated 
colors.  Therefore,  since  construction  al- 
terations were  out  of  the  question,  it  was 
up  to  the  decorative  scheme  to  achieve  the 
effect  of  simple  architectural  backgrounds 
with  the  use  of  paint  alone.  This  involved 
the  obliteration  of  unwanted  detail  by  the 
scientific  use  of  mass  areas  of  color.  If 
not  being  applied  over  flat,  modern  sur- 
faces, at  least  it  was  camouflaging  them 
to  the  eye  so  that  they  appeared  to  be  flat, 
simple  and  therefore  modern.  The  entire 
problem  here  is,  to  state  it  in  a few  words, 
elimination  and  not  addition. 

The  Rivoli  Redecorated 

This  is  the  way  we  solved  this  same 
problem  for  the  owners  of  the  Rivoli 
Theatre  in  Toledo. 

Lobby — A heavily  ornamented  ceiling  re- 
ceived an  overall  painting  in  a tomato  red 
— highlighting  only  a small  portion  of  the 
moulding  detail  to  give  needed  depth.  Walls 
were  painted  in  French  grey  to  tone  in 
with  the  color  of  dado  marble.  This  treat- 
ment gave  a conservative,  tailored  effect 
glowing  with  a welcoming  atmosphere.  A 
rubber  mat  was  used  on  the  floor  in  Pom- 
peian red  and  bone  white,  designed  in 
straight  traffic  lines.  Doors  and  wood- 
work were  enameled  in  a contrasting  blue 
green  to  match  new  entrance  doors. 

Foyer — A quite  low  ceiling  was  painted 
bone  white  to  give  an  illusion  of  height. 
Old  wall  panels  of  burnt  orange  damask 
were  saved  and  a dado  of  grey  green  was 
painted  in.  New  carpet  echoed  the  ceil- 
ing, wall  and  dado  colors.  The  old  furni- 
ture was  modernized  by  refinishing  to  show 
the  natural  beauty  of  wood  grain  and  re- 
upholstering in  fabrics  that  recalled  the 
general  color  scheme. 


* Associate  of  Hanns  R.  Teiehert,  Theatre  Deco- 
rating Specialists,  Chicago. 


Since  modern  theatre  decorating  is 
a specialized  art  requiring  counsel, 
creative  talent  and  planning  ability 
which  are  not  usually  available  at  all 
points  of  the  country,  Mr.  Teiehert 
has  agreed  to  serve  our  readers  in  an 
advisory  capacity.  He  will  be  glad  to 
correspond  with  any  of  our  readers 
who  may  wish  information  and  advice 
on  decorating  procedure.  All  such  in- 
quiries will  be  given  prompt  attention. 
Address  your  inquiry  to  The  Modern 
Theatre,  332  S.  Michigan  Avenue, 
Chicago,  III.  It  will  be  immediately 
referred  to  Mr.  Teiehert  for  analysis 
and  advice,  without  obligation. 


Men’s  Smoking  Room — Ceiling  painted 
parchment  color,  walls  received  a coach 
red  to  form  a masculine,  inviting  and  prac- 
tical color  scheme. 

Ladies’  Lounge — Ceiling  bone  white 
paint,  walls  papered  in  turquoise  blue  with 
bone  white  stripes.  The  original  furni- 
ture was  retained,  reupholstered  in  coral 
and  turquoise  blue,  which  managed  to 
make  it  look  like  new  pieces.  Carpeting  re- 
calls the  coral  tones  in  a conservative 
plume  pattern. 

Ladies’  Powder  Room — Ceiling  painted 
coral,  walls  papered  in  vertical  stripes  of 
coral  and  bone  white.  Here  again  the  origi- 
nal furniture  was  painted  bone  white  and 
rubbed  with  coral.  Fabrics  for  reupholstery 
are  in  turquoise  patterns.  Carpeting  which 
is  the  same  as  that  in  the  ladies’  lounge 
gives  an  effect  of  unity  and  size.  New 
lighting  fixtures  were  used  throughout 
these  rooms  and  they  were  designed  to 
give  easy  transition  from  traditional  to 
modern. 

The  average  patron  visiting  this  redeco- 
rated theatre  would  have  a difficult  time 
recognizing  it  as  the  same  house,  which  is 
the  real  test  of  a modernization  job.  A 
maximum  effect  of  newness  was  achieved 
with  a minimum  expenditure,  and  the 
economical  adaptation  of  furnishings  al- 
ready in  use.  All  the  public  spaces,  the 
ones  coming  under  closest  inspection  by 
the  patrons,  are  now  completely  fresh,  and 
vibrant  with  color  in  the  modern  manner. 


Consult  an  architect  as  the  first  step  in 
planning  a functional  theatre.  An  experi- 
enced theatre  architect  is  the  man  who 
can  get  the  most  out  of  any  new  building 
or  remodeling  appropriation. 


The  modern  theatre  is  a smartly  pack- 
aged unit  put  up  by  theatre  men  with 
which  to  intrigue  the  fancy  of  patrons 
who  buy  what  is  to  be  found  within — en- 
tertainment. 


MR.  DAVIS 


46 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


LITERATURE 


The  following  concerns  have  recently 
filed  copies  of  interesting  descriptive  liter- 
ature with  The  Modern  Theatre  Informa- 
tion Bureau.  Readers  who  may  wish  copies 
of  such  literature  may  obtain  them 
promptly  by  addressing  The  Modern  Thea- 
tre, 332  S.  Michigan  Avenue,  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois, 

American  Desk  Manufacturing  Co.,  of 
Temple,  Texas,  submits  a catalogue  on 
“Public  Seating,”  in  which  its  line  of  thea- 
tre chairs  is  pictured  in  full  color  and 
specifications  as  to  construction  and  de- 
sign are  given.  Points  to  remember  in  pur- 
chasing seating  are  outlined  and  testi- 
monials from  the  company’s  satisfied  cus- 
tomers are  included. 

American  Seating  Company,  of  Grand 
Rapids,  Mich.,  presents  copies  of  its  in- 
teresting little  paper  entitled  “Theatre 
News,”  which  is  “published  occasionally  in 
the  interest  of  better  seating  for  theatres.” 
The  sheet  is  newsy,  packed  with  interest 
and  pictures,  and  informative  in  ail  par- 
ticulars. 

C.  5.  Ashcraft  Manufacturing  Co.,  of 
Long  Island  City,  N.  Y„  offers  its  “Pro- 
jectionist’s Manual  of  Cyclex,”  covering  in- 
stallation, operation  and  maintenance.  The 
46 -page  handbook  is  profusely  illustrated 
and  very  informative  in  every  detail  per- 
taining to  this  new  light  source  and  its  ac- 
cessories. 

Eastman  Kodak  Company,  of  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  offers  an  attractive  and  profusely 
full-color  illustrated  28-page  booklet  on  its 
new  product  “Tenite,”  a thermoplastic 
molding  material  made  from  Eastman  cel- 
lulose esters.  This  colorful  new  plastic  ma- 
terial is  highly  adaptable  to  many  uses  in 
the  theatre — as  it  has  already  found  ap- 
plication in  many  other  industries.  Pro- 
perties and  uses  of  the  product  are  out- 
lined most  graphically. 

Ingram-Richardson  Manufacturing  Co., 
of  Beaver  Falls,  Pa.,  files  an  elaborate 
booklet  on  their  products  entitled  “The 
Book  of  Ing-Rich  Porcelain  Enameled  Iron 
Signs.”  Descriptions  of  sign  manufacture 
and  the  advantages  of  this  type  of  ad- 
vertising display  are  to  be  found,  and  a 
looseleaf  section  at  the  rear  of  the  book 
gives  illustrations  of  typical  porcelain- 
enamel  advertising  signs. 

Rosco  Laboratories,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
offers  an  informative  pamphlet  on  “Time- 
Tested  Rosco  Products.”  Accessories  for  the 
theatre,  film  exchange,  laboratory  and 
studio  are  described  and  pictured,  and  in- 
structions for  their  uses  also  are  to  be 
found.  Prices  are  given  in  this  folder  also. 


Notice:  Manufacturers  of  all  products 
adapted  to  theatre  modernization  or  main- 
tenance are  invited  to  file  latest  copies  of 
their  catalogues  or  descriptive  literature 
with  The  Modern  Theatre  Information  Bu- 
reau.— The  Editor. 


The  smart  Para- 
mount Theatre, 
Ashland,  Kentucky 
— Distinctive  to  the 
eye  — luxurious  to 
the  foot,  this 
Cochrane  Paxson 
carpet  effectively 
helps  to  create  a 
modern,  quality 
atmosphere. 


COCHRANE’S  THEATRE  CARPET  ADVISORY  BUREAU 
CAN  GIVE  YOU  SOME  PRACTICAL  POINTERS 

Cost  is  always  an  important  question  in  selecting  theatre  carpets  . . . and  it  is  a 
question  on  which  Cochrane’s  Theatre  Carpet  Advisory  Bureau  can  offer 
practical  suggestions. 

The  amount  of  daily  traffic  is  of  course  an  obvious  consideration.  In  addi- 
tion, there  are  such  factors  as  whether  the  theatre  is  in  a downtown  or  neigh- 
borhood location— how  frequently  it  is  redecorated— the  relative  importance 
of  first  cost  compared  to  cost  per  year  of  service. 

Cochrane’s  Theatre  Carpet  Advisory  Bureau  can  also  give  you  valuable 
assistance  in  selecting  patterns  and  colors  that  are 
particularly  suitable  for  the  architecture  and  deco- 
rative treatment  of  your  theatre. 

You  will  find  the  Cochrane  line  of  theatre  carpets 
unusually  complete  . . . correctly  styled— precision 
woven  and  noteworthy  for  the  clearness  of  their 
colors.  It  is  a wise  move  to  consult  Cochrane  first 
. . . and  it  places  you  under  no  obligation. 

Charles  P.  Cochrane  Company,  Manufacturers  of 
High  Grade  Carpets  and  Rugs,  Bridgeport,  Penna. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


47 


The  Portage  ...  a Progres- 
sive Modernizing  Project 

(Continued  from  page  37) 


tive  design.  It  is  massive  in  proportions 
yet  not  too  heavy  in  feeling.  The  flame- 
crotch  mahogany  was  again  used  in  its 
construction  and  the  upholstery  is  in  coral 
mohair  to  harmonize  with  the  carpet  used 
throughout  the  lobby  and  foyer. 

Functional  Changes 
In  addition  to  these  two  important  parts 
of  the  house,  the  Portage  Theatre’s  first 
stage  of  progressive  remodeling  also  in- 


cluded modernization  of  the  rest  rooms. 
Especial  attention  was  paid  to  sanitation 
and  convenience  for  the  patrons  in  this 
connection.  The  walls  and  floors  are 
completely  tiled  now  and  partitions  are  of 
enameled  steel.  Built-in  electric  hand- 
driers  styled  to  harmonize  with  the  wall 
tile  also  were  installed  as  a patron  con- 
venience and  to  replace  the  former  messi- 
ness of  towel  service. 

The  Portage  Theatre’s  heating  system 
also  received  attention  in  this  initial  stage, 
since  decoration  so  often  is  influenced  by 
the  position  of  radiators,  grilles  or  out- 
lets. All  floor-type  radiators  were  removed 
in  this  instance  and  they  were  replaced  by 
flush-type  heaters  concealed  in  the  walls. 


GUESS  AGAIN 


— EXPORT  OFFICE  — 

330  W.  42nd  St.,  New  York  City 
Attention:  J.  E.  Robin 


1.--U  V.. 


If  you  believe  that  your  patron's 
comfort  can  be  ignored,  guess  again! 

Betting  on  inferior  seating  is  worse 
than  bucking  the  bookies.  You 
haven't  a chance! 

You've  probably  noticed  how  Ideal 
is  way  out  in  front  in  the  number 
of  new,  important  installations. 

Careful  engineering,  superior  con- 
struction, modern  design  and  utmost 
comfort  are  a few  of  the  many  rea- 
sons. 

Write  for  literature.  Shown  is  the 
Aristocrat.  There's  an  Ideal  Chair 
to  fit  every  budget. 

SEATING  COMPANY 
Grand  Rapids,  Michigan 


In  the  lobby  alone,  room  to  accommodate 
at  least  25  additional  persons  was  obtained 
by  the  removal  of  old-type  radiators — and 
the  circulation  of  conditioned  air  was  im- 
measurably improved  as  well. 

Now  with  this  first  stage  of  moderniza- 
tion of  the  Portage  Theatre  behind  them, 
the  owners  are  looking  forward  to  com- 
pletion of  the  work  within  a short  time. 
The  second  stage  will  include  the  audi- 
torium and  other  parts  of  the  house,  which 
were  not  touched  at  this  time  but  which 
nevertheless  were  very  much  a part  of  the 
original  design  plan.  By  doing  the  work  in 
two  steps,  it  may  be  paid  for  out  of  in- 
come and  still  have  the  advantage  of  uni- 
fied design  throughout  the  entire  project 
when  completed.  That  is  exactly  what 
Progressive  Remodeling  entails  and  avails. 

Floor  Coverings  Demand 
Careful  Maintenance 

Representing  a substantial  investment, 
floor  coverings  in  theatres  deserve  and 
should  receive  the  care  necessary  to  keep 
them  in  good  condition,  preserve  their 
beauty  and  prolong  their  life. 

There  is  just  one  formula  which  covers 
care — cleanliness.  Dirt  is  their  worst 
enemy.  Kept  clean  and  free  from  dirt, 
grit,  dust,  any  rug  or  carpet  will  give 
longer  wear;  more  lasting  satisfaction. 

Frequent  cleaning  prevents  the  dirt 
from  accumulating  in  the  surfaces  of  pile 
fabrics.  Unless  it  is  removed,  fine  par- 
ticles of  grit  become  buried  at  the  base 
of  the  pile.  Sharp  edges  of  this  grit, 
grinding  against  the  pile  as  the  rug  or 
carpet  is  walked  upon,  tend  to  sever  the 
wool  fibres. 

In  a special  bulletin  on  the  Care  and 
Maintenance  of  Wool  Pile  Floor  Cover- 
ings, the  Institute  of  Carpet  Manufac- 
turers of  America  has  set  forth  the  re- 
sults of  research  by  the  engineers  in 
charge  of  the  technical  staffs  of  the  vari- 
ous carpet  mills.  Cleanliness  through 
proper  cleaning,  this  bulletin  sets  forth, 
is  the  most  important  factor  in  care. 


V alien  Has  a Curtain  Track 
and  Control  for  Any  Size 
or  Type  of  Stage 

These  world  famous  curtain 
tracks  and  controls  are  built 
with  precision  for  smooth, 
noiseless  operation  and  safety; 
durable  and  strong;  accurate 
in  detail;  easily  installed;  fool- 
proof and  trouble-proof. 

Write  for  literature  and  prices. 


VALLEN,  INC.,  Akron,  Ohio | 


48 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


ATMOSPHERIC  EFFECTS  THAT  COLORS  PRODUCE 


As  each  color  has  its  specific  wave 
length,  it  possesses  also  a character  or 
quality  of  its  own.  These  qualities  of 
luminosity,  vibrance,  warmth  or  coolness, 
play  their  roles  in  producing  harmony, 
just  as  actors  play  their  parts  in  the 
drama.  The  peculiar  quality  of  a color 
may  be  toned  down,  but  it  cannot  be 
wholly  effaced.  So  a brief  analysis  of  the 
characteristics  of  the  primary  and  sec- 
ondary colors  is  essential  to  an  under- 
standing of  the  effect  produced  by  each. 


green  tones  which  have  the  vibrancy  of 
the  yellows.  On  floors,  as  on  the  grassy 
slope  or  wooded  hillside,  the  medium  and 
dark  greens  furnish  a splendid  founda- 
tion for  many  color  combinations,  per- 
mitting a free  use  of  color  elsewhere  in 
the  room. 

Violet'.  Pure  violet  is  sparsely  used  in 
decoration.  But  the  violet  tones  of  raisin, 
mulberry,  eggplant,  to  mention  only  a few, 
are  extensively  employed  and  lend  real 


dignity  to  the  room.  These  tones  are  im- 
portant in  the  rug  and  carpet  palette, 
and  also  in  furniture  upholstery  and 
drapery  fabrics.  The  lavendar  or  orchid 
shades  of  violet,  favored  by  women,  are 
widely  employed  in  ladies’  lounges  and 
rest  rooms. 

Orange : Orange,  placed  between  red  and 
yellow,  derives  from  the  former  its  strength 
and  vigor;  from  the  latter  its  luminosity. 
The  orange  shades  are  popular  but  their 
use  is  limited  because  of  their  strength. 
Orange  is  particularly  effective  when  used 
with  the  complimentary  blues.  It  is  the 
color  used  to  give  warmth  to  the  browns 
and  rusts  which  are  so  extensively  used 
in  carpets  and  rugs. 


Red:  Most  intense  and  warmest  of  all 
the  colors,  red  plays  a leading  role  in 
the  decorative  drama.  It  is  too  strong, 
as  are  all  the  primary  colors,  to  use  alone, 
but  this  very  strength  imparts  life  and 
vigor  to  any  decorative  scheme.  By  rea- 
son of  this  vigor  and  warmth,  it  is  one 
of  the  indispensable  carpet  colors,  either 
in  hues  or  the  plain  color,  or  as  a domi- 
nant color  in  figured  rug  or  carpet.  It 
is  widely  employed  to  give  vigor  and  char- 
acter to  draperies  and  upholstery  fabrics. 
As  an  accent  color  it  is  invaluable. 

Yellow:  Yellow  is  the  color  of  good  cheer 
and  vivid  life.  Being  the  best  reflector 
of  light,  it  is  a favored  wall  color,  par- 
ticularly in  rooms  which  lack  sunlight. 
In  upholstery  and  drapery  fabrics  and  in 
important  accents,  it  is  particularly  ef- 
fective in  combination  with  darker  colors. 
In  carpets  it  is  from  mixtures  of  yellow 
with  reds  that  the  important  browns  and 
woodtones  are  derived. 

Blue:  Blue,  coolest,  most  restful  of  all 
the  colors,  tends  to  make  rooms  appear 
larger.  It  is  effectively  used  in  floor  cov- 
erings, both  in  the  darker  shades  and  in 
the  lighter  tints.  In  the  former  it  sup- 
plies a restful,  quiet  foundation  for  the 
decorative  scheme.  It  is  effective  when 
combined  with  orange,  its  complimentary 
color,  and  with  the  hues  which  lie  toward 
the  red,  that  is,  the  reddish  violets. 

Green:  Nature’s  own  color  is  green  in 
its  infinite  variety.  It  is  a restful  color 
and  between  the  yellow  greens,  with  their 
warm  vibrancy,  and  the  rich  coolness  of 
the  blue  greens  lie  gradations  of  hue 
which  add  immeasurably  to  the  color 
palette  of  the  decorator.  On  walls  it  is  a 
favored  color,  especially  in  the  yellow- 


Disinfectants  Look  Alike 

But  Dilfer  in  Effect 

The  primary  purpose  of  a disinfectant 
is  to  kill  certain  germs  and  its  ability  to 
do  this  efficiently  is  one  of  the  most  es- 
sential tests  of  its  value.  Disinfectants, 
as  a whole,  look  and  smell  alike,  before 
and  after  dilution,  but  they  differ  ma- 
terially in  effectiveness. 

Certain  cleansers  such  as  soap  and  water 
have  little  disinfecting  quality  and  many 
disinfectants  have  no  cleaning  power.  It 
is  often  important  to  choose  a product 
that  combines  both  qualities.  Not  only 
will  labor  costs  be  reduced,  since  two 
jobs  are  being  done  at  one  time,  but  it 
will  tend  to  effect  economies  of  materials, 
as  one  product  is  doing  the  work  of  two. 


OF  THE  TREASURY! 


Pattern  No.  Scotia  30807 


MOHAWKS  - 

Watch  dogs 


THE  SHOW  BEGINS  ON 


CARPETS 


No  pampered  pets,  Mohawks  have 
heavy  work  to  do.  They  do  it  so  well, 
so  long,  that  treasurers  O.  K.  Mohawks 
in  press-book  words!  Mohawks,  woven 
especially  for  theater  traffic,  have  dog- 
ged resistance  under  the  pound  and 
scuffle  of  feet.  They  shrug  off  rain, 
slush,  snow,  mud,  oil.  Vacuums  don’t 
"fuss”  Mohawks  . . shampooings  only 
bring  them  back  colorful,  beautiful, 
strong.  ...  In  backstage  language, 
Mohawks  are  troupers  all-ways! 

Write  for  the  facts  on  Mohawk’s  Rialto, 
Scotia  and  the  Broadway  Group. 
There’s  a wide  variety  in  colors,  de- 
signs, textures,  prices.  Mohawk  Carpet 
Mills,  Inc.,  Amsterdam,  New  York. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


49 


wmmDS 


A MONTHLY  WEATHERVANE  ON  CURRENT 
EVENTS  IN  THIS  AND  OTHER  INDUSTRIES 
AFFECTING  THE  INTERESTS  OF  THEATRE 


OPERATION. 


Material  Shortages 
Make  a Seller's 
Market 

Present  indications  are  that  you  theatre 
men  are  going  to  pay  much  higher  prices  for 
your  property  improvements  from  now  on. 

If  we  read  the  omens  correctly  there's  going 
to  be  an  acute  shortage  of  certain  com- 
modities that  enter  into  both  the  construction 
and  routine  operation  of  theatres. 

Already  the  rumblings  of  material  short- 
age are  echoing  across  country  and  exhibi- 
tors who  put  off  in  purchasing  their  present 
and  anticipated  requirements  may  have  to 
pay  some  stiff  penalties  for  their  procrastina- 
tions. 

Material  shortages,  induced  by  import  cur- 
tailment and  urgent  defense  demands  on 
many  of  our  factories  who  make  products 
needed  in  the  construction  and  operation  of 
moving  picture  theatres,  are  already  apparent 
in  certain  classifications. 

Such  conditions  forecast  the  very  early  ar- 
rival of  a seller's  market,  in  which  the  man 
who  wants  to  buy  must  take  his  turn,  pay 
the  asking  price,  put  up  with  delivery  delays 
and  other  contingencies  that  crop  out  in 
boom  times  when  everybody  goes  shopping 
for  the  same  things  at  the  same  time. 

Wise  showmen  are  making  their  equip- 
ment commitments  now;  taking  advantage 
of  present  prices  and  the  current  possibili- 
ties of  getting  things  done  before  the  big  rush 
comes. 

There's  no  percentage  in  gambling  against 
a sure  thing.  And  the  surest  thing  you  can 
bet  on  is  that  prices  won't  be  lower  than 
they  are  right  now — on  anything  you  need 
now  or  are  likely  to  need  later  on. 

But  aside  from  the  higher-cost-later-on 
angle  there's  something  to  think  about  con- 
cerning delivery  time  and  the  probability  of 
not  being  able  to  get  delivery  at  all. 

You  can  bet  on  higher  prices  and  the  odds 
are  with  the  buyer  who  buys  now — THE 
EDITOR. 


FLASH 


A new  “special  flashed  glass”  is  an- 
nounced by  Wagner  Sign  Service,  Inc,,  as 
an  improvement  for  attraction  board  pur- 
poses. Because  of  the  war,  there  has  been 
a marked  shortage  of  flashed  glass  in  this 
country,  inasmuch  as  all  of  the  best  flashed 
glass  came  from  Europe — most  of  it  from 
Germany — and  it  is  impossible  today  to 
buy  imported  glass. 

Therefore,  Wagner  has  developed,  for 
their  own  use  exclusively,  a new  type  of 
flashed  glass — translucent  opal  glass 
flashed  onto  a clear  crystal  glass.  All 
other  flashed  glasses  have  been  opaque 
glass  flashed  onto  crystal  and  this  opaque 
glass  has  been  about  10/1000ths  of  an 
inch  thick.  With  a translucent  glass,  it 
is  possible  to  flash  about  40/ 1000th  of  an 
inch  thick. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  new  glass  will 


revolutionize  the  marquee  flashed  glass 
industry  since  it  is  by  almost  40  per 
cent  the  best  flashed  glass  obtain- 
able in  this  country  and  it  is  said 
to  be  60  per  cent  more  efficient  than  the 
best  opal  glass  that  can  be  obtained  here. 
With  the  new  glass,  its  owner  may  have 
the  choice  of  either  reducing  the  wattage 
consumed  or  having  a sign  which  is  com- 
paratively brighter. 

The  Wagner  policy  in  selling  the  new 
glass  will  be  that  it  will  be  delivered  only 
with  new  letters  or  to  present  users  of  the 
company’s  letters.  Only  a limited  quan- 
tity is  available  at  the  present  time  and 
this  at  a very  nominal  price  compared  to 
other  flashed  glasses,  according  to  the  an- 
nouncement. 


When  today’s  theatre  patrons  purchase 
a ticket  at  the  boxoffice  they  expect  in 
addition  to  entertainment:  Comfort,  con- 
venience, relaxation  and  transportation  to 
another  world.  Do  they  get  these  extra 
“features”  in  your  house? 


A New  Dress  lor  1941 

And  a Happy  New  Year  to  you,  too!  In  keeping  with  the  spirit  of  modern- 
ism, which  we  espouse  so  enthusiastically  in  your  interest,  The  Modern  Thea- 
tre section  of  BOXOFFICE  again  steps  out  in  a new  style  ensemble  for  the 
New  Year.  A new  high-finish  paper  was  selected  as  the  material  for  this  gar- 
ment, which  was  then  styled  in  the  modem  format.  Richness  of  color  was  in- 
corporated in  the  newly  designed  cover  by  the  use  of  a recently  developed 
glossy  ink — and  we  will  run  the  gamut  of  the  rainbow  in  presenting  a different 
color  for  each  cover  throughout  the  year.  The  most  modern  type-face  was 
chosen  for  use  on  the  cover  and  for  headings  throughout  the  book — for  better 
appearance  and  greater  readability.  Banner-styled  department  heads  will 
catch  the  eye — and  for  a last  fillip  of  modern  styling,  we  point  with  pride  to 
the  ensemble  as  a whole  . . . Our  idea  of  a well-dressed  modern  magazine. 
We  hope  you  like  it! — The  Publisher. 


Sanitary  Hand-Drying 

Service  at  a Saving 


The  most  vexing  washroom  problems 
are  solved  automatically  by  the  installa- 
tion of  electric  hand- driers — that  most 
modern  drying  service.  Theatre  washrooms 
stay  continuously  cleaner,  floors  are  clear 
of  littered  towels,  and  no  unsightly  towel- 
cabinets  nor  used-towel  receptacles  are 
necessary.  Furthermore,  washroom  ser- 
vice requirements  are  much  less  and  main- 
tenance costs  are  greatly  reduced. 

The  drying  service  of  a modern  electric 
hand-drier  is  constantly  dependable,  with 
no  daily  interruptions  such  as  occur  when 
towel-cabinets  are  empty.  And  the  unit, 
which  may  be  either  semi-recessed  in  the 
wall  or  on  its  own  standard,  is  attractive- 
ly styled  and  suitable  to  the  most  finely 
fitted  theatre  washroom. 

With  this  modern  device,  there  is  noth- 
ing to  carry  contamination  from  one  user 
to  another.  The  soothing  current  of 
warmed,  sanitized  air  dries  the  hands 
quickly  and  thoroughly,  aids  to  prevent 
chapping  and  rough  skin,  and  promotes 
skin  health  for  the  patrons  of  a theatre 
so  equipped. 


Individual  Design  in 

Theatre  Floor  Covering 

Freedom  of  design  is  one  of  the  big 
advantages  of  linoleum  flooring  for  thea- 
tre lobbies  and  other  parts  of  the  house. 
If  one  cannot  find  the  exact  color  and 
design  in  the  many  standard  patterns,  a 
floor  can  be  created  exclusively  for  the 
purpose.  Many  attractive  floors  owe  their 
originality  mainly  to  cut-out  designs 
placed  in  the  surface,  individually  de- 
signed by  the  architect,  decorator  or 
owner. 

And  since  the  floor  is  usually  the  largest 
unbroken  area  in  a room,  making  it  at- 
tractive is  a long  step  toward  making  the 
rest  of  the  room  interesting.  In  fact, 
modern  interior  decorators  usually  begin 
their  work  by  planning  the  floor,  using 
it  to  set  the  color  scheme  and  decora- 
tive treatment  for  the  whole  room. 


The  theatre  architect  and  the  theatre 
decorator  are  the  two  most  responsible  for 
the  modern  functional  theatre  as  we  now 
know  it.  They  put  their  heads  together 
and  brought  forth  a new  idea  of  the  de- 
sign for  entertainment. 


50 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


For  Profits . . . Replace  your  old  Sound  System  with 

RCA  PHOTOPHONE  MAGIC  VOICE  OF  THE  SCREEN 


Just  as  profit-wise  railroads  provide  streamlined 
trains  for  the  modern  traveler,  so  profit-wise  ex- 
hibitors use  streamlined  RCA  Photophone  Magic 
V oice  of  the  Screen  to  reproduce  modern  sound.  They 
know  good  sound  means  good  box-office. 

But  don’t  take  our  word  for  it!  Ask  the  movie 
makers  in  Hollywood  how  important  sound  is  to  the 
box-office  value  of  any  picture.  Ask  your  patrons, 
too.  You’ll  find  it’s  plenty  important!  That’s  why 
we  say:  You'll  boost  your  business  when  you  match 


Hollywood’s  modern  sound  with  equipment  that 
will  properly  reproduce  it  in  your  theatre. 

And  that  equipment  is  the  RCA  Photophone 
Magic  Voice  of  the  Screen.  Styled  and  priced  for 
any  and  all  size  theatres,  it’s  the  box- 
office  tonic  you’ve  been  looking  for! 

• 

Trademark  "Victor”  Reg.  United  States  Patent 
Office  by  RCA  Manufacturing  Company,  Inc. 

Better  sound  means  better  box-office  — RCA 
Tubes  mean  better  sound 


VICTOR  and 
BLUEBIRD  RECORDS 


Th®  music  you  want 
whan  you  want  it 


THEATRE  EQUIPMENT 

Complete  Sound  Systems  . . . Screens  . . . Theatre  Record  Players  . . . Projectors  . . . Sound  Reinforcing  Equipment . . . 
Inter-Communication  Systems  . . . Hearing  Aids  . . . Service  and  Maintenance.  See  your  RCA  Photophone  Represen- 
tatives or  affiliated  theatre  supply  dealers.  Photophone  Division,  RCA  Manufacturing  Company,  Inc.,  Camden,  N.  J. 
In  Canada,  RCA  Victor  Company,  ltd.,  Montreal  • A Service  of  the  Radio  Corporation  of  America. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


51 


PLAIN  IN  G 


INTERESTING  CASE  HISTORIES  ON 
CURRENT  MODERN  THEATRE  PROJECTS 


A Case  of  '"Mental  Planning"  and  a Practical 

Dream  Come  True 


w 

■ ■ HEN  theatre  people  plan  “dream  the- 
atres” for  years  and  then  toil  hard  to  make 
those  dreams  materialize,  it  is  gratifying 
to  the  entire  industry.  Also,  it  is  equally 
gratifying  to  their  patrons,  who  often  play 
a great  part  in  those  plans,  experiencing 
the  trials  and  tribulations  through  which 
they  are  accomplished. 

Such  is  the  case  with  a new  house  in 
Ohio,  recently  completed  and  unveiled  as 
a monument  to  satisfied  patronage.  In 
the  creation  of  this  new  theatre  is  a story 
of  hardships  and  sacrifices  on  the  part  of 
both  owners  and  patrons — and  the  in- 
evitable happy  ending  is  all  too  evident 
in  its  final  accomplishment. 

The  new  Russell  Theatre  in  Millersburg, 
Ohio,  is  owned  and  operated  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hoy  L.  Russell.  The  neat  little  part- 
nership consists  of  Mrs.  Russell,  who  is 
active  in  the  management,  buying  and 
booking  and  Mr.  Russell,  a practicing  at- 
torney, who  does'  the  bookkeeping  and 
exploitation. 

The  Russells  have  operated  a motion 
picture  theatre  in  Millersburg  since  early 
in  1925,  when  Mr.  Russell  took  over  a 
lease  on  the  theatre  portion  of  the  city 
hall  building  owned  by  the  municipality. 


This  property  was  (and  still  is)  a typical 
“Opry  House”  of  a bygone  era,  much  too 
wide  and  not  nearly  long  enough  for  mo- 
tion picture  presentation.  It  has  a large 
stage,  inadequate  heating  and  ventilat- 
ing facilities,  wood  floor  and  a wood  bal- 
cony. 

“Wooden  floors  and  the  wooden  stairs 
leading  to  the  balcony  made  a perfect 
fire  trap.  Whenever  we  had  a decent 
sized  crowd  in  the  house  I couldn’t  enjoy 
it  for  worrying  over  those  stairs  and 
floors,”  Mr.  Russell  says  today. 

With  the  advent  of  sound  pictures  the 
Opera  House,  in  keeping  with  all  other 
theatres  devoted  to  the  exhibition  of  pic- 
tures, presented  acoustical  problems  some 
of  which  were  never  solved.  By  dint  of 
much  work,  worry  and  expense,  the  Rus- 
sells managed  eventually  to  present  “fair” 
sound. 

New  Theatre  Less  Costly 

“The  worst  trouble  with  the  place,”  Mr. 
Russell  says,  “was  that  it  just  didn’t  have 
the  possibilities  for  development  into  an 
attractive  picture  theatre,  no  matter  how 
much  one  might  spend  on  it,  and  the 
building  had  been  permitted  to  deteriorate 
until  had  an  attempt  to  remodel  it  been 


made,  it  would  simply  have  had  to  be  com- 
pletely razed  and  replaced  with  a new 
building.  Neither  the  city  nor  the  ex- 
hibitor had  money  for  a project  of  that 
kind  and  so  when  we  announced  our  in- 
tention to  build  a new,  modern  theatre 
in  Millersburg,  the  idea  met  with  general 
approval  from  the  citizens  and  city  of- 
ficials.” 

The  former  theatre  is  now  used  for  as- 
sembly purposes  and  public  meetings,  and 
the  city  fathers  plan  to  maintain  it  for 
such  use  by  the  public,  but  it  will  not  be 
available  for  theatrical  purposes. 

For  several  years  Mr.  Russell  operated 
the  theatre  while  Mrs.  Russell  gave  her 
attention  to  their  two  children,  but  when 
they  reached  an  age  where  this  attention 
was  less  necessary  she  took  over  manage- 
ment of  the  theatre  while  her  husband 
returned  to  his  original  vocation,  news- 
writer  and  editor.  Meanwhile  he  had  taken 
up  the  study  of  law. 

The  new  theatre  is  built  upon  a site 
purchased  several  years  ago  by  the  Rus- 
sells in  anticipation  of  eventually  build- 
ing their  own  theatre. 

“We  have  frequently  been  asked  how  it 
is  possible  to  provide  such  a fine  modern 
theatre  in  a town  no  larger  than  Millers- 
burg” (pop.  2,200),  Mr.  Russell  said,  “and 
the  answer  is,  by  careful  planning  and 
painstaking  attention  to  all  the  details. 

Pride  of  the  Patrons 

“We  have  been  complimented  highly 
upon  the  beauty  and  convenience  of  our 
building,  but  the  most  sincere  compli- 
ments have  been  the  reactions  of  our 
Millersburg  citizens,  who  never  fail  to 
bring  their  out-of-town  guests  around  to 
see  the  new  theatre.  The  pride  of  our 
patrons  is  our  highest  compliment. 

“Perhaps  the  real  reason  back  of  the 
new  theatre  is  that  it  is  the  materializa- 
tion of  a dream.  Mrs.  Russell  and  I com- 
menced building  ‘mental  theatres’  from 
the  first  day  of  our  experience  as  exhibi- 
tors. In  these  theatres  we  incorporated 
all  of  the  desirable  features  we  found  in 
theatres  we  visited  and  that  our  experi- 
ence indicated  to  be  conducive  to  com- 
fort, beauty  or  utility.  When  we  actual- 
ly began  building  we  knew  very  definitely 


The  neu  Itussell  Theatre  is  the  “dream  house” 
which  materialized  after  many  years  of  plan- 
ning by  its  owners,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoy  I..  Rus- 
sell of  Millersburg:,  Ohio.  It  is  a small-town 
house  which  has  all  the  niceties  of  metro- 
politan development  and  its  dignified  exterior 
gives  evidence  of  the  friendly  patron-appeal 
to  be  found  within  its  portals. 

what  we  wanted  down  to  the  most  minute 
detail.  All  the  architect  needed  to  do  was 
to  make  our  desires  intelligent  on  paper, 
functionally  practical  and  architecturally 
sound.” 

Simplicity  and  Dignity 

Faced  with  the  problem  of  creating  a 
modern  yet  conservative  design,  the  archi- 
tect and  builders  of  the  new  Russell  The- 
atre have  presented  an  excellent  example 
of  what  can  be  done  in  the  way  of  beau- 
tiful theatre  construction  while  retaining 
simplicity  and  dignity  in  both  architec- 
tural design  and  decorative  motif. 

In  the  Russell  Theatre,  modern  stream- 
lining in  both  construction  and  decora- 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


tion  replaces  the  “gingerbread”  of  former 
times,  yet  the  severity  of  too  much  of  the 
so-called  modernistic  construction  is  avoid- 
ed. A total  absence  of  the  garishness  so 
often  viewed  in  passing  as  “flash”  is  one 
of  the  features  of  its  construction. 

The  Russell  Theatre  was  opened  in  Oc- 
tober of  1940.  It  is  built  of  brick,  con- 
crete and  steel  construction,  with  built-up 
roof.  The  auditorium  walls  are  backed 
with  cinder  block,  which  is  furred  and 
covered  with  streamlined  plush  for  cor- 
rect acoustics. 

Seating  500,  the  theatre  is  125  feet  long 
by  47  feet  wide,  inside  measurements.  The 
seats  are  in  three  banks  and  spaced  34 
inches  from  back  to  back.  Six  aisle  lights 
are  staggered  on  either  side  of  the  4-foot 
aisles,  while  the  auditorium  lighting  is  re- 
flected from  the  plush  covered  walls  from 
four  circuits  of  multi-colored  lights  con- 
cealed in  a streamlined  molding  at  the  top 
of  the  cement  wainscoting. 

Front  and  outside  walls  of  the  building 
are  of  buff-colored  brick,  and  the  only 
decoration  is  to  be  noted  in  rows  of  the 
same  brick  set  vertically  above  and  below 
the  windows.  The  front  of  the  building  is 
further  ornamented  by  four  brick  pilasters 
above  the  marquee.  The  marquee  itself  is 
finished  in  ivory,  orange  and  green.  All 
doors  are  the  solid  slab  type,  walnut  fin- 
ished. Satin-chrome  hardware  is  used 
throughout. 

The  boxoffice,  located  in  the  center  of 
the  lobby  entrance  and  flanked  by  double 
doors,  extends  to  the  front  line  of  the 
building  and  is  entirely  of  plate  glass 


IDENTIFICATION 
(Russell  Theatre) 

AIR  DIFFUSERS:  Anemostat  Corp.  of  America. 

ARCHITECT:  Col.  Robert  S.  Harsh. 

CARPET:  Alexander  Smith  & Sons  Carpet  Co. 

COOLING  COILS:  Trane  Company. 

DECORATING:  Queen  City  Scenic  Studios. 

EQUIPMENT  CONTRACTOR:  National  Theatre 
Supply  Co.,  of  Cleveland. 

GENERAL  CONTRACTOR:  C.  J.  Vogel  Sons 
Construction  Co. 

PROJECTION  & SOUND:  International  Projec- 
tor Corp. 

SEATING:  Irwin  Seating  Co. 

STAGE  CURTAINS:  Queen  City  Scenic  Studios. 

Additional  particulars  on  the  project  may  be  se- 
cured upon  request  to  The  Modern  Theatre  In- 
formation Bureau. 


At  left — A view  of  the  standee  area  and  foyer 
of  the  Russell  Theatre,  where  spaciousness  and 
a generally  airy  atmosphere  prevail.  The  wide 
expanse  of  modern  carpet  and  indirect  light- 
ing- application  are  noteworthy.  On  the  right, 
a view  of  the  attractively  decorated  audi- 
torium of  the  new  house  which  seats  500  pat- 
rons, comfortably.  An  interesting  effect  is 
gained  here  by  the  reflection  of  multi-colored 
house  lights  from  the  plush  covered  walls  in 
streamlined  motive  for  fine  acoustic  consid- 
erations. Draftless  air  diffusion  from  ceiling 
outlets  is  another  highly  functional  provision. 

above  the  counter  level.  The  base  is  of 
glass  blocks. 

Patrons’  Convenience 

The  manager’s  office  is  to  the  left  of 


the  lobby,  while  to  the  right  is  a lobby 
shop  and  check  room  where  an  attendant 
sells  confections  and  checks  parcels  for 
shoppers.  The  lobby  itself  measures  17 
feet  in  depth  and  16  feet  in  width.  Its 
floor  is  of  concrete  dyed  a deep  maroon 
and  recessed  for  dirt-catching  rubber 
mats  extending  from  the  entrance  doors 
to  doors  entering  the  foyer. 

A commodious  ladies’  lounge  is  provided 
just  back  of  the  check  room  and  available 
from  the  foyer.  The  men’s  lounge  is  be- 
hind the  manager’s  office  and  it  is  also 

(Continued  on  page  59) 


j* 


THEATRE  PLANNING  GUIDE 


Through  the  coopera- 
tion of  our  affiliated 
architects,  leading  manufacturers,  their  engineers,  designers,  dealers,  contractors 
and  others,  a majority  of  whom  are  active  members  of  The  Modern  Theatre 
Planning  Institute,  we  are  prepared  to  assist  the  theatre-owner  in  selection  and 
application  of  all  commodities  and  services  needed  in  remodeling  and  moderniz- 
ing by  placing  him  in  touch  with  dependable  sources  of  supply.  As  sponsor  of  the 
Institute,  we  strive  to  impartially  relay  each  incjuiry  only  to  sources  of  reliable 
information.  However,  we  do  not  guarantee  all  statements  or  claims  made  in 
connection  with  products  offered. 


MAIL  THIS  FORM  FOR  FREE  INFORMATION 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  Planning  Institute,  1-4-41 

Room  334 — 332  S.  Michigan  Ave. 

Chicago,  111. 

Gentlemen:  Without  cost  or  obligation  please  arrange  to  have  data  supplied  to  us 
covering  the  following  subjects: 


□ Acoustics 

□ Air  Conditioning 

□ Amplifiers 

□ Architectural  Service 

□ Carpets 

□ Cleaning  Equipment 

□ Complete  Remodeling 


□ Decorating 

□ Heating  Equipment 

□ Lighting  Fixtures 

□ Lounge  Furniture 

□ Plumbing  Fixtures 

□ Projectors 

□ Projection  Lamps 


□ Screens 

□ Seating 

□ Signs  and  Marquees 

□ Sound  Equipment 

□ Theatre  Fronts 

□ Ticket  Machines 

□ Other  Subjects 


Theatre 


.Seating  Capacity.. 


Address 


City 


State.. 


Signed 


(Owner-Manager) 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


53 


Advisory  Board 

The  PLANNING  INSTITUTE  Is  conduct- 
ed in  collaboration  with  the  following  thea- 
tre architects,  structural  designers  and  en- 
gineers, who  have  agreed  to  act  as  technical 
advisers  to  the  Institute  and  editorial  text 
contributors  to  THE  MODERN  THEATRE 
from  their  respective  localities. 

Charles  N.  Agree, 

Detroit,  Michigan. 

Clifford  A.  Italeh, 

Los  Angeles,  Calif. 

Bruce  F.  Barnes, 

St.  l.ouis,  Mo. 

Arnold  E.  Baselien  & Assoc., 

Fresno,  Calif. 

Myles  E.  Belongia, 

Shorewood,  AVis. 

Boy  A.  Benjamin, 

Jacksonville,  Fla. 

Bennett  & Straight, 

Dearborn,  Mieli. 

T.  H.  Buell  & Co., 

Denver,  Colo. 

Corgan  & Moore, 

Dallas,  Tex. 

Michael  J.  DeAngelis 
Rochester,  N.  V. 

J.  W.  DeYoung, 

Portland,  Ore. 

George  A.  Eluding, 

Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Erwin  G.  Fredrick, 

Chicago,  III. 

Win.  I.  Holiaiiser,  Inc., 

New  York,  N.  Y. 

Donn  Hougen, 

Wisconsin  Itapids,  Wis. 

Houston  & Smith, 

Dallas,  Tex. 

Clarence  Ivivett, 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Kaplan  & Spracliinan, 

Toronto,  Out.,  Canada 

S.  Charles  Lee, 

Los  Angeles,  Calif. 

Edward  Paul  Lewin, 

Chicago,  III. 

Liebenberg  & Kaplan, 

Minneapolis,  Minn. 

MacKie  & Kainrath, 

Houston,  Tex. 

Marr  & Holman, 

Nashville,  Tenn. 

Pereira  & Pereira, 

Chicago,  HI. 

Pettigrew  & Worley, 

Dallas,  Tex. 

Vincent  G.  Haney, 

San  Francisco,  Calif. 

C.  W.  & Geo.  L.  Itapp,  Inc., 

Chicago,  III. 

Victor  A.  Itigaiiinont, 

Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

Spillman  & Spillman, 

San  Antonio,  Tex. 

Erie  G.  Stillwell,  Inc., 

Hendersonville,  N.  C. 

David  Supowitz, 

Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Wetherell  & Harrison, 

Des  Moines,  la. 

NOTE:  The  Institute  does  not  undertake 
the  practical  functions  of  an  architect  or 
designer.  Its  service  is  intended  merely 
to  place  our  readers  in  touch  with  reliable 
local  sources  of  preliminary  information 
and  advice  on  theatre  planning  and  struc- 
tural problems.  Inquiries  pertaining  to 
Architectural  Service  will  be  relayed  to  the 
nearest  member  of  the  advisory  board. 


PURPOSE  TO  ASSURE  BETTER  POPCORN  SUPPLY 


For  eighteen  years  Burch  popcorn  ma- 
chines have  been  used  in  theatres  through- 
out the  country  as  providers  of  additional 
entertainment  to  the  public  in  the  Ameri- 
can way  (eating  popcorn)  and  as  a source 
of  revenue.  Now  the  management  has  de- 
cided to  change  the  company  name  to 
Manley.  Inc.,  and  with  the  change  of  name 
new  models  are  being  advertised.  The 
supply  end  of  the  business — popcorn,  sea- 
soning, cartons,  bags,  etc.,  will  continue 
to  be  handled  under  the  name  of  Burch 
Manufacturing  Company,  which  has  been 
re-incorporated  to  take  care  of  this  end 
of  the  business. 

Charles  T.  Manley,  president  of  the  com- 
pany, states  that  eleven  years  ago  the 
company  entered  the  supply  end  of  the 
business  to  overcome  the  difficulty  in  ob- 
taining quality  popcorn  and  to  act  as  a 
stablizing  influence  in  the  business.  He 
points  out  that  during  a period  of  seven 
or  eight  years  before  that  time,  popcorn 
would  go  to  15  cents  and  as  high  as  20 
cents  per  pound  every  third  year. 

The  company  has  a popcorn  elevator  and 
a processing  plant  at  Lake  View,  Iowa, 
with  a capacity  of  seven  million  pounds, 
and  a recently  completed  plant  in  North 
Kansas  City,  Missouri,  with  a capacity  of 
three  million  pounds.  Plans  are  now  under 
way  for  the  construction  of  a refinery  with 
the  idea  of  producing  a better  quality  pop- 
ping oil. 

Mr.  Manley  explains  that  it  was  all 
brought  about  by  his  dissatisfaction  with 
the  quality  of  popcorn  generally  sold.  Re- 
cently improvement  in  the  standards  of 
popcorn  raised  and  sold  has  been  noted 
and  a special  seasoning  of  vegetable  oil  also 
has  been  developed  to  replace  the  former 
types.  A special  popcorn  salt  was  the  next 
step.  Standardizing  quality  in  popcorn 
became  such  a problem  it  became  neces- 
sary to  build  elevators  and  cribs  for  the 
purpose.  In  addition  to  the  ten  million 
pounds  of  popcorn  processed  in  these 


Popcorn  elevator  and  processing-  plant  of  the 
Burch  Mfg.  Co.,  recently  completed  at  North 
Kansas  City,  Mo.,  capacity  three  million  pounds. 
Inset — Similar  plant  located  at  Lake  View,  la., 
with  a capacity  of  seven  million  pounds. 

plants  for  Burch  machine  owners,  dealers 
and  growers  in  Virginia,  Indiana  and  Iowa 
are  still  depended  upon  for  a large  part  of 
that  company’s  requirements. 

Popcorn,  Mr.  Manley  explains,  is  a 
tricky  grain.  Today  it  may  be  the  finest 
popcorn  in  the  world,  but  in  a week  or  a 
month,  according  to  climatic  conditions, 
it  may  have  lost  15  to  20  per  cent  of  its 
popping  volume.  Hot  weather  also  incu- 
bates insect  eggs,  principally  weevil  and 
moths.  This  problem  was  solved  by  put- 
ting up  popcorn  in  hermetically  sealed  10- 
pound  cans.  An  additional  use  for  the  cans 
was  made  by  supplying  the  customers  with 
plug  lids  that  made  it  possible  to  fill  the 
cans  with  popcorn  for  resale. 

Only  the  most  deliciously  seasoned  and 
flaky,  crisp  popcorn  without  hard  centers, 
half-pops,  or  mushrooms,  is  fit  to  serve 
theatre  patrons.  Any  owner  serving  any- 
thing less  is  not  only  injuring  himself,  but 
the  entire  business,  because  only  the  fin- 
est popcorn  will  build  up  repeat  business 
to  the  proportion  that  it  should  be.  One 
of  the  outstanding  wonders  of  merchandis- 
ing is  that  popcorn  has  been  able  to  stand 
up  under  the  abuse  that  has  been  given  it 
through  poor  equipment,  faulty,  careless 
operation,  and  poor  quality  supplies,  any 
one  of  which  results  in  a product  unfit 
to  sell  to  the  public. 

The  new  Manley  machines  were  de- 
signed by  one  of  America’s  foremost  de- 
signers. New  lines,  new  beauty,  and  new 
showmanship  are  the  basis  of  the  patented 
designs.  There  are  said  to  be  many  new 
features,  the  most  outstanding  being  that 
it  is  almost  impossible  for  a careless  opera- 
tor to  serve  poor  popcorn. 

Mr.  Manley  stated  his  belief  that  the 
theatres  of  the  country  generally,  as  well 


54 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


as  popcorn  operators  and  owners  every- 
where, have  not  begun  to  touch  the  possi- 
bilities of  profitable  operation  of  popcorn 
machines.  This  will  come  only  when  the 
owners  look  upon  the  popcorn  they  serve 
the  public  with  as  critical  an  eye  as  they 
look  upon  the  type  of  pictures  they  buy, 
and  when  they  realize  that  only  the  finest, 
most  delicious  popcorn  possible  is  fit  to 
sell,  giving  the  public  their  money’s  worth 
in  quality  and  quantity. 

To  this  end  his  company’s  new  machines 
will  be  put  out,  not  as  just  popcorn  ma- 
chines, but  as  merchandising  propositions 
with  a complete  merchandising  setup.  The 
entire  field  organization  of  the  company 
is  being  trained  as  merchandising  experts 
with  the  idea  that  they  can  serve  the  own- 
ers of  these  machines  to  a far  greater  ex- 
tent from  a dollars  and  cents  standpoint 
in  extra  profits  over  a relatively  short 
period  of  time  than  the  actual  cost  of  the 
equipment. 

“Every  theatre  lobby  in  the  land”  says 
Mr.  Manley,  “is  a potential  gold  mine,  with 
possibilities  as  a merchandising  outlet  that 
have  barely  been  touched.  A few  years  ago 
the  United  States  treasury  department 
estimated  a gross  of  $12,500,000  from  the 
sale  of  popcorn  and  candy  in  15,000  thea- 
tres. Such  merchandising  could  and 
should  be  conducted  with  the  glamour  and 
showmanship  in  keeping  with  its  sur- 
roundings, but  this  element  is  not  enough. 
The  products  sold  should  be  of  extra  fine 
quality,  in  extra  fine  packages,  merchan- 
dised by  operators  who  appreciate  the 
value  of  goodwill  and  salesmanship.” 


Styles  of  Decoration 

Follow  Architecture 

Styles  of  decoration  develop  naturally 
out  of  styles  in  architecture.  Each  im- 
portant era  in  human  history  has  pro- 
duced an  architecture  which  expressed  its 
aspirations,  its  needs,  its  mode  of  living. 
Growing  out  of  this  architecture  have  come 
the  styles  of  interior  decoration. 

Such  styles  change  slowly — so  slowly, 
in  fact,  that  always  there  have  been  long 
periods  during  which  the  old  mingled 
with  the  new.  The  best  of  the  old  al- 
ways has  been  retained  either  intact  or 
as  a powerful  influence  exerted  upon  the 
designers  and  architects  of  the  new.  Good 
design,  fine  proportion,  appropriate  meth- 
ods of  decoration  or  ornament — these  are 
continuing  and  lasting  influences  of  pro- 
found significance. 

This  process  of  development  is  con- 
tinuous. Architecture  develops  new  forms, 
or  interesting  adaptations  of  old  forms, 
suitable  to  immediate  needs.  A decora- 
tive period  expresses  definitely  a mode  of 
living.  Obviously  in  the  selection  of  suit- 
able theatre  furnishings,  it  is  important 
to  determine  what  that  form  or  mode  is 
to  be — what  period  it  is  to  typify. 


Functional  Planning  of  a theatre  pro- 
perty usually  implies  that  everything  which 
goes  into  the  project  has  some  part  to 
play  in  making  it  appealing  to  patronage 
— either  as  a service  or  as  an  aid  to  the 
creation  of  the  mood  for  entertainment. 


Further  Price  Reduction 
On  Fluorescent  Lamps 

Another  substantial  reduction  affecting 
the  list  prices  of  fluorescent  Mazda  lamps 
in  the  G-E  line  of  Mazda  “F”  lamps,  ef- 
fective January  1,  was  announced  last 
week  at  Nela  Park  by  General  Electric’s 
lamp  department. 

Popular  fluorescent  lamps  for  example, 
in  daylight  or  white,  are  reduced  in  price 
as  follows:  15-watt  T-8  from  95  cents  to 
85  cents;  20-watt  T-12  from  $1.25  to  $1.10; 
30-watt  T-8  from  $1.25  to  $1.10;  40-watt 
T-12  from  $1.90  to  $1.60;  and  the  recent- 
ly introduced  100-watt  T-7,  from  $3.75 
to  $3.50. 

This  price  reduction  is  attributed  to  a 


combination  of  factors,  namely,  to  the 
continuous  development  of  new  manufac- 
turing economies;  to  the  amazingly  swift 
acceptance  of  this  new,  cooler,  high-ef- 
ficiency light  source,  and  to  the  wide- 
spread use  of  Mazda  F lamps  in  theatres, 
stores,  offices  and  factories. 

Also  reduced  in  price  are  the  colored 
fluorescent  lamps  rated  at  15,  20  and  30 
watts.  These  lamps,  available  respectively 
in  18-,  24-  and  36-inch  lengths,  come  in 
the  following  colors:  Blue,  green,  pink, 
gold  and  red. 

The  reduction,  officials  at  Nela  Park 
said,  is  in  accordance  with  the  lamp  de- 
partment’s traditional  policy  of  sharing 
manufacturing  economies  with  consumers. 


Available  ONLY  From  The 

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yond all  question.  Wagner  patents  have  been  upheld  against  infringement  by  decision  of 
the  U.  S.  District  Court,  Northern  Dist.  of  Illinois,  Eastern  Division,  and  confirmed  by  the 
U.  S.  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals,  Seventh  Circuit.  The  U.  S.  Supreme  Court  has  made  the  deci- 
sion of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  final  by  denying  a petition  for  certiorari. 

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Also  EXCLUSIVE  with  Wagner — 75%  more 
efficient  than  regular  Opal  Glass,  40%  more 
efficient  than  any  other  domestic  flashed  glass. 

Costs  very  little  more  than  Opal  Glass  and 
much  less  than  any  other  flashed  glass. 

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Consist  of  4"  letters  and  frames  that  mount 
on  Wagner  Standard  Frame.  Save  space — 
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BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


55 


AIR  CONDITIONING 


DEVOTED  TO  A BETTER  UNDERSTANDING 
OF  TEMPERATURE  CONTROL  IN  THEATRES 


Why  Not  a Spirit  of  More  Fraternity  Amongst 

Our  Frantic  Idea  Men? 


UESS  I'm  an  “Idea 
Man.”  I have  ideas 
just  as  a dog  has  fleas, 
and  they  bother  me  in 
just  about  the  same 
way.  I had  an  idea 
recently  that  I needed 
another  draftsman  to 
help  get  out  plans  re- 
quisitioned by  you 
theatre  men,  so  I 
hired  one  and  while 
he  was  waiting  for 
some  theatre  owner  to  order  a set  of  air 
conditioning  plans,  he  surreptitiously  drew 
a picture  of  me. 

I swore  when  I saw  it,  and  almost  de- 
cided to  fire  the  guy;  but  then  I fig- 
ured that  wasn’t  such  a good  idea  because 
the  onery  cuss  sure  showed  drafting  abil- 
ity. His  artwork  is  exhibited  below.  What 
do  you  think? 

Frankly,  I’m  afraid  that  unless  this  fel- 
low can  be  kept  busy  doing  legitimate 
drawings,  he  may,  during  his  spare  time, 
try  to  immortalize  me  in  a comic  strip 
as  “Simmons,  the  Idea  Man.”  He  hung 
that  title  on  me  and  I don’t  like  it.  Nor 
do  I like  his  slightly  exaggerated  picture 


Idea  Man  at  Work by  Roberts 


by  GORDON  H.  SIMMONS* 


of  the  shape  I’m  in.  Rear  views  of  me  are 
most  uncomplimentary. 

I think  the  man  is  wasting  his  talent 
in  this  new  job,  and  perhaps  I should  use 
him  by  organizing  an  “art  department.” 
Or,  anyhow,  have  him  draw  for  me  pic- 
tures of  the  folks  I don’t  like. 

Oh  boy,  how  I could  lampoon  this  air 
conditioning  business.  With  his  help,  of 
course.  Sometimes  I get  so  mad  at  it,  I 
swear  I’ll  quit  and  try  something  else. 
Do  you  know  what  this  fellow  said  to  me 
at  our  first  meeting  after  he  asked  me 
what  kind  of  engineering  work  I do?  I 
told  him  I air  condition  theatres,  and  he 
said,  “So  you  are  one  of  those  guys  that 
make  the  insides  of  theatres  so  uncom- 
fortable!” 

Ideas  versus  Things 

Well,  maybe  this  wouldn't  be  so  if  there 
were  more  idea  men  around  to  make  things 
behave  properly.  A “thing”  is  no  good  ex- 
cept as  the  embodiment  of  an  “idea.” 
Yet  everybody  buys  “things”  with  no 
"idea”  of  what  they  are  or  their  purpose. 

The  “idea”  of  air  conditioning  has  to 
be  religiously  followed  out  and  incor- 
porated into  every  thing  that’s  part  of  an 
air  conditioning  system.  Otherwise  the 
idea  is  lost  somewhere  between  the  blower 
and  the  front  door  and  the  dear  people 
sweat  it  out  or  complain  of  drafts. 

Here’s  a letter  I just  received  which 
illustrates  a point: 

“Dear  Mr.  Simmons:  What  kind  or  how 
much  of  a fee  would  you  want  to  come 
and  look  over  my  layout?  We  don’t  seem 
to  have  sufficient  circulation  (hot  air  sys- 
tem), the  balcony  being  twice  as  hot  as 
the  main  floor  and  also  drafty,  cold  floors, 
etc.  We  want  you  to  work  out  a scheme 
whereby  we  can  incorporate  cooling  in  the 
system.  You’ll  have  to  see  the  present  sys- 
tem to  know  how  bad  it  is.  Can  you  come 
right  away? — Yours  very  truly,  K.  A.  J.” 

Now  he  wants  me  to  come  right  away, 
just  after  I have  hired  a draftsman  to  help 
me  do  such  jobs  from  here.  Let  nobody 
think  that  I have  to  drive  800  miles  to 
see  how  bad  a job  is  before  I can  fix  it. 
An  architect  sees  nothing  but  an  empty 
lot  or  a plat  of  it  before  he  designs  a 
brand  new  building.  An  engineer  needs 


* Air  Conditioning  Engineer,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 


only  a set  of  plans  showing  “what  is”  to 
know,  without  making  a trip,  how  bad  the 
job  is.  He  also  can  design  a proper  job 
without  setting  his  foot  inside  the  house. 
In  fact,  90  per  cent  of  all  air  conditioning 
jobs  are  done  that  way.  All  I ever  need 
is  architect’s  plans  or  crude  drawings 
showing  plenty  of  dimensions. 

So  I told  him,  since  this  is  my  “idea” 
of  how  to  save  him  money.  But  evidently 
unless  I work  according  to  your  ideas,  I 
don’t  make  any  dough.  And  if  I do,  your 
dough  is  wasted.  Because  if  your  ideas 
were  proper,  you  wouldn’t  be  in  trouble 
in  the  first  place.  I mean,  of  course,  those 
of  you  who  are. 

In  the  November  9th  issue  I mentioned 
in  a letter  published,  I could  buy  4-inch 
rockwool  in  batts  at  $52.00  per  1,000  square 
feet.  An  old  friend  of  mine  down  Texas 
way  promptly  wrote  in  asking  me  to  pur- 
chase some  for  him  at  this  price.  Now  I 
can  buy  rockwool  at  this  price  f.  o.  b. 
Milwaukee  but  freight  has  to  be  added 
depending  upon  the  distance  from  here. 
The  factory  happens  to  be  located  in  a 
suburb  of  Milwaukee. 

Idea  Swap  Shop 

I don’t  mind  getting  prices  for  theatre 
owners  on  this  and  that  when  needed.  It’s 
an  idea  of  mine  that  giving  service  might 
occasionally  cause  me  to  receive  other 
things  than  ideas  in  exchange.  But  I’d 
rather  have  a good  usable  idea  than  cash, 
because  maybe  I can  convert  it  into  cash. 
So  from  now  on,  instead  of  giving  away 
ideas  I propose  to  “swap  you  one  for  one.” 

As  the  result  of  my  suggestion  that  now 
is  the  time  to  clean  out  the  soot  from  your 
boilers  or  furnaces,  how  many  of  you  have 
done  it?  Raise  your  hands.  But  please 
don’t  wire  me  to  come  down  and  do  it  for 
you,  because  I’ve  only  got  an  “idea”  that 
doing  it  will  help  you.  I live  in  an  apart- 
ment house,  so  I don’t  have  to  be  bothered 
with  cleaning  out  furnaces. 

As  the  result  of  my  suggestion  that  now 
is  the  time  to  renovate  or  air  condition 
or  do  whatever  you  have  in  mind  to  do, 
how  many  of  you  are  heeding  me?  Don’t 
bother  to  raise  your  hands.  Just  wire  me 
and  I’ll  come  to  see  you. 

Really  and  truly,  fellows,  prices  cannot 
go  lower  before  they  go  higher.  Now  is 
the  time  to  go  into  debt  if  you  have  to  do 
so.  See  the  good  old  steely-eyed  banker 
man  and  arrange  up  to  three  years  terms 
of  payment  on  the  basis  of  a dollar  down 
and  a dollar  when  they  catch  you.  I’ve 
bought  some  things  on  this  basis  and  that’s 
why  I keep  a Zephyr. 

And  by  the  way,  that  Zephyr  as  usual 
will  tour  the  South  this  winter.  One  chap 
in  Florida  and  another  in  California  wrote 
me  and  asked  me  to  draw  their  air  con- 
ditioning plans  and  I mailed  them  pre- 
liminary sketches  as  is  my  usual  prac- 
tice. In  this  way  I get  needed  informa- 
tion and  constructive  criticism  of  what’s 
proposed.  But  I don’t  know  just  yet  which 
state  will  be  the  terminus  of  my  trip  until 
I hear  from  them.  So  many  of  you  start 
out  with  me  full  of  enthusiasm  but  fall 
by  the  wayside  when  some  local  salesman 
or  contractor  makes  a call. 

Unbiased  Opinions  Best 

They  have  “ideas,”  too.  But  the  best 
idea  is  to  have  an  unbiased  engineer  speci- 
fy what  you  need  instead  of  letting  any- 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


body  specify  for  you  what  he  had  to 
sell.  That’s  your  weakness,  and  possibly 
mere  words  of  mine  won’t  change  it. 

But  I am  sticking  to  that  old  idea  of 
mine  in  regard  to  my  trip.  I’ll  charge  a 
lunch,  a tank  of  gas  and  a drink  if  I call. 
And  I can  only  call  by  request  because 
otherwise  you  might  think  I was  merely 
calling  on  you  for  a hand-out. 

Frankly,  these  expeditions  are  under- 
taken as  “all-expense”  fishing  trips.  I am 
gone  for  a couple  of  months,  have  a swell 
time  and  it  costs  me  very  little  dough  be- 
cause of  your  good  fellowship.  But  when 
I announce  these  trips,  my  mail  dries  up. 
This  shouldn’t  be.  No  matter  where  I hap- 
pen to  be,  my  mail  is  forwarded  rapidly, 
and  I call  home  every  night  to  get  a report 
on  the  incoming  mail.  So  I do  know  the 
contents  of  letters  written  me  even  before 
they  are  forwarded. 

Here’s  a letter  I just  received  from  a 
projectionist  in  Kansas:  “Perhaps  I did 
not  make  myself  clear  concerning  the  two- 
ton  compressor  (for  cooling  a theatre).  I 
meant  to  run  it  in  connection  with  an 
indirect  cooling  coil  and  allow  the  com- 
pressor to  run  long  enough  to  build  up  an 
ice  reserve  big  enough  to  take  care  of  the 
peak  load.” 

By  golly,  he’s  got  an  “idea”  all  right. 
And  his  sketches  were  good,  too.  There’s 
nothing  wrong  with  his  theory  either. 
Theoretically  a two-ton  compressor  might 
do  just  what  he  expects.  But  “theory”  and 
“practice”  are  two  different  animals  and 
in  this  case  there  is  a wide  divergence. 

I recommend  to  you,  sir,  that  you  use 
at  least  a 5 h.  p.  compressor.  I’m  tak- 
ing this  means  of  answering  your  letter 
since  I need  your  postage  stamp  for  an- 
other letter.  Just  had  an  “idea”  how  I 
can  save  three  cents. 

On  the  subject  of  ideas,  I can  stick  to 
my  subject  as  you  see.  I have  an  idea 
that  theatre  business  is  going  to  start  to 
begin  to  improve  in  a big  way.  I hope 
so  at  any  rate.  It’s  been  a long  dry  spell, 
hasn’t  it? 

Epidemic  Worries  Lessened 

Do  any  of  you  remember  the  influenza 
epidemic  that  scourged  Europe  and  this 
country  during  the  last  war?  In  some 
parts  of  the  country  trenches  were  dug 
to  bury  the  dead.  Now  I do  not  wish  to 
be  an  alarmist,  but  it  can  happen  again. 
I see  by  the  papers  that  some  smart  medics 
have  already  predicted  it.  Theatres  will 
be  closed,  of  course.  But  a properly  con- 
ditioned theatre  supplying  100  per  cent 
purified  outside  air  would  be  one  of  the 
safest  places  to  be  in  such  an  event.  Medi- 
cal testimony  reveals  that  common  colds 
are  not  transmitted  in  a properly  air  con- 
ditioned space,  and  that  even  the  victims 
of  it  get  well.  The  surest  way  to  spread 
a cold  epidemic  or  influenza  among  your 
patrons  is  to  keep  your  fresh  air  dampers 
closed  or  nearly  so. 

Automatic  control  of  temperature  both 
winter  and  summer  is  something  else  that 
is  conducive  to  good  health.  But  here 
again  you  theatre  owners  are  often  poorly 
advised.  I just  received  a long  distance 
call  from  an  owner  in  Illinois.  He  com- 
plained that  his  thermostat  does  not  prop- 
erly regulate  the  house  temperature.  Now 
I have  been  in  his  theatre  and  know  how 
his  controls  are  hooked  up.  His  thermo- 


£imtneM 


Q&A 


Cctheb 


Taking  me  up  on  the  “idea-swapping” 
deal  the  moment  I spring  it — that  is,  that 
you  theatre  men  swap  me  one  whenever 
you  have  a smart  thought  on  air  condi- 
tioning— a swell  guy  with  a sense  of  humor 
who  manages  a house  in  Pennsylvania 
writes  me  as  follows: 

The  Epistle:  “Happy  is  the  man  who 
has  found  what  he  is  searching  for.  So 
you  should  be  happy,  for  you  state  in 
your  article — Boxoffice — issue  of  Decem- 
ber 7,  1940 — that  you  are  looking  for  a 
theatre  owner  who  is  willing  to  swap 
ideas — and  it  looks  as  though  you  have 
found  him.  I have  an  idea  that  you  can 
install — or  give  or  sell — advice  that  will 
result  in  the  slickest  air  conditioning  in 
any  theatre  this  side  of  the  Alleghenies. 
I surprise  myself  sometimes — the  way  I 
can  spell. 

“Here’s  the  set-up.  We  are  building  a 
new  theatre — brick — steel  roof  girders 
carrying  a Gyp  plank  roof — which  is  used 
for  the  base  of  a composition  roof-— that 
should  insulate  it  from  everything  but 
taxes.  So  it  looks  like  it’s  insulated.  The 
next  phrase  you  use  is  automatic  controls. 
Every  time  I use  those  words  I smack 
my  lips.  Let’s  hope  you  can  do  it.  The 
next  is  decent  space  in  a proper  location. 
We  got  plenty  of  that,  too.  And  we  got 
plenty  of  well  water — about  54  degrees. 
And  we  got  a plenty  big  duct  from  back 
wall — to  front  wall — in  the  roof  girders. 
And  we  got  a plenty  big  return  line  sunk 
in  the  floor — and  across  the  auditorium. 

“We  intend  heating  with  hot  water — 
using  a blower  to  push  her  into  the  build- 
ing. And  in  the  summer — the  real  cold 
54  degree  water — through  coils,  rather 
than  around  the  coils  into  the  building. 
Building  is  about  50  feet  wide.  Auditor- 
ium will  be  about  80  feet  long — with  a 
stadium  type  balcony  that  will  extend 
back  about  40  feet.  It  will  seat  about 
600 — and  in  the  space  under  the  balcony 
— will  stand — sit — or  recline  about  200. 
I’m  not  particular  how  cool  or  warm  you 
keep  these  people — for  I’m  afraid  of  loaf- 
ers— and  if  I make  it  too  comfortable  in 
the  lobby  they  may  not  want  to  go  in- 
side. And  I want  it  automatic.  I want 
it  to  handle  humidity  properly — for  we 
have  three  months  of  very  humid  weather. 
And  I want  it  to  handle  the  most  serious 
problem  facing  a theatre.  Air — properly 
heated  and  distributed  and  conditioned — 
in  the  winter  time.  We  have  everything 
but  the  brains  necessary  to  do  this.  How 


are  you  fixed?  I will  appreciate  hearing 
from  you.  Very  truly  yours — C.  K.” 


My  Answer:  “I  tried  to  read  your  letter 
of  December  12  with  a straight  face  but 
I just  couldn’t  do  it.  And  it’s  letters  such 
as  yours  that  cause  me  to  enjoy  corres- 
ponding with  theatre  owners.  If  there’s 
a sour  puss  in  the  bunch,  I haven’t  found 
him  yet. 

“Boy,  are  you  a good  speller!  Now  don’t 
go  looking  through  this  letter  for  mis- 
spelled words  because  you’ll  be  almost  sure 
to  find  them. 

“If  you  could  only  insulate  that  roof 
against  taxes,  wouldn’t  that  be  sump’n? 
But  since  we’re  going  to  ‘swap  ideas,’  my 
idea  would  be  to  put  four  inches  of  rock- 
wool on  that  ceiling  just  the  same.  It  will 
pay  big  dividends  on  your  fuel  bill,  too. 

“Fifty-four  degree  well  water  is  fine.  A 
superlative  job  of  air  conditioning  can  be 
done  with  it.  And  use  the  same  coils  for 
heating  that  you  use  for  cooling,  while 
being  most  careful  about  the  selection  of 
those  coils.  Or  do  you  want  me  to  do  it 
for  you? 

“In  regard  to  controls,  me  and  you  see 
‘eye  to  eye.’  That’s  the  heart  of  a sys- 
tem, and  I can  specify  one  for  you  on  one 
condition:  That  you  and  everbody  else  will 
leave  it  alone.  You  throw  the  main  switch 
when  you  close.  But  if  you  do  anything 
else,  it’s  out  of  order,  and  so  are  you. 

“Many  thanks  for  your  remarks  about 
my  being  able  to  give  or  sell  advice  that 
will  result  in  the  slickest  air  conditioning 
this  side  of  the  Alleghenies.  I ain’t  bash- 
ful. Why  not  make  it  both  sides  of  the 
Alleghenies? 

“And  I further  believe  that  you  can  have 
this  kind  of  job  at  no  greater  cost  than 
is  usually  charged  for  a standard  type  of 
job. 

“So  send  along  a set  of  your  archi- 
tect’s plans  of  the  building  which  I can 
peruse  at  my  leisure  (or  will  I have  any 
leisure?)  and  I’ll  be  glad  to  make  spe- 
cific recommendations.  No  charge  for  this 
since  you  called  me  on  my  proposal  to 
‘swap  you  an  idea.’  But  if  you  want  me 
to  handle  your  job  from  start  to  finish, 
name  the  fee  and  send  a nominal  re- 
tainer. I usually  charge  5 per  cent  for 
plans,  with  50  bucks  on  the  line.  But 
all  contributions  gratefully  received  and 
large  ones  in  proportion.  I’ll  surely  want 
to  write  up  your  job  when  it’s  finished.” — 
G.  H.  S. 


stat  controls  his  oil  burner  under  a steam 
boiler,  which  in  turn  supplies  steam  to  a 
set  of  heating  and  cooling  coils  that  I 
bought  for  him. 

I told  him  to  install  a motor-operated 
steam  valve  and  control  this  valve  by  his 
thermostat.  The  very  instant  his  house 
was  up  to  proper  temperature,  the  steam 
valve  would  start  cutting  down  on  the 
heat.  Whereas,  the  way  he  is  operating 


now,  when  the  thermostat  shuts  down  his 
oil  burner  there  is  still  a large  body  of 
steam  in  the  boiler  that  continues  to  be 
fed  to  the  coils  so  his  house  temperature 
keeps  going  up. 

And  the  reverse  cycle  is  also  true.  When 
the  thermostat  calls  for  heat,  the  oil 
burner  starts,  of  course,  but  it  has  to 
operate  quite  a while  before  steam  is  gen- 
erated, with  the  result  that  the  house 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


57 


Why  Not  a Spirit  of  More  ~ 

Fraternity  Amongst  Our  LOGAN  LEWIS  HEADS  REFRIGERATING  ENGINEERS 
Frantic  Idea  Men?  , 


(Continued  from  page  57) 

gets  too  cold.  I tried  to  explain  this  over 
the  telephone  but  the  call  was  “on  him,” 
so  he  said  “Write  me  a letter.”  Well,  this 
is  it. 

Pangs  of  a Pioneer 

Naturally  all  this  theatre  owner  wanted 
was  an  “idea”  of  what  was  wrong  and  how 
to  fix  it.  I designed  his  job  in  the  first 
place  and  personally  supervised  its  in- 
stallation. I purchased  a steam  valve  for 
him  for  the  above  purpose,  but  the  oil 
burner  man  over-ruled  me  and  installed 
the  thermostat  directly  connected  to  the 
burner  and  the  steam  valve  was  returned. 
My  ideas  are  vindicated  one  after  an- 
other but  very  often  too  late  to  do  me  any 
good. 

It’s  no  fun  and  a very  lonesome  po- 
sition to  be  ahead  of  the  crowd.  The 
fellow  who  said,  “I’d  rather  be  right  than 
President”  must  have  been  a screw-ball. 
I write  and  write  about  “what’s  right,”  yet 
how  many  of  you  believe  me?  I am  the 
screw-ball  for  devoting  so  much  time  to 
an  apparently  hopeless  cause. 

I don’t  have  technical  troubles  and 
easily  get  my  ideas  incorporated  into  an 
intelligent  set  of  plans.  And  when  this  is 
done,  my  job  is  ended  regardless  of 
whether  I’m  paid  in  money  or  marbles. 
Somebody  has  to  pioneer  if  there  is  to  be 
any  progress,  but  such  pioneers  finally  get 
to  look  like  my  new  draftsman’s  picture 
of  the  “Idea  Man  at  Work.”  Ah,  me! 


Functionally  planned  theatre  equipment 
also  must  be  considered  by  builders  and 
remcdelers  of  theatre  property.  That  on 
the  market  today  serves  many  purposes — 
and  economically,  too. 


L.  Logan  Lewis  (at  left  in  picture) , vice- 
president  in  charge  of  engineers,  for 
Carrier  Corporation,  and  one  of  the  early 
pioneers  in  air  conditioning,  was  elected 
president  of  the  American  Society  of  Re- 
frigerating Engineers  at  the  final  session 
of  the  36th  Annual  Convention  held  last 
month  in  New  York  City. 

Lewis,  who  is  credited  with  inventing 
the  by-pass  system  of  air  conditioning 
which  revolutionized  cooling  and  ventilat- 
ing systems  in  theatres  throughout  the 
country,  served  as  vice-president  of  the 
group  in  1940.  He  succeeds  George  E. 
Hulse  as  president. 

During  World  War  No.  1 Lewis  perform- 
ed invaluable  service  to  the  government 
by  adapting  air  conditioning  to  the  manu- 
facture of  munitions,  fuses  and  powder. 
Recently,  he  pioneered  again  in  introduc- 
ing air  conditioning  into  blast  furnace 
operations,  helping  to  increase  iron  and 
steel  production  during  the  present  na- 
tional defense  program. 

Born  in  Clark  County,  Kentucky,  on 
April  16,  1887,  Mr.  Lewis  received  his 
B.  M.  E.  degree  from  the  University  of 
Kentucky  in  1907,  and  his  M.  E.  in  1909. 
From  1907  to  1909,  he  served  as  an  in- 
structor in  the  School  of  Engineering  at 
the  University  of  Kentucky. 

He  resigned  his  post  at  the  university 
in  1909  to  join  Camer,  at  a time  when 
only  a few  engineers  were  engaged  in  the 
early  pioneering  of  central  station  air  con- 
ditioning. Practically  the  only  air  con- 
ditioning applications  then  in  use  were  in 
textile  mills,  where  humidifying  systems 
had  been  installed.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  men  who  envisaged  air  conditioning 
for  comfort  cooling  as  we  have  it  today. 


In  1915,  he  was  made  Chief  Engineer  of 
Carrier  Corporation.  Here  his  inventive, 
analytical  mind  was  given  full  sway.  In 
addition  to  his  invention  of  the  by-pass, 
many  other  patents  dealing  with  the 
broader  phases  of  air  conditioning  have 
been  issued  in  his  name. 

Lewis  was  responsible  for  the  air  con- 
ditioning system  installed  in  Grauman’s 
Metropolitan  Theatre  (now  Paramount), 
in  Los  Angeles.  Prior  to  that  time,  air 
conditioning  practice,  in  all  but  a very 
few,  small  theatres,  had  called  for  up- 
ward systems  of  air  distribution,  in  which 
cold  air  was  delivered  through  mush- 
room ventilators  under  seats.  This  re- 
sulted in  “cold  feet,”  a universal  annoy- 
ance to  movie  patrons  at  that  time. 

Lewis’  pioneering  installation  in  Grau- 
man’s Theatre  is  regarded  today  as  a mile- 
stone in  the  air  conditioning  industry, 
marking  the  beginning  of  public  conscious- 
ness of  the  benefits  of  comfort  condi- 
tioning. It  was  the  first  theatre  in  which 
the  by-pass  was  applied  and  the  overhead 
system  of  air  distribution  used. 

Among  the  many  outstanding  scientific 
papers  written  and  presented  by  Mr.  Lewis 
in  recent  years  are  “Air  Conditioning  in 
the  Theatre,”  “Methods  of  Air  Distribu- 
tion,” "Possibilities  of  Conditioning  for 
Comfort,”  “Recirculation  in  Theatre  Cool- 
ing,” “Air  Conditioning  the  Halls  of  Con- 
gress” (a  joint  paper  with  A.  E.  Stacey, 
Jr.),  “Modern  Air  Conditioning — What  It 
Means  to  the  Water  Utility,”  and  “Mois- 
ture Removal  from  Blast  Furnace  Air.” 


Modern  Water  Cooler 

Is  Smart  Investment 

A modern  water  cooler  assures  refresh- 
ing drinking  water  at  the  tip  of  a patron’s 
finger.  In  a smart  modern  cabinet  with 
gleaming  metal  fittings,  such  a piece  of 
equipment  will  lend  a new  note  to  the 
theatre  lobby  or  foyer  in  which  it  is  placed. 

With  such  a fountain,  the  water  is 
automatically  cooled  to  just  the  right  tem- 
perature for  health  and  comfort,  and  is 
adjustable  to  suit  the  conditions  for  which 
it  is  used.  Since  it  is  highly  efficient,  it 
uses  very  little  electric  current  and  it  is 
built  to  give  dependable,  lasting  service 
year  in  and  year  out. 


91 


THEATRES 

/H  MICHIGAN 


CE  • DETROIT  • ALHAP 
IOU  • BATTLE  CREEK  • b 
\PITAL  • LANSING  • CAP 
NTER  • GRAND  RAPIDS  • 

NTRE  • SOUTH  HAVEN  • C 
‘vWN  • DETROIT  • DAWN  • P 
.MILY  • ADRIAN  • FAMILY  • 

!AND  RAPIDS  • FRANKLIN  « S 
.ADMER  • LANSING  • HARPER 
NIA  • IONIA  • JEWEL  • MT.  CL t 
kKE  • BENTON  HARBOR  • LANSI; 
“kRTHA  WASHINGTON  • YPSILAt 
CHIGAN  • FLINT  • MICHIGAN  • S 
•UTH  HAVEN  • MONROE  • MONROE 


have  BARBER-C0LMAN 

TEMPERATURE  CONTROLS 

DETROIT  • BIG  RAPIDS  • BIG  RAP 
TTH  • DETROIT  • CAPITAL  • KAL 
• DEARBORN  • CASS  • CASS  Cl 
ER  • SAGINAW  • CENTRE  • B/ 
SWELL  • ADRIAN  • CRYSTAL 
IAC  • EASTOWN  • GRAND 
HAMTRAMCK  * FOUR-STA 
MAZOO  • GARDEN  • FLI 
LE  • HOLLAND  • HOLL 
NPIDS  • KENT  • GRAND 
vPEER  • MAJESTIC  • GR 
C • MECCA  • SAGIN/ 
WEST  BRANCH  • MOC 
ulY  • DETROIT  • NORTH  LANSINC 


BARBER-COLMAN  COMPANY 


1236  ROCK  STREET 
ROCKFORD,  ILLINOIS 


58 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


A Case  ol  " Mental  Plan- 
ning" and  a Practical 
Dream  Come  True 


(Continued  from  page  53) 


accessible  from  the  foyer.  A stairway  at 
the  south  end  of  the  foyer  leads  to  a 
nursery  or  “cry  room”  on  the  second  floor. 
This  room,  simply  furnished  in  maple,  is  a 
popular  retreat  for  mothers  with  small 
children. 

Film  delivery  to  the  projection  room  is 
accomplished  through  use  of  a dumb 
waiter  opening  on  an  alley.  The  film  mes- 
senger is  provided  with  a key  to  the  outer 
door.  The  dumb  waiter  also  is  used  as 
an  ash  lift,  with  a shaft  extending  into 
the  basement  for  this  purpose. 

Many  modern  developments  for  summer 
air  conditioning  were  included  in  the  pro- 
ject, such  as  the  introduction  of  cold 
water  through  cooling  coils,  blower  and 
draftless  air  diffusers.  Winter  air  condi- 
tioning is  accomplished  by  the  use  of  the 
same  distributing  system,  substituting  hot 
water. 

Plans  for  the  building  were  executed 
by  Col.  Robert  S.  Harsh,  architect,  of  Co- 
lumbus, Ohio.  The  cost  of  construction 
and  equipment  for  the  Russell  Theatre  is 
estimated  at  $60,000.  Millersburg  has  a 
population  of  only  2,203,  but  it  now  draws 
patronage  from  a large  surrounding  area, 
due  in  no  small  measure  to  its  inviting 
new  showplace. 


Insulate  Theatres  lor 

Easy  Air  Conditioning 

The  modern  theatre  must  be  adequate- 
ly insulated  because  proper  air  condition- 
ing is  possible  only  with  insulation.  Heat 
passes  readily  through  ordinary  lath  and 
plaster  on  walls  and  ceilings.  Insulated 
walls  and  ceilings  do  a marvelous  job  of 
retarding  this  heat  passage.  This  makes 
possible  the  prime  requirement  of  air 
conditioning — the  independent  control  of 
heat  and  humidity  in  isolated  areas  of 
the  same  building. 

In  new  construction,  insulation  board 
is  the  most  economical  type  of  insulation. 
Exterior  insulating-sheathing  seals  the 
building  from  heat,  cold,  wind  and  dust 
and  replaces  wood  sheathing  and  building 
paper  at  the  cost  of  insulation  alone.  A 
plaster  base  lath  replaces  ordinary  lath 
and  plaster  also  at  the  cost  of  insulation 
alone.  Modern  insulating  boards  build  as 
they  insulate.  It  is  wise  to  consult  an 
architect  for  his  recommendations  as  to 
the  amount  of  insulation  required  for  the 
particular  theatre  and  local  temperature 
conditions. 


Harry  Lucas  to  Devote 

Full  Time  to  Kozono 

Harry  K.  Lucas,  veteran  southern  area 
equipment  man,  henceforth  will  devote  his 
full  time  to  Kozono  and  allied  products, 


states  an  announcement  from  his  office 
in  Charlotte,  N.  C. 

Mr.  Lucas  has  disposed  of  his  Charlotte 
Theatre,  one  of  the  oldest  cinemas  in  the 
Carolina  area,  to  Tom  Little  and  associ- 
ates. His  offices  have  been  completely 
refurnished,  new  blood  has  been  added  to 
the  sales  department,  and  Mr.  Lucas  adds 
that  his  product,  Kozono  now  will  have 
vigorous  representation  throughout  the 
country. 

Kozono,  billed  as  a “machine  that  puri- 
fies air  electrically,”  has  been  on  the  mar- 
ket since  1933.  It  is  used  widely  in  thea- 
tres, hotels,  department  stores,  smoking 
rooms,  rest  rooms,  etc.  The  newest  1941 
model  is  streamlined  and  is  said  to  form 
a handsome  addition  to  the  furnishings 
ensemble  wherever  it  is  used. 

Harry  K.  is  a brother  of  Arthur  Lucas, 
circuit  theatre  owner  of  Atlanta.  He  for- 
merly was  in  theatre  equipment  business 
at  Atlanta  and  Dallas.  Selling  out  to  one 
of  the  big  companies,  he  opened  the  Char- 
lotte Theatre  in  1925.  A few  years  later 
he  put  Kozono  on  the  market  and  adver- 
tised it.  It  met  with  instant  response. 


Questions  and  Answers 

Concerning  Popcorn 

Q:  Why  is  it  good  business  for  me  to 
operate  a popcorn  machine  in  my  theatre? 
A:  Because  you  can  utilize  your  present 
overhead  to  pay  you  an  additional  reve- 
nue. Popcorn  will  pay  a good  margin  of 
profit — and  “really  delicious”  popcorn  is 
habit-forming  among  patrons. 

Q:  Why  is  it  that  $5.00  in  popcorn  sales 
means  as  much  gross  profits  as  $12.00  to 
$15.00  in  sales  of  average  merchandise? 
A:  Because  popcorn  pays  70  cents  gross 
profits  on  every  dollar;  whereas  average 
merchandise  pays  only  20  to  30  per  cent 
gross  profit. 

Q:  Will  I sell  popcorn  mainly  in  5-cent 
sacks?  A:  Once  popcorn  sold  almost  ex- 
clusively in  5-cent  sacks,  but  today  the 
larger  proportion  of  sales  is  in  10-cent 
boxes. 

Q:  How  will  I know  if  mine  is  a popcorn 
locatioji?  A:  Almost  every  theatre  can  rea- 
sonably be  considered  a popcorn  location, 
since  the  American  public  “goes  for”  this 
confection  when  it  is  placed  at  their  dis- 
posal. 

Q:  What  is  my  cost  of  producing  pop- 
corn? A:  To  turn  out  the  very  best  pop- 
corn possible,  at  the  most,  the  corn  and 
popping  supplies  will  never  exceed  30  cents 
on  the  dollar.  It  may  run  lower,  depend- 
ing on  the  price  of  corn  and  supplies.  Un- 
der average  conditions  the  production  cost 
is  distributed  approximately  as  follows: 
Raw  corn,  12  cents;  salt,  V2  cent;  elec- 
tricity, 1 cent;  sacks  and  cartons,  41/2 
cents. 

Q:  Would  I have  to  hire  someone  es- 
pecially to  take  care  of  the  machine?  A: 
No,  not  necessarily.  It  requires  only  a few 
minutes’  time  to  pop  up  several  dollars’ 
worth  of  corn.  If  you  need  someone’s  full 
time  to  operate  your  machine,  that  is  ex- 
actly what  you  want  as  your  machine 
would  always  be  busy  and  you  would  be 
making  even  more  money. 


SANI-DRI 

77More  Than  A 
Drying  Service/7 
Installed  in  the 

Pan-Pacific 

Auditorium 

Washrooms 


SANI-DRI  supplies  sanitary,  continu- 
ously dependable  drying  service  --  aids 
washroom  cleanliness  — reduces  wash- 
room maintenance  costs  — and  by  eli- 
minating towel  litter  from  i he  washroom 
PROVIDES  POWERFUL  PROTECTION 
AGAINST  A DANGEROUS  FIRE  HAZARD 

Illustrated  literature  sent  on  request. 

Dependable  Since  1897 

THE  CHICAGO  HARDWARE  FOUNDRY  CO. 

Sani-Dri  Division  141  Box  Street 

NORTH  CHICAGO  ICCINOIS 

Producers  of  High  Grade  Iron,  Ni-Resist,  Senii- 
Steel,  Brass,  Bronze,  Aluminum  and  Alloy  Past- 
ings • Machine  Work  • Plating  • Porcelain 
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Electric  Hand  & Hair  Driers  • Welding  Rods 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


59 


CINE'  CLINIC 


PRACTICAL  DISCUSSIONS  ON  MODERN 
PROJECTION  AND  SOUND  PRACTICES 


The  Faiitasound  System  in  Principle  anil  Its 

Future  Possibilities 


p 

-M-  ATRONS  attending  the  Walt  Disney 
Production  "Fantasia,”  featuring  the  music 
of  Leopold  Stokowski  and  the  Philadelphia 
Orchestra,  in  the  Broadway  Theatre  in 
New  York,  experience  reproduction  as 
genuinely  realistic  in  acoustic  perspective, 
in  dynamic  range,  and  in  tone  color  as 
they  would  experience  were  they  to  listen 
to  an  actual  concert.  What  has  made  this 
possible?  What  sort  of  apparatus  has  been 
used  to  create  this  triumph  in  symphonic 
reproduction?  What  will  be  the  probable 
effect  of  this  revolutionary  event  upon  the 
motion  picture  industry? 

Exhibitors  naturally  are  keenly  inter- 
ested in  knowing  how  this  new  mode  of 
recording  and  presenting  motion  pictures 
may  affect  their  theatres.  But  before  at- 
tempting to  arrive  at  any  conclusions,  it  is 
well  to  consider  the  most  important  dif- 
ferences between  the  Fantasound  system 
and  any  modern  theatre  sound  reproduc- 
ing system  of  the  conventional  type.  When 
fortified  with  an  understanding  of  these 
and  the  added  benefits  they  produce,  one 
is  much  better  able  to  form  opinions  re- 
garding the  probable  effects  on  all  mo- 
tion picture  entertainment  of  the  future. 

Three  Systems  in  One 

It  may  be  said  that  the  Fantasound  sys- 
tem is  really  three  complete  sound  sys- 
tems of  a somewhat  special  type  com- 
bined into  one.  For  example,  there  actual- 
ly are  three  complete  sets  of  loudspeakers 


by  FRED  W.  WENTKER* 


operating  from  three  separate  amplifier 
channels.  These  could  be  worked  from 
three  films  and  three  soundheads  operated 
in  synchronism,  with  each  soundhead  sup- 
plying music  or  dialogue  to  its  associated 
amplifier  and  loudspeaker  channel.  For 
the  sake  of  simplicity,  however,  the  Fanta- 
sound System  utilizes  multi-track  sound- 
heads  (or  film  phonographs,  as  they  are 
called)  which  scan  four  sound  tracks 
placed  on  one  film.  (The  pictures  are  pro- 
jected from  a separate  film).  Three  of 
the  tracks  contain  the  recordings  of  music, 
dialogue,  and  sound  effects  that  are  re- 
produced over  the  three  amplifier  and 
loudspeaker  systems.  Each  film  phono- 
graph, of  course,  operates  in  synchronism 
with  a picture  projector  which  projects  pic- 
tures from  the  second  or  picture  film. 

Remember  we  said  that  the  system  is 
equivalent  to  three  systems  of  a some- 
what special  type.  For  what  purpose  then 
is  the  fourth  track  on  the  sound  film  which 
is  scanned  by  the  multi-track  soundhead? 
This  extra  sound  track  has  no  music,  dia- 
logue, or  sound  effects  recorded  in  it, 
yet  it  makes  possible  another  of  the  very 
important  differences  between  this  sys- 
tem and  a regular  Photophone  system. 
Let’s  see  what  this  is. 

Consider  for  the  moment  a conventional 


"■'Assistant  Manager  Photophone  Division  RCA 
Manufacturing  Co. 


The  multiple  track  film  phonograph  used  to 
scan  the  special  four-track  sound  film  of  the 
“Fantasia”  production. 


modern  motion  picture  reproducing  system. 
A recording  of  a symphony  orchestra  re- 
produced over  it  will  lack  by  much  the 
volume  range  of  the  original,  simply  be- 
cause the  volume  or  dynamic  range  had 
to  be  “compressed”  when  the  recording 
was  made.  The  reasons  are  simple  enough. 

The  smallest  image  that  it  is  practical  to 
record  on  a sound  track  is  determined  by 
film  or  background  noise.  The  limit  is 
reached  when  the  noise  during  reproduc- 
tion becomes  annoyingly  perceptible.  The 
maximum  that  can  be  recorded  is 
represented  by  100  per  cent  modu- 
lation, that  is  when  the  peaks  of  the  photo- 
graphed waves  extend  to  the  very  edges  of 
the  track.  Thus,  the  recording  engineer 
must  continually  adjust  the  volume  con- 
trol of  his  recording  amplifier  system  so 
that  the  images  he  photographs  on  the 
sound  track  fall  between  these  two  limits. 

When  such  a “compressed”  recording  is 
played,  the  loudest  sounds  will  be  ap- 
proximately 3,200  times  as  loud  as  the 


A view  of  stage  loud  speakers  installed  at  the 
Broadway  Theatre  (New  York  City)  to  present 
Walt  Disney’s  “Fantasia.” 

softest  sounds.  In  the  case  of  a full  sym- 
phony orchestra,  however,  the  loudest 
sounds  are  approximately  10,000,000  times 
as  loud  as  the  softest.  Thus  the  loudness 
or  dynamic  range  of  a full  symphony  or- 
chestra may  be  approximately  3,200  times 
greater  than  the  range  which  it  is  prac- 
ticable to  record  on  the  film.  In  engineer- 
ing terms,  this  extra  range  of  the  original 
over  the  recording  is  referred  to  as  35  db. 
If  the  reproduction  of  such  a recording  is 
to  be  completely  realistic,  some  practical 
means  must  be  employed  to  expand  the 
loudness  or  dynamic  range  so  that  it  is 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


more  nearly  equivalent  to  that  of  the 
original  sounds. 

If  it  were  possible  for  a projectionist  to 
twirl  the  volume  control  knob  rapidly 
enough,  and  if  he  were  supplied  with  a 
complete  set  of  cues,  he  could  continually 
boost  or  reduce  the  amplification  by  just 
the  right  amount  at  just  the  right  time 
and  thus  compensate  for  the  compression 
introduced  during  recording.  However,  no 
projectionist  can  be  expected  to  handle 
this  kind  of  an  assignment,  so  some  sort 
of  automatic  means  must  be  found. 

Supposing  that  instead  of  a manual 
volume  control,  we  have  an  electronic 
volume  control  capable  of  split  second 
operation,  and  some  automatic  means  of 
directing  this  control  so  that  it  increases 
or  decreases  the  amplification  by  just  the 
right  amount.  This  is  really  what  we  have 
in  the  new  Pantasound  system. 

In  this  system  we  have  what  is  called 
a variable  gain  amplifier.  It  is  inserted  in 
the  circuit  between  voltage  and  power 
amplifiers  and  is  in  effect  the  electronic 
volume  control  we  spoke  of.  But  how  does 
it  get  the  information  which  tells  it  when 
to  increase  the  amplification,  or  when  to 
decrease  it? 

Supposing  we  record  alongside  the  regu- 
lar sound  track,  containing  the  record  of 
the  symphony  music,  another  track  on 
which  we  record  only  a single  frequency 
artificial  tone;  for  example,  a 1,000-cycle 
tone  generated  by  an  oscillator.  And  sup- 
pose this  extra  track  is  scanned  by  a sepa- 
rate optical  system  in  the  reproducing 
soundhead.  Now  let’s  assume  that  we 
reach  the  loudest  musical  passage  in  the 


recording  and  that  at  this  point  the  re- 
cordist had  been  forced  to  turn  the  volume 
control  of  the  recording  amplifier  down 
drastically  to  prevent  overshooting  the 
regular  track.  Now  suppose  that  at  this 
same  point  we  make  the  1,000-cycle  tone 
recording  as  strong  as  the  width  of  the 
extra  track  will  permit,  so  that  when  it 
is  scanned  in  the  reproducing  soundhead 
it  will  send  a strong  signal  to  the  variable 
gain  amplifier  telling  it  to  open  up  to  full 
gain  to  restore  the  volume  range  lost  when 
the  music  was  recorded.  In  the  case  of  a 
musical  passage  which  is  less  loud,  the 
1,000-cycle  control  tone  can  likewise  be 
made  less  strong  so  it  will  tell  the  variable 
gain  amplifier  to  supply  less  gain  or  am- 
plification. Thus  the  fixed  frequency  tone 
in  the  extra  track  continually  tells  the 
variable  gain  amplifier  or  automatic 
volume  control  exactly  how  it  should  con- 
trol the  amplification  to  offset  the  com- 
pression of  the  volume  range  introduced 
when  the  music  was  recorded. 

In  the  case  of  the  Pantasound  system, 
this  is  exactly  what  is  done.  However,  you 
will  not  find  an  extra  control-tone  track 
for  each  of  the  three  regular  sound  tracks 
on  the  special  sound  film  because  the  three 
control  tones  were  mixed  and  recorded  on 
a single  control  track.  Each  of  the  three 
control  tones,  of  course,  differs  in  fre- 
quency or  pitch  from  the  other  two.  When 
the  control  track  is  scanned  by  the  sound- 
head,  the  mixture  of  the  three  control 
signals  is  fed  into  filters  which  separate 
the  three  and  directs  each  towards  its 
proper  variable  gain  amplifier. 

The  extra  volume  range  of  Fantasound 


Have  You  a Problem? 

Conductors  of  the  CINE'  CLINIC  will  be 
glad  to  answer  questions  relating  to  problems 
of  projection  and  sound  operation  and  prac- 
tices through  these  columns.  State  your  prob- 
lem clearly,  detailing  symptoms  of  trouble. 
Answers  to  questions  of  general  interest  will 
be  published  in  a later  issue,  identified  by  in- 
quirer’s initials  only.  Should  you  desire  pri- 
vate information  or  advice,  enclose  stamp  for 
reply.  Address  The  MODERN  THEATRE, 
Room  334,  332  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  Chicago,  111. 


is  approximately  40  db.  or  about  10,000 
times  that  of  a conventional  system.  Its 
maximum  range  is  about  6 db.  above  that 
of  a symphony  orchestra,  which  means  a 
100-piece  orchestra  can  be  made  to  sound 
as  loud  as  a 400-piece  orchestra. 

Of  course,  such  extra  amplification 
would  not  be  of  much  value  if  the  output 
power  amplifiers  and  loudspeakers  didn’t 
measure  up  to  the  load  this  calls  for.  The 
Fantasound  amplifiers  and  loudspeakers 
have  unusual  power  handling  capacity  and 
so  they  are  able  to  handle  the  tremendous 
peak  powers  this  extra  amplification  calls 
for. 

Realism  Requires  More  Than  Equivalent 
Loudness 

Having  the  reproduction  as  loud  as  the 
original  is  in  itself  not  enough  to  give  a 
feeling  of  realism,  nor  does  it  in  itself 
make  listening  a pleasure.  In  fact,  it  has 
been  proved  time  and  again  that  when 
music  is  reproduced  over  a standard  thea- 
(Continued  on  following  page) 


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61 


The  Fantasound  System 
in  Principle  and  Its 
Future  Possibilities 


(Continued  from  preceding  page) 


tre  system,  the  audience  is  actually  dis- 
pleased if  the  music  is  made  very  much 
louder  than  it  would  have  been  without 
any  effort  to  get  added  volume  range 
(squeeze  track  recordings  are  an  example 
of  one  means  for  getting  extra  volume 
range) . 

This,  engineers  tell  us,  is  caused  largely 
by  the  fact  that  theatre  loudspeakers 
necessarily  have  marked  directional  char- 
acteristics. As  a result  they  say  it’s  im- 
possible with  an  ordinary  system  to  cause 
the  same  impression  and  feeling  that  re- 
sults from  listening  to  the  original  sounds 
even  though  the  reproduced  sounds  may 
be  emitted  by  the  loudspeakers  with  ex- 


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actly  the  same  tonal  balance  as  the 
original. 

This  does  not  mean  that  the  directional 
characteristics  of  theatre  loudspeakers  are 
necessarily  undesirable,  for,  in  fact  they 
are  valuable  in  creating  the  proper  illu- 
sion on  dialogue,  and  in  securing  accept- 
able intelligibility  under  adverse  acoustic 
conditions.  By  grouping  the  loudspeakers 
at  the  proper  point  behind  the  screen,  the 
sound  generally  seems  to  be  coming  from 
the  picture  of  the  person  talking,  thus 
helping  very  definitely  in  creating  a feel- 
ing of  realism  in  dialogue  reproduction. 

An  orchestra,  however,  is  generally 
spread  out  over  all  or  almost  all  of  a stage. 
And  many  of  the  sound  waves  they  gener- 
ate are  quite  non-directional.  It  is  not 
surprising,  therefore,  that  the  reproduc- 
ing of  such  an  orchestra  over  a single 
channel  system  with  highly  directional 
loudspeakers  is  not  particularly  pleasing. 

Supposing,  however,  that  many  loud- 
speakers are  employed  and  that  they  are 
spread  out  over  the  entire  width  of  the 
stage  (not  just  the  width  of  the  screen). 
Now  we  find  that  music  reproduction  takes 
on  an  entirely  different  character  with 
much  greater  realism  since  the  sound  now 
comes  from  the  whole  stage,  not  just  from 
one  section  of  a sound  screen.  In  the  case 
of  Fantasound,  these  and  other  ingenious 
loudspeaker  arrangements  are  used  to 
gain  the  desired  ends.  The  three  huge 
main  groups  of  loudspeakers  occupy  a 
width  much  greater  than  that  of  the 
sound  screen.  This  spreading  out  of  the 
loudspeakers  gives  the  reproduction  a 
realistic  “acoustic  perspective”  not  pos- 
sible with  ordinary  single  channel  movie 
systems. 

But  this  improvement  over  an  ordinary 
system  does  not  end  here.  Out  in  the 
front  corners  of  the  auditorium  are  two 
special  two-way  corner  loudspeakers,  and 
all  around  the  balcony,  under  the  bal- 
cony, etc.,  are  many  smaller  cabinet  loud- 
speakers, all  of  which  are  operated  at 
much  lower  volume  than  the  main  loud- 
speakers (in  fact,  the  audience  does  not 
realize  they  are  working  except  during 
the  Ave  Maria  number ) . What  is  the 
function  of  these  extra  loudspeakers?  What 
do  they  contribute  to  realism? 

As  pointed  out,  the  stage  loudspeakers 
are  quite  directional,  hence  less  sound 
strikes  the  walls  and  ceiling  of  the  theatre 
than  if  a live  orchestra  were  playing.  Thus 
if  a person  is  listening  to  music  from  a 
live  orchestra,  quite  .a  bit  of  the  sound 
reaching  his  ears  will  have  been  reflected 
many  times,  whereas  if  he  listens  to  sound 
from  a reproducing  system,  a much  higher 
percentage  of  the  sound  he  hears  will  come 
to  him  direct  from  the  loudspeakers.  Ob- 
viously, the  two  will  not  create  the  same 
sort  of  feeling.  This  is  where  the  supple- 
mental loudspeakers  of  the  Fantasound 
system  come  into  the  picture.  Since  they 
are  on  the  walls,  sound  coming  from  them 
corresponds  somewhat  to  reflections  from 
these  same  walls.  Combined  with  the 
spreading  of  the  loudspeakers,  they  pro- 
duce a feeling  of  realism  hitherto  unob- 
tainable. 

The  Fantasound  system  is  capable  of 
producing  another  interesting  effect.  It  is 
sometimes  desirable  that  it  be  possible  to 
move  the  sound  source  around  on  the  stage 


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to  conform  with  the  action  depicted  on 
the  screen.  For  example,  sound  effects 
sometimes  should  come  from  one  side  of 
the  stage  rather  than  from  the  screen. 
Obviously,  this  can  be  done  practically 
either  by  switching  loudspeakers  or  by 
having  a number  of  complete  amplifier 
and  loudspeaker  channels.  Since  Fanta- 
sound has  three  separate  channels,  it  is 
possible  to  make  the  sound  come  from  the 
center  or  either  side  of  the  screen  as  well 
as  from  the  entire  stage.  This  also  per- 
mits reproducing  a complete  section  of  an 
orchestra,  for  example  the  violins,  over  one 
set  of  loudspeakers,  the  brasses  over  an- 
other, and  yet  another  section  over  the 
third,  thus  imitating  the  positions  these 
same  sections  would  occupy  if  actually  on 
the  stage. 

However,  it  should  be  noted  that  group- 
ing of  musical  instruments  by  types  does 
not  necessarily  make  an  orchestra  sound 
better.  In  other  words,  the  music  from 
the  orchestra  does  not  necessarily  sound 
better  because  the  violins  are  grouped  in 
one  section  of  the  stage.  It  would  be  well 
nigh  impossible,  however,  to  keep  the  vio- 
linist in  perfect  harmony  if  they  were 
scattered  throughout  the  orchestra,  so 
they  usually  are  placed  into  one  group. 
Thus,  such  groupings  seem  to  be  chiefly 
the  result  of  practical  rather  than  theo- 
retical acoustic  considerations.  A repro- 
ducing system  has  no  such  problems, 
therefore  it  can  reproduce  all  of  the  in- 
struments over  all  of  the  loudspeakers 
simultaneously  regardless  of  how  greatly 
the  loudspeakers  may  be  separated  from 
each  other. 

In  “Fantasia”  the  variety  of  effects 
which  the  flexible  multi-channel  Fanta- 
sound system  makes  available  have  been 
combined  and  blended  by  Disney  and  Sto- 
kowski with  the  pictures  and  action  on 
the  screen  to  provide  a maximum  of  en- 
tertainment. At  times  all  the  loudspeaker 
groups  may  be  reproducing  with  equal 
loudness  all  the  instruments.  At  other  times 
the  music  swirls  from  side  to  side  often 
in  accordance  with  action  or  patterns  de- 
picted on  the  screen.  At  other  times  in- 
dividual instruments  or  sections  are  made 
to  reproduce  over  one  channel  only.  (Ex- 
amples of  this  latter  effect  are  the  se- 
quences where  the  orchestra  tunes  up). 
Always,  the  effects  are  those  which  con- 
tribute most  to  the  listener’s  enjoyment 
of  the  performance. 

Uses  Regular  Reproducing  Units 

Contrary  to  opinions  generally  prevail- 
ing, the  apparatus  units  are  for  the  most 
part  those  regularly  furnished  with  RCA 
Photophone  systems.  Specially  built  units 
were  used  only  in  those  instances  where 
no  piece  of  commercial  apparatus  was 
available.  For  example,  the  multi-track 
film  phonographs  had  to  be  designed  and 
built  especially  for  this  work  because  no 
standard  theatre  systems  utilize  such  a 
unit.  This  is  also  true  of  the  variable  gain 
amplifiers. 

The  driver  and  power  output  amplifiers, 
crossover  networks,  loudspeakers,  power 
supplies,  etc.,  however,  are  all  standard 
theatre  units.  Each  of  the  three  main 
amplifier  channels  installed  at  the  Broad- 
way Theatre  delivers  180- watts  output  with 
less  than  two  per  cent  distortion  when 
measured  in  accordance  with  Academy 
specifications.  Peak  power  outputs  as  high 


62 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


as  700  watts  total  for  the  complete  sys- 
tem have  been  measured. 

Each  of  the  three  main  loudspeaker 
groups  consists  of  four  dual-mechanism 
low  frequency  baffles  (with  extension  baf- 
fles) using  a total  of  eight  of  the  regular 
de  luxe  Photophone  low  frequency  mech- 
anisms, and  a single  cellular  high  fre- 
quency horn  equipped  with  four  of  the 
regular  de  luxe  high  frequency  mechan- 
isms. Thus  the  three  main  groups  of  loud- 
speakers employ  a total  of  12  high  fre- 
quency mechanisms  and  24  low  frequency 
mechanisms.  Except  perhaps  for  some  ex- 
perimental setup,  this  unquestionably 
represents  the  most  gigantic  collection  of 
loudspeaker  apparatus  ever  assembled  for 
theatre  use. 

In  a previous  section,  some  mention  was 
made  of  special  “corner  loudspeakers.” 
These  are  ingenious  two-way  loudspeak- 
ers which  were  especially  designed  to  fit 
into  corners.  Because  of  their  unique  de- 
sign, they  provide  a tonal  range  compar- 
able to  that  of  the  biggest  two-way  sys- 
tems, yet  each  occupies  only  a fraction  of 
the  space  and  is  far  easier  to  conceal 
through  use  of  a decorative  covering. 

Each  projector  is  also  fitted  with  a 
regular  Photophone  soundhead.  These 
units,  however,  serve  no  purpose  other 
than  to  drive  the  picture  mechanisms, 
each  of  which,  of  course,  is  driven  in  syn- 
chronism with  one  of  the  multi-track  film 
phonographs  by  means  of  an  electrically 
interlocked  Selsyn  drive  system.  Since  the 
picture  film  carries  a standard  sound 
track,  the  standard  soundhead  can,  of 
course,  be  used  to  reproduce  this  track  just 
as  any  other  standard  theatre  system 
would  reproduce  it. 

The  Recording  System 

The  reproduction  from  any  theatre  sys- 
tem, no  matter  how  elaborate  it  may  be, 
is  limited  by  the  tonal  range,  quietness, 
and  smoothness  of  the  recording  system. 
Naturally  then,  exhibitors  are  interested 
in  knowing  a bit  about  the  recording  sys- 
tem used  in  the  making  of  “Fantasia.” 

Standard  RCA  Photophone  variable  area 
ultra-violet  light,  Class  A,  push-pull  re- 
corders were  used  throughout. 

With  the  exception  of  the  “Sorcerer’s 
Apprentice,”  the  music  recordings  were 
made  at  the  Philadelphia  Academy  of 
Music  with  Leopold  Stokowski  directing 
the  Philadelphia  Orchestra.  “Sorcerer’s 
Apprentice”  with  Stokowski  directing  a 
Hollywood  orchestra,  was  recorded  at  Dis- 
ney’s Hollywood  Studio  with  a recording 
setup  which  in  some  respects  was  even 
more  elaborate  than  that  used  at  the 
Academy  of  Music.  All  the  music  was  re- 
corded with  as  many  as  eight  synchronized 
recorders,  with  some  recording  some  par- 
ticular section  of  the  orchestra,  and  others 
recording  various  types  of  ‘mixes.”  This 
gave  two  very  important  benefits.  It  en- 
abled Disney  to  splice  these  sectionalized 
tracks  into  any  of  the  three  final  tracks, 
which  gives  the  Fantasound  system  some 
of  its  unusual  acoustic  perspective  quali- 
ties. Also,  it  made  it  possible  for  Disney 
to  blend  the  various  sections  in  the  final 
re-recordings  to  secure  whatever  balance 
between  instruments  he  needed  for  the  ef- 
fects he  was  seeking  to  create.  Thus  the 
flexibility  far  surpassed  that  which  would 
have  been  attained  had  the  recording  sys- 


tem utilized  only  three  channels  as  does 
the  reproducing  system. 

The  synchronizing  of  the  action  with  the 
music,  the  final  blending  of  the  sound 
tracks,  and  the  cueing  of  the  control  tracks 
represented  a tremendous  job  for  the  Dis- 
ney organization.  That  they  have  done  an 
outstanding  job  is  attested  by  the  sensa- 
tional success  “Fantasia”  with  Fantasound 
is  scoring  in  New  York. 

New  Printer  Required 
Since  there  was  not  available  a printer 
for  printing  the  four  final  double-width 
tracks  on  a single  film  for  use  in  the 


theatre,  it  was  necessary  to  develop  and 
manufacture  a new  type  of  optical  enlarg- 
ing printer  to  do  this  job.  The  famous 
magnetic  drive  principle,  a standard  fea- 
ture of  all  RCA  studio  recorders,  was  ap- 
plied in  the  solution  of  this  difficult 
problem. 

How  well  this  new  printer,  as  well  as  the 
recorders,  re-recorders,  and  film  phono- 
graphs have  done  their  job  is  proved  by  the 
fact  that,  in  spite  of  the  numerous  steps 
required  to  complete  and  present  the  final 
tracks,  there  is  not  noticeable  even  the 

(Continued  on  page  65) 


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Super  Hi-up  Tube  uses  all  clean- 
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up,  plus  his  height. 


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Cleaning  costs  big  money  — unless  done  with 
a Super  Specialized  Theatre  Cleaner.  Then 
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Super  cleans  places  and 
things  which  otherwise  you 
take  down  and  put  back  at 
great  expense  — or  not 
cleaned  at  all  and  compel 
early  replacement.  A Super 
saves  many  man  hours,  for 
other  needed  work  which 
then  costs  you  nothing.  Plus 
your  money  saved  in  car- 
pets, draperies,  upholstery, 
and  the  million  things  easily, 
quickly,  cheaply  cleaned 
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HOW  TO  GET  GREATER 
EFFICIENCY  FROM  YOUR 
PRESENT  PROJECTOR 


You  can  greatly  increase  the 
efficiency  of  your  projector 
with  a Bausch  & I.omb  f:2 
Super  Cinephor — the  projection 
lens  which  actually  delivers 
25%  more  light  on  the  screen. 
A new  process  of  treating  lens 
surfaces  to  minimize  reflec- 
tions puts  to  work  the  light 
previously  lost  (4  to  6%  at 
each  air  to  glass  surface). 
The  new  f:2  lens  has  the  light 
efficiency  that  hitherto  would 
only  have  been  possible  at 
f :1.79. 

The  result  of  this  increased 
light  on  the  screen  is  a mark- 
ed gain  in  contrast  and  crisp- 
ness. Shadow  detail  is  not  di- 
luted by  distributed  light. 
Color  films  have  greater  pur- 
ity and  brilliance. 

If  you  want  greater  projec- 
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63 


t%n  FULL-RECESSED  SANI- 
L I DRI — An  electric  hand- 
drier  suitable  for  installation  in 
any  wall  construction  that  is 
eight  inches  or  more  in  thick- 
ness. This  new  model  is  es- 
pecially suitable  for  theatre 
washrooms.  It  conserved  space 
and  the  full-recessed  foot  pedal 
protects  against  accidental  or 
deliberate  damage.  This  sani- 
tary drying  method  reduces 
washroom  maintenance  costs 


and  supplies  unusual  protection 
against  the  dangerous  fire  haz- 
ard of  towels  littered  about  the 
washroom. 


Of)  EVAPORATIVE  CON- 
fcO  DENSER— Although  pri- 
marily designed  for  product  re- 


frigeration, this  unit  is  readily 
adaptable  to  comfort  cooling 
requirements.  Because  of  its 
construction,  it  keeps  water 
consumption  at  a minimum. 
The  suspended  type  of  its  de- 
sign conserves  floor  space. 


ft  ft  MAGIC  SCREEN  — The 
surface  materials  used 
guarantee  against  discolora- 
tion. It  is  less  susceptible  to 
chemical  changes  which  usually 
cause  yellowing  or  other  types  of 
discoloration  and  it  will  retain 
its  high  reflection  qualities  for 
longer  periods  of  time.  Better 
sound  will  be  assured  because 
of  thinness  and  more  clean-cut 
perforations.  Reduced  power 
consumption  will  be  noted  be- 
cause there  will  be  no  prema- 
ture aging. 


ft  A STERILSEAT  — A new 
wU  scientific  weapon  in  the 
war  upon  infectious  diseases. 
This  new  toilet  seat  has  a ger- 
micidal action  which  offers 
protection  to  each  user  because 
its  action  is  automatic  and  de- 
pendable. A Sterilamp  is  built 
into  the  Sterilseat  so  that  its 
germ-killing  ultra  violet  rays 
quickly  and  effectively  sanitize 
the  toilet  seat  immediately 
after  each  using. 


ftj  PHANTOM  DOORMAN— 
W I An  automatic  door  op- 
ener-closer (for  hinged  doors), 
which  is  controlled  by  electric 
eye  or  switch.  The  device  is  a 
smart,  up-to-date  patron  ap- 
peal item  with  great  advertis- 
ing value.  It  also  saves  door 
maintenance  costs,  eliminates 
breakage  and  injury,  keeps  out 
noise  and  protects  air  condi- 
tioning. This  is  also  a smart 
new  method  of  solving  the 
problem  of  traffic  control. 


00  BIG  BEAM  HAND  LAMP 
Wfc  — A portable  electric  hand 
lamp  which  projects  a power- 
ful ray  over  2,500  feet — safe, 
dependable,  convenient  and 
economical  for  emergency  use 
in  theatres.  The  lamp  features 
simplified  charging,  quick, 
easy  focus  and  instant  change 


from  portable  to  stationary 
position.  The  Big  Beam  is 
claimed  an  ideal  emergency 
light  in  the  event  of  central 
power  service  failure  or  it  can 
serve  as  a trouble  lamp  for  re- 
pair and  inspection  work  in 
inaccessible  places. 


ft  ft  ROOM  WEATHER- 
00  MAKER  — A self-con- 
tained unit  for  complete  sum- 
mer air  conditioning — cooling, 
dehumidifying,  filtering  and 
circulating  of  air.  It  is  also 
applicable  for  winter  circula- 


tion, ventilation  and  filtration. 
The  device  is  also  adaptable 
for  air  tempering.  Its  attrac- 
tive walnut  finish  makes  this 
room  cooler  particularly  fitting 
as  a piece  of  furnishing  in  the- 
atre ante-rooms  and  offices. 


TOILET  SEAT  COVERS 
— Tissue  covers  which  of- 
fer full  protection  to  the  user, 
an  effective  precaution  against 
the  spread  of  disease.  The  cost 
of  covers  is  usually  more  than 
offset  by  the  saving  in  towels 
and  tissue  alone.  A dispenser, 
placed  approximately  50  inches 
from  the  floor,  preferably  back 
of  the  toilet,  conveniently  dis- 
penses one  cover  at  a time.  It 
may  be  installed  without  dril- 
ling either  marble  or  tile  walls. 


ft  r DOMESTIC  FLASHED 
00  GLASS — A new  type  of 
flashed  glass,  translucent  opal 
glass  flashed  onto  a clear  crys- 
tal, which  is  said  to  be  60  per 
cent  more  efficient  than  the 
best  opal  glass  that  can  be  ob- 
tained here  since  conditions  in 
Europe  have  stopped  its  im- 
portation. The  new  product  is 
manufactured  by  a well-known 
sign  letter  and  service  concern 
and  will  be  sold  only  with  new 
letters  or  to  present  users  of 
the  company’s  letters.  A limited 
quantity  only  is  available  at 
present,  and  this  at  a very 
nominal  price. 


MORE  DETAILED  INFORMATION 

on  any  or  all  items  mentioned  on  this  page  may  be  secured  by  addressing  a postal  card 

to  The  MODERN  THEATRE  INFORMATION  BUREAU,  332  S.  Michigan  Avenue.  Chicago. 
Illinois.  Specify  the  items  in  which  you  are  interested  by  using  the  initial  number  at  the 
beginning  of  each  paragraph. 

NOTICE:  This  page  will  appear  frequently  in  The  MODERN  THEATRE  section  and  as 
often  as  there  are  new  product  developments  to  report.  Watch  for  it. 


64 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


The  Fantasound  System 
in  Principle  and  Its 
Future  Possibilities 

(Continued  from  page  63) 


slightest  trace  of  a “wow”  in  the  repro- 
duction of  “Fantasia”  at  the  Broadway 
Theatre. 

Effect  on  the  Future 

Once  having  experienced  the  thrilling 
realism  of  Fantasound,  motion  picture  pa- 
trons will  clamor  for  such  enjoyable  re- 
production from  all  motion  pictures. 

But  a system  as  big  and  as  flexible  as 
the  Fantasound  system  is  necessarily 
somewhat  more  expensive  than  a regular 
present-day  movie  system.  Furthermore, 
the  added  costs  for  operating  the  multiple 
recording  channels  must  necessarily  add 
tremendously  to  the  cost  of  producing  the 
picture,  thus  adding  to  film  rental  costs. 
And,  in  addition,  there  are  the  extra  film 
handling  costs  which  result  because  dual 
films  are  required,  that  is,  one  film  for 
the  sound  tracks,  another  for  the  picture. 
The  added  costs  for  the  latter  two  extra 
expense  items  probably  are  the  most  ser- 
ious obstacles  in  the  way  of  the  general 
adoption  of  such  a system.  For  super- 
productions exhibited  on  a road-show 
basis,  such  as  “Fantasia,”  the  extra  bene- 
fits can  justify  this  extra  expense.  If, 
however,  an  attempt  were  made  to  have  all 
pictures  recorded  and  reproduced  this  way, 
the  average  cost  of  film  entertainment 
would  probably  become  too  high  and  the 
industry  might  suffer  rather  than  gain. 

If  so,  what  can  be  done  about  the  other 
productions?  Is  it  not  perhaps  possible  to 
do  something  that  will  enable  presenting 
them  in  a manner  that  will  compare  fav- 
orably with  that  used  for  the  super-pro- 
ductions, yet  not  incur  more  than  a very 
reasonable  additional  expense?  For  if  this 
can  be  done,  then  all  theatres,  big  and 
small,  can  benefit  from  these  important 
advances  in  realistic  reproduction. 

Fortunately  this  is  entirely  possible  as 
has  already  been  demonstrated  by  an  ex- 
perimental system.  For  this  simplified, 
much  less  expensive  system,  only  a single 
film  is  required.  The  film  is  exactly  like 
present-day  films  except  for  an  extra 
sound  track  which,  by  means  of  principles 
already  described,  automatically  causes 
extra  amplifiers  and  loudspeakers  to  come 
into  play  as  desired  by  the  producer  of 
the  film.  This  extra  control  or  cue  track 
can  be  recorded  on  the  film  between  the 
sprocket  holes  thereby  utilizing  only  film 
space  not  now  used  for  either  picture  or 
sound.  With  such  a system,  the  extra  re- 
cording and  printing  costs  are  negligible 
and  no  extra  film  handling  costs  are  in- 
volved because  a theatre  would  receive  this 
type  of  print  regardless  of  whether  it  is 
equipped  to  provide  its  patrons  with  the 
benefits  available  through  the  extra  sound 
track.  Reproducer  systems  not  equipped 
with  the  extra  attachments  would  repro- 
duce exactly  as  they  now  do  because  the 
regular  sound  track  would  be  identical  with 
that  of  today’s  standard  films. 

The  theatre  reproducing  apparatus  for 
such  a simplified  system  can  be  attached 
to  a modern  reproducing  system.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  current  Photophone  Sys- 
tems were  designed  with  the  possible 


adoption  of  such  auxiliary  apparatus  in 
mind.  The  soundhead  parts  can  consist  of 
simple  attachments  to  be  installed  in  each 
soundhead.  Special  control  amplifiers,  ex- 
tra power  amplifiers  and  extra  loudspeak- 
ers complete  the  apparatus  setup.  The 
loudspeakers  can  be  spread  over  the  stage, 
around  the  auditorium,  etc.,  as  in  the  case 
of  the  Fantasound  system. 

Engineers  have  named  this  simpler  ar- 
rangement the  “RCA  Panoramic  Sound 
System”  to  distinguish  it  from  the  more 
complex  “RCA  Fantasound  System.”  An 
experimental  model  was  placed  at  the  dis- 
posal of  Hollywood  producers  and  the 
Academy  of  Motion  Picture  Arts  and 
Sciences  some  months  ago,  in  order  that 
they  might  be  able  to  make  first-hand 
studies  of  its  possibilities  and  determine  a 
suitable  set  of  uniform  film  standards. 

That  producers  are  taking  a keen  in- 
terest in  this  new  system  is  indicated  by 
announcements  of  trial  installations  in 
associated  key  theatres  in  Hollywood  and 
New  York.  In  view  of  this,  it  is  not  un- 
likely that  the  coming  months  may  wit- 
ness the  general  adoption  of  this  new 
method  for  more  realistic  presentations. 
And  in  that  event,  the  year  1941  may  well 
be  marked  as  one  in  which  the  industry 
as  a whole  will  have  cooperated  in  spon- 
soring the  greatest  single  step  towards 
realistic  reproduction  since  the  advent  of 
sound  motion  pictures. 


Rubber  Rugs  and  Mats 
Make  Maintenance  Easier 

The  problem  of  floor  and  carpet  main- 
tenance is  of  utmost  importance  to  every 
theatre  manager  or  owner.  On  wet  and 
slippery  days  as  well  as  dry  and  gritty 
days,  destruction  of  floors  and  floor  cover- 
ings is  inevitable;  each  pair  of  feet  shuf- 
fles and  grinds  its  share  of  grit  into  every 
surface  they  contact. 

Rubber  rugs  and  mats  are  to  hard  floors 
as  rubber  tires  are  to  cement  highways 
— the  result  is  speed,  safety  and  comfort 
at  minimum  expense.  To  determine  where 
such  matting  is  necessary,  study  the  nor- 
mal traffic  lanes  of  your  theatre.  People 
do  not  walk  at  random;  they  have  defi- 
nite destinations  in  mind.  They  want  to 
reach  the  auditorium,  the  rest  rooms  or 
other  points  of  interest  in  the  shortest 
possible  time. 

Rubber  rugs  and  matting  are  eco- 
nomical; you  need  only  cover  the  areas 
most  travelled  to  save  the  more  luxurious 
inner  floor  coverings.  They  are  attractive 
because  of  colorful  design  or  pattern  and 
they  may  match  other  floor  coverings  to 
bring  beauty  of  the  highest  order. 


Lounge  Furniture  an 

Important  Provision 

The  choice  of  furniture  for  theatre 
lounge  rooms  and  foyers  should  receive 
special  attention.  It  is  now  purchased 
with  the  whole  picture  of  the  room  in 
mind,  with  due  regard  to  design  and 
style,  and  how  its  type  will  fit  in  with 
the  general  scheme  of  the  room. 

Values  in  furniture  are  determined  by 
sound  construction  and  distinction  of 


style.  The  first  safeguard  is  to  purchase 
from  a reliable  dealer,  as  often  the  name 
of  the  manufacturer  suggests  the  quality 
of  the  piece.  Cheap  furniture  is  never 
a bargain  at  any  price,  as  it  will  soon 
have  to  be  replaced,  while  good  furniture 
may  be  expected  to  withstand  the  wear 
of  theatre  use  for  many  years. 


MAKE  $40... 
— EVEN  $1 
PER  WEEK! 

Many  wise  exhibitors 
are  swelling  their  cash 
income  with  the  hand- 
s o m e profits  from 
ADVANCE  Popcorn  Ma- 
chines. And  you,  too, 
might  just  as  well  be 
cashing  ini 

Investigate  with 
An  Open  Mind 

Get  the  facts  . . . See 
what  an  ADVANCE  Ma- 
chine will  do  for  you. 

These  fine  new  Pop- 
corn Machines  with 
lights,  color,  and  mo- 
tion, draw  trade  and 
get  profits  . . . 70c  profit 
on  every  dollar!  Simple 
and  easy  to  run — more 
efficient — pop  more  corn 
— and  produce  more 
business  than  out-of- 
date  machines. 

All  Sizes  C I O Q 50 
From  yl  up 
Easy  Terms 
Why  Pay  More? 

See  Your  Dealer  or 


$50. ..$60... 
00  EXTRA 


Write  For  Catalog 


A 


DVANCE  MFG.  CO. 

6334  St.  Louis  Ave.  St.  Louis,  Mo. 


missing 

iink 

What  is  it?  Where  is  it? 

Usually  it’s  the  gap  be- 
tween the  pictures  you  ad- 
vertise on  the  marquee  and 
the  tickets  you  sell  at  your 
box  office.  Frequently  it 
means  the  difference  be- 
tween a full  house  and  one 
almost  empty. 

It’s  the  “missing  link”  of 
really  modern  projection  and 
sound. 

Your  National  representa- 
tive can  help  you  put  that 
“missing  link”  in  your  the- 
atre . . . and  it’s  a lot  easier 
than  you  think.  Ask  him 
about  it  today. 

mnnun 

THEATRE  SUPPLY  COMPANY 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


65 


WHAT  YOU  MAY  NEED 
AND  WHERE  TO  FIND  IT 


HEYWOOD-WAKEFIELD 


CAMEO 

A real  theatre-man's  chair. 


HOW  TO  coo/  and  ventilate  your  theatre  economically: 

Install  REYNOLDS  BLOWERS 

Quiet  • Vibrationless 

12  diet.  1.500  to  30.000  cfm.  $22  50  up.  including  variable 
•peed  drive,  belts  and  motor  pulleys.  Fafnir  ball  bearings 
»et  In  solid  rubber  pillow  blocks.  Write  for  free  literature. 

REYNOLDS  MANUFACTURING  CO. 

412  Prospect  Ave.,  N.  E.  • Grand  Rapids.  Michigan 

V 


One  Wall  and  Ceiling:  Covering:  Gives  You 
Permanent  Decoration — Sound  Control — 
Insulation 

It's 

KOLOR-FAST  NU-WOOD 

Quickly  applied — low  in  cost — investigate. 

WOOD  CONVERSION  COMPANY 
Dept.  134-1  First  National  Bank  Building: 
St.  Paul,  Minnesota 


Better  Popcorn 
for 

Bigger  Profits 

MANLEY.  Inc.  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


Lounge  Furniture 

SPECIALISTS  in  SMART  MODERN  or 
PERIOD  FURNITURE  for  THEATRE 
LOBBIES  and  LOUNGES. 

DAVIDSON  LTD. 

420  N.  Orleans  St.  Chicago 


ADLER  "THIRD  DIMENSION” 
SILHOUETTE  LETTERS  and 
"Remova-Panel”  FRAMES 

8"  to  24"  Interchangeable  — Also  6"  Letters 

ADLER  SILHOUETTE  LETTER  CO. 

2909  S.  Indiana  Ave.  Chicago 


IT'S  GOOD  BOX-OFFICE 

to  seat  patronage  on  securely  an- 
chored seats! 

SUPREME  EXPANSION  BOLTS 

should  be  specified  for  new  seating 
and  repairs. 

Offered  by  all  better  theatre  supply 
dealers 

The  Chicago  Expansion  Bolt  Co. 
134  S.  Clinton  St.  Chicago,  111. 


|[  GENERAL  CHAIRS  || 


GENERAL 


Ii.,  I .I.  hi,  hi 


SOLD  EVERYWHERE 
BY  DEALERS  SQUARE 


YOURS  AT 
UNBELIEVABLY 
LOW  COST 

“LIGHTMASTER” 

SIMPLIFIED 
HIGH  INTENSITY 
PROJECTION 
LAMPS 

The  BALLANTYNE 
COMPANY 

Omaha,  Nebr. 


Quick,  Fast/  Way  to  Make 

LOBBY  DISPLAYS 


Now,  make  swell  business  getting 
lobby  displays.  Less  time.  Less 
work.  Simply  trace  enlargements 
of  photos,  ads,  etc.,  in  natural 
color  with  Postoscope  Projector. 
Anyone  can  do  it. 

Get  full  details,  liberal 
TRIAL  OFFER,  low 
prices  now.  Write 


FREE 


F.  D.  KEES  MFG.  COMPANY 


Dept.  102 


Beatrice,  Nebraska 


IRWIN  SEATING 

famous  for  its 

“NECK  TO  KNEE"  COMFORT 

AND  SNAPPY  APPEARANCE 

IRWIN  SEATING  COMPANY 

Grand  Rapids,  Mich. 

Distributed  by  National  Theatre  Supply  Co. 


MODERN  THEATRE  LIGHTING 


It  will  pay  you  to  modernize  now, 
with  new  up  to  the  minute  lighting 
fixtures.  Sidewall,  ceiling  and  exit 
fixtures  designed  for  beauty  and  soft 
colored  effects.  Special  fixtures  made 
to  order.  Write  for  descriptive  litera- 
ture. 

MODERN  THEATRE  SUPPLY  CO. 

320  Douglas  St.,  N.  W. 

Grand  Rapids Michigan 


A Page 

Adler  Silhouette  Letter  Co..  66 

Advance  Manufacturing  Co 65 

American  Seating  Co 32 

Automatic  Devices  Co 62 

B 

Ballantyne  Company  66 

Barber-Colman  Co 58 

Bausch  & Lomb  Optical  Co 63 

Best  Devices  Co 62 

C 

Carrier  Corporation Second  Cover 

Chicago  Expansion  Bolt  Co 66 

Chicago  Hardware  Foundry  Co 59 

Cochrane,  Chas.  P.,  Co.  . 47 

D 

Davidson,  Ltd.  66 

G 

General  Seating  Co 66 


INDEX 

OF  ADVERTISING  IN  THE  MODERN 
THEATRE  SECTION 


H 

Hertner  Electric  Co 61 

Heywood-Wakefield  Co..  . 66 

I 

Ideal  Seating  Co 48 

International  Projector  Corp.  Fourth  Cover 
Irwin  Seating  Co 66 

K 

Kees,  F.  D.,  Mfg.  Co.  66 

M 

Maniey,  Inc 66 

Modern  Theatre  Supply  Co.  66 

Mohawk  Carpet  Mills,  Inc 49 


N 

National  Carbon  Co.,  Inc Third  Cover 

National  Super  Service  Co 63 

National  Theatre  Supply  Co 31  & 65 

R 

RCA  Manufacturing  Co.,  Inc 51 

Reynolds  Manufacturing  Co 66 

S 

Smith,  Alexander,  & Sons  Carpet  Co 45 

Strong  Electric  Corp.  39-42 

U 

Union  Carbide  & Carbon  Corp.  Third  Cover 


V 

Vallen,  Inc 48 

W 

Wagner  Sign  Service,  Inc 55 

Wood  Conversion  Co 66 


66 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


PUT  THE  SPOTLIGHT  ON 


. 


• The  successful  theater  owner  real- 
izes how  much  his  profits  depend  upon 
good  projection.  That  is  why  you  will 
find  High  Intensity  projection  in  the 
most  successful  theaters. 

The  fast  moving  colorful  modern 
productions  demand  the  abundance 
of  snow  white  light  that  can  be  ob- 
tained only  from  High  Intensity  pro- 
jection. Clear,  comfortable  vision  is 
assured  and  that  means  satisfied 
patrons  who  come  again  and  again. 
This  repeat  business  is  what  builds 
box  office  profits. 

High  Intensity  projection  is  avail- 
able at  low  cost  to  every  theater, 
small  and  large.  With  the  new  "One 
Kilowatt”  arcs  even  the  smallest 
theater  can  now  afford  to  cash  in  on 
the  dividends  that  will  accrue  from 
High  Intensity  projection  light. 

Ask  your  dealer  for  a demonstra- 
tion of  this  modern  projection  light. 
See  for  yourself  what  a vast  difference 
it  makes  in  your  pictures  and  how 
little  it  costs  to  be  modern. 


#sv  Tr 


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NATIONAL  CARBON  COMPANY,  INC. 

Unit  of  Union  Carbide  and  Carbon  Corporation 


The  words  "National”,  "Suprex”  and  "Orotip” 
are  trade-marks  of  National  Carbon  Company,  Inc. 


Carbon  Sales  Division,  Cleveland,  Ohio 

GENERAL  OFFICES 
30  East  42nd  Street,  New  York,  N.  Y. 
BRANCH  SALES  OFFICES 
New  York,  Pittsburgh,  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  San  Francisco 


QUALITY 

WORLD'S  STANDARD 


FOR  30  YEARS 

WILL  BE  MAINTAINED 
UNDER  ALL  CONDITIONS 


WHAT  QUALITY 

MEANS  TO  EXHIBITORS,  MANAGERS 
AND  PROJECTIONISTS 


Now  is  tl^^Bytie  to  In- 
stall New  Simplex  Sound 
and  Visual  Projection 
Equipment 


Priceless  Dependability 

Finest  Sound  and  Visual  Projection 
Ease  and  Simplicity  of  Operation 


Danger 


with 

Parts 


Neglect 


Reliable  Service  through  29  Branches  of  the 
National  Theatre  Supply  Company 

Lower  Maintenance  Costs 

An  Assured  Supply  of  Genuine  Simplex  Parts  for  Repair 

and  Replacement 

Projectionists'  Preference  for  a Projector  they  know  and 

have  Confidence  in 

Simplex  Guarantee  backed  by  the  World's  Oldest  and 
Largest  Manufacturers  of  Motion  Picture  Equipment 

Basic  Simplex  Superiority 

Highest  Resale  and  Trade-In  Value 


MANUFACTURED  BY 

INTERNATIONAL  PROJECTOR 
CORPORATION 

88-94  GOLD  STREET,  NEW  YORK.  N.Y. 

■k 


service  SUPPLEMENTS  quality 


DISTRIBUTED  BY 

NATIONAL  THEATRE  SUPPLY 
COMPANY 

BRANCHES  IN  PRINCIPAL  CITIES 


(Hollywood  Office — Suite  219  at  6404  Hollywood  Blvd.;  Ivan  Spear,  Western  Manager) 


Mutual  Problems  Are 
Aired  in  Pamphlet 

Mutual  problems  of  the  employer  and 
the  employe,  including  those  relating  to 
common  interest  in  individual  earnings, 
safety,  working  conditions,  quality  and 
quantity  of  output,  and  efficient  and  eco- 
nomical operation,  are  thoroughly  aired  in 
an  eight-page  pamphlet  distributed  to 
each  of  Paramount’s  2,750  studio  workers. 

The  statement,  first  of  its  kind  to  be 
issued  by  any  studio,  is  keynoted  by  a 
brief  preface  signed  by  Y.  Frank  Freeman, 
vice-president  in  charge  of  studio  opera- 
tions, in  which  he  declares: 

“In  our  sincere  desire  to  further  de- 
velop the  harmonious  relationships  now 
existing  between  employes  and  manage- 
ment of  Paramount  Pictures,  Inc.,  we 
wish  in  the  following  statement  of  indus- 
trial relations  policies  to  define  the  com- 
pany’s attitude  on  mutual  problems.” 

Explains  Paramount's  Stand 

The  pamphlet  explains  Paramount’s 
stand  on  employe  organizations,  wages, 
performance,  working  conditions  and  safe- 
ty measures,  promotions  and  transfers, 
layoffs  and  discharges,  employment  stabi- 
lization, group  health  and  life  insurance, 
studio  clubs,  the  federal  credit  union,  work 
calls,  acceptance  of  outside  calls  during 
slack  periods,  and  the  studio’s  industrial 
relations  department. 

“It  is  our  conviction,”  asserted  Freeman 
in  issuing  the  pamphlet,  “that  all  problems 
affecting  the  welfare  of  the  company  are 
the  problems  of  the  men  and  women  in 
its  employ,  and  that  all  problems  affecting 
the  welfare  of  its  employes  are  the  prob- 
lems of  the  company.” 

Among  the  significant  facts  contained  in 
the  booklet  is  the  company’s  declaration 
it  recognizes  the  right  to  collective  bar- 
gaining, in  which,  the  studio  asserts,  it  un- 
dertakes to  maintain  complete  impartial- 
ity in  disputes  over  jurisdiction. 

Pamphlet  was  prepared  by  the  indus- 
trial relations  department  under  the  su- 
pervision of  Charles  Boren,  industrial  re- 
lations manager. 


Quiet  Pervades  Labor  Scene 
As  New  Year  Makes  Bow 

Unusual  quiet  characterized  the  first 
days  of  the  New  Year  insofar  as  producer- 
labor  relations  were  concerned.  Most  im- 
portant event  scheduled  is  that  of  the  pro- 
ducers association  for  January  6,  at  which 
approval  will  be  asked  of  the  producer- 


screen  Actors  Guild  standing  committee’s 
report  anent  the  extra  player  situation. 
Chief  among  its  recommendations  calls  for 
the  elimination  of  so-called  “casual”  ex- 
tras in  order  to  alleviate  the  present  un- 
employment situation.  Both  the  SAG  and 
the  extras  themselves  have  already  placed 
their  okay  on  the  report. 

Negotiations  will  get  under  way  shortly 
on  demands  filed  by  the  motion  picture 
costume  makers  for  a five-day,  40-hour 
week  with  a standard  minimum  wage  scale. 
Aubrey  Blair,  Hollywood  organizer  for  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor,  will  head 
the  costumers’  negotiating  committee.  Pro- 
ducers are  also  dickering  with  the  studio 
scenic  artists,  an  affiliate  of  the  moving 
picture  painters,  on  a closed  shop  contract, 
wage  increases  and  other  demands. 

Also  to  be  launched  shortly  are  hud- 
dles between  producers  and  the  Society  of 
Motion  Picture  Film  Editors  relevant  to  a 
requested  10  per  cent  increase  in  wages 
for  certain  classifications  of  cutters. 

Leonard  Janofsky  has  resigned  his  post 
as  counsel  for  the  Screen  Writers  Guild, 
according  to  an  announcement  from  the 
SWG  in  which  it  was  declared  the  organi- 
zation needs  a full-time  attorney,  which 
would  interfere  with  Janofsky’s  private 
practice.  He  had  been  associated  with  the 
SWG  for  more  than  three  years. 


Academy  to  Elect  New 
Officers  January  7 

Officers  of  the  Academy  of  Motion  Pic- 
ture Arts  and  Sciences  for  1941  will  be 
elected  at  a meeting  of  the  new  board  of 
governors  scheduled  for  January  7.  At  the 
same  time,  it  has  been  disclosed,  detailed 
plans  for  the  forthcoming  annual  Acad- 
emy Awards  banquet,  including  the  exact 
date  and  locale  of  the  affair,  will  be  an- 
nounced. 

Just  prior  to  the  session,  a run-off  elec- 
tion to  choose  representatives  from  the 
technicians’  branch  on  the  board  of  gov- 
ernors will  be  held.  In  the  recent  ballot- 
ing a tie  vote  resulted  among  technicians. 
Those  elected  among  the  actors,  writers, 
directors  and  producers  included: 

Actors — Edward  Arnold,  Rosalind  Rus- 
sell, James  Stewart.  Writers — Howard 
Estabrook,  Jane  Murfin,  Robert  Riskin. 
Directors — Frank  Capra,  Frank  Lloyd,  Sam 
Wood.  Producers — Y.  Frank  Freeman, 
David  O.  Selznick,  Walter  Wanger. 

Nine  nominees  for  places  on  the  board 
from  among  the  technicians  are  John  Aal- 
berg,  Anne  Bauchens,  Farciot  Edouart, 
Bernard  Herzbrun,  Nathan  Levinson,  Har- 


Payrolls  Jump  as 
Production  Hums 

Traceable  to  the  increased  production 
tempo  in  November  is  the  corresponding 
boost  in  weekly  payrolls  and  in  the  number 
employed  on  the  various  lots.  According 
to  figures  compiled  and  released  by  the 
California  labor  statistics  department, 
wage-earners — exclusive  of  executive  and 
talent  divisions — were  paid  a total  of  $557,- 
957  during  that  month.  This  is  $8,636 
more  than  the  October  payrolls.  Number 
of  workers  employed  in  November  was  12,- 
428,  compared  to  the  12,295  on  the  pay- 
rolls during  the  preceding  month.  Aver- 
age weekly  pay  check  in  November  was 
$44.90,  a 4.2  per  cent  increase  over  No- 
vember, 1939. 

Several  changes  have  been  made  in  the 
personnel  of  the  Paramount  studio  pub- 
licity department  following  the  takeover 
of  the  top  spot  by  George  Brown,  replac- 
ing Cliff  Lewis.  Chief  among  them  is  the 
resignation  of  Bob  Speers,  head  planter, 
who  moves  to  Universal  in  two  weeks  to 
become  assistant  to  John  Josephs,  adver- 
tising-publicity- director  there. 

Speers’  duties  at  Paramount  have  been 
taken  over  by  Blake  McVeigh,  who  came 
in  as  Brown’s  assistant. 

Leaving  Paramount  also  are  Bert  Hollo- 
way, Bill  Hebert,  Bob  Burkhardt,  Bob  Ble- 
wett  and  Arthur  Powell,  all  of  the  pub- 
licity staff.  Holloway,  head  of  the  unit 
room,  is  replaced  by  Murphy  McHenry, 
who  left  the  advertising-publicity  spot  with 
Edward  Small  Productions  to  join  the 
Paramount  staff.  Also  joining  Paramount 
are  Hy  Daab,  coming  out  from  New  York, 
and  Bernard  Kamins.  Brown  will  add  oth- 
ers shortly. 

Myke  Lewis  has  resigned  his  post  as  sales 
chieftain  for  Harry  Sherman  Productions, 
effective  immediately. 


old  J.  McCord,  Thomas  T.  Moulton,  Jack 
Otterson  and  Ray  Wilkinson. 

Minor  revisions  in  Academy  bylaws  and 
articles  of  incorporation  were  approved  in 
the  voting. 

Meantime  a meeting  of  the  producers 
association,  its  regular  monthly  session,  has 
been  called  for  January  6,  with  Y.  Frank 
Freeman  to  preside.  Among  items  of  busi- 
ness to  be  discussed  is  the  producer-Screen 
Actors  Guild  standing  committee  report 
urging  elimination  of  all  so-called  “casual” 
extra  players,  as  well  as  routine  matters. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


69 


Republic,  Universal 
Off  lo  Fast  Start 

First  away  from  the  starting  post  in 
the  January  production  spurt  are  Repub- 
lic and  Universal,  each  with  five  films  to 
go  before  the  cameras.  They  are  being 
closely  followed  by  Warner,  Metro  and 
Paramount,  which  studios  each  list  a 
quartette  of  films  to  hit  the  sound  stages 
before  the  end  of  the  month.  Virtually 
every  other  studio  will  contribute  two  or 
more  vehicles  to  swell  the  grand  total  for 
January  to  30. 

Indicating  the  boom  may  extend 
throughout  the  first  quarter  of  1941,  ten 
other  pictures  have  already  been  slotted 
for  February  starts,  one  in  March,  with 
others  in  the  offing. 

Republic’s  entries  include  “Mr.  District 
Attorney,”  “Sis  Hopkins,”  “The  Great 
Train  Robbery,”  “You’ll  Never  Get  Rich” 
and  “Citadel  of  Crime.”  For  February  it 
lists  “Puddin’  Head.”  Universal’s  lineup 
comprises  “The  Man  Who  Lost  Himself,” 
“The  Lady  From  Cheyenne,”  “Model  Wife,” 
“Flame  of  New  Orleans,”  and  “Mutiny  in 
the  Arctic.”  The  February  slate  includes 
“Stitches  and  Stars”  and  “Ready  for  Ro- 
mance.” 

Warner  is  enjoying  the  most  intensive 
mid-season  boom  in  studio  history.  To  get 
under  way  this  month  are  “Sergeant 
York,”  “Affectionately  Yours,”  “Bad  Men 
of  Missouri”  and  “Singapore.”  Paramount’s 
quartette  includes  “Caught  in  the  Draft,” 
“Skylark,”  “Kiss  the  Boys  Goodbye”  and 
“Hold  Back  the  Dawn.”  Metro  will  film 
“Blossoms  in  the  Dust,”  “Mr.  Co-Ed,”  “A 
Woman’s  Face”  and  “Dr.  Jekyll  and  Mr. 
Hyde.” 

Columbia  will  gun  “They  Dare  Not  Love” 
and  “A  Girl’s  Best  Friend  Is  Wall  Street.” 
In  February  it  will  turn  cameras  on  “Her 
First  Beau”  and  “Senate  Page  Boys.”  RKO 
Radio  lists  “Range  Robbers,”  “Sunny”  and 
“Before  the  Fact”  for  January;  “True  to 
Form”  for  March.  Getting  under  way  at 
Monogram  this  month  is  “Air  Devils.” 

For  United  Artists  the  February  lineup 
includes  “The  Eagle  Squadron,”  an  Ar- 
gosy production  which  Walter  Wanger  will 
release;  “New  Wine”  from  Alexander 
Korda,  and  Sol  Lesser’s  “Strange  Victory.” 
Twentieth  Century-Fox  will  roll  “Blood 
and  Sand”  and  “The  Great  American 
Broadcast”  in  January,  “Sun  Valley”  and 
“Miami”  next  month. 

Picture  Corp.  of  America 
Names  Rogers  Director 

John  W.  Rogers,  son  of  Producer  Charles 
R.  Rogers,  has  been  elected  vice-president 
and  a member  of  the  board  of  directors 
of  the  newly  organized  Picture  Corp.  of 
America,  headed  by  William  H.  Pine  and 
William  C.  Thomas.  Rogers  will  be  as- 
sociated with  Thomas,  executive  producer, 
in  the  making  of  “Power  Dive,”  starring 
Richard  Arlen,  which  rolls  January  27 
for  Paramount  release.  He  has  been  as- 
sociated with  20th  Century-Fox  for  the 
past  five  years. 

Victor  Milner,  cinematographer,  has  left 
the  Paramount  contract  roster  after  a 17- 
year  association  with  the  studio.  Milner 
plans  to  freelance. 


Hollywood  to  Aid  Fight 
On  Infantile  Paralysis 

Always  in  the  forefront  where  charit- 
able activity  is  involved,  Hollywood  is 
again  being  asked  to  do  its  part  in  a na- 
tionwide campaign,  this  time  for  the  an- 
nual Committee  for  the  Celebration  of  the 
President’s  Birthday,  proceeds  from  which 
will  go  into  a fund  to  fight  infantile 
paralysis. 

A statewide  organizational  meeting  was 
scheduled  for  January  3 at  the  Biltmore 
Bowl  with  Keith  Morgan,  national  chair- 
man of  the  committee,  presiding  and 
Joseph  M.  Schenck,  national  vice-chair- 
man and  chairman  for  the  state  of  Cali- 
fornia, as  one  of  the  chief  speakers.  It 
was  indicated  Schenck  will  employ  the 
same  procedure  for  the  motion  picture  in- 
dustry as  in  past  years  through  the  ap- 
pointment of  lieutenants  on  each  lot  and 
the  creation  of  a committee  comprising 
representatives  from  every  branch  of  mo- 
tion picture  making. 

Bundles  for  Britain,  Inc.,  staged  a na- 
tional broadcast  New  Year’s  Day,  airing 
from  the  Palladium  Ballroom,  with  par- 
ticipants including  Jack  Benny,  Charles 
Boyer,  Claudette  Colbert.  Philip  Dorn,  Judj 
Garland,  Myrna  Loy,  Tony  Martin,  Spen- 
cer Tracy,  Carmen  Miranda,  Nazimova. 
Merle  Oberon  and  Mickey  Rooney.  Danc- 
ing followed  the  broadcast  and  the  pro- 
ceeds from  ticket  sales  and  contributions 
were  ear-marked  for  the  purchase  of  sup- 
plies in  America  for  the  relief  of  British 
air-raid  victims. 

Permanent  members  of  the  committee 
to  work  with  the  motion  picture  permanent 
charities  group  have  been  named  by  the 
Southern  California  Broadcasters  Ass’n. 
Chairman  of  the  broadcasters’  committee 
is  Don  Gilman,  vice-president  of  the  Na- 
tional Broadcasting  Company. 


Producer  David  Hempstead  of  RKO 
Radio  attended  the  world  premiere  of 
“Kitty  Foyle,”  which  he  produced,  in 
Philadelphia  December  27,  then  continued 
on  to  New  York  for  a three-week  holiday 
. . . Edward  Arnold  has  been  bedded  with 
influenza. 

* 

James  Roosevelt  spent  the  Christmas 
holidays  here,  on  leave  from  his  duties 
with  the  marine  corps  in  San  Diego.  He 
checked  on  progress  being  made  on  “Pot 
O’  Gold,”  his  first  production  for  United 
Artists. 

* 

Having  nearly  completed  the  editing  on 
20th  Century-Fox’s  “Western  Union,” 
which  he  directed,  Fritz  Lang  is  plan- 
ning to  leave  for  New  York  in  a few  days 
. . . Bing  Crosby  and  Bob  Hope  will  begin 
a golfing  tour  next  March,  teamed  with 
a pair  of  professionals,  the  proceeds  to 
go  to  British  War  Relief.  The  foursome 
has  already  been  booked  in  Fort  Worth, 
San  Antonio  and  Houston.  Bing  and  Bob 
will  also  make  personal  appearances  in 


"Virginia''  Bows  in 
Gotham  January  21 

World  premiere  of  Paramount’s  “Vir- 
ginia” has  been  set  for  January  21  at  the 
Paramount  Theatre  in  New  York,  with 
Stirling  Hayden  and  Carolyn  Lee,  of  the 
cast,  making  personal  appearances.  Fred 
MacMurray  and  Madeleine  Carroll,  who 
co-star,  will  not  be  able  to  attend,  but  ar- 
rangements are  being  made  for  the  latter 
to  address  premiere  audiences  via  a long- 
distance telephone  hookup. 

Negotiations  are  now  under  way  whereby 
Los  Angeles  will,  in  all  probability,  be  the 
next  key  city  selected. 

Pacific  Coast  premiere  of  Walt  Disney’s 
“Fantasia”  will  be  held  here  late  this 
month,  according  to  Disney  studio  officials, 
with  negotiations  now  under  way  for  the 
selection  of  a theatre.  Nationwide  exploi- 
tation on  the  film  is  being  handled  by 
Frank  Braden,  now  here  to  launch  the 
local  campaign.  Premiere  arrangements 
include  the  installation  of  Fantasound, 
specially-designed  sound  equipment.  Fol- 
lowing its  local  opening,  the  Disney  pic- 
ture will  be  given  roadshow  treatment  in 
a dozen  or  more  key  cities  throughout  the 
country,  with  openings  to  be  scheduled  as 
fast  as  Fantasound  units  are  constructed. 

Martha  Scott,  William  Gargan,  Marsha 
Hunt  and  Mary  Anderson  have  been  set  to 
attend  the  Lincoln,  Neb.,  world  premiere 
of  Richard  A.  Rowland’s  “Cheers  for  Miss 
Bishop”  on  January  14. 

Monogram’s  “Her  First  Romance”  was 
premiered  at  the  Hawaii  Theatre  here  New 
Year’s  Eve.  Edith  Fellows,  Judith  Linden, 
Jacqueline  Wells,  Alan  Ladd  and  Marion 
Kerby,  all  of  whom  played  featured  roles, 
made  personal  appearances. 


the  towns  where  they  play  golf. 

* 

Director  Busby  Berkeley  has  returned 
to  M-G-M  after  spending  the  Christmas 
holidays  in  Oklahoma  City  with  relatives. 
* 

Mrs.  Edward  G.  Robinson  has  checked 
out  for  New  York,  to  be  followed  by  her 
actor-husband  when  he  has  completed  his 
current  Warner  assignment.  They  will  at- 
tend the  inauguration  of  President  Roose- 
velt in  Washington,  D.  C.,  January  20. 

★ 

Having  recuperated  from  a two-week 
bout  with  the  flu.  Director  Lewis  Mile- 
stone has  reported  back  to  RKO  Radio  to 
resume  camera  tests  for  “My  Life  With 
Caroline,”  which  he  will  pilot  for  Producer 
William  Hawks. 

•k 

Louis  Pollock,  Universal’s  eastern  adver- 
tising-publicity director,  and  Adolph 
Schimel  of  the  New  York  legal  department 
have  checked  in  for  conferences  with 
studio  executives  . . . Director  Mitchell 
Leisen  planed  out  for  Fort  Worth,  Tex.,  to 
spend  New  Year’s. 


<2l 


mama 


tlc5 


70 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


fN  VIEW  of  “Chad  Hanna”  and  “Hud- 
son’s Bay,”  quite  understandable  is 
the  announcement  that  Darryl  Zan- 
uck  himself  will  personally  supervise  the 
preparation  and  making  of  two  of  20th 
Century-Fox’s  most  pretentious  and  ex- 
pensive pictures  during  the  coming  sea- 
son— namely  “Swamp  Water,”  to  star 
Henry  Fonda,  and  “How  Green  Was  My 
Valley,”  one  of  the  past  year’s  best-selling 
novels. 

Perhaps  without  the  benefit  of  associate 
producers,  the  Wizard  of  Westwood  can 
re-establish  his  reputation  as  the  produc- 
tion genius  of  the  decade,  which  was  con- 
siderably weakened  by  “Hanna”  and 
“Bay,”  both  of  which  fell  considerably 
short  of  their  expected  marks. 


“Frank  Capra’s  ‘Meet  John  Doe’  unit 
will  return  to  work  at  Warners  today, 
shooting  added  scenes  for  the  film,”  is 
rapidly  becoming  a rubber-stamp  item  in 
publicity  releases  from  Burbank.  Unless 
they  can  be  discarded  soon,  it  might  be 
appropriate  to  change  the  title  to  “Cost 
Much  Doe.” 

Continuing  the  craze  for  space-grabbing 
debut  ideas.  Paramount  gains  the  doubtful 
distinction  of  establishing  the  long-distance 
premiere  record  with  the  announcement  that 
"Virginia"  is  to  make  its  bow  not  only  in 
New  York,  but  also,  and  simultaneously,  at 
Little  America,  the  antarctic  base  of  Rear  Ad- 
miral Richard  E.  Byrd — because,  it  is  ex- 
plained, the  film  was  made  almost  entirely 
on  location  in  Virginia  and  Byrd's  family 
home  there  was  caught  by  the  cameras. 

The  print  will  be  shipped  via  Auckland, 
New  Zealand. 

LOP  confides  to  her  readers  that  “I 
had  myself  a good  laugh  when  they  told 
me  at  Republic  that  they  had  bought  a 


V'i 


story  called  ‘The  Great  Train  Robbery’  by 
Garrett  Weston.” 

And  aforesaid  readers  probably  had 
themselves  a good  laugh  when  Queen  Lou- 
ella  added  that  “I  don’t  remember  much 
about  it  myself” — referring  to  the  original 
epic  of  the  same  title. 

Advocates  of  penal  reform  will  find 
something  about  which  to  become  exer- 
cised in  the  announcement  that  Warner’s 
“Santa  Fe  Trail”  was  shown  to  700  con- 
victs in  the  New  Mexico  state  peniten- 
tiary. 

Next:  Return  of  the  whipping  post. 

The  shorter  the  budget,  the  longer  the  title, 
might  do  as  a slogan  for  Producers  Releas- 
ing Corporation,  what  with  "The  Lone  Rider 
Galloping  to  Glory"  having  been  chosen  as 
the  handle  for  the  first  of  six  westerns  in 
which  George  Houston  will  be  featured. 

Dog  Bites  Man  Department: 

A Paramount  release  declares  that 
“busiest  man  in  Hollywood  today  (16)  is 
Cecil  B.  DeMille,  who  has  three  pictures 
in  preparation — all  of  them  epics.” 

One  of  these  days  DeMille  will  announce 
a forthcoming  picture  without  pre-labeling 


it  an  epic — and  that  will  be  news. 

Indications  that  the  new  system  for 
handling  Hollywood  “press  previews”  is  not 
proving  as  popular  as  was  expected  are 
shown  in  a letter  and  questionnaire  from 
Jock  Lawrence,  publicity  generalissimo  of 
the  local  Hays  office.  Lawrence  requested 
the  members  of  filmdom’s  3.98th  estate  to 
record  their  individual  preferences  between 
afternoon  and  evening  showings.  Which 
idea  was  all  right,  except  that  it  didn’t  go 
far  enough.  Jock  should  have  provided 
space  on  his  questionnaire  for  a few  pet 
peeves,  to  wit: 

Whether  held  in  the  afternoon  or  eve- 
ning, in  a projection  room  or  a chartered 
theatre,  let  the  preview  start  at  the  sched- 
uled hour.  Holding  the  start  for  10,  15 
or  20  minutes  for  the  convenience  of  a few 
late  arrivals,  and  to  the  discomfiture  and 
inconvenience  of  the  on-time  majority,  is 
decidedly  unfair.  Parenthetically,  worst 
offender  in  the  late-start  category  was  the 
recent  press  showing  of  Warner’s  “Escape 
From  Destiny.”  Announced  for  2:00  o’clock, 
it  was  exactly  one  hour  late  in  getting 
started  because  someone  had  neglected  to 
have  a print  of  the  picture  sent  to  the 
theatre. 

Stop  the  showing  of  short  subjects  prior 
to  the  feature’s  being  previewed,  which 
practice  is  probably  another  protectional 
gesture  for  the  few  chronic  late  arrivers. 
And,  if  shorts  must  be  shown,  eliminate 
repetition.  Metro’s  “Quicker’n  a Wink,”  a 
Pete  Smith  Specialty,  has  been  shown  to 
critics  no  less  than  four  times  as  a time- 
killer  preceding  a debuting  feature.  Al- 
beit entertaining,  it  did  border  on  the  mo- 
notonous side  about  the  third  time.  In 
fact,  the  critics  are  probably  more  familiar 
with  the  subject  than  Smith  himself.  Uni- 
versal’s “Syncopated  Sioux,”  a Walter 
Lantz  cartoon,  has  been  shown  under  simi- 
lar circumstances  at  least  three  times. 


Fantastic , Fatuous , Flamboyant 


As  is  customary  during  the  more  or  less 
gay  Yuletide  season,  Hollywood  devoted 
more  attention  to  festivities  than  pre- 
views during  the  holiday  week.  Only  three 
pictures — and  a rather  trifling  trio,  at 
that — found  their  way  to  the  screen  for 
critics’  reaction. 

In  this  far-from  competitive  field,  Uni- 
versal’s “The  Invisible  Woman”  was  an 
easy  best.  Fans  who  remember  “The  In- 
visible Man” — and  his  return  engagement 
— and  pay  their  money  for  this  one  with 
the  expectation  that  it  will  deliver  a com- 
parable quota  of  chills,  might  be  disap- 
pointed, except  for  the  fact  that  a very 
pleasant  surprise  is  in  store  for  them. 
There  isn’t  a shudder  in  its  entire  length, 
but  when  it  comes  to  laughs — that’s  an- 
other matter.  The  script  by  Robert  Lees, 
Fred  Rinaldo  and  Gertrude  Purcell,  from 
the  original  by  Joe  May  and  Kurt  Siod- 
mak,  contains  nothing  but  chuckles  and 
full-fledged  guffaws.  The  five  aforemen- 
tioned writers  completely  eliminated  the 
horror  element  in  order  to  make  way  for 
the  welcome  emphasis  on  humor.  Their 
job  is  definitely  of  the  “Topper”  school 


and  nothing  of  its  kind  has  ever  been  any 
better  done.  A.  Edward  Sutherland’s  di- 
rection is  likewise  expert  and  Burt  Kelly, 
as  the  associate  producer,  provided  every 
requirement  with  an  unstinting  hand.  Too, 
there  was  a weighty  cast  with  which  to 
work,  among  which  John  Barrymore  domi- 
nates. It’s  a feature  which  shouldn’t  miss 
all  along  the  line. 

* * * 

Metro  presented  “Keeping  Company”  as 
the  initial  entry  in  a new  family  series, 
which  Leo  is  projecting  as  a runner-up  to 
the  popular  “Hardy”  clan  pictures.  And 
if  this  one  is  criterion,  the  new  family  is 
going  to  have  to  do  a lot  of  running  before 
it  can  even  see  the  dust  of  Andy  and  his 
tribe.  The  more  naive  patrons  may  accept 
it  as  supporting  fare,  but  it  is  handicapped 
tremendously  by  an  overlong  and  snail- 
paced  script,  into  which  have  been  dragged 
almost  every  time-worn  celluloid  cliche. 
Taking  the  rap  for  the  screenplay  are 
Harry  Ruskin,  James  H.  Hill  and  Adrian 
Scott,  working  from  an  original  by  Her- 
man Mankiewicz.  The  cast,  among  whom 
impish  Virginia  Weidler  imparts  a few 


bright  moments,  is  far  above  its  material 
and  struggles  desperately  but  unsuccess- 
fully, while  S.  Sylvan  Simon’s  direction 
contributes  nothing  to  raise  the  picture 
from  mediocrity.  Samuel  Marx  functioned 
as  the  associate  producer. 

* * * 

Followers  of  Leslie  Chart  eris’  famous 
“Saint”  and  his  crime-solving  proclivities 
will  find  RKO  Radio’s  “The  Saint  in  Palm 
Springs,”  in  which  the  debonair,  slightly 
sinister  criminologist  finds  adventure  in 
California’s  desert  playground,  measuring 
up  to  the  same  high  standards  which  were 
to  be  found  in  previous  chapters  in  the 
series.  George  Sanders  is  again  seen  in 
the  title  role,  surrounded  by  an  entirely 
adequate  supporting  cast.  Howard  Bene- 
dict turned  in  a creditable  job  as  the  asso- 
ciate producer  and  Jack  Hively’s  direction 
is  of  high  order.  Jerry  Cady  provided  a 
suspenseful  screenplay,  incorporating  no 
less  than  three  murders,  working  from  an 
original  supplied  by  Charteris.  As  thriller 
fare  the  feature  should  come  up  to  expec- 
tations. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


71 


Mloi  /f/ir  ood — 

— Personnelities 


Barnstormers 

Monogram 

JOHN  KING  of  the  “Range  Busters”  has 
opened  a seven-week  p.  a.  tour  in  Austin,  Texas, 
in  conjunction  with  “Trail  of  the  Silver  Spurs,” 
newest  in  the  George  W.  Weeks  westerns.  EDDIE 
DEAN  and  DON  WESTON  are  appearing  with 
King.  Itinerary  includes  stopovers  in  Arizona 
and  Oklahoma  before  returning  here  in  March. 

Paramount 

STIRLING  HAYDEN  and  CAROLYN  LEE  to 

make  appearances  at  world  premiere  of  “Virginia” 
in  New  York  January  21,  followed  by  a lengthy 
p.  a.  tour  during  which  they  will  visit  Richmond 
and  Charlottesville,  Va.,  Washington,  Asheville, 
N.  C.,  Atlanta,  Memphis,  Miami,  New  Haven, 
Hartford,  Providence  and  Worcester,  Mass. 

DOROTHY  LAMOUR  officiated  at  opening  cere- 
monies at  the  new  Golden  Gate  race  track  in 
Albany,  Calif.,  December  28.  She  crowned  the 
winner  of  a handicap  named  in  her  honor.  Miss 
Lamour  was  accompanied  by  MARTHA  O’DRIS- 
COLL#, another  Paramount  player. 

RKO  Radio 

ANNA  NEAGLE  has  returned  from  a three-day 
p.  a.  tour  during  which  she  made  16  theatre 
appearances  in  New  York,  Chicago  and  Brooklyn. 

Harry  Sherman 

WILLIAM  BOYD  will  pull  out  early  in  January 
on  a two-month  personal  appearance  tour,  first 
in  his  career.  A company  of  thirty,  incuding  his 
wife,  Grace  Bradley,  will  comprise  the  troupe. 

Universal 

GLORIA  JEAN  returns  from  two-week  p.  a. 
tour  which  took  her  to  17  key  cities  in  con- 
junction with  openings  of  “A  Little  Bit  of 
Heaven.” 

Warner  Bros. 

ROSEMARY  LANE  opened  a week's  p.  a.’s  in 
Detroit  Christmas  Day.  She’ll  do  another  week 
in  Chicago  before  returning  to  Hollywood. 


Blur  her s 

Metro 

HOWARD  STRICKLING,  studio  publicity  di- 
rector,  checked  out  for  the  east,  accompanying 
Clark  Gable,  who  is  going  to  Johns  Hopkins  for 
observation. 

Paramount 

MERVIN  HOUSER  has  checked  out  for  Miami 
for  five  months  to  handle  the  press  campaign  on 
Max  Fleischer's  forthcoming  feature-length  car- 
toon. 

MURPHY  McHENRY  joins  publicity  staff,  hav- 
ing obtained  a release  from  his  post  as  publicity- 
advertising director  for  Edward  Small  Produc- 
tions. Small  has  shut  down  his  production  unit 
for  an  indefinite  period. 

Producers  Association 

JOCK  LAWRENCE  returns  from  a New  York 
trip. 

Pyramid 

TED  LOEFF,  publicity  chief,  has  left  for  New 
York  to  work  out  a promotional  deal  on  “Scat- 
tergood  Baines,”  being  made  for  RKO  Radio  re- 
lease. 

Republic 

BILLY  LEYSER  and  BILL  PEIRCE  were  add- 
ed  to  the  publicity  staff  to  handle  details  of  the 
formal  opening  of  Republic’s  new  sound  stage, 
which  was  dedicated  December  27  to  the  mem- 
ory of  Mabel  Normand  in  formal  and  lavish 
ceremonies. 

WILLIAM  8AAL,  exploitation  director,  checks 
out  for  Dallas  on  business. 

Warner  Bros. 

BERNIE  WILLIAMS,  head  of  the  publicity  art 
department,  is  the  father  of  a baby  daughter, 
named  Gretchen,  born  to  Mrs.  Williams  at  the 
Cedars  of  Lebanon  Hospital. 


Briefies 

Metro 

PETE  SMITH  is  personally  writing  exhibitors 
throughout  the  country  requesting  them  to  select 


the  best  of  his  Specialty  short  subjects  made 
during  1940.  Most  popular  will  be  entered  in  the 
Academy  Awards  competition. 

JOHN  NESBITT  is  preparing  three  new  Pass- 
ing Parade  shorts.  They  include  “More  Trifles 
of  Importance,”  “Underground  News”  and  “Ani- 
mal Psychology.” 

Pathe 

CHARLES  LAUGHTON  and  ELSA  LANCHES- 
TER  posed  for  their  first  short  subject  when  they 
were  caught  by  the  camera  for  “Picture  People.” 


Clefiers 

Metro 

DAVID  SNELL  has  completed  scoring  "Maisie 
Was  a Lady;''  CONSTANTIN  BAKALEINJKOFF 
has  completed  score  of  "Keeping  Company.” 

FRANZ  YVAXMAN  scoring  “The  Bad  Man.” 
"Viva  LaVida,”  Mexican  tango  with  music  by 
ORMOND  B.  RUTHVEN  and  lyrics  by  ALBERT 
MANNHEIMER  purchased  for  use  as  one  of  the 
themes  in  "Billy  the  Kid.” 

Paramount 

SIGMUND  KRUMGOLD  scoring  “The  Lady  Eve." 

RKO  Radio 

ROY  WEBB  scoring  “A  Girl,  a Guy  and  a Gob.” 

ANTHONY  COLLINS  to  score  “Sunny,”  next 
Herbert  Wilcox  production  starring  Anna  Neagle. 

20th  Century-Fox 

EMIL  NEWMAN  completes  score  of  “Tall, 
Dark  and  Handsome.” 

Warner  Bros. 

ADOLPH  DEUTSCH  completes  scoring  “High 
Sierra.” 


Loanouts 

Paramount 

JOHN  LODER  borrowed  from  20th  Century- 
Fox  for  a lead  in  “One  Night  in  Lisbon.” 

RKO  Radio 

JOAN  FONTAINE  borrowed  from  David  O. 
Selznick  to  appear  opposite  Cary  Grant  in  "Be- 
fore the  Fact.”  Alfred  Hitchcock  will  direct. 

FRED  MacMURRAY  borrowed  from  Paramount 
to  star  in  "True  to  Form,”  rolling  in  March 
with  David  Butler  producing  and  directing. 

JOHN  CARROLL  borrowed  from  M-G-M  for  the 
male  lead  opposite  Anna  Neagle  in  the  Herbert 
Wilcox  production,  "Sunny.” 


Meggers 

Columbia 

EVERETT  RISKIN  named  associate  producer 
on  “Mr.  Twilight,”  story  by  Sidney  Harmon  with 
a Supreme  Court  background. 

Metro 

W.  S.  VAN  DYKE  replaces  ROBERT  SIN- 

CLAIR  as  pilot  on  “Rage  in  Heaven,”  the  Robert 
Montgomery  starrer.  Van  Dyke  has  been  given 
a 14-day  leave  from  his  duties  as  commander 
of  the  second  battalion,  22nd  Marines,  in  San 
Diego. 

EDWARD  CAHN  piloting  “Come  Back,  Miss 
Pipps,”  an  Our  Gang  Comedy. 

Producers  Releasing  Corp. 

PETER  STEWART  to  pilot  "Outlaws  of  the  Rio 
Grande,”  a Sig  Neufeld  production  starring  Tim 
McCoy. 

20th  Century-Fox 

LOU  OSTROW  to  produce  "We  Go  Fast,”  from 
a story  by  Douglas  Welch. 

FRITZ  LANG  to  direct  "Man  Hunt.” 

Universal 

BURT  KELLY  named  associate  producer  on  an 
untitled  Abbott  and  Costello  starrer,  to  follow 
"Buck  Privates.” 

KEN  GOLDSMITH  named  associate  producer 
on  "Stitches  and  Stars,”  a musical. 

Warner  Bros. 

LLOYD  BACON  to  pilot  “Affectionately  Yours.” 

VINCENT  SHERMAN  to  pilot  “Strange  Alibi,” 
with  Joan  Perry  and  Arthur  Kennedy  in  the 


leads.  Leslie  T.  White’s  original  was  scripted 
by  Ken  Garnet  and  Fred  Niblo  jr. 


Options 

Columbia 

MARTHA  SCOTT  set  for  the  lead  opposite 
George  Brent  in  "They  Dare  Not  Love.”  Sam 
Bischoff  produces. 

PAT  O’BRIEN  signs  five-year  ticket  to  star  in 
two  pictures  annually. 

Metro 

NIGEL  BRUCE  draws  a topline  in  “Free  and 
Easy.” 

GUINN  (BIG  BOY)  WILLIAMS  signed  for  a 
featured  role  in  “Billy  the  Kid.” 

ROBERT  CUMMINGS  set  for  male  lead  in 
“Free  and  Easy,”  from  Ivor  Novello’s  stage  play, 
which  Milton  Bren  will  produce  and  Eddie  Buz- 
zell  will  direct.  Ruth  Hussey  has  the  feminine 
topline. 

Paramount 

FUZZY  KNIGHT  given  a comedy  lead  in  “New 
York  Town.” 

LLOYD  NOLAN  set  for  the  male  lead  in  “Two 
Bad  Angels.”  Sol  C.  Siegel  produces. 

MARGARET  HAYES,  featured  player,  held  for 
a new  term.  She  was  formerly  known  as  Dana 
Dale. 

BETTY  BREWER,  13-year-old  player,  given 
new  contract. 

RKO  Radio 

SPRING  BYINGTON  draws  a topline  in  “The 
Devil  and  Miss  Jones.” 

FRANK  FENTON  and  LYNN  ROOT,  writing 
team,  sign  one-picture  deal. 

RANDOLPH  SCOTT  booked  for  top  male  role 
in  “True  to  Form,”  to  be  produced  and  directed 
by  David  Butler. 

DOROTHY  COMINGORE  signs  term  acting 
ticket.  She  made  her  film  debut  in  “Citizen 
Kane.”  Her  name  is  to  be  changed  to  LINDA 
WINTERS. 

Republic 

CHARLIE  BUTTERWORTH  given  comedy  lead 
in  “Sis  Hopkins,”  starring  Judy  Canova. 

Universal 

RUDY  VALLEE  signed  to  star  in  an  untitled 
musical  which  Joseph  G.  Sanford  will  produce. 

HUNTZ  HALL  signs  three-picture  acting  con- 
tract. 

Warner  Bros. 

FRANK  WILCOX,  character  player,  held  for 
another  term. 


Scripters 

Columbia 

HOWARD  J.  GREEN  to  “Chain  Gang”  for 
Producer  Wallace  MacDonald. 

GORDON  RIGBY  to  “Young  Annapolis.”  Wal- 
lace MacDonald  is  the  producer. 

DALE  VAN  EVERY'  to  an  untitled  original  for 
Producer  Everett  Riskin. 

Metro 

MARION  PARSONNET  to  “She  Takes  the 
Wheel,”  a newspaper  story  by  L.  DuRocher  Mac- 
pherson  with  Edgar  Selwyn  producing. 

FREDERICK  KOHNER  to  “The  Youngest  Pro- 
fession,” Judy  Garland  starrer,  which  Sidney 
Franklin  will  produce. 

RICHARD  ENGLISH  to  an  untitled  musical  for 
Producer  Jack  Cummings. 

HAL  LAW  and  ROBERT  McGOWAN  complete 
“Come  Back,  Miss  Pipps,”  next  in  the  Our  Gang 
comedy  series. 

Paramount 

RICHARD  MAIBAUM  to  “Hold  Back  the  Dawn,” 
from  the  Ketti  Frings  story.  Charles  Boyer  and 
Paulette  Goddard  will  co-star. 

WILKIE  MAHONEY  completes  “Caught  in  the 
Draft,”  the  Bob  Hope  starrer. 

ERNEST  PAGANO  and  HARRY  CLORK  com- 
plete “Las  Vegas  Nights.” 

Republic 

DORRELL  and  STUART  McGOWAN  to  “County 
Fair,”  from  their  own  original. 

20th  Century-Fox 

ROBERT  CARSON  to  “Here  Comes  the  Band” 
for  Producer  Harry  Joe  Brown. 

JOHN  LARKIN  to  “Man  Alive.”  Walter  Mo- 
rosco  and  Ralph  Dietrich  will  produce. 

Warner  Bros. 

MILTON  KRIMS  to  “The  Dealer’s  Name  Was 
George,”  from  the  Ketti  Frings  story. 

ANTHONY  COLDEWAY  to  “The  Old  Doll’s 
House.”  Damon  Runyon  wrote  the  story. 

LESTER  COLE  to  “Bad  Men  of  Missouri,” 
which  William  K.  Howard  will  direct. 


72 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


PCCITO  Meeting  in 
Portland  Jan.  13 

Portland — The  Pacific  Coast  Conference 
of  Independent  Theatre  Owners  will  hold 
one  of  three  scheduled  mass  regional 
meetings  here  on  January  13. 

Officials  who  will  attend  include  Robert 
Poole,  executive  secretary,  Los  Angeles; 
Hugh  Bruen  and  Jack  Berman,  trustees, 
Los  Angeles;  Rotus  Harvey  and  Ben  Levin, 
trustees,  San  Francisco;  from  Seattle,  Sec- 
retary Jim  Hone  and  Trustees  Lukan  and 
Ripley.  Hosts  for  the  affair  will  be  the 
Oregon  secretary,  “Banjo”  Miller,  and 
Trustees  Wes  Johnson  and  Bob  White. 

Albert  J.  Law,  attorney  for  the  organi- 
zation, will  be  the  principal  speaker.  Law 
previously  was  connected  with  the  attor- 
ney general’s  office  in  Washington  for  the 
past  15  years. 

All  theatremen,  whether  members  of  the 
PCCITO  or  not,  are  invited  to  attend  the 
meeting  which  will  be  held  at  the  Hotel 
Benson. 


Exhibitor  Organization's 
Routine  Upset  by  Illness 

Los  Angeles — Seasonal  holidays  and  ill- 
ness have  upset  the  routines  of  the  Pacific 
Coast  Conference  of  Independent  Theatre 
Owners  and  the  ITO  of  So.  Calif,  and 
Ariz. 

Robert  H.  Poole,  the  ITO’s  executive  di- 
rector and  secretary  of  the  PCCITO,  has 
been  vacationing  for  the  past  week  and 
was  not  expected  to  return  to  his  desk 
until  after  the  New  Year.  Additionally, 
his  aide,  Ida  Schreiber,  has  been  bedded 
with  an  influenza  attack. 

It  is  expected  that  upon  Poole’s  return 
a meeting  of  the  PCCITO  trustees  will  be 
called  at  which  the  organization’s  new 
counsel,  Albert  J.  Law,  former  department 
of  justice  deputy  stationed  here,  will  be 
formally  introduced  to  the  directorate. 
Law’s  appointment  was  announced  short- 
ly before  Christmas,  together  with  the  as- 
sertion that  among  his  first  duties  would 
be  a thorough  study  and  analysis  of  the 
consent  decree  and  the  effect  that  mea- 
sure will  have  upon  the  PCCITO  and  its 
exhibitor  members. 


PCCITO  Will  Convene  in 
Seattle  January  14 

Seattle — The  Pacific  Coast  Conference 
of  the  Independent  Theatre  Owners  will 
hold  a special  gathering  here  January  14. 

The  trustees  will  meet  at  breakfast,  all 
exhibitor  members  will  gather  for  lunch- 
eon and  confab,  following  which  the  Cali- 
fornia delegation  will  get  away  for  home. 

Due  to  attend  the  meeting  are  Albert 
Law,  attorney;  Robert  Poole,  executive 
coast  secretary;  Hugh  Bruen,  Jack  Ber- 
man, all  of  Los  Angeles;  Bob  White,  presi- 
dent of  the  Oregon  group  along  with  A. 
West  Johnson,  and  Rotus  Harvey  and  Ben 
Levin  of  San  Francisco. 

Big  item  of  conversation  will  be  the 
forthcoming  consent  decree. 


REVIEW 

FLASHES 

ROMANCE  OF  THE  RIO  GRANDE  (20th-Fox) 
— In  which  the  love  bug  nearly  catches  up 
with  the  Cisco  Kid,  and  while  the  tender 
passion  is  engulfing  that  perennial  Cabal- 
lero, audiences  will  be  delighted  to  see 
the  very  marked  improvement  in  this  chap- 
ter of  the  established  western  series  as 
compared  to  its  predecessors.  The  feature 
is  definitely  above  average  as  program 
material,  and  will  be  more  than  welcomed 
by  Cisco's  fans  and  cannot  help  but  please 
all  patrons,  whether  sagebrush  enthusi- 
asts or  not.  Sol  Wurtzel  produced.  Herbert 
I.  Leeds  directed. 

Montana  Screen  Club 
Will  Be  Led  by  Loy 

Butte,  Mont. — Organized  here  recently 
as  a means  of  promoting  better  under- 
standing among  the  various  segments  of 
the  trade  in  the  Montana  territory,  the 
Montana  Screen  Club  has  chosen  Ed  Loy 
as  its  first  president. 

Other  officers  named  include:  Bert  Hen- 
sen,  vice-president;  Harry  Swonson,  sec- 
retary-treasurer, and  Clyde  Anderson,  pub- 
licist. Members  of  the  board  of  directors 
are  Anderson,  Frank  Berryman,  Sam  Ap- 
pleman,  Joe  Kracher,  Cordell  Enrooth  and 
Frank  Larsen. 

Besides  the  officers  and  directors,  char- 
ter members  include  A1  Shepperd,  Howard 
Godfrey,  Jack  Casey,  Dan  Kalen,  Clare 
Swonson,  Harold  Fuller,  Joe  Tipple,  Bill 
Braden,  Dan  Clancy,  Russell  Swonson, 
Buck  Harris  and  Hank  Young. 

Regular  meeting  will  be  held  at  club- 
rooms  yet  to  be  determined. 


" Reputation  " Clause  Is 
Upheld  in  Contract 

Los  Angeles — A superior  court  ruling 
has  been  handed  down  in  favor  of  Dr. 
Peter  Riccardi  and  Roger  Rogers,  co-de- 
fendants in  an  $18,000  damage  suit  filed 
by  F.  K.  Ferenz,  charging  they  unlawfully 
broke  his  lease  on  the  Mason  Opera  House, 
which  they  own,  and  forcibly  and  illegally 
ousted  him  therefrom. 

The  defendants  had  the  theatre  pad- 
locked October  12,  interrupting  a scheduled 
showing  of  German-language  features 
booked  by  Ferenz,  contending  the  films 
were  Nazi  propaganda  and  consequently 
were  being  shown  in  violation  of  the  “repu- 
tation” clause  in  the  lease. 

The  court  upheld  the  defendants’  con- 
tention and  declared  further  projection  of 
the  films  would  tend  to  foment  hatred, 
racial  enmity  and  criticism.  Ferenz  had 


First  Runs  Overcome 
A Pre-Holiday  Lag 


(Average  is  100) 

San  Francisco — Despite  many  holiday 
attractions,  the  first  runs  had  a nice  re- 
covery from  the  pre-Christmas  lag.  The 
weatherman  finally  let  up  after  ten  con- 
secutive days  of  rain  and  people  began 
attending  the  shows  again.  The  top  spot 
of  the  week  went  to  the  Golden  Gate 
showing  “No,  No,  Nanette”  and  a stage 
show  with  no  names  but  a local  attraction 
in  Nancy  Welford,  who  played  Nanette 
here  for  six  months  in  1925.  Paramount 
ended  a ten-day  run  of  “Second  Chorus” 
after  better  than  average  business.  All 
houses  made  Tuesday  changes  with  the 
exception  of  the  Orpheum  which  held 
“Arizona”  for  a third  week. 

Detail  for  week  ending  December  30: 

Fox — Flight  Command  (M-G-M);  Gallant 


Sons  (M-G-M)  100 

Golden  Gate — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO),  plus 

stage  show  125 

Orpheum — Arizona  (Col) ; I’m  Nobody’s  Sweet- 
heart (Univ),  2nd  wk 100 

Paramount — Second  Chorus  (Para’t) ; Melody 

Ranch  (Rep),  10-day  run  115 

St.  Francis — Christmas  in  July  (Para’t) ; 

Go  West  (M-G-M),  after  wk.  at  Fox 85 


United  Artists — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA),  2nd  wk.  .120 


Average  Week  Maintained 
By  Seattle  First  Runs 

Seattle — Average  grosses  were  main- 
tained generally  by  Seattle  first  runs  dur- 
ing the  holiday  week  that  marked  the 
year’s  end.  “Thief  of  Bagdad”  and  “Ari- 
zona” each  in  second  week  stands  main- 
tained their  drawing  power  along  with  all 
other  product  on  theatrerow. 

Detail  for  week  ended  December  28: 

Blue  Mouse — Long  Voyage  Home  (UA);  Danc- 
ing on  a Dime  (Para’t)  90 

Fifth  Avenue — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA),  2nd  wk.  .100 

Liberty — Arizona  (Col),  2nd  wk 100 

Music  Box— Little  Nellie  Kelly  (M-G-M);  Gal- 
lant Sons  (M-G-M)  90 

Orpheum — Four  Mothers  (WB) ; A Night  at 

Earl  Carroll’s  (Para’t)  100 

Palomar — Dreaming  Out  Loud  (RKO);  March 

on  Marines  (SR)  100 

Paramount — Comrade  X (M-G-M) ; Dr.  Kil- 
dare’s Crisis  (M-G-M),  2nd  wk 90 

'Flight  Command / Thief 
Lead  a Strong  Lineup 

Salt  Lake  City — All  product  displayed 
gratifying  strength  at  the  tills  of  the  first 
runs  holiday  week.  Leaders  were  “Thief 
of  Bagdad”  at  the  Paramount  and  “Flight 
Command”  at  the  Utah.  “Tin  Pan  Alley” 
in  its  third  week  at  the  Studio  managed  to 
retain  an  above  average  drawing  power. 
Detail  for  week  ending  December  28. 

Capitol — Give  Us  Wingrs  (Univ) ; Blondie  Plays 


Cupid  (Col)  110 

Centre — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN)  110 

Paramount — Tliief  of  Bagdad  (UA)  125 

Rialto — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO)  115 

Studio — Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox),  3rd  wk 105 

Utah — Flight  Command  (M-G-M)  125 

Victory — Where  Did  You  Get  That  Girl? 

(Univ);  Diamond  Frontier  (Univ)  110 


denied  the  pictures  were  propaganda  and 
asserted  he  had  never  had  “an  adverse 
criticism”  concerning  any  of  them  since 
he  had  been  booking  them,  a matter  of 
some  five  years. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


73 


S HE  A T T IL  IE 

^LL  THEATRES  got  a Christmas  present 
of  extra  business  over  the  holidays. 
Lines  were  noted  at  most  houses  on  Yule 
day.  Many  a theatre  chair  got  a surprise, 
but  with  the  local  defense  orders  pouring 
in,  these  same  seats  will  need  replacing  a 
year  from  now  owing  to  constant  wear. 
Here’s  hoping,  and  may  that  be  my  New 
Year  wish  to  all  theatre  owners  in  this 
neck-of-the-woods.  To  all  in  the  various 
other  branches  of  the  business  may  it  be 
a Happy  New  Year. 

The  Ranch  is  at  present  featuring  Edith 
Rogers  Dahl,  the  gal  who  saved  her  hubby 
from  the  Franco  firing  squad  . . . Basil 
Gray,  secretary  to  the  Stage  Employes 
Union  Local  15,  was  the  highlight  of  the 
program  for  the  annual  newsboys  Xmas 
dinner.  Over  600  boys  ate  the  turkeys  and 
Basil  presented  some  grand  entertainment 
■ . . Grade  Fields,  England’s  most  popular 
singing  actress  of  stage  and  screen,  will 
come  to  Seattle,  January  24,  to  aid  the 
cause  of  Britain  under  the  combined  aus- 
pices of  the  English-Speaking  union, 
Friends  of  Britain  and  the  British- Ameri- 
can War  Relief.  Show  will  be  held  in  the 
Music  Hall. 

J.  T.  Sheffield,  president  of  Republic 
Pictures  of  the  Northwest,  held  his  usual 
open  house  for  the  holidays,  but  had  a 
better  reason  to  greet  the  gang.  He  is  now 
a grandpa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheffield  an- 
nounce that  their  daughter,  Margaret,  is 
now  the  mother  of  an  eight -pound  daugh- 
ter and  both  are  doing  fine.  The  son-in- 
law  is  Paul  Bangasser,  booker  for  the 
Sterling  theatres. 

Bill  Forman,  general  manager  for  Ster- 
ling, spent  his  New  Year’s  Eve  in  the  hos- 
pital. Bill  had  to  have  his  appendix  re- 
moved. Visitors  will  find  Bill  in  the  Provi- 
dence Hospital  . . . Bill  and  Mrs.  Shartin 
are  spending  their  vacation  with  a trip 
to  San  Francisco,  on  to  Los  Angeles,  and 
the  Rose  Bowl  game  . . . Harry  Landstom 
in  from  Butte  for  his  vacation  and  being 
entertained  royally.  One  day  Harry  was 
entertained  by  the  Jean  and  Madge 
Spears.  Again  by  the  Saffles  then  by  Glenn 
Haviland. 

Alex  “Doc”  Singelow  also  being  enter- 
tained the  same  way  before  he  takes  over 
his  new  duties  with  UA  in  Portland  . . . 
Betty  Condon,  daughter  of  Maury  and 
Mrs.  Saffle,  home  for  New  Year’s.  Her  hub- 
by, Don,  is  a booker  for  Golden  State 
theatres  in  San  Francisco  . . . Frank  Shef- 
field and  his  wife,  Billie,  in  for  the  New 
Year  to  spend  a few  days  with  their  uncle 
T.  T.  Frank  is  salesman  for  Republic  in 
Denver  while  Billie  is  secretary  in  the  UA 
office  in  the  same  town. 

Folks  were  worried  for  a couple  of  days 
over  Art  Bishell.  Art  suffered  a heart  at- 
tack and  will  be  in  the  hospital  for  a spell 
but  is  coming  along  okay  . . . Jimmie  Ew- 
ing, former  film  salesman  and  later  man- 
ager of  the  Orpheum  in  Spokane,  has 
taken  over  the  lease  on  the  Granada  in 
Auburn  from  Frank  Graham. 

L.  G.  McGinley,  manager  of  Universal, 
celebrated  his  birthday  on  Christmas  day 
. . . Eldon  Pollock  sr.,  of  the  Lincoln  and 


Hoffman  Again  Leads 
UA  Denver  Exchange 

Denver — A1  Hoffman,  who  again  has 
been  named  manager  of  the  local  United 
Artists  exchange,  is  one  of  those  numer- 
ous men  who,  having  been  transferred  here 
from  other  sections  of  the  country,  would 
rather  be  a salesman  here  than  a branch 


AL  HOFFMAN 

manager  elsewhere.  When  Earl  Collins, 
salesman,  was  promoted  to  succeed  Hoff- 
man as  manager,  Hoffman  elected  to  stay 
as  a salesman  under  Collins  rather  than 
accept  a branch  managership  away  from 
Denver. 

Recently,  when  Collins  was  made  man- 
ager of  the  Los  Angeles  exchange,  the  com- 
pany elevated  Hoffman  back  to  the  man- 
ager job. 

Hoffman  started  in  the  theatre  busi- 
ness in  1911  as  an  usher  in  the  Marshfield 
Theatre,  one  of  the  first  nickelodeons  in 
Chicago.  A1  was  going  to  Chicago  Univer- 
sity at  the  time,  and  when  he  graduated 
he  was  made  assistant  manager  of  the  Or- 
pheum. Later  he  opened  the  Broadway 
Strand  for  Marks,  Goodman  & Harrison. 
He  entered  the  sales  end  in  1920  as  a sales- 
man for  Harry  Weiss,  an  independent  dis- 
tributor, then  went  to  FBO  as  salesman, 
and  for  a time  operated  a sign  and  give- 
away business  on  his  own.  With  World 
Wide  for  a time,  he  switched  to  United 
Artists,  both  times  as  salesman,  then  to 
Minneapolis  as  branch  manager  prior  to 
coming  to  Denver  as  branch  manager. 

During  Al’s  first  term  as  manager,  and 
with  Earl  Collins,  his  successor,  the  local 
exchange  consistently  won  sales,  date  and 
collection  drives. 


Lyric  theatres  in  Mount  Vernon,  is  author 
of  a book  which  has  just  been  published, 
“Helene  of  the  Yukon”  . . . Betty  Fett- 
gather  of  the  Hamrick-Evergreen  theatres 
spending  her  holidays  in  Yakima,  her 
home  . . . Frank  Graham  planning  to  at- 
tend the  national  outboard  motor  show  in 
New  York  early  next  month  . . . Ned  Ed- 
ris  of  the  Hamrick-Edris  theatres  in  Ta- 
coma still  down  with  the  flu. 


SALT  LAKE 

0HRISTMAS  attendance  at  local  thea- 
tres was  very  good.  Several  theatres 
celebrated  reopenings  at  the  time,  includ- 
ing the  Paramount  and  Capitol  here,  and 
the  Ada  at  Boise,  Ida.  . . . Sales  by  inde- 
pendent retail  stores  in  Utah  during  No- 
vember 1940,  were  eight  per  cent  higher 
than  in  the  same  month  of  1939,  and  sales 
for  the  first  11  months  of  1940  were  four 
per  cent  above  the  same  period  a year 
earlier,  the  U.  S.  census  reported  last 
week.  Idaho  retailers  recorded  November 
sales  10  per  cent  above  those  of  the  same 
month  in  1939,  and  Wyoming  stores  chalk- 
ed up  a four  per  cent  increase. 

Norma  Shearer,  en  route  to  Sun  Valley, 
Idaho,  to  spend  the  Christmas  holidays 
skiing  with  a group  of  Hollywood  friends, 
including  Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  vice-president 
in  charge  of  production  for  20th  Century- 
Fox,  paused  in  Salt  Lake  for  a brief  stop- 
over. She  said  the  party  would  remain  at 
Sun  Valley  for  two  weeks  before  returning 
to  Hollywood,  and  that  she  hoped  to  keep 
her  skiis  both  pointed  in  the  same  direc- 
tion, “and  I don’t  mean  up,”  she  added. 
Others  in  the  party  were  Mrs.  Zanuck  and 
their  three  children;  Mack  Gordon,  com- 
poser of  screen  music;  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Charles  Feldman,  and  Archie  Mayo,  a di- 
rector. 

Exclusive  films  of  the  first  annual  Snow 
Cup  race  at  Alta  are  now  on  the  screen 
at  the  local  Centre.  They  were  filmed  by 
Paramount’s  Joe  Rucker,  who  spent  two 
years  with  Byrd  at  the  South  Pole  and 
has  covered  many  major  winter  sports 
events  . . . Laraine  Day,  native  Utahan 
and  film  star,  ordered  80  five-pound  cans 
of  Uintah  basin  honey  from  Myton,  Utah, 
and  30  turkeys  to  be  sent  to  Hollywood 
friends  and  studio  workers  for  Christmas 
. . . “Tin  Pan  Alley”  and  “The  Letter” 
have  run  for  three  consecutive  weeks  in 
Salt  Lake. 

A tieup  here  involves  the  Tower  Theatre 
and  the  Golden  Glory  Milk  Products  Co. 
“Free  Movies,”  especially  selected  to  please 
the  youngsters,  are  shoum  on  Saturday 
mornings.  Admission  “price”  is  six  milk 
bottle  caps  or  trade  marks  from  milk  car- 
tons used  by  the  milk  company.  E.  D. 
Smith  is  manager  of  the  Tower  . . . Some 
pictures  selected  for  the  holiday  week  in- 
cluded: “Thief  of  Bagdad,”  “No,  No,  Nan- 
ette,” “Flight  Command,”  “Santa  Fe 
Trail,”  “Tin  Pan  Alley,”  “Give  Us  Wings” 
and  “Blondie  Plays  Cupid.” 

The  reopenings  in  Salt  Lake  of  the 
Capitol  and  Paramount  were  highly  suc- 
cessful. Managers  C.  Clare  Woods  and  Nor- 
man Sprowl  are  in  charge,  respectively. 
The  Paramount  had  in  the  lobby  a small 
railroad  engine  (about  as  tall  as  a six  or 
seven-year-old  youngster)  proclaiming 
thereupon  a “trainload  of  fun”  for  the  New 
Year’s  celebration  here. 


Newspaper  Story  to  Selwyn 

Hollywood — “She  Takes  a Wheel,”  a 
newspaper  story,  will  be  produced  for 
Metro  by  Edgar  Selwyn.  Marion  Parsonnet 
is  doing  the  script. 


74 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


Heads  UA  in  L.  A. — 

Earl  Collins,  new  manager  of  the 
United  Artists  branch  in  Los  Angeles. 
He  formerly  was  manager  of  the  Den- 
ver exchange,  being  succeeded  there 
by  Al  Hoffman. 


gTANLEY  GUSTAFSON,  assistant  ship- 
per at  Fox,  who  fell  off  a ladder  and 
broke  his  back,  is  getting  along  nicely  and 
hopes  to  be  back  at  work  before  long  . . . 
Mrs.  Hudson’s  Colonial  has  blossomed 
forth  with  a new  marquee. 

Filmites  welcomed  an  oldtimer  back  to 
the  business  when  Mel  Johnson  took  over 
the  managerial  reins  of  Jesse  Jones’  Rose- 
way. Mel  has  been  out  of  the  industry  for 
three  or  four  years,  but  will  be  remem- 
bered as  manager  of  the  Mission  in  Van- 
couver and  later  of  the  Venetian  in  Hills- 
boro. 

Visitors  were  scarce  on  the  Row  last  week 
due  to  holiday  activities  . . . Archie  Holt 
came  down  from  Seattle  for  a holiday  visit 
. . . Cal  Barnes,  ex-film  truck  man,  visited 
old  friends  on  a recent  trip.  He  spends 
the  winters  in  his  mountain  home  near  the 
Oregon  coast  and  the  summers  operating 
a concession  at  one  of  California’s  beach 
resorts. 

Wes  Johnson  stopped  over  on  his  way 
to  Seattle  for  a vacation  . . . Roy  Brown 
went  to  San  Francisco  for  a New  Year 
vacation  . . . Charlie  Powers  didn’t  go  south 
or  north  for  a vacation,  but  the  story  is 
that  he  had  more  fun  than  anyone  else  by 
playing  with  junior’s  electric  train.  At  any 
rate,  he’s  been  very  scarce  around  the 
Row  lately. 

Sam  MacFadden  spent  his  holiday  in  the 
dog  house  because  he  couldn’t  manipulate 
the  tinker  toy  set  his  son  got  for  Xmas 
. . . Jim  Sheffield  made  sure  his  baby 
didn’t  get  anything  more  complicated  than 
a rattle. 


“Draft"  With  Bob  Hope 

Hollywood  — Paramount’s  “Caught  in 
the  Draft’’  will  star  Bob  Hope.  Wilkie 
Mahoney  is  doing  the  script. 


JN  FOR  BOOKINGS:  Justin  LaFont, 

Forum  Theatre,  Barstow;  Al  Kirsten  of 
the  Whittier  Theatre;  Murray  Hawkins, 
general  manager  of  the  Swan  circuit  . . . 
George  Carrington,  vice-president  of  Altec 
Service,  is  in  from  New  York  for  confer- 
ences with  local  Altec  executives  and  is 
headquartering  at  the  Hollywood  Roose- 
velt Hotel. 

Henry  Sonnenshine  of  Premier  Pictures 
pulled  in  from  a business  trip  to  San  Fran- 
cisco— just  in  time  to  spend  New  Year’s  at 
home  . . . Likewise  Fred  Gage,  salesman 
for  United  Artists,  who  scooted  through 
his  Arizona  territory  in  double-quick  time 
to  make  it  back  here  for  New  Year’s  Eve 
. . . M . J . Wagnon  has  closed  his  Camo 
at  Cambria,  according  to  word  reaching 
the  Republic  exchange  . . . Jack  Anderson, 
Republic’s  office  manager  in  Portland, 
spent  the  holidays  down  here. 

New  Year’s  present  for  the  Paramount 
exchange  is  a facelifting  and  remodeling 
job.  A new,  streamlined  booking  booth  is 
being  installed  . . . Booking:  Boris  Pos- 
ner, Arlington  Theatre;  Lowell  Winfield, 
Glendora,  Glendora;  Jimmy  Edwards  of 
the  Edwards  circuit  in  San  Gabriel  Val- 
ley; Alex  Mounce,  operator  of  the  Campus. 

Stan  Pariseau,  branch  manager  for  Altec 
Service,  planed  to  San  Francisco  for  a 
week’s  stay  on  busmess  . . . John  Ash, 
M-G-M  auditor,  left  for  New  York  . . . 
C.  A.  B.  Emanuel  and  his  daughter  Bess 
of  the  Foreign  Film  Exchange  spent  New 
Year’s  at  Boulder  Dam  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Barclay  Ardell,  in  from  Altec’s  Seattle  of- 
fice, vacationed  here  during  the  holidays. 

Frank  R.  Newman,  head  of  Evergreen 
Theatres  in  Seattle,  has  recovered  from 
the  illness  which  bedded  him  soon  after 
his  arrival  here  to  spend  the  holidays.  He 
has  been  at  the  home  of  his  son-in-law, 
Producer  Pandro  S.  Berman  of  M-G-M, 
and  will  return  to  Seattle  shortly  . . . Lou 
Metzger  has  transferred  his  theatrical  en- 
terprises offices  from  Filmrow  to  his  own 
new  building  at  La  Cienega  and  Olympic 
Blvds. 

Ollie  Wog,  branch  manager  for  Pro- 
ducers Releasing  Corp.  in  Portland,  and 
formerly  with  Universal  locally,  spent  the 
holiday  season  here  . . . Ditto  Jack  Eric- 
son,  20th  Century-Fox  salesman  from  San 
Francisco  . . . Don  Cameron,  Altec  Ser- 
vice engineer  in  Colorado  Springs,  has 
been  visiting  his  mother  here  . . . The  flu 
has  bedded  Ida  Schreiber,  secretary  to 
Robert  Poole  at  the  Independent  Theatre 
Owners  of  So.  Calif,  and  Ariz. 

Wendell  Bickford  of  M-G-M’s  poster  de- 
partment surprised  his  Filmrow  friends  by 
eloping  to  Las  Vegas  and  marrying  Flor- 
ence Lyman.  She’s  a non-pro  ...  In  book- 
ing: Phil  Greenbaum,  operator  of  the  Cas- 
tle and  Mecca  theatres;  A.  Molina,  Pla- 
centia Theatre,  Placentia,  and  Ben  Bron- 
stein,  head  man  at  the  Bronstein  circuit 
here. 

Mike  Levinson,  independent  distributor, 
has  booked  “White  Zombie”  for  the  en- 
tire Evergreen  Circuit  in  Portland,  Oregon 
. . . Murray  Fisher,  office  manager  here 
for  Producers  Releasing  Corp.,  came  back 


in  time  to  enjoy  the  exchange’s  Christmas 
party.  He  had  been  a flu  sufferer  for  more 
than  a week. 

Harry  Cohen,  RKO  Radio  branch  man- 
ager, has  returned  from  a trip  to  the  New 
York  office  . . . Film  Alliance  has  moved 
its  offices  from  1912  S.  Vermont  to  1928 
S.  Vermont  . . . Foster  Blake,  Universal 
salesman,  spent  the  holidays  in  Portland, 
Ore.  . . . Harold  Whitman,  Universal 
booker,  has  left  for  Sterling,  Indiana,  to 
help  his  parents  celebrate  their  golden 
wedding  anniversary. 

Harry  Taylor,  sales  manager  for  Con- 
stance Bennett  Cosmetics,  Inc.,  has  re- 
turned from  a trip  through  the  midwest, 
during  which  he  closed  deals  for  more  than 
1,000,000  pieces  with  the  Fox,  Common- 
wealth and  Griffith  circuits  of  Kansas 
City,  as  well  as  with  circuits  in  Iowa  and 
Nebraska  . . . Simultaneously,  President 
George  Alderman  of  the  Bennett  firm 
came  in  from  a sales  trip  which  took  him 
northward  as  far  as  San  Francisco. 

Hugh  Braly,  Paramount  district  sales 
manager  for  Dallas,  Memphis,  and  Okla- 
homa City,  and  Mrs.  Braly  stopped  off 
here  briefly  en  route  to  Selma,  Cal.,  where 
they  spent  Christmas  with  Mrs.  Braly’s 
mother  . . . M.  G.  Whitman,  of  the  Uni- 
versal exchange  in  Seattle,  was  another 
holiday-time  visitor. 

Elsie  Schulz  of  the  local  M-G-M  ex- 
change observes  her  fifth  anniversary  with 
the  company  on  Monday.  Others  marking 
anniversaries  with  Leo  include:  Agnes 
Leeming  four  years,  January  9,  and  Doris 
Randle,  14  years,  January  10. 

Ascap  Is  Denied  a 
Writ  in  Washington 

Seattle — After  many  months  of  court 
battling  involving  complications  with  va- 
rious radio  stations,  dance  halls,  cafes 
handling  music,  ballrooms,  along  with  the 
theatres  in  the  state,  Jim  Hone,  executive 
secretary  of  the  former  MPTO  and  now 
the  Independent  Theatre  Owners  of  Wash- 
ington, finally  won  his  point  when  a three 
judge  federal  district  court  denied  the 
American  Society  of  Composers,  Authors 
and  Publishers  an  injunction  against  a 
state  law  on  the  grounds  that  the  society 
is  an  illegal  combination  in  restraint  of 
trade. 

The  decision  will  have  far-reaching  ef- 
fect, for  other  states  have  been  awaiting 
the  outcome. 

Hone,  in  the  interest  of  the  theatres  he 
represents,  has  devoted  most  of  his  time 
to  fight  Ascap. 


B.  F.  SHEARER  COMPANY 

“Theatre  Equipment  Specialists” 

Heywood-Wakefield  Seats 

Wagner  Silhouette  Letters 

Motiograph  Projectors 

1964  So.  Vermont  RO.  1145 

LOS  ANGELES 


BOXOFFICE  January  4,  1941 


75 


THE  HOLIDAY  spirit  hung  heavy  over 
1 the  Row  along  with  a few  sprigs  of  mis- 
tletoe and  holly.  Even  the  weatherman 
entered  into  the  spirit  of  the  thing  and 
called  off  the  wet  weather  that  seemed 
destined  to  carry  right  through  the  25th. 
Practically  the  entire  personnel  in  the  in- 
dustry here  got  an  extra  half  day  holiday 
on  Tuesday  and  while  some  exchanges  held 
last  minute  parties,  everyone  else  went 
about  their  belated  shopping.  There  were 
plenty  of  bonuses  scattered  about. 

The  Tivoli  Theatre  opened  on  Xmas  day 
as  a subsequent  run  house  operating  on  a 
20  cent  top  policy.  The  house,  under  the 
managership  of  Joe  Meyers,  is  showing 
double  features  and  luring  patrons  with 
the  cash  giveaway  game,  “Hi-Lo”  . . . RKO 
is  planning  a big  invitational  screening  for 
“ Kitty  Foyle”  early  in  January.  The  pic- 
ture had  a preview  showing  at  the  New 
Year’s  Eve  Jamboree  at  the  Golden  Gate. 

Newsreel  Cameramen  Jack  McHenry, 
Erby  Koverman  and  Roy  Kluver  have  se- 
cured the  services  of  a blimp  for  the  in- 
novation which  will  be  designed  to  offset 
the  effects  of  nationwide  photo  publicity 
stirred  up  by  Utah’s  new  ski  lift  at  Alta, 
where  200  flares  were  shot  off  simul- 
taneously to  afford  night  lighting  for  the 
cameramen.  At  the  same  time,  the  Mc- 
Henry-Koverman-Kluver  deal  will  provide 
goers  with  their  first  views  of  the  nine- 
mile  conveyor  belt  between  Redding  and 
Shasta  Dam  which  is  so  inaccessible  it 
may  be  photographed  only  from  the  air. 

Abe  Romm  is  leaving  the  El  Presidio 
where  he  has  been  manager  for  over  a year. 
Abe  is  to  go  into  business  for  himself  at 
Woodland  . . . Herman  Wobber  in  town 
for  a visit  to  the  20 th  Century  office  . . . 
Frank  Maun  is  leaving  Universal  . . . 20th- 
Fox  finished  second  in  the  play  date  drive 
just  concluded,  but  so  far  have  only  the 
glory  of  their  fine  showing  . . . The  Lin- 
coln Theatre  in  Alameda,  owned  by  Berg - 
Plotkin,  closed  its  doors. 

Pete  Markowitz,  owner  of  the  Strand  in 
Modesto  and  brother  of  Abe  Markowitz, 
prominent  San  Francisco  exhibitor,  died 
the  21st  . . . Lou  Marks  of  the  Rialto  in 
Sacramento  is  back  in  circulation  after  an 
operation.  He  was  on  the  Row  this  week 
saying  hello  to  all  his  friends  . . . Westley 
Warren  is  the  new  shipper  at  National 
Theatre  Supply  . . . Sid  Weisbaum.  Repub- 
lic manager,  spending  the  holidays  with  his 
family  in  Denver  . . . James  R.  Grainger 
planed  in  and  out  for  a quick  visit  to  the 
Republic  exchange. 

Warner  has  started  their  “30  Years  for 
Sears”  drive  which  will  run  to  April  19  . . . 
It  took  more  nerve  for  Jack  McHenry  to  go 
to  Del  Monte  the  past  weekend  than  it 
has  taken  on  any  one  of  his  countless  as- 
signments during  22  years  as  a newsreel 
cameraman.  This  assignment  was  his  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Anita  Jenkins  . . . Booking 
on  the  Row:  Clive  Church,  American, 
Kinsburg;  W.  G.  Allen,  Sunset,  Riverdale; 
Dan  Tocchini,  El  Rey,  Sebastopol  . . . 
Irene  Kerr  observed  her  fourth  year  with 
M-G-M  on  Saturday. 

Many  a Hollywood  celebrity  forsook 
favorite  Santa  Anita  to  come  to  the 


Bay  area  for  the  opening  of  the  Golden 
Gate  Turf  Club  at  Albany.  The  track  was 
originally  scheduled  to  open  December  28 
but  the  date  was  set  back  to  January  1 be- 
cause of  the  heavy  rains.  It  was  a gala 
beginning  of  36  days  of  racing  and  a ca- 
pacity crowd  attended. 

For  the  second  time  in  the  history  of  the 
game,  the  Shrine  East-West  Charity  foot- 
ball contest  was  a sellout  weeks  before  the 
afternoon  of  January  1.  Fifty-six  thous- 
and people  crowded  into  Kezar  Stadium 
to  see  All-Americans  and  near  All-Ameri- 
cans battle  for  a fine  cause.  A dry  field 
prevailed  for  the  first  time  in  four  years. 
The  players  and  coaches  left  for  Los 
Angeles  where  they  will  perform  for  the 
benefit  of  the  British  Relief  Fund  Sunday. 

Navy  Night  was  celebrated  at  the  Fox 
Theatre  Thursday.  A large  group  of  naval 
officers  stationed  at  various  departments 
in  the  bay  area  attended  the  evening  per- 
formances with  their  families  as  guests  of 
the  theatre  to  view  “Flight  Command”  . . . 
Charley  Maestri,  West  Coast  booker  for 
the  East  Bay,  absent  from  his  desk  due  to 
illness  ...  All  M-G-M  salesmen,  Lee  Hul- 
ling, Sid  Schuster  and  Ed  Mix  were  vaca- 
tioning this  week  . . . Edna  Schefer  is 
leaving  Warner  to  assume  the  duties  of  a 
housewife. 

The  Golden  Gate  pulled  a fine  exploita- 
tion stunt  out  of  its  bag  of  tricks  this  week. 
“No,  No,  Nanette”  opened  at  the  theatre 
on  Christmas  Day  and  on  the  stage,  as  an 
added  attraction  there  was  Nancy  Welford 
who  played  Nanette  for  six  solid  months 
in  this  city  in  1925.  Miss  Welford  has  been 
working  at  one  of  the  fashionable  women’s 
shops  here  and  obtained  a week’s  leave  of 
absence  to  play  the  week  at  the  Gate.  She 
still  has  a fine  voice  and  was  well  re- 
ceived by  the  audience  that  packed  the 
house  all  iveek. 

Charlie  Thall  of  Fox  West  Coast  is  serv- 
ing on  the  Grand  Jury  . . . Arch  Bowles 
was  hospitalized  for  five  days  with  a se- 
vere case  of  the  flu  . . . Joe  Blumenfeld 
and  his  family  are  spending  the  holidays 
at  Palm  Springs  ...  Jim  Riley  reports  a 
big  year  in  sales  of  International  Seats  . . . 
H.  Muraki  is  contemplating  taking  a troupe 
to  Japan  for  a tour  if  it  can  be  arranged 
with  the  government.  If  the  deal  goes 
through,  Muraki  will  turn  over  his  Mission 
in  Sacramento  to  his  son. 

Dick  Powell  has  been  packing  them  in 
during  his  personal  appearance  at  the 
Gate.  Powell  opened  on  New  Year’s  Eve 
and  stayed  for  the  remainder  of  a week’s 
run  . . . M-G-M  is  about  back  to  normal  at 
present  writing.  Eight  of  the  office  force 
was  on  the  sick  list  at  one  time  and  the 
exchange  was  operating  with  a skeleton 
staff  . . . Chan  Carpenter  is  leaving  the 
booking  department  at  Universal.  He  will 
be  replaced  by  Arthur  Greenfield  who 
comes  up  from  Los  Angeles  . . . “Here  Is 
Ireland”  is  in  its  second  week  at  the  Clay. 
The  theatre  had  to  install  16mm  equip- 
ment for  the  engagement. 

J.  C.  McCann  of  the  T&D  Jr.  is  reported 
much  improved  at  the  St.  Mary’s  Hospital 
. . . The  Tivoli  has  decided  upon  an  eve- 
ning only  policy  with  matinees  on  Satur- 
day and  Sunday  . . . Leon  Kowalski,  for- 
merly of  the  Davies,  is  now  house  man- 
ager at  the  Tivoli. 


1ID)  IE  N V IE  R 

■pHE  COLORADO  state  legislature  is  in 
session  for  its  regular  biennial  meeting, 
and  it  is  expected  that  some  bills  will  be 
introduced  affecting  theatres.  Theatres 
now  are  paying  a sales  tax  of  two  per  cent 
on  all  tickets,  and  according  to  a survey, 
the  legislators  are  against  any  increase  of 
this  levy.  The  old  age  pensioners,  bene- 
ficiaries of  the  tax,  hope,  however,  to  add 
the  tax  to  gasoline,  cigarets  and  liquors. 
It  is  thought  this  would  enable  the  state 
to  pay  the  full  $45  a month  pension  to  all 
eligibles  over  60.  In  the  last  session  a bill 
was  introduced  that  would  have  forced 
theatres  to  put  toilet  facilities  in  all  booths, 
this  measure  having  been  sponsored  by 
the  projectionists.  The  bill  was  killed  after 
it  was  shown  that  in  many  spots  the  cost 
would  be  prohibitive.  Most  of  the  newer 
theatres  have  such  facilities  built  in. 
Theatremen  and  especially  Duke  Dunbar, 
former  secretary  of  the  film  board  of  trade, 
will  be  on  the  watch  for  obnoxious  laws. 

During  the  broadcast  of  the  speech  by 
President  Roosevelt  Sunday  night  the 
crowds  in  theatres  were  conspicuous  by 
their  absence,  but  as  soon  as  the  broad- 
cast was  over  business  boomed  in  most 
houses. 

The  employes  of  the  Civic  theatres  be- 
lieve in  Santa  Claus  now — and  that  kind- 
ly old  gent  is  personified  to  them  by  their 
bosses — A.  P.  Archer  and  Joe  Dekker,  for 
everyone  of  the  Civic  houses — the  Federal, 
Oriental,  Egyptian,  Granada  and  Rex,  was 
closed  all  day  the  day  before  Christmas 
so  the  employes  could  have  their  Christ- 
mas parties  with  their  families  and  friends 
without  having  to  wait  until  midnight. 

About  75  couples  attended  the  wild  game 
dinner  given  by  the  Rocky  Mountain 
Screen  Club  at  the  Cosmopolitan  Hotel. 
Rick  Ricketson  and  Al  Gould,  having  been 
unusually  successful  on  their  hunting  trips 
to  Wyoming,  furnished  most  of  the  veni- 
son. 

Fox  Intermountain  has  taken  over  the 
State  from  L.  C.  Snyder,  who  is  taking  a 
vacation  before  being  placed  in  a mana- 
gerial post  . . . J.  B.  Melton,  owner  of  the 
Victory,  left  for  Florida  to  spend  a couple 
of  weeks  on  his  plantation. 


Kaplan,  Smith,  Graham  to 
Operate  in  Santa  Barbara 

Santa  Barbara,  Cal. — Louis  Kaplan,  W. 
W.  Smith  and  H.  R.  Graham  have  or- 
ganized Coast  Theatres,  Inc.,  which  will 
own  and  operate  the  Rose,  now  under  con- 
struction here.  House  will  be  a de  luxe 
unit  with  680  seats. 


Sound  lor  Aztec 

Denver — RCA  sound  is  being  installed 
in  the  Aztec  at  Aztec,  N.  M.,  by  Harry 
and  Russell  Allen.  An  early  reopening  is 
planned  for  the  house  which  was  dam- 
aged by  fire  recently.  Similar  equipment 
is  being  installed  in  the  theatre  W.  E.  Cox 
is  building  at  Westville,  Ai’iz.,  to  be  known 
as  the  Cotton  Boll. 


76 


BOXOFF1CE  ::  January  4,  1941 


IA  May  Be  Moving 
In  on  Local  B-2 

By  B.  O.  TELLER 

St.  Louis — Is  the  IATSE  moving  in  on 
the  affairs  of  another  of  its  local  affili- 
ates, Theatrical  Employes  Local  B-2,  on 
much  the  same  basis  that  it  “took  over” 
Local  143  of  projectionists  several  years 
ago? 

That  question  is  current  in  local  union 
circles  since  B-2  decided  to  ask  the  IATSE 
to  supervise  its  election  of  officers  for 
1941. 

An  attempt  at  an  election  was  made  at 
a meeting  December  27,  but  when  the 
business  of  counting  the  votes  cast  in  the 
six-cornered  race  for  the  post  of  business 
agent  was  completed,  it  was  discovered 
there  were  279  ballots  in  all,  although 
only  234  of  the  union’s  600  members  were 
on  hand  to  vote.  When  this  information 
was  revealed  it  was  decided  to  declare  the 
election  void  and  to  ask  the  international 
to  supervise  a new  election. 

On  the  basis  of  the  279  votes  that  were 
counted,  Howard  Akers  was  found  to  have 
the  same  number  as  John  Ambersley,  in- 
cumbent. Each  had  94  votes.  The  remain- 
ing votes  were  scattered  among  the  other 
four  candidates:  Roy  Becker,  John  Mc- 
Carthy, Earl  Beard  and  Andrew  Doherty. 

The  position  of  business  agent  is  the 
only  office  in  the  union  that  carries  a 
salary.  It  pays  $30  a week  plus  $10  for 
expenses. 

B-2  was  organized  by  John  P.  Nick  sev- 
eral years  ago.  He  resigned  as  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  international  several  months 
ago  after  Circuit  Judge  Ernest  F.  Oakley 
had  ousted  him  and  Clyde  A.  Weston  from 
control  of  Local  143. 


(,  ft 

Community  Sings  to 
Introduce  Songs 

Chicago — As  an  outgrowth  of  the 
Ascap-BMI  fight  for  the  control  of  music 
for  broadcasting,  Balaban  & Katz  is  start- 
ing community  singing  in  their  State 
Lake  in  the  loop  to  introduce  the  latest 
songs  via  the  theatre.  If  the  plan  is  suc- 
cessful, it  will  be  extended  to  other  B&K 
houses  equipped  with  organs.  The  plan 
may  also  be  tried  out  by  the  downstate 
Great  States  circuit. 

* l> 

Chicago  Newsreel  House 
Marks  First  Birthday 

Chicago — A special  program  marking 
the  first  anniversary  of  the  Telenews 
Theatre  was  arranged  by  Manager  Sylvan 
Goldfinger.  In  its  first  year,  Chicago’s 
only  newsreeler  entertained  nearly  250,000 
patrons. 


Harvest  for  Theatres 

Rockford,  III. — With  5,000  workmen 
building  a huge  training  camp  at  Camp 
Grant  drawing  a weekly  payroll  of  ap- 
proximately $250,000,  local  theatres  are  en- 
joying a harvest  in  admissions.  Soldiers  are 
expected  to  augment  the  theatres’  income 
later. 


Holiday  Party 

Chicago — A holiday  party  for  kiddies  of 
members  was  held  by  the  B&K  Employes 
Club  at  the  State  Lake  Theatre  club  rooms. 


Directs  “Rage  in  Heaven" 

Hollywood — W.  S.  Van  Dyke  will  direct 
“Rage  in  Heaven”  for  Metro. 


Key  Post  to  Balaban 
In  Drive  for  Greeks 

Chicago — John  Balaban  has  been  ap- 
pointed midwest  director  for  theatre  par- 
ticipation in  the  Greek  war  relief  drive. 

Starting  early  this  month  and  to  con- 
tinue for  several  weeks,  special  midnight 
shows  will  be  put  on  by  theatremen 
throughout  the  country  in  behalf  of  the 
drive. 

Edwin  Silverman  and  Sidney  Spiegal 
both  of  the  Essaness  circuit,  have  con- 
tributed $150  and  $100  respectively  for 
Greek  war  relief,  it  is  announced  by  Van 
Nomikos,  president  of  Ahepa,  largest 
Greek  organization  in  the  United  States. 
He  expresses  himself  as  very  pleased  with 
the  aid  received  thus  far  from  the  trade 
for  the  Greek  cause. 

The  national  campaign,  which  has  $10,- 
000,000  as  a goal,  is  being  handled  by  Spy- 
ros  Skouras,  National  Theatres’  president. 

Joseph  Bernhard  Pauses 
In  Chicago  for  Talks 

Chicago  — Joseph  Bernhard,  head  of 
Warner  Theatres,  was  in  Chicago  confer- 
ring with  local  theatre  officials.  From  here, 
he  was  to  go  to  Hollywood. 


Ahead  of  " Fantasia " 

Chicago — Frank  Braden,  advance  man 
for  Walt  Disney,  was  here  this  week  ar- 
ranging for  an  early  presentation  of  “Fan- 
tasia” in  Chicago. 


“Affectionately"  for  Bacon 

Hollywood — Warner  has  assigned  Lloyd 
Bacon  to  direct  “Affectionately  Yours.” 


Metroites  Celebrate  in  Indianapolis — 

The  Metro  Pep  Club  of  Indianapolis  staged  its  annual  Christmas  Party  at  the  Variety  Club  with  a round  of  entertainment 
and  festivities.  Left  to  right,  first  row:  Margaret  Wilson  and  escort;  Ethlynn  Baker,  Robert  Rigsbee,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Don 
MacLeod,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burchard  Carr,  Doris  Rodgers  with  escort,  Harry  Markun,  Mrs.  Dewey  Taute,  Dewey  Taute.  Sec- 
ond row,  from  left:  Mrs.  Joe  Sullivan,  Joe  Sullivan,  Mr.  andMrs.  Ivan  Heche,  Betty  Brown,  G.  N.  Wallace,  Katy  Pyle, 
Roland  Colbert,  Klaska  Johnson  and  escort,  Darlene  Willman,  Harold  Marshall.  Third  row  from  left:  Bud  Farrell,  Alice 
Worland,  Florence  Jolley,  Virgil  Eskridge,  Irene  O’Brien,  Allen  Kling,  Ruth  Sipe,  Joseph  Byram,  Bill  Schwartz  arid  wife, 
Joan  Atlas,  Jerry  Adams.  Fourth  row  from  left:  Harry  Stevens,  Mrs.  Harry  Stevens,  Gray  Meyers,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harry 
Gorman,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harding,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oscar  Kreilein,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  Wagner.  Head  table,  left  to  right:  Mrs. 
W.  W.  Willman,  Wade  W.  Willman,  Mrs.  Tim  Cleary,  Mr.  Tim  Cleary,  Pep  Club  president;  Mrs.  Foster  B.  Gauker  and 
Mr.  F.  B.  Gauker,  Pep  Club  treasurer. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


C 


77 


QN  THE  Row:  Joe  Schilling,  Conners- 
ville;  Lowell  T.  Moore,  Orpheum, 
Mitchell:  Mrs.  Hilda  Palmer  Long,  Hippo- 
drome, Sheridan:  Harvey  Cox,  successor 
to  Prank  Reimer,  Quimby  circuit,  Fort 
Wayne;  E.  K.  Crouch,  Palace,  Fairmont; 
Harry  Van  Noy  and  Ed  Donahoe,  Para- 
mount, Anderson,  and  Lowell  Brewer, 
Grove,  Beech  Grove. 

Abe  Kaufman,  Columbia  salesman,  is 
back  on  the  job,  having  recovered  from 
the  injuries  he  received  in  an  automobile 
accident  . . . Sarah  Florence  Newton  was 
to  be  married  Saturday  to  B.  L.  Sham- 
burger  in  Louisville.  She  is  employed  at 
the  local  Universal  exchange. 

John  Peterson,  manager  of  the  local 
Uptown,  was  a cousin  and  former  mana- 
ger of  the  late  Hal  Kemp  . . . National 
Theatre  Supply’s  offices  here  are  being 
remodeled  . . . Harold  “Doc”  Arlington  has 
joined  the  Cantor  circuit  as  manager  of 
the  local  Esquire. 

Charles  Haessig,  formerly  an  employe 
at  the  Lincoln  here  a?id  now  on  active 
duty  with  the  U.  S.  Naval  Reserves,  spent 
the  holidays  in  Indianapolis.  He  is  sta- 
tioned at  the  Boston  Navy  Yard. 

William  Schwartz  observed  his  14th  year 
with  M-G-M  January  1.  Florence  Jolley, 
also  with  the  local  exchange,  marks  her 
fourth  year  with  Leo  on  January  11. 


BETZ  STORAGE  SYSTEM  OF 

AIR  CONDITIONING 


A REFRIGERATION  SYSTEM  operating  at 
times  other  than  on  the  electric  peak,  thus 
a low  demand  charge  resulting  in  unusually 
low  operating  cost. 

Uniform  temperatures. 

Entire  system  fully  automatically  con- 
trolled. 

Due  to  slowness  of  obtaining  material  it 
is  important  to  award  contracts  NOW. 


BETZ  AIR  CONDITIONING 
CORPORATION 

FILM  ROW  KANSAS  CITY.  MO. 

15  years  specializing  in  theatre 
Air  Conditioning 


THE  PRACTICAL  SYSTEM 
FOR  THEATRES 


(<  ft 

Correspondence  Bride 
For  Correspondent 

Chicago — The  local  oiiice  of  BOXOF- 
FICE  is  planning  on  starting  a matri- 
monial bureau  on  the  side.  Only  a few 
months  ago.  Gene  Rich,  then  central  edi- 
tor, became  a groom.  On  December  26, 
Hal  Tate,  Gene's  successor,  also  became 
a benedict.  Bride  is  Nikki  Kaye,  Balti- 
more radio  and  fiction  writer.  Hal  met 
Miss  Kaye  when  she  was  here  in  mid- 
November  on  a three-day  visit.  Marriage 
took  place  in  Baltimore  after  a six-week 
correspondence  courtship.  Mrs.  Tate, 
however,  will  not  be  able  to  join  her 
husband  in  Chicago  till  mid-January 
since  the  13-week  radio  show  she  is  now 
writing  and  directing  will  not  wind  up 
till  January  17. 

- 4 


B €>  W 11  III  N G 


Chicago — As  the  year  ended  in  Chicago’s 
Filmrow  Bowling  League,  four  teams  were 
tied  for  first  place.  With  the  season  now 
past  the  half-way  mark,  the  leading 
scorers  are:  Fisher,  Fox,  178;  Knaffle, 
United  Artists,  175;  Ogren,  Universal,  174; 
Jack  Kirsch,  Republic,  174;  and  Dreifuss, 
Republic,  174.  The  standings: 


Team — 

Won 

Tost 

20th  Century-Fox  

2*> 

17 

Metro  

22 

17 

Paramount  

22 

17 

United  Artists  

4>2 

17 

National  Screen  

18 

21 

Republic  

22 

Film  Truck 

17 

22 

Universal  . . . . 

16 

23 

Chicago — In  the  Balaban  & Katz  Office 
Division  Bowling  League,  the  Price-Water- 
house  five  maintained  their  3V2  game  lead 
over  the  Television  quintet  by  taking  two 
out  of  three  games  from  the  B.  F.  Lind- 
heimer  team  while  Television  won  two  out 
of  three  from  Advertising.  Leading 
scorers  are:  Carlson,  176;  Pipher,  175;  De 
Tamble,  171;  Louis,  168,  and  Stockseth, 
165.  The  standings: 


Team — Won 

Price-Waterhouse  25 

Television  21 

Booking  17 

B.  F.  Lindheimer.  17 

Filin  14 

Advertising  ....................  13 


Lost 

11 

14 

19 

19 

22 

22 


The  Belmont  five  lost  their  undisputed 
lead  in  the  B&K  Theatre  Section  Bowling 
League,  when  they  lost  two  out  of  three 
to  the  second  place  Chicago  No.  1 boys 
who  as  a result  of  the  victories  went  into 
a first  place  tie  lead.  Leading  scorers  are: 
John,  Northwest  No.  1,  178;  Hansen, 

Northwest  No.  1,  176;  Potter,  Chicago  No. 


1,  175;  Katz, 

Chicago  No.  1,  175; 

and 

Jalas,  Chicago 

No.  3,  173.  Standings 

Team — 

Won 

I,ost 

Chicago  No.  1 

25 

11 

Bemont 

25 

n 

North  Side  . . 

23 

13 

State-Lake  No. 

1 22 

14 

State-Lake  No. 

2 20 

16 

Chicago  No.  2 

16 

20 

West  Side  .... 

14 

22 

Northwest  No. 

2 13 

23 

Chicago  No.  3 

13 

23 

Northwest  No. 

1 • 9 

26 

Pat 

O'Brien  for  Ten 

Hollywood — Pat  O’Brien  has  signed  a 
five-year  ticket  to  star  in  two  pictures  an- 
nually for  Columbia. 


JOSEPH  P.  KLAUZER  jr.  is  the  new 

manager  of  Fox’s  Paradise  in  West  Allis 
. . . George  Miner,  owner  of  the  Majes- 
tic at  Rice  Lake,  gave  his  annual  free 
Christmas  show  for  local  youngsters  last 
Monday.  At  Peshtigo,  all  children  were 
the  guests  of  Oswald  Mylener  at  the  Lyric, 
while  Miss  Lucille  Forbes  was  host  to  local 
youngsters  the  same  day  at  her  Cosmo  in 
Merrill;  Manager  John  McDonald  at  his 
Majestic  in  Barron  and  L.  H.  Freid,  man- 
ager of  the  O’Klare  in  Eau  Claire,  through 
the  cooperation  of  the  local  Eagles  Club. 

Under  sentence  of  an  embezzlement 
charge,  Jules  I.  Kaplan,  former  manager, 
cashier  and  agent  for  the  Federal  Thea- 
tre Project  here,  took  a pauper’s  oath  last 
week  before  U.  S.  Commissioner  Floyd  E. 
Jenkins.  Kaplan  at  one  time  managed  the 
old  Columbia  and  Majestic  here. 

Standard  Theatres  has  modernized  its 
Strand  in  Green  Bay  with  a new  front, 
new  carpeting,  new  fluorescent  lighting 
and  new  lighting  fixtures  in  the  auditor- 
ium . . . Miner  Amusement  Co.  has  pur- 
chased an  old  g.arage  building  at  Barron 
and  will  convert  it  into  bowling  alleys  and 
office  rooms. 

A.  J.  Meininger  has  left  his  post  at  the 
Garrick  in  Chicago  to  become  associated 
with  his  father,  A.  J . Meininger  sr.,  in  the 
operation  of  the  Fox  Hut  in  Fond  du  Lac. 
The  elder  Meininger  is  a former  Fond  du 
Lac  theatre  manager  . . . Thomas  J.  Daly, 
manager  of  Fox’s  Uptown  in  Racine,  was 
robbed  last  week  by  two  armed  bandits 
of  about  $300  in  theatre  receipts. 

Wallace  Estrup,  manager  of  the  Geneva 
at  Lake  Geneva  since  last  September,  has 
resigned  to  take  an  advertising  post  in 
Hammond,  Ind.  . . . J.  P.  Adler,  Marsh- 
field exhibitor,  and  Mrs.  Adler  are  in  Flor- 
ida visiting  the  latter’s  father. 

Roy  McMinn,  manager  of  the  Beacon 
at  Superior,  turned  over  foodstuffs  col- 
lected at  a matinee  at  his  house  last  week 
to  the  Salvation  Army  for  distribution  to 
the  needy. 

Twenty-one  local  houses  were  dark  on 
Christmas  eve,  which  is  about  on  a par 
with  closings  the  same  night  the  year 
previous. 

Fox  staged  pre-New  Year’s  eve  parties 
December  28  for  youngsters  at  13  of  its 
theatres  here  with  hats,  horns  and  free 
goodies  to  all.  Admission  was  10  cents  at 
all  houses.  A similar  party  was  staged  on 
the  same  day  at  the  circuit’s  Beverly  in 
Janesville  and  Uptown  in  Racine. 

With  the  exception  of  the  Riverside,  all 
houses  held  over  their  December  20  shows 
until  December  31  with  new  shows  start- 
ing New  Year’s  eve.  Admissions  were 
somewhat  higher  than  the  same  night  a 
year  ago,  ranging  from  75  cents  at  the 
Riverside  to  85  cents  at  Fox’s  Wisconsin, 
Palace  and  Strand. 

Edward  Lipson  marked  his  13 th  year 
with  M-G-M  on  January  1.  Emily  Peter- 
sen completes  her  fourth  year  with  the 
company  on  January  12. 


78 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


QUICKIES 


Cc 


JJ 


By  HAL  TATE 

jyjOVIES  have  always  set  the  pace  for 
their  radio  rivals.  Now  radio,  it  ap- 
pears, will  have  its  consent  decree,  too,  in 
the  Ascap-BMI  musical  melee. 


With  neighboring  theatres  benefiting  by 
the  overflow  of  crowds  attending  “Love 
Thy  Neighbor,”  Paramount’s  new  Benny- 
Alien  picture  seems  aptly  titled. 


Boxoffice  headline:  “AAA  Will  Move  to 
New  Quarters  in  U.  S.  Rubber  Building.” 
Does  that  mean  the  consent  decree  might 
become  elastic? 


We  see  where  Samuel  Cummins  at  Eu- 
reka Productions,  Inc.,  is  exclusive  dis- 
tributor and  sole  copyright  owner  of 
“Ecstasy.”  Honeymooners  will  undoubtedly 
picket  Mr.  Cummins. 


No  doubt  the  M-G-M  publicity  guys  are 
already  racking  their  brains  figuring  what 
kind  of  a premiere  to  give  GWTW  in  1941. 
After  all  even  FDR  has  had  only  three 
terms — so  far. 


From  a film  trade  paper:  “Mervin  Hous- 
er is  to  handle  production  publicity  on  the 
forthcoming  feature  which  the  Mex  Fleis- 
cher Florida  studio  . . “Mex”  Fleischer, 
eh?  Looks  like  he’s  succumbing  to  the 
South  American  influence. 


$10,000  Fee 

St.  Louis — A fee  of  $10,000  was  allowed 
by  Probate  Judge  Arnold  to  the  law  firms 
of  Cox,  Blair  & Kooreman  and  Dubinsky 
& Duggan  for  their  services  in  connection 
with  the  litigation  involving  the  $100,000 
estate  of  the  late  Charles  H.  Turpin,  Ne- 
gro theatre  owner  and  and  justice  of  the 
peace,  who  died  five  years  ago.  The  liti- 
gation involved  a will  contest  and  the 
setting  aside  of  a trustee  estate  through 
which  Turpin  attempted  to  leave  the  bulk 
of  his  estate  to  his  sister  and  niece. 

0 ft 

Any  Rain  Checks 
In  Collection? 

Chicago — This  fellow  is  no  "one-eyed 
Connelly."  He  never  “crashed  the  gate." 
He's  got  his  own  ticket  stubs  to  prove  it. 
The  guy  is  A1  Weinberg,  personnel  man- 
ager of  the  Filmack  Trailer  Company, 
and  the  ticket  stubs  are  his  collection. 
For  Al's  hobby  is  saving  ticket  stubs  from 
shows,  sporting  events,  etc.,  which  he 
has  attended. 

Motion  pictures,  legits,  burlesques, 
operas,  hockey  games,  prize  fights,  base- 
ball games,  football  games,  fairs,  cir- 
cuses, side  shows,  lectures,  political  con- 
ventions . . . he's  got  stubs  for  them  all. 

This  unique  hobby  started  some  eight 
years  ago  as  a result  of  an  argument. 

A "Doubting  Thomas"  wouldn't  believe 
that  he  had  been  at  the  Democratic  con- 
vention in  Chicago,  and  Weinberg  re- 
solved to  save  his  stubs  thereafter — no 
matter  what  the  event. 


JJ 


TALK  AROUND  TOWN:  Henri  Elman’s 

new  1941  calendar.  Best  he’s  ever  put 
out.  Contains  names,  addresses  and  phone 
numbers  of  everyone  and  everybody  con- 
nected with  picture  business  here.  As  usual 
Boxoffice  has  top  billing  in  the  trade 
paper  listing.  Henri  says  if  by  any  chance 
any  exhibitor  didn’t  get  one  he’ll  be  glad  to 
send  one  out  if  they’ll  call  him  at  CALumet 
2900.  Henri,  who  gave  a terrific  New 
Year’s  party  at  his  Capitol-Monogram  ex- 
change last  Tuesday,  congratulated  ye  cen- 
tral ed  on  his  srecent  marriage. 

Another  calendar  that  is  causing  much 
comment  is  one  put  out  by  TWA.  Contains 
beautiful  original  drawings  by  Gene  Wal- 
ther  depicting  landscapes  over  which  the 
planes  fly.  Everybody  in  town  is  cutting  up 
the  calendar  arid  framing  the  pictures  . . . 
Bill  Westlake,  publicity  director  for  TWA 
here  for  umpteen  years,  is  leaving  Janu- 
ary 14  to  do  his  stuff  for  Uncle  Sam.  Bill 
an  experienced  pilot,  will  join  the  108 th 
Observation  Squad  at  Battle  Creek,  Michi- 
gan. No  successor,  to  date,  has  been  ap- 
pointed. 

Tom  Gorman  has  moved  the  RKO-Tliea- 
tres  offices  from  the  State-Lake  Building 
to  the  Palace  Theatre  Building.  Official 
address  is  134  N.  La  Salle  Street  . . . Van 
Nomikos  has  returned  from  Dayton,  Ohio, 
where  he  and  Spyros  Skouras  addressed  a 
meeting  of  Ohio  Theatre  Owners,  in  be- 
half of  Greek  War  Relief  Fund.  Eddie  Sil- 
verman and  Sidney  Spiegal  of  Essaness 
have  personally  contributed  $150  and  $100 
to  the  fund. 

Nate  Gross,  conductor  of  the  popular 
“Town  Tattler”  column  in  Herald-Ameri- 
can  devoting  much  space  to  film  trade 
news.  Says  Nate : “William  E.  ‘Doc’  Ban- 
ford,  M-G-M  branch  manager,  is  in  St. 
Luke’s  Hospital,  where  he  has  had  eight 
transfusions  . . . Sabu,  star  of  ‘Thief  of 
Bagdad,’  blew  into  town  Monday  to  spend 
New  Year’s  Eve  with  Walter  Parker  at  the 
latter’s  party  in  the  Panther  Room  . . . 
Dennis  Scanlon,  iron  lung  inventor  and  re- 
cent winner  of  a huge  judgment  against 
Sonja  Henie,  has  been  in  town  attending 
Sonja’s  shoiv  at  the  Stadium  . . . The  Mad- 
lin  Theatre  of  W.  Madison  St.  stole  a 
march  on  the  nearby  Chicago  Stadium.  It 
hung  out  huge  banners  advertising  ‘Sonja 
Henie,  in  Happy  Landings,’  and  some  folks 
nearly  fell  for  it.” 

Ye  Central  Ed  went  to  New  York  last 
week  for  first  time  since  he  was  a kid.  The 
theory  of  the  reputed  sophistication  of  the 
New  York  show-goer  was  blasted.  The 
patrons  laughed  long  and  loud  at  the  same 
brand  of  humor  that  the  average  Chi- 
cagoan chuckled  at.  Of  course  it  is  under- 
stood that  Mr.  Average  New  Yorker  didn’t 
attend  the  shows  it  being  the  Christmas- 
New  Year  week,  and  undoubtedly  99  per 
cent  of  the  theatre  patrons  were  out-of- 
towners. 

Couple  impressions  of  Baltimore — seen 
for  the  first  time:  In  Chicago  you  can  get 
a cab  anytime  of  day  or  night.  In  Balti- 
more you  apparently  have  to  know  the 
“right  people”  to  get  a cab  ...  In  Chicago 
you  do  the  red-caps  a favor  when  you  give 
them  some  baggage  to  carry.  In  Baltimore, 


the  “darkies”  act  as  if  they  do  you  a favor 
for  carrying  your  baggage.  (And  tipping 
has  nothing  to  do  with  the  attitudes — 
since  they  all  get  10  cents  per  piece  of 
baggage — plus  a tip)  . . . The  sameness  of 
Baltimore  houses  called  for  the  usual  gag: 
“How  does  a guy  find  his  own  house  when 
he  comes  home  drunk.” 

Filmrow  still  buzzing  with  talk  over  the 
$30,000  Fanny  Brice  collected  in  her  suit 
against  20th  Century-Fox.  “Baby  Snooks” 
wanted  $750,000  over  alleged  defamation  of 
character  in  “Rose  of  Washington  Square.” 
Fanny  said  the  film  was  injurious  and 
defamatory  to  her  career  and  character. 
She  got  a 30  grand  out-of-court  settle- 
ment . . . Ilah  Elwood  of  local  M-G-M  ex- 
change rounded  out  14  years  with  the 
company  on  Friday.  It’ll  be  ten  years  with 
Leo  for  Herman  Bezart  on  January  12. 


Brotman  Installs  RCA 

Chicago — M.  J.  Brotman  is  installing 
RCA  sound  in  his  Rogers  here.  Other 
Central  area  exhibitors  who  have  placed 
orders  for  the  equipment  are:  H.  P.  Von- 
derschmitt,  for  his  Strand,  Crawfords- 
ville,  Ind.;  Peter  Paulos,  for  his  Aida, 
Oglesby,  111.,  and  George  Settos,  for  the 
Cine,  Linton,  Ind. 


Annual  Christmas  Party 

Chicago — The  annual  Christmas  party 
of  the  Warner  Employes  Club  was  held  at 
the  group’s  club  rooms. 


Adapting  “Chain  Gang 

Hollywood — Howard  Green  is  adapt- 
ing “Chain  Gang”  for  Producer  Wallace 
MacDonald  at  Columbia. 


TRADE  DIRECTORY 

__  A Handy  Guide  for  the  Exhibitor 

CHICAGO 


SIGNS  - MARQUEES  AND 
MAINTENANCE 


White  Way  Electric  Sign  <5  Maintenance  Co. 
Tom  Flannery,  President 

315-17  W.  Walton  Street 
Phone  DELaware  9111 


THEATRICAL  PRINTING 


PRINTERS 


THEATRICAL 
L PRINTING  ' 
f OF  EVERY  ^ 
DESCRIPTION 

1225  SO.  WABASH  AVE. 
s CHICACO  • VIC  3456 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


79 


Superior , Wis„  Theatrical 
Union  Re-elects  Slate 

Superior,  Wis. — The  Theatrical  Protec- 
tive Union,  Local  No.  457,  which  will  ob- 
serve its  silver  anniversary  in  August. 
1941,  has  re-elected  all  its  officers  as  fol- 
lows: 

William  Flandt,  president:  Obert  Quam, 
vice-president:  Ralph  Pink,  treasurer,  and 
Erving  Austin,  business  manager  and  sec- 
retary. 

Although  the  union  has  been  organized 
since  1893,  it  had  a joint  charter  from 
that  year  to  1916  with  Duluth.  Many 
notables  of  the  theatrical  world  are  ex- 
pected to  attend  the  anniversary  cele- 
bration. 


Into  Defense  Post 

Chicago — Sam  Todd  has  joined  the  U.  S. 
Engineers  Corps  as  a lieutenant  colonel. 
He  was  previously  in  charge  of  the  film 
inspection  division  of  the  Chicago  Elec- 
trical Bureau. 


To  Studebaker  Helm 

Chicago — Milton  Krantz  has  taken  over 
as  manager  of  the  Studebaker  Theatre 
here. 


Continue  With  Ascap  Tunes 

Chicago — Warner  houses  in  this  terri- 
tory will  continue  to  use  Ascap  tunes,  it  is 
announced  by  officials  of  the  theatre 
operating  company. 


PERFECT 

LOCATION 


FOR  YOUR  BUSINESS 
OR  PLEASURE  TRIP  TO 


8T.  LOUIS 


Directly  opposite  beautiful 
Forest  Parle  ...convenient 
transportation  to  all  parts 
of  greater  St.  Louis ...  Ac- 
commodations featuring 
luxurious  comfort  at  rea- 
sonable rates.  Fine  food 

COOL  SPACIOUS  ROOMS 
AIR  CONDITIONED 
DINING  ROOMS 
CROWN  COCKTAIL  LOUNGE 
ROOMS  WITH  6 O. 
PRIVATE  BATH  froni  C 
KINGS  HIGHWAY  AT  W.  PINE 
J K BRYAN.  MGR 


HOTEL 

KINGS^WAY 


"Bagdad"  on  Dualler 
High  in  Milwaukee 

( Average  is  100) 

Milwaukee — “The  Thief  of  Bagdad” 
coupled  with  “Hit  Parade  of  1941”  at  the 
Warner  was  the  week’s  best  money  puller 
followed  closely  by  “Chad  Hanna”  and 
“The  Great  Profile”  at  Fox’s  Wisconsin. 
Business  in  general  was  slow,  but  mild 
weather  helped  in  a small  measure  to  off- 
set Christmas  competition. 

Detail  for  week  ended  December  28: 


Palace — Second  Chorus  (Para’t) ; Texas 

Rangers  Ride  Again  (Para’t) 90 

Riverside — Melody  Ranch  (Rep);  Polack  Bros. 

Circus  on  stage  110 

Strand — Arise,  My  Rove  (Para’t) ; Cherokee 

Strip  (Para’t)  80 

Warner — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA);  Hit  Parade 

of  1941  (Rep)  135 

Wisconsin — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox);  The 

Great  Profile  (20th-Fox)  130 


Holiday  Week  Is  Slow  for 
Indianapolis  First  Runs 

Indianapolis— The  last  week  of  the  year 
maintained  tradition  in  being  a week 
whose  entire  punch  as  far  as  shows  were 
concerned  is  confined  to  the  holiday  dates 
themselves,  with  the  week  on  the  weak 
side. 

“Lady  With  Red  Hair,”  bolstered  by 
Larry  Clinton’s  band  on  the  stage,  put  the 
Lyric  in  front  of  the  Indianapolis  first  runs 
with  a percentage  of  95. 

Detail  for  week  ended  December  28: 

Ambassador — Triple  Justice  (RKO);  Orphans 


of  the  North  (Mono)  SO 

Circle — Christmas  in  July  (Para’t),  plus 

stage  show  80 

Streets  of  Paris  on  the  stage. 

Loew’s — Dr.  Kildare’s  Crisis  (M-G-M) ; 

Angels  Over  Broadway  (Col)  80 

Lyric — Lady  With  Red  Hair  (WB)  95 

Larry  Clinton’s  band  on  stage. 


Show  Goes  on  Despite 
Disruption  of  Power 

St.  Louis — Officials  of  the  Laclede 
Power  & Light  Co.  announce  that  an  in- 
vestigation shows  that  vandalism  was  re- 
sponsible for  the  disruption  of  electric 
light  and  power  service  in  a wide  mid- 
city area  the  night  of  December  25.  An 
automobile  skid  chain  was  thrown  across 
a main  power  line  at  the  company’s  sub- 
station at  Evans  Ave.  and  Sarah  St.,  caus- 
ing a short-circuit  that  cut  off  service  for 
52  minutes  commencing  at  8:20  p.  m. 

Among  places  affected  was  Fanchon  & 
Marco’s  Fox.  The  break  came  during  the 
showing  of  “Chad  Hanna.”  In  the  emer- 
gency, the  theatre  management  had  per- 
formers in  the  stage  show  and  Will  Os- 
borne and  his  orchestra  assemble,  and 
as  ushers  from  the  Fox,  Missouri  and  St. 
Louis  theatres  held  flashlights,  the  mu- 
sicians played  and  Osborne  led  the  audi- 
ence in  singing.  Temporary  service  was 
installed  by  running  wires  to  a nearby 
building  which  received  power  from  an- 
other electric  company. 


Support  Gathers 

Zion  City,  III. — Despite  the  opposition 
of  the  Zion  Church,  support  is  gathering 
here  for  a theatre. 


Hold  Funeral  Services 
For  Anna  S . Kaimann 

St.  Louis — Funeral  services  were  held 
here  for  Mrs.  Anna  S.  Kaimann,  wife  of 
Stephen  A.  Kaimann,  founder  of  a chain 
of  theatres  in  St.  Louis. 

Mrs.  Kaimann  died  December  24  at  her 
home.  She  was  69  years  old. 

In  addition  to  her  husband,  she  is  sur- 
vived by  a daughter,  Mrs.  Anna  C.  Ball- 
man,  and  three  sons,  Clarence  H.,  Fran- 
cis S.  and  William  J.  Kaimann,  who  are 
interested  in  the  Kaimann  Brothers  cir- 
cuit, which  is  affiliated  with  the  Fred 
Wehrenberg  houses  in  the  Greater  In- 
dependent Circuit  of  25  neighborhood  and 
suburban  theatres. 


Deletions  Bring  Permits  to 
Two  Banned  in  Chicago 

Chicago — Police  Commissioner  James  P. 
Allman  has  ordered  the  local  police  censor 
board  to  lift  their  ban  on  two  pictures, 
“After  Mein  Kampf,”  and  “Goose  Step.” 
Allman  also  told  the  censor  board  to  issue 
permits  for  showing  of  the  two  pictures 
providing  certain  portions  of  the  films 
were  deleted. 

In  “After  Mein  Kampf,”  certain  carica- 
tures including  portraits  of  Hitler  which 
fade  into  death’s  heads  were  ordered  elim- 
inated. Three  scenes  were  ordered  cut 
from  “Goose  Step.”  Both  films  are  anti- 
Nazi  pictures. 


Seven  Theatres  Tie  With 
Columbia  Radio  Station 

Columbia,  Mo. — Seven  motion  picture 
theatres  in  various  towns  adjacent  to 
Columbia  have  made  arrangements  with 
Station  KFRU  here  to  run  trailers  to  an- 
nounce the  station’s  new  frequency  of 
1370  kilocycles.  The  trailers  list  features 
on  the  radio’s  programs. 


Book  Ray  Noble 

Chicago — Ray  Noble  has  been  booked 
into  the  Chicago  Theatre  for  the  week  of 
January  17.  The  Four  Ink  Spots  will  head- 
line the  vaude  bill  at  the  theatre  next 
week. 


Open  in  Chicago 

Chicago — Standard  Fluorescent  Corp. 
has  opened  offices  here  at  77  West  Wash- 
ington Street.  Organizers  of  the  new  com- 
pany are  Walter  P.  Sampson  and  A.  A. 
Bogeaus. 


Bandits  Still  at  Large 

St.  Louis — Local  police  have  been  un- 
able to  apprehend  the  two  young  bandits 
who  stuck  up  two  employes  of  Fanchon  & 
Marco’s  Fox  December  25  and  escaped 
with  $1,290  in  cash.  The  robbery  took 
place  on  the  mezzanine  floor  of  the  theatre. 


Observe  Anniversaries 

St.  Louis — Herbert  Bennin  and  Molly 
Corry  observe  their  13th  and  11th  anni- 
versaries, respectively,  with  M-G-M  on 
Monday. 


80 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


BALABAN  STATEMENT  ON  DECREE 

CHEERED  BY  NORTHWEST  ALLIED 

f(  ^ 


Storm  Legislature  With  Case 

Minneapolis — The  board  of  governors  of  Northwest  Allied  will  meet  early  in  Janu- 
ary to  set  a date  for  the  convention  of  all  the  territory's  exhibitors  for  a storming  of 
the  state  legislature  in  a campaign  for  a code  of  trade  practices  which  would  nullify 
objectionable  consent  decree  features. 

Fred  Strom,  Northwest  Allied  executive  secretary,  asserts  replies  to  questionnaires 
sent  out  to  all  of  the  territory's  independent  exhibitors  were  a unit  in  approving  the 
convention  and  its  purpose. 

A number  of  state  legislators  already  have  been  buttonholed  by  exhibitors  in  their 
districts  and  have  pledged  their  support  to  the  proposed  measure  which  will  be  spon- 
sored by  Northwest  Allied,  Strom  says. 

One  of  the  proposals  is  that  the  exhibitors  go  en  masse  from  their  convention  hall 
to  the  state  legislature  to  present  their  case.  The  code  of  fair  trade  practices  already 
drawn  up  contains  the  same  features  relative  to  cancellation,  restriction  of  chain  ex- 
pansion, etc.,  which  already  have  been  indorsed  by  distributor  leaders,  it  is  stated. 

VS  _ ...  V 


Appeal  for  Cooperation 
Is  "Satisfactory"  to 
Independent  Body 

Minneapolis  — Northwest  Allied  is 
cheered  by  the  statement  of  Barney  Bala- 
ban,  Paramount  president,  in  an  open  let- 
ter to  its  executive  secretary,  Fred  Strom, 
denying  that  Paramount  will  have  condi- 
tioning sales  under  the  consent  decree,  as- 
serting that  if  his  company  offers  blocks 
of  five  to  exhibitors  the  latter  will  be  free 
either  to  buy  or  not  to  buy  and  explaining 
that  subsequent  blocks  will  not  be  with- 
held until  preceding  blocks  are  sold  and 
booked. 

From  a trade  press  interview  given  by 
Balaban,  Northwest  Allied  had  gathered 
there  would  be  such  conditioning  sales 
and,  in  an  open  letter  to  the  Paramount 
president,  it  charged  that  this  would  vio- 
late both  the  spirit  and  letter  of  the  decree 
at  the  very  outset. 

The  Balaban  reply,  stating  Paramount’s 
position  under  the  decree  and  his  own  at- 
titude and  feelings  toward  it,  and  also 
calling  upon  all  exhibitors  to  cooperate 
earnestly  to  produce  the  best  results  for 
the  industry,  instead  of  anticipating  dis- 
aster, is  “entirely  satisfactory”  to  North- 
west Allied,  Strom  said. 

Pledge  to  Observe 

“You  and  your  associates  and  the  ex- 
hibitors who  are  members  of  your  or- 
ganization need  have  no  concern  about  the 
intentions  of  Paramount  and  its  officers 
and  employes  about  the  consent  decree,” 
says  Balaban  in  his  open  letter  to  Strom. 
“We  will  not  violate  it  in  letter  or  spirit. 
We  intend  to  try  to  make  it  work  for  the 
good  of  all  and  give  it  a fair  trial,  and  we 
hope  that  our  customers  will  do  likewise, 
regardless  of  what  might  have  been  their 
views  and  how  may  be  their  criticisms  or 
fears. 

“Under  the  consent  decree,  beginning 
with  the  coming  season,  five  important 
companies  will  embark  upon  a new  selling 
season.  None  of  us  has  had  any  experi- 
ence with  it  because,  as  far  as  I know, 
there  is  no  exact  parallel  anywhere.  Very 
frankly,  I do  not  know  how  pictures  will 
be  handled  under  the  new  system.  Prob- 
lems must  be  met  and  solved  as  they  arise 
and  actual  experience  will  be  a better  guide 
than  any  effort  at  planning  in  advance. 
Product  must  not  be  dissipated  or  sacri- 
ficed either  by  distributor  or  exhibitor  in 
any  arbitrary  way,  because  if  this  happens 
everybody  loses. 

“With  the  huge  loss  of  revenue  from  our 
foreign  markets,  it  is  of  vital  importance 
to  every  distributor  to  avoid  and  prevent 
dissipation  of  product  in  this  country  if 
the  producer  is  to  remain  in  business.  The 
exhibitor,  correspondingly,  must  protect 
himself  against  such  waste,  or  he  will 
suffer. 

“This  is  precisely  what  I mean  by  say- 
ing that  there  would  be  no  exhibitors’  field 


day,  an  observation  in  answer  to  the  sug- 
gestion that  some  exhibitors  had  some- 
thing of  the  kind  in  mind.  There  cannot 
be  a field  day  for  either  buyer  or  seller  at 
the  other’s  expense. 

Orderly  Method  Needed 

“To  take  care  of  our  customers’  needs 
and  to  supply  the  studio  regularly  with 
funds  to  enable  it  to  function  properly 
and  produce  entertainment  of  boxoffice 
quality,  there  must  be  an  orderly  method 
evolved  for  the  distribution  of  pictures  in 
the  various  territories,  according  to  the 
differing  conditions  which  may  obtain  in 
different  places.  Considering  the  fact  that 
second  runs  must  follow  first  runs  and 
subsequent  runs  follow  earlier  runs,  it 
must  be  apparent  that  the  sale  and  book- 
ing of  pictures  must  be  so  arranged  as  to 
avoid  confusion.  That  will  be  the  task  and 
problem  of  our  distribution  department  to 
work  out  in  the  most  satisfactory  and 
equitable  way  for  all  concerned.  To  at- 
tempt to  accumulate  product  for  indis- 
criminate offering,  without  recognizing  the 
fact  that  some  order  is  necessary,  would 
not  simplify  or  aid  in  the  solution. 

Clarifies  Statement 

“In  my  remarks  to  the  reporter — re- 
marks which  led  to  this  misunderstanding 
— I was  not  endeavoring  nor  intending  to 
announce  any  definite  plan  or  formula  or 
hard-and-fast  rule  for  the  distribution  of 
product.  However,  assuming  for  the  pur- 
pose of  the  discussion  that  Paramount 
had  decided  on  a uniform  plan  or  policy 
of  putting  into  the  market  only  one  block 
of  five  pictures  at  a time  and  of  refrain- 
ing from  offering  any  other  block  until  the 
first  block  had  been  completely  bought 
and  booked  by  its  customers,  I cannot  see 
how  that  would  violate  the  consent  decree 
in  letter  or  spirit.  On  the  contrary,  it 
would  seem  to  be  the  one  sure,  safe  course 
to  follow  to  avoid  a violation  of  the  de- 
cree or  a claim  of  violation. 

“If  Paramount  should  offer  a block  of 
five  pictures  and  no  others  at  the  time, 
each  exhibitor  to  whom  it  is  offered  is  per- 
fectly free  to  buy  or  not  to  buy,  strictly 
upon  his  judgment  as  to  its  merits.  And 
neither  the  distributor  nor  the  exhibitor 
under  any  circumstances  could  bring  any 


Urges  Playdaies  for 
"Land  of  Liberty" 

Kansas  City — A special  appeal  for  co- 
operation was  issued  this  week  by  R.  R. 
Biechele,  president  of  the  Kansas -Missouri 
Theatres  Ass’n,  for  membership  support 
of  “The  Land  of  Liberty,”  patriotic  film, 
which  Metro  has  been  requested  by  the 
industry  to  distribute. 

Net  proceeds  derived  from  rentals  are 
to  be  used  for  war  emergency  welfare 
work. 

Metro  is  releasing  the  picture  as  a regu- 
lar picture  and  is  designating  it  according 
to  the  grosses  established  in  tests  in  Mem- 
phis, Tenn.;  Williamsport,  Pa.;  Evansville, 
Ind.,  and  Portland,  Ore.  If  the  designa- 
tion is  too  low,  Metro  is  asking  that  ex- 
hibitors voluntarily  increase  the  rental;  if 
the  designation  is  too  high  and  the  ex- 
hibitor loses  money,  Metro  will  redesignate 
it  in  a lower  bracket. 

Biechele  urged  the  cooperation  of  every 
member  of  the  KMTA. 


Role  for  Randy  Scott 

Hollywood — Randolph  Scott  will  play 
the  top  male  role  in  RKO’s  “True  to  Form.” 
David  Butler  will  produce  and  direct. 


other  picture  or  block  of  pictures  into  the 
equation.  Under  such  a plan,  Paramount 
could  not  say  to  an  exhibitor,  ‘Here  are 
several  blocks  of  trade-shown  pictures,  but 
you  cannot  have  a block  of  more  which 
you  want  unless  you  take  others  I am  of- 
fering you.’  On  the  other  hand,  the  ex- 
hibitor could  not  claim  that  was  the  re- 
quirement that  Paramount  imposed,  which 
would  be  contrary  to  the  decree. 

“I  trust  that  the  aforegoing  will  relieve 
you  and  your  associates  of  any  anxiety 
that  you  may  have  and  that  exhibitors  will 
not  anticipate  disaster,  but  will  earnestly 
cooperate  to  produce  the  best  results  for 
the  industry  under  the  decree.” 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


MW 


85 


1941  Is  Viewed  With 
A Favorable  Eye 

Minneapolis — The  1941  outlook  for  the 
trade  in  this  territory  is  believed  to  be 
good.  Industry  leaders  hereabouts  are 
optimistic  and  expect  a brisk  upturn  with 
the  turn  of  the  year. 

It  is  pointed  out  that  agriculture,  the 
territory’s  mainstay,  is  sure  to  start  soon 
to  benefit  from  the  increased  purchasing 
power  throughout  the  nation  resulting 
from  defense  spending.  This  will  mean 
higher  farm  prices,  leaders  assert,  putting 
more  money  into  pocketbooks  to  spend  for 
entertainment  in  the  territory. 

Moreover,  more  and  more  industries 
hereabouts  are  beginning  to  get  defense 
orders  and  that  means  additional  employ- 
ment and  increased  buying  power,  it’s  also 
pointed  out. 

Because  it  has  fewer  industries  than 
many  sections,  this  territory  is  slower  in 
experiencing  an  upturn,  but  it  invariably 
comes,  even  though  it’s  late,  exchange 
heads  say.  Depression  is  not  so  sharp,  as 
a rule,  hereabouts,  by  the  same  token. 

The  substantial  improvement  which  has 
occurred  since  Christmas  will  continue  and 
grosses  will  score  big  gains,  branch  man- 
agers predict.  During  the  past  10  days, 
most  of  the  loop  theatres  have  enjoyed 
exceptionally  good  business,  they  say.  The 
Orpheum,  with  Gene  Krupa  on  the  stage, 
and  the  State,  showing  “Love  Thy  Neigh- 
bor,” were  outstanding. 


Comedy  Lead  for  Fuzzy 

Hollywood — Fuzzy  Knight  will  play  the 
comedy  lead  in  Paramount’s  “New  York 
Town.” 


■ ==^ 

He's  Planning  to  Be 
Around  for  Awhile 

Freeman,  S.  D. — For  21  years  E.  J. 
Kleinsasser  has  been  an  exhibitor  in 
Freeman,  which  is  quite  an  achievement 
in  itself.  But  that  he  plans  to  be  around 
for  some  time  yet,  is  indicated  by  the 
fact  he  has  just  completed  an  exten- 
sive renovation  program  at  his  Met, 
which  included  installation  of  new  cush- 
ioned seats  and  a screen,  and  the  ex- 
tension of  the  theatre's  balcony  to  in- 
crease its  capacity. 

y*  

Mike  Roth  Takes  Over 
Rialto  at  Anita,  la. 

Omaha — Mike  Roth,  salesman  and  ex- 
ploiteer  for  various  companies  on  Film- 
row,  has  taken  over  the  Rialto  Theatre 
at  Anita,  la.,  formerly  operated  by  W.  F. 
Budd,  now  deceased. 

Roth  told  Boxoffice  he  plans  some  re- 
modeling and  modernization  after  the 
theatre  has  been  under  his  management 
for  a time.  The  house  seats  230  and  has 
been  operated  by  Budd’s  widow  and  son. 

Anita  is  located  half-way  between 
Omaha  and  Des  Moines,  and  Roth  will 
buy  his  pictures  through  the  latter  ex- 
change, he  said.  His  wife  will  assist  him 
in  the  operation  of  the  theatre. 


New  Seymour  House 

Seymour,  Mo. — A new  400-seat  house, 
built  of  native  stone,  is  being  erected  here 
for  opening  early  next  spring  by  George 
W.  Owen,  veteran  exhibitor  of  Western 
Missouri. 


Seeks  Quick  Aclion 
On  Prosperity  Club 

Lincoln — Chafing  under  delays  in  judg- 
ment of  pleadings  in  the  state’s  case 
against  the  Omaha  Motion  Picture  Ex- 
hibitors Ass’n,  for  the  operation  and  spon- 
sorship of  “Prosperity  Clubs,”  Attorney 
General  Walter  Johnson  filed  a motion 
with  the  supreme  court  to  come  to  some 
conclusion  and  mete  out  punishment  to 
the  26  theatres  comprising  OMPEA. 

Johnson’s  contention  is  that  the  Pros- 
perity Clubs  are  violating  the  Bank  Night 
knockdown  of  June  26,  1937,  and  that  all 
the  giveaway  elements  of  lottery  are  pres- 
ent in  the  Prosperity  Club  scheme  just  as 
they  were  in  the  “Bank”  idea. 

Nebraska  recognizes  three  lottery  ele- 
ments— consideration,  chance  and  prize. 
OMPEA  disclaims  consideration,  and  ad- 
mits the  other  two  ingredients.  Johnson 
insists  consideration  is  there,  even  though 
registrants  need  not  buy  a ticket  or  be 
present  in  the  theatres  to  win.  Johnson 
says  anyone  even  using  the  muscular 
energy  to  show  up  at  the  theatre  and  sign 
his  name  is  giving  consideration,  because 
time  and  effort  is  worth  something. 

The  PC  plan  puts  up  $500  each  Wed- 
nesday night,  which,  if  undrawn,  goes  to 
$750,  then  $1,000.  No  more  than  $1,000 
is  available  any  time  as  the  prize.  There 
are  40,000  registered  names  at  present,  as 
participants  in  the  weekly  Omaha  stunt. 

Johnson  charges  the  OMPEA  with  eva- 
sion of  the  ruling  by  ill-disguised  window 
dressing,  and  says  the  theatres  are  trying, 
by  preying  on  man’s  gambling  instinct,  to 
enrich  themselves. 


"Abner  Askit"  Holds 
Up  in  Court  Test 

Lincoln — City  Manager  R.  W.  Huffman 
and  Nebraska  house  manager,  Gene  Shana- 
han, were  freed  from  charges  of  having 
conducted  a gift  enterprise  of  illegal  na- 
ture with  their  weekly  Nebraska  program, 
“Abner  Askit.”  Judge  Fisher,  of  muny 
court,  said  the  statute  under  which  the 
charges  were  filed,  had  been  outlawed  by 
supreme  court. 

He  did  hint,  however,  that  there  may  be 
further  recourse,  if  there  is  a rub  with  the 
state’s  lottery  law,  which  is  very  strict.  He 
excused  this  case  because  the  charges  do 
not  make  a lottery  specification. 

“Abner  Askit”  is  played  very  similarly 
to  Bingo,  except  that  cards  are  handed 
patrons  as  they  enter  the  theatre,  and  on 
each  card  are  several  answers.  Questions 
are  announced  from  the  stage,  and  the 
first  person  to  get  four  correct  answers  in 
a row  across  his  card  wins  a prize — usu- 
ally groceries. 

County  Attorney  Max  G.  Towle  brought 
the  suit  at  the  request  of  Marvin  Griffith, 
who  said  he  owned  several  games  similar 
to  “Abner  Askit,”  and  wanted  to  find  out 
whether  they  could  be  legally  operated  in 
Nebraska.  Immediately  after  the  dismissal, 
Towle  filed  a new  action  under  the  state’s 
lottery  law,  so  the  matter  is  still  brewing. 


— LTniversity  of  Nebraska  Photo 

Discuss  "Miss  Bishop's"  Debut — 

R.  W.  Huffman  (left),  city  manager  of  the  Lincoln  Theatres  Corp.,  and 
Gahe  York,  special  publicist  for  Richard  A.  Rowland,  look  over  the  situ- 
ation for  the  premiere  of  “Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop,”  which  will  be  in  Lincoln 
January  14.  Martha  Scott,  William  Gargan  and  other  stars  will  attend. 
Yes,  that’s  the  industry’s  pulse  on  the  desk. 


86 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


KANSAS  C III  T Y 


£ACK  BEISER  of  the  110th  Engineers 
(formerly  office  manager  and  head 
booker  for  Columbia  is  off  for  Camp  Rob- 
inson, Ark.  . . . The  other  evening  he  had 
a 99.9  degree  temperature,  one-tenth  un- 
der enough  to  send  him  to  the  hospital. 

Frank  Norris,  Warner  Brothers  booker, 
and  Joe  Lysowski  of  Altec  Service,  went  to 
Dallas  for  the  New  Year’s  and  the  Cotton 
Bowl  game. 

George  Lofink,  who  used  to  be  here  for 
Universal,  and  then  was  on  the  booking 
desk  for  the  company  at  Des  Moines,  is 
entering  the  Navy.  He  is  reported  married 
quite  recently. 

Joe  Allard  has  closed  his  Tivoli  at  Louis- 
burg,  Kas. 

E.  E.  Webber  jr.,  ex-exhibitor  (that’s 
not  double  talk) , but  now  a salesman  of 
terra  firma,  was  on  Filmrow  the  other  day 
visiting  his  sister-in-law,  Virginia  Gaylord, 
of  Universal. 

Outstanding  gesture  of  the  year  (and  we 
know  it  was  a sincere  one)  was  that  of 
Harry  Musgrave,  who  has  the  Ritz  at  Min- 
neapolis, Kas.,  and  the  Columbian  at 
Wamego,  Kas.  Harry,  who  is  well  liked 
anyway  by  the  bookers  on  Filmrow,  bought 
each  booker  a Xmas  present,  and  called 
them  down  to  Screenland  to  get  it. 

Jean  Fiske  (who  says  she  isn’t  brag- 
ging) bowled  163  the  other  evening  for  the 
Warnerettes  ...  It  just  shows  what  you 
can  do  with  practice. 

Sylvan  McDonald,  who  operates  the 
Community,  Sumner,  Mo.,  and  who  doesn’t 
get  i?i  very  often,  was  on  the  Row  the  past 
week. 

Howard  Kinser,  20th-Fox  salesman, 
spent  the  holidays  hunting  deer  near  La- 
redo, Tex. 

Stanley  Mayer,  20 th-Fox  manager  at 
Des  Moines,  was  in  town  for  New  Year’s. 

John  Courter  of  the  Courter,  Galla- 
tin, Mo.,  was  through  Kansas  City  last 
week  en  route  to  the  Rose  Bowl  and  two 
months’  vacation  in  California. 

Gus  Kubitzki  of  20th-Fox  is  in  Florida 
on  vacation  ...  A card  from  him  at  St. 
Augustine  says  he  took  a drink  from  the 
fountain  of  youth,  and  that  he  now  is  wait- 
ing for  it  to  take  effect  . . . Knowing  Gus, 
we  don’t  think  he  needs  it. 

Harold  Harris,  general  manager  of  H. 
J.  Griffith  Theatres,  Inc.,  spent  the  Xmas 
holidays  in  Texas,  his  home  state,  with 
Mrs.  Harris  . . . Bill  Lansburg  of  Para- 
mount was  home  at  Sioux  City  for  the 
Xmas  holiday  . . . Bob  Carnie,  Paramount 
salesman  and  speaker,  gave  some  of  the 
Kansas  boys  in  the  National  Guard,  who 
are  off  to  the  wars,  a rousing  sendoff  the 
other  night. 

Speaking  of  wars,  Ernest  Nelson,  man- 
ager of  the  Ritz  at  Garden  City,  Kas.,  for 
Commonwealth  Amusement,  is  going,  and 
he  has  been  succeeded  by  Roy  Tucker,  as- 
sistant manager  of  the  Fox,  Liberal,  Kas. 
Frank  Kennedy,  Commonwealth  assistant 


at  Batesville,  Ark.,  is  going,  along  with 
Bill  Smith,  operator  at  the  Plaza,  Searcy, 
Ark. 

Helen  Pyle,  formerly  at  RKO,  is  at  Co- 
lumbia, now,  as  booker’s  secretary  . . . 
Christine  Wilson,  who  used  to  be  booker’s 
secretary,  now  is  head  of  the  Columbia 
cashier  department  . . . Does  Margie  Zim- 
merman of  Columbia  have  a new  boy 
friend? 

On  the  Row:  F.  C.  Hensley,  Pomona, 
Kas.;  M.  B.  Presley,  Globe,  Savannah,  Bin- 
ney  at  Pattonsburg,  and  Dixie  at  Belton, 
Mo.,  and  the  Madison  at  Huntsville,  Ark.; 
Charles  R.  Gregg,  Gregg,  Caney,  Kas.,  who 
hasn’t  been  in  for  a long  time;  A.  E.  Jar- 
boe,  Ritz,  Cameron,  Mo.;  Harry  Till,  Cour- 
ter, Hamilton,  Mo.;  E.  P.  Michaels,  Michlo, 
Braymer,  Mo. 

Raymond  Winch,  who  operates  the 
Wakefield  at  Wakefield,  Kas.,  is  in  the 
hospital  at  Fort  Riley,  following  an  ac- 
cident at  Camp  Funston,  where  he  was 
working  as  grade  foreman.  Winch  was 
injured  when  a grader  maintain  er 
knocked  him  down  and  ran  over  him. 

Porter  Mendenhall  is  doing  a lot  of 
work  on  the  Ritz  at  Caldwell,  Kas.  He 
has  installed  new  modernistic  doors,  new 
carpet,  lobby  furniture,  etc.,  and  redeco- 
rated and  painted. 

The  Orpheum  at  Topeka,  Fox  Midwest 
house,  has  reopened  after  a short  period 
of  darkness.  Same  policies  will  prevail  as 
formerly,  with  double  bills. 

New  lamps  have  been  installed  in  the 


EQUIPMENT  AND  SUPPLIES 

Peterson  "Freezem"  Mfg.  & Sales  Co. 

Blowers,  washers,  spray  nozzels,  office  and 
home  units. 

Special  Offer — Priced  to  Sell. 

Why  Pay  More? 

G.  A.  Peterson 

Victor  4075  316  Southwest  Blvd. 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

A.  A.  Electric  Machinery  Co. 

Ernest  Amoneno,  Mgr. 

1117  Cherry  St.  Phone:  Victor  8796 

Holmes  Projector  Sales  Co. 

Projectors  and  Sound  for  the  Largest  and  Small- 
est Theatre.  John  A.  Muchmore  and  R.  H.  Patt. 
1820  Wyandotte  St.  Kansas  City,  Mo.  HA.  7472 

Missouri  Theatre  Supply  Co. 

Distributors  for 

RCA,  Brenkert,  U.  S.  Air,  Heywood-Wakefield 
115  West  18th  St.  708  West  Grand  Ave. 

GR.  2864  Oklahoma  City, 

Kansas  City,  Mo.  Okla. 

Stebbins  Theatre  Equipment  Co. 

1804  Wyandotte  St. 

C.  H.  Badger,  Mgr. Phone:  GRand  0134 

Southwest  Theatre  Equipment  Co.,  Indp't 
Wichita,  Kas. 

C.  D.  Peck,  Mgr.  Phone  2-2153 


DeLuxe  at  Spearville,  Kas.,  by  Ernest  F. 
Quick. 

Even  his  staff  has  gotten  into  the  habit 
of  writing  poetry,  so  we  pass  along  this 
effort  by  the  cashier  at  Tom  Edwards’ 
Ozark,  Eldon,  Mo.: 

Anxiously  I caught  your  eye 

To  read  the  thought  behind  it; 

I watched  your  fingers  flutter  once, 
And  felt  conviction  growing. 

Two  tickets?  Yes,  sir,  there  you  are. 
The  feature  now  is  showing. 

Our  idea,  based  on  observation  of  thea- 
tre ticket  buyers,  is  that  the  cashier  of 
the  Ozark  could  have  said  a lot  more. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  K.  Cowley,  who  operate 
several  shows  out  of  Siloam  Springs,  Ark., 
were  on  Filmrow  last  week,  visiting  with 
Herschel  Kaufman  and  Jimmie  Foland. 
They  have  devised  a method  of  giveaway 
that  is  unusual,  giveaways  in  very  small 
towns  of  the  type  they  operate  being  very 
unusual  anyway.  They  buy  a complete 
set  of  dishes,  and  then  give  away  an  en- 
tire unit  within  the  set;  that  is,  six  cups 
and  saucers,  sugar  and  cream,  etc.  The 
giveaway  is  once  a week,  and  is  by  draw- 
ing. The  method  is  inexpensive,  and  said 
to  be  effective. 

Bill  Kubitzki,  who  is  with  Monogram  at 
Des  Moines,  was  in  town  for  the  holidays, 
visiting  his  father,  Gus  Kubitzki,  of  20th- 
Fox.  Bill  is  as  tall-and-lean — as  life. 

Richard  Salk,  Monogram  booker,  was  in 
Chicago  for  the  holidays  . . . Stan  Gold- 
< Continued  on  page  92) 


EXHIBITOR  ASSOCIATIONS 

K.  M.  T.  A. 

221  W.  18th  St.  — Harrison  4825 
Frank  Cassil,  Pres.  Fred  Meyn,  Sec.-Treas. 

AIR  CONDITIONING 

National  Air  Conditioning  and 
Engineering  Corp. 

VI.  3535 

213  West  19th  St. — Kansas  City,  Mo. 
Manufacturing — Engineering — Installation 


SCREEN  PUBLICITY 


Alexander  Film  Company 

Motion  Picture  Advertising 
E.  L.  Harris,,  Dist.  Mgr.,  Mo.,  Kan.,  Neb.,  Iowa 
239  East  72nd  Terrace 

Phone:  Hlland  2694 


FILM  LABORATORIES 

MISSOURI  FILM  LABORATORIES 

Charles  O.  Siebenthaler 
110  W.  18th  GR  0708 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Complete  Advertising  Trailer  Service 


TRADE  DIRECTORY 

••—A  HANDY  GUIDE  FOR  THE  EXHIBITOR 

KANSAS  CITY  TERRITORY 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


87 


Omaha  Barkers  Will 
Inaugurate  Officers 

Omaha — Members  of  Omaha  Variety 
Club  will  inaugurate  1941  officers  at  the 
annual  inaugural  dinner-dance  on  Janu- 
ary 19  at  Hotel  Fontenelle.  Part  of  the 
ceremonies  will  be  conducted  in  the  club 
headquarters  at  the  hotel  with  the  main 
festivities  planned  for  the  hotel  ballroom. 

The  affair  will  start  at  8 p.  m.  and  is 
open  to  all  members  of  Variety,  exhibitors, 
filmites  and  their  friends.  The  house  and 
entertainment  committees  will  be  in 
charge  of  arrangements. 

Mendenhall  Chief  Barker 

Albert  “Ted”  Mendenhall,  Paramount 
exchange  manager,  will  be  installed  as 
1941  Chief  Barker,  succeeding  Morris 
Cohn,  exhibitor  in  Council  Bluffs,  la. 
Mendenhall  has  served  one  term  as  Chief 
Barker  of  Tent  No.  16  previously.  Walter 
M.  Green,  Fepco  boss,  is  the  newly  elected 
first  assistant  and  Sam  Epstein,  local  cir- 
cuit owner,  is  the  new  second  assistant 
chief  barker. 

Edward  Shafton,  attorney  connected 
with  the  industry,  has  served  as  property 
master  since  Omaha  Variety  was  founded 
and  starts  his  seventh  year  in  that  office. 
Meyer  L.  Stern  of  Capitol  Pictures  will  be 
dough  guy  for  1941. 

Canvassmen  are  Harry  J.  Shumow,  Met- 
ro chief;  Don  McLucas,  United  Artists 
boss;  Bob  Ballantyne  of  Scott-Ballantyne 
Co.;  Glenn  Rogers,  Film  Transport;  John 
Gillin,  Radio  Station  WOW,  and  Colin. 
Shafton,  McLucas  and  Rogers  comprise 
the  Heart  of  Variety.  Cohn  and  Green 
will  be  delegates  to  the  national  conven- 
tion with  Shafton  and  Epstein  as  alter- 
nates. 

Initiation  of  new  and  transferred  mem- 
bers also  will  be  held.  Joseph  P.  Smith, 
RKO  salesman,  will  be  the  new  member  to 
ride  the  goat,  while  transfers  are  Harry 
Schiffrin,  Warner  salesman;  Reginald 
Cadman,  Universal  salesman;  William 
Brimmer,  salesman,  and  C.  W.  Allen,  RKO 
boss. 


Overrules  Motions  Seeking 
Dismissal  of  Cassil  Suit 

Kansas  City — Motions  filed  some  weeks 
ago  by  defendants  in  the  Frank  Cassil 
anti-trust  damage  suit,  seeking  a dismissal, 
have  been  overruled  by  Federal  Judge 
Merrill  Otis.  Defendants  in  the  $450,000 
suit  are  Dubinsky  Bros,  and  major  dis- 
tributors. Cassil  operates  the  Rialto,  St. 
Joseph,  Mo. 


Briefs  on  Film 

Iowa  City,  Ia. — The  law  library  at  the 
State  University  of  Iowa  has  acquired 
microfilm  records  of  the  United  States  su- 
preme court  briefs  for  1938.  This  makes 
the  Iowa  City  law  library  the  seventh  in 
the  country  to  use  this  method  in  obtain- 
ing supreme  court  records  not  available  in 
printed  form. 


ft 

: Tall  Corn  State  Story  : 


— j 

Des  Moines — Iowa  exhibitors  may  want 
to  be  watching  for  “The  Murder  of  the 
Sea  Lioness.”  It’s  a Tall  Corn  State  story 
from  the  author  to  the  murders. 

Tom  Duncan  of  Des  Moines  reports  that 
he  has  sold  the  story  for  film  reproduc- 
tion. The  major  character,  the  Sea  Lion- 
ess, lives  right  on  Des  Moines’  Grand  Ave- 
nue. Duncan  uses  the  title  "Sea  Lioness” 
as  a bit  of  slang  designating  a “dowager.” 

There’s  a police  detective  in  the  story 
named  Shep  Millen.  Duncan  admits  that 
he  had  Cliff  Millen,  Des  Moines  Tribune 
political  writer,  in  mind,  when  he  drew 
that  character. 

Three  or  four  murders  are  also  reported 
included  in  the  tale.  Two  of  them  take 
place  in  the  Edmundson  Art  gallery  here, 
which  has  not  yet  been  built,  but  which 
apparently  is  entirely  completed  in  Au- 
thor Duncan’s  imagination. 

Artist  Ben  Boyd  has  been  very  startled 
to  hear  that  a third  murder  takes  place 
in  his  studio  in  the  Wailace-Homestead 
building. 

Duncan  uses  his  own  characteristics  for 
one  of  the  murder  victims — an  artist  who 
plugs  his  telephone,  refuses  to  answer  his 
door,  and  hangs  out  do-not-disturb  signs 
while  he’s  working. 

As  a result  Millen  (the  fiction  character, 
not  the  Tribune  reporter)  has  to  climb 
down  a skylight  to  find  him  several  days 
dead. 

But  the  rest  of  Iowa  will  be  permitted 
to  solve  the  whole  story  with  much  less 
effort — simply  by  shelling  out  four-bits  at 
the  boxoffice. 


Diamond  Opens  Orlando 
Theatre  on  Xmas  Day 

Kansas  City — Gus  Diamond  returned 
this  week  from  Florida,  where,  at  Orlando 
on  Xmas  day,  he  opened  his  new  $50,000, 
700-seat  Vogue  Theatre  in  the  nabe  sec- 
tion there. 

Attending  from  the  local  Row  were  Ben 
Marcus,  Tom  and  Mrs.  Baldwin,  and  Bill 
Bradfield,  all  of  Columbia;  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ernie  Block  of  Warner  Brothers;  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  Graham  of  United  Artists,  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harry  Wheeler  of  Para- 
mount. Gus  also  operates  the  Vogue,  Sa- 
lina;  Howard,  Arkansas  City,  and  Roxy, 
Eldorado,  Kas. 


ft 

Compilation  Starts 
On  Directory 

Omaha — Regina  Molseed,  RKO  booker, 
has  started  compiling  the  1941  Omaha 
trade  area  directory  of  theatres,  owners 
and  circuits.  Any  exhibitor  who  has 
changed  locations,  name  or  size  of  the- 
atre, and  new  exhibitors  during  1940 
are  urged  to  report  these  changes  to 
Miss  Molseed  or  the  Omaha  representa- 
tive of  BOXOFFICE. 


Vi 


No  New  Registration 
For  DM  Bank  Nights 

Des  Moines — G.  Ralph  Branton,  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  Tri-States  Theatre 
Corp.,  issued  a statement  in  which  he 
said  the  expense  of  registration  for  Bank 
Night  was  too  great  for  the  theatres  to 
consider  re-registration  of  all  patrons  each 
year. 

Branton’s  statement  came  in  the  form 
of  a reply  to  a petition  signed  by  200  Des 
Moines  persons  and  presented  to  the  city 
council.  The  petition  asked  that  the  coun- 
cil pass  an  ordinance  requiring  yearly 
registration. 

State  Legislation  If  Necessary 

The  petition  pointed  out  that  many  per- 
sons registered  at  the  nine  theatres  oper- 
ated in  Des  Moines  by  Tri-States  have 
been  registered  for  four  years  and  that 
some  are  dead  or  have  moved  away.  If 
the  city  council  can  take  no  action,  the 
petition  asked  that  the  council  recommend 
state  legislation  to  require  re-registration. 

Branton,  in  his  reply,  argued  that  98 
per  cent  of  all  names  called  in  the  thea- 
tres have  been  from  Des  Moines  or  its 
vicinity  and  that  whenever  a dead  per- 
son’s name  is  drawn,  it  is  learned  imme- 
diately and  a new  name  drawn. 

In  his  discussion  of  the  expense  of  Bank 
Night,  Branton  said  Tri-States  theatres  in 
Des  Moines  have  given  away  $12,000  in 
1940,  $17,000  during  1939  and  $15,750  dur- 
ing 1938. 

“We  believe,”  said  Branton,  “the  few 
people  who  desire  a change  in  the  pres- 
ent plan  are  unaware  of  the  great  satis- 
faction many  people  have  who  partici- 
pate in  this  advertising  plan,  and  also 
the  great  good  it  does  many  merchants 
and  other  people  here.” 


Granting  of  License  to 
Gayety  Causes  Unrest 

Minneapolis — Granting  of  a license  by 
the  city  council  to  Irving  Gillman  to  oper- 
ate the  Gayety,  long  home  of  burlesque,  as 
a dime  subsequent-run  double  feature  film 
house,  in  the  face  of  opposition  from  other 
Gateway  exhibitors,  is  precipitating  a war 
in  that  district. 

Harry  Dryer,  who  owns  the  Bijou,  will 
reopen  the  Lyra,  adjacent  to  his  house,  in 
consequence  of  the  development.  As  a re- 
sult there  will  be  two  additional  houses  and 
2,000  more  seats  within  a radius  of  six 
blocks.  All  the  houses  use  the  same  policy. 

The  Gayety  license  was  opposed  on  the 
grounds  that  the  Gateway  section  already 
was  overseated,  the  seven  houses  in  opera- 
tion having  3,000  seats  and  the  going  being 
tough. 

If  the  Palace,  a 1,900-seat  house  with  a 
15  cent  double  feature  policy,  is  considered 
a part  of  the  Gateway,  to  which  it  is  ad- 
jacent, the  total  seats  are  boosted  to  ap- 
proximately 7,000. 

Dryer  bought  the  Lyra,  next  door  to  his 
Bijou,  more  than  two  years  ago  and  has 
kept  it  closed  ever  since. 


88 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


gAM  GURTZ,  the  Screen  Game  man 
from  Chicago,  here  closing  a few  deals 
for  his  nifty  new  Bingo  game  which  uti- 
lizes an  electric  device  by  way  of  novelty 
. . . Topping  the  list  of  Christmas  cards 
received  by  this  column  was  that  of  Ben 
Spewak,  the  Tyrol  Hills  showman.  It  con- 
sisted of  a miniature  Santa  Claus,  the 
torso  of  which  was  made  of  a pinch  bottle 
of  whiskey,  with  the  arms  and  legs  being 
bottles  of  other  spirits.  In  Santa’s  sack 
was  a box  of  double  Corona  cigars  and 
cigar  lighter. 

Carlton  Duffus,  former  Minnesota  thea- 
tre press  agent  and  now  a M-G-M  key  ex- 
ploitation man  in  Washington,  D.  C„  va- 
cationing for  a few  days  in  home  terri- 
tory . . . Tom  Burke,  now  with  Monogram 
in  Des  Moines,  another  home-town  visitor 
. . . Frank  Eisenberg,  the  energetic  film 
salesman,  off  with  the  wife  to  California 
for  a mid-winter  vacation  . . . Martin  Kel- 
ly, former  Minnesota  Amusement  Company 
exploiteer  and  now  a promotion  man  in 
St.  Paul,  vacationing  with  the  wife  in 
Southern  states. 

Here’s  what  some  of  the  boys  are  wish- 
ing for  the  New  Year:  Irving  Gillman,  a 
spot  in  the  loop  for  a new  theatre;  Sam 
(Mounds)  Zuckman,  less  talk  and  more 
action  about  grosses;  Paul  (from  aisle  to 
alleys)  Manns,  another  couple  bowling  al- 
leys; Ben  Friedman,  a few  more  bets  with 
the  other  Ben — Berger;  John  (State  Thea- 
tre) Petchalanus,  a new  horse  and  a sad- 
dle to  go  with  it;  Jan  (Lyric  Theatre) 
Janssen,  a better  hair  tonic  to  make  his 
locks  stay  down;  “Nickey”  Goldhammer, 
another  “Snow  White,”  making  the  third 
successive  year  that  he  has  made  that 
wish;  Dorothy  (Welworth)  Crane,  another 
blitzkrieg  season  for  the  Golden  Gopher 
footballers;  Dick  Wagner,  the  Sioux  Falls’ 
fireworks  king,  two  Fourths  of  July;  Joe 
L.  (Majestic)  Stern,  more  newspapers  and 
newscasts;  Sidney  Volk,  more  parking 
space  and  fewer  percentage  pictures,  and 
his  brother,  Bill,  a trip  to  Hollywood. 

This  column  asks  its  two  coast  subscrib- 
ers, Ben  Aber  in  New  York  and  Ben  Ashe 
in  Everett,  Wash.,  to  pass  along  the  sea- 
son’s greetings  to  the  Twin  City  colony  in 
those  parts  . . . Kay  Green  in  town,  mark- 
ing time  while  plans  are  being  completed 
to  put  his  magic  and  music  show,  “Illu- 
sions of  1941,”  on  the  board  in  the  east 
. . . Nettie  Goldie,  popular  booking  agent, 
has  moved  her  office  from  the  Pantages 
building  to  her  home.  It  is  rumored  that 
she  plans  to  undergo  a bit  of  surgical 
makeup  . . . William  “Bud”  Mclnerney, 
former  Welworth  press  agent,  now  operat- 
ing a skating  rink  in  Fairbault,  Minn.  . . . 
An  elaborate  merchants  and  theatre  tie- 
up,  revolving  around  a color  book  for  the 
kiddies,  is  being  engineered  by  Garner 
Northfuss  . . . Screening  audiences  giving 
much  applause  to  M-G-M’s  “Flight  Com- 
mand;” Columbia’s  “This  Thing  Called 
Love”  and  Warner  Bros.  “Four  Mothers.” 

Out-of-town  exhibitors  visiting  Filmrow 
included  Bill  Smith,  Menominee,  Wis.; 
Walt  Lower,  Moose  Lake,  Minn.;  George 
Schraeder,  Mountain  Lake,  Minn.;  Carl 
Sather,  Annandale,  Minn.;  Jack  Wright, 


Red  Wing,  Minn.;  “Doc”  Reynolds,  Prince- 
ton, Minn.,  and  A1  Ashenbrenner,  Staples, 
Minn.  . . . Gene  Thorpe  has  resigned  from 
the  Warner  Brothers’  booking  department 
to  take  a position  in  the  Woolworth  gen- 
eral offices  . . . George  Fosdick,  Republic 
salesman,  and  the  wife  vacationing  in 
Texas. 

Warner’s  “Million  Dollar  Book  Shelf”  is 
a novel  circulating  library  for  local  em- 
ployes. The  books  are  those  which  have 
been  adapted  by  the  company  for  the 
screen  . . . Bill  Scholl,  RKO  publicity  man, 
in  mourning  because,  he  says,  “Topsy”  is 
dead  . . . Dick  Stahl,  Universal  salesman, 
on  holiday  jaunt  to  Tulsa,  Kansas  City, 
Dallas  and  New  Orleans  . . . Leo  Devaney, 
RKO  Depinet  drive  leader,  due  here  for 
sales  meeting  next  week  and  by  that  time 
“Nicky”  Goldhammer,  district  manager, 
will  be  back  from  his  California  vacation. 

Now  that  the  Sears’  celebration  is  under 
way,  business  is  so  good  at  Warner  Bros, 
that  they’ve  had  to  employ  additional 
office  help.  They’ve  just  put  Dorothy  Piper 
to  work  . . . Russell  Egner,  RKO  city  sales- 
man, prizing  a bowling  ball  that  he  re- 
ceived for  a Christmas  gift  . . . David,  son 
of  “the  little  judge,”  Judge  Meshbesher, 
won  the  door  prize  and  assisted  the  ma- 
gician at  the  Twin  City  Variety  club’s 
children’s  Christmas  party  ...  In  town  for 
the  holidays  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  A. 
Hawkins  of  Veblin,  S.  D.,  and  Mrs.  J.  A. 
Hawkins,  his  mother,  who  also  is  an  ex- 
hibitor at  Waubay,  S.  D. 

J.  L.  Stern  of  Majestic  in  North  Da- 
kota with  his  counsel,  Sam  Halpern,  on 
business  . . . Moe  Levy,  20th-Fox  district 
manager,  and  the  wife  off  to  Florida  and 
Havana  pleasure-bent  . . . Ben  Blotcky, 
Paramount  branch  manager,  building  a 
new  home  at  St.  Louis  Park  . . . Everybody 
happy  because  Mrs.  George  Granstrom, 
wife  of  the  popular  St.  Paul  exhibitor,  has 
recovered  sufficiently  from  her  serious 
automobile  accident  injuries  to  go  home 
from  the  hospital. 

Ask  Abe  Kaplan,  independent  circuit 
owner,  about  his  New  Year’s  wishes  to 
Charlie  Weiner,  film  distributor.  Incident- 


ally, Charles  and  his  wife  spent  New  Year’s 
eve  in  Chicago  as  the  guests  of  Abe  Bronf- 
man, president  of  Seagram’s  . . . Columbia 
employes  presented  “Hy”  Chapman,  branch 
manager,  with  a beautiful  gold  wrist  watch 
for  a Christmas  gift  . . . Jack  Cohan,  20th- 
Fox  salesman,  changed  his  plans  and  will 
go  to  Florida  again,  instead  of  Mexico  City, 
for  his  mid-winter  vacation  . . . Walter 
Lower,  Moose  Lake,  Minn.,  exhibitor, 
passed  through  en  route  to  New  Orleans 
on  a pleasure  trip. 

Norman  Pyle,  M-G-M  exploiteer,  spent 
a week  vacationing  in  Chicago  . . . Warner 
Bros,  now  reserves  Mondays  for  out-of- 
town  exhibitors  here  to  book  . . . Charles 
Stoflet,  M-G-M  salesman,  has  figured  out 
a multiplication  table  for  use  in  figuring 
group  prices  on  shorts  when  figuring  a 
deal  or  setting  up  a contract  . . . Helen 
Paash  of  the  M-G-M  office  staff  spent 
the  holidays  in  Duluth  . . . Morrie  Abra- 
hams, veteran  exploiteer  and  one-time 
actor,  did  a swell  job  as  Santa  Claus  at  the 
Twin  City  Variety  Club’s  children’s  Christ- 
mas party.  And  how  he  enjoyed  himself 
. . . Jack  Kelly,  M-G-M  salesman,  visiting 
his  parents  hi  North  Dakota  . . . Ben 
Landy,  Columbia  booker,  put  out  of  com- 
mission by  a flu  attack. 

The  mother-in-law  of  Mannie  Sgutt,  Co- 
lumbia salesman,  passed  away  here.  Mrs. 
Ruby  Sgutt,  his  wife,  was  in  the  film  busi- 
ness herself  for  many  years  . . . Sammy 
Berg,  Gayety  manager,  traveling  in  high 
society  these  days.  He  even  was  invited  to 
one  of  the  local  400’s  parties  . . . Colum- 
bia’s reissue  of  “The  Lost  Horizon”  cut- 
ting a considerable  swath  in  the  territory 
. . . Universal  off  to  a bang-up  start  in  its 
Scully  sales  drive  . . . They’re  saying 
around  RKO  that  “Kitty  Foyle”  is  one  of 
the  year’s  top-flight  pictures  . . . Mildred 
Walker  marks  her  seventh  year  with 
M-G-M  on  Sunday. 


Boyer  and  Goddard 

Hollywood — Charles  Boyer  and  Paul- 
ette Goddard  will  co-star  in  “Hold  Back 
the  Dawn”  for  Paramount.  Richard  Mai- 
baum  is  adapting  the  Ketti  Frings  story. 


BEST  WISHES  FOR  NEW  YEAR'S 

WARNER  BROTHERS-FIRST  NATIONAL 

BILL  GRANT  EARL  PERKINS 

MYRON  ADCOCK  CHARLIE  JACKSON 

ERNIE  HILL  LEON  DIZON 

HERB  BLASS 

RUD  LOHRENZ  — District  Manager 
ART  ANDERSON  — Branch  Manager 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


89 


piLMROW  here  is  expected  to  get  back 

to  normal  this  week  after  the  holiday 
season  . . . Film  peddlers  at  most  ex- 
changes received  a vacation  of  a week  or 
ten  days  and  many  spent  the  holidays  with 
relatives  or  friends  in  other  cities  . . . 
Exhibitors  stayed  home  during  the  holi- 
days ...  It  all  added  up  to  a very  quiet 
Davenport  Street. 

Slim  Fraser,  Joyo,  Havelock,  Neb.,  says 
business  has  been  on  the  upswing  since 
Christmas  and  he  hopes  it  continues  . . . 
Interest  m the  Filmrow  ping  pong  tourna- 
ment is  expected  to  pick  up,  now  that  the 
holidays  are  over  . . . Harry  Schiffrin, 
Warner  salesman,  visited  his  folks  in  New 
England  . . . Bruce  Holdrege,  Shenandoah, 
la.,  was  one  of  the  few  visitors  to  Daven- 
port Street  . . . Also  Frank  Good,  Iowana, 
Red  Oak,  la. 

Some  very  pretty  Christmas  cards  from 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  V.  McLucas,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Walt  Green,  Lew  and  Olga  Kozal  and 
their  twins.  Also  from  the  Boxoffice 
bosses,  Ben  Shlyen  and  Red  Kann  . . . 
Sid  McArdle  has  gained  20  pounds  since 
he  became  United  Artists  booker.  When 
he  was  shipper  at  the  same  layout  the 
exercise  of  swinging  those  films  around 
kept  his  weight  down.  Sid  had  better 
team  with  Harold  Neumann  of  Western 
Theatre  Supply  for  some  handball. 

The  Warner  party  was  a very  successful 
affair,  due  to  the  fine  work  of  Harold 
Martin,  Ruth  Cogley  and  Peggy  Bragg. 
Martin  is  entertainment  committee  chair- 
man . . . Among  exhibitors  and  filmites 
who  attended  the  Rosebowl  game  were 
Bert  Beams,  Red  Cloud,  Neb.;  Carl  Krum- 
rei  jr.,  operator  at  the  Minne  Lusa  Thea- 
tre, Omaha,  and  Fred  Wickman  of  Te- 
kamah,  Neb.  . . . Fred’s  mother,  Mrs. 
Jennie  Wickman,  is  booking  the  pictures 
while  Fred  is  away. 

A few  exhibitors  and  filmites  had  the 
pleasure  to  see  “The  Great  Dictator”  the 
other  night  at  the  invitation  of  Don  Mc- 
Lucas . . . Ted  Mendenhall,  Paramount 
boss,  has  been  on  the  sick  list  but  is 
recovering. 

Harriett  Wolsky  was  to  have  been  mar- 
ried on  New  Year’s  Day  at  her  home  to 
Joe  Shulkin  of  Council  Bluffs  . . . Last 
week  was  old  home  week  for  RKO  folks 
formerly  of  Omaha  . . . Bill  Foley  of  Mil- 
waukee; Danny  McCarthy,  Detroit;  John 
Weinberg  of  the  deep  south;  Sherm  Fitch, 
Sioux  Falls,  and  Charlie  Snyder,  Sioux 
Falls,  all  were  here  . . . Joe  Smith,  who 
is  rivalling  John  Barrymore  as  ‘‘The  Pro- 
file,” flew  to  New  York  for  the  holidays. 

Toby  Stewart,  Shenandoah,  la.,  was  in 
town  . . . Carl  Resse,  Republic  boss,  went 
to  the  Rosebowl  game  and  also  visited 
Kay  Stewart,  his  niece,  in  Hollywood  . . . 
Kathleen  Emerson  visited  her  folks  here 
on  a vacation  from  college  . . . The  Tri- 
States  annual  Christmas  party  was  a huge 
success.  In  charge  were  Ira  Crain  and 
Walt  Hammond  of  the  Omaha  and  Bill 
Trites  and  Pauline  Hunt  of  the  Orpheum 
. . . The  Tri-States  employes  received  a 
Christmas  bonus,  also. 


Pre-Xmas  Bad;  Then 
A Pickup  in  K.  C. 


( Average  is  100) 

Kansas  City — Kansas  Citians  utilized 
good  weather  for  shopping,  very  little  for 
films,  in  the  pre-Xmas  week,  but  busi- 
ness boomed  Xmas  day  and  subsequently 
for  first  runs.  By  sandwiching  two  short 
weeks  in  the  period  the  Newman  managed 
a good  gross  on  two  programs.  “Christ- 
mas in  July”  and  Cab  Calloway’s  band 
just  about  doubled  the  ordinary  take  for 
four  days,  which  included  Xmas  and 
Thursday.  A big  stage  show  that  com- 
bined the  best  of  the  city’s  kid  talent  with 
three  professional  numbers  strengthened 
the  Tower’s  movie  offering  of  “Youth  Will 
Be  Served”  and  gave  the  house  much 
better  than  usual. 

Detail  for  the  week  ended  December  26: 


Esquire — 'Hit  Parade  of  1941  (Rep.) 60 

Played  6 days,  closing  before  Xmas. 

Midland — Dr.  Kildare’s  Crisis  (M-G-M);  Es- 
cape to  Glory  (Col.) 65 

Played  5 days,  closing  before  Xmas. 

Newman — Christmas  in  July  (Para’t) ; Cab 

Calloway’s  Hand  and  acts 175 

“A  Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s"  (Para’t)  and  "World 
in  Flames"  (Para’t)  went  six  days.  "Christmas 
in  July"  and  Calloway  played  Xmas  and  Thurs- 
day. 

Orpheum-  Here  Comes  the  Navy  (WB);  Lady 

With  Red  Hair  (WB) 70 

Played  5 days,  closing  before  Xmas. 

Tower — Youth  Will  Be  Served  (20th-Fox) 170 

Played  7 days,  with  stage  show. 

Uptown — Hit  Parade  of  1941  (Rep.) 65 

Played  6 days,  closing  before  Xmas. 


Post-Holiday  Trend  an 
Upward  One  in  Omaha 

Omaha — Exhibitors  reported  muchly  im- 
proved business  following  the  pre-Christ- 
mas slump.  Christmas  Day  grosses  were 
above  average  and  indications  point  to 
possible  upward  trend  first  part  of  Jan- 
uary. 

“Little  Nellie  Kelly”  and  “Sandy  Gets 
Her  Man”  proved  the  town’s  best  at  the 
Orpheum  against  two  “brought-back-by- 
popular-demand”  bills.  “Here  Comes  the 
Navy,”  in  a dual  at  the  Brandeis,  was 
satisfactory  while  two  former  heavy-pullers 
were  poorish  at  the  Omaha. 

Detail  for  week  ending  December  28: 


Brandeis — Here  Conies  the  Navy  (FN),  re- 
issue; So  You  Won’t  Talk  (Col) 100 

Omaha — Trail  of  the  Lonesome  Pine  (Para’t); 

Thanks  for  the  Memory  (Para’t),  reissues....  90 
Orpheum — Little  Nellie  Kelly  (M-G-M); 

Sandy  Gets  Her  Man  (Univ)  115 


Stage  Band  Lends  Power 
To  a Minny  First  Run 

Minneapolis — Gene  Krupa’s  band  on  the 
Orpheum  stage  was  the  only  first  run  of- 
fering able  to  overcome  the  Christmas 
week  slump  in  Minneapolis.  The  feature 
was  “South  of  Suez.”  “The  Letter”  held 
up  pasably  in  its  second  week  at  the  Cen- 
tury. 

Detail  for  week  ended  December  30: 

Aster — Dreaming  Out  Loud  (RKO);  Give  Us 


Wings  (Univ)  90 

Century — The  Letter  (FN),  2nd  wk 90 

Esquire — Mutiny  on  the  Bounty  (M-G-M), 

reissue  85 

Gopher — Little  Nellie  Kelly  (M-G-M) 90 

Orpheum — South  of  Suez  (WB),  plus  Gene 

Krupa  on  stage  150 

State — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t)  95 

World — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA)  100 


111  N1CO  IL  N 

J^EW  FACES:  Eddie  Terhune,  formerly 
with  Westland  Theatres,  Inc.  (L.  L. 
Dent),  in  Colorado,  has  come  on  here  to 
manage  the  Kiva,  the  theatre  whose  open- 
ing made  the  town  lighted  100  per  cent 
theatrically  . . . Marcia  Beckman  and 
Patricia  Griswold  joined  the  “how  many” 
girls  at  the  Varsity  and  Variety  cages,  re- 
spectively. They’re  college  betty  coeds. 

Oddest  Story:  Howard  Federer,  general 
manager  of  Nebraska  Theatres,  Inc.,  made 
out  two  checks,  December  1.  One  was  to 
Rudge  & Guenzel’s  department  store  for 
drapes  and  fixtures,  a matter  of  $500.  The 
other  was  in  the  sum  of  $300  to  E.  T. 
Gregg’s  electrical  supply  house.  Checks 
were  put  in  the  wrong  envelopes  and 
mailed,  yet  each  wrong  recipient  failed  to 
notice  the  error,  endorsed  the  checks,  and 
both  were  cleared  at  the  bank  without  a 
hitch.  Happiest  man  in  the  whole  deal  was 
Gregg,  who  was  $200  long  of  expectancy . 

Substitution,  Please:  Mrs.  Barney  Old- 
field is  being  groomed  at  the  microphone 
by  Ed  Cooper,  at  KFCR,  with  the  idea  of 
being  sponsored  on  her  husband’s  old  Hol- 
lywood nightly  broadcast  by  Bob  Huff- 
man’s Lincoln  Theatres  Corp.  She  is  cur- 
rently standing  in  for  her  spouse  with  his 
weekly  film  column  in  the  Sunday  Journal 
and  Star.  Said  she,  referring  to  his  being 
called  into  the  army  as  a captain:  “Most 
women,  when  their  husbands  are  called, 
usually  start  knitting,  or  wrapping  band- 
ages at  home.  Since  mine  is  notorious  for 
taking  care  of  himself,  taking  over  his 
radio  show  is  a lot  less  morbid.” 

Speed  Demon:  Bob  Livingston  and  Roy 
McGraw,  one  of  his  operators,  went  to 
Omaha  the  other  morning  to  get  a broken 
part  for  the  Capitol  projection  machines. 
Bee-lining  home,  they  passed  through 
Waverly,  Neb.,  a speed-trap,  at  60  m.  p.  h. 
A safety  patroller  resented,  and  gave  them 
a ticket — and  not  to  the  policeman’s  ball, 
either. 

Novel  New  Year’s  Greeting:  Howard 
Federer,  in  the  midst  of  year-end  figuring, 
sent  out  a note  which  read  like  this:  “If 
you  don’t  think  there’s  a reason  why  this 
New  Year  can  be  happy  for  you,  come  and 
take  a look  at  my  books,  and  see  how 
much  better  off  YOU  are  than  I am.” 

Guy  Named  Gabe:  The  “Cheers  for  Miss 
Bishop”  publicist.  Gabe  Yorke,  walked  back 
and  forth  into  the  Stuart  all  week  long, 
each  time  taking  a look  at  the  screen. 
“How  come,”  he  asked  an  usher,  “that 
every  time  I walk  in  here  I see  ‘Thief  of 
Bagdad’  on  the  screen?”  The  usher  may- 
bed  it  was  because  that  was  the  only  fea- 
ture. Yorke  was  amazed,  having  found 
there  was  such  a thing  as  a single  feature 
house  in  Nebraska.  He  entered  the  state 
at  Omaha,  which  always  gives  a bad  im- 
pression that  way. 

Engagement:  Paul  Anderson,  who  has 
just  been  moved  to  the  Lincoln,  Harvey 
Traylor  being  switched  to  the  Stuart,  an- 
nounced his  engagement  this  week.  The 
gal,  a demure,  coedish  blonde,  is  Lois 
Nobles,  and  the  only  thing  she  knows  about 
the  show  business  is  Paul. 


90 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


Variety-" Star"  Bowling 
Tourney  Big  Success 


DIES  MOMMIES 


Kansas  City — In  almost  reaching  its 
goal  of  $5,000,  the  annual  Variety  Club- 
Kansas  City  Star  bowling  tournament, 
December  21-22,  was  outstandingly  suc- 
cessful. Also,  participation  was  about  three 
times  as  great  as  it  has  ever  been  in  the 
past. 

Thirteen  alleys  participated  this  year: 
Pla-Mor,  S&S  Recreation,  Plaza  Bowl, 
Clifford-Tessman,  Cocked  Hat,  Tierney- 
Wheat,  Bradford-Thompson,  Stratton 
Baird  and  Grindel-Lembke,  Kansas  City, 
Kas.;  Palace  Alleys,  Waldo  Recreation, 
Oak  Park,  and  North  Kansas  City  Recre- 
ation. 

Under  the  general  chairmanship  of 
Frank  Hensler,  the  tournament  was 
handled  by  Variety  members  and  bowling 
alley  managers.  Lending  special  assist- 
ance at  the  alleys  were  Jay  Means,  Leon 
Abraham,  R.  R.  Biechele,  George  Baker, 
Fred  Meyn,  Walt  Lambader,  Ward  Scott, 
Jack  Barnett,  Charley  Shafer,  Nat  Hecht- 
man,  Bev  Miller,  Jim  Lewis,  Homer  Black- 
well,  Charley  Gregory  and  Norris  Cress- 
well. 


Trio  Installing  RCA 

Kansas  City — RCA  sound  will  be  in- 
stalled by  Theodore  P.  Davis  in  the  new 
theatre  he  is  building  at  Parsons,  Kas. 
The  equipment  has  also  been  purchased 
by  Vincent  M.  Hoven  for  his  H&H  Thea- 
tre at  Bowdle,  S.  D.,  and  by  E.  Van 
Hyning  for  the  new  house  he  is  building 
in  Ottawa,  Kas.,  to  be  known  as  the 
Tauy. 


Megs  "Missouri  Bad  Men" 

Hollywood — William  K.  Howard  will 
direct  “Bad  Men  of  Missouri”  for  Warner. 
Lester  Cole  is  scripting. 


From  the  Tall  Corn—  By 

JOWA  FILM  doesn’t  miss  many  transpor- 
tation bets  but  lies  and  McKinney  are 
neglecting  opportunity’s  knock  if  they 
don’t  try  a little  salesmanship  on  the 
Row  when  Warren  Grossman  of  the  Cir- 
cle Theatre  in  Nevada,  la.,  is  booking. 
Grossman  books  in  the  boss’  office  and  the 
day  we  saw  the  Universal  staff  lugging  the 
booking  equipment  into  Lou  Levy’s  sanc- 
tum they  looked  as  if  they’d  appreciate  a 
little  trucker  assistance. 


George  Hake’s  new  Dodge  is  making  him 
dodge  . . . The  sleek,  green  machine  is 
pointed  to  by  every  salesman  in  Iowa  as 
evidence  of  the  Belmond  exhibitor’s  pros- 
perity, but  Hake’s  still  shielding  himself 
by  insisting:  “Cars  don’t  cost  so  much.  I 
use  to  be  a dealer”  ...  If  the  & Co.  memo- 
ries of  his  days  on  a stencilling  crew  are 
accurate,  the  Hake  Motor  Co.  bought  its 
tire  covers  from  the  Hinson  Manufactur- 
ing Co.  . . . Yes,  and  from  & Co.’s  sten- 
cilling table. 


Whazzat  about  union  stage  hands  in  the 
Waterloo  high  schools?  . . . Somebody  told 
us  to  ask  Leonard  Kaplan. 


WE  HAVE  the  piano  tuned  now.  Bill 
Scholl,  so  we’ll  be  expecting  you 
around  soon  again  to  do  that  Gilbert  & 
Sullivan  stuff  on-key  . . . Sometime  ago, 
a man  who  lived  in  the  neighborhood  of 
13th  and  High  found  a belt  . . . the  length 
of  the  thing  amazed  him  ...  he  couldn’t 
imagine  anybody  with  a waistline  to  ac- 
commodate it  . . . then  one  day  he  hap- 
pened to  see  Stan  Mayer  going  into  the 
Fox  exchange  and  he  knew  he’d  found 
his  man  . . . the  two-yard  belt  belonged 
to  Stan. 

Evan  Jacobs  undoubtedly  has  the  cutest 
red-headed  baby  the  stork  ever  delivered 
on  the  Row  . . . Bart  Lawrence  began  tak- 
ing charge  at  the  Jacobs  residence  on 
October  8 and  already  has  the  Filmrow 
ladies  pressagenting  for  his  beautiful,  big 
brown  eyes.  Edna  Greenland  <Mrs.  Harry 
Peter  Franz)  was  so  disappointed  when 
the  customs  inspector  in  Canada  didn’t 
ask  to  see  Frank’s  birth  certificate,  that 
she  got  it  out  and  made  him  look  at  it 
anyhow  . . . Edna  wasn’t  going  to  have  all 
that  effort  to  get  the  certificate  wasted. 

Harry  Holdsberg  had  a Des  Moines 
Theatre  usher  get  Ken  Clayton  on  the 
phone  for  him  . . . Clayton  helloed  and  the 
usher  asked  him  to  wait  a minute  as  he 
(the  usher)  handed  the  phone  to  Harry, 
who  waited  and  listened,  listened  and 
waited,  chewed  off  both  thumb  nails,  and 
had  reached  the  toe-tapping  stage.  Mean- 
while, at  the  other  end  of  the  wire,  Clay- 
ton had  balanced  the  phone  between  one 
ear  and  one  shoulder,  and  then  gone  on 
checking  a roto  layout,  thumbing  through 
picture  features,  and  reading  a column  or 
so  out  of  PM.  Clayton  had  practically  for- 
gotten the  instrument  propped  up  on  his 
shoulder  when  he  was  startled  by  the  toe- 


KEN  and  RENE  CLAYTON — 

Bob  Malek  tipped  his  hat  to  us,  not  to 
be  polite,  but  just  to  prove  that  he  was 
dark-haired  and  Bohemian  instead  of  blond 
and  German  like  a lot  of  his  Gladbrook 
patrons. 


Harry  Holdsberg,  Des  Moines  Theatre 
manager,  says  ushering  is  the  finest  train- 
ing a young  fellow  can  get,  and  that  it 
has  made  a gentleman  out  of  many  an 
ordinary  lug  . . . “Looka  me!”  says  Harry,. 
“Piano!  Flying  lessons!  Looka  me!” 


Doc  Twedt  is  all  swelled  up,  but  he 
doesn’t  weigh  any  more  . . . he’s  just 
throwing  out  his  chest  over  that  round 
table  citation  he  received  for  promotion 
and  exploitation  at  his  Manly  Lido. 


For  a long  time  we’ve  had  trouble  with 
the  first  name  of  MacDermott,  Harry 
Holdsberg’s  blushing  assistant  at  the  Des 
Moines  in  DM  . . . now  we  can  see  why 
he’s  apparently  been  sort  of  keeping  it 
under  cover  . . . our  pick-up  man  informs 
us  that  it’s  DELMONT  . . . nice,  eh? 


tapping  Harry.  Harry  couldn’t  stand  it  any 
longer  and  decided  to  beller  “Hello  there,” 
whether  anybody  heard  him  or  not.  “Hello 
yourself,”  answered  Clayton,  “D’ja  think 
I got  all  day  to  hang  onto  this  thing  while 
you  powder  your  nose?”  Time  and  tide 
wait  for  no  man,  but  Clayton  and  Holds- 
berg— well,  it’s  a good  thing  Harry’s  nerves 
gave  way  or  those  two  busy  fellows  would 
probably  both  still  be  sitting  in  they’re  re- 
spective offices  holding  phones  with  each 
other. 

Lou  Patz  will  hunt  all  over  the  DM  of- 
fice of  NSS-NSA-AAI  (Mein  gott  und  him- 
mell)  and  the  NSA  branch  in  Omaha  for 
his  cigarettes  . . . then  when  he  finds 
them,  he  starts  all  over  again  in  search  of 
a match  to  light  the  fags. 

Sanford  Schlesinger  contends  that 
there  must  be  easier  ways  to  break  into 
the  film  biz  than  by  being  a third  cousin 
to  a Looney  Tune  . . . Sanford  is  related 
in  just  such  a fashion  to  Leon  Schles- 
inger, who  draws  Porky  the  Pig,  Looney 
Tunes  and  Merrie  Melodies  for  Vitagraph, 
but  when  he  went  to  California  last  sum- 
mer to  start  a five-year  course  in  cine- 
matography (take  that,  you  guys)  at  U. 
S.  C„  he  found  he  had  to  spend  two  pre- 
cinematography (a  law  degree’s  easier  to 
spell)  years  in  college  first  ...  So  Sanford 
is  back  at  Drake  biding  his  time. 

If  you  don’t  think  the  entire  theatre 
world  waits  with  bated  breath  for  Bank 
Night  winners  here,  try  calling  a Tri- 
States  theatre  manager  along  about  9 on 
any  Tuesday  night  . . . “The  Bank  Night 
drawing  is  on,”  the  operator  informs  you 
sweetly.  “You’ll  have  to  call  back  later" 
. . . and  your  nickel  might  as  well  have 
gone  for  a small  glass  down  at  Louie’s. 

Next  time  you  see  Bill  Beckley,  ask  him 
about  the  time  he  did  in  Sing  Sing  . . . 
Honest — and  it’s  nothing  to  be  ashamed  of 
. . . Don’t  let  him  stop  until  he  describes 
the  fella  he  saw  in  there  with  smoke  com- 
ing off  the  top  of  his  head.  And  did  you 
know  Bill  used  to  work  with  G.  Ralph 
Branton  in  the  east  . . . which  has  nothing 
to  do  with  the  time  in  Sing  Sing. 

Mel  and  Fan  Evidon  are  about  the 
most  “God  Blessing  America”  people  we 
know  . . . Mel,  you’ll  remember , is  wearmg 
a little  red- white’ n-blue  pin  Phil  Dunas 
sent  him,  and  Fan  was  wearing  the  stars 
and  bars  in  her  suit  lapel  the  last  time 
we  saw  her  . . . Mrs.  Phil  Dunas  bought  a 
white  hat  during  her  visit  in  DM,  but  we 
hope  she  didn’t  wear  it  in  the  local  smog 
and  ruin  it  ..  . which  reminds  us  of  an  old 
DM  legend,  “If  the  smog  doesn’t  get  it, 
the  starlings  will!” 

Alpha  Rayner  observes  his  third  year 
with  M-G-M  January  8. 

Emil  Franke  is  still  wondering  how  he 
got  in  the  theatre  biz  . . . “I  took  three 
years  and  two  months  of  law  at  Marquette, 
and  all  of  a sudden  I find  myself  running 
a theatre,”  explains  Emil,  looking  a little 
dazed. 

Mabbe  the  film  industry  will  start  turn- 
ing out  more  so-called  “glamour  art”  after 
looking  at  this  Sunday’s  DM  Register  syn- 
dicated gossip  page. 


A W,  SHUCKS! 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


91 


Rita  Hayworth  in  P.  A.  at 
British  Benefit  Dance 


Des  Moines — Rita  Hayworth  made  a 
successful  personal  appearance  at  the 
Bundles  for  Britain  dance  in  Des  Moines. 

From  Hollywood  Miss  Hayworth  arrived 
in  Des  Moines  the  afternoon  of  the  dance 
and  left  for  the  coast  again  early  the  next 
morning. 

She  and  her  husband,  Edward  Judson, 
Texas  oil  operator  and  capitalist,  were  en- 
tertained at  a buffet  supper  at  the  Gardi- 
ner (Des  Moines  Register  and  Tribune) 
Cowles  jr„  home. 

The  dance  drew  1,000  persons  at  $5  for 
tickets  bought  in  advance  or  $6  for  tickets 
at  the  gate. 


Hubbard  Heads  Union 

Minneapolis — C.  J.  Hubbard  has  been 
re-elected  president  of  the  IATSE  opera- 
tors union  here  for  a third  term.  The  only 
new  officers  elected  were  W.  J.  Yutzy,  busi- 
ness representative;  L.  T.  Olson,  trustee; 
A.  W.  Harris,  sergeant-at-arms;  G.  E. 
Lauren  and  C.  J.  Hubbard,  executive  com- 
mittee, and  W.  J.  Christiansen  and  H.  H. 
Babb,  examining  board. 


Buy  Film  Alliance  Lineup 

Des  Moines — The  Tri-States  circuit  of 
Iowa  and  Nebraska  will  play  Film  Alli- 
ance’s entire  lineup  for  1940-41.  Norman 
Elson,  FA  general  sales  manager,  closed 
the  deal  with  the  circuit. 


in  Style  and  Comfort 

That’s  the  thought  that  is  always  upper 
most  in  the  mimls  of  those  who  attend 
you  at  Hotel  Fontenelle.  In  keeping  with 
this  policy,  the  management  is  constantly 
adding  new  features  for  your  comfort 
and  convenience.  The  Amber  Room  Cof- 
fee Shop,  the  King  Cole  Room,  and  the 
Black  Mirror- Bombay  Room  invite  yon. 

HOTEL 


FONTENELLE 


KANSAS  CITY. 

(Continued  from  page  87) 


berg  spelled  him  on  the  booking  desk. 

Santa  Claus  is  real!  At  least  the  lads 
and  lasses  at  Film  Delivery  believe  in  him. 
They  all  got  a Xmas  bonus  of  a week’s 
salary,  thanks  to  Sam  “Santa”  Abend  and 
Earl  “Claus”  Jameson. 

Mrs.  L.  P.  Davis,  mother  of  Don  Davis 
of  RCA,  died  December  22  at  Pawhuska, 
Ok. 

Break  open  the  champagne!  Ruth  Kelly, 
veteran  employe  at  Universal,  has  just  an- 
nounced that  she  was  married  last  March 
to  Cecil  Hollingsworth.  She  spilled  the 
news  at  the  Universal  Xmas  party  last 
week.  Congratulations ! 

Alex  P.  Bill,  RCA  representative  out  of 
Minneapolis , visited  Filmrow  over  the 
holidays. 

Fred  Abelson,  Universal  salesman  at 
Minneapolis,  was  in  Kansas  City  for  the 
holidays  with  Mrs.  Abelson.  Harold  John- 
son, Universal  salesman  at  Minneapolis, 
and  Mrs.  Johnson,  stopped  over  for  a 
brief  time  on  their  way  to  Hot  Springs, 
Ark. 

Don  Davis  reports  the  sale  of  new  RCA 
sound  equipment  to  E.  Van  Hyning  for 
the  latter’s  Tauy,  Ottawa,  Kas. 

A bunch  of  the  boys  from  Variety  Club 
went  to  see  Peck  Baker  last  Tuesday, 
and  was  he  glad  to  see  them!  In  the  old 
days  Peck  followed  for  years  the  practice 
of  bringing  candy,  etc.,  to  Filmrow. 

Captain  Tommy  Taylor,  brother  of  Harry 
Taylor,  and  himself  widely  known  along 
Filmrow,  now  is  in  charge  of  the  theatre 
at  Ft.  Leavenworth,  Kas.  He’s  in  charge 
of  education  and  recreation  at  the  post. 

Good  Luck,  Joe  Manfre!  . . . Salesmen 
of  the  Paramount  exchange  here  last  week 
took  Joe  to  a private  dining  room  of  the 
Pickwick  hotel  for  a big  steak  dinner. 
There  were  no  speeches,  except  one  by  a 
bellboy  who  presented  Joe  with  a personal 
radio  engraved  with  his  own  monogram. 
Salesmen  who  participated  were  Roy 


Young,  Joe  Stark,  Harry  Wheeler,  Bob 
Carnie  and  George  Hinton. 

Joe  Stark,  Paramount  salesman,  went  to 
California  December  26  with  friends  for  a 
few  days’  vacation  . . . Harry  Wheeler, 
salesman  for  the  same  company,  drove  to 
Florida  with  Mrs.  Wheeler. 

On  the  Row:  M.  A.  Otto,  Linn,  Pleas- 
anton, Kas.;  H.  C.  Musgrave,  Ritz,  Minne- 
apolis, and  Columbian,  Wamego,  Kas.;  Bob 
Gorham,  Liberty,  Horton,  Kas. 

A number  of  Filmrowers  got  the  chance 
to  play  S.  Claus  and  have  a lot  of  fun 
Xmas  week  when  Arthur  Cole,  secretary 
of  the  Variety  Club,  passed  around  the 
experience  of  taking  care  of  the  15  fam- 
ilies the  club  adopted  for  the  holidays. 
Those  who  helped  were  20 th-Fox,  Metro, 
National  Screen,  Paramount,  Common- 
wealth Theatres,  Republic-Midwest,  Co- 
lumbia, Altec  Service,  RCA  Photophone, 
Rube  Finkelstein,  Jack  Shriner,  Nat 
Hechtman,  Max  Barewin  and  Jay  Means. 
All  took  care  of  one,  except  Finkelstein, 
who  took  care  of  two.  They  were  sup- 
plied with  cash  by  the  club,  and  members 
of  the  club  and  friends  supplied  an  un- 
usual amount  of  clothing,  etc.  Surplus 
clothing  was  given  the  Salvation  Army. 

On  January  1,  Irving  Waterstreet  of  the 
local  M-G-M  exchange  completed  his 
fourth  year  with  the  company.  The  next 
day  Georgia  Ottaviano  also  made  it  a 
quartet  of  years  with  Leo.  Anna  Hays 
will  run  her  service  string  to  six  years 
on  January  12. 

The  Jayhawk  at  Chanute,  Kas.,  which 
has  been  dark,  is  being  readied  for  re- 
opening in  January  by  Ray  Walsh,  who 
has  the  Mainstreet  there.  National  Thea- 
tre Supply  furnished  projection  equip- 
ment, arc  lamps  and  generator  . . . Na- 
tional Theatre  Supply  also  furnished  pro- 
jection, lamps,  rectifiers,  carpet  and 
screen  ( plastic  moulded)  to  E.  Van  Hyn- 
ing’s  Tauy,  Ottawa,  Kas.  ...  It  recently 
sold  one  of  the  new  screens  to  C.  C. 
Rhodes  for  his  Nu-Buflo,  Buffalo,  Mo. 


HJIEl  [ONTIHtNTAL 

kecvitoft  KANSAS  CITY,  MO. 


On  the  Row:  F.  L.  “Doc”  Lowe,  Sterling, 
Kas.,  who  figures  building  a new  theatre 
(Lebanon,  Mo.)  is  enough  to  think  about 
for  a few  weeks;  M.  S.  Heath,  Plaza,  Lib- 
erty, Mo.;  Paul  Oetting,  Lyric,  Concordia, 
Mo.;  Morris  V.  Beisner,  Dream,  Glasgow, 
Kas.;  Floyd  Hill,  Hill,  Drexel,  Mo.  . . . 
The  Kansas  state  board  of  review  has 
been  having  the  flu:  Mrs.  Dwight  Num- 
bers, chairman;  Hallie  Tucker,  Mrs.  Mary 
Meek.  Most  of  them  now  are  back  on  the 
job  . . . John  Wangberg  was  in  visiting  the 
boys  at  RKO,  and  other  friends  along  the 
Row  . . . Rube  Melcher  of  Poppers  Supply 
is  back  from  Milwaukee  where  he  went 
to  get  his  daughter  Marion,  who  was 
visiting  . . . Irving  Waterstreet,  who  has 
been  exploiteering  for  Metro,  goes  to  St. 
Louis,  his  old  stamping  grounds,  and 
Claud  Morris,  long  here,  returns  to  Kan- 
sas City  to  replace  him. 


92 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


Amended  Bill  Furthers  Suit 
Of  Schreiher  vs.  Schreiher 


Illness  Postpones  Trial 
Of  Suif  Against  Co-op 

Detroit — -Trial  of  the  suit  of  Midwest 
Theatres  against  Cooperative  Theatres  of 
Michigan,  which  already  has  consumed 
a month  in  federal  court,  was  postponed 
this  week  because  of  the  illness  of  A,  J. 
Levin,  attorney  for  the  defendants.  The 
case  is  expected  to  come  up  again 
January  7. 

Vi—  = =*> 

Bank  Night  a Gainer 
In  an  Ohio  Ruling 

Cleveland — The  Supreme  Court  of  Ohio 
last  week  held  that  a court  has  no  au- 
thority in  a civil  action  to  determine 
whether  a theatre  owner  who  operates 
Bank  Night  is  guilty  of  violating  the  state 
lottery  statute.  This  decision  was  based 
on  the  fact  that  operation  of  a lottery 
is  a criminal  offense  and  that  the  legal 
status  of  Bank  Night  in  Ohio  can  be 
determined  only  in  a criminal  action. 

On  this  premise  (that  a criminal  action 
was  necessary  for  a ruling)  the  high  court 
refused  to  grant  an  injunction  to  the  Troy 
Amusement  Co.,  enjoining  local  officials 
from  interfering  with  Bank  Night  at  the 
Mayflower  in  Troy. 

In  a 6 to  1 decision,  the  high  court  over- 
ruled a common  pleas  and  a court  of 
appeals  ruling  in  the  case  of  the  Troy 
Amusement  Co.  of  Troy,  Ohio,  against 
Andrew  Attenweiler,  Michael  E.  Morris, 
George  Hollopeter,  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
Frank  O’Roarke,  constable  for  Newberry 
county. 

Jury  Vindicates 

In  June,  1939,  Attenweiler  filed  suit  in 
the  court  of  common  pleas,  Miami  County, 
Ohio,  against  the  Troy  Amusement  Co., 
operating  the  Mayflower  Theatre,  Troy, 
for  recovery  of  $10.40  representing  money 
claimed  by  him  to  have  been  paid  to  the 
theatre  over  a 52-week  period  during  the 
operation  of  Bank  Night.  He  also  asked 
$100  damages,  and  further  alleged  in  his 
petition  that  Bank  Night  is  a lottery. 

Troy  Amusement  Co.  in  a jury  trial 
was  vindicated  of  operating  a lottery. 

Following  this,  Attenweiler  filed  a crimi- 
nal action  for  the  arrest  of  Manager  Chris- 
tian F.  Pfister,  charging  operation  of  a 
lottery.  He  also  obtained  a search  war- 
rant to  seize  the  equipment  used  in  the 
operation  of  Bank  Night.  Thereupon  the 
Troy  Amusement  Co.  won  a request  for 
an  injunction  restraining  Attenweiler 
from  seizing  the  equipment.  Common 
Pleas  Judge  Richard  L.  Cameron  of  St. 
Marys,  Ohio,  then  upheld  a demurrer  filed 
by  Attenweiler. 

At  this  point  the  Troy  Amusement  Co. 
entered  an  appeal  and  the  court  of  ap- 
peals not  only  upheld  the  lower  courts  but 
went  so  far  as  to  designate  Bank  Night 
as  a lottery. 

On  the  basis  of  this  designation,  the 
case  was  admitted  to  the  Supreme  Court 
and  its  ruling  was  published  last  Tues- 
day, throwing  wide  open  the  question  of 
whether  Bank  Night  is  or  is  not  a lottery 
in  this  state,  by  its  ruling  that  the  guilt 
or  innocence  of  anyone  operating  Bank 


Detroit — The  suit  of  Jacob  Schreiber, 
former  owner  of  the  five  Woodward  Ave- 
nue theatres  now  known  as  the  Midwest 
Circuit,  against  Raymond  -Schreiber,  his 
nephew  and  present  operator  of  the 
houses,  reached  a new  stage  with  the  fil- 
ing of  an  amended  bill  of  complaint  by 
the  plaintiff.  Earlier  history  of  the  case 
has  been  reported  previously  in  Boxof- 
fice,  particularly  when  the  original  bill 
was  filed  a year  and  a half  ago  in  Wayne 
county  circuit  court. 

The  present  case  does  not  appear  to 
affect  the  suit  of  Midwest  Theatres,  with 
Raymond  Schreiber  as  principal,  against 
Co-Operative  Theatres,  now  being  tried 
in  federal  court  here.  Although  the  inde- 
terminate state  of  “Schreiber  vs.  Schrei- 
ber” was  earlier  given  as  a reason  for 
postponing  the  Co-Op  suit,  the  defendants 
(Co-Op)  now  appear  ready  to  go  on  to  a 
decision  regardless  of  the  circuit  court 
case. 

Asks  Return  of  Houses 

In  his  amended  bill,  Jacob  Schreiber, 
who  is  joined  by  his  wife  and  six  theatre 
corporations  as  joint  plaintiffs,  asks  that 
the  five  theatres  involved — Colonial, 
Blackstone  No.  2,  Majestic,  Forest  and 
Garden — be  returned  to  him;  that  the 
agreement  transferring  operation  from 
plaintiff  to  defendant  be  declared  a trust 
agreement  subject  to  cancellation  by  the 
plaintiff;  that  the  agreement  be  reformed 
by  the  court  to  include  numerous  pro- 
visions covered  in  the  bill,  particularly 
that  the  defendants  pay  all  debts  of  the 
plaintiffs,  including  especially  income 
taxes,  up  to  the  date  of  agreement  (about 
September,  1938) ; that  an  accounting  be 
taken  and  defendant  decreed  to  pay  the 
plaintiff  whatever  sums  found  due;  that 
a receiver  be  appointed  pending  determi- 
nation of  the  case,  to  operate  the  theatres; 
that  defendants  be  enjoined  from  dispos- 
ing of  or  incumbering  any  properties  in- 
volved; that  defendants  be  stopped  from 
making  any  alterations  or  repairs,  par- 
ticularly from  reseating  the  Majestic:  that 
defendants  deliver  to  plaintiffs  all  per- 
sonal property  not  covered  by  agreement. 

In  his  9.000-word  bill  of  complaint,  Ja- 
cob Schreiber  goes  at  length  into  a pre- 
sentation of  the  history  of  the  situation 
and  of  his  story  of  the  agreements.  Co- 
defendants with  Raymond  Schreiber  are 
Samuel  Shapero,  attorney,  and  Sidney 
Foreman,  accounting,  and  the  R.  S.  Hold- 
ing Co.  and  Midwest  Theatres.  Inc. 

According  to  the  plaintiff’s  bill,  he  was 
urged  by  physician’s  advice  to  get  out  of 


Night  as  a lottery  must  be  determined  in 
a criminal  action. 


Massillon  Police  Department 
Sees  Decision  Favorable 
Massillon,  Ohio — A decision  of  the  Ohio 
supreme  court  upheld  in  effect  the  Massil- 
lon police  department’s  activities  to  stop 
cash  award  drawings  at  local  theatres. 
City  Solicitor  Sherlock  H.  Evans  has 


theatre  operation,  and  originally  sold  his 
business  to  Jack  Broder  for  $125,000,  in 
October,  1937,  under  an  agreement  ter- 
minated about  the  next  July  by  alleged 
default  of  Broder.  Plaintiffs  then  negoti- 
ated with  Raymond  Schreiber,  they  state, 
and  further: 

That  an  agreement  was  reached  for  pur- 
chase at  $25,000,  payable  $150  per  week 
plus  interest,  with  the  defendant  paying 
out  of  earnings  all  obligations  of  the 
plaintiffs;  that  plaintiffs  would  receive 
weekly  payment,  later  agreed  upon  as 
$150,  for  their  support;  that  upon  any  de- 
fault, plaintiffs  could  immediately  re- 
take possession;  that  defendant  was  not 
to  pay  himself  or  any  employes  in  excess 
of  $125  per  week  till  all  obligations  had 
been  fulfilled;  that  in  September,  1938, 
a supplemental  agreement  was  entered 
into  to  add  $4,000  to  the  net  obligation 
(originally  $25,000),  to  cover  advances 
made  by  plaintiffs  to  defendant  plus  cash 
deposits  on  leases. 

Details  Differences 

Subsequently,  the  plaintiffs  claim,  the 
agreement  was  found  to  be  different  in 
important  respects  from  what  they  had 
understood  it  to  be;  “that  the  written 
agreements  expressly  excepted  from  the 
obligations  any  personal  income  taxes  to 
be  paid  by  plaintiffs;”  that  “if  this  situ- 
ation is  allowed  to  exist,  the  plaintiffs 
practically  give  their  business  to  the  de- 
fendant;” that  defendant  refuses  to  pay 
particularly  certain  federal  income  taxes 
of  the  plaintiffs,  that  he  refuses  to  sur- 
render certain  desks  and  other  personal 
property,  that  he  refused  to  pay  Metro 
Premiums  account  of  $1,200,  that  defend- 
ant has  refused  or  neglected  to  pay  sundry 
state,  county,  city,  social  security,  unem- 
ployment, and  old  age  taxes,  and  that  de- 
fendant is  jeopardizing  the  Majestic  prop- 
erty by  incurring,  or  being  about  to  in- 
cur, a debt  of  $12,000  for  reseating — all 
allegedly  contrary  to  agreement. 

The  bill  goes  at  great  length  into  de- 
tails of  how  the  differences  alleged  be- 
tween plaintiffs’  understanding  and  the 
final  written  form  of  the  agreements 
arose,  and  finally  alleges  “improper”  man- 
agement of  the  theatres  by  Raymond 
Schreiber  in  that  a debt  of  about  $15,000 
allegedly  has  accumulated. 

In  reply  to  the  amended  bill,  Raymond 
Schreiber  told  Boxoffice:  “My  deal  with 
Jake  Schreiber  was  done  honestly,  truth- 
fully and  legitimately,  and  I have  carried 
out  all  provisions  of  the  agreement.” 


announced  he  intends  to  proceed  with  the 
prosecution  of  I.  H.  Solomon,  manager  of 
the  Lincoln  Theatre,  on  a charge  of  sell- 
ing tickets  in  a game  of  chance. 


Krims  Adautinq  "Georqe" 

Hollywood — Milton  Krims  is  adaoting 
“The  Dealer’s  Name  Was  George”  for 
Warner  from  the  Ketti  Frings  story. 


BOXOFFICE  ;;  January  4,  1941 


ME 


93 


Shuttle  Schedule  to  Put  Pre-Xmas  Closing  Is 
Best  in  for  Holiday  Generally  Applauded 


( Average  is  100) 

Cleveland — The  days  just  before  Christ- 
mas are  proverbially  the  worst  show  days 
of  the  year  and  this  year  was  no  excep- 
tion. To  meet  the  situation,  first  run  thea- 
tre owners  arranged  their  programs  so  as 
to  offer  new  pictures  on  Tuesday — Christ- 
mas Eve — instead  of  on  the  regular 
change  day.  To  accomplish  this,  four  of 
the  five  downtown  first  runs  played  their 
product  from  three  to  five  days,  depend- 
ing upon  what  day  they  change  programs. 
The  RKO  Palace  alone  adhered  to  its 
regular  policy  and  a seven- day  run  where 
“Christmas  in  July”  was  well  received  and 
billed  over  the  vaudeville.  “The  Long  Voy- 
age Home”  opened  to  fair  business  at 
Loew’s  State  but  built  steadily  during  its 
five-day  run.  Warner’s  Hippodrome  played 
“You’ll  Find  Out”  for  five  days  bringing 
“Santa  Fe  Trail”  as  its  Christmas  offer- 
ing. “Tin  Pan  Alley,”  after  10  days  at 
the  Hippodrome,  moved  to  the  Allen  for  a 
three-day  fill  in,  with  “You’ll  Find  Out” 
taking  over  for  the  holiday  week.  “North 
West  Mounted  Police”  held  strong  in  its 
fourth  week  downtown  of  which  one  week 
was  at  Loew’s  State  and  the  rest  of  the  run 
on  a move-over  at  the  Stillman.  Weather 
was  ideal. 

Detail  for  week  ending  December  27: 


Allen — Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox) 115 

Played  3 days  on  a moveover  following  a 10- 
day  run  at  the  Hippodrome. 

Hippodrome — You’ll  Find  Out  (RKO)  75 

Played  5 days,  making  room  for  “Santa  Fe 
Trail”  on  Xmas  Eve. 

Palace — Christmas  in  July  (Para’t)  95 

Stage  show  featuring  Gray  Gordon  and  or- 
chestra and  Wally  Brown  in  his  third  appear- 
ance here  this  season. 

State — Fong  Voyage  Home  (UA),  5 days 100 


Stillman — North  West  Mounted  Police  (Para’t)  100 
Played  5 days  of  a 4th  wk.  downtown  of  which 
one  wk.  was  at  the  State. 

"Alley/1  "NWMP"  Strong 
In  Third  Week  in  Pitt 

Pittsburgh  — “Tin  Pan  Alley”  and 
“North  West  Mounted  Police”  in  third 
week  engagements  were  leaders  here. 
Other  attractions  were  below  par  as  strong 
programs  opened  for  the  holidays.  Weather 
was  mild. 

Detail  for  week  ending  December  20: 


Barry — Who  Killed  Aunt  Maggie?  (Rep); 

Phantom  of  Chinatown  (Mono)  110 

Fulton — Argentine  Nights  (Univ) ; Diamond 

Frontier  (Univ)  70 

Penn — Little  Nellie  Kelly  (M-G-M) 90 

Ritz — Dreaming  Out  Loud  (RKO);  Mexican 

Spitfire  Out  West  (RKO)  50 

Senator — Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox),  3rd  wk....  125 

Stanley — Go  West  (M-G-M)  85 

Warner — North  West  Mounted  Police  (Para’t), 

3rd  d.  t.  wk 175 


A Revival  Outranks  New 
Product  in  Cincinnati 

Cincinnati — “Here  Comes  the  Navy,” 
Warner  revival  spotted  at  RKO  Shubert, 
did  a surprisingly  good  business  in  a week 
paralyzed  by  the  pre-holiday  lull,  unduly 
warm  weather  and  a northern  Kentucky 
street  car  and  bus  strike 

“The  Bank  Dick”  tied  with  “Chad 
Hanna.”  Lowest  gross  went  to  “South  of 


Suez.”  In  the  holdovers  the  Marxes  were 
about  30  per  cent  off  for  the  second  and 
final  week.  “Tin  Pan  Alley,”  in  its  fourth, 
and  “Philadelphia  Story,”  in  its  third 
week,  ran  fait  to  middling,  with  about  20 
per  cent  off. 

Detail  for  week  ended  December  23: 


Albee — Chad  Hanna  (20th- Fox)  90 

Held  over  and  shifted  to  RKO  Grand. 

Capitol— Go  West  (M-G-M),  2nd  wk 70 

Grand — The  Bank  Dick  (Univ) 90 

Keith’s — South  of  Suez  (WB) 70 

Lyric-  Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox),  4th  wk 80 

Palace — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M).  3rd  wk. ..  80 


Shubert — Here  C'omes  the  Navy  (WB)  revival.  100 

To  Lyric  for  2nd  wk. 

Holiday  Trade  Temporarily 
Arrests  Dip  in  Detroit 

Detroit — Christmas  accounted  for  the 
slump  in  local  business  generally  this  week 
— plus  the  fact  that  Detroit  seems  to  be 
enjoying  a rearmament  depression  in  show 
business.  Grosses  have  steadily  gone 
downward,  only  slightly  arrested  by  holi- 
day trade,  and  dropping  again  to  below 
par  on  Thursday  for  closing.  The  fact  ap- 
pears to  be  that  money  for  the  arms  pro- 
gram is  not  going  out  to  the  average  fam- 
ily in  enough  quantity  to  encourage  spend- 
ing at  first  runs — despite  the  millions  re- 
ported assigned  to  the  big  auto  plants  here. 
Christmas  trade  in  stores  was  generally 
good,  and  theatres  are  expecting  to  pick 
up  after  January  1 — or  the  first  payday 
after  January  10  when  Christmas  bills  are 
paid  off. 

Booking  schedules  were  all  disarranged 
this  week,  with  all  first  runs  except  the 
United  Artists — which  normally  closes  its 
week  on  Wednesday,  one  day  early — and 
the  Cinema,  closing  after  five  days,  on 
Tuesday,  to  start  new  shows  for  Christmas, 
to  run  nine  days  in  most  instances.  Three 
features  went  into  surprisingly  long  runs 
of  five  weeks  it  will  be  noted: 

Detail  for  week  ended  December  26  (ad- 
justed for  altered  runs  reported  above)  : 


Adams — Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox),  4th  wk., 
after  1 wk. ‘at  Fox;  Give  Fs  Wing's  (Univ), 

2nd  wk.  100 

Cinema — Forbidden  Adventure  (SR)  75 

Fox — Escape  to  Glory  (Col);  One  Night  in 

the  Tropics  (Un-iv)  80 

Michigan — The  Letter  (FN);  Captain  Caution 

(UA).  2nd  wk 95 

Palms-State — North  AVest  Mounted  Police 
(Para’t);  A Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s  (Para’t), 

3rd  wk.,  after  2 wks.  at  Michigan 90 

United  Artists — Long  A’oyage  Home  (UA); 

Comrade  X (M-G-M)  100 


"Bagdad"  and  "Bank  Dick" 
Do  Standout  Business 

Cincinnati  — Stimulating  reports  on 
“The  Thief  of  Bagdad”  have  been  received 
by  Harris  Dudelson,  UA  branch  manager. 

According  to  word  from  Loew’s  manager 
in  Dayton,  the  picture  did  the  biggest 
Xmas  business  at  this  house  in  seven 
years;  and  in  Columbus  the  first  three 
days  equalled  the  week’s  regular  take. 

Universal  reports  “The  Bank  Dick”  also 
doing  an  excellent  grossage  in  Dayton  and 
Columbus.  This  feature  was  also  well  re- 
ceived and  held  over  here. 


Detroit — Reactions  to  the  idea  of  clos- 
ing the  day  before  Christmas  were  gener- 
ally favorable  among  the  several  dozen 
theatre  owners  who  participated.  Net 
figures  on  the  books  were  actually  about 
the  same  as  they  would  have  been  had 
the  house  opened,  a few  confided,  inas- 
much as  the  loss  in  grosses  was  offset  by 
saving  on  lights  and  general  operating 
costs. 

However,  in  some  neighborhoods  mer- 
chants were  reported  disappointed  be- 
cause they  wanted  a well  lighted  spot  for 
that  last  minute  pre-Christmas  shopping 
rush. 

A new  idea  that  merits  serious  con- 
sideration for  1941  was  broached  by  Wil- 
liam Richmond  of  the  Lincoln  Park: 

“Closing  the  day  before  Christmas  is 
one  thing — but  would  it  not  be  ever  so 
much  better  to  stay  open  and  give  the 
proceeds  of  the  evening,  as  estimated  by 
a committee  of  course,  to  some  worthy 
charity?  Think  of  the  worthy  effect  of 
such  a united  gesture  from  theatres  gener- 
ally— and  what  a favorable  reaction  200 
theatres  making  this  move  would  get  from 
the  public  at  large.  Each  exhibitor  could 
direct  his  proceeds  toward  his  own  chosen 
charity.  The  public  would  like  it  a lot 
better  to  know  that  the  proceeds  of  this 
one  evening  in  the  year  were  being  donated 
to  charity,  than  to  find  their  favorite  thea- 
tre darkened  on  this  night.” 

" Grapes  of  Wrath"  Tops 
Pitt  Newspaper's  List 

Pittsburgh — Post-Gazette’s  10  best  pic- 
tures of  the  year  were  “The  Grapes  of 
Wrath,”  “Gone  With  the  Wind,”  “Angels 
Over  Broadway,”  “The  Long  Voyage 
Home,”  “Foreign  Correspondent,”  “My 
Favorite  Wife,”  “Our  Town,”  “Dr.  Ehr- 
lich’s Magic  Bullet,”  “Of  Mice  and  Men,” 
and  “Pinocchio.” 


Order  Photophone 

Pittsburgh  — Warner’s  Cambria  at 
Johnstown,  Pa.,  is  being  outfitted  with 
new  Photophone  sound.  Also,  the  Kal  at 
Kalkaska,  Mich.,  the  Ohio,  Bellaire,  and 
the  new  house,  as  yet  unnamed,  that  Philip 
and  Antonio  La  Mantia  are  building  at 
Nanty  Glo,  Pa. 


To  Open  Wilt 

Ligonier,  Pa. — The  old  Wilt,  dark  for 
more  than  a year,  is  being  remodeled  for 
early  reopening.  New  operator  is  reported 
to  be  Leona  Smith.  The  H.  G.  Wilts  retired 
when  the  new  Ligonier  was  opened  by 
Alex  Alexis. 


Lyric  to  John  Cook 

Glenville,  W.  Va. — John  Cook  has  ac- 
quired the  Lyric  here.  Former  operator  was 
Arthur  Crissman,  who  is  reported  entering 
exhibition  at  Grantsville. 


94 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


ID)  IE  ir  R €»  1 T, 


Dispute  Over  Employe 
Blocks  an  Opening 

Detroit — A novelty  in  new  theatre  open- 
ings was  the  failure  of  the  Royal  to  open 
last  Friday  as  scheduled.  In  lieu  of  the 
usual  special  trade  preview,  general  trade 
invitations  good  Friday  through  Sunday 
were  issued,  with  public  opening  slated 
for  6:00  p.  m.  But,  despite  a crowd  es- 
timated at  4,000  gathered  around  the 
2,500-seat  house,  it  remained  dark. 

Reason  was  said  to  be  a demand  by 
the  IATSE  union  that  the  house  employ 
a stagehand  and  the  insistence  of  the 
management  that  there  was  no  need  for 
a stagehand  in  the  house.  Accordingly, 
the  union  office  allegedly  instructed  the 
projectionists  to  walk  out.  The  manage- 
ment claimed  that  this  walkout  notice 
was  not  received  until  4:30  p.  m.,  with  the 
house  scheduled  to  open  at  6:00  p.  m. 

Action  was  doubly  important  because 
of  the  way  the  spotlight  has  been  fo- 
cused on  this  house — the  first  in  the  ter- 
ritory to  be  erected  jointly  by  an  affili- 
ated circuit — United  Detroit,  and  an  in- 
dependent, Wisper  & Wetsman.  In  addi- 
tion, it  is  the  first  theatre  erected  as  a 
second  run  house  in  ten  years  in  the 
Detroit  area. 

Fear  a Precedent 

The  union  contends  that  there  is  plenty 
of  work  in  a 2,500-seat  house  for  a stage- 
hand, and  specifically  points  to  the  need 
of  a man  to  turn  up  house  lights  in  case 
of  fire  or  panic,  devoting  the  rest  of  his 
time  to  house  maintenance,  such  as  check- 
ing exit  doors. 

Sentiment  of  the  management  appears 
to  be  that,  with  all  equipment  new  and 
guaranteed  for  years  by  manufacturers, 
there  is  no  need  for  a high-salaried  stage- 
hand. 

Significance  of  the  situation  lies  in  the 
fact  that  about  50  stagehands  are  now  em- 
ployed in  some  30  local  theatres  playing 
pictures  exclusively.  Admittedly,  no  seri- 
ous attempt  is  likely  to  be  made  at  this 
time  to  attack  the  employment  of  stage- 
hands in  these  older  houses,  but  the  sen- 
timent of  union  members  appears  to  be 
that  failure  to  put  in  a man  in  the  Royal 
would  constitute  a precedent  that  could 
later  be  applied  to  any  other  house,  es- 
pecially if  of  smaller  size. 

Local  104  Holds  Annual 
Banquet  at  Elmhurst 

Zanesville,  Ohio — The  annual  banquet 
of  Local  104,  operators  union,  was  held 
recently  at  Elmhurst. 

Mayor  and  Mrs.  Tom  V.  Moorehead 
were  guests  at  the  party,  and  Zanesville 
theatre  managers,  motion  picture  machine 
operators,  stage  hands  and  their  wives 
were  present. 

Howard  Winkelman,  projectionist  at  the 
Weller,  was  toastmaster,  and  the  commit- 
tee on  arrangements  included  Arthur  Bis- 
choff,  president  of  the  Zanesville  Federa- 
tion of  Labor;  Ed  Fuller  and  Ed  Fluke. 


To  Remodel  in  Bobtown 

Bobtown,  Pa. — The  Lund  circuit’s  local 
unit  will  be  closed  January  12  for  two 
weeks  for  complete  modernization. 


fJOLIDAY  ECHOES:  H.  Vinton  Gilbert 
holding  forth  as  host  up  in  Allied  Film 
Exchange  . . . The  UA  gang  had  quite  a 
party,  too,  earlier  in  the  day  . . . Eddie 
Jacobson  of  the  Parkside  giving  out  those 
phony  “season  passes”  to  distributors  . . . 
Burton  London  of  the  Beacon  and  Max 
Blumenthal  of  Film  Projection  busy  down 
on  the  first  floor  . . . Charlie  Garner  of 
Allied  gladhanding  . . . Irving  and  Lillian 
Belinsky  counting  up  the  day’s  results  with 
Lew  Arozian  . . . Bill  Green  sent  out  news- 
papers with  his  greetings  in  headlines. 

Co-op’s  party  was  the  highlight  of  the 
season  . . . Cully  Buermele  a very  able  and 
conscientious  host  . . . Bob  Thompson,  Cliff 
Perry,  and  Herb  Brown  proved  that  the 
M-G-M  boys  know  how  to  wm  friends  . . . 
Joseph  Stoia  of  the  Circle  ivas  on  hand 
. . . Tom  McGuire,  Co-op  publicist,  was 
genial  dispenser  of  holiday  cheer  . . . Al 
Rupert  of  the  Rupert  discoursing  on  the 
divan  . . . Jack  Flynn,  former  M-G-M  di- 
vision manager,  was  a caller  with  Man- 
ager Frank  J . Downey  . . . John  Howard, 
Paramount  manager,  off  to  Boston  for  the 
holidays  . . . Raymond  E.  Moon,  manager 
of  Mutual  Theatres,  returned  to  his  old 
haunts  . . . Earl  Hudson  and  the  UDT 
gang  expected  among  the  late  arrivals  . . . 
Lou  Mitchell  of  the  Beverly  was  busy  on 
the  front  gate  . . . Among  those  seen:  Nat 
Haase  of  Metro  Premium,  in  the  corridor; 
Eddie  Heiber,  Universal  manager;  Harold 
Munz  of  the  Century,  and  Frank  Wetsman 
and  Daniel  J.  Lewis  of  W&W. 

Eddie  Westcott,  20th-Fox  salesman,  de- 
cided to  stay  at  home  for  his  vacation.  He 
spends  most  of  his  time  out  on  the  road 
. . . William  Richmond,  manager  of  Max 
Allen’s  Lincoln  Park,  has  plenty  of  good 
ideas  for  theatre  tieups  . . . N.  Dow  Thomp- 
son, ex-UDT  manager,  is  still  a close  fol- 
lower of  local  theatre  activities  way  out  in 
Fullerton,  Cal.  . . . Floyd  Chrysler  and 
Bob  Bernstein  found  their  desks  missing 
the  day  after  Christmas.  Somebody  used 
them  for  a party  . . . Ambrose  Fitzgerald, 


now  managing  the  Dox,  out  with  Christ- 
mas cards  the  day  after. 

Twentieth-Fox  Notes:  Jess  (NOA)  Veld- 
man  lives  up  to  his  well-earned  repute  as 
a good  collector  . . . Jack  Sturm  seen  on 
his  rare  visit  upstairs  . . . Billie  Brown, 
booker,  is  sporting  a new  Plymouth  . . . 
Mrs.  Clara  Kelly,  elevator  chauffeur  for 
Filmrow,  missed  her  holiday  sleep  . . . Nat 
Haase  of  Metro  Premium  celebrating  his 
switch  from  brunette  to  blonde  . . . Col. 
George  McCoy,  Columbia,  vacationing  in 
Florida,  while  Ray  Cloud  goes  there  in 
January  . . . Ed  Long  of  Long  Sign  Co.,  out 
of  town  for  a few  days  . . . Pete  Simon  has 
started  making  titles  for  16 mm  as  well  as 
his  standard  film  service  . . . John  Dem- 
beck,  M-G-M  booker,  took  a bad  fall 
Christmas  night  and  tore  a ligament  in 
his  left  leg. 

Charlie  Perry  of  the  Adams  in  Detroit 
and  Harris  Silverberg  of  National  Screen 
in  Chicago  are  planning  an  extensive  ex- 
ploration of  Beaver  Island  next  summer. 
Hollis  Drew,  new  commander  of  the  U.  S. 
P.  S„  and  skipper  of  the  Temple  Theatre, 
East  Jordan,  Mich.,  promises  them  an 
eventful  cruise  aboard  the  "Mariho.” 

Craven  Denies  Connection 
With  Union  in  Detroit 

Detroit — Vigorously  denying  rumors  to 
the  contrary  circulating  along  Filmrow, 
Howard  Craven  of  Exhibitors  Service  Co., 
points  out  in  a statement  to  Boxoffice 
that  he  has  no  connection  with  the  per- 
sonnel or  organization  of  Local  20465  of 
film  inspectors,  shippers  and  poster 
handlers. 

Reports  were  current  to  this  effect  three 
years  ago.  Apparent  reason  is  the  fact 
that  Craven’s  service  company  shares  of- 
fice space  with  the  union,  but,  aside  from 
the  fact  that  his  eligible  employes  are 
union  members,  there  is  no  other  connec- 
tion whatever. 


In  the  Booth , 27  Years  Ago — 

The  booth  of  the  Clay  Theatre  in  Detroit  as  it  appeared  one  evening  back 
in  1914.  The  house,  now  operated  by  the  William  Schulte  circuit,  then 
was  operated  by  Schulte’s  father-in-law.  The  projectionist  in  the  picture  is 
Tony  Cici,  now  supervisor  of  the  Schulte  circuit. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


95 


gURTUS  BISHOP  jr„  M-G-M's  manager, 
who  will  be  honored  at  a testimonial 
banquet  in  the  William  Penn  Hotel,  Mon- 
day evening,  January  6,  was  presented 
with  a radio  at  the  company’s  Christmas 
party.  The  M-G-M  Pep  Club  presented 
him  with  a fine  clock  at  a “farewell  party.” 
He  departs  for  Kansas  City  the  day  after 
the  testimonial  and  will  be  greatly  missed 
here  by  members  of  the  Metro  staff  and 
by  hundreds  of  exhibitors  and  trade 
friends  ...  A combination  radio  and 
phonograph  was  presented  to  John  J. 
Maloney,  M-G-M’s  district  manager,  from 
the  branch  managers  of  his  district  and 
members  of  the  local  exchange.  A bar 
was  presented  to  Eddie  Moriarty,  Leo’s 
local  office  manager.  (Nice  fellow  this 
Santa  Claus!) 

Johnny  Harris  gifted  all  his  Hornet 
hockey  players  with  handsome  jackets  and 
members  of  the  “lee  Follies”  cast  with 
make-up  kits  ...  Si  Steinhauser,  Press 
radio  editor ; Republic’s  Sam  Fineberg  and 
this  corner  of  Boxoffice  were  judges  for 
the  i Garrick  outdoor  Christmas  lighting 
contest  ...  A.  J.  Angros,  who  sold  the 
new  Sylvan,  Coudersport,  to  Charlie  Fick- 
inger  shortly  after  he  had  opened  it,  ex- 
pects to  build  another  theatre  soon,  but 
he  isn’t  saying  where  . . . Ken  Blakely  will 
erect  a new  house  at  Westfield,  New  York 
. . . Bobby  Dunbar  was  around  for  the 
holidays  . . . “Tobacco  Road”  returns  to 
the  Nixon  stage  the  week  of  February  3 
. . . Mrs.  James  H.  Alexander  celebrated  a 
birthday  anniversary  New  Year’s  Day  . . . 
C.  C.  Kellenberg,  Variety  Club’s  new  chief 
barker,  has  announced  members  of  the 
various  committees  for  1941  and  has  things 
humming  very  early  in  the  new  year. 

Peter  Dana  and  members  of  the  local 
Universal  exchange  staff  are  out  to  win 
some  of  that  $15,000  offered  in  the  Bill 
Scully  anniversary  drive,  which  extends  to 
May  10.  The  exchange  quarters  are 
elaborately  bannered  in  exploiting  the  con- 
test . . . AMPTO  directors  were  scheduled 
to  meet  January  3 . . . Bill  Brooks,  Para- 
mount booker,  was  back  on  the  job  this 
week  after  vacationing  in  Cleveland  over 
the  holidays  . . . Andrew  Cherry,  veteran 
film  man  who  is  now  receptionist  in  the 
county  detective  bureau,  and  his  collection 
of  Christmas  cards  were  the  subject  of  a 
newspaper  story  the  other  day. 

Our  sympathy  to  Gertrude  Hungerman 
of  Universal,  whose  mother  died  last  week 
...  A Christmas  day  announcement  was 
made  of  the  engagement  of  Marie  Rost, 
Warner  exchange  contract  department 
head,  and  Adrian  Goldbach  . . . Andrew  J. 
Sharick,  Universal  studio  sales  contact 
representative,  was  a visitor  the  other  day 
. . . M-G-M’s  sales  representatives,  Milton 
Brauman,  Harry  Fendrick  and  Jack  Mund- 
stuk,  vacationed  in  New  York  over  the 
holidays  and  Saal  Gottlieb  was  in  Miami 
. . . Warner  is  “sell-ebrating”  Grad  Sears’ 
20 th  anniversary  with  a special  drive 
which  closes  April  19. 

Chris  Wagner’s  Paramount,  Connells- 
ville,  is  an  addition  to  the  AMPTO  mem- 
bership roll  . . . Bob  Jacobs,  son  of  Sid 
Jacobs,  Warner  circuit’s  West  Virginia  dis- 


trict manager,  has  reported  for  active  duty 
at  Narragansett  Bay  where  he  is  a second 
lieutenant  in  the  army  reserve  corps  . . . 
Spyros  Skouras,  theatre  magnate,  was  here 
last  week  as  head  of  the  Greek  War  Relief 
Committee  seeking  civilian  aid.  Local  sup- 
port was  promised  by  Harry  Kalmine  and 
Joe  Feldman  of  Warner  circuit  and  by 
John  H.  Harris  of  Harris  Amusements  . . . 
Mixe  Cuilen,  Loew’s  district  manager,  was 
in  the  city  for  the  holidays  . . . William 
Clark,  Warner  circuit  short  subject  booker, 
his  wife  and  their  nine-year-oid  son  were 
paimuiiy  injured  in  a car  collision  Christ- 
mas day.  Mrs.  Clark  was  treated  at  the 
Pittsburgh  hospital  for  a fractured  skull, 
William  jr.,  for  a cerebral  concussion  and 
the  booker  for  cuts  on  his  legs. 

Martin  Seed,  manager  of  the  Regal, 
Wilkinsburg,  and  Assistant  Peter  Musico, 
are  very  proud  of  the  newly  decorated 
theatre  as  are  Bob  Brown  and  Walt 
Thomas,  manager  and  assistant,  respec- 
tively, of  the  State  of  the  same  borough 
which  likewise  has  been  completely  re- 
painted and  modernized.  Recent  extensive 
redecoration  of  the  Rowland,  Wilkinsburg’s 
A house,  under  the  direction  of  Dick 
Brown,  served  as  the  inspiration  for  the 
new  house  staffs  of  the  State  and  Regal. 

Frank  Panoplos  is  president  of  the  Clair- 
ton  Greek  War  Relief  committee  which 
has  forwarded  $1,000  to  the  national  fund 
. . . Allen  Tolley  has  been  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  M-G-M  Pep  Club  for  1941; 
Wahneta  Gardner  is  vice-president;  Ger- 
trude Freed,  secretary,  and  Joe  Stack, 
treasurer.  The  prexy  is  the  son  of  Ted 
Tolley,  recently  re-elected  president  of  the 
Filmrow  Employes  Union  . . . Our  sym- 

Harrisburg  Hopper 
Holds  2,000  Bills 

Harrisburg — The  General  Assembly  will 
convene  next  Tuesday  in  what  has  been 
designated  by  political  writers  as  a “knock- 
down drag-out”  session  which  may  “work” 
for  five  or  six  months  while  2,000  bills 
are  thrown  into  the  hopper. 

A 3 per  cent  state  personal  income  tax 
and  a retail  sales  tax  of  2 per  cent  will 
come  before  the  lawmakers.  Among  the 
perennial  bills  due  for  introduction  are 
acts  to  legalize  horse  racing  and  estab- 
lishing a pari-mutual  system  of  betting, 
with  a percentage  taxed  by  the  state;  acts 
licensing  pinball  devices,  slot  machines, 
Bingo  games,  and  such;  two-men-in-the- 
booth  measures;  possible  film  tax,  state 
amusement  tax  and  various  labor  meas- 
ures which  would  affect  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry. 

A state  lottery  act  will  be  introduced 
in  various  forms  by  several  members  of 
the  legislature. 

The  present  two-body  General  Assem- 
bly would  be  abolished  and  replaced  by  a 
unicameral  legislature  under  terms  of  oth- 
er acts  which  have  been  prepared  for  in- 
troduction. 


pathy  to  Paul  Krumenacker,  Albany 
branch  manager  for  Warner,  whose  father, 
Joseph  L.  Krumenacker,  died  here  Christ- 
mas Day. 

Ridgway’s  St.  Leo’s  R.  C.  Church  having 
been  destroyed  by  fire,  members  of  the 
parish  are  holding  services  in  the  local 
theatre  . . . Bob  Webster,  WCAE  an- 
nouncer, has  resigned  to  accept  the  post 
as  general  manager  of  WCED,  new  sta- 
tion in  DuBois  . . . Bill  Rush,  assistant  to 
Mannie  “The  Merchant  of  Menace" 
Greenwald  at  the  Barry,  has  resigned  . . . 
Duquesne  city  council  doubled  the  annual 
license  fees  on  “juke  boxes”  as  well  as  pin- 
ball machines  . . . Marjorie  Brown,  Exhibi- 
tors’ Service  bookkeeper  for  a quarter  of 
a century,  reports  back  on  the  job  this 
week,  having  recovered  from  two  major 
operations. 

The  Jacob  Richmans  will  be  off  for  Cali- 
fornia about  the  time  the  mailman  de- 
livers this  to  you  . . . George  Rodnenok, 
son  of  the  Oakmont  exhib.,  is  in  Florida 
. . . Booth  table  fixtures  have  been  in- 
stalled at  Cransfield’s  Filmrow  lunch  room 
. . . Art  England  hit  for  a dollar  last  Satur- 
day, and  he’ll  use  it  for  a Florida  vaca- 
tion. The  Mort  Englands  are  now  in  Ha- 
vana . . . Billy  ZeVan  plans  to  build  a 
summer  home  at  Clendenin,  W.  Va.,  and 
has  purchased  additional  acreage  there. 

Fred  J.  Herrington  will  attend  the  na- 
tional Allied  directors  meeting  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  January  27  and  28.  The 
Philadelphia  Allied  meeting,  scheduled  for 
January  14,  has  been  set  back  and  a new 
date  will  be  announced  later  . . . Jim  Mad- 
den came  in  from  Parkers  Landing  to  do 
a little  booking  and  to  see  the  “Ice  Follies” 
at  The  Gardens  . . . George  Jaffe  staged 
his  annual  Milkman’s  Matinee  at  3 a.  m., 
Wednesday,  January  1,  at  his  burlesk  Ca- 
sino. As  usual,  too,  this  followed  imme- 
diately after  a New  Year’s  eve  midnight 
fun  jamboree  show  . . . Elizabeth  Cun- 
ningham is  back  on  the  job  at  the  Repub- 
lic exchange  after  an  appendectomy . 

Stanley  resumes  stage  shows  January  10 
with  Ted  Weems  and  his  orchestra  ...  All 
downtown  theatres  staged  midnight  shows 
New  Year’s  eve  as  did  many  neighborhood 
houses.  Larger  communities  out  in  the  ter- 
ritory also  enjoyed  such  theatrical  enter- 
tainments . . . Harry  Seed,  Warner  branch 
manager,  after  holidaying  in  Florida,  re- 
sumes duties  January  6 . . . Harry  Myers 
has  completed  his  12th  year  as  manager  of 
the  Wilmerding  YMCA  theatre. 

Earle  Super  completed  11  years  of  serv- 
ice with  M-G-M  on  Friday,  while  An- 
thony Semplice,  also  of  the  local  ex- 
change, rounded  out  four  years  with  the 
company  the  following  day.  Hilda  Alvin 
will  have  been  with  Leo  for  13  years  come 
January  9. 


More  Relief  Aid 

Pittsburgh — Additional  contributors  to 
the  Filmrow  Christmas  relief  fund  were 
E.  S.  “Jim”  Thorpe,  Abe  Weiner  and  Wil- 
liam Scott. 


96 


BOXOFFICE  ; : January  4,  1941 


Farewell  Fele  Given 
For  0.  E.  Belles 

Cleveland — M.  B.  Horwitz,  general  man- 
ager of  the  Washington  circuit,  and  the 
managers  of  the  circuit  theatres  tendered 
a testimonial  dinner  at  the  Tavern  last 
Monday  in  honor  of  O.  E.  Belles  who  is  re- 
tiring after  being  manager  of  the  Halt- 
north  Theatres  continuously  for  the  past 
18  years. 

Belles  has  been  active  in  the  exhibition 
of  motion  pictures  in  Cleveland  since  1915. 
At  that  time  he  bought  the  Main  Theatre 
and  operated  it  until  1923  when  it  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  Soon  after  that  he 
joined  the  Washington  circuit.  Prom  1920 
to  1921  he  served  as  president  of  the 
Cleveland  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors  As- 
sociation. 

Those  attending  the  testimonial  dinner 
were:  M.  B.  Horwitz,  Miss  Eva  Urdang, 
secretary  to  Horwitz;  H.  J.  Mandelbaum. 
manager  of  the  Plaza;  H.  L.  Horwitz,  man- 
ager of  the  Astor;  Sanford  Leavitt,  book- 
ing manager;  E.  F.  McBride,  manager  of 
the  Falls  Theatre,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  Law- 
rence Sutphen,  manager  of  the  Alham- 
bra, Cuyahoga  Falls,  and  Ed  Cole,  who 
succeeds  Belles  as  manager  at  the  Halt- 
north.  Frank  Belles,  Republic  salesman, 
and  son  of  O.  E.  Belles,  was  also  present. 

Belles  was  presented  with  a gold  watch 
and  chain  and  attached  pocket  knife. 


Charity  Activities  Carry 
Over  Into  the  New  Year 

Detroit — Holiday  charity  activities  of 
show  business  continue  to  be  spotlighted 
locally,  carrying  the  spirit  of  the  season 
right  over  into  1941. 

On  Saturday,  David  M.  Idzal,  managing 
director  of  the  6,000-seat  Fox,  was  host 
to  thousands  of  crippled  and  convalescent 
children  from  Detroit  hospitals  and  clinics. 
“Tin  Can”  matinees  may  be  a relatively 
new  idea  in  Detroit,  but  William  Rich- 
mond, manager  of  the  Lincoln  Park,  in  the 
suburb  of  that  name,  has  been  staging 
one  annually  for  a dozen  years.  His  latest 
drew  2,000  youngsters.  The  cans  of  food 
realized  were  distributed  to  indigents 
through  the  Goodfellows. 


Don  Reilly 

Lorain,  Ohio — Don  Reilly,  27  years  old, 
and  a Warner  employe  for  the  past  eight 
years,  was  killed  the  day  before  Christ- 
mas when  his  automobile  ran  into  a tele- 
phone pole  as  he  was  en  route  from 
Lorain  where  he  had  been  visiting  his 
parents,  to  Lima,  where  he  is  manager 
of  Warner’s  State  Theatre.  Surviving,  in 
addition  to  his  parents,  is  a brother, 
George,  of  Elwood,  Pa. 


Back  to  Burwell 

Parkersburg,  W.  Va. — The  Burwell  here 
has  reverted  to  N.  C.  Burwell,  owner.  House 
had  been  operated  under  lease  by  R.  J. 
“Riney”  Hiehle,  local  exhibitor,  since  its 
opening  several  years  ago.  Burwell’s  new 
manager  is  Bruce  Day. 


QJ.ENERAL  changes  at  the  M-G-M  ex- 
change followed  the  promotion  of  John 
Allen,  city  salesman,  to  the  Washington 
branch  managership.  Popular  William  De- 
vanney  steps  into  Allen’s  shoes.  “Bud” 
Weigel,  head  booker,  assumes  office  man- 
agership, succeeding  Devanney.  Tom 
Smiley  becomes  head  booker;  Mike  Ber- 
ger, assistant  head  booker;  Bob  Cum- 
mings, third  booker,  and  Bob  Saunders, 
formerly  general  clerk,  fourth  booker.  Allen 
was  presented  with  a handsome  set  of 
luggage  by  the  Variety  Club  and  a desk 
lamp  and  radio  set  by  the  Cinema  Club,  at 
their  joint  testimonial  celebration. 

Loew’s  branch  manager,  E.  M.  Booth, 
and  Mrs.  Booth  spent  Christmas  in  Lafay- 
ette, hid.,  with  Mrs.  Booth’s  family  . . . 
According  to  George  Gomersall,  Bob  Har- 
rell of  the  Avalon,  Cleves,  will  tour  Ft. 
Myers,  Fla.,  in  his  “1929  Ford  Model  A,” 
recently  acquired.  And  all  his  friends  hope 
he  makes  it  . . . Lee  Goldberg  of  PRC  ar- 
rived in  Cincinnati  from  the  Cleveland 
exchange  for  a several  days’  visit  with  Nat 
Kaplan  . . . Warner’s  Constance  Owens  was 
in  charge  of  the  Warner  Club’s  highly 
successful  Christmas  party,  held  at  the 
Metropole. 

Praised  in  the  passing  parade  this  week 
on  the  Row,  was  Garland  Jones,  opera- 
tor of  the  Queen  Anne  and  Victor,  Cincy 
suburban  houses,  for  his  long  years  of 
association  in  the  industry.  Thoroughly 
alive  to  suburban  opportunities,  Jones  be- 
longs to  such  pioneers  as  Herman  Bley, 
Andy  Hettisheimer,  Jerome  Jackson,  “Doc” 
Kalb  and  A.  J.  Holt.  He  also  operates  a 
house  in  Frankfort,  Ky.  . . . “Santa  Fe 
Trail,”  according  to  reports  filtering  in  to 
the  local  office,  will  be  a top  grosser.  Much 


^HE  Abe  Kramers  of  Associated  Circuit, 

including  their  three  daughters  and  son- 
in-law,  are  among  the  first  of  the  colony 
to  arrive  in  Florida  . . . Abe  Schwartz  of 
the  Lexington  Theatre  in  Cleveland  and 
the  Lake  in  Painesville,  left  last  Thurs- 
day, a week  later  than  originally  planned 
on  account  of  Mrs.  Schwartz’s  illness. 
Their  address  for  the  rest  of  the  winter 
is  Miami. 

Miss  Eva  Urdang,  secretary  to  M.  B. 
Horwitz  of  the  Washington  circuit,  spent 
Christmas  in  New  York  . . . Norman  and 
Mrs.  Levin  of  United  Artists  entertained 
a party  of  friends  at  their  home  on  Christ- 
mas . . . A.  M.  Goodman,  United  Artists 
branch  manager,  who  has  been  recover- 
ing from  a recent  illness  at  Clearwater, 
Fla.,  writes  home  that  he  will  be  back  in 
harness  about  the  middle  of  January. 

Christmas  night  business  at  downtown 
houses  was  good,  it  is  officially  reported. 
Christmas  Eve  and  Christmas  matinee, 
however,  were  not  . . . Floyd  Price,  New- 
ark Theatre  owner,  invited  the  local  film 
folks  to  attend  the  formal  opening  on 
December  27  of  his  Sarasota  Lido  in  Sara- 
sota, Fla. 

Mike  Krasman  of  the  Loew  State  or- 


comment  is  heard  on  the  whistle-able 
qualities  of  the  theme  song,  “Santa  Fe 
Trail.” 

L.  B.  Wilson,  Wilson  Theatres,  Coving- 
ton, Ky.,  and  also  operator  of  WCKY,  is 
expected  here  around  January  6 from  his 
recent  holiday  visit  to  Florida.  Mrs.  Wil- 
son is  delaying  to  make  a prolonged  trip 
through  South  America  . . . Frank  Weit- 
zel,  Kenwood,  W.  Va.,  visited  the  Row  . . . 
O.  B.  Pearce,  Opera  House,  Grandville,  was 
also  here  . . . Ruth  Rudin  has  been  added 
to  the  Universal  staff  . . . Jack  Mervis,  for- 
mer manager  in  Neivport,  Ky.,  and  now 
operating  four  houses  in  and  around  Pitts- 
burgh, was  along  the  Row. 

Jim  Curran,  Columbia  head  booker,  was 
summoned  to  his  home  in  Melrose,  Mass., 
by  the  death  of  his  father  . . . Milt  Gurian, 
city  salesman  for  Monogram,  and  Mrs. 
Gurian  spent  the  holidays  in  Cleveland  . . . 
Max  Goldberg,  Falmouth,  Ky.,  exhibitor, 
has  left  to  join  the  Naval  Reserves  at 
Santiago  . . . Nat  Kaplan  announces  “The 
Devil  Bat”  booked  in  Cincinnati  and  Day- 
ton  . . . Lowell  Calvert,  Selznick  repre- 
sentative from  New  York,  was  here  for  the 
local  opening  of  “GWTW”  at  popular 
prices.  The  opening  business  was  reported 
highly  satisfactory. 

Elizabeth  Redmond  and  John  Reusch 
observed  their  fifth  and  seventh  anni- 
versaries, respectively , with  M-G-M  the 
day  after  New  Year’s.  The  real  veteran 
of  the  exchange,  however,  is  Edna  Os- 
sege,  who  ran  her  years  of  service  for  Leo 
to  20  a day  later.  Esther  Shedd  rounds 
out  her  second  year  with  the  company  on 
Monday. 


ganization,  who  went  with  the  National 
Guards  to  Camp  Shelby  at  Hattiesburg, 
Miss.,  received  his  corporal’s  stripes  for 
a Christmas  present  . . . Happy  to  report 
that  Lester  Zucker,  Columbia  branch  man- 
ager, is  on  the  okey  list  again  after  a 
brief  illness  . . . Lou  Walters,  National 
Theatre  Supply  manager,  won  plenty  of 
“thank  yous”  for  those  letter  files  he  gave 
out  for  Christmas  presents. 

Variety  Club  starts  an  innovation  next 
week.  It  has  engaged  a dancing  teacher 
to  give  rhumba  lessons  . . . I.  J.  Sehmertz, 
20th  Century-Fox  branch  manager,  and 
Mrs.  Sehmertz  and  their  daughter,  Esty, 
are  vacationing  in  Florida  for  two  weeks. 

Effie  Baxter  of  the  local  M-G-M  ex- 
change observed  her  21  st  year  with  the 
company  on  Saturday. 

CORRECTION — National  Screen  Service 
boys  have  formed  a basketball  team — not 
a bowling  team,  as  erroneously  stated  last 
■week.  Confident  of  their  prowess,  they 
are  inviting  contests  along  Filmrow. 

Bill  Brooks,  former  Paramount  booker 
now  with  Paramount  in  Pittsburgh,  and 
his  wife  and  child,  were  in  Cleveland  over 
the  Christmas  holidays  and  warmly  greet- 
ed by  all  on  Filmrow. 


CLEVELAND 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


97 


Plan  Two  Theatres 
In  Detroit  Suburb 


Detroit — Construction  of  two  theatres 
on  opposite  corners  in  the  now  theatre- 
less suburb  of  Allen  Park  is  planned,  one, 
a 900-seater,  by  Max  Allen,  who  owns  the 
nearby  Lincoln  Park,  and  the  other  by 
Nicholas  George,  a newcomer  to  show  busi- 
ness, who  discloses  plans  for  a 1,500  seat 
house  tentatively  named  the  Allen  Park, 
despite  the  fact  Allen  planned  to  call  his 
either  the  Allen  or  the  Allen  Park. 

George’s  house  would  be  just  across  the 
street  from  Allen’s,  and  would  include 
eight  stores  at  a cost  of  $125,000.  Plans 
are  being  drawn  by  Bennett  and  Straight, 
theatrical  architects.  One  possible  hitch 
in  George’s  plans  appears  in  the  need  to 
secure  closing  of  an  alley  for  the  con- 
struction. A petition  seeking  this  right 
is  now  before  the  town  council. 


General  Film  Laboratory 
Takes  Over  Defunct  Plant 

Detroit  — The  recently  incorporated 
General  Film  Laboratory  has  taken  over 
the  business  of  the  old  Detroit  Film 
Laboratories  including  the  building  and 
equipment  at  66  Sibley  Street. 

The  company  is  specializing  in  develop- 
ment and  printing  work  for  the  various 
commercial  film  studios  in  this  area. 

Edwin  Busby,  who  was  receiver  for  De- 
troit Laboratories  when  that  firm  went 
into  receivership,  is  the  new  general 
manager. 


Up  Robert  Lytle 

Lorain,  Ohio — Succeeding  Donald  Reilly, 
who  was  killed  near  here  in  an  automo- 
bile accident  December  24,  Robert  Lytle 
has  been  named  manager  of  the  Warner 
Palace  in  Lima.  For  the  last  seven  years, 
Lytle  has  been  assistant  manager  of  the 
theatre. 


Joins  Mervis  Bros. 

Pittsburgh— E.  W.  Smith,  former  man- 
ager of  the  Melrose,  this  week  joined  the 
Mervis  Bros,  circuit  as  manager  of  the 
Paramount,  Brighton  Road. 


{{Enclosed  find  my  first  contribu- 
tion to  your  'Exhibitor  Has  His 
Say/  I read  your  magazine  from 
cover  to  cover  every  Monday 
mom  and  am  only  glad  to  con- 
tribute to  your  new  department 
and  will  eagerly  await  the  first 
publication." 

— R.  A.  MOORE, 
State  Theatre. 
Clarence,  la. 


0 

: BOWLING  : 

^ - — >j 

Detroit — Republic  last  week  moved  up 
to  tie  UA  for  top  position  in  the  Film 
Bowling  League.  Standings: 

Team — Won  Lost 

Republic  33  19 

United  Artists  33  19 

Co-Operative  27  25 

Film  Drug:  25  27 

20th  Century-Fox  . 23  29 

Film  Truck  23  29 

Amusement  Supply  22  30 

Monogram  22  30 

Despite  their  low  standing,  Amusement 
Supply  rolled  up  two  new  season  records  for 
the  league — top  score  of  971  for  one  game,  and 
2,499  for  the  set.  Irving  Belinsky  rolled  a 
third  high  for  three  games  for  the  season, 
579,  beating  his  own  record  by  one  point,  and 
one  230  game,  beating  his  own  record  by  two 
points.  Irwin  Pollard  came  into  the  high 
roller  ranks  with  an  all-season  high  of  247. 


Detroit — McArthur’s  Motiograph  has 
moved  into  a tie  with  National  Carbon  for 
second  place  in  the  Nightingale  Club  Bowl- 
ing League.  High  scores  were  rolled  by  S. 
J.  Lambly,  573;  S.  Bouchey,  552;  Gil  Light, 
543;  Jack  Lindenthal,  542,  and  W.  Swistak, 
538.  Standings  are; 


Team — 

Won 

Lost 

Lorenzen  Flower  Shop 

. . . . . 37 

19 

Me  Arthur’s  Motiograph 

33 

23 

National  Carbon 

33 

23 

McArthur  Theatre  Supply  . 

. . . . 27 

29 

National  Theatre  Sn i>pl \ 

27 

29 

Amusement  Supply 

2(i 

30 

Ernie  Forbes  ... 

21 

35 

Brenkert  Projectors  

21 

35 

Change  in  Rivesville 

Rivesville,  W.  Va. — E.  L.  Wilson  of 
Fairmont  has  leased  the  State  here.  For- 
mer operator  was  Frank  Raspa.  The  new 
exhibitor  has  had  experience  in  the  port- 
able film  field. 


Dismantling  Ellsworth 

Ellsworth,  Pa. — The  Ellsworth  here  is 
being  dismantled.  Equipment  has  been  sold 
to  Matteo  Faenza,  Republic  and  Bentley- 
ville  exhibitor.  The  theatre  was  operated 
for  a short  period  by  H.  J.  Staminger  and 
Herbert  Schaefer. 


Harris  Houses  Host  Kids 

Pittsburgh — The  Press  and  the  Harris 
Amusement  Co.  presented  free  shows  for 
kids  at  ten  Harris  theatres  early  Tuesday 
morning,  the  day  before  Christmas.  All 
features  were  westerns. 


Robert  Colvin  in  Washington 

Canton,  Ohio — Robert  E.  (Zeke)  Col- 
vin, former  assistant  manager  of  Loew’s 
Theatre  here,  now  is  stage  manager  of 
the  noted  King-Smith  Playhouse  and 
School  of  Theatre  Arts  in  Washington, 
D.  C.,  where  he  is  a scholarship  pupil. 


Get  $150,000  Contract 

Bellefontaine,  Ohio — The  C.  L.  Knowl- 
ton  Co.  has  been  awarded  the  $150,000 
contract  for  the  construction  of  a brick 
and  steel  theatre  and  commercial  theatre 
building  here  by  the  Norwalk  Theatre 
Corp.,  a Schine  affiliate. 


Aarons  Name  House 

Charleston,  W.  Va. — Albert  and  Charles 
Aaron’s  new  theatre,  which  will  be  opened 
soon,  has  been  named  the  West. 


State  Closes  a Theatre 

Newell,  Pa. — The  Newell  here  has  been 
closed  on  orders  of  the  state  department  of 
labor  and  industry. 


Pittsburgh  Variety's 
Committees  for  '41 

Pittsburgh — Tent  No.  1 of  Pittsburgh 
announces  the  following  committees  for 
1941: 

House:  A1  Weiblinger  (chairman),  M. 
J.  Gallagher;  heart:  Ira  H.  Cohn  (c), 
James  G.  Balmer;  finance:  Mort  England 
(c),  M.  N.  Shapiro;  entertainment:  Joe 
Hiller  (c),  Brian  McDonald;  membership: 
Harry  Feinstein  (c) , John  J.  Maloney, 
David  Kimelman,  Peter  Dana,  Art  Mor- 
rone;  golf:  Art  England  (c),  Art  Levy, 
Archie  Fineman,  John  T.  McGreevey; 
shut-in:  Francis  Guehl  (c),  Larry  Katz, 
Peter  Quiter;  legal:  I.  Elmer  Ecker  (c), 
Andy  Sheridan;  auditing:  M.  N.  Shapiro 
<c),  Ben  Steerman,  Abe  Weiner;  rules: 
Tony  Stern  (c),  A1  Weiblinger,  Jake  Soltz, 
A1  Weiss,  Harry  Feldman,  Joe  Misrach; 
banquet:  C.  J.  Latta  (c) ; treasurer:  Dr. 
G.  L.  Beinhauer;  advisory:  C.  C.  Kellen- 
berg,  John  H.  Harris,  Harry  M.  Kalmine, 
M.  N.  Shapiro,  A1  Weiblinger,  C.  J.  Latta, 
Dr.  Beinhauer,  M.  A.  Rosenberg,  Mark 
Goldman,  Art  Levy,  Ira  H.  Cohn. 

Members  of  the  "new  crew”  include: 
C.  C.  Kellenberg,  chief  barker;  M.  N.  Sha- 
piro, assistant  chief  barker;  Mort  Eng- 
land, Dough  Guy;  A.  T.  Weiblinger,  Prop- 
erty Master;  Canvassmen  are  M.  J.  Gal- 
lagher, I.  Elmer  Ecker,  M.  A.  Rosenberg, 
Brian  McDonald,  James  G.  Balmer  and 
Tony  Stern. 

John  H.  Harris,  national  chief  barker, 
has  announced  that  new  Variety  Club 
tents  will  be  established  in  New  York, 
Hollywood,  San  Francisco,  Los  Angeles 
and  Chicago,  bringing  the  total  number 
of  tents  to  29. 


Stroke  Is  Fatal 

Columbus — Mrs.  Eliza  MacDonald, 
mother  of  the  late  Clarence  MacDonald, 
Columbus  circuit  owner,  died  recently  at 
her  home  here  following  a stroke  suf- 
fered the  day  following  her  son’s  funeral. 
She  is  survived  by  one  son  and  three 
daughters.  Services  and  burial  were  in 
Columbus. 


Honor  Catherine  Lockhart 

Pittsburgh — Catherine  Lockhart,  secre- 
tary to  John  J.  Maloney,  M-G-M’s  dis- 
trict manager,  was  honored  last  week  by 
members  of  the  Leo  staff  on  the  occasion 
of  her  20th  anniversary  with  the  company. 
The  M-G-M  Pep  Club  whooped  it  up  and 
presented  her  with  an  honorary  scroll  and 
an  anniversary  cake. 


Transfer  John  Scully  Jr. 

Cleveland — John  Scully  jr„  Universal 
assistant  booker,  has  been  transferred  to 
the  Universal  office  in  Philadelphia  in  a 
similar  capacity.  He  is  succeeded  by  Har- 
old Saltz  who  came  here  from  the  Big  U 
office  in  New  York. 


Adapts  a Judy  Garland 

Hollywood — Frederick  Kohner  is  script- 
ing “The  Youngest  Profession,”  Judy  Gar- 
land starrer,  for  Metro.  Sidney  Franklin 
will  produce. 


98 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


M&P  Buying  and  Booking 
Practices  Aired  in  Suit 


Shows  Yield  to  Shops 
In  Pre-Holiday  Week 

Boston — New  records  in  pre-holiday 
shopping  skidded  Boston  first-run  theatres 
to  low  grosses  with  not  even  such  draws 
as  “Little  Nellie  Kelly”  and  “Trail  of  the 
Vigilantes”  hitting  even  average  business. 
Dull  weather  helped  somewhat.  Details  for 
week  ended  December  24: 


Fenway — Here  Conies  the  Navy  (WB) ; Melody 

and  Moonlight  (Rep)  50 

Keith  Memorial — Trail  of  the  Vigilantes  (Univ) ; 

Dreaming  Out  Toud  (RKO)  75 

Loew’s  Orpheum — Tittle  Nellie  Kelly  (M-G-M); 

Escape  to  Glory  (Col)  85 

Loew’s  State — Tittle  Nellie  Kelly  (M-G-M); 

Escape  to  Glory  (Col)  80 

Metropolitan — Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox); 

Murder  Over  New  York  (20th-Fox),  2nd  wk. . 45 
Paramount — Here  Comes  the  Navy  (WB); 

Melody  and  Moonlight  (Rep)  50 


Pre-Holiday  Pursuits 
Shove  Back  Grosses 

New  Haven — Heavy  pre-Christmas  shop- 
ping in  stores  kept  film  patrons  away  in 
droves,  and  the  second  week  of  “Go  West” 
and  “Gallant  Sons”  at  the  College  was 
the  only  bill  to  approach  the  average  line. 
Xmas  opening  of  new  bills  cut  three  of  the 
four  houses  downtown  to  a six-day  week. 

Detail  for  week  ended  December  25: 


College — Go  West  (M-G-M);  Gallant  Sons 

(M-G-M),  2nd  wk 85 

Loew-Poli — Dr.  Kildare’s  Crisis  (M-G-M); 

Dulcy  (M-G-M),  0 days  50 

Paramount- -A  Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s  (Para't); 

She  Couldn’t  Say  No  (FN),  6 days 50 

Roger  Sherman — East  of  the  River  (FN);  The 
Tady  With  Red  Hair  (WB)  75 


Hub  Majestic  Tentatively 
Picked  for  " Fantasia " 

Boston — The  Majestic,  generally  dark 
Shubert  house,  has  been  tentatively  set 
as  the  roadshow  site  for  “Fantasia,”  it  is 
reported.  The  Repertory  in  Back  Bay  was 
considered  but  finally  ruled  out,  word  has 
it,  because  of  the  extended  run  of  “Life 
With  Father,”  starring  Dorothy  Gish  and 
Louis  Calhern. 

Business  Is  Picking  Up 
After  Holiday  Slump 

Hartford  — Business  since  Christmas 
Day  has  been  picking  up  noticeably  in 
this  city.  The  WB’s  Strand,  for  the  first 
week  in  some  time,  reported  SRO  busi- 
ness with  “The  Thief  of  Bagdad.”  The 
E.  M.  Loew’s  started  what  Manager  George 
E.  Landers  hoped  would  be  a month’s  run 
of  “Arizona.” 


Looks  Like  Lydon 

Boston — Frank  Lydon,  operator  of  the 
Hamilton  in  Dorchester  who  recently  be- 
came Allied  States  Association  northeast- 
ern regional  vice-president,  is  expected  to 
be  unopposed  this  year  for  re-election  as 
president  of  the  Independent  Exhibitors, 
Inc.,  New  England  key  Allied  affiliate.  The 
organization’s  annual  meeting  is  sched- 
uled for  sometime  this  month,  probably 
after  the  National  Allied  confab  in  Wash- 
ington. 


Boston — Buying  and  booking  practices 
of  the  M&P  Theatres  Corp.,  New  England 
Paramount  affiliate  operating  some  one 
hundred  houses,  have  been  aired  here  as 
a part  of  the  Waldo  Theatre  Corp.  vs.  the 
late  Joseph  Dondis  et  al.  anti-trust  case 
being  heard  in  the  local  Federal  Building 
before  Francis  P.  Freeman,  master  ap- 
pointed by  U.  S.  District  Judge  John  A. 
Peters  of  Maine. 

Al  Be  van,  assistant  buyer  and  booker  to 
Philip  Seletsky  at  M&P,  told  the  court 
that  the  Mullin-Pinanski  operating  firm 
had  discontinued  “about  four  years  ago” 
the  practice  of  sending  to  distributors 
schedules  of  protection  desired. 

An  Objection  Upheld 

George  S.  Ryan,  representing  the  plain- 
tiff corporation  which  operates  the  Waldo 
in  Waldoboro,  Me.,  asked  Bevan  what 
method  the  M&P  Theatres  Corp.  had 
adopted  in  order  to  arrive  at  protection 
agreements.  Bevan  replied,  “We  took  the 
schedule  that  we  had  for  the  previous  year 
and  set  down  the  distributors  and  tried  to 
make  a new  one  for  the  coming  season.” 

“Would  the  result  of  your  conference  as 
to  protection  be  reduced  to  writing?”  Bevan 
replied  that  such  was  the  practice. 

“Would  it  then  be  signed,”  Ryan  con- 
tinued, “by  someone  representing  the  M&P 
and  someone  representing  the  distribu- 
tor?” 

“They  used  to  do  it.” 

“How  long  did  they  do  it?” 

“Maybe  a couple  of  years.” 

“And  then  did  they  make  any  change?” 

“Yes.” 

“When  would  you  say  it  was  that  they 
stopped  signing  these  written  agreements 
in  regard  to  protection?” 

Question  on  Protection 

Edward  F.  McClennen,  defense  counsel, 
objected  to  this  query  and  the  court  ruled 
it  as  a pretty  broad  and  general  question. 
The  question  was  struck  from  the  records. 

“During  the  last  season,”  questioned 
Ryan,  “that  is  the  season  of  1940-41,  did 
you  make  any  agreements  with  any  of  the 
distributors  in  regard  to  any  protection  for 
any  of  the  M&P  theatres?” 

“Yes.  Some  have  been  finished  and 
some  have  not.” 

“Have  those  agreements  been  reduced  to 
writing?” 

“Yes.” 

“With  what  companies?” 

“Metro,  RKO  and  Fox.” 

“As  to  Paramount,  has  there  been  any 
written  agreement?” 

“With  some  of  the  theatres,  but  it  isn’t 
all  completed  yet.” 

“Has  there  been  any  agreement  with 
Warner  for  this  season’s  protection,” 
queried  Ryan  further. 

“No.” 

“Or  United  Artists?” 

“Yes.  It  isn’t  finished.” 

“Universal?” 

“In  part.” 

“Columbia?” 


“Columbia?  No.” 

“Are  you  buying  Columbia  pictures  gen- 
erally this  season?” 

“I  don’t  know  how  to  answer  that.  We 
haven’t  up  to  the  present  time;  if  that  is 
what  you  want  to  know.  What  we  will  do 
in  the  future  I don’t  know.” 

“Did  you  buy  them  last  season?”  asked 
Ryan. 

“No,”  responded  Al  Bevan,  M&P  buyer’s 
assistant. 

“Now  for  the  1939-40  season  were  writ- 
ten agreements  made  with  any  of  the  dis- 
tributors in  regard  to  protection?” 

“Yes.” 

“With  what  companies?” 

“All  those  that  we  did  business  with.” 

“And  was  it  the  same  the  previous  sea- 
son?” 

“Yes.” 

“And  the  season  before  that?” 

“Yes.  Except  . . . Just  a minute.  Warner 
Brothers  haven’t  had  a new  clearance 
agreement  for  the  last  three  or  four  years. 
They  are  still  working  on  the  last  one  we 
made  with  them.” 

“Was  that  a written  agreement?” 

“Yes.” 

“Was  it  signed  by  a representative  of  the 
distributors  and  a representative  of  the 
M&P?” 

“Yes.  I think  that  last  year  that  we  had 
it  it  was.  Yes.” 

Back  to  1930 

“Now,  since  1930  was  there  any  method 
of  negotiating  the  protection  other  than 
the  method  of  sending  out  schedules  and 
the  method  of  signing  agreements  which 
you  have  described?” 

An  objection  by  McClennen  followed 
the  query  but  was  not  upheld,  however 
Ryan  found  it  necessary  to  reframe  the 
question,  to  “Was  there  another  way  of 
arriving  at  protection  other  than  sending 
out  schedules  or  by  getting  a written 
agreement?” 

“Yes.” 

“What  was  it?” 

“Just  go  up  to  the  exchanges  and  sit 
down  and  negotiate  with  them  and  reason 
with  each  other  as  to  why  you  should  or 
shouldn’t  have  what  you  were  asking  for.” 

“And  has  it  been  the  practice  to  have 
the  result  of  your  negotiations  reduced  to 
writing?” 

“Yes.” 

“Have  you  made  it  a practice  to  get  the 
agreement  in  regard  to  protection  for  the 
various  theatres  reduced  to  writing?” 

“Yes.” 

John  F.  Caskey,  20th-Fox  attorney,  ob- 
jected that  Ryan  was  “attempting  to  sug- 
gest to  the  court  that  there  was  one  period 
of  time  when  there  were  schedules  sent 
out,  and  some  time  later  there  was  a pe- 
riod when  there  were  negotiations  which 
consummated  in  written  agreements.  I 
don’t  understand  that  there  was  such  an 
agreement.  My  understanding  is  that 
there  have  always  been  negotiations  in 

(Continued  on  page  106) 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


NE 


101 


J^RTHUR  K.  HOWARD,  business  man- 
ager of  Independent  Exhibitors,  Inc., 
and  Mrs.  Howard  spent  the  Christmas 
holidays  with  Warren  Nichols,  operator  of 
the  Gem  in  Peterborough,  N.  H.  . . . Helen 
Zenis,  married  sometime  ago,  has  resigned 
from  the  accounting  department  of  the 
M&P  Theatres  Corp.  to  await  a new  ar- 
rival . . . Jack  Eames,  N.  H.  chain  opera- 
tor, and  Mrs.  Eames  have  a date  with  a 
bird. 

Leonard  Kraska,  Fine  Arts  manager,  and 
Georgia  Kraska  are  looking  over  per- 
ambulators . . . Tom  Foley  of  Loew’s  State 
and  Mary  Foley,  formerly  of  the  same 
theatre,  are  likewise  . . . Ditto  for  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Charles  Foley  of  the  State. 

Lillian  Cohen  has  been  added  to  the  ac- 
counting department  of  M&P  to  replace 
Lillian  Anderson,  who  leaves  . . . John 
Davin  of  National  Screen  Service  has  be- 
come a benedict  . . . George  Raft  appeared 
in  person  on  the  stage  of  the  RKO  Boston 
. . . Phil  Coolidge  left  to  shoot  the  Cotton 
Bowl  game  for  the  newsreels  . . . Victor 
Mature  has  been  at  the  Colonial  . . . Ken- 
neth Kurson  of  Graphic  Theatre  circuit 
was  in  Florida. 

Ben  Rosenberg,  Fenway  manager,  in- 
augurated a new  policy  at  the  Back  Bay 
house  last  week  when  he  advanced  week- 
day opening  time  to  11:15  a.  m.,  screen- 
ings beginning  15  minutes  later.  This  coin- 
cides with  openings  of  the  competitive 
Loew’s  State  . . . Dominic  Toturo,  operator 
of  the  Town  Hall  in  Millbury,  was  in  the 
film  district. 

Max  Lerner,  operator  of  the  Fisher  Hall 
in  Fisherville,  was  in  town  ...  Joe  Mathieu 
was  in  from  Winchendon  . . . Vincent  Dun- 
fey,  assistant  to  Treasurer  Vaughn  O’Neill 
at  Loew’s  State  in  Providence,  planned  a 
New  Orleans  holiday  before  concluding 
convalescence  from  pneumonia. 

Melvin  Morrison,  manager  of  the  Strand 
in  Dover,  is  hitting  for  high  school  trade 
with  a kid  popularity  contest  . . . Howy 
Parker  is  pulling  a similar  promotion  at 
the  Capitol  in  Arlington  . . . Alec  Hurwitz 
is  using  a juvenile  quiz  show  at  the  Strand 
in  Taunton. 

Marcel  Mekelburg  and  Sam  Levine  of 
Northeastern  Films  got  together  with  A1 
Winston  of  the  Trans  Lux  in  Boston  and 
capitalized  with  a “Scarface”  booking  at 
the  downtown  house  running  coincidental 
with  a p.  a.  of  George  Raft  across  the 
street  at  the  RKO  Boston. 

Harry  Aaronson,  film  Legion  commander 
and  manager  of  the  Rialto  in  Scollay 
Square,  has  called  a meeting  of  the  Thea- 
trical Post  for  next  week  . . . Don  Widlund 
of  Jam  Handy  was  in  town  to  go  over  the 
New  England  distribution  of  the  gratis 
shorts  . . . Steve  Broidy,  new  Monogram 
sales  manager,  plans  to  leave  for  the  West 
Coast  the  first  of  the  year. 

Jack  McKenzie,  formerly  of  the  Para- 
mount in  Boston,  now  is  handling  the 
Square  in  Medford  for  the  Frederick  E. 
Lieberman  circuit  . . . Martha  Heffner, 
daughter  of  the  Bank  Night  assignee,  was 


T O M 

in  Connecticut  for  the  latter  part  of  her 
vacation  from  Westbrook  Junior  College. 

Herman  Konnis  has  been  in  town  dur- 
ing the  holidays,  doing  special  sales  work 
here  for  Monogram  . . . J.  D.  Kendis,  road- 
show producer,  was  in  Boston  . . . Bert  Ly- 
tell  is  here  . . . Miriam  Hopkins  and  a new 
Theatre  Guild  show  arrived  in  Boston  . . . 
Richard  McKay  is  managing  the  Gayety 
in  Bostori  for  E.  M.  Loew  . . . Elmore 
Rhines  is  now  managing  the  Methuen  in 
Methuen  for  Sam  Kurson. 

Newell  Kurson,  Graphic  Theatre  circuit 
executive,  has  been  supervising  renovations 
at  the  Reading  in  Reading,  former  Morris 
Pouzzner  house  taken  over  by  the  circuit 
. . . Tom  O’Brien  of  Monogram  put  “Cham- 
ber of  Horrors”  into  the  Trans  Lux  for  a 
local  showcase  opening  on  New  Year’s 
Day  . . . Jack  Goodwin,  Ben  Rosenberg, 
and  John  Carroll  of  the  Metropolitan,  Fen- 
way and  Paramount,  capitalized  on  New 
Year’s  Eve  with  a prerelease  showing  of 
“Second  Chorus”  on  a reserved  seat  policy. 

Richard  Sears,  local  Universal  newsreel 
man,  formerly  with  RKO  and  Pathe,  is 
now  in  W ashington  with  the  Army  where 
he  has  been  assigned  the  position  of  as- 
sistant chief  of  staff  in  the  public  relations 
department.  Sears  holds  the  commission  of 
a Major. 

Betty  Field  was  in  town  . . . Isabelle 
Jewell  opened  here  Thursday  at  the  Ply- 
mouth in  a new  play,  “The  Hard  Way,” 
which  was  scheduled  for  a ten-day  trial 
before  its  New  York  run  . . . Warren 
Nichols  was  down  from  New  Hampshire  . . . 
Elliott  Nugent  is  here  . . . Allard  Graves, 
Northern  New  England  circuit  owner,  and 
Mrs.  Graves,  wintering  in  Florida,  claim 
that  up  this  way,  “Old  Santa  Claus  is  just 
a frozen  asset.” 

Jack  Sanson,  manager  of  the  State  in 
Manchester,  N.  H„  has  been  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  there 
. . . George  S.  Jeffrey,  former  local  film 
man,  is  president  of  the  newly  formed  New 
York  corporation,  Jeffrey  Pictures  Corp., 
which  has  taken  over  distribution  of 
“Cavalcade  of  Faith.” 

Frank  Kierman  is  managing  the  Or- 
pheum  in  Danvers,  former  Louis  Boas 
house  now  operated  by  Graphic  Theatre 
circuit  . . . Leslie  Emerson  is  covering  the 
Opera  House  in  Millinocket,  Me.,  for 
Graphic  . . . Harry  Kirchgessner,  New 
England  manager  for  National  Screen  Ser- 
vice, estimates  that  the  new  NSS  building 
at  the  comer  of  Broadway  and  Winchester 
streets  should  be  finished  by  spring. 

Frederick  E.  Lieberman,  circuit  owner,  is 
pointing  his  new  house  now  in  construc- 
tion in  the  Uphams  Corner  section  of 
Dorchester  for  a spring  opening  . . . James 
Field,  manager  of  the  Paramount  in  Salem 
for  Phil  Bloomberg  interests,  has  spotted 
Arthur  Martel,  former  Boston  perennial, 
in  a series  of  organ  recitals. 

Edward  Renick  of  the  local  Metro  staff 
observed  his  fourth  anniversary  with  the 
company  January  1.  Alicia  McCarron  will 
round  out  11  years  with  the  company  Jan- 
uary 13. 


Course  in  Management 
On  After  Holidays 

Boston — Classes  in  Motion  Picture  Thea- 
tre Management,  suspended  for  two  weeks 
during  the  holidays,  were  scheduled  to  re- 
sume Monday  when  Maurice  N.  Wolf, 
M-G-M  district  manager,  is  slated  to  speak 
on  production. 

Arthur  L.  Tuohy,  originator  and  super- 
visor of  the  course  which  is  being  held  un- 
der the  auspices  of  the  University  Exten- 
sion Division  of  the  Massachusetts  Depart- 
ment of  Education,  emphasizes  that  new 
enrollments  will  be  accepted  for  the  second 
half  of  the  course,  commencing  Monday. 

The  first  half  of  the  instruction  series, 
comprising  eight  lectures  by  various  local 
film  executives,  drew  an  official  enroll- 
ment of  35  and  an  average  weekly  at- 
tendance closer  to  40.  One  registrant  has 
been  commuting  to  and  from  Passaic,  N.  J„ 
where  his  family  is  putting  up  a theatre. 

Theatre  Managers  Attend 
Party  by  "Free  Press" 

Springfield,  Mass.  — The  Springfield 
Free  Press,  edited  by  Michael  Zandan,  held 
its  second  annual  “Movie  Party”  for  local 
theatre  managers  in  its  offices  at  104  State 
St.  here. 

In  attendance  were:  George  E.  Freeman, 
Boyd  Taylor  Sparrow,  Loew’s-Poli;  Andrew 
A.  Sette,  Tony  de  Caro,  Warner  Capitol; 
Bill  Teague,  Bijou;  Edward  Smith,  Gilbert 
G.  Bevan,  Raymond  Cronin,  GB’s  Para- 
mount; George  W.  Coleman,  Arcade;  F.  I. 
Frechette,  Garden;  Earl  W.  Whitford,  E. 
M.  Loew’s  Court  Square;  Pat  McGee, 
Loew’s,  Boston  office;  Carl  Jamroga,  Phil- 
lips; various  city  and  county  officials,  and 
William  Powell,  division  manager  of  the 
Herman  Rifkin  Springfield  theatres. 

Plans  Are  Submitted  for 
A New  Outdoor  Theatre 

Springfield,  Mass. — The  Springfield  park 
commission  last  Monday  night  received 
from  Hare  & Hare,  landscape  architects  of 
Kansas  City,  a new  study  of  an  outdoor 
theatre  site  in  connection  with  a long- 
range  plan  for  improvements  in  the  Forest 
Park  section  of  this  city. 

The  plan  would  utilize  the  slope  of  a 
hill  leading  to  Pecousic  Villa,  about  500 
feet  off  Long  Hill  Street,  for  the  placing 
of  about  4,000  seats  for  theatre  audiences. 
Parking  spaces  for  about  250  cars  would 
be  available  at  the  top  of  the  hill. 


Import  Diet  Shifts 

Boston — German  and  Russian  films  no 
longer  figure  in  the  film  taste  of  Boston 
foreign  film  fans,  a poll  of  audience  tastes 
at  the  Fine  Arts  in  Boston  has  revealed. 
With  the  poll  in  the  final  stage  of  com- 
pilation this  week,  English  films  were  out 
in  front  in  the  popularity  graph,  with 
French  second. 


Last  Show  Starts  at  Eight 

Jewett  City,  Conn. — The  State  Theatre 
now  has  its  last  complete  evening  per- 
formance at  8 o’clock. 


102 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


MIEW  IHI1AVIEM 


Divisional  Managers 
Meet  in  Springfield 

Springfield,  Mass. — The  Western  Massa- 
chusetts Theatres  circuit  held  a divisional 
managers’  meeting  last  Monday  in  the 
Broadway  Theatre  building  headquarters 
of  the  circuit. 

Attending  were:  Louis  Levine,  Rivoli, 
Chicopee;  C.  Fredericks,  Garden,  Green- 
field; George  Labbe,  Victory,  and  Milton 
Weinstein  of  the  Strand,  Holyoke;  Thomas 
W.  Chatburn,  Richmond,  North  Adams; 
Francis  Faille,  Paramount,  Northampton; 
David  D.  Perkins,  Plaza,  Northampton; 
Eddie  Dowling  of  the  Capitol,  and  Francis 
Beaupre,  Strand,  Pittsfield;  Louis  Marcks, 
Strand,  Westfield;  Norman  Prager,  Pal- 
ace, Westfield,  and  Clifford  Boyd,  Para- 
mount, Brattleboro,  Vt. 

Springfield  house  managers  present  were 
George  W.  Coleman,  Arcade;  Edward 
Smith,  Paramount,  and  Charlie  R.  Smith, 
Broadway.  Nathen  E.  and  Samuel  Gold- 
stein presided. 

A Christmas  party,  complete  with  holi- 
day bonuses  for  all  employes,  was  the  or- 
der of  the  day. 

Western  Mass.  Managers 
Receive  Drive  Awards 

Springfield,  Mass. — Managers  of  16 
theatres  of  Western  Massachusetts  Thea- 
tres, Inc.,  were  recent  guests  of  Nathan  E. 
Goldstein,  president,  at  a luncheon  given  at 
the  Hotel  Sheraton  here. 

Goldstein  awarded  prizes  in  the  10-week 
Fifth  Anniversary  Drive.  First  prize  went 
to  Edward  Smith  of  the  Paramount, 
Springfield;  second  to  Charles  Smith, 
Broadway,  Springfield;  third  to  George 
Laby,  Victory,  Holyoke;  fourth  to  David 
F.  Perkins,  Plaza,  Northampton,  and  fifth 
to  Louis  Marcks,  Strand,  Westfield. 

New  Haven  Neighborhood 
Houses  Hold  Late  Shows 

New  Haven  — Although  several  neigh- 
borhoods had  announced  they  would  omit 
the  late  show  this  year,  policy  was  changed 
at  the  11th  hour  and  1941  was  ushered  in 
with  three  downtown  and  seven  neigh- 
borhood shows.  The  Paramount  was  the 
only  house  downtown  to  run  vaudeville, 
and  seats  were  $1.10  all  through  the  house. 
The  Loew-Poli  and  Roger  Sherman 
charged  50-75  cents,  the  latter  changing 
prices  at  6 p.  m.  instead  of  midnight,  and 
featuring  the  opening  of  “Santa  Fe 
Trail”  right  through  the  day.  The  Poli 
brought  “Flight  Command”  for  a single 
midnight  performance,  to  be  returned  for 
a regular  engagement  the  following  week. 

Nabes  stuck  to  pictures  for  the  most  part, 
although  the  Whally  and  Whitney  fea- 
tured several  acts.  The  Dixwell  booked 
“Reefer  Madness”  and  “How  to  Take  a 
Bath.”  Other  nabes  open  late  were  the 
Strand,  Pequot,  Rivoli  and  Forest. 


Premiere  "First  Romance" 

Hartford — The  world  premiere  of  Mono- 
gram’s “Her  First  Romance,”  starring 
Edith  Fellows,  was  held  at  the  local  Har- 
ris Brothers’  State  last  weekend. 


WITH  several  exchange  Xmas  parties 
staged  at  fashionable  night  clubs  this 
year,  Meadow  Street  lacked  its  usual  pre- 
Christmas  holiday  aspect,  and  office  par- 
ties were  exclusive,  early  afternoon  af- 
fairs, at  United  Artists,  20th-Fox,  Metro, 
and  Loew-Poli.  Politeers  gave  the  boss  a 
gift  of  cash,  and  he  distributed  handsome 
gifts  . . . National  Theatre  Supply  had 
liquid  refreshments  and  a cheery  greeting 
for  all  who  entered  . . . Formal  parties 
were  a complete  success  at  the  Waverly 
Inn  for  Warner’s;  Oakdale  Tavern,  Metro 
and  Paramount;  Seven  Gables  Inn  for  Co- 
lumbians, and  Hotel  Taft,  Loew-Poli  staff 
. . . Lou  Brown’s  “radio”  script,  acted  at 
the  Poli  party  by  Elliott  Kronish,  Mickey 
Mattes,  Mrs.  Lou  Brown,  and  John  Mc- 
Quigan,  was  a hilarious  hit  with  the  130 
employes  of  the  division  and  theatres 
present  . . . Harry  Shaw  subbed  at  the 
drums,  and  Harry  Rose  at  the  bass  fiddle 
. . . Lou  Cohen  was  m.  c.  par  excellence 
. . . Mrs.  Morris  Mendelsohn  copped  all 
the  prizes  ...  At  Metro  party,  new  Man- 
ager Morey  Goldstein  made  a speech  that 
dubbed  him  a “regular  fellow.”  George 
Weber  took  beautiful  closeups  of  honor 
guests.  Wolf-Donaldson-Goldstein,  and 
others  proving  conclusively  that  Frank 
Mullen  forgot  himself  to  the  extent  of  do- 
ing the  Conga. 

Reservations  have  already  come  in  from 
Tom  Connors  of  New  York  home  office  of 
Metro;  Joseph  L.  Stem  of  New  York,  Mau- 
rice N.  Wolf  of  Boston,  and  other  execu- 
tives for  the  farewell  testimonial  dinner 
to  Thomas  G.  Donaldson,  at  the  Hotel 
Taft,  January  14.  A record  crowd  is  ex- 
pected to  attend  to  wish  Donaldson  well  on 
the  eve  of  his  departure  for  his  new  Bos- 
ton managership  . . , Harry  F.  Shaw  and 
Barney  Pitkin,  co-chairmen,  promise  the 
event  will  he  outstanding  . . . Charlie  La- 
zarus, Metro  booker,  is  treasurer  . . . Mau- 
rice N.  Wolf  will  emcee. 

The  Lincoln  closed  for  the  duration  of 
the  Yale  holiday,  and  manager  Jean  Du- 
Barry  and  wife  went  off  to  New  York  to 
hit  the  high  spots  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs.  W. 
J.  E.  Brown  came  in  from  Washington  to 
visit  with  the  Lou  Browns  for  the  holidays 
. . . Bill  Reisinger,  Bijou  manager,  re- 
covered from  the  grippe  just  in  time  to 
surprise  the  folks  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  with 
a visit  on  Xmas  Day. 

George  Weber,  Metro  checking  super, 
back  in  New  Haven  after  working  for  three 
weeks  in  the  New  York  territory  . . . Jean- 
ette Berliner,  Republic  booker,  is  sporting 
a handsome  new  two-tone  gold  watch,  a 
Xmas  gift  from  a New  York  boy  friend 
. . . Mrs.  Sam  Rosen  is  recuperating  at 
home  after  an  operation  at  New  Haven 
Hospital  . . . Jim  Memery,  Loew-Poli  art- 
ist, took  Mrs.  and  Jimmy  to  Pepperill, 
Mass.,  for  the  holidays  . . . Dave  Kaufman, 
Loew-Poli  division  artist,  was  official 
photographer  at  his  brother’s  wedding  in 
New  York,  Xmas  Day. 

Harry  F.  Shaw,  Poli  “boss,”  spent  Xmas 
with  his  mother,  Mrs.  Ida  Shaw,  in  Bridge- 
port . . . Mary  Barone,  Columbia  inspec- 
tress, ill  at  home  last  week  as  a result  of 
an  auto  accident  . . . Tim  O’Toole,  Co- 


lumbia manager,  spent  a week  in  Harris- 
burg, Pa.  . . . William  Benson,  Universal 
salesman,  dashed  into  Long  Island  to  spend 
Xmas  with  his  family,  and  back  again 
Thursday  morning  . . . Mrs.  Fred  Qua- 
trano  of  the  Lido,  Waterbury,  was  dis- 
missed from  the  hospital  in  time  to  spend 
the  holidays  with  her  family  . . . Andrew 
Sharick,  wound  up  an  exchange  tour  in 
New  Haven,  and  hurried  on  to  N.  Y.  for 
the  Yule  season  . . . Come  the  New  Year, 
I.  J.  Hoffman  is  probably  looking  forward 
to  his  annual  winter  vacation  in  Florida 
. . . Manager  Barney  Pitkin  of  RKO  and 
Manager  Lou  Wechsler  of  United  Artists 
are  also  contemplating  early  experiences  of 
“Moon  Over  Miami.” 

Mortie  Kressner  of  the  Plaza,  Stamford, 
reports  500  were  turned  away  at  the  open- 
ing of  “Thief  of  Bagdad”  . . . Cash  Quiz 
moves  next  into  the  Strand,  Gloucester, 
and  Strand,  Skowhegan  . . . When  the 
present  Bijou  amateur  contest  series  is  fin- 
ished, winner  each  week  will  be  pitted 
against  each  other  in  groups  of  eight,  four 
eliminated  each  week,  until  the  grand 
finals  are  reached,  with  about  16  compet- 
ing. No  lack  of  talent  or  waning  of  in- 
terest evident. 

Vernon  Burns  conducted  the  Xmas  Eve 
vaude  in  the  absence  of  Manager  Bill  Reis- 
inger, then  on  sick  leave  . . . Bunny  LeWitt 
of  Plainville  is  a double  for  your  Colum- 
bia shipper,  Sid  Lax  . . . The  Loew-Poli 
ushers’  Xmas  turkey  raffle  was  won  by 
Harold  Rudnick,  Claire  Canavan,  and 
Mary  Innocenzi,  and  the  boys  are  already 
counting  the  proceeds  toward  another 
dance  . . . Sal  Demano,  former  assistant 
at  the  Bijou,  is  married  to  Fay  Morgan  and 
living  in  Glens  Falls. 

The  Russell-Rubin  corner  piece  for 
“ Flight  Command”  at  the  Poli  throws  flu- 
orescent lighting  to  good  advantage  on  a 
big  suspended  airplane  cutout,  surrounded 
by  small  revolving  planes  . . . New  Year’s 
Eve  sound  truck  was  used  by  the  Poli  . . . 
Also  Russell  revived  the  popular  football 
heralds  for  the  New  Year’s  week  games  . . . 
Monk  Maloney  offered  prizes  to  students 
at  the  Worcester  Art  Museum  School  for 
best  reproductions  of  American  painters’ 
sets  for  “The  Long  Voyage  Home”  . . . 
Huge  “Thief  of  Bagdad”  float  brought  to 
Bridgeport  for  opening  of  the  picture, 
made  the  press  with  art  and  copy. 

The  boys  at  the  Bijou  gave  Harry  Shaw 
a surprise  when  they  blacked  out  the  stage 
in  the  middle  of  the  Amateur  Show,  put  on 
the  green  spotlight,  and  produced  an  ape 
to  run  Boss  Harry  off  the  stage.  It  was 
all  in  preparation  for  the  engagement  of 
“The  Ape.” 

Mike  Thomasino  and  the  boys  are  remi- 
niscing rather  more  than  usual  and  with 
unusual  tenderness  about  the  days  when 
there  was  action  and  excitement  on  Mea- 
dow Street  . . . Such  as  white-washing 
cars,  horseplay,  and  a good  fist  fight. 

January  1 marked  Charles  Lazarus’  fifth 
anniversary  with  M-G-M.  Come  January 
13,  Edith  Williams,  also  of  the  local  staff, 
will  have  been  with  the  company  11  years. 


BOXOFFICE  :;  January  4,  1941 


103 


^j,EORGE  W.  COLEMAN,  manager  of  the 

Arcade,  announces  that  second  run 
house  win  return  to  first  run  sometime  this 
month  with  “The  Baker’s  Wife,”  a French 
fnm.  Coleman  and  his  assistant,  Hy  No- 
zak,  have  already  started  a huge  exploita- 
tion campaign  ...  In  New  Haven  last 
Monday  to  attend  a Loew’s-Poli  divisional 
managers’  meeting  were  George  E.  Free- 
man and  Boyd  Taylor  Sparrow  of  the  local 
Loew’s-Poii.  From  Worcester  were  Joe  An- 
stead,  Elm  Street;  Bob  Portle,  Plaza;  and 
H.  H.  Maioney,  Poli  . . . Maurice  Radin, 
Peoples’  Candy  Co.,  Worcester,  was  in 
Spnngiieid  last  Tuesday  afternoon  . . . 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eddie  Powers  spent  the 
Christmas  holiday  in  Worcester  visiting 
relatives  and  friends.  Powers  is  the  Art’s 
assistant  manager. 

More  Christmas  visitings:  Betty  Whee- 
ler, office  clerk  for  the  Western  Massa- 
chusetts Theatres,  Inc.,  spent  the  holiday 
in  her  home  town.  Great  Barrington,  Mass. 

Joe  Jerald,  assistant  to  Harry  Smith, 
division  manager  and  also  director  of  pub- 
licity for  Western  Massachusetts  Theatres, 
Inc,  was  in  New  York  . . . Mrs  Olive  J. 
Simms,  cashier  at  the  E.  M.  Loew’s  Court 
Square,  visited  her  husband  at  St.  Catha- 
rine’s, Canada  . . . Carl  Jamroga,  manager 
of  the  Forest  Park  Phillips,  spent  the  holi- 
day with  his  parents  down  in  Rockville, 
Conn. 

Ted  Holt  of  Loew’s  was  in  town  to  see 
the  local  Loew’s-Poli  boys  . . . Pat  McGee 
of  Loew’s  Boston  office  left  town  the  other 
day  after  checking  at  the  E.  M.  Loew’s 
Court  Square  here  . . . New  uniforms  are 
due  soon  at  the  Art  for  service  staff  mem- 
bers . . . Woodmark  Sign  Co.  has  repainted 
the  marquee  and  front  at  A1  Anders’  Bijou. 
The  Capitol  Theatre  Supply  Co.,  Boston, 
recently  overhauled  projection  equipment 
in  the  Bijou’s  booth,  reports  Anders. 

Mary  Stroshine,  office  clerk  for  the 
Western  Massachusetts  Theatres,  Inc.,  re- 
turned to  work  last  week,  after  having  been 
ill  at  home  for  several  weeks  . . . Jack 
Agustio,  former  usher  at  GB’s  Paramount, 
is  the  new  usher  at  the  Broadway , suc- 
ceeding Joe  Cardinno,  resigned  . . . Dean 
Nelson,  usher  at  the  E.  M.  Loew’s  Court 
Square,  has  been  upped  to  doorman,  re- 
placing Raymond  Lynch,  resigned  . . . Ser- 
vice staff  members  at  the  GB’s  Paramount 
are  sporting  new  uniforms  . . . Remodeling 
of  Manager  Freddie  I.  Frechette’s  office  at 
the  Garden  was  completed  last  week. 

In  Boston  recently  was  Andrew  A.  Sette, 
Warner  Capitol  manager.  Ditto  Raymond 
Title,  manager  of  the  Harry  Arthur’s  Art 
...  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charlie  Hurley  of  the 
Liberty  last  Sunday  night  entertained  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Paul  Kessler,  Suffolk,  Holyoke; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Rabb,  Jefferson, 
Springfield,  and  Richard  Udler,  Garden, 
Springfield,  at  their  home  . . . Hy  Nozak, 
assistant  manager  of  the  Arcade,  now 
takes  his  day  off  on  Tuesday  . . . Man- 
ager George  W.  Coleman  of  the  Arcade 
tied  in  with  WSPR  for  three  plugs  daily 
before  and  during  the  run  of  “Bitter 
Sweet.”  For  “The  Mark  of  Zorro,”  Cole- 
man used  a huge  overhead  hanging  lobby 
sign  which  had  “Z”  marks  all  over  it  . . . 


Edward  Levesque  is  the  new  porter  at  the 
Warner  Capitol,  succeeding  Richard  Gibbs, 
resigned  . . . Mrs.  Andrew  A.  Sette,  wife  of 
the  Warner  Capitol  manager,  recently  re- 
turned from  a trip  to  Far  Rockaway,  L.  I. 

Reports  have  it  that  Don  Barhydt,  for- 
mer manager  of  the  E.  M.  Loew’s  Court 
Square  here,  is  now  in  the  advertising  busi- 
ness . . . Tony  DeCaro  of  the  Warner  Capi- 
tol reported  SRO  business  at  that  theatre 
with  the  revival  of  WB’s  “Here  Comes  the 
Navy”  . . . Salvation  Army  lasses  reported- 
ly collected  about  $100  from  Springfield 
theatre  patrons  last  week  by  standing  with 
tin  plates  in  theatre  lobbies  . . . Guy  Kel- 
logg has  rejoined  the  Paramount  ushers’ 
corps. 

Christmas  parties  — GB’s  Paramount 
held  party  for  its  service  staff  last  Mon- 
day night  on  the  stage  after  the  last  show. 
Refreshments  were  served  and  dancing  was 
held  . . . Herman  and  Julian  Rifkin  of  the 
Rifkin  Theatres  came  to  Springfield  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  circuit’s  first  Christmas 
party  at  the  Liberty  Theatre  headquarters 
of  the  chain.  With  Freddie  I.  Frechette, 
manager  of  the  Garden,  in  the  role  of  mas- 
ter of  ceremonies,  all  employes  of  the  cir- 
cuit had  a grand  time.  Frankie  Shaugh- 
nessy  of  the  Academy,  Northampton;  Paul 
Kessler,  Suffolk,  Holyoke,  and  A1  Weasert- 
els  of  the  Majestic,  Holyoke,  were  also  in- 
vited . . . Employes  of  the  Rifkin’s  Forest 
Park  Phillips,  however,  held  their  own 
party  last  Sunday  night. 

Melvin  M.  Aronson,  chief  of  the  Para- 
mount service  staff,  now  takes  his  day  off 
on  Tuesday  . . . Donald  Buchanan,  usher 
at  the  Paramount,  spent  Christmas  in  New 
York  . . . Tommy  Riordan  of  the  E.  M. 
Loew’s  Mohawk,  North  Adams,  resigned  to 
join  the  Navy  . . . Herman  Rifkin  gave 
both  male  and  female  employes  of  his 
Springfield  theatres  Christmas  presents, 
with  most  of  the  girls  receiving  boxes  of 
candy  . . . Paramount  service  staff  chipped 
in  to  buy  Manager  Eddie  Smith  a pen  and 
pencil  set. 

Steve  MacDrake  is  a new  usher  at  the 
E.  M.  Loew’s  Court  Square  . . . Ernest 
Bates,  projectionist  at  the  Garden,  had  a 
birthday  Christmas  Day  . . . Frank  Shaugh- 
nessy,  manager  of  the  Rifkin’s  Academy, 
Northampton,  who  is  also  an  officer  in 
the  National  Guard,  will  be  leaving  his 
theatre  position  sometime  this  month  for 
army  life  . . . James  J.  Bloom,  assistant 
chief  of  service,  and  Gilbert  G.  Bevan,  as- 
sistant manager  at  the  Paramount,  spent 
last  weekend  in  New  York  . . . “Funzafire” 
was  presented  at  the  Paramount  New 
Year’s  Eve  . . . William  “Billy”  Powell,  di- 
vision manager  for  Herman  Rifkin’s  circuit, 
visited  Walter  B.  Lloyd,  manager  of  the 
M&P  Allyn  . . . Manager  Carl  Jamroga  of 
the  Forest  Park  Phillips  upped  prices  a 
nickel  on  all  adult  admissions  during  the 
run  of  “North  West  Mounted  Police.” 

Stage  shows  at  the  Holyoke,  Holyoke, 
have  been  good  draws,  reports  Bernard  W . 
Levy,  district  manager  of  the  F.  E.  Lie- 
berman  Theatres  . . . Regards  are  in  or- 
der for  Freddie  I.  Frechette,  manager  of 
the  Garden,  who  is  currently  observing  his 


'Scartace'  Reissue  Submits 
To  Several  Shearings 

Boston  — Neatness  doesn’t  count  in 
Massachusetts,  at  least  when  it  pertains 
to  men  picking  up  brassieres  that  during 
the  course  of  events  have  fallen  to  the 
floor.  The  first-reel  scene  of  such  proce- 
dure has  been  deleted  from  the  reissue  of 
“Scarface”  being  distributed  here  by 
Northeastern  Film  Company.  Other  Bay 
State  cuts  on  the  feature,  including  ban- 
ning of  the  entire  prologue,  are: 

“Dialogue  ‘Lady’s  house  alibi;’  all  scenes 
showing  Poppy  in  apartment  in  lingerie, 
in  part  2.  Scenes  showing  Scarface  bomb- 
ing and  shooting  up  barrooms;  scenes 
showing  Scarface  shooting  patients  in  hos- 
pital in  part  3.  Scenes  showing  man  being 
thrown  from  car  and  body  lying  in  gutter, 
in  part  4.  Scene  showing  body  falling 
from  car;  all  scenes  showing  machine  gun- 
ning of  cafes,  in  part  5.  All  scenes  show- 
ing machine  gunning  of  cars,  trucks  and 
people;  scene  showing  Valentine  massacre; 
all  scenes  showing  dead  bodies  of  gang  on 
floor,  in  part  6.  Scenes  showing  bowling 
alley  murder;  scenes  showing  Scarface 
tearing  strap  from  gown  and  slapping  sis- 
ter; scenes  showing  machine  gunning  of 
Scarface’s  car,  in  part  7.  Scene  showing 
Tony  shooting  Quino  in  sister’s  apartment, 
in  part  9.” 

Thirty-five  other  motion  pictures  were 
approved  by  Commissioner  Eugene  M.  Mc- 
Sweeney  in  an  accompanying  list. 

McLaughlin  Turns  Over 
Stoneham  to  Rudenstein 

Boston — William  H.  McLaughlin  com- 
pleted transactions  this  week,  selling  the 
lease-secured  Stoneham  in  Stoneham  to 
A1  Rudenstein,  operator  of  the  Capitol  in 
Bridgewater  and  the  Faulkner  in  Mal- 
den. The  deal,  formally  closed  two  weeks 
ago  gave  Rudenstein  the  house  on  Jan.  1. 

McLaughlin,  who  was  one  of  the  first 
dish  premium  dealers  in  New  England,  is 
at  present  considering  several  film  jobs. 
He  retired  this  year  as  commander  of  the 
Theatrical  Post  of  American  Legion  and 
has  resigned  from  the  board  of  directors  of 
the  Independent  Exhibitors,  Inc. 

Only  State  Finds  Flesh 
Profitable  in  Hartford 

Hartford — Vaudeville  failed  in  its  come- 
back attempt  here  in  1940,  only  the  Harris 
Bros.’  State  finding  flesh  profitable.  How- 
ever, Maxie  Rudnick  brought  burlesque  to 
Bridgeport  and  the  Loew  Poli  circuit  used 
flesh,  on  occasion,  in  New  Haven,  Bridge- 
port, Waterbury  and  Meriden. 


A Burlesque  Series 

Waterbury,  Conn. — The  Jacques  Thea- 
tre here  has  started  a series  of  “glorified 
burlesque”  shows  on  its  stage.  First  attrac- 
tion was  Louise  Stewart  and  a cast  of  65 
people.  There  will  be  an  entire  new  show 
every  Friday  on  a continuous  policy  basis. 


31st  year  in  this  industry  . . . Harold  Mor- 
row, manager  of  the  Strand  here,  held  a 
beauty  contest  for  male  patrons. 


104 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


HARTFORD 


Annual  Party  for  Kids 
By  Mayor  of  Hartford 

Hartford  — Mayor  Spellacy’s  annual 
Christmas  party  for  youngsters  was  held 
last  Friday  morning  at  the  Loew’s  Poli, 
with  doors  opening  at  8:30  a.  m.  and  the 
performance  beginning  at  9:30  a.  m. 

Cooperation  in  arranging  the  party  was 
given  by  Jack  A.  Simons,  the  theatre’s 
manager,  and  his  staff,  as  well  as  Local 
486,  IATSE,  the  WPA  recreation  division 
of  the  Hartford  park  department  and 
others. 

Besides  the  Mayor,  other  city  officials 
attended,  these  including  members  of  the 
amusements  committee  of  the  board  of 
aldermen.  The  committee  is  comprised  of 
Alderman  J.  J.  Kenny,  chairman,  and 
Aldermen  Samuel  Lebon,  John  G.  Dworak, 
A.  H.  Giller  and  L.  L.  Malley. 


New  Hampshire  Exhibitors 
Hold  Christmas  Parties 

Manchester,  N.  H. — Exhibitors  of  the 
state  did  their  share  to  make  Christmas 
a joyous  occasion  for  children  and  needy 
adults. 

In  Claremont,  Peter  D.  Latchis,  theatre 
chain  owner,  played  host  to  1,200  young- 
sters at  a party.  Manager  Joseph  Bel- 
luscio  extended  greetings.  Latchis  also 
sponsored  a similar  party  in  Keene. 

At  the  Colonial  in  Laconia,  articles  of 
food  served  as  the  admission  and  Christ- 
mas baskets  made  up  from  these  contribu- 
tions were  distributed  to  the  city’s  needy 
by  Laconia  Lodge  of  Elks.  Manager  Ralph 
Morris  donated  the  use  of  the  theatre  for 
the  event. 

In  Exeter,  more  than  500  children  at- 
tended a special  show  and  received  bags 
of  candy  at  the  Ioka  Theatre. 


Reopen  Waterbury  House 
For  Six-a-Week  Operation 

Waterbury,  Conn. — Jacques  Theatre, 
operated  periodically  for  burlesque  during 
the  past  many  years,  was  reopened  De- 
cember 27,  under  the  management  of  A1 
Smith,  for  six-a-week  operation.  Shows 
direct  from  Gayety,  Boston,  will  open  Fri- 
day afternoons.  Sunday  afternoon  and 
evening  will  be  continuous.  The  house  had 
a New  Year’s  Eve  midnight  show. 


Report  Group  May  Build 
Newsreeler  in  Hartford 

Hartford — Reports  are  current  an  un- 
identified group  is  seeking  funds  for  the 
purpose  of  building  a downtown  newsreel 
theatre.  It  would  be  the  first  of  its  kind 
in  this  territory. 


Three  Boys  Absolved 

Hartford — Arrested  on  a charge  of  cre- 
ating a disturbance  at  the  Proven  Pictures 
Theatre  here,  three  teen-aged  boys  were 
released  when  they  were  found  not  guilty 
in  police  court.  Whether  this  means  a new 
wave  of  strict  law-enforcement  in  local 
theatres  remains  to  be  seen. 


JpLAVIA  SLOAT,  that  cute  cashier  at  the 
M&P’s  Allyn,  says  “North  West  Mounted 
Police”  is  the  “Gone  With  the  Wind”  of 
1941  . . . Colchester  Chapter  of  Senior  and 
Junior  Hadassah  presented  its  fifth  an- 
nual play,  “Uncle  Josh  Perkins”  at  the 
Colchester,  Colchester,  recently,  through 
the  cooperation  of  that  Markoff  circuit 
house  . . . Palace,  Norwalk,  brought  back 
Columbia’s  “Lost  Horizon”  and  “The  Aw- 
ful Truth”  . . . Revival  of  “The  Trail  of 
the  Lonesome  Pine”  reportedly  did  fair 
business  at  the  Strand,  Winsted  . . . M&P’s 
Norwalk,  Norwalk,  has  started  the  serial, 
“Mysterious  Dr.  Satan”  . . . Beverly  Rob- 
erts and  Stepin’  Fetchit  of  the  films  were 
to  have  been  featured  in  a New  Year’s 
Eve  revue  at  the  recently-reopened  Alham- 
bra, Torrington  . . . Blackstone  the  Ma- 
gician did  a p.  a.  at  the  Palace,  Stamford. 

“Go  West”  played  two  weeks  at  the 
Loew’s  Poli  College,  New  Haven,  and  Loew’s 
Poli  Elm  Street,  Worcester  . . . Edward  F. 
Burns,  usher  at  the  WB’s  Lenox,  has  been 
elected  president  of  the  Weaver  High 
School  chapter  of  the  National  Honor  So- 
ciety . . . Mickey  Daly  of  the  Hartford 
Daly  and  Plainfield,  Plainfield,  was  in  New 
Haven  last  Tuesday  on  business  . . . Evelyn 
Doyle,  former  usherette  at  Charlie  Repass’ 
Crown,  and  Thomas  Whalen  of  Hartford 
are  now  Mr.  and  Mrs.  . . . Ozzie  Nelson 
and  his  orchestra,  featuring  Harriet  Hil- 
liard, were  at  the  Lyric,  Bridgeport  . . . 
Kennie  Faye,  manager  of  the  WB’s  Rialto, 
now  has  his  day  off  every  other  Monday 
. . . Alice  Ericon,  WB’s  Strand  cashier,  is 
still  ill  at  home,  as  is  also  Charlie  Wil- 
liams, porter  . . . In  Manchester  Christmas 
Day  from  Hartford  were  James  F.  McCar- 
thy, manager  of  the  WB’s  Strand,  and 
Henry  Needles,  WB’s  district  manager. 

Nathan  E.  Goldstein,  president  of  the 
Western  Massachusetts  Theatres,  Inc., 
Springfield,  was  in  New  York  recently  on 
business  ...  In  Holyoke,  Mass.,  last  week 
was  Bernard  William  Levy,  manager  of 
the  main  stem  Proven  Pictures,  and  also 
division  manager  of  the  Fred  Lieberman 
Theatres  in  Hartford  and  Holyoke  . . . 
Eleanor  Simons,  daughter  of  local  Loew’s 
Poli  Manager  Jack  A.  Simons,  has  been  ill 
with  a throat  infection  . . . Joe  Bernard, 
chief  of  the  WB’s  Strand  service  staff,  has 
hopes  of  becoming  a motion  picture  pro- 
jectionist some  day  . . . Robert  McGann, 
usher  at  the  WB’s  Lenox,  is  quite  a bas- 
ketball fan  . . . E.  M.  Loew’s  had  Producers 
Releasing  Corp.’s  “Misbehaving  Husbands.” 

Congratulations  are  in  order  for  popular 
Jack  Sanson,  manager  of  the  State,  Man- 
chester, who  has  been  appointed  president 
of  the  Manchester  Chamber  of  Commerce 
. . . Pat  McMahon,  manager  of  the  State, 
Neiv  Britain,  is  planning  the  construction 
of  a new  home  . . . Robert  Hall  is  the  new 
usher  at  the  local  WB’s  Strand,  succeed- 
ing Robert  Oates,  resigned  . . . Joe  Chris- 
toph of  Windsor,  ivho  with  his  wife  (Mrs. 
M.  Oakley  Christoph,  Hartford  Courant 
film  columnist)  was  in  Europe  when  war 
broke  out,  was  guest  speaker  at  a meeting 
of  Gray -Dickinson  Post,  American  Legion 
. . . Main  stem  Daly  had  an  amateur  con- 
test on  its  stage  last  Thursday  night  . . . 
Yiddish  film,  “Motel,  the  Operator,”  is  due 


at  the  Bushnell’s  Wednesday  night,  Janu- 
ary 8 . . . Rosalind  Russell,  screen  star, 
spent  the  Christmas  holidays  with  her  fam- 
ily in  Waterbury  . . . Katharine  Hepburn 
spent  the  Christmas  holidays  with  her 
parents,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  N.  Hepburn, 
in  West  Hartford. 

Vaudeville  Actors’  Ass’n  of  Connecticut 
held  a meeting  at  the  Allyn  House  last 
Sunday  night  . . . Jack  A.  Simons,  Loew’s 
Poli  manager,  spent  last  Friday  in  New 
York  ...  A new  part-time  usher  at  the 
M&P’s  Allyn  is  Joseph  Carjerro  . . . Matt 
L.  Saunders  of  the  Loew’s  Poli,  Bridge- 
port, received  an  Honor  Roll  Award  em- 
blem from  M-G-M  for  “Strike  Up  the 
Band”  exploitation  . . . New  sound  has 
been  installed  at  the  American  in  Bridge- 
port . . . Paul  Mardellio  is  a new  usher  at 
the  E.  M.  Loew’s  succeeding  Harold 
Schwartz,  resigned  . . . Norbert  Aubin  is 
the  new  manager  of  the  Strand  in  Wil- 
limantic  . . . Mrs.  Joseph  Samartano,  wife 
of  the  Loew’s  Poli  Palace,  Meriden,  man- 
ager, has  been  ill  at  home  . . . WB’s  Re- 
gal reported  good  business  with  Republic’s 
“Hit  Parade  of  1941”  . . . Capitol,  Bridge- 
port, has  been  reseated. 

Ernest  Wattrus  is  a new  E.  M.  Loew’s 
usher,  replacing  Freddie  Kendricks,  re- 
signed . . . New  Year’s  Eve:  M&P’s  Allyn 
presented  “Second  Chorus,”  while  the 
Loew’s  Poli  had  “Comrade  X,”  and  the 
WB’s  Strand  brought  in  the  much-her- 
alded “Santa  Fe  Trail”  . . . “Here  Is  Ire- 
land” is  due  at  the  Bushnell’s  Memorial, 
January  11  and  12  . . . Harris  Brothers’ 
State,  for  its  New  Year’s  Eve  presenta- 
tion, had  the  Three  Stooges,  John  Kirby’s 
band,  Ray  Herbeck’s  orchestra,  Maxine 
Sullivan  and  Pat  Paree  in  a three-hour 
stage  show  . . . WB’s  Rialto,  Norwalk,  re- 
opened Christmas  Day  after  a period  of 
renovating  . . . F.  Borelli  has  installed 
new  film  equipment  in  St.  Mary’s  Hall, 
Worcester. 

Cc 

: NEW  HAMPSHIRE  : 

* ■ =d 

PERSONAL  appearance  by  Buster  West 
headed  the  vaudeville  bill  at  the  Pal- 
ace in  Manchester  when  stage  shows  were 
resumed  following  a pre-Christmas  sea- 
son suspension. 

Word  has  been  received  in  Newington  of 
death  of  Louis  L.  G.  deRochemont,  a for- 
mer resident  and  father  of  Louis  de  Roche- 
mont,  founder  and  producer  of  the  “March 
of  Time”  films.  The  elder  de  Rochemont 
was  a well-known  Boston  attorney. 

Granite  State  theatre  operators  have  re- 
ceived cheering  news,  to  the  effect  that 
140,000  workers  listed  by  the  state  unem- 
ployment compensation  division  received 
a total  payroll  of  $12,000,000  for  the  year 
ending  December  31.  This  was  an  in- 
crease of  $2,000,000  over  1939. 

Bills  creating  a state  lottery,  legalizing 
pari-mutuel  bets  on  greyhound  racing  and 
licensing  slot  machines  are  reported  to  be 
planned  for  introduction  at  the  biennial 
session  of  the  legislature.  Vigorous  opposi- 
tion looms  on  all  these  measures. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


105 


J^EW  YEAR’S  EVE  shows  did  big  busi- 
ness, with  the  advance  ticket  sales  the 
largest  in  years  . . . A1  Smith,  former  Lyric 
manager,  has  opened  the  long-dark  Jac- 
ques Theatre  in  Water  bury  with  burlesque 
. . . Manager  Harry  Rose  of  the  Globe  is 
sporting  a new  camel  hair  overcoat. 

Clifford  Bannerman  is  the  new  doorman 
at  the  Majestic  . . . Manager  Michael  Car- 
roll  of  the  American  has  upped  kid  ad- 
missions from  a dime  to  15  cents  on  Sun- 
days . . . Morris  Rosenthal  guested  a group 
of  children  from  the  Woodruff  home  at 
his  Majestic  . . .Mrs.  Fred  Quatrano  of 
the  Lido,  Waterbury,  has  returned  to  her 
home  after  being  a patient  at  St.  Vin- 
cent’s Hospital  here. 

Fred  Perry  has  left  the  Lyric  to  become 
director  and  publicity  head  for  A1  and 


every  year.  Separately  conducted  with 
each  company.” 

Bevan  told  the  court  that  he  doesn’t  as- 
sist Phil  Seletsky  in  buying  production 
but  that  he  was  familiar  with  the  prac- 
tice M&P  employs  in  booking  their  films. 
Ryan  asked  him  for  the  details. 

On  Availability  Sheets 

“Well,”  said  Bevan,  “you  have  your  re- 
lease sheets,  or  availability  sheets,  from 
the  exchanges.  And  you  use  your  own 
good  judgment  as  to  where  you  put  them 
into  the  theatres.” 

“Well,  now,  when  you  say  ‘availability 
sheets  from  the  exchanges,’  do  you  mean 
that  the  distributor  will  send  your  com- 
pany a notice  in  writing  stating  that  cer- 
tain films  specified  are  available  for  book- 
ing in  certain  theatres  at  specified  dates?” 

“They  do  that  in  most  theatres,  yes.” 

McClennen  interrupted  at  this  point 
with  the  question,  “When  you  say  ‘on,’ 
you  mean  on  or  after  certain  dates?  You 
don’t  mean  to  imply  that  those  sheets  fix 
the  dates.  That  they  are  available  at  a 
certain  time  and  thereafter?” 

Ryan  replied,  “And  thereafter.  Yes.” 

“Well,  are  there  some  of  these  notices 
of  availability  that  don’t  specify  any  time 
that  picture  shall  become  available?”  asked 
Ryan. 

“No,”  replied  A1  Bevan. 

“For  theatres  where  you  are  permitted 
to  book  on  national  release  date,  did  you 
get  notice  of  availability  for  those  thea- 
tres?” 

“Sometimes  they  send  them  and  some- 
times they  don’t.” 

“And  how  did  you  ascertain  when  they 
became  available  for  first  run  houses  in 
the  big  cities?” 

“From  the  national  release  sheets.” 

“Do  you  get  those  from  the  distribu- 
tors?” 

“Yes.” 

“After  you  get  those  national  release 


Bell  Dow’s  11  theatres.  The  latest  addi- 
tion to  the  circuit  is  the  newly  reopened 
Alhambra  in  Torrington.  The  house  will 
use  vaudeville  four  days  a week  . . . Jane 
Ross,  former  Loew  cashier  here,  is  now  in 
Hollywood  working  for  Carole  Lombard’s 
brother  . . . Business  at  the  Lyric  is  build- 
ing steadily. 

Bridgeport  Post  is  running  a serializa- 
tion of  “Kitty  Foyle,”  coming  to  the  War- 
ner. The  story  was  planted  by  Harry  Rein- 
ers of  the  RKO  Radio  home  office  and  is 
the  first  time  in  more  than  20  years  that 
the  paper  has  cooperated  with  a motion 
picture  to  the  extent  of  running  a full- 
length  novel  . . . New  England  Division 
Manager  Harry  F.  Shaw  and  his  wife,  Flo, 
were  in  the  city  for  a visit  with  Shaw’s 
mother  and  sister. 


sheets,  or  notices  of  availability,  is  it  your 
practice  to  send  to  the  distributor  a writ- 
ten booking  request  of  some  nature?” 

“Yes.” 

“And  that  gives  him  the  dates  that  you 
would  like  to  use  the  picture  at  a certain 
theatre?” 

“Yes.” 

“And  in  the  usual  course  of  business  does 
the  distributor  then  send  you  a confirma- 
tion of  the  booking,  if  the  date  is  satisfac- 
tory to  the  distributor?” 

“Yes.” 

“And  if  the  date  is  not  satisfactory  do 
you  get  some  other  form  of  notice?” 

“They  usually  call  you  up.” 

“And  ask  for  another  date?” 

“Yes.  Just  iron  it  out  between  your- 
selves as  to  when  you  will  play  it.” 

“Then  you  receive  from  the  distributor 
a notice  of  the  booking  of  the  picture  for 
a particular  theatre?” 

“Yes.” 

"Pay  in  a Week” 

“Do  invoices  from  distributors  of  the 
film  come  to  you?” 

“No.” 

“Are  you  familiar  with  the  method  of 
payment  for  the  films?” 

“Not  very.  No.” 

“Do  you  know  whether  or  not  M&P 
Theatres  has  any  credit  period?” 

“Yes.  Yes,  they  have.” 

“What  period  is  it?” 

“From  my  knowledge,  the  pictures  we 
play  last  week  we  pay  for  this  week.” 

“Is  that  the  same  with  all  companies?” 

“Yes.” 

“Including  Paramount?” 

“Yes.” 

“Is  Philip  Seletsky  . . . (This  Philip 
Seletsky  who  is  the  buyer  and  booker)  . . . 


was  he  at  one  time  in  the  New  York  office 
of  Paramount?” 

“Yes.” 

“Was  his  business  then  connected  with 
the  buying  and  booking  of  films?” 

“Yes.” 

“Is  there  an  L.  D.  Netter  connected  with 
the  buying  and  booking  of  Paramount?” 

“Yes.” 

“And  where  is  he  located?” 

“New  York.” 

“What  are  his  duties  in  connection  with 
the  Paramount  theatres  at  the  present 
time?” 

An  objection  was  raised  at  this  point  and 
sustained. 

“At  that  time,”  questioned  George  S. 
Ryan,”  was  not  Sam  Dembow  jr„  an  as- 
sistant buyer  and  booker?” 

“I  think  Sam  at  that  time  had  charge 
of  everything  in  connection  with  theatres 
that  were  operated  by  Publix.” 

“At  that  time  was  Netter  operating  in 
the  capacity  of  an  assistant  to  him?” 

“Yes,  I understand  so.” 

“You  have  been  in  New  York,  haven’t 
you?” 

“Only  once.  And  I didn’t  see  him.” 

Refer  to  Maine  Operation 

“During  the  past  four  or  five  years  have 
you  negotiated  protection  for  Rockland, 
Maine?” 

“Yes.” 

“Did  you  bring  any  of  the  contracts  in 
regard  to  Rockland?” 

“Yes,  I think  we  have  everything  ex- 
cept 1936-7  which  are  at  the  storehouse. 
They  are  trying  to  dig  them  out  now.” 

Ryan,  getting  Bevan  to  outline  the  Rock- 
land situation,  got  into  the  testimony  the 
fact  that  M&P  books  and  buys  for  two 
theatres  in  the  Maine  community,  the 
Strand  and  Park,  the  former  being  classi- 
fied as  an  “A”  house  and  the  latter  as  a 
"B”  house. 

Ryan  asked  if  the  Park  has  been  run- 
ning seven  days  a week. 

“Not  until  approximately  a year  ago,” 
Bevan  replied. 

“Was  the  same  true  with  both  the  Strand 
and  the  Park?  Not  running  Sundays  until 
about  a year  ago?” 

“No.  The  Strand — The  Strand  ran  Sun- 
days for  the  last  three  or  four  years.” 

“Did  the  Park  TheatVe  run  double  fea- 
ture bills  Friday  and  Saturday?” 

“Sometimes.  Yes.” 

“What  is  the  seating  capacity  of  each 
of  those  theatres?” 

“I  don’t  know  offhand,  but  I think  the 
Strand  is  about  800  and  the  Park  about 
700.” 

Hearings  in  the  litigation  are  scheduled 
to  resume  January  7. 


To  Consider  Request 

West  Hartford,  Conn. — The  town  coun- 
cil’s requested  appropriation  of  $20,000  for 
purchase  of  an  entire  block  as  a site  for 
a proposed  recreational  center  will  be  con- 
sidered by  the  board  of  finance  at  a meet- 
ing shortly.  Charles  T.  Treadway  jr., 
board  chairman,  announces. 


To  Phillips  Post 

Springfield,  Mass. — E.  R.  “Chief”  Engel, 
formerly  with  the  Springfield  fire  depart- 
ment, has  succeeded  Henry  Rickaby  as 
assistant  manager  at  the  Phillips. 


Waldo  Theatre  Suit  Airs  M&P 
Buying,  Booking  Practices 

(Continued  from  page  101) 


106 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


Boston  Councillor  Calls 
For  Action  on  Beano 

Boston — On  the  eve  of  filing  a bill  for 
state  legislation  of  Beano,  City  Councillor 
P.  D.  Chase  of  Boston,  seeking  banning 
of  the  game,  declared  that  the  Beano  take 
in  Massachusetts  is  approximately  $10, ~ 
000,000  annually.  “Most  of  the  money,” 
Chase  alleged,  “is  pocketed  by  the  opera- 
tors who  are  openly  and  flagrantly  violat- 
ing the  law”  which  says  that  Beano  may 
be  played  only  for  charity. 

“The  millions  made  from  Beano,”  Chase 
contended,  “are  not  going  to  charity  but 
to  professional  racketeers.  I believe  the 
Commonwealth  should  investigate  and 
clean  up  the  game  in  the  state. 

“The  regular  law  enforcement  agencies 
have  either  been  very  lax  or  have  de- 
liberately closed  their  eyes  to  the  situation. 
It  is  known  that  many  of  these  games  are 
operated  by  racketeers,  and  I feel  certain 
that  if  an  investigation  is  made  the  result- 
ing disclosures  will  be  shocking  to  the 
public.” 

Theatre  boxoffices  have  long  suffered 
here  from  Beano  competition. 


A Bill  Filed  to  Empower 
State  to  Handle  Beano 

Springfield,  Mass. — State  supervision  of 
Beano  is  called  for  in  a bill  filed  with  the 
state  house  of  representatives’  clerk.  A 
license  would  be  issued  by  the  state  racing 
commission  and  promoters  would  turn  back 
over  25  per  cent  of  the  monetary  handle 
to  the  municipality  and  12  V2  per  cent  to 
the  state  to  help  reduce  taxes. 


Massachusetts  Factory 
Employment  in  a Gain 

Springfield,  Mass. — Contrary  to  the 
usual  seasonal  decline,  employment  in- 
creased in  Massachusetts  factories  between 
mid-October  and  mid-November,  the  state 
department  of  labor  and  industries  an- 
nounced last  week.  Compared  with  No- 
vember a year  ago,  employment  was  up 
three  per  cent  and  wages  were  7.6  per  cent 
greater. 


Hold  " Souls  in  Pawn1 

Boston — Harry  Asher  of  Producers  Re- 
leasing Corp.  signed  last  week  with  E.  M. 
Loew  for  a fourth  consecutive  week  of 
“Souls  in  Pawn”  at  the  Gayety  in  down- 
town Boston.  The  continued  holdover  has 
given  the  roadshow  the  long  distance 
record  for  recent  weeks  in  local  theatres. 


Improve  Upham's  Corner 
Dorchester,  Mass. — Upham’s  Corner, 
1,200-seater  operated  here  by  Frederick  E. 
Lieberman,  is  being  improved  with  RCA 
sound  and  new  booth  and  screen  equip- 
ment. 


Ball  by  Local  486 

Hartford — Local  486,  IATSE,  will  spon- 
sor a ball  sometime  in  February.  Details 
have  not  been  arranged  as  yet. 


fT~ =-==■  ~ 

: Pre-Decree  Business  : 

^ j 

Boston — The  transaction  of  a motion 
picture  theatre  three  decades  ago  wasn’t 
the  costly  and  weighty  matter  it  is  today. 
Here’s  the  way  they  used  to  do  it  in  1908, 
reveals  Walter  E.  Young,  present  operator 
of  the  Strand  in  Farmington,  N.  H.,  and 
one  of  the  parties  involved  in  the  deal. 

“Walter  E.  Young  of  Rochester,  N.  H., 
and  Arthur  W.  Whitney  of  Boston,  Mass., 
agree  as  follows,”  reads  the  document 
which  is  signed  by  both  the  aforemen- 
tioned parties.  “The  said  Young  agrees 
to  sell  to  said  Whitney  his  one-half  in- 
terest in  the  Moving  Picture  Business, 
known  as  the  Kosy  Theatre  in  the  said 
Rochester  for  the  sum  of  $39.11  and  the 
said  Whitney  is  to  pay  the  sum  of  five 
dollars  every  week  until  the  $39.11  is  paid. 

“Now  it  is  agreed  that  the  sum  of  five 
dollars  which  the  said  Whitney  pays  every 
week  shall  be  considered  rent  for  the  use 
of  said  business  if  he  shall  fail  to  pay 
any  or  all  of  the  payments  as  they  shall 
become  due.  The  first  payment  shall  be 
due  the  26th  day  of  November,  1908.  The 
possession  of  said  business  is  in  the  other 
partner,  Edwin  F.  Dame,  until  full  pay- 
ment. The  said  Whitney  and  Dame  are 
hereafter  liable  for  the  debts  of  the  part- 
nership. 

Dated  this  19th  day  of  November,  1908.” 


Springiield  Film  Council 
Issues  Classified  List 

Springfield,  Mass. — The  Springfield  Mo- 
tion Picture  Council  announced  its  “classi- 
fied list  of  forthcoming  films”  as  follows: 

Suitable  for  adults  only — “The  Long  Voy- 
age Home.” 

Suitable  for  both  adults  and  young  peo- 
ple— “Second  Chorus,”  “Comrade  X,” 
“Flight  Command,”  “Love  Thy  Neighbor.” 
“This  Thing  Called  Love,”  “Son  of  Monte 
Cristo,”  “Margie,”  “Gallant  Sons,”  “Mel- 
ody Ranch,”  “Chad  Hanna,”  “Boys  of  the 
City,”  “Tom  Brown’s  School  Days,”  “Santa 
Fe  Trail,”  “Arizona”  and  “Thief  of  Bag- 
dad.” 


Many  Bostonians  to  Attend 
Donaldson  Testimonial 

Boston — A large  Boston  contingent 
planned  to  attend  the  Tom  Donaldson 
testimonial  dinner  at  the  Taft  in  New 
Haven  next  Tuesday.  The  affair  will  mark 
the  return  here  of  Donaldson,  former  New 
Haven  branch  manager  for  M-G-M  and 
new  Boston  branch  manager.  Maurice 
Goldstein,  Boston  salesman,  replacing 
Donaldson  in  New  Haven,  will  be  a guest 
of  honor  at  the  affair. 


Schulmans  Pay  Bonus 

Hartford — A Christmas  bonus,  based  on 
length  of  service  in  the  employ  of  the 
company,  has  been  paid  to  all  regular  em- 
ployes of  the  Schulmans’  Rivoli,  Webster, 
and  Plaza-Windsor  theatres,  it  was  an- 
nounced last  week  by  Maurice  Schulman. 


Send  Unclaimed  Articles 
To  China  and  Finland 


Hartford — All  lost  and  unclaimed  arti- 
cles which  have  accumulated  in  the  local 
Loew’s  Poli  and  Loew’s  Poli  Palace  thea- 
tres during  the  past  six  months  will  be 
given  away  to  the  needy  of  China  and 
Finland,  it  is  announced  by  Jack  A. 
Simons,  Loew’s  Poli  manager. 

The  first  shipment  abroad,  composed  of 
four  large  cartons,  will  be  made  as  soon 
as  the  theatres’  employes  have  brought  in 
old  clothes  to  add  to  the  boxes  of  gloves, 
scarfs,  shoes,  rubbers,  and  hats  left  in 
the  theatres.  The  management,  Simons 
said,  is  donating  cashiers’  blouses  and 
skirts  as  well  as  blankets  made  out  of  old 
drapery.  Other  shipments  are  to  be  made 
at  three-month  intervals. 


Ansonia  Capitol  Marks 
Its  20th  Anniversary 

Ansonia,  Conn. — Last  Friday  night 
marked  the  20th  anniversary  of  the  open- 
ing of  the  Capitol,  built  by  I.  J.  Hoffman 
in  1920. 

The  20th  anniversary  year  of  the  War- 
ner unit  has  been  marked  by  a complete 
renovation,  including  a new  marquee,  new 
electric  lights,  and  a new  lobby. 

John  R.  Shields  has  been  manager  of 
the  Capitol  for  the  past  14  years. 

A full  page  of  congratulatory  advertise- 
ments by  local  merchants,  marked  the  an- 
niversary. 


Concord  Loses  a Pioneer 
Showman  in  D.  J . Adams 

Concord,  N.  H. — Concord  has  lost  one  of 
its  pioneer  film  exhibitors  in  the  death  of 
David  J.  Adams,  who,  as  manager  of 
White’s  Opera  House  in  this  city,  made  it 
one  of  New  Hampshire’s  leading  theatres. 

Following  destruction  of  the  Opera 
House  by  fire,  Adams  for  several  years 
conducted  a motion  picture  business  in  the 
Concord  City  Auditorium. 

He  was  also  an  expert  stage  carpenter, 
and,  at  various  times,  had  served  leading 
performers  who  came  to  Concord  in  “road 
company”  days. 


Daniel  Schwartz  Named 
Jefferson  Assistant 

Springfield,  Mass. — William  Powell,  di- 
vision manager  of  the  Herman  Rifkin 
Theatres  here,  announces  the  appointment 
of  Daniel  Schwartz,  formerly  associated 
with  Western  Massachusetts  Theatres, 
Inc.,  at  the  Victory,  Holyoke,  to  the  newly 
created  post  of  assistant  manager  at  the 
Jefferson  here. 


Handling  Film  Alliance 

Boston — Marcel  Mekelburg  of  North- 
eastern Film  Co.  will  release  the  Film  Al- 
liance lineup  in  the  Boston  trade  terri- 
tory, it  is  announced  by  Norman  Elson, 
FA’s  general  sales  manager. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


107 


fORRlfl 


BUREAU 


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MT100  Attraction  Board  Letters 

MT101  Bulletin  Boards 

MT102  Cut-Out  Machines 

MT103  Display  Frames  and  Cases 

MT104  Flashers,  Sign 

MT105  Insert  Frames 

MT106  Lamp  Coloring 

MT107  Letter  Mounting  Units 

MT10S  Marquees 

MT109  Poster  Projectors 

MT110  Signs,  Admission 

MT111  Signs,  Electric 

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AIR  CONDITIONING 


MT120  Air  Circulators 

MT121  Air  Conditioning  Motors 

MT122  Air  Conditioning  Systems 

MT123  Air  Filters 

MT124  Air  Washers 

MT125  Blowers 

MT126  Boilers  and  Furnaces 

MT127  Coils,  Cooling 

MT12S  Compressors 

MT129  Condensers 

MT130  Cooling  Equipment 

MT131  Cooling  Towers 

MT132  Dehumidifiers 

MT133  Diffusers,  Air 

MT134  Electric  Motor  Controls 

MT135  Exhaust  Fans 

MT136  Grilles  and  Registers 

MT137  Heating  Equipment 

MT138  Oil  Burners 

MT139  Refrigeration 

MT140  Spray  Nozzles 

MT141  Stokers 


MT142  Temperature  Control  Devices 
MT143  Thermostats  and  Humidistats 
MT144  Unit  Heaters 
MT145  Ventilating  Systems 
MT146  Water  Cooling  Systems 


DECORATIONS  & FURNISHINGS 


MT155  Acoustical  Materials 
MT156  Aisle  Lights 
MT157  Boxoffices 
MT158  Carpets 
MT159  Carpet  Cushion 
MT160  Design  Service 
MT161  Directional  Signs 
MT162  Door  Controls 
MT163  Draperies  and  Curtains 
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MT172  Ornamental  Metal  Work 

MT173  Paint  Products 

MT17  4 Railings,  Lobby 

MT176  Sand  Urns 

MT176  Seating,  Auditorium 

MT177  Slip  Covers 

MT178  Speaking  Tubes 

MT179  Ticket  Choppers  and  Boxes 

MT180  Theatre  Chairs 

MT181  Upholstery  Materials 

MT182  Wall  Coverings,  Fabric 


LIGHTING 


MT190  Dimmers  and  Controls 
MT191  Effect  Lighting  Devices 


MT192  Elec.  Measuring  Instruments 
MT193  Engines,  Diesel 
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MT195  Gelatine  Sheets 
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MT197  Lighting  Fixtures 
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MT200  Reflectors 
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MT205  Switches,  Safety 
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MT211  Carpet  Spotting  Compounds 

MT212  Drills,  Rotary 

MT213  Fire  Extinguishers 

MT214  Fireproofing  Compounds 

MT215  Gum  Removers 

MT216  Safety  Ladders 

MT217  Seat  Patching  Kits 

MT218  Seating  Repairs 

MT219  Vacuum  Cleaners 


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MT226  Fireproof  Safes  and  Files 

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MT231  Staff  Uniforms 

MT232  Tickets 

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MT270  Rheostats 
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MT290  Odor  Absorbers 

MT291  Ozone  Generators 

MT292  Paper  Towels  and  Cabinets 

MT293  Perfumes 

MT294  Plumbing  Fixtures 

MT295  Sanitary  Supplies 

MT296  Soaps  and  Cleansers 

MT297  Suction  Cleaners 

MT298  Washroom  Accessories 


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MT305  Amplifiers 

MT306  Amplifier  Tubes 

MT307  Hearing  Aids 

MT308  Horn  Lifts  and  Towers 

MT309  Intercommunicating  Systems 

MT310  Lamps,  Exciter 

MT311  Lens  Assemblies,  Sound 

MT312  Microphones 

MT313  Photoelectric  Cells 

MT314  Public  Address  Amplifiers 

MT315  Public  Address  Systems 

MT316  Radio  Tubes 

MT317  Record  Reproducers 

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MT319  Sound  Heads 

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MT321  Speakers 


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MT330  Costumes 

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MT334  Stage  Hardware 

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MT340  Architectural  Service 

MT341  Facing  Materials,  Exterior 

MT342  Flashed  Opal  Glass 

MT3  43  Flooring  Materials 

MT344  Glass  Blocks 

MT345  Insulation  Materials 

MT346  Metal  Trim  and  Mouldings 

MT347  Pipe  Hangers  and  Brackets 

MT348  Plate  Glass 

MT349  Steel  and  Iron  Roofing 

MT350  Steel  and  Iron  Sheet  Metal 

MT351  Structural  Glass 

MT352  Theatre  Fronts,  Porcelain 

MT353  Theatre  Fronts,  Structural  Glass 

MT354  Wood  Veneers 


108 


BOXOFFICE  :: 


January  4,  1941 


Texas  Variety's  Ball 
Draws  700  Guests 

Dallas — “An  American  Party”  elabo- 
rately staged  in  the  Grand  Ball  Room  of 
the  Adolphus  Hotel  during  the  waning 
hours  of  last  year  well  into  1941  by  the 
Variety  Club  of  Texas  under  direction  of 
its  newly  elected  Chief  Barker  Paul  Short, 
furnished  New  Year’s  entertainment  for 
some  700  members  and  guests,  many  of 
whom  were  from  other  towns  in  the  south- 
west. 

While  the  affair  was  more  than  color- 
ful a cloud  arose  in  the  program  of  the 
party  in  that  R.  J.  O’Donnell,  retiring 
chief  barker,  was  confined  at  his  home 
with  flu  and  was  not  on  hand  to  emcee 
and  to  induct  all  the  new  officers  and 
directors  for  the  coming  year  as  was 
planned.  For  that  reason,  it  was  pointed 
out,  the  induction  will  come  later,  prob- 
ably at  the  testimonial  luncheon  for 
O’Donnell  next  Monday  noon  and  like- 
wise in  the  Grand  Ball  Room. 

Paul  Short,  however,  started  the  party 
with  a microphone  introduction  of  Gen- 
eral William  McCraw.  In  turn  McCraw 
introduced  the  luminaries  at  their  tables 
which  included  Kate  Smith,  Grantland 
Rice,  Clarence  Budington  Kelland,  Bruce 
Cabot,  James  Craig,  Jim  Crowley,  the 
Fordham  coach;  Homer  Norton,  A&M 
coach,  the  latter  two  figuring  strongly 
in  the  Cotton  Bowl  encounter,  and  sev- 
eral others. 

Following  this  brief  ceremony  the  Amer- 
ican dinner  was  served  with  squab  being 
the  piece  de  resistance.  Dancing  to  Hy- 
man Charninsky’s  hotel  and  theatre  or- 


chestra made  for  a crowded  floor.  Biggest 
in  the  fun  was  the  floor  show  in  which 
a dance  team  individually  picked  out  ex- 
hibitors, Barkers  and  their  ladies  to  per- 
form in  the  professional  manner  in  old 
and  new  dance  steps. 

After  midnight  the  big  name  bands  here 
headed  by  Henry  Busse  came  over  from 
their  respective  stands  for  a sort  of  jam 
music  session  for  the  Barkers. 

Some  left  the  dance  at  two,  others  at 
four,  with  the  party  ending  only  a short 
time  before  day.  The  Cotton  Bowl  game 
Wednesday  was  the  next  highlight  for 
nearly  all  who  attended. 

While  the  out-of-towners  were  here  in 
large  numbers,  a few  whose  names  are  re- 
called here  for  the  Variety  party,  the 
Cotton  Bowl,  or  both,  were:  Ray  Morrow, 
of  Malvern,  Ark.;  Henry  Rogers,  Sweet- 
water; Harry  Hardgrave  and  wife  of  Sher- 
man; Yuill  Robb,  Big  Spring;  Ed  Rowley 
jr.  of  the  University  of  Texas;  Bruce  Col- 
lins of  Corpus  Christi;  Audry  Cox  and 
Mrs.  Cox  of  Lamesa;  W.  E.  Cox,  Seminole; 
Raymond  Cornes  and  Mrs.  Cornes,  Farm- 
ersville;  M.  D.  Stewart  and  wife  of  De- 
Leon; J.  N.  Stewart  and  wife  of  Kaufman; 
W.  J.  Chesher  of  Littlefield;  B.  R.  Mc- 
Lendon of  Atlanta;  Lee  Smith  of  Knox 
City,  all  of  whom  are  connected  with  the 
operation  of  theatres  outside  of  Dallas. 


Coach  Jim  Crowley  Speaker 
At  Monday  Luncheon 

Dallas — At  the  Variety  luncheon  Mon- 
day, visiting  coach  Jim  Crowley,  of  Ford- 
ham,  was  the  principal  speaker  and  was 
lauded  for  his  talent  as  an  orator.  He 
impersonated  Knute  Rockne  in  one  of  the 
famous  coaches  between  halves  pep  talks. 
Crowley  played  for  Notre  Dame  under 
Rockne.  Incidentally,  he  pointed  out,  the 
K in  Knute  is  not  silent. 


'Christmas  in  July'  Sets 
Pace  in  New  Orleans 

( Average  is  100) 

New  Orleans — Weather  proved  a heavy 
competitor  to  the  key  houses,  and  the 
neighborhoods  as  well,  there  being  only 
one  clear  day  in  the  pre-Christmas  week. 
The  shopping  season  was  the  best  in  years 
with  Canal  Street  ablaze  with  lights  and 
decorated  windows.  The  troops  (about 
3,000)  came  to  town  from  Camp  Beaure- 
gard and  Camp  Shelby  which  added  to 
the  gaiety  of  the  scene.  The  midnight 
“girl  shows,”  especially  at  the  Lafayette, 
drew  more  than  capacity.  “Christmas  in 
July”  at  the  Saenger  made  glad  the  heart 
of  Bob  Blair,  resident  manager,  while 
the  “Thief  of  Bagdad”  more  than  repaid 
those  who  braved  the  weather.  “No,  No, 
Nanette,”  at  the  Orpheum,  pleased 
mightily. 

Detail  for  week  of  December  23: 

Center — Seven  Sinners  (Univ) 100 

The  film  played  the  Orpheum  in  November  at 
200  per  cent  and  was  moved  to  the  Liberty 
where  it  scored  95  per  cent. 

Globe — Moon  Over  Burma  (Para’t) 90 

A run  at  the  Saenger  in  October  scored  150. 

Liberty — Lone  Wolf  Keeps  a Date  (Col) 100 

Loew’s — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA)  150 

Orpheum — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO) 150 

Saenger — Christmas  in  July  (Para’t) 200 


Christmas  Week  Grosses 
In  Dallas  Up  to  Par 

Dallas — Christmas  week  grosses  were 
well  up  to  par  on  Elm  Street  with  a good 
break  in  fine  weather  the  last  half  and 
with  Folies  Bergere  at  the  Majestic  where 
SRO  business  was  the  rule.  “Tin  Pan 
Alley”  in  its  third  week  at  the  Tower 
proved  to  be  the  sensation  of  recent  weeks. 

Detail  for  week  ending  December  28: 


Capitol — Give  Us  Wing's  (Univ)  125 

Capitol — Here  Comes  the  Navy  (WB)  (reissue) . 125 

Majestic — The  Bank  Dick  (Univ) 180 

Folies  Bergere  on  stage  boosted  gross  here  to 
the  near  double  mark. 

Palace — Go  West  (M-G-M) 110 

Palace — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t) 125 

Opened  Christmas  Day  for  a possible  10-day 
run. 

Rialto — Hullabaloo  (M-G-M)  90 

Played  four  days. 

Rialto — Gallant  Sons  (M-G-M)  100 

Played  three  days.  Our  Gang  comedy  kids  on 
stage  failed  to  elevate  the  gross. 

Tower — Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox),  3rd  wk 110 


Back  From  PRC  Meet 

Dallas — Jack  K.  Adams,  of  the  Adams 
Film  Exchanges,  and  Jack  Adams  jr.,  of 
the  same  organization,  are  back  from  New 
York  where  they  sat  in  on  a franchise 
owner  meeting  of  Producers  Releasing 
Corp.  when  product  in  the  making  and 
future  releases  were  discussed.  The  Adams 
exchange  handles  the  Producers  films  in 
Texas  and  was  interested  in  making  of 
the  franchise  deals  for  Oklahoma,  Arkan- 
sas and  other  southwestern  states. 


Kincey  Men  Gather 

Greenville,  S.  C. — About  200  Kincey 
managers,  their  wives  and  sweethearts 
gathered  at  Hotel  Poinsett  here  for  the 
annual  party  by  the  organization.  R.  B. 
Talbot  of  Spartansburg  was  toastmaster. 


The  Best  in  All  Texas — 


This  is  the  front  Major  H.  S.  Cole,  operating  the  Best,  Elite  and.  American 
theatres  in  Bonham,  constructed  over  the  latter  house  for  the  holiday  sea- 
son. The  attention-getting  display  was  originated  by  Cole  who  directed 
local  artists  and  craftsmen  in  its  construction.  Three  separate  paintings, 
arranged  in  three  different  planes,  lend  the  appearance  of  heighth  and 
distance.  Indirect  lighting  illuminates  the  display  which  is  made  of  canvas 
and  cut-out  work.  The  entire  setting  is  50  feet  wide  and  20  feet  high  and 
represents  an  expenditure  of  $300.  Amplified  chimes  played  the  traditional 
melodies  during  the  time  the  set  was  up. 


BOXOFFICE  ;:  January  4,  1941 


s 


109 


m he  m p h in  $ 

^*HE  bookers  and  office  managers  on  the 
Row  were  hosts  during  the  holidays  at 
a cocktail  party  at  the  Variety  Club.  Ap- 
proximately 200  film  people  enjoyed  their 
hospitality.  There  were  special  door  prizes 
for  both  the  ladies  and  gentlemen.  The 
committee  responsible  for  it  all  consisted 
of  Ed  Doherty,  Mark  Sheridan,  Tom  Kirk 
and  Herman  Chrisman  . . . B.  H.  Jordan, 
Universal  salesman,  and  Tony  Carruth, 
Warner’s  salesman,  together  with  Mrs. 
Carruth,  left  the  latter  part  of  the  week 
for  Atlanta  where  Ben  will  visit  his  mother 
and  the  Carruths  will  be  the  guests  of 
Mrs.  Carruth’s  parents. 

W.  A.  Rush  of  the  Houston,  Houston, 
Miss.,  has  been  confined  to  his  home  for 
the  past  ten  days  with  the  flu  . . . M.  S. 
McCord,  secretary-treasurer  of  Malco  The- 
atres in  Little  Rock,  spent  several  days 
in  Memphis  conferring  with  M.  A.  Light- 
man  . . . Bill  Osborne,  Monogram’s  branch 
manager,  is  back  at  his  desk  after  a con- 
ference with  John  Mangham  in  Atlanta. 

Eric  Landeau,  manager  of  the  Linden 
Circle  in  Memphis,  is  convalescing  at  his 
home  after  spending  three  weeks  in  the 
hospital  following  a major  operation  . . . 
B.  V.  “Brooksie”  McDougald,  who  owns 
and  operates  the  Amusu  and  Drew  thea- 
tres in  Monticello,  Ark.,  was  a visitor 
Christmas  Day. 

Alton  Sims,  R&R  booker,  and  his  mother 
spent  the  holidays  in  Dallas  with  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bill  Sims  . . . Exhibitors  seen  along 
the  Row.  George  Hale,  Globe,  Drew  Miss.; 
Guy  B.  Amis,  Princess,  Lexington,  Tenn.; 
Jack  Wilbanks,  Him,  Walnut,  Miss.;  W. 
O.  Taylor,  Uptown,  Dresden,  Tenn.;  Jack 
Marshall,  Frances,  Dyersburg , Tenn.;  J. 
E.  Adams,  Bruce,  Bruce,  Miss.;  B.  F.  Jack- 
son,  Delta,  Ruleville,  Miss.;  C.  W.  Tipton, 
New,  Manila,  Ark.;  H.  B.  Brewer,  Savoy, 
Clarksdale,  Miss.;  Jack  Watson,  Palace, 
Tunica.  Miss.;  Bob  Martin,  Bells,  Bells, 
Tenn. 

The  holidays  brought  many  familiar 
faces  to  Memphis.  Among  them  were  Bill 
and  Marie  Mattingly,  who  drove  up  from 
Omaha  to  visit  Mrs.  Mattingly’s  parents; 
Kate  and  Norman  Colquohoun,  from  New 
Orleans,  and  Jimmy  and  Sarah  Frances 
Prichard  of  Charlotte  . . . Opal  Cullum  of 
RKO  is  back  on  the  job  with  the  aid  of 
crutches  after  several  weeks’  absence  due 
to  a foot  operation  . . . The  Variety  Club 
was  the  scene  of  much  laughter  and  gaiety 
Christmas  Day  when  M.  A.  and  Mrs.  Light  - 
man  entertained  with  a cocktail  party. 

Homer  and  Essie  Hisey  of  Warner  Bros, 
spent  the  holidays  with  Mr.  Hisey’s  mother 
in  Nashville,  III.  . . . Al  Moore,  Alice  and 
little  Mike  enjoyed  the  holiday  season 
with  their  parents  . . . Lew  Andrews,  Mal- 
co’s  office  manager,  says  the  burglar  who 
entered  his  home  the  night  before  Christ- 
mas and  took  all  the  gifts  from  under 
the  tree,  plus  his  best  suit,  is  the  “meanest 
man  on  earth.” 

Other  Memphis  visitors  during  the  holi- 
days were  Louis  and  Juanita  Weber  (he’s 
Metro’s  salesman  in  Dallas),  who  were 
visiting  Mrs.  Weber’s  parents.  Louis  was 
with  Metro  here  for  several  years  before 
his  transfer  to  Dallas  . . . Merritt  Davis, 


Republic’s  Arkansas  salesman,  spent  the 
holidays  in  Charlotte  with  Mrs.  Davis  and 
the  children. 

Filmrow  was  saddened  on  learning  of  the 
death  of  Winfield  Snelson’s  father,  Dr. 
D.  M.  Snelson,  who  passed  away  Christ- 
mas morning  at  his  home  at  Toccoa,  Ga. 
Winfield  is  branch  manager  of  the  local 
Republic  office,  and  his  brother  is  co?i- 
nected  with  Al-Dunn  Theatres  in  Toccoa 
. . . Charles  and  Mrs.  Collier  and  daughter, 
Marcia,  drove  up  to  Blytheville  during  the 
holidays  to  visit  Mrs.  Collier’s  parents.  In- 
cidentally, Charles  combined  business  with 
pleasure  as  he  stopped  off  on  the  Row  to 
take  care  of  his  bookings. 

Gloria  Jean,  who  made  a personal  ap- 
pearance at  the  Malco  in  conjunction  with 
the  showing  a “A  Little  Bit  of  Heaven,” 
did  a terrific  juvenile  business  during  her 
three-day  engagement  . . . Despite  the 
fact  that  flu  has  almost  reached  the  epi- 
demic stage  in  Memphis  and  the  surround- 
ing territory,  all  theatres  report  excellent 
business. 

Herb  Cohn,  Columbia’s  ace  salesman, 
postcards  season’s  greetings  from  New 
York  where  he  is  enjoying  a winter  va- 
cation . . . The  J.  A.  Wests  of  the  Holly- 
wood in  Memphis  have  been  operating 
their  theatre  under  great  odds  during  the 
past  ten  days,  as  both  of  them  have  been 
fighting  the  flu.  Their  son,  Allen,  who 
is  home  from  school  for  the  holidays,  has 
been  the  mainstay  . . . Harold  Keitle, 
branch  manager  for  Ross  Federal  in  Dal- 
las, spent  the  Christmas  holidays  as  a 
guest  of  Cliff  and  Marguerite  Wallace,  who 
are  at  the  helm  of  the  local  Ross  Federal 
office. 


Readying  Big  Affair 
For  R.  J.  O'Donnell 

Dallas — Elaborate  plans  are  humming 
for  the  big  testimonial  luncheon  to  be 
given  by  the  Variety  Club  of  Texas  on 
Monday,  January  6,  in  the  Grand  ball- 
room of  the  Adolphus  Hotel  honoring  Rob- 
ert J.  O’Donnell,  retiring  chief  barker  of 
Tent  No.  17. 

Paul  Short,  newly  elected  chief  barker, 
has  written  a personal  letter  to  all  bark- 
ers stressing  this  important  date.  Mem- 
bers are  being  urged  to  bring  their  fam- 
ilies, friends  and  associates.  There  will 
be  but  one  speech,  that  by  General  Wil- 
liam McCraw,  who  will  highlight  O’Don- 
nell’s outstanding  career  in  show  business 
and  in  Variety  work. 

The  luncheon  starts  at  12:15  and  tickets 
are  $1.  Attendance  will  be  limited  to  700, 
which  will  include  not  only  circuit  and 
exchange  employes,  non-resident  and  local 
members,  but  a number  of  social,  civic  and 
business  leaders  of  Dallas  and  other  cities 
of  Texas. 


Seaton  Adapting  "Miami" 

Hollywood — George  Seaton  is  adapting 
“Miami,”  Betty  Grable  starrer  for  20th- 
Fox.  The  Harry  Joe  Brown  production  will 
be  filmed  in  Technicolor. 


JOHN  L.  CALDWELL  is  building  a new 
, theatre  in  Ruston,  La.,  yet  unnamed, 
which  will  be  opened  some  time  in  Feb- 
ruary . . . Don  George  of  the  Glenwood 
in  Shreveport  is  building  a suburban  house 
in  Alexandria  to  take  care  of  the  troops 
at  Camp  Beauregard. 

A.  M.  Randall  has  taken  over  the  house 
controlled  by  Manager  Hughes  in  Center- 
ville, Miss.  ...  A.  L.  Royal  and  Monte 
Hance  have  sold  their  Queen  Theatre  in 
McComb,  Miss.,  to  local  interests  . . . Vin- 
ton L.  Thibodeaux  of  the  Fern  Theatre, 
Lafayette,  has  opened  the  colored  house 
in  Crowley,  formerly  owned  by  George  Gui- 
dry of  Elizabeth,  La. 

Construction  has  begun  on  W.  A.  Prew- 
itt’s and  Bill  Cobb’s  theatre  in  Shreve- 
port on  Texas  St.  . . . The  Olla  Theatre, 
Olla,  La.,  opened  the  first  week  in  Janu- 
ary . . . A.  L.  Royal  and  W.  A.  Prewitt 
open  the  New  Royal  in  Meridian,  Miss., 
January  6 . . . R.  O.  Sigler  and  W.  A. 
Prewitt  opened  the  Lake,  Greenville,  Miss., 
December  22. 

Affiliated  Producers  local  office  was 
closed  in  observance  of  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Martha  Brannan,  mother  of  Thomas  Bran- 
nan,  president  of  the  company  . . . W.  H. 
Cobb  of  Exhibitors’  Poster  Service  and 
family  spent  the  Xmas  holidays  with  his 
folks  in  Spring  Hill,  La.  . . . A.  N.  Lee  jr. 
of  Exhibitors  Poster  Service  spent  the 
holidays  with  his  parents  in  Shreveport 
. . . The  Ritz  theatres  of  New  Orleans 
have  purchased  the  Lutcher  hi  Lutcher, 
La.,  and  will  continue  its  operation. 

The  Saengers  held  their  annual  Christ- 
mas party  in  the  banquet  rooms  over  the 
Tudor  Theatre,  attended  by  executives  of 
the  company,  managers  of  the  Saenger 
houses,  and  managers  of  the  United  Chain 
houses,  as  well  as  managers  from  out  of 
the  city. 

G.  Pipitone  has  been  re-named  president 
of  the  local  (AFL)  musicians  union  . . . 
Pete  Daily,  for  11  years  a member  of  the 
Item  editorial  staff,  is  now  in  Hollywood 
where  he  will  be  a member  of  the  pub- 
licity department  of  Columbia  Pictures. 

Great  preparations  are  being  made  for 
the  coming  sessions  of  the  Filmrow  Hunt- 
ing Club  which  meets  early  in  January 
when  the  reports  of  the  various  commit- 
tees and  officers  will  be  submitted  to  the 
membership.  The  exact  date  has  not  been 
announced,  as  the  secretary  says  he  is  too 
busy — the  treasurer  is  saying  nothing  but 
— well  that  is  the  way  the  treasury  is  sup- 
posed to  be.  It  is  claimed  by  the  janitor 
that  when  the  members  arrive  they  will 
be  greeted  by  a hollow  expression  on  the 
faces  of  the  dictators. 

Visitors  to  the  Row  during  Xmas  week 
can  be  reported  as  nigh  zero,  the  weather 
being  b-a-d  and  the  roads  almost  impass- 
able owing  to  rain. 

It’s  seven  years  with  M-G-M  for  Gladys 
Villars  of  the  local  exchange,  come  Janu- 
ary 13. 


110 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


Atudlt&i 


SCOOP! 


The  Palace 

Interstate's  magnificent  down- 
town Dallas  first-run  theatre 
takes  it's  place  among  other  fine 
theatres  with  an  installation  of 
equipment  which  we  are  justly 
oroud  to  have  completed  for 


proud  to  have  completed 
them  . . . . ! 

4-STAR  SOUND 
E-7  PROJECTORS 
PEERLESS  H Y - 
CANDESCENT  LAMPS 
WALKER  PLASTIC- 
MOLDED  MULTI- 
PLANE SCREEN 
B.  & L.  F2.0  LENSES 
HERTNER 

TRANSVERTER 


NATIONAL  THEATRE  SUPPLY  CO. 


DALLAS 


OKLAHOMA  CITY 


ATLANTA 


MEMPHIS 


NEW  ORLEANS 


CHARLOTTE 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


111 


suzz  rntr 
box  ozncz 

successes 


M?  Pups 
PunWu^ 


1.  Paid°n 

2.  Dora's 


THEY 
WILL 
HELP  PUT 
OVER  ANY 
DOUBTFUL 
PROGRAM 


ASTOR  PICTURES  Dallas 

MONOGRAM  EXCH Memphis 

MONOGRAM  EXCH New  Orleans 

MONOGRAM  EXCH Atlanta 

MONOGRAM  EXCH Charlotte 


A T IL  A\  N T A 

J^IONEL  KEENE,  Kirkwood  Theatre,  en- 
tertained approximately  200  children 
from  the  Methodist  Orphan’s  Home,  at  a 
matinee  party,  December  24. 

Albert  Flores  is  back  at  his  desk  at  Sack 
Amusement  Co.,  after  an  absence  of  sev- 
eral months  . . . Herbert  Martinez,  Sack 
Amusement  Co.,  and  his  family  are  spend- 
ing a week  in  Chicago,  visiting  his  parents. 

Sid  Reams,  Theatrical  Printing  Co., 
heads  the  sick  list  this  week  with  a very 
bad  case  of  flu  . . . Bob  Ashmore,  for- 
merly of  Atlanta’s  20th  Century-Fox,  and 
now  booker  in  Memphis,  Tenn.,  is  spend- 
ing a week  of  the  holidays  here. 

Mrs.  Edna  Kimberly  has  been  added  to 
the  inspection  department  of  Universal 
Pictures  . . . The  new  office  of  R.  L.  Mc- 
Coy, district  manager  for  Warner,  is  “the 
talk  of  the  town.” 

N.  E.  Savini,  Savini  Films,  is  still  tour- 
ing Florida,  but  took  time  off  to  see  the 
football  game  in  Miami  this  week  . . . M. 
G.  Weaver,  of  the  Crickett  Theatre,  Col- 
linsville, Ala.,  is  boasting  new  projectors 
and  upholstered  seats. 

Infrequent  Visitors:  C.  A.  Matthews, 
Lincoln,  Florence,  S.  C.;  Ellis  Blumen- 
thall,  Theatrical  Enterprises,  Charlotte, 
N.  C.,  and  J.  W.  Thompson,  Hollywood 
Theatre,  Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 

Lee  Fuhrman,  formerly  Boxoffice  cor- 
respondent in  Atlanta,  recently  became 
the  proud  father  of  a daughter  . . . Mar- 
tha Frost  is  now  modeling  for  John  Dean, 
designed  for  one  of  the  leading  shops  in 
New  York.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Rob- 


Money  Prize  Game 
Test  Is  Pending 

Selmer,  Tenn. — A test  of  the  legality  of 
money  prizes  given  at  theatres  is  pending 
in  chancery  court  here  as  a result  of  a 
bill  filed  against  the  Dixy  of  Adamsville, 
Tenn.,  operated  by  G.  E.  Sibley  and  H.  W. 
Yancey. 

The  action  was  instituted  by  Leonard 
Ellis,  an  agent  for  a railroad  at  Bethel 
Springs.  The  theatre,  according  to  the 
Ellis  bill,  operates  a “Pot  of  Gold”  draw- 
ing each  week  which  is  a lottery  and, 
therefore,  illegal.  It  also  contends  Ellis’ 
name  was  drawn  recently  for  a $345  award, 
but  that  the  money  was  refused  him  be- 
cause the  defendant  claimed  he  was  not 
the  Leonard  Ellis  whose  name  was  drawn. 

His  bill  asks  that,  if  the  scheme  is  de- 
clared legal,  he  be  given  judgment  for  the 
$345. 


Sumter  House  Reopens 

Sumter,  S.  C. — January  1 was  set  as 
opening  date  for  the  newly-renovated  Rex 
here. 


ert  C.  Frost  of  the  Buckhead  Theatre, 
Buckhead,  Ga.  Miss  Frost  has  also  mod- 
eled for  the  renowned  Powers  and  her 
likeness  has  adorned  the  full-page  ads 
of  Harper’s  Bazaar. 

Grace  Abercrombie  of  the  local  M-G-M 
exchange  rounded  out  eight  years  with 
the  company  January  1.  Joseph  Marko- 
witz will  have  been  with  Leo  13  years  on 
January  9,  and  Lee  Gleaton  will  make  it 
two  January  14. 


m i a mi  i 


QATCHING  up  with  Miami  in  the  rush 
of  new  theatre  building  marking  the 
current  season  in  south  Florida,  is  Fort 
Lauderdale.  The  recent  announcement 
that  Warner  Bros,  were  coming  into  the 
area  with  a theatre  of  their  own,  in  ad- 
dition to  an  impressive  sized  group  of 
new  houses  all  over  the  state,  was  closely 
followed  by  an  announcement  that  the 
United  Theatres,  which  have  all  the 
houses  in  this  county  at  present,  will  erect 
another  new  Fort  Lauderdale  house  in 
close  proximity  to  the  new  Warner  spot. 

Opening  well  in  advance  of  its  antici- 
pated schedule,  was  the  new  Paramount 
Coral  in  Coral  Gables  which  threw  open 
its  doors  the  Sunday  between  Christmas 
and  New  Year’s  Day.  The  Coral  repeats 
the  romantic  note  which  Paramount  intro- 
duced recently  at  the  Dade  with  a block 
of  “love  seats.”  Weed  & Reeder,  archi- 
tects for  Paramount’s  classic  new  Beach, 
were  responsible  for  the  design  of  the 
Coral. 

Miami  Beach  is  still  talking  about  the 
parade  which  preceded  the  opening  of  the 
new  Beach,  with  living  reproductions  of 
Fleischer  cartoon  characters,  Jack  Benny’s 
polar  bear,  “Carmichael,”  the  Beach  police 
and  fire  departments  and  a series  of  floats 
. . . Definite  proof  of  the  existence  of  a 


very  healthy  sense  of  humor  in  California 
is  brought  back  by  Sonny  Shepherd,  who 
reports  that  at  20th  Century-Fox  studios 
(during  his  recent  trip  to  the  coast  in  his 
Monocoupe  plane)  a friend  of  his  solemn- 
ly observed,  “Since  you’ve  been  here,  the 
weather  really  is  very  unusual — it  isn’t 
raining!”  Shepherd’s  major  business  on 
the  coast  was  to  make  arrangements  for 
the  personal  appearances  of  stars  at  the 
world  premieres  to  be  presented  at  the 
Lincoln  this  season.  Most  definite  plans 
were  those  made  at  the  20th  Century-Fox 
studios  from  which  will  come  two  of  the 
planned  premiere  pictures:  “Down  to  Rio” 
and  “Miami.”  Also  anticipated  is  the  pre- 
miere of  Deanna  Durbin’s  “Nice  Girl.” 

With  the  reopening  of  the  enlarged  and 
newly  marqueed  Parkway  this  week,  comes 
one  of  the  most  dazzling  facades  along 
the  entire  length  of  Coral  Way  . . . Sun- 
day, January  5,  was  to  be  a gala  occa- 
sion for  the  Paul  Robinsons.  (He  is  city 
manager  in  Hollywood  for  the  Sparks  in- 
terests). It  marks  their  21  st  wedding  an- 
niversary and  a definite  improvement 
in  the  health  of  Mildred  Robinson  who 
has  been  making  a sporting  and  tedious 
fight  back  to  activity  after  a major  opera- 
tion early  this  summer  . . . On  New  Year’s 
Eve  the  area’s  33  theatres  had  midnight 
performances. 


112 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


Doll  Deal  Sours  for 
Eastern  Texas  Chain 

A merchant  tieup  deal  for  a doll  give- 
away over  the  Tri-State  Theatres  circuit 
in  Texas  did  not  pan  out,  according  to 
Barton  R.  McLendon,  general  manager  in 
Atlanta,  Tex.  His  letter  to  Boxoffice  fol- 
lows: 

“On  October  17,  1940,  one  PRANK  G. 
GULLETT  solicited  this  office  for  permis- 
sion to  sell  a certain  doll  giveaway  deal 
to  the  merchants  in  the  various  towns 
where  we  operate  theatres.  He  presented 
testimonials  and  letters  of  recommenda- 
tion from  various  exhibitors,  as  well  as  a 
very  strong  letter  of  recommendation  pur- 
porting to  be  from  the  INTERSTATE  CIR- 
CUIT of  Dallas. 

“On  the  strength  of  his  credentials  we 
also  gave  him  a letter  authorizing  him  to 
sell  the  deal  over  our  circuit.  This  he  did, 
collecting  $10.00  in  cash  or  check  from  va- 
rious merchants,  all  of  which  amounted  to 
a considerable  sum,  and  since  then  none 
of  the  merchants  purchasing  the  deal,  or 
this  office,  have  been  able  to  hear  from 
him. 

“This  party  gave  his  address  as  1600 
Broadway,  New  York,  New  York,  and  his 
deal  was  called  ‘World’s  Fair-est  Doll  Cam- 
paign.’ ” 


Mulkey  Is  Recovering 
Following  Operation 

Port  Worth — Following  a major  opera- 
tion in  Methodist  Hospital  late  last  week, 
Homer  Mulkey,  Clarendon  exhibitor,  is  re- 
ported to  be  making  a satisfactory  recov- 
ery. He  has  been  in  the  hospital  some 
two  weeks  for  treatments  preparatory  to 
the  operation.  Mrs.  Mulkey  was  at  his 
side  all  the  while.  Lee  Bell,  his  mana- 
ger, came  down  from  Clarendon  to  be 
with  him.  A number  from  the  Filmrow  at 
Dallas  called  by  to  see  and  chat  with  the 
patient. 


Bill  Elliott  Completes 
P.  A . Tour  in  Texas 

Hollywood — Bill  Elliott,  Columbia  west- 
ern star,  has  returned  to  Hollywood  after 
a personal  appearance  tour  through  Texas. 

Elliott  started  his  tour  in  Big  Springs 
and  visited  successively  San  Angelo, 
Sweetwater,  Colorado  City,  Fort  Worth, 
Dallas,  Houston,  Victoria,  San  Antonio, 
Waco  and  Corpus  Christi. 


John  King  P . A/s 

Austin,  Tex. — John  King,  “Dusty”  of 
the  Monogram  Range  Buster  series,  made 
a two-day  personal  appearance  at  Elmo 
Hegman’s  Ritz.  On  the  screen  was  “Trail 
of  the  Silver  Spurs,”  the  latest  film  in  the 
series  starring  King. 


Turkeys  as  Giveaways 

Rockwood,  Tenn. — Five  live  turkeys 
were  given  away  from  the  stage  of  the 
Lyric  here  recently.  Those  who  paid  ad- 
mission and  registered  any  time  during 
the  day,  as  well  as  those  present  for  the 
night  performance,  were  eligible  for  the 
drawing. 


D A IL  IL  A S 


^ H.  PICKENS,  associated  with  Phil  Is- 
ley  for  a number  of  years,  is  now  head- 
quartering in  Dallas  as  Isley’s  assistant. 
Pickens  is  a former  newspaper  man  and, 
among  other  things,  is  looking  after  pro- 
motion and  advertising  for  Isley’s  two  the- 
atres in  Texas,  the  Plaza  in  Brownwood 
and  the  Granada  in  Palacios  . . . That  was 
a swell  Xmas  card  B.  E.  Garner  sent  out 
from  Ranger  where  for  some  years  he  has 
been  the  manager  for  Texas  Consolidated. 
Attached  to  the  card  was  a neat  little 
calendar. 

W.  E.  Cox  of  the  Toiver  and  Palace  in 
Seminole,  Tex.,  was  here  Monday  to  em- 
ploy a projectionist.  He  is  a brother  of 
the  well  known  Audrey  Cox  of  Lamesa. 
Both  brothers  are  associated  in  the  Semi- 
nole theatres.  The  Palace  was  built  about 
four  years  ago.  Oil  play  this  spring  brought 
on  the  new  Tower.  It  seats  700. 

Among  Yuletide  visitors  was  Ralph  A. 
Morrow,  formerly  of  Dallas,  who  has  been 
away  from  the  Row  for  seven  years.  Most 
of  this  period  he  has  been  in  Kansas  City 
on  sales  for  Universal.  He  met  many  of 
his  old  friends  here,  seeing  most  of  them 
at  one  time  at  the  Variety  luncheon  Mon- 
day. Mrs.  Morrow  and  Ralph  jr.  were  with 
him. 

Tate  Sanders,  former  west  Texas  exhibi- 
tor, was  here  for  the  Amarillo-Temple 
game  and,  we  understand,  he  took  back 
quite  a deal  from  the  central  Texas  fans 
. . . Hugo  Plath,  now  living  at  Houston, 
was  in  town  visiting  ...  A.  H.  Truitt,  own- 
er of  the  Star  at  Amarillo,  was  here  to 
see  his  high  school  trim  Temple.  Roy 
DeVinney,  his  assistant  manager,  had  just 
returned  to  the  Panhandle  country  after 
a Christmas  visit  to  homefolks  in  Detroit, 
Tex.,  and  a booking  visit  to  the  Row. 


Frank  Benson,  manager  of  the  Ritz  at 
Bowie,  complaining  because  flu  closed  the 
schools  in  his  town  . . . Officials  and  em- 
ployes of  American  Desk  Mfg.  Co.  at  Tem- 
ple were  up  in  numbers  last  Saturday  to 
lend  moral  support  to  their  state  cham- 
pionship contenders.  In  the  party  were 
Joe  Bonner,  president;  A.  P.  Brashear, 
general  manager;  C.  V.  Griggs,  assistant 
manager;  Ray  Gibson,  secretary;  and  quite 
a string  of  the  boys  who  actually  make  the 
seats.  Forrest  Dunlap,  sales  manager,  who 
headquarters  in  the  company’s  Dallas  sales 
office,  served  a round  of  eggnog. 

B.  F.  Hammon,  manager  of  the  Globe, 
at  Bertram,  went  down  with  the  flu  here 
on  his  last  booking  trip  and  was  detained 
in  Dallas  for  a week.  His  young  son,  B.  F. 
jr.,  was  with  him  and  a flu  victim  at  the 
same  time.  Both  left  for  Bertram  Tues- 
day. 

Alfred  and  Lester  Sack,  of  the  Sack 
Amusement  Enterprises,  drove  over  to  Lau- 
rel, Miss.,  to  spend  Christmas  with  mem- 
bers of  their  family. 

Coveted  yearly  calendars  sent  out  by  K. 
Lee  Williams,  Oklahoma’s  roadshow  king 
and  now  a circuit  operator  in  his  own 
right,  began  arriving  on  the  Row  this 
week.  The  picture  is  a beautiful  girl  who 
takes  a slightly  different  pose  each  year. 
Many  people  outside  of  this  business  have 
in  the  past  made  frantic  efforts  to  gain 
one  of  Williams’  calendars. 

B.  G.  Herber,  of  the  Herber  Bros  sup- 
ply house  stayed  at  home  several  days 
with  what  he  called  the  “walking”  flu. 

W.  J.  (Bill)  Chesher,  owner  of  the  three 
theatres  at  Littlefield,  was  here  to  take 
in  the  Neiv  Year  festivities  and  the  Cot- 
ton Bowl  game.  He  said  he  plans  a new 
front  on  one  of  the  houses. 


A NEW  YEAR  IS  HERE! 

Why  Not  See  About  New  Equipment? 

NEW  PROJECTION  MACHINES 
NEW  REFLECTOR  ARC  LAMPS 
NEW  RECTIFIERS 
NEW  SOUND  SYSTEM 
NEW  SCREEN 
NEW  POPCORN  MACHINE 

Start  the  Year  Right . . . We  Have  the  NEW 
Equipment . . . COME  TO  SEE  US! 

HERBER  BROTHERS 

408  S.  Harwood  Dallas,  Tex. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


113 


S ANTON  IE 

gOB  McBRIDE,  erstwhile  lobby  artist  for 
Interstate  here,  is  now  kept  busy  these 
days  selling  State  highway  signs  . . . Vis- 
itors in  our  midst  include  George  Burnett, 
former  straight  man  who  has  turned 
comic,  and  “Chick”  Snyder,  Roller  Derby 
business  manager,  Chicago. 

At  Doug  Largen’s  eggnog  house-warm- 
ing: Joe  Heylman,  Civic  Opera  player; 
Ernie  DeVoy,  theatrical  producer,  Les  Ket- 
ner  of  Boxoffice  and  others  . . . Seen  at 
the  Roller  Derby  opening  night-.  Berry 
Kroeger,  playwright,  Hollywood;  Phil  Alex- 
ander, radio  actor,  Dallas,  and  Bobby 
O’Donnell  of  the  Drive-In. 

A San  Antonio  lassie,  Anne  Gwynne, 
is  in  Universal’s  new  air  picture,  “Give 
Us  Wings,”  which  played  a weekend  en- 
gagement at  the  Empire  . . . United  Art- 
ists’ "Foreign  Correspondent”  played  a 
return  stand  at  the  Palace. 

Recent  change  in  service  staff  personnel 
at  the  Texas  finds  Bob  May  promoted  to 
chief  usher  and  Charles  Lane,  upped  to 
assista7it  chief  . . . Add  more  holiday  vis- 
itors: Ralph  Calderon,  Azteca  Films,  El 
Paso,  and  Miss  Jean  Collms  of  Southern 
Methodist  University,  in  for  a stay  at  the 
Interstate  city  manager’s  household  . . . 
All  ten  of  Interstate’s  theatres  held  mid- 
night shows  New  Year’s  EVe. 

On  the  sick  list:  Dolly  Wildenstein, 
Texas  cashier  . . . The  Cameo  played  “Son 
of  Ingagi”  as  a midnighter  last  Saturday. 


Don't  Let  Anyone 
Tell  You  Differently — 

KOZONO 

KILLS  ALL  ODORS— 

DESTROYS  BACTERIA— 
REVITALIZES  THE  AIR— 


Successfully  used  throughout 
America  by  hundreds  of  progres- 
sive theatres  since  1933. 


A HEALTH  ASSET  THAT  PAYS 
BIG  DIVIDENDS  AT  THE 
BOXOFFICE 


WRITE  FOR  PROOF 


THE  KOZONO  CO. 

Dept.  B— 125  W.  Trade  St. 
CHARLOTTE.  N.  C. 


Name  Jack  P . Barrett 
AAI  Head  in  Atlanta 


Atlanta — Jack  P.  Barrett  has  been 
named  manager  of  the  local  branch  of 
Advertising  Accessories,  Inc. 

Well  known  in  local  film  circles,  Barrett 
entered  the  theatre  business  in  1923  with 
Arthur  Bromberg’s  Progress  Pictures.  He 
next  joined  Educational  Films,  working 
under  Arthur  Lucas.  When  20th-Fox  ab- 
sorbed Educational  in  1932,  he  organized 
Accessory  Consolidated  Service.  He  oper- 
ated this  company  until  June,  1940,  when 
National  Screen  Service,  parent  company 
of  AAI,  took  over. 


AA — Robb  & Rowley  Deal 
Is  in  the  Making 

Dallas — A deal  is  in  the  making  by 
Robb  & Rowley-United  Theatres  and  Ad- 
vertising Accessories,  Inc.  (National  Screen 
Service),  whereby  the  latter  would  handle 
all  paper  and  accessories  for  the  big  cir- 
cuit. C.  V.  Jones,  R&R  official,  said  the 
deal  has  not  been  finally  made,  but  in 
event  it  goes  through  the  circuit  would 
discontinue  its  own  poster  exchange  and 
rely  solely  on  National. 

Mrs.  Ula  Harrington,  formerly  em- 
ployed in  the  R&R  poster  department,  is 
now  at  work  with  Advertising  Accessories. 
Ben  Davis,  who  has  been  in  charge  of 
R&R  paper  and  shipping  for  several  years, 
will  go  over  to  work  for  National  when 
the  deal  is  completed,  possibly  by  the 
middle  of  January. 

This  will  be  the  first  deal  in  the  ter- 
ritory put  through  by  National  for  the 
handling  of  circuit  paper  on  all  releases. 

Air-Conditioned  Rooms 
For  Charlotte  Variety 

Charlotte — Air-conditioned  quarters  for 
Variety  soon  will  be  established  on  the 
floor  just  above  the  mezzanine  at  the 
Hotel  Charlotte.  An  architect,  Norman 
Pease  of  Charlotte,  has  been  engaged  to 
do  over  the  large  space  alloted  to  the  or- 
ganization. Furniture  will  be  modernistic, 
with  a built-in  bar  and  other  equipment. 


yy  ALTER  GRIFFITH,  former  theatre 
owner  and  well  known  along  the  Row, 
is  in  Memorial  Hospital  quite  seriously  ill, 
with  a possible  operation  pending.  With 
him  is  Mrs.  Pauline  Griffith,  secretary  of 
the  Theatre  Owners  of  North  and  South 
Carolina  . . . Mrs.  Sidney  S.  Stevenson, 
wife  of  the  Henderson-Rock  Hill  exhibi- 
tor, is  back  at  home  after  a spell  in  the 
hospital. 

Miss  Dorothy  Caldwell  now  is  assistant 
cashier  at  RKO,  having  resigned  from  the 
accounting  department  of  National  Screen 
. . . The  Row  was  almost  deserted,  what 
with  the  aftermath  of  Christmas.  Among 
the  regulars,  however,  was  Roy  P.  Rosser 
of  Sanford,  setting  in  some  bookings  . . . 
Duck-hunting  is  D.  B.  Kazziah,  head  of 
Alexander  Film  here.  He  is  at  Lake  Mat- 
tamuskeet.  A three  or  four-day  trip  . . . 
Independent  Theatre  Supply  Co.  is  spruced 
up  a?id  ready  for  formal  opening  soon. 
Incidentally,  their  telephone  number  is 
reminiscent  of  excha7ige  terms.  It’s  50-50. 

John  Mangham,  Southern  Monogram 
prexy,  said  it  with  cash  at  Christmas. 
That  is  the  enthusiastic  report  of  Jack 
Lamont,  local  manager.  Everybody  was 
remembered  at  the  Yuletide.  Jack  just 
returned  from  Atlanta  after  a conference 
with  Mangham  and  other  officials.  He 
became  ill  shortly  after  arrival  here  with 
a throat  ailment,  but  the  illness  is  noth- 
ing serious  . . . Bill  Talley,  Monogram 
booker,  was  in  Whiteville,  N.  C.,  for  the 
holidays  . . . M.  L.  Stevens,  the  North 
Carolina  salesman,  is  in  Florida  for  two 
weeks  . . . J.  E.  McElroy,  who  handles 
South  Carolina,  in  Atlanta  for  two  weeks. 

Tom  Franklin,  Filmrow  photographer, 
using  extra  care,  reports  no  lenses  broken 
after  E.  E.  Heller  of  PRC  had  his  pic- 
ture S7iapped  in  the  West  Fourth  head- 
quarters . . . Esta  Miller,  PRC  secretary, 
off  to  Winsto7i-Salem  for  New  Year’s  . . . 
Merrit  Davis,  7iow  with  Republic  i?i  Ar- 
kansas, but  07ice  ma7iager  for  Gra7id  Na- 
ti07ial  here,  back  to  his  old  hawits  for  a 
Christmas  visit  . . . Jay  Schrader  of  UA 
chats  viterestingly  of  old-timey  Texas 
days,  bringing  m Henry  Hall  at  Beeville 
. . . Dave  Prmce,  divisio7i  ma7iager  for 
RKO,  in  Charlotte  for  a Kincey  confer- 
ence . . . Ellis  Blumenthal  exhibitor  of 
Charlotte  a:id  other  spots,  back  in  tow7i 
after  a Florida  visit. 

On  the  Row  were  J.  B.  Harvey  of  Clover 
and  Lewis  Saunders  of  China  Grove,  Oth- 
ers included  J.  E.  Simpson  of  Gastonia, 
A.  O.  Harrill  of  Cliffside  and  George 
Hughes  of  Albemarle  . . . National  Screen 
staged  a big  pre-Christmas  party  for  33 
employes  and  their  families  . . . On 
January  2,  Raymond  Ervin  of  the  lo- 
cal M-G-M  exchange  completed  11  years 
of  service  with  the  company.  Other  lo- 
calites  marking  anniversaries  with  Leo 
include:  Annie  Williams,  six  years,  Janu- 
ary 7;  Pearl  Pettus,  four,  January  13,  and 
Lattie  Gilland  jr.,  five,  January  14. 


Wichita  Falls  Theatre  Party 

Wichita  Falls,  Tex. — Needy  children  up 
to  15  years  of  age  were  given  free  tickets 
for  pictures  showing  at  the  Majestic  and 
Wichita  theatres. 


114 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


ft  = 

: AUSTIN  : 


Again  Donates  House  tor 
Benefit  Show  for  Needy 


^ z 

: An  Oldtimer 


vs  — = ~>J 

^HAT  old  comeback,  “What  do  you  want 
me  to  do,  make  a record  of  my  voice?” 
can  now  be  said  literally  in  local  Inter- 
state circles.  The  staff  gave  its  boss  a 
radio-phonograph-recording  combination 
. . . When  Katharine  Hepburn  brings  her 
“Philadelphia  Story”  story  to  the  Para- 
mount January  7,  she  will  be  taken  quiet- 
ly to  one  side  and  asked  to  record  her 
voice  for  posterity. 

The  Christmas  Eve  midnight  gift  show 
at  the  Paramount  brought  a packed  house 
to  see  ‘‘The  Bank  Dick”  ( Univ ) and  to 
try  for  the  42  valuable  prizes  . . . The  New 
Year’s  Eve  midnight  show  lineup  ivas  as 
follows:  “Comrade  X”  (M-G-M)  at  the 
Paramount;  “Dulcy”  < M-G-M)  and  a 
stage  show,  “Varieties  of  1941,”  at  the 
Capitol  . . . Opening  Christmas  Day,  “Love 
Thy  Neighbor”  < Para’t ) was  booked  for 
a week’s  run  at  the  State.  This  house  or- 
dinarily changes  bills  twice  weekly. 

Eddie  Milner,  recently  promoted  to  State 
doorman,  spent  a day  at  home  with  the 
folks  in  Temple  . . . Will  Roddy,  State, 
to  Troup;  Travis  Mills,  Paramount,  to 
Marshall;  Earl  Ford,  Queen,  to  Kilgore  . . . 
Xmas  Day  flicker  at  the  Texas  was 
“Christmas  Carol,”  but  few  takers  be- 
cause the  college  mob  was  still  out  on 
vacation  . . . Ruth  Murchison,  daughter  of 
Mary  M.,  the  Interstate  P.  B.  X’er,  pinch- 
hitting  for  mama  during  the  Christmas 
rush.  And  doing  a nice  job,  too. 

Localites,  hungering  for  the  old  vaude- 
ville days,  are  eagerly  anticipating  Inter- 
state’s experiment  mto  musical  comedy 
stock  for  entertaining  Uncle  Sam’s  soldiers 
in  Texas  army  camps.  If  the  idea  clicks, 
the  shows  may  be  introduced  into  other 
Interstate  situations. 

Attention  Central  Texas  Showmen!  Send 
your  news  stories  and  personal  items  for 
Boxoffice  to  your  correspondent,  Eddie 
Cope,  University  Station,  Austin,  Tex. 
There  is  no  charge  or  obligation  for  this 
service  . . . Here’s  wishing  you  all  a very 
happy,  boxoffice  New  Year! 


Beck  Buys  House 

Crosville,  Ala.  — W.  M.  Beck  of  Ft. 
Payne,  Ala.,  has  purchased  the  Linda  The- 
atre here  from  E.  E.  Box  jr.  and  has  taken 
over  operation. 

ft  ft 


"Blanket  Matinees" 

To  Aid  Britain 

Oklahoma  City — Oklahoma  theatres 
operated  by  the  Griffith  Amusement 
Co.  and  its  affiliates  are  holding  "Blank- 
et Matinees''  to  help  Oklahoma  reach 
the  goal  of  5,000  blankets  for  families 
made  homeless  by  air  raids  in  Britain. 

Blankets,  old  or  new,  are  being  used 
as  admission  for  the  matinees. 


Vi: 


J 


Memphis— Col.  Cecil  Vogel,  skipper  at 
Loew’s  State,  for  the  eighth  consecutive 
year,  donated  the  theatre  for  the  Com- 
mercial Appeal- American  Legion  annual 
Christmas  Fund  Frolic.  Some  1,400  people, 
the  largest  crowd  ever  to  attend  this  bene- 
fit affair,  netted  the  fund  over  $700.  The 
proceeds  were  turned  over  to  a committee 
and  provided  food,  clothing  and  Christ- 
mas cheer  for  the  needy  in  Memphis. 

Among  those  who  gave  their  time  and 
effort  were  Herbie  Kay  and  his  Orchestra, 
from  the  Hotel  Peabody,  and  Nick  Stuart 
and  his  Orchestra,  who  were  holding  sway 
at  the  Claridge.  Also  Johnny  Long’s  pop- 
ular local  orchestra  and  Fred  Heck,  well 
known  organist;  Don  and  Sally  Jennins  of 
the  Claridge  Balinese  Room,  and  Marie 
Fontaine  and  Charles  Smith  of  the  Mem- 
phis Open  Air  Theatre.  John  Cleghorn, 
WMC’s  program  director,  arranged  the 
program.  “Babes  in  Arms”  was  the  feature 
attraction. 


Fred  Jack  Recovering 
From  Pneumonia 

Dallas — Reports  from  his  office  earlier 
in  the  week  were  that  Fred  M.  Jack,  south- 
west district  manager  for  Warner  Bros., 
is  recovering  from  an  attack  of  pneu- 
monia. He  is  in  Medical  Arts  Hospital 
where  he  went  last  Friday  with  influenza, 
which  soon  developed  into  pneumonia. 
Miss  Jo  Bailey,  Jack’s  secretary,  said  he 
was  responding  well  to  a new  treatment 
for  the  disease. 


Many  Order  RCA 

Dallas  — Orders  for  RCA  sound  have 
been  placed  by  the  following  theatres  in 
the  south:  Fairfax  and  Pearl,  Jackson- 
ville, Fla.,  and  the  Florida,  Tallahassee; 
Melba,  Batesville,  Ark.;  Texas,  Brown- 
wood,  Tex.;  Grand,  Fitzgerald,  Ga.;  Mar- 
tin, Americus,  Ga.;  Martin,  Roanoke,  Ala.; 
Ritz,  Talladega,  Ala.;  Old  Fort,  Old  Fort, 
N.  C.;  Royal,  Meridian,  Miss. 


Plans  Muleshoe  House 

Dallas — C.  F.  Moeller,  owner  of  the  Pal- 
ace at  Muleshoe,  Tex.,  is  to  build  a new 
theatre  there  as  soon  as  plans  under  way 
are  completed.  Raymond  Smith,  theatre 
architect  in  the  Melba  building  here,  has 
been  retained  on  the  deal,  it  is  understood. 
The  new  house  would  seat  about  550,  it 
was  said. 


The  Queen  Feature  Service,  Inc. 

Quality  Theatre  Equipment  & Supplies 
1912V&  Morris  Are.  Phone  3-8665 

BIRMINGHAM,  ALA. 


J 

Houston — R.  J.  Cooper  began  exhibiting 
motion  pictures  in  Kirbyville,  Tex.,  in  1906 
when  projection  equipment  constituted  the 
one-pin  Edison,  using  a carbide  light. 

Cooper’s  first  venture  was  a “store- 
show”  which  lasted  three  years.  He  next 
opened  an  airdrome,  which  he  operated  un- 
til 1912  when  he  built  a “de  luxe”  house 
with  balcony.  Cooper  continued  this  oper- 
ation until  1925,  at  which  time  he  pur- 
chased the  property  and  erected  a brick 
building  to  house  the  theatre  which  he  now 
operates.  This  theatre  he  has  recondi- 
tioned several  times,  and.  in  fact,  Cooper 
plans  an  early  remodeling. 

During  his  career  as  an  exhibitor.  Coop- 
er has  operated  houses  in  Jasper,  Newton 
and  Silsbee  in  Texas. 

After  reading  an  account  of  Homer  Mul- 
key  in  the  Boxoffice  issue  of  August  31, 
Cooper  stated:  “I  feel  it  is  in  order  that  I 
send  you  facts  regarding  my  experience  in 
the  business  without  making  any  challenge 
of  the  record  of  any  other  exhibitor.  Many 
things  have  occurred  since  I first  entered 
this  business  in  1906.  I recall  some  head- 
aches but  many  more  pleasures.  At  this 
time  I am  happy  still  to  be  an  exhibitor 
in  the  town  where  I began.” 


j FEED  ’EM  ROCKS! 

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I popcorn  you  sell?  Then  why  not 
' use  com  that  pops  100  per  cent? 

J Use 

i SUPERB 
! SOUTH  AMERICAN  CORN 

I (No  Hard  Centers) 

| AND 

I FLAV-0-NUT  SEASONING 

) Exclusive  With 

I Rube  Melcher 

! POPPERS  SUPPLY  CO. 

) GR.  0672  1717  Wyandotte  St. 

I Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Just  Try  Some! 


BUFFALO  COOLING  EQUIPMENT 

1026  santa  fe  bldg.  BUFFALO  ENGINEERING  CO.,  INC.  Dallas,  Texas 


BOXOFFICE  :;  January  4,  1941 


115 


Council  Chooses  10  Best ; 
Five  on  List  Metro's 


Dallas — The  preview  committee  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Council  here,  under  the 
leadership  of  Mrs.  Clarence  Echols,  an- 
nounces its  selection  of  the  10  best  pictures 
of  the  1940  season. 

They  are  “Pride  and  Prejudice,”  M-G-M; 
“Young  Tom  Edison,”  M-G-M;  “Boom 
Town,”  M-G-M;  “Rebecca,”  UA;  “The 
Mortal  Storm,”  M-G-M;  “Down  Argentine 
Way,”  20th-Fox;  “Irene,”  RKO;  “Shop 
Around  the  Corner,”  M-G-M;  “Pinocchio,” 
RKO;  “Dr.  Erhlich’s  Magic  Bullet,”  WB. 


Lightman  Hosts  Orphans 

Memphis — M.  A.  Lightman  hosted  or- 
phans of  Memphis  at  a special  showing  of 
Gene  Autry’s  “South  of  the  Border”  at 
his  Memphian  recently.  Among  those  at- 
tending were  the  wards  of  the  St.  Peter’s, 
Leath  Orphanage,  Church  Home,  Father 
Lane’s  Gailor  Hall,  Convent  of  Good  Shep- 
herd, and  children  of  the  juvenile  court. 


Unique  Film  Reel 

Memphis — Webber  Hall,  local  Movietone 
News  cameraman,  and  his  missus  had  a 
grand  idea  for  a Christmas  holiday  fea- 
ture— film  shots  of  a style  show  of  wom- 
en’s hats  decorated  with  Xmas  toys.  A 
group  of  pretty  girls  were  rounded  up  and 
the  shots  made  on  the  mezzanine  floor  of 
a local  millinery  store.  The  finished  film 
was  shown  on  the  screen  at  Loew’s  Palace. 


Gala  New  Year  Shows 

Dallas — The  Palace  and  Majestic,  Elm 
Street  A houses,  went  in  big  for  New 
Year’s  Eve  celebrations  with  special  per- 
formances for  which  the  price  was  upped 
for  all  seats  to  75  cents,  which  included  the 
balcony.  The  Palace  put  in  “This  Thing 
Called  Love,”  and  the  Majestic  showed 
them  “Flight  Command.” 


Open  in  Wilmington 

Wilmington — The  Bailey  Theatre,  ace 
house  for  the  Kincey  circuit  here,  staged 
an  elaborate  opening.  A.  S.  Grist,  city 
manager,  moves  over  from  the  Carolina 
and  will  manage  the  house.  This  move 
places  Spencer  Wester,  formerly  at  Greens- 
boro, at  the  helm  of  the  Carolina. 


Bows  in  Charlotte 

Charlotte — “Bagdad”  had  its  premiere 
for  the  two  Carolinas  at  the  Imperial  here 
December  30.  Jay  Schrader,  UA  manager, 
says  “Dictator”  goes  on  the  market  soon 
after  January  1. 


A.  P.  Talley  is  Manager 

Tallahassee,  Fla. — A.  P.  Talley  is  man- 
ager of  the  city’s  newest  theatre,  the 
Florida,  recently  opened.  The  1,100-seater 
is  operated  by  Tallahassee  Associates. 


With  Metro  13  Years 

Oklahoma  City — James  Byrd  of  the  lo- 
cal M-G-M  exchange  rounds  out  13  years 
of  service  with  the  company  on  Thursday. 


<t  = ^ 

: The  Critic  s Side  : 


^ - —» 

Oklahoma  City, — One  of  the  most  cussed 
individuals  in  the  industry  is  the  film 
critic.  Seldom  does  he  see  the  theatre 
man’s  side  of  the  picture  and  seldom  does 
the  theatre  man  see  his  viewpoint.  Here 
is  how  one  critic  looks  at  his  end  of  the 
business. 

“Theatre  managers  and  the  local  repre- 
sentatives of  the  major  film  companies  al- 
ternately regard  me  as  only  slightly 
touched  or  as  a thorough  scoundrel,”  says 
Bruce  Palmer  of  the  Daily  Oklahoman  and 
Oklahoma  City  Times.  “Rarely,  when  I 
have  gone  completely  overboard  for  a pic- 
ture, they  admit  me  to  the  outer  fringes 
of  what  they  hold  to  be  respectability. 

“The  movie  critic  needs  no  great  per- 
ception, except  to  be  able  to  cull  out  the 
hokum  and  the  conventional  phoney  busi- 
ness of  standard  plots.  More  necessary  is 
a skin  of  elephantine  thickness  and  a cer- 
tain talent  for  smelling  out  entertainment 
values  as  distinguished  from  true  dramatic 
values.  The  former  often  gets  by  at  the 
boxoffice.  The  latter  usually  is  better  as 
a picture,  poorer  as  a money-maker.  When 
the  two  are  merged,  the  result  almost  in- 
evitably is  a great  picture  from  both  angles. 

“The  movie  critics  can’t  hope  to  please 
everyone  and  maintain  any  sort  of  a 
standard  by  which  to  operate.  Actually,  I 
think  practically  every  picture  in  the  ‘A’ 
category  is  basically  good;  considering  the 
technical  difficulties  surrounded  in  its 
making,  it  must  have  some  fundamental 
merit.  The  difference  lies  in  how  much 
better  some  are  than  others.  That’s  where 
the  critic  begins  to  get  into  hot  water.” 


H,  P.  (Dusty)  Rhodes  Wed 

Atlanta — Herman  P.  (Dusty)  Rhodes, 
booker  for  Lucas  & Jenkins  Theatres,  was 
married  to  Jessie  Mae  Garrett,  Dec.  31, 
1940.  The  service  was  performed  at  the 
home  of  Riley  P.  Davis,  before  a group  of 
friends. 


Screwy  Arithmetic 

Nashville,  Tenn. — The  Princess  had 
“40  Little  Mothers”  for  20  cents,  but  the 
Knickerbocker  offered  only  “Four  Moth- 
ers” for  44  cents.  Both  are  members  of 
the  Crescent  chain. 

(<  = = ■ 

Food  and  Films 
In  Log  Cabin 

Oklahoma  City — Chet  Humphrey's  Log 
Cabin  Theatre,  which  opened  recently  on 
Northwest  39th  St.,  is  the  first  of  its  kind 
locally. 

The  theatre  was  remodeled  from  an  old 
log  cabin  style  roadhouse.  Rocking 
chairs,  a crying  room,  50  love  seats  "for 
large  people  or  two  children,"  a foun- 
tain-grill and  food  from  ten-cent  ham- 
burgers to  a 50-cent  steak  are  all  of- 
fered. 


i> 


Many  From  Trade  Attend 
Final  Rites  for  Kemp 

Charlotte — Many  trade  figures  from  this 
and  surrounding  areas  attended  funeral 
services  here  for  Hal  Kemp,  36,  noted 
orchestra  leader.  Kemp,  a brother  to  T.  D. 
Kemp  jr.,  head  of  Southern  Enterprises, 
the  Kincey  stage  show  affiliate,  died  in 
California  of  an  ailment  following  an  auto 
accident.  He  was  a native  of  Charlotte. 
Hundreds  appeared  at  the  funeral  home 
despite  an  announcement  that  the  ser- 
vices would  be  private. 

Active  pallbearers  were  Charlie  Stephenson  of 
Raleigh,  Burr  Blair  of  Chicago,  Kay  Kyser  of 
New  York,  Charlie  Yates  of  Atlanta,  Martin  Car- 
michael of  Haverford,  Pa.,  Jim  Schonblom  of 
Bradford,  Pa.,  Robert  E.  Buck  jr.  of  Green- 
ville, S.  C.,  Paul  Whitlock  jr.  of  Charlotte,  Byrd 
Crayton  of  Charlotte,  Nelson  Jones  of  Atlanta, 
and  Saxie  Dowell  of  New  York. 

The  honorary  pallbearers  were  members  of  Mr. 
Kemp’s  band,  Skinnay  Ennis  of  Hollywood,  John 
Scott  Trotter  of  Hollywood,  Mel  Adams  of  New 
York,  George  M.  Ivey  of  Charlotte,  Fred  Waring 
and  Rudy  Vallee  of  New  York,  Leibert  Lom- 
bardo and  Sam  Cheer  of  New  York,  Jimmy  Mc- 
Neely  of  Charlotte.  Jules  and  Billy  Stein  of 
New  York,  Sonny  Werbling  of  New  York,  Har- 
old C.  Libby  of  Charlotte,  and  John  Randolph 
Hearst  of  New  York. 

Also  Robert  Carmichael  of  Durham,  John  Pet- 
erson of  Indianapolis,  Paul  Forrester  of  New  York, 
Karl  M.  Waters  of  Charlotte,  William  L.  Chess 
of  New  York,  Orson  Munn  of  New  York,  Ken- 
neth Howell  of  Jacksonville,  Qtto  Roth  of  Chi- 
cago, John  Hennesy,  Clayton  Cash,  Eddie  Kusby 
and  Mickey  Bloom  of  New  York,  Dr.  Stokes  Mon- 
roe jr.,  and  Roy  L.  Smart  of  Charlotte. 


Formal  Garden  and  Crypt 
For  Body  of  Will  Rogers 

Oklahoma  City — Work  is  under  way  on 
a formal  garden  and  crypt  for  the  body 
of  Will  Rogers  at  the  Claremore  Memorial. 

The  plans  include  a formal  terraced 
garden  leading  down  the  slope  southwest 
from  the  Will  Rogers  Memorial  Museum. 
At  the  lower  end  will  be  the  marble  crypt. 


Rites  for  Niver 

Dallas  — Funeral  services  for  Henry 
Niver,  48,  were  held  here  last  Friday.  He 
was  known  as  an  organ  expert  to  many 
exhibitors  of  the  southwest  during  silent 
days.  When  sound  replaced  the  organ  in 
theatres,  Niver  continued  on  with  organ 
sales  and  maintenance  in  churches  and 
homes.  He  is  survived  by  his  wife. 


Rules  Films  Evidence 

Jackson,  Miss. — Motion  pictures  may  be 
admitted  as  evidence  in  Mississippi  courts, 
according  to  a ruling  just  issued  by  the 
state  supreme  court. 


Webbo  Gives  Away  Radio 

Harriman,  Tenn. — The  Webbo  gave  away 
a 1941  model  Zenith  radio  on  Christmas 
Day  to  the  holder  of  the  lucky  ticket. 
Matinee  admissions  are  5 cents  and  10 
cents,  evening  prices  10  cents  and  20  cents. 


Bonnie  Kate  Robbed 

Elizabethton,  Tenn. — A lone  bandit  held 
up  Miss  Mamie  Cannon,  cashier  at  the 
Bonnie  Kate,  and  escaped  with  all  the 
cash  in  the  ticket  booth.  The  armed  ban- 
dit made  his  escape  down  an  alley. 


116 


BOXOFFICE  : ; January  4,  1941 


Industry's  Prominent 
At  Masters  Banquet 

Toronto — A swanky  function  was  the 
testimonial  banquet  which  was  tendered 
Haskell  M.  Masters,  general  manager  of 
United  Artists  Corp.,  Ltd.,  by  75  business 
associates  and  friends  at  the  King  Edward 
Hotel,  Toronto,  December  28,  as  a per- 
sonal tribute  on  the  occasion  of  his  pro- 
motion to  the  post  of  western  sales  man- 
ager of  the  company  in  the  United  States 
which  he  took  over  commencing  with  the 
New  Year,  with  headquarters  at  the  home 
office  in  New  York.  Most  everybody  who 
is  anybody  in  the  film  industry  at  Toronto 
and  nearby  points  turned  out  in  formal 
style  to  do  honor  to  a man  who  had  been 
a leader  in  the  development  of  the  busi- 
ness in  the  Dominion  during  the  past  20 
years  and  was  personally  known  to  film 
exchange  and  theatre  men  from  coast  to 
coast  by  reason  of  his  close  contact  with 
activities  in  every  city  and  town  of  im- 
portance. 

Home  Office  Represented 

Adding  to  the  lustre  of  the  occasion 
was  the  presence  of  a number  of  promi- 
nent executives  from  New  York  City  in- 
cluding T.  P.  Mulrooney  of  United  Artists’ 
home  office,  Arthur  Gottlieb,  Ed  Schmit- 
zer,  Monroe  Greenthal  and  David  Gries- 
dorf,  all  of  whom  contributed  their  quota 
of  praise  and  reminiscences.  The  special 
speakers  were  four,  three  of  whom  repre- 
sented important  branches  of  the  moving 
picture  business.  Leo  M.  Devaney,  re- 
cently appointed  national  captain  of  the 
Ned  Depinet  Sales  Drive  for  RKO  Pic- 
tures, delivered  the  eulogy  in  behalf  of 
the  Motion  Picture  Distributors  of  Can- 
ada; N.  L.  Nathanson,  president  of  Fa- 
mous Players  Canadian  Corp.,  spoke  for 
the  theatre  chains  and  N.  A.  Taylor,  vice- 
president  of  the  Independent  Theatres 
Ass’n,  delivered  the  address  in  behalf  of 
organized  independents.  Egmont  L.  Fran- 
kel,  prominent  in  the  community  life  of 
Toronto,  was  the  speaker  for  Masters’  le- 
gion of  friends  outside  of  the  industry.  A 
highlight  of  the  farewell  celebration, 
echoing  with  words  of  regret  over  the  loss 
of  the  guest  of  honor  as  a member  of  the 
community  and  congratulations  on  his 
promotion  to  a higher  sphere,  was  the  pre- 
sentation to  Masters  of  a handsome  me- 
mento in  the  form  of  engraved  silverware. 
The  chairman,  master  of  ceremonies  and 
toastmaster  was  J.  J.  Fitzgibbons,  vice- 
president  of  Famous  Players  Canadian 
Corp.  The  formal  program  was  relatively 
brief  but  the  gathering  took  full  advan- 
tage of  the  opportunity  to  indulge  in  a 
complete  evening  of  social  indulgences. 

An  Effective  Committee 

Responsibility  for  the  genuine  success  of 
the  gathering  rested  with  a committee 
comprising  Louis  Rosenfeld,  general  man- 
ager of  Columbia  Pictures  of  Canada,  Ltd.; 
Oscar  R.  Hanson,  president  of  Empire- 
Universal-Films,  Ltd.;  Ben  Geldsaler, 
headoffice  supervisor  of  booking  for  Fa- 
mous Players  Canadian  Corp.,  and  E.  L. 
Frankel. 

Among  those  present  were  Claire  Hague, 
president  of  the  Canadian  Picture  Pio- 
neers; Col.  John  A.  Cooper,  chairman  of 
the  board,  Motion  Picture  Distributors  of 
Canada;  James  P.  O’Loghlin,  general 


manager  of  20th  Century-Fox  Corp.  of 
Canada  and  president  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Distributors;  M.  A.  Milligan,  general 
manager  of  Paramount  Film  Service; 
Henry  L.  Nathanson,  managing  director 
of  Regal  Films,  Ltd.;  Jules  Cohen,  War- 
ner Bros.;  A.  W.  Perry,  general  mana- 
ger, Empire-Universal-Films,  Ltd.;  nu- 
merous officials  of  Famous  Players,  Bloom 
and  Fine  Theatres,  Theatre  Holding  Corp., 
Hanson  Theatres  Corp.,  Associated  Thea- 
tres and  Independent  Theatres  Ass’n,  and 
many  personal  admirers  in  the  business 
life  of  Toronto  apart  from  the  film  colony. 

In  Many  Activities 

Masters  has  been  associated  with  many 
activities  of  the  trade,  always  having  been 
one  of  the  first  to  be  appointed  to  com- 
mittees for  special  trade  and  philanthropic 
campaigns.  In  recent  months  he  had 
served  as  an  executive  organizer  of  the 
Win  the  War  Campaign  in  aid  of  Can- 
ada’s war  effort  and  was  made  a member 
of  the  general  board  of  the  Canadian 
Motion  Picture  War  Services  Committee 
which  sponsored  the  patriotic  rodeo  at 
Toronto.  He  had  been  elected  a director 
of  the  Canadian  Picture  Pioneers  at  the 
November  annual  meeting  and  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Red  Cross  Committee  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Distributors  which  or- 
ganized a whirlwind  campaign  in  October. 
He  took  an  active  part,  as  a member  of 
the  motion  picture  section,  Toronto  board 
of  trade,  in  the  negotiations  which  led 
to  the  formation  of  the  Ontario  Provin- 
cial clearance  board  to  work  out  booking 
reforms  and  has  been  a member  of  vari- 
ous committees  of  the  Motion  Picture  Dis- 
tributors of  Canada.  Within  the  trade, 
Masters  has  been  known  as  a man  who 
gave  the  small  independents  a break,  yet 
he  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  chain 
executives. 

In  his  private  office  has  been  standing 
the  handsome  N.  L.  Nathanson  Trophy, 
emblematic  of  the  Motion  Picture  Indus- 
try’s Canadian  golf  championship  which 
was  won  the  last  time  in  1939  by  the 
United  Artists’  team  of  which  he  was  a 
playing  member.  But  he  can’t  take  it  with 
him.  Haskell  Masters  has  taken  with  him, 
however,  the  earnest  wishes  for  continued 
achievement. 

Sam  Glazer  Succeeds 
Haskell  M.  Masters 

Toronto — Sam  Glazer,  veteran  Toronto 
branch  manager  of  United  Artists  Corp., 
Ltd.,  has  been  named  successor  to  Haskell 
M.  Masters,  who  has  taken  a home  office 
post  at  New  York,  as  Canadian  district 
manager,  according  to  local  information. 

A.  J.  Jeffery,  manager  of  the  UA  branch 
at  Montreal,  is  being  promoted  to  the 
management  of  the  branch  at  Toronto 
which  has  jurisdiction  over  the  important 
Ontario  territory.  Other  promotions  are 
under  consideration  in  the  Canadian  per- 
sonnel, following  Masters’  departure. 


Borrow  Joan  Fontaine 

Hollywood  — RKO  has  borrowed  Joan 
Fontaine  from  David  O.  Selznick  for  a 
role  opposite  Cary  Grant  in  “Before  the 
Fact.”  Alfred  Hitchcock  will  direct. 


Draw  Line  Between 
Segments  of  Trade 

Toronto — A distinct  line  has  been  drawn 
between  distributors  and  exhibitors  in 
Canada  in  the  operation  of  representative 
organizations  under  recently  adopted 
policies  of  the  Motion  Picture  Distribu- 
tors of  Canada  and  the  newly  formed  On- 
tario clearance  board. 

The  MPDC  no  longer  has  any  exhibitor 
members,  and  announcement  has  been 
made  that  the  association  wall  deal  only 
with  distributors’  problems  in  the  future, 
this  pronouncement  having  been  made  by 
President  James  P.  O’Loghlin.  When 
asked  about  the  activities  of  the  clearance 
board,  which  is  made  up  of  chain  and  in- 
dependent theatre  representatives  on  the 
basis  of  three  men  from  each  group,  Col. 
J.  A.  Cooper  told  Boxoffice:  “They  have 
their  own  exhibition  problems  to  settle  and 
the  distributors  will  be  consulted  when 
necessary.” 

Under  the  new  setup,  the  only  common 
meeting  place  of  all  branches  of  the  in- 
dustry, including  producers,  equipment  of- 
ficials and  technical  services  as  well  as  ex- 
hibitors and  exchange  managers,  will  be 
the  motion  picture  section  of  the  Toronto 
Board  of  Trade  which  will  deal  with  trade 
developments  in  which  all  are  interested. 

With  the  holidays  cleared  away,  the  On- 
tario clearance  board  is  holding  its  next 
meeting  on  January  7 when  further  or- 
ganization will  be  effected.  Members  of 
this  board  comprise  Ben  Geldsaler,  T.  J. 
Bragg  and  M.  Stein  of  Famous  Players 
Canadian  Corp.,  and  Harry  Alexander,  Hy- 
man Freedman  and  N.  A.  Taylor  of  the 
Independent  Theatres  Ass’n. 


Orpheum  and  Circle  Are 
Reopened  in  Toronto 

Toronto — The  Orpheum,  Queen  St. 
West,  has  been  reopened  by  N.  Rittenberg 
after  extensive  alterations  and  is  offering 
vaudeville  as  well  as  pictures. 

The  Circle,  in  North  Toronto,  has  been 
reopened  by  Hyman  Freedman  after  a re- 
modeling of  the  interior,  the  house  having 
been  closed  for  two  weeks  for  reconstruc- 
tion. The  Lee  has  been  opened  at  Camp 
Borden,  Ont.,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
federal  government,  primarily  for  the  en- 
tertainment of  troops.  The  Lee  is  fully 
equipped  for  both  screen  and  stage  shows, 
with  films  booked  from  Toronto  exchanges 
on  a regular  basis.  The  theatre  has  been 
named  in  honor  of  Col.  S.  A.  Lee,  com- 
mandant of  the  camp  until  recently. 


Holiday  Impels  Transfer 
Of  Premium  Nights 

Toronto — There  has  been  a general 
shifting  of  giveaway  nights  among  To- 
ronto exhibitors  during  the  past  two  weeks 
because  the  holidays  fell  on  Wednesday 
when  most  gifts  are  in  evidence  during 
ordinary  weeks.  The  majority  of  theatres 
transferred  the  premium  offers  from 
Wednesday  to  Tuesday  night. 


BOXOFFICE  January  4,  1941 


K 


117 


TO  ROM  TO 


fyJANAGER  CHARLIE  QUERRIE  of  the 
Palace,  Toronto,  and  his  entire  staff 
cancelled  its  annual  staff  celebration,  a 
custom  at  the  end  of  the  year  since  he 
opened  the  house  in  1921,  and  the  proceeds 
of  the  party  were  handed  to  the  Toronto 
Telegram  to  be  forwarded  to  England  for 
the  relief  of  bombing  victims.  The  news- 
paper published  a picture  of  Querrie  in 
the  act  of  presenting  the  substantial  check 
to  the  publisher.  The  office  staff  of  Regal 
Films,  Ltd.,  Toronto,  made  a combined  do- 
nation of  $100  to  the  War  Victims  Fund 
and  proudly  displayed  the  formal  receipt 
on  the  wall  of  the  exchange. 

Leo  M.  Devaney,  general  manager  of 
RKO  Distributing  Corp.,  returned  to  To- 
ronto from  New  York  where  he  had  been 
arranging  preliminary  details  for  the  Ned 
Depinet  sales  drive  of  which  he  had  been 
promoted  to  New  York  in  the  U A organiza- 
tion, and  Devaney  fell  into  the  duty  of  of- 
fering the  eulogy  to  Masters  in  behalf  of 
the  distributors. 

Harry  S.  Dahn,  general  manager  of  Con- 
solidated Theatres,  Toronto,  had  occasion 
to  call  at  the  Trenton  Air  Station  of  the 
Royal  Canadian  Air  Force  to  arrange  film 
bookings  and  was  invited  to  lunch  at  the 
camp.  Ever  since,  Dahn  has  been  telling 
everybody  about  the  wonderful  “chow”  the 
sky  pilots  are  getting  . . . A.  C.  Simpson, 
manager  of  the  Toronto  Hollywood  and 
lately  from  Ingersoll,  signaled  his  invasion 
of  the  big  city  by  putting  on  a newspaper 
teaser  campaign  on  “Who  Killed  Aunt 
Maggie?”  right  under  the  noses  of  a hun- 
dred local  managers. 

Another  old-timer  passed  on  in  the 
death  of  Fred  Waldo  Stair,  manager  of 
theatres  in  Toronto  and  Hamilton  for 
years.  In  failing  health,  Stair  had  gone  to 
Pasadena,  Calif.,  where  he  had  been  liv- 
ing with  his  sister  during  the  period  be- 
fore his  death. 

Everybody  around  the  headoffice  of 
Famous  Players  Canadian  Corp.  was  made 
happy  at  the  fadeout  of  1940  by  the  re- 
ceipt of  a bonus  equal  to  two  weeks’  pay, 
just  double  the  size  of  the  honorarium  at 
the  close  of  1939.  Theatre  managers  of 
the  Canadian  circuit  earn  their  extra 
money  on  the  quota  system  and  usually 
get  their  bonus  during  the  summer. 

Manager  Lloyd  Mills  of  the  Ottawa 
Elgin  skating  with  Sabu,  the  star  of  “The 
Thief  of  Bagdad,”  and  got  the  surprise  of 
his  life  when  the  “Elephant  Boy”  out- 
skated  him.  The  fact  was  that  Sabu  had 
learned  the  rudiments  of  the  ice  pastime 
while  attending  school  in  England.  Sam 
Glazer,  Toronto  branch  manager  of 
United  Artists,  and  Lou  Guimond,  director 
of  promotion,  went  to  Ottawa  for  the  per- 
sonal appearance  of  Sabu  . . . Syd  Taube, 
prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  Canadian 
Picture  Pioneers,  sold  several  hundred  dol- 
lars worth  of  Canadian  War  Savings 
Stamps  to  a trade  executive  in  the  United 
States  and  has  suggested  that  officials  at 
New  York  home  offices  generally  should  be 
circularized  by  the  Pioneers. 


Col.  John  R.  Booth,  Canadian  million- 
aire who  sponsored  the  production  of  “The 
King’s  Plate”  in  the  Dominion  some  years 
ago,  entertained  100  war  refugee  children 
from  Britain  in  his  private  theatre,  the 
program  comprising  “Snow  White  and  the 
Seven  Dwarfs”  and  several  Disney  shorts 
which  were  provided  through  the  courtesy 
of  RKO  Distributing  Corp.  Assisting  in 
the  arrangements  were  Frank  Badgley,  di- 
rector of  the  Canadian  Government  Mo- 
tion Picture  Bureau,  and  Mrs.  Badgley. 

What  to  do  with  old  automobile  license 
plates  has  been  solved  by  Manager  Charlie 
Stephenson  of  the  Century  at  Kitchener , 
who  has  offered  a theatre  pass  to  every 
juvenile  who  brings  a pair  of  the  1940 
markers  to  the  theatre.  The  plates  are  to 
be  sold  for  the  manufacture  of  war  muni- 
tions and  the  proceeds  will  be  turned  over 
to  the  Red  Cross. 

For  four  days  Manager  Leon  Bishop  of 
the  Tivoli  in  downtown  Toronto  handled 
throngs  of  boys  and  girls  who  attended  the 
theatre  for  the  annual  holiday  treat  of  the 
Toronto  Star  for  its  many  carriers.  Man- 
ager H.  Marshall  of  the  Ottawa  Rideau 
put  on  a Sunday  show  for  the  United  War 
Services  to  buy  equipment  for  the  troops 
while  Manager  Lloyd  Mills  of  the  Elgin 
organized  a special  performance  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Lion’s  Club  to  provide 
treats  for  war  pilots  and  a Saturday  morn- 
ing performance  to  which  1,000  juveniles 
brought  canned  goods  to  be  distributed  by 
the  Kinsmen’s  Club. 

Manager  Louis  Gauthier  of  the  Cartier 
in  Hull  had  a theatre  night  for  the  Lions 
Club  as  a benefit  for  the  poor.  Manager 
Ingram  of  the  Bayview  at  Leaside  had  a 
midnight  show  for  the  Lions  when  a dona- 
tion of  $200  was  made  to  the  War  Victims’ 
Fund.  Harry  Alexander , proprietor  of  the 
Toronto  Lansdowne,  held  a midnight 
screeii  show  in  aid  of  Mount  Sinai  Hos- 
pital. Manager  Ted  Fraser  of  the  Century, 
Trenton,  put  on  a special  show  to  help  the 
Salvation  Army  in  its  work  among  the 
poor. 


MAX  and  Ben  Chechik  distributed  cigar- 
ettes to  all  the  boys  around  the  Film 
Building  at  holiday  time  . . . The  table 
radio  raffled  by  Harry  Howard  of  Theatre 
Equipment  was  won  by  Willard  Adamson. 

Florence  Copley,  23-year-old  daughter 
of  Herbert  Copley,  manager  of  the  Grand- 
view Theatre,  was  in  a fatal  accident  the 
night  of  December  20  while  on  her  way 
to  the  theatre  where  she  is  cashier. 

P.  G.  Allan  of  the  Orpheum  at  Dawson 
City,  Y.  T.,  attributes  a current  dip  in 
business  to  the  unseasonably  mild  weather 
his  sector  is  experiencing  . . . T.  Shiels 
jr.  closed  his  Olympia  Theatre  to  permit 
completion  of  extensive  renovations,  in- 
cluding new  carpeting,  exits  and  rest 
rooms. 

Christmas  bonuses  went  to  the  staffs  of 
Paramount  Film  Service,  United  Artists, 


Wide  Circulaiion  for 
Films  on  Dominion 


Ottawa — A detailed  report  of  the  Ca- 
nadian department  of  trade  and  commerce 
with  respect  to  the  work  of  the  govern- 
ment motion  picture  bureau  during  the 
past  fiscal  year,  shows  that  6,662  prints 
of  official  motion  pictures,  including  1,710 
new  copies,  were  in  circulation  throughout 
the  world  last  spring,  this  number  being 
300  more  than  the  total  of  any  previous 
year. 

Thirty-one  countries  and  dependencies 
are  listed  as  territories  in  which  Canadian 
government  films  were  circulated  during 
the  12  months,  but  the  fate  of  some  of  the 
prints  can  be  left  to  the  imagination  be- 
cause they  were  in  enemy  countries  before 
hostilities  broke  or  in  territories  which 
subsequently  were  occupied. 

The  latest  data  shows  that  3,496  prints 
were  in  use  in  the  United  States  for  both 
theatrical  and  commercial  or  social  pre- 
sentation, this  being  the  largest  total  for 
any  country.  In  the  British  Isles  there 
were  530  prints  and  279  in  Australia,  New 
Zealand  and  Tasmania,  with  89  in  a group 
that  is  listed  as  Central  European  coun- 
tries. Incidentally,  there  were  83  in  Ger- 
many, 70  in  Italy,  64  in  Norway,  Sweden, 
Denmark  and  Finland  and  43  in  Greece, 
Turkey  and  Egypt.  Holland  is  listed  as 
having  33  Canadian  government  films. 
Whether  or  not  these  are  in  the  safe-keep- 
ing of  United  States’  embassies  along  with 
other  records  and  documents  is  left  to  con- 
jecture. China,  too,  had  51  prints  while 
Japan  had  been  using  19  copies  and  Bel- 
gium had  76. 

Among  other  territories,  it  is  shown  that 
38  Canada  films  are  in  the  possession  of 
South  American  countries,  83  in  South 
Africa.  39  in  India,  35  in  the  Hawaiian 
Islands,  45  in  Cuba  and  the  West  Indies 
and  33  in  the  Straits  Settlement  and  East 
Indies.  The  film  service  will  be  continued 
to  allied  and  free  countries. 


Sabu  in  P.  A.  in  Toronto 

Toronto — Sabu  of  Mysore,  India,  spent 
Christmas  in  Toronto  during  the  course 
of  a personal  appearance  tour. 


Columbia  and  Regal  Films  . . . Empire 
Universal  again  gave  their  annual  Christ- 
mas banquet  for  their  employes  at  the 
Hotel  Vancouver.  Bonuses  and  an  ex- 
change of  gifts  were  part  of  the  festivities 
which  were  attended,  among  others,  by 
Larry  Bearg,  Hugo  Ray,  Roy  McLeod,  John 
Dawson  and  Earl  Hayter. 

Mild  weather  brought  excellent  Christ- 
mas Day  and  Boxing  Day  business  to 
Vancouver  first  runs  . . . Oak  Theatre 
Owner  Andy  Digney’s  son  Ernie  is  home 
for  the  holidays  from  Camp  Borden,  Ont. 

J.  H.  Fletcher  has  turned  over  some 
$1,500  to  the  West  Vancouver  Red  Cross, 
this  sum  being  the  proceeds  of  several 
special  Sunday  shows  Fletcher  has  been 
giving  . . . Owen  Bird  copped  the  turkey 
at  the  recent  Burnaby  table  tennis  tourna- 
ment. 


118 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


MONTREAL 


Montreal  Again  Sees 
Allens  in  Operation 

Toronto — History  was  made  when  the 
Allen  theatre  interests  of  Toronto  resumed 
active  operations  once  more  in  the  City  of 
Montreal  on  January  1 when  the  Am- 
herst was  taken  over  from  United  Amuse- 
ment Corp.,  Ltd.,  to  be  operated  by  Pre- 
mier Operating  Co.,  an  Allen  subsidiary 
under  the  supervision  of  Raymond  Allen 
of  Toronto.  Rene  Daigneault  will  continue 
as  manager  of  the  Amherst,  it  was  an- 
nounced by  Mr.  Allen. 

In  this  move,  a third  generation  of  the 
Allens  becomes  identified  with  the  direc- 
tion of  theatres  in  Montreal.  At  one  time, 
in  the  somewhat  distant  past,  the  late  Ben 
Allen  with  his  sons,  Jules,  J.  J.  and  Herb 
erected  and  operated  a number  of  thea- 
tres in  that  city,  chief  of  which  were  the 
Palace,  Westmount  and  Amherst.  Even- 
tually these  houses  passed  into  the  con- 
trol of  Famous  Players  and  United  Amuse- 
ment companies  and  now  this  farther  step 
in  the  progressive  comeback  of  the  Allens 
arouses  wide  interest. 

Raymond  Allen  also  announced  that  the 
LaSalle  in  Kirkland  Lake,  center  of  the 
Gold  Mining  Belt  in  Northern  Ontario, 
had  been  taken  over  from  Cinema  Rous- 
son-Trudeau  Limited,  to  be  operated  by 
Theatre  Holding  Corp.,  Ltd.,  an  Allen  cir- 
cuit company  which  has  the  three  thea- 
tres in  Kirkland  Lake.  The  LaSalle,  which 
is  a comparatively  new  house,  has  accom- 
modation for  716  persons.  The  three  other 
theatres  there  are  the  Capitol,  Strand  and 
Uptown  which  have  516,  851  and  693  seats 
respectively. 

The  Allens  opened  the  new  Strand  at 
Parry  Sound,  Ont.,  on  Christmas  Day  but 
will  continue  to  operate  the  Royal,  for- 
merly the  one  theatre  in  that  town.  The 
Nobel  Theatre  has  been  opened  at  nearby 
Nobel  and  all  three  theatres  will  be  under 
the  management  of  Jack  Wellard. 

The  Allen  chain  now  comprises  ap- 
proximately 40  theatres,  all  of  which  are 
located  in  the  Province  of  Ontario  with 
the  exception  of  the  Amherst  in  Mon- 
treal. From  a small  start  in  Brantford, 
Ont.,  a quarter  of  a century  ago,  the 
family  has  made  theatre  history  in  the 
Dominion. 


Allen  Names  Silverthome 
To  Post  in  Tillsonburg 

Toronto — Raymond  S.  Allen,  general 
supervisor  of  the  Allen  chain,  has  an- 
nounced the  appointment  of  Jack  Silver- 
thome as  manager  of  the  Strand  at  Till- 
sonburg, Ont.,  in  succession  to  Albert 
Glazer  who  is  joining  the  colors  January  6 
as  a member  of  the  Royal  Canadian  Air 
Force.  He  is  the  son  of  Sam  Glazer,  execu- 
tive of  Canadian  United  Artists.  Silver- 
thome, who  has  been  assistant  manager 
of  the  Grand  at  Sudbury,  a unit  of  the 
Hanson  Theatres’  circuit,  is  a brother  of 
Chairman  O.  J.  Silverthome  of  the  On- 
tario board  of  moving  picture  censors. 
Another  manager  to  be  lost  to  the  Allen 
circuit  is  Dave  Rubin  of  the  Westdale, 
Hamilton,  who  is  enlisting  as  a petty 
officer  in  the  Royal  Canadian  Navy. 

Allen  has  also  announced  the  appoint- 
ment of  Miss  R.  Fuller  as  manager  of 


£JHRISTMAS  and  New  Year  parties  were 
celebrated  with  greater  enthusiasm 
this  year  than  has  been  the  case  for  a 
few  year-ends.  Not  that  the  war  and  the 
troubles  of  the  British  people  have  been 
forgotten,  but  there  is  a general  feeling 
of  optimism,  and  the  Filmrow  and  the 
theatre  world  share  it  and  are  pepped  up 
accordingly. 

Not  only  the  first  run  theatres  hut  also 
chains  and  independents  marked  New 
Year’s  Eve  with  special  performances,  ex- 
tra music,  stage  shows  and  favors.  Most 
of  the  United  Amusement  theatres  not- 
ably of  the  Rosemount,  Papineau,  Rivoli, 
Francais,  Monkland,  York,  Granville,  Co- 
rona,  Rialto,  Seville  and  Snowdon  gave 
gala  shows  with  special  pictures  and  other 
entertainment,  balloons,  noisemakers,  etc. 

Mount  Royal  displayed  the  new  Jewish 
picture,  “Where  is  My  Child?,”  for  seven 
days.  Hudson’s  Bay  Company  will  co- 
operate in  the  publicity  for  the  20th-Fox 
film,  “Hudson’s  Bay,”  which  opens  Janu- 
ary 16  in  western  Canadian  cities  and 
January  26  in  eastern  Canada  . . . Jack 
Butler,  former  Empire-Universal  branch 
manager  at  Saint  John,  now  manager  of 
the  Imperial,  Moncton,  launched  a nov- 
elty in  the  form  of  a special  performance 
in  aid  of  the  police  relief  fund.  Receipts 
were  split  fifty-fifty. 

Cartier  Theatre  gave  a Christmas  tree 
entertainment  under  the  auspices  of 
George  Wakeman,  manager,  to  1,000  wives 
and  children  of  the  members  of  the  Royal 
Canadian  Army  Service  Corps,  now  on 
active  service.  Max  Ford,  of  the  Cana- 
dian Legion  War  Services,  was  master  of 
ceremonies  . . . Aluminum  Company  of 
Canada,  whose  head  office  is  in  Montreal, 
has  presented  the  Canadian  Government 
Department  of  War  Services  with  a check 
for  $10,000  to  be  applied  to  production  of 
a new  film  depicting  Canada’s  war  effort 
on  the  industrial  front. 

Contributors  to  the  Greek  War  Relief 
Fund  collection  in  Montreal  include  the 
following:  United  Amusement  Corp.,  $250; 
Hartney  Company,  Ltd.,  $50;  Confedera- 
tion Amusements,  Ltd.,  $100;  Employes  of 


the  Maitland,  Ingersoll,  Ont.,  this  being 
the  first  occasion  on  which  a woman  has 
been  placed  in  charge  of  a circuit  theatre 
in  the  Dominion.  Miss  Fuller  succeeds 
A.  C.  Simpson  who  was  promoted  to  man- 
age the  Hollywood,  ace  unit  in  Toronto, 
a few  weeks  ago.  Simpson  replaced  Doug- 
las Watt  who  had  been  transferred  to  the 
management  of  the  Waterloo  at  Water- 
loo, Ont.  Walter  Helm,  former  manager 
of  the  Waterloo,  is  now  manager  of  two 
theatres  in  Northern  Ontario,  the  Classic 
at  Cobalt  and  the  Strand  at  Haileybury. 
Doug  Watt  is  a brother  of  William  Watt, 
manager  of  the  Capitol  in  the  nearby 
city  of  Kitchener. 


For  a Role  in  "Sunny" 

Hollywood — Metro’s  John  Carroll  has 
been  borrowed  by  RKO  for  the  male  lead 
opposite  Anna  Neagle  in  the  Herbert  Wil- 
cox production,  “Sunny.” 


Westmount  Theatre,  $25,  and  J.  Eliasoff 
and  Sons,  $25  . . . 20th-Fox  will  have  the 
cooperation  of  the  Canadian,  British  and 
United  States  governments  in  the  pro- 
duction of  “The  Eagle  Flies  Again.”  Train- 
ing sequences  will  be  filmed  in  Canada. 

Ruby  Grierson,  who  initiated  the  mak- 
ing of  the  new  child  evacuee  film  just 
released,  was  responsible  for  the  human 
quality  in  a great  many  British  documen- 
taries. To  her  personal  credit  she  had 
“Cargo  for  Ardorssan,”  “Today  We  Live,” 
several  Zoo  films,  and  three  recently  com- 
pleted food  films.  Her  five-minute  Min- 
istry of  Information  film,  “They  Also 
Serve,”  not  yet  released,  is  said  to  be  one 
of  the  best  of  the  series. 

Thomas  Archer,  film  critic  of  Montreal 
Gazette,  reviewing  the  entertainment  year, 
finds  that  the  United  States  has  acquired 
leadership.  “Above  all,”  he  says,  “the  mo- 
tion picture  has  been  developed,  if  not 
perfected,  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic. 
While  many  great  pictures  have  been  pro- 
duced in  Europe,  the  output  there  cannot 
be  compared  to  Hollywood  in  scope  or 
richness.  Proof  thereof  is  the  fact  that 
even  though  European  countries  attempt- 
ed to  foster  their  own  industries  by  quotas 
and  other  artificial  regulations,  the  Hol- 
lywood film  continued  to  provide  the 
staple  fare  for  the  picture  houses  of  all 
the  chief  European  capitals.” 

Century  Theatre  of  Kitchener,  Ont., 
under  the  inspiration  of  Charlie  Steven- 
son, manager,  has  collected  812  automo- 
bile license  plates  weighing  450  pounds 
to  be  sold  as  scrap  iron  for  the  benefit 
of  Kitchener  Red  Cross.  Stevenson  of- 
fered a theatre  ticket  to  every  child  who 
brought  a pair  of  automobile  lice7ise  plates 
to  the  theatre.  Four  large  boxes  were 
filled.  The  markers  will  be  transported 
to  steel  mills.  They  included  several  1939 
license  plates.  Kitchener,  by  the  way,  is 
the  greatest  bingo  center  in  Ontario,  if 
not  in  Canada.  0?i  one  recent  night  close 
to  30,000  individual  “bingo”  plays  were 
recorded.  So  enthusiastic  are  the  citizens 
that  they  have  formed  three  major  leagues 
for  Bingo,  the  proceeds  going  to  the  Cana- 
dian Legion. 


Aluminum  Co,  Contributes 
$10,000  to  Film  Making 

Montreal — The  Minister  of  National 
War  Services,  Hon.  J.  G.  Gardiner,  today 
announced  the  receipt  of  a gift  of  $10,000 
from  the  Aluminum  Co.  of  Canada.  Ltd., 
to  be  applied  to  the  production  of  a new 
film  depicting  the  war  effort  of  Canada 
on  the  industrial  front. 

In  making  the  gift,  directors  of  the  com- 
pany expressed  warm  approval  of  the 
government’s  first  industrial  war  effort 
film,  “Front  of  Steel.”  This  was  produced 
by  the  national  film  board  on  behalf  of 
the  director  of  public  information  and 
was  released  to  approximately  900  Ca- 
nadian theatres  last  July. 


Pilots  "Man  Hunt" 

Hollywood — Fritz  Lang  will  direct 
“Man  Hunt”  for  20th-Fox. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


119 


See  BMI  Recognition 
Netting  Complications 

Ottawa — The  theatres  of  Canada  are 
confronted  with  the  prospect  of  split  con- 
trol of  performing  royalties  on  composi- 
tions, in  addition  to  a complication  of 
copyright  authority,  if  the  copyright  ap- 
peal board  officially  recognizes  the  new 
organization,  Broadcast  Music  .of  Canada, 
Inc.,  with  its  proposed  lower  schedule  of 
fees  for  the  use  of  its  musical  works  in 
the  Dominion,  as  compared  with  the  li- 
cense fees  imposed  by  the  Canadian  Per- 
forming Right  Society  which,  thus  far, 
has  enjoyed  the  sole  attention  of  the 
government  board  in  the  regulation  of 
annual  charges.  The  Society,  which  is  the 
Canadian  counterpart  of  Ascap,  was  or- 
ganized in  1925  as  an  agency  for  the  li- 
censing of  the  use  of  thousands  of  com- 
positions over  which  it  has  exercised 
control. 

The  issue  at  the  moment  is  of  direct 
importance  in  the  radio  broadcasting  field 
with  the  BMI  of  the  United  States  build- 
ing up  an  extensive  proportion  of  com- 
positions of  its  own  for  network  use,  which 
are  to  be  made  available  in  Canada.  The 
belief  prevails  that  the  BMI  will  eventually 
become  a factor  in  the  theatre  field,  par- 
ticularly if  the  newer  radio  hits  creep 
into  picture  production  and  become  re- 
cordings which  would  be  auxiliary  enter- 
tainment in  theatres. 

Others  May  Be  Affected 

Still  another  angle  is  the  fact  that  at 
least  seven  major  programs  originating  in 
Canada  are  relayed  to  networks  in  the 
United  States  as  International  exchange 
features  and  these  are  affected  by  the 
advent  of  BMI.  It  has  been  reported  that 
the  British  National  Anthem,  which,  in 
its  official  form,  is  identical  with  the 
music  of  the  American  National  Anthem, 
will  become  involved  in  the  dispute  be- 
tween the  rival  copyright-control  inter- 
ests, both  in  the  States  and  in  Canada. 
The  Anthem  is  a required  part  of  every 
theatre  program  in  the  Dominion. 

At  its  meeting  scheduled  for  February 
12,  the  copyright  appeal  board  will  find  it 
necessary  to  make  a ruling  that  any  or- 
ganization, other  than  the  Canadian  Per- 
forming Right  Society,  is  legally  quali- 
fied to  place  a schedule  of  royalty  fees 
before  the  board,  it  is  stated.  For  some 
years  the  Society  alone  has  imposed  a 
seat  tax  on  all  Canadian  theatres  for  the 
us  of  its  works  in  any  form,  apart  from 
the  score  charge  of  the  film  producers, 
and  official  recognition  of  the  BMI  of 
Canada  may  throw  the  situation  wide  open 
insofar  as  all  music  users  are  concerned. 

(<  ft 

Theatre  Building 
In  Sharp  Rise 

Montreal — According  to  MacLean  Build- 
ing Reports,  Ltd.,  contracts  for  theatre 
building  in  Canada  in  November  totaled 
$232,500  compared  with  $45,900  in  the 
identical  period  last  year. 

V5  - ■■  JJ 


WINNIPEG 


SUM  of  money  collected  by  employes 
of  Vitagraph  to  be  used  for  a Christ- 
mas present  for  their  manager,  has  been 
turned  over  to  I.  H.  Allan  to  be  con- 
tributed to  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London’s 
fund.  This  fine  gesture  will  help  swell  the 
sum  being  collected  here  to  aid  the  war 
stricken  in  Britain  . . . Harold  Bishop  car- 
ried out  an  extensive  campaign  in  pub- 
licizing his  current  showing  of  “Love  Thy 
Neighbor.”  Bishop  made  a tieup  with 
General  Foods  which  netted  him  window 
and  store  displays  throughout  the  city  as 
well  as  200,000  fliers  plugging  his  play- 
ing date. 

According  to  a communication  from 
Mayor  John  Queen  of  this  city,  Grand  Na- 
tional Films,  Ltd.,  has  undertaken  to  con- 
tribute 20  per  cent  of  the  gross  receipts 
from  the  showings  of  ‘‘Hitler — Beast  of 
Berlin”  and  ‘‘The  Warning,”  to  the  fund  in 
aid  of  London’s  air  raid  victims.  Mayor 
Queen  appealed  to  the  residents  of  Mani- 
toba to  aid  in  this  work  by  attending  the 
showings  of  these  two  films.  Playing  dates 
are  now  being  set  for  the  entire  territory. 

New  Year’s  Eve  was  a gala  night  in  the 
city  with  all  houses  throwing  midnight 
shows.  At  the  Capitol,  Harold  Bishop  had 
a monster  celebration  with  a stage  show 
in  addition  to  his  feature  showing  of  “Tin 
Pan  Alley.”  On  the  stage,  Bishop  presented 


a CBC  orchestra,  professional  acts  from 
the  Cave,  local  dining  spot,  and  a number 
of  local  amateur  acts.  At  the  Metropoli- 
tan, Syl  Gunn  had  an  elaborate  stage  pre- 
sentation consisting  of  Herbie  Brittain’s 
popular  orchestra  and  six  vaudeville  acts. 
The  film  shown  was  “Second  Chorus.” 

All  FP  employes  in  the  city,  with  the 
exception  of  house  managers  and  projec- 
tionists, received  Christmas  bemuses  of 
two  weeks’  pay.  Western  Theatres,  Ltd., 
employes  also  found  something  extra  in 
their  socks  on  Christmas  morning  with 
President  J.  Miles  playing  Santa  Claus  to 
the  extent  of  a week’s  pay  . . . H.  J.  Allen, 
general  manager  of  Grand  National  Films, 
with  offices  in  Toronto,  was  a Winnipeg 
visitor. 

George  Frazer  of  20th-Fox  will  arrive 
here  next  week  in  connection  with  the 
publicity  campaign  which  he  is  to  direct 
for  “Hudson’s  Bay.”  Assistant  Manager 
Jack  Fitzgibbons  will  work  with  Frazer 
. . . There  is  a rumor  to  the  effect  that 
Nate  Rothstein  is  about  to  acquire  three 
more  theatres  in  the  Saskatoon  district  . . . 
“Mein  Kampf,”  which  has  been  described 
as  Germany’s  book  of  doom,  was  screened 
here  recently  and  is  booked  for  an  early 
showing  . . . John  Schuberg  of  Vancouver, 
who  was  in  the  city  recently,  has  returned 
to  the  coast. 


Long  Illness  Is  Fatal 
To  P.  J,  Greenlees 

Toronto — The  death  has  occurred  of 
P.  J.  Greenlees  who  devoted  the  last  30 
years  of  his  life  to  the  operation  of  the 
Princess,  a 413-seat  theatre  at  Woodstock, 
Ont.  Pat  Greenlees,  one  of  the  most 
colorful  figures  in  the  film  exhibition  field 
in  the  Dominion,  long  professed  that  he 
had  never  changed  the  outward  appear- 
ance of  his  theatre  and  it  was  regarded 
as  an  old  stand-by,  to  modernize  which 
would  have  meant  the  loss  of  its  original- 
ity. He  died  after  a lingering  illness. 

Despite  a heavy  fall  of  snow,  a depu- 
tation of  Toronto  men  motored  to  Wood- 
stock  for  the  funeral  mass,  including  W.  A. 
Baillie,  veteran  owner  of  the  Adelphi,  Sam 
Brint  of  Empire-Universal,  Harry  Ginsler 
of  the  Iola  and  Len.  Hoffman  of  Per- 
kins Electric. 

May  Show  16mm  Films  on 
War  Effort  to  Groups 

Regina — Tentative  plans  have  been  made 
by  the  local  branch  of  the  National  Film 
Society  to  include  in  its  1940-41  activities 
the  free  showing  of  16mm  films  to  clubs 
or  groups  who  might  be  interested.  The 
films,  short  features  of  an  informative 
nature,  would  deal  for  the  most  part  with 
Canada’s  war  effort  and  be  shown  twice 
a week  or  every  two  weeks. 


Films  to  Train  Troops 

Regina — Visual  education,  fast  being 
employed  by  schools  throughout  Canada, 
is  now  being  used  to  train  Canada’s  armed 
forces.  All  training  camps  in  Canada  are 
being  equipped  with  projectors  for  show- 
ing 16mm  sound  films. 


C,  ft 

: SASKATCHEWAN  : 

vs  ■ JJ 

JACK  WILLIAMS  has  replaced  Billy  El- 
* lison  on  the  Met,  Regina,  ushering  staff. 
Ellison  is  with  the  Navy. 

Annual  staff  party  of  the  Grand  The- 
atre, Regina,  put  on  by  Famous  Players 
Canadian  Corp.  and  Mrs.  J.  Graham,  own- 
er of  the  theatre,  was  held  December  21. 
Staff  members  were  given  bonuses  of  two 
weeks’  pay. 

Saskatoon  is  expected  to  have  the  onen- 
ing  of  Paul  Muni’s  latest  picture,  “Hud- 
son’s Bay,”  simultaneously  with  open- 
ings in  other  parts  of  Canada  on 
January  16,  according  to  an  announce- 
ment made  in  Vancouver  recently.  First 
showings  of  the  picture  will  be  in  Van- 
couver, Victoria,  Winnipeg,  Saskatoon, 
Edmonton  and  Calgary,  the  announce- 
ment said.  Arrangements  are  being  made 
to  have  some  of  the  stars  appear  at  the 
openings. 

Elks  Lodge  at  Estevan  took  over  the 
Orpheum  Theatre  December  23  and  played 
host  to  all  boys  and  girls  of  the  town  un- 
der 13  years  bf  age.  Free  candy  and  pea- 
nuts went  with  the  show. 


Sabu  in  Montreal 

Montreal — Sabu,  boy  star  of  “The  Thief 
of  Bagdad,”  was  guest  of  honor  at  the 
meeting  of  the  Ottawa  Rotary  Club  in 
the  Chateau  Laurier,  on  December  23. 
Sabu  was  accompanied  by  his  brother, 
Shaik,  and  Lou  Guimond,  Canadian  rep- 
resentative of  United  Artists. 


120 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


Practical  Ideas  by  Practical  Showmen 
On  Merchandising  the  Motion  Picture 


I SELIIHB  SEATS 


(t  ' - ft 

Club  Draws  New  Patrons 

vt  — V 


Miller  and  Peters  Earn 
Metro  Honor  Awards 

New  York — M-G-M  has  awarded  Honor 
Roll  Buttons  to  Managers  Frank  Miller, 
Metropolitan  Theatre,  Morgantown,  W. 
Va.,  and  George  Peters,  Loew’s  Colonial, 
Reading,  Pa.,  for  their  outstanding  ex- 
ploitation campaigns  for  “Bitter  Sweet” 
and  “Hullabaloo,”  respectively. 

Highlights  of  Miller’s  “Bitter  Sweet” 
campaign  were:  Electrical  transcription 
planted  with  local  radio  station  and  played 
one  day  in  advance  of  opening.  Two 
thousand  heralds  distributed  house-to- 
house.  The  same  number  of  duo-tone 
photos  set  with  leading  department  store 
chain.  One  thousand  cards  mailed  to 
members  of  music  clubs.  Thirty-five  hun- 
dred chocolate  tabs  distributed  by  a young 
lady  dressed  in  a similar  costume  to  that 
worn  by  Jeanette  MacDonald  in  the  pic- 
ture. Inquiring  Reporter  stunt  with  best 
answers  receiving  guest  tickets.  Drawing 
contest  conducted  by  art  department  of 
Morgantown  High  School  from  photos  of 
Miss  MacDonald,  with  winning  entries  dis- 
played in  lobby.  Still  displays  planted  with 
numerous  stores. 

Highlights  of  Peters’  “Hullabaloo”  cam- 
paign were:  Treasure  Hunt  at  Reading’s 
busiest  five-and-dime  store.  Newspaper 
contest  on  words  assembled  from  letters  in 
the  title.  Several  thousand  heralds  dis- 
tributed at  local  dances,  football  games, 
hotels,  etc.  Corresponding  number  stunt, 
with  cards  for  boys  and  girls  distributed, 
similar  numbers  teaming  up  and  being 
admitted  to  theatre  free.  Opening  night 
parade  to  theatre  led  by  60-piece  cadet 
band.  Headless  man  ballyhoo,  with  sign 
reading:  “I  laughed  my  head  off,  etc.” 
Proclamation  on  part  of  Mayor  for  a 
Laugh  Week  during  film’s  engagement. 
School  essay  contest  offering  prizes  for 
best  short  radio  script.  Numerous  window 
still  displays  in  leading  stores. 


", Boom  Town " Week  Hypos 
Selling  in  Evansville 

Evansville,  Ind. — With  the  declaration 
by  the  mayor  of  a “Boom  Town”  Week, 
Manager  R.  H.  Suits  of  Loew’s  Evans- 
ville, and  Harold  H.  Marshall,  Metro  ex- 
ploiteer,  were  able  to  go  to  town  in  selling 
the  feature. 

Five  hundred  downtown  poles  were  pla- 
carded with  “Evansville  celebrates  ‘Boom 
Town’  Week;”  merchants  featured  “Boom 
Town”  sales:  the  press  cooperated  with 
art  and  stories;  a hotel  put  on  a buffet 
dinner  opening  night  for  oil  pioneers, 
which  civic  dignitaries  attended;  a parade 
with  police  escort  led  from  the  hotel  to 
the  theatre;  a broadcast  was  carried  from 
the  lobby;  taxis  carried  bumper  strips  and 
all  downtown  street  corners  were  stenciled. 


Boston — Designed  to  bring  children 
from  outlying  districts  to  the  Warren 
Theatre  in  Roxbury,  the  Honor  Roll  Club, 
devised  by  Manager  John  Buckley,  is 
credited  with  hypoing  boxoffice  business 
at  the  suburban  house.  The  prime  pur- 
pose of  the  Club  originally  was  to  insure 
a better  relationship  with  the  children, 
parents,  and  school  authorities.  In  the 
final  analysis,  it  tended  to  attract  a sub- 
stantial percentage  of  juveniles  who  were 
not  accustomed  to  patronizing  the  house. 

John  Buckley  laid  down  the  rules  of  the 
Warren  Theatre  Honor  Roll  Club  as  fol- 
lows: 

“(1)  Any  boy  or  girl  in  Roxbury  or 
Dorchester  attending  either  a public  or  a 
parochial  grammar  school  was  eligible  to 
become  a member. 

“(2)  To  become  a member  a pupil  must 
be  on  the  honor  roll  in  school. 

“(3>  A member  is  entitled  to  one 
month’s  free  admission  to  the  theatre  on 
Saturday  afternoon.  In  order  to  avoid 
duplication  or  fraud,  he  listed  the  children 


Milwaukee — Three  girls  were  selected 
from  among  300  contestants  to  “date” 
Robert  Preston,  Lynne  Overman  and  Pres- 
ton Foster  during  their  personal  appear- 
ance here  in  connection  with  the  opening 
of  “North  West  Mounted  Police”  at  Fox’s 
Palace  and  Wisconsin  theatres.  The  girls 
accompanied  the  actors  to  a luncheon  and 
to  the  theatres. 


alphabetically  by  schools.  This  prevented 
children  from  switching  report  cards  in 
order  to  obtain  Honor  Roll  Club  cards. 

“Although  we  did  not  receive  official 
recognition  from  the  school  authorities,” 
Buckley  said,  “many  teachers  informed 
their  classes  about  the  club.  This  club  was 
one  of  the  few  plans  we  have  had  over 
which  both  children  and  parents  alike  were 
enthusiastic.” 

Buckley  provided  a short  trailer  ex- 
plaining the  rules  of  the  club  and  made 
regular  announcements  from  the  stage  as 
well  as  giving  the  enterprise  lobby  exploi- 
tation. 

Trailer  copies  stressed  the  fact  that  a 
pupil  must  be  on  the  Honor  Roll  for  two 
months.  This  angle  was  made  particu- 
larly clear  as  many  parochial  schools  in 
the  vicinity  issue  a monthly  report  card. 
The  two-month  period  for  a parochial 
school  child  was  made  to  coincide  with  the 
two-month  pericd  of  the  public  school 
pupil.  Membership  cards  were  given  to 
each  Honor  Roll  student. 


Obtains  Chain  Calls 

Springfield,  Mass. — George  Freeman  of 
the  Poli  Theatre  invited  the  press  and  40 
women  members  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Council  to  a screening  of  “The  Long  Voy- 
age Home.”  Each  woman,  a member  of 
an  organization  represented  in  the  Coun- 
cil, reported  on  the  picture  to  her  or- 
ganization and  agreed  to  call  five  other 
women  and  ask  them  in  turn  to  call  five 
more,  and  urge  attendance  at  the  picture. 


A 

▼ 


STRAND  PROGRAM,  NOV.  7 to  DEC.  8 


MOO  E.  WASHINGTON  ST. 


FREE  PARKING  LOT 


THliRS.  FRIDAY  SAT.  SUNDAY 

Nov  7 8 9 10 

TYRONE  POWER.  “BRIGHAM  YOUNG" 
•RANGERS  OF  FORTUNE" 


< Nov.  14  15  16  17 

W DEANNA  DURBIN.  “SPRING  PARADE" 
q RITZ  BROS..  “ARGENTINE  NIGHTS” 

£ Nov.  21  22  23  24 

^ Matinee  ThanksKlvInic 

. Rooney -Ga Hand , “STRIKE  UP  THE  BAND' 
3 .1.  STEWART.  “NO  TIME  FOR  COMEDY" 

5 Nov.  28  29  30  Dec.  1 

"KNUTE  ROCKNE,  ALL-AMERICAN" 
IN  COLOR  — "DOWN  ARGENTINE  WAV" 


Dec.  5 

MYRNA  LOV,  • 
CARY  GRANT. 


6 7 8 

•SR  FINGER,  LEFT  HAND” 
“HOWARDS  OF  VIRGINIA' 


MON.  TUES. 


LI.  6046 

WED. 


11  12  13 

“CAPTAIN  CAUTION” 
•Rlonrttp  Ha.  Servant  Trouble*  y 

18  19  20 

“MUMMY'S  HAND”  . 
"CHAN  IN  WAX  MUSEUM”  g 


25  26  27 

"CITY  FOR  CONQUEST” 
"RIVER'S  END" 

2 3 4 

"PUBLIC  DEBT  NO.  1” 
"GAY  CABALLERO" 


> 

£ 


20 


Mon.,  Tues.,  Wed.  Till 
6:00;  Thur.,  Fri.  Till 
U 5:30;  Sat.,  Sun.,  Hoi. 
Till  12:30 


A 

▼ 


Redeemable  for  a Pass — 

Above  is  pictured  an  entire  month’s  program  as  printed  in  the  newspapers  by 
Claude  Allison,  manager  of  the  Strand  Theatre  in  Indianapolis.  In  the  mar- 
gin are  instructions  to  the  reader  to  clip  and  save  the  program.  At  the  end 
of  the  month  Allison  chooses  names  from  his  mailing  list,  who,  if  able  to 
present  the  program,  receive  a guest  ticket.  The  stunt  is  popular  with  the 
patrons. 


Girls  "Date”  Stars 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


121 


SELLING  SEATS 


College  Prank  Made 
National  Publicity 

New  Haven — When  Bob  Russell,  man- 
ager of  the  Loew-Poli,  attended  a dinner 
for  the  Yale  University  Band  and  made  a 
speech,  he  couldn’t  resist  the  temptation 
to  put  in  a plug  for  “Go  West,”  opening 
at  the  Loew-Poli  that  week,  “two  weeks 
in  advance  of  New  Year’s,  specially  for  you 


In  Celebration — 

Local  merchants  donated  the  cake 
over  which  Rufus  Shepherd,  right, 
stands  guard.  The  occasion  was  the 
12 th  anniversary  of  the  Fisher  Theatre 
in  Detroit,  which  Shepherd  manages. 


Jewelry  Display  Uses  Stills 

Providence,  R.  I.— Manager  George 
French  of  the  RKO  Albee  obtained  a win- 
dow display  for  “They  Knew  What  They 
Wanted”  at  a local  jeweler’s.  Stills  of 
Lombard  wearing  jewelry  made  the  cen- 
terpiece. 

fr  

Boxing  Match  lor 
" Leather  Pushers" 

New  Haven — H.  W.  Reisinger,  manager 
of  the  Bijou  Theatre,  made  his  booking  of 
"Leather  Pushers”  noteworthy  by  stag- 
ing a three-round  boxing  match  between 
local  youngsters  on  the  stage  of  his  thea- 
tre at  the  evening  show.  New  England's 
heavyweight  champion  served  as  referee, 
and  various  local  sport  gentry  partici- 
pated. Ads  were  spotted  on  the  sport 
page  as  well  as  the  amusement  page, 
and  space  was  garnered  in  the  sports 
columns  of  the  dailies.  Reisinger  per- 
mitted announcements  from  the  stage 
during  the  amateur  show,  as  to  boxing 
matches. 

VS—  - >J 


Yale  boys,”  as  he  put  it. 

Little  did  he  dream  what  seeds  of  mis- 
chief he  had  planted  in  fertile  student 
minds,  until  some  days  later,  six  members 
of  the  Yale  Pundit  Club,  among  the  most 
prominent  students  at  Yale,  had  a brain- 
stonn  and  started  one  of  the  biggest  pub- 
licity stunts  on  the  picture  ever  to  be 
pulled  on  any  picture — a stunt  which  has 
been  given  space  and  art  in  papers  all  over 
the  country. 

Simultaneously  in  various  parts  of  the 
center  of  the  college  towns,  six  automo- 
biles were  stalled  in  the  Christmas  shop- 
ping traffic,  six  Grouchos  alighted  from 
the  allegedly  stalled  cars  and  began  busily 
repairing  the  cars,  with  typical  Groucho 
antics.  Appreciative  crowds  gathered  in 
record  time,  whereupon  the  police  took 
over  and  dispersed  the  crowds,  and  the 
boys  went  on  their  way.  When  it  be- 
came evident  that  the  stunt  was  all  over 
the  place,  the  police  were  considerably 
dazed  and  a good  portion  of  New  Haven 
Christmas  shoppers  were  Groucho-con- 
scious.  Then  the  costumed  hoaxers  wound 
up  their  quiet  day  by  buying  tickets  for 
“Go  West”  at  the  Loew-Poli. 


Which  is  where  Nat  Rubin,  assistant  at 
the  Loew-Poli,  came  right  in  with  a flash 
of  genius.  Immediately  aware  that  this 
was  great  stuff,  Nat  summoned  a photog- 
rapher and  got  the  “Marxes”  to  pose. 
Upon  identification,  the  boys  turned  out 
to  be  Charles  Spalding  of  Lake  Forest,  Il- 
linois, Phi  Beta  Kappa  president  and 
Yale  News  columnist;  Larry  G.  Tighe  jr„ 
of  New  Haven,  chairman  of  the  Junior 
Prom  Committee  and  the  Yale  Dramatic 
Association;  William  E.  Jackson,  Yale 
News  editor  and  son  of  the  attorney  gen- 
eral; George  H.  Meade  jr.  of  Dayton,  foot- 
ball manager  at  the  university;  John  B. 
Madden  of  Brooklyn,  captain  of  the  150- 
pound  football  team,  and  Charles  Potter 
Stevenson  of  Buffalo,  varsity  hockey  player. 

The  team  of  Russell  and  Rubin  got  to 
work  on  a little  publicity  and  the  pictures 
taken  so  hurriedly  in  the  lobby  made  the 
press  of  the  various  Connecticut  towns 
with  splash  stories  in  no  time  at  all.  Al- 
most immediately,  there  were  requests  for 
pictures  from  Life  and  other  publications; 
the  New  York  Times  had  a story,  as  did 
Chicago,  Washington,  and  other  cities  over 
the  country. 

The  Russell-Rubin  team  is  still  trying 
to  recover  from  the  excitement  of  turning 
a college  gag  into  a publicity  stunt  which 
netted  thousands  of  dollars  worth  of  free 
space  for  “Go  West.”  It’s  the  first  stunt, 
they  pride  themselves,  to  have  assumed 
such  proportions  in  out-of-state  press. 


(r  — - ft 

Peanut  Cart  for 
"Go  West" 

St.  Louis — Digging  up  an  antiquated 
whistling  peanut  cart  and  utilizing  it  for 
the  cuifo  distribution  of  200  pounds  of 
peanuts  on  the  downtown  streets  was  the 
highlight  of  the  outdoor  bally  conceived 
by  Jimmy  Harris,  p.  a.  at  Loew's,  for  "Go 
West."  Distributors  of  the  goobers  were 
three  pseudo  Marx  boys  and  when  timid 
pedestrians  hesitated  in  accepting  the 
peanuts  the  lads  stuffed  them  in  pockets 
and  dashed  back  to  the  cart.  A string 
was  affixed  to  the  steam  whistle  and  the 
boys  amused  pedestrians  with  their  antics 
with  the  whistle. 

The  Union  Pacific  railroad  placed  500 
"Go  West"  cards  in  depots  in  this  area 
and  Harris  and  Harold  “Chick"  Evens, 
manager  of  the  theatre,  made  a deal  with 
19  Walgreen  drug  stores  to  imprint  all 
menu  cards  with  "Go  West"  copy  during 
the  talker's  run.  Similar  deal  was  made 
with  the  Thompson's  chain  of  restaurants 
with  20,000  paper  napkins  being  im- 
printed. 

V5  JJ 


Ask  'Em  to  Sing — 

Lobby  display  used  by  Loew’s  Criter- 
ion for  the  New  York  first  run  of  Re- 
public’s “Hit  Parade  of  1941.”  A live 
mike  carried  requests  for  songs  to  a 
Hugh  Herbert  imitator,  who  played 
the  recordings  requested.  The  sign 
above  the  cutouts  reads:  “Step  up  to 
the  microphone  and  ask  Hugh  Herbert 
or  Mary  Boland  for  your  favorite  tune 
from  ‘Hit  Parade’.”  Then  are  listed 
several  of  the  song  titles. 


Interview  Star  by  Phone 

Minneapolis — As  a plug  for  “Spring 
Parade,”  the  St.  Paul  Orpheum  had  Jules 
L.  Steele,  St.  Paul  Dispatch  film  editor, 
interview  Deanna  Durbin  over  the  long 
distance  telephone. 


122 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


This  Theatre  Newspaper  Exploits  All  Your 
Programs— a “Herald”  Advertises  hut  one! 


HHf? 

Sfe 

California  Can 
Be  Too  Perfect. 
Believe  It  or  Hot 


DL  ST  A IP~J. 


HD 


Two  weekly  issues 
of  Movie  Time 
reproduced  in  miniature. 


The  Intelligent,  Aggressive  Manager  Now  Publishes  a House-Organ 
Weekly  Newsmagazine  That  Gains  in  Value  Each  leek 

IHoVIETimE 


HOLLYWOOD'S  STRENDODS  CHRISTMAS 

Generous  Stars 
Give  Freely  of 
Talents  and  Time 


! WSfk 

• Mmm  w 

aSSns-S 

s -£?$£££ 

^L'rzF:?'zr3, 

CUE 


OL  STIR  Pa.aJ. 


PULINARY 

L-ueJ.  •> 


CHAT 


Tremendous  changes 

have  taken  place 
throughout  the  country  in 
the  local  retailing  of  motion 
picture  attractions  to  the 
regular  and  potential  audi- 
ences in  the  community.  Ex- 
hibitors have  cleaned  up 
and  greatly  improved  their 
showmanship  and  their  EX- 
PLOITATION. They  have 
found,  among  other  things, 
that  diminutive  heralds, 
equally  small  size  printed 
house  programs  and  occa- 
sional circular  throwaways 
are  inadequate  vehicles  for 
intelligent  promotion. 

Managers  and  owners 
HAVE  TURNED  TO  MOVIE 
TIME,  THE  THEATRE'S  OWN 
ILLUSTRATED,  REGULAR- 
LY-ISSUED WEEKLY  NEWS- 
PAPER as  the  perfect  me- 
dium for  increasing  theatre 
goodwill  and  attracting 
greater  patronage. 

To  create  such  a weekly 
newspaper  for  your  theatre 
would  be  an  expensive  un- 
dertaking, quite  beyond  any 
average  theatre's  means. 
Magazine  grade  paper  in 
small  quantities  is  expensive. 
Fine  screen  illustrations  are 
equally  so.  You  have  no 
Hollywood  staff  to  gather 
gossip,  news  and  features 


and  you  would  be  obliged 
to  print  stale  matter  rewrit- 
ten from  the  newspapers. 

MOVIE  TIME — now  in  its 
eighth  month  of  consecutive 
weekly  publication  and  used 
by  theatres  throughout  the 
country — was  created  to 
provide  you  a peppy,  snap- 
py, colorful,  newsy  and  in- 
telligent weekly  house  or- 
gan AT  LOW  COST.  It  has 
gained  immense  popularity. 
It  is  within  reach  of  almost 
the  smallest  of  theatres. 

Based  on  their  size  our 
theatre  clients  use  from  1,- 
000  to  5,000  copies  per  thea- 
tre per  week.  We  ship  it  to 
them  flat  and  local  printers 
imprint  on  Page  1 the  name 
of  the  theatre  and  on  Page 


4 (a  full  blank  page)  the 
house  programs  and  adver- 
tisements of  local  stores, 
shops,  soda  fountains,  lunch 
rooms,  dry  cleaners,  cocktail 
bars,  cigarette  and  candy 
outlets  to  cover  a large  part 
or  all  of  what  MOVIE  TIME 
costs  them. 

MOVIE  TIME  is  offered  on 


an  exclusive  basis  in  your 
zone  or  neighborhood.  When 
you  have  it  a competitor 
cannot  get  it.  It  is  high 
time  you  got  samples  of  it. 
When  you  have  examined 
them  we  believe  you  will 
become  one  of  the  alert  and 
progressive  exhibitors  using 
MOVIE  TIME. 


MOVIE  TIME 

9th  and  Van  Brunt, 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Without  obligation  to  me,  please  send  me  cost  data  about  and 
sample  copies  of  your  motion  picture  weekly  news-magazine 
and  do  this  PRONTO. 

My  name  is  

My  theatre  is  

Street  

Town  State 


Date  at  side  of  column  is  week  ending.  Number  in  square  is  national  release  date.  Production  number  is  at  right. 
Running  time,  as  furnished  by  home  office  of  distributor,  follows  title.  As  local  conditions,  such  as  censorship, 
subject  this  to  change,  checkup  with  local  exchanges  is  recommended.  R — is  review  date.  PG — is  Picture  Guide 
iage  number.  Symbol  O indicates  BOXOFFICE  Blue  Ribbon  Award  Winner.  Symbol  © indicates  color  photography. 


[28|  Mystery  103 

.Marked  Men  (70) 

Warren  Hull 

a be© 

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8<r 

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[30]  Western  158 

Billy  the  Kid  in 

Texas  (57) 

Bob  Steele 

[~5~|  Western  154 

Riders  of  Black 

Mountain  (60) 

Tim  McCoy 

P-R-C 

Woman  (67) 
Jeffrey  Lynn 

Brenda  Marshall 

R — Aug.  17 

22  ci 

•00  •* 
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■ 2 ? 1 

Q 1 1 c S S 

“ ■??  O 5 M 
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[3l]  Drama  \\  13401 
'ea  Hawk,  The 

(126) 

Errol  Flynn 

Brenda  Marshall 

R— July  27 

05 

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[h]  Comedy  FN554 

No  Time  for  Com- 

edy (93) 

James  Stewart 

Rosalind  Russell 

R — Sept.  14 

[2i|  Drama  WB506 

City  for  Conquest 

(106) 

James  Cagney 

Ann  Sheridan 

R — Sept.  14 

[~5~]  Drama  WTJ502 

ivnute  Koclcne,  All 

American  (98) 

Pat  O’Brien 

R— Oct.  12 

fl2|  Comedy  FN559 

Father  Is  a Prince 

(56) 

Grant  Mitchell 

R— Nov.  9 

HU  Hist.  Dr.  WB511 

Dispatch  from  Reu- 

ters (90) 

Edw.  G.  Robmson 

R — Sept.  28 

H|]  Com.  Dr.  FN561 

Tugboat  Annie 

Sails  Again  (77) 

Marjorie  Rambeau 

Alan  Hale 

R — Oct.  26 

[~2~|  Comedy  FN570 

Always  a Bride  (60) 

Rosemary  Lane 

R— Nov.  30 

|~9~|  Drama  FN562 

East  of  the  River 

(73)  R — Nov.  2 

John  Garfield 

Brenda  Marshall 

WARNER-F.  N. 

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HU  Melodrama  5046 

Fugitive,  The  (76) 

R — July  6 

[27]  Mus.  Com.  5001 

c>pring  Parade  (89) 

Deanna  Durbin 

R — Oct.  5 

[~4~|  Drama  5019 

Diamond  Frontier 

(71) 

Victor  McLaglen 

R — Oct.  5 

[TT]  Melodrama  5017 

A Little  Bit  of 

Heaven  (86) 

Gloria  Jean 

R — Oct.  19 

[l8|  Western  5062 

Law  and  Order  (57) 

Johnny  M.  Brown 

R — Dec.  14 

**  c*-.  £ ^ 

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[~j~l  Comedy  5036 

I’m  Nobody’s  Sweet- 

heart Now  (63) 

R — Aug.  10 

[~1~|  Melodrama  5052 

Devil’s  Pipeline  (65) 

R — Nov.  30 

[~8]  Comedy  5021 

Sandy  Gets  Her  Man 

(66)  R — Nov.  16 

|~8]  Western  5063 

Pony  Post  (59) 

R — Dec.  14 

UNIVERSAL 

foreign  correspon- 
dent (120) 

Joel  McCrea 

Laraine  Day 

R — Sept.  7 

[30]  Action  Drama 

Kit  Carson  (97) 

Jon  Hall 

Lynn  Bari 

R— Sept.  7 

|13]  Drama 

Pastor  Hall  (92) 

Nova  Pilbeam 
it — Aug.  3 

[20]  Act.  Drama 

1 he  Westerner  (99) 
Gary  Cooper 

Doris  Davenport 

R — May  25 

UNITED  ARTISTS 

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^31  Drama  106 

Pier  13  (66) 

Lynn  Bari 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R — Aug.  17 

[30]  Comedy  109 

Young  People  (79) 

Shirley  Temple 

Jack  Oakie 

R— July  20 

[~6~j  Melodrama  11C 

Charlie  Chan  at  the 

Wax  Museum  (63) 
Sidney  Toler 

R — Aug.  3 

[X3|  Comedy  105 

Elsa  Maxwell's  Pub- 
lic Deb  No.  1 (80) 

George  Murphy 

Brenda  Joyce 

R — Aug.  31 

|2p|  Drama  116 

Yesterday’s  Heroes 

(65) 

Robert  Sterling 

Jean  Rogers 

R — Sept.  21 

o £ 

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E e £ | fe  2 

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^ Act.  Drama  108 

Gay  Caballero, 

The  (57) 

Cesar  Romero 

R — Sept.  28 

[H|  Mus.  Com.  113 

©Down  Argentine 

Way  (88) 

Don  Ameche 

R — Oct.  12 

[x§|  Drama  114 

Night  Train  (93) 

Margaret  Lockwood 

Rex  Harrison 

R — Nov.  2 

(25]  Comedy  111 

The  Great  Profile 

(71) 

John  Barrymore 

R — Aug.  24 

|~8~|  Melodrama  117 

Mark  of  Zorro  (93) 

Tyrone  Power 

Linda  Darnell 

R — Nov.  9 

20TH-F0X 

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|l6|  Propaganda  171 

Ramparts  We  Watch 
(87)  R— July  27 

[23|  Drama  043 

Wildcat  Bus  (63) 

F.  Wray  R-Aug.  24 

[23]  Comedy  046 

Dance,  Girl,  Dance 
(89)  R — Aug.  31 
[30]  Drama  038 

Lucky  Partners  (101) 

R.Colman  R-Aug.  24 

[~6~|  AcL  Drama  101 

Men  Against  the  Sky 

(75)  R — Aug.  31 
Richard  Dix 

Wendy  Barrie 

C»i  1—  Tji 

© — rH 

^ ill 

s 1 5 

g tiM  C 

° l^oa 

23  S 

Us  3 

[|oJ  Western  086 

Triple  Justice  (66) 

Geo.  O’Brien 

R — Oct.  19 

HU  Drama  103 

I'm  Still  Alive  (72) 

Kent  Taylor 

R — Sept.  21 

[~4~|  Western  181 

Wagon  Train  (59) 

Tim  Holt 

Ray  Whitley 

R— Oct.  12 

[U]  Burl.  Com.  106 

Villain  Still  Pursued 

Her  (67)  R-Aug.  3 
Anita  Louise 

Hugh  Herbert 

|lg]  Melodrama  107 

Laddie  (70) 

Tim  Holt 

Virginia  Gilmore 

R — Sept.  21 

[25]  Melodrama  104 

They  Knew  What 

They  Wanted  (90) 

Carole  Lombard 

Chas.  Laughton 

R — Oct.  19 

|"T~|  Comedy  109 

Li’l  Abner  (78) 

Granville  Owen 

R — Nov.  9 

[~8~j  Comedy  106 

Too  Many  Girls  (85) 

Lucille  Ball 

Frances  Langford 

R — Oct.  12 

RKO  RADIO 

i- 

1- 

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[29]  Western  06S 

Ok  la.  Renegades 
(57)  R — Sept.  14 

[3lj  Comedy  924 

Earl  of  Puddlestone 
(67)  R — Aug.  24 

[~6~|  Western  043 

Ride.  Tenderfoot, 
Ride  (65) 

Gene  Autry 

R — Aug.  31 

[H|  Melodrama  017 
Girl  From  Havana 

(69) 

Dennis  O’Keefe 

Clair  Carlton 

R — Sept  14 

[15]  Western  051 

Colorado  (57) 

Roy  Rogers 

R — Sept.  14 

HU  Western  062 

tinder  Texas  Skies 

(57) 

Three  Mesquiteers 

R — Sept.  21 

[ip|  Western  072 

Frontier  Vengeance 

(57)  R — Oct.  19 

Don  “Red”  Barry 

[n]  Mus.  Com.  005 
Melody  and  Moon- 
light (73) 

Johnny  Downs 

R — Oct.  19 

pX5]  Mus.  Com.  001 
Hit  Parade  of  1941 

(88) 

Frances  Langford 

R — Oct.  19 

[21]  Western  052 

Young  Bill  Hickok 

(60)  R — Oct.  5 

Roy  Rogers 

|~1~|  Mystery  006 

Who  Killed  Aunt 

Maggie?  (70) 

Wendy  Barrie 

John  Hubbard 

R — Nov.  2 

|~7~j  Mus.  Comedy  007 

Friendly  Neighbors 

(67)  R— Nov.  16 

The  Weavers 

REPUBLIC 

Cornin’  Round  the 
Mountain  (63) 

Bob  Burns 
na  Merkel 

R— Aug.  17 

[23]  Com.  Drama  3945 
I'lie  Great  McGint> 

(83) 

Brian  Donlevy 

Muriel  Angelus 

R — July  27 

[q]  Mus.  Com.  4001 
Rhythm  on  the 
River  (94) 

Ring  Crosby 

R — Aug.  24 

HU  Drama  4002 

I Want  a Divorce 

(92)  R — Aug.  17 
Dick  Powell 

Joan  Blondell 

[27]  Melodrama  4003 

Hangers  of  Fortune 

(80) 

Fred  MacMurray 

Patricia  Morison 

R — Sept.  14 

|~4~]  Melodrama  4004 

Quarterback  (74) 
Wayne  Morris 

Lillian  Cornell 

R— Oct.  5 

[n]  Drama  4005 

Cherokee  Strip  (86) 

Florence  Rice 
Richard  Dix 

R — Oct.  5 

|jj]  Drama  4006 

Moon  Over  Burma 

(76) 

Dorothy  Lamour 

R — Oct.  19 

H|]  Drama  4007 

Christmas  in  July 

(72)  R — Sept.  21 

HU  Documentary 
World  in  Flames 

(61)  R — Oct.  26 

|T|  Musical  4008 

Dancing  on  a Dime 

(74) 

Robert  Paige 

R— Oct.  12 

[~8~|  Musical  4009 

Arise  My  Love  (113) 

Claudette  Colbert 

Ray  Milland 

R — Oct.  19 

PARAMOUNT 

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S3,  £ Cm 

■§  (S'4 1 3« 
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HU  Melodrama  390/ 
Queen  of  the  Yukon 

(63) 

Charles  Bickford 

Irene  Rich 

R — Sept.  28 

[~2~]  Drama  3920 

Who  Is  Guilty?  (73) 

Ben  Lyon 

R — Sept.  14 

[~9~j  Com.  Drama  3914 

Up  in  the  Air  (61) 
Frankie  Darro 

R — Sept.  14 

s*  3 
© — ^ 

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S M 'S 

Tj  “ O 10 

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£ ^ >»£ 

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(15  Si 

|3q]  Melodrama  4001 

the  Ape  (62) 

Boris  Karloff 

R — Oct.  26 

[~7~1  Act.  Drama  4022 

Drums  of  the  Desert 

Ralph  Byrd 

R— Oct.  19 

[~7~]  Western 

Trailin’  Double 

Trouble  (58) 
Corrigan-Terhune- 

King  R — Oct.  19 

|~7~|  Com.  Dr.  4010 

»>r  Swimmin’  Hole 

(75)  R— Oct.  26 

M.  Jones 

T.  Moran 

fix]  Western  4051 

Take  Me  Back  to 

Oklahoma  (64) 

Tex  Ritter 

R— Nov.  30 

MONOGRAM 

Golden  Fleecing  (68) 

Lew  Ayres 

Rita  Johnson 

R — Aug.  24 

|30j  Drama  48 

Boom  Town  (120) 
Clark  Gable 

Spencer  Tracy 
Claudette  Colbert 

R — Aug.  10 

[6~|  Drama  101 

Dr.  Kildare  Goes 

Home  (79) 

Lew  Ayres 

R— Sept.  7 

[13]  Act.  Drama  102 

Wyoming  (88) 

Wallace  Beery 

Leo  Carillo 

R— Sept.  14 

HU  Mus.  Com.  104 
Haunted  Honey- 

moon (83) 

Robert  Montgomery 

R — Aug.  31 

co  ’w  *£ 

© a 2 

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£ ■*-  ^4  © U oo 

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[~4~1  Comedy  106 

Dulcy  (73) 

Ann  Sothern 

Ian  Hunter 

R — Oct.  6 

[H]  Drama  107 

Third  Finger,  I^cft 

Hand  (98) 
Douglas-Loy 

R — Oct.  19 

[25]  Comedy  109 

Hullabaloo  (77) 

Frank  Morgan 

Billie  Burke 

R— Nov.  2 

[Tj  Drama  108 

Escape  (104) 

Norma  Shearer 

Robert  Taylor 

R — Nov.  9 

[~8~1  Musical  110 

©Bittersweet  (92) 

Jeanette  MacDonald 

Nelson  Eddy 

R— Nov.  23 

M-G-M 

The  Secret  Seven 
(62)  R — Aug.  24 

[15]  Western  8201 
Durango  Kid  (65) 

R — Sept.  7 

[22)  Com.  Drama  1006 

He  Stayed  for 
Breakfast  (87) 

Loretta  Young 
Melvyn  Douglas 

R — Aug.  13 

|T|  Comedy  1022 

Five  Lit  tic  Peppers 

in  Trouble  (65) 
Edith  Fellows 

R — Sept.  7 

[~5]  Melodrama  2032 

Fugitive  From  Pris- 

on Camp  (59) 

[17]  Melodrama  1024 

Before  I Hang  (63) 

R — Oct.  19 

HU  Drama  1001 

C£The  Howards  of 
Virginia  (117) 

Cary  Grant 

Martha  Scott 

R — Sept.  7 

© to  a i a 

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pH  H 5 ^ 

<4  J.8  M? 

§ t.  I rt  t,K 

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Elo  E]< 

f3oj  Western  2209 

Prairie  Schooners 

(58)  R — Nov.  16 

Bill  Elliott 

[3]  Com.  Dr’ma  2018 

So  You  Won’t  Talk 

(69)  R— Oct.  5 

Joe  E.  Brown 

[17]  Drama  2030 

Nobody’s  Children 

(65) 

Edith  Fellows 

Billy  Lee 

H|]  Drama  2038 

Girls  Under  21  (63) 

R — Nov.  30 

HU  Western  2202 
B est  of  Abilene  (57) 

R — Aug.  3 

HU  Comedy  2016 

Blondie  Plays  Cupid 

(68) 

Penny  Singleton 

Arthur  Lake 

R — Nov.  2 

COLUMBIA 

17 

AUG. 

AUG. 

24 

AUG. 

31 

SEPT, 
i 7 

SEPT. 

14 

SEPT. 

21 

SEPT. 

28 

OCT. 

5 

OCT. 

12 

OCT. 

19 

OCT. 

26 

NOV. 

2 

NOV. 

9 

CHART 


Numeral  Is  production  number.  Running  time  follows  title.  First  date  Is  Na 
ttonal  release,  second  the  date  of  review  in  BOXOFFICE;  both  1940  unless 
otherwise  specified.  The  symbol  between  the  dates  is  rating-  from  the  BOX- 
OFFICE  review:  ff  Very  good,  -f-  Good,  ± Fair,  ip  Mediocre,  — Foor,  = Very 
Poor.  y Indicates  short  of  the  week.  Q Indicates  color  photography. 


DORIS  CHART 


Frod. 

No. 


Title 


Rel.  Rat- 
Bate  ing  Rev’d 


Prod. 

No. 


Title 


Rel.  Rat- 
Date  ing  Rev’d 


12-  7 
7-22 


8-31 


-f-  10-19 


10-19 

9-21 


-f  11-23 


zz  6-15 


10-19 

8-31 
12-  7 


Columbia 

AI.I.-STAR  COMEDIES 

2425.  .Blondes  and  Blunders  (16).  11-29 

1435.  .Boobs  in  the  Woods  (17)..  5-31 

2424..  Bundle  of  Bliss,  A (18).. 11-  1 

2423..  Cold  Tnrkey  (16) 10-18 

1438.  .Fireman  Save  My  Choo- 

Choo  (18)  8-9 

1437..  nis  Bridal  Fright  (16)...  7-12 

2426.  His  Ex  Marks  the  Spot 

(..)  12-13 

2421 ..  Pleased  to  Mitt  You  (18)..  9-  6 

1421..  5.inny  the  Moodier  (16(4)  *1-  8 

2422..  5.ook  Speaks,  The  (18)...  9-20 

1436.  .Taming  of  the  Snood  (16).  6-28 
9437.  .Trouble  Finds  Andy 

Clyde  (18)  7-28 

CINESCOPES 

2972.  .Floating  Elephants  (8)...  10-  4 

2971..  Hobby  Bobby  (11) 8-30 

2972.  .Industrial  Green  Island 

(10)  9-20 

2973 . . Nice  Work  If  You 

Can  Do  It  (9)  11-8 

1975  . Odd  Vacations  (8Va) 6-16 

2974..  Unique  Industry  (..) 12-19 

COBOR  RHAPSODIES 
(In  Technicolor) 

2505.  .A  Helping  Paw  (7) 1-  7 

1510  . Egg  Hunt,  The  (7V2) 5-31 

2502..  ©Mr.  Elephant  Goes  to 

Town  (7 Vo)  10-  4 

2501.  .Tangled  Television  (7V2) . . 8-30 

1512..  Timid  Pup,  The  (8) 8-1 

2504..  Wise  Owl  (7) 12-  6 

1511..  Ye  Olde  Swap  Shoppe  (714)  6-28 

COEUMBI A TOURS 
2556.  .Beautiful  British  Colum- 
bia (..)  12-20 

2551 ..  Historic  Virginia  (Andre  de 

In  Varre  Productions) 

(10)  8-16 

1558.  . In  the  Band  of  Pagodas 

(9)  6-14 

2554 ..  Islands  of  the  West 

Indies  (10)  10-25 

2553..  01.  and  New  Arizona 

(Special)  (9)  9-27 

2552..  5.voy  in  the  Alps  (I-a 

Varre  Productions)  (10).  9-13 
2555 . . Sojourn  in  Havana 

(EaVarre  Prod.)  (9)....  11-25 
COMMUNITY  SING 
1656  . No.  6 (Medley  of  Hits) 

(10)  6-28 

2651.  .No.  1.  . (Jolly  Tunes — D. 

Baker  (10)  10-  2 

2652.  .No.  2. . (Popular  Songs — I). 

Baker  (10)  11-  8 

2653.  .No.  3.  . (Melodies  That  Ein- 

ger— D.  Baker)  (10) 12-13 

FABBES  CARTOONS 
1754.  Barnyard  Babies  (7VZ) 6-14 

2751..  Farmer  Tom  Thumb  (6)..  9-27 

2752..  Mouse  Meets  Eion  (6)...  .10-25 

275.3..  Paunch  ’n’  Judy  (6) 12-13 

1755..  Pooch  Parade  (6) 7-19 

PHANTASIES  CARTOONS 

2702..  Happy  Holidays  (6) 10-25 

1706..  News  Oddities  (6) 7-19 

1756..  Peep  in  the  Deep,  A (6(4)  8-23 

2701..  5.hool  Boy  Dreams  (5)...  9-24 

2704..  Tom  Thumb’s  Brother 

(.)  1-17 

2703.  .Wallflower,  The  (..) 11-29 

QUIZ  REEBS 

2601..  Take  It  or  Beave  It  (9V2).  11-22 

SCREEN  SNAPSHOTS 

1858..  No.  8 (10) 6-  7 

Cowboy  Jubilee. 

1859  . No.  9 (10) 7-10 

Ken  Murray. 

1860  . No.  10  (9) 8-10 

Jack  Onkie. 

2851..  No.  1 (10) 9-6 

Ken  Murray. 

2852..  No.  2 (9) 10-18 

Don  Wilson. 

2853..  No.  3 (9) 11-22 

SPECIAB  (HAPPY-HOUR) 

2441..  Puss  in  Boots  (reissue) 

(40)  11-21 

SPORT  REEBS 

2803..  Ali  the  Giant  Killer  (..)..  12-27 

1809.  .Canvas  Capers  (11) 7-19 

Hunting  Wild  Deer  (9)...  11-22 

2801.  Master  of  Cue  With  Willie 

Hoppe  (9)  9-20 

1808..  5.ving  Strokes  With  Sam 

Snead  (10)  6-28 

THREE  STOOGES  COMEDIES 

2403..  Cuckoo  Cavaliers  (17) ...  .11-15 

2401..  From  Nurse  to  Worse  (16)  8-23 

1408..  How  High  Is  Up  (16)  7-16 

2402.  .No  Census,  No  Feeling  (16)  10-  4 
1407  . Nutty  But  Nice  (18) 6-14 


11-23 


10-23 
12-  7 


+ 11-23 


+ 


+ 


10-19 

12-  7 


8-31 

10-19 


12-  7 


± 8-31 


11- 23 

12-  7 


8-17 

++ 

9-  7 

10-26 

-H- 

10-26 

8-24 

9-28 

9-  9 

6-22 

TAEKS 

7-  6 

11-23 

-H 

12-14 

9-  7 

ff 

9-  7 

9-28 

9-28 

10-26 

+ 

11-  9 

. 6-  8 

6-  8 

10-  9 

i 

12-14 

. 7-20 

+ 

8-. 11 

.10-26 

11-  9 

10-12 

ff 

12-  7 

11-23 

ff 

12-  7 

6-22 

+ 

7-  6 

WASHINGTON  PARADE 
qq rips  2 

1905  . No.  5 (The  Archives)  (11).  7-4  -f-  8-  J 

1906.  .No.  6 (Our  Nat’l  Defense) 

(10)  8-30  

Series  3 

2901. No.  1 (The  Mint)  (10) 10-25  

2902..  No.  2 (U.  S.  Military  Acad- 
emy) (Special)  (..)....  11-28  .... 

2903.  .No.  3 (U.  S.  Naval  Acad- 
emy) (Special)  (..) 12-20  .... 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

CRIME  DOESN’T  PAY 
P-  5.  Buyers  Beware  (20). 

P-201.. QEyes  of  the  Navy  (20).  10-26 

P-  6 . Soak  the  Old  (20) 8-24 

P-815.. Think  First  (21) 

P-  4.. Women  in  Hiding  (22)....  6-22 
FITZPATRICK  TRAVEETAEKS 
(In  Technicolor) 

T-214 . .Beautiful  Bali  (9) 

T-211.  Capitol  City,  The — Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  (9) 

T-21 2.  .Cavalcade  of  San  Fran- 
cisco (9)  9-28 

T-213.  .Old  New  Mexico  (10) 10-26 

T-  62.. Suva,  Pride  of  Fiji  (9).. 

MINIATURES 

M-231.  .Rodeo  Dough  (10)  (Sepia)  10-  9 
M-G-M  CARTOONS 
(New  Series) 

(Technicolor) 

W-  90  . Bookworm  Turns,  The 

(8)  

W-  94.  .Gallopin’  Gals  (8) 

W-  93.  .Homeless  Flea,  The  (8)...  10-12 
W-241.  .lonesome  Stranger  (9).... 11-23 

W-  89  . Milky  Way,  The  (8) 6-22 

W-  92.. Papa  Gets  the  Bird  (8)...  9-  7 9-28 

W-  91..  Romeo  in  Rhythm  (8)....  8-10  ± 9-7 

W-  88.  .Tom  Turkey  (7) 6-8  .... 

M-G-M  NEWS  OF  THE  DAY 
Released  Twice  Weekly 
OUR  GANG  COMEDIES 

C-293.  .Goin’  Fishin’  (10) 10-26  ± 11-9 

C-291 . . Good  Bad  Boys  (11) 9-  7 -I-  9-7 

C-294.  Kiddie  Kure  (11) 11-23  + 12-28 

C-292 . . AValdo’s  Bast  Stand  (11)..  10-  5 12-7 

PASSING  PARADE 
(New  Series) 

K-281 . . American  Spoken  Here 

(Sepia)  (10)  11-30  ff  12-  7 

K-126.  .Baron  and  the  Rose,  The 

(11)  9-7  ff  9-28 

K-128.  .Dreams  (10)  11-16  -f  12-14 

Iv-127.  Utopia  of  Death  (10) 10-12  -f-  11-  9 

K-124..Way  in  the  Wilderness, 

A (10)  (Sepia) 6-22  -f  7-6 

PETE  SMITH  SPECIAETIES 
S-110.  .Cat  College  (9)  (Sepia)..  6-29  .... 

S-113.  .Football  Thrills  of  1939  (10)  9-21  ff  9-28 

S-112.  Please  Answer  (9).”. 8-24  ff  9-7 

S-261.  . ^jsQuicker'n  a lVink 

(Sepia)  (9)  10-12  ff  12-  7 

S-262.  .Wedding  Bills  (10) 11-30  ff  12-7 

S-109 . .What’s  Your  I.  Q. ? No.  2 

(9)  6-10  ± 7-6 

SPECIAB 

X-151.  -t>©Flag  Speaks.  The  (19)  6-14  ff  5-4 

Paramount 

ANIMATED  ANTICS 
H0-4.. Bring  Himself  Back  Alive 

(7)  12-20  12-21 

H0-1.. Dandy  Eion,  The  (7) 9-20  ±10-5 

HO-3.. Mommy  Boves  Puppy  (7). 11-29  -f-  12-  7 

H0-2.. Sneak,  Snoop  & Snitch  (7)  10-25  ± 11-23 

BENCHBEY  COMEDIES 
SO-  1 . . Trouble  With  Husbands 

(11)  11-  8 ff  12-7 

COBOR  CBASSICS 
(In  Technicolor) 

C9-5.  .Snubbed  by  a Snob  (7).. 

C9-6.  .You  Can’t  Shoe  a Horse- 
fly (7)  8-23 

COBOR  CRUISES 
(New  Series  in  Cinecolor) 

K9-7.  .Pacific  Paradise  (10) 6-21 

FASCINATING  JOURNEYS 
' (Technicolor) 

M0-  l..QRiver  Thames — Yester- 


7-19  -f-  8-31 

+ 8-24 


day  (10)  

ff 

11-23 

FEEISCHER  CARTOONS 

— 

12-  7 

FF0-1 . .Raggedy  Ann  (19) 

. .12-20 

-H- 

12-21 

GABBY  CARTOONS 

+ 

10-19 

GO-  2.  .Constable,  The  (7) 

. .11-15 

+ 

11-23 

GO-  1.. lying  for  a Day  (7) 

. .10-18 

+ 

10-26 

HEADLINER 

A9-  9.  .Blue  Barron  and  His 

12-  7 

Orchestra  (10)  

. . 5-31 

+ 

6-22 

+ 

8-31 

A0-  3.. Johnny  Messner  and 

8-  3 

Orch.  (11)  

. 12-13 

-4- 

12-21 

A0-  2..Eisten  to  I,arry  (10)... 

. . 10-25 

+ 

10-26 

Prod. 

Rel. 

Rat- 

No.  Title 

Date 

ing 

Rev’d 

1941  (10)  

9-13 

•h 

10-  5 

A9-10.  . Pinky  Tomlin  and  Orch. 

<n>  

7-19 

+ 

8-31 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS 
Released  Twice  Weekly. 

PARAGRAPniCS 

V9-  9.. Dangerous  Dollars  (11).., 

. 6-28 

VO-  1.. Nature’s  Nursery  (10)... 
V9-10.  .Paramount  Pictorial 

10-11 

T 

10-26 

no.  a (id 

9-  9 

-4- 

8-24 

V0-  2..  Seeing:  Is  Believing-  (11).. 

.11-22 

+ 

12-  7 

POPEYE  CARTOONS 

E9-10. Doing  Impossikible  Stunts 

(7)  

8-  2 

+ 

8-17 

E0-  4.. Eugene,  the  Jeep  (7).... 

12-13 

12-  7 

E9-  9 Fightin’  Pals  (8) 

E8-ll..It’s  the  Natural  Thing  to 

. 7-12 

ff 

8-17 

Do  (7)  

. 7-28 

8-26 

E0-  2..  My  Pop,  My  Pop  (7) 

.10-18 

H- 

10-26 

E9-  8 . Nurse  Mates  (7)  

E0-  l..Popeye  Meets  William 

. 6-21 

Tell  (7)  

. 9-20 

ff 

10-  5 

E9- 12.  .Puttin’  on  the  Act  (7)... 
E9-11 . . Wimmin’  Hadn’t  Oughta 

. 8-30 

+ 

8-24 

Drive  (7)  

. 8-16 

+ 

8-24 

E0-  3.  .With  Poopdeck  Pappy  (7) 

11-15 

o 

12-  7 

popular  science 

(In  Cinecolor) 

.19  6.  (11) 

. 6-28 

JO-1.  . (11)  

. 9-  6 

4- 

10-  5 

JO-2.. (10)  

.11-  1 

+ 

12-  7 

J0-3.. (10)  

. 1-  3 

+ 

12-21 

GRANTEAND  RICE  SPORT- 

BIGHTS 

HO-  1..  Diving  Demons  (10) 

. 9-  6 

ff 

10-  5 

HO-  5.  .Feminine  Fitness  (10) . . . 

. 1-10 

+ 

12-21 

K0-  4.. Marine  Roundup  (10).... 

.12-  6 

+ 

12-  7 

R0-  3 ..  Motorcycle  Stunting  (10) 

.11-  8 

+ 

11-23 

K9-13  Sink  or  Swim  (10) 

R0-  2.. Sporting  Everglades,  The 

. 7-12 

(10)  

.10-  4 

++ 

11-  9 

STONE  AGE  CARTOONS 

B9-  9.  . Fulla  Bluff  Man,  The  (7) 

. 8-  9 

8 24 

B9-  3.  .Granite  Hotel  (7) 

. 4-26 

5-18 

B9-11 . 
B9-10 . 


B9-  6. 
B9-  8. 


B9-12 . 


Pedagogical  Institution  (7)  9-13 

■ Springtime  In  the  Kook- 

age  (7)  8-30 

■ Ugly  Dino,  The  (7) 6-14 

.Way  Back  When  a Itazz- 

l>erry  Was  a Fruit  (7)  . . 7-26  -f" 

. Way  Back  When  Women 

Had  Their  Weigh  (7) . . 9-27 

UNUSUAB  OCCUPATIONS 
(In  Color) 


Republic 


04,107. 

04.109 

04,114 

04,113 

04.106 

04,112 


A0-  1 . . CJMoments  of  Charm  of 


04.110 
04,108. 

04.111 

13.401 

04.402 

03.704 . 

13.701 

13.702 

03.111. 

03.112. 

03.113. 

13.101 

13.102 

13.103 

13.104 

13.105 

04,211. 


MEET  THE  STARS 

• No.  1 (10) 

RKO  Radio 

DISNEY  CARTOONS 
(In  Technicolor) 

.Big  Hearted  Pluto  (..)...  1-24 

Bone  Trouble  (9) 6-28 

.Donald’s  Vacation  ( 

• Fire  Chief  (..) 11-22 

.Goofy’s  Glider  (8)... 

.Mr.  Duck  Steps  Out  (8)..  6 
. Mr.  Mouse  Takes  a Trip 

(8)  

• Pantry  Pirate  (8) 12-27 

Pluto's  Dream  House  (8).  8-30 
Put-Put  Trouble  (7). 

.Window  Cleaners  (8) 9-20 

EDGAR  KENNEDY  COMEDIES 

• Sunk  by  the  Census  (18)  . 9-  6 

.Trailer  Tragedy  (17) 10-18 

BEON  ERROL  COMEDIES 
.Bested  by  a Beard  (20)...  7-26 

• He  Asked  for  It  (18) 9-27 

• Tattle  Talevislon  (19) 11-29 

MARCH  OF  TIME 

• No.  11  (18) 6-  7 

The  U.  S.  Navy. 

• No.  12  (17) 

Spoils  of  Conquest. 

• QNo.  13  (.20) 8-24 

Gateways  to  Panama. 

• No.  1 (19) 

On  Foreign  Newfronts. 

.No.  2 (18) 10-  4 

Britain’s  R.  A.  F. 

• No.  3 (19) 10-25 

Mexico,  Good  Neighbor’s 
Dilemma. 

• No.  4 (19) 11-22 

Arms  and  the  men. 

• No.  5 (19) -f- 

Eabor  and  Defense. 

PATHE  INFORMATION  PBEASE 
■ No.  11  (10) 


8-17 


1.9-5 . 

.No.  5 

(10) 

5-31 

5-18 

B9-6. 

• No.  6 

(ID 

8-  2 

4+ 

8-17 

B0-1. 

.No.  1 

(ID 

9-  7 

+ 

10-  5 

B0-2. 

No.  2 

(ID 

11-29 

+ 

12-  7 

+ 12-28 


8-  9 

ff 

8-10 

11-22 

ff 

12-14 

.11-  1 

+ 

12-14 

. 6-  7 

.11-  1 

+ 

11-23 

.12-27 

. 8-30 

+ 

9-21 

. 7-19 

. 9-20 

ff 

10-26 

1ED1ES 

. 9-  6 

9-21 

.10-18 

+ 

11-  9 

DIES 

. 7-26 

. 9-27 

zp 

9-21 

.11-29 

1 6-  7 

+ 

6-22 

. 8-  2 

+ 

8-10 

. 8-24 

ff 

8-31 

. 9-13 

ff 

9-21 

.10-  4 

+ 

10-19 

.10-25 

\ 

10-26 

.11-22 

+ 

12-  7 

12-28 


6-14  ± 6-15 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


127 


SHORTS  CHART 


(r 


^ 


WHAT'S  IN  THE  NEWSREELS 


Vi— 

TUESDAY,  DECEMBER  24 
Movietone  News,  No.  31 

Workers  donate  bomber  to  Britain;  New  York 
hospital  houses  refugee  children;  army  ski  troops 
practice  in  Minnesota;  silver  fox  roundup  in  Michi- 
gan; sailors  learn  the  conga;  shoe  fashions;  Hali- 
fax succeeds  Lothian;  award  navy  cross  to  sailor; 
Gene  Tunney  in  the  naval  reserve;  Admiral  Leahy 
sails  for  Vichy  diplomatic  post;  bathing  girls  in 
Florida. 

News  of  the  Day,  No.  229 

Churchill  in  message  to  Italy;  Eden  named  for- 
eign secretary;  Leahy  sails  for  Vichy  post;  work- 
ers donate  plane  to  England;  Star  Spangled  Ball 
in  New  York;  hair  fashions;  opening  of  Tropical 
Park. 

Paramount  News,  No.  34 

Display  anti-bomb  device;  playwright  speaks  at 
French  rally;  army  hostesses;  Father  Flanagan 
at  boys’  club  dinner;  Princess  Juliana  ends  visit 
here;  electoral  college  casts  official  ballot;  Will- 
kie  in  New  York;  launch  new  liner  for  South 
America  trade;  foreign  diplomats’  children  in 
Washington;  football  executives  draft  college  stars; 
football. 

RKO  Pathe  News,  No.  34 

Children  of  diplomats  in  Washington;  Leahy 


0 

sails  for  Vichy;  girls  attend  gamour  school;  refu- 
gees arrive;  Tropical  Park  opens;  air  students 
graduate. 

Universal  Newsreel,  No.  939 
Graduates  at  Kelly  Field;  donate  bomber  to 
England;  test  glass-winged  plane;  anti-bomb  de- 
vice; Greeks  parade  in  Chicago;  fur-lined  troops 
in  Pacific  Northwest;  shoe  fashions;  opening  of 
Tropical  Park;  international  Christmas  party  in 
Washington. 

THURSDAY,  DECEMBER  26 
Movietone  News,  No.  32 
Highlights  of  1940  events. 

News  of  the  Day,  No.  230 
A fateful  year.  Highlights  from  the  year's  news. 

Paramount  News,  No.  35 
Norway’s  crown  prince  arrives  here  for  holiday 
visit  with  family;  refugees  arrive;  Leahy  sails  for 
Vichy;  Connie  Mack  observes  birthday;  plane 
factory  employes  donate  plane  to  Britain;  foot- 
ball highlights  of  the  year. 

RKO  Pathe  News,  No.  35 
Highlights  from  the  sporting  news  of  the  year. 

Universal  Newsreel,  No.  940 
Big  News  of  1940:  The  war  in  Europe  and 
Africa;  the  defense  program;  the  third  term; 
collapse  of  Tacoma  bridge. 


Prod.  Rel.  Rat-  Prod.  Rel.  Rat- 

No.  Title  Date  ing  Rev’d  No.  Title  Date  ing  Rov’d 


04,212..  ONo.  12  (12) 

. 7-12 

4+ 

7-13 

04.21 3 . No.  13  m> 

8-  ft 

4- 

8-10 

14.201  No.  1 (11) 

9-16 

9-21 

14,202.. No.  2 (10) 

10-  4 

+ 

10-26 

14,203.. No.  3 (10) 

.11-  1 

+ 

11-23 

14, 204  . No.  4 (11) 

11-29 

PATHE  NEWS 

(Released  Twice  Weekly) 
RADIO  FUASIf  COMEDIES 

03,205.  Goodness,  a Ghost  (16).. 

. 7-  5 

PATHE  SPORTSCOPE 

04,312.  .Arrow  Points  (8) 

. 7-  5 

9 21 

04,311  . OHurdle  Hoppers  (9)  . . . . 

. 6-  7 

14,302.  .Kentucky  Royalty  (9)  ... 

. 9-27 

+ 

10-26 

14,301  Quail  Quest  (9) 

. 8-30 

4- 

9-21 

14, 304..  Snow  Fun  (9) 

.11-22 

4+ 

12-14 

14,303.  . Sportsman’s  Partner  (9)  . 

.10-25 

+ 

11-23 

04,611 ..  Streamlined  (9)  

. 6-21 

04,313 .. Trouble  Shooter  (9) 

. 8-  2 

+ 

9-21 

PICTURE  PEOPLE 

14, 401. No.  1 (10) 

9-13 

9-21 

14,402.. No.  2 (9) 

.10-11 

qz 

10-26 

14,403.. No.  3 (10) 

11-  8 

11-23 

14, 404  . No.  4 (10) 

+ 

12-14 

KAY  WHITLEY  WESTERNS 

(New  Series) 

13,501.  .Bar  Buckar'os  (1G) 

11-  8 

o 

11-23 

03,504.  . Corrallin  School marm 


(2<"  

REEHSMS 
(New  Series) 

. . 6-14 

+ 

8-10 

04,613 

Hats  (9)  

8-16 

01.611  . 

• Streamlined  (9)  

ZfZ 

8-10 

04.612. 

.Week  End  (9) 

20th  Century-Fox 

ADVENTURES  OF  A NEWS  CAMERAMAN 
0201 . . Conquering  the  Colorado 


(11)  8-18  8-19 

1201.  .y  Midget  Motor  Mania 

(10)  11-  8 ff  10-19 


0201 . .Sanctuary  of  tile  Seals  (9)  6-7  6-22 

BELIEVE  IT  OR  N OT — RIPLEY 
1601.  .Acquitted  by  the  Sea  (10)  9-27  44  10-19 

ED  THORGERSEN — SPORTS 

0306.  .Action  on  Ice  (9) 7-19  .... 

1303 . . Bowling  for  Strikes  (10).. 12-20  + 10-19 

1302..  Lure  of  the  Trout  (9) 10-11  + 12-  7 

1301 . .©Vacation  Time  in  Florida 

(8)  8-10  ± 8-17 

FATHER  HUBBARD’S  ALASKAN 
ADVENTURES 

1101.  Eskimo  Trails  (10) 8-  2 + 8-17 

1103  . Isle  of  Mystery  (10) 10-25  .... 

FASHIONS 
(In  Technicolor) 

0603 ..  Fashion  Forecasts  No.  7 

(8)  6-21  

0604.  .Fashion  Forecasts  No.  8 

(8)  6-21  

FOX  MOVIETONE  NEWS 
Released  Twice  Weekly 
LEW  LEHR  AND  HIS  DRIBBLE  PUSS 
PARADE 

0404.  .Cheerio  My  Dears  (9)....  7-5  .... 

1401 . .Grunters  and  Groaners  (8).  8-30  -f-  8-17 

1402.  .Tale  of  Butch  the  Parrot, 

The  (. .)  12-6  


LOWELL  THOMAS  MAGIC  CARPET 
1102.  .©Florida,  Land  of  Flowers 


(9) 

9-13 

8-17 

1104.  .Old  Dominion 

State  (10) 

.11-22 

+ 

12-  7 

TER  RY-TOONS 

1551.  . ©Bill v 

Mouse’s 

Akwakade 

(7) 

. 8-  9 

— 

8-17 

0559.  .Catnip 

Capers 

(7) 

. 5-31 

44 

6-22 

1501  Club  Life  in  the  Stone 

A ire  (7)  8-23  

1503..  Happy  Haunting  Grounds 

(7)  10-18  

1553  .How  Wet  Mas  My  Ocean 

(7)  10-  4 o 10-19 

1554.  .landing  of  the  Pilgrims 

(7)  11-  1 -f  12-7 

0517  . Love  in  a Cottnge  (7)  . . . 7-28 

1552.  Lucky  Dock.  The  (7) 9-6  

1504 . . Magic  Pencil,  The  (7) 11-15  -f  12  7 

1555.  ©Plane  Goofy  (7) 11-29  ± 12-7 

0514.  .Professor  Offkeyski  (7)  6-14  -±-  6-8 

0515  Royer’s  Rescue  (7) .....  6-28  .... 

0510  Rupert  the  Runt  (7) 7-12  .... 

1505..  5.ow  Man,  The  (7) 12-13  

1556.  ©Temperamental  Lion,  The 

(7)  12-27  ... 

1502 ..  Touchdown  Demons  (7)  • • 9-20  ± 10-19 


Universal 

LANTZ  C ARTUNES 
(Technicolor) 

5241  . .Crazyhonse  (7 V2)  9-23  

5243.  .Knock-Knock  (7)  11-25  — 12-7 

5242.  OKeomiting;  Daze  (6) 10-28  44  11-9 

5244. .Syncopated  Sioux  (..)....  12-30  .... 


GOING  PLACES  WITH 
GRAHAM  McNAMEE 


4363 

. No. 

78 

(9) 

6-17 

4 i 

No. 

79 

(9> 

7-18  -f 

8-  3 

4365 . 

. No. 

80 

(9Vo) 

5351 

No. 

81 

(9) 

9-23  — 

9-21 

5352 . 

. No. 

82 

(9) 

10-14 

5353 . 

.No. 

83 

(9) 

nil 

5354 . 

.No. 

84 

(9) 

12-23 

5355 . 

.No. 

85 

(9) 

1-20 

5356 . 

. N o. 

86 

(9) 

2-19 

SPECIAL  TWO  HEELERS 
5110  Swing  With  Bing  (19) 9-  4 ± 8-  3 

stranger  than  fiction 


4383.  .No.  78  (9) 

4- 

6-22 

4384.  .No.  79  (9) 

. . 7-  8 

4- 

7-27 

4385.  No.  80  (9) 

4- 

7-27 

5371.  .No.  81  (9) 

. . 9-16 

4- 

9-21 

5372.  .No.  82  (9) 

.10-  7 

5373.  .No.  83  (8) 

5374.. No.  84  (9) 

. .12-  2 

5375.. No.  85  (9) 

. . 1-  1 

5376.. No.  86  (9) 

. . 2-5 

TWO  REEL  MUSICALS 

5225.  .Beat  Me,  Daddy,  Fight  to 

the  Bar  (..)  

The  Fashionaires  and 

Cath- 

lyn  Miller. 

5221.. Class  in  Swing  (17).... 

. 9-11 

5223.  .Congamania  (17)  

. .10-16 

12-  7 

Jose  Cansino  Dancers, 

Eddie  Durant  & Orch. 

4231.  .Hawaiian  Rhythm  (17). 

. . 7-17 

4- 

7-27 

Harry  Owens  and  His 

Royal  Hawaiians. 

4233..  I Dream  of  Jeanie  With 

the 

Light  Brown  Hair  (17)  8-28 

9-21 

4110.  .March  of  Freedom  (21). 

. 9-6 

4230.  .Naughty  Nineties  (18). 

. . 6-17 

44 

7-  6 

5224.  .Tickled  Pinky  (..) 

. .12-25 

Pinky  Tomlin,  Martha 

Til- 

ton  and  the  Pickard  Family. 

5223.. Torrid  Tempos  (18) 

. .11-27 

12-  7 

4232 ..  Varsity  Vanities  (17Vi) 

. . 8-  7 

4- 

8-  3 

Six  Hits  and  a Miss, 
Martha  Tilton. 


UNIVERSAL  NEWS 
Released  Twice  Weekly 


Prod.  Rel.  Rat- 

No. Title  Date  ing  Rev’d 


Vitaphone 

BROADWAY  BREVITIES 

6202.. Alice  in  Movieland  (20)... 11-16  ± 12-  7 
6202  Ed  Snllivan’s  Hollywood 


(20)  11-16 

6201.  Just  a Cute  Kid  (20) 10-  5 


4008..  Ride,  Cowboy,  Ride  (20)..  9-9  .... 

5109.  QSpills  for  Thrills  (19)..  6-15  44  8-3 

5110.. Youngr  America  Flies  (20).  8-3  .... 

THE  COLOR  PARADE 


(New  Series) 

5M0  Famous  Movie  Dog,  (10)..  7-27  + 8-17 

5408 . . Mechanix  Illustrated 

No.  4 (10)  6-29  + 6-15 

5410.  .Movie  Dog  Stars  (10)....  8-17  .... 

5409.  .Valley,  The  (8)  7-20  -)-  7-6 


ELSA  MAXWELL’S  BLUE  RIBBON 
COMEDIES 

6101..  Riding  Into  Society  (19)..  9-  7 ± 8-31 

HOLLYWOOD  NOVELTY 


6301.  Football  Thrills  (10) 9-28  -f  8-31 

6303.  .Mexican  Jumping  Beans 

(10)  12-7  + 12-7 

6302..  5.ark  Hunting  (10) 11-9  

LOONEY  TUNES  CARTOONS 

6601 ..  Calling  Dr.  Porky  (7) 9-21  .... 

5614.  .Chewin’  Bruin,  The  (7)...  6-  8 rfc  6-22 
5616.  Patient  Porky  (7) 8-24  44  8-24 

5615 ..  Porky’s  Baseball  Broad- 

cast. (7)  7-6  -H  7-6 

6604.  Porky’s  Hired  Hand  (7)..  11-30  o 12-28 
6602 . .Prehistoric  Porky  (7) 10-12  4-  10-26 

6603..  50.r  Puss  (7) 11-  2 

6605..  Timid  Toreador  (7) 12-21  

5613.  .You  Ought  to  Be  in 

Pictures  (7)  5-18  + 5-18 

MELODY  MASTERS 

6503.  .Jan  Garber  & Orch.  (10).. 11-23  .... 

6502..  Joe  Relchman  & Orch. 

(10)  10-26  

6501..  Matty  Malneelc  & Band 

(10)  9-14  ++  8-24 

5509.  . Ozz.le  Nelson  & Orch.  (10)  6-29  4+  7-6 

Skinnay  Ennis  & Orch  (10)....  -)-  12-28 

5510..  Woody  Herman  & Orch. 

(10)  . . 7-27  ... 

MERRIE  MELODIES 
(In  Technicolor) 

6706.  Bedtime  for  Sniffles  (7)  11-23  

5.326.  .Ceiling  Hero  (7) 7-6  

5321..  Circus  Today  (7)  6-22  4-  7-6 

Elmer’s  Pet  Rabbit  (7) o 12-28 

5323..  Egg  Collector  (7) 7-20 

5325..  Ghost  Wanted  (7) 8-10  

6101..  Good  Night  Elmer  (7) 10-26  .... 

6703.  .Holiday  Highlight  (7) 10-12  ip  11.9 

5322..  Little  Blabhermouse  (7)  .7-6  44  8-17 

6701..  Malibu  Beach  Party  (7)..  9-14  ± 9-7 

6707..  0.  Fox  and  Hounds  (7)  . 12-  7 

6708..  5.op,  Look  and  Listen 

(7)  12-21  ± 12-28 

6702 . . Stagefright  (7)  9-28  + 11-  9 

5320.  .Tom  Thumb  in  Trouble 

(7)  6-  8 ± 6-15 

6705..  Wacky  Wild  Life  (7) 11-  9 -f  12-14 

5324  Wild  Hare,  A (7) 7-27 

SPORTS  PARADE 
( Color) 

California  Thoroughbreds 

(10)  ± 12-28 

6403.  .Diary  of  a Racing  Pigeon 

(10)  11-30  4-  12-  7 

6402..  Dog,  You  Seldom  See  (10)  11-2  4-  8-31 

6401..  Fly  Fishing  (10)  9-21  qr  10-26 

TECHNICOLOR 

5006.  .Cinderella’s  Feller  (20)...  6-1  -f-  6-15 

6001..  Flag  of  Humanity  (20)... 10-19  4-  10-26 

6002  . March  on  Marines  (20)...  12-14  -|4  12-28 

5007..  Pony  Express  Days  (20)..  7-13  4-  7-6 

5008.  .Service  With  the  Colors 

(20)  8-31  

VITAPHONE  VARIETIES 
5706  . All  Girl  Revue  (10) 6-22  


Serials 


COLUMBIA 


1180 

..Deadvvood  Dick  7-19 

7-27 

1120 

15  Chapters.  Don  Doug- 
las, Loma  Gray. 

..Green  Archer,  The 10-25 

11-  9 

973 

15  Chapters.  Victor  Jory, 
REPUBLIC 

..Adventures  of  Red  Ryder.  6-15 

4- 

6-  8 

061 

Don  “Red”  Barry. 

. . King  of  the  Royal 

Mounted  9-20 

+4 

8-21 

082 

12  Chapters.  Allan  I,ane. 

. .Mysterious  Doctor  Satan  12-13 

4- 

11-23 

5781 

15  Chapters.  Robert  Wilcox. 
UNIVERSAL 
..Green  Hornet  Strikes 

Again  12-24 

4- 

11-  9 

15  Chapters.  Warren  null. 

5681  . Junior  G-Men  9-1  -|-  8-3 

12  Chapters.  Dead  End 
Kids,  Little  Tough  Guys. 

5881  ..Sky  Raiders  4-8  

12  Chapters. 

5581  ..Winners  of  the  West..  . . 7-  2 5 11 

13  Chapters.  Dick  Fo- 
ran,  Anne  Nagel. 


128 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  4,  1941 


The  Industry's  Market  Place  for  Purchase 
or  Sale  ef  Equipment \ Theatres,  Service 


Mill  HOUSE 


* Classified  Ada  !0c  Per  Word,  Payable  in  Advance, 


Minimum  SLOG.  Display  Hates  on  Request 


GENERAL  EQUIPMENT 


AIB  CONDITIONING 


THEATRES  FOR  SALE 


GRAB  THIS  ONE,  Pair  Motiograph 
De  Luxe  Projectors,  Peerless  Lamps,  Lar- 
ger! Sound,  double  channel  amplifier, 
lenses,  new  Da-Lite  screen.  Cash  price, 
no  trade,  $650.00.  WESTERN  THEATRE 
SUPPLY,  Omaha,  Neb. 


NEW  EQUIPMENT 

ONE  KILOWATT  ARCS  with  14"  re- 
flectors, $195.00;  medium  intensity, 
$129.50;  rear  shutters  for  Simplex,  $59.50; 
Western  Electric  soundscreens,  $37.50; 
Gyro  Stabilizer  soundheads,  $195.00;  Jen- 
sen Tweeters,  $14.95.  Theatre  completely 
equipped  cheap.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUP- 
PLY CORP.,  NEW  YORK. 


USED  EQUIPMENT 

WORLD’S  Fair  Ticket  receptacles,  45" 
high,  worth  $50.00,  now  $6.95;  Soundheads, 
amplifiers,  $9.95;  sound  projectors,  $59.50; 
arcs,  rectifiers,  $24.50;  Powers  projectors, 
$39.50;  lenses,  $2.95.  S.  O.  S.,  636  Eleventh 
Avenue,  New  York. 

BUY  NOTHING — -Until  you’ve  compared 
our  prices.  Guaranteed  savings  of  from 
10%  to  40%.  Write  us.  STAR  CINEMA 
SUPPLY  CO.,  440  West  45th  St.,  New 
York  City. 


USED  VENEER  and  upholstered  chairs. 
Ben  B.  Poblocki  & Sons  Co.,  Milwaukee, 
Wis. 


$125.00  variable  speed  8,000  CFM  blow- 
er fan  with  motor.  Excellent  condition. 
Bargain  for  $69.50.  Star  Theatre,  Elkton, 
Mich. 


TWO  SIMPLEX  MECHANISMS.  Double 
bearing,  rear  shutter,  rebuilt.  B-1304, 
Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City, 
Mo. 

FOR  SALE — Powers  projectors,  sound 
equipment.  Complete.  Fabert  Garrett, 
West  Plains,  Mo. 


SEAT  RECOVERING 

ARTIFICIAL  LEATHER  MOLESKIN— 
81c  per  yd.;  Sateen,  60c  yd.  Six  seats 
from  two  yards.  Samples  on  request. 
Commercialeather,  116  Merrimac  St.,  Bos- 
ton. 


For  Results 

Advertise  in  the  CLEARING  HOUSE. 
Its  Service  Can’t  Be  Beat. 


For  BETTER  Special  Trailers 

\J  TO  FILMACK  ! 

You'll  Benefit  By  It! 

FILMACK  TRAILER  CO. 

837  So.  Wabash  Ave.  * Chicago,  ill. 


AIR  CONDITIONING  PLANS  and  spec- 
ifications made  to  order  for  your  theatre 
from  architects’  building  plans  or  dimen- 
sioned sketches.  A complete,  unbiased 
analysis  of  your  requirements.  My  rea- 
sonable engineering  fee  may  save  you  mis- 
takes and  money,  Gordon  H.  Simmons,  926 
N.  Cass  St.,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 


THEATRE  GAMES 


BINGO  CARDS 

$2.00  per  thousand.  Lots  of  ten  thou- 
sand or  over — 25%  discount.  Cash  with 
order.  Die  cut  numbered  1 to  100  or  1 to 
75.  S.  Klous,  Boxoffice,  9 Rockefeller 
Plaza,  New  York  City. 


FILMS  FOR  SALE 


NEW  CATALOG  of  35mm  Roadshow 
Attractions  for  outright  sale  only.  Any 
type  of  picture  you  want  from  $25.00  to 
$300.00.  Sex,  gangster,  horror,  westerns, 
action  pictures.  Like  new  prints.  (Men- 
tion Boxoffice).  BUSSA  FILM  EX- 
CHANGE, FRIENDSHIP,  OHIO. 


THEATRE  TICKETS 


UNEXCELLED  QUALITY— 50  rolls  stock 
tickets,  $12.50;  20  rolls,  $5.80.  Special 
printed  roll  or  machine  tickets,  100,000, 
$14.90;  50,000,  $9.40;  20,000,  $6.10.  Ship- 
ping charges  paid  to  1,000  miles.  Cash 
with  order.  Kansas  City  Ticket  Co.,  Dept. 
B,  1717  Wyandotte  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


TWO  SOUTHERN  CALIFORNIA  thea- 
tres. Separate  towns,  2,500  population 
each.  No  competition,  early  runs,  low 
rental  leases.  RCA  and  Western  Electric 
sound.  Owner.  B-13Q7,  Boxoffice,  4804 
E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

THE  TWO  EXCLUSIVE  THEATRES  at 
Onawa,  Iowa,  county  seat,  in  richest  corn- 
belt  of  the  nation.  Population  nearly 
3,500.  Included  are  one  new  building,  one 
extended  lease,  all  excellent  equipment. 
No  better  proposition  anywhere.  Priced 
to  sell.  $20,000.00  cash  required,  balance 
easy  terms.  Good  reason  for  selling.  E.  A. 
Harms,  2964  Harris,  Omaha,  Nebraska. 

FOR  SALE — Theatre.  Town  of  seven- 
teen hundred.  Heart  of  best  farming  land 
in  Texas.  Other  interests.  Immediate 
action  necessary.  B-1315,  Boxoffice,  4804 
E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

TWO  THEATRES — Wisconsin  industrial 
city.  Fully  equipped.  Ten  year  lease. 
Drawing  population,  75,000.  Good  reason 
for  selling.  B-1316,  Boxoffice,  4804  E. 
9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


THEATRES  WANTED 

THEATRE  WANTED— Indiana.  Closed 
or  operating.  Lease  or  buy.  Give  full  de- 
tails. B-1314,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St., 
Kansas  City,  Mo. 


Tell  Them — 

“Saw  Your  Ad  in 
BOXOFFICE” 


What  Do  You  Want? 

I — TO  SELL  YOUR  TlffiATRE 
i —TO  BUY  A THEATRE 

—A  JOB,  A POSITION  OPEN 
—TO  BUY  OR  SELL  EQUIPMENT 
! —MISCELLANEOUS  ARTICLES 

Whatever  you  want  —ii  will  pay  you  to  advertise  your  needs  in 

THE  CLEARING  HOUSE 


HERE  IS  YOUR  HANDY  “AD  ORDER"  BLANK 

IQc  a word 
4 insertions 
f at  price  ol  3 


(’ 

(Send  CashJ _ 
With  ©rder)V 


BOXOFFICE, 

4804  East  Ninth  St., 

Kansas  City,  Mo, 

Kindly  insert  the  following  ad times  in  your  “CLEARING 

HOUSE"  section,  running  through  ALL  eight  sectional  editions  of  BOXOFFICE.  Here- 
with is  check  □ cash  □ Money  order  □ in  the  amount  of  $ 

Blind  Ads — 10c  extra  to  cover  cost  ol  postage. 

CLASSIFICATION  WANTED  


Nam©  and  address  should  be  included  in  the  word  count. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  4,  1941 


• Address  copy  to  BOXOFFICE,  4804  E.  Ninth  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 
Forms  close  Monday  moon  preceding'  publication  date. 


• No  matter  which  way  you  look  at  it  you 
win  if  you  properly  advertise  your  pictures 
and  your  theatres. 


• The  moth  is  attracted  to  the  flame . . . people  are  attracted  by  color . . . beauty  and 
display. . . that’s  why  business  paints  its  store  fronts . . . buildings  have  their  faces  lifted. 

• Dress  up.. .look  well...  change  your  act!  That’s  the  watchword  of  this 
streamlined  age . . . the  watchword  of  modern  merchandising . . . one  of  the  most 
important  avenues  to  increased  business... Show  Business  too... 

• And  right  here  at  hand... in  one  centralized  spot  you’ve  got  the  class  of  the 
dress-up . . . seat-selling  theatre  advertising . . . TRAILERS . . . LOBBY  DISPLAYS . . . 
STANDARD  ACCESSORIES... a co-ordinated  whole  ready  and  waiting  to  do  its 
stuff  for  you. 

• Use  it... take  advantage  of  our  experienced,  expert  organization  to  sell  seats  for 
your  theatre  and  your  show. 


nATionm.#***'1  service  • nnTionm^*^  accessories 

ADVERTI5II1G  ACCESSORIES, me. 


>■ 

, 


j v i c e 

c Users 


lmProve 

picture 


JANUARY  11,  1941  Mo.,  under  Act  of  March  3,  1879.  35c  Per  Copy.  Per  Year,  $7.5o’.  NATIONAL  EDITION 


Radio  City  Music  Hall  Sets  New  Record ! 

"PHILADELPHIA  STORY"  LINES  REACH 
COMPLETELY  AROUND  CITY  BLOCK! 

Sensational  M-G-M  hit  creates  unique  street  spectacle! 


HERES 

WHERE 

LINE 

STARTS 


X 


® End  of  line  circling  entire  i/0 

a \rc 


CD  CUD  ■— -6 

Q ENTRANCE  o 
RADIO  ° 

0 C,TY 

H MUSIC  HALL 

50th 

Street 


AVE- 


o 

o 


it 

jams 
50 * St. 


L 


Rockefeller  Plaza 


around  the  corner  and  continue^ 


line 

reaches 

up  5\st 

to 

6th 

Ave. 


3d 


WEEK! 

and  still 
going  strong! 


Inner  lobby  packed!  Outside  line  starts  here  and  waits  patiently  four  abreast  on  East  50th  Street. 


Turning  the  corner  at  Rockefeller  Plaza  and  continuing  around  on  West  51st  Street. 


This  is  West  51st  Street  approaching  6th  Avenue  where  circle  is  completed  first  time  in  history. 


PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

ASSOCIATED 

PUBLICATIONS 

BEN  SHLYEN 

Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor-in-Chief 

William  G.  Formby, 
Editor;  Jesse  Shlyen, 
Managing  Editor; 
Louis  Rydell,  Adver- 
tising Manager;  Mor- 
ris SCHLOZMAN,  BUSi- 
n e s s Manager;  J, 
Harry  Toler,  Editor 
Modern  Theatre  Sec- 
tion; A.  J.  Stocker, 
Eastern  Represent- 
ative; Ivan  Spear, 
Western  Manager. 

Editorial  Offices:  9 

ROCKEFELLER  PLAZA,  NEW 

york  city;  Publication 
Offices:  4804  east  9th 
ST.,  KANSAS  CITY,  MO.," 
Hollywood:  6404  Hol- 
lywood blvd.;  Chi- 
cago: 332  SOUTH  MICH- 
IGAN BLVD. 

January  II,  194  1 

Volume  38  - Number  8 


Signs  Along  the  Way 


TAKE  a brief  stroll  with  us  behind  the  scenes. 

We  hope  it  will  be  of  interest.  We  know 
it  ought  to  be. 

Here  we  were  the  other  day,  feet  on  desk, 
giving  that  favorite  spot  on  the  otfice  ceiling 
another  steady  and  unblinking  stare.  Ideas, 
some  good  and  some — let's  skip  it — have  come 
out  of  these  goings  on  in  the  past.  The  theory, 
of  course,  is  the  harder  the  concentration  the 
better  the  ultimate  idea.  And,  while  there  is 
nothing  written  in  law  or  legend  that  this 
always  works  out,  frequently  it  has. 

Anyway,  here  we  were  belatedly  and  slow- 
ly recouping  from  a New  Year's  Eve  party, 
wondering  and  pondering  somewhat  over  the 
kind  of  a year  this  will  turn  out  to  be  in 
terms  of  attractions,  grosses  and  the  like.  It 
occurred  to  us,  as  it  has  often  in  the  past,  that 
this  business,  strangely  and  forever  trying  to 
set  itself  apart  from  all  others,  continues  to 
construct  its  present  and  its  fuiure  along  lines 
most  pleasant  to  itself  but  with  little  or  no 
regard  to  trends  and  drifts  milling  and  swirl- 
ing on  the  outside.  It  is  an  effort  let  loose 
very  definitely  on  the  impossible  side. 

The  Search  for  Facts 

FOR  instance.  There  have  been  times  in 
past  years  when  general  business  was 
oft,  unemployment  staggeringly  higher,  money 
tight.  Other  industries  sought  to  do  some- 
thing about  all  of  these  factors,  but  not  this 
one.  Budgets  stayed  immutably  fixed,  salaries 
kept  on  skimming  along  the  clouds  and  the 
only  things  which  did  not  meet  were  income 
and  outgo. 

Because  it  has  been  your  observer's  opin- 
ion, and  incidentally  another  of  his  unshake- 
able  ones,  that  the  picture  business  inevitably 
must  reflect  what  goes  on  around  the  coun- 
try, he  directed  a series  of  questions  to  Wash- 
ington. 

BOXOFFICE's  news  bureau  there  was  asked, 
calmly  and  painstakingly  and  without  any  en- 
thusiasms unwarranted  by  the  facts,  to  comb 
the  situation.  Labor  indices,  national  defense, 
a rise  or  a fall  in  the  national  income — what 
about  these  factors?  What,  exactly,  is  the 
available  intormation  and  what,  reasonably 
enough,  might  they  mean  to  the  men  of  this 
industry? 


In  this  issue,  you  will  find  the  answer,  prob- 
ably as  closely  as  anyone  can  fairly  reason 
the  future.  It  is  an  interesting  answer  and 
one  that  ought  to  rekindle  business  hopes  in 
a lot  of  hearts  and  minds  across  the  nation. 

For  example,  the  conclusion  is  that  theatre 
business  generally  will  be  better  in  1941,  the 
upsurge  asserting  itself  as  soon  as  the  effects 
of  the  $5,000,000,000  expected  to  be  actually- 
spent  on  national  defense  this  fiscal  year — it 
ends  June  30 — begin  to  make  themselves  evi- 
dent. 

"Every  section  of  the  country  will  share  in 
the  beneficial  results  of  increased  national  in- 
come which  ran  around  $74,000,000,000  tor 
1940,  is  currently  at  $76,000,000,000  and  may 
reach  as  much  as  $80,000,000,000  tor  1941," 
part  of  the  Washington  report  goes. 

The  Wheels  Turn 

THE  ARMY  uses  45,000  different  items,  the 
I navy  28,000  and  all  of  them  have  to  be 
manufactured  by  someone  somewhere  in  the 
land.  Railroad  freight  traffic,  an  infallible 
marker,  is  up  seven  per  cent  over  last  year 
and  is  expected  to  increase  seven  to  ten  per 
cent  in  1941.  This,  naturally,  means  goods  of 
all  kinds  are  being  made  and  on  the  move. 

It  means  more  men  and  women  are  re- 
turning to  work,  getting  pay  envelopes  where 
they  have  not  been  getting  them  before  or  get- 
ting them  more  regularly  than  before. 

It  means  the  rank  and  tile,  which  are  the 
sinews  of  the  country,  will  be  seeking  enter- 
tainment. Not  necessarily  film  entertainment, 
but  all  forms  of  entertainment  and  that,  in 
their  search,  there  is  all  reasonable  expect- 
ancy this  industry  will  get  its  proportionate 
share. 

How  much  of  a share?  That,  as  usual,  de- 
pends firstly  on  the  product  they  are  asked 
to  patronize.  But  also  it  depends  on  efficient 
theatre  operation  attuned,  as  it  always  should 
be,  to  the  best  in  service  and  in  comforts. 

If  the  public  gets  a big  admission's 
worth,  the  climax  of  this  tale 
will  write  itself.  It  will  need 
no  embroidery  rolling  out  of  this 
typewriter. 


t 


CMma-, 


$5,000,000,000  FOR  DEFENSE 
SEEN  AS  SURE  - FIRE  1941  HYPO 


All  Areas  Expected  to 
Share;  Unemployment 
Forecast  Is  Puzzler 


By  EARLE  A.  DYER 

Washington — Despite  conflicting  views 
as  to  the  actual  unemployment  situation 
throughout  the  country  at  the  present 
time,  one  fact  stands  forth  clearly — ex- 
hibitors, who  in  1940  did  a better  busi- 
ness than  in  1939,  will  do  a still  better  busi- 
ness in  1941.  This  is  the  Washington  view. 

With  federal  appropriations  for  the  cur- 
rent fiscal  year,  which  ends  June  30  next, 
at  the  all-time  high  peace  level  of  some 
$17,842,000,000,  of  which  $8,800,000,000 
was  for  national  defense  although  actual 
expenditures  probably  will  not  exceed  $5,- 
000,000,000,  and  with  probably  as  much 
or  more  to  be  appropriated  for  the  coming 
fiscal  year,  with  defense  expenditures 
placed  at  around  $10,000,000,000,  the  con- 
clusion is  inescapable. 

Every  section  of  the  country  will  share 
in  the  beneficial  results  of  increased  na- 
tional income,  which  ran  around  $74,000,- 
000,000  for  1940,  is  currently  at  $76,000,- 
000,000  and  may  reach  as  much  as  $80,- 
000,000,000  for  1941. 

The  amusement  business  has  been  on 
the  up-grade  for  many  months,  as  is 
demonstrated  by  the  steadily  increasing 
admission  tax  collections,  even  with  gener- 
ous allowances  for  the  results  of  the  re- 
duction of  the  exemption  which  became 
effective  last  July  1. 

This  improvement  has  been  a reflection 
of  the  impetus  given  by  the  defense  pro- 
gram, even  in  its  early  stage  of  tooling  up 
for  the  heavy  production  which  will  get 

(t  ===S) 

Top  Hits  of  the  Week 

As  culled  from  first  run  reports  in 
the  sectional  editions  of  Boxoffice. 


Average  is  100  per  cent. 

Love  Thy  Neighbor — 

Denver  (dual,  2nd  wk) 230 

New  Haven  (dual)  230 

Los  Angeles  200 

Kansas  City  200 

Indianapolis  (dual)  200 

New  York  (2nd  wk)  175 

Omaha  (dual)  175 

Kitty  Foyle — 

Washington  200 

Chicago  (dual)  200 

Omaha  (dual)  200 

Philadelphia  Story — 

Los  Angeles  200 

(Featured  at  three  theatres;  two  rang  up 
200  averages,  the  other  175). 

New  York  180 

Thief  of  Bagdad — 

Detroit  200 

Boston  (dual)  180 

Mannerheim  Line- — 

Chicago  (4th  wk)  200 

k >) 


under  way  within  the  next  few  months. 

The  defense  program  has  meant  in- 
creased employment.  Initially  spotty  and 
confined  to  a relatively  few  centers,  such 
as  those  of  machine  tool  production,  air- 
plane manufacture  and  the  like,  the  in- 
creased employment  is  spreading  rapidly 
as  the  machines  and  tools  are  distributed 
among  the  thousands  of  factories  which 
are  preparing  to  produce  military  equip- 
ment for  the  government. 

Army  orders  for  7,000,000  pairs  of  shoes, 
millions  of  uniforms  and  overcoats,  under- 
wear, rifles,  machine  guns,  tremendous 
quantities  of  food;  the  construction  of 
many  large  cantonments;  orders  for  ships 
— and  the  army  uses  some  45,000  different 
items  and  the  navy  28,000 — are  making  the 
wheels  of  industry  hum  and  giving  new 
heart  to  agriculture.  Railroad  freight 
traffic  is  seven  per  cent  above  last  year 
and  due  to  increase  seven  to  10  per  cent 
more  during  1941. 

All  this  means  more  jobs,  but  there  is  a 
decided  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the 
extent  of  the  re-employment  to  be  given 
by  defense  activity.  Originally,  govern- 
ment economists  figured  6,000,000  men  and 
women  would  be  put  back  to  work  by  next 
summer,  but  they  have  scaled  their  fore- 
cast downward.  Labor  organizations  cal- 
culate 3,000,000  will  be  a generous  figure. 

CIO  View  Dark 

Just  what  the  employment  situation  is 
today  will  not  be  known  until  around  the 
end  of  next  month.  Latest  available 
figures  show  conditions  in  November  and 
there  is  some  controversy  as  to  what  they 
will  be  in  January,  federal  agencies  be- 
lieving there  will  be  further  improvement 
while  the  CIO  forecasts  that  unemploy- 
ment will  be  as  great  as  in  last  July  be- 
cause of  the  idleness  of  agricultural 
workers. 

However,  for  what  they  may  be  worth, 
Secretary  of  Labor  Frances  Perkins  re- 
ported on  December  27  that  total  non- 
agricultural  employment  in  November  was 

36.535.000,  more  than  1,100,000  greater 
than  in  November,  1939,  and  40,000  more 
than  in  the  preceding  month. 

On  January  2 the  National  Conference 
Board  figured  November  employment  in 
both  agriculture  and  industry  at  48,132,000, 
an  increase  of  1,816,000  over  the  same 
year  before. 

But  the  board  figured,  too,  that  in  No- 
vember total  unemployment  increased  by 
573,000  over  the  previous  month  to  7,- 

217.000,  due  to  a drop  of  805,000  persons  in 


(<  " -■  0 

This  Is  How  Scene 
Looks  Right  Now 

Washington — Summary  of  the  national 
business  situation,  as  seen  by  Earle  A. 
Dyer,  head  of  the  Washington  bureau  of 
BOXOFFICE: 

“For  the  moment,  the  economic  picture 
is  rosy.  True,  there  are  disagreeable 
omens  in  the  tea  leaves — portents  of  in- 
creased taxes,  restrictions  of  non-essen- 
tial production  and  the  ominous  question 
of  our  future  after  the  liquidation  of  the 
preparedness  effort. 

“But  the  country  lived  through  the  Ter- 
rible Thirties;'  it  will  meet  new  problems 
as  they  come.  And  the  signs  now  all 
point  to  a healthy  progress,  locally  and 
nationally,  through  the  coming  year." 

VS ■■  J 

agricultural  employment,  but  the  total 
was  1,120,000  less  than  in  November,  1939. 

The  most  important  feature  of  the  fig- 
ures of  both  organizations  was  the  fact 
that  industrial  employment  increased  in  a 
month  when  normally  it  shows  a seasonal 
decline. 

Geographically,  the  gain  in  employment 
during  the  year  ended  with  November  was 
spread  over  the  entire  country,  but  the  de- 
gree of  expansion  was  dependent  in  each 
area  on  the  type  of  activity  predominating. 

The  largest  increases  were  six  per  cent 
in  the  east  north  central  and  5.1  per  cent 
in  the  Pacific  areas,  where  the  manufac- 
turing industries  and  building  construc- 
tion accounted  for  most  of  the  gains. 
Slightly  smaller  increases  occurred  in  the 
South  Atlantic  (4.9  per  cent)  and  New 
England  (3.9  per  cent)  regions,  the  re- 
sult of  higher  levels  of  employment  in 
manufacturing,  construction  and  govern- 
ment. The  east  south  central  area  showed 
an  increase  of  3.4  per  cent,  due  mainly  to 
increased  activity  in  manufacturing  and 
building  construction,  while  gains  of  be- 
tween two  and  three  per  cent  were  regis- 
tered in  the  other  regions. 

While  the  initial  impetus  toward  eco- 
nomic improvement  is  given  by  our  own 
defense  program  and  the  British  war 
orders,  the  effects  will  be  cumulative  as  the 
workers  in  the  armanent  industries  de- 
mand new  suits  and  shoes  and  shirts  and 
a multitude  of  other  things.  That  demand 
will  give  employment  to  workers  in  civilian 
industries,  whose  own  increased  buying 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


"Time  for  Action” - Schenck 

New  York — "How  do  you  regard  business  prospects  for  the  indus- 
try in  1941,"  BOXOFFICE  asked  Nicholas  M.  Schenck. 

The  president  of  Loew's,  who  makes  infrequent  statements  but 
makes  them  to  the  point  when  he  does,  replied  in  18  words.  Here  they 
are: 

“Nobody  can  make  a forecast  of  the  future.  This  is  a time  for  action 
and  not  for  words." 


4 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


ADMITS  SMOOTH  DECREE  ERA  IS 
MONTHS,  MAYBE  YEARS,  AWAY 


Cr 


Budgeteers  Get  Busy 

New  York  — The  AAA  budget  committee,  comprising  P.  M.  Haight,  repre- 
senting the  AAA;  Van  Vechten  Veeder,  chairman  oi  the  appeals  board,  representing 
the  court,  and  Joseph  H.  Hazen  of  Warner  Bros.,  representing  the  industry,  met  Wed- 
nesday for  the  first  time  to  allocate  expenditures  and  allowances  for  arbitration  tribu- 
nals under  the  decree.  Because  of  illness,  Haight,  however,  has  resigned  from  the 
committee.  Paul  M.  Warburg  replaces  him. 

The  principal  topic  was  how  the  "Big  Five"  should  contribute  at  this  time  toward 
the  total  of  $490,000  for  the  first  year.  It  was  stated,  following  the  meeting,  the  con- 
tributions will  not  be  made  in  one  lump  sum,  but  probably  quarterly  payments. 


VS 

AAA  to  List  Clerks, 
Arbiters  Soon  Now 

New  York — The  American  Arbitration 
Ass’n  in  a few  days  will  list  local  addresses 
of  the  31  film  tribunals  expected  to  be  in 
operation  February  1,  as  well  as  the  names 
of  clerks  selected  and  arbitrators  who  will 
make  up  local  panels.  This  was  decided 
upon  the  return  over  the  weekend  of  J. 
Noble  Braden,  executive  director,  from  a 
trip  that  took  him  through  a number  of 
southern  cities. 

Meanwhile,  and  in  readiness  for  the 
opening  gun,  the  AAA  has  appointed  El- 
bert Morse  Wood  as  comptroller  and  the 
firm  of  Kurz  and  Kurz  as  auditors  of  the 
arbitration  system.  Wood  is  a member  of 
the  New  York  State  Society  of  Certified 
Public  Accountants,  the  National  Associa- 
tion of  Cost  Accountants  and  a charter 
member  of  the  Accountant’s  Club  of  Amer- 
ica. He  spent  four  years  in  the  near  east 
as  district  auditor  for  the  insular  govern- 
ment of  the  Philippine  Islands.  During 
the  war  Wood  was  called  to  Washington  to 
assist  in  the  formation  of  an  accounting 
system  for  the  American  Red  Cross. 


Invite  Theatre  Partners 
To  Para't  Decree  Talks 

New  York — Paramount’s  theatre  af- 
filiates will  be  invited  to  attend  meetings 
being  held  at  the  distributor’s  exchanges 
where  Austin  C.  Keough,  general  counsel, 
and  Louis  Phillips,  his  assistant,  explain 
legal  angles  of  the  decree. 

The  first  meeting  was  held  January  3 at 
the  New  York  exchange  with  Barney  Bala- 
ban,  president;  Leon  Netter,  circuit  ex- 
ecutive, and  Robert  M.  Weitman,  managing 
director  for  the  Paramount,  in  attendance 
with  other  home  office  executives. 

About  50  exchange  and  home  office  rep- 
resentatives were  present  at  the  local 
meeting  held  in  the  projection  room.  J.  J. 
Unger,  eastern  division  head,  was  not 
there.  He  was  in  Boston  at  the  time. 
Keough,  Phillips  and  Irving  Cohen  of  the 
home  office  legal  department  were  on 
hand. 


“Drive-In"  Hearing  Feb.  3 

Boston — The  Miami  Drive-In  anti-trust 
action  against  the  majors  goes  before  Spe- 
cial Master  Arthur  Black  here  February  3. 


■■■  — J) 

"Little  3"  Motions  to 
Be  Heard  Jan.  30 

New  York— Applications  of  Columbia  to 
dismiss  and  of  UA  and  Universal  to  force 
the  government  to  amend  its  new  com- 
plaint against  them  has  been  set  for  a 
hearing  before  Trial  Judge  Henry  Warren 
Goddard  in  the  federal  court  for  January 
30.  Applications  were  due  to  be  heard 
earlier  in  the  month,  but  Edward  C.  Raf- 
tery,  attorney  for  UA  and  Universal,  had 
to  go  to  California,  while  Louis  Frohlich, 
attorney  for  Columbia,  was  up  to  his  neck 
in  the  Ascap  situation. 

Numerous  reasons  are  submitted  for  the 
relief  sought,  the  most  important  of  these 
being  that  in  its  new  action  the  govern- 
ment has  included  all  the  charges  of  the 
old  suit,  including  as  defendants  the  five 
producer-exhibitors  who  signed  the  decree. 
In  order  to  simplify  the  charges,  the  court 
is  asked  to  strike  out  all  allegations  refer- 
ring to  the  producer-exhibitors.  Columbia’s 
plea  also  mentions  the  necessity  by  virtue 
of  the  terms  of  the  decree  of  the  govern- 
ment securing  a court  ruling  against  the 
non-theatre  owning  defendants  by  June  1, 
1942,  which  places  these  three  companies 
in  the  guise  of  ‘‘guinea  pigs.” 


Rites  for  Cowdin's  Father 

New  York — Funeral  services  were  held 
Thursday  for  John  Elliott  Cowdin,  retired 
silk  merchant  and  father  of  J.  Cheever 
Cowdin,  chairman  of  the  board  of  Uni- 
versal. He  was  83  and  had  been  ill  for 
some  time. 

(t 

5 Grapes  in  Bunch, 

Is  Zanuck's  View 

New  York — "What  do  you  expect  to 
happen  at  the  studios  under  the  decree?" 
a BOXOFFICE  reporter  asked  Darryl  F. 
Zanuck  who  had  just  accepted  the  New 
York  Film  Critics'  award  lor  "The  Grapes 
of  Wrath"  as  the  best  film  of  last  year. 

"I'm  not  sure,"  he  replied,  "but  all  five 
in  each  group  probably  will  have  to  be 
as  good  as  ’The  Grapes  of  Wrath'." 

In  his  broadcast  acceptance,  Zanuck 
said  the  film  was  20th-Fox's  most  success- 
ful commercially  last  year. 

vi  v 


Justice  Dept.,  Though, 
Expects  Industry  to 
Iron  Kinks  Slowly 


Washington — 'Many  months,  perhaps 
several  years,  will  be  required  for  all 
branches  of  the  industry  to  reach  smooth 
operation  under  the  consent  decree  if  it 
lasts  that  long,  it  is  admitted  by  officials 
of  the  department  of  justice.  But,  they 
believe,  the  industry  quickly  will  reach  a 
point  of  equilibrium  and  that  such  kinks 
as  are  bound  to  occur  will  be  ironed  out 
gradually  and,  it  is  hoped,  amicably. 

In  informed  circles,  reports  that  a dec- 
ade or  more  will  be  required  to  get  the 
decree  working  smoothly  are  not  taken 
seriously.  Instead,  it  is  believed  that,  if 
the  decree  doesn’t  show  results  within  a 
very  limited  time,  it  either  will  be  quickiy 
amended  or  a stiff  fight  made  for  con- 
gressional action  defining  finally  and  ex- 
actly how  the  industry  shall  operate. 

Any  deficiencies  in  the  setup  ordered 
by  the  decree,  it  is  expected,  will  make 
themselves  apparent  within  a year.  If  ser- 
ious, they  may  be  made  the  subject  of  fur- 
ther court  action  to  correct  them. 

Department  officials  declined  to  specu- 
late how  long  it  would  take  to  get  the  de- 
cree working  properly.  But  they  indi- 
cated very  clearly  they  could  not  see  a 
decade  of  controversy  ahead  over  its  pro- 
visions, although  they  predicted  there  will 
be  controversies  in  the  industry  so  long  as 
it  exists,  just  as  there  are  in  all  large  in- 
dustries. 


In  an  address  before  a group  of  Florida 
exhibitors  at  Miami  a few  days  ago  E.  L. 
Kuykendall,  MPTOA  president,  declared 
Thurman  Arnold,  assistant  attorney  gen- 
eral, had  told  him  it  will  take  12  years  be- 
fore the  decree  will  function  properly. 


Indirect  Arnold  Plea 
For  More  Appropriations 

Washington — An  indirect  plea  for  in- 
creased appropriations  is  carried  to  the 
new  Congress  in  the  annual  report  of 
Assistant  Attorney  General  Thurman  Ar- 
nold, in  charge  of  the  anti-trust  division 
of  the  department  of  justice. 

Pointing  out  that  for  many  years  only 
small  funds  were  provided  for  anti-trust 
law  enforcement,  Arnold  reports  that  “the 
funds  now  available,  while  neither  ade- 
quate nor  ample,  are  no  longer  insignifi- 
cant and  the  consequent  vigor  and  scope 
of  the  enforcement  program  has  revealed 
for  the  first  time  the  utility  of  the  anti- 
trust laws. 

“The  lesson  learned  in  recent  years  is 
that  when  the  anti-trust  laws  are  actively 
enforced  they  become  an  efficient  weapon, 
usable  on  a broad  front,  in  the  battle  to 
save  the  free  competitive  system  from 
self-destruction,”  he  says. 

In  the  anti-trust  drive  now  under  way, 
(Continued  on  page  16) 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


5 


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exceptional, 
find  it  on 

duct  PICTURE 


night 

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globe 


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AND  THESE  ARE  THE  THEATRE  ADS  THAT  DSD  ST! 


« ■ ii 


a 


ADS 


E AT 


-FOX 


Sees  Challenge  in  1941 
And  Need  to  Re-Valuate 


Defense  Fund  Deemed 
Surefire  '41  Hypo 


By  MURRAY  SILVERSTONE 

Chief  of  World-Wide  Operations,  United 
Artists 

New  York — The  year  will  bring  to  the 
industry  the  sharpest  challenge  in  its  en- 
tire history.  The 
structure  that  our  in- 
dustry has  built,  pre- 
dicated on  the  in- 
creasing popularity 
of  American  motion 
pictures  in  other 
countries,  must  be 
re-examined  and  re- 
evaluated. Over  a 
period  of  30  or  more 
years  our  films  have 
found  an  increasing- 
ly large  audience 
throughout  the  world.  But  in  this  past 
year  alone,  many  doors  leading  to  this 
market  have  been  closed. 

We  have  a great  industry.  We  have  the 
best  manpower  that  any  industry  can  have. 
We  have  the  ability,  the  materials,  the 


Sustains  Ascap  Tax 

Milwaukee — The  1935  state  statute  re- 
quiring licenses  for  music  brokers  and 
payment  of  a 25  per  cent  franchise  tax 
was  sustained  here  in  a federal  court  rul- 
ing in  the  case  of  Leo  Feist,  Inc.,  vs. 
Wiley  Young,  a West  Allis  tavern  keeper. 


Settle  Copyright  Suit 

Charlotte — The  case  of  LeGette  Blythe 
against  M-G-M  on  charges  of  infringe- 
ment of  “Marshal  Ney:  A Dual  Life”  in 
the  production  of  the  featurette,  “The 
Bravest  of  the  Brave,”  has  been  settled 
by  stipulation  in  federal  court  here. 


Airs  Paramount  Setup 

Boston — George  Ryan,  plaintiff  attor- 
ney, attempted  to  point  up  Paramount’s 
“wide  influence”  in  New  England’s  ex- 
hibition field  in  testimony  during  the 
trial  here  of  the  Waldo  Theatre  vs.  the 
late  Joseph  Dondis  and  major  interests. 
The  company’s  corporative  setup  was  aired 
at  length. 


Would  Legalize  Beano 

Springfield — Legalization  of  Beano  and 
other  forms  of  cash  games  is  proposed  in 
a bill  introduced  in  the  Massachusetts 
legislature.  Beano  games  are  making  in- 
roads on  theatre  grosses  over  the  state. 


Heads  Boston  Club 

Boston — Martin  J.  Mullin,  M&P  Thea- 
tres partner,  has  been  named  chief  barker 
of  the  Variety  Club. 


spirit  and  the  imagination  to  make  the 
finest  pictures  Hollywood  has  ever  pro- 
duced. 

The  challenge  that  the  new  year  brings 
will  be  the  challenge  to  utilize  that  man- 
power, those  materials,  that  spirit  and  that 
imagination  to  the  end  that  Americans  will 
flock  to  motion  picture  theatres  in  ever 
greater  numbers. 

If  we  meet  this  challenge,  the  doors  that 
have  been  closed  to  us  in  other  parts  of 
the  world  will  not  constitute  a too  serious 
threat. 


Northwest  1940  Income 
Highest  in  11  Years 

Minneapolis — The  film  industry  here  is 
much  encouraged  by  figures  just  published 
by  the  Greater  North  Dakota  Ass’n,  in  its 
annual  report,  showing  that  North  Da- 
kota’s agricultural  income  for  1940  aggre- 
gating $235,000,000,  was  the  highest  in  11 
years. 


Honor  O'Donnell 

Dallas — Nearly  600  industry  members 
and  their  wives  turned  out  for  the  Va- 
riety Club  luncheon  here  to  R.  J.  O’Don- 
nell, Interstate  Circuit  general  manager, 
to  signal  his  retirement  as  chief  barker 
after  five  continuous  terms  in  that  post. 
He  is  succeeded  by  Paul  Short. 


PCCITO  Meeting  Jan.  13 

Portland — Albert  J.  Law,  general  coun- 
sel of  the  Pacific  Coast  Conference  of  In- 
dependent Theatre  Owners,  will  attend  the 
first  meeting  since  his  appointment  when 
the  trustees  confer  here  January  13. 


Out  of  Crescent  Suit 

Nashville — Dismissal  of  the  Crescent 
Amusement  Co.  suit  as  it  applies  to  the 
five  distributors  party  to  the  consent  de- 
cree has  been  formalized  in  federal  court. 


Ohio  Tax  Need  Seen  Less 

Columbus — Increased  tax  collections  and 
reduced  relief  costs  in  estimates  for  1941 
as  compared  to  1940  are  raising  hopes  that 
the  legislature  will  not  boost  the  present 
three  per  cent  tax  on  admissions. 


Would  Repeal  Colorado  Tax 

Denver — A bill  has  been  introduced  in 
the  legislature  to  repeal  the  Colorado  serv- 
ice tax  of  two  per  cent  on  tickets  over 
five  cents. 


(Continued  from  page  4) 
power  will  lead  to  further  demand  and 
further  employment. 

With  new  jobs  and  new  money,  this  in- 
creasing host  of  workers  is  expected  to  look 
for  recreation  in  picture  theatres,  among 
other  places,  and  so  exhibitors  seem  des- 
tined to  come  in  for  their  share  of  the 
broadened  national  income. 

In  the  agricultural  areas  where  there  is 
little  or  no  manufacturing,  improved  farm 
income  will  be  the  basis  for  increased 
spending.  The  1940  farm  return  was  ma- 
terially greater  than  that  of  1939;  the 
1941  will  show  another  increase  despite  the 
loss  of  many  important  foreign  markets  for 
cotton,  tobacco  and  other  staple  products. 

General  Improvement 

But  not  every  exhibitor  in  every  locality 
will  benefit  equally  by  the  improved  con- 
ditions which  are  developing.  The  extent 
of  the  individual’s  benefit  will  depend  upon 
a number  of  factors — volume  of  employ- 
ment, wage  levels,  living  costs — in  his  im- 
mediate locality.  No  picture  can  be  drawn 
and  no  chart  drafted,  only  the  general 
conclusion  can  be  reached  that  the  thea- 
tre business  as  a whole  will  be  better  this 
year  than  last. 

Theatre  attendance,  in  most  areas,  is 
better  than  it  was  a year  ago.  But  how 
rapidly  further  improvement  will  develop 
will  depend  upon  the  speed  with  which 
defense  contracts  get  under  operation.  In 
general,  full  development  will  be  slower  in 
the  interior  of  the  country  than  along  the 
seaboard. 

This  is  due  to  the  fact  that,  for  the  most 
part,  industrial  activity  prior  to  the  de- 
fense program  was  concentrated  largely 
along  the  coasts  and  at  a few  strategic  in- 
land points.  Large  defense  contracts  are 
to  be  produced  in  the  interior,  however, 
but  in  many  cases  it  was  necessary  for  the 
government  to  have  special  plants  built. 
These  plants  are  now  going  up,  some  of 
them  nearing  completion. 

Big  Plants  for  Midwest 

The  procurement  plans  of  the  govern- 
ment call  for  the  decentralization  of  de- 
fense production,  with  many  establish- 
ments located  at  interior  points  which  will 
be  safe  from  air  raids  in  the  event  of  an 
emergency.  The  result  will  be  that  in  the 
near  future  there  will  be  large  industries 
in  communities  not  now  known  as  indus- 
trial centers. 

The  isolationist  midwest,  where  1,500 
miles  of  iand  and  3,000  miles  of  water  have 
been  considered  an  adequate  protection 
against  war  coming  to  its  doors  will  be 
given  many  important  military  orders  as 
part  of  the  administration’s  program  to 
make  America  defense  conscious,  a pro- 
ject long  known  and  enthusiastically  aided 
by  exhibitors.  The  Northwest  will  get  new 
plants,  as  will  the  south. 

Meanwhile,  because  they  had  facilities 
available,  the  established  industrial  cen- 
ters are  producing  the  bulk  of  the  imme- 
diate needs  of  the  army  and  navy.  It  is  in 
those  areas,  as  shown  by  the  labor  de- 
partment figures,  that  the  greatest  in- 
creases in  employment  have  occurred. 


Flashes  From  the  News  Front 


8 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


New  England  Is  on  Omaha  Territory  Bullish, 
Definite  Upgrade  Fingers  Are  Crossed 


Boston — Theatre  business  in  New  Eng- 
land is  definitely  on  the  up-grade,  indus- 
try observers  state.  Marked  increases, 
moveover,  are  expected  to  follow  during 
the  succeeding  months  of  this  year.  The 
current  business  boom,  which  has  already 
shot  industry  here  10  per  cent  above  nor- 
mal, is  concretely  tied  in  with  the  film 
spurt. 

The  film  industry  increase,  however,  is 
marked  with  certain  definite  characteris- 
tics. Patronage  in  many  localities  is  be- 
ing held  back,  it  is  felt,  because  the  local 
citizenry  is  still  trying  to  pay  up  deficits 
incurred  during  bleak  years.  Another  ex- 
treme, that  of  potential  patrons  being  too 
taxed  by  over  time  work  to  find  time  for 
movie  relaxation,  has  arisen. 

There  is  also  a psychological  angle,  it 
is  felt.  Many  potential  moviegoers  have 
been  deprived  of  the  chance  so  long  to 
rub  two  coins  together  that  their  new 
found  prosperity  has  incited  temporary 
hoarding  motives. 

It  is  felt,  and  special  holiday  shows  bore 
it  out,  that  lower  price  houses  including 
the  numerous  neighborhoods,  will  be 
skipped  by  the  newly  prosperous.  The 
New  Year  midnight  shows,  in  particular, 
found  neighborhood  houses  deserted  while 
de  luxers,  even  though  running  at  in- 
creased prices,  had  to  turn  them  away. 
Swelled  pocketbooks  are  in  many  cases 
making  for  fancier  tastes. 


Zanuck  Is  Brimful  of 
Optimism  for  1941 

New  York — Darryl  F.  Zanuck  is  brim- 
ful of  optimism  for  1941,  he  declared  dur- 
ing a brief  stay  here.  The  20th  Century- 
Fox  producer  came  to  New  York  from  the 
coast  to  accept  the  New  York  Film  Critics’ 
award  of  the  best  film  of  1940  on  behalf  of 
“The  Grapes  of  Wrath.” 

Zanuck  attributes  a business  rise  to  a 
number  of  reasons.  He  feels  the  decree 
will  make  for  better,  although  perhaps 
fewer,  pictures  and  that  the  defense  pro- 
gram will  step  up  industry  generally.  “The 
first  money  a man  gets  he  uses  to  pay  his 
debts.  The  second  is  spent  in  stores.  The 
third  is  used  in  luxuries  and,  although 
films  come  in  this  last  class,  because  of 
their  universal  appeal  picture  people  will 
benefit  by  more  spending  in  this  third 
group  than  ever  before,”  he  observed. 

The  producer  spent  Monday  in  Wash- 
ington, then  flew  west. 


O'Shea  on  First  Tour 
As  Division  Manager 

New  York — E.  K.  “Ted”  O’Shea,  newly 
appointed  central  division  manager  for 
M-G-M,  is  on  the  first  wing  of  exchanges 
under  his  new  jurisdiction.  He  left  late  in 
the  week  for  Kansas  City,  St.  Louis,  In- 
dianapolis, Memphis  and  Oklahoma  City 
and  plans  to  be  back  in  two  weeks  when 
he  will  move  into  his  new  headquarters  at 
the  home  office. 


Omaha— Exhibitors  in  this  exchange 
area — Nebraska,  western  Iowa  and  south- 
ern South  Dakota — expect  improved  busi- 
ness conditions  during  1941,  except  in 
spots.  But  most  of  them  have  their  fin- 
gers crossed  until  the  increased  grosses  get 
here. 

Indications  point  to  a definite  upswing 
in  the  metropolitan  areas.  However,  the 
rural  sections  may  not  feel  the  effects  of 
the  upturn  until  later  months.  Exhibitors 
plan  to  play  their  cards  close  to  the  vest 
until  they  see  what  happens,  what  with 
the  consent  decree,  competition  and  a few 
other  uncertain  elements  in  sight. 

Omaha  has  been  definitely  selected  as 
site  for  a $10,000,000  bomber  plant  to  be 
constructed  about  10  miles  south.  This 
plant  may  employ  25,000,  and  construction 
is  expected  to  start  in  February.  This 
situation  definitely  will  mean  increased 
grosses  for  Omaha  theatres,  as  well  as  the 
smaller  houses  in  towns  within  a radius 
of  25  miles. 

Exhibitors  are  not  sure  just  what  effect 
national  defense  will  have  on  the  smaller 


Goldstone  Asks  $1,500,000 
For  "Damaged  Goods"  Ban 

Hollywood — If  Hollywood’s  indepen- 
dent production  gentry  has  its  way,  the 
Motion  Picture  Producers  and  Distributors 
of  America  is  apparently  destined  to  be  the 
vortex  of  the  next  flood  of  litigation  and 
dissension  which  seemingly  must  continue 
to  be  a standard  prop  on  the  industry 
scene. 

Two  broadsides  were  aimed  at  the  Hays 
organization,  one  openly  and  in  the  courts 
of  California,  the  other  a subterranean 
grumbling  campaign  . . . Criterion  Pic- 
tures, independent  unit,  and  its  head,  Phil 
Goldstone,  have  filed  a $1,500,000  damage 
suit  in  U.  S.  district  court  here  against  the 
MPPDA  charging  it,  Will  Hays,  Joseph 
Breen  and  other  members  of  the  organi- 
zation with  violating  the  Sherman  and 
Clayton  anti-trust  laws.  Specifically, 
plaintiffs  assert  the  MPPDA’s  production 
code  administration  refused  a purity  seal 
for  Criterion’s  “Damaged  Goods,”  feature 
dealing  with  syphilis,  but  later  gave  a seal 
to  Warner’s  “Dr.  Ehrlich’s  Magic  Bullet,” 
treating  of  the  same  disease.  The  charge 
adds  that  the  MPPDA  controls  almost  all 
first-run  theatres  and  excludes  all  inde- 
pendent producers  from  the  first-run 
market. 

Code  Seal  Fee  Boost 
Irks  Independents 

The  underground  complaint,  which  may 
flare  into  a united  movement  in  protest, 
came  into  being  when  a little-publicized 
MPPDA  manifesto  declared  that,  effective 
January  1,  production  code  service  fees  on 
pictures  with  a negative  cost  of  $100,000 


theatres  in  Nebraska  and  Iowa  towns  and 
smaller  communities.  Possibly  the  up- 
swing will  catch  on  there,  too. 

The  last  part  of  1940  was  decidedly 
downward  in  trend,  hitting  a low  prior  to 
Christmas,  according  to  circuits  and  inde- 
pendents alike,  in  both  metropolitan  and 
rural  areas.  Since  then  and  starting  in 
1941,  things  have  been  brighter. 

Business  in  the  Nebraska-Iowa  area  will 
be  no  different  in  1941  than  in  1940  and 
the  prior  eight  years  unless  the  national 
defense  boom  helps.  Theatres  depend  on 
the  agricultural  situation,  usually,  and  out- 
look along  this  line  is  only  fair. 

Exhibitors  that  are  not  directly  affected 
by  national  defense  construction  hope  the 
national  upward  trend  of  business  helps 
them. 


Seventy  Held  Over 

Pittsburgh — Seventy  features  were  held 
for  extra  playing  time  here  during  the 
past  year.  Seventeen  Metro  pictures  gar- 
nered a total  of  49  weeks. 


or  less  would  be  raised  to  $100  from  the 
previous  $50  to  $25.  Independents  contend 
the  300  per  cent  increase  affects  picture- 
makers  who  can  least  afford  it.  The 
MPPDA  asserts  the  previous  rate  was  in- 
sufficient to  cover  deficits  in  operating 
costs  ...  In  the  meantime,  the  Hays  of- 
fice and  the  Screen  Actors  Guild  are  keep- 
ing wary  eyes  on  a development  which  re- 
vived the  perennial  issue  of  local  theatre 
censorship.  The  police  commission  and  city 
counsel  have  instructed  the  city  attorney 
to  draft  a suggested  ordinance  empower- 
ing police  to  arbitrarily  close  any  stage  or 
screen  show  which  the  law  might  deem  in- 
decent. SAG  has  adopted  a ruling  barring 
from  membership  anyone  participating  in 
such  shows  and,  with  the  Hays  office,  is 
fighting  the  censorship  move  because  it 
“threatens  the  American  principles  of 
freedom  of  expression.” 

Production  Holds  Up 
Despite  the  Turmoil 

Despite  threatened  turmoil,  production 
promises  to  progress  at  the  pace  main- 
tained in  the  past  several  months  ...  A 
minimum  of  40  pictures  have  already  been 
announced  for  the  first  quarter  of  1941  . . . 
Universal  has  announced  it  will  deliver  its 
full  1940-41  program  of  63  pictures,  de- 
spite losses  from  abroad  . . . Most  popular 
in  coming  films  are  straight  dramas, 
comedies  and  westerns,  in  that  order  . . . 
Warner  is  joining  the  South  American 
bandwagon  with  the  announcement  it  will 
make  “Carnival  in  Rio,”  starring  George 
Raft.  Same  studio  will  smash  at  the  Nazis 
with  “Underground,”  story  of  anti-Nazi 
radio  hookups. 


What  the  Studios  Are  Doing 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


9 


36  "A" and  16  "B”From 
M-G-M  for  Next  Season 


Published  Every  Saturday  by 


Associated  Publications 

Editorial  Offices:  9 Rockefeller  Plaza,  New 
York  City.  Louis  Rydell,  Advertising  Man- 
ager. Wm.  Ornstein,  Eastern  Editor.  Tele- 
phone Columbus  5-6370,  5-6371,  5-6372.  Cable 
address:  "BOXOFFICE,  New  York.” 

Western  Offices:  6404  Hollywood  Blvd.,  Hol- 
wood,  Calif.  Ivan  Spear,  Manager.  Tele- 
phone Gladstone  1186. 

Publication  Offices:  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kan- 
sas City,  Mo.  Morris  Schlozman,  Business 
Manager.  Telephone  Chestnut  7777. 

Other  Associated  Publications:  BOXOFFICE 
BAROMETER,  BOXOFFICE  RECORDS, 
BOXOFFICE  PICTURE  GUIDE,  published 
annually;  THE  MODERN  THEATRE,  pub- 
lished monthly  as  a section  of  BOXOFFICE. 

ALBANY — 21-23  Walter  Ave.,  M.  Berrigan. 
ATLANTA — 183  Walton  St.,  Helen  Hardy. 
JAckson  5331. 

BOSTON — 14  Piedmont  St.,  Brad  Angler, 
Liberty  9305. 

BUFFALO — Buffalo  Theatre,  G.  C.  Maurer. 
CHARLOTTE— 216  W.  4th,  Pauline  Griffith. 
CHICAGO — 332  S.  Michigan  Blvd.,  Hal 
Tate.  Wabash  4575. 

CINCINNATI — 127  Tremont  St.,  Ft.  Thomas, 
Ky.,  Clara  Hyde.  Highland  1657. 
CLEVELAND — 12805  Cedar  Road,  Cleveland 
Heights,  Elsie  Loeb.  Fairmount  0046. 
DALLAS — 408  S.  Harwood,  V.  W.  Crisp, 
Southwestern  editor.  Telephone  7-3553. 
DENVER — 319  S.  Clarkson  St.,  J.  A.  Rose. 

Telephone  Spruce  0318. 

DES  MOINES — The  Colonade,  Rene  Clayton. 
DETROIT— 424  Book  Bldg.,  H.  F.  Reves. 

Telephone  Cadillac  9085. 

HOLLYWOOD — 6404  Hollywood  Bvd.,  Ivan 
Spear,  Western  editor.  GLadstone  1186. 
INDIANAPOLIS — 42  West  11th  St.,  Kol- 
man  Hirschman. 

KANSAS  CITY — 4804  East  Ninth  St.,  Jesse 
Shlyen,  Midwest  editor.  CHestnut  7777. 
LITTLE  ROCK — P.  O.  Box  253,  Lynn  Hub- 
bard. 3-0156. 

MEMPHIS— 399  So.  2nd  St.,  Carolyne  Miller. 
MILWAUKEE — 210  East  Michigan  St..  H. 

C.  Brunner.  Kilbourn  6670-J. 
MINNEAPOLIS — Essex  Bldg.,  Maurice  Wolff. 
NEW  HAVEN — 42  Church  St.,  Suite  915, 
Gertrude  Pearson.  6-4149. 

NEW  ORLEANS — 1136  Behrman  Ave.,  J.  W. 
Leigh 

NEW  YORK  CITY — 9 Rockefeller  Plaza, 
William  Ornstein,  Eastern  editor. 
OKLAHOMA  CITY — Box  4547.  E.  W.  Fair. 
OMAHA — 5640  Woolworth.  Monte  Davis. 
PHILADELPHIA — 426  Pine  St.,  Joseph 
Shaltz.  WALnut  0860. 

PITTSBURGH — 1701  Blvd.  of  the  Allies,  R. 

F.  Klingensmith.  ATlantic  4858. 
PORTLAND,  ORE. — 925  N.  W.  19th  St., 
Harold  Donner.  Broadway  0136. 

ST.  LOUIS — 5149  Rosa  Ave.,  David  F.  Bar- 
rett. Flanders  3727. 

SALT  LAKE  CITY — 167  South  State  St., 
Viola  B.  Hutton.  WAsatch  165. 

SAN  FRANCISCO — 1095  Market  St..  A1 
Scott.  Market  6580. 

SEATTLE — 2418  Second  Ave.,  Joe  Cooper. 
Seneca  2460. 

WASHINGTON — 1426  G St„  Earle  A.  Dyer. 

IN  CANADA 

CALGARY — The  Albertan,  Wm.  Campbell. 
HAMILTON — 20  Holton,  N.,  Hugh  Millar. 
LONDON — 97  Adelaide  St.,  S.,  John  Gore. 
MONTREAL — 4330  Wilson  Ave.,  N.  D.  G., 
Roy  Carmichael.  Walnut  5519. 

REGINA — The  Leader-Post.  Bruce  Peacock. 
ST.  JOHN — 161  Princess  St.  D.  Fetherston. 
TORONTO— 242  Millwood.  Milton  Galbraith. 
VANCOUVER — 615  Hastings.,  C.  P.  Rutty. 
VICTORIA — 434  Quebec  St.,  Tom  Merriman. 
WINNIPEG — 709  Selkirk  Ave.,  Ben  Lepkin. 


By  BILL  ORNSTEIN 

New  York — M-G-M  will  produce  36  “A” 
and  16  “B”  pictures  for  1941-42  and  the 
company’s  first  block  of  five  to  be  sold 
under  the  terms  of  the  decree  will  be 
ready  for  trade  showing  in  July  and  the 
second  block  in  August,  so  stated  A1  Licht- 
man  while  in  town  for  a week  of  home 
office  conferences. 

No  changes  in  the  studio  setup  will  be 
necessary  to  conform  to  the  decree,  he 
added,  and  budget  for  the  new  season  will 
be  set  on  each  picture  as  it  comes  up 
rather  than  a blanket  spending  allowance 
for  the  entire  program. 

Lichtman  pointed  out  M-G-M  does  not 
operate  on  a set  outlay  for  the  season’s 
program,  but  takes  up  the  individual  ex- 
penditures as  productions  are  scheduled. 

There  is  no  particular  type  of  feature 
to  be  stressed  in  the  forthcoming  program, 
he  continued.  “We  will  make  any  type 
that  in  our  opinion  will  please  the  pub- 
lic. We  have  no  preconceived  ideas  or  no- 
tions of  what  will  please  the  customers 
at  the  boxoffice,”  he  added. 

Already  lined  up  for  the  1941-42  season 
are  two  for  Greta  Garbo,  one  “Madame 
Curie,”  by  the  scientist’s  daughter,  and  the 
second  a comedy  as  yet  untitled. 

Norma  Shearer  in  Two 

Norma  Shearer  will  appear  in  two,  “To- 
night at  8:30,”  based  on  a series  of  one- 
act  plays  by  Noel  Coward,  and  the  second, 
"The  World  We  Make,”  from  the  Sidney 
Kingsley  play. 

Clark  Gable  and  Lana  Turner  will  ap- 
pear in  “Honky  Tonk,”  which  will  be  one 
of  the  big  ones  from  the  lot. 

Mickey  Rooney  and  Judy  Garland  will 
be  co-starred  in  “Broadway  Melody  of 
1941.” 

A lavish  musical  will  be  “Big  Time.” 

The  Marx  Brothers  are  slated  for  “Step 
This  Way,”  tentatively  titled. 

William  Powell  and  Myrna  Loy  will  be 
co-featured  in  “Married  Bachelor”  and  an- 
other in  “The  Thin  Man”  series. 

Louis  Bromfield’s  novel,  “Night  in  Bom- 
bay,” will  serve  as  a starring  attraction 
for  Joan  Crawford. 

Spencer  Tracy  will  have  the  title  role 
in  “Dr.  Jekyll  and  Mr.  Hyde.” 

Wallace  Beery  will  star  in  “Combat  Car,” 
based  on  the  mechanization  of  the 
cavalry. 

Another  Spencer  Tracy  starring  attrac- 
tion will  be  “The  Yearling,”  a best  seller. 

Pandro  Berman  is  now  finishing  “Zieg- 
feld  Girl,”  his  first  for  the  company. 

Present  indications  are  that  there  will 
be  no  reduction  in  shorts.  This  season 
the  company  is  releasing  91  reels.  In  this 
category  are  the  “Crime  Does  Not  Pay,” 
the  Pete  Smiths,  James  A.  FitzPatrick 
Traveltalks,  Our  Gangs  and  a cartoon 
series. 

The  group  of  pictures  to  be  screened  in 
July  will  be  released  in  September  and 
the  block  to  be  tradeshown  in  August 
will  be  released  in  October  and  so  forth, 
Lichtman  stated. 


M-G-M  to  Release 
48-49  This  Season 

New  York — M-G-M  will  hold  to  its 
regular  custom  this  year  and  release  48 
or  49  in  the  program  of  44-52  announced 
for  the  season,  according  to  A1  Licht- 
man, production  executive. 

Asked  if  the  company  planned  another 
production  on  the  scale  and  calibre  of 
"Gone  With  the  Wind,"  Lichtman  said 
M-G-M  would  like  to  make  a picture  of 
that  type  once  a month,  but  it  is  ’’impos- 
sible," adding  "That  also  goes  for  one 
a year." 

^ >) 

Loew's  1940  Earnings 
Slightly  Under  1939 

New  York — Loew’s  earnings  for  the  year 
ended  August  31,  1940  were  $8,908,469.74 
or  $933,060.87  less  than  the  previous  year, 
it  is  revealed  in  a consolidated  profit  and 
loss  statement  sent  to  stockholders  over 
the  weekend.  Theatre  receipts,  rentals  and 
sales  of  films  and  accessories  for  1940 
aggregated  $133,375,150.96  as  compared 
with  $122,577,542.84  for  the  year  ended 
August  31,  1939. 

Net  income  before  taxes  is  listed  at  $11,- 
393,055.18  as  against  $12,338,751.83  for  the 
same  1939  period.  Federal  income  taxes 
were  decreased  from  $1,958,851.13  to  $1,- 
800,855.28. 

At  the  last  regular  board  meeting  the 
directors  declared  $1.62  V2  dividend  on  the 
cumulative  preferred,  payable  February  15 
to  record  holders  of  January  31. 

In  a special  balance  sheet  notation 
various  changes  and  items  are  explained 
for  the  benefit  of  stockholders. 

“Cash  in  foreign  countries,”  the  statement  de- 
clares, “all  subject  in  some  degree  to  export  re- 
strictions totaled  $4, 446,848.86.  To  the  extent  of 
such  cash  balances  included  for  respective  coun- 
tries $1,278,983.17  has  been  received  in  the  United 
States  up  to  January  2,  1941.  The  net  amount 
of  all  assets  in  all  foreign  countries  (not  includ- 
ing portion  of  cost  of  film  productions  allocated 
to  foreign  but  retained  on  books  in  the  United 
States)  was  $14,456,999.01,  of  which  net  current 
assets  (with  the  same  exclusion  of  cost  of  film 
productions)  amounted  to  $3,223,946.64.  Of  the 
current  liabilities  due  to  foreign  banks  by  foreign 
subsidiaries,  Loew’s  has  guaranteed  $1,855,753.83. 

“Reserve  has  been  accumulated  since  1928  by 
surcharging  production  costs  with  10  per  cent  of. 
the  cost  of  books  and  rights  used  and  the  net 
profit  on  sales  of  books  and  rights.  It  is  con- 
sidered that  after  charge-offs  made  in  1940  and 
prior  years  the  balance  of  this  reserve,  plus  the 
substantial  value  of  books  and  rights  previously 
used  in  productions  and  available  for  reissue  or  re- 
make (the  specific  costs  of  which  have  been  writ- 
ten off),  offsets  the  costs  of  specific  books  and 
rights  carried  in  the  accounts  which  may  not 
ultimately  be  used. 

“Including  appraisals  made  in  1925  with  sub- 
sequent additions  at  cost.  Since  1925  the  equity 
in  net  undistributed  profits  of  partly  owned  sub- 
sidiary and  affiliated  corporations  has  increased 
$1,792,671.98. 

“Other  investments  include  fixed  deposits  in 
Yokohama  Specie  Bank,  Ltd.,  San  Francisco,  due 
1941-42,  $230,240.15;  600  shares  of  Loew’s.  Inc. 

$6.50  cumulative  preferred  stock  at  cost  $59,937; 

(Continued  on  page  14) 


10 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


OV  VH 


ot,TS  T*  «•«*' 


as 


e**e’s 

Of} 


, •/**«*  H/, 

°ut!  (ft  **& 

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*e/) 


\p^x  , 

' Excitement. 

Song#/ 


329  NEW  HOUSES  BUILT  IN  '40; 

60  UNDER  '39,  SURVEY  REVEALS 


Texas  Out  Front  Once  More 

This  is  a state-by-state  record  of  new  theatres  which  entered  the  field  in  1940. 
The  chart  is  based  on  quarterly  surveys  made  last  year  and  drawn  from  reports 


gathered  by  Boxoffice’s  nationwide  corps  of  correspondents. 

1st  2nd  3rd 

State — Quarter  Quarter  Quarter 

4 th 

Quarter 

Totals 

Alabama  

1 

4 

4 

3 

12 

Arizona  

1 

1 

2 

Arkansas  

4 

3 

4 

11 

California  

6 

8 

4 

6 

24 

Colorado  

1 

1 

1 

3 

6 

Connecticut  

2 

2 

1 

2 

7 

Delaware  

1 

1 

District  of  Columbia 

1 

2 

3 

Florida  

5 

1 

2 

4 

12 

Georgia  

3 

6 

1 

10 

Idaho  

Illinois  

3 

5 

3 

1 

12 

Indiana  

1 

5 

6 

Iowa  

Kansas  

2 

2 

1 

5 

Kentucky  

3 

1 

4 

Louisiana  

4 

3 

2 

2 

11 

Maine  

1 

1 

2 

Maryland  

1 

1 

2 

Massachusetts  

2 

1 

1 

3 

7 

Michigan  

4 

3 

4 

2 

13 

Minnesota  

2 

3 

1 

6 

Mississippi  

1 

1 

2 

2 

6 

Missouri  

1 

5 

1 

7 

Montana  

Nebraska  

1 

3 

2 

6 

Nevada  

1 

1 

New  Hampshire  

1 

1 

New  Jersey  

1 

1 

New  Mexico  

1 

1 

New  York  

4 

2 

2 

8 

North  Carolina  

2 

3 

3 

4 

12 

North  Dakota  

Ohio  

3 

5 

8 

2 

18 

Oklahoma  

3 

1 

4 

Oregon  

1 

1 

1 

3 

Pennsylvania  

3 

4 

8 

8 

23 

Rhode  Island  

1 

1 

South  Carolina  

1 

1 

1 

2 

5 

South  Dakota  

2 

2 

Tennessee  

1 

3 

3 

3 

10 

Texas  

4 

4 

8 

9 

25 

Utah  

1 

1 

2 

Vermont  

Virginia  

1 

1 

2 

Washington  

1 

2 

2 

5 

West  Virginia  

4 

1 

2 

6 

13 

Wisconsin  

2 

2 

Canada  

4 

3 

2 

6 

15 

Totals  

69 

83 

91 

86 

329 

Paul  Short's  Division 
Top  in  NSS  Drive 

New  York — Paul  Short’s  southwestern 
division  scored  first  place  in  the  National 
Screen  20th  anniversary  testimonial  drive 
for  Herman  Robbins.  The  drive  started 
September  15  and  concluded  December  28 
and  marked  the  first  time  Robbins  has 
permitted  the  use  of  his  name  for  a sales 
campaign.  It  was  also  the  most  success- 
ful drive  in  the  organization’s  history,  ac- 
cording to  George  Dembow,  vice-president. 

The  top  ranking  exchange  was  Dallas 
where  Wallace  Walthall,  is  manager.  Sec- 


ond was  Louis  Boyer’s  New  Orleans  branch. 
Third  was  Gilbert  Clark,  Oklahoma  City; 
four,  Herbert  Washburn,  brother  of 
Bryant,  the  actor,  St.  Louis;  fifth,  Arthur 
Manheimer,  son  of  John,  ITOA  of  New 
York  secretary,  Cincinnati;  Bob  Simral, 
Charlotte,  was  sixth. 

The  first  10  salesmen  chalking  up  the 
best  results,  in  the  order  named,  were  Ed- 
ward Sonz,  Cincinnati;  “Doc”  Allen,  Dal- 
las; Cecil  Rudnick,  Boston;  Milton  Smith, 
Washington,  D.  C.;  Joe  Stokvis,  Philadel- 
phia; Arnold  Cohen,  New  York;  L.  George 
Ross,  Cincinnati;  Ben  Lass,  St.  Louis;  Her- 
bert Cass,  Seattle;  Henry  Reiner,  New 
York. 


South  Holds  Spotlight 
In  Activity;  Canada 
Construction  Dips 

New  theatres  entering  the  field  in  the 
U.  S.  and  Canada  in  1940  totaled  329,  or 
60  less  than  the  number  for  the  previous 
year,  a Boxoffice  survey  shows.  Six  states 
did  not  have  any  new  candidates  in  the 
final  tally  for  the  1940  period,  these  being 
Delaware,  Idaho,  Iowa,  Montana,  North 
Dakota  and  Vermont.  In  1939  the  same 
total  of  states  showed  a blank  for  new 
theatres,  but  then  they  were  Arizona,  Ne- 
vada, New  Mexico,  North  Dakota,  Oregon 
and  Rhode  Island. 

The  south  again  holds  the  spotlight  in 
activity  with  such  states  as  Alabama  add- 
ing 12  new  houses,  Arkansas,  11;  Florida, 
12;  Georgia,  10;  Kentucky,  a small  state, 
four;  Louisiana,  11;  Tennessee,  10;  Texas 
25,  and  West  Virginia,  13. 

25  New  Ones  in  Texas 

Texas  again  was  the  leading  state  with 
a tally  of  25  newly  opened  structures  as 
against  32  in  1939.  California,  which  fol- 
lowed on  the  heels  of  Texas  the  previous 
year  with  31,  again  claims  that  honor 
with  an  aggregate  of  24  new  theatres  in 
1940. 

Third  leading  state  was  Pennsylvania 
with  23  newly  opened  houses  in  1940.  For 
1939  this  state  reported  only  12  new  pro- 
jects entering  the  field.  Ohio  was  fourth 
with  18,  the  same  number  as  in  1939. 

Canada  showed  a drop  of  seven  in  the 
comparative  years.  For  1939  there  were 
22  new  units  built,  but  in  1940  the  total 
dropped  to  15.  This  apparently  is  due  to 
the  war. 

In  a quarter-by-quarter  analysis  as  be- 
tween 1939  and  1940,  the  last  three  months 
of  the  past  year  were  considerably  disap- 
pointing as  compared  with  the  same  period 
in  1939.  For  instance,  in  1939  the  num- 
ber of  new  houses  opened  from  October 
through  December  totaled  143.  In  1940  for 
the  same  three  months  there  were  only  86 
new  theatres  finished. 

Nine  Less  Than  in  1939 

With  a tally  of  69  newly  opened  houses 
for  the  first  quarter  of  1940,  this  was  nine 
less  than  the  number  for  the  same  three 
months  in  the  year  prior.  The  second 
quarter  of  the  year  just  ended  showed  83 
completed  structures,  as  compared  to  82 
for  the  same  three  months  in  1939.  The 
third  quarter  of  1940  was  the  best  for  the 
year  and  even  showed  an  improvement 
over  the  July-September  period  in  1939 
when  86  new  theatres  began  operation. 

One  of  the  surprises  was  the  lack  of 
theatre  building  in  New  York  state,  which 
in  1939  reported  15  new  ones  and  in  1940 
came  through  with  only  eight.  New  Jersey 
also  is  in  the  same  class  with  one  for  1940 
and  two  for  the  year  previous. 


12 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


It  was 


too  exciting  a 
honeymoon 
for  only 


ANN 


SHERMi 


had  to  make  it  a 


HONEVMOOJV  fOR 


ms m 


& 


^ $ (*f 

..AND  KEEP  YOUR 
EYES  WIDE  OPEN 
FOR 

HIGH  SIERRA' 


M iM»&  - 

y.s* 


Next  from  Warners 


Monogram  Sets  Up 
Annual  Drive  Plans 

St.  Louis — Monogram  franchise  holders, 
meeting  here  over  the  weekend,  mapped 
plans  for  the  annual  “March  of  Mono- 
gram” sales  drive  to  be  launched  February 
22  and  continued  until  April  11. 

Cash  awards  for  winning  districts  will  be 
made,  according  to  W.  Ray  Johnston, 
president,  who  announced  a division  of  the 
country  into  zones,  each  of  which  carries 
the  name  of  a picture  or  a star. 

The  “East  Side  Kids”  will  be  the  terri- 
tory covering  New  York,  Boston,  Albany 
and  Buffalo;  “Frankie  Darro’s  Hell  Rais- 
ers”: Philadelphia,  Washington  and  Pitts- 
burgh; “Tex  Ritter’s  Rhythm  Rangers”: 
Atlanta,  Charlotte,  Memphis  and  New  Or- 
leans; “Gene  Stratton-Porter’s  Gold  Dig- 
gers”: Cincinnati,  Cleveland  and  Detroit; 
“Keye  Luke’s  Bombers”:  Chicago,  Indian- 
apolis, Milwaukee  and  Minneapolis; 
“‘Swimmin’  Hole  Gang”:  Des  Moines, 
Omaha,  Kansas  City  and  St.  Louis;  “Range 
Busters”:  Oklahoma  City,  Dallas,  Denver 
and  Salt  Lake,  and  “Jack  London’s  Forty 
Niners”:  Seattle,  Portland,  San  Francisco 
and  Los  Angeles. 

Among  those  attending  the  local  sessions 
in  addition  to  Johnston  were  Howard 
Stubbins,  west  coast  franchise  holder; 
George  West,  Kansas  City  and  St.  Louis; 
“Steve”  Broidy,  general  sales  manager,  who 
came  on  from  New  York,  en  route  to  the 
studio  where  he  will  make  his  headquar- 


RKO  Basic  Formula  for 
Meetings  on  Decree 

New  York — RKO  has  adopted  a basic 
formula  for  meetings  to  be  held  in  all 
branches  for  the  purpose  of  explaining 
operations  under  the  decree  to  sales  per- 
sonnel, according  to  Ned  E.  Depinet.  Each 
session  will  consume  from  four  to  five 
hours. 

They  will  be  in  charge  of  William  Zim- 
merman of  the  company’s  legal  staff,  who 
is  presently  en  route  to  all  exchanges  for 
that  purpose.  It  is  estimated  he  will  cover 
20,000  miles  in  five  weeks.  Zimmerman 
conducted  a “laboratory  tour”  of  five 
branches  and  reported,  as  a result,  that 
the  company  is  in  possession  of  a “broad 
cross-section  of  all  the  basic  problems  like- 
ly to  arise  anywhere  in  the  country.” 


To  Allied  Board  Again 

Pittsburgh — Fred  J.  Herrington,  Allied 
unit  secretary,  has  been  renamed  as  a 
director  on  the  national  board. 


ters;  John  Mangham,  Atlanta;  Ben  Wel- 
ansky,  Boston  and  Pittsburgh;  Harry  L. 
Berkson,  Buffalo;  Henri  Elman,  Chicago; 
Nate  Schultz  and  William  Onie,  Cleve- 
land; John  Franconi  and  Ed  Blumenthal, 
Dallas;  Lon  T.  Fidler,  Denver;  F.  E.  Judd, 
Des  Moines;  William  Hurlbut,  Detroit; 
Charles  W.  Trampe,  Milwaukee;  B.  L. 
Nathanson,  Minneapolis;  Carr  Scott,  Ok- 
lahoma City;  Sol  J.  Francis,  Omaha. 


Loew's  1940  Earnings 
Slightly  Under  1939 

(Continued  from  page  10) 

miscellaneous  securities  issued  by  subsidiary  and 
affiliated  companies  at  cost — $103,248.50. 

“Sinking  fund  payments  of  $400,000  semi-an- 
nually commence  January  31,  1945.  In  addition 
to  certain  properties  which  are  mortgaged  for 
payment  of  these  bonds,  inter-company  mortgage 
indebtedness  of  subsidiary  companies  consolidated 
amounting  to  $2,449,000  (eliminated  on  consolida- 
tion) are  also  pledged  as  collateral. 

“Of  these,  48,492  shares  reserved  for  options 
issued  to  an  officer  (Nicholas  M.  Schenck)  in  con- 
nection with  personal  service  contract,  and  exercis- 
able at  $40  a share  at  the  rate  of  9,698  2/5  shares 
cumulative  annually  from  December  31,  1937  to 
March  1,  1942. 

“No  dividend  on  common  stock  is  permitted 
while  dividends  or  sinking  fund  requirements  on 
preferred  stock  are  in  arrears.  No  dividend  or 
other  distribution  by  Loew’s  is  permitted  if  the 
consolidated  surplus  is  thereby  reduced  below 
$37,000,000,  or  if  consolidated  current  and  work- 
ing assets  are  thereby  reduced  to  less  than  twice 
consolidated  current  liabilities,  but  dividends  on 
common  stock  payable  in  common  stock  of  Loew’s 
may  be  declared  if  such  dividends  do  not  reduce 
the  consolidated  surplus  below  $5,000,000. 

“Table  of  amortization  of  film  costs  applicable 
to  pictures  released  on  and  after  September  1,  1939 
was  revised  by  (1)  allocating  75  per  cent  of  cost 
to  the  United  States  and  Canada  and  25  per  cent 
to  foreign  (previously  65  per  cent  and  35  per  cent 
respectively),  (2)  increasing  percentages  of  amorti- 
zation in  earlier  weeks  of  release.  Revised  table 
results  in  amortization  in  earlier  weeks  of  re- 
lease. Revised  table  results  in  amortization  of 
total  cost  at  end  of:  12  weeks,  56.5  per  cent;  24 
weeks,  74.3  per  cent;  36  weeks,  83.7  per  cent;  52 
weeks  (1st  year),  94  per  cent;  80  weeks,  98.2  per 
cent;  104  weeks  (2nd  year),  100  per  cent.  Through 
such  revision,  operations  have  been  charged  with 
approximately  $3,150,000  more  film  amortization 
expense  than  would  have  resulted  had  the  table 
not  been  changed. 

“Contingent  liabilities:  As  joint  guarantors  of 
mortgage  and  note  of  affiliated  corporations — 
$858,000;  additional  federal,  state  and  foreign 
taxes  subject  to  final  adjustment  and  also  judg- 
ments and  settlements  which  may  result  under 
pending  litigation.’’ 

Although  the  current  and  working  cash 
is  listed  at  approximately  the  same  as  last 
year,  the  report  shows  a sizeable  increase 
in  government  and  agency  securities  from 
$3,380,651.43  in  1939  to  $18,181,807.36  for 
1940. 

The  total  funded  debt  is  lower.  In  1939 
it  was  $36,323,954.42  and  the  latest  calcu- 
lations show  it  at  $32,832,442.35. 

The  consolidated  earned  surplus  account, 
after  deductions,  is  listed  at  $56,715,616.56 
as  compared  with  $52,339,175.57  for  the 
year  ended  August  31,  1939. 


Batcheller  Supervising 
Production  for  PRC 

New  York — George  Batcheller  jr.  has 
been  appointed  supervisor  of  production 
for  Producers  Releasing  Corp.  and  now  is 
in  the  new  post  at  the  company’s  head- 
quarters in  Hollywood.  He  will  handle  all 
contracts  with  writers  and  producers,  ac- 
cording to  O.  Henry  Briggs,  president. 

Batcheller  was  associated  with  his  late 
father  in  Chesterfield  and  Invincible  Pic- 
tures, later  moving  over  to  Republic  as  an 
associate  producer  and  lately  producing 
commercial  subjects  for  Roland  Reed  in 
Hollywood. 

On  Monday,  PRC  headquarters  in  the 
Paramount  Building  will  be  moved  to 
larger  quarters  on  the  18th  floor.  Briggs 
plans  to  leave  for  the  coast  soon  to  spend 
about  a month  getting  new  pictures  under 
way.  Several  new  producers  are  being 
lined  up  to  complete  the  18  of  38  planned 
for  the  current  season. 


14 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


"It  looks  as  though 
Monogram  will  do  lor  little 
Miss  Fellows  what  Universal 
did  for  Deanna  Durbin  . . . 
Wilbur  Evans  is  a sensation. 
There  is  hardly  so  line  or 
rich  a voice  on  the  screen." 

Los  Angeles  Times 
★ 

"Miss  Fellows  dis- 
plays a fine  voice . . . story 
moves  at  fast  tempo  . . . 
musical  portion  a delightful 
treat.  Variety 


Yesterday  the  school  ugly 
duckling!  Then  overnight . . . 
^ a new  dress,  a new 
hair-do,  a bright  new 
singing  career,  and 

HER  FIRST  ROMANCE! 


HE  NOVEL  “HER  FATHE 


with  JACQUELINE  WELLS, 


Produced  by  I.  E.  CHADWICK  - 


by  EDWARD 


Smooth  Decree  Era 
May  Be  Far  Away 

(Continued  from  page  5) 

in  which  the  film  industry  has  been  one 
of  the  targets,  he  tells  Congress  “a  long 
neglected  task  of  great  national  import- 
ance is  at  length  being  undertaken.”  But, 
he  adds,  ‘‘the  truth  is  that  we  have  scarce- 
ly touched  the  task  that  needs  to  be 
done.” 

Defending  his  division  against  charges 
that  its  proceedings  are  too  long  drawn 
out,  the  anti-trust  chief  explains  that  the 
large  cases  require  a period  of  three  years 
or  more  for  completion. 

The  first  year,  he  says,  is  consumed 
with  planning  and  various  kinds  of  pre- 
liminary work,  blocking  out  the  possible 
sectors  of  investigation  and  obtaining  evi- 
dence from  persons  affected  by  restraints. 
“Incidentally,”  he  says  in  this  connection, 
“the  government  does  not  go  out  and 
hunt  situations  which  may  be  developed 
into  anti-trust  cases. 

“When  a legitimate  complaint  comes  in, 
the  anti-trust  division  has  either  to  re- 
fuse relief  to  oppressed  citizens  or  to  in- 
stitute proceedings  against  the  guilty  per- 
sons. Defendants  who  decry  the  activity 
of  the  department  are  not  any  more  in- 
dignant than  those  oppressed  citizens  who 
complained  to  the  department  in  the  first 
instance.” 

“Second  Year  Hardest" 

During  the  second  year,  an  appropri- 
ation must  be  secured,  a staff  trained, 
studies  completed  and  evidence  gathered. 

“The  second  year  is  usually  the  most 
difficult,”  Arnold  says,  “because  in  anti- 
trust enforcement  it  is  often  necessary 
to  prove  an  unlawful  course  of  conduct 
by  evidence  of  a series  of  hidden  prac- 
tices which,  when  pieced  together,  con- 
stitute a pattern  of  prohibited  conduct. 

“Most  of  the  evidence  upon  which  an 
anti-trust  case  is  built  frequently  must 
be  sought  in  the  files  of  the  offending 
parties.  And  after  50  years  of  experience 
the  seasoned  violators  are  no  longer  care- 
less about  the  contents  of  their  files.” 

By  the  beginning  of  the  third  year,  the 
government  normally  is  ready  to  go  to 
trial.  The  trial  may  last  only  a few 
months  or,  as  in  the  aluminum  case,  it 
may  last  three  years. 

The  need  for  vigorous  anti-trust  law 
enforcement  is  greater  today  than  for 
many  years  past,  due  to  the  defense 
emergency,  Arnold  asserts. 

“It  is  well  known  that  large  scale  ex- 
penditures for  military  purposes  are  al- 
ways accompanied  by  the  danger  of  boom- 
ing prices  and  by  other  dangers  born  of 
relaxed  business  standards  and  relaxed 
public  vigilance,”  he  declares.  “In  these 
times,  when  all  ramparts  need  to  be 
watched,  it  is  particularly  urgent  that  a 
domestic  rampart  such  as  anti-trust  en- 
forcement be  kept  at  full  strength.” 


To  Army  Reserve  Post 

Washington — Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  production  for  20th- 
Fox,  has  been  appointed  a lieutenant 
colonel  in  the  army’s  signal  corps  reserve. 


David  E.  (“Skip”)  Weshner  who  on 
Monday  assumes  his  new  job  as  direc- 
tor of  exploitation  at  U A under  Mon- 
roe Greenthal.  For  years,  Weshner 
has  been  a Warner  Theatre  executive- 
general  zone  manager  in  northern  New 
Jersey,  national  advertising  director 
for  the  chain  in  New  York,  Wisconsin 
zone  manager,  and  resigned  his  cur- 
rent post  as  supervisor  of  key  run 
theatres  in  Philadelphia  for  the  UA 
affiliation. 

Schlaifer  Is  Leader 
Of  UA  Kelly  Drive 

New  York — L.  Jack  Schlaifer  has  been 
named  sales  drive  leader  for  the  Arthur 
W.  Kelly  drive  which  began  January  6 and 
continues  until  April  19. 

The  country  has  been  divided  by  UA  into 
three  groups  and  each  group  will  ac,t  in- 
dependently of  each  other.  In  Group  A are 
Boston,  Chicago,  Cleveland,  Detroit,  Los 
Angeles,  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Pitts- 
burgh and  San  Francisco.  In  Group  B 
are  Atlanta,  Cincinnati,  Minneapolis,  St. 
Louis,  Kansas  City,  Seattle,  Washington, 
Buffalo,  Dallas  and  eastern  Canada.  In 
the  last  group  are  Charlotte,  Denver,  In- 
dianapolis, Milwaukee,  New  Haven,  New 
Orleans,  Omaha,  Salt  Lake  City  and  west- 
ern Canada. 

Instead  of  a first  and  second  prize,  there 
will  be  three  first  and  three  second  awards. 
A grand  total  of  $20,000  is  to  be  distributed 
and  every  employe  in  the  winning  ex- 
changes will  participate.  There  also  is  to 
be  a special  $1,000  prize  to  the  district 
manager  whose  branches,  collectively,  show 
the  highest  percentage  of  efficiency  in 
sales  and  playoff. 

Judges  will  be  Harry  L.  Gold,  eastern 
sales  manager;  Haskell  M.  Masters,  west- 
ern sales  head;  Schlaifer,  Paul  Lazarus, 
Nat  Thompson  and  Charles  Steele. 


Allied  to  Meet 

Washington — Allied  directors  will  hold 
their  meeting  here  January  27-28.  It  is 
to  be  a national  conclave. 


No  New  Trade  Bills 
As  CongressOpens 

Washington — Convening  of  the  77th 
Congress  brought  nothing  in  the  way  of 
proposals  for  new  motion  picture  legisla- 
tion, although  Representative  Francis  D. 
Culkin  (Rep.,  N.  Y.)  reintroduced  his  bill 
to  outlaw  block  booking  and  Congressman 
James  P.  McGranery  (Dem.,  Pa.)  again 
submitted  his  measure  to  set  up  a fine  arts 
bureau  in  the  interior  department,  while 
in  the  Upper  House,  Senator  Matthew  M. 
Neely  (Dem.,  W.  Va.)  reintroduced  his  bills 
prohibiting  block  booking  and  divorcing 
exhibition  from  other  branches  of  the  in- 
dustry. 

With  a Congressional  session  dedicated 
to  the  national  defense,  there  appears  lit- 
tle likelihood  that  any  great  attention  will 
be  given  matters  of  less  than  major  im- 
portance. Neither  of  the  two  bills  intro- 
duced at  the  opening  of  the  session  were 
considered  in  that  category. 

Eye  Excess  Profits  Taxes 

The  first  highlight  of  the  new  Con- 
gress was  President  Roosevelt’s  annual 
message,  revealing  that  large  new  tax 
revenues  would  be  asked  for.  However,  it 
was  indicated,  the  bulk  of  these  revenues 
will  come  from  excess  profits  taxes,  rather 
than  from  additional  levies  on  consumers, 
to  which  the  administration  is  opposed,  al- 
though reports  are  current  that  the  ad- 
mission tax  exemption  will  be  reduced  to 
ten  cents  or,  perhaps,  eliminated  entirely. 

New  taxes,  said  the  President,  are  part 
of  the  personal  sacrifice  which  the  people 
of  the  nation  must  make  for  preparedness 
and  national  defense. 

“No  person  should  try,  or  be  allowed,  to 
get  rich  out  of  this  program,”  he  told  an 
applauding  Congress,  “and  the  principle 
of  tax  payments  in  accordance  with  abil- 
ity to  pay  should  be  constantly  before  our 
eyes  to  guide  our  legislation.” 

Cloakroom  discussion  of  taxes  at  the 
Capitol  centered  around  the  raising  of  a 
billion  dollars,  but  there  were  members 
who  expressed  the  belief  that  at  least 
twice  that  much  should  be  secured. 

Huge  Take  From  Admission  Tax 

Reduction  of  the  admission-tax  exemp- 
tion on  July  1,  last,  will  increase  the  re- 
venue from  the  federal  levy  to  $68,900,000 
for  the  fiscal  year  which  then  began  and 
to  $74,200,000  during  the  year  which  begins 
July  1,  next,  it  was  estimated  in  the  an- 
nual budget  sent  to  Congress  by  President 
Roosevelt  January  8. 

The  actual  collections  for  the  fiscal  year 
which  ended  June  30,  last,  were  $21,887,916. 

The  President  discussed  the  tax  situa- 
tion more  fully  in  his  budget  message,  but 
made  no  recommendations  more  specific 
than  that  Congress  might  find  increased 
additional  revenue  in  a scientific  revision 
of  the  present  tax  system. 

He  made  it  clear,  however,  that  he  pro- 
posed that  a greater  part  of  the  cost  of  na- 
tional defense  be  paid  out  of  current  reve- 
nues, but  warned  against  the  imposition  of 
levies  which  would  tend  to  restrict  con- 
sumption or  business  activity,  a possible 
indication  that  there  will  be  no  increase 
in  the  rate  of  tax  on  admissions,  although 
the  20-cent  exemption  may  be  further  re- 
duced so  as  to  catch  the  cheap  amuse- 
ments of  beaches,  parks  and  the  like. 


16 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


This  Award  is  given  each 
month  to  the  film  receiving 
the  highest  number  of  votes 
by  the  members  of  the  Na- 
tional Screen  Council,  whose 
selection  is  governed  by  out- 
standing merit  and  suitabil- 
ity of  the  film  to  whole-fam- 
ily entertainment.  Members 
of  the  Council  include  over 
200  motion  picture  editors  of 
leading  newspapers  through- 
out the  country,  motion  pic- 
ture reviewing  committee  of 
the  International  Federation 
of  Catholic  Alumnae,  and 
state  motion  picture  chair- 
men of  the  General  Fed- 
eration of  Women’s  Clubs. 


"Tin  Pan  Alley”  BOXOFFICE 
December  Blue  Ribbon  Film 


Twentieth  Century-Fox  pays  tribute  to  the  street  that  gives  the 
world  its  greatest  songs,  in  its  production  of  "Tin  Pan  Alley,"  which 
film  was  voted  by  members  of  the  National  Screen  Council  as  the 
outstanding  picture  released  in  December,  and  winner  of  the  BOX- 
OFFICE  Blue  Ribbon  Award  for  that  month. 

Set  in  the  years  just  prior  to  the  World  War  and  bringing  to 
the  screen  the  melodies  of  the  times,  “Tin  Pan  Alley"  was  produced 
under  the  directorial  hand  of  Walter  Lang,  with  Kenneth  Mac- 
gowan  as  its  associate  producer.  The  latter  has  won  previous 
BOXOFFICE  Awards  for,  "In  Old  Chicago"  (April,  1938),  "Young 
Mr.  Lincoln"  (June,  1939),  and  "Stanley  and  Livingstone"  (Aug. 
1939).  Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  executive  producer,  has  also  received 
similar  Awards  for  his  productions  of  "The  Country  Doctor,"  "Wee 
Willie  Winkie,"  "Rebecca  of  Sunnybrook  Farm,"  "In  Old  Chicago," 
"Alexander's  Ragtime  Band,"  "Young  Mr.  Lincoln,"  "Stanley  and 
Livingstone"  and  "Drums  Along  the  Mohawk." 

Alice  Faye  has  won  BOXOFFICE  Award  plaques  for  her  per- 
formances in  "In  Old  Chicago"  and  "Alexander's  Ragtime  Band." 
Jack  Oakie  received  the  same  insignia  honor  in  October,  1940,  for 
his  porfrayal  of  "Napaloni"  in  "The  Great  Dictator." 


Production  Staff 


Executive  Producer 

Darryl  F.  Zanuck 

Directed  by Walter  Lang 

Associate  Producer 

Kenneth  Macgowan 

Screenplay  by Robert  Ellis 

and  Helen  Logan 
Based  on  a story  by 

Pamela  Harris 

Musical  Direction.. Alfred  Newman 


Dances  staged  by.... Seymour  Felix 
Director  of  Photography 

Leon  Shamroy,  A.S.C 

Art  Direction... .Richard  Day  and 
Joseph  C.  Wright 
Set  Decorations. .....Thomas  Little 

Film  Editor Walter  Thompson 

Costumes Travis  Banton 

Sound Eugene  Grossman 

and  Roger  Heman 


Cast  of  Characters 


Katie  Blane Alice  Faye 

Lily  Blane Betty  Grable 

Harry  Calhoun Jack  Oakie 

Sheets  Harrigan John  Payne 

Casey Allen  Jenkins 

Nora  Bayes Esther  Ralston 

Dance  Specialty 

Nicholas  Brothers 

Boy  Ben  Carter 

Reggie  Carstair John  Loder 

Joe  Codd Elisha  Cook  Jr. 

Harvey  Raymond....... Fred  Keating 

Sheik Billy  Gilbert 

Telephone  Operator 

Lillian  Porter 


Specialties — 

Princess  Vanessa  Ammon 
Brian  Sisters 
Robert  Brothers 

Bert  Melville Tyler  Brooke 

Hotel  Clerk Hal  K.  Dawson 

Hotel  Manager 

William  B.  Davidson 

Lord  Stanley Lionel  Pape 

Stage  Doorman Billy  Bevan 

Dumb  Guy Dewey  Robinson 

Manager... .Robert  Emmett  Keane 

Announcer John  Sheehan 

Mike  Buckner George  Watts 


Top  Men  at  Loew's 
Paid  $2,220,730 

New  York — Aggregate  annual  remune- 
ration paid  to  Loew  officers  and  directors, 
as  a group,  for  the  fiscal  year  ended  Aug- 
ust 31,  1940  amounted  to  $2,220,730.30, 
according  to  a proxy  statement  sent  to 
stockholders  over  the  weekend.  Five  of  the 
company’s  directors  are  not  employed  with 
the  parent  or  subsidiary  firms. 

In  notifying  stockholders  of  the  annual 
meeting  February  11  at  the  home  office, 
the  principal  business  on  hand  will  be  the 
ratification  of  Nicholas  M.  Schenck’s  new 
five-year  contract  as  president  on  the 
same  terms  he  now  enjoys.  His  current  ar- 
rangement ends  December  31,  1941.  His 
salary  and  bonuses  totaled  $318,881.97  in 
1940. 

In  addition,  12  directors  are  slated  for 
re-election.  Their  stock  holdings  as  of  De- 
cember 24,  1940  are  recorded  as  follows: 

George  N.  Armsby,  100  shares  of  com- 
mon; David  Bernstein,  22,200  shares  of 
common;  Leopold  Friedman,  612  common; 
John  R.  Hazel,  100  common;  A1  Lichtman, 
100  common;  Charles  C.  Moskowitz,  900 
common;  William  A.  Parker,  600  common — 
he  is  president  of  Incorporated  Investors 
of  Boston  which  owns  28,000  common — J. 
Robert  Rubin,  25,015;  Schenck,  2,817; 
Joseph  R.  Vogel,  200;  David  Warfield, 
7,000;  Henry  Rogers  Winthrop,  100. 

Under  the  terms  of  his  current  deal, 
Schenck  has  the  right  to  purchase  48,492 


shares  of  common  up  to  March  1,  1942  at 
$40  a share. 

The  board  has  already  authorized  the 
new  five-year  personal  service  contract  to 
begin  January  1,  1942,  subject  to  stock- 
holders’ approval,  with  the  highlights  sum- 
marized as  follows; 

Schenck  will  receive  $2,500  a week, 
(which  includes  an  allowance  for  expenses, 
except  expenses  incurred  while  traveling) 
and  two  and  one-half  per  cent  of  the  com- 
bined net  profits  of  the  company,  its  sub- 
sidiaries and  ventures.  However,  before 
he  can  participate  in  such  profits  there  is 
first  deducted: 

(1)  — $2,745,744  per  annum  which  represents  $2 
per  share  on  the  presently  issued  and  outstand- 
ing common  stock  other  than  292,841  shares  is- 
sued as  a stock  dividend. 

(2)  — $2  per  annum  on  each  share  of  common 
hereafter  issued  for  cash  or  property,  including 
shares  to  be  issued  under  stock  options. 

(3)  — Cumulative  dividends  on  any  present  or 
future  preferred  stock  (not  exceeding  seven  per 
cent  per  annum)  and  dividends  on  the  preferred 
stock  of  companies  in  which  Loew's  has  a stock 
interest  (to  the  extent  that  such  preferred  stock 
is  held  by  others  than  the  company). 

(4)  — All  taxes  except  taxes  arising  from  profits 
on  sales  or  exchange  of  property  where  such 
profits  are  not  included  as  income  for  the  benefit 
of  Schenck. 

(5)  — Interest  on  bonds,  mortgages  and  moneys 
borrowed  and  amortization  of  discount  and  ex- 
penses in  connection  with  the  issuance  of  bonds, 
mortgages,  preferred  stock  and  borrowed  money. 

(6)  — All  fixed  compensation  but  no  percentage 
paid  or  payable  to  any  employe  or  executive 
based  on  the  combined  net  profits. 

(7)  — Depreciation  on  the  Culver  City  studio  and 
on  all  real  and  personal  property,  but  in  the 
case  of  other  buildings  owned  in  fee  (that  is 
where  at  least  51  per  cent  of  the  aggregate  value 
of  the  land  on  which  a building  is  constructed  is 
owned  in  fee)  only  half  of  the  depreciation  value 
shall  be  taken,  (which  half  for  the  fiscal  year 
ended  August  31,  1940  amounted  to  $578,473.60) 
and  no  depreciation  shall  be  deducted  on  newly 
constructed  theatres  from  the  date  of  their  open- 
ing to  the  end  of  the  then  current  fiscal  year. 

Profits  or  losses  from  companies  and  ventures  in 
which  the  company  owns  an  interest  of  25  per 


Schenck  Pact  Chief 
Business  of  Meet 

cent  or  more  are  included  to  the  extent  of  such 
interest  in  net  profits  or  losses,  and  dividends  or 
receipts  from  all  other  companies  and  ventures  are 
included  only  if  actually  earned  and  paid  to  the 
company. 

Profits  from  the  sale  or  exchange  of  real  estate, 
buildings  or  leaseholds  or  stock  in  companies  own- 
ing the  same,  purchased  prior  to  September  1, 
1926  are  excluded  in  the  computation,  and  losses 
on  such  exchanges  are  also  excluded. 

Under  the  terms  of  the  contract, 
Schenck  is  granted  an  extension  of  his 
existing  option  to  purchase  at  the  same 
price  of  $40  a share  the  aforementioned 
48,492  shares  of  common  (or  so  much 
thereof  as  to  which  said  option  may  be 
unexercised  on  March  1,  1942,  the  date 
when  his  present  contract  expires)  as  fol- 
lows: 

One  fifth  or  any  part  thereof  on  and 
after  December  31,  1942: 

One  fifth  or  any  part  thereof  on  and 
after  December  31  of  each  year  thereafter 
to  and  including  December  31,  1946. 

All  options  expire  March  1,  1947. 

The  contract  contains  restrictions 
against  the  sale  by  Schenck  prior  to  March 
1,  1947,  without  the  consent  of  the  com- 
pany, of  any  stock  which  may  be  pur- 
chased under  the  option,  at  a price  less 
than  $15  in  excess  of  the  price  paid  by  him 
therefor.  In  the  event  of  the  termination 
of  Schenck’s  employment  prior  to  Decem- 
ber 31,  1946  for  any  reason  other  than  his 
voluntary  default,  all  rights  cease  except 
that  Schenck  or  his  representatives  are  en- 
titled within  six  months  after  termination 
of  his  employment: 

(a)  To  exercise  any  option  which  he  could  have 
exercised  at  the  time  of  such  termination; 

(b)  To  purchase  the  proportion  of  additional 
shares  to  which  he  would  have  had  a right  to 
exercise  an  option  on  the  next  succeeding  date 
as  the  number  of  months  of  service  prior  to 
such  termination  (and  subsequent  to  the  last  pre- 
ceding option  date)  bears  to  12. 

The  contract  contains  provisions  designed  to 
protect  the  options  against  dilution  resulting  from 
stock  dividends  or  changes  in  the  capital  struc- 
ture of  the  company  and  provides  for  the  com- 
pany to  offer  Schenck  in  case  it  issues  common 
stock  or  convertible  issues  or  warrants  to  the 
amount  of  the  then  optioned  stock.  The  con- 
tract also  requires  the  company  to  pay  taxes 
legally  imposed  on  the  issuance  of  the  shares,  to 
make  application  for  listing  the  shares  on  the 
New  York  Stock  Exchange  and  to  register  them 
with  SEC  as  may  be  required  by  law. 

Korda  Pre-Trial  Quiz 
In  Goldwyn's  UA  Suit 

New  York — Alexander  Korda  has  been 
ordered  to  submit  to  an  examination  be- 
fore trial  in  federal  court  January  15  in 
connection  with  Samuel  Goldwyn’s  suit 
against  UA.  Judge  Edward  A.  Conger,  in  so 
ruling,  declared  that  if  the  New  York  ex- 
amination should  prove  to  be  inconvenient 
to  the  producer  he  was  to  notify  the  fed- 
eral court  by  January  10,  and  the  examina- 
tion would  be  shifted  to  the  federal  court 
in  California  for  January  28. 

Goldwyn  is  seeking  to  break  his  10- 
year  distribution  contract  with  UA  which 
has  until  August,  1945,  to  run,  claiming 
the  company  conspired  to  drive  him  out 
of  business.  He  also  seeks  damages  of 
$1,000,000  for  alleged  interference  with  the 
distribution  of  “The  Westerner,”  on  which 
he  says  he  had  deals  set  up  with  Para- 
mount and  Warner,  which  were  subse- 
quently cancelled  by  reason  of  warnings  on 
the  part  of  UA,  it  is  claimed. 


18 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


Opinions  on  Current  Productions , and 
Exploitips  for  Selling  to  the  Public 


FEATURE  REVIEWS 


No , No , Nanette 


F 


Musical 
Comedy 

RKO  Radio  (114)  96  Minuies  Rel.  Dec.  20,  '40 

Molded  in  the  same  light  and  airy  vein  as  his  earlier 
"Irene,"  Producer-Director  Herbert  Wilcox's  second  plunge 
into  the  filmization  of  famed  American  musical  comedies 
emerges  as  an  opulent,  tuneful  and  diverting  undertaking 
that  will  probably  accomplish  satisfactory  results  at  the  box- 
office.  Particularly  should  this  prediction  hold  true  because 
of  the  still-existent  and  widespread  popularity  of  "Tea  for 
Two,"  "No,  No,  Nanette"  and  other  songs  from  the  stage 
production,  which  have  become  classic  examples  of  popu- 
lar-song writing.  Anna  Neagle  fits  easily  into  the  title  role 
and  the  supporting  cast,  mostly  of  the  comedy  variety,  does 
its  part  in  contributing  to  the  film's  general  quality.  Out- 
standing among  them  are  the  droll  Roland  Young,  wise- 
cracking Helen  Broderick  and,  for  the  love  interest,  Richard 
Carlson  and  Victor  Mature.  The  plot  is,  as  was  to  be  ex- 
pected, frothy  and  insignificant.  It  centers  around  Young, 
married  to  Miss  Broderick  but  constantly  becoming  involved 
in  extra-marital  entanglements  from  which  Miss  Neagle,  his 
niece,  must  exert  all  her  ingenuity  to  extricate  him.  In  so 
doing  she  finds  herself  constantly  in  hot  water. 

Anna  Neagle,  Roland  Young,  Helen  Broderick,  Richard  Carl- 
son, Victor  Mature,  ZaSu  Pitts,  Eve  Arden,  Billy  Gilbert. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Award  starring  credits  here  to  Anna  Neagle, 
Roland  Young  and  Richard  Carlson.  Plug  the  famous  tunes 
via  a public  address  system  in  the  lobby,  in  sheet-music  and 
phonograph  record  stores,  and  over  the  radio.  String  cut- 
out musical  notes  around  the  marquee.  During  the  week  pre- 
ceding the  showing,  dress  usherettes  in  ballet  costumes  on 
which  are  imprinted  the  picture's  title.  Conduct  an  amateur 
singing  contest  on  the  stage,  in  which  Tea  for  Two  and 
"No,  No,  Nanette"  are  the  songs  to  be  rendered,  and  award 
an  "Anna  Neagle"  trophy  to  the  winner. 

CATCHLINES:  She's  a Little  Bit  Naughty  ...  But  Oh— So 
Nice  ...  Is  Gay,  Gorgeous  Anna  Neagle  ...  In  This  Hit 
Musical  Comedy. 

One  of  the  Favorites  of  the  American  Musical  Stage  . . . 
Is  Better  Than  Ever  on  the  Screen. 


4+  r 


.2+  1, 
4-l y 


Wyoming  Wildcat  F Western 

Republic  (074)  56  Minutes  Rel.  Jan.  6,  '41 

A story  that  varies  substantially  from  the  routine  lifts 
"Wyoming  Wildcat"  to  interesting  dramatic  levels  in  addi- 
tion to  providing  the  usual  quota  of  action  elements.  Don 
Barry  has  the  featured  role  and  will  probably  add  to  his 
following.  Set  in  the  period  following  the  Spanish-Ameri- 
can  War,  the  story  sets  up  Barry  as  the  son  of  an  outlaw 
who  tries  to  avert  the  onus  of  his  parent's  activities  by 
leading  an  honest  life  in  the  employ  of  a stagecoach  com- 
pany. He  and  a pal  are  fairly  successful  at  this  until  the 
father's  henchmen  learn  of  his  connection  with  gold  ship- 
ments and  frame  him  in  proper  style.  Barry  is  jailed.  He 
almost  loses  his  girl.  However,  when  the  erring  father  learns 
of  his  son's  plight  he  comes  to  the  rescue  and  vindication 
losing  his  life  in  the  process  but  saving  the  gold  shipment. 
George  Sherman  directed. 

Don  Barry,  Julie  Duncan,  Frank  M,  Thomas,  Syd  Taylor, 
Dick  Botiller. 


EXPLOITIPS:  This  is  Don  Barry's  best  contribution  to  the 
western  scene  to  date.  His  first  western  vehicle  was  called 
"Wyoming  Outlaw."  This  might  be  of  advantage  in  con- 
cocting a catchline.  Miss  Duncan,  an  efficient  actress,  is 
also  noted  as  a horsewoman  having  won  many  steeplechase 
contests.  The  film  utilizes  the  Wells  Fargo  Express  for  much 
of  its  story  content.  Barry  is  the  name  for  the  marquee. 
There  are  a number  of  prepared  stories  about  him  for  re- 
lease to  newspapers  which  should  attract  other  than  the 
regular  western  audience. 


CATCHLINES:  Branded  With  the  Stigma  of  His  Father's  l fro 
Past  . . . He  Battles  Against  Desperate  Odds  to  Clear  His  evie^ 
Outlaw  Name. 


Thrilling  Six-Gun  Drama  . . . See  Your  Favorite  Cowboy 
Defy  an  Outlaw  Ambush  to  Bring  a Lawless  Gang  to  Justice. 


Maisie  Was  a Lady 

M-G-M  (118)  80  Minutes 

Don't  let  the  title  fool  you — Maisie  is  still  the  lovable 
hoyden-with-heart-of-gold  that  she  has  always  been. 
Whether  or  not  the  customers  think  that  her  latest  film  ad- 
Hi  venture  compares  favorably  with  predecessors  in  the  series 
er’s  5)  will  be  dependent  upon  personal  entertainment  tastes. 

• 1 Many  of  the  laughs  which  have  highlighted  earlier  chapters 
are  lacking  to  make  room  for  a more  serious,  melodramatic 
and,  in  spots,  slightly  maudlin  screenplay.  In  other  de- 
partments— production,  direction  and  supporting  cast — the 
same  highly  acceptable  level  has  been  maintained.  This 
time  Maisie,  again  in  the  person  of  Ann  Sothern,  is  found 
as  the  "headless  woman"  in  a sideshow,  who  loses  her  job 
because  of  an  inebriated  playboy,  Lew  Ayres.  She  joins 
his  family  household  as  a maid,  rescues  his  sister  from  the 
clutches  of  a fortune-hunter,  saves  her  from  suicide,  and 
reforms  Ayres  and  his  wealthy  clubman  father.  Then,  still 
under  the  impression  she  can't  live  up  to  Ayres'  conception 
of  a lady,  Maisie  hits  the  trail  once  more — but  he  discovers 
her  in  a cheap  vaudeville  act  and  brings  her  home,  with 
wedding  bells  in  the  offing.  Edwin  L.  Marin  directed. 

Ann  Sothern,  Lew  Ayres,  Maureen  O'Sullivan,  C.  Aubrey 
Smith,  Joan  Perry,  Paul  Cavanagh,  Edward  Ashley. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Put  Lew  Ayres'  name  on  the  marquee  along 
with  that  of  Ann  Sothern,  who  again  essays  the  title  role. 
Maureen  O'Sullivan  might  also  be  mentioned  in  support. 
Dress  your  usherettes  as  maid-servants,  with  picture  billing 
stamped  on  their  white  aprons,  and  have  one  of  them  parade 
the  streets  carrying  a tray.  Hold  a "Maid's  Night  Out" 
showing  to  which  servant  girls  and  their  escorts  are  in- 
vited at  special  rates.  Prepare  throwaways  as  teaser  post- 
cards, in  a woman's  handwriting,  and  signed  "Maisie." 

CATCHLINES:  Maisie  Hits  High  Society  . . . And  Outwits 
a Crowd  of  Low  Brows  ...  In  the  Funniest  Picture  She's 
Ever  Made. 

Here's  Maisie  Again  . . . The  Girl  Who  Knows  All  the 
Answers  . . . And  Most  of  the  Questions. 

My*. 

First ) 


P Comedy 

Drama 

Rel.  Jan.  10,  '41 


Romance  of  the  Rio  Grande  F Western 

20th  Century-Fox  (125)  73  Minutes  Rel.  Jan.  17,  '41 

In  which  the  love  bug  nearly  catches  up  with  the  Cisco 
Kid.  And  while  the  tender  passion  is  engulfing  that  peren- 
nial caballero,  audiences  will  be  delighted  to  see  the  very 
marked  improvement  in  this  chapter  of  the  established 
western  series  as  compared  to  its  predecessors.  The  fea- 
ture reflects  forward  strides  in  every  department — produc- 
tion, story,  direction  and  supporting  cast.  It  is  definitely 
above  average  as  program  material,  will  be  more  than  wel- 
comed by  Cisco's  fans  and  cannot  help  but  please  all  pat- 
rons, whether  sagebrush  enthusiasts  or  not.  Cesar  Romero 
again  portrays  the  Robin  Hood  of  the  border  and  in  this 
installment  successfully  undertakes  a dual  role.  With  his 
trusty  henchman,  jovial  Chris-Pin  Martin,  Cisco  stumbles 
upon  a stagecoach  holdup  and  finds  one  of  the  victims,  who 
is  nearly  killed,  bears  a remarkable  resemblance  to  him- 
self. He  assumes  the  identity  of  the  wounded  man,  heir 
to  a vast  rancho,  and  continues  the  masquerade  sufficiently 
long  to  save  the  estate  for  his  coincidental  counterpart  and 
expose  a rascally  cousin.  Directed  by  Herbert  I.  Leeds. 

Cesar  Romero,  Patricia  Morison,  Lynne  Roberts,  Ricardo 

Cortez,  Chris-Pin  Martin,  Aldrich  Bowker,  Joseph  McDonald. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Give  marquee  credits  to  Cesar  Romero, 
Chris-Pin  Martin  and  Patricia  Morison.  The  dual-role  angle 
suggests  you  invite  all  twins  and  doubles  to  attend  at  spe- 
cial rates  and  give  prizes  to  those  most  identical.  Costume 
house  employes  in  Mexican  attire  with  serapes  and  som- 
breros. Tie  in  with  the  public  library  on  a display  of  O. 
Henry's  books,  especially  those  dealing  with  the  Cisco  Kid. 
Plant  stills  showing  Romero  with  a guitar  in  music-store 
mea»  windows. 

CATCHLINES:  Double  Romance  . . . Double  Trouble  . . . 
When  the  Cisco  Kid  Finds  His  Double. 

Two  Senoritas  Wanted  the  Cisco  Kid  . . . And  He  Couldn't 
Tell  Whose  Kisses  He  Liked  Best. 


8 


January  11,  1941 


5 


BOXOFFICE 


The  plus  and  minus  signs  indicate  the  degree  of  favor  or  disfavor  of 
the  review.  Where  our  compiler  is  unable  to  form  any  opinion  from 
the  review  the  sign  "o"  is  used.  Blank  spaces  indicate  no  review. 
This  department  serves  also  as  an  Alphabetical  Index  to  feature  re- 
leases. Listings  cover  reviews  appearing  by  the  Saturday  preceding 


date  of  this  issue.  It  will  be  brought  up  to  date  from  week  to  week. 
The  meaning  of  the  various  signs  and  their  combinations  is  as  follows: 

++  Very  Good;  + Good;  — Fair;  Mediocre;  — Poor;  = Very  Poor 

In  the  summary  4+  Is  rated  as  2 pluses;  = as  2 minuses. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


21 


FEATURE  REVIEWS 


20 


The  Living  Corpse  A Dmma 

Juno  Films  ( ) 85  Minutes  Rel.  

This  French  version  of  Leo  Tolstoi's  original  story  has 
long  been  a strong  dramatic  piece  on  the  stage.  In  films, 
its  theme  has  been  rewritten  and  presented  again  and 
again,  sometimes  to  advantage,  sometimes  not.  In  brief, 
the  fundamentals  deal  with  the  return  of  the  long-thought- 
dead  husband  in  time  to  save  his  wife  from  the  gallows. 
She  stands  conviction  for  his  murder,  a point  which  is 
arrived  at  through  a devious  route.  Other  contributing  fac- 
tors include  the  innocent  friendship  between  the  wife  and 
a law  court  associate  of  the  husband.  Told  in  French  it  is 
pedestrian.  The  performances  are  definitely  out  of  date.  It's 
an  importation  that  might  fill  the  bill  where  audiences 
simply  must  have  their  quota  of  La  Cinema  Francaise. 
English  subtitles. 

Victor  Francen  and  Gaby  Morlay. 

EXPLOITIPS:  For  name  values  that  will  attract  devotees 
of  the  foreign  film  this  has  Victor  Francen  and  Gaby  Morlay. 
Enlarged  portraits  of  both  should  be  tastefully  framed 
and  displayed  in  the  lounge.  The  film  has  a Russian  back- 
ground. In  many  cases  the  foreign  film  house  serves  re- 
freshments. Procure  a samovar  for  advance  promotion  of 
this  picture,  dress  a girl  in  Russian  costume  and  have  her 
serve  tea  in  glasses.  Also  tie  in  with  the  local  circulating 
library  with  a display  of  Tolstoi's  works,  pictures  of  the 
cast,  scenes  from  the  film  and  posters.  Tie  up  with  restau- 
rants, and  with  schools  that  teach  foreign  languages.  Victor 
Francen  will  be  readily  recognized  by  devotees  of  the  for- 
eign film.  However,  the  exhibitor  might  remind  his  cus- 
tomers that  he  had  previously  appeared  here  in  "Double 
Crime  on  the  Maginot  Line,"  "End  of  a Day"  and  "The  Open 
Road." 

CATCHLINES:  Old  Russia  Lives  Again  in  This  Drama  . . . 
A French  Version  of  an  Immortal  Tolstoi  Classic. 

Emotions  Run  Strong  and  Deep  in  This  Tale  of  a Man 
Who  Came  Back  From  the  Dead  to  Save  the  Woman  He 
Loved. 

A Powerful  Drama  of  a Burning  Love. 


Pepe  Le  Moko  A „„„ 

Mayer-Burstyn,  Inc.  ( ) 90  Minutes  Rel.  

There  is  every  indication  that  this,  the  original  French 
version  of  "Algiers,"  was  the  master  die  from  which  the 
American  production  was  struck.  Transatlantic  translation 
did  not  detract  from  merit  as  a sound  piece  of  melodramatic 
entertainment  played  against  a colorful  background.  The 
original  has  a much  more  convincing  air  of  realism.  For 
the  audience  that  missed  "Algiers,"  it  will  prove  sound  en- 
tertainment. The  audience  that  attempts  comparison  should 
be  delighted  in  its  findings,  for  the  resemblance  of  one 
cast  to  another  is  amazing  particularly  in  the  supporting 
parts.  Jean  Gabin  is  featured  and  Mireille  Balin  plays  the 
"femme  fatale."  The  Algiers  Casbah  setting  seems  real. 
After  all,  it  is  a French  protectorate  and  two  days'  sailing 
from  Marseilles.  The  story  concerns  French  jewel  thief  who 
lives  within  the  protecting  walls  of  the  native  quarter  of  Al- 
giers surrounded  by  his  cutthroat  cronies  where  he  is  safe 
from  the  police.  A native  police  inspector  is  out  to  get  him  and 
eventually  does  when  a young  woman  finds  in  the  crook  a 
grand  passion.  So  strong  is  the  crook's  romantic  feeling 
that  he  leaves  his  quarter,  but  in  going  away  overlooks  the 
scorned  woman,  his  native  sweetheart.  She  betrays  him  to 
the  police.  Concluding,  he  kills  himself  as  he  watches  the 
ship  carrying  his  love  sail  away.  It  achieves  compelling 
tenderness.  Julien  Duvivier  directed. 

Jean  Gabin,  Mireille  Balin,  Gabriel  Gabric,  Charpin,  Dalio. 

Lucas  Gridoux. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Jean  Gabin  is  probably  most  popular  through 
his  screen  appearances  in  this  country.  Charpin  has  a repu- 
tation as  a comedian.  His  role  is  not  humorous  but  good 
acting.  The  Casbah  setting  lends  itself  to  interesting  ex- 
ploitation. Makeover  the  lobby  to  resemble  the  scenes  in 
the  film.  Rig  up  a wall  map  with  the  Casbah  district  out- 
lined. 

CATCHLINES:  A Hunted  Man,  He  Sought  Freedom.  When 
It  Was  Within  His  Grasp,  He  Lost  It. 


Sensation  F 

Film  Alliance  (SR)  54  Minutes  Rel.  

London's  Fleet  Street  has  a trans-Atlantic  counterpart  of 
“Front  Page."  This  film  attempts  to  show  it  but  merely  be- 
comes a standard  dramatic  exercise  for  its  players  and 
also  probably  for  its  spectators.  One  good  performance  is 
turned  in  by  a supporting  player.  The  others  merely  go 
through  the  usual  rigamarole.  John  Lodge  plays  a crime 
reporter  with  a temporary  critic's  post  in  order  to  chase 
down  the  murderer  of  a young  woman  in  a small  town.  He 
beats  his  confreres  in  interviews,  getting  evidence  and 
finally  having  a suspect  arrested  who  later  is  revealed  to 
be  guilty,  is  tried  and  hanged.  Meanwhile  his  sweetheart 
stews,  but  she  gets  her  claws  into  him  just  as  he  is  about 
to  start  another  adventure. 

John  Lodge,  Diana  Churchill,  Francis  Lister.  Margaret  Vyner, 
Athene  Seyler. 

EXPLOITIPS:  This  is  an  English  importation  that  with  all 
its  regulation  treatment  and  stereotyped  situations  mana- 
ges a few  moments  of  excitement  and  rapid-fire  dialogue 
delivery.  Lodge  is  of  the  Boston  Lodges.  The  girls  featured 
are  fairly  good  examples  of  English  pulchritude  and  dra- 
matic art.  There  is  a cigarette  bearing  the  same  name  as 
the  film  which  might  be  looked  into  for  possible  tieups 
wherever  they  are  sold.  There  is  a fair  collection  of  stills 
available  for  advance  display  in  the  lobby.  Aim  the  ex- 
ploitation for  opening  business. 

CATCHLINES:  Fleet  Street's  Demon  Crime  Reporter  Solves 
Another  Case  and  Almost  Loses  His  Sweetheart. 

When  Pat  Heaton  Gets  an  Assignment  to  Find  a Killer, 
All  Else,  Including  Love,  Is  Forgotten. 

A Reporter  Goes  Hawkshaw  to  Solve  a Murder  That  Al- 
most Costs  Him  His  Skin. 

Crime  on  the  Loose  . . . And  Britain's  "Front  Page"  Sleuth 
on  the  Trail. 


Break  the  News  F 

Trio  Films  (SR)  70  Minutes  Rel.  

Here  is  another  example  of  a good  story  idea  gone  astray 
in  spite  of  a director  who  knows  his  stuff  and  who  is  re- 
garded as  a past  master  of  satire  and  the  smart  injection 
of  Gallic  wit.  As  entertainment  this  film  is  a little  better 
than  fair.  A few  highly  comic  moments  account  in  the 
eventual  analysis.  Maurice  Chevalier  and  Jack  Buchanan, 
a pair  of  hoofers,  decide  to  reap  the  rewards  of  publicity 
and  so  dim  the  aura  that  surrounds  producer-actress  June 
Knight  who  happens  to  own  a musical  revue  in  which  the 
boys  play  walkon  parts.  Buchanan  conveniently  disappears. 
Chevalier,  with  much  difficulty,  succeeds  in  convincing  the 
world  and  particularly  Fleet  Street  that  he  murdered  him. 
Chevalier  stands  trial,  is  convicted  and  saved  in  time  by 
Buchanan.  They  are  a success.  Made  in  England. 

Maurice  Chevalier,  Jack  Buchanan,  June  Knight,  Marta  La- 
Barr,  Wallace  Douglas. 

EXPLOITIPS:  There  are  four  potent  names  on  which  the 
exhibitor  might  focus  his  exploitation  talents  in  this  one; 
Chevalier,  Buchanan,  Cole  Porter,  who  wrote  a song  for  it, 
and  Rene  Clair,  the  latter  for  the  students  of  the  interna- 
tional film.  On  the  basis  of  the  Porter  name,  tieups  are 
indicated  with  music  stores  and  record  shops.  A handbill 
listing  all  the  names  might  prove  worthwhile.  There  should 
be  a good  collection  of  stills  on  showing  business  behind 
the  scenes  for  the  lobby  cases.  Get  up  a throwaway  with 
the  Chevalier  lip  and  straw  hat  done  in  silhouette. 

CATCHLINES:  A Riotous  Comedy  From  a Master  . . . With 
Your  Old  Favorite  Maurice  Chevalier. 

He  Plays  at  Murder  . . . And  Almost  Gets  “Burned." 

America's  Favorite  From  Gay  Paree  . . In  a Musical  Pre- 

vue  of  Pre-War  England. 

Maurice  Chevalier,  Jack  Buchanan,  Cole  Porter  and  Rene 
Clair  ...  A Pat  Hand  for  a Merry  Musical  Melange. 


6 


January  11,  1941 


7 


BOXOFFICE 


REVIEW  DIGEST 


-H  Very  Good;  + Good; 


Title  Distr. 

Li’l  Abner  (RKO)  

Little  Bit  of  Heaven  (Cniv) . . . 

Little  Men  (RKO)  

Little  Nellie  Kelly  (M-G-M) . . . 

Lone  Star  Raiders  (Rep) 

Lone  Wolf  Keeps  a Date  (Col) 

Long  Voyage  Home  (UA) 

Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para) .... 
Lucky  Partners  (RKO) 

M 

Margie  (Cniv)  

Mark  of  Zorro,  The  (20th-Fox) 

Meet  the  Missus  (Rep) 

Meet  the  Wildcat  (Cniv) 

Melody  and  Moonlight  (Rep) . . 

Melody  Ranch  (Rep)  

Men  Against  the  Sky  (RKO) . . 
Mexican  Spitfire  Out  West 

(RKO)  

Michael  Shayne,  Private 

Detective  (20th-Fox)  

Misbehaving  Husbands  (PRC) . 

Missing  People  (Mono) 

Money  and  the  W’oman  (WB)  . 

Moon  Over  Burma  (Para) 

Mortal  Storm,  The  (M-G-M).. 
Mummy’s  Hand,  The  (Univ) . . 
Murder  Over  New  York 

(20th-Fox)  

N 

Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s  (Para) 

Night  Train  (20th-Fox) 

Nobody's  Children  (Col) 

No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO) 

No  Time  for  Comedy  (FN).... 
North  West  Mounted  Police 
(Para)  

o 

Oklahoma  Renegades  (Rep) . . . 
OP  Swimmin*  Hole  (Mono) .... 

On  the  Spot  (Mono) 

One  Million  B.  C.  (UA) 

One  Night  in  the  Tropics 

(Univ)  

p 

Passport  to  Alcatraz  (Col) .... 

Pastor  Hall  (UA) 

Phantom  of  Chinatown  (Mono) 
Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M) . . 

Pier  13  (20th-Fox) 

Play  Girl  (RKO)  

Pony  Post  (Univ)  

Prairie  Law  (RKO) 

Prairie  Schooners  (Col) 

Public  Deb  No.  1 (20th-Fox) . . 

Q 

Quarterback,  The  (Para) 

Queen  of  the  Yukon  (Mono)... 

R 

Ragtime  Cowboy  Joe  (Univ) . . 
Ramparts  We  Watch  (RKO) . . 

Range  Busters  (Mono) 

Rangers  of  Fortune  (Para) .... 
Remedy  for  Riches  (RKO) .... 
Return  of  Frank  James  (20-Fox) 
Rhythm  on  the  River  (Para) . . 
Ride,  Tenderfoot,  Ride  (Rep)  . 
Romance  of  the  Rio  Grande 
(20th-Fox)  ...  

s 

Safari  (Para)  


Fair;  -+-  Mediocre;  — Poor;  —Very  Poor 


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Title  Distr. 

Saint  in  Palm  Springs  (RKO). 
Sandy  Gets  Her  Man  (Cniv)  . . . 

Sandy  Is  a Lady  (Cniv) 

San  Francisco  Docks  (Cniv)... 

Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN) 

Sea  Hawk,  The  (WB) 

Second  Chorus  (Para) 

Secret  Seven  (Col)  

Seven  Sinners  (Cniv) 

She  Couldn’t  Say  No  (FN) 

Sky  Murder  (M-G-M) 

Slightly  Tempted  (Cniv) 

So  You  Won’t  Talk  (Col) 

Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (CA) .... 

South  of  Suez  (WB) 

Spring  Parade  (Cniv) 

Stranger  on  the  Third  Floor 

(RKO)  

Street  of  Memories  (20th-Fox). 
Strike  Up  the  Band  (M-G-M) . 

T 

Take  Me  Back  to  Okla.  (Mono) 
Texas  Rangers  Ride  Again 

(Para)  

Texas  Terrors  (Rep) 

That  Gang  of  Mine  (Mono) .... 
They  Knew  What  They  Wanted 

(RKO)  

Thief  of  Bagdad  (CA) 

Third  Finger,  Left  Hand 

(M-G-M)  

This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col)  . . 
Three  Men  From  Texas  (Para) 
Thundering  Frontier  (Col) .... 

Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox) 

Too  Many  Girls  (RKO) 

Torpedo  Raider  (Mono) 

Trail  Blazers  (Rep) 

Trail  of  the  Vigilantes  (Univ) . 
Trailin’  Double  Trouble  (Mono) 

Triple  Justice  (RKO) 

Tugboat  Annie  Sails  Again 

(WB)  

Tulsa  Kid,  The  (Rep) 

U 

Under  Texas  Skies  (Rep) 

Up  in  the  Air  (Mono) 

V 

Victory  (Para)  

Villain  Still  Pursued  Her, 

The  (RKO)  

w 

Wagon  Train  (RKO)  

Wagons  Westward  (Rep) 

West  of  Pinto  Basin  (Mono)  . . 

Westerner,  The  (CA) 

Where  Did  You  Get  That  Girl 

(Cniv)  

AVho  Is  Guilty?  (Mono) 

Who  Killed  Aunt  Maggie? 

(Rep)  

Wildcat  Bus  (RKO) 

Wild  Horse  Range  (Mono) 

World  in  Flames  (Para) 

Wyoming  (M-G-M)  


Y 

Yesterday’s  Heroes  (20th-Fox) 

You’ll  Find  Out  (RKO) 

Young  Bill  Hickok  (Rep) 

Young  People  (20th-Fox) 

Youth  Will  Be  Served 

(20th-Fox)  

Yukon  Flight  (Mono) 


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BOXOFFICE  :: 


22 


January  11,  1941 


Sights  Competitive  Jolt  in 
Progress  of  Television 


Musi  "Sell"  Industry, 
Balaban  Tells  Ampa 

New  York — Instead  of  minimizing  the 
“grave  reality”  of  the  depletion  of  reve- 
nue from  abroad,  the  industry  should 
recognize  the  “alternative  is  to  increase 
the  take  at  the  boxoffice  so  that  there  can 
be  adequate  liquidation  of  the  film  in 
order  to  bring  in  the  dollars  required  by 
the  producer  for  the  continuous  flow  of 
product  so  necessary  to  the  exhibitor.” 

And  in  the  process,  according  to  Barney 
Balaban,  Paramount  president,  men  and 
women  in  the  advertising  field  “will  be 
called  upon  to  shoulder  greater  responsi- 
bilities,” not  so  much,  perhaps,  “on  selling 
the  product”  but  with  “more  emphasis  on 
selling  the  industry  as  an  institution.” 

His  remarks  were  addressed  to  about  325 
members  and  guests  of  Ampa  at  a lunch- 
eon meeting  at  the  Hotel  Edison.  The 
occasion  was  the  signal  for  a record  turn- 
out for  a film  executive.  In  addition  to 
the  company’s  executive  family,  all  of 
whom  surrounded  Balaban  on  the  dais,  and 
many  upper  grade  employes,  the  Sun  Room 
saw  more  outside  company  executives  than 
usually  come  out  for  an  average  testi- 
monial. Charles  C.  Petti john  introduced 
Balaban.  Before  that,  Stanton  Griffis 
tossed  out  a few  jocular  nifties,  Austin 
Keough,  John  W.  Hicks  jr.,  and  Walter  B. 
Cokell  took  bows,  and  a perfectly  grand 
and  touching  gesture  was  tendered  Adolph 
Zukor  when  the  entire  audience  rose  in 
tribute  to  the  company’s  founder. 

Decree  Problems  Most  Urgent 

Balaban  started  off  with  the  observation 
that,  with  the  government  suit  behind  the 
industry,  the  major  task  ahead  is  the 
meeting  of  new  problems  created  by  the 
decree.  No  small  share  of  this  will  be 
borne  by  members  of  Ampa,  who,  he  said, 
should  attempt  to  counter  loss  of  prestige 
and  public  confidence  engendered  by  the 
public  airing  of  problems  “which  we  should 
have  settled  among  ourselves.” 

“If  the  public  is  to  have  a true  concep- 
tion of  the  industry,”  he  declared,  “it  is 
you  men  and  women  who  can  give  it  to 
them.  It  is  true  that  there  have  been  a 
few  incidents  which  have  provided  oppor- 
tunities for  misconception  of  the  standards 
of  our  industry,  but  these  have  been  the 
exceptions  rather  than  the  rule.  We  know 
many  stories  were  circulated  by  disgruntled 
persons  who  had  been  unable  to  make  the 
grade  in  Hollywood  and  who  capitalized 
on  their  failures  by  writing  exaggerations 
and,  for  the  most  part,  untruths  about  us. 

(Continued  on  page  26 -D) 

Trumpets  and  Fanfare  tor 
" Back  Street " Premiere 

Hollywood — Universal  intends  to  open 
“Back  Street”  in  Miami,  February  4,  to 
the  blare  of  trumpets  and  Hollywood  fan- 
fare. It  will  mark  the  world  premiere  of 
the  picture.  Critics  from  key  cities,  cele- 
brities from  Hollywood  and  home  office 
and  studio  executives  will  attend. 

Bruce  Manning,  producer,  will  head  the 
studio  group.  A twin  premiere  is  planned 
in  Miami  Beach  with  arrangements  now 
being  made  for  an  elaborate  celebration. 


$100,000  lo  Sel  Up 
Arbitralion  Boards 

New  York — Establishment  of  the  32  ar- 
bitration tribunals  and  other  items  inci- 
dental to  setting  up  the  boards,  such  as 
leases  and  traveling  expenses  for  J.  Noble 
Braden,  executive  director  of  the  film 
tribunals,  will  cost  the  “Big  Five”  $100,000. 

The  budget  committee  which  met  Wed- 
nesday decided  on  this  figure  and  it  was 
agreed  the  five  theatre  owning  companies 
immediately  pay  this  amount  to  get  the 
operations  going.  Insofar  as  salaries  for 
clerks,  secretaries  and  other  incidental  ex- 
penses are  concerned,  these  will  be  paid 
from  monthly  contributions  to  be  made  by 
the  “Big  Five.” 

Percentages  which  each  of  the  five  pro- 
ducing-distributing-exhibition  companies 
will  meet  have  not  been  completed.  This 
is  being  handled  by  a separate  committee 
which  will  use  the  gross  business  of  each 
company  as  a base. 

Paul  Felix  Warburg  has  replaced  P.  M. 
Haight  on  the  committee,  the  latter  step- 
ping out  because  of  ill  health.  However, 
the  other  two  men  continue  unchanged. 
They  are  Van  Vechten  Veeder,  chairman 
of  the  appeals  board,  and  Joseph  H.  Hazen, 
aide  to  Harry  M.  Warner  and  very  active 
in  the  drafting  of  the  decree. 

Dismissing  "Big  Five" 

From  Schine  Action 

New  York — First  move  in  the  govern- 
ment’s anti-trust  suit  against  the  Schine 
circuit  will  be  to  eliminate  the  “Big  Five” 
as  it  has  done  in  the  Crescent  and  Grif- 
fith cases  in  Nashville  and  Oklahoma  City. 
No  date  has  been  set  for  this,  but  it  is 
believed  a motion  to  dismiss  against  the 
“Big  Five”  will  be  entered  in  the  Buffalo 
court  shortly. 

Following  this,  it  is  reported  negotia- 
tions may  be  worked  out  for  a settlement 
as  against  the  circuit  itself.  Willard  S. 
McKay,  counsel  for  Schine,  has  been  in 
touch  with  department  of  justice  repre- 
sentatives in  an  effort  to  effect  some  ar- 
rangement precluding  trial. 

One  hitch  is  said  to  be  the  government’s 
insistence  the  circuit  curtail  its  expansion 
generally  and  agree  to  accept  a “stand- 
still” clause  in  a decree  similar  to  that 
recently  entered  into  by  the  “Big  Five.” 

Denies  Joelson  Dickers 
For  Consolidated  Chain 

New  York — Reports  Julius  Joelson  is 
negotiating  for  the  Consolidated  circuit 
are  emphatically  denied  by  Laurence 
Bolognino,  operating  head.  The  reports 
have  been  current  for  the  past  few  weeks, 
but  Bolognino  said  he  had  not  heard  them. 
In  addition,  he  added,  they  are  not  true. 


By  LEONARD  WEISBERG 

New  York — If  there’s  a man  in  the 
house  who  doesn’t  think  he,  his  heirs  or 
successors  aren’t  in  for  a stiff  competitive 
jolt  from  television,  let  him  step  up  and 
be  converted. 

A quick  reader  reaction  to  the  above,  if 
there  be  any  reaction  at  all,  might  be:  “It 
won’t  be  in  my  day;  why  worry?” 

Well,  it’s  like  this.  Let’s  say  that  Holly- 
wood bosomed  silent  films  so  long  the 
films  let  out  such  a yelp  that  became 
wired  for  sound.  Let’s  also  say  it  was  any- 
where from  five  years  upwards  that  color, 
and  limited  color  at  that,  was  added  to 
sound. 

Then  consider  this : It’s  probably  no  more 
than  two  years  since  the  television  indus- 
try has  been  attempting  to  get  its  baby 
into  homes  with  a diversified  program. 
And  it  hasn’t  even  scratched  the  surface. 
But  the  other  afternoon  this  reporter  saw 
the  first  public  showing  of  direct  pickup 
television  in  color.  And  it  was  amazing. 

True,  color  television  is  still  in  the  lab- 
oratory. But  if  its  fundamental  problems 
have  been  surmounted,  and  CBS  engineers 
claim  they  have  been,  it  would  seem  to  be 
no  more  than  straightforward  engineering 
effort  before  its  commercial  application 
might  be  anticipated.  Moreover,  the  im- 
pression gained  from  the  color  demonstra- 
tion, per  se,  coupled  with  the  technical 
ease  said  to  accompany  it  presages  an 
earlier  and  faster  development  of  television 
in  color  than  in  black  and  white. 

Accomplish  Color  ’’Pickup'' 

Responsibility  for  this  presaging  rests 
entirely  with  CBS  engineers,  who  told  this 
reporter  color  pickup,  as  distinguished 
from  color  films  which  up  to  now  have 
been  the  chief  source  for  experimentation, 
is  accomplished  with  a lower  level  of  il- 
lumination than  is  necessary  for  black  and 
white  pictures.  This,  technically  for  the 
moment,  is  the  result  of  an  orthicon  tube 
which  even  now  is  being  further  developed 
to  the  stage  where  it  will  require  even  less 
light  than  the  one  used  in  the  demonstra- 
tion. 

About  100  persons  were  present  at  the 
showing  held  in  the  new  CBS  studio.  The 
color  pictures  were  picked  up  by  a tele- 
vision camera  in  the  company’s  labora- 
tories about  one  long  block  distant  and 
transmitted  by  coaxial  cable.  The  pictures 
were  reproduced  on  two  receivers,  one  a 
regular  black  and  white,  and  next  to  it 
and  considerably  smaller,  a table  model 
color  receiver  which  also  includes  a stand- 
ard broadcast  radio  receiver.  The  latter, 
especially  designed  for  the  occasion,  is 
designed  to  illustrate  that  color  need  not 
add  bulkiness  to  the  television  receiver. 
The  screens  on  both  receivers  measured 
five  and  one  quarter  by  seven  and  three 
quarter  inches.  As  pictures  were  received 
it  was  possible  to  make  easy  comparison 
between  the  colored  and  black  and  white 
images,  since  both  were  shown  simul- 
taneously. 

And  the  magic  of  color  never  got  a bet- 
ter sendoff.  The  flat  statement  is  made 
(Continued  on  page  26-D) 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


N 


23 


gAM  ECKMAN  jr„  managing  director  for 
M-G-M  in  London,  is  asking  donations 
of  binoculars.  These,  field  or  opera  glasses 
are  of  value  to  the  British,  he  reports,  not 
only  because  of  their  military  use  but  be- 
cause every  large  factory  or  place  of  busi- 
ness stations  an  unofficial  observer  in  its 
roof  so  that  those  at  work  may  continue 
without  worrying  about  air  raid  warnings 
until  the  Messerschmidts  or  the  Domiers 
get  close.  The  foreign  department  at 
M-G-M  in  New  York,  therefore,  observes 
that  anyone  interested  in  helping  may 
send  the  contribution  in  the  form  of  bin- 
oculars, field  or  opera  glasses  to  the  Loew 
Building.  They  will  be  forwarded  to  Eck- 
man. 

Harry  Allen  of  the  Allen  circuit  in  Can- 
ada has  been  spending  a few  days  in  town 
. . . Jack  Partington  of  F&M  has  been  on 
the  coast  the  past  week  . . . What  with  his 
serving  on  so  many  committees,  Harry 
Brandt  will  forsake  his  winter  vacation  in 
Miami  this  year.  But  Louis  Brandt  and 
Lionel  Toll  will  head  there  the  end  of  the 
week  . . . Harry  Furst,  back  from  Florida, 
says  he  met  a host  of  local  exhibitors  vaca- 
tioning in  the  southern  resort  . . . Neil  F. 
Agnew  and  Bob  Gillham  are  back  from  the 
coast  after  a quick  visit  to  the  Paramount 
studios  . . . Delight  Evans,  editor  of  Screen- 
land  magazine,  has  awarded  “ Flight  From 
Destiny”  the  hoiior  page  for  the  March 
issue  . . . Jules  Levey  is  in  Hollywood  pre- 
paring for  his  next  Universal  production 
. . . Eddie  Golden,  now  a producer  for 
Monogram,  has  been  in  town  all  week  on 
personal  business  . . . Jack  Adelman,  man- 
ager of  the  Abbye  Errand  Service  to  which 
a number  of  companies  subscribe,  married 
Isabel  Kerschner  on  Sunday. 

O.  Henry  Briggs,  president  of  Producers 
Releasing  Corp.,  is  finding  himself  a win- 
ter bachelor  for  10  days  while  his  wife  so- 
journs in  the  land  of  sun  . . . Tommy 
Rodgers,  Bill’s  youngest  son,  was  laid  up 
for  three  days  with  a sore  throat  in  Chi- 
cago while  en  route  to  the  coast  for  a 
month’s  vacation.  Tommy,  all  right  again, 
is  now  absorbing  the  sun  at  Palm  Springs 
. . . Harry  Berinstein,  who  operates  a 
number  of  upstate  theatres,  was  in  town 
on  product  buys  . . . Grad  Sears  and 
Charles  Casanave,  in  a serious  huddle  at 
Nick’s  Hunting  Room  . . . Charles  Stern, 
UA  district  manager,  was  tendered  a wel- 
come home  party  Tuesday  night  at  the 
Lincoln  by  local  exchange  employes  . . . 
Gene  Autry  in  town  for  a quick  visit  with 
Herb  Yates  . . . Otto  Bolle,  20th-Fox  South 
Africa  manager,  has  succeeded  in  getting 
reservations  on  the  City  of  New  York, 
which  sails  February  1,  for  his  return  trip. 
Which  means  he  will  not  go  to  the  coast 
by  train. 

Hunting  Room  Twosomes:  Joe  Unger 
and  Milt  Kusell  . . . Ben  Abner  and  “Ted” 
O’Shea  . . . Mort  Blumenstock  and  Mitchell 
Rawson  . . . Dave  Levy  and  Max  A.  Cohen 
. . . Red  Letter  Day  for  Sam  Dembow  was 
Friday  when  the  medicos  removed  that 
heavy  cast  from  that  banged-up  leg.  The 
light  cast  transfers  his  movements  from 
a wheel  chair  to  crutches.  Progress ! . . . 
Nat  Wachsberger,  Film  Alliance  head, 
leaves  for  the  coast,  January  16,  to  set  up 
production  machinery  at  General  Studios 
for  his  first  contribution  to  UA.  It’ll  be  a 


— Photos  by  Cosmo-Sileo 

The  New  York  Critics  Become  Hosts — 

Their  invitational  list  sharply  slashed  this  year,  the  New  York  Film  Critics, 
nevertheless,  entertained  by  the  hundreds  at  the  Rainbow  Room  when  NBC 
broadcast  their  winning  awards  for  1940,  led  off  by  “The  Grapes  of  Wrath.” 
It  is  Bosley  Crowther,  film  critic  of  the  New  York  Times  who  is  presenting 
the  major  plaque  to  Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  who  cut  a vacation  short  at  Su?i  Val- 
ley to  come  east  for  the  acceptance  ceremonies.  Then  Crowther  again,  this 
time  presenting  a special  award  to  Leopold  Stokowski  for  his  participation  in 
“Fantasia.”  At  the  table  are  Mrs.  Joseph  1.  Breen,  wife  of  the  production 
code  administrator ; W.  G.  Van  Schmus,  managing  director  of  the  Music 
Hall;  Marion  Rogers  and  Monroe  Greenthal,  newly  appointed  director  of 
advertising  and  publicity  at  UA.  Broadly  grinning  is  Rodney  Bush  of  20th 
Century-Fox  as  he  converses  with  David  A.  Lipton  who,  on  Monday,  officially 
took  over  advertising  and  publicity  reins  at  Columbia. 


month’s  stay  . . . Philip  Gerard  and  Lillian 
Nadel  have  opened  publicity  offices  known 
as  Gerard  Associates.  They  are  handling 
films,  commercials  and  personalities  . . . 
The  Abe  Schneiders  of  Columbia  are  vaca- 
tioning in  Florida  . . . Ditto  the  Leonard 
Pickers.  They  drove  down  . . . Ditto  Stari- 
ley  W.  Hand  of  Altec. 

Bill  Gleicher,  M-G-M  expense  auditor,  is 
in  Hollywood  on  business  . . . Alan  F.  Cum- 
mings, the  company’s  branch  operations 
head,  leaves  here  January  16  for  a tour  of 
exchanges  . . . Roy  Haines,  Warner  east- 
ern sales  manager,  is  back  from  a business 
trip  to  Washington  . . . Pat  Reis  of  How- 
ard Dietz’s  staff  holidayed  in  Lake  Placid, 
but  the  nearest  she  or  any  others  came 
to  snow,  was  photographs  on  the  hotel  wall 
. . . Sylvia  Chock,  secretary  to  Neil  F. 
Agnew,  is  back  from  York,  Pa.,  where  she 
visited  her  brother.  Agnew  returned  from 
the  coast  Friday  a bundle  of  raves  over 
“I  Wanted  Wings.”  Bob  Gillham,  who  went 
out  with  him,  isn’t  due  till  Monday. 

Arthur  Herschman  of  Loew’s  advertis- 
ing department  left  French  Hospital  the 
other  day  after  five  weeks  of  battling 


pneumonia  . . . Caryl  Dannenberg,  secre- 
tary to  Ernest  Emerling  of  the  same  of- 
fice, will  be  married  to  Herbert  Anderson 
on  January  18.  Honeymoon  in  W ashington 
. . . Producers  Arthur  Leonard  and  Dick 
Hyland  of  Cinemasters  held  a preview  of 
the  first  reels  they  produced  for  the  James 
Roosevelt- Mills  “Soundies”  machines  at  the 
Fox  Movietone  Studios  . . . J.  Walter  Ru- 
ben and  his  wife,  Virginia  Bruce,  are  vaca- 
tioning here  from  the  coast  . . . Ben  Cohen, 
manager  of  the  Metro  in  Calcutta,  India, 
and  formerly  manager  of  Loew’s  College 
in  New  Haven,  is  in  town  for  a short  visit. 
He  returns  in  March  . . . Elias  Lapinere, 
former  director  of  publicity  for  M-G-M  in 
Continental  Europe,  has  opened  his  own 
art  service  in  the  city. 

Charles  Skouras  left  Friday  for  the  coast 
after  two  weeks  here,  for  conferences  with 
brother  Spyros.  Charles’  family  left  for 
Beverly  Hills  a week  ahead  of  him  . . . 
Tom  Gorman,  RKO  circuit  divisional  head 
in  Chicago,  was  in  for  meetings  with  J.  J. 
O’Connor  the  early  part  of  the  week  . . . 
Bob  Benjamin  returned  from  the  coast  the 

(Continued  on  page  26-C) 


24 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


Ci  menace  to 

1,187  THEATRES 

—including  YOURS! 

THE  week  starting  January  16th  has  been  set  as  “MARCH  OF  DIMES” 
WEEK  in  the  motion  picture  theatres  of  the  New  York  exchange  area. 
There  are  1,187  theatres  in  this  area— including  YOURS!  So  far  over  760 
theatres  have  gladly,  enthusiastically  volunteered  to  cooperate.  Indications 
are  that  every  one  of  the  1.187  will  join  this  worthy  cause— including  yours. 

It  is  hoped  to  gather  millions  of  dimes  from  moviegoers  for  the  National 
Foundation  for  Infantile  Paralysis!  If  you  are  at  all  familiar  with  this  in- 
spiring charity,  we  know  you  will  lend  your  cooperation  eagerly.  This  is  one 
charity  your  patrons  will  be  happy  to  help  with  their  dimes. 

Special,  colorful  receptacles  will  be  supplied  for  all  theatre  lobbies  by 
the  Infantile  Paralysis  Foundation  campaign  committee  at  no  cost  to  you. 
A special  emblem,  to  give  those  who  contribute,  will  be  supplied  to  you  at 
no  cost.  (This  expense  has  been  paid  by  private  donations  from  several 
exhibitors.)  Trailers  to  insert  in  newsreels  will  be  sent  to  you  gratis. 

This  is  a grand  opportunity  for  the  motion  picture  exhibitors  to  do  a 
great  public  service.  Write,  wire  or  phone  your  zone  committee  chairman 
that  you  will  cooperate. 

HARRY  BRANDT— C.  C.  M0SK0WITZ 


Co-chairmen  for  New  York  area 

SI  FABIAN 

Treasurer 


COMMITTEE  FOR  NEW  JERSEY 

J.  J Thompson  Harry  Hecht 

COMMITTEE  FOR  MANHATTAN 

Martin  Devine  Leo  Brecher 

COMMITTEE  FOR  BROOKLYN 

Samuel  Rinzler  D.  Weinslock 


COMMITTEE  FOR  UPSTATE  N.  Y. 

Max  Cohen 

COMMITTEE  FOR  THE  BRONX 

Laurence  Rolognino  Joe  Katsh 

COMMITTEE  FOR  QUEENS 

Frank  Moseato  Samuel  Strausherg 

COMMITTEE  FOR  LONG  ISLAND  and  STATEN  ISLAND 

Si  Fabian 

The  committees  are  grateful  for  the  immediate  and  whole-hearted  response  from  the  following  circuits:  loew'j,  RKO, 
Brandt  Fabian,  Harry  Hecht,  Cocalis,  Randforce,  Century,  Consolidated,  leo  Brecher,  Max  Cohen,  Raybond  and  others. 


PAGE  DONATED  BY  THIS  PUBLICATION 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


Roach  Sues  Loew's 
For  $1,263,993 

New  York — Hal  Roach  Studios,  Inc.,  has 
filed  a $1,263,993  suit  in  the  federal  court 
against  Loew’s,  Inc.,  and  M-G-M  Distribut- 
ing Corp.  seeking  damages  on  numerous 
causes  of  action  including  overcharging  on 
footage,  improper  distribution  of  pictures, 
failure  to  pay  rebates  and  cancellation  of 
contracts. 

Of  the  total  asked,  $355,159  is  against 
Loew’s  alone  and  the  balance  against 
Loew’s  and  M-G-M  Distributing.  The  com- 
plaint covers  the  14-year  period  from  1926 
to  date  of  Loew’s  distribution  of  Roach’s 
films  and  over  350  shorts  and  features. 

The  first  cause  of  action  is  typical  of 
the  balance  which  covers  more  than  30 
pages  of  the  complaint.  It  is  charged 
that  in  1926  Roach  signed  the  first  of  his 
five  contracts  with  Loew’s  for  distribution 
of  his  product.  He  says  he  was  to  receive 
60  per  cent  of  the  receipts  and,  when  his 
share  equalled  the  cost  of  the  picture  plus 
advances,  50  per  cent.  Under  the  first  con- 
tract which  ran  for  four  years,  Roach 
claims  M-G-M  developed  positive  prints 
from  53,357.005  linear  feet  of  film,  but 
charged  him  in  excess  of  the  3/10  cent  per 
foot  agreed  on,  making  the  total  owed  him 
on  this  transaction  $142,122.  It  is  claimed 
M-G-M  received  a rebate  from  the  govern- 
ment of  $51,099  which  Roach  wants;  that 
after  the  prints  became  junk  M-G-M  sold 
them  for  their  salvage  value  at  six  cents 
per  pound  and  realized  $17,626,  which  is 
also  sought;  that  a rebate  from  New  Zea- 
land was  received  in  the  amount  of  $3,261 
on  two  pictures,  “Perfect  Day”  and 
“Blotto,”  which  is  asked  for  and  that, 
after  re-issuing  these  two  shorts,  Laurel 
and  Hardy  contracts  for  distribution  total- 
ing $15,622  were  cancelled. 

Questions  Bookkeeping 

Other  parts  of  the  complaint  are  identi- 
cal in  the  other  four  contracts.  The  first 
direct  charges  against  Loew’s  alone  total 
$309,840,  and  attack  bookkeeping  on  for- 
eign exchange  matters  on  14  pictures  re- 
leased in  Italy  with  the  lira  being  given 
more  value  than  it  possessed  at  the  time. 

It  is  charged  that  in  1938  in  paying  its 
share  of  the  Movie  Quiz  which  cost  $110,- 
000,  Loew’s  improperly  charged  Roach  $7,- 
258  against  “Blockheads,”  and  charged 
lesser  amounts  against  other  product  of 
its  own  which  cost  far  more. 

It  is  also  charged  Loew’s  failed  to  proper- 
ly distribute  “Topper”  in  the  1937-38  sea- 
son and  failed  to  get  the  revenue  out  of 
it  that  should  have  been  received.  Roach 
asks  $275,000  on  this  charge  and  $50,000 
more  for  publicity  spent  on  “Topper”  and 
“Merrily  We  Live”  by  Loew’s  as  being 
much  too  high  and  more  than  the  com- 
pany spent.  The  grand  total  sought  is  thus 
$1,328,357,  but,  since  the  defendants  had 
advanced  $64,364  to  Roach  on  loans  and 
other  advances,  he  is  deducting  that,  mak- 
ing the  amount  asked  $1,263,993. 


New  RKO  Uruguay  Pact 

New  York — RKO’s  distributor  in  Uru- 
guay, Cinematografica  Glucksmann,  S.  A., 
Montevideo,  has  renewed  its  contract  for 
1941  product,  according  to  Phil  Reisman, 
head  of  the  foreign  department. 


Foreign-Press  Reviewers 
Select " Grapes " as  Best 

New  York — Motion  picture  reviewers  of 
leading  foreign-language  newspapers  here 
have  chosen  “The  Grapes  of  Wrath”  as 
the  “outstanding  American  picture  of  the 
year.”  Other  selections,  the  result  of  a poll 
conducted  by  the  foreign  educational 
orientation  division  of  the  American 
Schools  and  Colleges  Ass’n,  are:  “Hotel  du 
Nord,”  best  foreign  film;  Conrad  Veidt  in 
“Escape,”  best  American  male  perform- 
ance; Ginger  Rogers  in  “The  Primrose 
Path,”  best  American  female  performance; 
Jean  Gabin  in  “The  Human  Beast,”  best 
foreign  male  performance;  Arletty  in 
“Daybreak,”  best  foreign  female  perform- 
ance; William  Wyler  for  “The  Letter,”  best 
Hollywood  director,  and  Marcel  Carne  for 
“Hotel  du  Nord,”  best  foreign  director.  A 
special  award  was  given  to  “London  Can 
Take  It.” 

Monroe  Stein  Is  Aide 
To  RKO  Chain  Booker 

New  York — Preparing  to  meet  the  new 
demands  of  the  consent  decree,  John  J. 
O'Connor,  vice-president  and  general  man- 
ager of  the  RKO  circuit,  has  engaged 
Monroe  Stein,  until  recently  a partner  in 
the  Cocalis  circuit,  as  booker  under  Fred 
Meyers,  chief  film  buyer  and  booker. 

Stein  and  his  father  owned  a large  in- 
terest in  a number  of  Cocalis  houses,  but 
since  the  death  of  Jack  Springer  and 
Sam  D.  Cocalis  various  units  have  been 
leased  or  sold.  The  Skouras  circuit  and 
RKO  recently  acquired  a number  of  Bronx 
houses. 

McCarthy  Resumes  Work 
On  16mm  Shorts  Lineup 

New  York — Having  lined  up  12  fran- 
chise holders  of  the  52  he  plans  to  handle 
his  16mm  subjects  on  political  science,  Leo 
J.  McCarthy,  former  head  booker  for  Fox 
Midwest,  left  for  the  coast  the  latter  part 
of  the  week  to  start  production  on  three 
new  subjects.  His  plans  call  for  16  shorts, 
one  of  which  is  finished  and  now  in  circu- 
lation. He  produces  under  the  name  of 
Del  Cal  Theatres,  Inc.,  of  which  he  is 
president  and  production  head. 


Elson  Trans-Lux  Job 
Added  to  FA  Duties 

New  York — The  appointment  of  Nor- 
man W.  Elson  as  general  manager  of 
Trans-Lux  theatres  in  New  York,  Boston, 
Philadelphia  and  Washington  will  not  in- 
terfere with  his  present  post  of  general 
sales  manager  of  Film  Alliance  of  the 
United  States,  the  latter  declares.  The 
two  companies  are  partners.  Elson’s  thea- 
tre work,  largely  confined  to  buying  and 
booking  film,  merely  supplements  his  sales 
post. 


It's  Sir  Randle 

New  York — It’s  now  Sir  Randle  F. 
Holme  for  the  chairman  of  RKO’s  English 
company.  According  to  Phil  Reisman,  head 
of  RKO’s  foreign  department,  King  George 
VI  has  conferred  a knighthood  on  Holme 
for  distinguished  service. 


Many  Volunteer  for 
Drive  on  "Polio'' 

New  York — Theatre  managers,  home 
office  executives  and  district  representa- 
tives met  at  Loew’s  home  office  Friday  to 
outline  plans  for  aiding  the  National  Foun- 
dation for  Infantile  Paralysis  fund  drive. 

After  the  session  it  was  revealed  more 
than  800  of  the  1,187  theatres  in  the  ex- 
change area  have  volunteered  to  cooperate 
in  the  “March  of  Dimes”  drive,  which  gets 
under  way  in  theatres,  January  16,  al- 
though the  national  drive  begins  January 
13  and  runs  to  January  30. 

Circuits  represented  at  the  meeting  in- 
cluded Loew’s,  RKO,  Brandt,  Skouras  and 
Randforce.  Their  representatives  went 
over  numerous  details,  including  a special 
receptacle  to  be  placed  in  lobbies  for  the 
collection  of  funds,  routines  for  supplying 
uniformed  girls  to  preside  at  the  dime- 
boxes,  and  the  special  emblem  that  will  be 
given  to  all  contributors.  The  committee 
will  supply  gratis  two  short  pieces  of  film 
for  insertion  in  newsreels,  one  in  which 
Spencer  Tracy  appears,  the  other  featuring 
Charles  Chaplin. 

The  following  sub-committee  appoint- 
ments have  been  made  by  Co-Chairmen 
Charles  C.  Moskowitz  and  Harry  Brandt: 

New  Jersey — J.  J.  Thompson  and  Harry 
Hecht. 

Upstate  New  York — Max  Cohen. 

Long  Island  and  Staten  Island — Si 
Fabian,  who  is  acting  as  treasurer. 

Bronx — Laurence  Bolognino  and  Joe 
Katsch. 

Brooklyn — Samuel  Rinzler  and  Dave 
Weinstock. 

Manhattan — Leo  Brecher  and  Martin 
Levine. 

Queens — Frank  Moscato  and  Samuel 
Strausberg. 

Nicholas  M.  Schenck  is  national  chair- 
man of  the  industry  committee. 


Coordinate  Stall  lor 
Added  Metro  Duties 

New  York — Marvin  Schenck,  recently 
appointed  talent  chief  in  the  east  for 
M-G-M,  in  addition  to  his  other  duties 
as  assistant  to  C.  C.  Moskowitz,  is  co- 
ordinating his  staff  of  four  which  will  be 
located  on  the  11th  floor  in  the  Loew 
Building.  A1  Altman  and  Sidney  Phillips, 
now  on  the  sixth  floor,  and  Benn  Jacob- 
son and  William  R.  Deering,  now  at  the 
annex,  will  move  up  to  the  11th  floor  as 
soon  as  the  offices  are  ready.  Schenck 
will  continue  his  seventh  floor  office  for 
his  theatre  duties  and  have  another  office 
on  the  11th  floor  for  talent  activities. 


Signs  Deal  With  Two 

Hollywood — Jack  Benny  has  concluded 
a new  deal  with  Paramount  and  at  the 
same  time  signed  a long-term  deal  with 
20th-Fox,  which  is  a new  affiliation  for 
him.  Both  studios  will  work  out  arrange- 
ments for  operation  of  the  contracts  har- 
moniously. Each  is  now  busy  preparing 
scripts  to  fit  the  schedule. 


26 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


A Variety  of  Minor 
Suits  Mark  Week 

New  York — Court  news  of  the  week  was 
featured  by  a variety  of  minor  suits  but 
nothing  of  major  importance.  A minor 
revival  of  the  extinct  Fox  Theatres  estate 
featured  the  somewhat  dull  week,  as  Senior 
Federal  Judge  John  C.  Knox  denied  a re- 
quest by  the  trustees  of  the  estate,  Ken- 
neth P.  Steinreich  and  Leopold  Porrino,  to 
reduce  the  amount  of  a final  allowance 
to  Attorney  Archibald  R.  Watson  from 
$15,000  to  $10,000.  Watson  was  trustee  for 
the  former  trustees  and  is  said  to  have 
saved  the  estate  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
dollars.  Affidavits  testified  his  services  to 
be  worth  in  excess  of  $100,000.  Steinreich 
and  Porrino  had  attempted  to  cite  former 
Judge  Martin  T.  Manton’s  opinion  that 
Watson’s  services  were  worth  only  $10,000, 
but  Judge  Knox  refused  to  listen. 

Trial  of  Isabella  Knowtter’s  suit  against 
Hal  Roach  Studios,  M-G-M  Pictures, 
M-G-M  Distributing  Corp.,  Loew’s  and 
Culver  Export  has  been  set  for  June  16, 
1941  in  the  federal  court.  The  plaintiff 
is  a resident  of  France  and  a citizen  of 
the  Netherlands  and  is  unable  at  the  mo- 
ment to  get  out  of  France.  She  thinks  she 
may  be  able  to  get  to  America  in  six 
months.  The  suit  claims  that  two  Roach 
pictures,  “Swiss  Miss”  and  “Way  Out 
West,”  plagiarize  her  story,  “Two  Down 
and  Outs.”  An  injunction,  accounting  of 
profits,  and  damages  are  sought. 

Settle  WB  Plagiarism  Suit 

Louis  Klotz  has  filed  a supreme  court 
suit  against  Jacob  Rabinowitz,  known  as 
Jack  Robins,  William  Lorenz,  the  Willor 
Mfg.  Corp.,  and  the  Mechanical  Mfg.  Corp., 
claiming  the  defendants  engaged  him  to 
develop  and  exploit  a continuous  sound 
projector  and  promised  him  10  per  cent  of 
the  gross  sales  or  rentals.  They  are  now 
denying  the  existence  of  the  agreement, 
Klotz  claims,  in  seeking  court  aid. 

A suit  by  M.  and  G.  Amusements,  Inc., 
against  Warner  for  $150,000  damages  for 
alleged  plagiarism  of  plaintiff’s  play,  “Sh, 
the  Octopus”  in  the  Warner  film  of  the 
same  name,  has  been  settled  and  discon- 
tinued out  of  federal  court.  The  plain- 
tiff claimed  the  film  company  only  owned 
silent  and  not  sound  rights  to  the  story. 

Supreme  Court  Justice  Peter  Schmuck 
has  reserved  decision  after  a two-day  trial 
of  Stephen  Tamas’  suit  against  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox in  which  the  plaintiff,  a Hun- 
garian author,  claimed  his  scenario,  en- 
titled “Stowaway,”  was  lifted  by  20th-Fox 
in  the  Shirley  Temple  starrer  of  the  same 
name.  He  seeks  an  injunction,  accounting 
of  profits,  and  damages. 

Federal  Judge  Edward  A.  Conger  has 
authorized  the  examination  before  trial  of 
Radtke  Patents  Corp.  and  Leonard  Day, 
attorney,  in  connection  with  a suit  by 
Photometric  Products  Corp.  against  them, 
and  Warner.  The  suit  seeks  to  have  a 
patent  called  “Methods  for  and  Means  of 
Optically  Recording  and  Reproducing 
Sound”  declared  the  property  of  the  plain- 
tiff. 

Selwyn  and  Co.  have  filed  a rebuttal  to 
the  answer  of  Bayard  Veiller  in  the  federal 
court  in  connection  with  its  $7,500  suit 
against  the  author.  Veiller  had  claimed 
that  Selwyn  was  dissolved  in  1936  and  had 


no  claim  to  the  play,  “The  Miracle.”  Sel- 
wyn admits  being  dissolved,  but  claims  to 
have  obtained  a certificate  of  annulment 
in  1939  cancelling  the  dissolution.  The 
plaintiff  received  all  rights  to  Veiller’s  play 
in  1914  and  claims  that  in  1939  the  author 
sold  rights  to  Loew’s  for  $7,500,  which  it 
now  seeks. 

Trial  of  Joseph  M.  Schenck  and  Joseph 
H.  Moskowitz  for  alleged  evasion  of  in- 
come tax  returns  will  begin  in  the  federal 
court  February  10.  The  date  was  set  by 
mutual  agreement  between  government 
and  defense  counsel  with  the  trial  ex- 
pected to  last  two  to  three  months.  Both 
defendants  maintain  their  innocence  of 
any  wrongdoing  and  insist  any  errors  are 
bookkeeping  ones,  rather  than  intentional 
attempts  to  evade  payment. 


Sues  Rogers  and  Pickford 
On  Pact  Breach  Charge 

New  York — Arthur  T.  Michaud  and 
James  V.  Peppe,  managers,  have  filed  a 
supreme  court  suit  against  Chaxies 
(Buddy)  Rogers  and  Mary  Pickford,  seek- 
ing $300,000  damages,  $150,000  against 
each,  for  alleged  breach  of  contract.  They 
say  they  signed  as  Rodgers’  managers  for 
10  years  in  May,  1939  and  contract  was 
broken  in  August,  1940.  It  is  claimed 
Miss  Pickford  foi’ced  the  breach  by  threats 
of  divorce  and  promises  to  secure  Rogers 
producing  and  acting  jobs  in  pictures  if  he 
returned  to  California  with  her. 


Suit  by  Robert  L.  Buckner  against  Para- 
mount and  Charles  Beahan  has  been  dis- 
continued in  fedei'al  court.  The  action 
sought  an  injunction,  accounting  of  pi’ofits, 
and  damages  against  the  picture  “Mid- 
night,” claiming  it  is  based  on  Buckner’s 
play,  “Deai’ly  Beloved.” 


S.  O.  S.  Signs  With  Unions 

New  York  — S.  O.  S.  Cinema  Supply 
Corp.  has  signed  contracts  with  AFL  Local 
20940  of  Office  Employes  and  with  the  In- 
ternational Brotherhood  of  Machinists,  also 
an  AFL  affiliate.  The  pacts  cover  all 
S.  O.  S.  employes. 


Deals  in  Company 
Stocks  Are  Slow 

Washington — Transactions  involving  1,- 
500  shares  of  film  company  stocks  are 
shown  in  the  first  December  report  of  the 
securities  and  exchange  commission  on 
transactions  of  officers  and  directors  in  the 
securities  of  their  corporations.  Deals  for 
only  three  companies  were  reported,  as 
follows: 

Consolidated  Film  Industries:  Disposi- 
tion of  100  shares  of  part  preferred  stock 
by  E.  H.  Seifert,  director,  Fort  Lee,  N.  J., 
leaving  him  with  100  shares: 

Twentieth  Century-Fox:  Acquisition  of 
1,000  shares  of  common  stock  by  Sidney  R. 
Kent,  officer,  New  York,  giving  him 
total  of  2,180  shares. 

Universal  Corp.:  Acquisition  of  200  com- 
mon voting  ti’ust  certificates  by  Preston 
Davie,  director,  New  York,  giving  him  a 
total  of  2,600  held  direct  and  26,500  held 
through  Standard  Capital  Co. 

The  SEC  reported  that  Pathe  Film  was 
among  the  first  companies  to  file  reports 
under  the  new  investment  company  act, 
showing  the  stock  holdings  of  officers  and 
directors  and  beneficial  owners  of  more 
than  10  per  cent  of  any  class. 

The  report  showed  the  holdings  as  of 
November  1,  last,  when  the  law  became 
effective,  as  follows: 

George  J.  Bonwick,  officer,  New  York, 
none;  Henry  J.  Guild,  director,  Adams, 
Mass.,  none;  Donaldson  Bi-own,  beneficial 
owner,  New  York,  none  direct  but  58,102 
shares  of  common  and  1,844  shares  of  pre- 
ferred through  the  Broseco  Corp.;  T.  C. 
Davis,  director,  New  York,  100  shares  of 
common;  Allan  P.  Kirby,  director,  Morris- 
town, N.  J.,  2,100  shares  of  common  di- 
rect, 1,000  shares  through  Holding  Com- 
pany A,  4,000  shai-es  thx-ough  Holding 
Company  B,  and  600  shares  through  a 
trust;  Kenneth  M.  Young,  officer,  New 
York,  400  shares  of  common;  Robert  R. 
Young,  director,  Cleveland,  20,497  shares 
of  common;  Mabel  M.  Malone,  officer,  New 
York,  one  share  of  preferred. 


Altec  Men  Observe  Anniversary — 

Their  company  three  years  old,  a hunch  of  the  executives  get  together  by 
way  of  celebration.  The  celebrants,  starting  left  and  around  to  the  right, 
include  Harold  Wengler,  Stanley  Hand,  Harry  M.  Bessey,  secretary-treasurer ; 
E.  Z.  Walters,  G.  L.  Carrington,  vice-president  and  general  manager;  Don 
L.  Turner,  Bert  Sanford  jr.,  F.  C.  Dickely,  A.  J.  Rademacher  and  L.  W. 
Conrow,  president. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


26-A 


No  Date  as  Yet  tor 
Remittance  Parley 

New  York — No  date  has  yet  been  set 
for  arbitration  of  M-G-M’s  contention  its 
share  of  the  new  British  remittances 
should  be  based  on  the  same  system  as 
set  up  by  the  British  government  instead 
of  on  the  gross  business  for  the  eight  ma- 
jor companies  for  the  year  ending  October 
31,  1940. 

Commenting  on  the  situation,  Arthur 
Loew,  head  of  M-G-M’s  foreign  activities, 
stated,  “It’s  a matter  of  principle  and  we 
will  win.” 


20th-F ox  Schedules  Sales 
Meeting  in  Porto  Rico 

New  York — Twentieth  Century-Fox  will 
hold  a convention  at  San  Juan,  Porto 
Rico,  about  January  16.  Walter  J.  Hutch- 
inson and  Irving  Maas  will  attend  from 
here. 

Paramount,  too,  will  hold  a convention 
of  its  Carribbean  area  managers  February 
6-8  at  Panama  City.  John  W.  Hicks  jr. 
left  for  it  via  Mexico  Sunday.  Arthur  L. 
Pratchett  will  be  in  charge. 

Dan  Greenhouse,  former  manager  for 
RKO  in  the  Philippines,  has  arrived  in 
Santiago  to  take  over  representation  in 
Chile.  George  Kallman,  manager  there, 
will  assume  Greenhouse’s  former  post. 

N,  Schenck  to  Coast ; 

Dietz  Vacationing 

Hollywood — Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  head 
of  Loew’s  and  M-G-M,  is  due  here  shortly 
for  a brief  studio  visit  before  he  leaves  on 
his  annual  vacation  in  Miami  the  latter 
part  of  the  month. 

A1  Lichtman  and  Bernie  Hyman  are 
back  from  a visit  to  the  east  where  they 
saw  the  new  crop  of  Broadway  shows. 
Howard  Dietz  is  vacationing  at  Palm 
Springs  and  will  most  likely  visit  here  be- 
fore returning  to  New  York. 

State  Department  Into 
Brazilian  Situation 

Washington — The  state  department  will 
step  into  the  Brazilian  situation  by  making 
presentations  to  that  government  in  pro- 
test to  its  proposed  plan  of  imposing  an 
eight  per  cent  tax  on  earnings  transmit- 
table  to  New  York.  It  would  be  retroac- 
tive to  1935.  The  Brazilian  government  is 
threatening  to  block  all  remittances  other- 
wise. 


Four  "Fantasia"  Dates 

New  York — The  first  of  four  scheduled 
out-of-town,  roadshow  engagements  for 
“Fantasia”  is  set  for  the  Carthay  Circle, 
Hollywood,  January  23,  to  be  followed  with 
the  Majestic,  Boston,  January  25;  Aldine, 
Philadelphia,  January  30,  and  an  undis- 
closed Chicago  house  on  February  10.  All 
engagements  will  be  of  an  indefinite  dura- 
tion, two  shows  a day,  all  seats  reserved. 


REVIEW 


FLASHES 


CONVOY  (RKO) — Producer  Michael  Balcon, 
with  the  cooperation  of  the  Royal  Navy  and 
some  highly  effective  model  work,  has  con- 
cocted in  "Convoy"  a naval  thriller  based 
on  the  present  war.  Clive  Brook,  John 
Clements.  Judy  Campbell. 

LARCENY  STREET  (Film  Alliance)— An  Eng- 
lish variation  on  the  "Thin  Man"  style  of 
crime  detection.  Jack  Buchanan  produced 
and  has  the  leading  role.  Generally  quite 
funny  and  exciting,  the  story  leans  heav- 
ily on  dialect  comedy.  Tim  Whelan  di- 
rected. 

SIX  LESSONS  FROM  MADAME  LA  ZONGA 
(Univ) — Again  taking  as  a nucleus  the  tune 
and  title  of  a popular  song — this  time  one 
of  more  recent  vintage — Universal  has 
wound  around  it  a fast-moving,  diverting 
tuneful  comedy  which  should  prove  to  be 
a welcome  half  of  any  program.  Lupe  Velez 
and  Leon  Errol  are  co-featured.  Joseph  G. 
Sanford  produced;  John  Rawlins  directed. 

VIRGINIA  (Para't) — Way  down  yonder  in 
the  land  of  cotton  they'll  tear  the  doors 
down  to  see  this  one.  What's  more,  its 
popularity  will  not  stop  at  the  Mason- 
Dixon  line,  because  customers  everywhere 
should  love  it  for  its  many  idyllic  quali- 
ties, a sterling  cast,  a swell  romantic  story, 
the  beauties  of  its  Technicolor  photography 
and,  above  all,  a show-stopping  perform- 
ance by  Carolyn  Lee,  as  clever  a moppet 
as  ever  donned  grease  paint.  Edward  H. 
Griffith  produced  and  directed. 

YOU'RE  OUT  OF  LUCK  (Mono)— With  minor 
variations,  this  is  cut  from  the  same  pat- 
tern as  preceding  Frankie  Darros  for  this 
company  in  which  he  plays  a juvenile 
detective;  and,  by  the  same  token,  com- 
pares favorably  with  them  as  good  sup- 
porting program  material.  Darro,  Kay  Sut- 
ton. Mantan  Moreland.  Howard  Brether- 
ton  directed. 


Paramount  Sales  Meet 
For  Panama  City  Force 

New  York — John  W.  Hicks,  Paramount 
foreign  chief,  and  Arthur  Pratchett,  Cen- 
tral American  manager,  depart  the  end  of 
the  week  for  Mexico  City  where  they  will 
conduct  a three-day  meeting  of  the  com- 
pany’s sales  force  in  Panama  City,  start- 
ing February  6. 

While  here  on  a short  vacation,  Prat- 
chett indicated  the  Cuban  government 
shortly  will  publish  a decree  which  will 
limit  the  sales  of  pictures  to  groups  of  10 
and  also  provide  for  an  arbitration  system 
similar  to  that  contained  in  the  govern- 
ment’s decree  against  the  “Big  Five.” 


Discuss  New  Year 

Albany — A meeting  of  Schine  district 
managers  will  be  held  in  Gloversville, 
January  14.  Plans  for  1941  are  to  be  dis- 
cussed. 


Big  Pictures  Swell 
Government  Take 

Washington  — “Gone  With  the  Wind” 
and  other  “big”  pictures  of  early  1940 
contributed  materially  to  the  government’s 
revenue  from  the  admission  tax,  boxoffice 
collections  for  the  fiscal  year  ended  last 
June  30  totaling  $19,389,056.16,  compared 
with  $17,096,415.63  for  the  preceding  fiscal 
year,  it  is  shown  by  the  annual  report  of 
Commissioner  of  Internal  Revenue  Guy  T. 
Helvering. 

The  1940  figures  represent  the  last  col- 
lections under  the  40-cent  exemption,  for 
with  the  beginning  of  the  current  fiscal 
year  last  July  1 the  20-cent  exemption 
became  effective,  indications  being  that 
collections  for  the  present  year  will  be  al- 
most trebled  as  a result  of  the  additional 
taxable  admissions  and  generally  improv- 
ing business  as  economic  conditions  get 
better. 

Total  admission-tax  collections  for  the 
period  were  $21,887,916,  compared  with 
$19,470,801.85  for  the  1939  fiscal  year,  but 
they  included,  in  addition  to  taxes  paid  at 
the  boxoffice,  $612,358.20  collected  on  free 
or  reduced  rate  admissions,  compared  with 
$667,099.52  in  1939,  and  nearly  $1,900,000 
received  from  leases  of  boxes  or  seats,  ad- 
missions sold  in  excess  of  established 
prices,  sales  by  ticket  brokers  and  admis- 
sions to  roof  gardens  and  cabarets. 

Commissioner  Helvering’s  report  indi- 
cated that  theatres  throughout  the  coun- 
try generally  did  a better  business  in  1940 
than  in  1939.  Boxoffice  tax  collections  did 
decline  in  California,  Delaware,  Georgia, 
Kansas  and  Wyoming  and  in  Hawaii,  but 
the  losses  were  relatively  small  except  in 
the  case  of  Georgia,  which  dropped  $68,- 
000  or  something  over  30  per  cent. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  was  shown,  other 
states  reported  substantial  increases,  run- 
ning well  over  $465,000  in  the  case  of  New 
York,  indicating  that  the  losses  in  the  five 
states  were  due  to  local  conditions. 

Smallest  revenue  producer  of  all  was 
North  Dakota,  which  returned  $7,453.95, 
approximately  $2,000  less  than  its  neigh- 
bor, South  Dakota,  which  reported  $9,- 
443.57.  These  were  the  only  states  to  re- 
turn less  than  $10,000,  but  seven  states  re- 
ported between  $10,000  and  $20,000,  and  14 
states  and  Alaska  and  Hawaii  reported  be- 
tween $20,000  and  $100,000.  Sixteen  states 
and  the  District  of  Columbia  reported  be- 
tween $100,000  and  $500,000;  five  states 
reported  between  $500,000  and  $1,000,000; 
three  states  reported  between  $1,000,000 
and  $2,000,000,  and  one,  New  York,  more 
than  $2,000,000. 


Warners  Invest  Heavily 
In  Company  Debentures 

New  York — Collectively,  Harry  M.,  Al- 
bert and  Jack  L.  Warner  own  $2,765,000  of 
Warner  six  per  cent  debentures,  it  is  dis- 
closed by  SEC.  Separately,  Harry  holds 
$750,000  worth;  Albert,  $1,500,000,  and 
Jack,  $515,000,  all  as  of  August  27,  1940. 

The  report  also  states  James  Cagney’s 
salary  for  the  fiscal  year  was  $363,333, 
while  H.  B.  Wallis  received  $265,000,  and 
Edward  G.  Robinson,  $255,000. 


26-B 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


BROADWAY 


" Story,  ” "Neighbor”  and 
"Fantasia”  Top  B'way 


(Continued  from  page  24) 
latter  part  of  the  week.  He  had  been  there 
on  special  Pathe  business  . . . Charles  E. 
McCarthy  left  for  20th-Fox  studios  Fri- 
day to  look  at  the  new  crop  of  pictures  . . . 
Milt  Kusell’s  new  license  plate  reads  MK- 
56,  in  case  you’re  interested  . . . Bill  Brown 
was  in  from  Greenwich  still  bemoaning  the 
fate  of  the  beautiful  Pickwick  there  . . . 
David  L.  Loew  and  Albert  Lewin  are  in 
from  the  coast  to  confer  with  UA  home 
office  executives  on  distribution  plans  for 
“So  Ends  Our  Night.” 

Harry  Brandt  started  the  week  in  a blaze 
of  glory.  His  Colony,  Jackson  Heights,  had 
a fire  in  the  booth,  and  the  theatre  had  to 
remain  closed  while  Paramount  dug  up 
another  print  of  “Arise.  My  Love”  . . . Sol 
Schwartz,  RKO  Bronx  division  manager, 
flew  out  to  Dallas  for  the  Fordham-T exas 
A&M  game.  The  reason:  He  had  the  en- 
tire Fordham  team  appear  in  person  at 
the  Fordham  Theatre  Monday  night,  in- 
cluding Coach  Jim  Crowley  . . . Bill  Scully 
is  due  back  from  the  coast  Monday  ere 
he  swings  south  for  a siesta  in  Miami  . . . 
Joseph  Bernhard  is  due  from  Hollywood 
next  week  . . . Clayton  Bond  and  Leo  J. 
McCarthy  swapping  old  time  stories  about 
Chicago  days  at  the  Astor  . . . Morris  Sher 
of  Loew’s  legal  staff  is  back  from  a 12-day 
Miami  vacation  where  he  spent  a lot  of 
time  putting  the  pill  . . . Walter  Hutchin- 
son is  figuring  on  another  South  American 
tour  for  20 th-Fox  soon. 

Dorothy  Kennedy,  Loew’s  receptionist  on 
the  seventh  floor,  is  mourning  the  loss  of 
her  mother  who  passed  away  after  a very 
short  illness  . . . Bill  Sussman  and  the 
missus  are  in  Miami  for  a month’s  vaca- 
tion . . . Manny  Reiner  is  doing  a bang-up 
job  on  the  Quiz  Kids.  The  radio  troupe 
arrived  Saturday  from  Chicago  and  were 
met  by  Mayor  LaGuardia  and  Dr.  Dafoe. 
On  Thursday  they  were  the  guests  of  Elea- 
nor Roosevelt  at  the  White  House.  Inci- 
dentally, they  will  make  a series  of  shorts 
for  Paramount,  the  productions  to  be  sand- 
wiched in  between  school  and  their  Wed- 
nesday night  broadcasts  . . . Jack  Zurich, 
Buffalo  Warner  salesman,  had  his  Buick 
stolen  while  he  was  in  town  vacationing 
. . . Rose  Lichtman  is  planning  to  come 
east  as  soon  as  she  completes  decorating 
her  new  home  in  Beverly  Hills.  The  house, 
recently  purchased  by  Husband  Al,  was 
formerly  owned  by  Ruth  Chatterton. 

Leah  Peterson,  cashier  at  the  local 
Paramount  exchange,  leaves  January  18 
for  a two-week  Miami  stay  . . . Charles 
M.  Reagan,  western  division  manager  for 
Paramount,  is  back  from  a trip  to  Chicago 
. . . Joe  Unger,  eastern  divisional  head  for 
the  same  company,  has  been  visiting  Hew 
England  exchanges  . . . Joe  Philipson,  for- 
merly booker  and  buyer  for  the  Joe  Cooper 
circuit  in  Oklahoma  City,  has  joined  the 
Paramount  home  office  distribution  de- 
partment. Ditto  for  Jack  Bannon,  lately 
with  Astor  Pictures  and  prior  to  that  with 
Sam  Dembow  after  the  latter  left  Para- 
mount some  years  ago  . . . Joe  Hornstein 
is  back  from  another  junket  to  Miami 
where  he  spent  a couple  of  weeks  with  his 
family  ...  Ed  Lee  of  M-G-M’s  legal  force 
managed  to  get  to  see  his  family  in  Utica 
over  the  holidays. 

Morey  Marcus,  general  manager  for 
M-G-M  in  Japan,  will  be  heading  for  his 


New  York — Broadway  managers  aren’t 
complaining  a whit  over  the  first  week’s 
business  of  the  new  year. 

Their  enthusiasm  is  the  more  marked  in 
light  of  the  fact  that  10  of  the  11  first 
runs  were  holdovers.  True,  there  were 
plenty  of  youngsters  still  around  town, 
who  hadn’t  yet  returned  to  school  from 
their  holidays  and  not  a few  straggling 
tourists  who  stuck  it  out  over  the  week- 
end, but,  by  and  large,  this  business  is  not 
credited  as  a particular  factor  at  the  de- 
luxers.  The  theatres  willing  to  attribute 
the  extra  pickup  to  the  vacation  trade 
were  the  two  roadshows. 

Most  of  the  huzzahs  came  from  the 
Music  Hall,  where  $111,000  was  rolled  up 
in  the  second  week  of  “The  Philadelphia 
Story.”  Runner-up  in  cash  turnover  and 
staying  power  was  the  Paramount,  with 
close  to  $80,000  for  the  second  stanza. 
The  Capitol,  with  “Comrade  X,”  and  the 
Strand,  with  “Santa  Fe  Trail,”  the  lat- 
ter winding  up  its  third  week,  hit  well 
above  average  takes. 

Newcomers  are  “Hudson’s  Bay”  at  the 
Roxy;  “Four  Mothers”  at  the  Strand,  and 
“Kitty  Foyle”  at  the  Rivoli. 


(Average  is  100) 

Astor— The  Great  Dictator  (UA),  13th  road- 
show wk 110 

Broadway — Fantasia  (Disney),  8th  roadshow 

wk 100 

Capitol — Comrade  X (M-G-M).  2nd  wk 130 

Criterion — Little  Nellie  Kelly  (M-G-M),  2nd  wk.  110 

Globe — Night  Train  (20th-Fox),  2nd  wk 115 

Paramount — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t), 

3rd  wk..  plus  stage  show  160 

Radio  Citv  Music  Hall — The  Philadelphia 

Story  (M-G-M),  2nd  wk.,  plus  stage  show...  165 

Rialto — Lone  Wolf  Keeps  a Date  (Col) 90 

Rivoli — Victory  (Para't),  2nd  wk 100 

Roxy — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox),  2nd  wk.,  plus 

stage  show  150 

Strand — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN),  3rd  wk., 

plus  stage  show  140 


Capital  First  Runs  Are 
Crammed  on  New  Year's 

Washington  — New  Year  celebrants 
heeded  traditional  siren  and  crammed  first 
run  shelters  right  through  midnight  show- 


headquarters  soon  . . . Ben  Cohen,  former 
Poli  manager  in  New  England  and  now  in 
charge  of  India  for  M-G-M,  has  gone  back 
to  his  territory  after  a vacation  in  Holly- 
wood, New  York  and  New  England  . . . 
Stanleigh  Friedman  was  in  Lindy’s  the 
other  day  with  his  family  for  lunch  and, 
as  is  his  custom  when  he  takes  the  boys 
along,  walked  out  with  a jar  of  pickles.  At 
other  times  it  might  be  herring,  but  it’s  al- 
ways something  to  take  home  when  the 
children  are  along  . . . Among  local  sales- 
men back  from  Miami  vacations  are  Joe 
Vergesslich,  Abe  Blumenstein,  Moe  Kurtz 
and  Irving  Rothenberg.  Gus  Solomon  of 
the  local  Warner  staff  is  back  from  Ari- 
zona where  he  spent  his  vacation  ...  Ed 
Hatrick  is  now  ensconced  in  the  penthouse 
at  the  Cromwell,  Miami  Beach  . . . Mort 
Spring  has  a reputation  for  being  one  of 
the  best  bowlers  among  the  film  crowd  . . . 
Louis  Frisch  has  gone  to  Miami  for  an  in- 
definite rest.  He’s  been  holding  his  own 
lately  for  which  many  are  thankful. 


ings,  as  four  top  releases  made  debuts.  Bad 
weather  setback  following  holiday,  was  off- 
set by  strong  weekend  take,  to  average  out 
excellent  grosses.  “Kitty  Foyle”  at  RKO 
Keith’s  in  top  spot,  with  “Flight  Com- 
mand” at  the  Capitol,  “Comrade  X,”  at 
the  Palace,  and  “Santa  Fe  Trail”  pressing 
for  the  honor.  “Tin  Pan  Alley,”  in  a 
changeover  to  the  Columbia  for  second 
week  showing,  doing  better  than  average, 
while  “Here  Comes  the  Navy”  at  the 
Metropolitan  making  excellent  showing  in 
comeback. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  7; 


(Average  is  100) 

Capitol — Flight  Command  (M-G-M),  plus 

stage  show  150 

Columbia — Tin  Pail  Alley  (20th-Fox),  move- 

over  from  Palace  for  2nd  wk 120 

Earle — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN),  plus  stage 

show  and  Roxyettes  125 

RKO  Keith’s — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO)  200 

Metropolitan — Here  Comes  the  Navy  (WB), 

reissue  100 

Palace — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  140 


'Santa  Fe'  Big  in  P hilly 
As  Theatre  Takes  Soar 

Philadelphia — Post-holiday  good  spirits 
sent  the  boxoffice  soaring  at  several 
downtown  houses.  “Santa  Fe  Trail,”  at 
the  Fox,  led  the  parade  with  a spectacu- 
lar $26,500;  close  behind  came  the  Earle, 
playing  “Escape  to  Glory,”  but  bolstered 
particularly  by  a stage  show  including 
Humphrey  Bogart,  Mayo  Methot,  Harriet 
Hilliard  and  Ozzie  Nelson’s  orchestra. 
“Thief  of  Bagdad”  was  petering  out  in  its 
third  week  at  the  Aldine.  but  “North  West 
Mounted  Police”  finished  strong  in  its 
third  stanza  at  the  Stanley. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  10; 

(Average  is  100) 

Aldine — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA)  90 

Boyd — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO)  140 

Second  week,  with  a third  good  one  in  prospect. 
Earle — Escape  to  Glory  (Col),  plus  stage  show.  145 

Fox — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN)  175 

Karlton — Second  Chorus  (Para’t)  115 

Keith’s — Four  Mothers  (WB)  80 

Stanley — North  West  Mounted  Police  (Para’t). 120 
Stanton — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox)  150 


Harry  Buxbaum  jr.  has  joined  the 
M-G-M  exchange  in  Detroit  as  a junior 
salesman.  Jackie  Buxbaum  recently  be- 
came engaged  to  Charles  Moses’  step 
daughter,  Betty  Nordenhold  . . . Arthur 
Greenblatt  did  a swell  job  as  m.  c.  at 
the  Bookers'  Club  induction  of  officers  the 
other  evening  . . . Harry  M.  Goetz  is  on 
the  coast  in  the  interest  of  “The  American 
Way”  for  RKO  . . . George  J.  Schaefer  is 
expected  in  Hollywood  January  15  and 
plans  to  stay  for  some  time.  Barret  Mc- 
Cormick is  also  planning  his  regular  RKO 
studios  visit  within  the  very  near  future 
. . . Having  visited  M-G-M  exchanges  in 
W ashington  and  Cincinnati,  H.  M.  Richey 
is  due  in  St.  Louis,  Monday,  for  a two-day 
stay,  and  from  there  will  go  to  Des  Moines, 
due  there  January  15-16;  Omaha,  17-18, 
Denver,  19-20;  Salt  Lake  City.  21-22,  and 
then  Los  Angeles.  However,  he  may  be 
called  to  the  coast  sooner  than  his  sched- 
ule calls  for  by  Bill  Rodgers,  now  there. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


26-C 


Must  ''Sell"  Industry, 
Balaban  Tells  Ampa 

(Continued  from  page  23) 

Unfortunately,  the  public  is  not  concerned 
with  their  authenticity.” 

In  addition  to  being  “super  salesmen” 
of  goodwill,  publicists  have  still  another 
task  in  bringing  about  a "harmonious  re- 
lationship among  the  various  branches  of 
production,  distribution  and  exhibition,” 
Balaban  asserted.  In  this  connection  he  is 
of  the  belief  advertising,  as  now  controlled 
from  New  York,  will  be  “somewhat  de- 
centralized.” 

“It  may  be  necessary,”  he  said,  “to  pro- 
perly synchronize  your  campaigns  with 
release  dates.  There  are  also  advantages 
to  be  gained  from  this — such  as  more  free- 
dom of  thought  on  the  part  of  local  ad- 
vertising representatives  who  are  right  on 
the  scene,  and  if  they  are  of  proper  cali- 
bre, can  render  real  service.” 

Although  Balaban  said  he  was  “against 
changing  the  old  method  of  selling,”  he 
pledged  that  Paramount  “will  put  forth 
every  effort  to  make  this  new  method  work. 
We  intend  to  tackle  this  job  conclusively 
and  without  regard  to  the  fact  that  there 
is  such  a thing  as  the  escape  clause  in  the 
consent  decree.” 


Still  Finds  Romance 
In  the  Business 

New  York — Few  persons  in  or  out  of  the 
industry  will  challenge  Barney  Balaban's 
authority  to  speak  on  the  evolution  of  the 
picture  theatre. 

Therefore,  when  he  observes  there  is  ro- 
mance in  the  business,  he  undoubtedly 
knows  whereof  he  speaks.  And  to  sub- 
stantiate his  observation  he  offers  the  fact 
that  the  first  week’s  receipts  at  his  Chi- 
cago Theatre  in  1908  were  $88,  while  the 
second  week’s  receipts  at  the  Paramount 
on  Broadway  for  “Love  Thy  Neighbor” 
were  $80,000. 

The  Paramount  president  was  speaking 
before  the  company’s  Pep  Club.  He  was 
introduced  by  Claude  F.  Lee,  who  pre- 
sided. Balaban  declared  that  while  the 
industry  is  the  third  largest  in  the  coun- 
try, it  is  “first  in  public  interest.”  How 
his  family  has  sought  over  the  years  to 
capitalize  on  this  interest  formed  the  basis 
of  his  talk.  Reduced  to  its  fundamentals, 
the  process  has  been  “improvement  and 
progress,”  he  said. 

Four  Transfers  Follow 
Weshner's  Resignation 

Philadelphia  — With  resignation  of 
David  E.  Weshner  to  join  UA  and  ap- 
pointment of  Maurice  K.  Gable  to  suc- 
ceed him  as  a Warner  theatre  district 
manager,  other  changes  follow: 

Harry  Tarrente,  former  manager  of  the 
Aldine,  takes  Gable’s  former  post  at  the 
Boyd. 

George  Balkin.  formerly  an  assistant 
manager,  takes  the  Aldine. 

Harold  Seidenberg,  manager  of  the  Fox, 
takes  the  Earle. 

Bill  Israel,  manager  of  the  Earle, 
switches  to  the  Fox. 


O'Shea , Bowen,  Pielow 
Guests  at  Induction 

New  York— E.  K.  “Ted”  O'Shea,  Jack 
Bowen  and  Ralph  Pielow,  M-G-M  sales 
executives  recently  promoted  to  division 
manager,  district  head  and  New  York 
branch  manager,  respectively,  were  special 
guests  of  honor  at  the  induction  of  newly 
elected  officers  of  the  M.  P.  Bookers  Club 
Monday  night  at  the  Club  Loyale.  Pielow 
came  down  from  Albany  to  be  on  hand 
for  the  occasion  although  he  officially 
does  not  take  over  his  new  duties  until 
January  14. 

On  January  13  at  the  DeWitt  Clinton 
Hotel  in  Albany,  Pielow  will  be  tendered  a 
testimonial  dinner  by  his  friends.  On  the 
committee  are  Clayton  Eastman,  chair- 
man; Arthur  Newman,  J.  Myer  and  Louis 
W.  Schine,  Moe  Silver  and  Charles 
Smakwitz,  Si  Fabian  and  Lou  Golding, 
William  Smalley,  Mike  Kallett,  Joe  Miller, 
Nate  Sodikman,  Jere  Spandau,  Paul 
Krumenacker,  Herman  Ripps  and  Moe 
Grassgreen. 

Ripps,  former  local  salesman  for  M-G-M 
handling  upstate,  Long  Island  and  a few 
New  Jersey  towns,  has  been  promoted  to 
Albany  manager  succeeding  Pielow.  Bob 
Bernstein,  for  the  past  two  years  sales- 
man in  Detroit,  has  already  taken  over 
Ripps’  former  territory  here. 

Elections  of  bookers  recently  saw  Har- 
old Klein  of  the  Cocalis  circuit  continued 
for  another  year  as  president  and  Leon 
Greenfield  of  the  Boro  Hall,  Brooklyn,  as 
vice-president. 


Paul  Laube  Winner 
Of  Skouras  Drive 

New  York — Paul  Laube,  manager  of  the 
Manhassett,  Manhassett,  L.  I.,  has  been 
declared  the  winner  in  the  latest  Skouras 
circuit  drive  which  ended  December  14 
after  15  weeks.  Cash  awards  were  dis- 
tributed to  a long  list  of  winning  managers 
at  a special  meeting  early  in  the  week  at 
the  Skouras  home  office. 

Second  was  Fred  Weiber,  manager  of  the 
Tivoli,  Jersey  City,  with  the  other  five 
winners  as  follows,  in  their  respective  or- 
der; Tom  Bums,  grandson  of  the  great 
heavyweight  champion,  Monticello,  Jersey 
City;  Emanuel  Sussman,  brother  of  Wil- 
liam of  20th-Fox,  Crescent,  Astoria;  A1 
Unger,  Capitol,  Jersey  City;  Morris  Hat- 
off,  Brook,  Bound  Brook,  and  Burt  Hoff- 
man, Fulton,  Jersey  City.  A special  award 
was  given  Harry  Fuchs  of  the  Fox,  Hacken- 
sack, N.  J. 

George  Skouras  has  always  made  it  a 
point  to  give  special  awards  for  the  best 
holiday  lobby.  This  year  the  religious 
angle  was  stressed  and  the  following  were 
awarded  prizes:  Ken  Henry,  Capitol,  Port 
Chester;  Dick  Carnegie,  Roosevelt,  Flush- 
ing; Fred  Lichtman,  Lafayette,  Suffem; 
Sam  Norman,  Grand,  Astoria;  J.  San- 
teiamo,  Strand,  Jersey  City,  and  Joe 
Ghighlionie,  Corona,  Corona,  in  addition 
to  16  others. 

Four  other  awards  were  made  for  best 
results  during  individual  manager’s  week. 
They  are  Benny  Friedman,  Ward,  Bronx; 
Norman  Gluck,  Teaneck,  Teaneck;  Eman- 
uel Sussman,  Crescent,  Astoria,  and  Bob 
Wernicke,  Granada,  Corona. 


"Competitive  Jolt" 
Due  From  Television 

(Continued  from  page  23) 

for  whatever  it’s  worth,  that  the  black 
and  white  images  were  like  ash  remains  as 
contrasted  to  the  flaming  red  fire  that 
left  them.  Now,  that’s  not  a remark  to 
covet  admittance  to  the  Smithsonian  In- 
stitute, but  it  is  this  observer’s  studied 
opinion  that  perhaps  nothing  the  film  in- 
dustry has  in  use  today  can  match  the 
potentialities,  competitive-wise  or  enter- 
tainment-wise, color  television  offers  once 
it  is  harnessed  for  mass  consumption. 

The  CBS  system,  as  demonstrated,  is  un- 
equivocally declared  to  be  capable  of  trans- 
mitting every  natural  color  the  naked  eye 
can  see.  Whether  this  means  New  York- 
ers could  see  the  Tournament  of  Roses  in 
Pasadena  on  their  television  sets — meaning 
is  distance  a factor  in  transmission? — is 
something  CBS  is  cautious  on.  But  they 
do  state  there  that  weakness  of  light  sig- 
nals as  applied  to  transmitting  images  over 
distances  is  of  much  less  concern  in  color 
television  than  in  black  and  white  because 
of  the  “definition”  color  affords.  Also,  it 
is  said  that,  despite  differences  in  current 
of  power  supply  lines  between  the  point 
of  pickup  and  the  point  of  reproduction,  a 
method  of  synchronizing  the  color  disk  in 
the  receiver  with  the  color  disk  at  the  point 
of  origin  overcomes  this. 

Home  Experiments  Soon 

Among  the  objects  shown  in  the  demon- 
stration, especially  to  illustrate  that  colors 
do  not  “break  up”  if  they  are  moving,  were 
a map  which  was  rapidly  spun  around  in 
both  directions,  colored  liquids  poured  from 
tumbler  to  bowl,  loose  confetti  and  other 
items. 

This  reporter  asked  a CBS  engineer 
what  he  expected  the  next  step  in  the  de- 
velopment might  be.  He  was  also  asked 
if  it  is  possible  to  blow  the  images  up  to 
something  approaching  theatre  screen  size. 
This  is  his  answer: 

“We  expect  to  put  it  on  for  home  use, 
purely  in  experiment  form,  in  a few 
months.  From  then  on  it’s  the  television 
industry’s  baby;  those  who  make  the  sets, 
and  so  forth.  It  is  easier  to  blow  up  to 
screen  size  than  for  reproduction  on  home- 
type  sets.” 

Moskowitz  Announces 
Managerial  Changes 

New  York — Charles  C.  Moskowitz  of 
Loew’s  has  effected  the  following  promo- 
tions and  transfers  in  the  metropolitan 
circuit  managerial  personnel: 

Paul  Murphy,  assistant  manager  of  the 
State,  is  now  manager  of  the  Ziegfeld,  re- 
placing Gil  Marbe,  now  managing  the 
new  American.  S.  Schwartz,  assistant  at 
the  83rd  Street,  replaces  Murphy  at  the 
State. 

Kenneth  Towers,  chief  of  service  at  the 
Mayfair,  becomes  assistant  at  the  Apollo. 
Robert  Spodlick,  chief  of  service  at  the 
Sheridan,  is  now  assistant  at  the  Triboro. 
Nat  Slater,  assistant  at  the  Mt.  Vernon, 
transfers  to  the  83rd  Street,  while  Edwin 
Lucey,  chief  usher  at  the  83rd  Street,  be- 
comes assistant  at  the  Mt.  Vernon. 


26-D 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


Dramatic  Films  Lead 
First-Quarter  Lists 


(,  ■ ■=^ 

Details  Shortly  on 
Tribute  to  Capra 

Definite  date  and  locale  for  a tribute  to 
Frank  Capra,  honoring  his  20th  anniver- 
sary in  motion  pictures,  will  be  an- 
nounced shortly  by  a committee  repre- 
senting many  industry  organizations,  ap- 
pointed to  handle  the  affair. 

Representatives  include:  Screen  Direc- 
tors Guild — Ernst  Lubitsch,  George  Mar- 
shall, Garson  Kanin,  J.  P.  Macgowan; 
Screen  Actors  Guild — Edward  Arnold, 
Kenneth  Thomson;  Screen  Writers  Guild 
— Sheridan  Gibney,  Ralph  Block,  Dore 
Schary;  Artists  Managers  Guild — Bert 
Allenberg,  Jules  Stein;  Academy  of  Mo- 
tion Picture  Arts  and  Sciences — Walter 
Wanger,  Donald  Gledhill;  Producers 
Association — Y.  Frank  Freeman,  Fred  W. 
Beetson.  Publicity — Bill  Hebert. 

V*  — . J) 

" Miss  Bishop " Leads  Off 
Out-of-Hollywood  Bows 

The  next  out-of-Hollywood  premiere  on 
schedule  is  the  debut  of  Richard  A.  Row- 
land’s United  Artists  production,  “Cheers 
for  Miss  Bishop,”  in  Lincoln,  Neb.,  Janu- 
ary 13.  In  addition  to  Martha  Scott,  Wil- 
liam Gargan,  Sterling  Holloway  and  other 
cast  members  set  to  make  appearances. 
Director  Tay  Garnett  also  will  attend.  He 
is  scheduled  to  address  the  student  body 
of  the  University  of  Nebraska  on  the  mak- 
ing of  motion  pictures.  The  midwestern 
city  is  the  locale  of  much  of  the  action 
contained  in  the  film. 

This  event  will  be  followed  January  21 
by  the  world  premiere  of  Paramount’s 
“Virginia”  at  the  Paramount  in  New  York. 
Attending  from  Hollywood  will  be  Stirling 
Hayden  and  Carolyn  Lee,  members  of  the 
cast,  while  studio  attaches  have  an- 
nounced Gov.  James  H.  Price  of  Virginia 
has  accepted  an  invitation  to  be  guest  of 
honor  at  the  event.  He  will  be  accom- 
panied by  other  officials  of  the  state. 

Walt  Disney  has  secured  the  Carthay 
Circle  as  the  location  for  the  Pacific  Coast 
premiere  of  “Fantasia,”  which  will  open  a 
two-a-day  run  in  the  house  January  23. 
Specially-devised  Fantasound  equipment 
will  be  installed  for  the  booking. 

World  premiere  of  Universal’s  “Back 
Street,”  co-starring  Charles  Boyer  and 
Margaret  Sullavan,  has  been  set  for  Feb- 
ruary 4 in  Miami,  Fla.  Newspaper  critics 
from  key  cities  will  be  brought  there  by 
plane  and  train.  Producer  Bruce  Man- 
ning and  leading  members  of  the  cast  will 
head  the  contingent  of  attending  Holly- 
wood celebrities. 


Independent  Index 
Swinging  Upward 

The  production  index  among  indepen- 
dent units  currently  is  taking  an  upward 
swing,  with  indications  the  increased 
tempo  will  continue  for  the  next  several 
weeks,  at  least. 

Sigmund  Neufeld  has  announced  he  will 
produce  four  westerns  during  the  month 
for  Producers  Releasing  Corp.  They  will  in- 
clude “The  Lone  Rider  Crosses  the  Rio,” 
with  George  Houston;  two  “Billy  the  Kid” 
sagebrushers,  and  Tim  McCoy  in  “Outlaws 
of  the  Rio  Grande.”  In  February,  Neufeld 
will  roll  “Alimony  Jail,”  a feature  comedy. 

Harry  Sherman  has  set  a January  20 
starting  date  on  “The  Sheik  of  Buffalo 
Butte,”  next  in  his  Hopalong  Cassidy  wes- 
tern series  for  Paramount  release. 

Larry  Darmour  has  gunned  an  untitled 
“Ellery  Queen”  detective  film,  starring 
Ralph  Bellamy,  for  release  through  Co- 
lumbia. At  Universal,  and  for  release  by 
that  company,  Lawrence  Fox  has  signaled 
a start  on  “The  Man  Who  Lost  Himself,” 
co-starring  Brian  Aherne  and  Kay  Francis. 

Incorporation  of  two  new  independent 
units  has  been  announced.  John  Krueger 
will  release  under  the  Hal  Roach  banner 
through  United  Artists,  his  first  vehicle 
tentatively  titled  “Washington  Correspon- 
dent.” Sam  Coslow,  Matty  Kemp  and 
Harry  E.  Sokolov  have  filed  articles  of  in- 
corporation in  Sacramento  for  Cameo  Pic- 
tures. No  production  plans  or  details  of 
release  have  been  announced  as  yet.  Coslow 
withdrew  recently  from  Voco  Productions. 

Shirley  Temple's  Metro 
Contract  Is  Sealed 

After  months  of  negotiation,  Shirley 
Temple’s  acting  contract  with  M-G-M  has 
been  set.  The  juvenile  star  has  signed  a 
one-year  ticket,  effective  February  15,  and 
is  tentatively  set  to  co-star  with  Mickey 
Rooney  in  “Babes  on  Broadway”  as  her 
first  assignment.  Her  mother,  Mrs.  George 
Temple,  has  been  signed  to  a separate 
contract  calling  for  her  services  as  Shir- 
ley’s tutor  and  coach. 


Straight  dramatic  offerings  hold  the 
lead  as  to  the  type  of  film  fare  to  be 
turned  out  by  Hollywood  studios  during 
the  first  quarter  of  1941,  16  pictures  in  this 
category  already  having  been  announced 
for  production.  Closely  following  are 
comedies  and  the  inevitable  sagebrushers, 
with  eight  and  seven  titles,  respectively, 
now  on  the  call  sheets.  Additionally,  at 
least  five  musicals  are  being  planned,  while 
widespread  interest  in  the  war  and  na- 
tional defense  has  caused  four  films  treat- 
ing of  these  topics  to  be  announced. 

Dramas 

Dramas  include  Warner’s  "Woman  From 
Singapore,”  “Strange  Alibi”  and  “Danger 
Zone;”  Paramount’s  “American  Vaga- 
bond,” “College  Mystery”  and  “Hold  Back 
the  Dawn;”  Metro’s  “A  Woman’s  Face,” 
"Dr.  Jekyll  and  Mr.  Hyde”  and  “Blossoms 
in  the  Dust;”  “Blood  and  Sand”  from  20th 
Century-Fox;  “Before  the  Fact”  and  “The 
Devil  and  Daniel  Webster”  from  RKO 
Radio;  Republic’s  "Mr.  District  Attorney,” 
“The  Great  Train  Robbery”  and  “The  Lady 
From  New  Orleans,”  and  Columbia’s 
"Senate  Page  Boys.” 

Comedies 

Among  the  comedies  are  Paramount’s 
“Kiss  the  Boys  Goodbye”  and  “Skylark;” 
Universal’s  “Model  Wife”  and  “Almost  an 
Angel;”  Metro’s  "Mr.  Co-Ed;”  RKO 
Radio’s  “My  Life  With  Caroline;”  Re- 
public’s “Sis  Hopkins,”  and  Columbia’s  “A 
Girl’s  Best  Friend  Is  Wall  Street.” 

Westerns 

Westerns  will  include  "Bad  Men  of  Mis- 
souri,” from  Warner;  “The  Sheik  of  Buf- 
falo Butte,”  from  Harry  Sherman  for 
Paramount;  “Pioneer  Woman,”  also  from 
Paramount;  20th  Century-Fox’s  “The  Cow- 
boy and  the  Blonde;”  RKO  Radio’s 
“Range  Raiders;”  Republic’s  “Call  of  the 
Canyon,”  and  Columbia’s  “Texas.” 

Musicals 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  will  turn  out  two 
musicals,  “Miami”  and  “The  Great  Ameri- 
can Broadcast.”  RKO  Radio  lists  “Sunny,” 
Alexander  Korda  will  make  “New  Wine” 
for  United  Artists,  and  Columbia  is  pre- 
paring “Betty  Co-Ed.” 

Martial 

War  and  national  defense  films  include 
“Sergeant  York,”  to  be  made  by  Warner; 
Argosy’s  “The  Eagle  Squadron,”  which  will 
be  released  through  United  Artists  by  Wal- 
ter Wanger;  Republic’s  “You'll  Never  Get 
Rich,”  and  20th  Century-Fox’s  “The  Eagle 
Flies  Again.” 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


27 


Resentment  Mounts  on 
Hiked  Film  Seal  Costs 


Considerable  smoldering  resentment — 
which  may  at  any  moment  flare  into  a 
united  movement  in  protest — is  being  felt 
by  Hollywood’s  independent  producers  as 
a result  of  the  little-publicized  manifesto 
from  the  Hays  office  declaring  that,  ef- 
fective January  1,  the  production  code  ad- 
ministration has  raised  the  service  fees 
on  feature  pictures  with  a negative  cost 
of  $100,000  or  less  from  the  previous  $50 
or  $25,  to  a minimum  of  $100  each.  The 
sum  involved  constitutes  the  charge  for 
reviewing,  approving  and  attaching  a pro- 
duction code  seal  to  each  film. 

For  obvious  protectional  reasons,  those 
independents  who  have  voiced  their  dis- 
satisfaction with  the  boost  in  cost  and 
their  opinion  regarding  its  unfairness  re- 
fuse to  be  quoted  on  their  reactions.  One 
such  individual,  however,  told  Boxoffice 
that  he  and  many  of  his  contemporaries 
are  up  in  arms  over  the  action  and  are 
discussing  ways  and  means  of  uniting  to 
protest  the  increase.  “It’s  too  much  for  us 
to  pay,”  this  producer  asserted,  “for  the 
services  which  the  producers  association 
render.”  He  contended  also  that  there 
should  be  a lower  service  charge  on  pic- 
tures with  negative  costs  of  $50,000  or  less, 
instead  of  attaching  the  blanket  $100 
minimum  to  all  features  costing  $100,000 
or  less. 

May  Resort  to  Legal  Action 

Another  who  was  most  outspoken  in  his 
condemnation  of  what  he  termed  “the 
Hays  office’s  arbitrary  procedure”  in- 
formed Boxoffice  that  he  is  consulting 
his  attorneys  to  ascertain  whether  or  not 
there  is  some  legal  action  to  which  he 
might  resort  to  protect  himself  against 
what  he  termed  a “ruinous  increase.”  This 
producer  pointed  out  the  production  code 
seal  is  a necessity  on  his  features  so  that 
they  may  be  booked  into  theatres  which 
are  in  any  way  affiliated  with  the  pro- 
ducers association;  and  which,  because  of 
such  affiliation,  have  to  insist  upon  the 
purity  seal  on  all  product  to  reach  their 
screens. 

He  stressed  the  fact  that  the  300  per  cent 
increase  affects  that  class  of  motion  pic- 
ture-makers who,  under  current  conditions, 
can  least  afford  it,  and  asserted  the 
amount  of  increased  revenue  accruing  to 
the  association  as  a result  could  not  pos- 
sibly total  enough  to  be  much  of  a factor 
in  that  organization’s  financial  operations. 
This  producer  pointed  out,  further,  that  a 
more  sizeable  sum  would  result  if  the  code 
administration  had  seen  fit  to  attach  even 
a small  increase  to  the  service  charge  on 
larger-budget  films. 

"Dependent  on  Fees" 

The  letter  informing  producers  of  the 
change  in  tariff,  and  signed  by  Joseph  I. 
Breen,  production  code  administrator,  ex- 
plained that  the  code  administration  is 
“dependent  entirely  upon  fees  received  for 
servicing  pictures  for  producers  and  dis- 
tributors,” and  that  since  its  inception  in 
1934  the  organization’s  income  from  these 
services  “has  been  insufficient  to  cover  the 


actual  cost  of  operation,”  which  deficits, 
Breen  declared,  have  been  paid  by  the 
code’s  signatories. 

“An  exhaustive  analysis,”  Breen  con- 
tinued, disclosed  that  as  concerns  pictures 
with  negative  costs  of  less  than  $100,000, 
the  previously  existing  fees  “have  been 
entirely  out  of  line  with  the  work  involved 
and  the  service  rendered.”  He  asserted  “it 
is  imperatively  necessary  to  maintain  the 
production  code  administration  on  a self- 
sustaining  basis”  and  explained  the  boost 
in  fees  had  been  unanimously  voted  by  the 
code’s  signatories.  The  letter  further 
pointed  out  that  the  change  in  fees  on 
lower-budgeted  features  was  the  only  one 
made. 

The  new  table  of  fees  is  as  follows: 

1.  Class  “A” — Feature  pictures  with 

negative  costs  in  excess  of 
$200,000  $525.00 

2.  Class  “B” — Feature  pictures  with 

negative  costs  from  $100,000  to  $200,- 
000  inclusive  $350.00 

3.  Class  “C” — Feature  pictures  with 

negative  costs  of  $100,000  or 
less  $100.00 

4.  Feature-length  pictures  produced 
completely  outside  the  United  States 
— service  charge  one-half  of  the  regu- 
lar fee  for  Classes  “A,”  “B,”  and  “C.” 

5.  Reissues  — all  feature-length  pic- 


Recognition  Transferred — 

Bette  Davis  (right),  who  won  the 
trophy  in  1939,  presents  Redbook 
Magazine’s  1940  award,  a silver  cup, 
to  Producer  Sol  Lesser  and  Star 
Martha  Scott  for  “Our  Town,”  which 
Lesser  made  for  United  Artists  and 
which  Redbook  proclaimed  “the  most 
distinguished  contribution  to  the  art 
of  the  motion  picture”  during  the 
year.  Director  Sam  Wood  and  other 
members  of  the  cast  share  in  the 
laurels.  Ceremonies  were  broadcast  na- 
tionally over  the  Columbia  Broadcast- 
ing System  and,  following  the  air  pre- 
sentation, most  of  Hollywood’s  notables 
attended  a reception.  The  cup  is  in- 
scribed “To  the  People  of  ‘Our  Town’.” 


tures  $25.00 

6.  Short  subjects  (any  film  of  less  than 
3,000  feet)  $25.00 

An  unofficial  estimate  discloses  that 
from  95  to  125  or  more  films  to  be  made 
during  the  season  will  be  affected,  since 
they  will  be  shot  on  budgets  of  $100,000  or 
less.  Perhaps  hardest  hit  will  be  Pro- 
ducers Releasing  Corp.,  which  has  an- 
nounced a lineup  of  50  features — none  of 
which  will  be  made  on  a budget  of  more 
than  $100,000.  With  few  exceptions, 
Monogram’s  product  is  also  turned  out  at 
costs  considerably  under  the  $100,000 
minimum.  Should  it  re-enter  production, 
Million  Dollar  Productions,  making  all- 
Negro  features  for  state-right  release, 
would  also  be  subject  to  the  code-seal 
boost,  as  would  Forum  Films,  Harry  S. 
Webb  and  other  units  currently  dormant. 

Even  the  majors  who  voted  the  increase 
wil  not  escape.  RKO  Radio  lists  five  Tim 
Holt  westerns  to  be  made  on  budgets  just 
under  the  $100,000  borderline.  Universal 
plans  seven  Johnny  Mack  Brown  sage- 
brushers  and  seven  Richard  Arlen-Andy 
Devine  actioners,  none  of  which  will  cost 
more  than  $100,000.  Republic’s  program 
includes  24  westerns  to  be  produced  at  an 
average  of  $75,000  each.  Listed  under  Class 
“B”  in  the  revised  table,  and  therefore  not 
subject  to  the  increase,  are  such  inde- 
pendents as  Larry  Darmour,  Harry  Sher- 
man, Stephens-Lang,  Pyramid  Pictures  and 
others. 

''Monopoly''  Charge 
Reply  Up  lo  Hays 

From  Will  Hays,  in  New  York,  must 
come  any  comment  upon  an  answer  to  the 
$1,500,000  damage  suit  filed  against  the 
Motion  Picture  Producers  and  Distributors 
of  America  in  U.  S.  district  court  here  by 
Criterion  Pictures,  local  attaches  of  the 
Hays  office  have  declared.  The  suit 
charges  the  MPPDA,  Hays,  Joseph  I.  Breen 
and  all  members  of  the  organization  with 
constituting  a monopoly  in  restraint  of 
trade  and  with  violating  terms  of  the  Sher- 
man and  Clayton  anti-trust  laws. 

Attorney  Leo  Shapiro,  representing  Cri- 
terion and  its  president,  Phil  Goldstone, 
bases  the  complaint  primarily  on  the  con- 
tention that  the  MPPDA ’s  production  code 
administration  refused  in  1937  to  grant  a 
seal  of  approval  to  Criterion’s  “Damaged 
Goods,”  film  dealing  with  syphilis,  but  that 
subsequently  the  code  administration  gave 
a seal  to  Warner’s  “Dr.  Ehrlich’s  Magic 
Bullet,”  which  dealt  with  the  same  disease. 
The  plaintiff  charges  that,  through  its 
purity  seal  administration,  the  MPPDA 
dominates  and  controls  almost  all  first- 
run  houses  and  excludes  all  independent 
producers  from  the  first-run  market.  It 
is  further  charged  that  Criterion  had  no 
voice  or  control  in  connection  with  the 
preparation  or  enforcement  of  the  pro- 
duction code,  but  that  despite  that,  it  was 
compelled  to  pay  a service  fee  for  each 
picture  produced  by  it  and  approved  by 
the  code  administrator. 

Defendants  are  accused  of  “wrongfully, 
unlawfully,  unfairly  and  unreasonably”  re- 
fusing to  give  “Damaged  Goods”  a purity 
seal,  as  a result  of  which  gross  receipts 
estimated  at  $500,000  were  lost.  Trebled 
damages  of  $1,500,000  are  asked  under  the 
Sherman  anti-trust  law  provisions. 


28 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


^UrO  CARRY  on  the  ideals  represent - 
:j|  ed  by  Irving  G.  Thalberg  is  the 
privilege  of  the  Academy  in  spon- 
soring this  award.  It  shall  be  given  each 
year  for  the  most  consistent  high  quality 
of  production  achievement  by  an  individ- 
ual producer,  based  on  pictures  he  has 
personally  produced  during  the  preceding 
year.  It  shall  be  in  the  form  of  a spe- 
cially designed  trophy  which  will,  each 
year,  become  the  permanent  possession 
of  the  producer  to  whom  it  is  awarded.” 

That  is  the  Academy  of  Motion  Picture 
Arts  and  Sciences’  own  description  of  the 
Irving  G.  Thalberg  Memorial  Award. 

When  Hollywood  starts  looking  around 
for  its  ‘‘man  of  the  year,”  the  producer 
who  is  to  be  the  recipient  of  the  singular 
honor  represented  by  the  Thalberg  Award, 
the  man  who  in  1940  performed  the  great- 
est service  for  the  advancement  of  the 
screen,  it  will  do  well  to  focus  its  atten- 
tion upon  an  independent — Walter  F. 
Wanger. 

Wanger  is  president  of  the  Academy 
and  the  fact  that  he  has  been  responsible 
for  bringing  the  organization  to  its  great- 
est service  and  efficiency  is  well  recog- 
nized. 

Certainly  few  Hollywood  producers  have 
devoted  as  much  time,  intelligence  and 
energy  to  the  cause  of  better  pictures  and 
a better  industry  as  has  Wanger.  The 
records  show  that  there  have  been  few 
years  when  at  least  one  Wanger  film  has 
not  been  among  the  ten  best.  In  1940, 
for  example,  when  he  made  only  “Foreign 
Correspondent”  and  “The  Long  Voyage 
Home,”  both  were  listed  among  the  ten 
best  in  14  separate  polls — including  that 
of  the  impartial  National  Board  of  Re- 
view. In  1939  “Stagecoach,”  and  those  who 
made  it,  collected  many  honors — John 
Ford  won  the  New  York  Critics  Circle 
award  for  its  direction;  Thomas  Mitchell, 
in  the  lead,  grabbed  the  Academy  kudos, 
as  did  those  who  wrote  the  musical  score. 

But  Wanger  didn’t  stop  there.  Confi- 
dent that  “Foreign  Correspondent”  and 
“The  Long  Voyage  Home”  were  good  pic- 
tures, he  went  on  the  road,  at  his  own 
expense,  to  aid  in  the  exploitation.  And 
the  trip  was  only  secondarily  on  his  own 
behalf — primarily  it  was  to  bring  about 
a better  understanding  between  producer, 
distributor  and  showman.  To  that  end  he 
traveled  32,000  miles  in  three  months;  ap- 
peared on  12  radio  broadcasts,  not  only 
to  plug  his  pictures  but  to  boost  and  ad- 
vance the  industry;  visited  nine  Variety 
Clubs  to  ask  theatremen  their  problems 
and  acquaint  them  with  production  ob- 
stacles in  Hollywood;  addressed  advertis- 
ing and  women’s  clubs,  the  National  Li- 
brary Ass’n  convention  in  San  Francisco, 
and  spoke  on  the  Town  Meeting  of  the 
Air  broadcast  as  well  as  the  University  of 
Chicago’s  Round  Table  of  the  Air. 

On  that  tour  he  gave  editors  ideas  for 
patriotic  editoi’ials  and  wrote  many  him- 
self. He  has  kept  in  constant  touch  with 
hundreds  of  international  developments  of 
interest  to  the  industry. 

His  extra-curricular  record  in  Hollywood 
is  likewise  enviable.  He  has  been  a leader 
in  every  charitable  enterprise  and  a tire- 
less worker  for  Americanization.  Probably 
no  Hollywood  film  executive  attended 
more  meetings,  interested  himself  in  more 
enterprises  or  worked  more  selflessly  on 


behalf  of  his  industry  than  Wanger. 

His  own  words  sum  up  Wanger ’s  atti- 
tude and  outlook  concisely  and  clearly: 

“We  must  view  our  business  in  the  light 
of  today,  not  yesterday.  We  must  clear 
away  cobwebs  of  indecision  and  careless- 
ness and  we  must  roll  up  our  sleeves  and 
get  back  to  work.  A good  portion  of  our 
national  audience  has  slipped  away.  We 
must  get  it  back  not  by  appealing  to  the 
same  audience  over  and  over  again  but 
by  making  pictures  that  appeal  to  new 
types  of  audiences.  We  must  think  and 
produce  in  terms  of  talent  and  enlighten- 
ment.” 

In  view  of  his  record — and  the  above 
only  briefly  touches  thereon — there  seems 
to  be  but  one  possible  barrier  between 
Wanger  and  the  richly-deserved  Oscar — 
his  own  modesty.  Being  president  of  the 
group  that  votes  the  Thalberg  Award,  and 
inasmuch  as  no  previous  president  has 
been  so  honored,  he  might  feel  embar- 
rassed at  accepting  the  accolade.  In  the 
event  such  a syllogistical  impasse  pre- 
sents itself,  it  is  incumbent  upon  other 
Academy  officials,  and  in  the  same  spirit 


If  the  preview  lineup  during  the  first 
week  of  the  new  year  may  be  considered 
criterion,  series  pictures  will  continue  to 
be  a decidedly  dominant  note  in  Holly- 
wood’s production  tune  during  1941.  Of 
six  features  shown  to  the  critical  fratern- 
ity, only  one — and  that  an  import  from 
England — was  not  of  the  chapter  film 
variety. 

Pair  rating  first  consideration  was 
Metro’s  “Maisie  Was  a Lady”  and  Fox’s 
“Romance  of  the  Rio  Grande.” 

Despite  the  title  of  the  first-named, 
Maisie — in  the  person  of  Ann  Sothern — re- 
mains the  lovable  hoiden  with  heart  of 
gold.  In  this  chapter  many  of  the  laughs 
which  highlighted  predecessors  in  the 
series  are  missing — probably  so  that  Betty 
Reinhardt  and  Mary  McCall  jr„  who 
scripted  from  an  original  by  Miss  Rein- 
hardt and  Myles  Connolly,  could  squeeze 
in  more  serious,  melodramatic  and,  in 
spots,  maudlin  moments.  But  J.  Walter 
Ruben’s  production,  direction  by  Edwin  L. 
Marin  and  other  technical  contributions 
are  at  the  same  high  level  which  char- 
acterized earlier  “Maisie”  adventures,  and 
how  audiences  will  take  to  it  depends  upon 
personal  entertainment  tastes. 

Customers  will  be  delighted  to  see  the 
very  marked  improvement  in  “Romance  of 
the  Rio  Grande,”  newest  in  the  Cisco  Kid’s 


of  fairness  which  controls  all  of  their 
deliberations,  to  completely  disregard  it. 

Deanna  Durbin  has  been  named  to  the 
advisory  board  of  the  Greek  War  Relief 
drive. 

— From  the  mouths  of  babes  . . . 


BALLYHOODLUMS  — Continuing  to 
manifest  their  urge  toward  a zoological 
touch  in  publicity  pipedreams,  which  the 
advent  of  George  Brown  as  department 
head  apparently  did  little  to  discourage, 
Paramount  praisers  hit  a new  high  in  a 
yarn  concerning  the  alleged  efforts  of  a 
producer  to  import  genuine  tse-tse  flies 
from  Africa  for  a safari  sequence  in  a 
current  picture.  The  release  declared  the 
Department  of  Agriculture  ruled  only  one 
of  the  germ-bearing  insects  could  be  im- 
ported at  a time.  The  choice  morsel  ends 
with  the  erudite  observation,  “the  flies 
spread  sleeping  sickness.”  As  do  such  re- 
leases . . . Henry  Rogers  is  the  only  free- 
lancer to  offer  a preview  service  to  the 
press.  Note  such  tidbits  as  “First  cutting 
of  ‘Tall,  Dark  and  Handsome’  reveals  Vir- 
ginia Gilmore  follows  up  promise  she  in- 
dicated in  title  role  of  ‘Jenny’  ” and 
“William  Gargan  in  ‘Cheers  for  Miss 
Bishop’  does  a repeat  of  his  top  perform- 
ance in  ‘They  Knew  What  They  Wanted.’  ” 
If  you’re  a Rogers  client  you’ve  got  to  be 
good  . . . With  characteristic  modesty 
Leo’s  welkin-ringers  take  a bow  for  the 
Italian  defeat  in  Africa  with  the  follow- 
ing: “When  Australian  troops  poured  into 
Bardia,  they  were  lustily  singing  ‘We’re 
Off  to  See  the  Wizard!’  hit  theme  song 
of  ‘The  Wizard  of  Oz.’  ” Too  bad  Producer 
Mervyn  LeRoy  wasn’t  present  to  lead  the 
singing. 


sagebrush  sagas.  It  reflects  forward  strides 
in  every  department — production  trappings 
by  Sol  Wurtzel,  direction  by  Herbert  I. 
Leeds  and  script  by  Harold  Buchman  and 
Samuel  G.  Engel,  from  Katherine  Fuller- 
ton Gerould’s  novel.  It  is  above  average 
fare  and  cannot  help  but  please  all  the 
customers. 

* * * 

Further  in  the  sagebrush  motif  was 
“Doomed  Caravan,”  newest  of  the  Hop- 
along  Cassidy  westerns  as  turned  out  for 
Paramount  by  Harry  Sherman.  It  con- 
tains all  the  ingredients  which  have  made 
Hoppy’s  adventures  top  outdoor  entertain- 
ment, is  packed  with  action,  thrills  and 
scenic  beauty  and  features  workmanlike  di- 
rection by  Lesley  Selander.  Screenplay  by 
Johnston  McCulley  and  J.  Benton  Cheney 
is  pointed  for  action  and  suspense  all  the 
way  and  the  feature  measures  up  in  every 
respect  to  the  best  Sherman  has  ever 
made. 

* * * 

Two  were  of  the  time-honored  cops  and 
robbers  theme.  Monogram’s  “You’re  Out 
of  Luck,”  latest  in  the  sleuthing  adven- 
tures of  that  perennial  juvenile,  Frankie 
Darro,  is  cut  from  the  same  pattern  as 
preceding  features,  with  only  minor 
(Continued  on  page  33) 


Sunshine,  Sagebrush  and  Sleuths 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


29 


Hollywood — 

— Pe  rsonnelities 


Percenteers 

BILL  DOZIER  has  resigned  as  head  of  the 
Berg-Allenberg  agency’s  literary  department,  ef- 
fective February  1.  He  will  be  replaced  by  Corn- 
well  Jackson,  chief  of  the  agency's  radio  de- 
partment. 

Story  Buys 


Barnstormers 

Paramount 

PRESTON  FOSTER  will  attend  President  Roose- 
velt’s Birthday  Ball  in  Washington,  D.  C„  Janu- 
ary 30. 

Blurbers 

Free  Lance 

DANIEL  VLLMAN  appointed  office  manager  of 
Terry*  DeLapp’s  publicity-exploitation  organiza- 
tion. 

Metro 

HOWARD  STRICKLING,  studio  publicity  head, 
has  returned  from  Baltimore,  accompanied  by 
Clark  Gable  and  Carole  Lombard.  Striekling  went 
east  with  the  actor,  who  underwent  a medical 
checkup  at  Johns  Hopkins  Hospital. 

HOWARD  HERTY  has  resigned  from  the  studio 
publicity  staff  to  open  his  own  exploitation  of- 
fices. 

ERNEST  VAN  PELT,  exploiteer  from  Salt  Lake 
territory,  has  returned  to  his  headquarters  after 
a week  of  conferences  at  the  studio. 

Paramount 

JOHN  DEL  VALLE  of  the  publicity  staff  will 
accompany  Susanna  Foster  on  her  forthcoming 
personal  appearance  tour  ahead  of  her  new 
starring  picture,  “The  Hard-Boiled  Canary.” 

RKO  Radio 

PERRY  LIEBER,  studio  publicity  director,  is 
vacationing  for  a week  in  San  Francisco.  BLLIS- 
TON  A.  VINSON,  his  aide,  is  sitting  in  for 
Lieber  during  the  latter’s  absence. 

Universal 

\ INTENT  MAHONEY  joins  publicity  staff  as 
a unit  man.  He  is  a former  newspaperman. 

Warner  Bros. 

MARTY  WEISER,  exploiteer,  returns  from  an 
eight-week,  3,000-mile  junket  through  the  ter- 
ritory. He  takes  the  road  again  in  two  weeks 
to  handle  out-of-town  campaigns  on  "Flight 
From  Destiny”  and  "High  Sierra.’.’ 

Briefies 

Metro 

JOHN  NESBITT  rolls  "More  Trifles  of  im- 
portance” as  his  newest  Passing  Parade  short, 
with  Basi  Wrangell  directing  from  a script  by 
Sam  Chain. 

Next  Pete  Smith  Speciaty  short  will  be  "Mem- 
ory Rhymes,”  to  be  filmed  from  a script  being 
prepared  by  E.  Maurice  Adler. 

Walter  Lantz 

Production  has  started  on  “Salt  Water  Daffy,” 
a patriotic  cartoon  short,  for  Universal  release. 

Clefters 

Metro 

FRANZ  WAXMAN  to  score  "Dr.  Jekvll  and 
Mr.  Hyde.” 

DAVID  SNELL  scoring  “Roosty.” 

Republic 

EDDIE  CHERKOSE  doing  music  and  lyrics  for 
“Prairie  Pioneers.” 

Loanouts 

Globe 

LARKY  CEBALLOS  borrowed  from  Universal  to 
stage  dance  sequences  for  “Pot  O’  Gold.” 

Metro 

INGRII)  BERGMAN  borrowed  from  David  O. 
Selznick  for  the  feminine  starring  role  opposite 
Spencer  Tracy  in  "Dr.  Jekyll  and  Mr.  Hyde.” 
It  will  lie  her  last  loanout,  since  Selznick  plans 
to  star  her  in  one  of  the  two  productions  he 
will  make  for  United  Artists  release. 

Warner  Bros. 

JANE  DARWELL  borrowed  from  20th  Century- 
Fox  for  the  top  character  role  in  “Thirty  Days 
Hath  September.” 


Meggers 

Columbia 

.1.  THEODORE  REED,  on  loan  from  Paramount, 
is  preparing  to  pilot  "Her  First  Beau,”  co- 
starring  Jane  Withers  and  Jackie  Cooper, 

Howard  Hughes 

HOWARD  HUGHES  has  resumed  direction  on 
"The  Outlaw”  after  spending  a week  recuperat- 
ing from  injuries  received  in  an  automobile  ac- 
cident. In  his  absence  the  directorial  reins 
were  handled  by  Soripter  Jules  Furthman  and 
Cameraman  Gregg  Toland. 

Metro 

GEORGE  SIDNEY  piloting  "Animal  Psychology," 
a John  Nesbitt  Passing  Parade  short. 

HAROLD  S.  BUCQUET  piloting  "Roosty,”  co- 
featuring Lionel  Barrymore  and  Edward  Arnold. 
Film  is  based  on  a play  by  Martin  Berkeley. 

Paramount 

GREGORY  RATOFF  signs  term  ticket  as  a 
producer-director.  His  first  will  be  "Tonight  Is 
Ours,”  starring  Loretta  Young. 

JOSEPH  SISTROM  named  associate  producer 
on  "The  Night  of  January  Hi,”  based  on  the 
play  by  Ayn  Rand. 

Options 

Howard  Hughes 

MIMI  AGUGLIA  draws  featured  role  in  "The 
Outlaw.”  She  is  a veteran  stage  player. 

Metro 

C.  AUBREY  SMITH  signed  for  a comedy  char- 
acter role  in  “Free  and  Easy.” 

DOROTHY  BABB,  14-year-old  dancer,  signs 
term  contract. 

CHILL  WILLS,  comedian,  held  for  another  term. 

Paramount 

BRIAN  DONLEVY  signs  new  two-picture  act- 
ing deal. 

PHILIP  TERRY,  featured  player,  draws  new 
term  pact. 

Republic 

JACK  MULHALL  given  a topline  in  “Captain 
Marvel,”  a serial. 

JERRY  COLONNA  given  a topline  in  "Sis  Hop- 
kins." next  Judy  Canova  starrer. 

RKO  Radio 

JACK  BRIGGS,  stage  player,  draws  term 
ticket. 

ROBERT  FRANCIS  SMITH  signs  acting  con- 
tract. He  is  from  the  New  York  stage. 

Harry  Sherman 

DERWIN  ABRAHAMS  given  term  contract  as 
a director.  He  has  just  completed  his  first 
piloting  assignment,  “Border  Vigilantes,”  for 
Paramount  release,  after  many  years  as  a prop 
man,  assistant  director  and  in  other  capacities. 

20th  Century-Fox 

LAMAR  TROTTI,  writer,  held  for  another  term. 
He  is  scripting  "Rise  and  Shine”  for  Producer 
Lou  Edelman. 

MILTON  BERLE  given  contract  extension.  He 
will  appear  in  two  pictures  during  the  coming 
season. 

ROBERT  CORNELL,  little  theatre  player,  draws 
term  ticket. 

LEON  SHAMROY,  cameraman,  held  for  an- 
other term. 

MARY  JOYCE  WALSH  joins  roster  of  stock 
players. 

Universal 

EVELYN  ANKERS,  British  actress,  given  term 
contract. 

CHARLES  LAUGHTON  signed  for  the  topline 
in  "Almost  an  Angel,”  to  be  directed  by  Henry 
Koster  and  rolling'  in  March.  Norman  Krasna  is 
scripting  the  Ladislaus  Fodor  original.  Joe  Pas- 
ternak is  the  producer. 

BRUCE  CABOT  signs  long-term  acting  ticket. 

Warner  Bros. 

I>E  WOLF  HOPPER  JR.,  featured  player,  given 
new  contract. 

RALPH  BELLAMY  signed  for  a topline  in 
"Affectionately  Yours.” 


Columbia 

“One  Way  Street,”  by  Morton  Thompson  and 
Melvyn  Wald.  The  Irving  Briskin  unit  will  pro- 
duce. 

Metro 

“Mrs.  Miniver,”  by  Jan  Struther.  Studio  op- 
tioned the  book  some  time  ago  and  has  assigned 
James  Hilton  and  Arthur  Wimperis  to  adapt  it 
to  the  screen  for  Producer  Sidney  Franklin. 

Paramount 

“Joan  of  Arkansas,”  by  David  Garth.  The 
hillbilly  story  will  be  produced  by  Sol  C.  Siegel 
from  a script  by  Boyce  DeGaw. 

20th  Century-Fox 

“Manhattan  Holiday,”  by  Polan  Banks. 

Scripters 

Columbia 

KAREN  DE  WOLF  to  “Blondie  Goes  to  the 
Dogs.” 

ROBERT  ANDREWS  to  “Betty  Co-Ed.”  Ozzie 
Nelson  and  his  orchestra,  Harriet  Hilliard  and 
Ruby  Keeler  will  have  the  toplines  in  the  Irving 
Briskin  production. 

Metro 

SIH  KILLER,  HAL  FIMBERG  and  RAY 
GOLDEN  to  “Step  This  Way,”  next  Marx  Bros, 
comedy,  to  be  produced  by  Louis  K.  Sidney. 

Paramount 

CHARLES  BRACKETT  and  BILLY  WILDER 

to  “Hold  Back  the  Dawn,”  from  the  Ketti  Frings 
novel. 

GEORGE  BECK  to  “Paramount  Parade.”  Sol 
C.  Siegel  will  produce. 

ROBERT  LIVELY  to  “College  Mystery”  for 
Producer  Sol  C.  Siegel. 

BOYCE  I)E  GAW  has  been  handed  a writing 
ticket,  joining  the  Sol  C.  Siegel  production  unit. 

Republic 

ISABEL  DAWN  to  an  untitled  original.  She 
has  completed  “Citadel  of  Crime.” 

OLIVE  COOPER  to  “The  Great  Train  Robbery.” 
Robert  North  will  produce. 

RKO  Radio 

IAN  MCCLELLAN  HUNTER  to  "Followed  by 
Indians,”  slated  as  a Leon  Errol  starrer. 

DAN  TOTHEROH  to  “The  Devil  and  Daniel 
Webster.” 

20th  Century-Fox 

SOL  and  BEN  BARZMAN  to  "The  Boy,  the 
Girl  and  the  Dog,”  for  Producer  Lou  Ostrow. 

JACK  ANDREWS  teamed  with  THOMAS  LEN- 
NON on  “We  Go  Fast,”  from  the  Doug  Welch 
original. 

ROBERT  ELLIS  and  HELEN  LOGAN  polish- 
ing “Stand  Up  and  Cheer”  for  Producer  Milton 
Sperling.  „ 

JOHN  TAINTOR  FOOTE  to  “The  Black  Swan” 
for  Producer  Lou  Edelman. 

Universal 

CHARLES  MARION  to  “Tenth  Avenue  Lochin- 
var,”  from  his  own  original.  It  will  star  Billy 
Halop  with  Ken  Goldsmith  producing. 

GEORGE  WAGGNER  to  “Flying  Cadets,”  from 
his  own  original. 

VICKI  BAUM  to  “Unfinished  Business.”  Greg- 
ory LaCava  will  produce  and  direct  the  Irene 
Dunne  starrer. 

Warner  Bros. 

JERRY  WALD  and  RICHARD  MACAULAY  to 

“Danger  Zone,”  a George  Raft  starrer,  from 
their  own  original. 

ROBERT  ROSSEN  to  “Carnival  in  Rio,”  mu- 
sical comedy  with  a South  American  background, 
to  feature  George  Raft,  Dennis  Morgan  and  Brenda 
Marshall.  William  Keighley  will  direct. 

MILTON  KRIMS  doing  added  scenes  for  “The 
Sea  Wolf.” 

Technically 

Frank  Lloyd 

MILTON  KRASNER  lensing  “The  Lady  From 
Cheyenne.”  Universal  will  release. 

Metro 

CLYDE  I)E  VINNA  is  lensing  “Roosty,”  with 
BILL  RYAN  named  assistant  director. 

STANLEY  ROGERS  set  as  unit  art  director  on 
“Get  a Horse.” 

SERGIO  ORTO  signed  to  stage  a dance  ar- 
rangement for  “Ziegfeld  Girl.” 


30 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


WALTER  STHOHM  named  assistant  director 
on  “Blossoms  in  the  Dust.” 

JACK  SMITH,  cameraman,  and  JOHN  WAT- 
ERS have  been  inspecting  possible  location  sites 
near  Sonora  lor  snow  scenes  in  “A  Woman’s 
Face.” 

JOHN  DETLIE  assigned  as  art  director  on 
“Lady  Be  Good.” 

JOSEPH  RUTTENBERG  lensing  crowd  se- 
quences for  “Andy  Hardy’s  Private  Secretary.” 

Paramount 

CHARLES  SCHOENBACM  lensing  "Caught  in 
the  Draft.” 

RAY  STONE  to  edit  “Skylark.” 

EDA  WARREN  to  edit  “One  Night  in  Lisbon.” 

CHARLES  LANG  to  photograph  “Skylark.” 

Picture  Corp.  of  America 

F.  PALL  SYLOS  named  art  director  on  “Power 
Dive,”  Richard  Arlen  starrer  for  Paramount  re- 
lease. 

L.  B.  MERMAN  signed  as  production  manager 
on  “Power  Dive”  to.  be  made  for  Paramount 
release. 


Universal 

HAROLD  MacARTHUR  named  art  director  on 
“Model  Wife.” 

VICTOR  MILNER  lensing  “The  Man  Who  Lost 
Himself.” 


Warner  Bros. 

LES  GUTHRIE  named  assistant  director  on 
“Thirty  Days  Hath  September.” 

HARTZELL  SPENCE  signed  as  technical  ad- 
visor on  “One  Foot  in  Heaven,”  biography  which 
he  wrote. 

CLARENCE  KOLSTER  to  edit  “Miss  Wheel- 
wright Discovers  America.” 

RUSS  SAUNDERS  named  assistant  director  on 
“Bad  Men  of  Missouri.” 

ORRY-KELLY  named  fashion  designer  on  “The 
Bride  Came  C.  O.  D,”  and  “Affectionately  Yours.” 

DICK  MAYBERRY  set  as  assistant  director  on 
“Affectionately  Yours.” 


Conferences  Absorb 
Executives  at  Fox 


Monogram's  First  Boulevard  Premiere— 

As  “Her  First  Romance’’  bowed  at  the  Hawaii  in  Hollywood,  the  capacity 
of  the  house  was  taxed.  Above  are  some  of  the  scenes  from  the  event. 
Top  row,  left  to  right:  Mrs.  Joseph  Lamm;  Joseph  Lamm,  Monogram  comp- 
troller; Mrs.  Louis  Lifton;  Louis  Lifton,  Monogram  director  of  advertising 
and  publicity;  Marcella  Napp,  a guest ; Sam  Katzman  and  Mrs.  Katz- 
man;  Ray  Corrigan;  Judith  Linden  and  Gregory  Stone.  Lower  left:  Harold 
Couddy  (left),  Hawaii  manager,  tinkers  with  the  lighting  effects  while 
I.  E.  Chadwick  (right),  producer,  and  an  electrician  look  on.  Edith  Fellows 
(lower  center),  star  of  the  film,  in  the  lobby  of  the  Hawaii.  At  the  lower 
right,  Keye  Luke,  star  of  Monogram’ s James  Lee  Wong  series,  at  the  mike, 
and  Ray  Corrigan  of  the  Range  Buster  series.  Corrigan  was  master  of 
ceremonies. 


J 

i 

■ 

: 

1 


Executive  conferences  anent  the  consent 
decree,  production  plans  and  budgets  for 
the  balance  of  the  1940-41  season  are  un- 
derway at  20th  Century-Fox,  with  the  re- 
turn from  New  York  of  Darryl  Zanuck, 
studio  production  chief.  Participating,  in 
addition  to  Zanuck,  are  Herman  Wobber, 
sales  head;  President  Sidney  R.  Kent,  Jos- 
eph M.  Schenck  and  William  Goetz.  Hud- 
dles are  expected  to  continue  for  a week 
or  more. 

Ned  Depinet,  RKO  Radio’s  sales  head, 
has  delayed  his  arrival  here  until  January 
15,  at  which  time  he  will  accompany  Presi- 
dent George  Schaefer  from  New  York. 
Schaefer  and  Depinet  will  probe  detailed 
production  plans  for  the  next  few  months 
in  huddles  with  Harry  Edington,  Lee  Mar- 
cus and  J.  J.  Nolan  of  the  studio  staff. 
Depinet  will  return  east  at  the  conclusion 
of  the  conferences,  while  Schaefer  intends 
to  remain  at  the  studio  for  several  months. 

W.  Ray  Johnston,  Monogram  president, 
checked  out  for  Kansas  City  to  preside  at 
a franchise-holders’  meeting  Jan.  11.  He 
was  accompanied  by  Geo.  West,  franchise 
holder  in  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Cin- 
cinnati; and  Howard  Stubbins,  west  coast 
franchise  holder.  Meeting  was  called  to 
complete  arrangements  for  the  annual 
“March  for  Monogram”  drive,  slated  for 
February  22- April  11.  Johnston,  West 
and  Stubbins  will  return  here  January  14. 

Unexpected  business  matters  requiring 
his  presence  in  the  east  forced  Murray 
Silverstone,  United  Artists  head,  to  delay 
his  proposed  Hollywood  arrival  for  an- 


other ten  days.  He  will  be  accompanied 
here  by  Arthur  Kelly,  UA  sales  manager. 

At  the  conclusion  of  Universal  product 
huddles  the  company  announced  it  will 
deliver  the  full  63  pictures  announced  for 
the  1940-41  season,  despite  revenue  losses 
from  foreign  sources.  Further,  President 
Nate  Blumberg  announced  budgets  will  be 
boosted  on  a number  of  forthcoming  ve- 
hicles. J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  board  chairman, 
was  the  first  to  return  east.  He  will  be  fol- 
lowed next  week  by  William  Scully,  sales 
head,  and  Joseph  Seidelman,  foreign  sales 
manager,  with  Blumberg  planning  to  re- 
main here. 

William  F.  Rodgers,  general  sales  mana- 
ger, and  Howard  Dietz  have  checked  in 
at  M-G-M  for  conferences  with  studio  of- 
ficials on  spring  releases.  Dietz  was  ac- 
companied by  A1  Lichtman,  studio  official, 
who  spent  a week  in  New  York  meeting 
with  homeoffice  executives. 

To  set  up  detailed  production  and  bud- 
getary plans  for  the  final  quarter  of  1940- 
41,  Herbert  J.  Yates  is  due  at  Republic 
January  15.  He  will  huddle  with  M.  J. 
Siegel,  production  head.  Not  awaiting 
Yates’  arrival,  James  R.  Grainger,  sales 
chief,  checked  out  after  a week  at  the 
studio  to  begin  a swing  around  the  com- 
pany’s exchanges. 

After  four  days  of  conferences  with  Y. 
Frank  Freeman,  Henry  Ginsberg  and  other 
studio  officials,  Neil  Agnew,  distribution 
head  for  Paramount,  and  Robert  Gillham, 
advertising-publicity  chief,  returned  to  New 


Korda  Drops  Plans  for 
Co-Producing  ''Wine" 

Alexander  Korda  has  retired  from  the 
arrangement  whereby  he  was  to  have  co- 
produced and  released  “New  Wine” 
through  United  Artists  in  association  with 
Dr.  William  Szekeley.  Szekeley  will  pro- 
duce the  Ilona  Massey  starrer  himself  and 
will  negotiate  a release  directly  through 
UA  or  some  other  major.  Reinhold  Schun- 
zel  is  slated  to  direct. 


York.  David  Rose,  Paramount’s  managing 
director  for  Great  Britain,  will  leave  Janu- 
ary 17  en  route  back  to  London.  He  has 
been  here  for  a month,  vacationing  and 
discussing  British  production  plans  with 
studio  executives. 

Producers  David  Loew  and  Albert  Lewin 
have  gone  to  New  York  to  confer  with 
United  Artists  officials  anent  release  plans 
for  their  first  picture,  “So  Ends  Our  Night.” 
They  also  plan  to  discuss  their  year’s  pro- 
gram, which  includes  “Landfall”  and 
“Night  Music.”  The  producers  will  stay  in 
the  east  to  catch  the  Music  Hall  opening 
of  "So  Ends  Our  Night”  early  in  February. 

Robert  Schless,  Warner  foreign  sales 
manager,  and  Joseph  Bernhard,  general 
manager  of  Warner  Theatres,  have  check- 
ed in  at  the  studio.  They  will  await  the 
arrival  next  week  of  Gradwell  Sears,  sales 
head,  at  which  time  the  visitors  will  launch 
parleys  with  studio  executives. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


31 


New  Preview  System 
Already  Is  Cracking 


Less  than  a month  old,  the  new  preview 
system  which  went  into  effect  December 
15  and  which  was  hailed  as  the  logical 
solution  to  the  “press”  preview  headache 
by  the  major  studio  publicity  chiefs  re- 
sponsible for  its  adoption,  has  already  dur- 
ing the  past  week  given  three  evidences 
of  cracking  up. 

So  that  the  trade  and  critical  press 
would  no  longer  be  forced  to  play  second 
fiddle  in  the  matter  of  seats  and  cover- 
age to  a host  of  preview  gate-crashers  who 
had  nothing  to  do  with  the  fourth  estate, 
the  publicity  directors  had  decided  that 
after  the  middle  of  December  there  would 
be  no  more  so-called  “press”  previews  in 
theatres.  They  would  all  be  held  in  stu- 
dio projection  rooms,  the  bulk  of  them 
in  the  afternoon,  and  exclusively  for  the 
press. 

But  the  rule  was  quickly  broken  in  a 
mad  scramble  on  the  afternoon  preceding 
New  Year’s  Eve,  when  tired  reviewers  look- 
ing forward  to  that  annual  celebration 
were  confronted  with  the  task  of  covering 
three  pictures — all  announced  with  a bare 
hour's  notice — and  all  on  the  same  after- 
noon. The  offenders  were  Warner,  unfurl- 
ing “Father’s  Son,”  and  20th  Century-Fox, 
which  had  a dual  feature,  no  less — “Ro- 
mance of  the  Rio  Grande”  and  “Michael 
Shayne,  Private  Detective.” 

Studio  attaches  hastened  to  explain  the 
situation  was  no  fault  of  theirs;  that  they 
had  been  forced  to  stage  the  screenings 
for  the  press  because  their  respective  ex- 
changes had  booked  the  features  into  vari- 
ous houses  throughout  the  city  as  “New 
Year’s  Previews.”  And  so  the  weary  critics 


(2lnematlc5 


were  given  their  option : To  cover  the  films 
that  afternoon  or  spend  New  Year’s  Eve 
in  a theatre  looking  at  the  pictures  there. 

Rabbit  punch  number  two  was  struck  at 
the  new  “system”  when  Paramount,  one 
of  the  studios  aiding  in  its  promulgation, 
chose  the  evening  of  January  9,  and  an 
unannounced  theatre,  to  debut  “Virginia” 
for  the  press.  Invitations  attempted  to 
camouflage  the  break  by  dubbing  it  the 
“first  sneak  press  preview,”  and  by  an- 
nouncing the  studio  was  keeping  the  thea- 
tre chosen  a secret.  For  that  reason  re- 
viewers were  guests  at  dinner  at  the  studio 
and  were  transported  to  and  from  the  pre- 
view in  chartered  buses.  Maintaining  it 
was  “making  a genuine  effort  to  make 
press  previews  just  what  the  name  implies” 
by  inviting  only  the  press,  the  announce- 
ment forebore  any  explanation  of  why  a 
theatre,  and  not  Paramount’s  own  projec- 
tion room,  was  utilized. 

Loew-Lewin  Protest 

Then  the  reeling  “system"  almost  went 
down  for  the  count  when  Producers  David 
Loew  and  Albert  Lewin  used  the  pretext 
that  projection-room  previews  are  “an- 
other ill-timed  move  to  rob  Hollywood  of 
its  color”  to  announce  the  press  showing 
of  “So  Ends  Our  Night”  would  be  Janu- 
ary 21,  in  the  evening,  at  Grauman’s  Chi- 
nese Theatre.  This  refusal  to  become  a 
party  to  the  agreement  eliminating  night 
previews  they  explained  by  charging  it 
is  unfair  to  any  picture  dependent  upon 
audience  reaction  for  its  "mood”  and  “feel- 
ing” to  show  it  in  a small  room  before 
a small  group.  "Take  away  the  previews 
and  the  premieres,”  they  assert,  “and  you 
have  robbed  Hollywood  of  a portion  of  its 
most  marketable  product,  glamour.” 


On  their  recent  personal  appearance 
tour,  Anna  Neagle  and  Producer-Director 
Herbert  Wilcox  topped  all  their  previous 
records,  covering  9,000  miles,  making  20 
appearances  and  two  radio  guest  shots  all 
within  13  days. 

* 

Failing  to  rally  as  per  schedule  from  an 
influenza  attack,  Director  Les  Goodwins 
has  been  removed  to  the  Madison  Hospital 
in  Santa  Monica,  where  attending  phy- 
sicians report  that,  while  his  condition  is 
riot  worse,  his  improvement  has  not  been 
as  rapid  as  desired. 

: k 

Gene  Autry  has  planed  out  for  Phila- 
delphia to  line  up  a rodeo  appearance  for 
next  summer  . . . Rene  Clair,  French  di- 
rectorial import,  met  the  Hollywood  press 
at  a cocktail  party  tossed  by  Universal  on 
the  set  of  the  Marlene  Dietrich  starrer, 
“Flame  of  New  Orleans,”  which  Clair  is 
piloting  as  his  first  Hollywood  assignment. 
Producer  Joe  Pasternak  and  the  entire 
cast  of  the  picture  also  attended. 

* 

James  Roosevelt  has  reported  back  to 
the  San  Diego  marine  base  after  a ten- 
day  leave.  He  spent  New  Year’s  in  Holly- 
wood checking  on  the  progress  being  made 
in  filming  his  first  Globe  production,  “Pot 
O’  Gold’’  . . . Producer  Lou  Brock  of  RKO 
Radio  spent  the  holidays  in  Montana  with 
his  son. 

* 

Reinhold  Schunzel,  accompanied  by  a 
staff  of  writers,  has  gone  to  Palm  Springs 
to  work  on  the  script  of  “New  Wine,” 
which  he  will  direct  for  Producer  Alexan- 
der Korda. 

★ 


At  a Sound  Stage  Dedication — 

The  past  mingled  with  the  present  in  Hollywood  when  Republic  dedicated 
its  new  $250,000  sound  stage  to  the  memory  of  the  late  Mabel  Normand,  sil- 
ent-screen comedienne.  The  occasion  called  for  a party  on  the  sound  stage,  to 
which  scores  of  film  capital  notables  were  invited.  Here  the  cameraman 
catches,  left  to  right:  Y.  Frank  Freeman  of  Paramount;  William  Farnum, 
one  of  the  chief  speakers;  Gene  Autry;  Mrs.  Freeman;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sol  C. 
Siegel,  and  George  “Gabby”  Hayes.  Judy  Canova,  Republic  star,  unveiled  a 
bronze  plaque  dedicated  to  Mabel’s  memory,  following  which  one  of  the  late 
comedienne’s  greatest  successes,  “Mickey,”  was  projected.  Among  those  at- 
tending were  Noah  Beery,  Mae  Busch,  Chester  Conklin,  Edgar  Kennedy,  Ray- 
mond Hatton,  Charles  Ray,  Jack  Mulhall,  Charlie  Murray,  Louise  Fazenda, 
M.  J.  Siegel,  head  of  Republic  production;  Walter  Abel,  Wallace  Reid  jr., 
Ann  Miller,  Eddie  Quillan,  John  H.  Auer,  Erie  C.  Kenton,  Roy  Del  Ruth,  Wal- 
lace MacDonald,  Joseph  Santley,  Frank  McDonald,  James  R.  Grainger  and 
dozens  of  others. 


George  Cukor  vacationed  at  Lake  Ar- 
rowhead over  the  weekend  before  check- 
ing in  at  M-G-M  to  begin  preparations 
for  his  next  directorial  assignment  . . . J. 
Walter  Ruben  and  his  wife,  Virginia 
Bruce,  are  holidaying  in  New  York  for  ten 
days,  catching  the  new  shows. 

* 

Paramount’s  studio  camera  club  will 
hold  its  fifth  grand  salon,  dinner  and 
presentation  of  prizes  January  16  at  the 
lot’s  Continental  Cafe  . . . Ann  Ruther- 
ford will  leave  for  New  York  shortly  for  a 
two-week  vacation. 

* 

Leo  Devaney,  Canadian  division  sales 
manager  for  RKO  Radio,  and  Harry  Git- 
telson,  who  edits  “Flash,”  the  company’s 
house  organ,  will  check  in  early  next  week 
for  studio  conferences  . . . Jack  Dailey  has 
planed  back  to  Dallas  after  advertising -ex- 
ploitation huddles  at  Paramount  with  Rob- 
ert Gillham. 

* 

J.  Carrol  Naish  and  his  wife  and  daugh- 
ter are  back  in  town  after  an  eight-day 
vacation  at  Naish’s  mountain  home  at  Lake 
Arrowhead  . . . Delphine  Meyer,  daughter 
of  Fred  S.  Meyer  of  20th  Century-Fox,  was 
married  the  day  after  Christmas  to  Harold 
Raymond  Shire.  Ceremony  took  place  in 
Yuma. 


32 


BOXOFFICE  January  11,  1941 


Early  Resumption  Is 
Seen  for  Selznick 


Pointing  to  an  early  resumption  of  pic- 
ture-making activity,  David  O.  Selznick 
Productions,  Inc.,  has  announced  the  fol- 
lowing officers  were  elected  at  a special 
meeting  of  the  board  of  directors: 

David  O.  Selznick,  president;  Daniel  T. 
O’Shea,  vice-president;  E.  L.  Scanlon, 
treasurer;  Loyd  Wright,  secretary;  Charles 
E.  Millikan  and  Katharine  Brown,  assist- 
ant secretaries.  Directors  include  Selznick, 
O’Shea,  Scanlon,  Wright  and  Walter  S. 
Orr. 

Under  exclusive  contract  to  the  com- 
pany are  Ingrid  Bergman,  Alfred  Hitch- 
cock, Joan  Fontaine  and  Alan  Marshal. 
Vivien  Leigh’s  contract  is  exclusive  save  for 
one  picture  yearly  with  Alexander  Korda. 
The  company  also  has  an  option  on  the 
services  of  Director  Robert  Stevenson  for 
one  picture  yearly. 

Further  indication  that  Selznick  is  plan- 
ning to  re-enter  production  shortly  is  seen 
in  the  recent  appointment  of  Victor  M. 
Shapiro  as  publicity  director.  The  com- 
pany has  a two-picture  distribution  deal 
with  United  Artists. 


Start  Film  Soon  lor  Use 
In  Training  Drait  Army 

To  be  launched  within  the  next  few 
days,  as  soon  as  a studio  site  is  selected, 
is  the  first  in  a series  of  short  subjects 
to  be  turned  out  by  Hollywood  in  co- 
operation with  the  U.  S.  Signal  Corps  for 
use  in  training  the  nation’s  new  draft 
army. 

This  was  indicated  with  the  return  to 
Hollywood  of  Darryl  Zanuck,  chairman  of 
the  industry  defense  group’s  sub-commit- 
tee in  charge  of  producing  the  reels.  Zanuck 
stopped  in  Washington  en  route  here  from 
New  York  to  be  sworn  in  as  a lieutenant- 
colonel  in  the  signal  corps,  and  spent  sev- 
eral hours  in  the  nation’s  capital  con- 
ferring with  army  officials. 

Dr.  Francis  Abdo  has  become  the  fourth 
Paramount  studio  doctor  to  be  ordered  to 
active  service,  having  been  assigned  to  duty 
at  Fort  Winfield  Scott  in  San  Francisco. 

Meantime  a brief  lull  is  hovering  over 
the  charity  front.  Next  great  effort  in 
which  Hollywood  will  be  called  upon  to 
participate  is  the  national  infantile  pa- 
ralysis campaign,  of  which  Joseph  M. 
Schenck  is  national  vice-chairman  and 
chairman  for  the  state  of  California. 
Schenck  is  expected  to  announce  detailed 
plans  for  securing  industry  pledges  within 
the  next  few  days. 


Paramount  Story  Head 

William  Dozier  has  been  appointed  head 
of  Paramount’s  studio  story  and  writing 
departments,  joining  the  company  Febru- 
ary 3.  For  the  past  five  years  Dozier  has 
been  in  charge  of  writers  and  story  sales 
for  the  Berg-Allenberg  agency.  Julian 
Blaustein  will  continue  at  Paramount  as 
associate  story  editor. 


Bonus  Arrangement  for 
Holden  at  Paramount 


William  Holden  and  Paramount  have 
smoked  the  pipe  of  peace  and  Holden  has 
reported  to  Columbia  for  a loanout  as- 
signment in  the  starring  spot  in  “Texas.” 
Holden  had  been  suspended  by  Paramount 
for  refusing  the  role,  the  actor  contending 
he  was  entitled  to  a wage  boost  which  the 
studio  refused  to  consider.  Holden  still 
has  not  gained  his  salary  increase,  but  a 
bonus  arrangement  has  been  worked  out 
to  the  mutual  satisfaction  of  him  and  the 
studio,  Paramount  officials  reported. 

Anthony  Veiller,  Paramount  producer  for 
the  past  two  years,  will  check  off  the  lot 
upon  completion  of  editing  duties  on  “New 
York  Town,”  his  most  recent  assignment. 
Veiller  has  announced  no  plans  for  the 
future.  Also  departing  the  Paramount  ros- 
ter is  Arthur  Jacobson,  an  assistant  di- 
rector for  14  years  and,  more  recently,  in 
charge  of  the  talent  department. 

After  six  months  on  the  lot  without 
assignment,  Jules  Dassin,  stage  and  radio 
director  imported  to  Hollywood  by  RKO 
Radio,  has  been  released. 

Benjamin  Cohn  Forms 
Independent  Firm 

Benjamin  Cohn,  formerly  with  Warner’s 
exploitation  staff  in  New  York,  has  es- 
tablished headquarters  here  and  an- 
nounced the  incorporation  of  an  indepen- 
dent production  company  with  plans  to 
make  three  pictures  during  1941,  budgeted 
at  $500,000  each. 

A major  release  arrangement  will  be  re- 
vealed by  Cohn  within  a few  days,  as  well 
as  titles  and  other  details  of  the  pictures 
he  plans. 


Barry  Trivers  Chore 

Warner  has  set  Barry  Trivers  to  script 
“Night  Hawk,”  from  Leonard  Hoffman’s 
original. 

(F=  

: SPEARHEADS  : 

V — V 

(Continued  from  page  29) 
changes;  and  compares  favorably  with 
them  as  supporting  material.  Ed  Kelso’s 
script  stretches  its  story  values  as  far  as 
the  law  will  allow,  while  Lindsley  Parson’s 
production  and  Howard  Bretherton’s  direc- 
tion reflect  favorably  upon  their  respective 
efforts. 

Fox’s  “Michael  Shayne,  Private  Detec- 
tive,” is  a fast-moving  entry  which  thrill- 
hunting audiences  should  find  eminently 
satisfying.  It’s  the  initialer  in  a pro- 
posed series  with  Lloyd  Nolan  in  the  title 
role,  directed  by  Eugene  Forde,  produced 
by  Sol  Wurtzel  and  scripted  by  Stanley 
Rauh  and  Manning  O’Connor  from  a novel 
by  Brett  Halliday. 

* * * 

The  exception,  “Blackout,”  is  a United 
Artists  release  of  an  English  production, 
loaded  with  suspense,  dramatic  vitality, 
and  topflight  performances.  It  was 
smartly  and  competently  directed  by 
Michael  Powell  and  boasts  a story  so 
cleverly  handled  that  American  theatre- 
goers should  find  it  highly  intriguing  fare. 


Academy  Governors 
Re-elect  Wanger 


New  Board  of  governors  of  the  Academy 
of  Motion  Picture  Arts  and  Sciences  has 
re-elected  Walter  Wanger  president  of  the 
organization.  Re-named  vice-presidents 
were  Frank  Capra  and  Edward  Arnold, 
with  two  new  vice-presidents  added — 
Darryl  Zanuck  and  Jane  Murfin.  New 
secretary  is  Mervyn  LeRoy,  replacing  Rob- 
ert Riskin,  while  Nathan  Levinson  sup- 
plants John  Aalberg  as  treasurer.  New 
positions  of  assistant  secretary  and  assist- 
ant treasurer  were  filled  by  Allan  Scott 
and  Henry  Fonda  respectively. 

Board  also  discussed  plans  for  the  forth- 
coming annual  Awards  banquet,  but 
reached  no  decision  as  to  the  definite  date 
and  locale  for  the  affair,  which  will  be 
held  some  time  in  February. 

Previous  to  the  yearly  election  of  Acad- 
emy officers,  a special  balloting  was  held 
to  break  a tie  vote  in  the  technicians’ 
branch,  as  a result  of  which  John  Aalberg, 
Farciot  Edouart  and  Thomas  Moulton  were 
named  to  the  board  of  governors  from  the 
technicians’  division. 

Producers'  Election  Feb.  3 

Meantime  the  producers  association,  in 
its  regular  monthly  meeting  with  Y.  Frank 
Freeman  presiding,  disclosed  its  annual 
election  of  officers  has  been  scheduled  for 
the  next  session,  February  3.  John  Zinn 
has  been  appointed  as  the  organization’s 
representative  in  negotiations  with  the 
Screen  Actors  Guild  relative  to  enforcing 
terms  of  the  SAG-producer  standing  com- 
mittee’s recent  report  recommending  a 
purge  of  so-called  “casual”  extra  players 
to  aid  the  bit-players’  unemployment 
crisis. 

A second  meeting  was  held  by  the  com- 
mittee headed  by  Walter  Wanger  which  is 
planning  a testimonial  dinner  honoring 
Frank  Capra  for  his  20  years  of  service  in 
the  motion  picture  industry.  No  date  has 
yet  been  set  for  the  affair.  Fred  Beetson 
has  been  made  to  head  a sub-committee 
to  select  a date,  while  J.  P.  McGowan 
heads  another  group  which  will  endeavor 
to  secure  the  cooperation  of  the  various 
Guilds.  Attending  the  meeting  in  addi- 
tion to  Wanger,  Beetson  and  McGowan, 
were  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  Donald  Gledhill, 
Dore  Schary,  Sheridan  Gibney  and  Ken- 
neth Thomson. 


Atwill  and  Dr.  Frenke 
Form  Independent  Unit 

Formation  of  a new  independent  pro- 
duction unit  headed  by  Lionel  Atwill,  char- 
acter actor,  and  Dr.  Eugene  Frenke  has 
been  announced,  together  with  the  dis- 
closure they  have  purchased  “The  Dark 
River,”  by  Charles  Nordhoff  and  James 
Norman  Hall,  as  their  first  production. 
James  Whale  has  been  signed  to  direct 
and  a release  now  being  negotiated  will  be 
announced  shortly.  Production  will  start 
when  Whale  has  completed  his  current  Co- 
lumbia assignment,  “They  Dare  Not  Love.” 
Anna  Sten  will  probably  be  starred  in 
“The  Dark  River.” 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


33 


Would  Empower  Police  to 
Shut  Any  Show  in  L.  A. 


Los  Angeles — The  issue  of  censorship  of 
local  theatres,  both  legitimate  and  motion 
picture,  which  has  periodically  insinuated 
itself  upon  the  local  political  horizon,  has 
again  raised  its  head — and  gives  promise 
of  being  one  of  the  major  problems  con- 
fronting Southern  California  showmen  dur- 
ing 1941. 

Latest  step  was  taken  when  the  police 
commission  and  city  council  instructed 
the  city  attorney  to  draft  a suggested  or- 
dinance which  would  empower  police  to 
arbitrarily  close  any  show,  stage  or  screen, 
which  the  law  might  deem  indecent  or  sa- 
lacious. Such  a scheme  has  been  under 
discussion  spasmodically  by  the  city  fath- 
ers for  several  years  and  last  came  into 
the  limelight  about  a year  ago,  when  action 
on  the  matter  was  tabled  indefinitely. 

The  proposed  ordinance,  it  is  under- 
stood, would  not  be  directed  at  motion 
picture  theatres  exhibiting  films  bearing 
the  Hays  office’s  purity  seal,  but  would 
be  employed  principally  against  stage  pro- 
ductions which,  in  the  police  commission’s 
opinion,  transcend  the  bounds  of  decency. 
It  would  also  be  utilized  in  halting  the 
screening  of  salacious  imported  films. 

A Hearing  Necessary  Now 

A present  city  ordinance  provides  that 
showings  of  such  indecent  films  and  stage 
plays  may  be  halted  only  after  a hearing 
and  trial  at  which  the  defendant  is  allowed 
to  plead  his  case.  The  proposed  amend- 
ment would  empower  police  to  issue  and 
arbitrarily  revoke  licenses  at  their  own 
discretion. 

Considerable  interest  is  being  manifested 
in  the  proposal  by  at  least  two  Hollywood 
groups — the  Screen  Actors  Guild  and  the 
local  branch  of  the  Hays  office.  The  for- 
mer announced  adoption  of  a ruling  seek- 
ing to  bar  from  Guild  membership  and 
appearance  in  motion  pictures  any  person 
who,  after  notice,  performs  in  a produc- 
tion termed  “unfair”  by  any  of  the  actors’ 
organizations  within  the  Associated  Actors 
and  Artists  of  America.  This  would  be  a 
blow  at  salacious  productions  in  Los  An- 
geles, since  Actors  Equity  membership  reg- 
ulations also  prohibit  appearances  of  pro- 
fessional actors  in  salacious  plays. 

“Firm,  united  action  against  such  pro- 
ductions is  needed,”  the  SAG  declared,  as- 
serting that  the  ruling  can  “in  the  future 
maintain  standards  of  decency  on  the 
stage.” 

At  the  same  time  SAG  spokesmen  de- 
clared they  will  fight  vehemently  against 
the  adoption  of  the  censorship  ordinance 
on  the  grounds  that  “the  principle  of  vest- 
ing power  over  the  theatre  in  an  adminis- 
trative body  has  been  tested  in  the  past 
and  has  been  found  undesirable.  Whether 
it  affects  the  press,  the  stage,  the  screen 
or  others,  the  wielding  of  censorship  or 
similar  arbitrary  power  by  any  adminis- 
trative body  threatens  the  American  prin- 
ciples of  freedom  of  expression  and  trial 
by  jury.” 

Similar  sentiments  were  expressed  by 
Hays  office  attaches,  who  declared  they 
would  cooperate  with  the  SAG  in  pro- 
testing adoption  of  any  such  ordinance. 


SJn  the  Making 


COLUMBIA 

Texas — Glenn  Ford.  Director:  Stuart  Heisler.  Pro- 
ducer: Sam  Bischoff.  (Starting-) 

(Super-scaled  western). 

They  Dare  Not  Love — Martha  Scott,  George  Brent. 
Director:  James  Whale.  Producer:  Sam  Bis- 
choff. 

(Romantic  drama  with  an  English  background). 

Lone  Wolf  Takes  a Chance,  The — Warren  Wil- 
liam, Eric  Blore,  Henry  Wilcoxon,  June  Storey, 
Walter  Kingsford.  Director:  Sidney  Salkow.  Pro- 
ducer: Ralph  Cohn.  (Completed) 

METRO 

Free  and  Easy — Robert  Cummings,  Ruth  Hussey, 
Reginald  Owen,  Nigel  Bruce.  Forrester  Har- 
vey. Director:  Eddie  Buzzell.  Producer:  Milton 
Bren.  Original:  Ivor  Novello.  (Starting) 

(Sophisticated  comedy  of  high  society,  based 
on  the  play,  "The  Truth  Game.”) 

PARAMOUNT 

Caught  in  the  Draft — Bob  Hope,  Dorothy  La- 
mour,  Eddie  Bracken,  Lynne  Overman.  Director: 
David  Butler.  Producer:  B.  G.  DeSylva.  Screen- 
play: Wilkie  Mahoney.  (Starting) 

(Comedy  based  on  national  conscription). 

New  York  Town — Mary  Martin,  Robert  Preston, 
Fred  MacMurray,  Eric  Blore,  Lynne  Overman, 
Akim  Tamiroff,  Dana  Lee.  Director:  Charles 
Vidor.  Producer:  Anthony  Veiller.  Screenplay: 
Preston  Sturges.  (Completed) 

20TH  CENTURY-FOX 

A Very  Young  Lady — Jane  Withers,  John  Sutton, 
Nancy  Kelly,  Richard  Clayton.  Director:  Harold 
Schuster.  Producer:  Robert  Kane.  (Starting) 
(Comedy-drama). 

Blood  and  Sand — Tyrone  Power,  Linda  Darnell, 
John  Carradine.  Director:  Rouben  Mamoulian. 
(Re-make  of  the  silent  film  starring  Rudolph 
Valentino,  this  finds  Tyrone  Power  portraying 
a Mexican  bull-fighter). 

UNIVERSAL 

Back  Street — Margaret  Sullavan,  Charles  Boyer, 
Richard  Carlson,  Frank  Jenks.  Tim  Holt,  Frank 
McHugh,  Pat  O’Malley.  Director:  Robert  Steven- 
son. Producer:  Bruce  Manning.  Original:  Fannie 
Hurst.  Screenplay:  Bruce  Manning,  Felix  Jack- 
son.  (Completed) 

WARNER 

Thirty  Days  Hath  September  -Eddie  Albert,  Joan 
Leslie,  Alan  Hale,  Minna  Gombell,  Anthony 
Quinn.  Director:  Ray  Enright.  Producer:  Ed- 
mund Grainger.  Screenplay:  Ben  Markson, 

Charles  Grayson.  Original:  Irving  Gaumont, 
Jack  Sobol.  (Starting) 

(Comedy). 

Mi  s Wheelwright  Discovers  America — Priscilla 
Lane,  Ronald  Reagan,  May  Robson,  Helen  West- 
ley,  Clarence  Kolb,  John  Qualen.  Director:  Cur- 
tis Bernhardt. 

(Comedy  concerning  a debutante  who,  denied 
the  privilege  of  traveling  to  Europe,  discovers 
she  can  broaden  her  education  and  culture  just 
as  well  at  home). 


PRC  Has  Two  Features 
Set  tor  Early  Starts 

Producers  Releasing  Corp.  has  two  fea- 
tures lined  up  to  go  before  the  cameras 
within  the  next  few  weeks.  First  under 
way  will  be  “Outlaws  of  the  Rio  Grande,” 
western  starling  Tim  McCoy,  with  Peter 
Stewart  directing.  This  will  be  followed 
in  February  by  “Alimony  Jail,”  from  a 
story  by  George  Bricker.  Sherman  Scott  is 
slated  as  the  pilot.  Sigmund  Neufeld  is 
producing  both. 

A February  10  starting  date  has  been 
set  by  Merian  C.  Cooper,  head  of  Argosy 


Company  Transactions 
Slow  During  December 

Washington — Transactions  involving  1,- 
500  shares  of  film  company  stocks  are 
shown  in  the  first  December  report  of  the 
securities  and  exchange  commission  on 
transactions  of  officers  and  directors  in  the 
securities  of  their  corporations.  Deals  for 
only  three  companies  were  reported,  as 
follows: 

Consolidated  Film  Industries:  Disposi- 
tion of  100  shares  of  part  preferred  stock 
by  E.  H.  Seifert,  director.  Fort  Lee,  N.  J., 
leaving  him  with  100  shares. 

Twentieth  Century-Fox:  Acquisition  of 
1,000  shares  of  common  stock  by  Sidney  R. 
Kent,  officer.  New  York,  giving  him  a 
total  of  2,180  shares. 

Universal  Corp.:  Acquisition  of  200  com- 
mon voting  trust  certificates  by  Preston 
Davie,  director,  New  York,  giving  him  a 
total  of  2,600  held  direct  and  26,500  held 
through  Standard  Capital  Co. 

The  SEC  reported  that  Pathe  Film  was 
among  the  first  companies  to  file  reports 
under  the  new  investment  company  act, 
showing  the  stock  holdings  of  officers  and 
directors  and  beneficial  owners  of  more 
than  10  per  cent  of  any  class. 

The  report  showed  the  holdings  as  of 
November  1,  last,  when  the  law  became 
effective,  as  follow: 

George  J.  Bonwick,  officer,  New  York, 
none;  Henry  J.  Guild,  director,  Adams, 
Mass.,  none;  Donaldson  Brown,  beneficial 
owner,  New  York,  none  direct  but  58,102 
shares  of  common  and  1,844  shares  of  pre- 
ferred through  the  Broseco  Corp.;  T.  C. 
Davis,  director.  New  York,  100  shares  of 
common;  Allan  P.  Kirby,  director,  Morris- 
town, N.  J.,  2,100  shares  of  common  di- 
rect, 1,000  shares  through  Holding  Com- 
pany A,  4,000  shares  through  Holding 
Company  B,  and  600  shares  through  a 
trust;  Kenneth  M.  Young,  officer,  New 
York,  400  shares  of  common;  Robert  R. 
Young,  director,  Cleveland,  20,497  shares 
of  common;  Mabel  M.  Malone,  officer,  New 
York,  one  share  of  preferred. 


Productions,  on  “The  Eagle  Squadron,” 
which  will  be  released  by  Walter  Wanger 
through  United  Artists.  Cooper  is  at 
present  in  the  east  gathering  data  on  the 
script,  which  is  being  written  by  Hurd 
Barrett  and  Major  Harold  Buckley.  No 
director  or  cast  assignments  have  been 
made. 

For  Monogram  release,  Sam  Katzman 
will  shortly  launch  “Air  Devils,”  starring 
the  East  Side  Kids.  A1  Martin  supplied  the 
original  screenplay. 

Herbert  Wilcox  will  launch  “Sunny,” 
starring  Anna  Neagle,  early  this  month  as 
the  next  in  his  series  for  RKO  Radio  re- 
lease. Wilcox  will  both  produce  and  direct. 
Universal  will  garner  release  on  two  other 
independent  entries  to  roll  this  month — 
Frank  Lloyd’s  “The  Lady  From  Cheyenne” 
and  Lawrence  Fox’s  “The  Man  Who  Lost 
Himself.” 

Incorporation  of  Oxford  Pictures,  with 
D.  A.  Benson  as  president,  has  been  an- 
nounced. The  new  independent  unit  is 
headquartering  at  International  Studios, 
where  it  will  embark  about  January  15  on 
a series  of  six  films  with  British  back- 
grounds. Harry  Levin  has  been  set  to 
direct.  Pictures  will  be  given  state  right 
release. 


34 


BOXOFFICE  ;:  January  11,  1941 


IL€»  ANGELES 

PRESIDENT  CHARLES  P.  SKOURAS  of 
Pox  West  Coast  and  his  aide,  Andy 
Krappman,  will  return  next  week  from  a 
two-week  visit  in  New  York  where  they 
huddled  with  National  Theatres  executives 
. . . Jack  Partington,  president  of  Fan- 
chon  & Marco,  Inc.,  spent  several  days 
here  conferring  with  Marco  Wolf,  man- 
ager of  the  Paramount,  an  F&M  enter- 
prise. 

M-G-M  is  starting  the  new  year  right 
by  remodeling  its  exchange  . . . Harvey 
Levinson,  operator  of  the  Cozy,  is  installing 
a new  marquee  . . . Mike  Levinson,  inde- 
pendently distributing  “White  Zombie,” 
pulled  out  for  San  Francisco  on  business 
. . . Lou  Rutstein  is  back  at  his  desk  at 
Producers  Releasing  Corp.  after  a quick 
business  trip  to  New  York  . . . Art  Green- 
field, Universal  booker,  has  been  trans- 
ferred to  San  Francisco.  He  is  replaced 
locally  by  Tommy  Dunphy  ...  In  for 
bookings:  Tommy  Huntington,  Seville 
Theatre,  Chula  Vista;  Joe  Sloate,  operator 
of  the  Maynard. 

A1  O’Keefe,  Universal’s  western  district 
manager,  is  touring  the  company’s  coast 
offices  . . . Sam  Milner  and  Lon  Hoss, 
Universal  salesmen,  are  back  on  the  job 
after  taking  a few  days  off  for  the  Christ- 
mas and  New  Year’s  holidays  . . . The 
flu  bug  bit  Chet  Black,  operator  of  the 
Pico  Drive-In,  with  the  result  he  has  been 
in  bed  for  the  past  several  days  . . . Leon- 
ard Adamick,  assistant  manager  of  the 
Union,  came  in  to  do  some  booking  . . . 
California  weather  has  gained  another 
booster.  George  Carrington,  Altec  Service 
vice-president,  has  decided  to  remain  here 
until  spring,  and  is  house  hunting  with 
his  family  . . . Henry  Preciado  of  the  New 
Rex,  Madera,  in  booking. 

Herb  MacIntyre,  RKO  western  district 
manager,  has  returned  from  a business  trip 
to  Salt  Lake  . . . Ben  Mohi  will  open  his 
new  Picfair,  an  800 -seat  house,  January  17, 
with  a 25-cent  admission  scale.  Mohi  for- 
merly operated  the  Princess  in  partner- 
ship with  his  brother,  Saul  . . . Remodeling 
has  been  completed  by  Erwin  Kanowitz  on 
his  Union  Theatre.  House  got  a face-lift- 
ing, new  marquee  and  other  improvements. 

C.  A.  B.  Emanuel  and  his  daughter,  Bess, 
have  returned  from  a short  vacation  spent 
at  Boulder  Dam.  They  operate  the  For- 
eign Films  exchange  . . . Bill  Martin  came 
in  to  book  for  his  Hemet  in  Hemet  . . . 
Ditto  George  Nassau  of  the  Nassau  Bros, 
circuit  . . . Foster  Blake  is  back  on  the  job 
as  Universal  salesman  after  spending  the 
holidays  in  Portland,  Ore.  . . . Rather  than 
see  the  Rose  Bowl  grid  classic  in  the  news- 
reels in  the  comfort  of  his  own  Roxie,  Joe 
Blumenfeld  came  all  the  way  from  Oak- 
land to  catch  the  New  Year’s  Day  game 
in  the  flesh  . . . Ida  Schreiber  of  the  ITO 
is  back  on  the  job  after  a bout  with  flu. 


Harry  Meyer  Dead 
Butte — Harry  Meyer,  former  secretary 
of  the  Film  Board  of  Trade  and  well- 
known  in  this  area,  is  dead  at  44. 


Comedy  Lead  in  a Canova 
Hollywood — Charlie  Butterworth  will 
play  the  comedy  lead  in  “Sis  Hopkins,” 
Judy  Canova  starrer  for  Republic. 


New  Year  Week  Rockets 
Los  Angeles  Grosses 


Los  Angeles — Special  New  Year’s  Eve 
performances  rocketed  grosses  in  almost 
every  first-run  house  to  near-record  pro- 
portions, with  business  generally  reported 
as  holding  up  well  after  the  holidays.  Top 
hits  were  Paramount’s  “Love  Thy  Neigh- 
bor” at  the  Paramount,  which  was  a sell- 
out New  Year’s  Eve,  on  a reserved  seat 
basis,  coupled  with  a stage  show,  and 
“Philadelphia  Story,”  which  opened  simul- 
taneously at  the  Carthay  Circle,  Loew’s 
State  and  Grauman’s  Chinese.  Poorest 
showing  was  made  by  Warner’s  “Flight 
From  Destiny,”  which  carded  less  than  nor- 
mal in  its  first  stanza  at  the  Four  Star. 


Detail  of  the  week  ended  January  2: 

(Average  is  100) 

Carthay  Circle — Philadelphia  Story  ( M-G-M )...  175 

Chinese — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  200 

Downtown — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN)  160 

Four  Star — Flight  From  Destiny  (WB)  90 

HUlstreet — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO);  The  Saint 

in  Palm  Springs  (RKO)  160 

Hollywood — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN)  150 

Pantages — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO);  Saint  in 

Palm  Springs  (RKO)  150 

Paramount — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t), 

plus  stage  show  200 

State — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  200 


Detail  for  week  ended  December  26: 

Chinese — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA);  Murder  Over 

New  York  (20th-Fox)  125 

Downtown — Four  Mothers  (WB);  South  of 

Sue*  (WB),  2nd  wk 100 

Four  Star — Bseape  (M-G-M),  4th  wk 60 

Hillstreet — Arizona  (Col);  Where  Did  You  Get 

That  Girl?  (Univ)  125 

Hollywood — Four  Mothers  (WB);  South  of 

Sue/.  (WB),  2nd  wk 100 

Pantages — Arizona  (Col);  Where  Did  You  Get 

That  Girl?  (XJniv)  125 

Paramount — Second  Chorus  (Para't);  Alice 
in  Wonderland  (Para’t),  matinees  only; 

plus  stage  show  140 

State — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA);  Murder  Over 

New  York  (20th-Fox)  150 


' Arizona ' and  'Santa  Fe' 
Set  Pace  in  Salt  Lake 

Salt  Lake  City — Old  Man  Winter’s  icy 
breath  ushering  in  the  dawn  of  1941,  did 
not  retard  the  merry-makers  from  hold- 
ing forth  at  local  theatres. 

“Arizona”  and  “Santa  Fe  Trail”  were 
good  drawing  cards  at  the  Utah  and 
Studio,  “Santa  Fe”  being  transferred  from 
the  Centre  for  the  second  week  at  the 
Studio.  “Love  Thy  Neighbor”  at  the  Centre 
did  especially  well,  also. 

Detail  for  week  ended  January  2: 

(Average  is  100) 

Capitol — Murder  Over  New  York  (20th-Fox); 


Lucky  Devils  (Univ)  105 

Centre — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t)  115 

Paramount — Second  Chorus  (Para’t)  100 

Rialto— Kitty  Foyle  (RKO)  115 

Studio — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN),  2nd  wk 110 

Utah — Arizona  (Col)  115 

Victory — Margie  (Univ) ; San  Francisco 

Docks  (Univ)  105 


" Love  Thy  Neighbor'' 

Ace  Denver  Attraction 

Denver — “Love  Thy  Neighbor,”  in  its 
second  week,  was  strong  at  the  Denham, 
while  “Thief  of  Bagdad”  ran  to  150  per 
cent  at  the  Denver. 

Detail  for  the  week  ended  January  1: 

(Average  is  100) 

Aladdin — Hired  Wife  (Univ)  ; Ellery  Queen, 
Master  Detective  (Col),  after  wk.  at  the 
Denver  120 


Broadway — Go  West  (M-G-M);  Gallant  Sons 
(M-G-M),  2nd  wk.  here  after  a wk.  at  the 

Orpheum  100 

Denham — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t), 

2nd  wk 230 

Denver — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA)  150 

Orpheum — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO);  Hullabaloo 

(M-G-M)  90 

Paramount — Trail  of  the  Vigilantes  (Univ) ; 

Where  Did  You  Get  That  Girl  (Univ)  140 

Rialto — Seven  Sinners  (Univ) ; Next  Time  We 
Love  (Univ),  reissue,  after  a wk.  at  each 
the  Denver  and  Aladdin  100 


Big  Seattle  New  Year's ; 
Cold  Kills  Other  Nights 

Seattle — All  houses  worked  on  an  even 
keel  this  week  with  no  theatre  doing  out- 
standing business.  Big  night  for  all  was 
New  Year’s  Eve,  but  cold  nights  and  un- 
decided weather  left  the  boxoffices’  flat 
other  evenings. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  4: 


(Average  is  100) 

Blue  Mouse — Comrade  X (M-G-M);  Dr.  Kil- 
dare’s Crisis  (M-G-M),  3rd  wk 90 

Fifth  Avenue — Flight  Command  (M-G-M); 

Keeping  Company  (M-G-M)  90 

Liberty — Arizona  (Col),  3rd  wk 90 

Music  Box — Little  Nellie  Kelly  (M-G-M);  Gal- 
lant Sons  (M-G-M),  2nd  wk 90 

Orpheum — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN);  Meet  the 

Wildcat  (Univ)  100 

Palomar — One  Night  in  the  Tropics  (Univ)....  90 
Paramount — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox);  Charter 
Pilot  ( 20th-Fox)  90 


A Bill  Would  Repeal 
Stale  Service  Tax 

Denver — A bill  to  repeal  the  state  serv- 
ice tax  has  been  introduced  in  the  state 
legislature.  This  law  now  covers  the  two 
per  cent  tax  on  theatre  tickets  over  five 
cents,  and,  according  to  information  from 
the  state  house,  the  bill  faces  a tough 
battle. 

The  bill  was  introduced  by  Democrats, 
and  already  Republicans  are  threatening 
to  introduce  a new  income  tax  bill  that 
would  greatly  reduce  the  exemptions.  The 
Republicans  claim  the  income  tax  boost 
will  be  necessary  to  replace  the  loss  of 
revenue  occasioned  if  the  service  tax  is 
repealed. 

A bill  also  has  been  introduced  that 
would  do  away  with  tax  tokens.  If  this 
passes  and  the  service  tax  is  retained,  the 
tax  would  be  dropped  from  tickets  up  to 
15  cents,  one  cent  on  tickets  from  15 
to  65  cents,  and  two  cents  on  tickets  from 
65  cents  to  $1.15. 


B.  F.  SHEARER  COMPANY 

“Theatre  Equipment  Specialists” 

Heywood-Wakefield  Seats 

Wagner  Silhouette  Letters 

Motiograph  Projectors 

1964  So.  Vermont  RO.  1145 

LOS  ANGELES 


H 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


34-A 


^ IE  A T T IL  IE 

•pOPIC  of  the  day  is  the  Ascap  scrap  with 

the  networks  and  other  fields.  News- 
papers feature  articles  telling  of  the  battle 
and  how  it  will  give  the  music-writing 
youngsters  a better  change  to  get  atten- 
tion. Billy  MacDonald  and  his  Royal  High- 
landers, featured  at  the  Trianon  ballroom, 
were  cut  down  to  four  numbers  when  they 
went  on  the  air  the  opening  day  of  the 
restraint.  Ascap  had  all  the  rest.  All 
local  radio  bands  and  musicians  are  tak- 
ing good  old  numbers  and  arranging  them 
to  various  tempos  and  rhythm,  with  the 
result  many  novel  classics  are  being  heard. 
Tommy  Thomas  of  KIRO  thinks  the  radio 
stations  will  have  little  trouble,  because 
BMI  has  cleared  some  400,000  tunes  al- 
ready and  is  sending  out  more  every  day. 
Ascap,  doing  a little  doubletime  thinking, 
sent  permission  to  KTW  to  play  any  and 
all  Ascap  songs  free  of  charge.  KTW  hap- 
pens to  be  the  station  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  Mrs.  C.  Foss,  in  charge 
of  programs,  quickly  announced  that  KTW 
will  play  only  church  music  and  nothing 
popular.  Some  years  ago,  Seattle  amuse- 
ment centers  rose  up  in  rebellion  against 
Ascap  for  collecting  revenue  from  them 
for  the  use  of  various  tunes.  They  went  to 
federal  court  and  Ascap  was  forbidden  to 
operate  here  without  applying  for  a li- 
cense, which  they  never  did. 

The  city  council  stuck  the  owners  of 
pinball  games  a license  of  $25.00  per  year 
on  each  game,  and  the  owner  of  the  es- 
tablishment where  they  are  placed  must 
cough  up  $7.50.  No  games  to  be  placed 
within  a certain  radius  of  schools,  and  any 
establishment  owner  caught  allowing  any 
one  under  21  to  play  the  machines,  is  sub- 
ject to  $300  fine  or  one  year  in  jail  or 
both  . . . One  of  the  local  councilmen  has 
prepared  an  ordinance  which  he  will  pre- 
sent to  the  license  committee  which  would 
regulate  “juke  boxes.”  The  measure  pro- 
vides for  an  annual  fee  of  $15  for  each 
mechanical  music  machine.  Heavy  penal- 
ties for  reproduction  of  vulgarity  or  ob- 
scenity . . . Roy  and  Adelaide  Cooper  up 
from  San  Francisco  for  the  New  Year’s 
and  to  spend  some  time  at  the  hospital 
visiting  Roy’s  mother,  who  is  still  in  a 
serious  condition.  Mother  is  Mrs.  Rose 
Bloom,  wife  of  Al  of  United  Artists. 

Seattle  epicures,  who  for  the  past  few 
months  have  been  sending  up  prolonged 
howls  because  of  the  closing  of  the  famous 
Rippe’s  dining  center,  are  now  cheering. 
John  G.  von  Herberg,  northwest  theatre 
owner,  reopened  the  cafe  under  the  name 
of  Von’s,  and  the  opening  day  he  played 
host  to  over  1,500  enthusiastic  customers. 
Von  will  keep  the  eatery  open  24  hours 
a day  . . . Lloyd  and  Harriet  Lamb,  arriv- 
ing back  in  town  from  Chicago  and  with- 
out telling  a soul,  not  even  his  own  brother. 
Good  to  see  the  couple.  They  will  stay  here 
for  a few  months  . . . Frank  and  Billie 
Sheffield  of  the  Denver  Republic  branch, 
and  Harold  and  Emily  Sheffield  of  the 
Portland  branch  of  Republic,  holding  a re- 
union here  at  the  home  of  their  uncle,  J. 
T.  Sheffield,  northwest  president  of  Re- 
public. “Sheff”  himself  was  called  away 
at  the  time  of  the  gathering  to  attend  a 
very  important  meeting  at  the  Republic 
studios.  History  in  the  making. 

Speaking  of  Republic,  Paul  McElhinney , 
salesman  east  of  the  mountains  for  the 


outfit,  drove  out  with  his  wife  and  young- 
ster for  Salt  Lake  to  visit  his  folks.  They 
returned  in  time  to  holler  Happy  New 
Year  here.  Mrs.  Paul  will  present  papa 
with  an  addition  some  time  in  February 
. . . Rex  Stevenson,  of  the  booking  depart- 
ment for  Golden  State  Theatres  in  San 
Francisco  and  formerly  of  the  Sterling 
booking  department  here,  is  another  of 
those  guys  who  creep  in  town  at  dead  of 
night  and  leave  without  saying  hello.  If 
you  don’t  know  it,  fellows,  Rex  was  here 
for  a few  days  . . . Ben  Shearer  announces 
he  has  transferred  Ted  Lay  from  the  Los 
Angeles  office  to  Seattle.  Ted  is  on  the 
sales  force. 

Paul  Aust  back  from  Los  Angeles  where 
he  spent  four  weeks  because  of  the  death 
of  an  aunt  and  the  serious  illness  of  his 
mother  . . . Jimmy  Ewing  has  officially 
taken  over  the  Granada  in  Auburn.  He  has 
signed  a lease  with  Frank  Graham  to  oper- 
ate the  place  . . . Ned  Edris  up  and  about 
after  two  weeks  home  battling  the  flu  . . . 
John  Lee  of  the  Marjo  in  Ephrata  spend- 
ing some  time  here  closing  deals  . . . Hal 
Daigler  is  home  with  flu  . . . Harry  Land- 
strom  back  to  his  bailiwick  in  Butte  . . . 
Merle  Vaughn  of  the  Music  Box  back  from 
Lewiston,  Ida.,  after  spending  Xmas  with 
the  folks  . . . Ruth  Lund  of  the  same 
theatre  ill  in  bed. 

First  Meeting  for 
PCCITO  Counsel 

Los  Angeles — The  first  organizational 
meeting  of  1941  to  be  held  by  the  trustees 
of  the  Pacific  Coast  Conference  of  Inde- 
pendent Theatre  Owners  January  13  in 
Portland,  Ore.,  will  be  especially  signifi- 
cant because  it  will  be  the  initial  one  at- 
tended by  Albert  J.  Law,  new  general  coun- 
sel for  the  PCCITO,  since  his  appointment 
to  that  post  recently. 

While  not  disclosed,  it  is  expected  the 
topics  to  be  covered  at  the  meeting  will 
include  a discussion  of  the  consent  de- 
cree and  a strengthening  of  the  PCCITO’s 
platform  to  solidify  a united  front  of  in- 
dependent showmen  along  the  Pacific 
Coast. 

Attending,  in  addition  to  Law,  will  be: 
H.  W.  Bruen  and  Jack  Y.  Berman  of  Los 
Angeles,  together  with  R.  H.  Poole,  the 
PCCITO’s  executive  secretary:  Rotus  Har- 
vey and  Ben  Levin  of  San  Francisco:  Bob 
White  and  A.  West  Johnson  of  Oregon, 
and  William  Ripley  and  L.  O.  Lukan  of 
Washington. 

Poole,  who  doubles  as  executive  director 
of  the  ITO  of  So.  Calif,  and  Ariz.,  re- 
cently returned  to  his  desk  after  a week’s 
vacation  spent  in  the  mountains. 


Merle  Oberon  to  Star 

Hollywood — Merle  Oberon  has  been 
signed  for  a starring  role  opposite  Dennis 
Morgan  in  “Affectionately  Yours.”  Lloyd 
Bacon  will  direct  the  Warner  feature. 


Scripting  "Miss  Pinkerton" 

Hollywood — Raymond  Schrock  is  script- 
ing “Miss  Pinkerton,”  Mary  Roberts  Rine- 
hart novel,  for  Warner  Bros. 


SALT  LAKE 

■QTAH  special  taxes,  exclusive  of  those  for 
unemployment  compensation,  reached 
an  all-time  high  in  1940,  according  to  J. 

H.  Bankhead,  cashier  of  the  state  tax  com- 
mission here.  Salt  Lake  City  bank  clear- 
ings increased  appreciably  the  past  year, 
it  was  reported  . . . Paramount  is  enjoy- 
ing very  good  business  on  “Love  Thy 
Neighbor,”  which  opened  on  New  Year’s 
at  the  Center,  Salt  Lake;  Paramount  at 
Provo;  Roxy,  Brigham  City,  Utah;  Or- 
pheum,  Ogden,  Utah,  and  the  Pinney, 
Boise,  Idaho. 

Both  recent  releases  made  in  Inter- 
mountain towns,  “Arizona”  and  “ Santa  Fe 
Trail”  are  doing  good  business  at  first 
runs  here.  “Santa  Fe”  is  in  its  second  run 
at  the  Studio,  and  the  former  is  in  its 
first  week  at  the  Utah  . . . Salt  Lake  folk 
this  year  had  one  of  their  most  gay  and 
expensive  New  Year’s  Eve  celebrations  in  a 
decade,  reports  by  theatres,  restaurants 
and  hotels  indicate  . . . Approximately 

I, 200  Salt  Lake  old  folks  attended  a spe- 
cial showing  of  “The  Thief  of  Bagdad”  at 
the  Paramount,  Intermountain  house 
managed  by  Norman  Sprowl  . . . All  Inter- 
mountain Theatres’  houses  enjoyed  big 
crowds  at  their  specially  arranged  New 
Year’s  shows  . . . Sam  Gardner,  branch 
manager  for  M-G-M,  reports  that  John  P. 
Byrne,  district  manager,  who  was  intend- 
ing to  make  his  headquarters  in  Salt  Lake, 
is  now  headquartering  in  Denver.  He  will 
arrive  here  soon,  however,  for  a confer- 
ence. Ditto  Western  Sales  Manager  E.  M. 
Saunders,  who  comes  on  from  New  York. 

Lon  T.  Fidler,  division  manager  for 
Monogram,  is  recovering  from  a prolonged 
illness,  according  to  local  manager,  W. 
W.  McKendrick  . . . Salesman  C.  F.  Rose 
of  Monogram  went  to  Los  Angeles  for  the 
holidays  . . . Manager  Bill  Seib  of  Co- 
lumbia reports  “Arizona”  is  doing  excep- 
tionally big  in  this  area  . . . Universal 
salesmen  are  back  in  their  respective  ter- 
ritories, H.  W.  Landstrom  having  returned 
from  Seattle  and  Jack  Allander  from  Spo- 
kane. James  French  remained  in  Salt  Lake 
over  the  holidays  . . . The  Paramount 
Theatre  announces  a special  performance, 
January  15,  of  the  San  Francisco  Opera 
Ballet  . . . RKO’s  “Kitty  Foyle”  is  being 
well  received  throughout  this  region,  after 
opening  at  the  Rialto  in  Salt  Lake. 


Hollywood  Paramount 
To  Get  a New  Name 

Los  Angeles — When  President  Charles 
P.  Skouras  of  Fox  West  Coast  Theatres 
and  his  aide,  Andy  Krappman,  return  from 
their  current  New  York  huddles  with  Na- 
tional Theatres  executives,  they  will  bring 
with  them  a new  name  for  the  Paramount 
Theatre,  FWC  subsequent-run  house  in 
Hollywood. 

Decision  to  change  the  theatre’s  name 
was  reached  before  Skouras  left  for  the 
east,  chiefly  because  it  conflicts  with  that 
of  the  Paramount  in  downtown  Los 
Angeles,  a first-run  house  operated  by 
Fanchon  and  Marco.  The  FWC  unit  will, 
at  the  same  time,  be  given  a new  and 
modern  marquee  and  a redecorating  job. 


34-B 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


ID)  IE  N V IE  R 

J^ICK  RICKETSON,  manager  of  the  Fox 
Intermountain  division  of  National 
Theatres,  has  been  named  chairman  of  the 
local  Greek  Relief  campaign,  with  $100,000 
the  quota  for  Denver.  Downtown  head- 
quarters were  established  following  the 
visit  here  of  Spyros  Skouras  in  the  in- 
terest of  the  drive  . . . Frank  Roberts, 
salesman  at  United  Artists,  has  resigned 
and  accepted  a post  with  a former  em- 
ployer, the  J.  H.  Cooper  Theatres,  with 
headquarters  in  Oklahoma  City. 

Harry  Huffman,  city  manager  for  Fox 
Theatres,  has  been  re-elected  president  of 
the  Denver  convention  and  tourist  bureau 
for  the  12th  year  . . . R.  J.  Morrison, 
20th  Century-Fox  exchange  manager,  was 
in  the  hospital  with  the  flu,  but  is  now 
recuperating  at  home.  Several  others  of 
the  exchange  also  experienced  a siege  of 
the  flu,  including  Rene  Buchanan,  Hazel 
Morgan,  Merle  Gwinn,  Helen  Stone,  while 
Hugh  Rennie,  salesman,  is  back  on  the 
road  after  being  home  ill.  Christina  Metz- 
ger was  limping  around  a few  days  as  the 
result  of  a turned  ankle. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tom  Kerby  of  the  Kerby 
Theatre,  Worland,  Wyo.,  passed  through 
Denver  on  their  way  to  California  for  a 
two-month  vacation  . . . J.  J.  (Jap)  Mor- 
gan, manager  of  the  National  Theatre 
Supply  branch  here,  left  for  Los  Angeles 
for  a sales  meeting  . . . Joe  Stone  of  Na- 
tional Theatre  Supply  is  back  from  a holi- 
day visit  with  his  mother  in  Cincinnati 
. . . Harold  McCormick  of  the  Skyline  and 
Rex  theatres  at  Canon  City,  Colo.,  and 
Miss  Jean  Rolfe  of  Denver  were  married 
here  Wednesday.  They  will  make  their 
home  in  Canon  City. 

The  Coppell  Amusement  Co.  has  moved 
to  828  Twenty-first  Street  . . . Jack  Price, 
Premiere  exchange,  whose  mother,  Mrs. 
Ann  Price,  has  been  an  inspectress  for 
years,  expects  to  leave  soon  for  at  least 
a year’s  training  with  the  Colorado  Na- 
tional Guard.  Jack,  a radio  technician, 
will  be  stationed  at  Camp  Forrest,  Tenn. 
. . . Lester  L.  Savage,  Columbia  auditor,  is 
here  checking  accounts. 

A one-day  pep  meeting  was  held  by  the 
RKO  exchange,  presided  over  by  Leo  De- 
vaney,  Canadian  division  manager  and 
captain  of  the  Depinet  sales  drive.  With 
Devaney  were  C.  E.  Smith,  western  divi- 
sion manager,  and  Herb  MacIntyre,  west- 
ern district  manager  . . . The  Christmas 
party  of  the  Paramount  exchange  was  held 
this  week — finally.  It  had  been  postponed 
twice — once  when  Chet  Bell,  manager,  was 
called  to  Los  Angeles  for  a sales  confer- 
ence, and  again  when  he  had  the  flu. 
The  affair,  with  32  in  attendance,  was  held 
at  Hillcrest,  and  was  replete  with  all  the 
trimmings  of  a Christmas  event. 

Pauline  Hall,  Paramount  secretary,  went 
to  the  hospital  for  an  operation  for  a 
growth  on  her  ankle,  occasioned  by  a fall 
about  a year  ago  . . . Helen  Liddeen, 
contract  clerk  at  Paramount,  also  to  hos- 
pital for  an  appendectomy  . . . Lee  Cronk, 
head  shipper  at  Paramount  and  president 
of  the  Film  Employes’  Union,  is  home  with 
the  flu  . . . Commercial  Film  Exchange 
has  contracted  for  six  Fine  Arts  and  three 


Coronados — Dorothy  Page  westerns — for- 
merly released  through  Grand  National. 

David  four-year-old  son  of  Charles  Klein 
of  the  Black  Hills  Amusement  Co.,  is  very 
fond  of  salami.  His  mother  thinks  too 
much  of  it  is  not  good  for  him,  but  his 
father  slips  him  some  extra  on  occasion. 
Now  David  wanted  to  do  something  spe- 
cial for  Santa  Claus,  so  with  his  own  hands 
he  made  a salami-rye  bread  sandwich  and 
placed  it  on  the  mantle  Christmas  Eve. 
The  next  morning,  as  David  was  looking 
at  the  crumbs,  he  said  to  his  father,  “Gee, 
dad,  I forgot  to  leave  Santa  a bottle  of 
beer! ” 

Seen  on  the  Row  booking  and  buying 
supplies'.  Ted  Kemper,  U.  S.  Army  post 
booker;  Larry  Starsmore,  Westland  Thea- 
tres, Colorado  Springs;  Marie  Goodhand, 
American  Theatre,  Kimball,  Neb.;  R.  D. 
Ervin,  Romona,  Kremmling,  Colo.;  Charles 
Klein,  Black  Hills  Amusement  Co.,  Dead- 
wood,  S.  D.;  Claude  Graves,  Coronado, 
Alburquerque,  N.  M.;  C.  G.  Diller,  Vita, 
Cripple  Creek,  Colo. 


Assign  Busby  Berkeley 

Hollywood — Busby  Berkeley  will  create 
and  stage  two  dance  numbers  for  Metro’s 
"Ziegfeld  Girl.” 


£JHRISTMAS  paid  a return  visit  to  104 
employes  of  the  Golden  State  and  San 
Francisco  circuits  this  week  when  $2,500  in 
prizes  was  awarded  in  the  holiday  scrip 
book  drive.  The  checks  were  distributed 
at  a breakfast  in  the  Gold  Room  of  the 
Fairmont  Hotel  which  was  attended  by  233 
employes  of  the  two  chains.  R.  A.  McNeil 
and  Ray  Cooper  made  the  presentations. 

Gordon  Allen  has  checked  out  on  a 
tour  of  the  territory  for  Monogram  . . . 
Abe  Blanco  is  sending  post  cards  from 
Mexico  where  he  is  evidently  having  a 
swell  vacation  . . . Perry  Leiber,  RKO  pub- 
licity director,  is  on  his  first  vacation  in 
two  years  and  is  spending  it  in  San  Fran- 
cisco . . . Crooner  Dick  Powell  sang  a new 
song  this  week.  Powell  served  as  recruiting 
officer  for  the  Army  when  the  mobile  unit 
backed  its  truck  up  to  the  Golden  Gate 
Theatre  where  Dick  is  appearing . Between 
performances  he  told  prospective  recruits 
the  advantages  of  working  for  Uncle  Sam. 

The  branch  managers  and  circuit  heads 
met  at  luncheon  on  Tuesday  to  map  plans 
for  the  “March  of  Dimes”  which  starts  on 
the  15th.  On  Wednesday,  Joseph  M. 
Schenck  and  Milton  Berle  spoke  at  the 
Civic  luncheon  for  the  same  cause.  The 
Northern  California  theatres  hope  to  du- 
plicate last  year’s  record  when  they  col- 
lected over  half  the  money  taken  in  by 
California  theatres  . . . Mike  Newman  in 
town  for  work  on  “This  Thing  Called 
Love”  . . . Joe  Smith  was  installed  as 
president  of  local  B-17  of  the  IATSE  this 
week.  Joe  recently  was  promoted  to  head 
shipper  at  Paramount.  Ray  Kaliski  was 
upped  by  Paramount  from  shipper  to 
booker  ...  V.  Preston,  Warner  booker,  is 
confined  to  his  home  as  the  result  of  burns 
suffered  extinguishing  a small  fire  in  his 
home  . . . The  Coniglio  Brothers  have  taken 
over  the  Rio  in  Rodeo  from  Cecil  Pace. 


(t  ~ ft 

Starts  New  Year  With 
Boxoifice  Marathon 

San  Francisco — Bucky  Williams  set  a 
new  record  while  greeting  1941.  Busi- 
ness was  so  good  at  midnight  on  New 
Year's  Eve  that  the  manager  decided  not 
to  close — sat  himself  at  the  cashier's 
board  and  started  issuing  tickets.  Sur- 
prisingly, business  was  as  good  between 
5 and  6 a.  m.  as  an  average  day's  mati- 
nee and  so  Williams  kept  right  on  going. 
His  was  a 36-hour  marathon  continuous 
run. 

k ■ J) 

Pre-Opening  Inspection 
For  New  Circuit  Unit 

San  Francisco — A pre-opening  inspection 
party  was  held  Friday  at  the  Fox  West- 
Coast  San  Carlos  Theatre.  Invitations  were 
issued  and  admittance  was  by  reservation 
only.  Charles  Skouras  and  other  circuit 
executives  were  on  hand  to  welcome  their 
guests.  The  theatre  was  to  be  opened  to 
the  public  Saturday. 


The  Golden  Gate  conducted  a city-wide 
search  for  a girl  singer  in  connection  with 
the  personal  appearance  of  Bob  Crosby 
and  his  orchestra.  The  winner  teas  Doro- 
thy Fretwell,  student  teacher  at  the  S.  F. 
State  Teachers’  College.  She  was  given  an 
audition  with  the  band,  plus  several  ap- 
pearances on  the  stage  of  the  Gate  . . . 
The  Golden  Gate  Turf  Club  has  made  a 
sucker  of  this  correspondent  with  their 
continual  postponements  after  our  an- 
nouncements of  each  scheduled  start  of  the 
racing  in  Albany.  We  are  trying  again,  as 
Slip  Madigan,  majordomo  of  the  track, 
announces  the  11th  as  the  definite  begin- 
ning of  the  33-day  season. 

Redwood  Circuit  opens  its  Tower  in 
Marysville  on  the  17th  . . . Herman  Cohen 
and  the  missus  are  in  the  south  for  a 
short  vacation.  They  attended  the  Rose 
Bowl  game  . . . Booking  on  the  Row:  Ger- 
ald Hardy,  Hardy  Theatres,  Fresno;  J.  Lee, 
Town  Hall,  Quincy;  Arthur  Fukuda,  Coch- 
ran, Cochran;  Herb  Harris,  Mandarin, 
Stockton;  Yates  Hamm,  Livermore,  Liver- 
more ...  Ed  Levy  reports  his  new  theatre 
in  Dinubia  will  be  ready  soon  . . . Jim  Riley 
and  his  missus  are  absent  from  the  office 
with  the  flu. 

George  and  Allen  Harvey,  formerly  of 
Arbuckle,  have  taken  over  the  Ferndale  in 
Ferndale  and  will  reopen  on  January  18 
. . . The  Row  was  saddened  by  the  news 
that  Ann  Cramton,  wife  of  Charles  Cram- 
ton,  manager  of  the  Walnut  Creek  in  Wal- 
nut Creek,  was  seriously  injured  in  an 
automobile  accident.  Mrs.  Cramtori  and 
her  mother  were  driving  east  when  the 
accident  occurred.  Cramton’s  mother-in- 
law  was  fatally  injured  . . . Warner’s  pre- 
viewed “Four  Mothers”  this  week  . . . Sid 
Weisbaum  is  back  at  his  manager’s  desk 
at  Republic  after  a holiday  trip  to  Denver. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


34-C 


JOHNNY  HARVEY,  Bee  Gee  Theatre,  Bat- 
tleground, had  a serious  accident  on  N. 
E.  Union  Avenue  and  his  brother-in-law 
was  badly  hurt.  Johnny  escaped  serious 
injury,  but  his  car  was  wrecked  . . . War- 
ner will  start  remodeling  the  week  of 
January  13,  and  Auditor  E.  W.  O’Brien 
hopes  to  be  over  the  flu  in  time  to  watch 
the  new  counter  and  other  knick-knacks 
going  in. 

Al  Sather  kept  his  record  clear  this  New 
Year’s  with  a minor  crack-up.  For  the  past 
several  New  Year’s  Al  has  had  the  ques- 
tionable distinction  of  having  some  sort  of 
a car  wreck  (not  punning  at  his  Ply- 
mouth), but  this  year  he  says  he  was  mind- 
ing his  own  business  and  someone  hit  him 
anyivay. 

A cable  off  the  grapevine  tells  of  an  un- 
eventful siege  of  batching  by  Jim  Beale 
and  Lou  Metzelaar.  Mrs.  Beale  left  the 
two  to  their  own  cooking  while  she  visited 
in  Cheyenne,  Wyo.  Reports  were  that 
neither  of  the  boys  could  cook,  but  so  far 
the  eggs  have  been  sunnyside  up. 

Mr.  Jones  of  the  Vista,  Portland,  had 
the  unique  experience  of  having  a dog 
guard  his  theatre  door  the  other  night,  but 
he  wouldn’t  let  the  customers  come  in. 
The  dog  belonged  to  a boy  who  had  left 
his  bicycle  too  near  the  door  while  he  was 
inside  enjoying  the  show.  The  canine  pal 
was  guarding  the  bike  and  unintentionally 
guarding  the  door.  Jones  wishes  he  could 
tram  the  dog  to  bring  patrons  to  the  door 
instead  of  keeping  them  away. 

O.  J.  Holmes,  bigwig  of  the  Holmes  Pro- 
jector Co.,  was  in  recently  conferring  with 
“Mac”  MacLeod  of  Theatres  Utilities  Ser- 
vice Co.,  and  L.  S.  Brown,  newly  ap- 
pointed division  factory  representative 
for  the  Holmes  company.  Brown  came  here 
from  Salt  Lake  City  to  meet  Holmes  . . . 
The  boys  are  telling  the  story  on  Mac- 
Leod that  business  was  so  bad  the  past 
week  that  he  took  time  out  to  repair  the 
family  refrigerator,  disproving  the  old 
theory  that  a carpenter  won’t  repair  his 
own  house,  etc. 

Other  Portland  visitors:  Avery  Combs, 
Camas  and  Washougal;  Ted  Francis,  New- 
berg;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harold  Dow,  Veronia 
and  Tigard;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foster  Blake, 
Los  Angeles;  Heaton  Randall,  Seattle; 
Harry  Lanstrum,  Universal  salesman  in 
Butte;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curl,  Jefferson; 
George  Gessler,  Siveet  Home;  Mendy  Men- 
denhall, Grants  Pass,  all  in  town  booking, 
visiting  and  picking  up  film  . . . Frank  W . 
Sheffield,  from  the  Republic  office  in  Den- 
ver, was  in  town  visiting  his  brother,  Jim. 
They  later  went  to  Seattle  with  their 
families  for  the  holidays. 

The  Orpheum  in  Portland  reverts  to  a 
vaudeville-pictures  policy  January  13.  The 
opening  attraction  will  be  the  Major  Bowes’ 
Amateur  Unit  and  “Second  Chorus,” 
starring  Fred  Astaire  and  Paulette  God- 
dard. Del  Milne,  well  known  orchestra  lea- 
der, will  be  master  of  ceremonies  and  also 
assistant  manager.  Frank  Newman  remains 
as  manager  . . . Mildred  Johns  of  Fox  was 
installed  as  chaplain  in  Ameranth,  an  or- 
ganization associated  with  the  Eastern 


Star.  Frances  Tillman  was  voted  associate 
conductoress  of  her  chapter  of  Eastern 
Star. 

Grade  Fields  will  head  the  benefit  show 
to  be  given  at  the  Public  Auditorium, 
January  22.  It  is  for  British  War  Relief 
. . . Roy  and  Mildred  Brown  came  back 
from  a San  Francisco  vacation  with  the 
distinction  of  being  the  only  local  filmites 
to  attend  the  East-West  football  game  . . . 
Tom  and  Mrs.  Shearer  were  in  S.  F.  but 
they  were  visiting  with  the  Homer  Tegt- 
mier  and  Rotus  Harvey  families. 

Miss  Agnes  Lemmermier,  head  usherette 
at  the  Orpheum,  is  to  be  married  early  in 
February  . . . Marian  Mahoney,  Orpheum 
cashier,  is  back  at  work  after  a siege  of  flu 
. . . Booker  Andy  Anderson,  of  Universal, 
down  with  the  flu  too  . . . Don  Radabaugh, 
Roseburg;  Sam  and  Charlie  Whitesides, 
Corvallis;  Ken  Spears,  Winlock,  were  in 
town  . . . Earl  Baltazar,  Rainier,  stopped 
in  long  enough  to  do  some  booking  and 
tell  about  plans  for  remodeling  his  house. 
Will  reseat  and  redecorate. 

Fox-Evergreen  Plans 
Third  in  Bremerton 

Seattle — A new  1,500  seater  will  be  add- 
ed to  the  Fox-Evergreen  circuit  in  this 
territory.  Bremerton  is  the  site  of  the  new 
house.  Fox  at  present  operates  two  thea- 
tres in  the  town. 

The  present  ship-building  and  defense 
program  in  Bremerton  is  responsible  for 
the  new  building. 


Start  in  Bremerton  on 
Second  Shearer  House 

Seattle — B.  F.  Shearer  announces  work 
has  been  started  on  his  new  theatre  being 
erected  in  Bremerton.  It  will  seat  1,000 
and  be  up-to-the-minute  in  every  detail. 
Shearer  also  owns  the  Tower  in  the  same 
town. 


Jane  Darwell  to  Warner's 

Hollywood — Warner’s  has  borrowed 
Jane  Darwell  from  20th-Fox  for  a char- 
acter role  in  “Thirty  Days  Hath  Septem- 
ber.” 

ft  ft 

Stays  in  High  Gear 
Despite  Illness 

San  Francisco — Charlie  Schlaifer  didn't 
let  a little  thing  like  a concussion  stop 
him  when  bed-ridden  as  "The  Thief  of 
Bagdad"  hammered  at  the  United  Artists 
Theatre.  Against  doctor's  orders,  Schlai- 
fer had  artists  and  Lloyd  Cohen,  his  as- 
sistant, come  out  to  his  bedroom  each 
day  for  exploitation  mapping.  Result: 
The  biggest  week  for  the  house  in  seven 
years.  Charlie  is  back  on  the  job  after 
a two-week  “layoff." 

vv  ■ = JJ 


(<  =ft 

Gilboy  Terminal  Fire 
Loss  Is  Heavy 

San  Francisco — The  fire  at  the  Gilboy 
terminal  was  still  conversation  this  week. 
The  loss  to  building  and  contents  was  set 
at  approximately  $50,000.  The  building 
will  have  to  be  completely  rebuilt  as 
the  celluloid  fire  was  so  terrific  it  twisted 
steel  girders  out  of  shape.  Gilboy  ex- 
presses most  of  the  film  in  this  territory 
and  local  exchanges  had  at  least  two 
cans  of  film  destroyed.  The  origin  of  the 
blaze  is  still  undetermined,  although  it  is 
believed  that  gasoline  combustion  set 
it  off. 

VS  >J 

REVIEW 

FLASHES 

CONVOY  (RKO) — Producer  Michael  Balcon, 
with  the  cooperation  of  the  Royal  Navy  and 
some  highly  effective  model  work,  has  con- 
cocted in  “Convoy"  a naval  thriller  based 
on  the  present  war.  Clive  Brook,  John 
Clements,  Judy  Campbell. 

SIX  LESSONS  FROM  MADAME  LA  ZONGA 
(Univ) — Again  taking  as  a nucleus  the  tune 
and  title  of  a popular  song — this  time  one 
of  more  recent  vintage — Universal  has 
wound  around  it  a fast-moving,  diverting 
tuneful  comedy  which  should  prove  to  be 
a welcome  half  of  any  program.  Lupe  Velez 
and  Leon  Errol  are  co-featured.  Joseph  G. 
Sanford  produced;  John  Rawlins  directed. 

YOU'RE  OUT  OF  LUCK  (Mono)— With  minor 
variations,  this  is  cut  from  the  same  pat- 
tern as  preceding  Frankie  Darros  for  this 
company  in  which  he  plays  a juvenile 
detective;  and,  by  the  same  token,  com- 
pares favorably  with  them  as  good  sup- 
porting program  material.  Darro,  Kay  Sut- 
ton, Mantan  Moreland.  Howard  Brether- 
ton  directed. 


Local  150  and  First  Runs 
Will  Talk  New  Contract 

Los  Angeles  — Conferences  will  be 
launched  shortly  relative  to  the  drafting  of 
a new  contract  between  Projectionists 
Local  150,  IATSE,  and  first-run  theatres 
in  this  territory.  A 26-month  pact  expired 
last  November  and  the  new  agreement  will 
be  made  retroactive  until  that  time. 

Spokesmen  for  the  projectionists  assert 
the  local  will  seek  improved  working  con- 
ditions in  certain  spots  but  will  not  ask 
for  a wage  boost.  Boothmen  in  first-run 
houses  now  receive  $76.10  for  a six-hour, 
six-day  week. 

Negotiating  committee  for  the  local  com- 
prises Earle  Hamilton,  president;  Ralph 
MacDonald,  business  manager;  M o rt 
Sands,  secretary,  and  Ed  Larsson.  First- 
run  theatre  representatives  include  Dick 
Dickson  for  Fox  West  Coast;  Ben  Waller- 
stein,  for  the  Warner  Theatres;  Marco 
Wolf,  Paramount;  Charles  Koerner,  west- 
ern divisional  manager  for  RKO  Theatres, 
and  Rodney  Pantages  of  the  Pantages. 


34-D 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


* 41  Starts  Off  With  Bang 
In  Chicago  Loop  Units 


Cc  " " 'h 

Contested  Election 
Stymies  Solons 

Jefferson  City,  Mo. — Because  the  elec- 
tion of  Forrest  Donnell,  Republican,  as 
governor  of  Missouri  is  being  contested 
by  Lawrence  McDaniel,  his  defeated 
Democratic  opponent,  it  looks  like  there 
will  be  very  little  legislative  activity  for 
some  weeks  to  come.  Until  the  matter 
is  disposed  of,  the  legislative  mills  can- 
not function.  Thus  any  film  bills  which 
might  have  been  thrown  into  the  hop- 
per, will  have  to  mark  time  until  the 
point  is  settled. 

V>  =>) 

May  Loosen  Ascap's 
Grip  in  Wisconsin 


Milwaukee — In  exhibitor  circles  it  is  be- 
lieved that  a ruling  handed  down  by  Fed- 
eral Judge  F.  Ryan  Duffy  here  sustain- 
ing a 1935  statute  which  requires  licenses 
for  music  brokers  and  the  payment  of  a 
25  per  cent  franchise  tax  will  have  a con- 
siderable effect  in  lessening  Ascap’s  power 
in  Wisconsin. 

The  decision  was  handed  down  in  the 
case  of  Leo  Feist,  Inc.,  vs.  Wiley  Young, 
West  Allis  tavern  keeper  and  an  official 
of  the  Tavern  Music  Protective  Ass’n  of 
Wisconsin. 

In  the  action,  taken  under  advisement 
last  May  by  Duffy,  Feist  sued  to  collect 
a $250  copyright  infringement  fee,  claim- 
ing that  Young  had  permitted  the  playing 
of  “The  Waltz  You  Saved  for  Me”  in  his 
tavern  last  January  6 without  permission. 

Injunction  Is  Denied 

Young  filed  a counterclaim,  contending 
that  neither  Feist  nor  Ascap  had  com- 
plied with  the  1935  law  and  requested  an 
injunction  to  restrain  them  from  collect- 
ing fees  for  the  playing  of  copyrighted 
music.  Although  sustaining  the  franchise 
tax,  Duffy  refused  Young  an  injunction, 
holding  that  “there  would  seem  to  be  no 
such  emergency,  or  irreparable  damage 
situation,  which  calls  for  such  action  at 
this  stage  of  the  controversy.” 

Answering  Feist’s  claim  that  the  state 
law  was  unconstitutional,  Duffy  said: 

“It  is  admitted  that  Feist  has  made  no 
attempt  to  comply  with  Chapter  177,  and 
the  same  is  true  with  reference  to  Ascap. 

“Chapter  177  is,  in  form,  a revenue 
measure.  The  payments  to  be  made  there- 
under are  expressly  stated  to  be  a fran- 
chise tax.  The  motives  which  the  legis- 
lature may  have  had  in  enacting  this  law 
are  matters  beyond  the  scope  of  judicial 
inquiry.  A recent  case  decided  by  the 
U.  S.  supreme  court  shows  the  wide  lati- 
tude that  a state  has  under  taxing  power — 
the  state  of  Wisconsin  vs.  J.  C.  Penney 
Co.,  decided  Dec.  16,  1940. 

“While  plaintiff  herein  claims  Chapter 
177  is  unconstitutional,  yet  it  contends 
that  the  case  at  bar  is  not  a proper  one 
in  which  to  test  that  issue.  Certainly,  the 
presumption  must  be  that  this  state  acted 
within  its  constitutional  power.  The  mo- 
tion of  plaintiff  to  dismiss  the  counter- 


Chicago — Business  for  ’41  started  off 
with  a bang  in  Chicago’s  loop  with  “Kitty 
Foyle”  at  the  Palace,  “Love  Thy  Neighbor” 
at  the  Chicago,  and  “Mannerheim  Line” 
at  the  Studio  heading  the  boxoffice  pa- 
rade. 

RKO’s  “Kitty,”  coupled  with  the  same 
company’s  “Saint  in  Palm  Springs,”  is 
proving  the  best  boxoffice  draw  the  RKO 
theatre  has  had  in  ages,  the  women  es- 
pecially, amply  provided  with  hankies, 
making  a bee-line  to  the  Palace.  Tom 
Gorman  says  it  should  run  about  three 
weeks. 

The  second  week  of  Paramount’s  “Love 
Thy  Neighbor”  at  the  B&K  flagship,  the 
Chicago,  is  packing  them  in  especially 
with  a top-notch  stage  show  headed  by 
Tamara.  Herb  Elisburg’s  Studio  is  the 
meeting  place  for  the  “artier”  patrons 
these  days  with  Artkino’s  “Mannerheim 
Line”  going  into  its  fourth  week  and  prov- 
ing to  be  the  best  draw  ever  shown  at  the 
Van  Buren  Street  house. 

Detail  for  week  ended  January  2: 

(Average  is  100) 


Apollo — Arizona  (Col)  115 

Second  good  week. 

Chicago — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t) 150 


Second  week  at  the  B&K  flagship.  Good  reviews 
and  favorable  word-of-mouth  packing  in  the 
customers.  Nice  stage  show  headed  by  Tamara 


also  partly  responsible  for  success  of  film. 

Garrick — Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox)  130 

After  two  terrific  weeks  at  the  Chicago,  the 
Zanuck  success  keeps  ’em  coming  in  at  the 
Garrick. 

Oriental — Lone  Wolf  Keeps  a Date  (Col)  140 

Stage  show,  Ted  Weems’  band,  is  pulling  ’em  in. 

Palace — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO),;  Saint  in  Palm 

Springs  (RKO)  200 

Though  “Kitty  Foyle’’  opened  on  a bad  day, 
Tuesday,  it  warmed  up  New  Year’s  Day  and  has 
the  women  lined  up  on  Randolph  Street. 

Roosevelt — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA)  130 

Swell  holiday  film  and  bringing  in  adults  as 
well  as  youngsters. 

State-Lake — East  of  the  River  (WB)  130 

Film  and  stage  show  cashing  in  on  general 
strong  loop  business. 

Studio — Mannerheim  Line  (Artkino)  200 

Best  thing  that  ever  hit  the  Studio.  Did  300 
first  week,  250  second  week. 

United  Artists — Bitter  Sweet  (M-G-M)  120 


Picture  profiting  from  general  good  business. 


claim  and  to  strike  portions  of  defendant’s 
answer  must  be  denied. 

“As  to  the  defendant’s  motion  for  a 
temporary  injunction,  there  would  seem  to 
be  no  such  emergency,  or  irreparable  dam- 
age situation,  which  calls  for  such  action 
at  this  stage  of  the  controversy.  Further- 
more, this  court  is  informed  that  one  or 
more  cases  are  now  before  the  U.  S.  su- 
preme court  in  which  there  is  at  issue 
the  validity  of  state  legislation  pertaining 
to  the  public  rendition  of  copyrighted 
music.  The  decision  of  such  cases  may 
throw  some  light  on  the  issue  raised  in 
the  case  at  bar.  Such  decisions  are  ex- 
pected to  be  rendered  prior  to  the  time 
that  the  trial  of  this  case  can  be  reached. 
The  motion  of  the  defendant  for  a tem- 
porary injunction  is  denied.” 

The  court  also  held  that  any  “threat  of 
suit”  by  Ascap  to  force  compliance  with  a 
copyright,  as  cited  by  Young,  was  unlaw- 
ful under  the  Wisconsin  statute  and  that 
investigators  employed  by  Ascap  to  de- 
termine violations  of  copyright  by  tavern 


Hiked  Admissions  Help  to 
Build  Milwaukee  Takes 

Milwaukee — Hiked  admissions  for  New 
Year’s  Eve  starting  at  5 p.  m.  of  75  cents 
for  the  Riverside  and  85  cents  for  the  other 
first  runs  helped  up  grosses  for  the  week 
together  with  new  shows  on  New  Year’s 
Day  at  Fox’s  Wisconsin,  Palace  and 
Strand  theatres.  These  latter  houses  played 
special  programs  for  New  Year’s  Eve  only. 
Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  2: 

(Average  is  100) 

Palace — Second  Chorus  (Para’t);  Texas  Rangers 
Ride  Again  (Para’t),  2nd  wk. ; Arizona  (Col), 

New  Year’s  Eve  only  125 

Riverside — Sandy  Gets  Her  Man  (Univ)  ; 

plu§  stage  show  145 

Strand — Arise,  My  Love  (Para’t);  Cherokee 
Strip  (Para’t),  2nd  wk. ; Hudson’s  Bay 

(20th-Fox),  New  Years’  Eve  only  115 

Warner — The  Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA);  Hit 

Parade  of  1941  (Rep),  2nd  wk 120 

Wisconsin — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox);  Great  Pro- 
file (20th-Fox),  2nd  wk. ; Flight  Command 
(M-G-M),  New  Year’s  Eve  only  145 


"Love  Thy  Neighbor"  Is 
Ace  in  Indianapolis 

Indianapolis  — “Love  Thy  Neighbor.” 
Paramount’s  Benny-Alien  attraction,  gave 
the  Circle  double-average  business  during 
the  holiday  week.  Other  local  top-grossers 
were  Columbia’s  “Arizona”  and  Republic’s 
"Melody  Ranch.” 


(Average  is  100) 

Alamo — Three  Men  From  Texas  (Para’t); 

Pride  of  the  Bowery  (Mono)  85 

Ambassador — Melody  Ranch  (Rep),  1st  run; 

Chump  at  Oxford  (UA),  2nd  run 155 

Circle — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t);  Meet 

the  Wildcat  (Univ)  200 

Indiana — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox);  A Night  at 

at  Earl  Carroll’s  (Para’t)  100 

Lyric — Behind  the  News  (Rep);  plus  Nick 

..Lucas  on  stage  95 

Loew’s  Palace  -Arizona  (Col);  Girls  Under 

21  (Col)  155 


keepers  would  have  to  obtain  licenses  from 
the  state. 

The  Wisconsin  law  originally  set  the 
franchise  tax  at  five  per  cent,  but  this 
was  increased  to  25  per  cent  by  an  amend- 
ment in  1937.  Under  the  act,  violators 
are  subject  to  fines  of  from  $200  to  $500 
for  each  offense.  Robert  A.  Hess,  Wis- 
consin counsel  for  Ascap,  is  expected  to 
advise  an  appeal  in  the  ruling. 

If  the  l^w  is  sustained,  it  is  estimated 
that  Ascap  will  be  obliged  to  pay  $50,000 
annually  on  the  reported  $200,000  it  col- 
lects in  Wisconsin. 


P.  /.  Hanson  Dead 

Oshkosh,  Wis. — Death  last  week  claimed 
P.  J.  Hanson,  83,  onetime  operator  of  the 
old  Bijou  in  Rhinelander  and  father  of 
Harvey  Hanson,  operator  of  the  Palace  in 
Antigo.  Besides  his  son,  Hanson  is  sur- 
vived by  his  wife,  two  brothers  and  a 
sister. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


C 


35 


A ''Different"  Policy 
For  "Tobacco  Road" 

By  HAL  TATE 

Chicago — "Twentieth  Century-Fox  will 
release  ‘Tobacco  Road’  differently  from 
any  other  film  that  has  ever  been  released 
in  this  country,”  Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  the 
company’s  vice-president  in  charge  of  pro- 
duction, told  Boxoffice  when  he  passed 
through  Chicago  en  route  to  New  York  to 
accept  the  “Best  Picture  of  1940”  award 
from  the  New  York  Film  Critics  for 
"Grapes  of  Wrath.” 

Discussing  the  film’s  distribution,  Zan- 
uck termed  it  “a  completely  revolutionary 
idea  that’s  never  been  done  before.”  He 
declined  to  give  more  information  on  the 
plan,  saying  he  preferred  waiting  until  de- 
tails had  been  more  completely  arranged  in 
conferences  with  Sidney  R.  Kent,  presi- 
dent, and  Herman  Wobber,  general  man- 
ager of  distribution. 

Zanuck  stopped  off  in  Chicago  on  his 
way  east  to  participate  in  the  New  York 
Film  Critics  broadcast  which  was  heard 
over  a coast-to-coast  NBC-Blue  network 
Sunday  night.  He  was  accompanied  east 
by  his  secretary,  Edward  Laggewie.  While 
in  town,  Zanuck  conferred  with  Eddie  Sil- 
verman of  the  Essaness  circuit  and  Clyde 
W.  Eckhardt,  Chicago  branch  manager  for 
20th  Century-Fox. 

May  Premiere  in  Chicago 

Boxoffice  learned  from  Zanuck  after 
he  had  conferred  with  Silverman 
that  the  latter  made  an  attractive  offer 
for  the  world-premiere  of  “Tobacco  Road” 
in  Chicago.  If  20th  Century-Fox  accepts, 
after  Zanuck  discusses  Silverman’s  pro- 
posal with  Kent  and  Wobber,  the  premiere 
will  be  held  at  the  Woods  in  the  spring — 
probably  about  the  early  part  of  March. 
All  the  leading  stars  of  the  film,  includ- 
ing Charles  Grapewin,  who  plays  the  lead- 
ing role,  and  possibly  other  leading  stars 
on  the  company’s  roster,  will  converge  in 
Chicago  should  the  premiere  materialize. 

Zanuck  noted  the  similarity  between 
“Grapes  of  Wrath”  and  “Tobacco  Road.” 
Both  have  themes  of  social  significance 
and  both  have  had  the  same  technical 
setup:  John  Ford  directing,  Nunnally 

Johnson  handling  the  scripting  and  Zan- 
uck, himself,  in  charge  of  production. 

Mirror  American  Scene 

Zanuck  told  Boxoffice  that  the  com- 
pany’s pictures  in  general  will  strive  to 
portray  the  American  scene.  He  said  that, 
for  the  present  at  least,  pictures  of  the 
“Four  Sons”  anti-Nazi  type  would  be 
tabled,  with  comedies  and  musicals  shar- 
ing a great  deal  of  the  camera  spotlight. 

Zanuck  said  that  his  firm  would  handle 
distribution  of  several  outside  pictures  this 
year.  These  include  two  Howard  Hughes 
productions  of  which  one  is  “The  Outlaw,” 
currently  in  production.  To  date  no  defi- 
nite plans  have  been  formulated  on  the 
selection  of  Hughes’  second  film.  He  said 
20th-Fox  also  would  release  pictures  of  the 
new  actors  “group”  which  includes  Ron- 
ald Colman,  Claudette  Colbert  and  Charles 
Boyer. 


Flu  Epidemic  Hurts 

Dexter,  Mo. — A flu  epidemic  closed 
schools  here  a week  and  seriously  affected 
theatre  attendance. 


Critics'  Award,  Later — 

Before  boarding  the  New  York  Cen- 
tral’s crack  20 th  Century  for  New 
York  to  accept  the  Film  Critics’  award 
designating  “The  Grapes  of  Wrath’’ 
the  outstanding  artistic  film  achieve- 
ment of  1940,  Darryl  F.  Zanuck  (left) 
took  time  out  for  the  above  shot  at 
Chicago’s  La  Salle  Street  station.  With 
the  20th-Fox  production  head,  are  Hal 
Tate,  Boxoffice’s  Central  editor,  in 
the  center,  and  Clyde  W . Eckhardt,  the 
company’s  branch  manager  in  the 
Windy  City. 


ST.  LOUIS 

TIMMY  IRVING,  manager  of  St.  Louis 

Amusement  Co.’s  Maplewood,  has  re- 
ceived many  compliments  on  the  kind  of 
service  Virgil  (Wink)  Dion,  doorman,  ac- 
cords the  cash  customers.  It  seems  that 
Virgil,  in  addition  to  the  customary  work 
of  doorman,  has  converted  himself  into  a 
one-man  information  bureau,  helps  kiddies 
and  elderly  folk  across  busy  thoroughfares 
and  tells  patrons  where  to  park  their  au- 
tomobiles with  a minimum  of  delay. 

Paul  Beisman,  manager  of  the  American 
Theatre  and  the  Municipal  Opera,  made 
12  round  trips  via  airplanes  to  New  York 
during  1940  . . . Nina  Lee,  warblist,  is  con- 
valescing at  her  home  here  from  injuries 
received  in  a recent  automobile  accident 
near  Decatur,  III. 

“Ice  Capades  of  1941”  will  open  a six- 
night  engagement  at  the  Arena  January 
20  . . . Nick  Stuart,  orchestra  leader  who 
has  appeared  in  a number  of  Hollywood 
productions,  played  an  engagement  at  the 
Case  Loma  ballroom. 

Missouri’s  ever-growing  sales  tax  knicked 
the  men.  women  and  children  of  the  state 
for  $24,004,384  in  1940,  according  to  an 
armouncement  by  the  auditor’s  office  at 
Jefferson  City. 

“Ladies  in  Retirement,”  with  Flora  Rob- 
son in  the  top  role,  did  only  $10,000  at 
the  American.  Eight  performances  with  a 
top  of  $2.80,  except  New  Year’s  Eve,  when 
patrons  were  knicked  for  $3.30. 


Frances  Dee  to  "Citadel" 

Hollywood  — Republic  has  ticketed 
Frances  Dee  for  the  lead  opposite  John 
Wayne  in  “Citadel  of  Crime.” 


Flock  to  Chicago  to 
See  Film  Machines 

Chicago  — Midwestern  exhibitors  and 
representatives  of  production  companies 
together  with  other  people  in  the  industry 
are  expected  to  flock  to  Chicago  Monday 
to  personally  inspect  the  new  tavern  film 
machines,  several  of  which  will  be  shown 
for  the  first  time  at  the  Coin  Machine  In- 
dustries Convention  to  be  held  here  at  the 
Sherman  Hotel,  January  13-16. 

To  date,  four  companies  have  already 
leased  space  for  showing  of  their  new 
dime-in-the-slot  movies.  They  are:  Mills 
Novelty  Company,  Chicago;  Repeatoscope 
Coin  Movies,  Inc.,  New  York  City;  Phono- 
Film  Distributing  Co.,  Inc.,  New  York  City, 
and  Visograph  Corp.  of  America,  Los 
Angeles. 

Leading  midwestern  exhibitors  are 
watching  the  new  three  minute  films  with 
a leery  eye,  fearful  that  another  night- 
mare similar  to  radio  competition  may  be 
in  the  offing  with  the  launching  of  the 
machines  on  a national  scale. 

Jack  Kirsch,  president  of  Illinois  Allied, 
when  questioned  by  Boxoffice,  came  out 
flatly  against  the  new  machines  saying 
that  he  felt  they  may  lead  to  the  eventual 
showing  of  “stag”  reels  at  the  neighbor- 
hood taverns.  Then,  too,  the  Allied  ex- 
ecutive, said  “Jimmy  Roosevelt  wants  us 
to  support  him  with  his  35mm  film  then 
he  turns  around  to  produce  competition 
for  us  in  the  16mm  film.”  Other  leading 
exhibitors,  when  questioned  by  Boxoffice, 
also  indicated  their  disapproval  of  the  new 
robot  movies. 

The  Mills  Novelty  Co.,  pioneers  in  what 
is  currently  considered  a “step-child”  of 
the  picture  business,  will  have  two  exhibi- 
tions of  their  “Panoram”  machines.  One 
will  be  at  the  Grey  and  Rose  Rooms  of  the 
Hotel  Sherman  while  the  other  will  be  at 
their  factory  on  Chicago’s  northwest  side. 

All  top-notch  Mills  executives  will  con- 
verge in  Chicago  for  the  showing  of  the 
machines. 

“Open  house”  will  be  held  by  the  Mills 
firm  at  their  factory-showrooms  on  Tues- 
day (January  14).  Top  stars  in  show 
business,  who  will  be  in  Chicago  this  week, 
are  expected  to  participate. 

One  hundred  and  twenty-five  manufac- 
turers of  coin  machines,  including  Cana- 
dian and  Mexican,  will  be  represented  at 
the  convention.  Already  236  space  reser- 
vations have  been  made  at  the  Hotel  Sher- 
man with  4,000  registrations  in. 

St.  Louis  Exhibitors  to 
Aid  Cause  of  Greece 

St.  Louis — A committee  of  local  theatre- 
men  to  raise  funds  for  Greek  war  relief, 
was  organized  here  following  a meeting 
addressed  by  Spyros  Skouras,  National 
Theatres  president  who  is  in  charge  of  the 
campaign  nationally.  Members  include:  A1 
Rosecan,  Princess;  Johnny  Caparal,  Wells- 
ton,  and  Tom  James  of  the  New  Comet, 
Douglas  and  Strand  theatres. 


Billie  Burke  on  Loanout 

Hollywood — Paramount  has  borrowed 
Billie  Burke  from  M-G-M  for  a topline  in 
“One  Night  in  Lisbon.” 


36 


BOXOFFICE  :;  January  11,  1941 


C H M C A G CO 

JJARRY  BRANDT,  president  of  ITOA, 
was  to  have  presided  at  luncheon 
meeting  of  midwestern  motion  picture  de- 
fense committee  at  Drake  Hotel  last  Thurs- 
day. John  Balaban,  Jack  Kirsch,  Eddie 
Silverman,  Jimmy  Coston  and  others  were 
to  have  attended  . . . Christ  Otto  and  his 
Chicago  Film  Carriers  can  take  a bow  for 
going  “over  top”  in  Chicago  Community 
Fund.  They  contributed  over  $500  to  the 
$30,500  which  the  amusement  division 
generously  donated. 

Irving  Schlank,  whose  appointment  as 
district  manager  for  United  Artists,  newly 
created  post,  was  announced  several 
weeks  ago  in  Boxoffice,  will  be  given  testi- 
monial dinner  at  the  Congress  Hotel,  Fri- 
day night.  Talk  is  that  only  top-notch 
film  executives  will  attend  . . . Exhibitors 
tickled  to  death  at  Ascap-BMI  battle. 
Seems  the  sameness  of  the  tunes  on  air  is 
driving  air-patrons  to  theatres. 

Rumor  department:  Herb  Elisburg’s 
Studio  Theatre  being  considered  for  “Fan- 
tasia.” Scheduled  to  open  here  in  Febru- 
ary, no  house,  as  this  column  went  to  press, 
had  been  definitely  chosen  . . . Tom  Gor- 
man going  to  town  on  ads  for  record- 
breaking  “Kitty  Foyle.”  Says  Tom  (in  his 
Palace  Theatre  ads)  : “The  most  terrific 
smash  hit  ever  screened  in  Chicago.” 

Movie-Radio  Dept.:  Tamara,  who  re- 
cently completed  nice  role  in  RKO’s  “No, 
No,  Nanette,”  and  who  finished  successful 
two  weeks’  engagement  at  the  B&K  Chi- 
cago Theatre,  Thursday  night,  appeared  as 
guest  star  on  Boxoffice -Joy  Candy 
Shoppes  weekly  “That’s  Show  Business” 
program  over  WAAF  on  Sunday,  January 
5.  Broadcast  is  at  1:00  p.  m.  . . . Fritz 
Blocki,  for  eight  years  publicity  director  of 
Jones,  Linick  and  Schaefer’s  Oriental 
Theatre,  has  resigned  to  devote  full-time 
to  radio.  Jack  Hess  taking  Fritz’s  place. 
Fritz  now  producing  “Your  Dream  Has 
Come  True”  program  broadcast  Sunday 
afternoons  over  NBC.  Prior  to  his  radio 
mid  publicity  work,  Blocki  was  drama  and 
critic  and  theatrical  columnist  on  the  Chi- 
cago American  (now  the  Herald- Ameri- 
can) for  six  years  . . . Francis  Trout  is 
back  on  the  “Scattergood  Baines”  radio 
show  after  appearing  in  the  screen  version 
of  the  show  before  the  Hollywood  cameras. 
He  will  appear  on  screen  as  “Pliny,”  same 
character  he  portrays  on  the  air.  Wrigley, 
sponsor  of  the  show,  really  going  to  town 
on  promoting  picture  . . . Michael  Bart- 
lett, who  has  leading  role  in  “The  Lilac 
Domino,”  picture  which  recently  played  at 
the  World  Playhouse,  appeared  as  lead  in 
WGN-Mutual  presentation  of  “The  Choco- 
late Soldier.” 

Gleaned  here  and  there:  Mort  Singer, 
III,  is  recent  Chicago  stork  delivery.  Proud 
papa  is  Mort  Singer,  II,  associate  producer 
at  Universal.  Mort  Singer  heads  RKO- 
Singer  circuit  with  headquarters  here  . . . 
Irving  Berlin,  here  in  town  recently,  says 
he’s  working  on  music  for  new  Paramount 
picture.  One  song  is  called  “This  Is  a Great 
Country,”  other  one  is  “Everybody  Knew 
It  But  Me.”  Berlin  will  withhold  release  of 
songs  until  Ascap-BMI  fight  is  settled. 

Warner  Theatres  installing  Coca-Cola 
vending  machines  which  dispense  300 
drinks  without  refilling  . . . Eddie  Silver- 


man back  from  Wisconsin  hunting  trip  . . . 
Louise  Campbell  and  hubby,  Horace  Mac- 
Mahon,  after  spending  holidays  in  town 
with  the  “folks,”  have  gone  to  New  York 
where  the  pair  plan  on  doing  stage  play 
together  . . . Clyde  Eckhardt  reports  that 
he  sold  “Night  Train”  to  World  Playhouse. 
Film,  made  in  England,  got  nice-sendoff  in 
Winchell’s  column  January  7. 

Bob  Snyder,  in  picture  business  for  the 
past  20  years,  and  who  came  here  from 
New  York  a year  ago  to  head  J.  H.  Hoff- 
berg  Productions  in  Chicago,  is  now 
salesman  for  A1  Dezel  Roadshows.  A1  has 
nice  new  office  in  Exhibitor’s  Building  at 
1325  S.  Wabash  . . . Spector’s  Restaurant 
remodeling  and  putting  in  all  stainless 
kitchen  and  own  bakery  department.  Will 
be  ready  February  1 . . . C.  J.  Bulliet,  News 
film  critic,  says  he  notices  improvement 
in  the  new  season’s  pictures.  Says:  “They 
are  directed  with  more  intelligence  and 
merit  greater  public  acceptance.” 

Legal  stuff:  Schubert  Theatres  are  start- 
ing something  new  in  Chicago.  Sponsoring 
spot  announcements  on  WGN  for  various 
attractions  at  their  houses  . . . Bert  Lahr, 
Frances  Williams  and  Benny  Baker,  stars 
of  “Du  Barry  Was  a Lady,”  currently  at 
Erlanger,  starred  on  WGN-Mutual’s  “In 
Chicago  Tonight”  show  last  Thursday 
night  . . . Local  Chicago  Repertory  Group, 
similar  to  New  York’s  Group  Theatre, 
made  hit  with  local  critics  with  their  re- 
cent original  musical:  “Not  on  My  Life.” 


Will  Osborne  Quits 

St.  Louis — Will  Osborne,  orchestra  lead- 
er for  the  past  12  years,  quit  as  head  of 
the  organization  at  the  conclusion  of  his 
engagement  at  Fanchon  & Marco’s  Fox 
last  Thursday.  Dick  Rogers,  his  piano 
player  for  the  past  seven  years,  has  taken 
over  the  baton.  He  recently  was  elected 
president  when  the  band  incorporated. 
Osborne  will  go  to  Hollywood  where  he 
plans  to  appear  in  short  films. 


TRADE  DIRECTORY 

■ — A Handy  Guide  for  the  Exhibitor-^-— — 

CHICAGO 


SIGNS  - MARQUEES  AND 
MAINTENANCE 


White  Way  Electric  Sign  & Maintenance  Co. 
Tom  Flannery,  President 
315-17  W.  Walton  Street 
Phone  DELaware  9111 


THEATRICAL  PRINTING 


PRINTERS 


THEATRICAL 
L PRINTING  j 
; OF  EVERY  \ 
DESCRIPTION 


Ir 


y\ 


: QUICKIES  : 

Vb  - — - J 

By  HAL  TATE 

WE  HAVEN’T  seen  “Cheers  for  Miss 
Bishop,”  but  that  beautiful  four-page 
ad  in  Boxoffice  last  week  of  Martha  Scott 
should,  in  our  opinion,  be  titled  “Cheers 
for  the  United  Artists  Advertising  Dept.” 
A very  neat  job. 


Here’s  why  exhibitors  go  crazy.  Try 
squeezing  the  titles  of  these  two  forth- 
coming releases  on  your  marquee:  Para- 
mount’s “Aldrich  Family  in  Life  With 
Henry”  and  Producer’s  Releasing  Corpora- 
tion’s “Glamour  Girls  Never  Say  No.” 


Say  what  you  will,  we  keep  punching  at 
Boxoffice.  For  the  convenience  of  exhibi- 
tors, even  our  Picture  Guide-Reviews  Ser- 
vice is  punched. 


Is  there  anyone  who  hasn’t  heard  at 
least  4,286  versions  of  the  Paulette  God- 
dard Hollywood  episode? 


Editor  “Red”  Kann  seems  to  believe  in 
a realistic  attitude  even  in  the  title  of  his 
column.  He’s  switched  from  "Notes  to  You” 
to  “Men  and  Events.” 


Susanna  Foster  to  Tour 

Hollywood — Susanna  Foster,  Para- 
mount songstress,  will  make  personal  ap- 
pearances in  20  cities  plugging  her  cur- 
rent starrer,  “The  Hard-Boiled  Canary.” 


FOR  YOUR  BUSINESS 
OR  PLEASURE  TRIP  TO 

ST.  LOUIS 


Directly  opposite  beautiful 
Forest  Park  ...convenient 
transportation  to  all  parts 
of  greater  St.  Louis  ...  Ac- 
commodations featuring 
luxurious  comfort  at  rea- 
sonable rates.  Fine  food 

COOL  SPACIOUS  ROOMS 
AIR  CONDITIONED 
DINING  ROOMS 
CROWN  COCKTAIL  LOUNGE 
ROOMS  WITH  tO, 
PRIVATE  BATH  froni  Cl 
KINGS  HIGHWAY  AT  W.  PINE 
J K BRYAN.  MGR 


HOTEL 


KINGS^WAY 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


37 


gEEN  on  Filmrow:  Harold  V.  Neese,  Bev- 
erly Theatre,  Brazil;  Mrs.  Elsie  Bless- 
ing, Royal,  Danville;  Harold  G.  Reckley, 
Chateau,  Greencastle;  Harry  Van  Noy, 
Paramount,  Anderson;  Mrs.  Hilda  Palmer 
Long,  Hippodrome,  Sheridan;  Harmon  E. 
Allison,  Ritz,  Mooresville;  J.  N.  Dixon, 
Flora,  Flora,  and  Maurice  Reinking,  Terre 
Haute. 

Albert  England  has  joined  the  Sconce 
circuit  as  manager  of  the  State  in  Green- 
field, succeeding  Max  Page  . . . The  Cur- 
tis Butlers  have  returned  from  Florida 
after  spending  their  vacation  there  . . . 
William  H.  Trunick,  district  sales  mana- 
ger for  RCA,  advises  of  the  installation  of 
two  new  sound  systems  in  the  Circle  and 
Indiana  theatres. 

Frank  Nuber,  formerly  with  Indiana 
Theatre  Equipment  Co.,  is  now  giving  all 
of  his  time  to  editing  his  newspaper  in 
Remington,  Ind.  . . . George  Settos  of  the 
Settos  circuit  announces  the  acquisition 
of  the  Amuzu,  Oakland  City,  Ind.,  from 
Carl  Spillman  . . . Sam  Abrams  and  Joe 
Bohn  made  a trip  to  Cincinnati  to  confer 
with  Joe  Goldberg  concei’ning  local  Pro- 
ducers Distributing  Co.  exchange  affairs. 

The  Elnora  at  Elnora.  Ind.,  has  been  re- 
opened under  William  Floerke’s  guidance 
. . . Anne  Martz  is  the  new  cashier  at  the 
Strand  here.  She  succeeds  Joan  Foreman, 
resigned  . . . Morris  Cantor  of  the  Cantor 


Christmas  Basket  Parties 
Prove  Very  Successful 

Chicago — More  than  40,000  needy  Chi- 
cago families  were  furnished  Xmas  feasts 
this  year  as  a result  of  the  success  of  the 
sixth  annual  Movie  Xmas  Basket  Parties 
held  at  neighborhood  theatres.  This  marks 
a new  high  in  the  generosity  for  the  film 
patrons  attending  the  special  shows  ar- 
ranged and  contributed  by  the  film  indus- 
try. Last  year  the  canned  goods  and  non- 
perishable  food-stuffs  totaled  32,000 
baskets. 

Encouraged  by  the  increase  of  more  than 

8.000  baskets,  the  Movie  Christmas  Basket 
Parties  committee,  headed  by  Morris  G. 
Leonard  and  Jack  Kirsch,  has  already  set 

50.000  as  next  year’s  goal.  Distribution  of 
the  food,  as  in  previous  years,  was  made 
by  local  relief  and  church  societies,  and 
the  Federated  Women’s  Clubs  under  the 
supervision  of  Mrs.  Richard  McClure. 


circuit  has  returned  from  a vacation  in 
New  York. 

Herb  Kenney  jr.,  film  critic  for  the 
Indianapolis  News,  selected  “Grapes  of 
Wrath”  as  the  best  picture  of  1940.  Sec- 
ond and  third  places  went  to  “Rebecca” 
and  “The  Long  Voyage  Home,”  respective- 
ly ..  . Charles  Williams,  formerly  with 
National  Theatre  Supply  in  Chicago,  and 
more  recently  with  Joe  Goldberg,  Inc.,  of 
Chicago,  is  now  connected  with  Indiana 
Theatre  Supply  Co. 


MILWAUKEE 

'J'HOMAS  J.  Daly  and  Miss  Jeanette  John- 
son, manager  and  cashier,  respectively, 
of  Fox’s  Uptown  in  Racine,  failed  to  iden- 
tify two  local  youths  as  the  bandits  who 
held  up  the  Racine  house  December  22. 

Truman  Schroeder,  formerly  assistant 
manager  of  the  Brin  in  Menasha,  has  been 
stationed  at  Janesville  temporarily . 

The  Rivoli  at  La  Crosse  was  host  to 
children  of  St.  Michaels  orphanage  at  a 
showing  of  “Little  Nellie  Kelly.” 

Henry  J.  Weinberger,  projectionist  at 
the  Rex  in  Sheboygan,  was  married  last 
week  to  Miss  Emily  Kunstman. 

Droll  Theatre  Supply  Co.,  Chicago,  has 
been  licensed  to  do  business  in  Wisconsin, 
with  Oscar  Olson  listed  as  the  Wisconsin 
agent  for  the  firm. 

Otto  Meister,  operator  of  the  White- 
house  here,  has  been  confined  to  his  home 
with  neuritis. 

Latest  in  theatre  giveaways  is  a new  fur 
coat,  being  offered  by  the  Crescent  at 
Shawano. 

William  Exton  has  inaugurated  a new 
policy  of  three  changes  each  week  at  his 
Roosevelt  in  Kenosha  and  a price  policy  of 
15  cents  until  7 p.  m.  each  evening  except 
Fridays,  Saturdays  and  Sundays. 


How  to  operate  motion  picture  theatres 

profitably 

Here  is  a new  book  full  of  HOW  TO  DO  IT  information,  written  by  a man 
who  believes  that  the  first  objective  of  theatre  management  is  to  make  money. 
In  this  book  he  covers  motion  picture  theatre  management  from  A to  Z, 
giving  the  best  results  of  years  of  experience  as  a guide  in  establishing 
successful  policies,  building  profitable  business,  and  efficiently  operating  any 
size  theatre. 

The  Management  of 
Motion  Picture  Theatres 

By  FRANK  H.  RICKETSON,  Jr. 

Get  This  Great  Aid  to  Theatre  President,  Fox  Inter-Mountain  Theatres,  Inc. 

Management!  GET  IT  TODAY!!  375  p a<3es-  6x9<  illustrated.  $3.su 

Send  check  or  money  order  to 

ASSOCIATED  PUBLICATIONS,  4804  East  Ninth  Street,  Kansas  City,  Missouri 


38 


BOXOFFICE  January  11,  1941 


Urge  Rental  Readjustment 
In  Shift  of  Population 


(7~  ^ 

"Slot"  Films  Have 
Their  Troubles 

Minneapolis — Dime-in-the-slot  films  are 
having  plenty  of  trouble  here,  and  more 
impends. 

Following  a demand  by  the  booth 
operators  that  one  standby  operator  be 
employed  for  every  machine,  the  slot  ma- 
chine films  are  few  and  far  between.  It 
is  known  several  establishments  where 
they  were  placed  had  them  taken  out 
after  representatives  of  the  booth  opera- 
tors' union  made  their  demands.  What's 
more,  pressure  now  is  being  brought  by 
Northwest  Allied  on  the  city  council  for 
the  enactment  of  legislation  which  would 
require  establishments  having  the  ma- 
chines to  take  out  theatre  licenses  at  a 
cost  of  $100  per  year. 

If  the  aldermen  balk  at  the  $100  fee, 
independent  exhibitors  probably  would 
be  satisfied  with  a somewhat  smaller  one. 
However,  they  have  indicated,  they  will 
make  a hard  fight  for  some  sort  of  a li- 
cense fee. 

J 

N.  W.  Allied  Sets 
Convention  Dates 

Minneapolis — Tuesday  and  Wednesday, 
January  21  and  22,  have  been  set  by 
Northwest  Allied  for  its  mid- winter  con- 
vention here  to  study  and  analyze  the 
consent  decree  and  to  consider  proposed 
legislation  for  introduction  in  the  state 
legislature  to  abrogate  and  nullify  the 
decree’s  five-picture  buying  provisions  and 
other  “undesirable”  features. 

The  independent  exhibitors  also  will  map 
out  plans  to  combat  proposed  adverse  the- 
atre legislation  and  to  obtain  the  enact- 
ment of  measures  to  curb  16mm  film  com- 
petition and  new  theatre  construction 
and  to  knock  out  the  Ascap  tax,  if  pos- 
sible. Among  the  proposals  that  will  come 
before  the  Minnesota  state  legislature  are 
a state  theatre  admission  tax  and  the 
prohibition  of  theatre  giveaways. 

Considerable  time  at  the  convention  will 
be  devoted  to  the  discussion  of  ways  and 
means  to  stimulate  patronage,  according 
to  Fred  Strom,  executive  secretary.  Many 
of  the  body’s  leaders  feel  an  increase  in 
theatre  attendance  is  still  a major  problem 
and  might  afford  the  cure  to  many  of 
Northwest  exhibitors’  ills,  he  says. 

Attention  also  will  be  given  to  present 
film  buying  problems,  “particularly  the  de- 
mands of  some  distributors  for  what  Allied 
officers  term  excessive  and  unreasonable 
percentage  demands,”  says  Strom. 

Abe  A.  Kaplan,  prominent  Twin  City 
circuit  operator,  has  been  appointed  by 
President  E.  L.  Peaslee  as  convention 
chairman  with  full  authority  to  conscript 
any  privates  whom  he  desires  to  serve  on 
his  committee. 


To  Warner  Statt 

Minneapolis — Bill  Watmough,  former 
Grand  National  branch  manager  and 
M-G-M  booker  here,  has  joined  the  War- 
ner booking  staff.  Joe  Behan,  head  booker 
at  that  exchange,  has  resigned. 


Threaten  Dime  Shows 
As  Loop  Units  War 

Minneapolis — While  stage  show  war  is 
going  on  in  the  loop  as  a result  of  re- 
opening the  4,000-seat  Minnesota  by  inde- 
pendent interests,  neighborhood  houses  are 
threatening  to  lower  their  admission  prices 
to  a dime. 

A bargain  scale  of  28  and  39  cents  has 
been  established  by  the  Minnesota  for  its 
stage  shows  and  independent  feature  pic- 
tures and  shorts.  The  first  show  had  Ken 
Murray  and  Dixie  Dunbar  as  headliners 
and  Lou  Holtz,  Arlene  Judge,  Wendy  Bar- 
rie and  Lola  Lane  in  person  are  topping 
current  bill.  The  big  “Marcus  Show” 
follows. 

Orpheum  had  Gertrude  Niesen,  Ada 
Leonard  and  Frank  Gaby  among  its  stage 
array,  plus  “Go  West”  on  the  screen, 
against  Minnesota’s  Ken  Murray.  At  the 
Orpheum  Cab  Calloway  will  oppose  the 
‘Marcus  Show.”  Then  the  Orpheum  brings 
in  Joe  Venuti’s  band,  the  Andrews  Sisters 
and  “The  Three  Stooges”  on  one  show.  It 
runs  major  “A”  pictures  with  its  stage 
shows,  but  charges  39  and  55  cents. 

Independent  neighborhood  exhibitors 
claim  many  of  their  patrons  are  being  at- 
tracted away  from  them  to  the  loop  by 
the  stage  magnets  and  entertainment  bar- 
gains, and  they  feel  their  28  cent  admission 
scale  is  out  of  line. 


Northwest  Agricultural 
Income  Upped  in  1940 

Minneapolis — The  film  industry  here  is 
much  encouraged  by  figures  just  published 
by  the  Greater  North  Dakota  Ass’n,  in  its 
annual  report,  showing  that  North  Da- 
kota’s agricultural  income  for  1940,  aggre- 
gating $235,000,000,  was  the  highest  in  11 
years. 

As  other  factors  forecasting  still  fur- 
ther improvement  in  years  ahead,  the  as- 
sociation listed  establishment  of  new  in- 
dustries, new  developments  in  irrigation 
and  lignite  coal,  active  prospecting  for  oil 
and  natural  gas,  increased  tourist  traffic, 
new  cash  crops,  better  tax  payments  and 
reduced  farm  debts. 

Increased  income  and  boosted  purchas- 
ing power  mean  better  boxoffice  returns 
for  North  Dakota  theatres,  exchange  heads 
here  point  out.  The  state’s  1940  farm  in- 
come was  36  per  cent  above  the  $173,000,- 
000  average  for  the  five  previous  years. 
Moreover,  number  of  cattle  on  North  Da- 
kota farms  increased  last  year  from  1,- 

337.000  to  1,433,000  and  sheep  and  lambs 

915.000  to  960,000. 

Minnesota  and  South  Dakota,  serviced 
by  Minneapolis  film  exchanges,  also 
showed  as  big,  if  not  bigger  gains,  in  1940, 
and  western  Wisconsin,  part  of  this  ter- 
ritory, too,  is  said  to  be  improving  by  leaps 
and  bounds. 


Minneapolis — Independents  want  major 
distributors  to  investigate  the  shift  of 
population  away  from  this  territory  due 
to  the  letting  of  defense  contracts  and  in- 
creased employment  elsewhere  and  govern- 
ment’s military  training  program  and  the 
effect  upon  Northwest  exhibitors. 

If  the  distributors  will  do  this  they  will 
realize  the  necessity  of  more  equitable  film 
rental  terms  for  exhibitors  in  this  terri- 
tory, according  to  Fred  Strom,  Northwest 
Allied  executive  secretary. 

Because  of  the  population  shift,  the 
situation  is  extremely  grave  for  Northwest 
theatre  owners,  Strom  declares. 

“If  this  situation  becomes  more  aggra- 
vated, it  will  not  be  a matter  of  lower 
rentals  on  new  film  deals,  but  definitely  a 
necessity  to  make  downward  adjustments 
on  contracts  already  signed  if  many  thea- 
tres are  to  continue  to  remain  open,”  he 
avers. 

Has  Alternate  Plan 

One  way,  however,  that  distributors 
could  prevent  possible  mid-winter  shut- 
downs of  theatres  or  wholesale  contract 
adjustments,  Strom  points  out,  would  be 
to  extend  to  exhibitors  “equitable  terms 
and  playing  arrangements”  on  the  bigger 
pictures,  “thus  enabling  the  exhibitor  to 
recover  some  of  the  losses  sustained  during 
the  showing  of  poor  product.” 

It  is  declared  that  there  is  a veritable 
exodus  from  this  section  of  the  country. 

“Thousands  of  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren, all  potential  customers  of  our  ex- 
hibitors, are  leaving  the  non-industrial 
centers  and  rural  and  farming  areas  of  the 
territory  for  sections  benefiting  to  a much 
greater  degree  from  national  defense  con- 
tracts, as  well  as  sections  in  which  army 
camps  are  being  located,  according  to  our 
survey,”  asserts  Strom. 

Industrial  Centers  Feel  Effects 

“Even  the  industrial  centers  of  the  ter- 
ritory, where  no  benefits  are  being  derived 
from  war  contracts,  are  feeling  the  effects 
of  the  exodus  of  young  men  from  civil  life 
into  the  service  and  others  treking  to  more 
likely  job-hunting  grounds.  Distributors, 
fully  aware  of  the  shift  in  population,  al- 
ready are  boosting  rentals  sky-high  in 
areas  profiting  from  this  shift.  The  neces- 
sary realignment  of  charts  on  which 
rentals  are  based  and  adjustments  of 
present  contracts  and  playing  terms  would 
not  reduce  annual  average  income  of  dis- 
tributors.” 

Strom  calls  attention  to  the  fact  that 
“every  major  film  company,  with  one  ex- 
ception <20th-Fox),  showed  improved 
earnings  during  the  past  year,  despite  loss 
of  much  of  the  foreign  business,  while  the 
independent  exhibitors’  earnings  have  been 
virtually  wiped  out  in  the  same  period.” 
This  “just  doesn’t  make  sense — one  indus- 
try branch  improving  its  financial  position 
all  along  the  line,  while  another  branch, 
the  independent  exhibitors  in  the  North- 
west, is,  for  the  most  part,  facing  financial 
ruin,”  according  to  Strom. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


MW 


39 


€)  M A H A 


Omahans  Defy  Weather 
For  Sterling  Film  Fare 


Omaha — Despite  unfavorable  weather, 
New  Year’s  Eve  and  New  Year’s  Day  busi- 
ness here  was  much  above  average  due 
largely  to  good  product  well  sold  in  ad- 
vance. First  days  of  1941  were  cold  and 
rainy  at  the  start  of  a cold  wave. 

Orpheum  was  well  satisfied  with  $16,300 
for  stage-screen  combination.  Cab  Callo- 
way’s revue  on  the  stage  and  “One  Night 
in  the  Tropics”  on  screen  were  good  for 
sell-out  $3,000  at  New  Year’s  Eve  show  at 
$1  per  person.  Rest  of  week  prices  were 
tilted  to  55-cent  top. 

“Love  Thy  Neighbor”  and  “Youth  Will 
Be  Served”  dual  at  Omaha  also  very  good. 
Preview  New  Year’s  Eve  at  55  cents  with 
regular  run  starting  next  day  at  regular 
prices. 

“Kitty  Foyle”  and  “Saint  in  Palm 
Springs”  were  doubled  at  the  Brandeis  for 
exceptional  week,  including  a New  Year’s 
Eve  show  at  55-cent  top.  Bill  will  be  held 
a second  week. 

Details  for  week  ending  January  5: 


(Average  is  100) 

Brandeis — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  The  Saint  in 

Palm  Springs  (RKO)  200 

Omaha — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t);  Youth 

Will  Be  Served  (20th-Fox)  175 

Orpheum — One  Night  in  the  Tropics  (Univ), 
plus  Cab  Calloway  and  his  Cotton  Club 
Revue  on  stage  120 


" Neighbor " and  "Thief" 
Stand  Out  in  Kaycee 

Kansas  City — Bad  weather  (rain  and 
cold),  proved  no  deterrent  at  the  box- 
offices  of  first  runs  here,  which  offered 
good  pictures  during  the  holidays.  "Love 
Thy  Neighbor”  tipped  the  scales  at  the 
Newman  and  was  held  over  for  a second 
week.  Other  bills  also  were  strong. 

Detail  for  the  week  ended  January  2: 


(Average  is  100) 

Esquire — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox)  110 

Midland — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA);  Great  Plane 

Bobbery  (Col)  150 

Newman — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t)  200 

Orpheum — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO);  South 

of  Suez  (WB)  135 

Tower — Melody  Ranch  (Rep),  plus  stage 

show  with  Mona  Leslie  140 

Uptown — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox)  105 


Minneapolis  Loop  Houses 
Get  OH  to  a Good  Start 

Minneapolis — The  New  Year  has  start- 
ed out  encouragingly  for  loop  boxoffices. 
In  particular,  “Comrade  X,”  at  the  State, 
and  the  Minnesota,  with  “Hit  Parade  of 
1941”  and  a big  stage  show,  have  been 
doing  sensational  business.  “Comrade  X,” 
after  running  eight  days  and  New  Year’s 
Eve  at  the  State,  moves  to  the  Century 
for  an  extension  of  its  downtown  first-run. 


(Average  is  100) 

Aster — Fugitive  From  a Prison  ('amp  (Col); 

Hullabaloo  (M-G-M)  95 

Century — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t),  2nd  wk. . 95 
Esquire — Bluebeard’s  Eighth  Wife  (Para’t), 

reissue  90 

Gopher — Here  Comes  the  Navy  (FN),  reissue.  . 95 
Minnesota- — Hit  Parade  of  1941  (Rep),  plus 

stage  show  with  Ken  Murray 125 

Orpheum — Go  West  (M-G-M),  plus  stage  show 

with  Gertrude  Niesen  95 

State — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  140 

World — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA),  2nd  wk 100 


r>  ^ 

: "Smoothies"  Too  Rough  : 

is—  ■ 7 

Des  Moines — The  Des  Moines  Tribune 
wants  its  film  smoothies  smoother.  It 
thinks  films  should  be  wised  up  on  the 
facts  of  life. 

The  picture  villain  may  have  shaved  the 
handlebar  mustache  off  his  upper  lip,  but 
it  still  adorns  his  manner  and  carriage 
far  too  obviously,  according  to  a recent 
Tribune  editorial. 

Observes  the  disillusioned  editorial 
writer : 

“LESS  OBVIOUS  VILLAINS" 

“A  New  York  movie  reviewer,  who  used 
to  rail  a good  deal  against  people  who 
thought  the  movies  should  be  strained 
down  so  they  wouldn't  hurt  children,  finds 
his  attitude  changed  somewhat  now  that 
he  has  an  8-year-old  daughter. 

“His  old  ‘Let  them  stay  away’  argu- 
ment turns  out  to  be  impractical  without 
‘a  barred  castle,  surrounding  by  electrical- 
ly charged  barbed  wire,  and  kept  by  a 
corps  of  trusted  child  specialists.’ 

“But  he  still  doesn’t  like  the  standards 
of  ‘wholesomeness’  that  most  reformers 
advocate. 

. “The  conventional  ‘wholesome’  movie 
has  virtue  triumphing  over  heavy  odds, 
against  villains  that  the  dullest  child  in 
the  house  can  spot  for  what  they  are  on 
first  appearance. 

“In  the  real  life  for  which  the  chil- 
dren are  being  prepared,  black  and  white 
are  more  mixed,  and  the  successful  vil- 
lains are  plausible  chaps  who  are  not  al- 
ways found  out  until  it  is  too  late. 

“Hence  a REALLY  ‘wholesome’  show 
would  cast  people  like  Clark  Gable,  Mickey 
Rooney,  Errol  Flynn  and  Don  Ameche  as 
the  villains  and  let  Rathbone,  Karloff  and 
Lugosi  take  a turn  as  heroes  occasionally. 

“How  about  it,  Hollywood?” 

Producers  Releasing  Corp . 
Is  Formed  in  Kaycee 

Kansas  City — Producers  Releasing  Corp. 
has  been  formed  here,  with  offices  at 
1820  Wyandotte,  by  John  Muchmore,  W. 
Lee  Norris,  R.  H.  Patt  and  William  Pin- 
cus.  Muchmore  and  Patt  have  the  Holmes 
Projector  Sales  Co.  at  the  same  address, 
and  will  continue  with  it  independently. 
Norris  has  been  operating  the  Norris  Dis- 
tributing Co.  with  independent  product, 
and  William  Pincus  has  been  operating  the 
Royal  Film  Exchange.  Norris  and  Much- 
more  will  do  the  selling.  The  corporation 
has  12  pictures  for  release,  with  38  for 
the  year. 


To  Gayety  Helm 

Minneapolis — Sam  Berg,  who  formerly 
managed  the  Esquire,  has  been  named 
manager  of  the  Gayety  by  its  present  oper- 
ator, Irving  Gillman.  The  house  plays  sub- 
sequent-run dual  bills  at  a dime. 


piLMITES  and  exhibitors  are  back  from 
attending  the  big  football  game  on  the 
west  coast  and  most  of  them  have  recov- 
ered from  Nebraska’s  defeat.  Ike  Rubin, 
Paramount  peddler,  who  is  the  number  one 
believer  that  there  is  no  place  like  Ne- 
braska, probably  will  never  get  over  it 
. . . Slim  Fraser  of  Havelock,  Neb.,  was 
seen  furiously  booking  pictures  at  Warner’s 
after  his  contract  was  approved. 

Don  West  of  Des  Moines  was  among  the 
long  list  of  filmites  from  this  territory  who 
attended  the  big  game  . . . Arrangements 
for  the  premiere  in  Lincoln  of  “Miss 
Bishop’’  look  great.  Gabe  Yorke  has  been 
working  plenty  hard  on  this  one  and  even 
the  calm,  the  cool,  the  collected  Don  Mc- 
Lucas  has  been  getting  excited  about  the 
show  . . . Bill  Miskell,  Orpheum  manager, 
has  been  home  ill. 

Frank  Van  Husan  met  a couple  of  un- 
friendly fellows  in  front  of  his  place  one 
night  recently  and  the  pair  slugged  Van, 
knocking  him  unconscious.  A bystander 
tightened  away  the  sluggers  before  they 
could  take  Van’s  money  and  watch.  He 
spent  four  days  in  the  hospital  . . . Ted 
Emerson  of  Tri-States  is  due  a big  bou- 
quet for  a spread  of  pictures  in  the  local 
press  about  the  new  dance  in  “Second 
Chorus.” 

Tom  Kenyon  of  Paramount  is  all  set  to 
handle  the  details  of  the  Filmrow  ping 
pong  tournament.  He’d  like  to  have  each 
exchange  select  a representative  to  round 
up  entries  for  the  event.  Boxoffice  here- 
by puts  in  his  two  cents  worth  by  listing 
for  Tom  a good  assistant  at  each  ex- 
change. Let’s  get  this  thing  started!  Check 
with  these  folks.  Torn-.  Leon  Mendelson, 
Warner;  Jack  White,  Quality  Theatre  Sup- 
ply; T.  Hilton  Fonda  jr..  Fox;  Bob  John- 
son, Scott-Ballaiityne  Co.;  Max  Rosenblatt, 
National  Screen;  Sain  Stern,  Capitol; 
Charlie  Lieb,  Metro;  Howard  Harvey, 
Western  Theatre  Supply;  Joe  Smith,  RKO; 
Glenn  Rogers,  Film  Transport;  Mary 
Fra7icis,  Mo7iogram;  Sid  McArdle,  UA; 
Bob  Adler,  Columbia;  Joh7i7iy  McBride, 
Republic;  Walt  Green,  Fepco. 

A total  of  29  filmites  and  their  friends 
won  turkeys  during  the  holiday  events 
sponsored  by  the  Omaha  Variety  Club, 
according  to  Edward  Shafton,  secretary. 
Winners  were:  Mrs.  Harry  Shumow,  Mrs. 
George  Adolph,  Mrs.  F.  A.  Van  Husan, 
Mrs.  Ralph  Blank,  Mrs.  Mike  Roth,  Mrs. 
Jack  Ziegler,  Eugene  Blazer,  Mrs.  Iz 
Weiner,  Fred  Cooperman,  Mrs.  A.  Shaw, 
Frank  Van  Husan,  Mrs.  Sidney  Epstein, 
Miss  Ray  Wolowitz,  Mrs.  R.  Parrott,  Miss 
Nellie  Von  Dorn,  Mrs.  Jack  Zide,  Mrs.  Max 
Rosenblatt,  Mrs.  Hymie  Novitsky,  F.  E. 
Hollingsworth,  Frank  Hughes,  Joe  Alper, 
F.  Goldie,  R.  L.  McIntyre,  Julie  Drolick, 
Emelia  Blurk,  Harvey  Hughes,  Lou  An- 
derson and  Roy  Dean. 


Acquire  “Mrs.  Miniver" 

Hollywood — Metro  has  purchased  screen 
rights  to  “Mrs.  Miniver,”  the  Jan  Struther 
novel.  James  Hilton  and  Arthur  Wim- 
peris  will  adapt  the  story  for  Producer 
Sidney  Franklin. 


40 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


K A Y CC  IE  IE 

VISITORS : Irwin  Dubinsky,  Dubinsky 
Brothers,  St.  Joseph,  Mo.;  Homer  F. 
Strowig,  Plaza,  Abilene,  Kas.;  Mrs.  E. 
Nolan,  Ozark,  Cassville,  Mo.;  Ernest  Mo- 
sier,  Neal  Theatre,  Lenora,  Kas.  (Mosier 
manages  the  house  for  H.  N.  Neal  who 
runs  stock  companies  in  Colorado  dur- 
ing the  summer) ; Nick  Kotsis,  Holden, 
Holden,  Mo.,  Oswego,  Oswego,  Kas.;  Mrs. 
Abe  Shafer,  Shafer,  Edgerton,  Mo.;  Tom 
Edwards,  Ozark,  Eldon,  Mo. 

Mrs.  James  Dunn  (nee  Jane  Stanley), 
formerly  with  Metro,  is  now  working  with 
Producers  Releasing  Cory,  here  . . . Mis- 
souri Theatre  Supply  has  sold  carpet, 
screen  and  750  seats  to  the  Uptown  ( Frank 
Cassil) , St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  and  150  seats  to 
Ray  Walsh  for  his  Mainstreet,  Chanute, 
Kas. 

“It’s  what  you  learn  after  you  know  it 
all  that  counts.”  Not  a bad  quip  for  the 
first  week  after  New  Year’s.  Credit  Jimmy 
Winn  of  Warner  ...  A new  subscriber  is 
Mrs.  T.  M.  Edwards  of  Pocatello,  Ida., 
mother  of  the  pride  of  the  Ozarks,  Tom 
Edwards  of  the  Ozark,  Eldon,  Mo. 

RETROSPECT : A page  from  an  April. 
1926,  Ladies  Home  Journal,  an  advertise- 
ment by  Paramount:  “All  Work  and  No 
Play  Doesn’t  Suit  the  World  Today,”  and 
plugging  Harold  Lloyd’s  “For  Heaven’s 
Sake,”  “Behind  the  Front,”  “The  Grand 
Duchess  and  the  Waiter,”  “Vanishing 
American,”  “The  Song  and  Dance  Man,” 
and  “Dancing  Mothers.”  Time  goes  by. 

The  Block  (Ernie)  & Borg  (Russ)  com- 
bination still  insist  on  their  entrance  line, 
‘“Business  is  good!”  . . . Frances  Jacobs 
of  W.  B.  bowled  206  last  week  at  Tier- 
ney-Wheat.  Whew! 

George  Jacoby,  Universal  auditor,  is  in 
town  . . . Monogram  held  a trade  preview 
of  “Her  First  Romance”  at  Edison  Hall, 
Monday  night,  and  had  a good  crowd  in 
spite  of  the  snowstorm. 

In  case  you  haven’t  noticed,  take  a look 
at  the  newly  decorated  marquee  of  Loew’s 
Midland.  Taken  with  the  new  marquee  at 
the  Newman,  the  widening  of  Main  street 
downtown,  and  other  changes,  it  really 
brightens  up  the  stem. 

Harold  Harris,  general  manager  of  H.  J. 
Griffith  Theatres,  Inc.,  has  had  the  flu, 
along  with  many  another,  in  and  out  of 
the  business  . . . H.  J.  Griffith  has  just  re- 
turned from  Oklahoma  City  where  he  has 
been  a couple  of  weeks.  Griffith  will  reopen 
the  Cozy,  Junction  City,  Kas.,  in  a few 
weeks. 

R.  E.  Conrad  has  opened  the  new  Roxy 
at  Wichita,  Kas.  . . . Dave  Dallas,  Griffith 
manager  at  Parsons,  Kas.,  has  been  ill 
with  flu  . . . Charles  Swiercinsky’s  Major 
at  Washington,  Kas.,  is  celebrating  its 
fourth  birthday. 

Al  Tanner,  head  booker  at  20 th-Fox, 
has  been  out  with  the  flu  ..  . RKO  held  a 
special  session  last  Sunday  at  the  ex- 
change. Walter  Branson,  district  manager, 
Chicago,  was  in  as  was  Leo  Devaney, 
Depinet  drive  leader.  They  met  with  T.  R. 
Thompson,  branch  manager,  and  the 


Wayne  Glover  s Boost 
Causes  Four  Shifts 

Kansas  City — When  Wayne  Glover,  for- 
merly assistant  manager  of  the  Grand, 
Topeka,  Kas.,  for  Fox  Midwest  Theatres, 
was  promoted  to  manager  of  the  Oak- 
land, North  Topeka,  the  move  caused 
Louis  Sponsler  of  the  Oakland  to  be  sent 
to  Ft.  Scott,  Kas.,  and  the  Liberty;  H.  D. 
Carroll  from  Fort  Scott  to  Atchison,  Kas.; 
Allen  Karf  from  Atchison  to  Sedalia,  Mo., 
and  J.  E.  Mater  from  Sedalia  to  the  Brook- 
side,  Kansas  City. 


Metro  Borrows  Litel 

Hollywood — Metro  has  borrowed  John 
Litel  from  Warner’s  for  a top  role  in  “The 
Trial  of  Mary  Dugan.” 


Finkelstein  Closes  Bandbox 

Fairfield,  Ia. — The  Bandbox,  a Finkel- 
stein house  here,  has  been  closed. 


salesmen  and  office  force.  Four  from  Na- 
tional Screen  Service  and  Advertising  Ac- 
cessories attended:  Homer  Blackwell, 
Charley  Burns.  Charles  Gregory  and  Bud 
Truog. 


EQUIPMENT  AND  SUPPLIES 

Peterson  “Freezem"  Mig.  & Sales  Co. 

Blowers,  washers,  spray  nozzels,  office  and 
home  units. 

Special  Offer — Priced  to  Sell. 

Why  Pay  More? 

G.  A.  Peterson 

Victor  4075  316  Southwest  Blvd. 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 


A.  A.  Electric  Machinery  Co. 

Ernest  Amoneno,  Mgr. 

1117  Cherry  St.  Phone:  Victor  8796 


Holmes  Projector  Sales  Co. 

Projectors  and  Sound  for  the  Largest  and  Small- 
est Theatre.  John  A.  Muchmore  and  R.  H.  Patt. 
1820  Wyandotte  St.  Kansas  City,  Mo.  HA.  7472 


Missouri  Theatre  Supply  Co. 

Distributors  for 

RCA,  Brenkert,  U.  S.  Air,  Heywood-Wakefield 
115  West  18th  St.  708  West  Grand  Ave. 

GR.  2864  Oklahoma  City, 

Kansas  City,  Mo.  Ok  la 


Stebbins  Theatre  Equipment  Co. 

1804  Wyandotte  St. 

C.  H.  Badger,  Mgr.  Phone:  GRand  0134 

Southwest  Theatre  Equipment  Co.,  Indp't 
Wichita,  Kas. 

C.  D.  Peck,  Mgr.  Phone  2-2153 


Urge  "Fireside  Chats" 
For  Monday  Nights 

Minneapolis — If  President  F.  D.  Roose- 
velt heeds  the  pleas  of  local  independent 
exhibitors,  he’ll  give  his  fireside  radio  talks 
on  Monday  nights,  instead  of  Sundays.  A 
petition  asking  for  this  change  is  now  in 
circulation  among  theatre  owners  here. 

The  petition  will  point  out  that  Sunday 
night  usually  is  one  of  the  week’s  best 
for  theatres  and  the  fireside  talks  cut 
heavily  into  patronage,  thus  depriving  the 
government  of  considerable  tax  revenue. 

On  the  other  hand,  too,  it’s  stated,  the 
President  probably  would  reach  even  more 
listeners  on  Monday  nights,  because  most 
people  are  accustomed,  apparently,  to  re- 
main at  home  on  that  evening.  There  is 
considerable  theatre  attendance  and 
churchgoing  on  Sunday  nights  even  when 
the  President  talks,  the  exhibitors  point 
out. 

There  is  no  more  powerful  opposition, 
however,  than  the  President’s  radio  talks, 
according  to  the  exhibitors. 


Kathryn  Scola  Chore 

Hollywood — Kathryn  Scola  is  scripting 
“Eadie  Was  a Lady”  for  Producer  Gene 
Markey  at  Columbia. 


HOTELS 

HOTEL  MONROE 

MAIN  AT  19TH  ST. 

Two  Blocks  From  Filmrow 
Completely  Renovated  . . Fire- 
Proof  . . Innerspring  Mattresses 
and  Only  1.50  with  Bath  . . . 
$1.00  Without 
CLEAN  AND  FRIENDLY 
Weekly  Rates 

EXHIBITOR  ASSOCIATIONS  ~ 

K.  M.  T.  A. 

221  W.  18th  St.  — Harrison  4825 
Frank  Cassil,  Pres.  Fred  Meyn,  Sec.-Treas 

AIR  CONDITIONING 

National  Air  Conditioning  and 
Engineering  Corp. 

VI.  3535 

213  West  19th  St. — Kansas  City,  Mo. 
Manufacturinq — Enaineerina — Installation 

SCREEN  PUBLICITY 

Alexander  Film  Company 

Motion  Picture  Advertisina 
E.  L.  Harris,,  Dist.  Mgr.,  Mo.,  Kan.,  Neb.,  Iowa 
239  East  72nd  Terrace 

Phone:  HTland  2R94 

FILM  LABORATORIES  ~~ 

MISSOURI  FILM  LABORATORIES 

Charles  O.  Siebenthaler 
110  W.  18th  GR  0708 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Complete  Advertising  Trailer  Service 


TRADE  DIRECTORY 

mA  HANDY  GUIDE  FOR  THE  EXHIBITOR 
KANSAS  CITY  TERRITORY 


BOXOFFICE  :;  January  11,  1941 


41 


Metro  Again  Sets 
Percentage  Deals 

Minneapolis — M-G-M  again  is  said  to 
be  the  only  company  which  is  demanding 
and  getting  percentage  deals  from  Twin 
City  independents.  Four  of  the  pictures 
on  the  1940-41  contract  call  for  percentage. 

Prior  to  the  start  of  each  selling  North- 
west Allied,  representing  the  Minneapolis 
and  St.  Paul  independents,  take  a stand 
against  percentage  and  insist  that  no  ex- 
ception will  be  made  in  the  case  of  M-G-M 
and  just  as  regularly  its  members  yield. 
This  year,  if  anything,  the  organization 
was  more  firm  than  ever  before  in  its  de- 
mand that  M-G-M  sell  flat. 

In  explanation  of  the  fact  that  the 
members  now  have,  or  are,  buying  M-G-M 
on  the  latter’s  percentage  terms,  it  is 
stated  that  the  present  fight  wasn’t  start- 
ed soon  enough  this  year,  but  that  “it 
will  be  different  in  1941.”  In  other  years, 
too,  it  is  explained,  the  effort  to  knock 
out  M-G-M  percentage  pictures  began  too 
late. 

The  current  Northwest  Allied  bulletin 
gives  the  organization’s  analysis  of  buying, 
based  on  its  survey.  It  says: 

“Early  returns  from  our  product  sur- 
vey indicate  that  RKO,  Columbia  and 
Universal  are  still  leading  in  volume  of 
contracts  negotiated.  The  standing  in 
volume  of  sales  is  due  to  the  fact  that 
these  companies  have  made  deals  for  less, 
or  the  same  money,  as  the  previous  sea- 
son in  approximately  50  per  cent  of  their 


in  Style  and  Comfort 

That’s  the  thought  that  vs  always  upper 
most  in  the  inimls  of  those  who  attend 
you  at  Hotel  Fonlenelle.  In  keeping  with 
this  policy,  the  management  is  constantly 
adding  new  features  for  your  comfort 
and  convenience.  The  Amber  Room  Cof- 
fee Shop,  the  King  Cole  Room,  and  the 
Black  Mirror- Bombay  Room  invite  you. 

HOTEL 


FONTENEUE 


deals.  The  sales  of  the  four  remaining 
major  companies  have  bogged  down  con- 
siderably, due  principally  to  exhibitor  re- 
sistance against  the  terms  which  are  be- 
ing demanded.  Monogram  and  Republic 
are  making  a satisfactory  showing.” 

Selling  policies  of  the  various  companies 
in  the  territory  are  said  to  have  been  as 
follows: 

Paramount 

“Paramount  continues  to  sell  the  ma- 
jority of  their  deals  on  all-flat  basis.  This 
company  has  a strict  tendency  toward 
insisting  upon  the  sales  of  their  shorts 
and  newsreels,  but  where  exhibitor  resist- 
ance is  sufficiently  strong  a contract  can 
be  negotiated  without  any,  or  at  least  a 
very  limited,  quota  of  shorts  and  news- 
reels. 

RKO  Radio 

“RKO  Radio  is  selling  the  majority  of  its 
accounts  on  a flat  basis.  Many  deals  were 
selective  and  RKO  has  not  applied  severe 
pressure  to  obtain  contracts  on  shorts  or 
newsreels.  Its  willingness  to  grant  10  or 
20  per  cent  cancellation  privileges  and  to 
sell  at  the  same  terms,  or  less,  than  those 
which  obtained  last  season,  accounts  for 
its  lead  in  the  volume  of  sales  obtained. 

Warner  Bros. 

“Vitagraph,  in  most  instances,  insisted 
upon  percentage  deals  until  December  of 
last  year.  It  is  deviating  from  that  policy 
for  1940-41  and  will  negotiate  all  flat  ren- 
tal contracts.  However,  the  flat  rental 
terms  are  determined  by  the  boxoffice  fig- 
ures which  it  obtained  on  percentage  pic- 
tures from  exhibitors  last  year. 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

“Metro  is  selling  a minimum  of  four 
pictures  on  percentage.  Although  some  of 
the  more  ambitious  sales  representatives  of 
this  company  are  demanding,  and  even 
insisting  upon,  percentage  for  their  second 
group  of  10  pictures,  the  company  posi- 
tively is  approving  deals  in  which  there  are 
only  four  on  percentage.  In  fact,  our  sur- 
vey reveals  that  the  majority  of  exhibitors 
are  buying  the  second  group  flat. 

20th  Century-Fox 

“Twentieth-Fox  has  sold  mostly  flat 
deals.  It  grants  cancellation  varying  from 
10  to  20  per  cent.  In  many  instances,  it 
has  sold  selective  contracts.  Where  per- 
centage was  sold,  it  usually  was  without 
a guarantee  or  preferred  playing  time. 

Universal 

“Universal  generally  has  sold  flat  and 
given  a cancellation  privilege  of  from  10 
to  20  per  cent.  It  does  not  force  shorts 
in  the  majority  of  cases. 

United  Artists 

“United  Artists  has  no  set  sales  policy. 
It  is  offering  22  or  more  pictures  with  a 
very  wide  variation  in  the  sorts  of  deals 
sold.  Usually  the  pictures  are  sold  flat. 

Republic,  Monogram 

“Republic  and  Monogram,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  competitive  spots,  has  sold  ex- 
hibitors on  favorable  terms.  Some  exhibi- 
tors have  made  spot-booking  arrangements 
with  these  companies. 

Columbia 

“Columbia — As  is  the  case  with  Mono- 
gram and  Republic,  exhibitors  have  bought 
Columbia  at  practically  their  own  terms. 
The  majority  of  deals  have  been  flat.  It 
has  sold  selective  contracts  or  granted  a 
large  cancellation  privilege.  The  nature 
of  the  very  few  percentage  deals  does  not 
warrant  comment.” 


Screenings  Aplenty 
Seen  Under  Decree 

Kansas  City — About  twice  a week,  in 
the  future,  exhibitors  can  expect  to  be 
offered  a full  day’s  program  of  features 
for  inspection,  according  to  the  terms  of 
the  consent  decree.  After  sitting  through 
one  feature  in  the  morning,  two  in  the 
afternoon,  and  two  in  the  evening  (if  he 
gets  that  far),  the  exhibitor  will  begin  to 
realize  what  the  average  patron  has  been 
going  through  with  double,  triple  and 
quadruple  bills,  one  film  man  commented 
here  last  week. 

Exhibitors  are  shaking  their  heads  over 
the  prospect.  There  is  little  talk  about  the 
arbitration  feature  of  the  decree;  a good 
deal  about  the  blocks-of-five.  Exhibitors 
already  are  admitting  that  they  don’t  be- 
lieve they’ll  look  at  all  the  pictures.  Fur- 
ther, they  point  out,  under  the  decree  the 
exhibitor  isn’t  going  to  be  any  surer  about 
the  marketability  of  the  product  than  he 
was  before,  because  “you  can’t  tell  by 
looking  at  them.” 

Exhibitor:  Will  I have  to  look  at  all 
those  pictures? 

Distributor:  No,  but  we’ll  have  to  screen 
them  so  you  can  see  them  if  you  want  to. 

Exhibitor:  Well,  I can  tell  you  right 
now,  I’m  not  going  to  look  at  them! 

Distributor  2:  It’s  going  to  cost  $450,000 
for  arbitration  the  first  year.  Arbitra- 
tion is  supposed  to  be  a substitute  for 
going  to  court. 

Exhibitor  2:  You  can  buy  an  awful  lot 
of  litigation  for  $450,000  a year! 

Which  moved  one  observer  to  comment 
that  apparently  it  isn’t  the  fighting  with- 
in the  industry  that  exhibitors  mind,  but 
the  cost  of  it. 

Omaha  Barkers  Swing 
Into  Active  Season 

Omaha — The  winter  social  season  for 
Omaha  Variety  Club  is  now  in  full  swing 
and  indications  point  to  a lot  of  “good 
times”  at  the  club’s  layout  in  the  Fon- 
tenelle  Hotel. 

The  grand  inaugural  ball  and  dinner- 
dance  will  be  held  January  19,  in  the  Fon- 
tenelle  ballroom,  starting  at  8 p.  m.  Tick- 
ets for  the  dinner  and  dance  will  be  $2.50 
per  person. 

Gene  Blazer,  attorney  connected  with 
the  film  industry,  will  have  open  house  at 
his  new  home  in  West  Omaha  on  Feb- 
ruary 2 for  all  Variety  Club  members 
and  their  friends.  The  advance  notices 
promise  to  tell  everyone  “how  a bachelor 
lives.” 

An  old-fashioned  Valentine  box  social 
will  be  held  February  16  in  the  clubrooms. 
Each  lady  will  bring  a box  containing 
food  for  two  and  the  boxes  will  be  auc- 
tioned to  the  highest  bidders.  There  will 
be  a grand  award  for  the  most  outstand- 
ing box. 


Middleton  Equips 

Forsythe,  Mo. — E.  E.  Middleton  has  pur- 
chased projection  and  sound  equipment 
for  his  new  theatre  here,  reports  John 
Muchmore  of  Holmes’  Equipment  Co. 


42 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


jyjEL  EVIDON,  Columbia  branch  mana- 
ger from  Des  Moines,  up  for  a visit 
with  his  parents  and  brothers  . . . A1 
Aved,  Columbia  salesman,  visiting  his  wife’s 
parents  in  Blue  Earth,  Minn.  . . . Rud 
Lohrenz,  Warner  district  manager,  in  town 
. . . A1  Putz,  M-G-M  office  manager,  has 
a hobby.  It’s  carpentering  and  wood  carv- 
ing. Accommodatingly,  he  made  numer- 
ous articles  of  furniture  for  the  girl  em- 
ployes charm  room  in  the  exchange.  To 
show  their  appi’eciation,  the  femmes  gave 
him  a friend  chicken  luncheon  and  pre- 
sented him  with  a mitre  box  for  his  work- 
shop. He  was  the  only  male  present  at 
the  affair.  Lucky  Al. 

Ernie  Hill,  Bill  Grant  and  Earle  Per- 
kins of  the  local  Warner  office,  fifth, 
sixth  and  seventh,  respectively , nationally, 
the  first  week  of  the  Sears  20th  anni- 
versary sales  drive  . . . “Shim”  Chapman, 
Columbia  salesman  in  Milwaukee,  here  af- 
ter a Florida  vacation  to  visit  his  brother, 
“Hy,”  head  of  the  Columbia  exchange 
here  ...  A.  Selby  Carr,  Paramount  of- 
fice manager,  avers  that  his  company’s 
colored  cartoon  comedy,  “Raggedy  Ann,” 
is  one  of  the  finest  things  of  its  kind  that 
he  ever  has  seen. 

The  “little  judge”  Ben  Meshbesher,  Re- 
public salesman,  driving  a new  car.  Says 
he  can  thank  Gene  Autry  . . . Ben  Landy, 
Columbia  booker,  who  has  been  complain- 
ing because,  for  a certain  reason,  he  had 
to  change  his  brand  of  cigars,  is  going 
great  guns  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  handball 
tournament  . . . Morgan  Ames,  Mort  H. 
Singer’s  general  manager,  a visitor  . . . 
Tom  Burke,  Monogram  branch  manager 
in  Des  Moines,  here  on  a brief  vacation, 
looking  the  home  town  over  again. 

Charlie  Jackson,  Warner  salesman,  and 
the  wife  went  through  the  Mayo  Clinic 
at  Rochester,  Minn.,  for  a complete  phy- 
sical checkup.  The  clinic  pronounced  both 
of  them  100  per  cent  sound  . . . Amy  Pod- 
vin  and  Mary  Kuth  of  the  M-G-M  office 
staff  off  to  Chicago  for  a week’s  vacation 
. . . RKO  exchange  flashily  decorated  for 
the  Ned  Depinet  drive  which  starts  Janu- 
ary 25.  Its  “Kitty  Foyle,”  highly  ac- 
claimed, goes  into  the  State  here  De- 
cember 17. 

Bill  Scholl,  RKO  exploiteer,  claims  he’s 
“all  through”  romancing  . . . The  father- 
in-law  of  Joe  Wolf,  Paramount  city  sales- 
man, passed  away  here  . . . Out-of-town 
exhibitors  visiting  Filmrow  included  Mrs. 
George  Johnson,  Colfax,  Wis.;  W.  J.  Car- 
ter, Plainview,  Minn.;  Jack  Heywood,  New 
Richmond,  Wis.;  Sheldon  Grengs,  Clou- 
quet,  Minn.;  J.  S.  Johnson,  Gales ville,  Wis., 
and  Joe  and  Mrs.  Schindle,  Granite  Falls, 
Minn.  . . . Plenty  of  Hollywood  celebrities 
in  town  this  week,  including  Lou  Holtz, 
Wendy  Barrie,  Lola  Lane  and  Arline  Judge. 
They’re  playing  a personal  appearance  en- 
gagement at  the  Minnesota  Theatre.  The 
Orpheum  has  the  Andrews  Sisters  and  the 
“Three  Stooges”  on  the  way. 

Leo  Adler,  United  Artists  home-office 
traveling  auditor,  in  towyi  . . . Plenty  of 
Filmrow  bunch  in  the  south  vacationing. 
They  include  Gilbert  Nathanson,  Republic 
branch  manager;  George  Fosdick,  Repub- 
lic salesman;  Moe  Levy,  20 th-Fox  district 
manager,  and  Jack  Cohan,  20 th-Fox  sales- 


Cr  --  - -■  ■ ■ ^ 

: B,  O.  Claus  Delivers  : 

^ v 

Omaha — Apparently  the  Omaha  cor- 
respondent for  Boxoffice  has  a direct 
wire  to  all  parts  of  the  globe  (including 
the  North  Pole),  or  a good  crystal  ball 
or  something.  Recently  the  Omaha  col- 
umn was  in  the  form  of  a letter  to  Santa 
Claus  asking  for  gifts  for  the  various 
exhibitors  and  filmites.  The  letter  tried 
to  make  the  gifts  appropriate  in  keeping 
with  the  exhibitors’  hobbies.  Here’s  the 
result: 

“Dear  Friend  Monte  Davis:  Just  a short 
note  to  tell  you  that  you  are  a mind  reader, 
or  you  have  a direct  pull  with  the  man 
that  is  called  Santa  Claus. 

“Some  few  weeks  ago  I read  that  L.  E. 
Burkey  of  the  Ritz  Theatre,  Deshler, 
Neb.,  wanted  a rod  and  reel  as  his  gift 
from  Santa  Claus.  I still  think  you  have 
strings  that  can  be  pulled.  This  is  to 
notify  you  that  the  Old  Boy  brought  the 
rod  and  reel. 

“Thanks  to  you  and  pass  the  good  word 
on  to  old  St.  Nick  that  the  gift  was  more 
than  wanted  and  I’m  more  than  thank- 
ful.” Signed — L.  E.  Burkey. 


Discards  Role  of  Critic 
In  Picking  "Ten  Best" 

Omaha — Keith  Wilson,  Omaha  World- 
Herald  film  critic,  selected  his  ten  best 
pictures  of  1940  “just  because  he  liked 
them”  and  not  from  a critic’s  viewpoint, 
he  told  Boxoffice. 

They  are:  “Rebecca”  (UA),  “Gone  With 
the  Wind”  (M-G-M),  “Grapes  of  Wrath” 
<20th-Fox),  “I  Love  You  Again”  (M-G-M), 
“The  Great  McGinty”  (Para’t),  “Abe 
Lincoln  in  Illinois”  (RKO),  “Susan  and 
God”  (M-G-M),  “Our  Town”  (UA), 
“Spring  Parade”  <Univ),  and  “Angels  Over 
Broadway”  (Col). 


Team  Mowbray  and  MacBride 

Hollywood — Alan  Mowbray  and  Donald 
MacBride  have  been  signed  by  RKO  to 
appear  as  a team  in  four  pictures  yearly. 


man.  Two  who  returned  this  week  are 
Ben  Blotcky,  Paramount  branch  manager, 
from  Florida,  and  L.  E.  Goldhammer, 
RKO  district  manager,  from  California. 


Set  Final  Plans  for 
'Miss  Bishop'  Debut 

Lincoln — Premiere  of  “Cheers  for  Miss 
Bishop”  gets  under  way  Monday,  January 
13,  when  Authoress  Bess  Streeter  Aldrich 
and  Director  Tay  Garnett  lead  the  pro- 
cession of  personalities  into  Lincoln.  Mrs. 
Aldrich  will  have  a session  of  autograph- 
ing books,  and  Garnett  will  lecture  on 
“How  to  Make  a Movie”  at  the  University 
of  Nebraska. 

They  will  be  honored  at  a dinner  that 
evening  at  the  Capitol  Hotel.  The  next 
morning  about  8:30  o’clock,  the  Hollywood 
train  gets  in  with  a dozen  players  led  by 
William  Gargan,  Marsha  Hunt  and  Mary 
Anderson,  of  the  film’s  cast. 

There  will  be  a public  reception  at  the 
University  coliseum,  a luncheon  at  the 
chamber  of  commerce,  a tea  at  the  Corn- 
husker  Hotel,  a banquet  in  the  evening, 
and  the  premiere  with  personal  appear- 
ances at  three  theatres.  Gabe  Yorke  and 
Bernie  Evens,  publicists,  have  been  on 
the  job  here  four  weeks. 


Friedl  and  Friedman 
To  Defense  Council 

Minneapolis — John  J.  Friedl,  Minnesota 
Amusement  Co.  president,  and  Ben  Fried- 
man, prominent  independent  circuit  owner, 
have  been  appointed  to  represent  the  mo- 
tion picture  industry  here  on  the  national 
defense  council. 


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BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


42-A 


CJTAN  and  Marguerite  Mayer’s  flag-wav- 
ing Christinas  greeting  which  awaited 
us  when  we  got  back  home  was  right  in 
tune  with  our  God-Bless-America-We’re- 
Proud-to-Be-Americans’  attitude  now  that 
we’ve  seen  Mexico  . . . we’re  in  the  mar- 
ket for  the  biggest  flag  we  can  afford  to 
buy  ...  we  faithfully  promise  to  pledge 
allegiance  every  morning  and  are  instruct- 
ing Mitzi,  who  insists  on  saying  grace  at 
the  dinner  table,  to  include  the  Land  of 
the  Free  and  the  Home  of  the  Brave  in 
family  devotions  ...  in  other  words,  we’re 
so  glad  to  be  home. 

On  our  way  back  to  DM,  we  stopped  in 
at  the  home  of  Boxoffice  in  Kaycee  and 
met  Boss  Ben  Shlyen  (blond,  spry,  serious  - 
minded  sort  of  gent  with  a nice  twinkle  in 
his  eye,  and  a definite  purpose  in  life); 
Editor  Formby  (alert,  straightforward,  and 
what  was  most  surprising  to  us,  not  at- 
fay!);  Moneybags  Morris  Schlozman  (just 
as  human  as  you  and  I,  and  honest  he 
didn’t  say  a word  about  finances  all  the 
time  we  were  there!)  We  were  introduced 
to  the  entire  staff,  including  the  nice  boy 
who  along  with  us  probably  knows  more 
about  The  Hague’s  significance  in  interna- 
tional affairs  than  Haig’s  importance  to 
the  liquor  market  (he  read  and  failed  to 
correct  our  Hague  & Hague  to  Haig  & 
Haig — maybe  we  both  need  a lesson  from 
Mitzi  who  calls  the  famous  pinch-bottle 
simply,  “a  snort”). 

Stopped  up  at  Tri-States  a minute  and 
found  Harry  Holdsberg  fretting  about  the 
snow  . . . Hazel  Dunn  was  doing  her  steno- 
ing  chores  like  a good  girl  . . . Art  Stolte 
was  dreaming  about  fishing  days  to  come, 
and  promised  us  again  that  he'd  show  us 
those  color  pictures  he’s  taken  of  his  past 
triumphs  over  the  finny  tribe  ...  We  saw 
one  of  our  unmentionables  in  the  hall  . . . 
talked  with  DD  long  enough  to  find  out 
that  she  and  family  had  one  fine  time  in 
the  Dakotas  . . . now  DD  is  having  one 
fine  time  finding  room  for  herself  in  her 
office  atop  all  the  newspapers  and  tear 
sheets  thoughtfully  and  lovingly  saved  for 
her  by  Stolte,  Holdsberg  and  Dunn  . . . G. 
Ralph  Branton  was  getting  ready  to  leave 
for  NY  . . . and  this  reminds  us,  Nancy’s 
pic  was  in  the  Sunday  R&T  again  ...  we 
think  the  sheet  oughta  put  the  young  pret- 
tiful  on  the  payroll. 

Exploitation  men  crossed  paths  in  Des 
Moines,  Monday,  but  not  at  the  R&T  . . . 
Dapper,  air-minded  Jack  Thoma  was 
around  to  push  “Arizona”  a little  harder 
for  Columbia  . . . Discovering  & Co.  was 
burrowing  through  stacks  of  vacation-ac- 
cumulated Hollywood  stills  and  in  no  mood 
for  more,  Jack  concentrated,  to  his  sorrow, 
on  Emil  Franke  . . . Thoma  should  have 
known  that  Emil  was  an  expert  on  the  pin- 
ball machine  right  next  door. 

Louis  Hellborn  took  Chuck  Lounsbury’s 
word  that  Boxoffice  & Co.  were  still  south 
of  the  blizzard  zone  . . . Chuck  discovered 
later  in  the  day,  when  he  collected  the 
hellos  sent  by  Friedel  and  Gilmour  from 
Santa  Fe,  that  he’s  given  the  Metro  celery 
shipper  a bum  steer  ...  A Sunday  con- 
densation of  the  Morley  book  in  the  R&T 
mag  section  helped  Franke  make  a debu- 
tante out  of  RKO’s  white  collar  gal,  “Kitty 
Foyle”  . . . Her  boxoffice  ranking  at  the 


Orpheum  currently  is  second  only  to  “Fol- 
low the  Fleet,”  house  record-holder,  and 
she’s  reported  to  be  getting  kicked  out 
after  nine  days  only  because  of  the  pres- 
sure of  upcoming  film. 


More  Contributions 
Jrrom  Guest  Columnists 
JTDD1E  DUNN — skywriting:  Things  I 

never  knew  until  I took  up  flying  (.with 
apologies  to  W.  W.) : 

That  a mile  square  airport  looks  like  a 
postage  stamp  when  you  try  to  land  the 
first  time  . . . That  a seven  or  eight  hun- 
dred pound  plane  could  bounce  so  high 
. . . That  after  a very  bad  session,  the 
plane  will  leer  at  you  . . . That  there  must 
be  at  least  100  air  traffic  rules  to  haunt 
you  . . . That  a Civil  Airway  becomes 
very  “uncivil”  when  a 25-mile-an-hour 
wmd  starts  blowing  . . . That  anything 
could  be  so  lonely  as  that  first  solo  hop 
. . . That  it  is  more  convenient  to  eat 
after  flying  in  rough  weather.  It  saves 
the  extra  meal  and  the  appearance  of  the 
ship  . . . That  you  don’t  have  to  be  a 
millionaire  to  fly,  but  it  sure  would  help! 


gILL  BECKLEY,  crawling  with  type  lice, 

scratches:  I used  to  be  in  the  pub- 
lishing business  myself,  down  in  St.  Louis 
— but  it  was  in  the  advertising  end.  Then 
they  built  the  Orpheum  a few  blocks  away 

(t  = =h 

: No  Idle  Boast  : 

v — =i) 

Des  Moines — There  oughta  be  a law! 
Yes  and  mebbe  even  a senate  investiga- 
tion! 

Things  have  come  to  a pretty  pass  on 
Filmrow  here  when  gal  gets  hugs  on  the 
job  that  challenge  those  she  gets  at  home. 

If  you  don’t  think  so,  ask  Mr.  Begley, 
the  guy  who  not  too  long  ago  put  a ring 
on  the  finger  of  Paramount’s  Mildred 
Johnson  and  ruled  the  domestic  roost. 

That  was  before  Big  Boy  came  along! 

Big  Boy  is  the  650-pound  tame  grizzly 
bear  that  appeared  in  “Untamed.”  He 
was  in  town  recently  and  strolled  over  to 
the  Paramount  exchange  to  inquire  into 
the  reception  of  his  film  efforts  in  Iowa. 

Big  Boy  climbed  the  stairs  there  and 
waddled,  unattended,  into  Manager  Ray 
Copeland’s  office.  He  scared  Ray  out  of 
19  years’  growth  here  and  clear  down  to 
Kansas  City.  You’ve  probably  read  about 
the  transfer. 

Big  Boy  was  feeling  romantic  and  of- 
fered to  demonstrate  a bear  hug.  Mil- 
dred volunteered  to  cooperate  but  thwart- 
ed gossip-mongers  by  performing  out  in 
front  of  the  exchange  where  all  the  world 
might  watch. 

So  Husband  Begley  is  boasting  these 
days. 

“It  takes  a good  man  to  beat  a 650- 
pound  hug.” 


Teamed  on  Cohan  Play 

Hollywood — Don  Ettingler  and  Edwin 
Blum  are  scripting  “Song  and  Dance  Man,” 
from  the  George  M.  Cohan  play,  for  20th- 
Fox. 


from  the  Post-Dispatch  and  I started 
hanging  around  there.  First  thing  I knew, 
I was  in  show  business. 


CJTAN  MAYER  gets  around  in  spite  of  his 

size  . . . These  observations  of  his 
prove  it: 

Audubon,  Iowa — The  very  beautiful  and 
unusually  attractive  canopy  of  Floyd 
Thompson’s  Rose  Theatre. 

Osage — The  “Burgomeister  Pipe”  hang- 
ing on  the  wall  of  Ed  Mason’s  office  that 
he  so  emphatically  states  makes  his  ears 
flap  when  he  smokes  it. 

Charles  City — Debonair  Jack  Kuech — 
the  fashion  plate  of  Iowa  exhibitors  and 
such  a perfect  host  and  hustling  show- 
man. 

Hampton — The  very  attractive  and  com- 
fortable “Nautical”  Cottage  of  the  Peter- 
son’s at  Bead  Lake — where  all  the  film 
men  are  so  anxious  to  put  up  for  the  night, 
and  for  good  reasons.  Three  good  rea- 
sons are  Walt  Peter’s  three  “little  bun- 
dles of  joy,”  Sue,  Sally  and  Sandra,  and 
another  showman  in  the  family, 
“Charles”  Rule. 

Fairfield — The  famous  recreation  room 
of  Lou  Gaines — without  a doubt  he  is  the 
Exhibitor  Ping  Pong  Champion  of  Iowa. 
Anyway,  I will  bet  my  money  on  him. 

Corning — The  genial  smile  and  pleasant 
visit  we  always  enjoy  with  Lawrence  Kuhl. 

Washington — Pratt  Brothers  have  one 
of  the  few  towns  that  have  proven  con- 
clusively that  we  are  still  in  the  show 
business  and  that  it  can  be  operated  suc- 
cessfully without  giveaways,  premiums, 
banknights,  cut-rate  tickets,  etc. 

Bedford — The  famous  fudge  that  Mrs. 
Hahn  so  capably  makes — for  which  all 
Filmrow  is  so  grateful — especially  around 
Christmas  time  (this  is  no  hint). 

Laurels — How  we  miss  that  big  broad 
smile  and  wit  of  Jim  Fair. 

Eldora— The  Home  Office  of  “The  Al- 
lied Theatre  Owners  of  Iowa”  . . . and  the 
perfectly  appointed  and  operated  theatre 
of  Leo  Wolcott. 

Maquoketa — That  fireplug  out  in  front 
of  the  theatre  I always  want  to  park  in 
front  of — hoping  that  Stuart  Peake  is 
still  Mayor. 

Iowa  City — One  of  the  few  exhibitors 
left  that  really  goes  to  town  with  some 
real  old  fashioned  and  effective  show- 
manship that  is  no  doubt  inherited  from 
Thomas  sr„  who  is  noted  for  his  out- 
standing ability. 

Muscatine — Another  old-timer  who  can 
easily  go  back  to  the  good  old  days  and 
who  maintains  and  operates  his  theatre 
as  a sight  for  sore  eyes. 

Bloomfield — To  hear  the  real  out-door 
tales  of  a master  hunter  and  fisherman 
who  knows  what  it  is  all  about  and,  in- 
cidently,  does  a great  job  of  providing 
fine  entertainment  for  his  community. 

Guthrie  Center — The  miracle  that  was 
brought  about  by  a fire — with  the  erec- 
tion of  the  new  Garden  Theatre  which 
is  certainly  a source  of  great  pride  to  Allen 
and  Son  and  the  community. 

Stuart — Lee  Henry  and  his  inexhaustible 
supply  of  “first  run”  stories  (where  I get 
most  of  mine)  which  reminds  me  of  the 
one  about  the  traveling  salesman  . . . 


THOSE  CUTE  OLSON  kids,  Ralph  and 
1 Betty,  came  through  breathlessly  and 
at  the  last  minute  with  a note  or  so,  in- 


42-B 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


eluding  the  very  latest  bulletin  from  the 
bedside  of  the  red-headed  Throckmorton: 

That  counter  Butch  De  Frenne  is  build- 
ing in  the  basement  of  his  new  home — 
with  assistance  of  Larry  Hensler  as  ad- 
visor (whose  advice  he  ignores)  can  be 
identified  as  soon  as  the  brass  rail  is  in- 
stalled. 


gY  HARLAN  mixes  business  and  pleasure 
in  unequal  parts  thusly:  To  me  be- 
longs all  the  credit  for  picking  the  first 
white  woman  ever  employed  by  Iowa  Film 
. . . Yeah,  I know  it’s  not  considered  good 
manners,  and  certainly  it’s  unconventional 
in  the  film  racket,  but  I still  prefer  bru- 
nettes. Sure,  business  is  dam  good  . . . 
lies  & McKinney  appreciate  the  Filmrower 
business  they  get  at  the  Old  Colony  Ser- 
vice. Say,  have  you  heard  that  Les  Knapp 
is  buying  silverware  . . . d’ya  s’pose  that 
means  anything? 


JJMIL  FRANKE  thinks  patrons  are  as  en- 
tertaining as  the  programs  they  pay  him 
to  see  and  Emil’s  not  slandering  his  own 
programs.  Observes  Emil: 

Chap  about  9 came  ranting  out  of  the 
Orpheum  balcony  and  demanded  to  know 
whether  the  show  was  the  same  in  the 
balcony  as  on  the  main  floor.  He  had 
seen  both  features,  but  no  Donald  Duck, 
which  was  his  reason  for  coming.  Fact 
was,  he  had  entered  just  at  the  conclusion 
of  Donald  Duck  and  couldn’t  wait  a min- 
ute longer  for  the  next  showing. 


As  an  elderly  gentleman  patron  asked 
Bob  Lester,  chief  of  service,  where  the 
Orpheum  drinking  fountain  was,  his  upper 
plate  fell  to  the  floor.  Bob,  believing  in 
service,  picked  it  up  and  handed  it  to  the 
gent,  who  then  proceeded  to  the  fountain, 
carefully  washed  his  plate,  and  placed  it 
where  it  belonged. 


William  Scholl,  RKO  exploiteer,  enjoys 
his  beans  at  Thompson’s,  then  gets  to- 
mato soup  at  Harkert’s  . . . Orpheum  pat- 
ron and  camera  fan  presented  theatre  with 
a framed  night  shot  of  theatre  front,  all 
done  up  in  color. 


BOB  HILDRETH  signs  on  with  an  ap- 
peasement policy:  You’ll  have  to  call  it 
Filmrow  (as  in  now)  instead  of  Filmrow 
(as  in  go)  if  Nate  Sandler  and  his  gang 
keep  on  arguing  about  five  block  booking 
plan  on  street  corners. 


His  "Oscar"  Ready 

Minneapolis — In  his  column  in  the 
Times-Tribune,  Merle  Potter,  film  editor, 
this  week  stated  that  he  already  has  se- 
lected his  candidate  for  the  best  male  per- 
formance of  1941.  It’s  Billy  Gilbert  for 
what  he  does  in  “Tin  Pan  Alley,”  says 
Potter. 


On  His  Own 

Minneapolis — Arnold  Dobrin  has  re- 
signed from  the  20th-Fox  accessory  de- 
partment to  engage  in  business  for  him- 
self. He  will  open  a gasoline  service  sta- 
tion on  Plymouth  and  Morgan  Aves.  north 
here.  He  is  succeeded  at  20th-Fox  by 
“Chuck”  Mercereau  who  comes  from 
Columbia. 


WAS  Gabe  Yorke  surprised:  When  out 
touring  with  chamber  of  commerce 
committeemen  on  ballyhooing  mission  for 
the  premiere  of  “Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop,” 
he  stopped  in  Grand  Island  when  he  was 
introduced  to  Harry  Schiller.  “Gad,”  said 
Gabe  a little  later,  “when  I turned  to  shake 
hands  with  him,  I thought  it  was  Frank 
Morgan.” 

Test  Case:  William  Youngclaus  of  the 
Island  in  Grand  Island,  Neb.,  was  in  court 
again  last  week,  but  the  test  was  not 
against  the  film  bigwigs  as  has  been  his 
usual  court  missions.  Seems  he  had  a 
cashier,  Ruby  Knapp  Cresswell,  who  quit 
and  got  married,  then  tried  to  collect  un- 
employment benefits.  Judge  ruled  in 
Youngclaus’  favor,  that  an  employe  who 
takes  such  action  voluntarily,  is  not  en- 
titled to  such  compensation. 

Wedding  Bells:  That  wedding  of  Gene 
Shanahan’s  will  come  about  February  1, 
and  the  bride  to  be  is  Elizabeth  Hanson. 
He’s  the  manager  of  the  Nebraska  Theatre 
. . . Laugh:  Everybody  in  Lincoln  adver- 
tised exclusive  and  scoop  pictures  on  the 
Rose  Bowl  game,  yet  everybody  had  them 
about  the  same  time. 

Somebody's  missing  a bet:  Why  don't 
theatre  operators  take  advantage  of  this 
BMI-Ascap  squabble.  Tone  of  conversation 
about  music  at  the  present  time  is  that  it’s 
so  lousy,  radios  are  being  turned  off  whole- 
sale. Showmen,  who  have  had  radio  oper- 
ating at  their  expense  in  the  past,  should 
not  miss  this  opportunity  to  step  out  and 
tell  the  neighbors  the  place  to  be  enter- 
tained is  more  than  ever  the  theatre,  be- 
cause the  radio  has  hit  a new  low  with  a 
jillion  arrangements  of  “Jeannie  With  the 
Light  Brown  Hair.”  Since  theatres  are  still 


"Motion  PROmotion"  Is 
Jerrel's  New  Booklet 

Des  Moines — “Motion  PROmotion”  is 
the  title  of  Burton  B.  Jerrel’s  new  booklet 
designed  to  sell  business  firms  on  in- 
creased use  of  their  own  industrial  sound 
motion  pictures. 

Insertion  of  television  methods  into 
salesmanship  by  the  use  of  film  is  the 
theme.  Quotes  from  film  advertisers, 
newspapers,  theatre  men,  and,  yes — Box- 
office — praising  various  Jerrel  produc- 
tions, provide  the  clincher  on  the  argu- 
ment. 

Beckley  to  Phoenix  With 
Wile  lor  Her  Health 

Des  Moines — Bill  Beckley,  veteran  man- 
ager of  the  Strand,  leading  second  run 
house  of  the  Tri-States  circuit  here,  is 
scheduled  to  leave  for  Phoenix,  Ariz.,  where 
he  plans  to  continue  in  the  theatre  busi- 
ness. Mrs.  Beckley’s  health  is  responsible 
for  the  shift. 


Warner's  Set  Bellamy 

Hollywood — Warner  Bros,  has  signed 
Ralph  Bellamy  for  a top  line  in  “Affec- 
tionately Yours.” 


doing  business  with  Ascap,  latter  might 
help  with  the  campaign. 

Must  be  love:  Bernie  Evens,  the  UA  ex- 
ploiteer from  St.  Louis,  was  tied  up  here  so 
long  plugging  “Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop,”  he 
couldn’t  stand  the  loneliness.  So,  he  called 
up  his  frau  and  she  came  up  to  stay  out 
the  last  10  days  with  him  . . . Press:  Lin- 
coln, for  that  preem,  will  probably  have  as 
guest  newspapermen,  such  gents  as  Merle 
Potter  of  Minneapolis;  Jake  Rachman  and 
Keith  Wilson,  Omaha;  Bob  Locke,  Kansas 
City  Journal,  and  others. 

Missed:  Jeanne  Mitchell,  that  girl  who 
calls  people  up  and  warns  about  Metro 
screenings  in  Omaha,  is  still  hospitalized 
. . . Stock  excuse:  Every  time  Charlie  Lieb 
wants  to  get  away  from  somebody,  he  has 
a traditional  excuse.  He  claims  he  just 
must  go  home  and  feed  the  baby.  Charlie! 

Sick  man:  M.  E.  Lofgren,  in  York,  has 
been  flirting  with  pneumonia,  flu,  or  some 
other  germal  affliction.  The  doctor  says 
nothing  would  revive  him  like  a good  box- 
office  report,  but  he’s  been  afraid  to  show 
him  any  of  the  daily  till-tallies  lately  for 
fear  of  a relapse. 

Bowler:  Don  Monroe,  who  went  to  the 
Tournament  of  Roses,  did  not  come  back 
the  regulation  route.  He  took  a return 
ticket  which  ivould  bring  him  back  to  Lin- 
coln via  all  the  California  tracks.  He  had 
to  recoup  from  the  “Nebraska  and  seven 
points”  bets. 

Some  deal:  Bob  Livingston  tried  to  buy 
“Boom  Town”  second  run  for  $400  flat, 
but  Harry  Shumow  wouldn’t  hear.  Bob 
took  it  pet.,  but  it  ran  so  good,  he  wanted 
to  hold  over.  He  wired  Shumow:  “Will  pay 
you  $600  flat,  or  pull  the  picture.  Business 
too  good.” 


Occasional  Flesh  for 
Two  in  Des  Moines 

Des  Moines — Two  local  theatres,  the 
Paramount  and  the  Orpheum,  are  open- 
ing 1941  with  a return  to  periodic  use  of 
“live  talent”  to  augment  film  programs. 

The  Paramount  started  the  return  to 
stage  shows  Friday  with  Cab  Calloway  and 
his  group  of  entertainers  on  the  bill.  G. 
Ralph  Branton,  general  manager  for  Tri- 
States  Theatres  Corp.,  left  Tuesday  for 
New  York  to  arrange  for  future  talent. 

Emil  Franke,  manager  of  the  Orpheum, 
expects  to  bring  his  first  unit  show  to  Des 
Moines,  January  24.  It  will  be  “Screw- 
balls of  1941,”  now  being  rehearsed  in  Chi- 
cago. After  a brief  tour,  the  show  will 
return  to  Chicago  to  play  at  the  State- 
Lake  Theatre. 

Both  houses  will  increase  prices  10  cents 
after  2 p.  m.  when  stage  shows  are  on  the 
bill. 


Son  to  Emory  Scotts 

Creston,  Ia. — Emory  Scott,  manager  of 
the  Uptown  here  for  the  Commonwealth 
circuit,  is  the  father  of  a 9-pound,  6-ounce 
son  born  to  his  wife  last  week.  The  new- 
comer has  been  christened  Roger  Allan. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  11,  1941 


42-C 


Lowe  Is  Building  New 
Theatre  at  Lebanon  . 

Lebanon,  Mo. — A new  500-seat  theatre, 
modern  from  the  ground  up,  is  being  con- 
structed here  by  F.  L.  Lowe,  who  operates 
theatres  at  Lyons,  Hays  and  Hoisington, 
Kas.  With  W.  A.  Snell,  Lowe  operates 
as  the  Star  Theatre  Co.  The  new  theatre 
will  be  an  ambitious  one,  and  will  be 
completed  before  spring. 


Subs  for  Husband 

Lincoln — R.  W.  Huffman,  city  manager 
for  the  Lincoln  Theatres  Corp.  <J.  H. 
Cooper-Paramount),  approved  Mrs.  Bar- 
ney Oldfield  to  go  on  the  theatre-spon- 
sored KFOR  radio  broadcast,  a spot  for- 
merly held  by  her  husband,  who  now  is  in 
the  army.  The  show  takes  off  under  Mrs. 
Oldfield,  January  18.  Airing  is  five  min- 
utes each  night,  6:10-15. 


Schools  Eye  Equipment 

Omaha— Public  schools  here  are  consid- 
ering a suggestion  to  buy  six  projector 
and  sound  machines  for  educational  pur- 
poses. Bids  are  to  be  taken  by  the  board 
of  education  soon.  Omaha  has  for  sev- 
eral years  used  the  services  of  a com- 
mercial operator  who  went  to  most  of  the 
60  school  buildings  regularly  with  educa- 
tional films. 


Directs  Loretta  Young 

Hollywood — Gregory  Ratoff  will  direct 
“Tonight  Is  Ours,”  starring  Loretta  Young, 
for  Paramount. 


(r  ■ ft 

: Hard  on  Fathers  : 

J) 

Minneapolis — Don  Guttmann,  general 
manager  of  the  Harry  Dickerman  circuit, 
was  the  subject  of  a lengthy  paragraph  in 
Cedric  Adams’  column  in  the  Minneapolis 
Star- Journal  recently.  Said  Adams,  the 
Walter  Winchell  of  this  section: 

“The  Don  Guttmanns  were  expecting  a 
baby.  Mrs.  G.  had  been  taken  to  Abbott 
Hospital  to  wait.  Early  the  other  morning 
Mr.  G.,  unable  to  sleep  at  home,  drove 
down  to  the  hospital.  Nothing  had  hap- 
pened. 

“The  two  of  them  sat  there  chatting. 
Don’s  eyelids  started  to  droop.  Suddenly  he 
spotted  a wheelchair  out  in  the  hall.  An 
idea  came. 

“ ‘Listen,  honey,’  he  suggested  to  his 
wife.  ‘Don’t  you  think  it  would  be  a good 
idea  if  you  got  in  that  wheelchair  and 
rode  around  a little?’ 

“She  agreed.  Anything,  you  know,  to 
help.  So  into  the  wheelchair  she  got  and 
shoved  herself  off  down  the  hospital  corri- 
dor. That  nice  warm  bed  was  too  much 
for  the  drowsy  Guttmann,  so  in  he  crawled. 
In  30  seconds  he  was  snoring. 

“Thirty  minutes  later  Doc  Lange,  the 
attending  physician,  came  into  the  room 
to  find  the  wife  still  in  the  wheelchair,  the 
husband  still  sound  asleep  in  the  bed.  Ex- 
pectancy is  awfully  hard  on  fathers.” 


A Musical  by  English 

Hollywood — Richard  English  is  pre- 
paring an  untitled  musical  for  Producer 
Jack  Cummings  at  Metro. 


Des  Moines  Up  Notch ; 

55th  Largest  City 

Des  Moines — Des  Moines  theatre  busi- 
ness should  have  climbed  a notch  during 
the  last  10  years.  If  it  didn’t,  it  isn’t 
keeping  pace  with  the  city. 

Census  figures  show  that  Des  Moines, 
with  a 12.1  per  cent  gain  in  population, 
now  ranks  55th  in  size  among  the  cities  of 
the  nation.  In  1930,  it  was  56th. 

Ted  Davis  Formally  Opens 
New  West  in  Parsons 

Parsons,  Kas. — Ted  Davis  formally 
opened  his  new  West  Theatre  here  on 
Wednesday,  with  the  event  carrying  over 
into  the  next  day.  It  was  an  invitational 
affair,  with  a number  of  trade  folk  from 
Kansas  City  attending. 


New  Theatre  Firm 

St.  Joseph,  Mo. — The  Ritz  Theatre  Corp. 
has  been  formed  here  to  operate  theatres 
and  a theatrical  booking  agency.  Stock- 
holders and  directors  are  Misses  Dorothy 
Uhlinger,  Arna  Taylor  and  Gladys  Chris- 
tiansen, all  employed  as  secretaries  in  the 
law  office  of  Culver,  Phillip,  Kaufman  and 
Smith.  Immediate  plans  were  not  an- 
nounced. 


Adapts  "Black  Swan" 

Hollywood — John  Taintor  Foote  is 
adapting  “The  Black  Swan”  for  Producer 
Lou  Edelman  at  20th-Fox. 


ANY  NEWS  TODAY? 

Planning  a new  theatre?  Remodeling?  Being  ■promoted?  Getting  married?  Got  a new  baby  (infant)?  Buy- 
ing new  equipment?  Been  elected  mayor?  Son  or  daughter  graduating?  Proud  of  a new  exploitation  stunt? 
Hired  a new  staff  member?  Solved  a knotty  problem? 

Then  Tell  It  To  BOXOFFICE 

BOXOFFICE, 

4804  E.  Ninth  St., 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 


NAME 


THEATRE 


LOCATION 


42-D 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


Modify  Proposal  to 
License  Operators 

Cleveland — Widespread  opposition  to 
certain  provisions  of  an  ordinance  pro- 
posal to  license  all  motion  picture  opera- 
tors using  film  16mm  or  greater  film 
has  led  city  officials  to  agree  to  an  amend- 
ment exempting  users  of  “safety”  film. 
The  amendment,  to  be  introduced  by  Coun- 
cilman Ray  C.  Miller,  author  of  the  orig- 
inal measure,  will  virtually  eliminate  all 
but  professional  theatre  projection  ma- 
chine operators  from  licensing  provisions. 

William  D.  Guion,  commissioner  of 
buildings,  at  whose  request  the  ordinance 
was  submitted,  agreed  to  the  amendment 
after  Fire  Chief  Warden  Patrick  E.  Bar- 
rett pointed  out  that  most  film  used  out- 
side the  theatre  is  of  the  safety  variety, 
hard  to  set  afire  and  slow-burning  if 
ignited. 

The  amendment  to  eliminate  licensing 
operators  of  16mm  films  will  directly  af- 
fect all  amateur  photographers  and  all 
schools,  churches,  hospitals,  etc.,  which 
use  16mm  film  chiefly  for  educational 
purposes. 

The  ordinance  would  increase  the  pres- 
ent scale  of  operators’  licenses  from  $10 
to  $25,  with  annual  renewal  fees  from  $1 
to  $10.  Licenses  for  apprentices  would 
be  $5  with  $1  yearly  renewal  fee. 


A.  Milo  DeHaven  to  Add 
Two  Theatre  Properties 

Detroit — A.  Milo  De  Haven,  who  re- 
signed several  months  ago  as  manager  of 
the  Woodward  Grand  and  Belmont  thea- 
tres in  Highland  Park  as  well  as  pro- 
motion manager  for  the  Sam  Brown  cir- 
cuit, is  planning  to  take  over  two  ad- 
ditional theatres  in  Ohio.  DeHaven  now 
owns  the  Town  at  Whitehouse,  Ohio, 
and  will  rename  the  other  two  spots  the 
Town  also. 


Enters  Not  Guilty  Plea 
To  a Lottery  Charge 

Massillon,  Ohio — I.  H.  Solomon,  man- 
ager of  the  Lincoln  Theatre  here,  pleaded 
not  guilty  to  charges  of  selling  tickets  to 
a lottery  when  arraigned  before  Judge 
Robert  G.  Hoffman  in  municipal  court. 
The  charge  was  made  in  connection  with 
a “Prosperity  Club”  award  at  the  theatre. 
Judge  Hoffman  set  a tentative  date  for  the 
hearing  later  in  the  month.  Solomon  may 
request  a jury  trial  until  that  time. 


Declares  " Dictator " Will 
Not  Be  Shown  at  Wilson 

Detroit — Plans  for  a roadshow  engage- 
ment for  “The  Great  Dictator”  at  the 
Wilson  are  definitely  off,  Moe  Dudelson, 
UA  manager,  discloses  to  Boxoffice. 

Dudelson  said  the  picture  will  go  into  a 
local  house  in  about  a month  at  regular 
first  run  prices. 


(<  -A 

Braden  Confers  on 
Arbitration  Setup 

Cleveland — J.  Noble  Braden,  executive 
secretary  of  the  American  Arbitration 
Ass'n,  was  in  town  last  week  conferring 
with  chamber  of  commerce  officials,  re- 
garding the  local  film  arbitration  setup  in 
accordance  with  the  consent  decree. 

It  was  learned  a meeting  of  a repre- 
sentative group  of  Cleveland  men  was 
held  at  the  chamber,  and  that  Braden 
will  choose  the  arbitration  board  and  its 
clerks  from  among  those  present.  How- 
ever, no  information  as  to  personnel  will 
be  given  out  until  later  in  the  month. 

^ J 

Herrington  to  Allied 
Nai'l  Board  Again 

Pittsburgh — Fred  J.  Herrington,  secre- 
tary of  the  AMPTO  of  W.  Pa.,  has  been 
designated  again  as  the  local  exhibitor  or- 
ganization’s representative  on  the  na- 
tional Allied  board  of  directors.  Fred  A. 
Beedle  is  AMPTO’s  new  president. 

Herrington  will  attend  the  national  Al- 
lied directors’  meeting  in  Washington, 
January  27  and  28.  Also  arranging  to 
attend  this  two-day  session  are  Beedle, 
William  R.  Wheat  jr„  William  and  Harry 
Walker  and  M.  A.  Rosenberg,  former  local 
Allied  president,  who  now  is  chairman  of 
the  unit’s  directors. 


New  Year's  Shows  Are 
Picketed  in  Detroit 

Detroit — Demands  of  the  Building  Ser- 
vice Employes  International  Union  have 
resulted  in  pickets  being  sent  to  a num- 
ber of  theatres  here,  the  first  appearing 
for  New  Year’s  Eve  shows  at  downtown 
houses  of  the  United  Detroit  and  Wisper 
& Wetsman  circuits  and  the  Adams.  Ray 
Carroll,  International  representative,  said 
the  union’s  demands  are  for  a $5  a day 
wage  scale,  an  8-hour  working  day,  and  a 
six-day  week.  He  said  that  conditions  vary 
from  house  to  house  at  present,  running 
$12  to  $20  a week  for  a usual  seven  days, 
with  men  working  9 to  10  hours  daily  in 
most  cases. 

Business  did  not  appear  to  be  hurt  by 
the  picketing,  particularly  at  the  New 
Year’s  Eve  show. 


Goldberg  Holds  a PRC 
Meeting  in  Cincinnati 

Cleveland — Lee  Goldberg,  PRC  fran- 
chise owner,  with  headquarters  here,  last 
week  held  a meeting  of  his  Indianapolis 
and  Cincinnati  sales  organization  in  Cin- 
cinnati. Those  present  included  Sam 
Abrams  and  Joe  Bohn  of  Indianapolis  and 
Nat  Kaplan  and  Don  Duff  of  Cincinnati. 
Goldberg  arranged  to  move  his  bookkeep- 
ing department  to  Cleveland  on  January 
15  when  Miss  Marcelle  Binstein  will  come 
here  temporarily  to  install  the  system 
currently  in  use,  after  which  she  will  re- 
turn to  Cincinnati. 


Discounts  Ohio  Need 
For  Ticket  Tax  Hike 

By  B.  O.  TELLER 

Columbus — Much  has  been  written  else- 
where on  the  possibilities  of  the  Ohio 
legislature  increasing  the  three  per  cent 
excise  tax  on  admissions.  When  the  new 
legislature  convened  Monday  such  action 
seemed  rather  unnecessary  to  theatrical 
observers.  All  tax  collections  in  1940  were 
ahead  of  1939,  the  state  now  having  on 
hand  a substantial  surplus,  leaving  more 
than  a reasonable  doubt  as  to  the  need 
of  any  new  taxation  measures.  Arguments, 
as  presented  by  a meeting  of  city  officials 
in  Cleveland,  that  additional  taxes  are 
necessary  for  relief,  are  made  questionable 
by  the  announcement  by  state  officials 
that  relief  costs  for  1941  will  not  exceed 
$16,000,000,  as  compared  to  $24,500,000  for 
1940. 

The  only  possible  immediate  need  for 
increased  tax  revenues  can  be  tied  in  with 
the  fact  that  the  federal  administration 
may  boost  old  age  pensions  while  reduc- 
ing direct  relief.  However,  the  Ohio 
Chamber  of  Commerce  holds  that  realloca- 
tion of  monies  earmarked  for  other  uses 
will  be  the  only  necessary  action.  If,  on 
the  other  hand,  new  or  upped  taxes  are 
found  to  be  essential,  it  seems  quite  likely 
that  big  business  will  suffer — in  all  prob- 
ability a heavy  corporation  levy  being  con- 
sidered first. 

As  for  the  need  to  impose  additional 
theatre  taxes,  there  are  several  important 
angles  to  be  considered.  First,  other  taxes: 

1.  The  federal  tax  has  already  been  in- 
creased as  a defense  measure,  with  all 
indications  pointing  to  a reduction  on  ex- 
emptions to  include  everything  from  the 
first  penny. 

2.  Suit  on  the  three  per  cent  sales  tax 
on  film  rentals  will  - be  settled  before  the 
year  is  out.  And  if  the  state  can  collect 
this  levy,  and  it  seems  highly  probable 
that  it  can,  another  tax  is  imposed  on  ex- 
hibitors. 

Secondly,  two  new  sources  of  revenue 
will  be  pointed  out  to  the  legislature: 

1.  Provision  for  taxes  on  the  coin-oper- 
ated motion  picture  “juke”  boxes. 

2.  Action  to  define  Bingo  as  an  amuse- 
ment, thus  making  it  possible  to  tax  the 
thousands  of  games  conducted  over  the 
state. 


Rowlands  and  Mulligan 
Get  Title  to  Columbia 

Columbus — County  recorder  files  dis- 
close that  the  title  to  the  Columbia  Thea- 
tre has  been  given  to  Fred  W.  Rowlands 
and  Norbert  J.  Mulligan  by  the  Steelton 
Theatre  Corp.  At  the  same  time,  it  be- 
came known  that  F.  W.  Rowlands,  H.  N. 
Bloss  and  A.  D.  Rowlands  had  leased  the 
Main  Theatre  to  the  Main  Theatre  Corp. 
for  a 10-year  period  beginning  May  1,  1938, 
at  a monthly  rental  of  $2,000. 


A1  Lostetter  to  Wed 

Pittsburgh  — A1  Lostetter  and  Ruth 
Kurtz  will  be  married  on  Tuesday.  The 
bridegroom  is  the  cashier  at  the  New  Uni- 
versal exchange. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


ME 


43 


'GWTW  Collars  Big  Dough  225  at  Testimonial 
In  Return  to  Cincinnati  For  ^urtus  Bishop 


Cincinnati — “Gone  With  the  Wind”  col- 
lared the  big  dough  here  last  week  in  a 
return  engagement  at  popular  prices,  and 
was  held  over  at  the  RKO  Capitol.  All 
seats  were  50  cents  until  5 p.  m.  when 
prices  ranged  from  55-65  cents  with  25 
cents  for  children  at  all  times.  “No,  No, 
Nanette”  drew  a little  better  than  average 
and  stayed  a week.  “Here  Comes  the  Navy” 
held  for  six  extra  days  at  the  Lyric,  mak- 
ing way  for  a return  of  “Philadelphia 
Story.” 

Business  is  slowly  settling  back  to  nor- 
malcy following  an  orgy  of  last-minute 
Xmas  spending  unequalled  in  local  depart- 
ment store  history.  The  weather  continues 
unusually  mild. 

Detail  for  week  ending  Christmas  Day: 


(Average  is  100) 

Albee — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO)  110 

Capitol — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M) 100 

Return  engagement  at  “pop”  prices. 

Grand — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox)  90 

Second  and  final  week. 

Keith's — I)r.  Kildare’s  Crisis  (M-G-M) 100 

Lyric — Here  Comes  the  Navy  (\VB) 100 

Held  six  days  second  week. 

Palace — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN)  110 

Held  over  and  shifted  to  Keith’s. 

Shubert — Gallant  Sons  (M-G-M)  125 

Combined  with  red-hot  stage  show;  Tommy 
Riggs  and  others. 


Cleveland's  Downtowners 
Have  Territic  New  Year 

Cleveland — With  employment  almost  up 
to  the  1929  level,  business  16  per  cent  bet- 
ter than  last  year,  and  department  stores 
taxed  to  the  limit  to  meet  the  requirements 
of  the  buying  public,  holiday  show  busi- 
ness here  was  very  gratifying.  New  Year’s 
Eve  crowds  were  terrific  downtown  with 
Loew’s  State  reporting  it  played  to  23,500 
people  in  two  days — Tuesday  and  Wednes- 
day— chalking  up  the  biggest  New  Year’s 
business  in  four  years.  Other  downtown 
houses  duplicated  this  experience.  Weather 
was  ideal  with  temperature  in  the  fifties. 
Detail  for  week  December  24  to  31: 

(Average  is  100) 

Allen — You’ll  Find  Out  (RKO),  2nd  wk 100 

Played  a second  week  downtown  on  a move- 
over  from  the  Hippodrome. 

Hippodrome — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN)  140 

Palace — Hank  Dick  (Univ)  145 

Stage  show.  Revue  Internationale  with  cast  of 
60  elaborately  staged  and  dozens  of  specialties. 

State — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t)  120 

Stillman — Hangers  of  Fortune  (Para’t)  75 

"Santa  Fe  Trail”  Makes 
Top  Showing  in  Pitt 

Pittsburgh — “Santa  Fe  Trail”  made  the 
top  showing  of  the  week  here  while  “North 
West  Mounted  Police”  and  “Tin  Pan 
Alley,”  in  their  fourth  weeks,  were  also 
strong  attractions.  Spring  weather  did 
not  harm  takes. 

Detail  for  week  ending  December  28: 


(Average  is  100) 

Barry — Cat  and  Canary  (Para’t);  Scarfaee 

(SR),  reissue  100 

Fulton — Blackout  (UA)  . 65 

Penn — Long  Voyage  Home  (LTA),  5 days 45 

Ritz — Little  Nellie  Kelly  (M-G-M), 

2nd  d.  t.  wk 105 

Stanley — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN)  150 

Warner — North  West  Mounted  Police  (Para't), 

4th  d.  t.  wk 115 

Senator — Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox),  4th  wk.  ...110 


A Dinner  for  Him — 

Burtus  Bishop  jr.,  new  district  man- 
ager for  Metro,  recipient  of  a testi- 
monial  by  the  Pittsburgh  trade  on  his 
departure  from  the  local  exchange 
helm  to  take  over  his  new  duties. 


Chaotic  Booking  Marks 
Week  in  the  Auto  City 

Detroit — Chaotic  booking  marked  the 
past  week,  with  almost  every  house  chang- 
ing its  opening  day  to  match  holiday 
schedules.  Business,  as  a whole,  was  dis- 
tinctly upgrade,  the  big  reason  being  bet- 


ter pictures. 

Detail  for  week  ended  January  2: 

(Average  is  100) 

Adams — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA),  9 days 200 

Cinema — Forbidden  Adventure  (SR);  90 

Closed  December  30  after  10  days. 

Fox — -You’ll  Find  Out  (RKO)  160 

Stage  show  and  New  Year’s  Eve  helped  take. 
Michigan — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t);  Kit 

Carson  (UA)  110 

Palms-State — The  Letter  ((FN),  after  2 wks. 

at  Michigan;  Cherokee  Strip  (Para’t) 120 

United  Artists — Long  Voyage  Home  (UA) ; 

Comrade  X (M-G-M),  2nd  wk.  for  both....  115 


Krug's  "Ten  Best” 

Pittsburgh — The  Sun-Telegraph’s  film 
critic,  Karl  Krug,  has  selected  his  “10 
best”  pictures  of  1940,  as  follows:  “Angels 
Over  Broadway,”  “The  Grapes  of  Wrath,” 
“Of  Mice  and  Men,”  “The  Great  McGinty,” 
“Gone  With  the  Wind,”  “The  Long  Voyage 
Home,”  “The  Biscuit  Eater,”  “Dr.  Ehrlich’s 
Magic  Bullet,”  “Rebecca”  and  “Our  Town.” 


Pittsburgh — Two  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  friends  of  Burtus  Bishop  jr.,  said 
“goodbye  and  good  luck”  to  the  newly  ap- 
pointed midwestern  district  manager  for 
M-G-M  at  a testimonial  banquet  in  his 
honor  in  the  William  Penn  Hotel,  Monday 
evening.  C.  J.  Latta  was  toastmaster,  and 
M.  N.  Shapiro  general  chairman. 

At  the  speakers’  table  were  Harry  Gold- 
stein, Paramount  district  manager;  Edgar 
Moss,  20th-Fox  district  manager;  C.  C. 
Kellenberg,  Variety’s  new  chief  barker; 
Harry  M.  Kalmine,  Warner  circuit  zone 
manager;  John  H.  Harris,  Harris  Amuse- 
ments, and  local  branch  managers,  Abe 
Weiner,  UA;  Peter  Dana,  Universal; 
James  H.  Alexander,  Republic;  Art  Levy, 
Columbia;  Herb  Greenblatt,  RKO,  and 
Fred  Beedle  and  M.  A.  Rosenberg  of  the 
AMPTO  of  W.  Pa. 

Also  present  were  Mark  Goldman,  Mono- 
gram: Dave  Kimelman,  Paramount;  Lew 
Lefton,  Producers  Releasing  Corp.,  and 
George  Elmo,  Cleveland’s  Paramount  man- 
ager. Also,  Sabu,  star  of  “The  Thief  of 
Bagdad,”  who  happened  to  be  in  town. 

Bryan  D.  “Buck”  Stoner,  former  Cleve- 
land sales  representative  for  M-G-M,  who 
succeeds  Bishop  as  local  branch  manager, 
was  introduced. 

Bishop  was  presented  with  three  fitted 
traveling  cases.  Also  an  oil  painting  of  two 
dog  heads,  the  work  and  gift  of  Milton 
Antonoplos,  youngest  son  of  the  East 
Pittsburgh  and  Turtle  Creek  exhibitor. 

Proceeds  of  the  dinner,  more  than  $500, 
will  be  given  to  the  Variety  charity  fund. 


"GWTW"  Returns  to  Pitt 
For  Popular  Engagement 

Pittsburgh — “Gone  With  the  Wind,” 
which  opens  its  return  popular-priced  en- 
gagement here  January  17  in  Loew’s  Penn, 
will  be  exhibited  four  times  daily,  Marty 
Burnett,  manager,  announces.  Admission 
is  55  cents  evenings  and  40  cents  mati- 
nees, tax  included. 

Metro  will  deliver  all  prints  without  any 
scene  cuts,  the  running  time  remaining 
three  hours  and  45  minutes.  Loew’s  Penn 
will  be  open  at  least  16  hours  daily  for 
the  display  of  this  attraction.  “GWTW” 
opened  its  roadshow  engagement  here  in 
the  Warner  January  26  of  last  year  and 
enjoyed  a run  of  ten  weeks. 


Detroit — Billposters  Union,  Local  94, 
last  week  re-installed  their  re-elected  of- 
ficers for  1941  including:  John  Carano, 
president;  Roy  Van  Geison,  vice-presi- 
dent; Michael  Noch,  business  agent,  and 
William  F.  Hines,  secretary-treasurer. 
This  will  be  his  35th  year  in  office. 

Newly-elected  trustees  are:  Turner  Per- 
ry, Elmer  Solomon  and  Albert  Halley. 

Distributors’  division  of  the  Local  held 
a two-day  holiday  party,  December  27-28, 
at  their  regular  meeting  hall,  with  James 
Stewart  as  chairman  of  the  committee 
for  the  affair.  About  350  members  and 
friends  attended. 


Billposters  Re-Install 
Officers  for  1941 


44 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


Big  New  Year's  for 
Cleveland  Houses 

Cleveland — New  Year’s  business  at 
downtown  and  neighborhood  first  runs  was 
good. 

Everett  Steinbuck,  manager  of  Loew’s 
State,  showing  “Comrade  X,”  reports  that 
theatre  played  to  23,500  people  on  Tues- 
day and  Wednesday.  This  was  the  big- 
gest New  Year’s  business  at  the  State  in 
four  years. 

RKO  Palace  was  sold  out  for  its  mid- 
night New  Year’s  Eve  show  with  all  seats 
reserved.  Allen,  also  with  a special  mid- 
night show,  had  big  crowds  and  the  Hip- 
podrome, showing  “Santa  Fe  Trail,”  was 
packed. 

Night  clubs  and  restaurants  also  re- 
ported their  best  business  since  the  de- 
pression. 

Big  Turnout  Is  Expected 
For  Stoner  Testimonial 

Cleveland — A record  attendance  is  ex- 
pected to  attend  the  testimonial  dinner 
to  be  held  in  honor  of  Bryan  D.  Stoner 
on  January  13  at  the  Hollenden  Hotel  on 
the  occasion  of  his  promotion  as  M-G-M 
branch  manager  in  Pittsburgh. 

Jack  Sogg  is  chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee on  arrangements  which  consists  of 
Charles  Raymond,  Nat  Holt,  P.  E.  Essick, 
J.  D.  Kalafat,  Joe  Minsky  and  E.  H. 
Brauer. 

S&F  Circuit  Quarters 
To  Pittsburgh  Filmrow 

Pittsburgh — The  Shapiro  and  Fineman 
circuit  is  opening  headquarters  on  Film- 
row  at  1723  Blvd.  of  the  Allies,  for  several 
years  the  offices  of  Don  D’Carlo,  the- 
atrical booker.  M.  N.  Shapiro  and  Archie 
Fineman  state  that  they  will  book  only 
their  own  theatres. 


Sabu  in  Pittsburgh 

Pittsburgh — Sabu,  star  of  “Elephant 
Boy”  and  “Drums,”  who  also  plays  the 
title  role  in  Alexander  Korda’s  “Thief  of 
Bagdad,”  was  here  Monday  for  guest  ap- 
pearances around  town  and  at  a depart- 
ment store  for  a special  tieup.  The  United 
Artists  picture  opened  Friday  at  Loew’s 
Penn. 


Object  to  Theatre 

Youngstown  — Vigorous  objections  to 
constructing  a theatre  at  Belmont  and 
Francisca  Avenues,  unless  ample  provisions 
are  made  for  parking,  were  voiced  at  a 
public  hearing  in  city  council  here.  A 
group  of  local  business  men  are  planning  to 
build  a modem  theatre  on  the  site  to  cost 
$100,000. 


New  Years  Dinner 

Cleveland — Charles  Raymond,  Loew  di- 
vision manager,  and  his  theatre  staff  cele- 
brated the  New  Year  with  a dinner  at  the 
Statler  Hotel.  The  guests  consisted  of 
20  staff  members  and  their  wives. 


Raymond  Will  Address 
Women's  Federation 

Cleveland — Charles  Raymond,  Loew  di- 
vision manager,  will  be  guest  speaker  be- 
fore the  motion  picture  division  of  the 
Cleveland  Federation  of  Women’s  Clubs 
on  Friday,  January  17.  The  meeting  will 
be  held  in  the  Rainbow  Room  of  the 
Statler. 

This  will  be  Raymond’s  first  public  ap- 
pearance before  any  local  group  since 
coming  to  Cleveland  from  London  where 
he  was  in  charge  of  Loew  theatres  for 
seven  years.  His  subject  will  be:  “Ameri- 
can Films  in  Europe  and  Africa.”  Mrs. 
W.  J.  MacLachlan,  president,  will  intro- 
duce Raymond. 


Cleveland  Exhibitors' 
Association  Elects 

Cleveland — The  annual  meeting  for  the 
election  of  officers  of  the  Cleveland  Mo- 
tion Picture  Exhibitors  Ass’n  was  to  be 
held  this  week  in  the  association  rooms 
at  the  Film  Bldg. 

Present  officers  are:  Ernest  Schwartz, 
president;  A.  E.  Ptak,  vice-president;  G.  E. 
Erdmann,  secretary,  and  L.  G.  Baldwin, 
treasurer.  Board  members  are  M.  S.  Fine, 
P.  E.  Essick,  L.  G.  Baldwin,  F.  Porozynski, 
J.  D.  Kalafat,  M.  Berkowitz,  M.  Jacobs,  J. 
Shulman  and  H.  Greenberger. 


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BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


45 


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JOHN  DAWSON,  Universal  player,  was  a 

visitor  for  the  holidays  at  the  home  of 
his  mother,  Mrs.  Charles  Wilson  . . . Ben 
Cohen,  circuiteer,  is  busy  tropic-fishing 
down  in  Miami  . . . Brother  Lou  Cohen 
is  busy  with  the  new  front  on  the  Holly- 
wood ...  Ed  Long,  Long  Sign  Co.,  was  in 
Toronto  visiting  over  the  weekend  . . . 
Earl  Hudson,  UDT  president,  had  several 
teeth  extracted  . . . Radio  Rathbone,  25- 
year-old  son  of  Basil  Rathbone,  is  train- 
ing across  the  river  at  Windsor  for  the 
Canadian  Air  Force. 

Gene  Alexander,  booker  for  Universal, 
was  seriously  hurt  January  30  while  driv- 
ing to  Grand  Rapids  to  service  a print. 
Gene,  who  is  also  secretary  of  Film  Bowl- 
ing League,  is  recovering  from  four  broken 
ribs  in  Sparrow  Hospital  at  Lansing  . . . 
Jack  Susami,  also  Universal,  was  up  to 
see  him  . . . Eddie  Heiber  was  off  to 
Chicago  for  the  holidays. 

Bill  Schulte,  circuiteer,  stayed  right  at 
home  for  his  New  Year’s  Eve  celebration 
. . . Bill  Jackson,  major  domo  of  the  Fox, 
was  swamped  with  reservations  for  New 
Year’s  Eve  . . . UDT’s  switchboard  was  so 
rushed  that  incoming  calls  began  jump- 
ing right  over  to  Hyman  Bloom  at  the 
Madison  . . . Julius  D.  London  expected 
to  open  the  new  Midtown  this  week  . . . 
Stanley  Oleskowicz  of  the  Atlas  and  Stan- 
ley has  appointed  his  daughter  his  “office 
manager.” 

Albert  Rashid  is  organizing  the  Near 
Eastern  Film  Co.  here  . . . John  P.  Ne- 
ville, 59,  formerly  organist  at  the  United 
Artists,  died  December  30  of  pneumonia  in 
Providence  Hospital. 

George  McArthur,  Ed  Long  of  Long 
Sign  Co.,  and  Ray  Moon  of  Mutual  The- 
atres had  planned  to  say  “Season’s  Greet- 
ings” in  Boxoffice’s  Greetings  Issue — our 
compositor  just  left  them  out;  many  apolo- 
gies . . . Sam  Harris  of  the  Stage  Door 
Bar  is  heading  for  Miami  about  February 
1 . . . Jackson  S.  Hurford  of  the  Fox 
has  similar  southbound  plans. 

Jack  Thompson  of  Paramount,  Max  Blu- 
menthal  of  Film  Projection,  Louis  Kirch- 
ner  of  the  Family,  and  Wade  Allen  of 
the  Fine  Arts  were  among  the  official 
committee  we  saw  at  Variety  Club,  New 
Year’s  Eve — plus  a host  of  filmites  rarely 
up  for  the  occasion  . . . Such  as  Peggy 
Scott,  titian-haired  telephonist  at  the  Fox 
. . . Lloyd  Hammond,  producer  of  Film 
Fumbles,  is  moving  from  his  Cass  Ave- 
nue Studio — which  will  be  torn  down  to 
make  a new  super-service  gas  station — 
into  the  seventh  floor  of  the  Film  Bldg. 

Jess  Veldman,  20th-Fox  cashier,  walk- 
ing through  the  rain  up  to  Filmrow  . . . 
Helen  Rose  just  about  all  alone  at  Fox 
for  the  big  vacation  . . . Art  Robinson 
has  Ben  Cohn  of  the  Kramer  and  Moule 
and  Newman  at  the  Oliver  starting  his 
new  blue-speckled  enamelware  deal  cur- 
rently. 

Jack  Watkins,  son  of  the  part-owner  of 
the  Plaza,  seen  downtown  Thursday  . . . 
Jack  Zide,  former  Detroit  salesman,  re- 
turned to  Omaha,  where  he  now  sells  for 
Columbia,  after  spending  his  vacation 


here  . . . Chris  Vaccher  and  Roger  Ken- 
nedy sipping  coffee  up  at  Verdi’s,  which 
they  operate  together  . . . George  W. 
Carr,  International  Seating  representa- 
tive (minus  his  pipe),  and  Stanley  Oles- 
kowicz reminiscing  after  New  Year’s  in 
the  lobby. 

Mary  Lee  Dunn,  Chinese  actress  who 
played  in  “The  Good  Earth,”  is  writing 
a play  to  be  set  in  Detroit  auto  plants, 
following  her  personal  observation  here 
. . . Don  Shield's  is  back  in  charge  of  the 
Dezel  roadshows  office  . . . Jack  Stewart 
of  Universal  and  Ed  Weingarden  of  UA 
are  much  interested  in  late  football. 

Walter  R.  Stebbins,  Film  Building  man- 
ager, expects  to  be  off  for  New  York  . . . 
Jack  Stebbins,  of  M-G-M,  visiting  up  in 
dad’s  office  . . . Warren  and  Pat  Slee, 
M-G-M,  strolling  along  Grand  Circus  Park 
Friday  eve.  . . . Paul  Field,  producer,  met 
in  the  Book  Bldg.,  is  working  on  a new 
show  . . . Mrs.  Charles  Hague  Booth, 
famed  Detroit  golf  figure  who  died  last 
week,  was  a stage  star  prior  to  1912,  and 
was  the  woman  who  advised  Gladys  Smith 
to  go  into  pictures  instead  of  on  the 
stage — she  did,  and  became  Mary  Pick- 
ford. 

WOLVERINE  DOINGS: 

Roy  Shook,  who  owns  the  Shores  at  St. 
Clair  Shores,  is  building  a new  and  big- 
ger “Shores”  next  door.  The  present  build- 
ing probably  will  become  a store  building. 


Edwin  C.  Forrest,  78,  pioneer  Saginaw 
theatre  operator,  and  secretary-treasurer 
of  the  Mecca  Theatre  Co.  of  Saginaw,  died 
December  29. 


Ralph  Raskin,  of  the  Robinson  Pre- 
mium Co.,  is  back  from  ten  days’  hard 
driving,  covering  the  State. 


Howard  Paul,  Romeo  exhibitor,  and  his 
wife,  pleasantly  in  town  New  Year’s  Eve, 
visiting  the  Variety  Club. 


Associated  Chain  Gives 
A Dinner  for  Managers 

Cleveland — Associated  circuit  officials 
were  hosts  to  their  managers  at  a dinner 
at  the  Statler  December  30.  Jerome  Fried- 
lander,  attorney  for  Associated,  was  toast- 
master. Speeches  were  made  by  Hosts 
John  D.  Kalafat,  S.  H.  Stecker  and  Meyer 
Fine.  Howard  Reif  and  James  E.  Sco- 
ville,  affiliated  with  the  circuit  in  the 
Shore  Theatre,  and  Ed  Bang,  sports  edi- 
tor of  The  News,  also  were  present. 


Don  Carlos  Dead 

Detroit — Charles  Hall,  70,  producer  of 
“Hall’s  Monkey  Hotel”  for  over  50  years, 
died  at  Wisper  & Wetsman’s  Oakman  The- 
atre Saturday  while  giving  a special  chil- 
dren’s matinee.  He  collapsed  while  work- 
ing through  the  house.  His  wife,  Sophia 
Hall,  carried  on  the  routine  from  the 
stage.  Hall  was  known  professionally  as 
Don  Carlos. 


Impasse  Holds  Over 
Opening  of  Royal 

Detroit — Negotiations  over  opening  of 
the  Royal  here  continued  at  an  impasse 
this  week.  The  new  2,500-seat  theatre, 
built  jointly  by  United  Detroit  and  Wis- 
per & Wetsman  Theatres,  failed  to  open 
in  December  when  the  operators  were 
called  out  upon  failure  of  the  manage- 
ment and  the  IATSE  to  agree  on  employ- 
ment of  a stagehand. 

Position  of  the  management  is  that  there 
is  no  work  for  a stagehand  at  the  house. 
The  union  holds  a contrary  view. 

The  controversy  is  viewed  as  a test  of 
the  general  principle  of  employing  stage- 
hands for  maintenance  work  in  film 
houses. 

In  the  absence  of  direct  negotiations,  a 
hopeful  sign  of  a path  toward  settlement 
appeared  in  the  willingness  of  Roger  M. 
Kennedy,  international  vice-president  of 
the  IA,  who  ordered  the  operators  out, 
to  discuss  a compromise  arrangement. 
Kennedy  indicated  a willingness  to  dis- 
cuss an  adjustment  of  wages  and  hours 
in  an  interview  with  Boxoffice. 

An  interesting  “canard”  of  the  week 
was  a story  published  in  local  newspa- 
pers to  the  effect  the  management  planned 
to  dismantle  the  Royal  under  the  circum- 
stances. This  was  repudiated,  however,  in 
a statement  to  Boxoffice  by  Earl  Hudson, 
president  of  UDT,  who  said  that  the  only 
changes  being  made  in  the  house  in- 
volved removal  of  furnishings  which  might 
become  soiled. 


Louis  Hanna  Appointed 
Salesman  lor  Republic 

Pittsburgh — Louis  E.  Hanna  has  been 
named  as  sales  representative  for  Republic 
Pictures  Corp.  of  Pittsburgh.  Lou,  previous- 
ly a booker,  succeeds  the  late  George  W. 
Collins.  He  will  cover  the  northern  area. 

Hymie  Wheeler  has  been  assigned  the 
main  line  territory.  Both  sales  repre- 
sentatives will  serve  under  Samuel  A.  Fine- 
berg,  associate  of  James  H.  Alexander, 
manager.  Fineberg,  Wheeler  and  Hanna 
also  will  cover  an  assigned  city  area,  thus 
each  will  be  “at  home”  every  third  week. 

Joseph  Daugherty,  Republic’s  head  ship- 
per, has  been  promoted  to  booker.  William 
Hollenbaugh,  night  shipper,  succeeds  to 
Daugherty’s  former  post.  Bud  Thomas  is 
the  new  night  shipper. 


Renovates  Pitt  House 

Pittsburgh — Steve  Santa’s  Washington 
is  being  modernized  and  renovated.  Face 
is  being  lifted  by  the  Flexlume  organiza- 
tion which  is  installing  a new  front  and 
marquee,  the  latter  with  neon  trim  and 
three  lines  of  silhouette  letters. 


Opens  as  Dual  Second  Run 

Wheeling,  W.  Va. — The  Colonial  here, 
which  folded  recently  after  three  weeks  of 
stock  burlesque,  has  reopened  with  a dual 
second-run  film  policy.  Admission  scales 
from  10  to  20  cents. 


46 


BOXOFFICE  January  11,  1941 


CLEVELAND 


They  Present  a Happy  Picture — 


These  underprivileged,  children  present  a happy  picture  following  the  Christ- 
mas party  given  tor  them  by  the  Warner  Club  of  Cleveland,  which  is  led  by 
Charles  Albert.  There  was  a complete  turkey  dinner  on  the  menu,  and  each 
of  the  52  guests  received  a bag  of  candy,  a bag  of  fruit,  a funny  book  and  a 
matching  cap  and  glove  set. 


BIG  NEWS  of  the  week  was  the  arrival  on 
January  2 of  a daughter  into  the  fam- 
ily of  Ed  Fisher,  United  Artists  publicity 
specialist.  The  young  lady  named,  Carole 
Anne,  and  her  mother  are  reported  doing 
nicely  at  St.  John’s  Hospital  . . . A1  Ver- 
mes expects  to  change  from  civvies  into 
uniform  almost  any  day  now  . . . Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Frank  Drew  of  M-G-M  held  their  an- 
nual New  Year’s  open  house  party  at  their 
home  last  Wednesday  . . . Leo  Devaney, 
who  hasn’t  been  in  town  since  he  was 
manager  of  the  local  Universal  exchange, 
will  be  here  January  29  to  tell  the  RKO 
boys  all  about  the  Depinet  13-week  sales 
drive.  Devaney  is  drive  leader  and  is  visit- 
ing each  RKO  office. 

Exhibitor  Ortt  of  the  Ritz,  Newcomers- 
town,  has  opened  the  commuting  season 
between  Florida  and  Ohio.  From  now  until 
March  he  will  be  either  in  Sebring,  Fla.,  or 
in  Newcomerstown  or  en  route  either  way 
. . . The  I.  J.  Schmertz  family  (20th-Fox) 
pulled  out  of  here  last  Thursday  for  a 
month  of  Florida  sunshine  < they  hope ) . . . 
Robert  Lytle  has  been  named  manager  of 
the  State,  Lima,  to  succeed  Don  Reilly, 
killed  recently  in  an  automobile  accident. 
Lytle  has  been  promoted  to  the  post  from 
the  assistant  managership  of  the  Palace  in 
Lorain. 

Christmas  season  didn’t  interfere  with 
Ray  Wallace’s  coming  to  town  from  Alli- 
ance to  take  care  of  his  bookings,  but  out- 
of-towners  were  pretty  scarce  . . . Lee 
Goldberg,  PRC  chief,  states  that  on  the 
strength  of  its  record  business  during  the 
holiday  week  at  the  Circle,  “The  Devil  Bat” 
is  being  booked  solid  throughout  the  ter- 
ritory. 

Spotted  here  and  there:  George  Delis 
and  George  Ellis  of  the  Constant -Delis  cir- 
cuit . . . Nate  Gerson  has  acquired  the 
Ohio- Kentucky  distribution  of  “The  Bak- 
er’s Wife,”  acclaimed  the  best  foreign  pic- 
ture of  the  year.  It  opens  January  23  at 
the  Circle,  Cleveland,  for  a local  premiere 
. . . That  was  Marilyn  Ochs,  the  second  of 
Herb’s  three  daughters,  who  substituted 
for  Rose  Bein  as  secretary  to  Herb  and 
Harry  Long  of  Pioneer  Film  Exchange, 
while  the  Beins  Cliristmas-ed  in  New  York 
■ . . Jack  Share  of  the  Columbia  sales  force 
went  to  Washington  and  Philadelphia  for 
his  current  vacation  . . . And  Columbia 
Branch  Manager  Lester  Zucker  has  com- 
pletely recovered  from  his  recent  indispo- 
sition. 

Jack  Barck  and  the  Lyric  Theatre, 
Delta,  have  parted  company.  Jack  leased 
the  theatre  last  September  but  decided  to 
turn  it  back  to  the  owner,  K.  W.  Norwine. 
The  house  is  reported  closed  . . . Maple 
Heights  Theatre,  Cleveland,  is  temporarily 
closed  while  renovations  are  going  on  . . . 
The  Milt  Mooneys  of  Cooperative  Theatres 
of  Ohio  arrived  back  home  from  a West 
Indies  cruise  last  Friday,  stopping  off  in 
New  York  for  a day  after  reaching  shore. 

Bill  King  of  Mills  Novelty  Co.  of  Chin- 
cago  has  been  in  town  visiting  with  heads 
of  Midwest  Specialties  Co.,  distributors  of 
Panoram.  King,  who  is  connected  with  the 
engineering  department  of  his  company,  is 
giving  Urban  Anderson,  president  of  the 
local  distributing  company,  some  technical 
instruction  as  to  the  operation  of  the  ma- 


NAT  KAPLAN,  chairman  of  the  Variety 
Club’s  annual  New  Year  Eve  frolic,  is 
being  credited  with  the  huge  success  of  the 
affair  which  was  a sell-out.  Limited  to 
250  persons,  there  was,  nevertheless,  an 
overflow  crowd.  Bill  Onie,  Monogram 
branch  manager,  and  chief  barker,  was 
on  the  reception  committee,  and  Col.  Ar- 
thur Frudenfeld  had  charge  of  the  excel- 
lent floor  show  . . . Friends  of  Mrs.  Will 
Shakespeare  of  the  National  will  regret 
to  hear  of  the  death  of  her  brother  and 
sister-in-law,  both  occurring  during 
Christmas  week  following  illness.  Burial 
was  at  Portsmouth,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Shakes- 
speare  is  now  on  the  sick  list. 

The  press  has  been  giving  much  space 
to  Rudy  Bressler’s  new  house  to  be  erected 


chine  . . . Charles  Raymond,  Loew  division 
manager,  announces  that  “GWTW”  will 
open  its  local  popular -priced  run  at  the 
State,  starting  January  17  . . . There  will 
be  no  reserved  seat  policy  and  top  price 
will  be  55  cents. 

New  Year’s  Eve  and  New  Year’s  Day 
drew  the  best  business  over  a similar  per- 
iod in  four  years,  according  to  Everett 
Steinbuck,  manager  of  Loew’s  State.  Stein- 
buck  reports  the  State,  showing  “Comrade 
X,”  played  to  23,500  people  in  two  days. 
The  State  has  3,500  seats  . . . Meet  the 
new  assistant  Universal  booker.  He  is  Har- 
old Satz.  And  he  hails  from  the  Big  U 
exchange  in  New  York.  John  J.  Scully  jr., 
whom  he  succeeds,  has  been  transferred  to 
the  Philadelphia  exchange  . . . Howard 
Roth,  Paramount  booker,  was  feeling  pret- 
ty punk  last  Thursday.  A bad  cold  . . . 
George  Roberts,  20th-Fox  district  man- 
ager, is  among  the  returned  Christmas 
travelers.  He  spent  the  holidays  with  his 
wife  and  daughter,  Jane,  in  Buffalo  . . . 
The  Bryan  D.  Stoners  were  in  from  Pitts- 
burgh to  check  in  at  the  Frank  Drews’ 
New  Year  party. 

Dave  Miller,  Universal  district  manager, 
is  cruise  shopping — a gift  from  the  boys  of 
his  district,  presented  to  him  at  the  anni- 
( Continued  on  page  50) 


in  Dayton.  Bressler  also  operates  the  Lib- 
erty . . . M-G-M  broke  ground  this  week 
for  their  new  exchange,  under  lease,  and 
which  is  across  the  street  from  their 
present  location  on  Filmrow.  A modern  air 
conditioned  fire-proof  building  is  expected 
to  be  ready  for  occupancy  in  May. 

Jerry  Marks,  Universal's  West  Virginia 
representative,  and  Ross  Williams  are 
among  the  latest  enthusiasts  of  the  air- 
ways. They  are  interested  in  seaplanes  and 
are  using  the  Ohio  River  as  a parking  lot 
. . Universal  announces  “Back  Street”  may 
have  its  world  premiere  in  Cincinnati 
where  the  locale  of  the  story  is  laid.  Hope 
is  being  expressed  that  the  two  stars, 
Margaret  Sullavan  and  Charles  Boyer,  will 
be  brought  on  for  the  event  . . . Warner’s 
“Santa  Fe  Trail,”  going  into  its  second 
week  in  Cincy,  is  also  doing  big  in  Dayton 
at  the  Palace,  according  to  report. 

Dave  Miller,  Universal  district  manager, 
here  for  several  days  . . . George  Myer, 
Frankfort  and  Winchester  exhibitor,  also 
here  . . . Columbia’s  “This  Thing  Called 
Love"  is  set  for  the  RKO  Palace  the  week 
of  the  16 tli  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Nal- 
ley,  Nitro,  W.  Va„  spent  several  days  in 
the  Queen  City,  coming  on  for  New  Year’s 
Eve  and  staying  over  to  complete  bookings 
. . . Cincinnati  friends  are  glad  to  hear 
that  Lee  Goldberg,  former  head  of  PRC 
here  and  now  in  Cleveland,  is  recovering 
nicely  from  an  operation  for  infected 
teeth. 

PRC’s  “The  Devil  Bat”  is  doing  fine  in 
its  first  run  in  downtown  Cincinnati.  It  is 
dualled  with  “Boss  of  Bullion  City”  at  the 
RKO  Family  . . . Maury  White  announces 
the  new  Davue,  Dayton,  Ky.,  is  expected  to 
be  ready  for  opening  by  April  1 . . . The 
Ridge,  Pleasant  Ridge,  Cincinnati,  will 
open  in  the  near  future.  Both  houses  are 
the  last  word  in  modern  theatres  and  are 
in  line  with  the  present-day  policy  of 
building  new  houses  in  suburban  areas. 


"First  Beau"  for  Reed 

Hollywood — “Her  First  Beau,”  co-star- 
ring  Jane  Withers  and  Jackie  Cooper,  will 
be  directed  for  Columbia  by  J.  Theodore 
Reed,  who  handles  the  assignment  on  a 
loanout  from  Paramount. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


47 


70  Films  Were  Held  Over 
Last  Year  in  Pittsburgh 


Pittsburgh — Seventy  features  were  held 
over  in  the  Golden  Triangle  theatres  dur- 
ing 1940,  and  17  M-G-M  pictures  played 
a total  of  49  weeks  in  those  houses  last 
year. 

“Gone  With  the  Wind,”  an  M-G-M  re- 
lease, played  a roadshow  engagement  of 
ten  weeks;  20th-Fox’s  “Grapes  of  Wrath” 
played  five  weeks,  as  did  Paramount’s 
"North  West  Mounted  Police.”  The  four- 
week  pictures  were  M-G-M’s  “Boom 
Town”  and  “I  Love  You  Again,”  20th-Fox’s 
“Swanee  River”  and  “Tin  Pan  Alley,”  Co- 
lumbia’s “His  Girl  Friday”  and  Universal’s 
“It’s  a Date.” 

Features  which  played  three  weeks  were 
Warner’s  “Virginia  City,”  “All  This,  and 
Heaven  Too,”  “They  Drive  by  Night,”  “The 
Sea  Hawk,”  “City  for  Conquest”  and 
“Strike  Up  the  Band;”  20th-Fox’s  “Lillian 
Russell,”  “Down  Argentine  Way”  and  “The 
Mark  of  Zorro;”  Columbia’s  “My  Favorite 
Wife;”  United  Artists’  “Of  Mice  and  Men;” 
and  Universal’s  “Hired  Wife.” 

Forty-five  pictures  played  fortnight  en- 
gagements: M-G-M’s  11  were  “Judge 
Hardy  and  Son,”  “Northwest  Passage,” 
"Strange  Cargo,”  “Young  Tom  Edison,” 
“Edison,  the  Man,”  “Susan  and  God,” 
"Mortal  Storm,”  “New  Moon,”  “Pride  and 
Prejudice,”  “Bitter  Sweet”  and  “Little  Nel- 
lie Kelly;”  “Paramount’s  six  were  “Gulli- 
ver’s Travels,”  “Road  to  Singapore,”  “Buck 
Benny  Rides  Again,”  “Ghost  Breakers,” 
“Rhythm  on  the  River”  and  “Arise,  My 
Love;”  United  Artists’  six  were  “Pastor 
Hall,”  “Rebecca,”  “My  Son,  My  Son,” 
"Foreign  Correspondent,”  “The  Westerner” 
and  “The  Great  Dictator.” 

Warner’s  seven  were  “A  Child  Is  Born,” 
“Fighting  69th,”  “Dr.  Ehrlich’s  Magic  Bul- 
let,” “Torrid  Zone,”  “Saturday’s  Children,” 
“Brother  Orchid”  and  “Knute  Rockne — 
All  American;”  Universal’s  five  were  “If 
I Had  My  Way,”  “When  the  Daltons 
Rode,”  "Boys  From  Syracuse,”  “Spring  Pa- 
rade” and  “My  Little  Chickadee;”  RKO’s 
four  were  “Hunchback  of  Notre  Dame,” 
“Pinocchio,”  “Lucky  Partners”  and  “They 
Knew  What  They  Wanted;”  Columbia’s 
three  “Too  Many  Husbands,”  “The  Doctor 
Takes  a Wife”  and  “He  Stayed  for  Break- 
fast;” 20th-Fox’s  three  “Return  of  Frank 


James,”  “Johnny  Apollo”  and  “Little  Old 
New  York,”  and  Republic’s  “Dark  Com- 
mand.” 

Independent  Barry  consumed  the  most 
film  during  the  year,  exhibiting  103  fea- 
tures, including  11  reissues.  Harris  Alvin 
and  Senator  used  20  features,  including  6 
reissues;  Loew’s  Penn,  48;  Stanley,  47; 
Fulton,  43;  Warner,  41,  including  1 reissue 
(and  “moveover”  pictures) ; Ritz,  38,  in- 
cluding 1 reissue  (and  “moveover”  pic- 
tures ) . 

Additionally,  the  Art  Cinema  offered  sev- 
eral French  and  Yiddish  films  supplement- 
ed by  a number  of  English  films  and  do- 
mestic reissues.  “The  Burning  Question,” 
a state-rights  film,  played  17  weeks  and 
this  was  followed  by  “Forbidden  Adven- 
ture,” another  such  picture,  which  was  on 
view  for  10  weeks. 

Mickey  Rooney,  in  person  at  the  Stan- 
ley, attracted  118,000  admissions,  grossing 
more  than  $37,000.  Other  film  names  seen 
in  person  during  the  year  were  Edith  Fel- 
lows, Andy  Devine,  Bob  Crosby,  Ted  Lewis, 
Three  Stooges,  Cliff  Edwards,  Gloria  Dick- 
son, Alexander  D’Arcy,  Eddy  Duchin,  Ben- 
ny Goodman,  Benny  Davis,  Jimmie  Fidler, 
Morton  Downey,  Edmund  Lowe,  Dixie  Dun- 
bar, Buddy  Rogers,  Will  Osborne,  Johnny 
Davis,  Ed  Sullivan,  Arthur  Treacher,  Mar- 
jorie Weaver,  Bela  Lugosi,  Douglas  Mc- 
Phail,  Betty  Jaynes,  Helen  Parrish,  Horace 
Heidt,  Phil  Spitalny,  Guy  Lombardo, 
Wayne  King,  Tommy  Riggs,  Vilma  and 
Buddy  Ebsen. 

Also  Beverly  Roberts,  Glen  Gray,  Jan 
Savitt,  Sammy  Kaye,  Orrin  Tucker,  Bon- 
nie Baker,  George  Jessel,  Rochelle  Hud- 
son, Jean  Parker,  Isabel  Jewell,  Lya  Lys, 
Lois  Andrew  Jessel,  Stan  Laurel,  Oliver 
Hardy,  Louella  O.  Parsons,  Robert  Cum- 
mings, Sabu,  June  Preisser,  Binnie  Barnes, 
William  Orr,  Virginia  O’Brien,  Mike  Fran- 
kovich,  Brenda  Joyce.  At  the  legit  Nixon 
such  celebrities  as  John  Barrymore,  Si- 
mone Simon,  Mitzi  Green,  Mary  Brian, 
John  Barton,  Walter  Huston,  Katharine 
Cornell,  Cornelia  Otis  Skinner,  Paul  Muni, 
John  Garfield,  Harry  Carey,  Aline  Mac- 
Mahon,  Katharine  Hepburn,  George  M. 
Cohan,  Flora  Robson,  Eddie  Dowling,  Julie 
Haydon,  Alfred  Lunt,  Lynn  Fontanne  and 
Clifton  Webb  were  seen. 


IIP  ll[  T T S B ItJ  R Ci  H 


JOHN  B.  “POP”  KANE,  Pitcairn  exhibi- 
* tor,  suffered  a heart  attack  after  visit- 
ing on  Filmrow  Thursday  of  last  week. 
He  is  under  an  oxygen  tent  in  Columbia 
Hospital  . . . Harry  Stahl,  Sharon  exhibi- 
tor, is  up  and  around  again  after  suffer- 
ing a vertebra  dislocation.  He  has  been 
wearing  a “dog  collar”  brace  . . . Sympathy 
to  Gertrude  Freed  of  M-G-M,  whose  fath- 
er died  last  Saturday  . . . Sympathy  also 
to  Phil  Doyle,  business  agent  for  the 
stagehands’  union,  who  lost  his  mother. 

John  J.  Maloney,  M-G-M  district  man- 
ager, was  “coming  along’’  in  Mercy  Hos- 


pital Monday  when  we  visited.  He  had 
suffered  a relapse  after  a tonsil  operation. 
The  entire  local  sales  staff  of  Leo  was 
around  John’s  bedside  when  we  departed 
. . . Dave  Blum  of  Portage  is  vacationing 
at  Miami  Beach  and  his  son  Sidney  is 
looking  after  the  Rex  . . . It’s  nice  to  have 
Tom  Connors  jr.  back  in  town  again.  Son 
of  the  M-G-M  executive  was  very  popular 
as  a student  here  last  year  before  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Denver  office.  He’s  on 
duty  here  and  glad  to  be  back. 

Joseph  R.  Kauffman,  Universal  mana- 
ger at  Cleveland,  was  seriously  ill  with  a 


ft  - — ■ ■ 

Admits  Not  All 
Are  Good  Ones 

Canonsburg,  Pa. — “You'll  probably  get 
stuck  with  a bad  one  now  and  then," 
admits  the  house  organ  here  lor  the 
Alhambra  and  Continental  in  the  New 
Year's  ‘Thank  You'  issue  which  prom- 
ises ’our  level  best  to  bring  you  the 
finest'  in  film  entertainment.  The  week- 
ly paper  is  known  as  “Yours  for  Fun," 
the  identified  signatures  of  Eddie  and 
Fred  Beedle,  owners. 

Vi=  ■ V 

strep  infection  this  week  and  his  brothers, 
Eli  and  Morris,  hurried  to  the  Ohio  city 
. . . E.  B.  Morton,  NTS  manager,  returned 
from  Florida  and  was  still  very  ill  this 
week.  A.  F.  Baldwin  of  the  NTS  home 
office  has  been  sent  here  to  take  care  of 
the  local  branch  in  Morton’s  absence  . . . 
Jimmy  DiMauro  has  been  polishing  his  golf 
sticks,  thinking  thereby  that  he  will  under- 
score “Uncle  Gus”  Vaveris  when  the  sea- 
son rolls  around.  But  the  latter  is  not 
worried.  (We’re  not  taking  sides — and 
thanks  to  Jimmy  for  the  renewal  sub- 
scription to  Boxoffice). 

Frank  William  Miller,  advertising  mana- 
ger for  the  Metropolitan,  Morgantown, 
W.  Va.,  and  Charlie  Baron,  M-G-M’s  local 
exploiteer,  have  been  declared  national 
winners  in  the  “Bitter  Sweet’’  exploitation 
campaign  and  have  been  awarded  M-G-M 
Honor  Roll  Emblems  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ray  Allison  of  Cresson  have  announced  the 
engagement  of  their  daughter.  Miss  Mar- 
celle  Reed  Allison,  to  Simon  M.  ( Cy ) Ben- 
der, publicity  director  at  Loretto  College. 
Miss  Allison  attended  Carnegie  Institute  of 
Technology  and  Mr.  Bender  is  a graduate 
of  St.  Francis  College,  Loretto,  Pa.,  class 
of  1935. 

The  John  R.  Osbornes  of  Wheeling  are 
wintering  in  Florida  . . . R.  J.  “Riney” 
Hiehle,  Parkersburg  exhibitor,  was  a Film- 
row  visitor  the  other  day  with  Bruce  Day, 
who  is  the  new  manager  of  the  Burwell, 
of  that  city,  which  has  reverted  to  N.  C. 
Burwell,  owner.  Hiehle  stated  he  will  need 
fewer  headache  tablets  in  the  future  . . . 
Charlie  Dortic,  Warner  sales  representa- 
tive, visited  in  Georgia  during  the  holidays 
. . . Danny  Davis  has  inaugurated  weekly 
national  amateur  shows  at  the  Cove,  Hol- 
lidays Cove,  W.  Va.,  on  Wednesdays,  and 
at  the  Paramount,  Connellsville,  Pa.,  on 
Fridays. 

Miss  Dolline  Cole,  an  actress  for  “the 
best  of  her  81  years,”  dropped  dead  one 
evening  recently  in  the  Garden  Theatre. 
Newspapers  reported  that  her  ambition  was 
to  die  in  a theatre.  Posthumously,  she 
achieved  another  ambition  when  her  ashes 
were  scattered  from  a soaring  airplane  over 
the  Golden  Triangle  . . . Nixon  gets  “Hellz- 
apoppin’  ” February  10  and  “The  Male 
Animal”  February  24. 

Harry  Grelle  is  assisting  Gabe  Rubin  in 
distributing  special  roadshow  pictures  . . . 
John  Oliffee,  28,  north  side  arsonist,  who 
escaped  from  Rockview  Penitentiary,  was 
captured  and  returned  there.  He  is  serv- 
ing from  three  to  ten  years,  after  plead- 
ing guilty  in  October  to  setting  fire  to  the 
McClure  Theatre,  in  September  . . . James 
(Continued  on  page  50) 


48 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


From  All  Corners 


Of  the  Nation— 


PRINCESS  THEATRE 


WAUSEON,  OHIO 


Sept.  18,  1940 


BOXOFFICE: 

Relative  to  our  recent  ad  in  BOXOFFICE:  To 
date,  within  the  first  week  after  publication,  we 
have  received  109  answers  to  this  ad,  the  replies 
coming  from  Massachusetts  to  Washington,  from 
Minnesota  and  Montana  to  Texas. 

The  response  was  almost  unbelievable.  Cer- 
tainly I could  think  of  no  other  medium  that  might 
return  such  a result. 


P.  R.  TOUNEY 


Whatever  You  Have  to 


BUY  — SELL  — TRADE 


For  Best  Results  Use  the 


Section  of 


< 


OXOffICE 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


Sees  Settlement  of 
Louisville  Strike 

Louisville — Settlement  of  the  local  ush- 
ers’ and  doormen’s  strike,  in  effect  since 
December  23,  was  expected  by  the  end  of 
the  week  by  J.  T.  Woodward,  APL  repre- 
sentative in  Kentucky. 

A jurisdictional  dispute  between  the 
Building  Service  Employes’  Union  and  the 
Theatre  and  Stage  Employes’  Union,  which 
has  been  hindering  negotiations,  was  ex- 
pected to  be  ironed  out,  thus  paving  the 
way  for  a settlement  of  the  strike,  ac- 
cording to  Woodward. 

At  a meeting  last  Thursday,  Woodward 
told  representatives  of  both  unions  that 
William  Green,  president  of  the  APL,  had 
advised  him  the  ushers  and  doormen  be- 
long in  the  stagehands’  union  and  not  in 
the  building  employes’  organization,  of 
which  they  are  members. 

The  striking  workers  are  employed  by 
the  Rex,  Strand,  Rialto,  Kentucky  and 
Mary  Anderson  theatres.  They  seek  recog- 
nition of  their  union,  seniority  rights,  a 
closed  shop  and  wage  adjustments. 


Advances  Proposal  for 
One-Reel  Synopses 

Detroit — A proposal  for  one-reel  synop- 
ses of  all  feature  films  for  use  in  trade- 
screening under  the  consent  decree  is  ad- 
vanced by  Walter  R.  Stebbins,  manager 
of  the  Film  Exchange  Bldg. 

“Exhibitors  will  be  faced  with  the  prob- 
lem of  reviewing  far  more  pictures  than 
they  have  done  in  years  under  the  de- 
cree,” Stebbins  asserts.  “But  the  num- 
ber of  screening  hours  is  actually  limited, 
and  the  problem  appears  nearly  insoluble 
from  a practical  standpoint — certainly,  if 
every  exhibitor  were  to  try  to  see  every 
film,  well,  it  just  couldn’t  be  done. 

“Besides,  exhibitors  don’t  like  to  keep  on 
looking  at  pictures — it  is  work,  after  all. 
Many  will  tend  to  neglect  to  see  enough 
films  trade-screened  for  that  reason,  and 
for  the  necessary  pressure  of  time. 

“But  a solution  could  be  found  in  one- 
reel  synopses,  showing  the  essential  na- 
ture of  the  film — such  synopses  would 
probably  have  to  be  carefully  edited,  and 
perhaps  subject  to  approval  by  a board 
of  some  type,  whether  all-industry  or 
otherwise,  before  being  released,  to  as- 
sure their  essential  accuracy  in  summa- 
tion. These  could  very  easily  be  shown — 
and  exhibitors  could  readily  judge  a pic- 
ture from  bits  of  it.  After  all,  a jeweler 
does  not  have  to  tear  a gem  apart  to 
know  its  worth — he  can  tell  from  general 
inspection.  So,  as  in  other  industries,  the 
exhibitor  can  judge  the  film  by  sampling 
it. 

“I  believe  that  this  is  entirely  permis- 
sible under  the  consent  decree,  and  I 
think  that  sound  industry  opinion  should 
be  directed  toward  making  it  possible  be- 
fore the  industry  actually  goes  into  opera- 
tion under  the  decree  in  September.” 


Pneumonia  Fatal 

Louisville — Gerald  Wendover  Pilcher, 
41,  secretary-treasurer  of  Henry  Pilcher’s 
Sons,  Inc.,  pipe  organ  company,  died  last 
week  from  pneumonia.  He  was  stricken 
Christmas  Day. 


Another  Postponement  in 
Midwest  Theatres  Suit 


Detroit- — Trial  of  the  suit  of  Midwest 
Theatres  against  Cooperative  Theatres  of 
Michigan  in  federal  court,  which  was  in- 
active over  the  holidays,  has  again  been 
postponed  two  weeks,  until  January  21,  be- 
cause of  the  illness  of  A.  J.  Levin,  attor- 
ney for  Co-Operative.  Levin’s  illness 
caused  one  week’s  adjournment  on  Decem- 
ber 31. 

Date  now  set  for  the  trial,  is  just  one 
week  before  date  set  in  Wayne  county 
circuit  court  for  the  trial  of  a suit  brought 
by  Jacob  Schreiber,  former  owner  of  the 
houses  now  in  the  Midwest  group,  against 
Raymond  Schreiber,  involving  title  to  the 
theatres. 


(Continued  from  page  48) 

M.  Totman  of  the  local  Warner  circuit 
office  addressed  the  Hill  Top  Mothers’ 
Club  Tuesday  afternoon  in  the  South  Hills 
YMCA,  his  subject  being  “Social  Influ- 
ence of  the  Motion  Picture  in  America.” 

Bryan  D.  “Buck”  Stoner,  M-G-M’s  new 
branch  manager,  has  passed  inspection 
here.  He  has  been  received  with  open  arms 
by  exhibitors  and  other  members  of  the 
trade.  And  although  he  succeeds  Burt 
Bishop  jr„  one  of  the  swellest  guys  in  the 
business,  Stoner  is  already  “Buck”  to  the 
boys.  We  knew  him  years  ago  when  he  was 
a student  salesman  here  for  Leo  the  Lion, 
and  we  wish  him  every  success  now  that  he 
has  returned  in  the  more  responsible  post 
with  the  same  outfit  . . . Independent 
Theatres,  Inc.,  established  headquarters  in 
the  William  Penn  Hotel  for  the  Bishop 
dinner,  where  all  were  welcome  to  share 
in  the  hospitality  of  this  group.  The  event 
of  Monday  was  celebrated  as  a double- 
header  by  Harry  Walker,  whose  birthday 
anniversary  fell  071  that  day.  He  was  pre- 
sented with  a large  birthday  cake. 

Frank  Roberts  of  Steubenville,  Ohio,  was 
in  for  the  Bishop  shindig,  and  the  exhibi- 
tor who  traveled  the  greater  distance  to 
be  present  was  Paul  O.  Klingler  of  Lewis- 
town.  Heartily  welcomed  were  George  Sal- 
lows and  George  P.  Comuntzis  of  Morgan- 
town, W.  Va.  The  banquet  brought  out  a 
number  of  the  boys  we  hadn’t  seen  in 
many  months,  and  we  were  glad  to  again 
greet  Sabu  and  his  brother,  Shaik. 

Robert  E.  Johnson,  projectionist  at  the 
Grand,  Carnegie,  for  many  years,  died 
Sunday.  He  was  a motion  picture  machine 
operator  before  the  World  War,  in  which 
he  served,  and  was  a veteran  member  of 
the  IATSE,  Local  No.  171.  He  is  survived 
by  his  widow  and  his  mother.  Only  a few 
weeks  ago  he  had  become  the  father  of  a 
child.  Funeral  was  Wednesday  afternoon 
with  many  friends  and  IATSE  members  in 
attendance  . . . Isadore  J.  Mittelberger,  77, 
of  this  city,  well  known  in  the  trade,  died 
Monday  at  Erie,  Pa.  . . . Henry  B.  Vincent, 
68,  founder  and  a director  of  the  Erie 
Playhouse,  at  Erie,  Pa.,  died  Tuesday  of  a 
heart  attack. 

John  H.  Harris  has  been  named  as  a 
member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
industry  defense  group. 


Urge  Playdates  for 
"Land  of  Liberty" 

Pittsburgh — AMPTO  of  W.  Pa.  is  on 
record  approving  the  motion  picture  indus- 
try’s “Land  of  Liberty,”  to  be  distributed 
by  M-G-M,  net  proceeds  for  which  will  be 
donated  for  war  emergency  welfare  work. 
The  action  was  taken  at  the  recent  meet- 
ing of  the  local  Allied  directors  on  the 
recommendation  of  Abram  F.  Myers,  na- 
tional Allied  counsel.  All  exhibitors  are 
urged  to  cooperate  fully  with  M-G-M  on 
booking  arrangements  for  this  subject. 


(Continued  from  page  47) 
versary  banquet  in  celebration  of  his  20 
years  ivith  Universal  . . . Manager  Marvin 
Samuelson  of  Warner’s  Colony  has  re- 
sumed the  regular  Wednesday  book  review 
matinees,  now  in  their  second  successful 
year  . . . Mrs.  Mitchell  Blachschlager, 
whose  husband  is  a member  of  the  U A 
Cincy  staff,  is  in  Cleveland  visiting  her 
parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lee  Goldberg  of 
PRC  . . . Urban  Anderson,  president  of 
Midwest  Specialties  Co.,  distributors  of 
Panoram,  believing  in  “atmosphere,”  has 
set  up  a cocktail  bar  in  his  offices  in  the 
Film  Bldg. 

M.  M.  Jacobs,  head  of  Imperial  Pictures 
Co.,  went  to  New  York  to  buy  new  product 
for  distribution  in  Ohio  and  Kentucky  . . . 
Patrons  of  Lorain-Fulton  Theatres  last 
Wednesday  were  treated  to  a Hollywood- 
type  “sneak”  preview  of  “Misbehaving 
Husbands,”  PRC  picture  starring  Harry 
Langdon. 

F.  Arthur  Simon  of  Lake  Shore  Sales 
Co.  was  in  Chicago  last  week  attending  a 
house  wares  convention  held  at  the  Palmer 
House. 

Republic  salesmen  are  all  back  on  the 
road  after  two  weeks  Christmas  vacation. 
Nat  Lefton,  franchise  owner  of  Republic, 
was  in  Cincinnati  holding  a general  sales 
meeting  following  a meeting  in  Cleveland. 


Two-Reelers  by  Shirley 
Are  Business-Getters 

Cleveland — Nate  Schultz,  Monogram 
franchise  owner,  reports  that  theatres  are 
doing  business  on  the  strength  of  the  two- 
reel  Shirley  Temple  pictures  which  he  is 
selling  not  as  reissues  but  as  “novelty  sub- 
jects.” Exhibitors,  Schultz  reports,  are  ex- 
ploiting these  short  reelers  to  excellent  ad- 
vantage. 

On  January  15,  Monogram  will  start 
releasing  another  novelty.  It  is  a 
double-horror  program.  The  pictures 
to  be  sold  in  combination  are  “Cham- 
ber of  Horrors”  and  “Dead  Men’s  Shoes.” 
Both  are  Edgar  Wallace  stories. 


Samuel  Neaman  Rites 

Pittsburgh — Funeral  services  were  held 
Wednesday  for  Samuel  Neaman,  exhibitor 
at  Natrona,  Pa.,  who  died  Tuesday  eve- 
ning in  Passavant  Hospital  here. 


50 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


Paramount  Setup  Aired 
In  Waldo  Trust  Suit 


(r  ~ ^ 

New  Hampshire  Trade 
Has  Its  Worries 

Concord,  N.  H. — New  Hampshire  ex- 
hibitors are  having  their  worries.  The 
state  legislature,  incidentally  the  largest 
in  the  country,  opened  this  year  with  be- 
fore it  for  legalization,  state  lotteries,  ad- 
mittance of  pari-mutuel  dog  racing,  and 
licensing  of  slot  machines. 

J 

Kurson  Answers  in 
Middlebury  Quiz 

Boston — Samuel  Kurson,  Graphic  cir- 
cuit kingpin,  declined  to  answer  questions 
regarding  the  operations  in  Middlebury, 
Vt„  but  later  reversed  his  field  and  re- 
sponded to  queries  on  this  subject  put  to 
him  during  the  four  days  of  deposition  tak- 
ing by  George  S.  Ryan,  plaintiff’s  attor- 
ney in  a number  of  anti-trust  actions  in 
which  Kurson  is  one  of  the  defendants. 

The  Graphic  circuit  executive  testified, 
during  his  four  days  on  the  witness  stand, 
that  any  of  the  records  of  his  Millinocket, 
Bridgton,  and  Middlebury  houses  involved 
in  the  cases  had  been  destroyed  prior  to 
the  transfer  of  the  Graphic  headquarters 
from  Bangor  to  Boston. 

Kurson  told  Ryan  that  he  “didn’t  have 
any  subpoena  from  you  to  tell  me  what  I 
need  and  what  I didn’t  need.” 

“Did  you  tell  your  bookkeeper  what  stuff 
could  be  destroyed  and  what  kept?”  asked 
Ryan. 

“I  told  her  whatever  stuff  we  had  prior 
to  1938  she  can  destroy,”  Kurson  said,  “In 
some  cases  she  did,  and  in  some  cases  there 
were  some  in  Boston  which  are  right  here 
now.” 

“At  the  time  you  gave  her  the  instruc- 
tions that  she  could  destroy  that  stuff,” 
Ryan  continued,  “did  you  have  anything  in 
mind  that  there  were  some  anti-trust  ac- 
tions pending  against  you  in  some  other 
companies?” 

“No,  sir,”  said  Kurson. 


Lydon  May  Call  Meeting 
Of  Allied  Unit  in  Huh 

Boston — Frank  Lydon,  Allied  eastern 
regional  vice-president  and  head  of  the 
Independent  Exhibitors,  Inc.,  may  call  a 
“hurry-up”  meeting  of  the  local  organiza- 
tion prior  to  the  national  confab  sched- 
uled for  January  27-28,  either  at  the  Carl- 
ton or  the  Mayfair  in  Washington,  D.  C. 
The  lateness  of  the  national  date  will  prob- 
ably move  to  February  the  time  of  the 
regular  annual  meeting  of  Independent 
Exhibitors,  Inc.,  previously  scheduled  for 
sometime  this  month. 


46  Are  Passed 

Boston  — “Kitty  F o y 1 e,”  “Invisible 
Woman,”  “Her  First  Romance,”  and  43 
other  motion  pictures  have  been  passed 
without  eliminations  by  the  Massachu- 
setts Department  of  Public  Safety  for  Sun- 
day showings  in  the  Bay  State.  Commis- 
sioner Eugene  M.  McSweeney  banned  two 
vaudeville  acts  and  modified  eight  others. 


Boston  — The  Paramount  corporative 
set-up  was  aired  at  length  here  during  the 
anti-trust  suit  of  the  Waldo  Theatre  vs. 
the  late  Joseph  Dondis,  et  al„  now  being 
heard  at  the  local  Federal  Building  be- 
fore Francis  Freeman,  Master  appointed 
by  Judge  Peters  of  the  U.  S.  district  court 
in  Maine. 

Asked  by  the  court  to  state,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  record,  the  tieup  between  Publix 
Theatres  Corp.  and  any  of  the  defendants 
in  the  complaint,  Ryan  replied:  “Publix 
Theatres  Corp.  was  a 100  per  cent  owned 
subsidiary  of  Paramount  Publix  Corpora- 
tion, which  is  the  same  corporation  as 
Paramount  Theatres,  Inc.  It  was  formed 
to  manage  and  control  the  theatres  in 
United  States,  including  New  England,  in 
which  Paramount  had  an  interest  or  con- 
trol. To  a great  extent,  if  not  entirely, 
these  theatres  were  companies  in  which 
Paramount  either  directly  or  indirectly 
had  more  than  a 50  per  cent  interest. 

Claims  100%  Ownership 

“It  is  our  claim  that  the  setup,  so  far 
as  it  affected  New  England,  was  that  Para- 
mount owned  about  100  per  cent  of  the 
stock  in  New  England  Theatres,  Inc.  Now 
New  England  Theatres,  Inc.,  owned  stock, 
to  a great  extent  the  controlling  propor- 
tion of  stock,  of  a number  of  theatres 
operating  throughout  New  England. 

“Paramount  acquired  50  per  cent  and 
the  right  to  control  the  theatres  that  had 
been  operated  by  Netoco  Theatres  Corp. 
and  as  the  result  there  was  formed  the  de- 
fendant corporation  Publix-Netoco  Thea- 
tres Corp.,  which  is  50  per  cent  owned, 
by  this  Paramount  company  in  New  York.” 

Defendant’s  counsel,  Edward  F.  McClen- 
nen,  added,  “Publix-Netoco  hadn’t  been 
organized  at  this  time.  Publix  Theatres 
Corp.  was  to  manage,  but  not  to  control, 
the  theatres.  I couldn’t  concede  at  the 
present  time  that  the  theatres  in  ques- 
tion were  owned  to  the  extent  of  50  per 
cent  of  the  stock,  or  more.  I think  those 

Lottery  and  Beano 
Bills  Proposed 

Springfield,  Mass. — A batch  of  bills 
covering  a wide  range  of  subjects,  some 
duplicates  of  those  already  offered,  were 
filed  last  week  in  the  state  legislature. 

A sweepstakes  lottery,  designed  to  raise 
$4,000,000  a year  for  old-age  assistance, 
was  proposed  in  a bill  sponsored  by  the 
Massachusetts  Society  for  Old  Age  Pen- 
sions. Senator-elect  Charles  V.  Hogan  of 
Lynn  filed  the  measure  along  with  an- 
other bill  calling  for  payment  of  $10  a 
week  to  old-age  assistance  recipients. 

In  another  measure,  Rep.  Adolph  John- 
son of  Brockton  proposed  a 10  per  cent 
excise  tax  on  the  gross  taken  nightly  by 
Beano  games.  The  tax  would  be  turned 
into  the  treasury  of  the  city  or  town  where 
games  are  held. 


are  the  things.  The  statement  with  refer- 
ence to  Rockland  Amusement  Co.,  that  he 
was  about  to  start  on,  I think  is  not  cor- 
rect.” 

“I  was  wrong  even  before  I said  it,” 
Ryan  sallied.  ‘“In  fact,  there  seems  to  be 
an  irrevocable  presumption  against  me.” 

There  was  some  controversy  about  how 
far  back  the  motion  picture  field  should 
be  scrutinized  insofar  as  evidence  for  the 
case  is  concerned.  The  Master  finally  told 
counsel  that  if  either  side  would  care  to 
submit  some  authority  on  how  far  back 
“toward  the  dark  ages”  we  should  proceed, 
he  would  be  glad  to  consider  them. 

Wit  Breaks  Out 

Ryan  submitted  that,  “The  supreme 
court,  in  the  Standard  Oil  case,  held  that 
it  was  proper  to  go  back  beyond  the  time 
of  the  enactment  of  the  anti-trust  laws 
to  determine  the  conduct  of  Standard  Oil 
Company.” 

Wit  has  been  breaking  out  throughout 
the  trial.  At  one  time,  a group  of  20th-Fox 
documents  were  entered  as  exhibits  and 
marked  “K-3.”  McClennen  explained  that 
this  designated  that  they  had  been  made 
during  the  third  year  of  Sidney  Kent’s  con- 
nection with  the  company. 

Quipped  Ryan,  “I  suppose  that  during 
the  year  K-9  (canine)  Fox  will  be  putting 
out  dog  pictures.” 

At  another  point  during  the  trial,  when 
a large  number  of  documents,  stapled  to- 
gether, had  been  offered  as  exhibits,  the 
Master  objected,  “I  can’t  quite  see  how  it 
would  be  possible  to  rule  on  the  admis- 
sability  of  that  batch  of  papers  any  more 
than  it  would  be  to  rule  on  the  admissabil- 
ity  of  the  Encyclopedia  Brittanica  pre- 
sented as  a whole.” 

Ryan  put  in  several  papers  on  the  inter- 
office communication  of  Paramount  Pub- 
lix Corp.,  explaining  “that  they  tend  to 
show  that  G.  Ralph  Branton  and  A1  Bevan 
were  employed  in  the  Paramount  Publix 
Corp.  and  were  engaged  in  work  relative 
to  all  theatres.” 

“If  I write  to  my  wife  tonight,”  spoke  up 
John  Caskey,  20th-Fox  counsel,  “I  don’t 
think  I had  better  use  the  Parker  House 
stationery.” 

Objects  to  Exhibit 

Caskey  objected  to  Ryan’s  offering  as  an 
exhibit  carbon  copy  comprising  40  sheets, 
the  outside  of  which  was  entitled  “Fox 
Film  Corp.  and  Publix  Theatres  Corp., 
dated  June  30,  1930. 

“This  document,”  said  Caskey,  “pur- 
ports to  have  been  executed  in  1930,  as  it 
has  already  been  stipulated  before  Your 
Honor  that  Publix  Theatres  Corp.  was  a 
subsidiary  of  Paramount  Famous  Players 
Lasky.  That  corporation  went  into  bank- 
ruptcy the  first  day  of  February,  1933. 
Receivers  in  bankruptcy  were  appointed, 
and  thereafter  the  same  persons  were 
elected  trustees  in  bankruptcy. 

“It  is  already  in  evidence  before  Your 
Honor  that  on  or  about  the  same  date  re- 
ceivers were  appointed  in  the  State  Court 
of  Massachusetts  for  the  theatres,  or  some 
(Continued  on  page  55) 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


NE 


51 


Thief  Leads  Huh  Parade;  Marlin  Mullin  Heads 
Plen  ty  of  Holiday  Coin  Variety  Club 


Boston — Holiday  coin  was  plentiful  in 
Boston  this  last  week  of  the  year,  par- 
ticularly in  the  first  runs. 

“The  Thief  of  Bagdad,”  doubled  with 
“Blondie  Plays  Cupid,”  was  the  outstand- 
ing money-getter  of  Christmas  week,  draw- 
ing youngsters  and  adults  to  the  tune  of 
big  business  at  the  State  and  Orpheum. 
George  Raft,  doing  a p.  a.  on  the  stage  of 
the  RKO  Boston,  was  an  outstanding  at- 
traction at  the  Hub's  only  first-run  vaude- 
ville house.  The  weather,  everything  but 
sunshine,  was  not  much  of  a factor. 

Detail  for  week  ending  December  31: 


(Average  is  100) 

Fenway — Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox);  Murder 
Over  New  York  (20th-Fox),  2nd  run.  .145 

Keith’s  Memorial — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO); 

Romance  of  the  Rio  Grande  (20th-Fox) 125 

Loew's  Orpheum — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA); 

Blondie  Plays  Cupid  (Col)  170 

Loew’s  State — Same  as  Loew's  Orpheum ISO 

Metropolitan — Love  Thy  Ne:ghhor  (Para’t); 

Lady  With  Red  Hair  (WB)  150 

Paramount — Same  as  Fenway  140 

RKO  Boston- — Where  Did  You  Get  That  Girl 
(Univ).  plus  George  Raft  in  person  100 


"Love  Thy  Neighbor" 

Tops  in  New  Haven 

New  Haven — Christmas  day  opening 
business  was  not  too  good.  From  that  time 
on,  however,  “Love  Thy  Neighbor”  and 
“Youth  Will  Be  Served”  walked  away  with 
the  week’s  downtown  business,  sending 
other  totals  somewhat  under  average. 

Exhibitors  missed  the  Yale  student  body, 
away  on  vacation,  although  attendance  of 
local  public  school  children  was  good. 
Weather  remained  favorable.  “Arizona” 
moved  to  the  College  for  a second  week, 
dualled  with  “Ellery  Queen,  Master  Detec- 


tive.” 

(Average  is  100) 

College — Escape  to  Glory  (Col);  So  You 

Won’t  Talk  (Col)  90 

Loew-Poli — Arizona  (Col) ; Five  Little  Peppers 

in  Trouble  (Col)  90 

Paramount — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para't); 

Y’outh  Will  Be  Served  (20th-Fox) 230 

Roger  Sherman — Four  Mothers  (WB);  Where 

Did  You  Get  That  Girl  (Univ)  70 


"Philadelphia  Story"  Top 
Grosser  in  Third  Week 

Providence  — Metro’s  “Philadelphia 
Story,”  in  its  third  week  at  the  Carlton, 
continued  as  the  pace-setting  film  in  Provi- 
dence last  week.  Combined  with  the  same 
company’s  “Gallant  Sons,”  it  rang  up  50 
per  cent  over  average  for  the  Carlton  in 
its  third  seven-day  stanza.  Universal’s 
"Give  Us  Wings,”  doubled  with  Republic’s 
“West  of  Pinto  Basin,”  also  proved  a 
strong  combination  here,  attracting  con- 
siderably over  average  patronage. 


(Average  is  100) 

Albee — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO);  San  Fran- 
cisco Docks  (Univ)  110 

Carlton — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M);  Gallant 

Sons  (M-G-M).  3rd  wk 150 

Fays— -Give  Us  Wings  (LTniv) ; West  of  Pinto 

Basin  (Rep)  130 

Majestic — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox);  Michael 

Shayne,  Private  Detective  (20th-Fox) 100 

State — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA);  Nobody’s 

Children  (Col)  110 

Strand — Second  Chorus  (Para’t);  Three  Men 

From  Texas  (Para’t)  110 


Heads  Film  Group 
In  Boston  Drive 

Boston — Joseph  Brennan,  MPTOA  ex- 
ecutive secretary  in  Massachusetts,  will 
head  the  theatrical  group  in  the  Greater 
Boston  Community  Fund’s  1941  campaign 
to  raise  $4,883,000  between  January  18  and 
February  15.  Brennan’s  appointment  was 
announced  by  Andrew  S.  Seiler,  general 
chairman  of  the  division  embracing  the 
entertainment  industry. 

Edward  A.  Cuddy,  general  manager  of 
M&P  Theatres,  was  designated  as  vice- 
chairman  at  the  same  time. 

The  goal  of  $4,883,000  has  been  described 
by  Henry  R.  Guild,  general  chairman,  as 
the  minimum  necessary  to  carry  on  the 
work  of  the  200  Great  Boston  Community 
Fund  agencies  that  will  assist  more  than 
400.000  people  this  coming  year  in  Boston 
and  its  46  surrounding  cities  and  towns. 
The  theatre  group  committee,  according 
to  Community  Fund  headquarters,  in- 
cludes: 

Harry  McDonald,  local  RKO  Theatres 
division  manager;  A.  J.  Munro,  resident 
head  of  the  local  Shubert  holdings;  How- 
ard Burkhardt,  Loew’s  Orpheum  man- 
ager; Max  Finn,  general  manager  of  the 
E.  M.  Loew  circuit;  A1  Somerby,  operator 
of  the  Howard;  Frank  Lydon,  president  of 
the  Independent  Exhibitors,  Inc.;  George 
Ramsdell,  suburban  circuit  operator;  Sam 
Soule,  operator  of  several  Boston  houses, 
and  Francis  W.  McManus,  Maurice  Cork- 
ery,  Harry  Wassermann,  Edward  S.  Can- 
ter, and  Hy  Fine  of  the  M&P  Theatres 
Corp. 

Discuss  Effect  of  Gov't 
Action  in  Music  War 

New  Haven — Allied  Theatre  Owners  of 
Connecticut  met  at  the  Hofbrau  Haus 
Tuesday  for  the  first  regular  meeting  of 
the  new  year,  with  A.  M.  Schuman  pre- 
siding. 

A discussion  was  held  on  the  effects  the 
government- Ascap  situation  would  have  on 
them.  Opening  of  the  state  legislature  and 
impending  bills  were  also  discussed,  as  well 
as  the  current  Allied  membership  cam- 
paign. 

The  group  will  meet  again  at  12:30  p. 
m.,  Tuesday,  January  21,  at  the  Hofbrau. 

New  Theatre  Will  Go  Up 
Shortly  in  Bridgeport 

Bridgeport,  Conn.— Construction  of  the 
new  theatre  at  Park  Ave.  and  Pequnnock 
St.  will  be  started  in  two  weeks,  according 
to  Louis  Seidman  of  New  York.  Inability 
to  get  the  steel  for  the  framework,  has  de- 
layed the  work  for  several  months. 

Seidman  has  decided  to  name  his  thea- 
tre the  Wheeler  in  honor  of  the  family  of 
the  late  Nathaniel  Wheeler  which  had 
owned  the  property  for  nearly  100  years. 


Boston — Martin  J.  Mullin,  M&P  Thea- 
tres Corp.  partner,  was  elected  chief  bar- 
ker at  the  local  Variety  Club  at  a meeting 
of  the  board  of  trustees  last  Friday.  A1 
Kane,  Paramount  branch  manager,  was 
named  first  vice-president.  Ted  Fleisher, 
head  booker  for  Interstate,  was  designated 
as  second  vice-president.  E.  Harold  Stone- 
man,  Interstate  Theatres  Corp.  partner, 
was  named  treasurer  for  the  coming  year. 
William  Erbb,  Paramount  district  man- 
ager, became  the  new  secretary. 

Hand-Painted  Scroll  to 
Broidy  From  Variety 

Boston — “In  appreciation  for  efforts  in 
organizing  Tent  23,”  local  Variety  Club 
unit,  and  in  recognition  of  his  services  as 
first  chief  barker,  Steve  Broidy  has  been 
presented  with  a hand-painted  scroll  bear- 
ing the  signatures  of  all  members  of  the 
former  Boston  Friars  Club. 

Broidy,  who  resigned  as  New  England 
head  of  Monogram  to  become  national 
sales  chief  for  the  distributor,  was  in  town 
this  week  prior  to  leaving  for  the  west 
coast.  He  planned  to  arrive  in  Hollywood 
in  about  three  weeks,  making  business 
stopovers  along  the  route.  His  wife  and 
children  expect  to  join  him  on  the  coast 
in  June,  after  the  close  of  the  present 
school  term. 

Sanborn  Conspicuous  at 
Governor's  Inaugural 

Concord,  N.  H. — At  the  inauguration  of 
New  Hampshire’s  new  governor,  Dr.  Robert 
O.  Blood,  one  of  the  most  conspicuous 
figures  was  Ansel  N.  Sanborn,  Carroll 
county  theatre  circuit  operator,  who  took 
his  oath  of  office  as  a memer  of  the  ex- 
ecutive (governor’s)  council.  The  former 
speaker  of  the  House  was  shown  in  news- 
paper photographs  marching  with  other 
councillors  behind  the  new  governor  un- 
der an  archway  of  sabres  formed  by  of- 
ficers of  the  172nd  Field  Artillery. 


Rebook  "GWTW" 

Boston — Charles  Kurtzman,  Loew’s  di- 
visional manager,  announces  “Gone  With 
the  Wind”  rebookings  at  the  first-run 
Loew’s  State  and  Orpheum  here  with 
“nothing  cut  but  the  price.”  The  film, 
playing  single-feature  at  the  Orpheum  and 
State,  grossed  over  a half-million  dollars 
in  a total  of  some  95  playing  days. 


Tightening  Control 

Springfield,  Mass. — Local  186,  IATSE, 
is  making  progress  in  its  attempt  to  con- 
trol the  showing  of  both  16  and  35mm 
motion  pictures  in  this  area,  Owen  Holmes, 
member  of  the  executive  board,  informs 
Boxoffice. 


Annual  Ball  January  24 

Hartford — Local  486,  IATSE,  will  hold 
its  annual  ball  January  24  in  the  ballroom 
of  the  Hotel  Bond  here. 


52 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


" Family " Rating  lor  All 
On  Film  Council  List 

Springfield,  Mass. — For  the  first  time 
in  some  months,  the  Springfield  Motion 
Picture  Council  did  not  classify  any  of 
the  13  films  reviewed  last  week  on  its 
“adults  only”  list. 

Included  on  the  “family”  list  were:  “Sec- 
ond Chorus,”  “Comrade  X,”  “Flight  Com- 
mand,” “Love  Thy  Neighbor,”  “This  Thing 
Called  Love,”  “Gallant  Sons,”  “Chad  Han- 
na,” “Boys  of  the  City,”  “Arizona,”  “Thief 
of  Bagdad,”  “Texas  Rangers  Ride  Again,” 
“Remedy  for  Riches”  and  “Michael 
Shayne,  Private  Detective.” 


piRST  RUN  and  neighborhood  houses 
alike  enjoyed  SRO  business  for  New 
Year’s  Eve  shows  with  grosses  reported 
highest  in  years.  Holiday  saw  opening  of 
Fairlawn,  new  Pawtucket  neighborhood 
950-seat  house  built  by  Thomas  K.  Fisher 
at  cost  of  $80,000.  This  is  second  new 
neighborhood  theatre  to  be  constructed  in 
Pawtucket  in  past  six  months;  other,  Darl- 
ton,  opened  earlier  in  fall  and  is  doing  nice 
business.  Fairlawn  is  being  operated  by 
Levenson  Brothers,  Boston  circuit  opera- 
tors . . . Reports  are  that  new  house  being 
planned  for  Lakewood  section  of  Warwick 
may  be  operated  by  Annotti  Brothers,  who 
operate  Broadway  in  Providence  . . . Stanz- 
ler  Corp.  expects  to  reopen  the  State, 
Peace  Dale,  R.  I.,  in  next  few  weeks.  House 
has  been  dark  for  several  months. 

Add  to  list  of  Christmas  treats  afforded 
Rhode  Island  kids  by  theatre  manage- 
ments: Stanzler  Corp.  gave  a canned  goods 
matinee  at  their  Community , Wakefield. 
Manager  A.  L.  Lashway  and  staff  at 
Strand,  Pawtucket,  played  host  to  1,500  at 
annual  morning  matinee  sponsored  jointly 
by  Strand  mid  Pawtucket  Times,  with 
Salvation  Army  getting  the  more  than  45 
bushel  baskets  of  foodstuffs  brought  in  by 
kids.  New  Darlton  Theatre  in  Pawtucket, 
managed  by  Walton  Harmon,  cooperated 
with  Darlington  Community  Ass’n  at  a 
matinee  at  which  Santa  passed  out  candy 
and  fruit.  Manager  Arthur  Ward  and  staff 
at  Broadway,  another  Pawtucket  neigh- 
borhood house,  worked  with  Pleasant  View 
Social  Club  in  putting  on  a show  in  that 
section  of  city  for  another  600  kids. 

Fred  Newcomb,  president  of  Providence 
IATSE,  is  in  serious  condition  at  Rhode  Is- 
land Hospital  following  fall  from  a lad- 
der at  Strand,  where  he  has  long  been 
stage  manager.  Report  as  this  is  written 
is  that  pneumonia  is  latest  complication. 
Newcomb  only  recently  returned  to  work 
following  long  illness  . . . Joseph  Levy, 
general  booking  director  for  Loew  circuit, 
accompanied  by  Northeastern  Division 
Manager  Charles  Kurtzman,  dropped  in  at 
Loew’s  State  to  talk  over  things  in  general 
with  Manager  Ed  McBride.  Also  looked  in 
at  Loew’s  extended  run  house,  the  Carl- 
ton, saying  hello  to  Manager  Jack  Toohey 
there  before  heading  off  to  Boston  . . . 
Union  pickets  began  their  fourth  year  of 
parading  before  the  Hope  Theatre,  Provi- 
dence neighborhood  house,  New  Year’s  day, 
setting  a record  of  its  kind  in  the  state 
and  one  equaled  few  places  in  the  country. 


J^OY  E.  HEFFNER  jr.,  manager  of  the 
Tower  in  Lowell,  goes  gunning  for  his 
haberdashery.  Heffner  budded  out  last 
week  in  a pair  of  buckskin  gloves,  made 
from  a deer  he  shot  last  fall  in  Maine  . . . 
Charles  Wilson,  manager  of  the  Hamilton 
in  Dorchester,  has  been  ill  with  flu.  The 
wife  of  Frank  Lydon,  operator  of  the  house, 
and  their  two  youngsters  have  also  been 
laid  up  with  grippe  . . . Walter  Gillis,  of- 
fice manager  at  Cameo  Screen  Attractions, 
Inc.,  lost  his  mother-in-law  last  week  . . . 
Hy  Rodman,  formerly  in  Rhode  Island  for 
E.  M.  Loew,  has  been  assigned  by  the  cir- 
cuit operator  to  the  Embassy  in  Roches- 
ter, N.  Y.  . . . Eleanor  Glazier,  secretary 
to  Harry  Asher  of  Producers  Releasing 
Corp.,  has  appeared  in  several  Peabody 
Playhouse  productions. 

Lawson  Daniels  has  gone  for  a new  dish 
deal  at  the  Capitol  in  Pawtucket  . . . Joseph 
Kleine  of  the  Lancaster  in  Boston  has 
signed  with  Sam  Davidson  for  a new 
crockery  handout  . . . Shep  Epstein,  spe- 
cial field  representative  for  the  Indepen- 
dent Exhibitors,  Inc.,  has  been  in  Con- 
necticut concentrating  on  Allied  organiza- 
tional membership  there  . . . Maurice  Gold- 
stein, newly  appointed  M-G-M  New  Haven 
manager,  will  greet  Connecticut  exhibitors 
formally  at  a dinner  at  the  Hotel  Taft  on 
January  14  in  honor  of  Tom  Donaldson, 
new  M-G-M  Boston  manager  who  took 
over  here  this  week. 

William  Purcell,  New  Bedford  indepen- 
dent, has  clipped  flesh  from  the  Strand 
there  ...  Ed  Myerson,  manager  of  the 
Davis  Square  in  Somerville  for  E.  M.  Loew, 
has  started  a new  dish  deal  at  the  subur- 
ban house  . . . Fred  B.  Murphy,  manager 
of  the  Quincy  in  Quincy  for  Max  and 
Joseph  Levenson,  canvassed  surrounding 
territory  by  postcard  before  opening  a new 
crockery  giveaway  . . . Solly  Levin  of  the 
M-G-M  office  force  has  been  confined 
with  a cold  . . . Jack  Byrne,  former  Bos- 


jyjICHAEL  CARROLL,  American  man- 
ager, has  been  troubled  with  a 
sprained  ankle  . . . Manager  Matt  L.  Saun- 
ders of  the  Loew-Poli  entertained  in  his 
office  with  a hot  roast  beef  buffet.  Divi- 
sion Manager  Harry  F.  Shaw  and  Lou 
Brown,  director  of  publicity,  were  among 
the  guests  . . . John  R.  Franchey,  press 
agent  for  Burgess  Meredith,  was  in  town 
. . . The  city  is  considering  summer  stock 
for  Pleasure  Beach  Park  next  summer  . . . 
Edward  Beloin  of  Stratford  is  one  of  the 
authors  of  “Love  Thy  Neighbor”  while  Nor- 
man Sullivan,  former  Loew-Poli  doorman, 
contributed  to  “A  Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s.” 

Lillian  McCoy  Ferron  is  back  home  from 
visiting  her  parents  in  Tama,  Iowa  . . . 
Rosalind  Russell,  at  her  home  in  Water- 
bury  for  the  holidays,  got  a scare  out  of 
the  New  England  earthquake  . . . Charlie 
Katz  is  off  for  Miami  to  spend  the  winter 
. . . “Gone  With  the  Wind’’  goes  into  the 
Loew-Poli  on  January  16. 

Proctor  Patterson  Jones  is  looking  for 
location  here  for  winter  stock.  Only  house 
available  is  the  long-dark  Park  . . . The 


Y O M 

ton  branch  manager  for  M-G-M,  is  on  a 
New  York  assignment. 

Ben  Domingo,  RKO  city  manager,  had 
the  tab  version  of  George  White’s  “Scan- 
dals” on  the  stage  of  the  RKO  Boston 
last  week  . . . Harry  Olshan  of  Columbia 
is  out  of  Beth  Israel  . . . Ray  Kinery  has 
a new  Sam  Davidson  dish  deal  at  the 
Opera  House  in  Bellows  Falls  and  is  open- 
ing the  handout  this  week  in  the  Vermont 
theatre  . . . Nathan  and  Sam  Goldstein  put 
a new  dish  premium  into  the  Strand,  Hol- 
yoke . . . Charles  Brent  of  Brent  Theatrical 
Enterprises,  Inc.,  continues  in  Oklahoma. 

Leo  Young,  Portland  manager  for  Ralph 
Snider,  has  been  supervising  renovation 
of  the  Strand  in  the  Maine  city  . . . Ralph 
Snider  was  in  Portland  looking  over  pro- 
gress there  on  his  newest  house  . . . Mari- 
etta Baer,  who  recently  resigned  from  the 
M&P  booking  department  following  mar- 
riage, has  been  substituting  at  60  Scollay 
Square  . . . A.  C.  Kilpatrick  of  the  Leven- 
son circuit  has  been  ill  . . . Theodora  Ly- 
tle, secretary  to  Arthur  K.  Howard  at  In- 
dependent Exhibitors,  Inc.,  has  been  at  her 
desk  despite  a cold  . . . S.  L.  Loew  jr.  of 
the  Theatre  Candy  Co.  has  been  laid  up 
at  his  uncle’s  home  in  Newton. 

Jeanne  Finkelstein  of  Specialty  Pictures, 
Inc.,  is  in  New  York  for  a vacation  . . . 
Elizabeth  Dervin  of  M-G-M  has  been  in 
Florida  ...  Ed  Renick,  local  M-G-M  sales- 
man, has  been  hospitalized  in  New  York 
. . . Ann  Harrington  of  M-G-M  was  out 
with  a cold  . . . Maurice  N.  Wolf.  M-G-M 
district  manager,  has  been  in  bed  with 
the  grippe  . . . Arthur  K.  Howard,  local 
Allied  business  manager,  was  confined  to 
his  Wellesley  home  with  the  grippe  the 
latter  part  of  last  week  . . . Emmanuel 
Cohan  of  Columbia  is  back  from  the  Carib- 
bean . . . Saul  Simons,  Columbia  salesman, 
has  a southern  tan  . . . Victor  Mature  is  in 
toivn  . . . Betty  Field  has  been  here. 


Fair  Held  Police  Again 
Issue  Bingo  Permits 

Fairfield,  Conn. — Local  police  are  again 
issuing  permits  for  Bingo.  The  game  was 
banned  here  for  many  months  because 
operators  were  unable  to  obtain  the  needed 
number  of  petition  signers  to  obtain  a 
permit.  Pickup  of  work  in  the  city  is 
credited  with  the  sudden  demand  to  re- 
store the  game. 


Jean  Parker  to  "Power  Dive" 

Hollywood — Jean  Parker  has  been  set 
to  play  opposite  Richard  Arlen  in  “Power 
Dive.”  Paramount  will  release  for  Pic- 
ture Corp.  of  America. 


Groton  is  well  pleased  with  the  news  that 
the  Electric  Boat  Co.  in  that  town  is  soon 
to  add  2,500  employes.  Company,  working 
on  Navy  submarine  orders,  now  employs 
upward  to  5,000  workers. 

The  engagement  of  Miss  Margery  Louise 
Usher  of  Milford  to  Ralph  G.  Broderick 
jr.  of  Devon  has  been  announced.  Brode- 
rick is  projectionist  at  the  Fine  Arts,  West- 
port. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


53 


Hire  Architect  to  Plan 
New  House  in  Fairfield 


IIP  R 111  M €5  IF  1 IE  I L ID) 


WILLIAM  B.  HAGGINS,  assistant  chief 
of  the  Loew’s-Poli  service  staff,  has 
been  upped  to  chief  of  service,  succeeding 
Elwin  Bowker,  who  has  resigned  to  work 
in  a local  factory.  Arthur  Jarvis,  Loew’s- 
Poli  doorman,  has  also  gone  into  local  fac- 
tory work  . . . Milton  Hale,  Hollywood  com- 
mentator for  WMAS,  spent  New  Year’s  Eve 
in  Boston  with  friends  . . . Orpheum,  Mal- 
den, was  recently  renovated  by  George 
Ramsdell  . . . Charlie  R.  Smith,  manager 
of  the  Broadway,  sponsored  a combina- 
tion Christmas-New  Year’s  party  for  the 
theatre’s  service  staff  . . . Harry  Smith, 
division  manager  and  also  director  of  pub- 
licity for  the  Western  Massachusetts  Thea- 
tres, Inc.,  announces  that  a divisional 
managers’  meeting  will  be  held  at  the 
Broadway  Theatre  building  headquarters 
of  the  circuit  sometime  this  month  . . . 
Doris  Whittle  is  the  new  cashier  at  the  E. 
M.  Loew’s  Court,  replacing  Mrs.  Olive  J. 
Simms,  who  resigned. 

William  Powell,  division  manager  of  the 
Rifkin  Theatres  here,  spent  New  Year’s  in 
Newport,  R.  I.,  with  his  family  . . . Fred- 
die I.  Frechette,  manager  of  the  Rifkin 
Garden,  is  now  driving  a new  Ford  sedan, 
and  Milton  Hale,  Hollywood  commentator 
for  WMAS,  now  has  a 1941  Dodge  sedan 
. . . Herman  Rifkin  was  in  town  to  look 
over  his  theatres  . . . Bruce  Jerauld,  for- 
mer doorman  at  the  Rifkin  Garden,  is  the 
new  doorman  at  the  WB’s  Capitol  . . . As 
combination  Christmas-New  Year’s  gifts 
to  Manager  George  W . Coleman  and  As- 
sistant  Hy  Nozak  at  the  Arcade,  the  Ar- 
cade’s service  staff  presented  Coleman  with 
a cute  little  desk  clock,  and  Nozak  with  a 
handy  desk  file  . . . Andrew  A.  Sette,  man- 
ager of  the  WB’s  Capitol,  was  in  New 
Haven  on  business  last  week. 

Manager  Carl  Jamroga  of  the  Forest 
Park  Phillips  obtained  tieups  with  some 
30  Springfield  stores  and  shops  for  win- 
dow displays  on  “Bitter  Sweet”  . . . George 
E.  Freeman,  Loew’s-Poli  manager,  had  a 
tieup  with  WMAS  for  transcription  via 
the  air  waves  for  “Flight  Command”  day 
before  playdate  . . . Ruth  “Cookie”  Hurley, 
usherette  at  the  Loew’s-Poli,  had  a cold 
. . . William  Viau,  former  usher  at  the 
Arcade,  is  a new  usher  at  the  Harry  Ar- 
thur Art  . . . Little  Tough  Guys  and 
Johnny  Downs  were  to  have  started  a 
three-day  engagement  at  the  E.  M.  Loew’s 
Court  Square,  Springfield,  January  9 . . . 
New  chief  of  the  service  staff  at  the  E.  M. 
Loew’s  Court  Square  is  Arthur  Nelson 
Deane,  who  succeeds  Robert  Gordon,  re- 
signed. 

Madeleine  Shea,  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Michael  Shea  of  Springfield,  and 
Emile  Melanson  of  Miami,  Fla.,  were  mar- 
ried last  month  down  south,  it  was  an- 
nounced last  week  here.  Madeleine,  who  is 
a Broadway  actress,  has  two  industry-ites 
in  her  family  fold — Michael,  her  father,  is 
the  GB’s  Paramount  billposter,  while  Ray, 
her  brother,  is  billposter  for  the  Bijou  . . . 
Manager  George  E.  Freeman  of  the  Loew’s 
Poli  announces  that  ‘‘Gone  With  the 
Wind”  will  start  a run  at  that  theatre, 
commencing  Thursday,  January  23. 

More  Rifkin  Theatres  ramblings — Louis 
Lambert,  projectionist  at  the  Garden,  and 
a certain  Springfield  female  are  planning 


to  walk  up  the  aisle  to  the  tune  of  “Here 
Comes  the  Bride”  sometime  in  February  . . . 
Carl  Jamroga,  manager  of  the  Forest  Park 
Phillips,  spent  the  holidays  visiting  rela- 
tives and  friends  in  Manchester,  Conn.  . . . 
All  Rifkin  theatres  in  town  had  New  Year’s 
Eve  shows,  except  Liberty,  Strand,  and 
Jefferson.  Carl  Jamroga  of  the  Phillips 
brought  in  "North  West  Mounted  Police” 
at  a nickel  increase  on  all  adult  admissions, 
while  Freddie  I.  Frechette  of  the  Garden 
presented  a two-feature  show,  at  20  cents 
top  . . . Abe  Becker,  billposter  for  the 
Phillips,  last  week  purchased  three  pounds 
of  garlic  (garlic  being  his  one  lifetime  love) 
which  he  hopes  will  last  him  for  a month 
at  least. 

Manager  George  E.  Freeman  of  the 
Loew’s-Poli  had  some  10,000  heralds  dis- 
tributed throughout  the  city  for  “ Flight 
Command”  . . . Ruth  “Cookie”  Hurley, 
usherette  at  the  Loew’s-Poli,  is  now  being 
broken  in  to  be  relief  cashier  at  that  situa- 
tion . . . Lillian  Cooper  is  the  new  Art 
candy  girl,  replacing  Natalie  Lewis  . . . 
Chet  Bascom  is  a new  usher  at  the  E.  M. 
Loew’s  Court  Square,  succeeding  David 
Pinnard,  resigned  . . . Ray  Title,  Art  man- 
ager, visited  the  Boston  film  district  . . . 
Lorraine  Contour  is  now  the  new  candy 
girl  at  the  E.  M.  Loew’s  Court  Square,  in 
place  of  Theresa  D’Angelo,  resigned. 

Shiny,  new  yellow  cabinet  has  been  in- 
stituted into  the  booth  at  the  Garden  . . . 
Russell  McDonald,  former  Arcade  usher 
and  now  a student  at  Alabama  University, 
visited  the  Arcade  boys  over  the  holidays 
. . . Jack  Ross  is  a new  part-time  usher 
at  the  WB’s  Capitol  . . . Edward  Levesque 
is  a new  porter  at  the  Capitol  . . . Mar- 
garet McDonald,  Arcade  cashier,  has  hopes 
of  becoming  a dietician  some  day  . . . Mil- 
ton  Piepul,  Thompsonville,  Conn.,  boy  who 
captained  the  1940  Notre  Dame  football 
team,  was  the  guest  of  the  Chicopee  Ki- 
wanis  Club  at  its  meeting  last  Thursday 
night  in  the  Coconut  Grove,  where  films 
of  some  Notre  Dame  games  were  shown. 

Use  of  the  Springfield  Municipal  Audi- 
torium on  the  evening  of  January  16  for 
an  amateur  benefit  performance  to  aid  the 
Greek  War  Relief  fund  was  approved  last 
week  by  the  City  Property  Committee  . . . 
Hampden  county  exhibitors  were  mighty 
glad  when  the  Ice  Capades  of  1941  ended  a 
week’s  run  at  the  Eastern  States  Coliseum, 
West  Springfield,  January  1 . . . GB’s 
Paramount  returned  to  vaudeville  for  its 
New  Year’s  offering  and  presented  “Fun- 
zafire”  on  its  stage. 


Springlield  Billposters 
Re-elect  Entire  Slate 

Springfield,  Mass. — At  a meeting  of  the 
Billposters’  Union,  Local  15,  AFL,  at  Cen- 
tral Labor  Union  hall  here,  all  officers 
were  re-elected,  as  follows:  President,  Jack 
Marcus  (Loew’s-Poli) ; vice-president,  Ray 
Shea  (Bijou);  secretary,  Robert  Clark  of 
Springfield,  and  business  agent,  Michael 
Shea  (GB’s  Paramount). 

A meeting  of  the  union  will  be  held  at 
Central  Labor  Union  hall  on  Sunday, 
January  12. 


New  Haven — Fishman  Theatres,  Inc., 
commissioned  O.  C.  S.  Ziroli,  architect,  to 
draw  sketches  for  a large,  modern  busi- 
ness building  to  be  erected  on  its  recently- 
acquired  400x650  feet  plot  on  the  Post 
Road  in  Fairfield. 

The  building  is  to  include  a 700 -seat 
theatre,  bowling  alleys,  recreation  hall, 
stores  and  offices.  Fishman  executives  re- 
port building  will  probably  begin  late  next 
spring.  The  firm  already  operates  the 
Community  in  Fairfield,  as  well  as  five 
theatres  in  New  Haven. 

ft  = ft 

: NEW  HAMPSHIRE  : 

'S  ■ v 

WHILE  Bill  Elliott  was  on  the  screen  at 
the  Crown  in  Manchester  in  “The 
Wildcat  of  Tucson,”  Bill  Elliot,  “Singing 
Cop”  of  the  airwaves,  was  headlining  the 
vaudeville  show  at  the  State  in  the  same 
city. 

Junior  Christmas  Club  members  were 
guests  of  the  Amoskeag  Savings  Bank  at  a 
free  show  at  the  Palace  in  Manchester. 
The  young  folks  merely  had  to  show  their 
Christmas  Club  books  to  gain  admittance. 

Although  the  Franklin  in  Durham  is 
closed  during  all  holiday  vacations  of  the 
students  at  the  University  of  New  Hamp- 
shire there,  a night  performance  was  held 
during  the  Christmas  season  and  pro- 
ceeds were  turned  over  to  the  Durham 
Community  Church  by  the  proprietor,  Ar- 
thur Stewart. 

Lloyd  Bridgham,  manager  of  the  Broad- 
way in  Dover,  has  been  installed  as  imme- 
diate past  president,  as  well  as  secretary 
of  the  Dover  Kiwanis  Club  . . . Walter  E. 
Young,  owner  of  the  Strand  in  Farming- 
ton,  has  been  confined  to  his  home  with  a 
severe  attack  of  neuritis.  His  daughter, 
Norma,  a student  at  Vesper  George  School 
of  Art,  has  also  been  ill  at  home. 

C(  ft 

: NEW  BRITAIN  : 

(S  — y 

pETER  PERAKOS,  owner  of  the  Palace 
and  also  a Thompsonville  exhibitor, 
made  a business  trip  to  New  Haven  last 
Monday  . . . The  WB  Bristol,  Bristol,  man- 
aged by  Victor  Morelli,  had  Republic’s 
“Ride,  Tenderfoot,  Ride”  on  its  bill  last 
week  . . . Mrs.  Joe  Bornstein,  wife  of  the 
WB  Embassy  manager,  was  ill. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swen  Swanson  are  expect- 
ing the  stork  sometime  in  February.  Swan- 
son is  projectionist  at  the  WB  Embassy 
here  . . . Patrick  McMahon,  manager  of 
the  State,  is  planning  a new  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Perakos  of  the 
Palace  announced  the  engagement  of  their 
daughter,  Diana,  to  a naval  officer. 


Record  for  “Arizona" 

Hartford — Manager  George  E.  Landers 
of  the  E.  M.  Loew’s  here  reports  that  last 
week’s  receipts  on  Columbia’s  “Arizona” 
smashed  all  previous  gross  records  at  that 
house. 


54 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


Would  Exempt  Chain 
As  a Defendant 

(Continued  from  page  51) 
of  the  theatres,  theretofore  operated  in 
New  England  by  Publix  Theatres  Corp.,  and 
that  those  receivers,  together  with  the 
trustees  in  bankruptcy,  with  the  approval 
of  both  courts,  caused  the  formation  of 
the  defendant  M&P  Theatres  Corp.,  and 
that  that  corporation  thereafter  purchased 
and  booked  motion  picture  films  with 
these  theatres.  So  it  appears  already  in 
the  record  that  this  document  came  to  an 
end,  as  to  its  performance,  early  in  Febru- 
ary, 1933. 

“So  we  say  it  is  wholly  irrelevant  to  any 
issue  in  this  case.  I will  say,  also,  that  on 
the  face  of  the  document  there  is  no  evi- 
dence that  any  of  the  theatres  concern- 
ing which  we  have  been  inquiring  were  in- 
volved. 

“The  plaintiff  merely  mentions  its  claim 
which  is  referred  to  in  the  pleadings  of  a 
conspiracy  prior  to  December  10,  1935,  and 
one  of  the  means  and  methods  subsequent- 
ly agreed  upon  and  adopted  was  the  use 
of  franchise  and  contracts,”  said  Ryan, 
“giving  the  privileges  and  preferences 
which  were  not  granted  to  independent  ex- 
hibitors including  long  and  unreasonable 
periods  of  protection,  and  in  that  docu- 
ment is  the  statement  that  Fox  agrees  to 
give  the  same  average  protection  as  that 
given  by  other  distributors.  In  the  memo- 
randum on  the  front  page  there  is  a list 
of  some  483  theatres. 

Claims  M&P  Took  Over 

“Now  in  a case  like  this  you  have  to 
show  the  relationship  of  the  parties  and 
how  they  are  working  together  and  you 
are  entitled  to  show  something  of  the  prior 
history.  Mr.  Caskey  has  given  some  dates 
here  as  to  bankruptcy  proceedings.  I 
haven’t  checked  on  the  dates,  but  at  any 
rate  New  England  Theatres  never  went 
into  bankruptcy,  and  I don’t  think  Rock- 
land Amusement  Co.  ever  went  into  bank- 
ruptcy. We  claim  that  M&P  took  over 
just  where  Publix  left  off.” 

Caskey  replied,  “There  is  already  in  evi- 
dence a letter  from  Mr.  Dermody  to  Bran- 
ton,  dated  August  4,  1932,  which  shows 
precisely  what  clearance  Fox  granted  for 
the  1932-33  season.  So  the  contract  which 
Mr.  Ryan  quotes  wouldn’t  seem  to  have 
any  significance  whatever.” 

Objects  to  Document 

The  document,  as  presented,  was  ob- 
jected to  by  McClennen. 

“Now,  if  Your  Honor,  please,”  said  Cas- 
key, “the  relevancy  of  this  document  must, 
I assume,  depend  upon  the  allegations  of 
the  complaint.  This  could  be  only  admis- 
sible in  the  first  cause  of  action,  and  there 
is  no  allegation  in  the  first  cause  of  action 
of  conspiracy  by  any  subsidiary  or  with 
any  subsidiary  of  Paramount.  Somewhat 
different  terminology  has  been  used  in  the 
second  cause  of  action,  but  the  terminology 
in  the  first  cause  of  action  is  that  the  ‘de- 
fendants entered  into  a combination  and 
conspiracy,’  and  Publix  Theatres  isn’t  a 
defendant,  and  there  is  no  allegation  in 
the  first  count  that  the  defendants  had 
acted  by  divers  agents  and  instrumentali- 
ties at  all,  a flat  allegation  ‘the  defendants.’ 

“And  one  of  the  purposes  of  the  con- 
spiracy was  to  give  unusual  privileges  and 


preferences  to  producer-controlled  thea- 
tres. Judge  Peters  has  already  decided  in 
a motion  filed  that  the  fact  that  neither 
of  the  plaintiffs  is  damaged  by  a particu- 
lar set  does  not  mean  that  that  cannot  be 
alleged  to  show  conspiracy,”  said  Ryan. 

McClennen  then  said,  “The  protection 
referred  to  by  Mr.  Ryan  appears  to  be 
'Both  as  to  period  of  protection  and  as  to 
area  of  protection  the  exhibitor  is  en- 
titled to  and  shall  receive  from  the  pro- 
ducer the  same  protection  (except  as 
otherwise  specified  in  the  annexed  sched- 
ule) which  the  exhibitor  customarily  re- 
ceives as  average  protection  from  time  to 
time,  from  the  larger  distributors  of  fea- 
ture motion  pictures,  including  Paramount 
Publix  Corp.  Such  protection  period  and 
protection  area  shall  be  defined  and  iden- 
tified from  time  to  time  by  written  agree- 
ment between  the  producer  and  the  ex- 
hibitor, and  any  dispute  as  to  either  the 
period  or  the  area  embraced  in  such  pro- 
tection shall  be  determined  and  settled  by 
arbitration,  and  pending  such  settlement 
the  period  and  area  of  protection  shall  be 
that  in  use  and  effect  between  the  pro- 
ducer and  exhibitor  prior  to  the  time  of 
said  dispute.’ 

On  Dating  Period 

“ ‘As  to  each  photoplay,  every  such  pro- 
tection period  shall  include,  and  be  deemed 
to  include,  without  any  reference  thereto 
being  required  in  the  aforesaid  written 
agreements  and/or  determination  by  arbi- 
trators, the  period  ending  74  days  after 
the  date  fixed  in  a notice  by  the  producer 
to  the  exhibitor  as  the  date  of  availabil- 
ity of  such  photoplay  for  exhibition, 
(which  74  day  period  is  hereinafter  called 
dating  period)  provided,  however,  that  if 
by  the  end  of  the  second  week  after  the 
giving  of  the  notice  positive  prints  of  the 
photoplay  affected  shall  not  then  be  in  the 
producer’s  exchanges  in  New  York  City, 
Los  Angeles,  California  and  Dallas,  Texas, 
the  dating  period  shall  be  further  extended 
by  the  number  of  days  intervening  be- 
tween the  end  of  the  second  week  after 
the  giving  of  the  notice  and  the  date  on 
which  positive  prints  of  the  photoplay  af- 
fected shall  actually  be  on  hand  in  said 
exchanges. 

The  Protection  Period 
“ ‘The  protection  period  to  be  defined 
and  identified,  as  first  hereinbefore  pro- 
vided for,  shall  in  each  instance  begin  to 
run  from  the  expiration  of  the  dating  per- 
iod provided  however  that  if  a photoplay 
be  actually  played  prior  to  the  expiration 
of  such  74  day  period,  then  the  protection 
period  shall  begin  to  run  from  such  ac- 
tual play  date.  Wherever  any  runs  of 
photoplays  are  subservient  to  “key  city” 
first  runs,  producer  agrees  not  to  sell  or 
serve  any  photoplay  for  any  such  subser- 

ri  ■ ft 

" Bagdad " Scenes  Make 
Him  Pray  for  Allah 

Boston — One  of  the  evening  perform- 
ances of  “Thief  of  Bagdad"  at  Loew's 
Orpheum  here  was  interrupted  when  a 
Hindu  in  the  audience  ascended  to  the 
stage,  knelt,  and  began  strenuously  to 
hail  Allah.  He  explained  the  scenes  of 
Bagdad  had  carried  him  away. 

Charles  Kurtzman,  Howard  Burkhardt 
and  Joseph  A.  DiPesa,  local  Loew's  ex- 
ecutives, swore  it  was  no  plant. 

Vt:  V 


Clearance  Definition 
Controversial  Point 

vient  runs  on  more  favorable  protection 
terms  than  those  which  are  accorded  by 
other  major  distributors,  who  have  similar 
key  city  distributions;  provided  however, 
said  dating  period  shall  not  conflict  with 
nor  nullify  any  protection  or  run  period 
heretofore  contracted  for  by  the  producer 
to  subservient  runs  in  any  city,  town,  or 
zone  covered  hereunder.’ 

Agreement  to  “Avoid  Expense" 

“That  is  the  complete  sub-paragraph. 
Now,  without  intruding  on  the  position  of 
any  other  defendants,  and  contending  that 
this  is  wholly  immaterial,  we  are  willing 
to  agree  for  the  defendants  that  we  repre- 
sent that  on  June  30,  1930,  Fox  Film  Corp. 
and  Public  Theatres  Corp.,  now  non-ex- 
istent, entered  into  an  agreement  which 
contained  the  clause  which  I have  read. 
I do  this  in  the  hope  of  avoiding  the  con- 
siderable expense  of  having  photostated 
this  extensive  agreement,  whether  it  be  ad- 
mitted or  excluded.” 

The  court  ruled,  “Without  attempting  to 
pass  on  the  weight  of  this  particular  docu- 
ment at  this  time,  it  may  be  admitted  for 
what  it  is  worth  as  to  Fox  Film  Corpora- 
tion and  as  to  Paramount,  subject  to  the 
ability  of  the  plaintiff  to  show  a continu- 
ity of  the  corporate  setup.” 

“In  this  particular  case  would  some- 
thing be  done  to  save  the  expense  of  photo- 
stating that  whole  document?”  asked  Mc- 
Clennen. 

“I  was  about  to  ask  Mr.  Ryan,”  replied 
Master  Freeman,  “if  there  was  anything 
in  this  document  he  wanted,  over  and 
above  the  statement  which  Mr.  McClennen 
read.” 

Summarized  Contract 

“There  was,  Your  Honor,  yes.”  Ryan 
continued,  “When  I said  ‘unusual  privileges 
and  preferences,  etc.’  I referred  to  the 
fact  that  an  agreement  of  this  kind  would 
be  made  with  the  producer-controlled 
theatres  as  distinct  from  the  ordinary  ex- 
hibition contract  of  the  distributor  with 
which  he  deals  with  the  independent  ex- 
hibitor. At  one  time  I did  summarize  that 
contract  and  I think  I can  find  a copy  of 
my  summary  and  maybe  we  could  agree  to 
use  that  in  addition  to  Mr.  McClennen’s 
reading  of  that  particular  provision,  which 
I believe  is  in  my  summary.” 

“Of  course  the  document  doesn’t  go  at 
all  toward  showing  these  special  privileges 
and  preferences.  Until  Mr.  Ryan  has 
shown  that  the  same  sort  of  thing  wasn’t 
done  with  independent  theatres,  and  he 
will  recall  the  many  such  agreements  that 
went  in  before  Mr.  Hendricks — ,”  said  Mc- 
Clennen. 

“Many  such  what  agreements?”  ques- 
tioned Ryan. 

“The  kind  that  you  now  recall.  They 
were  not  listed  in  your  list.  They  weren’t 
viewed  with  the  same  degree  of  favor  by 
you  as  these,”  said  McClennen. 

“Well,  I know, — ” said  Ryan. 

“I  refer  to  that  as  a bearing  on  the  can- 
dor of  your  assertion  that  that  sort  of 
thing  was  done  only  with  the  producer- 
controlled  theatres,  when  you  are  pos- 
sessed of  the  knowledge  which  you  are  on 
the  subject.” 


BOXOFFICE  January  11,  1941 


55 


New  England  Feels 
Business  Boom 


Reminds  of  Flight  of  Fame 

Manchester,  N.  H. — Today’s  topnotch  film  actors  and  actresses  shouldn't  be  for- 
getting the  day  when  their  fame  will  diminish,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Manchester 
"Union." 

An  editorial,  captioned  "Headliner  Now,"  read: 

"Mickey  Rooney,  et  al.,  are  now  so  busy  receiving  plaudits  that  this  may  seem  a 
poor  time  to  remind  them  that  fame  is  a good  deal  like  time.  Both  are  fleet.  At  this 
time  they  are  among  the  10  biggest  money  makers  in  the  business.  They  are  ’up  there,' 
as  the  saying  goes,  and  good  luck  to  them. 

"But  maybe  they  will  take  time  off  from  the  bowing  and  handshaking  to  listen  to 
a bit  of  philosophy  that  deserves  a place  among  the  archives  in  the  Halls  of  Im- 
mortality. The  lesson  in  question  came  not  from  Confucius,  or  from  none  of  the  other 
recognized  philosophers,  past  and  present. 

"It  came  from  a movie  player  whose  name  once  loomed  large  in  the  bright  lights 
of  movie  palace  foyers — from  specifically.  Agnes  Ayres,  who  died  recently  in  Holly- 
wood. Speaking  not  long  ago  of  her  attempted  comeback  in  filmdom,  she  said:  "It  cost 
me  half  a million  dollars  to  learn  the  value  of  a nickle.' 

“Yes,  moralizing  at  such  a time  as  this,  when  Mickey  Rooney  & Co.  are  cashing 
in  so  handsomely,  may  seem  inappropriate.  As  a matter  of  fact,  however,  there 
couldn't  be  a better  time  for  repeating  Miss  Ayres'  little  lesson  in  basic  economics. 
Once  again,  both  time  and  fame  are  fleet." 


Boston — The  boom  of  New  England 
business  is  already  being  felt  by  the  in- 
dustry. This  territory  is  entering  “the 
New  Year  on  a rising  tide  of  business  ac- 
tivity,” according  to  the  New  England 
Council,  which  points  out  that  November 
showed  a 10  per  cent  increase  above  nor- 
mal for  the  past  ten  years  of  business  ac- 
tivity. 

Increases  in  employment  and  retail  buy- 
ing and  decreases  in  relief  lists,  are  al- 
ready marked  here  with,  according  to  the 
authoi’itative  New  England  Council,  “every 
reason  to  believe  that  these  conditions 
will  be  even  more  evident  in  the  months 
ahead.  The  New  England  farmer  and  New 
England  worker  will  find  their  products 
and  services  in  better  demand  in  1941  than 
for  several  years  past. 

Began  Last  June 

“Continuing  the  forward  movement  in- 
itiated last  June,”  read  the  Council’s  sta- 
tistics, “New  England  business  activity  in 
November,  1940,  increased  2.6  per  cent 
over  the  rate  prevailing  in  the  preceding 
month,  and  was  3.6  per  cent  higher  than 
in  November,  1939.”  The  Council’s  index 
of  the  general  business  activity  for  Novem- 
ber was  109.9  per  cent  of  the  estimated 
normal,  as  compared  with  107.1  per  cent  in 
October  and  106.2  per  cent  in  November 
1939. 

“With  the  level  of  business  activity  in 
New  England  closing  the  year  more  than 
19  per  cent  above  the  estimated  normal, 
it  is  apparent  that  in  1941  industrial  pro- 
duction in  this  region  will  probably  be 
larger  than  in  any  year  in  the  past  dec- 
ade.” 

At  the  beginning  of  1940,  on  the  basis 
of  the  New  England  Council’s  index,  manu- 
facturing output  in  New  England  had 
risen  to  103.0  per  cent  of  the  estimated 
normal.  This  was  about  the  highest  rate 
of  activity  that  could  be  expected  without 
a general  country-wide  expansion  of  busi- 
ness. 

Machine  Tools  Responsible 

“However,  a general  expansion  in  busi- 
ness in  the  United  States  did  not  occur 
and,  as  New  England  manufacturers 
worked  off  their  backlogs  of  orders,  pro- 
duction rates  in  New  England  began  to 
decline. 

“This  condition  prevailed  until  May 
when  the  Council’s  index  dropped  to  91.1 
per  cent.  In  June,  production  increased 
four  per  cent  and  continued  to  expand  in 
each  successive  month,  so  that,  for  the  be- 
ginning of  1941,  the  rate  of  industrial  ac- 
tivity in  this  region  is  estimated  at  better 
than  110.0  per  cent  of  normal.  This  ex- 
panding industrial  activity  has  been  the 
machine  tools  manufacture.” 

The  Council,  however,  suggested  cau- 
tion and  pointed  that,  “Large  proportions 
of  business  profits  will  be  recaptured  by 
the  taxing  authorities  about  as  rapidly  as 
they  are  earned.” 


Hub  Downtowns  Prosper; 
Neighborhoods  Falter 

Boston — Concrete  evidence  of  a rising 
new  tendency  here  was  noted  New  Year’s 


J^USSELL  F.  GRANT,  student  assistant  at 
the  Loew’s  Poli,  returned  to  work  last 
Monday  morning  after  having  been  ill  at 
home  with  the  grippe  . . . Bob  Crovitz, 
formerly  chief  of  the  State’s  service  staff, 
is  now  working  for  a delicatessen  . . . 
Mickey  Daly  of  Hartford  and  Plainfield 
visited  New  Haven  film  exchanges  last 
week  . . . Plaza,  Waterbury,  had  double 
horror  show  consisting  of  “Torso  Murder 
Case”  and  “Face  at  the  Window”  . . . Miles 
Miller,  doorman  at  the  Princess,  and  Mary 
Yates,  chief  usherette  at  that  theatre,  were 
married  in  New  York  last  fortnight  . . . 
Jessie  Ginsburg  is  a new  part-time  usher 
at  the  Loew’s  Poli  . . . Manager  Jack  A. 
Simons  of  the  Loew’s  Poli  had  “Rhythm 
in  the  Saddle,”  “The  Flag  Speaks,”  and 
several  cartoons  as  offerings  for  the  an- 
nual Mayor  Spellacy’s  kiddies’  party  at 
that  theatre  last  fortnight. 

Congratulations  are  in  order  for  the 
WB’s  Capitol,  Ansonia,  which  is  currently 
observing  its  20 th  anniversary  . . . Jimmy 
Dorsey  and  his  orchestra  and  Hartford’s 
gift  to  the  nation’s  burlesque,  Ann  Corio, 
were  offered  patrons  of  the  Lyric,  Bridge- 
port . . . Metropolitan,  Providence,  had 
Jan  Savitt  and  his  orchestra  plus  Patricia 
Ellis,  screen  star  . . . Elihu  Brooks  and 
Merrill  Rome,  Loew’s  Poli  and  Loew’s  Poli 
Palace  doormen,  respectively , are  great 
basketball  enthusiasts  ...  In  Boston  last 
Monday  on  business  was  Bernard  William 
Levy,  manager  of  the  Proven  Pictures,  and 
also  division  manager  of  the  Frederick  E. 
Lieberman  Theatres  in  Holyoke,  Mass.,  and 
Hartford  . . . Maurice  Radin  of  the  Peo- 
ples’ Candy  Company,  Worcester,  passed 
through  town. 


Eve  when  downtown  midnight  was  crashed 
through  with  heavy  coin  while  the  neigh- 
borhoods were  laying  eggs. 

Film  men  pointed  to  the  phenomenon  as 
proof  that  returning  prosperity  in  manu- 
facture in  New  England  is  already  caus- 
ing many  lower-bracket  theatre  patrons  to 
put  on  the  ritz  to  the  extent  of  passing 
up  quarter  houses  for  de  luxers. 

As  one  suburban  exhibitor  puts  it,  “A 
lot  of  my  patrons  who  are  working  for  the 
first  time  in  months,  have  already  begun 
to  wash  their  necks  and  now  go  to  the  50 
cent  houses.” 


In  and  about  the  state:  Mrs.  Fannie 
Kullman,  mother  of  Charles  Kullman, 
Metropolitan  Opera  tenor,  died  last  fort- 
night at  her  home  in  New  Haven  . . . Al- 
hambra, Torrington,  had  Blackstone  the 
magician  on  its  stage  . . . Both  Middlesex 
and  Capitol  theatres,  Middletown,  double 
billed  “The  Bank  Dick”  and  “Hit  Parade 
of  1941”  on  New  Year’s  Eve  . . . Empire, 
New  London,  played  Republic’s  “Gaucho 
Serenade”  . . . Leroy  Phelps,  well-known 
motion  picture  photographer,  presented 
his  new  sound  film,  “Wheels  Over  India,” 
at  the  New  Haven  Open  Forum  in  New 
Haven’s  First  Methodist  Church  last  Sun- 
day night  . . . Webster  Theatre  Company 
is  now  sponsoring  a 15-minute  program 
over  Station  WNBC,  New  Britain  and 
Hartford,  every  day. 

Louis  J . Konoir,  usher  at  the  Loew’s  Poli, 
has  resigned  . . . Black  Rock  brought  in 
by  request  “ Kentucky ” . . . Albert  Cook, 
doorman  at  the  WB’s  Strand,  has  been  ill 
at  home  with  a bad  cold.  Meanwhile,  Lau- 
rence Wasilieff,  relief  doorman,  has  been 
filling  in  . . . In  New  Haven  last  Tuesday 
was  Martin  Kelleher,  State  St.  Princess 
manager  . . . Myra  Harris,  daughter  of 
Maurice  Harris,  one  of  the  State’s  pro- 
prietors, visited  her  father  over  the  holi- 
days. While  here,  she  was  photographed 
informally  with  members  of  the  Holly- 
wood-on-the-loose  company. 

Tom  Brown,  the  screen  star  who  ap- 
peared at  the  State  last  week,  spent  sev- 
eral summers  as  a life  guard  on  the 
beaches  around  New  London  . . . “High  as 
a Kite”  was  presented  at  the  Bushnell’s 
Memorial  last  Friday  night  by  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania  Mask  & Wig  Club 
. . . The  play,  “The  Male  Animal,”  is  due 
at  the  Bushnell’s  Memorial  next  week,  after 
which  it’s  slated  to  go  on  to  the  Shubert, 
New  Haven,  for  a three-day  run  . . . Jack 
Terrazzio,  chief  of  the  State’s  service  staff, 
is  quite  a winter  sports  fan  . . . “Love  Thy 
Neighbor”  did  smash  SRO  business  at  the 
M&P’s  Allyn  . . . Manager  George  E.  Lan- 
ders of  the  E.  M.  Loew’s  was  in  Boston 
last  week  on  business. 

Rialto,  Norwalk,  has  been  remodeled  . . . 
Regards  are  in  order  for  Ted  Smalley, 
Garde,  New  London,  who  is  the  proud 
father  of  a baby  boy,  who  has  been  named 


56 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


They  Get  Ready  for  the  Increase  in  Business — 

New  England  theatres  that  recently  have  ordered  new  equipment  and  otherwise  improved  their  plants  in  anticipation  of 
an  upbeat  this  year.  Supplied  by  courtesy  of  Maynard  Sickles  of  the  Capitol  Theatre  Supply  Co.  in  Boston,  which  firm  sold 
the  equipment  mentioned  herein,  the  photos  show: 

Top  row:  Left,  the  Millinocket  in  Millinocket,  Me.,  which  received  new  seats,  projectors  and  projection  lamps.  Mr. 
LePage,  the  operator,  plaintiff  in  an  extant  $100,000  anti-trust  suit,  is  one  of  the  best  fishermen  and  hunters  among  New 
England  exhibitors.  A number  of  film  men,  including  George  S.  Ryan,  the  lawyer,  and  Leon  Foster  and  Charles  Fish  of 
Capitol  Theatre  Supply,  were  his  guests  on  deer-hunting  trips  this  past  fall.  At  the  top  right  is  the  York  in  Athol, 
Mass.,  during  a snowstorm.  The  house  is  operated  by  Abe  Garbose,  who  also  runs  another  theatre  in  the  tovm.  Sidelines  in- 
clude a clothing  shop  arid  a shoe  store.  Capitol  recently  installed  drapes  in  the  house. 

Lower  row:  Left,  the  Premier  in  Littleton,  N.  H,  It  is  operated  by  Jack  Eames,  who  comes  very  near  being  New  Hamp- 
shire’s busiest  exhibitor,  what  with  his  gasoline  company  and  real  estate  businesses.  He  recently  put  in  a new  projector. 
Next  is  the  Strand  at  Randolph,  Vt.,  recently  acquired  by  John  Robe  jr.  from  Merton  Carr.  The  Strand  has  been  completely 
re-equipped.  Then  the  Tyler  at  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  operated  by  William  Shea,  formerly  of  the  Bijou  in  Holyoke.  New  equip- 
ment includes  a re-seating  job.  And  finally  the  Maine  at  Waterville,  Me.,  where  Ulysses  Ponsant  did  a bit  of  equipment 
modernizing.  Ponsant,  whose  hobby  is  fishing,  also  operates  the  City  in  Belfast,  Me. 


David  Allen  Smalley  . . . Martin  Harris, 
the  fellow  who  handles  the  New  York  end 
of  bookings  for  the  State,  Hartford,  had  a 
birthday  recently  . . . Joseph  Faith  of 
Terryville,  Unionville,  and  Collinsville,  is 
expected  to  open  his  new  700 -seat  theatre 
in  Bristol  sometime  next  month  . . . Main 
stem  Daly  had  an  amateur  contest  on  its 
stage  last  Thursday  night  ...  Ed  Fitz- 
gerald of  the  Loew’s  Poli,  Waterbury,  had 
a large  blown  up  head  of  Harpo  Marx 
mounted  on  a base  to  serve  as  a lobby  dis- 
play for  “Go  West”  at  that  theatre  . . . 
Robert  Elliano,  manager  of  the  Palace  in 
Torrington,  was  ill  at  home  for  several 
days. 

Ted  Whalen  is  a new  part-time  usher  at 
the  WB’s  Strand  . . . Lester  Winick  has 
joined  the  ushers’  corps  at  the  State  . . . 
Clock  on  top  of  the  boxoffice  at  the 
Loew’s  Poli  has  been  removed  . . . Manager 
James  F.  McCarthy  of  the  WB’s  Strand 
reported  smash  SRO  business  with  “Santa 


HARTFORD 

Fe  Trail”  . . . Charlie  Barnet  and  his  or- 
chestra and  Elaine  Barrie  appeared  on  the 
boards  at  the  State  last  week. 

New  Year’s  Resolutions — Jack  A.  Simons, 
manager  Loew’s  Poli:  “To  put  into  effect 
all  the  resolutions  I made  last  year,  and 
the  year  before  that”  . . . Walter  B.  Lloyd, 
manager  M&P’s  Allyn:  Non-committal. 
“Because  it  might  reveal  all  my  bad  habits” 
. . . James  F.  McCarthy,  WB’s  Strand 
manager:  “Not  to  smoke  during  1941”  . . . 
Louis  Cohen,  Loew’s  Poli  Palace  manager: 
“To  hold  over  more  big  Metro  pictures  from 
the  Poli”  . . . Maurice  Schulman  of  the 
Schulman  Theatres  (Webster,  Rivoli,  and 
Plaza-W indsor ) : “To  do  all  in  my  power 
to  make  my  patrons  comfortable  while 
vieiving  the  shows  at  our  theatres  in  Hart- 
ford and  Windsor.” 


Markoff’s  Moodus,  Moodus,  is  now  of- 
fering enamelware  to  its  patrons  ...  In 
Hartford  last  Thursday  on  business  were: 
Harry  F.  Shaw,  Louis  A.  Brown,  and  El- 
liott Kronish  of  Loew’s  Poli  New  Haven 
offices.  Joel  A.  Levy,  of  Loew’s,  New  York, 
was  also  a visitor  ...  A spaghetti  dinner 
was  held  at  Rubera’s  Spaghetti  Palace  for 
members  of  the  Loew’s  Poli  Palace  service 
staff.  Chairman  for  the  event  was  Holly 
Sweeney,  the  theatre’s  student  assistant. 
Gifts  were  presented  to  those  in  attend- 
ance . . . Hartford  Friends  of  Boys  held 
theatre  parties  at  the  M&P’s  Allyn  last 
Friday  afternoon  and  Saturday.  “Love  Thy 
Neighbor”  and  “Missing  People”  were 
shown  . . . Charlie  Bradshaw,  assistant 
projectionist  at  the  E.  M.  Loew’s,  is  now  a 
projectionist  at  Manager  Joe  Anger’s  As- 
tor,  East  Hartford.  George  Goodroll  is  the 
E.  M.  Loew’s  new  projectionist  . . . Robert 
O’Donnell,  doorman  at  the  E.  M.  Loew’s, 
resigned  last  week  to  join  the  navy. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


57 


^*OM  DONALDSON’S  testimonial  dinner 

Tuesday,  January  14,  at  the  Taft,  it 
is  predicted,  will  have  attendance  record, 
including  large  representation  from  New 
York  and  Boston.  Dinner  will  start  off  the 
1941  film  social  calendar  with  a bang,  and 
combine  sendoff  of  Donaldson  with  of- 
ficial welcome  of  new  Metro  manager, 
Morey  Goldstein  . . . Only  fair  is  the  re- 
port of  most  nabes  around  the  state  re 
New  Year’s  Eve  late  shows.  Bridgeport 
had  none  at  all,  except  for  downtowns  . . . 
Paramount  was  practically  a sellout  with 
its  vaude. 

Exhibitors  seem  to  favor  Warner  idea  of 
starting  new  show  at  6 in  the  evening  and 
running  through  the  late  hours.  Late 
Loew-Poli  shows  all  reported  better  than 
last  year  . . . “Comrade  X”  broke  all  re- 
cords of  the  Poll,  Hartford,  on  Hew  Year’s 
day  and  continued  exceptional  all  through 
the  week  . . . “Love  Thy  Neighbor”  did  al- 
most two  and  one-half  times  the  usual 
business  at  the  Paramount  during  Xmas 
week  and  was  brought  back  after  the  in- 
tervening Hew  Year’s  week  . . . Globe, 
Bridgeport,  and  Poll,  Waterbury,  report 
tremendous  New  Year’s  Eve  business  with 
their  vaude  . . . Proven  Pictures,  Hartford, 
told  ’em  “They  Must  Be  Told”  in  late 
shows  all  week  beginning  with  the  New 
Year,  with  admission  at  44  cents  . . . E.  M. 
Loew’s  and  Palace,  Hartford,  both  had 
holdovers  to  start  the  year,  “Arizona”  and 
“Chad  Hanna,”  respectively  . . . “NWMP” 
played  the  Palace,  Meriden,  New  Year’s 
Eve  at  55  cents  and  continued  regular  en- 
gagement at  regular  prices. 

Students  and  faculty  of  Yale  University 
back  5,000  strong  January  7,  and  theatres 
glad  of  it  . . . The  Lincoln  reopened  its 
doors  on  the  same  date  after  a short  holi- 
day . . . Big  usher  turnover  is  problem 
to  downtowns  . . . “GWTW”  back  in  town 
at  40-55  cent  admission  at  the  Poli,  Janu- 
ary 16  . . . Strand,  Norwich,  included  novel- 
ties giveaway  in  its  New  Year’s  celebration 
. . . Bob  Russell  raised  the  sound  of  his 
airplane  motors  in  “Flight  Command” 
above  the  noise  of  over-boisterous  cele- 
brators. 

Reply  briefs  were  filed  by  attorneys  in 
the  S&S  Theatre  Corp.  and  Middlesex 
Theatre,  Inc.,  “conspiracy”  case  against 
Sal  Adorno  et  al„  and  it’s  anybody’s  guess 
when  the  matter  will  be  decided  . . . Harry 
Lavietes,  sued  by  Ascap  for  non-payment 
of  fees,  is  something  of  a local  hero,  now 
that  Ascap  is  itself  involved  in  a govern- 
ment suit  . . . Colonial,  Bridgeport,  starts 
Adolph  Johnson’s  Colonial  Edgewood  two- 
a-week  deal  first  week  in  February  after 
display  which  brought  hearty  approval  . . . 
New  Haven  chamber  of  commerce  reports 
retail  business  from  five  to  ten  per  cent 
better  than  last  year  all  though,  with  fig- 
ures the  best  since  1928,  and  in  some  cases, 
since  1924.  State  employment  here  made  60 
per  cent  more  private  placements  in  De- 
cember, 1940,  than  the  same  month,  1939, 
and  30  per  cent  more  for  the  year. 

Bowling  will  be  a regular  film  sport  in 
1941,  says  Chairman  A1  Parizer  of  Colum- 
bia, and  he  will  attempt  to  arrange 
matches  every  Tuesday  night,  to  include 
E.  M.  Loew’s  Hartford  team,  the  Strand 


Amusement,  Bridgeport;  Stratford,  Essex 
Square  and  other  teams  around  the  state. 
For  this  Tuesday,  matches  were  scheduled 
between  the  Poli  and  Whalley,  Columbia 
and  Warner  Theatres,  and  Paramount  and 
Fox  against  an  all-exhib  team.  All  film 
people  are  urged  to  get  in  the  swing. 

Morey  Goldstein,  Metro  chief,  is  living 
at  the  Hotel  Taft  temporarily  while  he 
takes  over  the  New  Haven  exchange  from 
Tom  Donaldson.  Meantime,  Maurice  Wolf 
holds  the  fort  in  Boston  until  Donaldson’s 
full-time  duties  are  assumed  . . . Harry 
Shaw  was  in  charge  of  all  newsreel  men  at 
the  governor’s  inauguration  in  Hartford 
. . . Charles  Levine  of  Strand  Amusement 
will  be  going  to  Florida  this  month  . . . Ben 
Louries  spent  New  Year’s  in  Boston  . . . 
Jeanette  Berliner  saw  1941  in  at  Atlantic 
City  . . . Fred  Warner,  Paramount  opera- 
tor, and  Mrs.  Warner  are  off  on  a motor 
trip  to  Florida  next  month  . . . Sam  Rosen 
will  make  his  annual  fishing  trip  and  visit 
to  his  father  in  Miami  soon  . . . Lou  Schae- 

See  Record  Turnout 
For  Tom  Donaldson 

New  Haven — Advance  reservations  re- 
ceived for  the  Thomas  G.  Donaldson  fare- 
well testimonial  dinner  January  14,  at  the 
Hotel  Taft,  indicate  that  this  will  be  one 
of  the  best  attended  dinners  in  local  film 
annals. 

Donaldson,  who  assumes  his  duties  as 
Boston  Metro  exchange  manager  after 
three  and  one-half  years  in  the  New  Haven 
exchange,  will  be  feted  by  many  New  York, 
Boston  and  Providence  film  friends,  as 
well  as  representatives  of  all  parts  of  Con- 
necticut. Dinner  will  be  preceded  by  cock- 
tails at  6:30  p.  m.  at  the  Taft,  Co-Chair- 
men Harry  Shaw  and  Barney  Pitkin  an- 
nounce. Maurice  N.  Wolf,  Metro  district 
manager  at  Boston,  will  be  emcee  and 
Morey  Goldstein,  new  Metro  manager  here, 
will  be  given  an  official  welcome. 

The  New  York  contingent  indicated  by 
early  reservations  includes  William  Scully, 
E.  W.  Aaron,  Charles  Deesen,  Jack  Shea, 
Edward  Peskay  and  Ted  O’Shea.  The  exo- 
dus from  Boston  for  the  event  will  include, 
among  others,  Maurice  Wolf,  Tom  Bailey, 
Walter  Higgins,  Phil  and  Dan  Seletsky,  A1 
Bevan,  Henry  Wolper,  Harry  Rosenblatt, 
Harry  Warden,  Harry  Alexander,  Larry 
Herman,  A1  Kane,  Arthur  K.  Howard, 
Charles  Repec,  M.  Levenson,  Tom  Duane, 
Bert  Jacocks,  William  Erbb,  Hy  Fine,  Nat 
Furst,  Lou  Gordon,  William  Horan,  Ar- 
thur Lockwood,  Harry  Golden,  Zippy  Gold- 
man, Chester  Grenier,  Fred  and  Mort  Lie- 
berman,  Frank  Lydon,  Charles  Morse, 
Martin  Mullin,  Sam  Pinanski,  Morris 
Pouzzner,  Herman  Rifkin,  Harry  Rogo- 
vin,  Phil  Smith,  Gus  Schaefer,  Ben  Stein, 
and  Bert  Mackenzie. 

Other  out-of-towners  include  Ralph 
Pielow,  Albany;  Nathan  Yamins,  Fall 
River;  Myer  Stanzler,  Wakefield;  Edward 
Wallace,  Milton;  Leo  Kalfin,  Matapan;  Ed 
Fay,  Providence,  and  Dr.  I.  McCarthy, 
Chelsea. 


fer,  Paramount  Theatre  manager,  and  Mrs. 
Schaefer  announce  the  engagement  of 
their  daughter,  Margaretha,  to  Carl  John- 
son of  Glenbrook. 

Joel  Levy  of  the  Loew  booking  depart- 
ment in  New  York  spent  New  Year’s  Eve 
with  the  Harry  Shaws  at  the  Taft,  and 
stayed  over  to  cover  the  Loew-Poli  circuit 
in  a tour  of  several  days  . . . Elwood  Rus- 
sell, attending  the  Connecticut  “U”  holi- 
day dance,  made  the  rotogravure  pictures 
of  the  party  in  the  Hartford  Courant  . . . 
Helen  Dolan,  Paramount  cashier,  has  re- 
signed in  favor  of  teaching  . . . The  new 
candy  girl  at  the  Paramount  is  Ethel  Jones 
. . . Bob  Munzer,  assistant  at  the  College, 
which  was  closed  New  Year’s  Eve  midnight 
show,  celebrated  for  the  first  time  in  ten 
years  . . . The  Sidney  Swirskys  spent  the 
holiday  in  South  Norwalk  . . . Avery  Me- 
morial will  have  a novel  jazz  opera,  “Vic- 
tory Against  Heaven,”  January  17  . . . 
Certificate  of  preliminary  dissolution  has 
been  filed  for  the  Warner  Realty  Co., 
Bridgeport. 

The  Russell-Rubin  Poli  corner  display 
background  of  small  airplanes  mounted  on 
a revolving  disk  for  “Flight  Command,”  is 
made  more  effective  by  colored  side  bars 
of  light  which  make  the  planes  change 
color  as  they  revolve.  Russell  was  given 
the  Herald  fortnight  award  for  the  Marx 
Bros.-Yale  student  publicity  . . . Richard 
Schaefer  has  returned  to  Holy  Cross  after 
a vacation  with  his  parents,  the  Lou 
Schaefers  . . . Tom  Donaldson  attended  the 
farewell  testimonial  dinner  which  Boston 
gave  Morey  Goldstein. 

State  Theatre  Corp,  Is 
Formed  by  Harris  Trio 

Hartford — State  Hartford  Theatre,  Inc., 
has  filed  certificate  of  incorporation,  nam- 
ing Theodore  Harris  of  West  Hartford, 
Martin  D.  Harris  of  Paterson,  N.  J„  and 
Samuel  E.  Harris  of  Passaic,  N.  J.,  as  in- 
corporators. Authorized  capital  is  $50,000. 
The  corporation  operates  the  4,000-seat 
State. 


Articles  of  Association 

Hartford  — The  Community  Theatre 
Building  Corp.  of  Hartford,  Inc.,  has  filed 
articles  of  association,  naming  Cedric  G. 
Thompson  as  agent. 


On  " Fantasia " Run 

Boston — Milton  Chamberlain  is  slated 
to  manage  the  Majestic,  local  Shubert 
house,  during  the  roadshow  engagement  of 
“Fantasia,”  beginning  January  23.  Jack 
Goldstein,  former  local  RKO  theatre  pub- 
licist and  later  national  United  Artists  ex- 
ploitation manager,  will  handle  advertis- 
ing on  the  engagement. 


Premiums  by  the  Ton 

Boston — Premiums  by  the  ton  are  being 
handed  out  by  Walter  Stuart,  manager  of 
the  Community  in  Attleboro  for  the  M&P 
Theatres  Corp.  Stuart  tied  in  with  a local 
coal  dealer  for  weekly  free  fuel  giveaways. 


Candy  Company  Expands 

Boston — The  Theatre  Candy  Co.,  head- 
ed by  S.  L.  Lowe  jr.,  has  expanded  into 
larger  quarters  in  the  same  building,  the 
Motor  Mart  on  Stuart  Street. 


58 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


Q and  A Routine  on 
Federal  Ticket  Tax 


Dallas — At  the  request  of  members  of 
Allied  of  Texas,  H.  A.  Cole,  president, 
queried  the  collector  of  internal  revenue  on 
questions  often  put  by  exhibitors  con- 
cerning the  federal  tax  on  theatre  tickets. 
Back  came  the  following,  in  question  and 
answer  form: 

Question:  Is  anyone  under  the  age  of  12 
considered  a child  admission  as  federal 
admission  tax  applies.  Is  anyone  over 
the  age  of  12  considered  an  adult  admis- 
sion as  federal  admission  tax  applies. 

Answer:  Section  1700  of  the  code  provides 
that  in  the  case  of  persons  (except  bona 
fide  employes,  municipal  officers  on  of- 
ficial business  and  children  under  12 
years  of  age)  admitted  free  or  at  re- 
duced rates  to  any  place  at  a time  when 
and  under  circumstances  under  which 
an  admission  charge  is  made  to  other 
persons  an  equivalent  tax  shall  be  col- 
lected, based  on  the  price  so  charged  to 
such  other  persons  for  the  same  or  simi- 
lar accommodations.  Section  101.5  of 
Regulations  43  provides  that  a bona  fide 
employe,  a municipal  officer  on  official 
business  or  a child  under  12  years  of  age 
is  not  liable  for  any  tax  if  admitted  free, 
and  if  admitted  at  a reduced  rate  is 
liable  for  tax  on  the  reduced  price,  pro- 
vided such  price  is  21  cents  or  more. 

Question:  Where  tickets  are  sold  in  books 
of  19  tickets  at  20  cents  and  are  used 
individually,  does  the  tax  apply  if  such 
admission  tickets  are  used  where  the 
adult  admission  exceeds  20  cents. 

Answer:  It  is  held  that  where  a book  of  19 
tickets  is  sold  at  a price  of  20  cents  for 
each  ticket  while  the  regular  established 
price  of  a single  admission  is  in  excess  of 
20  cents,  the  tickets  are  sold  at  reduced 
rates  and  a tax  must  be  collected  equiva- 
lent to  the  tax  on  19  single  tickets  of 
admission  at  the  regular  established 
price. 

Question:  In  the  case  where  a theatre  re- 
serves a certain  section  for  student  ad- 
missions, ages  ranging  12  to  16  and 
the  admission  price  is  20  cents  or  less, 
is  the  tax  applicable  provided  other  sec- 
tions of  the  same  floor  charge  an  adult 
price  in  excess  of  20  cents.  Would  the 
admission  tax  apply  provided  this  re- 
served student  section  were  not  avail- 
able to  any  admissions  in  the  taxable 
class. 

Answer:  Any  person  12  years  of  age  or 
over  admitted  free  or  at  a reduced  rate 
is  liable  for  tax  equivalent  to  the  tax  on 
the  regular  established  price  of  admis- 
sion to  other  persons,  that  is,  to  adults 
for  the  same  or  similar  accommodations. 
For  example,  if  students  (or  other  per- 
sons) from  12  to  16  years  of  age  are  ad- 
mitted at  a price  less  than  the  admis- 
sion charge  to  persons  over  16  years  of 
age,  the  persons  between  the  ages  of  12 
and  16  years  are  admitted  at  reduced 
rates  and  must  pay  a tax  equivalent  to 
the  tax  on  the  admission  charge  to  per- 
sons over  16  years  of  age  for  the  same 
or  similar  accommodations.  The  set- 


Crescent  Suit  Dismissed 
Against  Distributors 


o ■ ft 

Hearings  for  Trio 
Of  Damage  Suits 

Dallas — Film  men  will  again  be  wit- 
nesses and  spectators  in  Judge  W.  H.  At- 
well's federal  court  when  the  Jorgensen, 
Glass  and  Kirchheimer  damage  suits 
against  Interstate  are  set  for  hearing 
Monday,  January  13.  The  Jorgensen  case 
is  believed  to  be  first  in  line  for  a hear- 
ing. 

VS  V 

ting  aside  of  a certain  section  for  stu- 
dent admissions  does  not  relieve  the 
students  from  payment  of  the  tax  on  re- 
duced rate  admissions  unless  the  price 
for  which  the  students  are  admitted 
represents  the  established  price  to  all 
persons  alike  for  admission  to  that  sec- 
tion. 

Question:  Where  service  passes  are  issued 
permitting  a patron  to  enter  for  10  cents 
which  is  a reduced  admission  from  a 
price  of  21  cents  or  over,  does  the  tax 
apply. 

Answer:  Persons  admitted  on  passes  for  a 
service  charge  of  10  cents  at  a time 
when  the  established  price  of  admission 
to  other  persons  is  21  cents  or  more  are 
liable  for  tax  based  on  the  regular  es- 
tablished price  of  admission  to  the  other 
persons  for  the  same  or  similar  accom- 
modations. 


Homer  Mulkey  Dead — 

Death  claimed  Homer  Mulkey,  Clar- 
endon, Tex.,  exhibitor,  in  Fort  Worth 
Thursday  morning  several  days  follow- 
ing a major  operation.  He  was  one 
of  the  most  widely  known  of  the 
state’s  showmen. 


Nashville  — The  government’s  com- 
plaint against  seven  major  film  distribu- 
tors, included  in  the  anti-trust  suit 
against  the  local  Crescent  Amusement  Co., 
was  dismissed  January  3 in  two  orders 
handed  down  by  Federal  Judge  Elmer 
Davies. 

“Upon  the  stipulation  of  counsel  for  the 
plaintiff  and  defendant,”  the  main  order 
read,  “Paramount  Pictures,  Inc.,  Para- 
mount Distributing  Corp.,  Loew’s  Inc., 
RKO  Radio  Pictures,  Inc.,  Warner  Bros. 
Pictures,  Inc.,  Vitagraph,  Inc.,  and  20th 
Century-Fox  Film  Corp.,  it  is  hereby  or- 
dered, adjudged,  and  decreed  that  the 
complaint  be  dismissed  as  to  said  de- 
fendants.” 

Assistant  U.  S.  District  Attorney  O.  W. 
Hughes,  who  represented  the  government, 
said  the  distributing  companies  had  made 
a satisfactory  settlement  with  the  govern- 
ment in  the  main  anti-trust  suit  against 
them  in  New  York.  Therefore,  counsel  for 
plaintiff  and  defendant  stipulated  that  the 
complaint  against  the  distributing  com- 
panies included  in  the  Crescent  suit  be  dis- 
missed, he  said. 

The  second  order  issued  by  Judge  Davies 
directed  that  four  paragraphs  be  stricken 
from  the  original  bill  of  complaint  filed 
in  federal  court  here  August  11,  1939.  The 
paragraphs  referred  to  the  defendant  dis- 
tributors and  alleged  methods  of  distribut- 
ing films.  Hughes  said,  however,  that  the 
stricken  section  did  not  remove  the  “body” 
of  the  main  suit. 


Funeral  Services  Held 
For  Ainslie  G.  Wood 

Dallas — Funeral  services  for  Ainslie 
George  Wood  jr„  manager  of  the  Tower 
and  Melba  on  Elm  Street,  who  died  sud- 
denly of  a heart  attack,  were  held  Monday 
with  burial  in  Greenwood  Cemetery. 

He  started  in  show  business  here  several 
years  ago,  with  his  first  training  being 
under  J.  E.  Luckett  at  the  White  Theatre. 
A graduate  of  Texas  University  and  a for- 
mer student  at  Cornell,  he  was  a lieuten- 
ant in  the  cavalry  during  the  First  World 
War.  Wood  was  also  a member  in  a 
number  of  social  and  civic  clubs,  including 
Variety.  He  was  43  years  old. 

He  is  survived  by  two  brothers,  both  of 
Dallas,  one  being  Major  E.  A.  Wood,  city 
planning  engineer. 


Meeker  to  Manage  Tower 
And  Melba  in  Dallas 

Dallas — Charles  R.  Meeker,  assistant  to 
J.  O.  Cherry,  Interstate’s  city  manager, 
has  been  elevated  to  manager  of  both  the 
Tower  and  Melba  theatres  on  Elm  Street, 
succeeding  the  late  Ainslie  G.  Wood. 

Meeker  has  been  with  Interstate  for  five 
years.  He  handled  publicity  for  the  Pal- 
ace and  the  Majestic  and  was  manager  of 
the  State  in  Amarillo  for  a year.  He 
moved  back  to  Dallas  in  1939  as  Cherry’s 
assistant. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


S 


59 


Tribute  by  McCraw 
To  'Bob'  O'Donnell 


— Landau-Meister  Photo 

At  the  O'Donnell  Testimonial — 


Part  of  the  dais  shows,  left  to  right:  H.  B.  Robb,  R.  J.  O'Donnell,  Burt  King, 
Gen.  William  McCraw,  Ned  E.  Depinet  and  R.  E.  Griffith.  Also  on  the  dais, 
but  not  shown  here,  were  Wallace  Walthall,  Don  C.  Douglas,  W.  G.  Under- 
wood, Ted  deBoer,  Jake  Lutzer,  J.  B.  Underwood,  Lynn  Stocker,  B.  C.  Gibson, 
Lou  Bissinger,  J.  O.  Cherry  and  James  R.  Grainger. 


600  Attend  Luncheon 
Honoring  O'Donnell 


Dallas — Six  hundred  members  of  the 
trade  and  their  wives  turned  out  for  the 
Variety  Club  luncheon  Monday  at  the 
Adolphus  Hotel  in  honor  of  R.  J.  “Bob” 
O’Donnell,  who  recently  retired  as  chief 
barker  of  the  local  Tent  after  five  years 
in  that  post. 

In  the  absence  of  Paul  Short,  the  new 
chief  barker,  due  to  illness,  his  assistant, 
Burt  King,  presided. 

The  business  of  the  gathering  got  under 
way  with  the  reading  of  the  creed  of  the 
Variety  clubs  by  Wallace  Walthall. 

General  William  McCraw,  the  only 
speaker  at  the  affair,  was  introduced  by 
King  following  the  luncheon.  He  paid  a 
fine  tribute  to  O’Donnell  for  his  construc- 
tive efforts  in  behalf  of  Variety  and  the 
show  business  generally. 

Shares  Credit  for  Success 

After  taking  from  McCraw  a gold  card 
designating  him  honorary  chief  barker  of 
the  Tent  for  life,  O’Donnell  said  that  no 
one  man  in  Tent  No.  17  was  responsible 
for  its  success.  He  pointed  out  that  Ed 
Wilson,  a Dallas  exhibitor,  was  respon- 
sible for  Variety  choosing  as  its  main 
charity  objective  the  Freeman  Memorial 
Clinic.  Harry  Sachs,  he  said,  furnished 
the  idea  on  how  to  raise  the  money  for 
building  a new  wing  onto  the  clinic.  Ben 
Ferguson,  another  exhibitor,  he  said,  was 
responsible  for  the  Turtle  Derby  last  year 
which  provided  funds  to  build  the  Sulli- 
van Park  swimming  pool. 

O’Donnell  then  introduced  the  1940  of- 
ficers and  directors.  He  also  introduced 
Ned  E.  Depinet,  vice-president  of  RKO, 
as  the  “local  boy  who  made  good  in  the 


Ned  Depinet  Renews 
Dallas  Friendships 

Dallas  — Renewal  of  many  life-long 
friendships  were  a part  of  the  visit  here 
this  week  of  Ned  E.  Depinet,  vice-president 
of  RKO,  who  was  in  town  primarily  to  at- 
tend the  Variety  Club  luncheon  honoring 
R.  J.  O’Donnell,  vice-president  of  Inter- 
state. 

Depinet,  early  in  his  career,  traveled 
Texas  as  a film  salesman  for  many  years 
and  later  became  branch  manager  for  Con- 
solidated Film  & Supply  Co.  (Universal!. 
When  the  big  promotions  did  start,  they 
came  rapidly,  stepping  him  up  from  dis- 
trict manager  to  general  sales  manager 
in  short  order.  Then  in  short  order  he  was 
made  RKO  vice-president. 

Headquartering  in  his  suite  at  the  Adol- 
phus Hotel,  Depinet  went  over  distribu- 
tion matters  for  this  territory  with  Robert 
Mochrie,  RKO  eastern  division  sales  man- 
ager, and  Sol  Sachs,  branch  manager  here. 
He  also  conferred  and  visited  with  the 
various  circuit  heads  before  returning  to 
New  York. 


big  city,”  and  James  R.  Grainger,  presi- 
dent of  Republic,  both  of  whom  were  seat- 
ed on  the  dais. 

Following  a custom  instituted  by  “Dough 
Guy”  J.  B.  Underwood,  O’Donnell  pre- 
sented a gold  key  for  the  club  door  to  the 
new  chief  barker,  Paul  Short.  Mrs.  Besa 
Short  received  the  key  in  her  husband’s 
absence. 

King  then  introduced  the  officers  and 
directors  for  1941  and  read  the  many  tele- 
grams from  over  the  country  congratulat- 
ing O’Donnell  on  the  occasion. 

The  luncheon  adjourned  after  two  hours 
with  the  orchestra  playing  “Eyes  of 
Texas.”  A long  line  passed  in  front  of 
the  dais  congratulating  and  shaking  hands 
with  O’Donnell. 


Dallas — Below,  in  abbreviated  form,  is 
the  tribute  paid  to  R.  J.  “Bob”  O’Donnell 
by  Gen.  William  McCraw  at  the  Variety 
Club  luncheon  held  Monday  in  O’Don- 
nell’s honor  at  the  Adolphus  Hotel: 

“Bob  O’Donnell  began  in  an  humble 
way.  As  a lad  he  knew  the  hardships  of 
physical  toil.  He  carried  brick  and  mortar 
up  the  scaffolds  of  a great  city,  and  so 
did  his  part  to  make  it  greater  . . . His 
small  wage  was  a contribution  to  the 
family  funds  to  help  in  its  fight  to  live. 
The  boy  was  then  the  same  unselfish, 
generous  soul  that  the  man  is  today. 

“Bob  O’Donnell  loved  laughter,  he 
joyed  in  seeing  people  happy  . . . Nothing 
was  more  natural  than  that  ‘show  busi- 
ness’ should  take  him  and  grow  with  him. 

“Bob  was  a treasurer  at  17.  As  the 
years  mounted  he  moved  on  up  the  lad- 
der. His  has  been  the  advancement  of 
proven  demonstrated  ability.  Bob  O’Don- 
nell has  never  crushed  another  or  be- 
trayed another  that  he  might  move  on  . . . 
Indeed  it  has  been  just  the  opposite.  The 
boy  hod-carrier  learned  how  to  build — 
the  man  has  not  forgotten  the  lesson  of 
his  youth. 

Modest  in  Giving 

“Charity  is  not  an  event  with  Bob 
O'Donnell — it’s  a religion.  Yet  there  is  a 
modesty,  a lack  of  assumption,  that  makes 
his  giving  a double  blessing  . . . There’s 
a story  in  the  Holy  Writ  about  a man 
like  Bob  O’Donnell.  It  is  there  recorded 
that  on  an  occasion,  a pretender,  a man 
who  carefully  measured  his  charity  and 
then  gave  only  when  the  photographers 
were  on  hand.  There  were  the  type  of 
men  who  pray  in  public  places;  there  were 
the  type  of  men  whose  piety  is  but  a 
veneer  to  cover  hypocrisy.  This  man  stood 
in  a public  place  near  the  Temple  and, 
turning  his  eyes  toward  heaven,  he 
thanked  God  that  he  was  not  like  other 
men;  he  thanked  God  that  he  was  better 
than  his  neighbors.  Bob  O’Donnell  is  not 
that  type. 

“Later  a simple  man  came  along.  He 
had  lived.  He  had  won.  He  had  lost.  He 
knew  the  depths  to  which  men  might  fall. 
He  knew  the  heights  to  which  men  could 
rise  but,  above  all,  he  recognized  how  vain 
is  the  accomplishment  of  man.  In  a quiet 
place,  he  looked  not  towards  the  heavens 
but  cast  his  eyes  toward  the  ground.  His 
prayer  was  a plea  of  humility — ‘God,  have 
mercy  on  me  a sinner.’ 

"One  of  God’s  Noblemen” 

“I  don’t  know  what  Bob’s  religion  is, 
but  I know  that  only  a good  tree  can 
bring  forth  good  fruit.  My  town  is  a bet- 
ter town  today  than  it  was  before  he  came 
this  way.  His  leadership  and  generosity 
will  be  felt  long  after  we  are  gone  in  the 
lives  of  now  crippled  children  who  will 
then  be  sound  men  and  women.  Texas  will 
be  a better  state  by  reason  of  the  added 
strength  of  the  underprivileged  who  have 
been  given  new  vision  and  a clear  per- 
spective. 

“I  am  not  given  to  too  fulsome  praise. 
I’ve  seen  too  many  men  look  good  and 
then  fail.  But  here  today  we  have  no 
fears.  No  king  need  knight  Bob  O’Don- 
nell, for  he  is  one  of  God’s  Noblemen.” 


60 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


ID)  A IL  L A 


pRED  M.  JACK,  Warner  southwest  dis- 
trict manager,  a pneumonia  victim,  is 
reported  “better”  at  Medical  Arts  Hospital. 
He  was  able  to  sit  up  last  Tuesday.  He 
will  be  confined  some  days  yet,  however  . . . 
Doak  Roberts,  Warner  branch  manager 
here,  was  down  a few  days  with  the  flu 
but  is  now  back  on  the  job. 

Burt  King  was  complimented  generally 
on  his  appearance  as  master  of  ceremonies 
at  the  O’Donnell  luncheon  Monday.  He 
pinch-hitted  for  Chief  Barker  Paul  Short, 
who  was  sick.  It  was  all  extemporaneous 
with  Burt,  but  he  did  a swell  fob.  He  said 
it  was  his  first  experience  at  an  affair  of 
this  calibre. 

A.  V.  Wade,  who  owns  the  Gainesville 
theatres,  including  the  new  and  modem 
State,  in  affiliation  with  Griffith,  was  here 
Monday  for  a brief  visit. 

An  established  fact  is  that  L.  B.  Brown 
of  the  Regal  and  Ritz  in  Gatesville,  is  ex- 
pert with  the  rod  mid  reel,  and  most  al- 
ways brings  in  a string.  A second  fact  now 
uncovered,  is  that  he  is  equally  good,  look- 
ing down  the  barrel  of  a shot  gun.  He  went 
quail  hunting  the  other  day,  shot  three 
times  and  only  killed  two  birds.  That  made 
the  headlines.  The  Coryell  County  News 
carried  a three-line  banner  head  scream- 
ing, “L.  B.  Brown  sought  by  police,  shot 
three  times,  killed  only  two  quail.”  It  ivas 
a prank  by  friends,  of  course,  but  evi- 
dently it's  an  offense  when  Brown  misses. 

The  Nathan  Browns,  operators  of  the 
Sunset,  had  with  them  during  Christmas 
week  their  father-in-law,  F.  W.  Kaufman, 
who  is  a business  man  in  St.  Louis.  The 
visitor  was  shown  around  the  film  ex- 
changes and  supply  houses. 

Mrs.  Mary  Straker,  mother  of  Mrs.  Joe 
Estes,  whose  husband  is  the  trailer  expert 
at  National,  was  here  from  Chicago  for 
the  holidays.  She  attended  the  Variety 
New  Year’s  Eve  party. 

Jimmie  Scott,  who  arrived  several  weeks 
ago  for  special  sales  work  on  Alexander 
Prevues,  has  been  made  district  manager 
of  the  company  with  headquarters  in  Dal- 
las and  with  charge  over  the  Texas,  Okla- 
homa and  Arkansas  territories.  Tom  Pat- 
terson, vice-president  of  the  Alexander 
company,  spent  a week  here  from  his  of- 
fice in  Colorado  Springs. 

Bob  Hooks  of  Mineola  altered  routine  by 
spending  two  days  on  the  Row  this  week 
instead  of  the  usual  one.  The  reason  was 
the  new  theatre  he  is  to  open  soon  in  the 
new  oil  town  of  Hawkins.  Bob  said  he  was 
booking  pictures  and  completing  his  equip- 


flSTOR PICTURES 

Harwood  and  Jackson  Streets 
DALLAS,  TEXAS 


ment  buying  and  that  he  fust  couldn’t  get 
through  in  a day. 

Claude  Ezell  of  Republic  turned  in  with 
the  flu  for  a few  days. 

Mrs.  Morris  Schulman  of  the  Bryan 
Amusement  Co.  was  here  during  and  after 
the  holidays  taking  in  a number  of  social 
festivities. 

Mart  Cole  arrived  Wednesday  from  Ros- 
enburg  to  catch  up  on  bookings  after  be- 
ing interned  with  the  flu.  He  said  all  of 
his  south  Texas  towns  were  hard  hit,  not 
only  from  the  cash  standpoint,  but  that 
his  operators  and  cashiers  were  also  out. 

Julius  Gordon,  chairman  of  the  board 
of  Jefferson  Amusement  Co.,  was  here  for 
an  after -the-holidays  visit.  He  attended 
the  O’Donnell  luncheon  Monday  . . . M.  K. 
McDaniel,  owner  of  the  Lamar  at  La- 
Marque  near  Galveston,  was  here  calling 
on  exchanges  with  Forrest  White  of  Ind- 
Ex  Booking  Service,  who  books  the  house. 

L.  C.  Baxley,  who  operates  the  new 
Plaza  in  Houston,  and  Roy  Howell,  who 
has  three  theatres  at  Coleman,  were  on  the 
Row  booking. 

Herschel  Crawford,  owner  of  the  Palace 
at  Slaton;  K.  N.  Greer,  R&R  partner  at 
Cisco;  J.  C.  Chatmas,  Palace,  Marlin;  and 
Martin  Lamour,  who  is  about  ready  to 
open  the  new  National  at  Graham,  were  in 
town  Wednesday. 

J.  S.  Walker  of  the  Texas  at  Grand 
Prairie,  where  many  of  Uncle  Sam’s  war- 
planes are  soon  to  be  built,  was  using  a 
cane  to  get  around  the  Row  because  of 
a knee  injury  . . . George  Wiley  left  here 
Thursday  for  Seminole  where  he  takes  a 
job  with  W.  E.  Cox  as  projectionist  and 
lobby  man  at  the  Palace. 


See  "Know  Your  Money” 

Wichita  Falls,  Tex. — “Know  Your 
Money”  was  shown  free  of  charge  at  Har- 
din Junior  College  to  students  and  towns- 
people. 


IT  IS  estimated  15,000  persons  attended 
the  New  Year’s  Eve  midnight  perform- 
ances held  in  ten  Interstate  theatres  . . . 
The  Roller  Derby  is  drawing  4,000  sport 
fans  nightly  to  the  Municipal  Auditorium 
. . . Back  on  duty  after  an  illness:  Beulah 
Greene,  State  cashier,  and  Miss  J.  B. 
Powell,  Majestic  concession  vender. 


Owl  show  at  the  National  featured  Ar- 
turo de  Cardova,  film  star  from  Mexico; 
Senorita  Luz  Maria  Nunez,  Jorge  Reyes, 
and  Don  Alverito  at  the  piano  . . . Richard 
Nussel  was  recently  appointed  assistant 
manager  of  the  new  Drive-In.  Wayne  Mc- 
Neil is  the  new  chief  of  service  . . . Leo 
Kuentz  has  been  promoted  from  doorman 
to  assistant  chief  usher  at  the  Empire  . . . 
Jack  Ford,  formerly  of  the  Empire,  is  now 
service  staff  chief  at  the  State. 

Buddy  Morey,  formerly  employed  at  the 
Drive-In,  has  joined  the  Navy  and  is  at 
present  stationed  in  San  Diego  . . . Lionel 
Stiglets,  lately  on  the  Majestic  floor  staff, 
has  been  transferred  to  the  Texas  as  as- 
sistant chief  of  service  . . . Interstate  has 
taken  over  the  old  Sam  Houston  which 
will  be  remodeled  and  reopened  soon. 

Jack  Silverthorne  has  been  shifted  from 
the  State  to  manage  the  Prince,  which  In- 
terstate acquired  from  L.  M.  Oppenheimer 
recently.  Richard  Corneilson  takes  Silver- 
thorne’s  place  as  assistant  skipper  at  the 
State  . . . When  Bert  Smith’s  musical  com- 
edy company  moves  into  the  Texas,  Janu- 
ary 17,  there  will  be  24  gals  in  line,  come- 
dians, an  orchestra,  feature  picture,  and 
bills  will  be  changed  weekly. 

From  Corsicana  comes  news  that  the 
Palace,  a 1,250  seater,  was  damaged  by 
fire  last  Monday.  Estimated  loss  was  $8,- 
000  . . . Once  again  we  ask  south  Texas 
showmen,  who  have  any  news  of  interest 
to  the  trade,  to  jot  it  down  on  the  back 
of  a postcard  and  mail  it  to  Lester  Ketner, 
531  North  St.,  San  Antonio,  Tex.  Then 
watch  Boxoffice  for  same  in  print. 


Ask  The  Exhibitor  Who  Uses 

Simplex  4 STAR  SOUND 

SIMPLEX  E-7  PROJECTORS  and  H.-I.  LAMPS 

How  Many  Patrons  Regularly  Compliment 
His  Perfect  Reproduction  and  Come  Back 
Again  and  Again. 

Sure  It  Costs  More  And  It’s  Worth  It 


NATIONAL  THEATRE  SUPPLY  COMPANY 

Dallas,  Atlanta,  New  Orleans,  Memphis,  Charlotte  and  Oklahoma  City 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


61 


Dallas  Grosses  Climbing; 
'Comrade”  Stands  Out 


Dallas — Grosses  on  Elm  Street  con- 
tinued up  New  Year’s  week.  Tops  was 
“Comrade  X”  at  the  Palace,  which  came 
in  New  Year’s  Day  following  “Love  Thy 
Neighbor,”  which  was  shifted  to  the  Tower. 
Unusual  for  the  Street  was  the  double  bill 
at  the  Capitol  which  stood  them  up.  The 
pictures  were  “Girls  of  the  Road”  and 
"Boys  of  the  City.” 

Gene  Autry,  because  of  the  extra  qual- 
ity in  “Melody  Ranch,”  moved  into  the 
Rialto  as  a “promotion”  from  the  Capitol 
where  he  plays  regularly. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  5 : 


(Average  is  100) 

Capitol — Charter  Pilot  (20th-Fox)  100 

Played  Tuesday  and  Wednesday. 

Capitol — Ellery  Queen,  Master  Detective  85 

Opened  Thursday  and  went  for  two  days. 

Capitol — Boys  of  the  City  (Mono);  Girls  of 

the  Road  (Col)  135 

Novelty  booking.  Last  part  of  week,  including 
Saturday  and  Sunday. 

Majestic — Arizona  (Col)  125 

Palace — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t) 125 

First  half. 

Palace — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  135 

Opened  New  Year’s  Day. 

Rialto — Too  Many  Girls  (RKO)  95 

Played  three  days. 

Rialto — Melody  Ranch  (Rep)  110 

Played  last  half  of  week  including  Saturday 
and  Sunday. 

Tower — Go  West  (M-G-M),  2nd  wk 100 


New  Year's  Grosses  Are 
Not  Up  to  Expectancy 

New  Orleans — New  Year’s  week  grosses 
were  not  up  to  expectancy  in  New  Orleans 
due  to  bad  weather  and  the  fact  that 
thousands  of  holiday  merry-makers  turned 
to  night  club  and  hotels  in  which  to  see 
the  old  year  out.  However,  the  Rio,  fea- 
turing Republic’s  “Melody  Ranch,”  re- 
ported above  average  attendance  at  a 
slight  upward  price  tilt,  as  did  the  Or- 
pheum,  Saenger,  Loew’s  and  Liberty  for 
special  New  Year’s  Eve  night  shows. 


(Average  is  100) 

Center — East  of  the  River  (WB)  95 

Globe — Down  Argentine  Way  (20th-Fox) 90 

Lafayette — Barnyard  Follies  (Rep),  plus 

stage  show  125 

Liberty — South  of  Suez  (WB)  90 

Loew’s — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  150 

Orpheum — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO)  150 

Rio — Melody  Ranch  (Rep)  150 

Saenger — Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox)  150 

Strand — Tropic  Fury  (Univ)  100 

Tudor — Hit  Parade  of  1941  (Rep)  100 


Tough  Weather  Retards 
Holiday  Week  Takes 

Oklahoma  City — Tough  weather  held 
grosses  back  a little  during  the  holiday 
week.  New  Year’s  Eve  previews  generally 
did  good  business  with  “Kitty  Foyle”  at 
the  State,  “Love  Thy  Neighbor”  at  the 
Criterion,  and  “Boom  Town”  at  the  Circle 
(subsequent  run)  getting  the  most  play. 

Only  competition  was  January  1 stag- 
ing of  “Philadelphia  Story”  at  the  Shrine 
with  Katharine  Hepburn  in  person. 

Details  for  the  week  ended  December  31: 


(Average  is  100) 

Criterion — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  110 

Liberty — Give  Us  Wings  (Univ) ; Courageous 

Dr.  Christian  (RKO)  105 

Midwest — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN)  125 

State — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO)  100 

Tower — Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox)  110 

Moved  from  first  good  week  at  Criterion. 


Cotton  Bowl  Interlude — 

On  the  eve  of  the  fifth  annual  Cotton 
Bowl  game  between  Texas  A&M  and 
Fordham,  Tent  No.  17  of  the  Variety 
Club  of  Texas  staged  its  most  suc- 
cessful New  Year’s  Eve  dance  and 
celebration  at  the  Adolphus  in  Dallas. 
Present  were  some  700  members  and 
guests,  including  such  names  as  Kate 
Smith,  Grajitland  Rice  and  Clarence 
Budington  Kelland,  in  addition  to 
nearly  a score  of  ace  eastern  sports 
writers  who  came  in  for  the  grid  clas- 
sic. Above,  during  an  interlude  in  the 
festivities,  the  camera  caught,  left  to 
right:  “Jarrin’  Jawn”  Kimbrough, 
A&M’s  two-year  all-American;  Paul 
Short,  newly-elected  chief  barker  of 
Tent  17,  and  Kimbrough’s  mentor, 
Coach  Homer  Norton  of  A&M. 


Sacks  Behind  New  House 
Going  Up  in  Beaumont 

Dallas — Lester  and  Alfred  Sack  are  be- 
hind a new  neighborhood  theatre  for  col- 
ored now  under  construction  in  Beau- 
mont, it  is  learned. 

The  building,  all  new,  was  designed  by 
Raymond  Smith,  Dallas  architect.  To  be 
fireproof  and  to  seat  500,  it  will  be  oper- 
ated by  South  Texas  Theatres,  Inc.,  the 
incorporators  being  Lambert  Toplitz,  a 
Beaumont  business  man;  Harry  Jacobson 
and  Lester  and  Alfred  Sack. 

With  a minimum  of  weather  delays, 
the  theatre  should  open  the  last  of 
February. 


Robert  Hooks  to  Open 
New  Select  Hawkins 

Mineola,  Tex. — Robert  Hooks,  operat- 
ing the  Select  Theatre  here,  is  about  to 
open  the  new  Select  at  Hawkins,  16  miles 
east,  where  oil  play  and  some  production, 
has  created  no  small  boom.  The  building 
is  well  under  way,  picture  contracts  have 
been  put  through  and  the  opening  is  ex- 
pected in  about  45  days. 


CJHORT  short  story:  About  six  months 
or  so  ago,  Paramount  sent  Director 
Jimmy  Hogan  and  a camera  outfit  to  our 
town  to  shoot  pictures  of  Austin,  the  Capi- 
tol building,  and  Texas  Ranger  headquar- 
ters for  “Texas  Rangers  Ride  Again.”  All 
the  city  folk  were  excited  about  the  event, 
but  now  word  comes  from  Hollywood  that 
less  than  30  seconds’  running  time  is  given 
over  to  the  Austin  shots  in  the  completed 
production. 

Recent  "a.  k.”  flickers  at  the  Texas 
(Manager  Gerald  Raines)  include  “ Scar- 
face ,”  “Sky  Devils,”  “History  Is  Made  at 
Night,”  and  “San  Francisco”  . . . Para- 
mount’s pack-’em-in  midnight  show  Sat- 
urday was  “This  Thing  Called  Love”  (Col) 

. . . Bill  Heliums  of  the  Capitol  paired 
“The  Quarterback”  (Para’t)  and  a two- 
reeler,  “Highlights  of  the  1940  Southwest 
Conference,”  for  nice  grosses  . . . “Santa 
Fe  Trail”  (FN)  played  the  State  one  week, 
which  ordinarily  books  two  shows  weekly. 

Ruel  McDaniel,  author  of  the  book, 
“Vinegaroon,”  upon  which  parts  of  “The 
Westerner”  (UA)  were  based,  seen  doing 
research  work  for  another  book  in  the 
Texana  collection  of  the  University  of 
Texas  library  . . . Put  a black  wig  on 
Elmo  Hegman,  skipper  of  the  Ritz,  and 
what  do  you  have?  A dead  ringer  for 
Orson  Welles  . . . “The  Philadelphia 
Story”  (stage  version)  a sellout  at  the 
Paramount  . . . “Manana  Is  Another  Day,” 
original  comedy  that  premiered  on  the 
U.  of  T.  campus  recently,  set  for  a week’s 
run  in  the  Pasadena  Playhouse. 

Betty  Waite,  of  the  theatrical  Waites  of 
Texas,  to  Beaumont  and  back  . . . Mary 
Murchison  made  a quickie  trip  to  Fort 
Worth  . . . Dorothy  Warren  in  town  again 
after  visiting  the  folks  in  Washington, 
D.  C.  . . . That  new  usher  at  the  Queen 
is  Harper  Green  . . . LaVon  Buck  back 
at  the  Paramount  candy  counter  after  the 
two-week  singing  engagement  with  Barney 
Rapp  at  the  Plantation,  Houston  . . . 
Byron  Speckles  dashed  home  to  Yoakum 
for  a day  . . . And  Wilbur  Evans  to  Mexia 
and  back. 

Max  Terhune,  long  featured  as  one  of 
the  buddies  in  the  “Mesquiteer”  series 
and  now  playing  the  role  of  “Alibi”  in 
the  Range  Buster  series  for  Monogram, 
made  a two-day  personal  appearance  at 
the  Ritz.  Other  recent  stage  appearances 
at  this  live-wire  independent  theatre  have 
been  made  by  John  “Dusty”  King,  one  of 
Terhune’s  associates  in  the  Range  Buster 
pictures;  and  Tex  Ritter. 


New  1 ,300-Seater  lor 
Oak  Cliff  in  Dallas 

Dallas — Robb  & Rowley-United  Thea- 
tres will  build  a new  1,300  seat  de  luxer  in 
Oak  Cliff,  it  is  announced. 

The  location  is  at  the  corner  of  Hamp- 
ton and  Colorado  and  takes  in  the  Stevens 
Park  area.  Robb  & Rowley  also  operate 
the  Texas,  Rosewin,  Midway,  Bison  and 
Astor  in  Oak  Cliff. 


62 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


A Health  Center  Will  Rise  Here — 

In  time,  on  this  rather  empty -looking  site,  will  rise  Tent  No.  22 ’s  first 
major  charity  project,  a community  health  center.  Work  began  only  recently 
on  the  project,  to  be  situated  at  Hudson  and  Pottaivatomie  Avenues,  near 
downtown  Oklahoma  City. 


M HE  M P 1HI  111  S 

j^MONG  those  who  attended  the  Sugar 
Bowl  Game  in  New  Orleans  were 
Gerene  and  Jimmy  Rogers,  who  sit  at 
the  controls  of  the  Columbia  exchange; 
E.  R.  Gillette  of  the  Bristol,  who  was 
fighting  a siege  of  the  flu,  and  Walter 
Parham  of  the  Royal.  Walter  is  rather 
unhappy  these  days,  having  picked  the 
wrong  team  to  win. 

Ed  Gibbons,  manager  of  the  Millington 
at  Millington,  Tenn.,  and  right  hand  man 
to  G.  W.  Haynes  and  the  Strand  Enter- 
prises, left  Monday  for  a year’s  training 
at  Ft.  Oglethorpe,  Ga. 

With  the  flu  practically  reaching  the 
epidemic  stage  in  Memphis  all  the  ex- 
changes are  working  short  handed.  Among 
those  who  have  been  absent  are:  Bob 
Bostick,  NTS;  Bill  Lewis,  Monogram;  Ber- 
ney  Rappaport,  Paramount;  Mildred 
Neighbors,  Republic;  Irene  Jones,  RKO; 
Sally  Scott,  R&R  office,  and  many  others. 

Harry  Shaw,  the  manager  of  the  Ritz 
at  Aberdeen,  Miss.,  made  his  initial  book- 
ing trip  to  the  Row  since  taking  over  his 
new  duties  ...  A most  infrequent  Film- 
row  visitor  was  Joe  Dillard  of  the  Dillard 
in  Wardell,  Mo.  . . . Grover  Lantrip  has 
announced  the  opening  of  a new  theatre 
in  Parrish,  Ala.,  during  the  early  part  of 
the  year.  He  now  operates  theatres  in 
Powhatan,  Cool  Valley,  Phillips  and  Oak- 
man,  Ala.  . . . R.  H.  Collins,  with  Mrs. 
Collins,  who  operate  the  Country  Show 
at  Maben,  Miss.,  were  recent  visitors. 

Lyle  Richmond  and  John  Mohrstadt, 
who  operate  a circuit  of  theatres  in  north- 
east Missouri,  were  forced  to  close  their 
house  in  Campbell,  Mo.,  for  approximate- 
ly ten  days  due  to  the  flu.  Incidentally, 
it  was  necessary  for  Lyle  to  leave  John 
to  finish  the  circuit  bookings  on  their 
trip  to  Memphis  this  past  week,  as  he 
had  to  return  to  his  home  in  Senath  due 
to  a sudden  attack  of  the  flu. 

Joe  Applebaum  and  Mrs.  Applebaum 
combined  business  with  pleasure  on  their 
trip  to  Memphis.  They  came  up  New 
Year’s  Eve  to  see  the  old  year  out  and 
greet  1941  in  the  Skyway  at  the  Hotel 
Peabody.  Joe  started  the  new  year  off 
right  by  spending  New  Year’s  Day  booking 
. . . W.  F.  Ruffin  of  the  Ruffin  Amuse- 
ment Co.,  at  Covington,  Tenn.,  has  been 
confined  to  his  home  for  the  past  week, 
due  to  old  man  flu. 

Exhibitors  seen  along  the  Row:  W.  B. 
Ford,  New,  Hamilton,  Ala.;  Ned  Greene, 
Legion,  Princess,  Ky.;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  C. 
Noble  (Mr.  Noble  doing  the  booking  for 
the  Harlem  at  Greenville,  Miss.,  while  Mrs. 
Noble  booked  for  the  Temple  and  Rex  at 
Leland,  Miss.) ; G.  F.  Goff,  Rustic,  Parsons, 
Tenn.;  Orris  Collins,  Capitol,  Paragould, 
Ark.;  K.  K.  King,  Commonwealth  Amuse- 
ment Co.,  Searcy,  Ark.;  G.  E.  Sibley,  Dixy, 
Adamsville,  Tenn.;  Wilford  Bonds,  Dyer, 
Dyer,  Tenn.;  J.  R.  Adams,  Bruce,  Bruce, 
Miss.;  R.  J.  Goodman,  Rex  and  State, 
Starkville,  Miss.;  G.  H.  Brewer,  Savoy, 
Clarksdale,  Miss. 

This  week  saw  the  return  of  the  sales- 
men into  the  territory  after  two  weeks 
vacation,  which  just  about  covered  the 
entire  United  States  . . . Ann  Stevens  of 
the  RKO  Exchange  is  recuperating  at 


home  from  a major  operation  at  the  Bap- 
tist Hospital  . . . Speaking  of  salesmen 
and  vacations  Milton  Lindner,  salesman 
for  NSS,  who  spent  his  vacation  in  New 
York  City,  which  is  his  home,  arrived 
there  in  time  to  be  rushed  to  the  hos- 
pital for  an  emergency  appendectomy . As 
yet  “Lindy”  has  been  unable  to  make  the 
return  trip  . . . Dorothy  Gardner,  also 
of  the  local  NSS  office,  is  recuperating 
at  home  from  an  appendectomy . 

The  New  Year’s  party  given  at  the  Va- 
riety Club  was  one  of  the  best  parties 
of  the  season.  M.  A.  Lightman  jr.,  who 
was  in  charge  of  all  arrangements,  planned 
and  executed  a very  novel  idea  in  en- 
tertainment . . . A.  D.  Fielder,  and  his 
booker,  Gladys  McCallum,  of  Steele  and 
Lilbourne,  Mo.,  were  on  the  Row  booking 
for  the  first  time  since  the  holidays  . . . 
W.  A.  Rush,  who  owns  the  Houston  at 


Houston,  Miss.,  announces  the  temporary 
closing  of  his  theatre  until  the  flu  epi- 
demic subsides. 

Tommy  Haynes,  Columbia  salesman, 
went  quail  hunting  the  first  few  days  of 
his  vacation  and  walked  so  much  that  he 
spent  the  balance  of  his  vacation  at  home, 
sans  shoes,  in  an  effort  to  ease  the  pain 
caused  by  his  blistered  feet  . . . The  Va- 
riety Club  is  boasting  a new  carpet  in 
the  reception  rooms  . . . An  infrequent 
visitor  was  C.  H.  McCroskey,  who  spent 
a couple  of  days  advancing  his  bookings 
for  Dermott,  Eudora  and  Lake  Village  . . . 
V.  G.  Williams  sr.,  of  Grenada,  Miss., 
father  of  Homer  J.  Williams  of  the  Gren- 
ada and  Fix  theatres  in  Grenada,  Miss., 
died  at  his  home  in  Grenada  on  Janu- 
ary 5 after  a short  illness.  Mr.  Williams 
was  84  years  old.  Funeral  services  were 
held  Monday,  January  6. 


WHY  DON’T  YOU 

SEE  ABOUT  NEW  EQUIPMENT? 

NEW  PROJECTION  MACHINES 
NEW  REFLECTOR  ARC  LAMPS 
NEW  RECTIFIERS 
NEW  SOUND  SYSTEM 
NEW  SCREEN 
NEW  POPCORN  MACHINE 

Start  the  Year  Right . . . We  Have  the  NEW 
Equipment . . . COME  TO  SEE  US! 

HERBER  BROTHERS 

408  S.  Harwood  Dallas,  Tex. 


BUFFALO  COOLING  EQUIPMENT 

1026  SANTA  fe  bldg.  BUFFALO  ENGINEERING  CO.,  INC.  Dallas,  texas 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


63 


(<  " --  ''ft 

Touring  Tennessee 

By  A.  JULES  BENEDIC 


Nashville — As  we  slip  into  Sudekum- 
ville — beg  pardon! — Nashville,  the  im- 
pression grows  that 

prosperity,  so  long 

’round  the  corner, 
perhaps  is  here  at 
last.  At  least,  milling 
crowds  riotously  wel- 
coming the  New 
Year,  and  spending 
real  money  withal, 
give  rise  to  that  im- 
pression. Nineteen- 
forty-one  got  the 

noisiest  welcome  of 
any  year  thus  far, 
benedic  the  Nashville  press 

reports,  and  the  New  Year,  along  with 
“Comrade  X,”  proved  an  irresistible  com- 
bination at  Loew’s  here.  Maybe  no  rec- 
ords were  broken,  but  overflow  crowds 
were  the  rule  and,  it  is  feared  at  this 
writing,  that  Manager  Will  Crull  and  As- 
sistant B.  Cranch  have  a hit  on  their 

hands. 

Linking  the  Laugh  to  Lyons 
We  tried  to  get  into  the  midnight  show, 
as  a paid  customer,  (something  highly 
unusual)  but  it  was  no  go.  So  we  joined 
the  other  ’villians  at  the  Knickerbocker, 
where  “No,  No,  Nanette”  also  was  playing 
to  crowded  houses.  Next  day  we  con- 
fided to  Hubert  Lyons,  RKO  Atlanta  man- 
ager, here  on  a business  visit,  that  Anna 
Neagle  is  due  for  an  Oscar  soon.  Tony 
Sudekum,  who  overheard  the  remark,  said 
that  if  she  did,  she’d  get  it  under  some 
banner  other  than  RKO’s.  Of  course,  Mr. 
Tony’s  sally  must  be  accepted  as  just 
such,  for  he  good-naturedly  chaffed  the 
Atlanta  exchange  manager  during  the 
latter’s  entire  stay  here. 

We  crowded  Mr.  Tony  for  news,  and  he 
conservatively  allowed  that  the  biggest 
news  of  the  week  is  Hubert  Lyons’  visit, 
already  chronicled,  so  it  will  have  to  go 
at  that.  Inadvertently,  however,  he  let 
slip  that  the  attractively-lighted  map-of- 
the-world  globe  and  stand  near  his  desk 
was  a Christmas  gift  from  his  Negro 
porters.  Perhaps  a little  thing  in  itself, 
but  it  gives  some  idea  of  the  high  regard 
in  which  this  stalwart  Tennesseean,  mem- 
ber of  the  Governor’s  staff  for  years,  is 
held  in  all  circles  hereabouts.  So  it’s  this 
easy-to-get-along-with  guy  who’s  head  of 
one  of  the  largest  theatrical  empires  in 
the  country! 

Needless  Shifting  of  Shifts 
Later  the  Crull-Cranch  combination 
Oakleys  us  into  “Comrade  X,”  the  M-G-M 
killer-diller  that’s  slaying  local  ’villians. 
The  picture’s  a knockout,  and  Hedy  the 
same,  even  encased  in  that  Soviet  night- 
gown. Nobody  except  that  blase  Gable 
would  complain,  and  request  a shift  to 
a more  modern  bed-garment.  This  shift- 
ing of  shifts,*  so  to  speak,  is  a needless 
waste  of  time,  in  our  estimation,  which 
might  be  better  employed  in  that  Krem- 
linesque  hideaway.  Rigidly  we  take  the 
stand  that  Hedy  as  a honeymooner  is 
high,  low,  Jack  and  the  game  as  com- 
pared with  these  other  Hollywood  cuties. 
We’ve  seen  Hedy  shifted,  as  in  “Com- 


rade X,”  and  shiftless,  as  in  “Ecstasy,” 
and  the  gal  takes  not  only  the  cake,  but 
the  whole  bakery — and  the  proprietor’s 
nephew. 

We  flit  to  the  Fifth  Avenue,  where  our 
old  friend,  Lee  Castleberry,  holds  forth, 
or  sometimes  Fifth;  Lee  being  also,  in  a 
manner  of  speaking,  the  Man  Friday  for 
the  Crescent  crowd.  Lee  pulls  a hot  show- 
manship stunt  in  our  presence,  the  same 
being  duly  linotyped  elsewhere  near  this 
paragraph.  We’re  also  his  guest.  Nash- 
ville’s pretty  far  north,  but  that  Tennes- 
see hospitality  is  rampant. 

Bijou's  Banner  Bristles 
Over  paving  blocks  that  remind  us  of 
Poydras  St.  in  the  New  Orleans  of  yester- 
year, we  bump  to  Bijou  Amusement  head- 
quarters. We  spiel  with  Sprott,  whose  first 
name  is  Evans,  and  also  renew  acquaint- 
ed - ■ ft 

Quick  Wits — 

And  $1.6751 

Nashville — Lee  Castleberry,  Fifth  Ave- 
nue Theatre  prexy,  pulled  a nifty  before 
an  overflow  audience  on  "Bank  Account 
Night." 

Out  of  69,000  pellets,  that  of  Mrs.  D. 

E.  Eddins,  local  matron,  was  drawn  from 
Pandora's  box. 

The  amount  was  $1,675,  an  elegant 
New  Year's  present  in  any  language! 

Mrs.  Eddins,  mother  of  a well-known 
local  radio  singer,  was  not  present.  She 
had  signed  an  attendance  card,  how- 
ever. 

Lee  thought  he  wasn't  getting  any  run 
for  that  big  dough.  There  were  thous- 
ands present. 

So  he  galloped  to  a phone.  He 
squeezed  into  the  booth.  'Twas  a tight 
fit,  as  associates  who  know  the  Castle- 
berry embonpoint  will  verify. 

Mrs.  Eddins  waxed  unintelligible  at 
first.  But  she  seized  the  thought  she  was 
wanted  at  the  theatre  immediately.  Then 
she  seized  a taxi. 

Lee  stopped  the  picture. 

Mrs.  Eddins  stopped  long  enough  to 
say  thanks. 

The  audience  stopped  to  stamp  and 
cheer. 

— >J 

ance  with  Milton  Starr  and  meet  Harry 
Sternheimer.  These  Starr  boys,  inciden- 
tally, have  parlayed  a couple  of  “jig  joints” 
into  a vast  colored  theatre  empire  that 
covers  Dixie  just  like  Bill  Oldknow  used 
to  say  Consolidated  Film  did  in  the  old 
days.  This  slang  must  be  pardoned,  boys. 


^EDITOR’S  NOTE:  Although,  this  is  probably 
the  world's  worst  pun,  our  traveling:  emissary 
uses  the  word  “shift’'  properly,  at  least  in  a 
grammatical  sense.  Our  representative  calls  at- 
tention to  the  unabridged  work  of  one  N.  Webster, 
top  of  column  two,  page  2,312.  There  are  30 
definitions  of  the  word.  No.  5 he  passes  over 
lightly.  This  reads: 

“A  device  for  entertainment.  Obs." 

No.  7,  divided  into  a number  of  sections,  is 
more  to  the  point: 

(B)  “A  body  garment  for  either  sex;  now,  a 
woman’s  chemise.  (C)  Dial.,  A shirt." 


for  this  hard-bitten  reviewer  sees  here 
one  pip  of  an  operation. 

Evans  confides  that  Bijou  has  just  taken 
over  the  Star  at  Meridian,  Miss.,  from 
Charles  R.  Hatcher  and  closed  it  for  re- 
pairs that  will  run  into  some  $15,000. 
This  acquisition,  along  with  the  Bailey 
holdings  in  Atlanta  and  the  far  south  area, 
places  approximately  half  a hundred 
houses  under  the  Bijou  banner. 


Memphis  Hopes  Flu  Will  Flee 

Memphis — You’ve  either  got  it,  or  you 
haven’t.  We  refer  to  the  flu.  More  than 
likely  you  have  it.  It’s  no  news,  therefore, 
to  mention  the  filmites  down  on  what  the 
chiropractors  work  on.  If  we  printed  the 
names  of  those  who  have  it,  there’d  be 
on  room.  Accordingly,  next  week  we  plan 
to  run  a much  shorter  list  of  those  still 
trodding  terra  firma. 

There’s  a silver  lining  in  every  cloud, 
of  course,  and  this  week  there’ll  be  an- 
other headache  in  the  Kansas  City  count- 
ing room,  for  we’ve  added  a bottle  of 
spiritus  frumenti  to  the  w.  k.  expense  ac- 
count, to  be  used,  of  course,  purely  for 
medicinal  purposes. 

This  flu  attack  has  reached  epidemic 
proportions,  but  fortunately  seems  to  be 
mild  in  form.  The  Commercial-Appeal 
cleverly  headlines  the  situation  on  its  front 
page: 

IF  YOU  HAVE  THE  FLU 
ONE  OF  SIX  ARE  YOU 

That  means  that  50,000  persons  here  are 
more  or  less  affected,  and  film  exchanges 
are  running  only  about  80  per  cent  of 
efficiency.  M.  A.  Lightman,  head  of  the 
Malco  circuit,  is  down  with  a slight  at- 
tack, as  is  W.  G.  Ruffin,  of  the  Ruffin 
circuit  at  Covington,  Term.  Others  are 
legion. 

Weather  at  this  writing  is  exceptionally 
cold,  and  getting  colder,  which  may  be  a 
good  sign,  doctors  opine. 

Flu  or  no  flu,  it  is  refreshing  to  note, 
after  an  absence  of  some  five  years,  that 
Filmrow  greatly  has  changed  for  the 
better.  Modern  buildings  have  replaced  the 
shackified  structures  that  formerly  housed 
the  exchanges. 

Mrs.  Luck  Seems  in  Luck 

Speaking  generally,  the  territory  is  in 
good  shape.  Double  bills  are  mostly  the 
rule  in  the  neighborhood  houses.  Admis- 
sions are  fair.  New  houses  are  springing 
up  over  the  territory,  due  to  commercial, 
governmental  and  other  projects.  A feel- 
ing of  optimism  is  prevalent  all  over  the 
area,  although  in  no  more  pronounced  de- 
gree than  in  other  territories  traversed 
recently.  So  it  would  seem,  generally 
speaking,  that  better  times  are  in  pros- 
pect the  country  over. 

Memphis  area  personal  notes  will  follow 
next  week,  but  as  a finale  to  this  diatribe 
we  cannot  help  but  comment  on  our  visit 
to  Phil  Zerilla’s  Rialto  in  northern  Mem- 
phis. During  the  late  summer,  Phil  had 
a $300  cash  drawing  dangling.  A lady  won 
it.  The  lady’s  picture  hangs  in  the  lobby. 

Her  name  is  Mrs.  I.  M.  Luck! 


New  Theatre  for  Gleason 

Gleason,  Tenn. — Duke  Allen  of  Kenton 
is  installing  equipment  for  a theatre  here 
in  a building  formerly  occupied  by  a drug 
store.  Plans  are  to  open  the  house  on 
January  10. 


64 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


A T l A m T A 

piLMROW  was  quite  a busy  place  this 

week.  Visitors  were  D.  R.  Regan,  Roxy, 
Selma,  Ala.;  John  Cunningham,  Edison, 
Miami,  Fla.;  A.  J.  Hook  jr.  and  R.  E.  Hook, 
Aliceville,  Ala.;  Carl  Floyd,  Floyd  Thea- 
tres, Haines  City,  Fla.;  W.  J.  Collins,  Toc- 
coa,  Ga.;  J.  Jarrell,  Roxy,  Commerce,  Ga.; 
H.  V.  Manning,  Gem,  Etowah,  Tenn.;  Hugh 
and  E.  D.  Martin,  Martin  Theatres,  Co- 
lumbus, Ga.;  Mose  Lebovitz,  Grand,  Chat- 
tanooga, Tenn.;  Mrs.  Violet  Edwards, 
Royal,  Monticello,  Ga.;  Mrs.  Lucille  Cobb, 
Roxy,  Fayette,  Ala.;  James  E.  Waters, 
Fairburn,  Fairburn,  Ga.;  “Mayor”  T.  K. 
Jones,  Ritz,  Dadeville,  Ala.;  Mary  Brockett, 
Crescent  Amusement  Co.,  Nashville,  Tenn., 
and  R.  D.  “Bob”  Word,  Ritz,  Scottsboro, 
Ala. 

Mrs.  Louis  “Rosalie”  Feldman,  formerly 
secretary  to  R.  L.  McCoy  at  Warner’s,  has 
a red-headed  baby  boy  that  has  been 
named  Joel  Martin.  Rosalie  and  baby  are 
both  doing  fine  at  Piedmont  Hospital. 
Leon  Clark,  of  the  same  office,  is  also  the 
proud  father  of  a boy  born  this  past  week 
. . . Still  on  the  sick  list  is  Fred  Jack  of 
Warner’s;  Mary  Will  Guest,  20 th  Century- 
Fox,  and  Peggy  McGuire,  Lucas  & Jenkins. 

Tom  Gilliam,  Warner’s  new  branch 
manager,  and  his  family  have  moved  into 
their  new  home  . . . Elsie  Harvey  has  been 
added  to  the  personnel  of  Georgia  Theatre 
Service  Corp.  Elizabeth  “Lib”  Cowen  of 
the  same  office,  announces  her  marriage 
to  “Bill”  Pitts  of  South  Carolina  . . . 
Friends  of  Fred  Levine,  manager  of  Bash’s 
Ponce  de  Leon  Theatre,  who  is  ill,  will  be 
glad  to  learn  he  is  much  improved. 

Nat  Williams  of  the  Rose,  Thomasville, 
Ga.,  has  been  made  a lieutenant  colonel 
on  the  staff  of  Governor  Talmadge  . . . 
Joe  Abercrombie  of  the  Emory,  Atlanta, 
reports  he  will  show  the  French  film, 
“Harvest,”  in  the  near  future  . . . Marion 
Watkins,  who  has  been  connected  with 
United  Artists  for  a number  of  years,  an- 
nounces her  engagement  to  Hal  H.  Macon, 
who  operates  the  Georgia  and  State  thea- 
tres in  Statesboro,  Ga.  Marriage  will  take 
place  at  an  early  date. 

Jack  Price,  formerly  of  New  Orleans  and 
Atlanta,  has  been  made  branch  manager 
for  Paramount.  Jack  Kirby  has  been  upped 
to  district  manager  . . . John  Hackney,  ad 
sales  manager  for  20th  Century-Fox,  has 
resigned  to  accept  a commission  with  the 
CCC  in  North  Georgia.  Luther  Rutland  re- 
places him.  Mary  Carsgrove,  who  resigned 
from  the  same  office,  is  replaced  by  Eliza- 
beth Helmer  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs.  N.  E.  Savini 
of  Savini  Films  celebrated  their  25th  an- 
niversary this  past  week.  They  were  en- 
tertained at  a banquet  and  theatre  party. 

The  Atlanta  exchange  of  Producers  Re- 
leasing Corp.  is  being  remodeled  . . . Ika 
Katz,  district  manager  of  Producers  Re- 
leasing Corp.,  is  elated  over  the  response 
throughout  the  territory  to  his  company’s 


The  Queen  Feature  Service,  Inc. 

Quality  Theatre  Equipment  & Supplies 

1912%  Morris  Ave.  Phoise  3-8665 

BIRMINGHAM,  ALA. 


ft  ~~ ~ - 

Begin  Charging  for 
Entertainment 

Dallas — The  first  instance  of  a local  de- 
partment store  charging  an  admission 
for  its  entertainment,  or  "added  attrac- 
tions," is  at  Titche-Goettinger's  where 
tickets  are  on  sale  at  20  cents  for  adults 
and  10  cents  for  children  for  the  Victor 
Puppet  Opera.  Five  different  operas  are 
to  be  presented 

In  the  past,  department  store  auditor- 
iums have  offered  book  reviews,  lec- 
tures, and  local  talent  gratis  to  customers. 

^ - - - — V 

M1EW  ORLEANS 

J]^  TESTIMONIAL  was  tendered  E.  B. 

Price,  manager  of  the  Paramount  ex- 
change, who  has  been  promoted  to  a simi- 
lar post  in  Atlanta  . . . A.  L.  Runbach, 
formerly  manager  of  the  Claiborn,  is  now 
in  charge  of  United  Theatres’  new  house, 
the  Algy,  on  the  west  side  . . . Jimmie 
Briant,  resident  manager  for  M-G-M,  has 
been  confined  to  his  home  the  past  few 
days  with  the  flu,  which  is  now  prevalent 
in  New  Orleans  and  has  put  many  ex- 
change employes  in  bed  . . . The  influx  of 
militiamen  from  adjoining  training  camps 
has  materially  increased  grosses  at  down- 
town houses. 

Visitors  to  the  Row.  Louisiana — A.  J. 
Broussard,  Bruce,  Crowley;  Morris  Meltz, 
Arcade,  Ferriday;  O.  A.  Ott,  Kentwood;  A. 
Marrelo,  Rendevois,  Grand  Isle;  Vic  Mau- 
rin,  Fox,  Houma;  Anthony  Sumpia,  Race- 
land,  Raceland;  Lou  Langlois,  Arcade,  New 
Roads;  Gordon  G.  Ogden,  Chimes,  Baton 
Rouge.  Mississippi — Ed  Delaney,  Pike, 
Magnolia;  Stanley  Taylor,  Crosby,  Crosby, 
and  Frank  Bishop,  Varsity,  Ellisville. 

June  Preisser,  Metro  player,  home  for 
the  holidays,  headed  a drive  to  raise  funds 
for  Greek  war  relief  . . . “The  Philadelphia 
Story,”  with  Katharine  Hepburn,  comes 
to  the  Municipal  Auditorium  stage  Jan- 
uary 13,  sponsored  by  the  Theatre  Guild 
at  a $3.30  top. 

The  races  ivill  be  back  at  the  Fair 
Grounds  in  less  than  30  days,  is  a predic- 
tion in  local  sporting  circles.  A syndicate 
of  prominent  business  men  has  purchased 
the  equipment  of  the  defunct  Jockey  Club 
and  the  track.  It  is  also  said  that  night 
racing  will  be  permitted. 


latest  releases,  “Devil  Bat,"  a super-chiller 
with  Bela  Lugosi,  and  “Misbehaving  Hus- 
bands,” starring  Harry  Langdon  . . . Don 
Prince  of  RKO  whose  hobby  is  ivriting 
books  has  his  second  “masterpiece”  ready 
for  the  publishers.  His  first,  in  case  you 
don’t  know,  was  “Tom.” 


Build  Profits-Patronage  With 

PARAMOUNT  PREMIUM  00. 

P.  O.  Box  1074  163  Walton  St. 

ATLANTA,  GA. 


OKU  A.  CITY 

L C.  GRIFFITH,  head  of  Griffith  Amuse- 
ment Co.,  received  another  honor  last 
week.  This  time  he  was  named  new  im- 
perial potentate  of  India  Shrine  Temple 
here.  He  also  becomes  imperial  repre- 
sentative to  the  imperial  council. 

Mrs.  Myrtle  Guthrie,  owner  and  man- 
ager of  the  Ritz  at  Clinton,  Okla.,  and 
Hugh  Hartley,  salesman  for  the  Standard 
Neo?i  Co.  of  Weatherford,  were  married  at 
the  Methodist  parsonage  in  El  Reno,  Okla. 

Catch  up  note:  The  120  employes  of 
Standard  Theatres,  Inc.,  received  Christ- 
mas bonuses  totaling  $1,500  . . . Sam  Capo- 
rals’  new  Bison  on  Northeast  23rd  Street 
is  nearing  completion  and  should  be  ready 
for  opening  soon. 

A lot  of  Oklahoma  City  pass  hounds  are 
grieving  as  T.  B.  Noble  cut  the  State’s 
annual  pass  list  down  to  25;  Standard  had 
previously  applied  the  scissors  to  theirs. 


Set  OH  Tear  Gas  in  Unit 
Showing  Anti-Nazi  Film 

Tyler,  Tex. — Tear  gas  set  off  by  an  un- 
identified person  drove  an  audience  of  600 
out  of  S.  G.  Fry’s  theatre,  which  was 
showing  “The  Man  I Married,”  an  anti- 
Nazi  film. 


IN  WINTER— 

WHEN  BAD  AIR  CAN'T  GET 
OUT  AND  GOOD  AIR  CAN'T 
GET  IN— 

YOUR  THEATRE  NEEDS  A 

KOZONO 

The  machine  that  energizes  the 
air,  kills  all  odors  and  destroys 
bacteria.  Used  and  indorsed  by 
leading  theatres  for  8 years. 

Kozonos  Have  Been  Bought 
By  Many  of  America's  Most 
Critical  Showmen. 


MAKE  US  PROVE  IT 


THE  KOZONO  CO. 

Dept.  B— 125  W.  Trade  St. 
CHARLOTTE,  N.  C. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


65 


CHARLOTTE 


HAL  JORDAN,  Warner  salesman,  and  his 
wife  have  returned  from  a holiday  trip 
to  Florida.  Manager  John  Bachman  and 
Salesmen  Dean  House  and  Hal  Keeter, 
celebrated  at  home  by  helping  their  wives 
. . . H.  H.  Everett,  chief  barker  of  the  Va- 
riety Club,  announces  that  architects  have 
finished  plans  for  club  headquarters  in 
the  Hotel  Charlotte.  A special  called 
luncheon  meeting  will  be  held  at  the  hotel 
January  11,  and  between  January  6 and 
January  11,  there  will  be  a meeting  of  the 
Crew  to  consider  contractors’  bids  and 
award  the  contract  in  order  that  the  mem- 
bership may  be  given  a full  report  at  the 
luncheon  meeting  . . . Jack  London,  Repub- 
lic salesman,  his  wife  and  daughter,  have 
returned  from  a trip  to  New  York  where 
they  visited  relatives. 

George  Mobley,  ad  sales  manager  for 
Universal,  has  resigned  to  accept  a posi- 
tion with  the  J.  A.  Jones  Construction  Co. 
at  Fort  Jackson,  S.  C.,  on  a defense  works 
project.  He  is  replaced  by  Charles  Morris 
of  the  shipping  department.  Carl  Ingle  of 
National  Screen  Service  becomes  the  new 
shipper  . . . Charles  Freeman,  booking 
manager  for  Paramount,  has  resigned,  ef- 
fective January  15.  He  goes  to  Knoxville, 
Tenn.,  to  manage  one  of  the  Wilby  houses. 

Manager  John  Bachman  and  all  Warner 
employes  are  highly  elated  over  returns 
from  “Santa  Fe  Trail”  and  “Four  Mothers” 

. . . William  “Bill”  Pickert,  genial  Warner 
booker,  has  resigned,  effective  January  11, 
to  become  associated  with  the  United 
States  Army  Motion  Picture  Service  with 
headquarters  in  St.  Louis  . . . J.  C.  Thomp- 
son has  sold  his  Loris,  Loris,  S.  C.,  to  H. 
J.  Nelson  of  Chadbourn,  N.  C.  . . . O.  I. 
Sheeley  of  the  Casino  and  Broadway  thea- 
tres in  Clinton,  S.  C.,  has  contracted  with 
Ben  Ralston  for  SESCo.  service,  and  A.  I. 
Mason  has  signed  renewal  agreements  for 
the  Capitol  and  Echo  theatres  in  Laurens, 
S.  C.  “Rosy”  Rosenblatt  has  secured  con- 
tracts from  Bill  Webb  for  SESCo.  service 
for  the  Rogers  and  Carolina  theatres  in 
Shelby.  N.  C. 

A.  B.  McCoy  of  the  Carolina,  Conway, 
S.  C.,  is  seriously  ill  ..  . The  mother  of  P. 
J.,  W.  F.  and  C.  H.  Caudell  is  very  ill  in  a 
hospital  in  Lumberton,  N.  C.  The  Caudells 
operate  theatres  in  Fairmont,  N.  C.,  Wal- 
lace, N.  C.  and  Marshville,  N.  C.  . . . R.  L. 
Simpson  of  Alexander  Film  Co.  is  recuper- 
ating from  an  attack  of  flu  ..  . C.  M.  Har- 
rell, formerly  of  Gibsonville,  N.  C„  has 
just  opened  his  New  Theatre  in  Haw  River, 
N.  C. 

A1  Burks,  exploiteer  for  Metro,  has  re- 
turned from  Greenville,  S.  C.,  where  he  in- 
augurated a second  run  campaign  for 
“Boom  Town”  to  be  shown  by  Fred  Curdts 
at  his  Ritz  . . . Nat  Fisher,  office  manager 
for  National  Screen  Service,  has  resigned 
as  of  January  18,  to  assist  J.  E.  Massie  in 
the  operation  of  his  theatres  in  Waynes- 
ville,  N.  C.,  Sylva,  N.  C„  Bryson  City,  N.  C„ 
and  Gatlinburg,  Tenn.  Jim  Massie  recent- 
ly purchased  a cub  aeroplane  and  plans  to 
take  instructions  at  an  early  date.  His  son, 
Frank,  who  manages  the  Sylva  house,  has 
already  secured  a student  pilot  license  with 
more  than  70  hours  in  the  air  to  his  credit. 

Barney  Ross,  Metro  South  Carolina 
sales  representative,  has  returned  from  a 


two-week  vacation  . . . The  new  home  of 
Leo  the  Lion  on  Church  Street  is  rapid- 
ly nearing  completion  and  the  Metro-Gold- 
wyn-Mayer  people  expect  to  move  in  with- 
in the  very  near  future  . . . Plans  are  now 
under  way  for  the  return  showing  of  “Gone 
With  the  Wind,”  which  should  be  very  good 
news  to  those  who  are  anxious  to  see  this 
picture  again  and  others  who  were  unable 
to  see  it  on  the  first  engagement. 

Carolinians  were  very  happy  to  learn 
that  John  F.  Kirby  was  made  southern 
district  manager  for  Paramount.  Head- 
quarters will  be  in  Atlanta  with  jurisdic- 
tion over  Memphis,  New  Orleans,  Atlanta 
and  Charlotte.  Hosts  of  friends  will  wel- 
come his  trips  to  Charlotte  . . . Sol  Fri- 
field,  Paramount  salesman,  has  been 
transferred  to  New  Orleans  as  branch 
manager  . . . Visitors:  E.  L.  Hearne  of  the 
Alameda  in  Albemarle,  N.  C.;  J.  C.  Hol- 
land, Lyman,  Lyman,  S.  C.;  R.  C.  White- 
hurst of  the  Jackson  in  Jackson,  N.  C., 
and  the  Pastime  in  Murfreesboro,  N.  C.; 
Pete  Webb,  Webb,  Shelby,  N.  C.,  and  H. 
P.  Howell  and  R.  Glenn  Davis  (Howell- 
Davis  circuit)  of  Smithfield,  N.  C.,  and 
Louisburg,  N.  C.  ...  Harry  Hardy  and 
Roy  Smart,  accompanied  by  Warren  Irvin 
of  Columbia,  S.  C.,  all  connected  with 
North  Carolina  Theatres,  Inc.  (Wilby- 
Kincey) , have  returned  from  Miami  where 
they  attended  the  Orange  Bowl  game. 

Discover  Fraud  in 
A Cash  Giveaway 

Springfield,  Tenn.  — County  officials 
have  broken  up  what  they  believed  was 
the  nucleus  of  a ring  to  defraud  theatres 
at  Bank  Night  drawings. 

After  $600  had  been  paid  on  a ticket  at 
a drawing  in  the  Capitol,  Manager  A.  L. 
Hancock  discovered  there  were  several 
thousand  tickets  identically  numbered  in 
the  container.  By  some  unknown  means 
they  had  been  substituted  for  the  authen- 
tic numbers. 

The  drawings  at  the  Capitol  have  been 
discontinued  until  the  matter  is  cleared 
up. 


", A Christmas  Carol"  to 
Over  3.000  Children 

Yazoo,  Miss. — More  than  3,000  school 
children  of  this  city  and  the  surrounding 
area  were  guests  of  Manager  Frank  Mutz 
of  the  Dixie  at  special  showings  of  “A 
Christmas  Carol.” 

A special  canned  goods  matinee  also  was 
sponsored  by  the  theatre.  Over  one  ton  of 
canned  goods  was  taken  in  for  distribution 
to  local  needy  during  the  Christmas  holi- 
day. 


Signs  With  Altec 

Thomasville,  Ga. — Nat  M.  Williams  has 
signed  a contract  with  Altec  covering 
sound  and  repair-replacement  service  for 
the  Interstate  Enterprises  circuit  of  eight 
theatres  in  Florida  and  Georgia. 


letter  son  and  East  Texas 
Theatres  Sign  With  A A 


Dallas — Another  circuit  deal  made  by 
Advertising  Accessories,  Inc.,  at  about  the 
time  the  Robb  & Rowley  deal  was  an- 
nounced, is  that  of  Jefferson  Amusement 
Co.  and  East  Texas  Theatres,  which  have 
turned  over  the  handling  of  their  paper  to 
the  National  Screen  subsidiary.  Joe 
Thompson,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  Jef- 
ferson poster  and  accessory  department 
here,  is  now  working  in  the  AA  office. 


■QNIVERSAL’S  promotional  coup,  being 
staged  in  connection  with  the  world 
premiere  at  Miami  Beach’s  Lincoln  of 
“Back  Street”  February  4,  is  making 
Manager  Sonny  Shepherd  host  to  a host. 
It’s  this  way — Universal  is  bringing  down 
for  the  premiere,  and  for  a week’s  vaca- 
tion, 150  newspaper  critics  from  represent- 
ative papers  east  of  the  Mississippi.  Son- 
ny’s assignment  is  arranging  their  enter- 
tainment schedule.  First  of  his  premieres, 
however,  is  UA’s  “So  Ends  Our  Night,” 
which  is  scheduled  for  January  24. 


Speaking  of  exploitation,  the  Mars  Candy 
Co.  is  sure  pushing  Universal  as  they 
bring  their  broadcast  of  “Dr.  I.  Q.”  into 
this  area.  Wednesday  night  they  engaged 
the  entire  Olympia  Theatre  from  1p.m. 
on  for  two  demonstration  programs,  giving 
complete  shows  without,  of  course,  the  cus- 
tomary broadcasting . Beginning  Monday 
night,  and  for  five  consecutive  weeks,  the 
regular  airing  of  Lew  Valentine’s  high- 
priced  questions  will  be  incorporated  in  the 
Olympia’s  program  from  9 to  9:30  p.  m. 
This  will  merely  mean,  Manager  A.  Weiss 
explains,  that  their  entire  show  schedule 
will  run  one-half  hour  longer  on  these 
Monday  evenings. 

Out  at  the  Colonnade  studios  in  Coral 
Gables,  work  is  starting  on  George  A. 
Hirliman’s  second  full-length  feature  to  be 
made  there.  It  is  to  be  an  English  war  pic- 
ture, titled  “Bomb  Shelter”  . . . Prepara- 
tions are  already  being  made  by  Edgar 
Pierce  and  his  staff  for  the  big  annual 
benefit  “Cavalcade  of  Stars”  which  the 
YMHA  stages  annually  at  the  Plaza  where 
the  recently-opened  new  luncheonette  is 
reported  to  be  doing  a neat  bit  of  busi- 
ness. The  big  benefit  show  is  to  be  an 
event  of  early  February. 


Recent  changes  in  personnel  at  local 
houses  have  seen  Tom  Manning  go  in  as 
manager  of  Paramount’s  Coral  in  Coral 
Gables.  Manning  has  been  manager  of  the 
Roxy  and  the  Community  since  being  ad- 
vanced from  assistant  at  the  Olympia.  With 
him  as  his  assistant  is  William  Merrill  . . . 
When  T.  W.  Skipper  went  up  to  work 
with  Howard  Pettingill  at  the  Paramount, 
Ralph  McEntyre,  formerly  associated  with 
RKO  at  Cincinnati,  was  named  assistant 
manager  at  the  Gables  . . . Also  promoted 
from  the  Olympia  was  Billy  Mount,  who 
went  from  the  assistant’s  post  at  Al  Weiss’ 
big  Flagler  Street  spot,  to  manager  of  the 
Regent. 


66 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


Still  Urges  Lifting 
Of  Juvenile  Bars 

Montreal — If  the  Quebec  government 
ever  fully  restores  to  the  children  of  the 
province  the  privilege  of  attending  motion 
picture  shows,  which  has  been  withheld 
from  them  for  a number  of  years,  much 
of  the  credit  will  go  to  S.  Morgan-Powell, 
editor-in-chief  of  Montreal  Daily  Star,  and 
world-famed  dramatic  and  film  critic.  In 
a holiday  article,  Mr.  Morgan-Powell  said: 
“At  the  risk  of  appearing  to  be  over-in- 
sistent I want  to  draw  attention  to  the  fact 
that  the  children  of  Montreal  are  still  the 
only  children  in  any  of  the  world’s  great 
cities  who  are  deprived  of  the  privilege  of 
seeing  good  film  entertainment.  While 
Canadians  in  other  parts  of  the  Dominion 
are  allowed  to  see  pictures  that  are  ap- 
proved as  fit  for  young  people,  our  boys 
and  girls  have  to  wait  until  they  are  16 
before  they  can  enter  a motion  picture 
theatre.  Even  on  the  few  occasions  when 
a point  has  been  stretched,  such,  for  in- 
stance, as  the  visit  of  Walt  Disney’s  ‘Snow 
White,’  there  has  been  a misunderstanding 
between  the  civic  and  provincial  authori- 
ties, with  the  result  that  some  theatre 
managers  who  had  been  under  the  im- 
pression that  they  were  doing  the  young- 
sters a favor,  were  prosecuted  for  their 
pains.” 

Hope  that  the  ban  on  admission  of  chil- 
dren will  be  removed  in  1941  was  expressed 
by  many  theatre  managers,  and  Mr.  Mor- 
gan-Powell stresses  that  this  would  be  a 
good  way  to  start  the  New  Year  “by  show- 
ing that  we  can  be  as  modem  as  other  big 
cities,  and  at  the  same  time  afford  our 
children  every  bit  as  much  protection 
against  risks  of  accident  as  any  other  city 
in  the  world  does.”  He  notes  that  the  ban 
was  imposed  to  protect  children  from  the 
danger  of  fire  in  crowded  theatres,  and 
that  the  law  was  passed  at  a time  “when 
a terrible  disaster  had  created  a wide- 
spread mood  of  hysteria.”  However  justi- 
fiable then,  he  contends  that  modern  thea- 
tres are,  from  the  viewpoint  of  danger  to 
children,  much  safer  than  many  school 
basements  and  other  buildings  in  which 
special  film  exhibitions  for  children  are 
allowed. 

John  Lodge  Makes  P.  A . 

At  Avenue  in  Toronto 

Toronto — John  Lodge,  screen  and  stage 
actor  who  was  in  Toronto  for  the  engage- 
ment of  “Night  of  Love”  on  the  stage  of 
the  Royal  Alexandra,  made  a personal 
appearance  at  the  Avenue  for  the  Cana- 
dian premiere  of  “One  Night  in  Paris”  on 
the  invitation  of  Manager  J.  L.  Smith. 
Lodge  returned  to  New  York  City  for  the 
Broadway  premiere  of  the  stage  play 
January  7. 

Receipts  for  the  one  performance  at  the 
Avenue  were  turned  over  to  the  British 
War  Victims’  Fund.  Incidentally,  Lodge 
saw  himself  in  “One  Night  in  Paris”  for 
the  first  time  at  this  show. 


Carriers  See  "NWMP" 

Oshawa,  Ont. — Carriers  of  the  Daily 
Times  saw  “North  West  Mounted  Police” 
at  the  Regent  as  guests  of  Manager  Osier. 


(< - ft 

25  Years  Long  Time , 

Or  Is  It? 

Toronto — Twenty-live  years  is  a long 
time  in  the  film  business  when  regard  is 
given  to  the  type  and  tastes  of  screen 
fare.  Or  is  it?  A quarter  of  a century 
ago,  the  main  attractions  at  Canadian 
theatres  included  Olga  Petrova  in  “The 
Heart  of  a Painted  Woman,”  Clara  Kim- 
ball Young  in  "Camille,"  Theda  Bara 
and  Jean  Sothern  in  “The  Two  Orphans," 
Edna  Goodrich  in  "Armstrong's  Wife," 
and  also  “The  Laurel  of  Tears,”  which 
apparently  had  no  "name"  players.  These 
were  among  the  feature  offerings  for  the 
holiday. 

Current  holiday  attractions  at  Toronto 
theatres  include  “The  Thief  of  Bagdad," 
"Comrade  X,”  "Tin  Pan  Alley,”  "Second 
Chorus,”  "No,  No,  Nanette,”  "Charley's 
Aunt."  '’You'll  Find  Out,”  "Moon  Over 
Burma,”  "One  Night  in  Paris"  and  “The 
Bank  Dick." 

Twenty-five  years  from  now,  BOX- 
OFFICE  may  be  reporting  that  “Charley's 
Aunt"  is  still  living! 

**  V 

Toronto  New  Year's 
Shows  Lure  Record 

Toronto — The  largest  New  Year’s  cele- 
bration in  history  was  reported  by  To- 
ronto’s downtown  theatres.  It  was  esti- 
mated that  78  Toronto  theatres  accom- 
modated more  than  65,000  patrons  at  the 
stroke  of  midnight,  with  all  of  the  big 
houses  more  than  filled  to  capacity. 

The  largest  crowd  of  all  was  found  at 
the  Imperial,  where  Manager  Tom  Daly 
played  host  to  3,500  guests.  Manager  Fred 
Trebilcock  had  a super-capacity  crowd  of 
approximately  3,000  at  the  Uptown.  Loew’s 
was  filled  and  Assistant  Manager  S.  E. 
Gosnell  declared  he  saw  more  people  on 
the  streets  at  3:30  a.  m.  than  he  had  ever 
seen  before.  Walter  Graydon  reported  2,- 
730  at  Shea’s  which  meant  more  than  ca- 
pacity because  the  theatre  seats  2,663  per- 
sons, Manager  Leon  Bishop  had  all  he 
could  handle  at  the  Tivoli,  remarking  that 
more  people  were  downtown  than  at  any 
previous  New  Year’s  observance. 

Neighborhood  houses  had  their  quota 
of  patronage,  however,  many  being  filled 
to  capacity,  depending  upon  the  screen 
attraction  offered.  Some  theatres  did  not 
open  at  all  because  of  the  belief  that  mid- 
night show  competition  was  too  extensive 
to  make  it  profitable.  It  was  reported  by 
Manager  A1  Sedgwick  of  the  Belsize,  for 
example,  that  his  house  was  filled,  that 
the  audience  was  appreciably  larger  than 
one  year  before  and  that  patronage  on  the 
day  after  New  Year’s  continued  heavy,  the 
usual  after-holiday  reaction  being  missing. 

At  the  one  vaudeville  house,  the  Casino, 
patrons  paid  $1  admission  and  the  thea- 
tre was  choked  with  people.  Regular  ad- 
mission prices  were  charged  by  the  ma- 
jority of  theatres  with  a flat  rate  of  40 
cents  or  50  cents  for  any  seat  in  the  house 
being  asked  at  the  principal  theatres.  A 
considerable  percentage  of  revellers  was 
made  up  of  men  in  uniform,  many  sailors, 


"Holidays  as  Usual" 
Over  the  Dominion 

Toronto — Canadians  will  continue  to 
have  their  usual  array  of  holidays  in  1941 
whether  the  war  is  in  progress  throughout 
the  year  or  not,  and  these  can  be  marked 
down  by  exhibitors  as  occasions  for  spe- 
cial bookings.  Two  of  the  holidays  have 
already  been  observed,  these  being  New 
Year’s  Day  and  the  Feast  of  Epiphany,  on 
January  6.  On  the  latter  occasion,  many 
educational  institutions  and  business 
houses  in  various  localities  were  closed  for 
religious  reasons  but  there  was  nothing  to 
discourage  attendance  at  shows,  either  af- 
ternoon or  evening. 

Next  on  the  1941  calendar  is  Ash  Wed- 
nesday, which  falls  on  February  26,  when 
many  schools  and  offices  are  again  closed 
for  religious  reasons,  while  Good  Friday 
will  occur  April  11  and  Easter  Monday  on 
April  14.  These  two  dates  are  statutory 
holidays  when  banks,  schools  and  offices 
will  be  closed  but  most  retail  establish- 
ments will  remain  open.  Thursday,  May 
22,  is  Ascension  Day  which  is  observed  in 
various  localities,  to  be  followed  by  the 
national  holiday  of  May  24  in  observance 
of  the  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  Queen 
Victoria.  There  are  two  holidays  in  June, 
one  being  the  formal  birthday  celebration 
for  King  George  VI  on  a date  to  be  set, 
and  the  other  St.  Jean  Baptiste  Day  which 
is  June  24. 

Remember  Ending  First  War 

The  Dominion  as  a whole  will  take  the 
day  off  on  Tuesday,  July  1,  for  Dominion 
Day  to  mark  the  anniversary  of  the  union 
of  all  Provinces,  while  Monday,  August  4,  is 
widely  observed  as  Civic  Holiday  which  is 
legally  proclaimed  by  municipalities 
throughout  the  country.  Labor  Day  falls 
on  Monday,  September  1,  and  the  next 
after  that  will  be  Thanksgiving  Day  which 
is  tentatively  set  for  Monday,  October  13. 
Tuesday,  November  11,  will  be  observed  as 
Remembrance  Day  as  usual  in  honor  of 
the  signing  of  the  armistice  to  terminate 
the  First  Great  War.  Another  November 
date  which  will  be  a partial  holiday  is 
Saturday,  November  1,  this  being  All 
Saints’  Day  when  a number  of  firms  will 
close.  In  December  there  will  be  two  holi- 
days, with  Monday,  December  8,  being  ob- 
served as  the  Feast  of  Conception.  Christ- 
mas Day  will  fall  on  a Thursday  and,  as 
usual,  December  26,  will  be  Boxing  Day 
when  practically  all  wholesale  and  retail 
establishments  will  remain  closed. 

Because  of  the  war,  there  is  a probabil- 
ity that  industrial  plants  engaged  in  the 
production  of  war  munitions  will  not  close 
down  as  extensively  as  in  previous  years 
but  the  off-shifts  will  undoubtedly  have 
the  holiday  spirit  nevertheless,  with  ad- 
vantage to  the  theatres. 


war  pilots  and  soldiers  being  home  on 
leave  for  the  holiday,  with  a sprinkling  of 
nursing  sisters  and  women  of  the  auxiliary 
forces.  Film  theatres  dropped  stage  shows 
entirely  this  year  and  the  flesh  presenta- 
tions were  not  missed.  Audiences  were 
given  the  opportunity  of  giving  vent  to 
their  feelings  in  community  singing  and 
with  the  usual  “favors.” 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


K 


67 


See  Cooper  as  Successor 
To  John  Grierson 


NUMBER  of  screen  stars  have  offered 
their  acting  services  to  the  Canadian 
government,  without  charge,  for  a series 
of  presentations  to  be  sponsored  by  the 
“Theatre  of  Freedom”  beginning  the  first 
week  in  February  for  which  they  will  make 
special  trips  to  the  Dominion.  They  in- 
clude Paul  Muni,  Douglas  Fairbanks  jr., 
Anna  Neagle,  George  Sanders,  Walter  Hus- 
ton, Raymond  Massey,  Orson  Welles,  Ce- 
dric Hardwicke  and  Charles  Laughton. 
Stage  stars  who  have  also  donated  their 
services  are  Katharine  Cornell  and  Eva  La 
Gallienne.  “Victoria  the  Great”  is  to  be 
presented  in  one  performance  by  Anna 
Neagle  and  George  Sanders  under  the  per- 
sonal direction  of  Herbert  Wilcox.  The 
performances  are  to  be  given  in  Toronto 
and  will  be  broadcast  over  the  national 
network. 

Manager  Bob  Eves  of  the  swanky  Eglin- 
ton , Toronto,  had  a surprise  party  the 
other  evening  when  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred 
Parfitt  of  Port  Elgin  patronized  the  thea- 
tre for  the  night’s  show.  It  was  the  first 
time,  according  to  Eves,  that  either  of  his 
paying  guests  had  ever  seen  a moving  pic- 
ture or  even  been  inside  a theatre.  (There 
is  a theatre  in  Port  Elgin) . 

R.  Berezin,  assistant  manager  of  the 
Ottawa  Elgin  since  it  opened  three  years 
ago,  has  been  transfered  to  Toronto  by 
20th  Century  Theatres  where  he  is  to  be 
appointed  manager  of  a new  house.  Prior 
to  his  departure  from  Ottawa,  where  he 
was  born,  he  was  given  a party  and  a gift 
by  the  Elgin  employes  . . . A.  P.  Drohan, 
manager  of  the  Capitol  at  Chatham,  is  now 
opening  his  evening  performances  at  6:30 
p.  m.,  a half  hour  earlier,  so  that  the  sol- 
diers in  training  in  that  city  can  see  a 
complete  show  and  get  back  to  barracks 
before  “Lights  Out.” 

G.  W.  Martin  of  the  Trent  and  Ted  Fra- 
ser of  the  Century,  both  at  Trenton,  Ont., 
are  cooperating  in  a Find-the-Name  con- 
test of  the  Sun  newspaper  in  which  passes 
are  provided  for  winning  readers  who  find 
the  letters  scattered  through  advertise- 
ments which  spell  the  name  of  the  feature 
at  either  theatre.  The  Trent  is  a chain 
house  while  the  Century  is  independent. 

Sam  Major,  proprietor  of  Major’s  St. 
Clair,  Toronto,  had  an  exciting  few  min- 
utes when  patrons  started  to  mob  a man 
in  the  audience  who  is  said  to  have  shouted 
encouragement  during  a scene  of  “Four 
Sons”  showing  German  soldiers  shooting 
Czech  civilians.  The  disturber  was  rescued 
by  the  police  who  hustled  him  to  the  sta- 
tion where  he  was  placed  in  custody  when 
it  was  ascertained  that  he  was  a German 
officer  in  the  last  war  by  the  name  of 
Charles  Baltes. 

Manager  Jules  Bernstein  and  Assistant 
Manager  S.  Gosnell  of  Toronto  Loew’s  are 
preparing  for  the  second  run  of  “Gone 
With  the  Wind”  at  popular  prices,  the  pic- 
ture having  had  its  Canadian  premiere  at 
this  theatre  one  year  ago  after  which  it 
played  one  week  at  the  Bloor.  It  is  sched- 
uled to  open  January  23  . . . Four  young 
men  of  the  staff  of  the  Uptown,  Toronto, 
have  joined  the  colors  for  overseas’  service 
and  more  are  expected  to  enlist  to  give 


Manager  Fred  Trebilcock  a personnel 
problem. 

With  1,200  out  of  the  2,000  population 
of  Meaford,  Ont.,  down  with  influenza, 
Nick  Trebish,  proprietor  of  the  Capitol 
in  that  town,  is  finding  business  rather 
slim  but  is  carrying  on.  No  request  has 
been  made  by  the  medical  authorities  to 
close  the  theatre  . . . Three  Musketeers  of 
Hollywood  have  joined  the  Royal  Cana- 
dian Air  Force,  following  in  the  footsteps 
of  Basil  Rathbone  jr.  and  Patric  Knowles. 
The  newcomers  are  William  Deming, 
Michael  McCoy  and  Monty  Montgomery. 
Deming  made  India’s  first  talking  picture, 
“Alan  Ara,”  back  in  1930. 

Mike  Mahoney,  colorful  resident  of  Ot- 
tawa, Ont.,  and  a former  sourdough  of  the 
Klondike,  made  a trip  to  Hollywood  for 
pleasure  a few  months  ago.  When  “Tug- 
boat Annie  Sails  Again”  played  the  Ottawa 
Capitol  during  the  holiday  period,  it  was 
discovered  that  the  principal  male  char- 
acter bore  the  name  of  “Capt.  Mike  Ma- 
honey” and  the  boys  had  Ottawa’s  Mike 
all  steamed  up  over  the  idea  that  he  ap- 
peared in  the  picture — and  didn’t  know  it. 
Mike  decided  to  see  for  himself  and  then 
issued  a statement  to  the  effect  that  the 
similarity  of  names  was  merely  coinci- 
dental. “Sure,  I never  took  a drink  in  my 
life,”  he  added,  quite  soberly. 

A1  Sedgwick,  manager  of  the  Toronto 
Belsize,  was  passing  out  cigars  at  civic  elec- 
tion time  but  denied  vigorously  that  he 
was  running  for  office,  declaring  that  he 
was  only  distributing  a bit  of  New  Year’s 
cheer  . . . Leopold  Friedman,  a director, 
presided  at  the  annual  meeting  of  Marcus 
Loew’s  Theatres,  Ltd.,  Toronto,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  other  officers  and  told  sharehold- 
ers that  business  at  Toronto  Loew’s  con- 
tinued excellent.  Satisfaction  was  the  key- 
note of  the  gathering,  with  all  reports  be- 
ing adopted  and  directors  re-elected  with- 
out opposition. 


Sprague  Brothers  Open 
New  St.  George  House 

St.  George,  N.  B. — L.  A.  and  A.  C. 
Sprague  recently  opened  their  new  400- 
seat  Capitol  here  which  is  considered  one 
of  the  finest  theatres  in  the  Maritime 
Provinces. 

The  Sprague  brothers  are  also  interested 
in  the  Gaiety,  Fairville,  and  the  Mayfair, 
Deer  Island,  and  they  operate  the  Maritime 
Theatre  Equipment  Co.  in  St.  John. 


New  Year's  Bonus 

Ottawa— Harry  O’Regan,  in  charge  of 
the  Francais,  provided  a special  “bonus” 
to  employes  of  the  theatre  when  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  New  Year’s  Eve  show  were 
distributed  among  the  members  of  the 
staff. 


Consider  Theatre  Proposal 

Zeballos,  B.  C. — Local  businessmen  have 
under  consideration  a proposal  to  provide 
a theatre  for  Zeballos.  The  town  has 
been  theatreless  since  last  July  when  its 
only  showhouse  was  destroyed  by  fire. 


Toronto  — The  resignation  of  John 
Grierson  of  London,  England,  as  Canadian 
film  commissioner  of  the  National  Film 
Board  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  de- 
partment of  trade  and  commerce,  has 
started  gossip  in  Canadian  film  trade  cir- 
cles with  respect  to  the  choice  of  succes- 
sor. The  consensus  is  that  Col.  John  A. 
Cooper,  chairman  of  the  board  of  the  Mo- 
tion Pictures  Distributors  of  Canada,  is  the 
most  qualified  executive  official  for  the 
post  and  would  be  the  logical  choice  in 
view  of  the  declaration  by  Grierson  that 
the  National  Film  Board  should  be  con- 
ducted by  Canadians. 


WINNIPEG 

JJELMER  NELS  JERNBERG,  one  of  the 
best  known  and  best  liked  showmen  of 
this  city,  died  last  week.  He  had  been  an 
exhibitor  in  Winnipeg  for  more  than  25 
years.  In  the  course  of  his  career,  he 
operated  the  Palace,  then  managed  for  the 
Allens  the  present  Rio  and  Metropolitan 
houses.  In  later  years  he  had  run  the  Rio, 
retiring  from  this  position  about  a year 
ago.  Deepest  sympathy  is  expressed  by 
film  circles  here  to  Jernberg’s  survivors, 
his  wife  and  two  daughters. 

J.  Miles,  president  of  Western  Theatres, 
Ltd.,  entertained  his  many  friends  and  as- 
sociates at  a New  Year’s  party  staged  in 
the  grand  manner.  Gifts,  tokens  and  re- 
freshments were  the  order  of  the  day  at  an 
event  thoroughly  enjoyed  by  all  . . . E.  A. 
Zorn,  popular  district  manager  for  F-P, 
was  too  busy  over  the  holidays  to  partici- 
pate in  the  festivities  of  the  season.  Zorn 
was  kept  busy  running  between  one  packed 
house  and  another.  But  this  type  of  ac- 
tivity seemed  to  be  just  the  kind  he  needed 
to  make  him  completely  contented. 

Grand  National  announces  that  arrange- 
ments have  been  completed  in  all  key 
cities  of  the  west  for  the  opening  of  “Mein 
Kampf,”  described  as  Hitler’s  book  of  doom 
. . . Packed  houses  in  all  city  theatres 
ushered  in  the  New  Year’s.  The  weather 
broke  just  right  and  holiday  business 
topped  all  records  . . . With  lavish  news- 
paper ads  pepping  up  the  dailies,  old  tim- 
ers are  commenting  that  the  film  business 
is  beginning  to  look  again  the  way  it  did 
in  “the  good  old  days.” 

Don  Gauld,  in  addition  to  running  his 
popular  “sneak”  previews  at  the  Uptown, 
has  been  arranging  some  very  fine  cam- 
paigns for  his  houses.  And  they  are  paying 
off  well  at  the  boxoffice  . . . “Thief  of 
Bagdad”  has  been  doing  very  well  at  Henry 
Morton’s  Garrick  where  it  is  being  held 
over  for  a second  week  . . . “Laugh  It  Off,” 
the  British  comedy  hit  which  did  well  at 
the  Tivoli  recently,  is  being  rebooked  in  the 
city. 

Clair  Fallis,  recently  of  Rainy  River, 
has  taken  over  the  Paris  in  St.  Boniface 
. . . D.  B.  Roberts  of  Brandon  remem- 
bered his  many  friends  during  the  holiday 
season  . . . Mrs.  S.  Rosenblatt,  wife  of 
Western  Theatres’  supervisor,  is  leaving 
for  the  south  on  a holiday  and  health  trip. 


68 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


MONTREAL 


Operators'  School 
Opened  in  Ontario 

Toronto — The  projectionists  school  was 
formally  opened  January  6 by  the  Ontario 
government  under  the  direction  of  O.  J. 
Silverthorne,  director  of  the  theatres  and 
cinematographs  branch  of  the  treasury  de- 
partment, who  also  is  chairman  of  the  On- 
tario board  of  moving  picture  censors.  An- 
nouncement was  made  that  the  one  school 
would  be  operated  in  Toronto  for  the  whole 
Province,  no  arrangement  having  been 
made  for  the  establishment  of  branches  in 
other  Ontario  centers.  Two  instructors 
have  been  appointed,  these  being  M.  El- 
liott and  H.  Gray,  these  having  been  of- 
ficials of  the  branch  for  some  years. 

Under  the  new  regulations,  a candidate 
for  an  operator’s  license  will  be  granted  an 
apprentice  card  immediately  upon  accept- 
ance of  his  registration  and  he  will  be 
able  to  work  as  an  assistant  in  a booth 
during  the  12  months  of  the  course,  upon 
the  conclusion  of  which  he  will  be  given 
final  tests  which  will  qualify  him  for  a li- 
cense. An  installment  plan  has  been 
adopted  for  the  payment  of  the  $100  fee 
which  is  required  for  the  course.  This  can 
be  paid  in  quarterly  amounts  of  $25  in  ad- 
vance. After  the  first  group  of  candidates 
has  been  accepted,  future  applications  must 
be  filed  with  the  registrar  15  days  in  ad- 
vance of  the  opening  of  further  courses, 
this  requirement  having  been  waived  for 
the  first  school. 

Opposed  by  Labor 

The  school  has  been  opened  despite  the 
protests  of  organized  labor  on  the  ground 
that  there  are  a sufficient  number  of  ex- 
perienced operators  holding  government 
qualifications  for  the  theatres  in  operation 
in  Ontario  and  that  a majority  of  the  pro- 
jectionists are  beyond  the  age  of  40  years, 
hence  are  not  likely  to  be  required  for 
army  service.  It  has  been  stated  that  ap- 
proximately 65  per  cent  of  the  operators 
are  veterans  of  the  First  Great  War. 

According  to  W.  P.  Covert  of  the  Toronto 
Operators’  Local,  a vice-president  of  the 
IATSE,  the  school  move  is  classed  as  an 
attack  upon  the  union  and  organized  labor 
would  continue  to  fight  the  operation  of 
the  government  class.  Covert  argued  that 
26  qualified  projectionists  were  unemployed 
in  Toronto  alone,  and  15  apprentices  now 
were  ready  for  union  cards.  The  govern- 
ment had  moved  to  increase  the  number 
of  qualified  men,  he  contended,  intensify- 
ing competition  for  positions,  thus  forcing 
wages  down. 

Of  importance  in  the  new  situation  is 
that  the  union’s  contract  with  Toronto 
theatres  is  scheduled  to  expire  next  August, 
and  labor  leaders  say  there  is  possibility  of 
an  excess  of  qualified  projectionists  in  the 
coming  months. 


Foils  Safe  Crackers 

Toronto — The  York  was  the  scene  of  a 
safe-cracking  attempt  which  was  foiled 
when  the  theatre’s  burglar  alarm  was  set 
off,  the  signal  being  sent  into  a nearby 
station.  Two  policemen  reached  the  thea- 
tre just  as  two  men  raced  from  the  rear  of 
the  building  and  escaped  in  the  darkness. 
The  thieves  gained  entrance  to  the  thea- 
tre through  a door  in  the  roof. 


yNLIKE  other  Canadian  provinces,  Que- 
bec, owing  to  its  predominantly 
French-Canadian  and  Roman  Catholic 
population,  keeps  up  its  New  Year  cele- 
brations until  Twelfth  Night,  January  6, 
with  the  result  that  Montreal  and  other 
centers  are  more  or  less  on  holiday  for  a 
fortnight  from  Christmas  Eve.  The  effect 
on  film  grosses  varies.  So  many  parties  are 
held  in  private  French-Canadian  homes 
that  in  suburban  areas,  at  least,  the  thea- 
tres suffer  in  attendance.  On  St.  Catherine 
St.,  where  the  patrons  are  more  cosmopoli- 
tan, the  size  of  the  audience  is,  as  at  other 
times,  a gauge  of  the  popularity  of  the 
pictures  shown. 

On  Filmrow  there  is  a fixed  determina- 
tion to  put  the  holiday  feeling  away  and 
get  hack  to  work  seriously,  and  there  is  a 
current  of  optimism  around  that  bodes 
well  for  the  coming  season. 

New  Year’s  Eve  performances  were  more 
numerous  this  year  than  ever  before  and 
managers  report  attendance  records  in 
both  first  run  and  neighborhood  houses. 
That  there  is  more  money  around  than  has 
been  the  case  for  a few  years  was  evident 
by  the  patronage  at  the  more  expensive 
shows.  It  was  observed,  however,  that  mer- 
riment was  slightly  restrained,  owing  to 
the  shadow  of  war  and  impending  high 
taxation. 

One  of  the  most  ambitious  programs  ar- 
ranged by  Canadian  Broadcasting  Corp. 
for  release  from  Montreal  was  a highlight 
of  the  Christmas  radio  season.  Employing 
a 60 -piece  orchestra  and  an  equal  num- 
ber of  choral  voices,  the  CBC  arranged  for 


J^UE  TO  extremely  mild  weather,  all  local 
theatres  enjoyed  capacity  business  over 
the  New  Year  holidays,  particularly  on 
their  special  New  Year’s  Eve  shows  . . . 
Alex  Gough  of  Hedley  was  in  Vancouver 
for  the  holidays  as  well  as  for  some  dental 
work. 

Stan  Kennedy  of  Esquimau  was  in  town 
arranging  bookings  for  his  Cadet  Theatre 
. . . C.  A.  Towriss  of  the  Capitol,  Prince- 
ton, is  closing  his  theatre  for  a month 
while  he  enjoys  a much  needed  rest  . . . 
Herb  Jorgenson  of  Rock  Bay  was  around 
the  Film  Building  visiting  his  many 
friends. 

Smiling  Ruth  Wynn  busily  arranging  for 
a short  holiday  in  Victoria  . . . Charlie 
Mitchell,  formerly  secretary  of  the  Com- 
munity Club  at  Bralome  Mines,  was  in- 
volved in  a minor  automobile  accident 
while  vacationing  in  the  Bridge  River 
Valley. 

Myron  C.  McLeod  of  Powell  River  mak- 
one  of  his  flying  visits  to  the  city  . . . While 
Len  Plottel  of  Columbia  is  away  on  his 
one  month’s  training  period.  Jack  Droy 
will  take  over  his  duties. 


the  use  of  Associated  Screen  Studio  fa- 
cilities in  order  to  accommodate  the  large 
group  of  artists.  “The  Children’s  Crusade” 
was  broadcast  under  the  baton  of  J.  J. 
Gagnier  from  the  Montreal  studios. 

The  much-traveled  staff  of  Associated 
Screen  News  enjoyed  the  holiday  recess, 
but  some  were  not  allowed  even  that  re- 
pose. Ross  Beesley,  cameraman,  left  his 
family  fireside  Christmas  Day  to  film  the 
arrival  of  Jimmy  Mattern  and  the  Lock- 
heed-Vega  employes’  Yuletide  gift  to  the 
British  people — a Hudson  bomber  which 
Mattern  flew  to  St.  Hubert  from  the  Cali- 
fornia factory  . . . Jack  Chisholm  returned 
to  Montreal  immediately  after  Christmas 
which  he  spent  in  Toronto  and  resumed 
work  on  a commercial  production. 

His  Excellency,  the  Governor-General 
(The  Earl  of  Athlone)  appeared  on  thea- 
tre screens  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pa- 
cific to  express  New  Year  greetings  to  the 
people  of  the  Dominion.  As  recorded  by 
Associated  Screen  News  in  an  exclusive  in- 
terview, His  Excellency  said:  “We  live  in 
times  of  great  stress  and  anxiety.  The  dark 
tunnel  of  war  stretches  far  ahead,  and  the 
end  is  not  yet  in  sight.  But  by  sacrifice 
freely  given,  and  by  the  exercise  of  un- 
shakeable  determination  we  shall  win 
through  to  the  light  of  peace  and  security. 
Whatever  the  New  Year  may  hold  in  store 
for  us,  I feel  sure  that  the  people  of  Can- 
ada will  face  it  with  unflinching  courage, 
and  I am  confident  that,  strong  in  the 
faith  of  our  fathers,  we  shall  rid  the  world 
of  this  foul  fiend  that  menaces  us,  and  be- 
queath to  our  children  that  freedom  of 
thought  and  action  on  which  our  great 
Empire  has  been  built.” 


Ottawa  Regent  Observes 
Its  25th  Anniversary 

Ottawa — The  Regent,  located  on  the 
main  intersection  of  Ottawa,  is  celebrat- 
ing the  25th  anniversary  of  its  opening, 
having  been  opened  by  Ken  Finlay  as  man- 
ager. Later  managers  included  James  Mox- 
ley,  Oral  Cloakey  who  delighted  to  play 
the  xylophone  and  finally  went  west  to 
sell  oil  stock;  Ray  Tubman  and,  recently, 
Angelo  Stevens. 

The  Regent  was  built  as  a local  indepen- 
dent house,  then  became  a unit  of  the  Al- 
len chain  and  eventually  passed  to  the 
control  of  Famous  Players  Canadian  Corp. 
For  years  it  featured  a talented  orchestra 
for  the  silent  films  but  the  orchestra  never 
fitted  its  music  to  the  screen  theme  and 
played  piece  after  piece  in  their  entirety 
regardless  of  the  type  of  picture.  Way 
back  in  the  past,  this  writer  once  asked  the 
manager  why  he  did  not  have  the  orchestra 
follow  the  cue  sheet  for  the  atmospheric 
music  but  the  manager  did  not  know  what 
a cue  sheet  was. 


Star  to  Frank  Shepherd 

Armstrong,  B.  C. — The  local  Star  has 
been  purchased  by  Frank  Shepherd,  who 
also  operates  the  Majestic  at  Biggar,  Sask. 
His  son,  Joseph  Shepherd,  will  be  in  charge 
of  the  Biggar  house. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  11,  1941 


69 


Welfare  Council  Finds 
Current  Film  Worthy 


Ottawa — The  Canadian  Welfare  Coun- 
cil has  issued  its  official  list  of  recom- 
mendations, with  comment,  on  current  fea- 
tures and  shorts  for  December  for  the 
guidance  of  educational,  women’s,  patriotic 
and  community  organizations  throughout 
the  Dominion,  as  follows: 

“A  Little  Bit  of  Heaven” — Excellent! 
This  is  a continuation  of  the  story  of 
“The  Underpup”  with  Gloria  Jean  as 
“Midge.”  Lovely  songs,  hilarious  comedy 
and  a pleasant  romance.  The  family. 

‘‘Nobody’s  Children” — This  story  is  based 
on  a regular  broadcast  series  conducted 
on  behalf  of  the  Children’s  Home  Find- 
ing Society  of  Los  Angeles.  For  juveniles. 

‘‘Down  Argentine  Way” — A good  musical 
romance,  filmed  in  Technicolor.  The 
story  really  serves  as  a framework  for 
the  musical  numbers.  The  music  and 
dancing  are  of  the  rhumba  and  conga 
type,  now  so  popular.  The  family. 

‘‘Arise,  My  Love” — A really  charming 
picture  from  every  point  of  view.  The  act- 
ing is  excellent  and  there  is  a touch  of 
originality  in  the  foreign  correspondent 
theme  and  the  love  story.  The  family. 

‘‘Third  Finger,  Left  Hand”  — A gay, 
sparkling  comedy,  lavishly  produced.  Al- 
though the  outcome  is  obvious,  it  does  not 
detract  from  one’s  enjoyment  of  the  pic- 
ture. The  family. 

“The  Great  Dictator ” — With  Charlie 
Chaplin  in  the  stellar  role,  this  picture  will 
meet  with  varying  opinions  because,  al- 
though in  part  a comedy,  it  is  rather  more 
dramatic  in  tone.  It  is  a propaganda 
picture,  depicting  the  cruel  treatment  that 
the  Jews  are  receiving  in  Germany.  Ado- 
lescents and  adults. 

“A  Dispatch  From  Reuter’s ” — This  story 
depicts  the  establishment  of  the  Reuters 
News  Service  System.  There  is  a romance 
and  some  slight  comedy  but  the  picture 
will  not  probably  appeal  to  all  classes.  The 
family. 

“Escape”  — Very  good  entertainment, 
adapted  from  the  best  seller  by  Ethel 
Vance.  Although  sombre  in  tone,  it  is 
gripping  and  is  definitely  anti-Nazi.  Ma- 
ture. 

“Thief  of  Bagdad” — The  highest  pitch 
yet  attained  as  a combination  of  the  gor- 
geous imagination  of  Arabian  Nights  and 
magnificence  of  color.  “The  Thief”  be- 
longs in  that  unforgetable  class.  A picture 
everyone  should  see. 

“Blackout” — A very  good  espionage 
meledrama,  with  the  British  naval  block- 
ade as  part  of  the  action  and  with  a port 
where  foreign  ships  are  examined  as  part 
of  the  background.  Most  of  the  action 
unfolds  in  London  during  a blackout.  The 
family. 

“The  Long  Voyage  Home” — A powerful 
picture,  directed  with  skill  and  artistry. 
There  is  no  romance  and  no  women  in 
the  cast  but  it  should  appeal  to  class 
audiences.  The  photography  is  exception- 
al. The  plot  was  adapted  from  one-act 
plays  by  Eugene  O’Neill.  Adolescents  and 
adults. 

“Little  Nellie  Kelly” — A very  good  ro- 
mantic comedy,  with  considerable  human 
interest  and  fist  action.  Judy  Garland 
sings  several  Irish  sons  and  the  fine  bari- 
tone voice  of  Douglas  McPhail,  who  sang 
in  “Babes  in  Arms,”  is  also  heard.  The 
family. 

“The  World  in  Flames” — An  excellent 
film  reviewing  world  events  for  the  past 
10  years — depression,  the  invasion  of  Man- 
churia and  of  Ethiopia,  rise  of  the  Nazi 
war  machine,  the  fall  of  Norway  and  the 


(<  ^ 

They're  Worse  Than 
The  Peanut  Eaters 

Regina — Latest  headache  for  theatre 
managers  and  patrons  are  college  girls 
who  wear  bells  on  their  shoes.  At  the 
Capitol  they  are  asked  to  either  remove 
the  bells  or  tuck  them  down  into  their 
ankle  sox  before  entering  the  theatre. 
Noise  of  the  bells  during  shows  is  re- 
ported to  be  worse  than  that  made  by 
peanut  eaters. 

1 —>J 

Low  Countries,  the  thrilling  withdrawal 
from  Dunkirk  and  the  present  Battle  of 
Britain.  Photographed  and  narrated  by 
correspondents  who  saw  it  happen,  ending 
in  a powerful  plea  for  American  prepared- 
ness. Recommended  for  schools  and  li- 
braries. 

“Britain’s  R.  A.  F.” — No  story  of  legend 
can  outmatch  the  daily  messages  that 
come  to  us  of  the  heroism,  the  swift- 
working intelligence  and  indomitable 
courage  that  flies  over  England  day  and 
night  to  equal  and  finally  overwhelm  the 
forces  that  would  enslave  her  greatest 
treasure — freedom.  The  family. 

“The  Eyes  of  the  Navy” — A thrilling  pic- 
turization  of  the  kind  of  men  and  the 
huge  industry  going  into  the  making  of 
American  aviators.  The  U.  S.  Navy  lent 
its  aid  at  Pensacola  and  San  Diego,  so 
the  picture  is  not  only  dramatic  but  true 
to  fact.  The  family. 

“Landing  of  the  Pilgrims” — An  amus- 
ing color  cartoon  treating  the  voyage  of 
the  Mayflower  and  the  landing  of  its  pas- 
sengers in  burlesque  fashion.  The  family. 

Upholds  Ban  on  Pinball 
Machines  in  Ontario 

Ottawa — The  Ontario  appeal  court  has 
handed  down  a judgment  of  far-reaching 
effect  in  confirming  the  by-law  of  the  City 
of  Ottawa  which  bans  the  operation  of  pin- 
ball machines  or  other  gambling  devices  in 
business  premises  for  which  civic  licenses 
are  issued  for  routine  business  purposes. 
One  penalty  for  the  presence  of  a gambling 
machine  in  a store  or  restaurant  will  be 
the  cancellation  of  the  business  license 
while  the  machine  itself  will  be  confiscated. 

Ottawa  police  have  issued  a warning 
that  a drive  will  be  launched  immediately 
to  rid  the  city  of  all  machines  and  the 
suggestion  has  been  thrown  out  that  the 
players  can  seek  other  forms  of  amuse- 
ment. The  decision  can  be  made  applic- 
able to  all  other  municipalities  in  Ontario, 
provided  a similar  by-law  is  enacted  by 
the  local  council. 


Now  for  the  Nazis 

Toronto — Ken  Tyler,  the  “crash”  pilot 
of  the  films,  has  enlisted  in  the  Royal 
Canadian  Air  Force  with  the  object  of  tak- 
ing a crack  at  the  Nazis  to  round  out  a 
busy  career  during  which  he  has  cracked 
up  142  planes  for  pictures  in  production 
in  Hollywood,  fought  with  the  Loyalist  air- 
force in  Spain  and  later  flew  for  the 
Chinese  against  the  Jap  invaders. 


Gets  Projection  Equipment 

Ottawa — The  Rialto  of  Ottawa,  neigh- 
borhood house  of  550  seats,  has  been  pro- 
vided with  new  projection  lighting  equip- 
ment, according  to  A.  Levinson,  proprietor. 


SASI’WAi 

QUTSTANDING  development  in  1940  in- 
sofar as  Saskatoon  theatremen  are 
concerned,  was  the  opening  there  of  the 
No.  4 Service  Flying  Training  School  in 
September.  It  has  a personnel  of  800  and 
is  slowly  expanding.  The  contracts  for 
the  buildings  totaled  approximately  $1,- 
000,000.  Payroll  of  the  school,  plus  that 
of  approximately  300  troops  quartered  at 
the  Fair  Grounds,  is  largely  spent  in  the 
city,  with  theatres  getting  a good  share  of 
the  coin.  Saskatoon  also  draws  a large 
volume  of  business  from  Dundurn  Camp, 
with  its  establishment  of  approximately 
2,000  troops. 

Regina  payrolls,  all  services  included, 
showed  an  average  increase  of  five  per 
cent  in  1940  as  compared  to  1939,  accord- 
ing to  a statistical  survey  on  increased 
buying  power  in  Regina.  Total  industrial 
volume  here  is  up  eight  per  cent.  Compared 
to  an  18  and  a half  million  dollar  payroll 
in  1939,  Regina  workers  pocketed  approxi- 
mately $20,000,000  in  1940,  the  survey 
shows.  This  excludes  the  incomes  derived 
from  military  activity,  figured  at  $125,000 
a month  at  the  present  time.  There  were 
approximately  200  more  people  employed 
in  the  city  in  1940  than  in  1939,  a total  of 
2,300  in  industrial  production. 

William  Popham  donated  his  Roxy  at 
Saskatoon  and  his  staff  its  services,  for  a 
midnight  showing  of  “You  Can’t  Fool  Your 
Wife”  on  a recent  Sunday  evening,  pro- 
ceeds going  to  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London’s 
fund  for  distressed  air  raid  victims.  Re- 
ceipts totaled  $128  . . . Capitol  in  Saska- 
toon is  boasting  a newly  painted  front  . . . 
Families  on  relief  work  were  guests  of  the 
management  of  the  Strand,  Prince  Albert, 
at  two  special  shows. 

A Sunday  concert  at  the  Roxy,  Yorkton, 
aided  the  Enterprise  Empty  Stocking  Fund 
to  the  tune  of  $27.25  . . . Courtesy  of  the 
management  of  the  Capitol,  Saskatoon, 
enabled  children  of  army  and  air  force 
men  overseas  to  attend  theatre  parties  on 
two  days  recently  as  guests  of  the  Officers’ 
Wives  Auxiliary  and  the  Rotary  Club  . . . 
Bill  Ellison,  former  usher  at  the  Met,  Re- 
gina, was  guest  of  honor  at  the  staff’s 
Christmas  party  prior  to  leaving  Regina 
with  the  navy.  He  was  presented  with  a 
traveling  set. 

H.  A.  Bercovich,  manager  of  the  Rex, 
Regina,  played  host  to  his  staff  at  its  an- 
nual Christmas  party  and,  in  turn,  was 
presented  with  a humidor  and  two  pipes 
. . . Children  of  Quill  Lake  and  district 
were  guests  of  businessmen  of  the  town  at 
a free  picture  show  . . . George  Fraser, 
New  York,  who  was  in  Regina  to  publicize 
the  world  premiere  of  “North  West 
Mounted  Police,”  is  back  in  Canada  again, 
this  time  at  Winnipeg  where  he’s  working 
with  Jack  Fitzgibbons  jr.  on  publicity  for 
20th-Fox’s  “Hudson’s  Bay”  . . . Frank 
Sheppard,  manager  of  the  Majestic,  Big- 
gar,  has  moved  to  Armstrong.  B.  C.,  where 
he  is  managing  the  Star. 


Many  Schools  Using  Films 

Saskatoon — Motion  pictures  are  now  be- 
ing used  extensively  for  instructional  work 
in  local  public  schools.  All  have  projec- 
tors and  the  school  board  owns  several 
thousand  dollars  worth  of  film. 


70 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


Practical  Ideas  by  Practical  Showmen 
On  Merchandising  the  Motion  Picture 


SELLinG  SEATS 


'Band'  Campaign  Wins 
Gallagher  an  Award 

New  York — M-G-M  has  awarded  an 
Honor  Roll  Button  to  E.  French  Gallag- 
her, manager  of  the  Fox  Illinois  Theatre, 
Centralia,  111.,  for  his  outstanding  cam- 
paign for  “Strike  Up  the  Band.” 

Highlights  of  the  campaign  follow: 

Street  parade  two  days  prior  to  open- 
ing, using  local  high  school  band,  with  two 
large  banners  selling  the  picture  promi- 
nently displayed.  The  same  band  paraded 
between  halves  of  a football  game  day  be- 
fore opening.  Dog  awarded  to  holder  of 
lucky  number  among  several  thousand 
cards  which  were  distributed.  Every 
merchant  in  downtown  section  carried  spe- 
cial window  display  on  the  film.  There  was 
also  a display  on  the  City  Hall  lawn,  flood- 
lighted at  night.  Ten  days  in  advance  a 
24-sheet  panel  was  posted  on  all  main 
highways  leading  to  the  city.  Also,  100 
block  2-sheets  and  100  jumbo  cards. 
Thirty-five  hundred  exchange  heralds  were 
distributed. 

Careful  Drivers'  Award 
Profitable  Repeater 

Albany,  N.  Y. — In  a tieup  with  the  local 
daily,  Jules  Curley,  Strand  manager, 
awarded  passes  to  see  “Four  Mothers”  to 
motorists  picked  as  safe  drivers  by  a re- 
porter stationed  by  the  paper  downtown. 
The  passes  were  awarded  in  the  name  of 
the  Lane  Sisters,  and  the  drivers  who 
earned  them  were  listed  in  the  paper. 


Mail  to  the  Irish 

Columbus,  Ohio — John  Hardgrove,  as- 
sistant manager  of  the  Ohio,  persuaded 
the  K.  of  C.  Council  to  recommend  “Little 
Nellie  Kelly”  on  their  regular  mailing 
cards.  A green  ink  mimeographed  sheet, 
with  a drawing  of  Judy  Garland  cen- 
tered in  a shamrock  and  carrying  picture 
copy,  was  sent  to  750  members  of  Irish 
organizations. 

(r  ...  ft 

Hoge  Goes  " Verboten " 

On  Anti-Nazi  Film 

"Notice  to  all  Nazi  sympathizers.  I 
hereby  strictly  forbid  all  my  followers  to 
see  the  film  ‘Pastor  Hall'  to  be  shown  at 
the  Dickinson,  Thursday,  Friday  and 
Saturday,  December  2G,  27,  28.  Signed, 
Adolf  Hitler."  The  foregoing  notice,  in- 
serted as  a 2x2  inch  boxed  ad  in  the 
Olathe,  Kansas  newspaper,  "caused  more 
comment  and  brought  more  cash  in  than 
anything  in  a long  time,"  reports  Charles 
Hoge,  manager  of  the  Dickinson  Theatre. 

^ i J 


MOTION 


PICTURE 

COMMITTEE 

Coormafincf joi 

NATIONAL 

DEFENSE 


THEATRES 

DIVISION 


For  the  Boxoffice — 


From  headquarters  at  321  W.  44 th  St., 
New  York,  the  Theatre  Division  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Committee  cooperating 
for  national  defense  is  mailing  out 
these  plaques  for  theatre  display. 
Joseph  Bernhard,  Warner  Theatres 
general  manager,  is  chairman  of  the 
division.  A plaque  will  be  sent  to  each 
theatre  that  joins  in  the  industry’s 
defense  effort. 


"Road  Show"  Humor  Test 
Stunt  Detailed  by  UA 

New  York — The  success  achieved  in 
selling  “Road  Show”  to  Pittsburgh  via  the 
“Get  Measured  for  Pleasure”  angle,  in- 
volving the  taking  of  tests  by  the  public  to 
determine  the  type  of  humor  their  per- 
sonality was  keyed  to,  has  led  UA  to  issue 
a supplementary  to  their  press  sheet  on 
“Road  Show.” 

This  supplement  details  the  campaign 
as  put  on  in  Pittsburgh,  the  ads  used,  the 
truck  ballyhoo  and  the  store  tieup.  The 
UA  exploitation  department  rents  the 
Psychometer,  the  instrument  which  gauges 
one’s  sense  of  humor,  and  reports  that  in 
Pittsburgh  over  18,000  prospective  patrons 
were  analyzed. 


Tieups  for  "Kitty  Foyle" 

New  York — The  use  of  the  “Kitty  Foyle” 
serialization  by  the  Daily  Mirror  netted 
further  exploitation  for  the  Rivoli  when 
the  paper  bannered  its  trucks  calling  at- 
tention to  the  serial.  A lobby  poster  in  the 
theatre  referred  to  the  paper’s  use  of  the 
story,  and  a front  page  box  reciprocated. 


Your  Candy  Counter; 
How  to  Make  It  Pay 

Boston — A few  ideas  for  the  lobby  or 
foyer  candy  counter,  as  outlined  by  S.  L. 
Loew  jr„  head  of  the  Theatre  Candy  Com- 
pany locally: 

“Have  your  candy  display  in  a location 
close  to  the  line  of  traffic,  clearly  visible 
and  accessible. 

“Try  to  carry  a full  variety  of  candy  and 
avoid  duplications  of  the  same  type  of 
candy  where  possible. 

“Because  of  space  limitations,  the  items 
selected  for  sale  should,  in  addition  to  be- 
ing of  varying  types,  be  fast  sellers.  Deter- 
mine what  items  your  patrons  request. 

“The  items  should  be  full-weight,  na- 
tionally or  locally  known. 

“The  stand  should  be  as  attractively  ar- 
ranged as  possible  with  particular  atten- 
tion to  cleanliness.  Remove  bars  from 
box  where  possible  and  arrange  them  sym- 
metrically with  names  clearly  readable. 

Lauds  Open  Displays 

“Open  displays  encourage  added  sales. 
Personal  selection  of  items  by  your  pa- 
trons saves  attendant  time  as  against 
getting  out  the  bars  from  a closed  case. 

“An  attendant  at  the  stand  increases 
sales.  If  an  usher  makes  the  candy  sales, 
be  sure  he  is  near  the  stand.  Patrons  do 
not  buy  so  readily  when  they  have  to  look 
for  someone  to  pay  for  their  purchase. 

“Full  displays  increase  sales.  A partly 
full  case  has  a bad  appearance  and  con- 
veys the  impression  of  old,  left-over 
candy. 

“Advertise  your  candy  display.  The  ju- 
dicious and  continual  use  of  trailers  will 
stimulate  candy  sales.  Such  trailers  should 
feature  the  idea  of  ‘delicious,  nationally 
famous  candy  as  an  added  convenience  and 
source  of  enjoyment  while  watching  the 
show’.” 


Candy  to  Patrons 

Lincoln,  Neb. — Leading  restaurants  and 
hotels  distributed  bitter  sweet  chocolate 
tabs  to  all  patrons  as  part  of  the  “Bitter 
Sweet”  campaign  put  over  by  R.  R.  Huff- 
man, Lincoln  Theatre. 


“HARD-TO-GET-TO”  PEOPLE 
ARE  EASY  TO  GET  TO  BY 

Postal 

Telegraph 


CHARGES  FOR  TELEGRAMS 
'PHONED  IN  APPEAR  ON  YOUR 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


71 


SELLING  SEATS 


M HU  (G  G IE  T $ 


QN  Postal  Telegraph  blanks,  Earl  Podol- 
nick  imprinted  in  style  of  type  resembl- 
ing that  on  telegrams,  a message  addressed 
to  “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Theatre  Patrons,  State 
Theatre,  Austin,  Texas.”  The  message: 
“We  wish  to  advise  a ‘Dispatch  From  Reu- 
ter’s’ playing  at  the  State  Theatre,  Tues- 
day, Wednesday  and  Thursday.  Starring 
Edward  G.  Robinson — The  story  behind 
the  man  of  a million  headlines — Warner 
Brothers  Studio,  Hollywood,  Calif.”  This 
was  passed  out  as  a handbill. 

• 

Manager  Dave  Edwards  of  the  Rialto, 
Salt  Lake  City,  promoted  the  use  of  20 
portable  radios,  which  20  pretty  girls  car- 
ried to  choice  locations  downtown  and 
tuned  in  on  the  pre-arranged  lb-minute 
broadcast  for  ‘‘No,  No,  Nanette.”  The  stunt 
was  done  the  afternoon  before  Christmas 
Eve.  The  girls  wore  banners. 

• 

It  may  amount  to  nothing  more  than 
two-for-one  admissions,  but  the  novelty 
of  advertising  a free  admission  to  anyone 
who  would  sit  through  “The  House  of 
Seven  Gables”  made  the  Palace  Theatre’s 


ad  in  a Lubbock,  Texas,  newspaper,  at  the 
least,  unusual.  The  ad  offered  a Certifi- 
cate of  Bravery  entitling  to  a free  admis- 
sion any  one  who  would  sit  through  the 
entire  performance.  The  program  was 
made  part  of  a “Jinx  Prevue”  with  the 
show  starting  at  11:13  p.  m. 

• 

The  Lindsey  Theatre,  Lubbock,  Texas, 
put  a new  twist  into  a “Go  West”  news- 
paper advertisement  with  this  copy: 
“We’re  Just  Guessing  . . . but  we  believe 
that  the  average  American  family — Papa, 
Mama,  Brother  and  Sister — are  wanting  to 
see  a movie  with  some  real  old-fashioned 
(pardon  the  expression)  Belly-Laughs!” 

• 

Eddie  Moore  of  the  Strand  at  York,  Pa., 
put  his  cashiers  on  the  telephone  to  call 
various  male  clubs  with  the  startling  mes- 
sage that  “there  are  ‘Too  Many  Girls’  at 
48  N.  George  Street.”  (The  theatre’s  ad- 
dress). The  cashiers  also  called  drug 
stores,  hotel  clerks,  offices,  and  whenever 
a man  answered  the  phone,  they  said,  “If 
you  have  a gentleman  friend,  there  are 
'Too  Many  Girls’  at  48  N.  George  Street.” 


Store  Treasure  Hunt  Put 
On  tor  " Hullabaloo " 

Reading,  Pa. — One  segment  of  a highly 
comprehensive  campaign  put  on  for  “Hul- 
labaloo” at  Loew’s  Colonial  here  by  Man- 
ager George  Peters  and  Paul  Kamey,  Metro 
exploiteer,  consisted  of  a “Store  Treasure 
Hunt”  conducted  at  the  W.  T.  Grant  store. 

Twenty  stills  from  previous  Frank  Mor- 
gan films  were  mounted  on  heavy  card- 
board and  placed  in  prominent  spots  above 
20  different  counters  in  the  store.  Each 
still  carried  copy  plugging  the  picture, 
theatre  and  playdate,  and  bore  a number 
at  the  top  and  bottom. 

Salesgirls  distributed  entry  blanks  to 
customers.  The  idea  was  for  customers  to 
identify  the  pictures  from  which  the  stills 
were  taken  and  write  the  names  in  the 
spaces  provided  on  the  entry  blanks.  Guest 
tickets  went  for  the  nearest  correct  solu- 
tions. A large  receptacle  carrying  theatre 
copy  was  placed  at  the  front  of  the  store 
for  customers  to  file  their  entries. 

Wall  paper  heralds,  which  had  not  been 
used  for  a long  time  in  Reading,  were  im- 
printed: “They’re  tearing  the  wall  paper 
off  the  walls  laughing  at  Frank  Morgan’s 
imitations  at  the  Colonial.” 


Wedding  for  " Nanette " 

Philadelphia — A wedding  on  board  a 
plane  was  arranged  by  Maurice  Gable  for 
“No,  No,  Nanette.”  The  wedding,  held  on 
the  13th,  similar  to  a scene  in  the  picture, 
was  broadcast  by  a Philadelphia  station. 


Screening  in  Street  Car 

Washington,  D.  C. — Metro  Publicist  Dan 
Terrell  screened  “Comrade  X”  for  the 
Washington  critics  in  a street  car,  pre- 
ceding its  run  at  the  Loew’s  Theatre. 


A Unique  Coop  Herald 
For  " Four  Mothers" 

Utica,  N.  Y— A unique  cooperative  her- 
ald was  distributed  by  Arnold  Stoltz  of 
the  Avon  Theatre  for  his  New  Year’s  Eve 
booking  of  “Four  Mothers.” 

A flat,  rectangular  piece  of  cotton  was 
wrapped  in  red  tissue  paper  and  attached 
to  the  back  of  an  ordinary  envelope.  On 
the  front  of  the  envelope  was  tied  a dimin- 
utive baby’s  milk  bottle,  made  of  celluloid. 

Two  holes  punched  in  the  envelope  per- 
mitted the  string  through  that  tied  the 
bottle.  The  envelope  itself  was  im- 
printed: “For  mothers  . . . don’t  give  baby 
a late  bottle  Tuesday!  See  reasons  inside.” 

Inside  the  envelope  was  the  herald,  a 
4^2x10  inch  strip  folded  to  fit.  Above  a 
scene  cut  from  the  picture,  it  read:  “Baby 
will  be  too  excited  after  its  Christmas  week 
. . . so  put  the  little  darling  to  bed  and 
take  dad  down  to  the  Avon  to  see,  etc.” 

The  lower  part  of  the  herald  carried  a 
message  from  the  cooperating  merchant,  a 
dealer  in  infants’  wear — which  may  ac- 
count for  the  strip  of  cotton. 

0 - ft 

Crying  Rooms, 

Please  Note 

Richland,  Iowa — This  works  in  a big 
way  for  the  Glen  Nordykes  who  operate 
the  Strand  Theatre:  The  Nordykes  keep 
on  hand  a fresh  stock  of  Graham  crack- 
ers at  the  theatre,  and  at  the  first  out- 
burst made  by  a squalling  infant  the 
nourishment  is  rushed  to  the  offender's 
quarters.  The  mother  is  grateful,  and  the 
baby,  “nine  out  of  ten  times/'  is  effec- 
tively silenced. 

—O 


Bally  in  Character 
For  a Horror  Duo 

Albany,  N.  Y.— A lobby  and  front 
crammed  with  displays  and  accessories, 
and  a thorough  advance  campaign,  made 
a special  horror  duo  booking  of  “The 
Mummy’s  Hand”  and  “Before  I Hang,”  a 
success  for  Edward  Selette,  manager  of 
the  Albany  Theatre. 

Preceding  the  booking,  stage  announce- 
ments were  made  three  weeks  in  advance, 
and  two  22x28s  were  spotted  at  the  en- 
trance, by  the  doorman,  two  weeks  in  ad- 
vance. 

One  week  before  the  duo  opened  two 
40x60s  were  put  up  in  the  lobby;  a com- 
bination trailer  was  used  on  the  screen; 
a slide  on  the  wall;  an  operating  table 
with  a wrapped  dummy  inside  the  en- 
trance; and  a first  aid  case  with  false 
teeth,  hair  dye  and  special  copy  adorned 
the  lobby.  Two  one  sheets  on  an  A-board 
were  put  on  the  sidewalk  three  days  in  ad- 
vance. 

During  the  run  of  the  pictures  the  en- 
tire front  under  the  marquee  was  all  in 
green  lights.  A special  front  was  lighted 
by  bunch  light  and  green  spots.  Light 
paper  skeletons  hung  under  the  marquee, 
illuminated  skeleton  masks  were  strung 
along  the  entrance  with  flashers,  and  a 
similar  mask  grinned  from  the  boxoffice 
window.  The  dummy  on  the  operating  table 
was  moved  from  the  lobby  to  the  sidewalk 
and  two  headless  dummies  stood  at  each 
side  of  the  boxoffice.  Green  flares  lit  the 
curb  at  night  and  all  the  staff  was  dressed 
in  nurses  and  internes’  uniforms. 

A Special  Spook  Show 
Makes  Record  Matinee 

Philadelphia — Record  Sunday  matinee 
business  was  garnered  by  Manager  Roland 
Haynes  of  the  Keystone  with  a special 
“Spooks-a-Poppin’  Show.”  Haynes,  in  ad- 
dition to  “Ghost  Breakers,”  booked  an 
older  thriller  and  two  spook  cartoons  and 
labeled  it  the  spook  show. 

Publicizing  the  event  was  a special  trailer 
with  chiller  effects  from  the  stage;  teaser 
cards  throughout  the  theatre,  lobby  dis- 
play a week  in  advance;  3,000  heralds  dis- 
tributed the  day  before  opening;  and  an- 
nouncements from  the  stage  on  the  Satur- 
day Kiddies  matinee. 

Wisconsin  Financial  Firm 
Ties  In  on  ' Boom  Town  Ad 

Sheboygan,  Wis. — A financial  house 
here,  handling  the  stock  of  a refining  com- 
pany, recently  advertised  the  run  of 
“Boom  Town”  at  the  local  Majestic  Thea- 
tre, tying  in  its  own  copy  in  the  three- 
column,  seven-inch  ad.  Copy  in  part,  read: 

“Don’t  miss  ‘Boom  Town’  a superb  hu- 
man interest  story  of  the  oil  industry.” 
Then  followed  theatre  and  playdate,  and 
the  name  of  the  refinery  and  the  broker- 
age firm.  A footnote  declared  the  ad  not 
an  offer  to  sell  or  a solicitation,  and  re- 
ferred interested  readers  to  the  company’s 
prospectus. 


72 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


THE  EXHIBITOR  HAS  HIS  SHU 


Columbia 

Blondie  Has  Servant  Trouble 
Poorest  draw  of  any  Blondie  picture.  Up 
to  the  high  average  of  past  Blondies,  but 
too  many  other  attractions  in  town  when 
I played  this.  Wed.,  Thurs.  Weather: 
Fair.  Admission:  20-15.  General  patron- 
age. Population:  2,600.  Capacity:  333. — 
Arthur  E.  Phifield,  Park,  So.  Berwick,  Me. 

Lone  Wolf  Meets  a Lady 

About  as  good  a program  picture  as 
you’ll  ever  get.  Excellent  work  by  Warren 
William  and  Eric  Blore.  Plenty  of  mystery 
and  comedy  that  sparkles.  Lobby  remarks 
of  patrons  indicated  100  per  cent  ap- 
proval. Very  good  at  the  B.  O.  Sat.,  Sun. 
Weather:  Fair.  Admission:  30-10.  Rural 
patronage.  Population:  1,200.  Capacity: 
300. — Allen  Banks,  Vogue,  Remsen,  la. 

Nobody's  Children 

A lukewarm  tear-jerker  with  Edith  Fel- 
lows. Just  fairish.  One  of  those  south 
ends  of  double  bills.  Wed.,  Thurs.  Weath- 
er: Fair.  Admission:  30-10.  Rural  patron- 
age. Population:  1,200.  Capacity:  300. — 
Allan  Banks,  Vogue,  Remsen,  la. 

Too  Many  Husbands 

Good  show,  played  a little  old.  Jean 
Arthur  plenty  good.  I can’t  understand 
why  Columbia  doesn’t  make  more  shows 
with  her.  Everyone  enjoyed  the  comedy  in 
this  one.  It  seemed  to  me  there  was  too 
much  about  one  thing.  Otherwise,  plenty 
good.  Business  good,  play  it.  Sun.,  Mon. 
Weather:  O.  K.  Admission:  22-10.  Rural- 
town  patronage.  Population:  650.  Ca- 
pacity: 408. — Jack  Story,  Mary  Agnes, 
Jamestown,  Ky. 

Paramount 

Typhoon 

Above  average  Sunday-Monday  business 
and  pleased  all.  Story  weak,  but  action 
in  final  scenes  of  tropical  typhoon  and 
drawing  power  of  Dorothy  Lamour,  puts 
picture  over  to  good  business.  Weather: 
Fair.  Admission:  20-15.  General  patron- 
age. Population:  2,600.  Capacity:  333. — 
Arthur  E.  Phifield,  Park,  So.  Berwick,  Me. 

Untamed 

Good  picture,  good  draw  with  several 
favorable  comments.  Play  on  your  best 
dates.  Sun.,  Mon.  Weather:  Fair.  Ad- 
mission: 20-15.  General  patronage.  Popu- 
lation: 2,600.  Capacity:  333. — Arthur  E. 
Phifield,  Park,  So.  Berwick,  Me. 

World  in  Flames 

Interesting  review  of  the  war  to  date 
and  events  leading  up  to  it.  Action  shots 
taken  from  newsreels.  Very  interesting  to 
the  thinking  class  of  people.  Played  to 
better  than  average  business.  Wed.,  Thurs. 
Weather:  Fair.  Admission:  30-10.  Rural 
patronage.  Population:  1,200.  Capacity: 
300. — Allan  Banks,  Vogue,  Remsen,  la. 

Republic 

Colorado 

Roy  Rogers  and  Gabby  Hayes  do  their 
bit  in  this  mildly  interesting  western. 


An  open  forum  for  exhibitor  com- 
ment. Please  address  communications 
and  requests  for  report  blanks  to  THE 
EXHIBITOR  HAS  HIS  SAY,  Boxof- 
fice,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


Audience  reaction  not  so  good.  One  tot 
said,  “It’s  just  like  the  others.”  That  hits 
it.  Just  another  western.  Business  good 
due  to  other  feature  on  the  program.  Fri., 
Sat.  Weather:  Fair.  Admission:  30-10. 
Rural  patronage.  Population:  1,200.  Ca- 
pacity: 300. — Allan  Banks,  Vogue,  Rem- 
sen, la. 

Hit  Parade  ol  1941 

A good  enough  show  but  for  some  rea- 
son Republic  pictures  do  not  hold  up  on 
Sunday  runs.  Quite  a little  below  average. 
Nevertheless,  a picture  of  the  good-to-ex- 
cellent  class  for  general  trade.  Sun.,  Mon., 
Tues.  Weather:  Fair.  Admission:  30-10. 
Rural  patronage.  Population:  1,200.  Ca- 
pacity: 300. — Allan  Banks,  Vogue,  Rem- 
sen, la. 

Melody  and  Moonlight 

Extremely  light.  Played  to  slightly  be- 
low average  business.  Pleased  the  major- 
ity. Billy  Gilbert  and  Vera  Vague  are  in 
a class  by  themselves.  Not  good  enough 
for  your  best  dates.  Sun.,  Mon.,  Tues. 
Weather:  Fair.  Admission:  30-10.  Rural 
patronage.  Population:  1,200.  Capacity: 
300. — Allan  Banks,  Vogue,  Remsen,  la. 

Ride,  Tenderfoot,  Ride 

Autry,  Burnette  and  that  cute  little 
trick,  Mary  Lee,  do  a real  job  in  this  pic- 
ture. Audience  reaction  dandy,  boxoffice 
simply  lovely.  What  a divine  feeling!  I’d 
like  to  have  it  oftener.  Played  on  a double 
bill,  but  I’m  afraid  nobody  noticed  the 
other  picture.  Fri.,  Sat.  Weather:  Snow. 
Admission:  30-10.  Rural  patronage.  Popu- 
lation: 1,200.  Capacity:  300. — Allan  Banks, 
Vogue,  Remsen,  la. 

RKO  Radio 

Villain  Still  Pursued  Her,  The 

A good  share  of  my  crowd  didn’t  catch 
on.  They  just  thought  it  was  poor  act- 
ing. A few  of  them  got  a tremendous  kick 
out  of  the  picture.  Played  on  a double  bill. 
Boxoffice  average.  Fri.,  Sat.  Weather: 
Fair.  Admission:  30-10.  Rural  patronage. 
Population:  1,200.  Capacity:  300. — Allan 
Banks,  Vogue,  Remsen,  la. 

20th  Century-Fox 

Maryland 

Average  Sunday-Monday  draw.  Seemed 
to  please  patrons.  Personally  thought  it 
a bit  draggy  in  places.  It  has  plenty  of 
action  in  last  reel  which  sends  them  out 
satisfied.  Weather:  Fair.  Admission:  20- 
15.  General  patronage.  Population:  2,600. 
Capacity:  333. — Arthur  E.  Phifield,  Park, 
So.  Berwick,  Me. 

Return  of  Frank  James 

No  extra  draw  here  on  Friday-Saturday 
date.  Picture  is  fine  and  pleases  all.  A 


bit  too  heavy  for  the  smaller  children. 
Weather:  Fair.  Admission:  20-15.  Gen- 
eral patronage.  Population:  2,600.  Ca- 
pacity: 333. — Arthur  E.  Phifield,  Park, 
So.  Berwick,  Me. 

Universal 

Bad  Man  From  Red  Butte 

Another  good  western  from  Universal. 
It  seems  all  my  western  fans  enjoy  Fuzzy 
Knight.  In  one  respect  it  is  “just  another 
western,”  but  they  always  gross  out  big 
at  the  boxoffice  and  that’s  what  counts. 
If  you  use  westerns,  don’t  pass  it  up.  Fri., 
Sat.  Weather:  Warm,  dry.  Admission:  22- 
10.  Rural-town  patronage.  Population: 
650.  Capacity:  408. — Jack  Story,  Maiy 
Agnes,  Jamestown,  Ky. 

Big  Guy 

Played  this  late.  Poor  business  and  no 
comments  from  patrons.  Just  another 
prison  picture.  Fri.,  Sat.  Weather:  Fair. 
Admission:  20-15.  General  patronage. 
Population:  2,600.  Capacity:  333. — Arthur 
E.  Phifield,  Park,  So.  Berwick,  Me. 

Give  Us  Wings 

The  fastest,  funniest  and  entertaining- 
est  picture  the  “Dead  End  Kids”  have  ever 
made.  It’s  rather  light  for  the  class  trade, 
but  the  family  trade  will  go  for  it  hook, 
line  and  sinker.  Played  Sunday  run  to 
good  business  in  bad  weather.  Admission: 
30-10.  Rural  patronage.  Population:  1,200. 
Capacity:  300. — Allan  Banks,  Vogue,  Rem- 
sen, la. 

Spring  Parade 

Well,  the  critics  said  wonderful.  I don’t, 
definitely.  A young  girl  falls  in  a hay  rack 
on  the  ground,  that  becomes  a load  of  hay. 
When  she  awakens,  she  has  ridden  58 
miles.  The  European  horses  must  really 
travel  or  else  she  was  awfully  tired  and 
slept  a couple  of  days.  I can’t  imagine 
a girl  disappearing  without  a search  be- 
ing made  for  her  either.  The  prize  boner 
was  the  composition  of  a waltz  with 
words,  written  on  a scrap  of  paper  by 
Robt.  Cummings.  It  took  him  just  a few 
minutes,  after  which  the  orchestra  played 
it  beautifully,  Deanna  sang  it  and  the 
orchestra  obligingly  changed  key  for  her. 
And  why  the  European  setting?  I say 
nuts  to  this  stuff.  Lousy  at  the  B.  O. 
Sun.,  Mon.,  Tues.  Weather:  Fair.  Ad- 
mission: 30-10.  Rural  patronage.  Popu- 
lation: 1,200.  Capacity:  300. — Allan  Banks, 
Vogue,  Remsen,  la. 

Warner  Bros . 

All  This,  and  Heaven  Too 

This  one  surprised  me  very  much.  I 
was  expecting  to  lose  money.  Everyone 
enjoyed  it.  I heard  some  say  it  was  too 
long  and  didn’t  end  just  right.  It  ran 
Thursday  night  in  competition  to  the 
Hallowe’en  parties  which  didn’t  hurt  me. 
It  is  not  exactly  a small  town  show;  how- 
ever, it  made  me  money.  Weather:  Cool, 
rainy.  Admission:  22-10.  Rural-town  pat- 
ronage. Population:  650.  Capacity:  408. 
— Jack  Story,  Mary  Agnes,  Jamestown,  Ky. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


73 


Date  at  side  of  column  is  week  ending.  Number  in  square  is  national  release  date.  Production  number  is  at  right. 
Running  time,  as  furnished  by  home  office  of  distributor,  follows  title.  As  local  conditions,  such  as  censorship, 
subject  this  to  change,  checkup  with  local  exchanges  is  recommended.  R — is  review  date.  PG — is  Picture  Guide 
>age  number.  Symbol  O indicates  BOXOFFICE  Blue  Ribbon  Award  Winner.  Symbol  & indicates  color  photography. 


[28]  Mystery  103 

Marked  Men  (70) 
Warren  Hull 

|l6l  Western  153 

Arizona  Gang 

Busters  (60) 

[30]  Western  158 

Billy  the  Kid  in 

Texas  (57) 

Bob  Steele 

|~5~1  Western  15*; 

Riders  of  Black 

Mountain  (60) 

Tim  McCoy 

P-R-C 

X «a.c  uuni 

John  Garfield 
Frances  Farmer 

R — -Aug.  31 

[§x]  Drama  WB401 

Sea  Hawk,  The 

(126) 

Errol  Flynn 

Brenda  Marshall 

R— July  27 

HU  Com.  Dr.  WB519 
Calling  All  Hus- 
bands (64) 

George  Tobias 

R — Sept.  21 

[14]  Comedy  FN554 
No  Time  for  Com- 

edy (93) 

James  Stewart 

Rosalind  Russell 

R — Sept.  14 

|2i|  Drama  WB506 

City  for  Conquest 

(106) 

James  Cagney 

Ann  Sheridan 

R — Sept.  14 

|~Uj  Drama  WB502 

Knute  Rockne,  All 

American  (98) 

Pat  O'Brien 

R — Oct.  12 

[12]  Comedy  FN559 

Father  Is  a Prince 

(56) 

Grant  Mitchell 

R— Nov.  9 

|X9|  Hist.  Dr.  WB511 

Dispatch  from  Reu- 

ters (90) 

Edw.  G.  Robinson 

R— Sept.  28 

HU  Com.  Dr.  FN561 

Tugboat  Annie 

Sails  Again  (77) 

Marjorie  Rambeau 

Alan  Hale 

R— Oct.  26 

|~2~|  Comedy  FN570 

Always  a Bride  (60) 

Rosemary  Lane 

R — Nov.  30 

|~9~|  Drama  FN562 

East  of  the  River 

(73)  R — Nov.  2 

John  Garfield 

Brenda  Marshall 

H5|  Drama  WB513 

South  of  Suez  (87) 

George  Brent 

Geraldine  Fitzgerald 

R — Dec.  21 

WARNER-P.  $3. 

. 

p6~|  Com.  Mu*.  5013 
Argentine  Nights 

(73)  R— Sept.  7 

Ritz  Bros. 

Andrews  Sisters 

[13]  Com.  Dr.  5006 
Hired  Wife  (96) 

R — Sept.  14 
[13]  Melodrama  5051 
Leather  Pushers 
(64)  R — Sept.  7 

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Fugitive,  The  (76) 

R — July  6 

|27|  Mus.  Com.  5001 

spring  Parade  (89) 

Deanna  Durbin 

R — Oct.  5 

[4]  Drama  5019 

Diamond  Frontier 

(71) 

Victor  McLaglen 

R — Oct.  5 

[HI  Melodrama  5017 

A Little  Bit  of 

Heaven  (86) 

Gloria  Jean 

R— Oct.  19 

HU  Western  5062 

Law  and  Order  (57) 

Johnny  M.  Brown 

R — Dec.  14 

HU  Comedy  5024 

Slightly  Tempted 

(60)  R — Aug.  3 

|25|  Drama  5007 

Seven  Sinners  (86) 

R — Nov.  2 

|~T]  Comedy  5036 

I’m  Nobody’s  Sweet- 

heart Now  (63) 

R — Aug.  10 

[~j~|  Melodrama  5052 

Devil’s  Pipeline  (65) 

R — Nov.  30 

|if|  Comedy  5021 

Sandy  Gets  Her  Man 

(66)  R — Nov.  16 

|~8j  Western  5063 

Pony  Post  (59) 

R — Dec.  14 

HU  Drama  5015 

One  Night  in  the 

Tropics  (82) 

Allan  Jones 

Nancy  Kelly 

R — Nov.  9 

UNIVERSAL 

[30|  Action  Drama 

Kit  Carson  (97) 

Jon  Hall 

Lynn  Bari 

R — Sept.  7 

[X3]  Drama 

Pastor  Hall  (92) 

Nova  Pilbeam 

R — Aug.  3 

|20|  Act.  Drama 

The  Westerner  (99) 
Gary  Cooper 

Doris  Davenport 

R- — May  25 

UNITED  ARTISTS 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R — Aug.  17 

[3q[  Comedy  109 

Young  People  (79) 
Shirley  Temple 

Jack  Oakie 

R— July  20 

|~6~|  Melodrama  11C 
Charlie  Chan  at  the 
Wax  Museum  (63) 
Sidney  Toler 

R — Aug.  3 

[13]  Comedy  105 

Elsa  Maxwell's  Pub- 
lic Deb  Now  1 (80) 

George  Murphy 
Brenda  Joyce 

R — Aug.  31 

[20]  Drama  116 

Yesterday’s  Heroes 
(65) 

Robert  Sterling 

Jean  Rogers 

R — Sept.  21 

[27]  Drama  107 

Brigham  Young — 
Frontiersman 
(113)  R— Aug.  31 
Tyrone  Power 

Linda  Darnell 

[~4~|  Act.  Drama  108 
Gay  Caballero, 

The  (57) 

Cesar  Romero 

R — Sept.  28 

|H|  Mus.  Com.  113 
<v)Down  Argentine 

Way  (88) 

Don  Ameche 

R — Oct.  12 

[jg]  Drama  114 

Night  Train  (93) 

Margaret  Lockwood 

Rex  Harrison 

R— Nov.  2 

[25]  Comedy  111 

The  Great  Profile 

(71) 

John  Barrymore 

R — Aug.  24 

|~8~|  Melodrama  117 

Mark  of  Zorro  (93) 

Tyrone  Power 

Linda  Darnell 

R — Nov.  9 

[15]  Drama  102 

Street  of  Memories 

(70)  R— July  6 

Lynne  Roberts 

Guy  Kibbee 

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[23]  Comedy  046 

Dance,  Girl,  Dance 
(89)  R — Aug.  31 
|3q|  Drama  038 

Lucky  Partners  (101) 
R.Colman  R-Aug.  24 

j~6~]  Act.  Drama  101 
Men  Against  the  Sky 
(75)  R— Aug.  31 

Richard  Dix 

Wendy  Barrie 

[13]  Comedy  102 

Dreaming  Out  Loud 
(81)  R— Sept.  14 
Lum  & Abner 

jgo|  Western  086 

Triple  Justice  (66) 
Geo.  O’Brien 

R — Oct.  19 

[27]  Drama  103 

I’m  Still  Alive  (72) 

Kent  Taylor 

R — Sept.  21 

|~4~|  Western  181 

Wagon  Train  (59) 
Tim  Holt 

Ray  Whitley 

R — Oct.  12 

|li|  Burl.  Com.  105 
Villain  Still  Pursued 
Her  (67)  R-Aug.  3 
Anita  Douise 

Hugh  Herbert 

[jg|  Melodrama  107 
Laddie  (70) 

Tim  Holt 

Virginia  Gilmore 

R — Sept.  21 

|25|  Melodrama  104 
They  Knew  What 
They  Wanted  (90) 
Carole  Lombard 
Chas.  Laughton 

R — Oct.  19 

[T|  Comedy  109 

Li’l  Abner  (78) 

Granville  Owen 

R — Nov.  9 

[H]  Comedy  106 

Too  Many  Girls  (85) 

Lucille  Ball 

Frances  Langford 

R — Oct.  12 

[15]  Comedy  111 

Mexican  Spitfire 

Out  West  (76) 

Lupe  Velez 

R — Oct.  12 

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Ride,  Tenderfoot, 
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Gene  Autry 

R — Aug.  31 

[HI  Melodrama  017 
Girl  From  Havana 

(69) 

Dennis  O’Keefe 

Clair  Carlton 

R— Sept  14 

[15]  Western  051 

Colorado  (57) 

Roy  Rogers 

R — Sept.  14 

[|oj  Western  062 

Under  Texas  Skies 

(57) 

Three  Mesquiteers 

R — Sept.  21 

[io]  Western  072 

Frontier  Vengeance 

(57)  R — Oct.  19 

Don  “Red”  Barry 

[ll)  Mus.  Com.  005 
Melody  and  Moon- 
light (73) 

Johnny  Downs 

R — Oct.  19 

[l5|  Mus.  Com.  001 
Hit  Parade  of  1941 

(88) 

Frances  Langford 

R — Oct.  19 

J21]  Western  052 

Young  Bill  Hickok 

(60)  R — Oct.  5 

Roy  Rogers 

|T|  Mystery  006 

Who  Killed  Aunt 
Maggie?  (70) 
Wendy  Barrie 

John  Hubbard 

R — Nov.  2 

|~7~|  Mus.  Comedy  007 

Friendly  Neighbors 

(67)  R— Nov.  16 

The  Weavers 

[HI  Western  063 

Trail  Blazers,  The 

Three  Mesquiteers 

(58)  R — Nov.  2 

REPUBLIC 

\°  ° J 

Brian  Donlevy 

Muriel  Angelus 

R— July  27 

[~6~|  Mus.  Com.  4001 
Rhythm  on  the 
River  (94) 

Bing  Crosby 

R — Aug.  24 

HU  Drama  4002 

I Want  a Divorce 

(92)  R — Aug.  17 
Dick  Powell 

Joan  Blondell 

[27]  Melodrama  4003 
Rangers  of  Fortune 

(80) 

Fred  MacMurray 

Patricia  Morison 

R — Sept.  14 

[~4~|  Melodrama  4004 
Quarterback  (74) 
Wayne  Morris 

Lillian  Cornell 

R — Oct.  5 

|Ii|  Drama  4005 

Cherokee  Strip  (86) 
Florence  Rice 
Richard  Dix 

R — -Oct.  6 

HU  Drama  4006 

Moon  Over  Burma 

(76) 

Dorothy  Lamour 

R— Oct.  19 

HU  Drama  4007 

Christmas  in  July 

(72)  R — Sept.  21 
HU  Documentary 
World  in  Flames 

(61)  R — Oct.  26 

|T]  Musical  4008 

Dancing  on  a Dime 

(74) 

Robert  Paige 

R — Oct.  12 

[~8~|  Musical  4009 

Arise  My  Love  (113) 

Claudette  Colbert 

Ray  Milland 

R — Oct.  19 

HU  Western  4050 
Three  Men  From 

Texas  (70) 

William  Boyd 

R — Sept.  14 

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Queen  of  the  Yukon 

(63) 

Charles  Bickford 
Irene  Rich 

R — Sept.  28 

|~2~]  Drama  3920 

Who  Is  Guilty  ? (73) 
Ben  Dyon 

R — Sept.  14 

|~9~|  Com.  Drama  391-1 

Up  in  the  Air  (61) 
Frankie  Darro 

R — Sept.  14 

[23]  Melodrama  4021 

That  Gang  of  Mine 

(62) 

Bobby  Jordon 

R— Oct.  5 

[30]  Melodrama  4001 

The  Ape  (62) 

Boris  Karloff 

R — Oct.  26 

[~7~|  Act.  Drama  4022 

Drums  of  the  Desert 
Ralph  Byrd 

R— Oct.  19 

[~7~|  Western 

Trailin’  Double 
Trouble  (58) 
Corrigan-Terhune- 

King  R — Oct.  19 

|~7~|  Com.  Dr.  4010 
Ol’  Swimmin’  Hole 

(75)  R— Oct.  26 

M.  Jones 

T.  Moran 

♦ 

|u|  Western  4051 

Take  Me  Back  to 

Oklahoma  (64) 

Tex  Ritter 

R— Nov.  30 

[is]  Mystery  4012 

Phantom  of  China- 

town (62) 

Keye  Luke 

R — Nov.  30 

MONOGRAM 

[3oj  Drama  48 

Boom  Town  (120) 

Clark  Gable 

Spencer  Tracy 
Claudette  Colbert 

R — Aug.  10 

I~6~|  Drama  101 

Dr.  Kildare  Goes 
Home  (79) 

Lew  Ayres 

R — Sept.  7 

[13]  Act.  Drama  102 

Wyoming  (88) 
Wallace  Beery 

Leo  Carlllo 

R — Sept.  14 

[|o|  Mus.  Com.  104 
Haunted  Honey- 

moon (83) 

Robert  Montgomery 
R— Aug.  31 

jg7|  Comedy  103 

Strike  Up  the  Band 

(120) 

R — Sept.  21 

j27j  Mystery  106 

Sky  Murder  (72) 

R — Sept.  28 

|~4~1  Comedy  106 

Dulcy  (73) 

Ann  Sothern 

Ian  Hunter 

R — Oct.  5 

[ll|  Drama  107 

Third  Finger,  Left 

Hand  (98) 
Douglas-Loy 

R — Oct.  19 

|25|  Comedy  109 

Hullabaloo  (77) 
Frank  Morgan 

Billie  Burke 

R — Nov.  2 

n Drama  108 

Escape  (104) 

Norma  Shearer 

Robert  Taylor 

R — Nov.  9 

[~8~|  Musical  110 

®Bit  ter  sweet  (92) 
Jeanette  MacDonald 
Nelson  Eddy 

R— Nov.  23 

HU  Drama  111 

Gallant  Sons  (76) 
Jackie  Cooper 

Bonita  Granville 

R — Nov.  16 

M-G-M 

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[~j~|  Comedy  1022 

Five  Little  Peppers 
in  Trouble  (65) 
Edith  Fellows 

R — Sept.  7 ! 

[s|  Melodrama  2032 
Fugitive  From  Pris- 
on Camp  (69) 

[l7|  Melodrama  1024 
Before  I Hang  (63) 
R— Oct.  19 

HU  Drama  1001 

yThe  Howards  of 
Virginia  (117) 

Cary  Grant 

Martha  Scott 

R — Sept.  7 

[27|  Melodrama  1040 

Glamour  for  Sale 

(59)  R— Oct.  26 

[3p|  Drama  1009 

Angels  Over  Broad- 
Way  (80)  R-Oct  12 

|oj  Western  2209 
Prairie  Schooners 
(58)  R — Nov.  16 

Bill  Elliott 

[~3~|  Com.  Dr’ma  8018 

So  You  Won't  Talk 

(69)  R— Oct.  5 

Joe  E.  Brown 

[17]  Drama  2036 

Nobody’s  Children 

(65) 

Edith  Fellows 

Billy  Lee 

Hi]  Drama  2038 

Girls  Under  21  (63) 
R — Nov.  30 
[2i|  Western  2202 

West  of  Abilene  (57) 
R — Aug.  3 

[§l]  Comedy  2016 

Blondie  Plays  Cupid 

(68) 

Penny  Singleton 
Arthur  Rake 

R— Nov.  2 

HU  Western  2210 
Beyond  the  Sacra- 

mento (58) 

Bill  Elliott 

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P-R-C 

|jT|  Com.  Mys.  104 

Devil  Bat  (67) 

Bela  Lugosi 

[13]  Western  159 

Billy  the  Kid’s  Gun 

Justice  ( . . ) 

Bob  Steele 

|2p|  Com.  Drama  105 

Misbehaving  Hus- 

bands (65) 

Ralph  Byrd 

R — ‘Dec.  14 

[27]  Comedy  106 

You  Betcha  My  Life 

(..) 

Henry  Armetta 

[3]  Mystery  107 

Secret  Evidence 

(..) 

[3]  Western  163 

Lone  Rider  No.  1 

(•  .) 

George  Houston 

[XX]  Comedy  108 

Glamour  Girls  Never 

Say  No  ( . . ) 

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WARNER-F.  N. 

[23]  Drama  FN553 

Letter,  The  (97) 
Bette  Davis 

Herbert  Marshall 

R — Nov.  23 

[30]  Drama  WB512 
Lady  With  Red 
Hair  (81) 

Miriam  Hopkins 

R — Nov.  16 

[7]  Comedy  FN571 

She  Couldn’t  Say  No 

(63) 

Roger  Pryor 

R — Dec.  28 

[21]  Reissue 

Here  Comes  the 

Navy  (86) 

James  Cagney 

Pat  O’Brien 

[28]  Adv.  Dr.  FN551 

Santa  Fe  Trail  (110) 

Errol  Flynn 

Olivia  DeHavilland 

R — Dec.  21 

[~4~|  M’drama  WB503 

Four  Mothers  (86) 

The  Lane  Sisters 

Jeffrey  Lynn 

R — Dec.  14 

|Yl]  M’drama  FN572 

Case  of  the  Black 

Parrot  (60) 

Wm.  Lundigan 

Maris  Wrixon 

[Xs]  Com.  Drama 

Honeymoon  for 

Three  (77) 

George  Brent 

Ann  Sheridan 

[25]  Drama 

High  Sierra  (100) 

Humphrey  Bogart 

Ida  Lupino 

UNIVERSAL 

[22I  Comedy  5023 

Meet  the  Wildcat 
(65)  R — Noy.  2 

[22]  Drama  (Reissue) 
Next  Time  We  Love 
(87) 

[29]  Comedy  5010 

Bank  Dick,  The  (74) 
W.  C.  Fields 

Una  Merkel 

R — Dec.  7 

|~6]  Comedy  5026 

Margie  (59) 

Mischa  Auer 

Nan  Grey 

R— Sept.  21 

[73]  Drama  5008 

Trail  of  the  Vigil- 
antes (75) 

Franchot  Tone 

R — Dec.  14 

[20]  Drama  5025 

Give  Ds  Wings  (62) 

Little  Tough  Guys 

Wallace  Ford 

R — Nov.  16 

[27]  Mys.  Comedy 

Invisible  Woman 

(72) 

John  Barrymore 

Virginia  Bruce 

R— Jan  4 — PG-1 

|~3~|  Com.  Drama 

Where  Did  You  Get 

That  Girl  (67) 

R — Dec.  28 

|~3~|  Adv.  Drama  5053 

Lucky  Devils  (64) 

[ip]  Western  5064 

Boss  of  Bullion  City 

(..) 

[ip]  Drama 

!San  Francisco  Docks 

(66)  R — Dec.  7 

[XX]  Comedy 

Six  Lessons  From 

Madame  LaZonga 

Lupe  Velez 

Leon  Errol 

[3X]  Drama 

Back  Street  ( . . ) 

Margaret  Sullavan 

Charles  Boyer 

[~X~]  Comedy 

Buck  Private  ( . . ) 

Andrews  Sisters 

Abbott  & Costello 

|Xi]  Comedy 

Meet  the  Chump 

(■  ■) 

Hugh  Herbert 

Lewis  Howard 

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UNITED  ARTISTS 

[22]  Drama 

Long:  Voyage  Home 
(105) 

Thomas  Mitchell 
John  Wayne 

R— Oct.  12 

[29]  Drama 

lllaek  Out  (80) 
Conrad  Veldt 

Valerie  Hobson 

R — Nov.  23 

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[ip]  Melodrama 

Son  of  Monte  Cristo 

(102) 

Louis  Hayward 

Joan  Bennett 

R — Dec.  7 

[24]  Comedy 

Road  Show  ( . . ) 

Adolphe  Menjou 

Carol  Bandis 

20TH-F0X 

(22]  Comedy  119 

Youth  Will  Be 
Served  (66) 

Jane  Withers 

R — Sept.  28 

[29]  Drama  120 

Tin  Pan  Alley  (94) 
Alice  Faye 

Jack  Oakie 

Betty  Grable 
r — Nov.  30 

[~6~[  Drama  118 

Charter  Pilot  (70) 

Lynn  Bari 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R— Nov.  30 

[ [13]  Mystery  121 

Murder  Over  New 
York  (65) 

Sidney  Toler 

R — Nov.  30 

[2p|  Comedy  122 

Jennie  (77) 

William  Henry 
Dorris  Bowden 

R — Dec.  7 

[27]  Drama  123 

©Chad  Hanna  (88) 

Henry  Fonda 
Dorothy  Lamour 

R — Dec.  14 

[3]  Drama  115 

Hudson’s  Bay  (95) 

Paul  Muni 

Virginia  Field 

R— Dec.  28 

[Xq]  Melodrama  124 

Michael  Shayne,  Pri- 

vate Detective 

(77) 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R — Dec.  28 

[XX]  Act.  Drama  125 

Romance  of  the  Rio 

Grande  (73) 

Cesar  Romero 

R — -Jan.  11 

[24]  Drama  128 

Tall,  Dark  and 

Handsome  (..) 

Cesar  Romero 

Virginia  Gilmore 

[3X]  Drama  137 

Girl  in  the  News 

(77) 

Margaret  Lockwood 

R— Jan.  4 — PG-1 

|~7~|  Comedy 

Hide,  Kelly,  Hide 

(•  •) 

Eugene  Pallette 

Rita  Quigley 

[XX]  Com.  Drama 

Golden  Hoofs  ( . . ) 

Jane  Withers 

(Buddy)  Rogers 

| [21]  Drama 

| Western  Union  (..) 

RKO  RADIO 

[22]  Mus.  Com.  108 
You’ll  Find  Out 

(97) 

Kay  Kyser 

Helen  Parrish 

R— Nov.  23 

[29]  Drama  113 

Remedy  for  Riches 

Jean  Hersholt 

(68)  R— Nov.  23 

[6]  Western  182 

Fargo  Kid,  The  (63) 

Tim  Holt 

R— Nov.  2 

[2q|  Drama  114 

No,  No,  Nanette 

(96) 

Anna  Neagle 

Richard  Carlson 

[|Xj  Drama  112 

Kitty  Foyle  (108) 

Ginger  Rogers 

Herbert  Marshall 

R— Dec.  21 

[~3~|  Drama  161 

Convoy  (78) 

Clive  Brook 

Judy  Campbell 

|Xq]  Drama  110 

Little  Men  (84) 

Kay  Francis 

Jack  Oakie 

R — Dec.  7 

[XX]  Musical  115 

Let’s  Make  Music 

(84) 

Bob  Crosby 

R — Dec.  14 

J24]  Mystery  116 

Saint  in  Palm 

Springs  (66) 

George  Sanders 

R— Jan.  4— PG-3 

[31]  Comedy  117 

Mr.  and  Mrs. 

Smith  ( . . ) 

Carole  Lombard 

Robert  Montgomery 

p7~|  Western  183 

Along  the  Rio 

Grande  ( . . ) 

Tim  Holt 

[14]  Drama  118 

Citizen  Kane  ( . . ) 

Orson  Welles 

I |2i|  Comedy  119 

REPUBLIC 

[is]  Western  041 

Melody  Ranch  (85) 

R — Nov.  30 

[22|  Western  073 

Texas  Terrors  (57) 

R — Nov.  30 

[29]  Comedy  018 

Meet  the  Missus 

(68) 

Roscoe  Karns 

R— Nov.  30 

[~5~|  Western  053 

The  Border  Legion 

(58) 

Roy  Rogers 

R — Nov.  30 

|~6]  Comedy  008 

Barnyard  Follies 

(68)  R — Nov.  30 

Mary  Lee 

Rufe  Davis 

[2q|  Drama  009 

Behind  the  News 

(75) 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R— Dec.  21 

[23]  Western  064 

Lone  Star  Raiders 

(57) 

Three  Mesquiteers 

R— Dec.  21 

[27]  Drama  019 

Bowery  Boy  (71) 

Dennis  O’Keefe 

Louise  Campbell 

R— Jan.  4— PG-2 

|~0~|  Western  074 

Wyoming  Wildcat 

(56) 

Don  “Red”  Barry 

Julie  Duncan 

R — Jan.  11 

[X4]  Western  054 

Robin  Hood  of  the 

Pecos  (59) 

Roy  Rogers 

Geo.  "Gabby”  Hayes 

[24]  Western 

Riding  on  a Rain- 

bow ( . . ) 

Gene  Autry 

Smiley  Burnette 

||X]  Comedy 

Arkansas  Judge 

(.  .) 

Weaver  Bros,  and 

Elviry 

|~X~|  Comedy 

Petticoat  Politics 

(•  .) 

Higgins  Family 

Roscoe  Karnes 

PARAMOUNT 

f~6~|  Mus.  Com.  4011 

Night  at  Earl  Car- 

roll's,  A (63) 

Ken  Murray 

R — Nov.  23 

[13]  Western  4012 

Texas  Rangers  Ride 

Again  (68) 

John  Howard 

R — Nov.  9 

[27 1 Outd’r  Dr.  3946 

8J©North  West 

Mounted  Police 

(126)  R — Oct.  26 

Madeleine  Carroll 

[27]  Comedy  4013 

Love  Thy  Neighbor 

(82) 

Jack  Benny 

Fred  Allen 

R — Dec.  28 

|~3~[  Musical  4014 

Second  Chorus  (88) 

Fred  Astaire 

Paulette  Goddard 

R — Dec.  7 

[ip]  Western  4051 

Doomed  Caravan 

(.  .) 

William  Boyd 

Russell  Hayden 

[XX]  Drama  4015 

Victory  (79) 

Fredric  March 

Betty  Field 

R— Dec.  21 

[24]  Comedy  4016 

Aldrich  Family  in 

late  With  Henry 

(SI) 

Jackie  Cooper 

p7~|  Musical  Com. 
You’re  the  One  (..) 

Bonnie  Baker 

Orrin  Tucker 

[XX]  Mystery 

Mad  Doctor,  The 

(91) 

Basil  Rathbone 

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MONOGRAM 

[25]  Western 

West  of  Pinto  Basin 

(59) 

Corrigan-Terhune- 

King 

R — Dec.  7 

[22]  Drama  4003 

Her  First  Romance 

(77)  R — Dec.  28 

[29]  Western  4052 

Rolling  Home  to 

Texas  (63) 

Tex  Ritter 

[~5~]  Melodrama 

You’re  Out  of  Luck 

(..) 

Frankie  Darro 

M-G-M 

[22]  Comedy  112 

iattle  Nellie  Kelly 

(100) 

Judy  Garland 

George  Murphy 

R — Nov.  23 

[29]  Drama  115 

Dr.  Kildare’s  Crisis 

(75) 

Lew  Ayres 

Lionel  Barrymore 

R — Dec.  7 

|~6~]  Comedy  114 

Go  West  (82) 

Marx  Bros. 

R — Dec.  21 

[Xg]  Drama  113 

Comrade  X (89) 

Clark  Gable 

Hedy  Lamarr 

R — Dec.  14 

[27]  Comedy  116 

Keeping  Company 

(87) 

Ann  Rutherford 

John  Shelton 

R — Jan.  4 — PG-  4 

[~3~|  Drama  117 

Flight  Command 

(114) 

Robert  Taylor 

Walter  Pi&geon 

R — Dec.  21 

[Xq]  Com.  Drama  118 

Molsie  Was  a Lady 

(SO) 

Ann  Sothern 

Lew  Ayres 

R — Jan.  11 

[XX]  Drama  119 

Philadelphia  Story 

(112) 

Katharine  Hepburn 

Cary  Grant 

[24]  Comedy  131 

Wild  Man  of  Borneo 

(••) 

[24]  Documentary 

Land  of  Liberty 

[3X]  Drama  133 

Come  Live  With 

Me  (..) 

James  Stewart 

Hedy  Lamarr 

COLUMBIA 

||g  Drama  2012 

Escape  to  Glory  (74) 
R — Nov.  30 
[23]  Mystery  2021 

Lone  Wolf  Keeps  a 
Date  (63)  R-Nov.  30 

J|8]  Mystery  2024 

Ellery  Queen,  Mas- 
ter Detective  (69) 
Ralph  Bellamy 
Margaret  Lindsay 

R — Nov.  30 

|jf|  Western  2203 
Thundering  Fron- 
tier (57) 

Charles  Starrett 

R — Sept.  21 

[9]  Drama  2031 

Great  Plane  Rob- 
bery (53) 

Jack  Holt 

R — Dec.  14 

j2oj  Mystery  2033 

Phantom  Submarine 

(70) 

Anita  Louise 

[H  Outd’r  Dr.  2101 

Arizona  (128) 

Jean  Arthur 

R — Nov.  23 

j|j]  Western  2211 

Wildcat  of  Tuscon 

(57)  Bill  Elliott 

|Y|  Comedy  3205 

This  Tiling  Called 

Love  (98) 

Melvyn  Douglas 

Rosalind  Russell 

R— Dec.  28 

[jXj  Western  2204 

Pinto  Kid  (61) 

Charles  Starrett 

g|]  Mys.  Dr.  2029 

Face  Behind  the 

Mask  ( . . ) 

Peter  Lorre 

|~3~|  Melodrama 

The  Devil  Com- 
mands ( . . ) 

Boris  Karloff 

IX3]  Drama 

Adam  Had  Four 
Sons  ( . . ) 

|X|  Western  3313 
Across  the  Sierra 

|o)  Drama 

Return  of  Boston 

rl  cs 

> 0 

U 

o _ 

O _ 

U CO 

z 

z ^ 

Z|  00 

Z m 

PQ 

PQ  lo 

PC 

Ed 

O CM 

O CO 

Id 

W CM 

W CM 

< 

rH 

< CM 

C 

Z 

z 

Q 

a 

Q 

Q 

Mh 

M- 1 

Mh 

KM 

Numeral  is  production  number.  Running'  time  follows  title.  First  date  is  Na- 
tional release,  second  the  date  of  review  in  BOXOFFICE;  both  1940  unless 
otherwise  specified.  The  symbol  between  the  dates  is  rating  from  the  BOX- 
OFFICE  review:  ff  Very  good,  + Good,  ± Fair,  rp  Mediocre,  — 1‘oor,  — Very 
Poor,  y Indicates  short  of  the  week.  Q Indicates  color  photography. 


SHORTS  CHART 


Prod. 

No. 


Title 


Rel.  Rat- 
Date  ing  Rev’d 


Columbia 


2425. 

2424. 

2423. 

1438. 


AGE-STAR  COMEDIES 
• Blondes  and  Blunders  (16). 11-29 
Bundle  of  Bliss,  A (18)..  11-  1 

.Cold  Turkey  (16) 10-18 

.Fireman  Save  My  Choo- 

Choo  (18)  8-9 

1437  . His  Bridal  Fright  (16)...  7-12 
2426.  His  Ex  Marks  the  Spot 

(..)  12-13 

2421.  .Pleased  to  Mitt  You  (18)..  9-  6 

1421..  5.inny  the  Moodier  <16JA)  9-  8 

2422..  5.ook  Speaks,  The  (18)...  9-20 

1436..  Taming  of  the  Snood  (16).  6-28 
9437.  .Trouble  Finds  Andy 

Clyde  (18)  7-28 

CINESCOPES 

2972 ..  Floating  Elephants  (8)... 10-  4 

2971..  Hobby  Eobby  (11) 8-30 

2972 ..  Industrial  Green  Island 

(10)  9-20 

2973..  Nice  Work  If  You 

Can  Do  It  (9)  11-8 

1975.  Odd  Vacations  (8%) 6-16 

2974 . . Unique  Industry  ( . . ) 12-19 

COGOR  RHAPSODIES 
(In  Technicolor) 

2505..  A Helping  Paw  (7) 1-  7 

2502..  ©Mr.  Elephant  Goes  to 

Town  (7V*)  10-  4 

2501 . .Tangled  Television  (7%)-.  8-30 

1512..  Timid  Pup.  The  (8) 8-  1 

2504..  Wise  Owl  (7) 12-  6 

1511..  Ye  Olde  Swap  Shoppe  CIVz)  6-28 

COGTTMBTA  TOURS 
2556.  Beautiful  British  Colum- 
bia (..)  12-20 

2551 ..  Historic  Virginia  (Andre  de 

la  Varre  Productions) 

(10)  8-16 

1558.  . In  the  Eand  of  Pagodas 

(9)  6-14 

2554.  .Islands  of  the  West 


12-  7 


+ 


+ 10-19 


1656. 

2651. 

2652. 

2653. 

1754. 

2751 . 

2752 . 

2753 . 

1 755 . 

2702. 
1706. 

1 756 . 
2701. 
2704. 

2703 . 
2601. 

1858. 

1859. 

1860. 

2851. 

2852 . 

2853 . 
2441. 


2803. 
1809. 
2802 . 
2801. 

1808. 


2404. 

2403. 

2401. 
1408. 

2402. 
1407. 


COMMUNITY  SING 

• No.  6 (Medley  of  nits) 

110)  6-28 

• No.  1 . . (Jolly  Tunes — D. 

Baker  (10)  10-  2 

• No.  2.  . (Popular  Songs — D. 

Baker  (10)  11-  8 

• No.  3.  . (Melodies  That  Gin- 

ger—D.  Baker)  (10) 12-13 

FABLES  CARTOONS 


6-14 

9-27 


7-19 


Barnyard  Babies  (714) 

.Farmer  Tom  Thumb  (6) 

■ Mouse  Meets  Gion  (6)....  10-25 

Paunch  ’n’  Judy  (6) 12-13 

Pooeli  Parade  (6) 

PHANTASIES  CARTOONS 

• Happy  Holidays  (6) 10-25 

News  Oddities  (6) 7-19 

Peep  in  the  Deep.  A (614)  8-23 
.School  Boy  Dreams  (5)...  9-24 

• Tom  Thumb’s  Brother 

( ..)  1-17 

Wallflower.  The  (..) 11-29 

QUIZ  REEGS 

■ Take  It  or  Geave  It  (9%).  11-22 

SCREEN  SNAPSHOTS 

No.  8 (10) 6-7 

Cowboy  Jubilee. 

No.  9 (10) 7-10 

Ken  Murray. 

No.  10  (9) 

•Took  Oakle. 

• No.  1 (10) 

Ken  Murray. 

• No.  2 (9) 

Don  Wilson. 

•No.  3 (9) 11-22 

SPECIAG  (HAPPY-HOUR) 

■ Puss  in  Boots  (reissue) 

(40)  11-21 

SPORT  REEGS 

. Ali  the  Giant  Killer  (..)..  12-27 

.Canvas  Capers  (11) 7-19 

Hunting  Wild  Deer  (9)...  11-22 
Master  of  Cue  With  Willie 

Hoppe  (9)  9-20 

.Saving  Strokes  With  Sam 

Snead  (10)  6-28 

THREE  STOOGES  COMEDIES 
.Boohs  in  Arms  (18) 12-27 

■ Cuckoo  Cavaliers  (17)  ...  .11-15 

• From  Nurse  to  Worse  (16)  8-23 

How  High  Is  Up  (16).  . 7-16 

• No  Census,  No  Feeling  (16)  10-  4 

Nutty  But  Nice  (18) 3-14 


+ 


+ 


Indies  (10)  

.10-25 

4+ 

11-23 

2553.  .Old  and  New  Arizona 

(Special)  (9)  

. 9-27 

2552.. Savoy  in  the  Alps  (Ga 

Varre  Productions)  (10) 

. 9-13 

44 

10-23 

2555 . . So journ  In  Havana 

(LaVarre  Prod.)  (9) . . . 

.11-25 

12-  7 

+ 


4- 

+ 


11-23 


10-19 
12-  7 


8-21 

10-19 


12-  7 


8-16  ± 8-31 


. 9-  6 
.10-18  o 


Prod. 

No. 


Title 


Rel.  Itat- 
Date  ing  Rev’d 


WASHINGTON  PARADE 
Series  2 

1905..  No.  5 (Tile  Archives)  (11).  7-  4 -f-  8-3 

1906  . No.  6 (Our  Nat’l  Defense) 

(10)  8-30  

Series  3 

2901..  No.  1 (The  Mint)  (10) 10-25  

2902.  .No.  2 (U.  S.  Military  Acad- 

emy) (Special)  (..)....  11-28  .... 

2903.  .No.  3 (U.  S.  Naval  Acad- 

emy) (Special)  (..) 12-20  

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 


10-19 

9-21 


(8)  ... 

. . 7-20 

+ 

8-31 

W-  94. 

. Gallopin’ 

Gals  (8). 

. .10-26 

11-  9 

W-  93. 

.Homeless 

Idea,  The 

(8). 

. 10-12 

-H- 

12-  7 

W-241 . 

. Lonesome 

Stranger 

(9).. 

. .11-23 

4+ 

12-  7 

W-  89. 

Milky  Way,  The  (8) 

. . 6-22 

+ 

7-  6 

W-  92. 

.Papa  Gets 

the  Bird 

(8)  . 

. . 9-  7 

9-28 

W-  91. 

.Romeo  in 

Rhythm 

(8).  . 

. . 8-10 

9-  7 

+ 11-23 


10-19 
8-31 
12-  7 


W-  88.. Tom  Turkey  (7) 6-8 

M-G-M  NEWS  OF  THE  DAY 
Released  Twice  Weekly 
OUR  GANG  COMEDIES 

C-293.  .Goin’  Fishtn’  (10) 10-26 

C-291 . . Good  Bari  Boys  (11) 9-  7 

C-294 ..  Kiddie  Kure  (11) 11-23 

C-292 . .Waldo’s  East  Stand  (11)..  10-  5 
PASSING  PARADE 
(New  Series) 

K-281 . .American  Spoken  Here 

(Sepia)  (10)  11-30 

K-126.  .Baron  and  the  Rose,  The 

(11)  9-  7 

K-128.  .Dreams  (10)  11-16 

K-127 ..  Utopia  of  Death  (10) 10-12 

K-124.  .Way  in  the  W ilderness, 

A (10)  (Sepia) 6-22 

PETE  SMITH  SPECIAGTIES 
S-110.  .Cat  College  (9)  (Sepia)..  6-29 
S-113.  .Football  Thrills  of  1939  (10)  9-21 

S-112 . . I’lease  Answer  (9)4Sr. 8-24 

S-261.  .^>Quicker’n  a Wink 

(Sepia)  (9)  10-12 

S-262 . .Wedding  Bills  (10) 11-30 

S-109.  What’s  Your  I.  Q.?  No.  2 

(9)  6-10 

SPECIAG 

X-151 . . t>©Flag  Speaks.  The  (19)  6-14 

Paramount 

ANIMATED  ANTICS 
HO-4.  .Bring  Himself  Back  Alive 

(7)  12-20 

H0-1 . . Dandy  Gion,  The  (7) 9-20 

HO-3.. Mommy  Goves  Puppy  (7). 11-29 
Hrt-2.  .Sneak,  Snoop  & Snitch  (7)  10-25 
BENCHGEY  COMEDIES 
SO-  1 . . Trouble  With  Husbands 

(11)  11-  8 

COGOR  CGASSICS 

(In  Technicolor) 

11- 23  C9-5.  .Snubbed  by  a Snob  (7)...  7-19 

C6-6.  .You  Can’t  Shoe  a Horse- 

12-  7 fly  (7)  8-23 

COGOR  CRUISES 
(New  Series  in  Cinecolor) 

K9-7 . . Pacific  Paradise  (10) 6-21 

FASCINATING  JOURNEYS 
....  (Technicolor) 

M0-  l..||River  Thames — Yester- 

12_  7 day  (10)  11-  8 

FGEISCHER  CARTOONS 

10-19  FF0-1.  .Raggedy  Ann  (19) 12-20 

GABBY  CARTOONS 

GO-  2.  .Constable,  The  (7) 11-15 

GO-  l..King  for  a Day  (7) 10-18 

HEADEINER 

12-  7 A0-  3.. Johnny  Messner  and 

8-31  Orch.  (11)  12-13 

8-  3 A0-  2..Gisten  to  Garry  (10) 10-25 

....  A0-  1..0M°ments  Gf  Charm  of 

1941  (10)  9-13 


+ 


+ 


9-  7 
10-26 
9-28 


9-  7 


11-  9 
9-  7 

12- 28 
12-  7 


44  12-  7 


9-28 
12-14 
11-  9 


44 

4+ 

44 

44 


CRIME  DOESN’T  PAY 

P-  5.  .Buyers  Beware  (20) 8-17 

P-201 .. I^Eyes  of  the  Navy  (20)  . 10-26  -j-f 

P-  6.. Soak  the  Old  (20) 8-24  ± 

P-815.. Think  First  (21) 9-9  

P-  4.. Women  In  Hiding  (22) 6-22  ± 7-6 

FITZPATRICK  TRAVEGTACKS 
(In  Technicolor) 

T-214.  .Beautiful  Bali  (9) 11-23  =p  12-14 

T-211.  .Capitol  City,  The — Wash- 
ington, D.  O.  (9) 9-7  ++ 

T-212.  .Cavalcade  of  San  Fran- 
cisco (9)  9-28  q; 

T-213.  .Old  New  Mexico  (10) 10-26  + 

T-  62.. Suva,  Pride  of  Fiji  (9)....  6-8  qr 
MINIATURES 

M-231.  .Rodeo  Dough  (10)  (Sepia)  10-  9 ± 

M-G-M  CARTOONS 
(New  Series) 

(Technicolor) 

IV-  90.  Bookworm  Turns,  The 


+ 7-6 


9-28 
9-  7 


12-  7 
12-  7 


7-  6 


5-  4 


12-21 

10-  5 
12-  7 

11- 23 


12-  7 


Prod. 

Rel. 

Rat- 

No.  Title 

Date 

ing 

Rev’d 

A9-10.  .Pinky  Tomlin  and  Orch. 

(id  

. 7-19 

+ 

8-31 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS 
Released  Twice  Weekly. 

PAR  AGRA  PH  ICS 

V9-  9.. Dangerous  Dollars  (11).. 

. 6-28 

V0-  1.. Nature’s  Nursery  (10)... 
V9-10.  .Paramount  Pictorial 

10-11 

10-26 

No.  2 (11) 

. 9-  9 

8-24 

V0-  2.. Seeing  Is  Believing  (11). 

.11-22 

+ 

12-  7 

I’OPEYE  CARTOONS 

E9-10 ..  Doing  Impossikihle  Stunts 

(7)  

8-  2 

+ 

8-17 

E0-  4.. Eugene,  the  Jeep  (7).... 

. 12-13 

12-  7 

E9-  9 .Sightin'  Pals  (8) 

E8-ll..It*s  the  Natural  Thing  to 

. 7-12 

4+ 

8-17 

Do  (7)  

. 7-28 

8-26 

EO-  2.. My  Pop,  My  Pop  (7).... 

.10-18 

10-26 

R9-  8.  .Nurse  Mates  (7)  

E0-  1 . . Popeye  Meets  William 

. 6-21 

Tell  (7)  

. 9-20 

4+ 

10-  5 

E9- 12.  .Puttin’  on  the  Act  (7).. 
E9-11 . . Wimmin’  Hadn’t  Oughta 

. 8-30 

+ 

8-24 

Drive  (7)  

. 8-16 

+ 

8-24 

E0-  3.  .With  Poopdeek  Pappy  (7) 

11-15 

O 

12-  7 

POPU1.AR  SCIENCE 


9-28 

11-  9 

.19-6 . 

.(11) 

(In  Cinecolor) 

. 6-28 

6-  8 

J0-1. 

.(11)  . 

4- 

10-  5 

J0-2 . 

•(10)  .. 

.11-  1 

+ 

12-  7 

12-14 

J0-3 . 

.(10)  . 

. . 1-3 

+ 

12-21 

R0-  1. 
R0-  5. 
R0-  4. 
R0-  3. 
R9-13. 
ItO-  2 


B9-  9 . . 
B9-11 . . 
B9-10 . . 

B9-  6.  . 
B9-  8.  . 

B9-12.  . 


GRANTGAND  RICE  SPORT- 
EIGHTS 

.Diving  Demons  (10) 9-  6 

Feminine  Fitness  (10)....  1-10 

.Marine  Roundup  (10) 12-  6 

.Motorcycle  Stunting  (10). 11-  8 

Sink  or  Swim  (10) 7-12 

• Sporting  Everglades,  The 

(10)  10-  4 

STONE  AGE  CARTOONS 
. Fulla  Bluff  Man,  The  (7).  8-  9 
Pedagogical  Institution  (7)  9-13 
.Springtime  in  the  Rock- 

age  (7)  

Ugly  Dino,  The  (7) 

.Way  Back  When  a Ra*7- 
berr.v  Was  a Fruit  (7) . 

Way  Back  When  Women 
nad  Their  Weigh  (7) . . 
UNUSUAG  OCCUPATIONS 
(In  Color) 


Republic 


MEET 

028-1..  No.  1 (10).. 


THE  STARS 


RKO  Radio 


04,107 

04.109 

04,114 

04,113 

04.106 

04,112 


04.110 
04.108 

04.111 


13.401 

13.402 

03,704. 


10-  5 
12-21 
12-  7 

11- 23 


44  11-  9 
± 8 24 


8- 30  

6- 14  

7- 26  + 8-17 

9- 27  


G9-6. 

• No.  6 

(ID 

8-  2 

44- 

8-17 

G0-1. 

.No.  1 

(ID 

9-  7 

+ 

10-  5 

GO-2. 

• No.  2 

(11) 

11-29 

+ 

12-  7 

.12-24  + 12-28 


# 

44 

+ 


8-10 

12-14 

12-14 


DISNEY  CARTOONS 
(In  Technicolor) 

.Big  Hearted  Pluto  (..)...  1-24 

Bone  Trouble  (9) 6-28 

.Donald’s  Vacation  (8)..  8-  9 

• Fire  Chief  (..) 11-22 

Goofy’s  Glider  (8) 11-  1 

.Mr.  Duck  Steps  Out  (8)..  6-  7 
.Mr.  Mouse  Takes  a Trip 

(8)  11-  1 + 11-23 

• Pantry  Pirate  (8) 12-27 

.Pluto’s  Dream  House  (8).  8-30 

Put-Put  Trouble  (7) 7-19 

.Window  Cleaners  (8) 9-20 

EDGAR  KENNEDY  COMEDIES 

• Drafted  in  the  Depot  (19)  . 12-20 
.Sunk  by  the  Census  (18).  9-  6 

Trailer  Tragedy  (17) 10-18 

GEON  ERROG  COMEDIES 
Bested  by  a Beard  (20)...  7-26 


-f  9-21 
-j-f  10-26 


9-21 
11-  9 


13.701.. He  Asked  for  It  (18) 

9-27 

9-21 

13,702.  .Tattle  Talevision  (19) 

11-29 

+ 

8-31 

MARCH  OF  TIME 

03,111.. No.  11  (18) 

6-  7 

+ 

6-22 

+ 

8-24 

The  U.  S.  Navy. 

03,112.. No.  12  (17) 

8-  2 

+ 

8-10 

Spoils  of  Conquest. 

03.113  . ONo.  13  (20) 

8-24 

44 

8-31 

Gateways  to  Panama. 

13,101.. No.  1 (19) 

9-13 

44 

9-21 

On  Foreign  Newfronts. 

44 

11-23 

13, 102.. No.  2 (18) 

10-  4 

+ 

10-19 

Britain's  R.  A.  F. 

44 

12-21 

13,103.. No.  3 (19) 

10-25 

10-26 

Mexico,  Good  Neighbor’s 

+ 

11-23 

Dilemma. 

+ 

10-26 

13,104..  No.  4 (19) 

11-22 

+ 

12-  7 

Arms  and  the  men. 

13,105.. No.  5 (19) 

12-20 

+ 

12-28 

-4- 

12-21 

Gabor  and  Defense. 

+ 

10-26 

PATHS  INFORMATION  ] 

PLEASE 

04, 211. No.  11  (10) 

6-14 

-4- 

6-15 

44 

10-  5 

04,212  ..  (J No.  12  (12) 

7-12 

44 

7-13 

BOXOFFICE 


January  11,  1941 


77 


SHORTS  CHART 


WHAT'S  IN  THE  NEWSREELS 


TUESDAY,  DECEMBER  31 
Movietone  News,  No.  33 

Roosevelt  speech;  British  destroyer,  disabled,  is 
towed  to  port;  King-  George  visits  pilots;  Lon- 
doners in  subway  shelters;  sporting  highlights  of 
1940;  Santa  Anita  racing. 

News  of  the  Day,  No.  231 

Roosevelt  speech;  disabled  destroyer  towed  to 
British  port;  Londoners  in  subway  shelters; 
glamour  girls  on  parade;  Florida  swimming  meet; 
Santa  Anita  racing. 

Paramount  News,  No.  36 

Italian  prisoners  in  Egypt;  Anne  Lindbergh  on 
relief  for  Europe;  torpedoed  British  destroyer 
towed  to  port;  beach  fashions;  refugee  children  in 
radio  talks  to  parents  in  England;  Roosevelt 
speech. 

RKO  Pathe  News,  No.  36 

Roosevelt  fireside  chat;  crippled  British  de- 
stroyer towed  to  port;  Cuban  tornado;  Jews  honor 
Justice  Hughes;  swim  meet  in  Florida;  basket- 
ball. 

Universal  Newsreel,  No.  941 

Roosevelt  talk;  disabled  British  destroyer  towed 


to  port;  Cuban  tornado;  Jews  honor  Justice 
Hughes;  Florida  swim  meet;  basketball;  racing. 

THURSDAY,  JANUARY  2 
Movietone  News,  No.  34 
Chief  Justice  Hughes  honored;  launch  sub- 
marine tender  on  coast;  coal  train  wreck;  Crown 
Prince  of  Norway  in  Washington;  artillery  em- 
placements on  British  coast;  Duke  of  Kent  tours 
southwest  England;  rhumba  fashions;  New  Year’s 
Day  football. 

News  of  the  Day,  No.  232 

Tacoma  bridge  collapse  (by  request);  night  life 
in  London;  King  visits  RAF;  Hailie  Selassie  in 
Africa;  Justice  Hughes  honored  in  Washington; 
New  Year’s  Day  football. 

Paramount  News,  No.  37 

Four  “Bowl”  football  games. 

RKO  Pathe  News,  No.  37 
“1941  a Year  of  War,”  written  and  narrated  by 
Raymond  Gram  Swing. 

Universal  Newsreel,  No.  942 
Resume  of  the  sporting  events  of  the  year; 
New  Year’s  Day  football  games. 


Prod. 

No. 

Title 

Rel.  Rat- 
Date  ing 

Rev’d 

Prod. 

No. 

Title 

Rel. 

Date 

Rat- 

ing- 

Rev’d 

04.21 3 . .No. 

13  (111 

8-  0 

4- 

8-10 

1501 . 

. Cluh  Life  in  the  Stone 

14.201  . No. 

1 (11) 

9-16 

9-21 

Age  (7)  

8-23 

14,202.  .No. 

2 (10) 

10-  4 

4- 

10-26 

1503. 

• Happy  Haunting  Grounds 

14,203.  .No. 

3 (10) 

.11-  1 

4- 

11-23 

(7)  

10-18 

14,204.  No. 

4 (11) 

1553. 

.How  Wet  Was  My  Ocean 

14,205.  No. 

5 (11) 

(7)  

10-  4 

o 

10-19 

PATHE  NEWS 

1554. 

.Landing  of  the  Pilgrims 

(Released  Twice  Weekly) 

(7)  

11-  1 

+ 

12-  7 

RADIO  FLASH 

COMEDIES 

0517. 

• Love  in  a Cottage  (7)  . . ■ ■ 

7-28 

03,205.  .Goodness,  a Ghost 

(16).  . 

. 7-  5 

1552. 

.Ducky  Duck,  The  (7) 

9-  6 

PATHE  SPORTSCOPE 


04,312.  .Arrow  Points  (8) 

. 7-  5 

9-21 

04,311 . . O Hurdle  Hoppers  (9)  . . . 

. 6-  7 

14,302.  .Kentucky  Royalty  (9)... 

. 9-27 

+ 

10-26 

14.301 . . Quail  Quest  (9) . 

. 8-30 

+ 

9-21 

14,305.  .Snow  Eagles  (9) 

.12-20 

14, 304.. Snow  Fun  (9) 

.11-22 

4+ 

12-14 

14,303.  .Sportsman’s  Partner  (9)  . 

.10-25 

+ 

11-23 

04,611 .. Streamlined  (9)  

. 6-21 

04,313.  .Trouble  Shooter  (9) 

. 8-  2 

+ 

9-21 

PICTURE  PEOPLE 

14, 401.. No.  1 (10) 

. 9-13 

9-21 

14,402..  No.  2 (9) 

.10-11 

10-26 

14,403.. No.  3 (10) 

.11-  8 

+ 

11-23 

14, 404.. No.  4 (10) 

.12-  6 

+ 

12-14 

RAY  WHITLEY  WESTERNS 

(New  Series) 

13,501.  .Bar  Buekaroos  (16) 

03,504 . .Corralling  a Schoolmarm 

.11-  8 

O 

11-23 

(20)  

. 6-14 

+ 

8-10 

REELISMS 
(New  Series) 

01, 613.  . Hats  (9)  

. 8-16 

04,611.  .Streamlined  (9)  

. 8-10 

— 

8-10 

04,612.. Week  End  (9) 

. 7-19 

1504.  .Magic  Pencil,  The  (7) 11-15 

1555.  .©Plane  Goofy  (7) 11-29 

0514.  Professor  Offkeyski  (7) 6-14 

0515.  .Rover’s  Rescue  (7) 6-28 

0516.  Rupert  the  Runt  (7) 7-12 

1505.. Snow  Man,  The  (7) 12-13 

1556.  .©Temperamental  Lion,  The 

(7)  12-27 

1502.  .Touchdown  Demons  (7)...  9-20 


4- 


12  7 
12-  7 
6-  8 


Universal 


5241 

5243 . 
5242 . 

5244. 


LANTZ  CARTUNES 
(Technicolor) 

.Crazyhonse  (7%)  9-23 

.Knock-Knock  (7)  11-25 

. QRecruiting  Daze  (6)....  10-28 

■ Syncopated  Sioux  (..) .12-30 

GOING  PEACES  WITH 
GRAHAM  McNAMEE 


++ 


10-19 


12-  7 

11-  9 


20th  Century-Fox 


ADV 
0201 . . 


1201. 
0204 . 
1601. 


8-17 


4-  8-17 


ENTURES  OF  A NEWS  CAMERAMAN 
Conquering-  the  Colorado 

(11)  8-18 

. y Midget  Motor  Mania 

(10)  11-  8 

.Sanctuary  of  the  Seals  (9)  6-  7 
BELIEVE  IT  OR  NOT— RIPU 

• Acquitted  by  the  Sea  (10)  9-27 

ED  THORGERSEN — SPORTS 

0306..  Action  on  Ice  (9) 7-19 

1303.  .Bowling  for  Strikes  (10)..  12-20 

1302..  Lure  of  the  Trout  (9) 10-11 

1301 . .©Vacation  Time  in  Florida 

(8)  8-10  d 

FATHER  HUBBARD’S  ALASKAN 

ADVENTURES 

1101..  Eskimo  Trails  (10) 8-  2 

1103.  .Isle  of  Mystery  (10) 10-25 

FASHIONS 
(In  Technicolor) 

Fashion  Forecasts  No.  7 

(8)  6-21 

Fashion  Forecasts  No.  8 

(8)  6-21 

FOX  MOVIETONE  NEWS 
Released  Twice  Weekly 
LEW  LEHR  AND  HIS  DRIBBLE  PUSS 
PARADE 

0104.  .Cheerio  My  Dears  (9)....  7-  5 

1401 . .Grunters  and  Groaners  (8).  8-30  -|- 

1402.  .Tale  of  Butch  the  Parrot, 

The  (..)  12-6 

LOWELL  THOMAS  MAGIC  CARPET 
©Florida,  Land  of  Flowers 

(9)  9-13  ± 

• Old  Dominion  State  (10).  11-22 
TERRY- TOONS 

©Billy  Mouse’s  Akwakade 

(7)  8-0  = 


4363 . 

.No. 

78 

(9) 

4364. 

.No. 

79 

(9) 

8-  3 

4365 . 

.No. 

80 

(9%) 

5351 . 

• No. 

81 

(9) 

9-23  — 

9-21 

5352. 

• No. 

82 

(9) 

10-14 

5353. 

.No. 

83 

(9) 

11-11 

5354 . 

. No. 

84 

(9) 

5355 . 

.No. 

85 

(9) 

1-20 

5356 . 

• No. 

86 

(9) 

SPECIAL  TWO  REELERS 


++ 

8-19 

5110  . Swing  With  Bing  (19) 

STRANGER  than 

9-4 

FICTION 

8-  3 

4+ 

10-19 

4383.  .No.  78  (9) 

+ 

6-22 

4" 

6-22 

4384.  .No.  79  (9) 

+ 

7-27 

V 

4385.. No.  80  (9) 

4- 

7-27 

++ 

10-19 

5371.  .No.  81  (9) 

5372.  .No.  82  (9) 

5373.  .No.  83  (8) 

+ 

9-21 

+ 

10-19 

5374.  .No.  84  (9) 

12-  2 

+ 

12-  7 

5375..  No.  85  (9) 

5376..  No.  86  (9) 

0603.  .1 

0604 . . ] 


1102. 

1104. 

1551. . 


+ 


8-17 


8-17 
12-  7 


8-17 


Prod. 

Rel. 

Rat- 

No.  Title 

Date  lng  Rev’d 

Vitaphohe 

BROADWAY  BREVITIES 

6202.. Alice  in  Movieland  (20).. 
6202  Ed  Sullivan’s  Hollywood 

.11-16 

12-  7 

(20)  

.11-16 

6201.  . Just  a Cute  Kid  (20) 

.10-  5 

4008.  Ride,  Cowboy,  Ride  (20). 

. 9-  9 

5109. -OSpills  for  Thrills  (19). 

. 6-15 

tt 

8-  3 

5110.. Young  America  Flies  (20) 

. 8-  3 

THE  COLOR  PARADE 

(New  Series) 

54 10  . Famous  Movie  Dogs  (10). 
5408.  .Mechanic  Illustrated 

. 7-27 

+ 

8-17 

No.  4 (10)  

. 6-29 

+ 

6-15 

5410.  .Movie  Dog  Stars  (10)  . . . 

. 8-17 

5409.  .Valley,  The  (8)  

. 7-20 

+ 

7-  6 

ELSA  MAXWELL’S  BLUE 

RIBBON 

COMEDIES 

6101.. Riding  Into  Society  (19). 

. 9-  7 

8-31 

HOLLYWOOD  NOVELTY 

6301.  .Football  Thrills  (10) 

6303.  .Mexican  Jumping  Beans 

. 9-28 

+ 

8-31 

(10)  

.12-  7 

+ 

12-  7 

6302.  .Shark  Hunting  (10) 

.11-  9 

LOONEY  TUNES  CARTOONS 

6601  ..  Calling  Dr.  Porky  (7).... 

. 9-21 

5614.  .Chewin’  Bruin,  The  (7).. 

. 6-  8 

-+- 

6-22 

5616.  .Patient  Porky  (7) 

5615.  .Porky’s  Baseball  Broad- 

. 8-24 

-H- 

8-24 

cast  (7)  

. 7-  6 

4+ 

7-  6 

6604.  .Porlcy’s  Hired  Hand  (7). 

.11-30 

o 

12-28 

6602.  .Prehistoric  Porky  (7)  . . . . 

.10-12 

+ 

10-26 

6603. . 50.r  Puss  (7) 11-2 

6605..  Timid  Toreador  (7) 12-21 

5613.  .You  Ought  to  Be  in 

Pictures  (7)  5-18  -f- 

MELODY  MASTERS 
6503.  .Jan  Garber  & Orch.  (10)..  11-23 

6502..  Joe  Reicliman  & Orch. 

(10)  10-26 

6501..  Matty  Malneck  & Band 


5-18 


(10)  

9-14 

8-24 

5509.  .Ozzie  Nelson  & Orch.  (10). 

6-29 

+4 

7-  6 

6504 . . Skinnay  Ennis  & Orch  (10) 
5510.  .Woody  Herman  & Orch. 

1-  4 

+ 

12-28 

(10)  

7-27 

7-  6 

12-28 


11  9 

8- 17 

9-  7 


12-28 
11-  9 


MERRIE  MEDODIES 
(In  Technicolor) 

6706.  .Bedtime  for  Sniffles  (7)  . 11-23 
5326.  .Ceiling  Hero  (7) 7-6 

5321..  Circus  Today  (7) 6-22  + 

6709.  .Elmer’s  Pet  Rabbit  (7) ....  1-  4 o 

5323..  Egg  Collector  (7) 7-20 

5325..  Ghost  Wanted  (7) 8-10 

6104..  Good  Night  Elmer  (7) 10-26 

6703.  .Holiday  Highlight  (7) 10-12  qz 

5.322.  .Little  Blabbermouse  (7)..  7-6-14 

6701..  Malibu  Beach  Party  (7)..  9-14  ± 

6707..  0.  Fox  and  Hounds  (7).. 12-  7 

6708..  5.op,  Look  and  Listen 

(7)  12-21  ± 

6702 . . Stagefright  (7)  9-28  -(- 

5320.  .Tom  Thumb  in  Trouble 

(7)  6-8  ± 6-15 

6705..  Wacky  Wild  Life  (7) 11-  9 -f  12-14 

5324..  Wild  Hare,  A (7) 7-27  

SPORTS  PARADE 
(Color) 

6404.  .California  Thoroughbreds 

(10)  1-11  ± 12-28 

6403.  .Diary  of  a Racing  Pigeon 

(10)  11-30  4-  12-  7 

6402..  Dogs  You  Seldom  See  (10). 11-  2 + 8-31 

6401..  Fly  Fishing  (10) 9-21  ip  10-26 

TECHNICOLOR 

5006.  .Cinderella’s  Feller  (20)...  6-  1 + 6-15 

6001..  Flag  of  Humanity  (20)...  10-19  + 10-26 

6002..  March  on  Marines  (20)...  12-14  ■(+  12-28 

5007..  Pony  Express  Days  (20)..  7-13  + 7-6 

5008 . . Seryiee  With  the  Colors 

(20)  8-31  

VITAPHONE  VARIETIES 

5706..  All  Girl  Revue  (10) 6-22  


Serials 


TWO  REEL  MUSICALS 
5225.  .Beat  Me,  Daddy,  Eight  to 

the  Bar  ( . . ) 1-22  .... 

The  Fashionaires  and  Cath- 
lyn  Miller. 

5221..  Class  In  Swing  (17) 9-11  

5223.  .Congamania  (17)  10-16  ± 12-  7 

Jose  Cansino  Dancers, 

Eddie  Durant  & Orch. 

4231 ..  Hawaiian  Rhythm  (17) 7-17  -f  7-27 

Harry  Owens  and  His 
Royal  Hawaiians. 

4233 . . I Dream  of  Jeanie  With  the 

Light  Brown  Hair  (17) . 8-28  9-21 

4110.  .March  of  Freedom  (21)...  9-6  .... 

4230.  .Naughty  Nineties  (18)....  6-17  -ff  7-6 

5224 . .  Tickled  Pinky  (18)  12-25  

Pinky  Tomlin,  Martha  Til- 
ton and  the  Pickard  Family. 

5223..  Torrid  Tempos  (18) 11-27  12-  7 

4232.  .Varsity  Vanities  (17%)...  8-  7 + 8-3 

Six  Hits  and  a Miss, 

Martha  Tilton. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWS 
Released  Twice  Weekly 


1180 


1120 


973 


081 


082 


5781 


5681 


5881 


5581 


COLUMBIA 

..Deadwood  Dick  7-19  7-27 

15  Chapters.  Don  Doug- 
las, Lorna  Gray. 

. . Green  Archer,  The 10-25  11-  9 

15  Chapters.  Victor  Jory, 

REPUBLIC 

..Adventures  of  Red  Ryder.  6-15  -(-  6-8 

Don  “Red”  Barry. 

. - King  of  the  Royal 

Mounted  9-20  ff  8-24 

12  Chapters.  Allan  Lane. 

. .Mysterious  Doctor  Satan  12-13  + 11-23 

15  Chapters.  Robert  Wilcox. 
UNIVERSAL 
. .Green  Hornet  Strikes 

Again  12-24  + 11-  9 

15  Chapters.  Warren  Hull. 

. .Junior  G-Men  9-1  4-  8-3 

12  Chapters.  Dead  End 
Kids,  Little  Tough  Guys. 

. . Sky  Raiders  4-8  .... 

12  Chapters. 

..Winners  of  the  West 7-  2 + 5 11 

13  Chapters.  Dick  Fo- 
ran,  Anna  Nagel. 


78 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


The  Industry's  Market  Place  hr  Purchase 
or  Sale  of  Equipment,  Theatres,  Service 


CLERRinG  HOUSE 


• Classified  Ads  10c  Per  Word,  Payable  in  Advance. 


Minimum  $1.00.  Display  Rates  on  Request. 


GENERAL  EQUIPMENT 


GRAB  THIS  ONE.  Pair  Motiograph 
De  Luxe  Projectors,  Peerless  Lamps,  Lar- 
gen  Sound,  double  channel  amplifier, 
lenses,  new  Da-Lite  screen.  Cash  price, 
no  trade,  $650.00.  WESTERN  THEATRE 
SUPPLY,  Omaha,  Neb. 


NEW  EQUIPMENT 


ONE  KILOWATT  ARCS  with  14"  re- 
flectors, $195.00;  medium  intensity, 
$129.50;  rear  shutters  for  Simplex,  $59.50; 
Western  Electric  soundscreens,  $37.50; 
Gyro  Stabilizer  soundheads,  $195.00;  Jen- 
sen Tweeters,  $14.95.  Theatre  completely 
equipped  cheap.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUP- 
PLY CORP.,  NEW  YORK. 


SENSATIONALLY  LOW  PRICES  NOW 
IN  EFFECT.  “LIGHTMASTER”  one-kilo- 
watt projection  arc  lamps.  Unmistakably 
better  snow-white  projection  light.  “DUO 
SOUNDMASTER”  sound  heads,  with  the 
stabilizing  gyrofilter,  no-shock  starting,  in- 
stant lateral  adjustment;  amplifiers  with 
copper  sulphide  DC  exciter  lamp  supply 
and  calibrated  volume  control;  two-way 
horn  systems.  Write  for  complete  cata- 
logue new  and  reconditioned  sound  and 
projection  equipment.  SCOTT-BALLAN- 
TYNE  CO.,  222  No.  16th  St.,  Omaha,  Neb. 


USED  EQUIPMENT 


WORLD’S  Fair  Ticket  receptacles,  45" 
high,  worth  $50.00,  now  $6.95;  Soundheads, 
amplifiers,  $9.95;  sound  projectors,  $59.50; 
arcs,  rectifiers,  $24.50;  Powers  projectors, 
$39.50;  lenses,  $2.95.  S.  O.  S.,  636  Eleventh 
Avenue,  New  York. 

BUY  NOTHING — Until  you’ve  compared 
our  prices.  Guaranteed  savings  of  from 
10%  to  40%.  Write  us.  STAR  CINEMA 
SUPPLY  CO.,  440  West  45th  St.,  New 
York  City. 

2 POWERS  6B  Projectors  in  first  class 
condition.  Latest  type.  B-1319,  Box- 
office,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

A FEW  PEERLESS  low  intensity  lamps. 
Completely  rebuilt  at  a real  bargain. 
B-1320,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kan- 
sas City,  Mo. 


SEAT  RECOVERING 

ARTIFICIAL  LEATHER  MOLESKIN— 
81c  per  yd.;  Sateen,  60c  yd.  Six  seats 
from  two  yards.  Samples  on  request. 
Commercialeather,  116  Merrimac  St.,  Bos- 
ton. 


For  BETTER  Special  Trailers 

" pL#nqem>eti" 

TO  F1LMACK  ! 

You'll  Benefit  By  It! 

FILMACK  TRAILER  CO. 

837  So.  Wabash  Av®.  • Chicago,  III. 


AIR  CONDITIONING 


AIR  CONDITIONING  PLANS  and  spec- 
ifications made  to  order  for  your  theatre 
from  architects’  building  plans  or  dimen- 
sioned sketches.  A complete,  unbiased 
analysis  of  your  requirements.  My  rea- 
sonable engineering  fee  may  save  you  mis- 
takes and  money.  Gordon  H.  Simmons,  926 
N.  Cass  St.,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 


THEATRE  GAMES 


BINGO  CARDS 

$2.00  per  thousand.  Lots  of  ten  thou- 
sand or  over — 25%  discount.  Cash  with 
order.  Die  cut  numbered  1 to  100  or  1 to 
75.  S.  Klous,  Boxoffice,  9 Rockefeller 
Plaza,  New  York  City. 


FILMS  FOR  SALE 


BUSSA  FILM  EXCHANGE  now  offer- 
ing outstanding  roadshow  attractions  for 
outright  sale.  35mm  sound.  Any  type  of 
picture  you  wish.  Low  prices.  On  sex, 
gangster,  action  pictures,  serials,  westerns. 
Uncle  Tom’s  Cabin  in  sound,  $350.00. 
Friendship,  Ohio. 


FOR  SALE— MISCELLANEOUS 


FOR  SALE — Road  Show  with  Projectors. 
New  Print  on  Good  Picture.  Hobgood, 
Rion,  S.  C. 


WANTED  — MISCELLANEOUS 


PIPE  ORGAN  WANTED.  East:  Give  full 
details.  Builder,  condition,  age,  stop-list. 
Quote  lowest  price.  B-1323,  Boxoffice, 
4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


PRINTING 


LETTERHEADS  AND  ENVELOPES— 
500  8y2"xll"  sheets  and  500  6%  envelopes, 
on  good  grade  white  bond  paper,  black  ink. 
Up  to  5 lines  of  type,  $4.95  postpaid.  Send 
copy  and  check  with  order.  Paul  Miller 
Printing  Co.,  4806  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City, 
Mo. 


HELP  WANTED 

OPERATORS  AND  MANAGERS.  Movie 
circuits.  ROSHON,  State  Theatre  Bldg., 
Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

THEATRE  MANAGER  WANTED— Have 
splendid  opening  for  young  wide  awake 
live  wire  theatre  manager  not  afraid  of 
work  and  capable  of  delivering.  State  all 
in  first  letter.  If  can  do  art  work,  book- 
keeping or  lobby  work.  Advise  salary,  etc. 
B-1321,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas 
City,  Mo. 

WANTED:  PROJECTIONIST.  New 

York  State.  Must  work  reasonable.  State 
salary.  B-1317,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St., 
Kansas  City,  Mo. 


SALESMEN  WANTED 

WE  WANT  EXPERIENCED  SALES- 
MEN!  Splendid  opportunity  to  make  good 
income  handling  Alexander  streamlined 
Coming  Attraction  PREVIEW  TRAILERS. 
Company  now  serving  thousands  of  inde- 
pendent and  chain  theatres.  Aggressive 
salesmen  will  be  given  good  territories. 
Write  to  R.  E.  Fulham,  Sales  Manager, 
Alexander  Preview  Company,  Colorado 
Springs,  Colorado. 


THEATRES  FOR  SALE 

TWO  THEATRES — Wisconsin  industrial 
city.  Fully  equipped.  Ten  year  lease. 
Drawing  population,  75,000.  Good  reason 
for  selling.  B-1316,  Boxoffice,  4804  E. 
9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

THEATRE  IN  MISSISSIPPI.  Now  op- 
erating as  all-colored.  Must  sell  imme- 
diately. Priced  reasonably.  B-1318,  Box- 
office,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


THEATRES  WANTED 

WANTED:  THEATRES  to  lease  out- 
right or  arrange  operating  agreement. 
Western  Pennsylvania  and  Eastern  Ohio. 
B-1322,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas 
City,  Mo. 


Tell  Them — 

“Saw  Your  Ad  in 
BOXOFFICE’’ 


HERE  IS  YOUR  HANDY  “AD  ORDER”  BLANK 

BOXOmCE.  (S.nd  Ca.h(‘0°.  ° ”“d 

4804  East  Ninth  St..  With  0rdor)‘  4 mser,lonB 

Kansas  City,  Mo.  { at  price  of  3 

Kindly  insert  the  following  ad  times  in  your  “CLEARING 

HOUSE”  section,  running  through  ALL  eight  sectional  editions  of  BOXOFFICE.  Here- 
with is  check  □ cash  □ Money  order  □ in  the  amount  of  $ 

Blind  Ads — 10c  extra  to  cover  cost  of  postage. 

CLASSIFICATION  WANTED  


Name  and  address  should  be  included  in  the  word  count. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  11,  1941 


e Address  copy  to  BOXOFFICE.  4804  E.  Ninth  St.,  Kansas  City,  M<>. 
Forms  close  Monday  noon  preceding-  publication  date. 


“I  like  your  new  reviews  service 
for  the  Picture  Guide.  Boxoffice  is 
as  vital  to  theatres  as  the  rain  is  to 
corn.” 

JACK  STORY, 

Mary  Agnes  Theatre, 
Jamestown,  Ky. 

“1  think  your  service  is  the  best 
there  is.  I use  Boxoffice  only;  stop- 
ped all  the  rest.  Just  keep  me  on  the 
list.  Thanks  a million.” 

P.  E.  DAVIS, 

Fox  Theatre, 

Barnes,  Kans. 

‘‘Your  new  review  idea  should  speed 
up  use  of  the  reviews  pages.” 

IVAN  A.  McCLAIN, 
California  Theatre, 
Sacramento,  Calif. 

‘‘This  is  a big  improvement.” 

N.  E.  FRANK, 

Wayland  Theatre, 
Wayland,  Mich. 

‘‘Good!  The  change  is  much  bet- 
ter.” 

L.  E.  DOWNING, 

Haven  Theatre, 
Brookhaven,  Miss. 

‘‘I  feel  that  your  new  plan  will  be 
much  more  convenient  and  satisfac- 
tory.” 

B.  J.  CHARLES, 

Fort  Theatre, 
Chatsworth,  Ga. 


“A  swell  idea  and  a real  time 
saver.” 

R.  G.  VERZUH, 

Princess  Theatre, 
Crested  Butte,  Colo. 

“Please  rush  us  a new  Picture 
Guide.  We  think  your  new  reviews 
system  is  a wonderful  idea.” 

HARLAND  RANKIN, 
Plaza  Theatre, 

Tilbury,  Canada. 

“I  like  the  old  style,  too,  but  be- 
lieve this  new  idea  will  fill  the  need 
and  provide  faster  access  to  pictures 
than  the  old  system.  Best  wishes.” 

ELMER  D.  CLAY, 
M-G-M  Staff, 

Chicago,  111. 

“I  think  this  is  much  better.” 

J.  N.  FENDLEY, 

Neely  Theatre, 
Uniontown,  Ala. 

“It  will  make  a more  simplified  and 
easier  to  handle  file.” 

JULES  LANDFIELD, 
Valley  Theatre, 

Spring  Valley,  111. 

“The  new  change  is  much  handier.” 
JERRY  HORACEK, 
Model  Theatre, 
Bancroft,  Nebr. 

“It  saves  time.” 

B.  LEIGHTON, 

Grand  Theatre, 
Lancaster,  Pa. 


SINCE  the  introduction  of  the 
first  PICTURE  GUIDE,  seven 
years  ago,  we  have  effected 
a number  of  changes,  each  mak- 
ing for  greater  simplicity  in  filing 
BOXOFFICE  reviews  in  this 
handy,  pocket-fitting,  loose-leaf 
binder. 

Now,  we  have  perfected  an- 
other change — this  time  eliminat- 
ing: 

1.  The  need  to  cut  out  each  re- 
view separately. 

2.  The  requirement  of  moisten- 
ing gummed  strips. 

3.  The  time-loss  in  doing  those 
things. 

Simply  fold  page  on  the  middle 
line — and  you  have  four  pages 
of  reviews,  already  punched, 
ready  to  put  into  your  PICTURE 
GUIDE. 

These  reviews  will  regularly  be 
indexed  in  BOXOFFICE'S  Book- 
ing Chart  — by  date  of  review 
and  by  PG  page  number.  Then, 
four  times  a year,  we  will  pub- 
lish quarterly  index,  also  design- 
ed to  fit  your  PICTURE  GUIDE. 


That’s  SERVICE  That  SERVES! 


"THOSE  UNTAPPED  MILLIONS,"  EDITORIAL  ON  POTENTIAL  AUDIENCES  . . . "BIG  5"  L 
WONT  START  NEW  SELLING  UNTIL  JULY  AND  MAYBE  LATER  . . . INDUSTRY  LEAD- 


ERS, PREDICTING  BOOM  THIS  YEAR,  EXPLAIN  WHY  . . . WHAT  DO  EXHIBITORS  THINK 

mm 


OF  THE  PROSPECT?  THEY,  TOO,  TELL  . . . STREAMLINED  REVIEWS  . . . REVIEW 


DIGEST  . . . SHORTS  REVIEWS  . , . SELLING  SEATS  . . . AND  THE  "BOOKING  CHART" 


WAYS 
OUT  OF 


TO  GET 
HOCK! 


With  chuckles  and  shekels  M-G-M  has  started  its  1941  career  in  a 
blaze  of  box-office  glory.  Laughing  their  way  into  record  business 


CLARK  GABLE  • HEDY  LAMARR  in 
“COMRADE  X.”  A King  Vidor  Produc- 
tion with  Oscar  Homolka,  Felix  Bressart, 
Eve  Arden.  Screen  Play  by  Ben  Hecht  and 
Charles  Lederer.  Directed  by  King  Vidor. 
Produced  by  Gottfried  Reinhardt 
y An  M-G-M  Picture 


are  “COMRADE  X”  and  “PHILADELPHIA  STORY”  whose 
sustaining  power  in  its  day-and-date  Los  Angeles  engagement 
and  whose  sensational  Music  Hall  business  gives  you  an  idea  of 
what  to  expect.  (3d  week  at  the  Music  Hall  and  going  bigger  than 
ever  after  setting  a five-year  record !)  “COMRADE  X”  is  in  its  3d 
big  week  at  the  Capitol,  N.  Y.,  and  a hold-over  joy  everywhere. 
“FLIGHT  COMMAND”  is  just  what  America  and  your  box- 
office  crave  right  now.  Three  in  a row  and  it’s  only  the  start  of  a 
happy  and  FRIENDLY  New  Year. 


CARY  KATHARINE  JAMES 
GRANT  * HEPBURN  * STEWART 
in  “THE  PHILADELPHIA  STORY”  with 
Ruth  Hussey,  John  Howard,  Roland  Young, 
John  Halliday,  Mary  Nash  and  Virginia 
Weidler.  Screen  Play  by  Donald  Ogden 
Stewart.  Based  on  the  Play  by  Philip  Barry, 
produced  by  The  Theatre  Guild  Inc. 
Directed  by  George  Cukor,  Produced  by 
Joseph  L.  Mankiewicz.  An  M-G-M  Picture 


With  the  Gratefully  Acknowledged  Co- 
operation of  the  United  States  Navy, 
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  presents  ROBERT 
TAYLOR  in  “FLIGHT  COMMAND” 
with  Ruth  Hussey,  Walter  Pidgeon,  Paul 
Kelly,  Shepperd  Strudwick,  Nat  Pendleton, 
Red  Skelton.  A Frank  Borzage  Production. 
Screen  Play  by  Wells  Root  and  Commander 
Harvey  Haislip.  Directed  by  Frank  Borzage. 

Produced  by  J.  Walter  Ruben 
An  M-G-M  Picture 


PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

ASSOCIATED 

PUBLICATIONS 

BEN  SHLYEN 

Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor-in-Chief 

William  G.  Formby, 
i Editor;  Jesse  Shlyen, 
Managing  Editor; 
Louis  Rydell,  Adver- 
tising Manager;  Mor- 
ris SCHLOZMAN,  BUSi- 
n e s s Manager;  J. 
Harry  Toler,  Editor 
Modern  Theatre  Sec- 
i lion;  A.  J.  Stocker, 
Eastern  Represent- 
ative; Ivan  Spear, 
Western  Manager. 

Editorial  Offices'.  9 

ROCKEFELLER  PLAZA,  NEW 

york  city;  Publication 
Offices'.  4804  east  9th 
ST.,  KANSAS  CITY,  MO.,' 
Hollywood'.  6404  Hol- 
lywood b-lvd.;  Chi- 
cago'. 332  SOUTH  MICH- 
IGAN BLVD. 

January  18.  194  1 

Volume  38  - Number  9 


Those  Untapped  Millions 


THAT  old  friend,  the  fellow  who  stays  away 
from  the  picture  show  or  goes  only  spar- 
ingly, is  still  around,  we  see  by  the  papers. 
They've  been  talking  about  him  in  longing, 
but  vague,  terms  again.  They  want  to  throw 
their  arms  around  him  by  way  of  getting  per- 
manently clubby,  but  it's  all  in  terms  of  hope, 
not  action. 

The  case  of  Ed  Kuykendall,  for  instance. 
Via  the  MPTOA  bulletin  route,  he  is  determin- 
ing that  "the  one  thing  that  is  really  wrong 
with  our  business  is  that  too  many  people 
stay  away  from  the  movie  theatres."  There 
are  those  who  can  think  up  some  other  things, 
too,  which  are  wrong,  but  that  would  be  put- 
ting another  face  on  the  same  horse.  An  any 
time  procedure. 

"It  presents  a definite,  standing  challenge 
to  theatre  owners  and  the  industry  to  find  out 
why  these  people  have  no  interest  . . . and 
what  keeps  them  away  from  the  theatres. 
Every  exhibitor  and  theatre  manager  can  study 
his  own  community  and  neighborhood  to  find 
the  answer  to  the  problem,"  he  observes.  He 
is  right  about  the  challenge.  He  may  be  on 
the  answer. 

At  any  rate,  this  is  an  exhibitor  approach. 
Now  a producer-distributor,  as  well  as  a the- 
atre, viewpoint  as  Barney  Balaban  put  it  be- 
fore the  AMPA  the  other  day.  "We  do  know 
there  is  a potential  audience  of  from  twenty 
to  thirty  millions  in  the  United  States  who 
are  not  now  attending  the  movies.  It  is  this 
group  we  must  reach.  And  it  is  more  im- 
portant today  than  ever  that  we  do  so  be- 
cause of  our  increasing  dependence  upon  do- 
mestic revenues.  I doubt  whether  these  peo- 
ple can  be  brought  to  the  theatre  merely  by 
using  bigger  adjectives  or  by  sensationalism, 
but  you  [advertising]  men  and  women  must 
apply  yourselves  to  finding  means  of  arous- 
ing their  interest." 

Where  to  Begin 

VERY  good.  Indeed,  very  good.  But  it  has  to 
start  elsewhere.  It  seems  rather  obvious 
that  a first  step  in  the  direction  of  tapping  an 
untapped  market  is  to  get  out  the  sounding 
line,  throw  it  overboard,  see  how  much  of  it 
gets  wet  and  what  barnacles  it  may  attract. 
Then  you  draw  conclusions,  some  wrong  and 
some  correct,  but,  at  least,  you  have  some- 
thing on  which  to  base  calculations.  There's 
a fancier  name  for  this  sort  of  goings  on  in 
other  industries  where  they  call  it  market  re- 
search. 

It  can  be  undertaken  by  one  company  as 


RKO  did  with  George  Gallup  recently.  Or  it 
can  be  taken  on  for  an  entire  industry  on  be- 
half of  that  industry  for  all  participants  to 
benefit  proportionately.  So  far,  films  have 
been  notoriously  shy. 

But  while  this  business  is  shy  on  scientific 
business  application,  it  has  ever  been  gener- 
ous in  other  directions.  On  a throw  of  mental 
dice,  fortunes  are  poured  into  someone's  pet 
production  idea,  Hollywood  sets  out  to  spend 
the  money,  and  does,  and  the  sales  depart- 
ment, setting  up  the  formulas  in  New  York, 
catches  the  hell  and  the  brimstone  as  any  sales 
manager  will  testify,  if  only  he  would. 

It  ought  to  be  made  clear  along  about  here 
that  you  will  find  nothing  now  or  ever,  if 
this  department  can  remember  that  long,  to 
suggest  the  gamble  or  the  dice  can  be  fully 
liquidated  out  of  this  business.  The  structure 
has  been  functioning  too  long  on  a set  foun- 
dation to  believe  the  underpinning  can  be 
changed  without  collapse. 

Some  Pages  Turn  Back 

BUT  about  eighteen  months  ago  and  again 
a year  ago,  it  was  suggested  here  that 
probably  the  guesswork  can  be  reduced,  not 
eliminated,  by  employing  available  industry 
machinery  or  engaging  outside  machinery 
equipped  for  such  purposes  in  a widespread 
and  wholly  serious  endeavor  to  get  at  the 
facts. 

What  facts?  For  example,  what  is  the  un- 
tapped audience  in  approximate  numbers,  and 
where  located?  What  deductions  for  the  ex- 
treme young,  the  extreme  old,  the  defectives, 
the  shut-ins,  the  criminals?  Of  the  possibili- 
ties, what  sort  of  earning  power  do  they  en- 
joy or  do  not  enjoy;  in  other  words,  can  they 
go  in  the  event  they  want  to  go  and  at  what 
price?  What  kind  of  attractions  do  they  want 
and,  if  those  attractions  are  not  being  made, 
would  it  be  commercially  expedient  to  make 
them? 

In  short,  a genuine  effort  to  find  out  what 
the  gap  represents  and,  how,  if  at  all,  it  can 
be  closed? 

It  will  cost  money,  of  course,  but  the  mint 
is  still  active  and  nobody  in  the  business  is 
exactly  on  the  breadline.  Besides,  if  the  in- 
dustry survived  the  dubious  investment  of 
a million,  cool  or  hot,  to  float  the  quiz  con- 
test of  another  day,  the  far  less  / 
required  for  a bang-up  research  I / 
job  certainly  ought  to  be  in  the  11^ 
cards.  I 


"BIG  5”  WON’T  START  SELLING 
BEFORE  JULY;  MIGHT  BE  LATER 


Will  Await  Completion 
Of  First  Block  by 
All  Companies 


New  York — Selling  for  1941-42  by  the 
“Big  Five”  will  not  get  under  way  until 
July,  or  later,  when  the  first  block  of  five 
pictures  of  each  of  the  theatre  owning  dis- 
tributors will  be  ready  for  trade  showing, 
according  to  present  indications. 

The  pictures  to  be  trade  shown  in  the 
summer  will  not  be  ready  for  release  until 
the  first  week  in  September  when  current 
contracts  expire.  The  second  blocks  will 
be  available  for  screenings  in  local  key 
areas  in  August  and  scheduled  for  release 
in  October  under  plans  now  being  dis- 
cussed. 

Whether  sales  meetings  of  the  “Big  Five” 
will  be  held  early  this  year  is  a moot  ques- 
tion at  present  with  sales  managers  now 
studying  the  possibility  of  holding  regional 
conventions  about  May.  At  these  meetings 
plans  for  the  forthcoming  season  will  be 
divulged,  in  addition  to  a thorough  going 
over  of  the  decree  by  company  home  of- 
fice lawyers. 

Watch  by  “Little  Three" 

One  of  the  main  features  of  each  con- 
vention inevitably  will  be  the  stressing  of 
the  decree  and  the  obligation  of  every 
booker,  salesman  and  branch  manager  to 
observe  to  the  letter  its  provisions. 

Meanwhile,  the  “Little  Three”  are  tak- 
ing a watchful  waiting  attitude  before 
making  known  their  plans  for  next  season. 
The  general  attitude  among  the  non-con- 
senting companies  is  first  to  see  what  the 
“Big  Five”  are  planning  before  making 
commitments. 

A.  Montague,  general  sales  manager  for 
Columbia,  informs  Boxoffice  his  plans  are 
not  set.  “We  are  just  sitting  on  the  side- 
lines watching  how  we  may  be  affected  by 
the  decree,”  he  says. 

Columbia  May  Shift  Policy 

Columbia  may  have  to  shift  its  sales 
policy  to  meet  the  new  condition,  Mon- 
tague intimates,  but  in  what  way  this 
change  may  take  place  is  too  early  to  fore- 
cast, he  adds.  Production  conferences  be- 
tween home  office  and  studio  executives 
may  get  under  way  next  month.  Studio  ex- 
ecutives may  come  east  for  the  sessions, 
but  this  is  not  yet  set.  Above  all,  how- 
ever, caution  is  the  watchword  for  this 
company. 

At  RKO,  sales  executives  are  now  work- 
ing on  a plan  to  simplify  selling  under  the 
decree.  Some  ideas  have  been  discussed, 
but  will  not  be  revealed  until  the  conven- 
tion, it  is  stated.  Meanwhile,  William 
Zimmerman,  home  office  attorney,  is  mak- 
ing a tour  of  exchanges  explaining  the  de- 
cree in  the  simplest  terms  possible. 

Louis  Phillips,  Paramount  home  office 
attorney,  is  now  making  a tour  of  branches 
and  will  be  joined  by  Austin  C.  Keough, 
general  counsel.  Theatre  affiliates  are  be- 
ing called  in  where  possible. 

Felix  Jenkins  and  two  of  his  aides  at 
20th-Fox  have  delayed  their  tour  of  ex- 


Ct  ==^ 

Top  Hits  of  the  Week 

As  culled  from  first  run  reports  in 
the  sectional  editions  of  Boxoffice. 


Average  is  100  per  cent. 

Kitty  Foyle — 

Kansas  City  (dual)  290 

Chicago  (dual,  2nd  wk) 200 

Omaha  (dual)  175 

Boston  (dual)  170 

Love  Thy  Neighbor — 

Denver  (2nd  wk)  230 

Cleveland  (10  days)  200 

Los  Angeles  175 

Seattle  (dual)  175 

New  York  (3rd  wk) 160 

Comrade  X — 

Indianapolis  (10  days) 230 

Cleveland  (10  days) 200 

Denver  (dual)  190 

Milwaukee  (dual)  160 

Second  Chorus — 

New  Haven  (dual) 185 

Detroit  155 

Hudson's  Bay — 

Detroit  (dual)  175 

Philadelphia  Story — 

New  York  (2nd  wk) 165 

Fantasia — 

New  York  (8th  roadshow  wk)....160 

^ - ■ — J 


Warner  Pow-wow  on 
Nexi  Season  Near 

New  York — Gradwell  L.  Sears  will  head 
a group  of  Warner  executives  on  a trek 
to  the  coast  in  about  three  weeks  where 
production  plans  and  decree  operations 
will  be  further  developed  for  the  1941-42 
season.  Sam  Schneider  will  precede  the 
group  by  approximately  one  week. 

The  contingent  will  embrace  Ben  Kal- 
menson,  western  sales  manager;  Roy 
Haines,  eastern  sales  manager;  Norman 
H.  Moray,  short  subject  sales  manager; 
Mort  Blumenstock,  eastern  advertising 
manager,  and  I.  Howard  Levinson,  assist- 
ant to  Robert  W.  Perkins,  head  of  the 
legal  staff: 

Robert  Riskin,  Frank  Capra’s  partner, 
is  due  in  New  York  with  a print  of  “Meet 
John  Doe.”  Warner  thus  far  has  not  di- 
vulged its  selling  plans  or  the  season  in 
which  the  film  is  to  be  released.  This 
explains  Riskin’s  trip  east. 


changes  until  a manual,  now  in  final  pre- 
paration, is  completed  for  the  sales  force. 

Warner  and  M-G-M  attorneys  may  not 
visit  the  field,  the  present  intention  being 
to  inform  salesmen,  bookers  and  branch 
managers  of  decree  operations  at  con- 
vention. Warner  has  already  gotten  out  a 
13-page  analysis  of  the  decree.  Tyree  Dil- 
lard jr.  of  M-G-M’s  home  office  legal  staff 
has  already  spoken  to  branch  and  district 
managers  at  a recent  Chicago  session.  At 
that  time  William  F.  Rodgers,  general 
(Continued  on  page  15) 


No  "U"  Revamping 
Because  of  Decree 

New  York — Universal  will  not  alter  its 
1941-42  production  or  distribution  system 
in  light  of  the  decree  among  the  competi- 
tive “Big  Five,”  is  the  informal  opinion  of 
William  A.  Scully,  general  sales  manager, 
upon  his  return  from  a coast  production 
conference.  Similarly,  for  instance,  he  does 
not  envision  next  season  selling  getting 
under  way  earlier  than  is  customary. 

Asked  if  he  discussed  plans  for  next  sea- 
son, Scully  replied  some  ground  work  has 
been  gone  over  but  that  it  is  too  early  to 
go  into  the  program  until  further  ideas 
are  realized.  His  concern  this  trip  was 
the  balance  of  the  current  schedule,  all  of 
which  the  company  will  deliver,  he  de- 
clared. This  takes  in  42  features,  plus 
three  from  Frank  Lloyd  and  seven  Richard 
Arlen-Andy  Devine  action  films. 

In  answer  to  a direct  question,  and  one 
that  has  been  prominent  in  “Little  Three” 
circles  since  the  consent  decree  was  signed, 
Scully  put  thumbs  down  on  suggestions 
Universal  is  either  soliciting  or  accepting 
long  term  franchises. 

All  told,  the  company  has  22  features  to 
deliver  on  the  current  schedule.  Of  these, 
Scully  singles  out  the  following,  in  addi- 
tion to  “Back  Street”  and  “Buck  Privates,” 
as  worthy  of  special  attention:  Deanna 
Durbin’s  “Nice  Girl,”  “Model  Wife,”  with 
Joan  Blondell  and  Dick  Powell;  the  Frank 
Lloyd  production  of  “Lady  From  Chey- 
enne,” with  Loretta  Young  and  Robert 
Preston;  “Man-Made  Monster,”  with  Lon 
Chaney  jr.;  Rene  Clair’s  production  of 
“Flame  of  New  Orleans,”  starring  Mar- 
lene Dietrich;  “The  Man  Who  Lost  Him- 
self,” with  Brian  Aherne;  “Old  Charlie,” 
with  Abbott  and  Costello;  “I,  James  Lewis,” 
a Frank  Lloyd  film;  “Butch  Minds  the 
Baby”  and  “Tight  Shoes,”  both  by  Damon 
Runyon,  and  “Unfinished  Business,”  star- 
ring Irene  Dunne. 


Sees  Decree  as  Making  It 
Tough  on  " Little  Fellow " 

Lampasas,  Tex. — The  decree  will  affect 
the  “little  fellow”  in  at  least  three  ways, 
declares  Roy  L.  Walker,  president  of  the 
Theatre  Owners  Protective  Ass’n  in  a bul- 
letin placing  responsibility  for  the  docu- 
ment at  the  doorstep  of  “Allied  and  others, 
who,  during  the  past  10  years,  have  ham- 
mered at  the  doors  of  congress  and  the 
department  of  justice  asking  that  they 
take  over  the  distribution  and  exhibition 
of  pictures  and  lay  down  rules  and  regu- 
lations for  our  operation.” 

Walker  enumerates  his  three  points  as 
follows:  The  decree  will  (1)  increase  the 
cost  of  buying  at  least  double;  (2)  cause 
the  small  operator  to  run  product  six  to 
12  months  behind  key  cities  and  (3)  force 
the  small  theatre  to  join  some  kind  of 
buying  organization. 


4 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


LEADERS  PREDICT  IT'LL  BOOM; 
CREDIT  DEFENSE  FOR  UPSURGE 


Predicts  Upswing  in  1941 

By  GEORGE  J.  SCHAEFER 
President , RKO  Corporation 

New  York— In  my  opinion,  the  motion  picture  indus- 
try will  only  begin  to  realize  the  benefits  in  1941  of  the 
government  expenditures  and  business  improvements 
and  expansion. 

There  has  been  a considerable  lag  in  boxoffice  re- 
sponse since  the  period  when  business  took  an  upturn, 
but  we  will  shortly  begin  to  feel  the  benefits  in  our 
industry.  The  lag  has  been  due  to  many  variables. 

With  business  on  the  upswing,  1941  should  be  a good 
year  for  our  industry. 

VS=  : = —>J 


Sees  Bright  Frame 
To  Gloomy  Picture 

By  NATE  J.  BLUMBERG 
President,  U?iiversal  Pictures  Co.,  Inc. 

Hollywood — This  new  year,  in  terms  of 
the  international  picture,  may  be,  and 
probably  will  be,  a 
dark  and  foreboding 
one.  But  for  the  film 
industry,  I can  see  it 
only  in  terms  of  pros- 
perity. More  so  than 
has  prevailed  in  a 
number  of  years,  in 
my  opinion. 

Newspaper  head- 
lines are  re-directing 
your  average  person 
in  this  country  to  the 
fountain  heads  of  en- 
tertainment. All  kinds 
of  entertainment.  Your  average  person  will 
want  more  and  more  relief  from  the  reali- 
ties of  the  age.  That  does  not  mean  he 
wants  his  intelligence  slighted  and  it  does 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Cohn  Is  Encouraged 
Over  1941  Prospects 

By  JACK  COHN 

Executive  Vice-President 
Columbia  Pictures 

New  York— There  are  several  factors 
which  make  the  outlook  for  1941  loom  up 
as  decidedly  encour- 
aging. The  constant 
decrease  in  unem- 
ployment due  to  the 
pressing  need  of 
manpower  in  indus- 
tries directly  or  indi- 
rectly connected  with 
the  war,  is  one  of 
them.  The  increased 
spending  power  of 
the  masses  to  whom 
motion  pictures  have 
always  represented 
the  favorite  form  of 
entertainment,  is  another;  and  the  third 
is  the  fact  that,  pressure  groups  to  the 
contrary,  motion  pictures  have  steadily 
improved  in  quality  and  will  continue  to 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Optimism,  However,  Is 
Limited  to  Domestic 
Industry  Market 

Industry  leaders,  with  some  cautions  and 
some  reservations,  are  confident  the  new 
year  will  be  a significant  one  at  the  box- 
office.  Their  statements  on  this  page  give 
the  reasons  for  their  conclusions. 


One  of  Greatest  Booms 
Predicted  by  Warner 

By  HARRY  M.  WARNER 

President,  Warner  Bros.  Pictures,  Inc. 

Hollywood — Unless  all  signs  fail,  this 
year  will  see  one  of  the  greatest  business 
and  industrial  booms 
in  American  history. 

Millions  of  unem- 
ployed will  be  back 
at  work.  The  tremen- 
dous sums  being 
spent  not  only  for 
our  own  national  de- 
fense, but  also  by 
Great  Britain,  will 
bring  back  prosperity 
in  every  town,  ham- 
let and  city  in  the 
United  States. 

The  farmer  and 
the  laborer,  the  manufacturer  and  the  in- 
dustrialist, the  mines,  the  mills  will  all  be 
going  full  blast.  With  more  people  work- 
ing, with  more  spending  money  available, 
it  is  only  natural  that  more  people  than 
ever  will  turn  toward  motion  pictures  for 
entertainment. 

It  is  up  to  our  industry  to  make  certain 
that  the  best  possible  pictures  are  made 
available  for  the  millions  of  new  potential 
theatre  customers  who  are  going  to  be 
hungry  for  entertainment  to  take  their 
minds  off  the  troubles  now  besetting  the 
world. 


Decade-High  Industrial 
Activity  Cheers  Providence 

Providence,  R.  I. — With  payrolls  in  in- 
dustrial plants  throughout  Rhode  Island 
at  the  highest  point  in  a decade,  and  the 
government’s  defense  program  just  get- 
ting under  way;  with  Uncle  Sam  spend- 
ing millions  here  in  enlargement  of  exist- 
ing military  establishments  and  creating 
new  army  and  navy  bases  at  Quonset 
Point,  Pt.  Judith  and  elsewhere;  with  the- 
atre business  generally  up  and  New  Year’s 
Eve  spending  best  in  years;  with  two  new 
neighborhood  theatres  opened  within  the 
past  six  months  and  at  least  one  more 
new  one  at  present  in  the  planning  stage, 
1941  looks  to  be  a profitable  period  for 
exhibitors  throughout  this  state. 

The  new  legislature,  which  convenes 
Tuesday,  is  not  expected  to  introduce  any 
(Continued  on  page  9) 


ft  ft 

Another  Encouraging  Sign 

By  BARNEY  BALABAN 
President,  Paramount  Pictures,  Inc. 

New  York — It  appears  to  me  that,  barring  always  the 
uncertainty  of  what  may  happen  to  the  foreign  market, 
particularly  England,  we  have  every  reason  to  be  hope- 
ful and  encouraged  over  the  outlook  for  1941.  The  gen- 
eral improvement  in  industrial  recovery  has  not,  as  yet, 
been  felt  to  any  extent  by  the  motion  picture  business. 

If  this  improvement  continues,  and  I think  it  will,  it  should 
go  a long  way  towards  offsetting  any  losses  the  com- 
panies have  suffered  because  of  loss  of  foreign  reve- 
nue, or  which  may  result  from  adjustments  which  will 
be  necessary  due  to  the  consent  decree, 
vs-  


BOXOFFICE  : : January  18,  1941 


5 


MBBpil 


Wmm 


....  - ; : 


\ : : % : 


Defense  Money  Seen 
Certain  Phila.  Hypo 

Philadelphia — Defense  spending,  heav- 
ily concentrated  in  this  area,  is  looked  to 
by  exhibitors  as  a sure  stimulant  in  1941 
to  a previously  anemic  boxoffice. 

As  to  the  effect  of  the  decree  on  busi- 
ness, exhibitors  are  inclined  to  be  more 
cautious  and  to  wait  and  see  how  the  sec- 
tions, titles  and  paragraphs  work  out  in 
practice. 

More  than  $2,000,000,000  in  defense 
contracts  have  been  distributed  to  ship- 
building and  ordnance  plants  in  Phila- 
delphia and  neighboring  industrial  cities, 
including  Camden,  N.  J.  and  Wilmington, 
Del.  And  $1,500,000,000  more  in  contracts 
is  expected  during  the  next  two  or  three 
years,  according  to  members  of  the  Na- 
tional Defense  Advisory  Commission. 

Number  of  employes  in  the  metal  trades 
alone  is  expected  to  go  from  the  present 
70,000  to  double  that  number. 

The  re-employment  boom  isn’t  expected 
to  begin  until  about  Easter,  when  the 
plants  will  be  re-tooled  for  armament  pro- 
duction, But  already  one  curious  sign  of 
increasing  employment  has  been  noted,  re- 
ports David  Milgram,  head  of  the  Affiliated 
Circuit,  which  has  16  subsequent  run 

houses. 

Afternoons  Decline 

“Our  matinees  are  falling  off,  and  our 
evening  houses  are  picking  up,”  he  says. 
“That  means  people  no  longer  have  free 
afternoons — they’re  going  back  to  work.” 

As  to  the  outlook  for  ’41,  he  says:  “I 

hate  to  predict,  but  I’m  kind  of  looking 

forward  to  a pretty  good  year.  The  gov- 
ernment spending  should  have  a notice- 
able effect.  The  consent  decree?  Well, 
we’ll  know  better  when  we  see  how  it 
works.” 

Harry  Fried,  operator  of  a chain  in  the 
“blue-blood”  suburban  section,  says,  “Busi- 
ness ought  to  be  much  better  in  1941.  I’m 
enthusiastic  about  the  outlook.  I think 
the  consent  decree  will  have  a good  effect, 
provided  it  is  properly  put  into  operation. 
The  effect  will  be  beneficial  for  both  the 
independents  and  the  big  chains,  because 
any  industry  that  maintains  peace  is 
bound  to  profit  by  it.” 

Sees  a Bright  Frame 
To  a Gloomy  Picture 

(Continued  from  page  5) 
not  mean  that  he  necessarily  wants  only 
the  fluff. 

I believe  he  will  be  seeking  interesting 
entertainment,  expertly  turnd  out  and  on 
a variety  of  subject  material.  Therefore, 
a pitfall  for  the  industry  to  avoid  more 
diligently  than  ever  is  its  product  rolling 
out  of  a standardized  mould.  This  will 
not  be  easy,  but  it  will  be  essential. 

In  the  search  for  diversion,  there  is 
nothing  fixed  about  our  own  business. 
The  public  will  gravitate  toward  that  form 
of  entertainment  which  offers  it  the  most, 
but  the  degree  to  which  any  upsurge  may 
take  place  in  the  picture  industry  depends 
very  largely  on  the  industry  itself — the 
kind  of  attractions  it  turns  out,  the  per- 
sonalities appearing  in  them,  the  inge- 
nuity evidenced  in  their  making. 


(r  ^ 

Back  to  Work  in 
Empire  State 

Albany — More  than  140.000  workers  are 
estimated  to  have  gone  back  into  New 
York  state  industry  since  April  1,  Indus- 
trial Commissioner  Frieda  S.  Miller  re- 
ports. 

"Many  more  will  follow  them  to  pro- 
duce the  goods  for  which  over  a billion 
dollars'  worth  of  defense  contracts  have 
already  been  let  in  the  Empire  State/' 
she  adds. 

Miss  Miller  said  that  "in  November,  for 
the  first  time.  New  York  factory  employ- 
ment topped  1929  levels.” 

Cohn  Is  Encouraged 
Over  1941  Prospects 

(Continued  from  page  5) 
improve  with  resultant  beneficial  effects 
at  the  boxoffice. 

There  is  no  denying,  however,  the  ser- 
iousness of  the  problems  which  confront 
the  industry.  So  much  space  has  been 
given  them  in  both  the  trade  papers  and 
newspapers  during  recent  months  as  to 
make  it  a sheer  waste  of  time  to  dwell  upon 
them  here.  Nevertheless,  the  manner  in 
which  this  industry  has  always  survived 
the  crises  which  have  confronted  it  over 
the  years  offers  definite  encouragement  for 
the  present  and  the  future.  Clear-headed 
thinking,  plus  the  determination  to  pro- 
duce pictures  as  fine  as  human  ingenuity 
can  devise,  are  all  that  are  needed. 

Of  one  thing  I am  sure,  the  days  of 
wishful  thinking  as  regards  grosses  are  a 
thing  of  the  past.  In  planning  for  the 
future,  this  industry  will  have  to  cut  its 
garment  according  to  the  cloth.  “Prestige 
pictures,”  so-called  because  they  certainly 
yielded  nothing  else,  will  no  longer  reach 
the  screen  if  producers  have  the  welfare  of 
their  respective  companies  in  mind.  The 
dwindling  of  the  foreign  market  almost  to 
the  vanishing  point  makes  it  imperative 
for  every  picture  to  bring  back  its  cost, 
plus,  in  this  country  alone.  No  organiza- 
tion can  henceforth  afford  the  dubious 
luxury  of  gambling  huge  sums  on  product 
which  serves  no  other  purpose  than  that 
of  gratifying  some  individual’s  ego.  On 
the  contrary,  each  picture  will  have  to  be 
aimed  straight  at  the  boxoffices  of  the 
United  States  so  that  whatever  sums  its 
production  and  marketing  entail  will  come 
home  accompanied  by  the  profit  encoun- 
tered within  our  own  borders. 

High  Cost  No  Guarantee 
While  it  is  my  belief  that  the  contrac- 
tion of  the  foreign  market  will  necessitate 
lowered  production  budgets,  this  will  not 
mean  a decrease  in  the  quality  of  films. 
High  production  costs  have  never  yet  in- 
sured a picture  against  being  a flop  at  the 
boxoffice.  On  the  other  hand,  the  indus- 
try has  repeatedly  witnessed  the  emergence 
of  “sleepers”  produced  at  comparatively 
modest  cost  which,  nevertheless,  achieved 
phenomenal  popularity,  thus  proving  that 
the  mere  squandering  of  money  has  never 
yet  been  a successful  substitute  for  show- 
manship. 

One  thing  is  certain,  the  inevitable  tax- 
ation necessitated  by  our  national  defense 
efforts  will  raise  the  cost  of  theatre  ad- 


No  Division  Here  on 
New-Season  Outlook 

Los  Angeles — Showmen  in  this  sector 
whose  opinions  on  any  subject  have  here- 
tofore been  as  varied  as  the  colors  in  the 
rainbow  have  set  a precedent  by  agreeing 
— with  virtual  unanimity — that  1941  will  be 
a banner  year  from  the  standpoint  of 
showmanship,  boxoffice  returns  and  gen- 
eral prosperity  in  the  Southern  California 
sector. 

The  opinions  come  from  diverse  sources, 
including  Fox  West  Coast,  largest  circuit 
in  the  area,  and  ranging  downward  to  the 
most  modest  of  subsequent  run  houses. 
And  the  reasoning  is  based  on  two  factors: 

1.  The  national  defense  program,  which 
is  putting  the  jobless  back  to  work  and 
putting  money  in  many  pockets — a per- 
centage of  which  will  find  its  way  to  the 
boxoffice. 

2.  The  decree,  which  most  exhibitors 
think  will  result  in  better  product. 

FWC  spokesmen,  in  the  absence  of 
Charles  P.  Skouras,  have  little  other  com- 
ment to  make  beyond  pointing  to  the  cir- 
cuit’s recently  announced  $250,000  re- 
habilitation and  modernization  program  as 
an  outstanding  example  of  its  optimism 
anent  1941. 

Predicts  Better  Product 

“A  very  good  year”  is  the  prediction 
voiced  by  Robert  H.  Poole,  executive  di- 
rector of  the  Independent  Theatre  Own- 
ers of  So.  Calif,  and  Ariz.,  which  repre- 
sents some  400  non-circuit  theatre  owners 
in  this  sector.  Poole  maintains  the  boom 
in  aircraft  manufacturing  hereabouts  will 
reflect  favorably  at  the  theatres  and 
thinks,  also,  that  because  of  the  consent 
decree  the  studios  are  going  to  spend  more 
time  and  money  on  their  product. 

The  preparedness  campaign  and  a bet- 
ter lineup  of  attractions  are  going  to  turn 
the  trick,  asserts  Millroy  Anderson,  man- 
ager of  RKO’s  de  luxe  first  run  in  the 
downtown  area,  the  Hillstreet.  Anderson 
declares  he  expects  an  outstanding  array 
of  features  to  carry  through  the  spring  and 
summer  months. 

Here  are  some  other  cross-sectional 
opinions : 

Jack  Goldberg,  booker  for  the  Ben 
Bronstein  circuit:  “A  very  good  year  in 
prospect  because  of  the  national  trend  to- 
ward prosperity.” 

Morris  Barsky  of  the  Capitol,  a 20-cent 
house:  “The  best  year  ever.  More  people 
will  be  working.” 

Cobe  Wartman,  operator  of  the  15-cent 
Deluxe:  “A  good  year.  There  will  be  a cer- 
tain amount  of  prosperity,  and  prosperity 
never  hurt  gny  business.” 

Ben  Peskay,  owner  of  the  Banner,  a 
local  house,  and  the  Palms  in  Palms: 
“Much  better  than  last  year.  Theatre  own- 
ers realize  this  and  are,  therefore,  devot- 
ing more  time  to  their  houses  instead  of 
running  off  to  the  racetracks.” 


missions.  It  is  not  too  soon  for  the  indus- 
try to  institute  a campaign  to  educate  the 
public  to  the  idea  that  even  with  raised 
admission  prices  the  picture  theatre  offers 
more  for  the  money  than  any  other  me- 
dium of  entertainment.  As  I see  it,  such  a 
campaign  would  tend  to  eliminate  any 
thought  that  the  industry  is  attempting  to 
profiteer. 


8 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  18,  1941 


What  the  Studios  Are  Doing 


"Gold  Mine  Waiting 
If  We  Can  Get  It" 

St.  Louis — “There’s  a gold  mine  await- 
ing the  industry  in  1941,  if  we  can  only 
reach  out  and  get  it,”  thinks  Harry  C.  Ar- 
thur jr.  of  F&M  and  operators  of  more 
than  30  theatres  here.  The  unprecedented 
daily  gain  in  employment  figures,  the 
shortage  of  skilled  labor,  and  the  distinct 
industrial  upsurge  in  activity  and  product, 
have  placed  money  in  the  pockets  of  work- 
ing men  and  their  families,  many  of  whom 
have  not  had  that  money  in  more  than  10 
years,  he  states. 

“Net  results,”  he  says,  “will  depend  en- 
tirely upon  the  efficiency  of  Hollywood 
during  the  coming  year,  and  upon  whether 
or  not  it  can  recapture  the  knack  of  turn- 
ing out  boxoffice  attractions.  If  the  film 
capital  continues  to  remain  dazed  at  the 
loss  of  the  foreign  market  and  fails  to 
make  the  most  of  its  improved  domestic 
market,  business  will  be  no  better,  despite 
all  this  activity. 

“The  decree  should  result  in  a definitely 
better  grade  of  film  product,  which,  in 
turn,  can  only  result  in  higher  grosses. 
Whether  or  not  the  decree  is  to  be  the 
solution  of  our  industry’s  ailing  receipts, 
is  questionable,  but  if  quality  films  should 
ensue,  increased  boxoffice  ‘take’  should  fol- 
low, as  a natural  course. 

Must  Meet  Competition 

“Film  entertainment  in  1941  must  be 
made  comparable  to  those  many  other  en- 
tertainments which  have  lured  away  those 
who  formerly  constituted  the  picture  thea- 
tres’ most  ardent  patrons.  Bowling,  base- 
ball, basketball,  radio  and  Bingo  are  only 
a few  of  the  numerous  diversions  which 
have  made  tremendous  inroads. 

“Until  Hollywood  awakens  to  the  fact 
this  competition  does  exist  and  strong 
enough  to  wipe  us  out  entirely  if  steps 
aren’t  taken  to  match  it,  there  isn’t  a 
ghost  of  a chance  to  better  ourselves  this 
year,  regardless  of  how  much  pocket  money 
is  available  for  entertainment  purposes. 

“Hollywood  producers  have  proven  time 
and  again  their  ability  to  turn  out  box- 
office  films. 

“Let  Hollywood  take  a hitch  in  its 
breeches  and  dig  in  for  some  hard  work 
and  we’ll  have  more  of  surefire  boxoffice 
hits  which,  with  or  without  high-powered 
exploitation,  publicity  or  advertising,  will 
lure  them  back  to  our  fold.” 


Decade-High  Industrial 
Activity  Is  Cheering 

(Continued  from  page  5) 
regulatory  acts  or  added  amusement  taxes. 

Higher  prices,  introduced  for  several 
“super”  productions  in  Providence  thea- 
tres through  fall  and  winter  brought  no 
squawks  at  the  boxoffice  and  swelled 
grosses,  to  the  advantage  of  both  pro- 
ducers and  exhibitors.  Dual  features  con- 
tinue as  a regular  diet  in  Providence  and 
the  smaller  towns  and  no  likelihood  of 
this  policy  being  changed  during  this 
year  exists,  even  key  house  managements 
being  resigned  to  dual  showings. 


Hollywood  Avoiding 
Hearst  “Kane"  Involvement 

Hollywood — Film  colony  is  studiously 
refraining  from  exhibiting  any  reaction  to 
the  battle  launched  by  William  Randolph 
Hearst  against  RKO,  precipitated  when  the 
publisher  demanded  that  “Citizen  Kane,” 
made  by  Orson  Welles  for  RKO  release,  be 
shelved  because,  Hearst  contends,  it 
parallels  his  own  career.  He  has  ordered  all 
RKO  news  and  publicity  banned  from  his 
newspapers  and  may  resort  to  legal  action 
in  an  attempt  to  secure  an  injunction  re- 
straining RKO  from  releasing  the  film. 
Spokesmen  here  contend  “Citizen  Kane”  is 
not  a Hearst  biography,  but  a composite 
picture  of  a newspaper  publisher,  fictional 
throughout;  assert  the  ban  against  RKO  is 
unfair  because  the  company  did  not  even 
make  the  picture,  and  indicate,  neverthe- 
less, that  the  studio  is  not  greatly  con- 
cerned over  being  barred  from  the  Hearst 
press.  As  to  shelving  the  picture,  attaches 
say  comment  on  that  must  come  from 
President  George  Schaefer  in  New  York. 

20th-Fox  First  With 
Studio  Decree  Huddles 

First  company  to  plunge  into  serious  ex- 
ecutive huddles  anent  the  consent  decree’s 
probable  effect  on  production  and  dis- 
tribution is  20th  Century-Fox,  where  Presi- 
dent Sidney  R.  Kent,  Sales  Chief  Herman 
Wobber  and  Charles  McCarthy,  advertis- 
ing-publicity head,  are  huddling  with  Dar- 
ryl Zanuck,  Joseph  M.  Schenck  and  Wil- 
liam Goetz.  Wobber  predicts  a boxoffice 
upsurge  will  offset  operational  restrictions 
as  a result  of  the  decree  and  declares  a 
determined  drive  will  be  made  through  in- 
creased sales  efforts  to  raise  cash  for  fi- 
nancing 1941-42  product  in  packages  of 
five.  At  least  two  films,  “The  Outlaw”  and 


Detroit — A mixed  outlook  on  business  is 
typical  of  the  attitude  of  both  circuits  and 
independents  here.  Typically,  Earl  Hud- 
son, president  of  United  Detroit  Theatres 
which  operates  most  of  Detroit’s  first  runs, 
comments: 

“Business  is  going  to  depend  entirely  on 
the  boxoffice  draw  of  the  product  we  re- 
ceive and  upon  the  general  economic  situa- 
tion. People  are  not  going  to  spend  for 
pictures,  even  if  the  town  becomes  flooded 
with  money  from  national  defense  work 
unless  product  is  good  enough  to  de- 
mand it.” 

A checkup  on  upstate  conditions  with 
typical  Michigan  exhibitors  met  along 
Filmrow,  most  of  whom  preferred  not  to  be 
quoted,  reveals  this,  in  cross-section: 

“Defense  spending  is  going  to  affect  the 
smaller  cities  in  the  near  future,  but,  from 
present  evidence,  theatres  are  not  going  to 
have  too  large  a share.  Watch  the  people 
line  up  at  the  bank  on  pay  day — they  are 
putting  their  earnings  in  the  bank,  once 


“Tobacco  Road,”  may  be  roadshowed,  he 
said.  Executives  are  also  setting  budgets 
for  English  production  and  McCarthy  is 
outlining  plans  to  organize  a field  exploi- 
tation staff,  in  addition  to  more  closely 
coordinating  the  east-west  publicity  or- 
ganizations. 

Indications  Are  Production 
Tempo  Will  Be  Continued 

All  signposts  point  to  a continuation  of 
the  rapid  film-making  tempo  to  which  the 
studios  have  been  geared  in  recent  weeks. 
With  19  to  roll  during  the  balance  of 
January,  another  16  pictures  are  already 
scheduled  to  hit  the  cameras  during  Febru- 
ary and  March.  Of  them,  at  least  22  will 
be  in  the  top-budget  brackets. 

Jules  Levey,  president  of  Mayfair,  has 
checked  in  from  New  York  to  launch 
preparations  on  three  films  he  will  pro- 
duce this  season  for  Universal,  including 
“Hellzapoppin”  . . . 20th  Century-Fox  paid 
a reported  $50,000  for  “Benjamin  Blake,” 
new  novel  by  Edison  Marshall  . . . Metro 
has  picked  up  its  option  on  Jan  Struther’s 
best-seller,  “Mrs.  Miniver,”  to  be  produced 
by  Sidney  Franklin  . . . Alexander  Korda’s 
“Lady  Hamilton”  goes  into  release  as 
“That  Hamilton  Woman!”  . . . Ass’n  of 
American  Colleges,  in  its  27th  annual  con- 
vention, was  welcomed  here  jointly  by  the 
producers  association  and  the  Academy  of 
Motion  Picture  Arts  and  Sciences,  in  cere- 
monies at  M-G-M. 

Non-Profit  Training  Reels 
For  Government  Recognized 

Industry  plans  to  produce  non-profit 
military  training  reels  for  the  govern- 
ment were  officially  recognized  when 
Henry  L.  Stimson,  secretary  of  war,  sent 
a.  letter  of  appreciation  to  Y.  Frank  Free- 
man, producers  ass’n  president. 


more  saving  up  for  the  years  ahead  and 
are  not  spending  recklessly  as  was  done  in 
the  last  war.  A marked  increase  in  pay- 
rolls may  make  a difference  when  the 
money  is  distributed  more  widely  to  people 
who  are  less  used  to  it  and  when  it  has 
been  coming  in  for  long  enough  to  seem 
reasonably  secure  for  a while.  But  that  will 
be  months  away.” 

The  viewpoint  of  the  average  indepen- 
dent exhibitor  is  expressed  by  Edgar  E. 
Kirchner  of  the  Family,  Detroit,  and  sec- 
retary-treasurer of  Allied  Theatres  of 
Michigan: 

“Business  in  1941  has  started  off  well 
and  I think  it  should  continue.  Increase 
has  been  moderate,  of  course,  and  is  large- 
ly dependent  in  this  territory  upon  the 
money  which  we  expect  to  have  spent  upon 
production  of  munitions  and  national  de- 
fense spending  in  various  forms.  One  du- 
bious sign  has  appeared  already,  however. 
There  are  more  men  lined  up  before  un- 
employment agencies  than  there  have  been 
in  a long  time.” 


Mixed  Detroit  Outlook;  Key 
Deemed  Quality  of  Product 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


9 


As  Viewed  by  Red  Kann 


Published  Every  Saturday  by 


Associated  Publications 

Editorial  Offices:  9 Rockefeller  Plaza,  New 
York  City.  Louis  Rydell,  Advertising  Man- 
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BUFFALO — Buffalo  Theatre,  G.  C.  Maurer. 
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DONALD  HAYES  is  the  editor  of  a 
house  organ  published  by  the 
Mutual  Benefit  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany. The  K.  Lee  Williams  Theatres, 
Oklahoma  City,  noticing  an  approach 
of  newsreels,  sent  it  along  and  now 
you,  and  the  newsreels,  are  about  to 
get  it.  The  Public  Feels  Its  Own  Pulse, 
this  might  be  called: 

"The  readers  of  this  paper,  who  have  un- 
doubtedly been  preoccupied  these  past  few 
months  with  the  Russian  ballet,  Information 
Please  and  Dorothy  Thompson,  may  not  have 
noticed  the  last  line  of  letters  on  the  electric 
signs  of  local  theatres:  'and  all  the  news- 
reels.’ The  sign  is  supposed  to  indicate  an 
added  attraction  inside.  Having  read  his 
newspaper,  listened  to  his  radio  bulletins,  the 
customer  escapes  to  the  theatre  and  is  asked 
to  sit  through  20  minutes  of  misery,  inter- 
spersed with  views  of  football  games,  girls 
in  bathing  suits  and  sweepstakes  winners, 
before  Myrna  Loy  comes  on. 

“There  is  really  little  news  in  newsreels. 
For  instance,  those  girls.  They  and  their  suits 
doggedly  follow  the  seasons  the  year  round, 
from  Miami  to  Sun  Valley,  from  Mt.  Rainier 
to  Atlantic  City.  Year  after  year  the  reels 
follow  an  unchanging  pattern.  You  can  count 
on  seeing  at  least  one  congressman  on  the 
Capitol  steps;  one  mayor  unveiling  some- 
thing; an  oil  well  fire;  an  airplane  over  Boul- 
der Dam;  graduation  at  Annapolis,  featuring 
hats  tossed  in  the  air;  a parade  at  West 
Point;  a baby  contest;  monkeys;  election  night 
in  Times  Square;  the  Mummers  Parade  in 
Philadelphia;  a rodeo;  Coney  Island  beach 
in  August;  somebody's  wife  breaking  a bot- 
tle of  champagne  over  a new  ship;  a flood; 
cherry  blossoms;  ski  jumps;  a long  distance 
swimmer  covered  with  grease;  the  Kentucky 
Derby. 

"One  of  the  conventions  of  the  reel  is  used 
whenever  the  army  is  shown.  As  an  intro- 
duction, the  mouth  of  a huge  coast  defense 
gun  looms  larger  and  larger  until  it  fills  the 
screen.  It  seems  to  some  moviegoers  whose 
memories  go  back  to  the  days  of  John  Bunny 
and  Flora  Finch,  or  even  the  'The  Great  Train 
Robbery,’  that  they  have  never  been  with- 
out that  scene. 

"And  that’s  why  we  escapists  cry,  'uncle/ 
and  ask  the  theatre  managers  to  leave  the 
newsreels  in  the  newsreel  theatres  where 
their  own  audiences  can  find  them.  How 
about  a good  rousing  installment  of  the 
'Perils  of  Pauline,’  boys?’’ 

Well,  how  about  it,  boys?  The  truth 
is  in  Hayes'  and  his  amusing,  but  also 
biting,  comment.  Everyone  knows,  but 
everyone  may  not  go  around  bothering 
to  talk  about  it,  that  the  average  news- 
reel is  dull  stuff  and,  insofar  as  journal- 
ism on  celluloid  is  concerned,  about  as 
exciting  and  actually  newsworthy  as 
the  woman's  page  in  the  daily  news- 
paper. 


Further.  The  opposition  can  have  its 
chance.  If  it  lines  up  at  all,  it  lines  up 
on  the  right. 

" Land  of  Liberty " 

DOWN  to  ninety-eight  minutes  after 
its  run  at  the  New  York  World's 
Fair,  "Land  of  Liberty"  is  now  in  gen- 
eral distribution,  its  profits  accruing  to 
whatever  war  emergency  relief  the  in- 
dustry may  take  on. 

The  film  is  unique.  It  is  an  edited 
job,  extremely  well  handled  by  Cecil 
B.  DeMille,  of  straight  entertainment 
films  made  in  Hollywood  over  the  last 
twenty-five  years.  In  combination,  it 
tells  a running,  highlight  story  of  the 
rise  of  America  and  ends  on  a note  of 
optimism  for  the  future  without  unduly 
gilding  the  lily  and  making  it  clear 
there  remains  much  to  be  done. 

Everyone  had  a hand  in  this.  All 
companies  are  represented  and  the 
cast  is  enough  to  knock  anyone's  both 
eyes  out.  A partial  list  starts  with  Don 
Ameche  and  George  Arliss  and  goes 
through  the  alphabet  to  Henry  B. 
Walthall  and  Loretta  Young.  Main 
stops  include  Claudette  Colbert,  Bette 
Davis,  Irene  Dunne,  Jack  Holt,  Fredric 
March,  George  Raft,  Spencer  Tracy; 
the  way  stations,  practically  everybody 
any  time  in  sight. 

Certainly  far  more  interesting  than 
most  second  features,  "Land  of  Lib- 
erty" is  easily  as  good  as  many  firsts. 
And  why  not?  It  took  Hollywood  a 
quarter  of  a century  to  turn  it  out. 

He  Follows  Up 

Quentin  Reynolds,  war  corre- 
spondent for  "Collier's,"  was  re- 
sponsible for  "London  Can  Take  It."  It 
may  be  recalled  this  column  had 
something  to  say  about  it  as  gripping 
drama,  on  the  epic  side,  of  a metropolis 
under  attack  from  the  air.  Now  Rey- 
nolds has  returned  to  America  with  a 
sequel  which  he  calls  "They  Spent 
Christmas  Under  Fire."  Again  on 
London,  the  title,  of  course,  tells  the 
content. 

Like  its  predecessor,  here  is  a ten- 
minute  subject  of  power  made  vibrant 
and  genuine  because  it  deals  with 
common  people  facing  conditions  un- 
precedented in  world  history.  Once 
more,  the  narration  is  simple  and  emo- 
tionally underplayed.  And  again  War- 
ner is  releasing,  the  profits  above  costs, 
which  are  geared  low  deliberately,  go- 
ing to  British  war  relief. 


10 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


Opens  Roxy,  JN.  Y.,  Jan.  23 


$10  Daily  Maximum 
Fee  for  Arbitrators 


New  York — As  exclusively  reported  in 
Boxoffice  on  December  21,  the  American 
Arbitration  Ass’n  has  pegged  the  fees  of 
arbitrators.  A flat  $10  per  day  is  the  rate. 

The  decision  to  offset  varied  criticisms 
leveled  at  the  $50  daily  maximum  fee  set 
up  in  the  arbitration  rules  under  the  de- 
cree came  from  the  AAA’s  administrative 
committee,  of  which  Paul  Felix  Warburg  is 
chairman.  Additionally,  the  committee 
has  formally  declared  that  the  $10  fee 
may  be  waived  or  reduced,  if,  in  its  dis- 
cretion, it  appears  the  fee  would  work  a 
hardship  on  a particular  exhibitor. 

The  $10  fee  is  for  one  full  day’s  services 
of  an  arbitrator,  or  any  part  of  a day.  The 
fee  may  be  split  between  disputing  parties 
to  an  arbitration  or  assessed  on  the  losing 
party,  the  discretion  being  with  the  arbi- 


trator. Thus,  no  matter  how  large,  small, 
trivial  or  important  a dispute  arises  before 
a film  tribunal  anywhere  in  the  country, 
the  fee  for  an  arbitrator  cannot  exceed  $10 
per  day.  This  officially  supersedes  the 
maximum  $50  daily  stipulation  in  the  de- 
cree. 

Warburg  has  this  to  say:  “The  associa- 
tion has  followed  its  own  principle  that 
arbitration  should  be  simple  and  inexpen- 
sive. From  its  own  experience  it  has  dis- 
covered that  the  best  men  in  the  country 
are  obtainable  as  arbitrators  upon  a basis 
of  an  honorarium. 

“We  feel  that  the  $10  fee  and  the  pro- 
vision for  waiver  or  reduction  will  work 
to  the  good  of  the  exhibitor.  We  do  not 
want  any  exhibitor  to  lose  his  right  to  ar- 
bitrate because  of  the  prohibitive  cost  of 
arbitrators’  fees.” 


ft 

Suit  Cost  Gov't 
$ 200,000  Thus  Far 

New  York — Film  sources  estimate  the 
government  has  spent  approximately 
$200,000  on  the  all-industry  suit  which, 
to  date,  has  resulted  in  a consent  decree 
with  Loew's,  Paramount,  Warner,  20th- 
Fox  and  RKO. 

^ >J 

Will  Seek  Dismissal 
From  Griffith  Suit 

Oklahoma  City — On  the  theory  “no  tri- 
able issue  is  involved,”  counsel  for  the 
“Little  Three”  on  January  31  will  seek 
dismissal  of  the  government’s  anti-trust 
action  against  the  Griffith  circuit  and 
major  distributors  before  U.  S.  District 
Court  Judge  Vaught.  The  “Big  Five”  have 
been  eliminated  as  defendants  as  a result 
of  the  decree  in  the  New  York  equity  ac- 
tion. Arguments  before  Judge  Vaught  for 
UA,  Columbia  and  Universal  will  be  con- 
ducted by  Edward  C.  Raftery  of  New  York 
and  Malcolm  McKenzie  of  this  city. 


New  York  Hearing  Is 
Off  Until  February 

New  York — Arguments  in  the  motion  of 
counsel  for  the  “Little  Three”  to  dismiss 
the  government’s  supplemental  complaint 
against  them,  growing  out  of  the  decree, 
have  been  set  back  to  early  February  from 
January  30,  originally  agreed  to  by  Judge 
Henry  W.  Goddard.  The  switch  in  dates 
is  occasioned  by  the  fact  that  Edward  C. 
Raftery,  UA  attorney,  is  due  in  Oklahoma 
City,  January  31,  to  argue  dismissal  for  his 
client  in  the  Crescent  anti-trust  case. 


Depositions  Next  Step 
In  Cassil-Dubinsky  Case 

New  York — The  next  step  in  the  Cassil 
Amusement  Co.’s  anti-trust  action  against 
the  Dubinsky  circuit  and  major  distribu- 
tors will  be  the  taking  of  depositions  of  the 
latter’s  branch  managers  in  Kansas  City 
by  plaintiff’s  counsel  on  January  27.  Depo- 
sitions of  Eugenia  D.  and  Frank  H.  Cassil 
were  completed  last  week  in  St.  Joseph, 
Mo.,  by  Edward  C.  Raftery,  majors’  at- 
torney. 

Paramount  Conferences 
On  Decree  Continue 

New  York — Conferences  between  the 
home  office  legal  staff  and  Paramount  ex- 
change forces  are  being  continued  at  a 
rapid  pace.  Austin  C.  Keough,  general 
counsel,  and  J.  J.  Unger,  eastern  sales 
manager,  spent  Monday  in  Boston  and  Fri- 
day in  Philadelphia  explaining  the  legal 
interpretations  of  the  decree.  The  Quaker 
City  session  marks  the  third  for  Keough 
and  Unger. 

Louis  Phillips  during  the  week  held 
similar  sessions  in  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and 
St.  Louis.  Both  he  and  Keough  attended 
the  meeting  held  two  weeks  ago  at  the 
New  York  exchange  which  marked  the 
opening  gun. 


AMERICAN  ARBITRATION  ASSOCIATION 


C.  V.  WHITNEY 

LUCIUS  R.  EASTMAN 
FRANCES  KELLOR 
HERMANN  IRION 
CHARLES  T.  GWYNNS 
SAMUEL  MCROBERT8 
GEORGE  BACKER 
LEE  J.  EASTMAN 
FRANKLIN  E.  PARKER.  JR. 


PRPSIOENT 
CHAIRMAN  OF  THE  BOARD 
FIRST  VICE- PRESIDE  NT 
VICE-PRESIDENT 
VICE-CHMN.  OF  THE  BOARD 
TREASURER 
SECRETARY  OF  THE  BOARD 
CHAIRMAN.  TRADE  BOARD 
CHMN..  ARBITRATION  COM. 


EXECUTIVE  STAFF 


8 WEST  40th  STREET 
NEW  YORK 


J.  NOBLE  BRADEN 
A.  HATVANY 
WALTER  J.  DERENBeRG 
W.  H.  ELLIOT 
WILLIAM  ELLIOT 
JOHN  W.  HILL 
GEORGE  A.  LITTLE 

h.  j.  poweu. 

LAWRENCE  STESSIN 


EXECUTIVE  SECRETARY 
SECRETARY 
LEGAL  RESEARCH 
BP.  COM.  OF  LAWYERS 
TRADES  RELATIONS 
ASSISTANT  SECRETARY 
ARBITRATION  JOURNAL 
COMPTROLLER 
PUBLIC  RELATIONS 


DIRECTORS 

ROBERT  E.  ALLEN 
JAMES  R-  ANGELL 
MRS  HUNTINGTON  ASTOR 
JULES  S.  BACHE 
GEORGE  BACKER 
CHARLES  L-  BERNHEIMER 
WILLIS  H.  BOOTH 
SPRUILLE  BRADEN 
HERMAN  G.  BROCK 
OWSLEY  BROWN 
GEORGE  A.  BROWNELL 
JOHN  3.  BURKE 
HENRY  MUNROE  CAMPBELL 
W.  GIBSON  CAREY.  JR. 
JAMES  8.  CARSON 
EDWIN  H.  CASSEL9 
HENRY  IVES  COBB.  JR. 
RUSSELL  COLGATE 
RALPH  F.  COLIN 
L-  K.  COMSTOCK 
CHARLES  A.  COOLIOGE 
WILLIAM  H.  COVERDALE 
LINCOLN  CROMWELL 
MORTON  R.  CROSS 
P E.  CROWLEY 
KENNETH  DAYTON 
THOMAS  M DEBEVOISE 
GEORGES  F.  DORIOT 
MICHAEL  FRANCIS  DOYLE 
GEORGE  L.  EASTMAN 
LES  J.  EASTMAN 
LUCIUS  R.  EASTMAN 
JOHN  H.  FAHEY 
LINCOLN  FILENE 
LLOYD  K.  GARRISON 
SYLVAN  GOTBHAL 
WILLIAM  J.  GRAHAM 


HENRY  ITTLESON 
CORNELIU9  F.  KELLEY 
FRANCES  KELLOR 
FRED  I.  KENT 

MRS  HARRY  ORLAND  KING 
SAMUEL  D.  LEIDESDORF 
BAM  A LEWISOHN 
JOHN  T.  MCGOVERN 
EDWARD  F,  MCGRAOY 
JAMES  H.  MCGRAW.  JR. 
DONALD  R.  MCLENNAN 
SAMUEL  MCROBERT3 
JOHN  L.  MERRILL 
ROBERT  H.  MONTGOMERY 
THOMAS  A.  MORGAN 
MALCOLM  MUIR 
B H.  NAMM 
W.  W.  NICHOLS 
FRANKLIN  E PARKER.  JR. 

P W PERSHING 
RAMSEY  PEUGNET 


EUGE 


> ITTBR  LE  Y 


KENNETH  M.  SPENCE 
MRS  ROGER  W.  STRAUS 
WESLEY  A 9TUPGE3 
ARTHUR  HAYS  SULZBERGER 
EUGENE  P.  THOMAS 
FRANK  A.  TICHENOR 
WILLIAM  H.  VANDERBILT 
GEORGE  B.  VAN  SCHAICK 
FREDERICK  M.  WARBURG 
PAUL  FELIX  WARBURG 
THOMAS  J.  WATSON 
SIONEY  J.  WEINBERO 
C.  V.  WHITNEY 
EVAN  E.  YOUNG 


CABLE  ADDRESSi  "'ARBITRATION' ' 
TKLEPMONKi  WISCONSIN  7-2200 


January  10,  1941 


Mr.  Maurice  Kann,  Editor 
Boxoffice 

Rockefeller  Center 
New  York,  N.Y. 

Dear  Mr.  Kann: 

May  I congratulate  you  and  your  staff  on  the 
excellent  educational  feature  in  the  form  of 
Questions  and  Answers  on  arbitration  which  appeared 
in  your- January  4th  issue. 

It  is  a concise,,  clear  ana  complete  story. ana 
I am  sure  that  all  the  exhibitors  in  the  country 
will  want  to  read  it  ana  study  it  as  a helpful  pre- 
liminary towards  using  the  motion  picture  arbitra- 
tion facilities  when  they  begin  to  function  after 
February  1st. 

It  is  most  heartening  to  the  officers  and 
staff  of  the  American  Arbitration  Association  that 
BOXOFFICE  considers  arbitration  important  enough 
to  warrant  tne  space  that  you  have  given  it. 


LP.E:b 


t<)  \J\^£AVfVWii 

Lucius  R.  Eastman 
Chairman  of  the  Board 


12 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


Reel . . Filmed  Under  Fire,and  Narrated  Under  Fire  in  London  by  the  Famed  War  Correspondent  of  Collier's  Magazine 

Quentin  Reynolds 

MOTHER  WARNER  WAR  SCOOP! 


Forecasts  Theatre  Jolt 
Due  From  Television 


The  following  reaction  of  a staff  re- 
porter to  Columbia  Broadcasting  System’s 
latest  experiment  in  television  in  color  is 
reprinted  from  last  week’s  eastern  edition 
of  Boxoffice: 

By  LEONARD  WEISBERG 

New  York — If  there’s  a man  in  the 
house  who  doesn’t  think  he,  his  heirs  or 
successors  aren’t  in  for  a stiff  competitive 
jolt  from  television,  let  him  step  up  and 
be  converted. 

A quick  reader  reaction  to  the  above,  if 
there  be  any  reaction  at  all,  might  be:  “It 
won’t  be  in  my  day;  why  worry?” 

Well,  it’s  like  this.  Let’s  say  that  Holly- 
wood bosomed  silent  films  so  long  the 
films  let  out  such  a yelp  that  became 
wired  for  sound.  Let’s  also  say  it  was  any- 
where from  five  years  upwards  that  color, 
and  limited  color  at  that,  was  added  to 
sound. 

Then  consider  this:  It’s  probably  no 
more  than  two  years  since  the  television 
industry  has  been  attempting  to  get  its 


Grateful,  But  Alert 

Madison,  Wis.  — The  promise  of  Gov. 
Julius  P.  Heil  that  no  new  taxes  will  be 
needed  to  finance  the  state  for  the  bien- 
nium is  greeted  by  exhibitors  with  grati- 
tude, but  with  alert  interest.  A fight  is 
expected  in  a proposal  to  divert  highway 
funds  to  the  general  purse  and,  if  diversion 
opponents  win,  pressure  is  expected  for 
new  forms  of  taxation. 


Foresee  Illinois  Ascap  Rein 

Springfield,  III. — Legislation  to  seek 
theatre  relief  from  Ascap  license  fees  may 
be  introduced  in  the  Illinois  legislature  this 
session,  it  is  learned.  Several  legislators 
have  been  approached  by  theatre  men  with 
suggestions  that  anti-Ascap  bills  be  intro- 
duced. 


To  Eighth  Term 

Cleveland — Ernest  Schwartz  has  been 
re-elected  to  his  eighth  term  as  president 
of  the  Cleveland  Motion  Picture  Theatre 
Owners.  Others  re-named:  A.  E.  Ptak, 
vice-president;  L.  G.  Baldwin,  treasurer, 
and  G.  W.  Erdmann,  secretary. 


Flu  Takes  Ohio  Toll 

Columbus — Substantial  drop  in  grosses 
is  reported  by  exhibitors  in  the  wave  of 
influenza  attacks.  The  state  health  de- 
partment, however,  believes  the  disease 
has  reached  its  peak. 


La  Crosse  Hearing  Delay 

Madison,  Wis. — Hearing  in  the  $1,472,000 
damage  suit  by  the  La  Crosse  Theatre  Co. 
against  major  interests  has  been  postponed 
to  February  17. 


baby  into  homes  with  a diversified  pro- 
gram. And  it  hasn’t  even  scratched  the 
surface.  But  the  other  afternoon  this  re- 
porter saw  the  first  public  showing  of  di- 
rect pickup  television  in  color.  And  it  was 
amazing. 

True,  color  television  is  still  in  the  lab- 
oratory. But  if  its  fundamental  problems 
have  been  surmounted,  and  CBS  engineers 
claim  they  have  been,  it  would  seem  to  be 
no  more  than  straightforward  engineering 
effort  before  its  commercial  application 
might  be  anticipated.  Moreover,  the  im- 
pression gained  from  the  color  demonstra- 
tion, per  se,  coupled  with  the  technical 
ease  said  to  accompany  it  presages  an 
earlier  and  faster  development  of  television 
in  color  than  in  black  and  white. 

Accomplish  Color  "Pickup'' 

Responsibility  for  this  presaging  rests 
entirely  with  CBS  engineers,  who  told  this 
reporter  color  pickup,  as  distinguished 
from  color  films  which  up  to  now  have 
been  the  chief  source  for  experimentation, 
is  accomplished  with  a lower  level  of  il- 


Cashes  In  on  Music  Row 

Lincoln  — Bob  Livingston,  who  once 
guaranteed  patrons  he  would  match  the 
amount  offered  by  the  “Pot  O’  Gold”  radio 
program  if  they  were  in  his  theatre  when 
their  name  was  called,  has  developed  an- 
other idea  aimed  at  radio  as  a result  of 
the  Ascap-BMI  scrap.  Whenever  the  pic- 
ture permits,  his  newspaper  advertisements 
will  be  slanted  along  the  line:  “You 
must  be  tired  of  listening  for  a good  tune 
on  your  radio,  so  come  down  to  the  Cap- 
itol, see  and  listen  to  music 

that  is  music.”  First  film  to  get  this 
treatment  will  be  “Tin  Pan  Alley.”  He’s 
seeking  Ascap  financial  support  for  his 
idea. 


"Decree  Protests  Futile" 

Chicago — Arguing  that  “further  pro- 
tests against  or  denunciations  of  the  con- 
sent decree  are  futile”  and  that  no  changes 
or  modifications  are  likely  by  court  ac- 
tion or  otherwise  until  after  the  decree 
is  in  actual  operation,  Edward  G.  Zorn, 
president  of  the  UTO  of  Illinois,  advises 
his  membership  that  compliance  with  the 
document  is  up  to  the  distributors.  He 
asserts  that  impending  state  legislation  is 
more  immediately  important  to  the  asso- 
ciation. 


Await  "Chat"  Switch  Reply 

Minneapolis — Northwest  Allied  is  await- 
ing a reply  to  its  request  of  President 
Roosevelt  that  he  schedule  future  “fire- 
side chats”  for  Monday  night.  Fred  Strom, 
secretary,  wrote  the  President  that  his 
talks  cut  into  grosses  on  the  heaviest  day 
of  the  week. 


lumination  than  is  necessary  for  black  and 
white  pictures.  This,  technically  for  the 
moment,  is  the  result  of  an  orthicon  tube 
which  even  now  is  being  further  developed 
to  the  stage  where  it  will  require  even  less 
light  than  the  one  used  in  the  demonstra- 
tion. 

About  100  persons  were  present  at  the 
showing  held  in  the  new  CBS  studio.  The 
color  pictures  were  picked  up  by  a tele- 
vision camera  in  the  company’s  labora- 
tories about  one  long  block  distant  and 
transmitted  by  coaxial  cable.  The  pictures 
were  reproduced  on  two  receivers,  one  a 
regular  black  and  white,  and  next  to  it 
and  considerably  smaller,  a table  model 
color  receiver  which  also  includes  a stand- 
ard broadcast  radio  receiver.  The  latter, 
especially  designed  for  the  occasion,  is 
designed  to  illustrate  that  color  need  not 
add  bulkiness  to  the  television  receiver. 
The  screens  on  both  receivers  measured 
five  and  one  quarter  by  seven  and  three 
quarter  inches.  As  pictures  were  received 
it  was  possible  to  make  easy  comparison 
between  the  colored  and  black  and  white 
images,  since  both  were  shown  simul- 
taneously. 

And  the  magic  of  color  never  got  a bet- 
ter sendoff.  The  flat  statement  is  made 
for  whatever  it’s  worth,  that  the  black 
and  white  images  were  like  ash  remains  as 
contrasted  to  the  flaming  red  fire  that 
left  them.  Now,  that’s  not  a remark  to 
covet  admittance  to  the  Smithsonian  In- 
stitute, but  it  is  this  observer’s  studied 
opinion  that  perhaps  nothing  the  film  in- 
dustry has  in  use  today  can  match  the 
potentialities,  competitive-wise  or  enter- 
tainment-wise, color  television  offers  once 
it  is  harnessed  for  mass  consumption. 

Cautious  on  Distance 

The  CBS  system,  as  demonstrated,  is  un- 
equivocally declared  to  be  capable  of  trans- 
mitting every  natural  color  the  naked  eye 
can  see.  Whether  this  means  New  York- 
ers could  see  the  Tournament  of  Roses  in 
Pasadena  on  their  television  sets — meaning 
is  distance  a factor  in  transmission? — is 
something  CBS  is  cautious  on.  But  they 
do  state  there  that  weakness  of  light  sig- 
nals as  applied  to  transmitting  images  over 
distances  is  of  much  less  concern  in  color 
television  than  in  black  and  white  because 
of  the  “definition”  color  affords.  Also,  it 
is  said  that,  despite  differences  in  current 
of  power  supply  lines  between  the  point 
of  pickup  and  the  point  of  reproduction,  a 
method  of  synchronizing  the  color  disk  in 
the  receiver  with  the  color  disk  at  the  point 
of  origin  overcomes  this. 

Home  Experiments  Soon 

Among  the  objects  shown  in  the  demon- 
stration, especially  to  illustrate  that  colors 
do  not  “break  up”  if  they  are  moving,  were 
a map  which  was  rapidly  spun  around  in 
both  directions,  colored  liquids  poured  from 
tumbler  to  bowl,  loose  confetti  and  other 
items. 

This  reporter  asked  a CBS  engineer 
what  he  expected  the  next  step  in  the  de- 
velopment might  be.  He  was  also  asked 
if  it  is  possible  to  blow  the  images  up  to 
something  approaching  theatre  screen  size. 
This  is  his  answer: 

“We  expect  to  put  it  on  for  home  use, 
purely  in  experiment  form,  in  a few 
months.  From  then  on  it’s  the  television 
industry’s  baby;  those  who  make  the  sets, 
and  so  forth.  It  is  easier  to  blow  up  to 
screen  size  than  for  reproduction  on  home- 
type  sets.” 


Flashes  From  the  News  Front 


14 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


Hanson  Wins  Metro 


Top  Prize  Money 


New  York — M-G-M’s  most  successful 
exploitation  campaign  is  over,  and  there- 
by hangs  $10,000  worth  of  prize  money. 
First  prize  of  $2,500  goes  to  Roy  E.  Hanson 
of  the  Jefferson,  Goshen,  Ind.,  for  his 
campaign  on  “Joe  and  Ethel  Turp  Call  on 
the  President.”  Hanson  is  in  the  first  run 
classification.  First  prize  of  another  $2,- 
500  in  the  subsequent  run  group  was  won 
by  Percy  Friedman  of  the  Yeadon,  Yeadon, 
Pa.,  who  submitted  a campaign  on  “The 
Women.” 

Approximately  2,000  campaign  books 
from  this  country  and  Canada  were  re- 
ceived in  the  contest  among  independent 
exhibitors.  The  $10,000  is  the  most  gener- 
ous prize  awards  ever  given  by  the  com- 
pany. Checks  have  gone  to  M-G-M 
branch  managers,  who  will  contact  the 
winning  exhibitors  in  their  territories,  and 
together  with  exploiteers  will  make  ar- 
rangements for  appropriate  presentation. 

In  the  first  run  theatre  classification,  be- 
sides Hanson,  the  other  winners  are  as 
follows : 

Second  prize,  $750 — Rex  Williams,  Elco,  Elkhart, 
Ind.,  with  a campaign  on  “Judge  Hardy  and  Son.” 

Third  prize,  $500 — George  Limerick,  Aztec,  Enid, 
Okla.,  with  a campaign  on  “Another  Thin  Man." 

Five  others  were  chosen  for  special  $100  awards. 
They  are:  Tom  E.  Roberts,  Colonial,  Elmira,  N.  Y., 
“Wizard  of  Oz;”  Emery  M.  Austin,  Orpheum,  Tulsa, 
Okla.,  “Boom  Town;”  Leo  T.  Jones,  Star,  Upper 
Sandusky,  Ohio,  “Wizard  of  Oz;”  Jerome  Engel, 
Family,  Glen  Lyon,  Pa.,  “The  Secret  of  Dr.  Kil- 
dare,” and  Matt  H.  Whitham,  Tift,  Tifton,  Ga., 
“Young  Tom  Edison.” 

Although  $100  awards  were  not  announced  at 
the  start,  the  judges  regarded  the  campaigns  sent 
in  by  the  five  special  winners  to  be  of  such  high 
calibre  it  was  decided  to  add  these  supplementary 
awards. 

The  final  winners  in  the  subsequent  run  divi- 
sion are,  besides  Friedman: 

Second  prize,  $750 — Morrie  Parfrey,  Voge,  East 
Chicago,  Ind.,  with  a campaign  on  “Northwest 
Passage.” 

Third  prize,  $500 — Jack  Albertson,  Indiana,  In- 
diana Harbor,  Ind.,  with  a campaign  on  “Young 
Tom  Edison.” 

Winners  of  the  five  special  $100  awards  among 
the  subsequent  runs  are:  L.  A.  Wallis,  New  Isis, 
Fort  Worth,  Tex.,  “Babes  in  Arms;”  Sid  Holland, 
Sheepshead,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  “Boom  Town;” 
Robert  P.  Beamer,  Pulaski,  Pulaski,  Va.,  "The 
Women;”  Jack  Harris,  Mayfair,  Philadelphia, 
“Fast  and  Furious,”  and  Chick  Tompkins,  Hoosier, 
Whiting,  Ind.,  “Waterloo  Bridge.” 

The  following  exhibitors,  not  listed  on  the  basis 
of  merit  or  in  alphabetical  order,  will  each  re- 
ceive $25.  Their  entries  also  represented  out- 
standing exploitation  campaigns.  They  are: 

William  Freise,  Rivoli,  LaCrosse,  Wis. ; John  G. 
Osborne,  Court,  Wheeling,  W.  Va.;  Robert  S.  Tay- 
lor, Harris  DuBois,  DuBois,  Pa.;  Miss  F.  E.  Rose, 
Criterion,  Bridgeton,  N.  J. ; W.  J.  Collins,  Ritz, 
Toccoa,  Ga. ; Robert  G.  Stouch,  Maryland,  Cum- 
berland, Md.;  Marvin  Merrill,  Howard,  Monon, 
Ind.;  Bernard  Palmer,  Lory,  Highland,  III.;  Rich- 
ard Williamson,  Cliftona,  Circleville,  Ohio;  Frank 

V.  King,  Midland,  Newark,  Ohio;  Max  Matz,  Colo- 
nial, Bluefield,  W.  Va. ; Richard  Schacht,  Badger, 
Merrill,  Wis. 

Frank  W.  Miller,  Metropolitan,  Morgantown,  W. 
Va. ; B.  C.  Bordonaro,  Palace,  Olean,  N.  Y. ; Wil- 
liam M.  Tollman,  Ceramic,  East  Liverpool,  Ohio; 

W.  H.  Giles,  Maska,  St.  Hyacinthe,  Quebec,  Can.; 
Richard  Watson,  Regent,  Battle  Creek,  Mich.; 
Paul  T.  Stonum,  Uptown,  Carrollton,  Mo.;  G.  R. 
Layton,  Palace,  Childress,  Tex.;  M.  Christiansen, 
Michigan,  Muskegon,  Mich.;  H.  J.  Arnold,  Indiana, 
Terre  Haute,  Ind.;  H.  W.  McCracken,  Karyl, 
Milan,  Mo.;  Alvin  Sloan,  Court  Square,  Newton, 
N.  J. ; E.  L.  Carter,  Playhouse,  Statesville,  N.  C. ; 
C.  E.  Kenner,  Albany,  Albany,  Ga.;  Frank  E. 
Lucido,  Enean,  Pittsburg,  Calif.;  Elaine  Furlong, 
Star,  Heppner,  Ga. 

Eddie  Clark,  Massac,  Metropolis,  111.;  Larry 
Cowen,  Grand,  Albany,  N.  Y. ; Frank  R.  Mutz, 
Dixie,  Yazoo  City,  Miss.;  Edward  Benjii,  Capitol, 
Madison,  Wis.;  Sam  Hammond,  Carolina,  Kinston, 
N.  C. ; Emory  Scott,  Dickinson,  Lawrence,  Kas. ; 
Harry  Brown,  Vogue,  Chicago,  111.;  Steve  Rodnok 
jr.,  Oaks,  Oakmont,  Pa.;  Oscar  Brotman,  Avaloe, 
Chicago,  111.;  E.  J.  Jackson,  Lee,  Bluefield,  Va.; 
P.  K.  Mulheirn,  Liberty,  Mercer,  Pa.;  John  Naugh- 
ton,  Vic,  Chicago,  111.;  John  W.  Matty,  Ritz,  Hu- 
ron, Ohio;  Wade  Pearson,  State,  Falls  Church,  Va. ; 


a ==^ 

Awards  Induce  New 
Dates  for  " Grapes " 

New  York — Repeat  bookings  on  "The 
Grapes  of  Wrath''  are  rolling  up  on  the 
trail  of  nation-wide  publicity  accorded 
the  picture  via  various  critical  awards, 
according  to  20th  Century-Fox. 

Starting  with  a repeat  run  at  the 
Filmarte,  Los  Angeles,  approximately  37 
additional  dates,  chiefly  in  key  cities, 
will  be  played  off  by  mid-March. 

v*  V 

"Big  Five"  to  Delay 
Selling  Until  July 

(Continued  from  page  4) 

sales  manager,  then  told  the  men  the  de- 
cree was  their  problem  and  that  it  was  up 
to  them  and  their  forces  to  live  up  to 
every  provision  in  the  fullest  degree. 

He  will  again  appear  before  the  local 
sales  groups  at  regional  meetings  when 
they  are  called.  Both  he  and  Dillard  will 
repeat  the  importance  of  observing  the 
new  mandate  under  which  the  company  is 
to  operate. 

With  the  arbitration  tribunals  scheduled 
to  start  functioning  the  first  week  in 
February,  sales  managers  readily  admit  the 
big  problem  is  to  educate  the  outside  arbi- 
trators to  the  workings  of  the  industry. 
The  sales  heads  are  reminded  of  the  NRA 
when  impartial  arbitrators  appointed  by 
the  government  sat  in  and  how  long  it 
took  them  to  realize,  in  only  some  degree, 
what  made  the  industry  tick. 

It  is  estimated  in  some  quarters  it  will 
take  arbitrators  at  least  a year  to  know 
what  the  business  is  all  about.  Another 
factor  which  does  not  appeal  to  the  sales 
heads  is  the  possibility  some  arbitrators, 
after  sitting  on  one  case,  may  never  handle 
another.  Hence,  the  workings  of  the  in- 
dustry and  an  explanation  of  its  different 
terms  and  expressions  would  have  to  be 
gone  over  every  time  a new  man  is  dele- 
gated to  a case. 

Inquiries  have  already  started  by  ex- 
hibitors as  to  when  the  arbitration  tribu- 
nals will  get  going.  In  the  local  area,  a 
number  of  complaints  are  understood  ready 
for  filing  and  hearing.  New  York,  Chi- 
cago and  the  west  coast  are  expected  to 
be  flooded  with  arbitration  requests  the 
first  few  months  the  tribunals  are  in 
operation.  These  territories,  it  is  stated, 
cover  those  where  clearance  disputes  have 
been  a constant  bone  of  contention  and 
dissatisfaction  among  theatre  interests. 


Ted.  Morris,  West  End,  Chicago,  111.;  Isadore 
Schwartz,  Segall’s  Apollo,  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Joseph 

B.  Koppel,  New  Ritz,  Berwyn,  111.;  Dave  Jones, 
Senate,  Springfield,  111.;  M.  E.  Lofgren,  Nebraska, 
Lincoln,  Neb. 

J.  N.  Fendley,  Strand,  Uniontown,  Ala.;  Robert 
Busch,  Midwest,  Oklahoma  City,  Okla. ; Edward 
Bertrand,  Buckingham,  Chicago,  111.;  Harry  C. 
Lahr,  Whittier,  Whittier,  Calif.;  A1  Kopulos,  Ap- 
pleton, Appleton,  Wis.;  Roy  Zermain,  Mode,  Chi- 
cago, 111.;  John  E.  Manuel,  Strand,  Delaware, 
Ohio;  Bert  Stern,  Criterion,  Oklahoma  City, 
Okla.;  David  Murphy,  State,  Altoona,  Pa.;  James 

C.  Platt,  Vernon,  Mt.  Vernon,  Ohio;  Lou  S.  Hart, 
Schine’s  Glove,  Gloversville,  N.  Y. ; M.  W.  Korach, 
Tri-Theatres,  Alliance,  Ohio;  Paul  Klingler,  Rialto, 
Lewistown,  Pa. 


Monogram  Plans  42 
For  1941-42  Season 

St.  Louis — First  indication  of  Mono- 
gram’s 1941-42  production  plans  was  re- 
vealed here  at  the  two-day  franchise  hold- 
ers’ palavers  by  W.  Ray  Johnston,  presi- 
dent, when  he  announced  a program  of  42 
features.  In  the  schedule  will  be  six  top 
pictures,  “to  cost  far  in  excess  of  any  pre- 
vious production  budgets,”  20  features  to 
be  made  at  an  increase  of  25  per  cent  in 
outlay  and  16  westerns. 

In  addition,  plans  were  gone  over  the 
$1,000,000  collection  drive  under  the  title 
of  “March  for  Monogram.”  The  drive  be- 
gins February  22  and  will  wind  up  April 
11.  A weekly  quota  of  $150,000  a week  has 
been  set  up. 

Talks  on  Sales  Under  Decree 

Steve  Broidy,  newly  appointed  sales 
manager  succeeding  Edward  A.  Golden, 
addressed  the  meeting  on  sales  operation 
under  the  decree.  While  Monogram  is  not 
affected  by  the  block  of  five  selling  plan, 
various  points  of  interest  were  brought  to 
light  by  Broidy. 

Trem  Carr,  a member  of  the  board, 
talked  on  production  plans.  John  Mang- 
ham,  board  member  and  Atlanta  franchise 
holder,  talked  about  sales  prizes  and  com- 
petition during  the  drive. 

Illness  prevented  B.  L.  Nathanson  of 
Minneapolis  and  Lon  T.  Fidler  of  Denver 
from  being  present. 

George  W.  Weeks,  who  is  producing  the 
“Range  Busters”  series  is  reported  in- 
creasing the  group  from  12  to  16.  Golden, 
who  is  a partner  of  Weeks  in  the  new 
series,  was  in  New  York  on  personal  busi- 
ness at  the  time  the  local  sessions  were 
held. 


7.871  Houses  Participated 
In  Red  Cross  Campaign 

New  York — A record  number  of  thea- 
tres participated  in  the  annual  Roll  Call 
of  the  American  Red  Cross,  which  reports 
the  drive,  terminated  last  November  30, 
netted  8,265,418  paid  members  at  $1  to  $25 
each,  as  compared  with  7,139,263  mem- 
berships the  previous  year. 

It  is  revealed  7,871  theatres  cooperated 
in  the  campaign,  but  final  reports  will  not 
be  available  until  66  other  cities,  where 
membership  drives  are  not  yet  completed, 
have  tabulated  results. 


" Rebecca " Heads  Trade 
Paper  " Best  10”  List 

New  York — “Rebecca”  heads  the  Film 
Daily’s  10  best  poll  for  1940  in  which  546 
critics  and  reviewers  voted  on  440  eligible 
features.  It  captured  391  votes. 

Others  in  the  first  ten  are  these:  “The 
Grapes  of  Wrath,”  367  votes:  “Ninotchka,” 
269;  “Foreign  Correspondent,”  247;  “All 
This,  and  Heaven  Too,”  230;  “Abe  Lincoln 
in  Illinois,”  221;  “Boom  Town,”  215; 
“Northwest  Passage,”  198;  “Our  Town,” 
198,  and  “The  Mortal  Storm,”  172, 


BOXOFFICE  ; : January  18,  1941 


15 


• / ■ 

L fMaMpi 

■ 

YOUR  PATRONS 
LISTENED ! 

“Things  worth  fighting  for"  said  President 
Roosevelt!  Read  every  word  of  it! 

ii  As  men  do  not  live  by  bread  alone,  they  do  not  fight  by  armaments  alone.  Those 
who  man  our  defenses  and  those  behind  them  who  build  our  defenses  must  have  the 
stamina  and  the  courage  which  come  from  unshakeable  belief  in  the  manner  of  life 
which  they  are  defending.  The  mighty  action  that  we  are  calling  for  cannot  be  based 
on  a disregard  of  all  the  things  worth  fighting  for.  The  nation  takes  great  satisfaction 
and  much  strength  from  the  things  which  have  been  done  to  make  its  people  con- 
scious of  their  individual  stake  in  the  preservation  of  democratic  life  in  America  ... 


Here’s  how  you  as  part  of  the  motion  picture  industry  may  help  in 
the  united  effort  to  make  all  our  people  “conscious  of  their  individual 
stake  in  the  preservation  of  democratic  life  in  America*”  ( continued  above ) 


THE  SCREEN  REPLIES! 

While  the  President’s  words  still  echo  throughout  the  land,  how  fortunate 
that  our  industry  stands  ready  to  fill  the  public’s  demand  for  a thrilling 
American  motion  picture  entertainment!  Here  it  is  for  you  to  see  its 
wonders  for  yourself!  It  has  been  successfully  pre-tested  and  complete 
showmanship  campaigns  are  available  to  make  it  easy  for  you  to  score  at 
the  box-office  and  in  the  esteem  of  your  community! 


FAMED 

STARS 


1000  TUl'lU! I 

NEVER  EQUALLED! 


THRILLS! 

The  Re volutionory  Worl 
Washington  at  Valley  Forge! 
"Old  Ironsides"  attacks  and 
defeats  the  pirates  of  Tripoli! 
Gold  rush!  Pony  express!  In- 
dian raids!  Gun  rule!  Custer's 
last  stand  ! Civil  War ! Fight 
between  Merrimac  and 
Monitor1  '‘Remember  the 
MaineCRough  Riders!  Charge 
of  San  Juan  Hill!  1914!  Sink- 
ing of  the  Lusitania  ! Amer- 
ica fights  “Over  There!" 

THESE  GREAT  STARS 

DON  AMECHE 
GEORGE  ARLISS 
EDWARD  ARNOLD 
BINNIE  BARNES 
JOHN  BARRYMORE 
LIONEL  BARRYMORE 
WARNER  BAXTER 
WALLACE  BEERY 
WALTER  BRENNAN 
GEORGE  BRENT 
VIRGINIA  BRUCE 
BOB  BURNS 
LEO  CARRILLO 
CLAUDETTE  COLBERT 
GARY  COOPER 
BETTE  DAVIS 
DEAD  END  KIDS 
RICHARD  DIX 
IRENE  DUNNE 
HENRY  FONDA 
JANET  GAYNOR 
WALTER  HUSTON 
JOEL  McCREA 
VICTOR  McLAGLEN 
FREDRIC  MARCH 
RAYMOND  MASSEY 
ROBERT  MONTGOMERY 
ANNA  NEAGLE 
GAIL  PATRICK 
GEORGE  RAFT 
LUISE  RAINER 
PAUL  ROBESON 
ANN  RUTHERFORD 
JOSEPH  SCHILDKRAUT 
RANDOLPH  SCOTT 
JAMES  STEWART 
LEWIS  STONE 
MARGARET  SULLAVAN 
AKIM  TAMIROFF 
SPENCER  TRACY 
LORETTA  YOUNG 

—and  many  moral 


OUR  GUARANTEE:  More  roaring  thrills  per  second 
than  any  screen  entertainment  in  history!  Cavalcade 
of  screen  wonders  snatched  from  the  treasures  of  51 
Hollywood  producers!  150  years  of  breathless 
American  drama  . . . adventure  . . . romance  . . . 
/ packed  into  one  mighty  show! 

The  Motion  Picture  Industry  of  the  United  States 

►C.k  present* 


UBENy 


Sponsored  by  the  Motion  Picture 
Producers  and  Distributors  of  America,  Inc. 


All  sales  profits  from  this  film  realized  by  the 
Distributors  will  be  donated  to  war  emergency 
welfare  work  by  the  Motion  Picture  Industry. 


THEATRE 


^Above :\One  of  the  showmanship  ads  from  the  successful 
Williamsport  test  run 


REMEMBER! 


The  entire  cost  of  mak- 
ing “Land  of  Liberty” 
was  donated  by  the 
organized  industry! 

(1)  Every  producer  joined  in 
making  it. 

(2)  All  sales  profits  realized  are 
being  donated  to  war  emergency 
work. 

(3)  All  the  services  of  distribu- 
tion are  given  free. 

(4)  Exhibitors  are  asked  for 
rental  only.  Exceptional  oppor- 
tunities are  yours  through  live- 
wire  showmanship! 

(5)  M-G-M  is  handling  distri- 
bution on  behalf  of  the  indus- 
try. Communicate  with  your 
M-G-M  Branch. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25.  1941 


31 


FOR  YOUR  CONVENIENCE 


Indexed  on  the  adjoining  two  pages  are  the  pictures 
reviewed  in  the  new  style  started  January  4.  The  num- 
ber preceding  title  is  your  key  to  the  Picture  Guide  pages,  the  new  reviews  being  added  each  week.  Addi- 
tionally. a Quarterly  Index,  arranged  alphabetically  by  companies,  will  be  published  for  Picture  Guide  use. 


Tall,  Dark  and  Handsome  F 

20th  Century-Fox  (128)  78  Minutes  Rel.  Jan.  24,  '41 


Land  of  Liberty 

M-G-M  (120)  98  Minutes 


F 


Rel.  Jan.  28.  '41 


A story  of  Chicago  gangdom  in  its  heyday,  this  vacillates 
between  comedy  and  melodrama,  with  an  occasional  mu- 
sical moment  thrown  in  to  further  confuse  its  accurate 
designation.  It  is  unadulterated  hokum,  but  those  who  are 
not  too  critical  of  plot  consistencies  will  vote  it  a first-rate 
job  of  picture-making  and  everyone  should  find  it  highly 
acceptable  entertainment.  The  cast  is  particularly  good. 
Cesar  Romero,  as  a soft-hearted  lord  of  the  underworld, 
and  Virginia  Gilmore,  the  object  of  his  affections,  are  the 
romantic  interest,  while  Charlotte  Greenwood,  Milton  Berle, 
complete  with  his  new  nose,  and  a number  of  lesser  lights 
supply  the  comedy.  Romero  has  established  a reputation  of 
being  the  toughest  killer  in  the  Windy  City,  but  he  has 
never  spilled  a drop  of  blood.  Instead,  he  has  made  pris- 
oners in  his  basement  of  all  of  the  rival  mobsters  with 
whose  death  he  has  been  credited.  The  boss  of  the  rival 
gang  discovers  the  hoax  and,  no  longer  fearing  Romero, 
takes  him  for  the  well-known  ride,  from  which  he  miracu- 
lously escapes  with  his  life  to  see  that  justice  is  done, 
after  which  he  marries  the  gal  and  departs  for  South 
America  to  make  a fresh  start  in  life.  H.  Bruce  Humber- 
stone  directed. 

Cesar  Romero.  Virginia  Gilmore,  Charlotte  Greenwood,  Mil- 
ton  Berle.  Sheldon  Leonard.  Stanley  Clements,  Frank  Jenks. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Title  suggests  you  conduct  a "talk,  dark  and 
handsome"  photo  contest  for  both  men  and  women,  the 
winning  entrants'  pictures  being  placed  in  the  lobby.  Plug 
the  four  songs  in  the  film  via  local  radio  stations  and  dance 
bands.  Put  a "machine  gun"  in  the  lobby  with  a card 
reading:  "Loaded  With  Laughs."  Give  Cesar  Romero  and 
Virginia  Gilmore  the  marquee  and  advertising  credits. 

CATCHLINES:  Gayest,  Goofiest  of  all  Chicago  Gangland 
Comedies  . . . It's  a Merry  Mixup  of  Murders  That  Never 
Came  Off. 

The  Laugh  of  Your  Life  ...  Is  This  Surprise  Comedy 
Sensation  of  1941. 

The  Cisco  Kid  Goes  Gangster  ...  In  the  Season's  Goofiest 
Funfest. 


This  feature  is  described  as  a "cavalcade  of  American  his- 
tory composed  of  sequences  from  entertainment  films  pro- 
duced for  the  theatre  during  the  past  quarter  century."  The 
capsule  fits  precisely.  Through  the  astute  and  highly  com- 
petent editing  of  Cecil  B.  DeMille,  aided  by  historical  consul- 
tation furnished  by  Professor  James  T.  Shotwell,  the  result  is 
a completely  engrossing,  always  interest-holding  pano- 
rama of  the  rise  of  the  nation  from  pre-revolutionary  times 
through  the  industrial  and  machine  age  and  ending  with 
the  present  day.  The  effect,  therefore,  is  like  the  unfolding 
of  the  pages  of  American  history  adding  up  to  a sum  total 
of  thrills,  drama  and  excitement  which  no  single  feature 
could  have  encompassed.  Exactly  as  it  took  Hollywood  25 
years  to  make  "Land  of  Liberty"  possible,  so  could  it  have 
been  only  a consolidated  enterprise  like  this  one  to  assemble 
the  cast  which  figures  in  it.  They're  all  there — the  great 
figures  of  the  early  days  and  the  great  ones  who  predomi- 
nantly stalk  the  screen  today,  interspersed  with  the  out- 
standing figures  of  contemporary  history  as  recorded  in  the 
newsreels.  This  is  a thoroughly  worthwhile  job.  It  is  far 
better  than  the  vast  majority  of  double  features  and  easily 
out  front  and  ahead  of  many  of  the  so-called  "A's."  Any 
exhibitor  ought  to  be  glad  to  run  it  and  his  audiences  more 
so  to  get  it. 

EXPLOITIPS:  The  most  practical  and  successful  campaign 
to  date  on  "Land  of  Liberty"  was  staged  at  Williamsport,  Pa. 
where  the  Rialto  had  a profitable  run.  The  detail,  in  all  of 
its  various  phases,  appears  in  the  Selling  Seats  department 
of  this  edition  of  BOXOFFICE  and  to  it,  exhibitors  are  unre- 
servedly recommended.  Star  power  is  enormous  and  with- 
out precedent.  There  is  also  much  to  be  done  by  interesting 
the  audience  in  picking  out  players  as  various  sequences  hit 
the  screen.  The  angles  are  varied  and  well  nigh  without 
limit. 

CATCHLINES:  See  America  in  the  Making  . Never  a 
More  Thrilling  Saga. 

"Land  of  Liberty,"  the  Screen's  Roaring  Cavalcade  ol 
Thrills  ...  It  Took  Hollywood  25  Years  to  Make  This  One 
Film.  Don't  Miss  It. 


Arkansas  Judge  F „.,oZL 

Republic  ( ) 72  Minutes  Rel.  Jan.  28,  '41 

Among  the  products  that  come  from  'way  down  in  Ar- 
kansas are  hillbilly  music  and  corn.  This  has  a little  of  the 
former  but  bushels  of  the  latter — possibly  as  large  a load 
as  has  ever  been  dumped  onto  celluloid.  But  it  is  proba- 
bly the  kind  of  corn  which  small-city  audiences  like  and 
will  buy,  although  urban  and  sophisticated  patrons  will 
continue  to  prefer  theirs  on  the  cob.  The  Weaver  Brothers 
and  Elviry  are  starred,  Leon  Weaver  being  cast  in  a Will 
Rogers  type  of  role  which  he  handles  satisfactorily.  Rural 
melodrama  is  based  on  a novel,  "False  Witness."  Every- 
thing is  peace,  tranquillity  and  brotherly  love  in  Peaceful 
Valley  until  somebody  lifts  the  Widow  Smithers'  fifty  dollars, 
which  precipitates  dissension,  lawsuits,  slander,  romance 
and  sundry  other  situations.  In  fact,  the  story  develops  more 
twists  than  there  are  hogs  in  the  Ozarks,  with  peace  ulti- 
mately being  restored  when  the  guilty  party  confesses. 
Frank  McDonald's  direction  is  commendable. 

Leon  Weaver,  Frank  Weaver,  June  Weaver,  Roy  Rogers, 
Spring  Byington,  Pauline  Moore,  Frank  M.  Thomas. 

EXPLOITIPS:  In  street  ballyhoo  and  general  exploita- 
tion give  attention  to  the  rural  atmosphere.  Arrange  a 
hillbilly  band  contest  for  amateurs.  Costume  your  attend- 
ants in  mountaineer  fashion.  Have  a few  "hillbillies"  walk- 
ing around  the  streets  smoking  corn-cob  pipes  and  carry- 
ing earthenware  jugs  of  "corn  likker."  Stage  a "country 
store"  night  at  which  patrons  are  admitted  upon  presenta- 
tion of  various  kinds  of  tinned  and  dried  foods  and  donate 
the  proceeds  to  a local  charity.  Such  a stunt  should  net 
favorable  publicity  mention.  A "Bam  Dance"  night  might 
also  be  worked  out,  patrons  to  come  in  costume,  with  prizes 
awarded  the  best  dancers,  etc.,  and  refreshments  includ- 
ing cider,  pumpkin  pie  and  other  rural  repasts. 

CATCHLINES:  You'll  Have  the  Gayest  Time  of  Your  Life. 

Your  Favorite  Kind  of  Rural  Rhythm  and  Wholesome  Fun. 


Pride  ol  the  Bowery 

Monogram  ( ) 63  Minutes 


F 


Rel. 


By  filming  this  in  a government  CCC  camp  which  fur- 
nished authentic  backgrounds,  atmosphere  and  extra  per- 
sonnel, Producer  Sam  Katzman  endowed  the  feature  with 
production  values  which  greatly  transcend  its  budget  classi- 
fication. The  film  is  easily  the  best  of  the  series — of  which, 
incidentally,  it  is  the  third — in  which  are  featured  the  "East 
Side  Kids,"  with  Leo  Gorcey  and  Bobby  Jordan  toplined. 
The  story  deals  with  the  mental  redemption  of  a tough 
youngster  who  wants  to  be  a prizefighter  and  is  inducted 
into  the  CCC  service  through  subterfuge  when  his  friends 
tell  him  he  is  entering  his  own  private  training  camp.  The 
picture  will  serve  admirably  in  the  subsequent  market. 
Joseph  Lewis  directed. 

Leo  Gorcey,  Bobby  Jordan,  Donald  Haines,  Sunshine  Sammy, 
David  Gorcey,  Eugene  Francis,  Carlton  Young. 

EXPLOITIPS:  The  "East  Side  Kids"  are  the  most  saleable 
fodder  here  for  the  marquee,  advertising  and  exploitation 
efforts  It  might  be  worthy  of  pointing  out  that  two  of 
them — Bobby  Jordan  and  Leo  Gorcey — are  members  of  the 
original  "Dead  End"  gang.  The  CCC  atmosphere  suggests 
you  stage  a special  showing  for  the  boys  in  nearby  CCC 
camps,  and  possibly  that  you  secure  the  cooperation  and 
sponsorship  of  CCC  officials  in  the  selling  campaign.  Con- 
duct an  essay  contest  among  local  youths  on  "Why  the 
CCC  is  an  Outstanding  Factor  in  Building  Morale  Among 
American  Youth."  Print  up  mailing  pieces  containing  defi- 
nitions of  New  York  slang  as  practiced  by  the  "East  Side 
Kids."  Damon  Runyon  or  some  other  authority  can  supply 
the  required  information.  Decorate  the  lobby  and  foyer  in 
keeping  with  the  picture's  title. 


CATCHLINES:  They  Came  From  the  Bowery  . . Killers' 

Kindergarten  . And  Learned  How  to  Fight  the  Right  Way 
. . . With  Uncle  Sam  as  Their  Teacher. 

Here's  the  Inside  on  the  CCC  And  How  It  Makes 

Men  Out  of  Boys  From  the  Wrong  Side  of  Town. 


14 


BOXOFFICE 


January  25,  1941 


15 


REVIEW  DIGEST 


■H-Very  Good;  + Good;  — Fair;  -e  Mediocre;  — Poor;  —Very  Poor  In  the  summary  ++  is  rated  as  2 pluses;  — as  2 minuses. 


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Little  Bit  of  Heaven  (Unlv) . . . 

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Sandy  Gets  Her  Man  (Univ)... 

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Sandy  Is  a Lady  (Univ) 

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San  Francisco  Docks  (Univ)  . . . 

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Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN) 

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Lone  Well  Keeps  a Date  (Col) 

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Sea  Hawk,  The  (WB) 

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Long  Voyage  Home  (UA) 

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Second  Chorus  (Para) 

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Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para)  .... 

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Seven  Sinners  (Univ) 

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Lucky  Partners  (RKO) 

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She  Couldn’t  Say  No  (FN) 

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12.  .Six  Lessons  From  Madame 

La  Zonga  (Univ)  

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So  You  Won’t  Talk  (Col) 

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Mark  of  Zorro,  The  (20th-Fox) 

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South  of  Suez  (WB) 

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Meet  the  Wildcat  (Univ) 

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Spring  Parade  (Univ) 

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Melody  and  Moonlight  (Rep) . . 

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Street  of  Memories  (20th-Fox)  . 

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Melody  Ranch  (Rep) 

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Strike  Up  the  Band  (M-G-M). 

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Men  Against  the  Sky  (RKO) . . 

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Mexican  Spitfire  Out  West 

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Michael  Shayne,  Private 

Take  Me  Back  to  Okla.  (Mono) 

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Detective  (20th-Fox)  

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Texas  Rangers  Ride  Again 

Misbehaving  Husbands  (PRC) . 

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Missing  People  (Mono) 

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Texas  Terrors  (Rep) 

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Moon  Over  Burma  (Para) 

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That  Gang  of  Mine  (Mono).... 

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Mortal  Storm,  The  (M-G-M)  . . 

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They  Knew  What  They  Wanted 

Mummy’s  Hand,  The  (Univ) . . 

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Murder  Over  New  York 

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Third  Finger,  Left  Hand 

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This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col)  . . 

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Three  Men  From  Texas  (Para) 

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Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s  (Para) 

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Thundering  Frontier  (Col) .... 

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Night  Train  (20th-Fox) 

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Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox) 

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Nobody’s  Children  (Col) 

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Too  Many  Girls  (RKO) 

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No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO) 

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Torpedo  Raider  (Mono) 

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Trail  Blazers  (Rep) 

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North  West  Mounted  Police 

Trail  of  the  Vigilantes  (Univ). 

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Trailin’  Double  Trouble  (Mono) 

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Triple  Justice  (RKO) 

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Tugboat  Annie  Sails  Again 

Oklahoma  Renegades  (Rep) . . . 

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Ol'  Swimmin’  Hole  (Mono) .... 

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On  the  Spot  (Mono) 

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One  Million  B.  C.  (CA) 

Zt 

— 

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Zt 

54 

5— 

Under  Texas  Skies  (Rep) 

4 

± 

4 

4 

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54  2—  • 

One  Night  in  the  Tropics 

Up  in  the  Air  (Mono) 

4 

Hh 

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4 

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74  3—  j 

(tlniv)  

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Victory  (Para)  

4 

4 

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44 

44 

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9+  1- 

Passport  to  Alcatraz  (Col).... 

4 

— 

Hz 

4 

H- 

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44 

4— 

Villain  Still  Pursued  Her, 

H- 

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114- 

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The  (RKO)  

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Phantom  of  Chinatown  (Mono) 

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74 

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12.  .Virginia  (Para)  

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44 

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Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M) . . 

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44 

44 

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164 

Pier  13  (20th-Fox) 

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Play  Girl  (KKO)  

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Pony  Post  (Univ)  

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Wagon  Train  (RKO)  

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Prairie  Law  (RKO) 

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Wagons  Westward  (Rep) 

4 

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4 

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Prairie  Schooners  (Col) 

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34 

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West  of  Pinto  Basin  (Mono) . . 

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Public  Deb  No.  1 (20th-Fox) . . 

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Westerner,  The  (UA) 

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Where  Did  You  Get  That  Girl 

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(Univ)  

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Who  Is  Guilty?  (Mono) 

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Quarterback,  The  (Para) 

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Who  Killed  Aunt  Maggie? 

Queen  of  the  Yukon  (Mono)  . . . 

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4 

4 

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74 

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(Rep)  

4 

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Wildcat  Bus  (RKO) 

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Wild  Horse  Range  (Mono) 

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Ragtime  Cowboy  Joe  (Univ) . . 

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World  in  Flames  (Para) 

4 

44 

44 

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Ramparts  We  Watch  (RKO) . . 

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Wyoming  (M-G-M)  

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Hangers  of  Fortune  (Para).... 

4 

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44 

44 

44 

44 

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124 

2— 

Remedy  for  Riches  (RKO).... 

+ 

Hh 

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4 

4 

4 

64 

1— 

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Rhythm  on  the  River  (Para)  . . 

+ 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

4 

4 

134 

Yesterday’s  Heroes  (20th-Fox) 

4 

H— 

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4 

4 

6+  3— 

Ride,  Tenderfoot,  Ride  (Rep)  . 

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4 

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44 

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74 

1— 

You’ll  Find  Out  (RKO) 

++ 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

4 

4 

i«4 

Robin  Hood  of  the  Pecos  (Rep) 

+ 

+ 

24 

Young  Bill  Hickok  (Rep) 

4 

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44  3- 

Romance  of  the  Rio  Grande 

Young  People  <20th-Fox) 

4 

4 

4 

44 

4 

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(20th -Fox)  

*+* 

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4 

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4 

4 

8+ 

3— 

11.  .You’re  Out  of  Luck  (Mono)  . . . 

±2 

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34  3— 

Youth  Will  Be  Served 

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(20th-Fox)  

Hz 

H^ 

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74 

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24- 

BOXOFFICE  : 

January  18,  1941 

22 


DEPARTMENT  OF  JUSTICE  READIES 


NEW  UNIT 


Government  Is  Wary  of 
Theatre  Acquisitions 
Concluded  Recently 

By  EARLE  A.  DYER 

Washington — Enforcement  of  the  con- 
sent decrees  entered  in  the  federal  courts 
at  Los  Angeles  on  November  27  and  Chi- 
cago on  December  10,  as  well  as  the  New 
York  decree  of  November  20,  last,  will  be 
handled  by  the  new  unit  set  up  by  the  anti- 
trust division  of  the  department  of  jus- 
tice, under  Robert  L.  Wright. 

This  is  disclosed  by  the  department  in 
a statement  explaining  the  scope  of  the 
new  unit’s  activities. 

The  announcement  reveals  that  since 
the  entry  of  the  New  York  decree,  theatre 
acquisitions  have  been  undertaken  “which 
are  apparently  intended  to  eliminate  the 
possibility  of  the  independent  theatres’  se- 
curing relief  that  the  decree  was  intended 
to  provide,”  together  with  a warning  that 
while  action  on  acquisitions  is  limited  by 
the  decree  the  department  is  prepared  to 
proceed  under  the  Sherman  act  to  enjoin 
or  divest  acquisitions  which  are  undertaken 
with  the  purpose  and  effect  of  suppressing 
or  eliminating  competition. 

Into  Claims  as  They  Arise 

It  is  also  made  clear  that  the  depart- 
ment prefers  to  investigate  complaints  as 
they  arise  and  will  not  favor  having  them 
“cleared”  through  exhibitor  organizations, 
coming  to  Washington  in  bunches. 

But  it  gives  to  exhibitors  assurance  that 
they  will  be  protected  against  reprisals  in 
cases  where  they  filed  arbitration  com- 
plaints rather  than  accept  settlements 
negotiated  without  resort  to  the  decree  ma- 
chinery. Contempt  actions  face  any  per- 
son who  attempts  to  prevent  an  exhibitor 
from  exercising  any  of  his  rights  under  the 
decree,  it  is  made  clear. 

Exhibitors  Must  Cooperate 

To  effectuate  the  purposes  of  the  gov- 
ernment’s suit  and  the  decree,  it  is  stressed, 
exhibitors  must  give  their  “wholehearted 
support.”  Otherwise,  when  the  three-year 
trial  period  expires  in  November,  1943,  the 
department  will  be  without  adequate  data 
as  to  the  working  of  the  decree  on  which 
to  base  its  policy  for  the  future. 

Explaining  that  enforcement  of  the  de- 
cree, in  the  first  instance,  rests  largely  in 
the  hands  of  independent  exhibitors,  the 
department  points  out  that  Wright’s  unit 
will  be  available  to  them  for  advice  with 
respect  to  the  remedies  available  to  them 
under  the  decree. 

“It  cannot,  of  course,  undertake  to 
initiate  or  prosecute  an  arbitration  pro- 
ceeding but  after  a final  arbitration  award 
is  made,  the  unit  will  undertake  to  see  that 
compliance  occurs,”  it  is  stated.  “Where 
an  appeal  is  taken  from  an  award  which 
involves  an  important  question  of  con- 
struction of  the  decree,  counsel  in  the 
unit  may  ask  the  appeals  board  for  leave 
to  participate  in  the  appeal  as  a friend  of 
the  court.” 

The  unit  also  will  undertake  to  ascer- 


TO  ENFORC 

Into  Ramifications 
Of  Consent  Decree 

Philadelphia — Abram  F.  Myers,  chair- 
man of  the  board  and  counsel  of  Allied 
States  Ass’n,  surveyed  the  ramifications  of 
the  consent  decree  at  the  third  annual 
meeting  of  Allied  Independent  Theatre 
Owners  of  Eastern  Pennsylvania.  Fifty- 
four  members  were  present,  representing 
more  than  100  theatres. 

His  address  followed  an  analysis  of  past 
year’s  developments  and  a discussion  of 
the  organization’s  future  plans  by  Sidney 
Samuelson,  business  manager.  Secretary  E. 
B.  Gregory  and  Treasurer  Ben  Fertel  made 
their  annual  reports. 

Elected  to  the  board  of  governors  for 
three  years  were  David  E.  Milgram, 
Thomas  Lazarick  and  Columbus  Stamper, 
Philadelphia;  George  J.  Riester,  Shamokin. 
and  Henry  Sork,  Schuylkill  Haven.  Elected 
as  alternate  governors  for  one  year  were 
David  Brodstein,  Reading;  Melvin  Koff, 
Darby;  William  Spiegel,  Philadelphia,  and 
Harry  Fried,  Ardmore. 

The  new  board  was  scheduled  to  meet 
Friday  afternoon  to  elect  secretary,  trea- 
surer and  business  manager. 


tain  the  competitive  effect  of  each  thea- 
tre acquisition  reported  by  the  consenting 
defendants  pursuant  to  Section  XI  of  the 
decree  and  recommend  such  action  with 
respect  thereto  as  may  be  warranted  under 
the  decree  and  the  Sherman  Act. 

“Since  the  entry  of  the  decree,  certain 
acquisitions  of  competing  independent 
theatres  have  been  completed  or  contem- 
plated which  are  apparently  intended  to 
eliminate  the  possibility  of  the  independent 
theatres’  securing  relief  that  the  decree 
was  intended  to  provide,”  the  department 
says.  “While  action  under  Section  XI  (5) 
of  the  decree  is  limited  to  acquisitions 
which  are  a part  of  a general  program  of 
expansion,  the  department  is  free  to  pro- 
ceed under  the  act  itself  to  enjoin  or  divest 
acquisitions  which  are  attempted  or  made 
with  the  purpose  and  effect  of  suppressing 
or  eliminating  competition,  whether  made 
by  the  consenting  defendants  or  others.” 

Some  Plaints  Not  Arbitrable 

Certain  types  of  exhibitor  complaints 
against  the  consenting  defendants  are  not 
subject  to  arbitration  under  the  decree  but 
nevertheless  may  involve  a violation  of  the 
Sherman  act,  it  is  pointed  out.  The  decree 
unit  will  investigate  such  complaints  and 
recommended  such  appropriate  action  as 
is  not  inconsistent  with  the  decree,  and 
also  will  investigate  complaints  which  in- 
volve Sherman  act  violations  by  distribu- 
tors and  exhibitors  who  are  not  parties  to 
the  decree. 

At  the  same  time,  the  department  will 
continue  its  practice  of  referring  meri- 
torious complaints  which  do  not  involve 


Will  Suppress  Any  Move 
Tending  to  Suffocate 
The  Independents 

sufficient  public  interest  to  warrant  fed- 
eral litigation  to  the  parties  complained 
against  for  voluntary  adjustment. 

“No  exhibitor’s  complaint  will  be  referred 
or  disclosed  to  any  distributor  or  other 
person  complained  against,  except  in  the 
course  of  legal  proceedings,  without  the 
express  authorization  of  the  complaining 
exhibitor,”  it  is  emphasized. 

The  department  requests  that  all  com- 
plaints be  forwarded  to  the  anti-trust  di- 
vision as  they  arise.  “It  has  no  objection 
to  the  simultaneous  clearing  of  exhibitor 
complaints  through  any  exhibitor  organi- 
zation,” it  is  explained,  “but  it  prefers  to 
make  its  own  prompt  and  independent  in- 
vestigation of  each  complaint  as  it  arises, 
instead  of  attempting  to  investigate  them 
at  a later  date  in  larger  groups.” 

Must  Give  Full  Picture 
Exhibitors  are  instructed  that,  in  for- 
warding complaints,  a complete  picture  of 
their  theatre  situation  must  be  given;  that 
is,  a description  of  the  seating  capacity, 
age,  condition  and  operating  policy,  in- 
cluding admission  prices,  run  and  clear- 
ance of  the  theatre  and  the  houses  com- 
peting against  it,  together  with  a descrip- 
tion of  the  manner  in  which  major  prod- 
uct has  been  divided  among  them  during 
the  current  and  immediately  preceding 
seasons. 

To  Study  Effect  of  Decree 
“The  unit  will  attempt  to  observe  and 
evaluate  the  effect  of  the  decree  on  the 
industry  as  a whole  by  a study  of  the  fol- 
lowing factors,  among  others,”  it  is  ex- 
plained: 

“The  extent  to  which  arbitration 
under  the  decree  succeeds  in  fairly  ad- 
justing the  specific  exhibitor  com- 
plaints of  which  the  department  has 
knowledge; 

“The  general  effect  of  the  decree, 
and  particularly  the  new  method  of 
selling,  on  competition  between  inde- 
pendent theatres,  unaffiliated  circuits 
and  affiliated  circuits; 

“The  effect  of  the  decree,  and  par- 
ticularly the  new  method  of  selling,  on 
competition  in  producing  and  dis- 
tributing films.” 

The  data  on  which  the  unit  principally 
will  rely  in  making  such  studies  will  come 
from  its  own  files,  supplied  by  complain- 
ing exhibitors,  the  consenting  defendants 
and  other  members  of  the  industry;  the 
records  of  the  consenting  defendants 
which  are  accessible  to  it  under  the  terms 
of  the  decree;  and  the  records  of  the  arbi- 
tration proceedings  and  their  disposition 
under  the  decree  kept  by  the  American 
Arbitration  Ass’n  and  the  appeals  board. 
“At  the  end  of  the  three-year  trial 

(Continued  on  page  26-A) 


BOXOFFICE  January  18,  1941 


N 


23 


Lower  Profit  on  Greater 
Volume  by  Seven  in  '39 


Washington  — Seven  film  companies 
whose  securities  are  registered  with  the 
securities  and  exchange  commission  did  a 
slightly  greater  volume  of  business  in 
their  1939  fiscal  year  than  in  1938  ($411,- 
000,000  against  $410,000,000)  but  had  a 
lower  operating  profit  ($25,000,000,  or  6.2 
per  cent  of  sales,  against  $28,000,000,  or  6.7 
per  cent) . 

The  net  profit  of  the  seven  companies, 
according  to  a survey  made  by  the  SEC, 
after  all  charges  (including  non-operating 
gains  and  losses,  prior  claims,  interest  and 
income  taxes)  was  $20,000,000,  or  4.8  per 
cent  of  sales  in  the  1939  year  against  $21,- 
000,000,  or  5.1  per  cent  in  1938. 

Companies  covered  by  the  survey  were 
Columbia,  Loew’s,  Inc.,  Monogram,  Para- 
mount, 20th  Century-Fox,  Universal  and 
Warner  Bros. 

Drop  in  Dividends 

Dividends  paid  out  by  these  companies 
dropped  nearly  25  per  cent  between  1938 
and  1939,  it  was  shown.  The  1939  divi- 
dends, totaling  $9,900,000,  included  $3,- 

700.000  on  preferred  and  $6,200,000  on 
common  stock,  all  in  cash;  in  1938,  the  total 
of  $12,900,000,  included  $3,700,000  on  pre- 
ferred and  $9,100,000  on  common,  in  cash, 
and  $100,000  on  common  in  stock  divi- 
dends. 

Balance  sheet  assets  of  the  companies 
dropped  $2,000,000  during  the  year,  from 
$531,000,000  to  $529,000,000,  due  to  a de- 
cline of  land,  buildings  and  equipment,  at 
their  book  value,  from  $288,000,000  to 
$276,000,000,  and  a decline  in  related  re- 
serves from  $119,000,000  to  $118,000,000. 
partially  offset  by  an  increase  in  current 
assets  from  $174,000,000  to  $184,000,000. 

The  commission  reported  that  Columbia, 
for  the  year  ended  June  29,  1940,  had  sales 
of  $22,174,000  at  a cost  of  $14,074,000,  the 
gross  profit  of  $8,100,000  being  reduced  to 
$512,000  after  all  charges,  and  paid  $206,- 
000  in  dividends.  The  highest  paid  of- 
ficials received  $206,250,  $199,000  and 

$170,000,  respectively,  and  all  officers  and 
directors  received  $524,048. 

Loew's,  Inc.,  Sales 

Loew’s,  Inc.,  had  sales  of  $112,490,000 
at  a cost  of  $77,802,000,  giving  a gross 
profit  of  $34,688,000  which  turned  into  a 
net  of  $9,538,000  for  the  year  ended  Aug. 
31,  1939,  and  paid  $4,986,000  in  dividends. 
The  highest  salaries  were  $688,369,  $355,- 
000  and  $328,817,  and  all  officers  and  di- 
rectors received  $2,106,856. 

Monogram,  for  the  year  ended  June  29, 
1940,  had  sales  of  $1,946,000  at  a cost  of 
$1,578,000,  giving  a gross  profit  of  $368,000, 
but  after  all  charges,  had  a deficit  of  $180,- 
000,  and  paid  no  dividends.  Highest  sala- 
ries were  $25,000,  $20,400  and  $20,000,  and 
total  remuneration  of  officers  and  direc- 
tors was  $77,694. 

Paramount  had  sales  for  the  year  ended 
December  30,  1939,  of  $96,183,000  at  a 
cost  of  $47,498,000,  leaving  a gross  profit 
of  $48,685,000,  but  a net  profit  of  only  $2,- 

758.000  on  which  dividends  of  $1,578,000 
were  paid.  Top  officials  received  $250,000, 
$240,333  and  $236,635,  respectively,  and  of- 
ficers and  directors  divided  $849,998. 


Twentieth  Century-Fox  reported  sales  of 
$53,752,000  for  the  year  ended  December 
30,  1939,  at  a cost  of  $36,127,000,  which  left 
a gross  of  $17,625,000.  The  net  profit  was 
$4,240,000,  and  dividends  paid  were  $3,- 

138.000,  The  highest  salaries  reported 
were  $255,000,  $249,166  and  $235,000,  and 
officers  and  directors  split  $853,943. 

Universal  Corp.  reported  sales  of  $22,- 

148.000  for  its  fiscal  year  ended  October  28, 
1939,  at  a cost  of  $12,998,000,  leaving  a 
gross  profit  of  $9,151,000  which  dwindled 
to  a net  of  $999,000  and  no  dividends 
were  paid.  Top  salaries  were  $68,355,  $53,- 
000  and  $41,373,  and  the  remuneration  of 
all  officers  and  directors  was  $214,645. 

Universal  Pictures,  for  the  same  period, 
had  sales  of  $22,187,000  at  a cost  of  $12,- 

995.000,  leaving  a gross  profit  of  $9,192,- 
000;  the  net  profit  was  $1,153,000,  but  no 
dividends  were  paid.  Top  salaries  were 
$196,000,  $174,916  and  $150,000,  and  total 
to  officers  and  directors  was  $450,957,  in- 
cluding $91,000  paid  to  Standard  Capital 
Company  for  the  services  of  the  chairman 
of  the  board. 

Warner  Bros.,  with  sales  of  $102,083,000 
at  a cost  of  $29,204,000,  had  a gross  profit 
for  the  year  ended  August  26,  1939,  of  $72,- 

879.000,  but  a net  of  only  $1,741,000,  and 
paid  no  dividends.  The  highest  salaries 
reported  were  $260,000,  $243,000  and  $181,- 
333,  and  the  total  to  all  officers  and  di- 
rectors was  $1,016,073. 

F.  W,  Pershing  Succeeds 
Haight  on  AAA  Group 

New  York — F.  W.  Pershing,  the  general’s 
son,  has  been  named  to  succeed  P.  M. 
Haight  on  the  AAA  administrative  com- 
mittee for  film  tribunals. 


Undetermined  on 
"U"  Preferred 

New  York — The  total  amount  of  pre- 
ferred stock  Universal  will  purchase,  for 
which  it  recently  obtained  a $1,000,000 
loan  from  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Boston,  will  not  be  known  until  the  man- 
agement verifies  the  tenders  that  have 
been  accepted,  according  to  a spokesman. 
In  the  interim  he  would  not  hazard  an 
estimate  on  the  amount  the  company  in- 
tends to  retire. 

However,  the  company  is  not  commit- 
ted to  use  the  entire  $1,000,000  for  this 
purpose,  he  adds.  If  a smaller  amount  is 
consumed,  discretion  as  to  what  the  bal- 
ance will  be  used  for  rests  with  the  board. 
The  company’s  total  indebtedness  to  the 
Boston  bank  is  now  said  to  be  $2,354,000, 
as  of  Dec.  24,  1940.  This  includes  an 
original  loan,  as  of  last  August  1,  of 
$1,500,000,  which  has  been  reduced  to 
$1,354,000.  The  sum  was  split  up  to  pay 
$1,000,000  to  refund  the  studio  mortgage, 
while  $500,000  went  toward  working 
capital. 


Jersey  Allied  Units  to 
Meet  on  January  21 

Trenton — First  joint  meeting  of  southern 
and  northern  New  Jersey  Allied  units  will 
be  held  here  January  21  at  the  Stacey 
Trent  to  coordinate  ideas  of  importance 
affecting  independent  exhibitors. 

On  the  agenda  will  be  a hearing  on  ap- 
peals by  members  for  a revision  of  dues 
schedule.  Election  of  new  Allied  of  New 
Jersey  officers  also  will  be  held  in  addition 
to  the  naming  of  regional  officers. 

Other  discussions  will  take  up  16mm 
films,  legislation  and  possibly  the  consent 
decree.  Several  invited  guests  are  also 
scheduled  to  talk. 


Buys  First  Premiere  Ticket — 

Dr.  Allan  Roy  Defoe  ( center ) buys  the  first  ticket  to  the  premiere  at  the 
Paramount  Theatre  January  28  of  Paramount’s  “Virginia”  from  Dr.  M.  Gog- 
gin  of  the  Maple  Leaf  Fund  chapter  in  Flew  York.  Margaret  Bannerman 
watches  the  deal  with  interest.  The  entire  proceeds  will  be  devoted  to  the 
relief  of  evacuees  of  bombed  districts  and  to  members  of  the  new  Canadian 
navy. 


24 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  18,  1941 


B R Cl  A ID)  WAY 


JS^  LOT  of  those  small  round  tables  at 
Dinty  Moore’s  were  thrown  together 
Monday  for  an  informal  luncheon  thrown 
by  UA  by  way  of  greeting  David  E.  “Skip” 
Weshner  to  his  new  post  as  director  of  ex- 
ploitation. Monroe  Greenthal  acted  as  host 
with  the  guests  including  a representative 
trade  paper  contingent  and  from  UA  it- 
self these:  Murray  Silverstone,  Arthur  W. 
Kelly,  Harry  D.  Buckley  and  A1  Margolies 
. . . Dave  Snaper,  New  Jersey  operator,  ex- 
pects to  be  confined  to  St.  Peters  Hospital 
in  New  Brunswick  for  about  three  more 
weeks.  It’s  arthritis,  and  it  has  kept  him 
there  a month  now  . . . John  Lewis,  former 
press  contact  of  the  Motion  Picture  Pro- 
ducers Ass’n,  is  now  at  20th  Century-Fox, 
working  on  syndicates  and  press  associa- 
tions . . . Bert  Stearn,  UA  district  man- 
ager, was  in  town  for  home  office  confer- 
ences . . . Leon  Netter,  Paramount  circuit 
executive,  is  due  to  return  Tuesday  from  a 
trip  to  Atlanta  and  Miami,  wherein  there 
are  conferences  scheduled  with  Messrs. 
Lucas  and  Jenkins  and  F.  A.  Lynch. 

The  Eugene  Pickers  and  the  Herman 
Gluckmans  sail  for  California  on  the 
America,  January  29  for  a few  weeks  of 
that  vacation  stuff  . . . Another  of  the 
Picker  tribe — Arnold  Melville,  assistant  to 
Joseph  A.  McConville,  Columbia  foreign 
head — has  established  a $100  a year 
scholarship  at  CCNY  as  a memorial  to  his 
father,  the  late  David  V.  Picker.  Incident- 
ally, Leonard,  still  another  Picker  and  at- 
torney for  Schwartz  and  Frohlich,  has  also 
established  a similar  memorial  at  Syra- 
cuse University  . . . Charles  Stern,  UA  dis- 
trict manager,  was  in  Boston  and  Hew 
Haven  the  past  week.  He  recently  returned 
from  a Miami  vacation  and  got  the  thrill 
of  his  life,  he  says,  when  the  local  UA  ex- 
change  staff  tendered  him  and  his  wife  a 
homecoming  dinner  at  the  Hotel  Lincoln 
. . . John  Manheimer  has  gone  to  Florida 
to  join  Rudy  Sanders.  He’s  not  due  back 
until  March  15  . . . Lou  and  “Bingo” 
Brandt,  plus  Lionel  Toll,  are  due  in  Miami 
on  the  19 th  for  a couple  of  weeks  . . . 
Thomas  and  Williain  Rodgers  jr.,  are  back 
at  school  after  a holiday  with  their  dad  at 
Palm  Springs  . . . Sammy  Cohen  of  the  UA 
foreign  publicity  department  Cohens  has 
completed  his  first  Florida  vacation  . . . Al 
Margolies  was  in  Washington  to  arrange 
for  the  appearance  of  Charles  Chaplin  at 
the  President’s  birthday  ball  there  Mon- 
day evening. 

Bernie  Kranze,  Albany  RKO  manager; 
Moe  Grassgreen,  20th-Fox  Albany  man- 
ager, and  Neil  Heilman  of  the  Heilman  cir- 
cuit in  Albany  and  Troy  left  the  early  part 
of  the  week  for  Miami  for  a couple  of 
weeks.  Kranze  is  spending  his  vacation  at 
McFadden’s  Deauville  spot  while  Grass- 
green  is  stopping  at  Maurice  Fleisclrman’s 
Essex  House  ...  I.  Schmertz,  20th-Fox 
Cleveland  head,  is  Miami-ing  as  is  Jack 
Sichelman  of  the  same  company’s  home 
office  ...  A.  Montague  says  he  can  be 
quoted  on  the  fact  “This  Thing  Called 
Love”  is  definitely  “the  greatest  picture 
ever”  . . . B.  S.  Moss  plans  a second  thea- 
tre in  Long  Island.  It  is  to  be  built  in 
Forest  Hills.  He  recently  announced  a new 
house  for  Jackson  Heights,  both  to  be  part 
of  new  developments  . . . Louis  Goidel, 
Brooklyn  exhibitor,  is  all  het  up  over  the 
new  Allied  unit  being  formed  in  the  local 


area.  The  organization  will  have  no  truck 
with  Max  A.  Cohen’s  Allied  of  New  York, 
he  says,  and  about  500  theatres,  mostly  up- 
state, have  already  signified  their  inten- 
tion of  joining. 

Harold  Rinzler  is  now  basking  in  the 
Miami  sun.  He  went  south  with  Louis  mid 
Mrs.  Frisch,  his  father  staying  on  until  the 
Frisches  get  back  in  about  a month  or  so 
. . . Eddie  Schnitzer  has  recuperated  from 
a bad  cold  which  kept  him  abed  several 
days  . . . Joseph  Bernhard  returned  from 
the  coast  over  the  weekend  after  two  weeks 
at  the  Warner  studios  for  conferences  . . . 
Phil  Hodes,  daughter,  Naomi  (Nicky),  not 
yet  19  is  reputed  to  be  one  of  the  leading 
dress  designers  . . . Bernard  Lewis  Wein- 


— Metropolitan  Photos 

Producer  Hits  Town — 


Albert  Lewin,  partner  ivith  David 
Loew,  comes  east  on  business  and 
pleasure.  Here,  he  is  shown  arriving, 
accompanied  by  his  wife. 


berg,  son  of  John  of  the  local  20th-Fox  ex- 
change, has  been  called  to  Camp  Dix  for 
training  . . . Ludvig  (Laudy)  Lawrence  of 
M-G-M  is  due  soon  from  Europe  where  he 
has  been  cleaning  up  his  personal  and 
M-G-M  affairs.  He’s  been  away  about  10 
weeks  on  the  mission. 

Mike  Kallett,  who  operates  about  20  up- 
state houses  independently,  was  in  town 
early  in  the  week  on  product  buys  . . . 
William  A.  Finney,  southern  Loew  divi- 
sion manager,  was  in  from  Atlanta  for  con- 
ferences with  Joseph  R.  Vogel  during  the 
week  . . . Sidney  Schwartz,  foreign  de- 
partment traveling  auditor  for  M-G-M,  is 
making  reservations  for  his  return  to  the 
Far  East  . . . David  Loew  plans  to  remain 
in  the  east  about  a month,  he  says  . . . 
E.  M.  Saunders,  western  M-G-M  division 
manager,  is  due  to  return  from  a swing  of 
his  exchanges  in  the  next  few  days  . . . 
Max  A.  Cohen  has  called  off  his  planned 
vacation  at  Palm  Springs  indefinitely.  He 


says  he  can’t  get  away  from  his  business 
cares  now  and  will  have  to  let  it  go  for  the 
nonce  . . . Rube  Jackter  intends  to  spend 
his  Miami  vacation  the  latter  part  of  next 
month  or  early  March. 

Moss  Hart’s  new  play,  “Lady  in  the 
Dark”  which  bows  in  soon,  has  a lot 
of  partners  behind  it.  Paramount  is  under- 
stood to  hold  a 30  per  cent  interest.  Sam 
H.  Harris,  the  producer,  is  believed  in  con- 
trol but  participants  reportedly  include 
Max  Gordon  and  Harry  M.  Goetz,  Howard 
Cullman  and  Jules  E.  Brulatour  . . . Lynn 
Farnol  and  Mrs.  F.  are  due  back  from 
Charleston  and  New  Orleans,  Monday  . . . 
Sam  Dembow  is  getting  along,  but  reports 
it  is  anything  but  easy  to  get  accustomed 
to  those  crutches  . . . Leonard  Goldenson 
is  working  actively  with  George  Skouras 
on  Greek  war  relief  . . . Lucinda  Reichen- 
bach,  widow  of  Harry,  returns  to  active 
publicity  as  an  idea  woman  and  account 
executive  with  the  publicity  firm  of  Leo 
Guild  and  Ezra  Goodman. 

Arthur  Israel  jr.,  president  of  the  Cin- 
ema Lodge,  has  set  up  his  committees  for 
1941,  following  a meeting  of  the  executive 
council  when  plans  were  advanced  for  in- 
stallation of  new  officers.  These  cere- 
monies, with  proper  fanfare,  will  be  held 
in  the  Sun  Room  of  the  Hotel  Edison, 
January  21,  when  Dr.  Abraham  Sacher  of 
the  University  of  Illinois  and  national  di- 
rector of  the  Hillel  Foundation  will  make 
the  featured  address.  About  500  are  ex- 
pected, including  Barney  Balaban  and 
Jack  Cohn  and  groups  representing  various 
distributors.  Bob  Weitman,  chairman  of 
the  membership  committee,  and  David 
Weinstock,  chairman  of  the  arrangements 
committee  for  the  second  annual  ball, 
made  reports.  Attendance  included  A.  Mike 
Vogel,  Ralph  Steinberg,  Jack  Meyers,  J. 
M.  Collins,  Al  Schwalberg,  Abel  Vigard, 
Moe  Streimer,  Leon  Goldberg  and  Irving 
Greenfield. 

E.  C.  Grainger  is  due  back  the  latter 
part  of  the  week  from  a two-week  tour  of 
Ohio,  Pennsylvania  and  upstate  New  York 
towns  where  Feiber  & Shea  operate  . . . 
Clarence  Eiseman,  local  UA  branch  man- 
ager, was  the  guest  of  Freddie  Schwartz 
over  the  weekend  at  Lake  Placid  . . . Laur- 
ence Bolognino  has  recovered  from  a slight 
cold.  Despite  his  recent  denial,  reports  per- 
sist a deal  is  on  with  Julius  Joelson  to  take 
over  the  Consolidated  Circuit  . . . Jack 
Goetz  was  in  Chicago  for  one  day  the  mid- 
dle of  the  week  . . . Arthur  Hirsch,  Cana- 
dian exhibitor,  was  in  town  on  one  of  his 
regular  visits  . . . Jack  Shea  was  in  Bos- 
ton for  a few  days  and  returned  Friday 
. . . Ed  Robinson  got  in  from  the  coast 
Sunday.  Ona  Munson,  Leith  Stevens  and 
Crane  Wilbur,  who  are  associated  with  the 
star  in  his  radio  broadcasts,  also  are  due. 

The  boys  working  up  the  Press  Photog- 
raphers’ Ball,  slated  for  the  Astor,  Febru- 
ary 14,  already  have  lined  up  four  mas- 
ters - of  - ceremonies.  They  are  Henny 
Youngman,  Ole  Olsen,  Chic  Johnson  and 
Ed  Sullivan,  who  also  writes  a newspaper 
column.  Lucille  Manners  will  sing  the 
national  anthem  as  the  festivities  open 
and,  while  other  arrangements  apparently 
are  yet  to  be  made,  the  word  is  they 
will  be. 


BOXOFFICE  : January  18,  1941 


25 


"Story”  Seems  Assured 
Of  5 Weeks  on  B'way 


New  York — It’s  still  “The  Philadelphia 
Story”  at  the  Music  Hall  that  has  the 
Broadway,  managers  on  edge.  The  rest  of 
the  deluxers,  tenanting  three  newcomers, 
two  roadshows  and  two  last  stage  hold- 
overs, aren’t  exactly  gleeful  over  receipts, 
but  the  grosses  aren’t  below  what  is  nor- 
mally to  be  expected  after  the  flush  of 
the  new  year  has  disappeared. 

“Story”  wound  up  its  third  week  with 
slightly  under  $95,000,  which  took  it  to  a 
fourth  stanza  and  virtually  assures  a fifth. 
“Kitty  Foyle,”  well  received  by  the  critics 
largely  on  the  basis  of  Ginger  Rogers’  per- 
sonal efforts,  is  doing  above  average  at  the 
Rivoli.  “Four  Mothers”  at  the  Strand,  plus 
Sammy  Kaye’s  orchestra,  is  a letdown 
compared  with  the  previous  “Santa  Fe 
Trail,”  but  it  isn’t  too  disappointing. 
“Hudson’s  Bay”  is  getting  a full  share  of 
business  at  the  Roxy.  Everyone  at  the 
Capitol  is  pleased  with  the  run  of  “Com- 
rade X,”  which  wound  up  its  third  week 


Wednesday  with  about  $23,000. 

(Average  is  100) 

Astor — The  Great  Dictator  (UA),  14th  wk. 

roadshow  100 

Broadway — Fantasia  (Disney),  9th  wk. 

roadshow  150 

Capitol — Comrade  X (M-G-M),  3rd  wk 120 

Criterion — Texas  Rangers  Ride  Again 

(Para’t)  100 

Globe — Night  Train  (20th-Fox),  3rd  wk 110 

Paramount — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t), 

4th  wk.,  plus  stage  show  150 

Radio  City  Music  Hall — Philadelphia  Story 

(M-G-M),  3rd  wk.,  plus  stage  show  150 

Rialto — Invisible  Woman  (Univ)  100 

Rivoli — Victory  (Para’t),  3rd  wk 85 

Roxy — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox),  plus  stage 

show  120 


Strand — Four  Mothers  (WB),  plus  stage  show.  110 

" Neighbor " Tops  Show 
Menu  in  Washington 

Washington — “Love  Thy  Neighbor”  at 
the  Earle,  with  Ray  Kinney’s  orchestra 
heading  the  stage  show,  topped  last  week’s 
local  show  menu.  “Go  West,”  with  danc- 
ing Johnnie  Downs  on  the  stage  at  the 
Capitol,  did  better  than  average.  “Kitty 
Foyle”  at  RKO  Keith’s  came  through  for 
a nice  second  week,  entitled  to  a third 
no  doubt.  “Comrade  X”  at  the  Palace  did 
a comfortable  second  week.  “Santa  Fe”  at 
the  Metropolitan,  on  a moveover  from  the 
Earle,  held  its  ground. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  16: 

(Average  is  100) 

Capitol — Go  West  (M-G-M),  Johnnie  Downs 


stage  show  110 

Columbia — Land  of  Liberty  (M-G-M) 90 

Earle — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t),  plus  Ray 

Kinney  band  140 

Metropolitan — “Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN),  Move- 

over  from  Earle  150 

Palace — Comrade  X (M-G-M),  2nd  wk 100 

RKO  Keith’s — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO),  2nd  wk 125 


Philly  Holds  Own  Despite 
Cold  Weather  and  Flu 

Philadelphia — Downtown  business  gen- 
erally held  its  own  last  week  in  spite  of 
cold  weather  and  a spreading  flu  epidemic 
that  is  making  people  leery  of  crowded 
places.  A lineup  of  good  first-runs  was 


the  explanation. 

(Average  is  100) 

Aldine — Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (UA)  100 

Boyd — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO)  100 


Swell  third  week,  but  exiting  to  make  way 


Launch  Polio  Drive 
On  "Dimes  Square" 

New  York — Charles  C.  Moskowitz  and 
Harry  Brandt,  co-chairmen  in  the  "March 
of  Dimes”  drive  for  the  film  industry,  each 
contributed  $50  to  the  total  of  $200  col- 
lected at  the  inaugural  ceremonies  held 
in  Times  Square  Wednesday  noon. 

With  Ed  Sullivan  as  master  of  cere- 
monies, the  name  of  the  square  was 
changed  to  “Dimes  Square.”  Stars  of  radio, 
stage  and  screen  who  participated  in  the 
festivities  included  Benny  Fields,  who  sang 
“Brother  Can  You  Spare  a Dime;”  Bill 
Robinson,  who  did  one  of  his  famous  cake 
walk  dances;  Don  Albert  and  his  WHN 
orchestra,  Victor  Moore  and  William  Gax- 
ton,  Alan  Dinehart,  Lyle  Talbot,  Horace 
McMann,  Johnny  “Scat”  Davis,  and  Dolly 
Dawn.  Many  of  them  contributed  $10 
each.  Eugene  Picker,  Marvin  Schenck  and 
Bingo  Brandt  also  gave  sizeable  sums. 

Begins  With  a Parade 

Preceded  by  a parade  in  which  all  im- 
portant circuits  were  represented  by 
ushers  and  bands,  the  ceremonies  were 
slightly  delayed  due  to  Mayor  LaGuar- 
dia’s  failure  to  appear.  Milton  Berle  had 
also  been  scheduled  to  m.  c.  the  affair  and 
he  likewise  did  not  show  up.  However,  in 
all  sense  of  fairness  the  opening  gun  went 
off  with  a bang  and  the  results  were  de- 
clared very  favorable. 

In  appreciation  of  the  work  done, 
Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  national  chairman 
of  the  Motion  Picture  Committee,  ex- 
pressed his  thanks  thusly: 

“On  the  eve  of  launching  the  infantile 
paralysis  fund  drive  in  the  New  York- 
New  Jersey  area,  may  I extend  my  sincere 
thanks  and  congratulations  to  the  ex- 
hibitors who  have  so  heartily  joined  with 
the  Motion  Picture  Theatres’  Committee  in 
this  fine  enterprise. 

Majority  Pledge  Support 

“The  response  has  been  exceptional.  The 
great  majority  of  the  1,187  theatres  in  the 
area  have  pledged  their  whole-hearted 
support. 

“Those  who  have  neglected  to  do  so  up 
to  now,  still  have  time  to  join  the  ‘March 
of  Dimes.’  A phone  call  to  committee 
headquarters  will  bring  all  the  necessary 
material. 

“The  success  of  this  drive  for  so  worthy 
a cause  will  again  show  the  world  what  an 
important  part  in  community  life  the  mo- 
tion picture  theatre  can  play.” 

Joseph  M.  Schenck,  as  in  the  past,  again 
heads  the  west  coast  division  of  the  drive. 

It  is  hoped  to  raise  close  to  3,000,000 
dimes  for  the  infantile  paralysis  fight. 


for  “Philadelphia  Story.” 

Earle — Maisie  Was  a Lady  (M-G-M) 115 

Bolstered  by  Phil  Spitalny’s  orchestra  on 
stage. 

Fox — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN),  2nd  wk 115 

Karlton — You’ll  Find  Out  (RKO),  2nd  run....  60 

Keith’s — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA),  2nd  run 75 

Stanley — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  135 

Stanton — Blackout  (UA)  75 


Seeking  Harmony  in 
Moscato  Situation 

New  York — Efforts  are  being  made  by 
both  sides  to  work  out  a harmonious  ar- 
rangement for  the  booking  of  pictures  in 
Frank  Moscato’s  Ditmars,  Astoria.  As  a 
result  of  recent  conferences,  the  Ditmars 
is  now  getting  some  pictures  clear  of 
Skouras’  Grand,  in  the  same  town. 

Although  Emil  K.  Ellis,  local  attorney, 
was  recently  retained  by  Moscato  to  in- 
stitute legal  action  in  the  event  nothing 
could  be  done,  it  appears  now  the  possi- 
bility of  a suit  is  remote  and  the  working 
agreement  will  be  continued  indefinitely. 

Both  sides  apparently  seem  satisfied 
with  the  granting  waivers  to  the  Ditmars. 
Talk  of  the  matter  going  to  arbitration  also 
is  said  to  have  been  abandoned. 


" Back  Street " Premiere 
Will  Be  a 5-Day  Affair 

New  York — Universal’s  most  preten- 
tious out-of-town  soiree  appears,  from  the 
blue  prints,  to  be  ready  to  make  up  for  a 
lot  of  junkets  the  company  could  have  ar- 
ranged, but  didn’t. 

It’s  going  to  be  a five-day  affair  in 
Miami  and  it’s  for  “Back  Street.”  It  is  de- 
signed to  climax  with  the  world  premiere 
at  the  Lincoln  at  Miami  Beach  the  eve- 
ning of  February  4.  It  will  affect  about 
150  film  critics,  trade  paper  representa- 
tives, home  office  and  studio  officials. 

Parades,  parties  and  banquets  will  be  the 
order  of  the  occasion.  The  party  will  live 
at  the  Miami  Biltmore  Hotel  and  will  have 
a choice  of,  or  all  of  the  following:  A gala 
banquet  on  the  night  of  the  premiere,  a 
trip  to  Hialeah,  an  evening  at  the  dog  races 
in  Hollywood  (Fla.),  a dinner  party  at  the 
Beachcomber  and  another  at  Ben  Marden’s 
club,  a deep  sea  fishing  trip  and  a few 
more  surprise  divertissments. 

Sidney  Meyers  and  Sonny  Shepherd, 
Wometco  officials,  have  completed  all  de- 
tails with  Louis  Pollock,  Universal’s  east- 
ern advertising  head.  It  includes  the  ap- 
pearance at  the  premiere  of  Deanna  Dur- 
bin, Producer  Bruce  Manning  and  other 
studio  personalities. 

Heart  Attack  Is  Fatal 
To  Boris  W . Silver 

New  York — Boris  W.  Silver  of  Colonial 
Pictures,  Canadian  distributors  for  Alliance 
Films,  succumbed  to  a heart  attack.  At 
the  time,  he  was  with  Budd  Rogers,  Ameri- 
can representative  for  Alliance  Films,  and 
Harry  J.  Allen  of  the  Allen  circuit  in  Can- 
ada in  the  Radio  City  garage.  Silver  was 
49  and  is  survived  by  a sister  in  Canada. 

Open  With  Benefit  for 
British  War  Relief 

New  York — Shaftel  & Berger  on  Tues- 
day night  opened  the  new  Squire,  Great 
Neck,  with  a special  benefit  performance 
for  British  relief.  The  former  is  inter- 
ested in  the  Pacific  Newsreel  Theatres 
which  has  newsreel  units  in  various  sec- 
tions of  the  country. 


26 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


A Film  Program  io 
Weld  Republics 


Washington — A wide  scale  program  for 
the  use  of  films  as  a medium  for  promo- 
tion of  closer  relations  and  better  under- 
standing among  the  American  Repub- 
lics, is  announced  here  by  Nelson  A. 
Rockefeller,  coordinator  of  commercial  and 
cultural  relations  between  the  American 
Republics. 

The  first  step  is  the  formation  of  Holly- 
wood committees  representative  of  pro- 
ducers, stars,  writers  and  directors  to  co- 
operate in  carrying  out  the  program  of 
features,  shorts  and  newsreels.  As  a re- 
sult of  conferences  with  John  Hay  Whit- 
ney, director  of  the  motion  picture  division 
of  the  coordinator’s  office,  several  features 
involving  Central  and  South  American 
themes  are  now  in  production  or  prepara- 
tion. 

Remake  "Blood  and  Sand" 

Among  these  are  M-G-M’s  “The  Life  of 
Simon  Bolivar,”  two  from  20th  Century- 
Pox — “The  Road  to  Rio”  and  “Blood  and 
Sand;”  RKO’s  “They  Met  in  Argentina,” 
and  “Rurales,”  from  Paramount.  A spe- 
cial committee  is  said  to  be  investigating 
production  facilities  in  Central  and  South 
America  for  the  purpose  of  possibly 
photographing  subsequent  films  there. 

Whitney  is  said  to  have  been  assured  by 
the  MPPDA  that  it  will  appoint  an  expert 
on  the  “ways  of  life  in  the  other  Ameri- 
can Republics”  to  serve  in  the  office  of 
the  code  administrator  in  Hollywood.  He 
will  cooperate  with  all  producers  to  insure 
authenticity  in  films  involving  Latin 
American  languages  and  historical  prob- 
lems. 

Intensification  of  the  “closer  relations” 
idea  will  be  through  the  personal  appear- 
ances of  Hollywood  stars  at  premieres  in 
those  countries.  Alice  Faye  and  Dorothy 
Lamour  may  be  among  the  first. 

Norman  Alley  of  News  of  the  Day  is  en 
route  to  South  America  to  arrange  for  in- 
creased newsreel  coverage  as  part  of  the 
program,  while  other  crews  are  expected 
to  leave  shortly.  In  this  respect  Pathe  is 
now  editing  a series  of  shorts  on  South 
America,  first  of  which  will  be  “Eyes  on 
Brazil.” 

Several  Committees  Formed 

The  Hollywood  committee  that  will  co- 
operate with  Whitney  is  headed  by  Y. 
Frank  Freeman,  Paramount  production 
head.  Others  on  the  committee  are  Ed- 
ward Arnold,  Sam  Briskin,  Frank  Capra, 
Sheridan  Gibney,  Samuel  Goldwyn,  Louis 
B.  Mayer,  George  J.  Schaefer,  David  O. 
Selznick,  Walter  Wanger,  Cliff  Work  and 
Harry  M.  Warner. 

Personnel  of  cooperating  committees  are 
as  follows: 

Committee  on  visits  to  South  America — 
Joseph  Schenck,  chairman;  Arnold,  Ken- 
neth Thomson  and  Benjamin  Thau. 

Committee  on  South  American  film 
facilities- — Briskin,  chairman;  E.  J.  Man- 
nix,  Sol  Wurtzel,  Major  Nathan  Levinson, 
Keith  Glennan,  Sol  Lesser,  J.  D.  McDon- 
ough and  William  Koenig. 

Committee  of  the  Academy  of  Motion 
Picture  Arts  and  Sciences — Wanger,  chair- 


Justice  Department  Unit 
Will  Enforce  Decrees 


(Continued  from  page  23) 
period,”  the  statement  continues,  “the  unit 
will  attempt  to  answer  the  following  ques- 
tions and  make  specific  recommendations 
based  upon  the  answers  to  these  questions : 

“1.  Has  the  three-year  trial  of  the 
consent  decree  demonstrated  that  the 
competition  required  by  the  Sherman 
act  can  be  achieved  in  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry  without  securing  the  di- 
vorcement of  production  and  distribu- 
tion from  exhibition? 

“2.  If  it  has,  must  the  decree  be 
modified  in  other  respects  in  order  to 
achieve  such  competition  in  the  in- 
dustry? 

“3.  If  it  must  be  so  modified,  what 
are  the  specific  modifications  which 
will  achieve  that  end? 

“The  above  outline  of  the  proposed  ac- 
tivities of  the  decree  unit  is  necessarily  ten- 
tative and  subject  to  modification  in  the 
light  of  experience,”  the  department  de- 
clares in  a plea  for  cooperation.  “Sugges- 
tions for  any  modifications  of  this  policy 
which  will  increase  the  effectiveness  of  the 
decree  and  the  work  of  the  unit  are  hereby 
invited  and  will  receive  careful  consider- 
ation. 

Must  Cooperate  to  Work  Well 
“All  exhibitors  and  their  organizations 
must  know  that  without  their  whole- 
hearted support,  neither  the  decree  nor  the 
decree  unit  can  function  properly.  While 
the  department  is  heartily  in  favor  of  the 
settlement  of  individual  differences  with- 
out resort  to  arbitration  by  voluntary 
agreement  between  the  parties  involved 
wherever  the  agreement  is  a fair  one,  it 
should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  decree 
was  intended  to  relieve  small  exhibitors 
from  the  pressure  which  large  circuits  and 
distributors  have  been  able  to  exert  in  the 
past  with  respect  to  the  terms  of  such  in- 


formal settlements.  Unless  free  use  of  the 
arbitration  machinery  established  by  the 
decree  is  made  by  all  exhibitors,  this  pur- 
pose will  not  have  been  fulfilled. 

“It  has  been  suggested  that  small  ex- 
hibitors who  insist  on  filing  arbitration 
complaints  rather  than  accepting  settle- 
ments negotiated  without  resort  to  the 
decree  machinery,  may  be  subjected  to  re- 
prisals in  connection  with  future  negotia- 
tions with  the  consenting  defendants.  The 
department  believes  that  these  fears  are 
unfounded,  but  is  prepared  to  prosecute 
for  contempt  any  person  who  attempts  to 
prevent  an  exhibitor  from  exercising  any 
of  his  rights  under  the  decree,  by  economic 
coercion  or  otherwise. 

Would  Punish  for  Reprisals 

“The  suggestion  also  has  been  made  that 
exhibitors  fear  that  complaints  which  are 
made  to  the  department  and  referred  to 
distributors  will  bring  reprisals  from  them. 
The  department  believes  that  these  fears 
are  not  well  founded,  but  is  also  prepared 
to  take  whatever  steps  are  necessary  to 
punish  such  conduct.  It  can  obviously  do 
nothing  about  the  cases  of  those  exhibitors 
who  may  let  such  fears  prevent  them  from 
making  complaints  to  it. 

“The  questions  which  will  be  up  for  de- 
cision on  November  20,  1943,  must  inevit- 
ably be  largely  determined  by  the  data 
collected  by  the  department  during  the 
preceding  three-year  period.  Unless  ex- 
hibitors make  full  use  of  the  arbitration 
procedure  set  up  by  the  decree  and  supply 
full  information  with  respect  to  the  effect 
of  the  decree  on  their  business  to  the 
decree  unit,  that  data  will  be  woefully  in- 
complete. Without  such  exhibitor  coopera- 
tion on  a substantial  scale,  these  questions 
are  certain  to  be  erroneously  decided,  to 
the  detriment  of  exhibitors  and  the  in- 
dustry as  a whole.” 


Paramount  Abandons 
Southern  Division 

New  York — Paramount  is  abandoning  its 
southern  division.  Oscar  Morgan,  manager 
of  that  area,  is  to  be  named  short  subject 
manager  at  the  forthcoming  Chicago  meet- 
ing. Earle  Sweigert,  current  Philadelphia 
manager,  gets  a new  district  embracing 
Philadelphia,  Washington,  and  Pittsburgh. 
Neil  F.  Agnew,  sales  manager,  is  planning 
a separate  division  covering  newsreels  and 
shorts  under  Morgan’s  supervision. 


man;  Capra,  Levinson,  James  Stewart  and 
Robert  Riskin. 

Short  subjects  committee — Gunther  Les- 
sing, chairman;  Jack  Chertok,  Gordon 
Hollingshead  and  Hugh  McCollum. 

Art  direction  committee — Cedric  Gib- 
bons, chairman;  Richard  Day,  William 
Cameron  Menzies  and  Jack  Otterson. 

Committee  on  story  material — Gibney, 
chairman;  Kenneth  Mackenna,  Milton 
Krims  and  Kenneth  McGowan. 


Home  Office  Executives 
To  MPA  Induction 

New  York — Leading  sales  managers  and 
home  office  executives  will  be  invited  to 
attend  the  induction  of  new  officers  of  M. 
P.  Associates  at  the  Astor  Tuesday.  The 
event  will  be  in  the  form  of  a luncheon 
with  Jack  Ellis  retiring  as  president  after 
three  years.  Joe  Lee,  who  has  held  that 
post  before  him,  now  succeeds  Ellis.  Lee 
won  over  Nat  Beier  of  UA  by  a tally  of  64 
and  48,  after  both  men  put  on  a spirited 
campaign. 

Ellis  declined  to  run  again  after  three 
consecutive  terms.  James  Frank  of  Na- 
tional Theatre  Supply  was  unopposed  for 
the  first  vice-presidency;  Matty  Cahan 
was  elected  second  vice-president;  Saul 
Trauner  of  Columbia  was  unopposed  for 
treasurer;  Charles  Penser  was  continued  as 
financial  secretary.  Moe  Fraum  of  Co- 
lumbia was  named  recording  secretary  and 
the  two  trustees  who  won  out  were  Ben 
Abner  of  M-G-M  and  Seymour  Schussel  of 
Columbia.  Louis  Kutinsky  of  RKO  bested 
Anthony  Ricci  for  sergeant-at-arms. 


BOXOFFICE  January  18,  1941 


26-A 


Busy  Court  Week;  Korda 
Heard  in  Goldwyn  Suit 


New  York — An  extremely  busy  week  for 
the  industry  in  the  courts  was  headed  by 
an  examination  before  trial  of  Alexander 
Korda  who  arrived  here  from  the  coast 
just  in  time  to  be  served  with  a subpoena 
in  Samuel  Goldwyn’s  suit  against  UA.  The 
producer’s  examination  could  have  been 
held  in  either  New  York  or  California  but, 
since  he  elected  to  come  here,  it  was  held 
in  the  federal  court  pursuant  to  Judge  Ed- 
ward A.  Conger’s  order.  Goldwyn,  at  the 
same  time,  was  ordered  to  reframe  his 
second  cause  of  action  against  the  com- 
pany, this  cause  asking  $1,000,000  damages 
for  alleged  interference  with  the  distribu- 
tion of  "The  Westerner.”  The  court  ruled 
the  producer’s  attorneys  had  included 
much  redundant  material  in  this  cause  of 
action.  UA  intends  to  file  affirmative 
defenses  to  Goldwyn’s  charges,  according 
to  Edward  C.  Raftery,  attorney  for  the  film 
company. 

Drop  Part  of  Columbia  Suit 

Five  consolidated  stockholders  who  are 
suing  Columbia,  Jack  and  Harry  Cohn, 
and  12  officers  and  directors  for  approxi- 
mately $2,000,000  for  alleged  waste  and 
mismanagement  in  a supreme  court  stock- 
holder action,  have  dropped  that  part  of 
their  suit  which  sought  damages  prior  to 
1933.  The  statute  of  limitations  applies  to 
that  material. 

Stephen  A.  Lynch,  former  Paramount 
director,  has  petitioned  the  supreme  court 
to  bar  David  Stoneman,  Boston  attorney, 
from  giving  evidence  at  the  trial  of  Stone- 
man’s  $250,000  suit  against  him  for  alleged 
failure  to  serve  a bill  of  particulars.  Stone- 
man  seeks  the  money  for  services  to  Lynch 
during  the  Paramount  reorganization  from 
February,  1933  to  July,  1936. 

Supreme  Court  Justice  Charles  B.  Mc- 
Laughlin has  amended  his  decision  allow- 
ing the  examination  before  trial  of  nu- 
merous Universal  executives  in  Samuel  I. 
Posen’s  stockholder  suit  against  the  com- 
pany, and  now  is  allowing  questions  which 
in  his  previous  examination  he  had  deemed 
unnecessary.  Posen,  a director  of  the 
company,  claims  waste  and  mismanage- 
ment and  seeks  an  accounting. 

Sidney  Kent  Examined 

Sidney  R.  Kent,  president  of  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox, was  examined  before  trial  in  su- 
preme court  in  connection  with  Izola  For- 
rester’s and  Mann  Page’s  suit  against  20th- 
Fox.  Suit  charged  the  plagiarism  of  plain- 
tiffs’ play  “Joyous”  in  “The  Poor  Little 
Rich  Girl.”  An  injunction,  accounting  of 
profits  and  damages  is  sought. 

Suit  of  Louis  Klotz  against  Jack  Robins, 
known  as  Jacob  Rabinowitz,  William  Lo- 
renz, Willor  Mfg.  Corp.,  and  Mechanical 
Mfg.  Corp.,  was  dismissed  by  Supreme 
Court  Justice  Louis  A.  Valente.  Action 
sought  10  per  cent  of  the  sales  and  rentals 
of  a “continuous  motion  picture  sound 
projector,”  which  plaintiff  claimed  to  have 
helped  develop. 

Suit  of  Mabel  Wayne  and  Neville  Flee- 
son  against  M-G-M  has  been  settled  and 
discontinued  out  of  the  supreme  court.  Ac- 


Belgium  and  France  Are 
Returning  to  Normalcy 


New  York — Theatre  business  in  Belgium 
and  France  is  rapidly  returning  to  nor- 
malcy, states  Fred  Hotchkiss,  manager  of 
Societe  de  Materel  Acoustique,  distributors 
of  Western  Electric  equipment  in  those 
countries  and  now  in  town  on  a leave  of 
absence. 

Of  the  330  houses  equipped  with  Erpi 
sound,  275  are  doing  business  in  those 
countries,  he  states.  Approximately  50  are 
closed  temporarily,  most  of  these  being  in 
the  occupied  zone.  About  10  were  de- 
stroyed or  suffered  damage  to  varying  de- 
grees during  the  blitzkrieg,  three  in  Me- 
zieres-Charleville,  two  in  Valenciennes  and 
one  each  in  Le  Havre,  Maubeuge,  Dun- 
querque,  Ostend  and  Sedan. 


tion  sought  $50,000  damages  for  alleged 
plagiarism  of  plaintiffs’  song  “Betwixt  and 
Between”  in  an  unnamed  Judy  Garland 
picture  for  the  M-G-M  song,  “In  Between.” 

Suit  of  Katherine  Moog  against  Warner 
Bros,  for  $75,000  damages  for  alleged  libel 
in  “Confessions  of  a Nazi  Spy,”  will  be 
tried  in  the  federal  court  January  31.  Suit 
claims  the  part  played  by  Lya  Lys  in  the 
picture  is  meant  to  represent  the  plaintiff. 

Mitchel  Parish  and  Hoagy  Carmichael 
have  filed  a supreme  court  action  against 
20th  Century-Fox  seeking  $50,000  damages 
for  alleged  failure  to  give  them  screen 
credit  for  writing  the  song  “Star  Dust”  in 
the  20th-Fox  film  of  the  same  name.  Plain- 
tiffs claim  Mack  Gordon,  20th-Fox  song- 
writer, received  the  only  screen  credit  for 
two  subordinate  songs.  The  film  company, 
as  a defense,  claims  that  when  the  song 
was  purchased  from  the  plaintiffs’  pub- 
lishers, Mills  Music,  Inc.,  nothing  was  said 
about  screen  credit. 

Drop  ’’Midnight''  Case 

Suit  of  Robert  L.  Buckner  against  Para- 
mount and  Charles  Beahan  has  been  dis- 
continued in  the  federal  court.  Action 
sought  an  injunction,  accounting  of  profits 
and  damages  for  the  alleged  plagiarism  of 
plaintiff’s  play  written  in  conjunction  with 
Beahan  called  “Dearly  Beloved”  in  the 
Paramount  picture  “Midnight.”  Beahan 
was  named  as  a defendant  because  he  re- 
fused to  join  the  action  as  a plaintiff. 

Joseph  B.  Basson,  as  president  of  Local 
306  of  the  IATSE,  has  appealed  to  the 
supreme  court  to  confirm  an  award  of  $7,- 
500,  plus  $1,146  arbitration  costs,  against 
the  Adenos  Amusement  Corp.,  Emmons 
Theatre  Corp.,  Maurice  Brown  and  the 
Sheldon  Theatre,  Brooklyn,  made  by  the 
board  of  arbitration,  Dec.  28,  1940.  The 
board  found  the  defendants,  all  connected 
with  the  operation  of  the  Sheldon,  had 
failed  to  live  up  to  their  ITOA  contract  of 
which  they  are  members  and  to  hire  only 
306  projectionists.  They  must  do  so  in 
the  future,  besides  paying  the  fine. 

Suit  of  Frederick  E.  Weidhaas  against 


Loew’s,  Inc.,  has  started  trial  in  the  fed- 
eral court  before  Judge  Robert  Nevins.  Ac- 
tion seeks  an  injunction,  accounting  of 
profits  and  damages  for  allegedly  plagiariz- 
ing a patent  device  for  a theatre  curtain. 

The  Polish-American  Film  Corp.  has 
filed  a federal  court  suit  against  Aurelio 
Battistoni  and  John  Milo  doing  business  as 
the  Roma  Film  Co.,  charging  the  defend- 
ants with  having  stuck  together  newsreel 
clips,  titled  the  feature  thus  produced  “Po- 
land Is  Not  Yet  Lost,”  and  notified  the 
trade  it  was  produced  by  the  Pol.  Film 
Corp.  Plaintiffs  claim  to  have  completed 
a picture  with  the  exact  title  at  a cost  of 
$20,000  and  with  the  cooperation  of  the 
Polish  government,  and  were  planning  re- 
lease of  it  in  the  near  future.  Damages  of 
$10,000  plus  an  injunction  are  asked. 

Pickford-Rogers  Action 

Arthur  T.  Michaud  and  James  V.  Peepe, 
band  managers,  filed  a $300,000  suit  in  the 
supreme  court  against  Charles  Buddy 
Rogers  and  Mary  Pickford,  charging  the 
band  leader  with  breach  of  a 10-year 
managerial  agreement,  and  the  former  ac- 
tress with  forcing  the  breach.  Plaintiffs 
claim  that  Rogers’  wife  threatened  him 
with  divorce  and  also  promised  that  should 
he  return  to  California,  she  would  secure 
him  producing  and  acting  jobs.  Contract 
made  in  May,  1939,  was  allegedly  breached 
in  August,  1940. 

Selwyn  and  Co.  won  an  award  of  $2,- 
700  and  the  American  Play  Co.,  $604,  in 
the  supreme  court  in  connection  with  their 
suits  against  Hollywood  Plays.  Justice  Isi- 
dor  Wasservogel  also  dismissed  the  de- 
fendants counter-claim  for  $2,500.  Plain- 
tiff claimed  to  own  50  per  cent  of  the 
film  rights  to  the  play,  “Fair  and  War- 
mer,” rights  to  which  were  sold  by  the 
defendant  to  a German  film  company  in 
1936  for  $6,500.  Defense  denied  the 
charges  and  made  the  same  50  per  cent 
claim  on  the  play,  “Our  Little  Wife,” 
which  had  been  sold  to  Goldwyn  Pictures 
Corp.  between  1919-1922  for  $2,500. 

Three  Arbitrators  on 
British  Remittances 

New  York — The  three  arbitrators  who 
will  decide  how  the  $12,900,000  British  re- 
mittances for  the  current  year  are  to  be 
allocated  among  the  eight  major  distribu- 
tors have  not  yet  been  set.  Under  the 
plan,  M-G-M,  which  is  seeking  to  have 
the  allocations  distributed  according  to 
the  formula  set  up  by  the  British  gov- 
ernment, will  appoint  a man,  the  other 
seven  majors  will  name  a second  and  these 
two  will  elect  a third. 

No  date  has  been  set  for  the  arguments. 
M-G-M  is  understood  to  have  consider- 
able correspondence  from  abroad  to  bear 
out  its  contention  that  the  percentage  of 
distribution  should  be  based  on  the  net 
earnings  of  each  company  rather  than  the 
total  gross  of  the  eight  distributors. 

The  allocations  agreement  was  the  sole 
topic  of  discussion  at  an  “informal  meet- 
ing of  a few  members”  of  the  MPPDA 
board,  according  to  a spokesman.  In  any 
event,  another  meeting  was  called  Friday 
before  Will  Hays  departs  for  the  coast,  in 
a few  days. 


26-B 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


Wheeler  Strikes  at 
Film  'Propaganda' 

Washington — Sharply  assailing  the  mo- 
tion picture  industry  for  its  participation 
in  what  he  called  an  administration-in- 
stigated “propaganda  for  war,”  Sen.  Bur- 
ton H.  Wheeler  of  Montana,  chairman  of 
the  Senate  interstate  commerce  committee, 
this  week  threatened  that  unless  the  in- 
dustry took  what  he  considered  a "more 
impartial”  position,  legislation  would  be 
sought  regulating  its  activities. 

The  senator’s  dissatisfaction  with  the  in- 
dustry’s preparedness  propaganda  was 
voiced  in  a letter  to  Will  H.  Hays,  MPPDA 
president. 

Strongly  opposed  to  anything  which 
might  get  the  United  States  into  the  war, 
he  charged  that  the  industry  is  propa- 
gandizing for  war  with  the  encouragement 
of  the  administration,  and  told  Hays  that 
it  has  reached  a point  where  he  believes 
legislation  may  have  to  be  enacted  regulat- 
ing conduct  in  this  respect  unless  volun- 
tary reforms  are  adopted. 

Blame  on  Administration 

Senator  Wheeler  referred  to  the  many 
preparedness  pictures  which  are  being 
shown  throughout  the  country  in  news 
reels  and  shorts  and  said  it  was  his  under- 
standing the  administration  had  urged  the 
industry  to  produce  propaganda  pictures. 

Wheeler  actually  wrote  Paramount  News 
at  Washington  and  sent  Hays  a copy  of 
that  letter.  In  it,  he  said: 

“Will  you  kindly  inform  me  when,  if  at 
all,  you  intend  to  carry  my  answer  to 
the  President’s  most  recent  fireside  chat. 
And  what,  if  anything,  are  you  going 
to  do  about  carrying  both  sides  of  the 
controversy  on  pending  legislation  which 
directly  involves  the  question  of  war  or 
peace? 

“This  question  is  so  important  that  I 
believe  the  people  should  insist  not  only 
on  equal  radio  coverage  for  both  sides 
of  this  highly  controversial  question,  but 
that  newspapers  and  the  motion  pictures 
should  do  the  same. 

Would  Enact  Legislation 

“The  propaganda  for  war  that  is  being 
waged  by  the  motion  picture  companies 
of  this  country  is  reaching  a point  at 
which  I believe  legislation  will  have  to 
be  enacted  regulating  the  industry  in  this 
respect  unless  the  industry  itself  displays 
a more  impartial  nature. 

“Many  complaints  are  coming  to  me  and 
to  other  members  of  congress  to  the  ef- 
fect that  the  motion  picture  industry  is 
carrying  on  a violent  propaganda  campaign 
intending  to  incite  the  American  people 
to  the  point  where  they  will  become  in- 
volved in  this  war.  As  you  well  know, 
the  motion  picture  and  the  newsreel  is 
one  of  the  great  agencies  for  molding  pub- 
lic opinion  of  this  country  and,  if  we  are 
going  to  preserve  this  nation  as  a demo- 
cratic republic,  it  is  highly  essential  that 
both  sides  of  each  question  be  presented. 

“I  sincerely  hope  that  you  will  call  this 
to  the  attention  of  your  people  as  I am 
fast  coming  to  the  conclusion  that  legis- 
lation should  be  enacted  to  remedy  the 
present  situation.” 

In  a letter  to  Wheeler,  A.  J.  Rich- 
ard, editor  of  Paramount  News,  denies 
the  accusation,  declaring  he  is  “un- 


(,  ft 

" Facts  Utterly  Deny 
Accusations " 

New  York — "The  facts  utterly  deny  the 
accusations  of  deliberate  propaganda  to 
incite  war/'  Will  H.  Hays  has  advised 
Sen.  Burton  K.  Wheeler  in  response  to 
the  Montana  solon's  letter.  Hays  has  sup- 
plied Wheeler  with  a breakdown  of  last 
year's  product  to  prove  his  contention. 

V V 

aware  of  the  existence  of  any  such  propa- 
ganda on  the  part  of  the  motion  picture 
industry  and  am  confident  that  no  such 
purpose  exists.” 

RKO  Will  Proceed  as 
Planned  With  "Kane” 

New  York — Officially,  RKO  has  nothing 
to  say.  Authoritatively,  however,  it  is  the 
company’s  intention  to  proceed  as  planned 
with  the  release  of  “Citizen  Kane,”  the 
widely  discussed  Orson  Welles  film  which 
representatives  of  William  Randolph 
Hearst  are  endeavoring  to  suppress.  The 
newspaper  publisher  claims  the  film  es- 
sentially is  his  biography.  Welles,  on  the 
other  hand,  maintains  it  is  a composite 
picture  of  an  era  of  the  American  scene 
and  is  based  on  no  one  individual’s  life. 

Meanwhile,  it  is  understood  Hearst  edi- 
tors have  been  instructed  to  bar  all  men- 
tion of  RKO  and  its  product. 

"GWTW”  Is  Slated  lor 
Capitol  on  January  30 

New  York — “Gone  With  the  Wind”  is 
slated  to  open  at  the  Capitol  for  its  re- 
peat first  run  engagement  on  January  30, 
following  “Flight  Command.”  The  date 
is  conditioned  on  the  latter,  which  opened 
Thursday,  running  two  weeks. 

SPG  Board  Hearings 
Starting  January  23 

New  York — The  national  labor  relations 
board  will  start  hearings  January  23  in 
the  SPG-producers’  case  in  which  the 
publicists  are  seeking  recognition  of  their 
union. 


"Fantasia”  Dates  Set 

New  York — “Fantasia”  opens  on  Janu- 
ary 29  at  the  Carthay  Circle,  Los  Angeles. 
The  preceding  day  it  bows  in  at  the  Ma- 
jestic, Boston,  while  on  February  12  it 
opens  at  the  Aldine,  Philadelphia. 


Korda,  Pallos  Westward 

New  York — Alexander  Korda  and 
Stephen  Pallos  left  here  Saturday  for  the 
coast.  Korda  was  examined  in  Sam  Gold- 
wyn’s  suit  against  UA  on  this  trip  here. 


Roxy  Reports  Loss 

New  York — Roxy  Theatre,  Inc.,  reports 
a loss  of  $42,289  for  the  year  ended  August 
29  against  a profit  of  $40,686  for  the  pre- 
ceding year. 


Film  Board  to  Install 

New  York — The  local  Film  Board  will 
install  new  officers  January  22. 


Scophony  Television 
Contains  a Threat 

New  York — If  one  discards  a few  im- 
portant ifs,  ands  and  buts,  the  first  Ameri- 
can demonstration  of  Scophony’s  theatre- 
size  television  stacks  up  as  something  ex- 
hibitors will  have  to  reckon  with  if  they 
don’t  have  a competing  television  system 
in  their  theatres. 

A number  of  factors,  none  particularly 
encouraging,  prevent  Scophony  executives 
from  committing  themselves  on  how 
strenuously  they  expect  to  wage  a cam- 
paign on  theatre  installations.  Firstly,  the 
National  Television  Systems  Committee 
will  not  make  a report  on  its  activities  to 
the  FCC  until  the  end  of  the  month.  Ru- 
mors have  it  the  report  will  recommend 
that  all  commercial  and  experimental  tele- 
vision be  curtailed  for  the  duration  of  the 
present  emergency. 

Secondly,  and  assuming  for  the  moment 
the  FCC  gives  the  television  industry  the 
go  ahead  signal,  Scophony  spokesmen  are 
not  clear  on  whether  they  have  the  fi- 
nances to  build  their  receivers  in  sufficient 
quantities  to  assure  the  purchaser  a price 
that  would  justify  an  installation  with  the 
limited  television  programs,  or  even  spot, 
news,  that  would  be  available. 

Next,  and  by  no  means  least,  the  quality 
of  reproduction  as  gleaned  from  the  dem- 
onstration is  wanting  in  more  than  a few 
respects.  By  comparison  with  intensity  of 
light  on  present-day  theatre  screen,  the 
Scophony  presentation  was  well  below  stan- 
dard. There  was  quite  a bit  of  halation 
around  the  sides  of  the  screen,  as  well  as 
the  center,  except  when  extreme  close-ups 
were  shown.  The  screen  was  nine  feet  by 
12  feet.  Yet  no  more  than  two  persons 
could  get  into  the  camera  range  comfort- 
ably. 

There  were  explanations  for  all  of  these 
criticisms  by  Scophony  spokesmen.  In 
fact,  not  only  did  they  apologize  for  utiliz- 
ing equipment  that  did  not  show  to  the 
best  advantage,  but  they  declared  newer 
equipment  of  their  own  design  which  is 
not  now  in  this  country,  would  insure  even 
better  results  than  have  been  achieved  by 
other  systems.  Scophony,  for  the  un- 
initiated, is  an  English  concern,  headed  by 
Solomon  Sagall,  founder  and  managing 
director. 

For  Scophony,  however,  it  must  be  said 
its  receiving  equipment  is  so  condensed 
that  it  occupies  but  a few  square  feet  of 
space.  It  projects  from  the  rear  of  the 
screen.  Receivers  that  were  installed  in 
London  theatres,  when  manufactured  at 
100-unit  orders,  were  available  for  about 
$5,000  for  the  9x12  foot  screen,  and  about 
$1,600  for  the  4x3  foot  receiver. 

Exclusive  patents  are  claimed  for  the 
system  that  permits  ease  of  operation,  a 
minimum  of  overhead  and  unusual  recep- 
tion qualities.  The  receivers  are  designed 
to  pick  up  any  standard  line  television 
broadcast  emanating  from  either  NBC  or 
CBS.  Definition  is  claimed  not  to  be  im- 
paired in  the  reproduction  of  pickup  up 
to  50  miles. 


Columbia  Quarterly  Dividend 

New  York — Columbia  has  declared  a 
quarterly  dividend  of  68%  cents  on  con- 
vertible preferred  payable  February  15. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  18,  1941 


2G-C 


REVIEW 

FLASHES 

ALDRICH  FAMILY  IN  LIFE  WITH  HENRY. 
THE  (Para) — There  is  no  readily-discern- 
ible  reason  why  this,  the  second  chapter 
in  Henry  Aldrich's  screen  career,  shouldn't 
prove  comparably  acceptable  to  everyone 
who  enjoys  clean,  human  and  down-to- 
earth  entertainment.  Jackie  Cooper,  Leila 
Ernst,  Eddie  Bracken,  Jay  Theodore  Reed 
ably  produced  and  directed. 

HONEYMOON  FOR  THREE  (WB)— Farce  com- 
edy about  a novel-writing  casanova,  it 
strains  rather  hard  in  some  of  its  se- 
quences for  laughs  but  pans  out  sufficient 
humorous  lines  and  situations  to  satisfy 
generally,  although  audiences  cannot  be 
expected  to  consider  it  uproariously.  Ann 
Sheridan  and  George  Brent  are  co-fea- 
tured.  Henry  Blanke  produced;  Lloyd  Ba- 
con directed. 

MR.  AND  MRS.  SMITH  (RKO)—  Britain's  Al- 
fred Hitchcock,  who  demonstrated  to  Holly- 
wood and  audiences  everywhere  his  abil- 
ity as  a dramatic  director  in  "Rebecca" 
and  as  a pilot  of  suspense  and  action  in 
"Foreign  Correspondent,"  displays  an 
equal  flair  for  humor  in  this,  his  first 
American  comedy.  As  entertainment  in 
the  lighter  vein,  it  is  virtually  flawless  and, 
with  Carole  Lombard  and  Robert  Mont- 
gomery to  grace  the  marquee,  it  should 
quickly  attain  the  hit  class. 

TALL,  DARK  AND  HANDSOME  (20th-Fox)— 
A story  of  Chicago  gangdom  in  its  hey- 
day, this  vacillates  between  comedy  and 
melodrama,  with  an  occasional  musical 
moment  thrown  in  to  further  confuse  its 
accurate  designation.  It  is  unadulterated 
hokum,  but  those  who  are  not  too  critical 
of  plot  inconsistencies,  will  vote  it  a first- 
rate  job  of  picture-making  and  everyone 
should  find  it  highly  acceptable  entertain- 
ment. Produced  by  Fred  Kohlmar;  directed 
by  H.  Bruce  Humberstone. 


MPPDA  Works  With  Metro 
In  Behall  of  " Liberty " 

New  York — The  Hays  organization, 
which  sponsors  “Land  of  Liberty,”  is  co- 
operating with  M-G-M  field  men  in  an 
effort  to  further  arouse  community  in- 
terest in  the  film.  For  that  purpose,  four 
men  have  been  assigned  different  sections 
of  the  country.  Mark  Larkin  is  now  active 
in  New  England,  Joe  Shea  in  the  south, 
Gabe  S.  Yorke  in  the  west,  and  I.  E.  Deer 
in  the  middle  west,  out  of  Chicago. 


See  $2.85  on  Common 

New  York — Financial  circles  estimate 
that  Paramount’s  earnings  for  last  year 
will  total  $2.85  for  each  common  share. 


Rowland  In  for  Two  Months 

New  York — Richard  A.  Rowland,  UA 
producer,  is  in  town  for  a couple  of 
months. 


Will  Ponder  Feasibility 
Of  Roadshowing  "Wings" 

Chicago — Paramount  executives  will 
ponder  the  feasibility  of  roadshowing  “I 
Wanted  Wings”  at  a three-day  meeting  at 
the  Edgewater  Beach  Hotel  starting  Tues- 
day, when  Neil  F.  Agnew,  general  sales 
manager,  will  announce  a number  of  sales 
shifts.  Adolph  Zukor  and  Barney  Bala- 
ban  will  attend  as  will  Charles  Reagan,  J. 
J.  Unger,  Oscar  Morgan,  Robert  M.  Gill- 
ham,  C.  J.  Scollard  and  George  Brown. 


The  Astor  Will  Roadshow 
"Wings"  After  "Dictator" 

New  York — Paramount’s  “I  Wanted 
Wings”  is  slated  for  a two-a-day  roadshow 
engagement  at  the  Astor  following  the 
“Great  Dictator”  run.  The  deal,  however, 
is  contingent  upon  the  renewal  of  Loew’s 
lease  on  the  theatre  which,  insiders  be- 
lieve, will  be  an  automatic  procedure. 

Robert  Wolff  President 
New  York  Film  Board 

New  York — Robert  Wolff  of  RKO  has 
been  elected  president  of  the  New  York 
Film  Board  succeeding  Jack  Bowen,  east- 
ern district  manager  for  M-G-M.  Joseph 
Lee  of  20th-Fox  has  been  named  first 
vice-president  replacing  Nat  Beier  of  UA. 
Both  Ben  Abner  of  M-G-M  and  Dave  Levy 
of  Universal  were  re-elected  second  vice- 
president  and  treasurer,  respectively. 
Robert  Fannon  of  Republic  is  the  new 
secretary  in  place  of  Myron  Sattler  of 
Paramount.  Ed  Bell  of  Paramount  is 
sergeant-at-arms  succeeding  Joe  Felder  of 
Universal.  Inductions  are  slated  for 
January  22  with  a theatre  party  to  follow 
the  same  night. 

Reynolds  at  Strand  With 
"Christmas  Under  Fire" 

New  York — Quentin  Reynolds,  war  cor- 
respondent for  Collier’s  and  just  returned 
from  London,  opens  at  the  Strand,  Janu- 
ary 24,  for  two  weeks  in  connection  with 
“They  Spent  Christmas  Under  Fire,”  fol- 
low-up of  his  “London  Can  Take  It”  short 
on  wartime  London. 

The  feature  will  be  “High  Sierra”  and 
the  stage  band,  Henry  Busse  and  his  or- 
chestra. 


20th-Fox  Signs  Renoir 

New  York — Jean  Renoir,  French  pro- 
ducer who  is  probably  best  known  for 
“Grand  Illusion,”  has  been  signed  to  a 
long-term  contract  by  20th  Century-Fox. 
His  first  American  film  has  not  been  an- 
nounced. 


Joseph  Due  East 

New  York — John  Joseph,  Universal’s  di- 
rector of  advertising  and  publicity,  is  ex- 
pected from  the  coast  momentarily. 


Depinet  Back 

New  York — Ned  E.  Depinet,  RKO  vice- 
president,  is  back  from  a trip  to  Dallas. 


Garnett  in  New  York 

New  York — Tay  Garnett,  the  director, 
is  here  from  Hollywood.  Mrs.  Garnett  ac- 
companies. 


"Business  as  Usual," 
London  Sign  Reads 

New  York — “Business  as  usual,”  reads 
the  sign  over  London. 

Record  business,  in  fact,  for  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox, whose  billings  for  the  calendar 
year  just  ended  is  the  highest  in  the  com- 
pany’s history  since  it  established  offices 
in  Great  Britain  in  1916. 

Francis  L.  Harley,  managing  director 
there,  is  authority  for  the  statement.  He 
is  here  for  a combination  business  and 
pleasure  visit  until  the  end  of  February, 
dividing  his  time  between  New  York  and 
Hollywood. 

He  gives  two  reasons  for  the  record  bill- 
ings, which,  on  the  face  of  five  months  of 
blitzkrieg,  would  seem  not  to  be  on  talking 
terms  with  legitimacy.  The  first  is  that 
the  shifting  of  populations  from  the  east 
coast,  London  and  some  of  the  midlands 
to  the  provinces  has  caused  theatre  busi- 
ness to  swell  to  “colossal”  proportions;  the 
second  is  that  the  English  people  are  seek- 
ing more  entertainment  during  the  war 
than  they  would  under  normal  circum- 
stances. 

Furthermore,  as  the  days  get  longer  so 
will  theatre  receipts,  he  declares.  This  is 
accounted  for  by  the  particularly  large 
daytime  attendance,  Harley  observes.  The 
only  factor  that  might  disturb  this  opti- 
mistic outlook  is  an  overabundance  of  grim, 
melancholy  films,  which,  he  believes,  is  not 
likely.  He  estimates  that  about  400  thea- 
tres throughout  England  have  been  put  out 
of  operation  by  raids,  with  approximately 
3,800  others  still  going.  However,  the  pub- 
lic is  so  film-minded  that  closings  and 
openings  are  difficult  to  keep  track  of.  He 
cited  Coventry,  where  there  were  21  thea- 
tres in  operation  before  the  Nazis  virtu- 
ally levelled  the  city.  The  raid  left  but  four 
houses  in  operation.  Within  a very  short 
period,  he  added,  six  theatres  that  were  hit 
were  reopened. 

Production-wise,  20th-Fox  “has  never 
been  busier,”  he  declared.  The  year  just 
closed  saw  the  completion  of  eight  features, 
which  he  asserts  is  “absolute  maximum” 
on  the  basis  of  six  weeks  for  each  film. 
Despite  “indiscribable  difficulties,”  the 
company  has  finished  “Kips,”  by  H.  G. 
Wells  and  featuring  Diana  Wynward  and 
Michael  Redgrave,  while  “Once  a Crook,” 
“Spitfire,”  “Pitt,  the  Younger,”  and  “Paddy 
the  Next  Best  Thing,”  in  that  order,  are 
next  on  the  schedule. 


Deanna  to  Ball 

Hollywood — Deanna  Durbin  leaves  here 
next  Friday  for  visits  in  Chicago  and 
Washington.  Her  capital  visit  will  coincide 
with  the  President’s  Birthday  Ball.  From 
there,  she  will  go  to  Miami  for  the  pre- 
miere of  Universal’s  “Back  Street”  on 
February  4. 


West  on  New  Season 

Hollywood  — Maurice  Silverstone,  in 
charge  of  world-wide  operations  for  UA, 
and  Arthur  W.  Kelly,  general  sales  man- 
ager, are  due  here  Monday  from  New 
York  for  conferences  on  plans  for  the  new 
season. 


26-D 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


NEWS 


(Hollywood.  Office — Suite  219  at  6404  Hollywood  Bird.;  Ivan  Spear,  Western  Manager) 


Spurt  by  Monogram  Fox  May  Ma p Program 

IitdependentUnits  To  Fit  Block  Plan 


Independents  producing  for  Monogram 
release  have  launched  a picture-making 
spurt. 

Ed  Finney  has  rolled  “Ridin’  the  Chero- 
kee Trail,”  a Tex  Ritter  western.  Sam 
Katzman’s  “Air  Devils,”  an  East  Side  Kids 
feature,  is  also  in  work.  Paul  Malvern 
has  pegged  a January  20  start  on  “Sign 
of  the  Wolf,”  to  roll  on  location  at  Mount 
Shasta.  George  Weeks’  next  Range  Bust- 
ers western  will  be  “Guns-A-Roarin’,” 
from  an  Earle  Snell  original. 

Producers  Corp.  of  America  has  re- 
elected Sid  Schlager  president  and  Henry 
Herzbrun  secretary,  with  Charles  E.  Ford, 
originally  signed  on  a one-picture  com- 
mitment, given  a three-year  contract  as 
general  manager.  First  picture  is  to  be 
“Kingdom  Come,”  starring  John  Charles 
Thomas. 

Jules  Levey,  president  of  Mayfair  Pro- 
ductions, is  in  from  New  York  to  prepare 
“Butch  Minds  the  Baby,”  “Tight  Shoes” 
and  “Hellzapoppin”  as  his  next  three  in- 
dependent ventures  for  release  through 
Universal. 

Ben  Cohn,  head  of  a recently-formed 
independent  unit,  has  appointed  Margaret 
McKay  story  editor  to  seek  three  proper- 
ties for  production  this  season.  Cohn  has 
checked  out  for  New  York  to  negotiate 
a release. 

Now  pegged  by  A1  Rosen  for  a late 
February  start  is  “Gangsters  in  Uniform,” 
formerly  “The  Mad  Dog  of  Europe,”  an 
anti-Nazi  feature  which  he  will  make  for 
Columbia  release. 

Here  to  survey  the  local  field  with  a 
view  to  setting  up  an  Anglo-French  pro- 
duction unit  is  Joseph  Luca,  French  pro- 
ducer, president  of  Imperial  Films.  His 
last  French-made  film,  starring  Annabella, 
opened  recently  in  New  York. 


Capra  and  Riskin  Will 
Tour  S.  A.  With  "Doe" 

Immediately  after  the  Academy  Awards 
dinner  in  February,  Frank  Capra  and 
Robert  Riskin  will  check  out  on  a tour 
of  South  America,  carrying  with  them  a 
print  of  their  first  production  for  War- 
ner, “Meet  Joe  Doe.”  Plan  is  to  visit 
the  principal  Warner  exchanges  on  the 
continent,  their  first  stop  to  be  Rio  de 
Janeiro.  Selling  policy  on  the  picture  will 
be  discussed  with  the  various  exchange 
managers. 


Indications  that  the  studio’s  1941-42 
program  may  be  mapped  out  in  blocks  of 
five  to  conform  to  changes  in  sales  policy 
because  of  the  consent  decree,  plus  the 
possibility  that  further  independent  pro- 
duction-distribution deals  may  be  set  up  to 
augment  its  own  picture-making  program, 
were  reported  by  20th  Century-Fox  at- 
taches as  the  company’s  annual  production 
huddles  got  under  way  at  the  studio. 

Charles  E.  McCarthy,  advertising-pub- 

See  No  Leidown  in 
Production  Pace 

All  signposts  point  to  a continuation 
during  the  next  two  months  of  the  rapid 
picture-making  pace  to  which  Hollywood’s 
studios  have  been  geared  during  recent 
weeks. 

To  roll  during  the  balance  of  January 
are: 

Columbia — “A  Girl’s  Best  Friend  Is  Wall 
Street”  and  “Senate  Page  Boys.”  M-G-M 
— “Dr.  Jekyll  and  Mr.  Hyde,”  “Love 
Crazy”  and  “A  Woman’s  Face.”  Para- 
mount— “Skylark”  and  “Kiss  the  Boys 
Goodbye.”  Republic — “Mr.  District  Attor- 
ney,” “The  Great  Train  Robbery”  and 
“Sis  Hopkins.”  Monogram — “Sign  of  the 
Wolf.”  Universal — “Oh,  Charlie.”  20th 
Century-Fox — “Blood  and  Sand”  and  “The 
Great  American  Broadcast.”  RKO  Radio 
— “Robbers  of  the  Range,”  “Hang  Out 
the  Moon”  and  “Tom,  Dick  and  Harry.” 
Warner — “Sergeant  York”  and  “Bad  Men 
of  Missouri.” 

In  February  Columbia  will  gun  “Her 
First  Beau.”  Paramount  lists  “Hold  Back 
the  Dawn,”  “Pioneer  Woman”  and 
“Aloma  of  the  South  Seas.”  Republic 
will  launch  “County  Fair.”  “Private 
Nurse”  and  “Miami”  are  on  schedule  at 
20th  Century-Fox.  Universal  has  “Mutiny 
in  the  Arctic.”  For  United  Artists,  Ar- 
gosy will  launch  “The  Eagle  Squadron.” 
RKO  Radio’s  entry  is  “Before  the  Fact.” 

March  cameras  will  grind  on  M-G-M’s 
“Bombay  Nights,”  Paramount’s  “Dildo 
Cay,”  Universal’s  “Almost  an  Angel,”  War- 
ner’s “Highway  99”  and  RKO  Radio’s 
“True  to  Form”  and  “Water  Gypsies.” 


licity  director,  came  out  from  New  York 
to  join  President  Sidney  R.  Kent  and  Her- 
man Wobber,  sales  head,  in  the  confer- 
ences with  Darryl  Zanuck,  William  Goetz 
and  Joseph  M.  Schenck.  Sessions  will 
probably  continue  for  another  week,  dur- 
ing which  story  properties  and  budgets  will 
be  tentatively  set  for  the  coming  season. 

Other  Huddles 

President  Nate  Blumberg  of  Universal 
and  J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  chairman  of  the 
board,  will  spend  several  days  more  at  the 
studio,  although  production  conferences 
started  last  week  have  been  concluded. 
Joseph  H.  Seidelman,  foreign  sales  head, 
and  William  Scully,  general  sales  manager, 
have  returned  to  New  York.  Blumberg  and 
Cowdin  are  discussing  other  studio  mat- 
ters with  Cliff  Work  and  Matty  Fox. 

Gradwell  Sears,  Warner  general  sales 
head,  has  arrived  from  New  York  to  view 
the  Frank  Capra-Robert  Riskin  produc- 
tion, “Meet  John  Doe,”  and  to  discuss  the 
sales  campaign  for  the  film. 

A Republic  visitor  is  Herbert  J.  Yates, 
board  chairman,  in  one  of  his  periodic 
look-ins  at  the  studio,  during  which  he 
will  check  over  production  schedules  in 
conferences  with  M.  J.  Siegel,  studio  head, 
and  map  plans  for  the  second  quarter. 

Alexander  Korda,  United  Artists  pro- 
ducer, was  expected  in  before  the  end  of 
the  week  after  a quick  trip  to  New  York 
to  confer  with  UA  homeoffice  executives 
on  sales  and  distribution  plans  for  his  new- 
est production,  "That  Hamilton  Woman.” 
Korda  also  huddled  with  his  attorneys  con- 
cerning his  forthcoming  appearance  in  U. 
S.  District  Court  in  connection  with  the 
Samuel  Goldwyn  suit  against  UA. 

O.  Henry  Briggs,  new  president  of  Pro- 
ducers Releasing  Corp.,  is  due  here  Janu- 
ary 27  on  his  first  visit  since  he  became 
company  head.  George  Batcheller,  new 
PRC  production  supervisor,  and  Eddy 
Graneman,  publicity  director,  head  a com- 
mittee planning  a formal  welcome  for  their 
new  chief,  which  will  take  the  form  of  a 
“red  apple”  reception — in  which  every 
PRC  employe  will  present  Briggs  with 
hand-polished  apples,  to  be  distributed  to 
the  Hollywood  Orphans  Home. 

The  franchise  meeting  in  Kansas  City 
concluded.  President  W.  Ray  Johnston  of 
Monogram  has  returned  to  Hollywood,  ac- 
companied by  Trem  Carr  and  Howard 
Stubbins,  Pacific  coast  franchise  holder. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


27 


Cement  Relationship  of 
Films  and  Education 


Avoid  Involvement 
In  Hearst  Setlo 


A solid  step  toward  cementing  the  re- 
lationship between  motion  pictures  and 
education  was  taken  when,  under  the  joint 
auspices  of  the  Academy  of  Motion  Pic- 
ture Arts  and  Sciences  and  the  producers’ 
association,  the  Association  of  American 
Colleges’  27th  annual  convention  was  wel- 
comed to  Hollywood  in  ceremonies  at 
M-G-M. 

Keynote  of  the  affair  was  struck  by  Dr. 
Robert  Clarkson  Clothier,  president  of 
Rutgers,  who  described  the  educational  im- 
portance of  films  in  guiding  the  sentiments 
of  the  younger  generation.  “Education,” 
he  asserted,  “is  indeed  grateful  that  the 
makers  of  motion  pictures  realize  their 
great  opportunities  and  are  carrying  on 
the  work  of  educating  the  young  of  Amer- 
ica.” 

Welcome  by  Wanger 

Address  of  welcome  was  delivered  by 
Walter  Wanger,  Academy  president,  who 
stressed  the  ever-increasing  community  of 
interests  between  education  and  the 
screen.  He  explained  the  Academy’s  work 
in  developing  an  all-industry  cultural 
forum  and  hailed  the  screen  as  one  of  the 
three  great  communication  media.  “With 
its  visual  force,”  he  said,  “it  is  the  front 
line  for  protection  of  the  American  way 
of  living.”  He  declared  universities  can 
greatly  aid  in  directing  films  toward  the 
fullest  measure  of  utility.  He  branded  the 
so-called  “fifth  column”  in  America  as 
“largely  apathy”  and  the  popular  idea  of 
“getting  way  from  it”  instead  of  facing 
realities.  To  awaken  Americans,  he  as- 
serted, it  is  a great  duty  which  the  screen 
is  well  equipped  to  accomplish. 

In  behalf  of  the  industry  in  general, 
Louis  B.  Mayer  pledged  it  to  greater  ac- 
tivity and  usefulness  in  the  struggle  to 
preserve  democracy,  tracing  filmdom’s 
growth  and  importance  as  an  educational 
factor.  “The  torch  of  democratic  enlight- 
enment,” he  declared,  “shall  remain  flam- 
ing” as  long  as  schools,  churches,  news- 
papers, motion  pictures  and  radio  continue 
to  function  in  America. 

Entertain  Visitors 

Visitors  were  greeted  by  stars  and  other 
industry  notables  and  were  entertained  by 
Nelson  Eddy,  Judy  Garland,  Allan  Jones, 
Edgar  Bergen  and  Charlie  McCarthy.  At- 
tending, in  addition  to  165  college  presi- 
dents, Wanger  and  Mayer,  were  Y.  Frank 
Freeman,  Sheridan  Gibney,  James  Roose- 
velt, Merle  Oberon,  Rabbi  Edgar  F.  Mag- 
nin,  Joan  Bennett,  Jack  Warner,  Spencer 
Tracy,  Greer  Garson,  Mary  Pickford, 
Samuel  Goldwyn  and  Darryl  Zanuck. 

Official  recognition  of  the  industry’s 
non-profit  participation  in  the  national 
defense  program  through  the  production  of 
visual  education  shorts  for  the  various 
branches  of  military  service  has  been  re- 
ceived by  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  chairman  of 
the  motion  picture  production  defense 
committee,  in  the  form  of  a letter  from 
Henry  L.  Stimson,  secretary  of  war.  Stim- 
son  expressed  the  war  department’s  ap- 
preciation for  the  industry’s  cooperation, 
since  1930,  in  training  signal  corps  of- 
ficers in  motion  picture  methods  through 


the  Academy’s  research  council,  and 
termed  the  council  “the  ideal  group 
through  which  the  resources  of  the  indus- 
try may  best  be  utilized.” 

Production  of  the  training  films  on  a 
non-profit  basis,  he  added,  “is  very  much 
appreciated.” 

Meantime  the  army  has  announced  for- 
mation of  the  U.  S.  Chief  Signal  Officers 
Photographic  Advisory  Council,  to  com- 
prise Col.  Nathan  Levinson,  Lieut.-Col. 
Darryl  Zanuck,  and  Major  John  Aalberg. 
It  will  meet  periodically  with  Major  Gen- 
eral Mauborgne,  chief  signal  corps  officer, 
to  advise  him  on  progress  being  made  in 
defense  film  activities. 

Meantime  Joseph  I.  Breen,  production 
code  administrator  for  the  MPPDA,  has 
returned  from  a quick  trip  to  New  York 
to  confer  with  Will  Hays,  MPPDA  presi- 
dent, and  other  organization  officials.  Next 
producers  association  meeting,  to  be  held 
February  3,  will  be  devoted  to  the  annual 
election  of  officers. 


Engages  Schlesinger 

Paramount  has  engaged  Leon  Schlesin- 
ger, cartoon  producer,  to  prepare  the  ani- 
mated main  titles  for  “The  Lady  Eve.” 
Schlesinger  concocted  animated  titles  for 
the  same  studio’s  “Love  Thy  Neighbor.” 

REVIEW 

FLASHES 

ALDRICH  FAMILY  IN  LIFE  WITH  HENRY. 
THE  (Para) — There  is  no  readily-discern- 
ible  reason  why  this,  the  second  chapter 
in  Henry  Aldrich's  screen  career,  shouldn't 
prove  comparably  acceptable  to  everyone 
who  enjoys  clean,  human  and  down-to- 
earth  entertainment.  Jackie  Cooper,  Leila 
Ernst,  Eddie  Bracken,  Jay  Theodore  Reed 
ably  produced  and  directed. 

HONEYMOON  FOR  THREE  (WB)— Farce  com- 
edy about  a novel-writing  casanova,  it 
strains  rather  hard  in  some  of  its  se- 
quences for  laughs  but  pans  out  sufficient 
humorous  lines  and  situations  to  satisfy 
generally,  although  audiences  cannot  be 
expected  to  consider  it  uproariously.  Ann 
Sheridan  and  George  Brent  are  co-fea- 
tured.  Henry  Blanke  produced;  Lloyd  Ba- 
con directed. 

MR.  AND  MRS.  SMITH  (RKO)— Britain's  Al- 
fred Hitchcock,  who  demonstrated  to  Holly- 
wood and  audiences  everywhere  his  abil- 
ity as  a dramatic  director  in  "Rebecca'' 
and  as  a pilot  of  suspense  and  action  in 
"Foreign  Correspondent,”  displays  an 
equal  flair  for  humor  in  this,  his  first 
American  comedy.  As  entertainment  in 
the  lighter  vein,  it  is  virtually  flawless  and, 
with  Carole  Lombard  and  Robert  Mont- 
gomery to  grace  the  marquee,  it  should 
quickly  attain  the  hit  class. 


Hollywood  is  studiously,  and  probably 
diplomatically,  assuming  a hands-off 
policy  in  its  reaction — or  lack  of  it — to 
the  embroglio  launched  late  last  week  and 
involving  William  Randolph  Hearst,  his 
chain  of  newspapers,  and  RKO  Radio  over 
the  Orson  Welles  production,  “Citizen 
Kane,”  made  for  release  through  that 
company. 

On  the  contention  the  feature  and  its 
leading  character  closely  parallel  many 
phases  of  his  own  career,  the  publisher  has 
demanded  that  it  be  permanently  shelved 
— and  has  issued  orders  to  the  editors  of 
the  various  newspapers  in  his  chain  to  ban 
all  publicity  and  news  emanating  from 
RKO  Radio  and  concerning  that  studio’s 
sundry  activities. 

Threatens  Legal  Action 

The  double-barreled  blast  at  RKO  Radio 
— which  may  be  followed  by  legal  action  in 
an  attempt  to  secure  an  injunction  re- 
straining the  studio  from  releasing  the  film 
— came  after  Hearst’s  Hollywood  repre- 
sentative, Louella  O.  Parsons,  requested 
and  was  given  a screening  of  “Citizen 
Kane”  in  rough-cut  form  at  the  studio, 
attended  not  only  by  herself  but  by  two  of 
Hearst’s  legal  representatives.  Following 
the  showing  Miss  Parsons  communicated 
via  long-distance  telephone  with  George 
Schaefer,  RKO  Radio  president,  in  New 
York,  at  which  time  it  is  believed  she  re- 
layed her  employer’s  demand  that  the 
Welles  feature  be  scrapped. 

Shortly  thereafter  Miss  Parsons  in- 
formed studio  executives  that  legal  action 
might  be  impending,  although  it  was  not 
learned  what  reaction  she  gained  in  her 
conversation  with  Schaefer. 

Look  to  Schaefer 

Studio  attaches  pointed  out  any  official 
answer  must  come  directly  from  Schaefer, 
in  the  east.  However,  one  authoritative 
local  company  spokesman  told  Boxoffice 
that  “Citizen  Kane”  definitely  is  not,  and 
was  not  intended  to  be,  a biography  of 
Hearst;  but  that  it  constitutes  a com- 
posite picture  of  a newspaper  publisher, 
drawn  from  the  careers  of  several  of  the 
nation’s  leading  press  tycoons  and  planned 
throughout  to  be  fictional. 

This  spokesman,  while  shrugging  off  the 
Hearst  edict  banning  RKO  Radio  from 
mention  in  the  chain’s  newspapers,  con- 
tended, however,  that  the  ban  is  unfair  in 
that  “Citizen  Kane”  technically  is  not  even 
RKO  Radio’s  picture,  pointing  out  it  was 
made  by  a completely  independent  unit, 
and  that  the  bulk  of  the  publicity  and  ex- 
ploitation arranged  for  it  was  not  handled 
by  the  RKO  Radio  studio  department,  but 
by  Welles’  own  staff.  The  sole  connection 
between  Welles  and  RKO  Radio,  he  as- 
serted, is  through  the  releasing  arrange- 
ment. 

He  indicated  the  studio  is  not  greatly 
concerned  about  being  banned  from  the 
Hearst  press  with  a succinct: 

“It’s  nothing  new  to  be  barred — other 
companies  have  been  before  and  no  doubt 
will  be  again.” 


28 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  18,  1941 


AN  ALL-TIME  high  in  the  he-can- 
dish-it-out-but-he-can’t-take-it  at- 
titude is  reflected  in  the  heavy  guns 
of  suppression  which  Publisher  William 
Randolph  Hearst  is  levelling  at  George 
Schaefer  and  his  RKO  Radio  organization. 

It  seems  that  Mr.  Hearst  has  been  en- 
tertaining a hunch  that  “Citizen  Kane,” 
the  long-delayed  feature  which  four-way 
Orson  Welles  has  produced,  directed,  writ- 
ten and  enacted  for  RKO,  is  based  on  his 
own  life.  Consequently,  the  Septuagenariam 
Sultan  of  San  Simeon  assigned  his  cine- 
matic girl  Friday,  Louella  O.  Parsons,  to 
do  a bit  of  checking.  At  her  regal  com- 
mand, RKO  publicists  showed  a rought  cut 
of  the  film  to  LOP  and  a member  of  the 
Hearstian  legal  battery.  Whereupon  the 
blitzing  started.  The  picture  would  be 
shelved — or  else.  Just  like  that.  Junk  a 
negative  costing  well  over  a million  dol- 
lars because  its  subject  matter  might  step 
on  the  royal  toes — which,  parenthetically, 
should  be  well  calloused  by  now.  The  “or 
else,”  for  the  time  being,  at  least,  is  ap- 
parently limited  to  an  edict  from  the 
“chief”  that  no  publicity,  or  even  news, 
concerning  any  RKO  product  shall  appear 
in  the  columns  of  his  journals.  And  there 
have  been  dire  hints  of  other  and  more 
serious  action — lawsuits,  injunctions,  et  al. 

Spokesmen  for  RKO  and  Welles  refuse 
to  admit  that  the  screenplay  for  “Citizen 
Kane”  parallels  the  colorful  story  of  W.  R. 
True,  they  admit,  it  has  to  do  with  a 
newspaper  publisher,  but  is  a composite 
story  of  several  brass  hats  of  the  fourth 
estate  and  “the  characters  and  incidents 
portrayed,  and  the  names  used  herein,  are 
fictitious,  and  any  similarity  to  the  name, 
character  or  history  of  any  person  is  en- 
tirely accidental  and  unintentional.” 

And  what  if  the  film  proves  to  be  remi- 
niscent of  Hearst’s  career — either  through 
design  or  coincidence?  Certainly,  he  is 
the  last  man  in  the  world  who  is  entitled 
to  a squawk.  For  approximately  50  years, 
the  Pharaoh  of  Printers’  Ink  and  his  once 
powerful  string  of  publications  have  been 
riding  roughshod  over  the  private,  pro- 
fessional and  political  lives  of  any  and  all 
whom  he  might  decide  subject  to  his  bale- 
ful editorial  consideration.  And  that’s  fair 
enough.  The  Bill  of  Rights  has  a clause — 
one  very  close  to  Hearst’s  heart — about  the 
freedom  of  the  press. 

By  any  logic  or  reasoning,  the  screen  is 
deserving  of  the  same  protection  and  in- 
dependence. Had  it  been  established  in 
its  present  honorable  estate  as  a medium 
of  expression  at  the  time  when  the  press 
was  assured  its  freedom,  the  motion  pic- 
ture would  probably  have  been  given  com- 
parable consideration  by  those  farseeing 
Americans  who  formulated  our  constitu- 
tion. 

Thus,  the  issue  so  arbitrarily  projected 
by  Hearst,  alleged  champion  of  a free 
press,  involves  more  than  the  one  company 
at  which  it  is  aimed — it  concerns  the  en- 
tire industry  and  every  person  connected 
therewith.  It  is  not  sufficient  that  other 
producing  and  distributing  organizations 
extend  their  sympathies  and  moral  sup- 
port to  RKO  in  the  uninvited  and  unavoid- 
able controversy  in  which  it  has  been 
plunged;  assuming,  of  course,  that  they  do. 

It’s  high  time  that  the  industry  as  a 
whole — and  that  obviously  indicates  ac- 
tion by  the  Hays  organization — does  some- 
thing to  fight  back  against  the  constant 


pushing-around  of  which  the  current 
Hearst  demand  is  typical. 

Interesting  it  would  be  to  note  what 
might  happen  to  the  publisher’s  anticipa- 
tory ire  if  all  producing  companies  and  all 
exhibitors  withheld  all  of  their  advertis- 
ing from  all  of  the  Hearst  newspapers  un- 
til such  a time  as  the  Jehovah  of  Journal- 
ism decides  that  freedom  of  the  press  was 
not  created  for  his  special  and  exclusive 
benefits. 

On  the  “ill  wind,  etc.”  theory,  Little  Or- 
son Annie  will  be  the  beneficiary  in  the 
situatio7i,  inasmuch  as  Hearst’s  allegations 
that  the  picture  maligns  him  will  certainly 
whet  the  public’s  appetite  to  see  it.  Maybe 
the  favorite  nickname  for  the  boy  geiiius 
should  now  be  changed  to  “Lucky  Orson 
Annie.” 

News  headline: 

"BOMB  LONDON'S  RADIO  CITY; 

SEVEN  BROADCASTERS  KILLED." 

Looks  as  though  they  played  “Jeannie  With 
the  Light  Brown  Hair"  once  too  often.  There 
are  apparently  no  limits  to  the  dangerous 
ramifications  of  the  radio-Ascap  war. 

Ballyhoodlums:  As  his  first  gesture  ex- 
traordinary since  becoming  head  of  Para- 


Little  hesitancy  was  necessary  on  the 
part  of  Hollywood’s  picture  reviewers  to 
agree  the  Richard  A.  Rowland-United 
Artists  production,  “Cheers  for  Miss 
Bishop,”  was  the  outstanding  best  of  the 
preview  week.  Only  one  other  offering 
came  close  to  giving  it  some  competition 
for  top  honor  consideration,  Paramount’s 
Technicolor  feature,  “Virginia.” 

As  regards  the  first-named,  showmen 
can  be  sure  of  one  thing — the  cheers  do 
not  end  with  the  title.  Rousing  hosannahs 
are  the  just  dues  of  Rowland  for  deliver- 
ing to  UA,  in  his  comeback  venture,  that 
company’s  most  potentially  promising 
revenue  feature  since  “Rebecca.”  Martha 
Scott,  too,  richly  deserves  three  of  the 
most  rousing  variety  for  a performance 
that  boosts  her  several  steps  up  the  ladder 
toward  rating  as  one  of  the  screen’s  finest 
dramatic  actresses.  The  remaining  praise 
— and  there  is  enough  to  go  around — must 
be  allotted  to  Director  Tay  Garnett;  to 
Stephen  Vincent  Benet,  who  adapted  the 
Bess  Streeter  Aldrich  novel,  and  Adelaide 
Heilbron  and  Sheridan  Gibney,  who  wrote 
the  script;  to  the  supporting  cast  and  the 


mount’s  studio  publicity  corps,  George 
Brown  “conceived  a clever  idea”  (he  ad- 
mits it)  and  decided  to  ignore  the  new 
mutual  agreement  about  press  previews, 
for  which  ill-advised  and  badly-managed 
venture  he  is  still  taking  bows  in  Para- 
mount copy.  With  many  a printed  and 
verbal  “Sh-h-h!”  the  press  was  invited  to 
what  was  heralded  as  “Hollywood’s  first 
sneak  press  preview.”  The  reviewers  were 
invited  to  dinner  in  the  Paramount  com- 
missary, after  which  they  were  transported 
in  buses  to  the  mysterious  destination — 
the  Alexander  Theatre  in  Glendale,  fes- 
tooned, as  in  days  of  yore,  with  “Major 
Studio  Feature  Preview  Tonight”  banners. 
Mr.  Brown  may  be  interested  in  learning 
that  his  was  not  the  “first”  stunt  of  its 
kind.  Twentieth  Century-Fox’s  Harry 
Brand  did  exactly  the  same  thing  approxi- 
mately two  years  ago  when  “Hollywood 
Cavalcade”  was  shown  to  the  critical  fra- 
ternity. The  Brand  undertaking  was  much 
moi’e  successful  and  enjoyable  inasmuch 
as  the  newsmen  were  not  stampeded  into 
the  theatre  more  than  an  hour  before  the 
preview  showing,  to  sit  through  the  last 
half  of  a regular  and  previously-seen  fea- 
ture, assorted  shorts  and,  above  all,  20 
minutes  of  harrowing  Bank  Night.  Mr. 
Brown  Goes  to  Glendale  . . . Freelancer 
Russell  Birdwell  is  to  be  the  next  preview 
impresario  to  ignore  the  new  system.  But 
he,  at  least,  is  not  attempting  to  camou- 
flage his  aims  and  purposes  in  showing  the 
United  Artists-Loew-Lewin  feature,  “So 
Ends  Our  Night,”  in  a theatre  and  before 
a regular  audience  instead  of  in  a projec- 
tion room.  In  effect  his  announcement  of 
rebellion  says  “Nuts  to  it”  . . . And  why, 
with  nearly  a dozen  UA  publicists  working 
in  Hollywood,  was  it  necessary  to  entrust 
the  debut  of  Richard  Rowland’s  “Cheers 
for  Miss  Bishop,”  undoubtedly  the  com- 
pany’s best  picture  in  months,  to  the  mis- 
management of  two  freelance  blurbers — 
Fred  Stanley  and  Dick  Hunt? 


sundry  other  individual  elements  which 
were  marshalled  to  make  a magnificent 
ensemble.  Story  similarities  will  inevitably 
lead  to  comparisons  with  “Goodbye,  Mr. 
Chips” — and  Rowland’s  effort  will  not  suf- 
fer one  whit  thereby. 

Down  yonder  in  the  land  of  cotton 
they’ll  tear  the  doors  down  to  see  “Vir- 
ginia”— and  its  popularity  won’t  stop  at 
the  Mason-Dixon  line,  for  customers 
everywhere  . should  love  it  for  its  myriad 
sterling  qualities.  Producer-Director  Ed- 
ward H.  Griffith  endowed  the  film  with  a 
rare  combination  of  idyllic  ingredients, 
working  with  a cast  whose  performances 
generally  are  beyond  criticism.  Much  of 
the  feature’s  charm  is  attributable  to  Tech- 
nicolor photography,  through  which  me- 
dium many  beautiful  backgrounds  of  the 
state  after  which  the  film  was  named  are 
captured  on  the  screen.  Virginia  Van 
Upp  contributed  a well-written  screenplay, 
from  a story  by  herself  and  Griffith. 

* * * 

On  the  comedy  front  was  a trio  of  vary- 
ing worth. 

(Continued  on  page  32) 


Delightful , Dixie , Desultory 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


29 


Hoi  lyw  ood — 

— Personnelities 


Barnstormers 

Columbia 

BILL  ELLIOTT,  western  star,  has  checked  out 
for  a three-week  p.  a.  tour  through  Tennessee, 
Arkansas  and  Oklahoma. 

Metro 

NELSON  EDDY  has  checked  out  for  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.,  to  be  special  star  soloist  at  the  in- 
auguration ceremonies  for  President  Roosevelt. 

JEANETTE  MacDONALD  checks  out  on  the  sec- 
ond lap  of  her  concert  tour,  opening  in  Memphis 
and  closing  February  16  in  New  Orleans. 

Paramount 

DOLLY  LOEHR,  14-year-old  pianist,  set  to  ac- 
company Susanna  Foster  on  a one-month  p.  a. 
tour  of  20  key  cities.  Dolly  had  a featured  role 
in  Susanna’s  first  starring  film,  “The  Hard-Boiled 
Canary.” 

Republic 

SMILEY  BURNETTE  opened  a p.  a.  tour  at  the 
Denver  Theatre  in  Denver,  January  8.  He  also  at- 
tended the  National  Western  Livestock  show 
there. 

Blurbers 

Universal 

BOB  SPEERS,  formerly  head  planter  at  Para- 
mount, has  checked  in  to  begin  his  new  duties 
as  aide  to  John  Joseph,  department  head. 

Brielies 

Paramount 

“Dipsy  Gypsy,”  second  in  the  series  of  George 
Pal  Puppettoons,  is  in  work,  with  Andre  Koste- 
lanetz  supplying  the  music. 

Soundies  Corp. 

SAM  COSLOW  to  produce  eight  musical  sub- 
jects for  the  Panoram  dime-in-slot  projectors. 
Matty  Kemp  and  Herman  Webber,  of  Coslow's  new 
Cameo  Productions,  will  assist.  First  subject  gets 
under  way  January  20. 

Warner  Bros. 

“The  Cavalry  at  Ft.  Sill”  will  be  the  next  in  the 
series  of  Technicolor  preparedness  shorts.  It  will 
be  made  at  Ft.  Sill,  Kas.,  with  Gordon  Hollings- 
head  supervising. 

Cleilers 

Metro 

BRONISLAU  KAPER  to  score  “Rage  in 
Heaven.” 

HERBERT  STOTHART  doing  musical  score  for 
“Smilin’  Through.” 

Republic 

WALTER  SCHARF  doing  orchestration  for  "Sis 
Hopkins.” 

Hal  Roach 

WERNER  R.  HEVMANN  to  score  “Topper  Re- 
turns.” 

20th  Century-Fox 

EEO  ROBIN  and  RAEPH  RAINGER  doing 
music  and  lyrics  for  “Miami.” 

Warner  Bros. 

HEINZ  ROEMHELD  scoring  “Strawberry 
Blonde.” 

Loanouts 

Republic 

SUSAN  HAYWARD  borrowed  from  Paramount 
for  a featured  supporting  role  in  the  Judy  Ca- 
nova  starrer,  “Sis  Hopkins.” 

20th  Century-Fox 

ROBERT  CUMMINGS  borrowed  from  Universal 
for  one  of  the  leads  In  “Miami.” 

Universal 

LEE  BOWMAN  borrowed  from  Metro  for  one 
of  the  leads  In  “Model  Wife.” 


Meggers 

Metro 

DAVID  MILLER  assumes  directorship  of  “Billy 
the  Kid.”  with  FRANK  BORZAGE,  previous  pilot, 


beginning  preparations  on  “Bombay  Nights,”  his 
next  assignment. 

EDWARD  CAHN  directing  “Ye  Old  Minstrels.” 
an  Our  Gang  one-reeler. 

JACK  CONWAY  to  pilot  “Love  Crazy.”  co-star- 
ring William  Powell  and  Myrna  Loy,  which  Pan- 
dro  Berman  will  produce.  David  Hertz  and  Wil- 
liam Ludwig  did  the  original. 

20th  Century-Fox 

DAVID  BURTON  to  pilot  “Private  Nurse,”  Sol 
Wurtzel  production  starring  Brenda  Joyce.  Burton 
and  Sam  Engel  are  doing  the  script. 

Universal 

JOHN  RAWLINS  to  “Mr.  Dynamite,”  a Mar- 
shall Grant  production  to  feature  Lloyd  Nolan, 
Irene  Hervey  and  Elisabeth  Risdon. 

Warner  Bros. 

WILLIAM  MoGANN  to  direct  “No  Hard  Feel- 
ings.” 

Options 

Columbia 

PAUL  LUKAS  given  featured  role  in  “They 
Dare  Not  Love,”  the  Martha  Scott-George  Brent 
starrer. 

Metro 

IAN  HUNTER  draws  contract  extension  and  a 
role  in  “Dr.  Jekyll  and  Mr.  Hyde.” 

EMMA  DUNN  signed  for  a featured  character 
role  in  “Roosty.” 

DAVID  HERTZ  given  new  writing  contract. 

Monogram 

THE  TENNESSEE  RAMBLERS,  hillbilly  orches- 
tra,  signed  to  appear  in  “Riding  the  Cherokee 
Trail,”  next  Tex  Ritter  western  to  be  produced  by 
Ed  Finney. 

Paramount 

PWYLLIS  RUTH,  night-club  singer,  cast  in  a 
featured  role  in  “Caught  in  the  Draft.” 

Picture  Corp.  of  America 

MARTHA  HUNT  signed  for  a featured  spot  in 
“Power  Dive.” 

Republic 

DON  BARRY,  cowboy  star,  held  for  another 
year. 

RKO  Radio 

ROBERT  CUMMINGS  draws  the  male  lead  op- 
posite  Jean  Arthur  in  “The  Devil  and  Miss  Jones,” 
being  produced  by  Frank  Ross  and  Norman 
Krasna. 

William  Szekeley 

BINNIE  BARNES  signed  for  a topline  in  “New 
Wine.” 

JACK  BENNY  signs  three-year  deal  to  appear  in 
one  picture  annually.  He  has  just  been  ticketed 
to  a similar  contract  by  Paramount  also. 

Universal 

MIKE  FRANKOVICH  draw  a featured  role  in 
“Buck  Privates.” 

LEO  CARRILLO  draws  term  acting  deal. 

LON  CHANEY-  jr.  signs  term  acting  ticket,  re- 
porting w'hen  he  completes  his  role  in  “Billy  the 
Kid”  at  M-G-M. 

J.  CARROL  NAISH  ticketed  for  a topline  in 
“Mr.  Dynamite.” 

Warner  Bros. 

SHIRLEY  ROSS  signs  long-term  acting  ticket. 
JACK  OAKIE  given  featured  lead  in  “Navy 
Blues,”  to  star  Eddie  Albert. 

MARGARET  CHAPMAN  signs  term  acting 
ticket. 

CHICK  CHANDLER  grabs  a featured  comedy 
spot  in  “The  Bride  Came  C.  O.  D.” 

Percenteers 

BEN  F.  HOLZMAN,  new  associate  in  the  Wil- 
liam Morris  Agency,  has  arrived  from  New  York 
to  begin  work  in  the  radio  division. 

Scripters 

Columbia 

GEORGE  BECK  teamed  with  BORIS  INGSTER 
on  “Amateur  Angel,”  for  Producer  Charles  R. 
Rogers. 

SY  BARTLETT  and  RICHARD  CARROLL  to 


“Trinidad,”  for  production  by  Sam  Bischoff. 
SETON  I.  MILLER  to  “Heaven  Can  Wait.” 

Metro 

DONALD  OGDEN  STEWART  to  “A  Woman’s 
Face,”  the  Joan  Crawford  starrer  which  George 
Cukor  will  direct. 

E.  MAURICE  ADLER  to  “Memory  Rhymes,” 
next  Pete  Smith  Specialty  short. 

Paramount 

HARRY  TUGEND  to  "Birth  of  the  Blues,’’  Bing 
Crosby  starrer,  which  B.  G.  DeSylva  will  produce. 

LOUIS  KAYE  writing  comedy  dialogue  for 
“Caught  in  the  Draft.” 

Producers  Corp.  of  America 

CHARLES  AMBROSE,  novelist,  joins  JOHN 
NATTEFORD  and  LUC  I WARD  on  the  company’s 
writing  staff.  PCA  has  acquired  three  of  Am- 
brose’s story  properties. 

Republic 

EYE  GREENE  to  “Mr.  District  Attorney.” 

RKO  Radio 

JERRY  CADY  to  “An  Obliging  Young  Lady,” 
from  a story  by  Arthur  T.  Horman,  to  star  eight- 
year-old  Joan  Carroll.  Howard  Benedict  will  pro- 
duce. 

William  Szekeley 

HOWARD  ESTABROOK  polishing  "New  Wine.” 
NICHOLAS  GYORY  to  "New  Wine,”  with  Rein- 
hold Sohunzel  directing. 

20th  Century-Fox 

MAURICE  RAPF  to  an  untitled  original  for 
Producer  Lou  Edelman. 

Warner  Bros. 

KEN  GAMET  to  “Highway  99,”  from  a Leon 
Abrams  original,  to  feature  Jane  Wyman. 

CASEY  ROBINSON  to  “King’s  Row,”  from 
Henry  Bellaman’s  novel. 

Story  Buys 

Columbia 

“Not  With  the  Beat  of  Drums,”  by  Harold 
Shumate. 

Monogram 

“Navy  Bound,”  by  Talbert  Josselyn.  Lindsley 
Parsons  will  produce. 

“Guns  A-Roarin’,”  by  Earle  Snell,  bought  by 
George  W.  Weeks  for  use  as  one  of  his  “Range 
Busters”  westerns. 

20th  Century-Fox 

“The  Gift  of  the  Magi,”  by  O.  Henry.  Jo  Swerl- 
ing  will  script  for  Producer  Robert  T.  Kane. 

Warner  Bros. 

“Nine  Lives  Are  Not  Enough,”  by  Jerome  Od- 
ium. It  is  a mystery  yarn. 

“The  Damned  Don’t  Cry,”  by  Harry  Hervey,  as 
an  Ida  Lupino  starrer. 

Technically 

Metro 

RALPH  WINTERS  to  edit  “Roosty.” 

DR.  RYLAND  MADISON  named  technical  ad- 
visor on  “Animal  Psychology,”  new  John  Nesbitt 
Passing  Parade  one-reeler. 

JERRY  BRESLER  set  as  unit  manager  on  “Love 
Crazy.” 

RED  GOLDEN  named  assistant  director  on 
“Love  Crazy.” 

Paramount 

TED  TETZLAFF  to  lens  “Kiss  the  Boys  Good- 
bye.” 

Republic 

VICTOR  MACKAY  set  as  art  director  on  “Sis 
Hopkins.” 

RKO  Radio 

LEON  LEONIDOFF  to  create  dance  numbers  for 
“Sunny.” 

20th  Century-Fox 

ALBERT  HOGSETT  named  art  director  on  "The 
Great  American  Broadcast.” 

JOSEPH  WRIGHT  set  as  art  director  on 
“Blood  and  Sand.” 

Warner  Bros. 

FRANK  MAGEE  to  edit  “Strange  Alibi.” 
CLARENCE  BOLSTER  to  edit  "Thirty  Days 
Hath  September." 

EVERETT  DODD  to  edit  “Singapore  Woman.” 
CARL  JULES  WEYL  named  art  director  on 
"Mr.  Skeffington.” 

CHUCK  HANSEN  named  assistant  director  on 
"Miss  Wheelwright  Discovers  America.” 

JACK  SULLIVAN  named  assistant  director  on 
"Sergeant  York.” 

LEE  KATZ  named  assistant  director  on  "Strange 
Alibi.” 

LOUIS  P.  VINCENOT  signed  as  technical  ad- 
visor on  “Singapore  Woman.” 


30 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


First  Broadcast  in 
Behalf  of  Greece 


First  broadcast  to  be  staged  under  the 
sanction  of  the  recently  formed  radio-film 
charities  committees  will  be  an  inter- 
national affair,  to  be  undertaken  early  in 
February  for  the  benefit  of  the  Greek 
War  Relief  Fund,  and  emanating  from 
Hollywood,  London  and  Athens. 

Samuel  Goldwyn,  chairman  of  the  mo- 
tion picture  permanent  charities  commit- 
tee, has  announced  that  volunteers  for  the 
program  already  include  Jack  Benny  and 
Bob  Hope,  to  be  co-masters  of  cere- 
monies; Fanny  Brice,  Hanley  Stafford, 
George  Burns  and  Gracie  Allen,  Ronald 
Colman,  Alice  Faye,  Clark  Gable,  the 
“Hardy  Family,’’  Carole  Lombard,  Tony 
Martin  and  Eddie  (Rochester)  Anderson. 
Louis  K.  Sidney,  M-G-M  producer,  is  in 
charge  of  preparations  for  the  broadcast 
and  Rufus  LeMaire  is  chairman  of  the 
committee  seeking  talent. 

Forward  on  Defense 

Meantime  Hollywood’s  participation  in 
the  national  defense  program  has  taken 
another  step  forward  with  the  incorpora- 
tion of  a signal  corps  photographic  labora- 
tory under  the  auspices  of  the  Academy 
Research  Council.  Ten  officers  have  been 
commissioned  in  the  signal  corps  reserve, 
including  S.  J.  Briskin,  major,  in  charge 
of  the  motion  picture  department;  Gor- 
don S.  Mitchell,  Robert  Lord  and  W.  W. 
Lindsay,  captains;  Lloyd  Goldsmith,  D.  B. 
Graybill,  Ray  Fernstrom,  Arthur  Ramsay, 
J.  E.  Grainger  and  Winton  C.  Hoch,  first 
lieutenants;  and  Milton  Sperling  and  Jules 
Buck,  second  lieutenants. 

Paramount  has  announced  that  em- 
ployes who  are  drafted  or  who  enlist  un- 
der the  selective  training  and  service  act 
are  to  be  guaranteed  a continuation  of 
their  group  insurance  policies  at  studio 
expense,  re-employment  upon  their  re- 
turn with  their  term  of  service  figured 
as  continuous  time  at  the  studio,  and  six 
weeks’  added  pay — not  in  excess  of  $600 
—when  inducted  into  military  service.  The 
statement,  issued  by  Y.  Frank  Freeman, 
emphasized  that  men  who  enlist  will  be 
given  the  same  privileges  and  considera- 
tion as  those  who  are  drafted. 

To  Active  Duty 

Lieut. -Comm.  A.  J.  Bolton,  U.  S.  Navy 
retired,  aide  to  Col.  Jason  Joy  at  20th 
Century-Fox,  has  been  ordered  to  active 
service  as  navy  liaison  officer  for  defense 
projects  embracing  the  motion  picture  in- 
dustry. 

Warner  has  donated  22  prints  of 
“Teddy,  the  Rough  Rider,”  short  starring 
Sidney  Blackmer,  to  the  U.  S.  War  De- 
partment. The  film  will  be  used  for  re- 
cruiting, cantonment  entertainment  and 
as  a morale  builder  by  the  army. 

In  recognition  of  his  efforts  on  behalf 
of  Americanism  via  his  “Big  Town”  radio 
broadcasts,  Edward  G.  Robinson  was  given 
a citation  of  honor  by  the  American  Legion 
at  the  January  15  broadcast.  Nearly  200 
Legionnaires  attended  the  ceremonies. 

The  Committee  to  Defend  America  by 
Aiding  the  Allies  sponsored  a cocktail 
party  at  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W. 
Bruce  Pine  January  11,  all  proceeds  go- 
ing to  the  Aid-the-Allies  fund.  Patrons 


Role  in  ", Lady  Be  Good " 
For  Lionel  Barrymore 

Lionel  Barrymore  draws  one  of  his  most 
important  roles  in  recent  years  in  “Lady 
Be  Good,”  musical  adapted  from  the 
George  Gershwin  stage  show.  He  joins  a 
cast  including  Ann  Sothern,  Eleanor  Pow- 
ell and  Tony  Martoin.  Picture  rolls  in 
February  with  Busby  Berkeley  directing 
and  Arthur  Freed  producing. 


Technicolor  Treatment 
For  4 by  Paramount 

Four  of  Paramount’s  big  pictures  during 
the  next  six  months  will  be  filmed  in 
Technicolor — greatest  number  of  color 
films  to  be  released  by  the  studio  in  any 
one  season.  They  include  “Virginia,” 
"Shepherd  of  the  Hills,”  “Reap  the  Wild 
Wind”  and  “Aloma  of  the  South  Seas.” 


Terms  Films  as  America's 
" Ambassadors  Abroad " 

U.  S.  Motion  pictures  are  “America’s 
ambassadors  abroad”  and  a vital  force  in 
molding  national  and  world  relationships. 

This  is  the  assertion  of  Dr.  J.  Eugene 
Harley,  University  of  Southern  California 
professor,  in  a new  book,  “World  Wide  In- 
fluence of  the  Cinema,”  a study  of  official 
censorship  and  the  international  cultural 
aspects  of  motion  pictures.  Harley  is 
chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Interna- 
tional Relations  of  the  American  Institute 
of  Cinematography. 

His  new  book  outlines  films’  influence 
upon  the  rest  of  the  world  and  contains  a 
detailed  account  of  various  censorship  ac- 
tivities. 


and  patronesses  from  the  film  colony  in- 
cluded Mr.  and  Mrs.  Douglas  Fairbanks 
jr„  Constance  Bennett,  Melvyn  Douglas, 
the  Ralph  Blocks,  the  Mervyn  LeRoys  and 
Hal  Wallis. 


Film  Editors  Consider 
Benefit  Fund  Formation 

Under  consideration  by  the  board  of 
the  Society  of  Motion  Picture  Film  Edi- 
tors is  the  establishment  of  a benefit 
fund. 

The  Society  has  added  four  new  direc- 
tors. Harold  McGhan  represents  the  Walt 
Disney  studio;  B.  Weldon  Hancock,  Co- 
lumbia; James  Graham,  RKO,  and  Eda 
Warren,  Paramount. 

400  Engaged  in  Making 
James  Roosevelt  Film 

Employment  index  at  James  Roosevelt’s 
Globe  Productions  has  hit  an  all-time 
high,  with  400  persons  currently  on  the 
payroll  engaged  in  the  making  of  “Pot  O’ 
Gold"  for  United  Artists.  Among  them  are 
100  musicians,  comprising  two  orchestras 
doing  the  scoring  and  recording,  as  well 
as  some  300  extras,  bit  players  and  spe- 
cialty entertainers. 


Oiiicially  Inducted — 


Rene  Clair  can  now  consider  himself  officially  a part  of  Hollywood.  The 
famed  director,  piloting  Universal’s  “Flame  of  Hew  Orleans”  as  his  first 
assignment  in  America,  was  formally  introduced  to  the  press  by  the  studio 
at  a cocktail  party  on  the  set  of  the  Marlene  Dietrich  picture.  At  the 
top  the  cameraman  catches  Clair  ( left ) with  President  Nate  Blumberg 
and  Joe  Pasternak.  Below  are  Cliff  Work,  studio  chief  (.left)  with  Miss 
Dietrich  and  President  Blumberg. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  18,  1941 


31 


Rumors  of  Changes  at 
UA  Precede  Silverstone 


Probably  no  impending  visit  of  a home- 
office  executive  has  had  more  advance 
billing  and  has  been  subject  to  more  con- 
jecturing on  the  part  of  Hollywood’s  ever- 
present railbirds  than  the  forthcoming  ar- 
rival in  the  film  capital  of  Murray  Silver- 
stone,  chief  of  United  Artists’  world-wide 
operations,  due  here  next  week. 

In  fact,  24-sheets  would  be  necessary  if 
an  attempt  were  made  to  list  all  of  the 
rumors  and  surmises  as  to  what  is  going 
to  happen  to  the  UA  setup,  its  future  pro- 
duction plans  and  the  outlook  for  the 
corporation  generally  in  1941,  when  the 
number  one  man  arrives. 

Discontent  on  Distribution 
Thorough  investigation  of  these  myriad 
reports  and  separation  of  the  wheat  from 
the  chaff  leads  inevitably  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  virtually  every  one  of  the  con- 
jectures can  be  catalogued  as  pure  gossip 
and  that  nothing  can  be  taken  as  a cer- 
tainty until  Silverstone ’s  arrival.  Traces  of 
smoke  arising  from  various  quarters,  how- 
ever, indicate  the  validity  of  at  least  one 
item — that  there  is  a certain  amount  of 
discontent,  stemming  from  insistence  on  a 
better  distribution  deal,  brewing  among 
those  UA  producers  who  are  not  partners 
in  the  corporation. 

Other  reports  circulated  during  the  past 
few  months  hold  that: 

1.  To  encourage  worthwhile  inde- 
pendents to  enter  the  UA  fold,  Silver- 
stone may  offer,  through  his  corpora- 
tion, to  finance  their  product  up  to  50 
per  cent  of  its  negative  cost. 

2.  UA  may  abandon  its  present  indi- 
vidualized, picture-by-picture  produc- 
tion method  and  go  in  for  quantity 
production  of  cheaper  films  as  a 
means  of  coping  with  lost  foreign  mar- 
kets, whence,  in  ordinary  times,  a 
large  share  of  the  company’s  revenue 
came. 

3.  On  the  other  hand,  UA  may, 
through  its  various  production  units, 
concentrate  on  fewer  and  more  expen- 
sive pictures  of  higher  quality  and  re- 
shape its  distribution  setup  to  extract 
the  utmost  in  revenue  therefrom. 

4.  Silverstone  may  negotiate  unit 
production  deals  with  such  individuals 
as  Rowland  V.  Lee,  Douglas  Fairbanks 
jr.  and  Ben  Hecht,  and  Gene  Towne 
and  Graham  Baker. 

5.  He  may  endeavor  to  persuade 
Mary  Pickford  to  return  to  active  pro- 
duction. She,  a member-owner  of  UA, 
has  not  been  active  for  four  years  or 
more. 

6.  Despite  several  recent  shifts  and 
realignment  in  UA’s  sales  and  distribu- 
tion organizations,  Silverstone  may, 
after  conferences  here,  again  order  a 
re-vamp. 

Chief  purpose  of  his  pending  visit,  say 
authoritative  students  of  the  situation,  will 
be  an  attempt  to  overcome  the  present 
discouraging  status  insofar  as  UA  pro- 
duction is  concerned.  As  matters  hold 
now,  with  only  one  picture  in  production, 
the  company  is  faced  with  a serious  short- 
age of  releases  during  April,  May  and 


June,  the  last  months  of  the  peak  selling 
season.  At  present  the  situation  is  some- 
thing like  this,  unit  by  unit: 

Walter  Wanger — Will  not  get  into  ac- 
tion until  April,  possibly  later. 

Samuel  Goldwyn — A member-owner,  he 
is  involved  in  a lawsuit  against  the  com- 
pany and  has  repeatedly  insisted  he  will 
produce  no  pictures  until  the  litigation  has 
been  disposed  of — which  may  be  a year  or 
more. 

David  O.  Selznick — Has  two  to  make 
under  terms  of  an  old  contract  and  is 
marshalling  his  forces  to  launch  produc- 
tion shortly.  No  definite  date  has  been 
set,  however. 

Edward  Sviall — Has  completed  his  1940- 
41  quota  and  is  shut  down  completely,  not 
to  reopen  until  September. 

Hal  Roach — Is  now  completing  his 
final  picture  for  the  year  with  a summer 
shutdown  then  impending. 

Loew-Lewin — Have  completed  their  first, 
with  no  announcements  as  to  what  their 
second,  if  any,  will  be. 

Alexander  Korda — Has  completed  his 
year’s  quota  and  will  shut  down  for  sev- 
eral months. 

Lubitsch-Lesser — Have  one  ready  for  re- 
lease, the  next  not  to  start  until  August 
or  September. 

Additionally,  UA  has  a one-picture  deal 
with  Dr.  William  Szekeley  for  “New  Wine,” 
now  in  work. 

Bitter  Over  "Disorganization'' 

Reasons  for  the  so-called  “production 
blockade”  point  chiefly  toward  the  fact 
that  UA  producers  all  are  demanding  a 
better  break  as  regards  distribution  costs 
and  handling.  They  are  bitter,  railbirds 
say,  over  the  allegation  that  the  UA  sales 
department  has  been  largely  disorganized 
during  the  peak  of  the  season.  Addition- 
ally, they  feel  that  to  meet  world  condi- 
tions today,  they  must  put  everything  they 
have  into  their  pictures,  making  important 
and  high-quality  product. 


William  LeBaron  of  Paramount  is  bedded 
with  influenza  . . . Having  completed  a 
picture  assignment  at  Universal,  Charles 
Boyer  is  checking  out  for  New  York  to 
vacation  and  for  a radio  appearance. 

• 

Anna  Neagle,  RKO  Radio  star,  has  been 
made  an  honorary  colonel  in  the  Cana- 
dian Legion  at  installation  ceremonies  at 
the  Hollywood  American  Legion  Hall.  The 
award  is  in  recognition  of  her  work  in 
Canadian  war  relief  activities 

• 

Edmund  Grainger,  Warner  producer,  has 
been  elected  president  of  the  local  Ford- 
ham  University  Club  . . . Producer  Lou 
Brock  of  RKO  Radio  is  planning  a trip 
to  Havana  when  his  current  picture  is 
completed. 


: SPEARHEADS  : 

— » 

(Continued  from  page  29) 

A Warner  farce,  “Honeymoon  for  Three,” 
is  retarded  by  writing  and  directional 
weaknesses  and  strains  overly-hard  for 
laughs  in  many  sequences,  but  manages  to 
pan  out  enough  humorous  lines  and  situa- 
tions to  please  generally,  though  not  up- 
roariously. Henry  Blanke  gave  it  unstint- 
ing production  trappings.  Earl  Baldwin 
did  the  script,  with  additional  dialogue 
from  Julius  J.  and  Philip  G.  Epstein,  from 
a play  by  Alan  Scott  and  George  Haight. 
Lloyd  Bacon  was  the  director. 

Again  using  a popular  song  as  its  title 
and  story  nucleus,  Universal  has  con- 
tributed a fast-moving,  diverting  and  tune- 
ful entry  in  “Six  Lessons  From  Madame 
LaZonga.”  Under  Joseph  G.  Sanford’s 
production  guidance  John  Rawlins  turned 
in  a well-paced  directorial  effort,  utilizing 
a script  by  Stanley  Rubin,  Marion  Orth, 
Larry  Rhine  and  Ben  Chapman.  Rhine  and 
Chapman  also  authored  the  original.  The 
result  should  be  a welcome  half  on  any 
program. 

There  is  no  readily-discernible  reason 
why  Paramount’s  “The  Aldrich  Family  in 
Life  With  Henry”  should  not  prove  as  ac- 
ceptable to  those  seeking  clean,  down-to- 
earth  entertainment  as  does  the  radio  pro- 
gram from  which  it  was  adapted.  Second 
in  the  Aldrich  Family  series,  it  reflects 
considerable  of  an  improvement  over  the 
initialer.  The  original  and  screenplay  by 
Clifford  Goldsmith  and  Don  Hartman 
comes  closer  to  ensnaring  the  atmosphere 
of  the  airshow  in  characterizations,  dia- 
logue and  situations  and  Jay  Theodore 
Reed  ably  handled  his  twin  chores  as  pro- 
ducer and  director. 

*  *  * * 

Monogram’s  “Pride  of  the  Bowery,” 
third  in  the  “East  Side  Kids”  series,  is 
easily  the  best  yet  to  be  made  in  the  group 
by  Producer  Sam  Katzman.  He  endowed 
it  with  production  values  greatly  trans- 
cending its  budget  through  the  simple  ex- 
pedient of  filming  it  in  a government 
C.  C.  C.  camp  which  furnished  authentic 
backgrounds,  atmosphere  and  extra  per- 
sonnel. Joseph  Lewis  turned  in  a stan- 
dard directorial  job. 


Producer  David  Hempstead  has  returned 
to  RKO  Radio  after  a three-week  vacation 
in  the  east,  during  which  he  attended 
the  Philadelphia  and  New  York  premieres 
of  his  production,  “Kitty  Foyle”  . . . Sol 
C.  Siegel,  Paramount  producer,  is  back  at 
his  desk  after  a brief  Arizona  holiday. 

• 

Joseph  Engel,  associate  producer  with 
Harry  Sherman,  will  check  out  next  week 
for  a month’s  holiday  in  New  York. 

• 

Prints  of  Jack  Benny’s  feet  and  violin 
have  been  encased  in  concrete  and  in- 
stalled in  the  forecourt  of  Grauman’s 
Chinese  Theatre. 


<2l 


inemG. 


rlci 


32 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


"Story”  and  "Neighbor” 
Shine  in  Los  Angeles 


(r 

"Thing  Called  Love" 

Sets  a Fast  Pace 

New  York — Columbia's  "This  Thing 
Called  Love,"  co-starring  Melvyn  Doug- 
las and  Rosalind  Russell,  got  off  to  a 
sensational  start  when  it  broke  the  open- 
ing day  records  at  both  the  Orpheum 
in  San  Francisco  and  the  Denver,  Den- 
ver, company  officials  report. 

Despite  the  fact  that  it  had  a special 
New  Year's  Eve  performance  at  the  Den- 
ver, where  it  reached  a new  high  in 
holiday  grosses,  the  Alexander  Hall  com- 
edy opened  for  its  regular  run  a week 
later  to  set  another  record  by  topping  the 
high-water  mark  reached  by  “Mr.  Smith 
Goes  to  Washington,"  they  add. 

V*  !> 

PCC1TO  Trustees  Wind 
Up  in  Seattle,  S.  F. 

Los  Angeles — First  1941  meeting  of  the 
trustees  of  the  Pacific  Coast  Conference 
of  Independent  Theatre  Owners,  held  in 
Portland,  Ore.,  January  13,  developed  into 
a series  of  sessions.  Following  that  con- 
clave R.  H.  Poole,  executive  secretary,  and 
Albert  J.  Law,  new  PCCITO  general  coun- 
sel, trekked  to  Seattle  for  a meeting  there, 
and  conducted  still  a third  get-together 
in  San  Francisco  January  15. 

Attending  the  Portland  session,  in  ad- 
dition to  Poole  and  Law,  were  Hugh  Bruen 
and  Jack  Y.  Berman  of  Los  Angeles,  and 
Bob  White  and  A.  West  Johnston  of  Ore- 
gon. Poole,  Law,  Bruen  and  Berman  met 
with  William  Ripley  and  L.  O.  Lukan  in 
Seattle,  and  with  Rotus  Harvey  and  Ben 
Levin  in  San  Francisco. 

Topics  covered  at  the  meetings  included 
discussions  of  the  consent  decree  and 
means  of  strengthening  the  PCCITO’s 
platform  to  solidify  a united  front  of  in- 
dependent showmen  along  the  Pacific 
Coast. 

Poole,  Law,  Bruen  and  Berman  will  re- 
turn here  about  January  20. 

Remodeling  Completed 
On  Graumans  Chinese 

Los  Angeles — Remodeling  and  modern- 
ization of  Grauman’s  Chinese,  Fox  West 
Coast  de  luxe  first-run  house  in  Holly- 
wood, has  been  completed.  Job  included 
installation  of  air-foam  seats,  first  to  be 
placed  in  any  theatre  in  the  nation;  a new 
screen;  sound-proofing  of  the  floor  and 
other  alterations. 

Spyros  Cardos,  house  manager,  has  ini- 
tiated a new  system  whereby  floral  decora- 
tions in  the  lobby  and  forecourt  are 
changed  with  every  screen  attraction.  For 
“Chad  Hanna”  flowers  were  shaped  into  a 
circus  atmosphere  while  for  “Hudson’s 
Bay,”  current  attraction,  floral  decorations 
are  in  the  snow-and-ice  motif. 

As  advance  ballyhoo  for  “Hudson’s  Bay,” 
George  Watters’  exploitation  staff  ar- 
ranged a fashion  show  in  which  30  mod- 
els participated. 


Gibraltar  Board  Meets 

Denver — The  consent  decree  and  the  ef- 
fect its  operation  will  have  upon  estab- 
lished policies  of  the  Gibraltar  Enterprises 
chain  will  be  the  chief  topic  of  a board 
meeting  here  Sunday. 


Los  Angeles — Top  hits  in  an  otherwise 
average  week  were  “The  Philadelphia 
Story,”  playing  Grauman’s  Chinese,  Loew’s 
State  and  the  Carthay  Circle  simultane- 
ously, and  “Love  Thy  Neighbor,”  booked 
at  the  Paramount  in  conjunction  with  a 
Fanchon  & Marco  stage  show. 

“Flight  From  Destiny”  held  for  a sec- 
ond week  at  the  Four  Star,  although  draw- 
ing under  average,  and  will  stay  for  a 
third  stanza.  “Santa  Fe  Trail”  drew  nor- 
mal business  in  its  second  week  at  War- 
ner’s Hollywood  and  Downtown. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  7: 

(Average  is  100) 

Carthay  Circle — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  . 150 


Chinese — Same  as  Carthay  Circle 150 

Downtown — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN),  2nd  wk 100 

Four  Star — Flight  From  Destiny  (WB),  2nd 

wk 75 

Hillstreet — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO);  Saint  in 

Palm  Springs  (RKO) 110 

Hollywood — Same  as  Downtown 100 

Pantages — Same  as  Hillstreet 100 

Paramount — Dove  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t),  plus 

stage  show  175 

State — Same  as  Chinese  140 


Salt  Lake  Has  Normal 
Week  at  Boxottices 

Salt  Lake  City — Some  moderate  sun- 
shiny weather  last  week  didn't  prevent 
normally  good  picture  business.  “Arizona,” 
in  its  second  week  here,  is  doing  notably 
well,  as  is  “Comrade  X”  at  the  Centre. 
“Kitty  Foyle”  also  pleased  at  the  Rialto. 
Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  9: 

(Average  is  100) 

Capitol — Hullabaloo  (M-G-M);  Before  1 Hang 


(Col)  105 

Centre — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  115 

Rialto — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO)  ..  110 

Studio — Arizona  (Col),  2nd  wk 115 

Utah — Lady  With  Red  Hair  (WB);  East  of 

the  River  (WB)  85 

Victory — Convicted  Women  (Col);  Five  Little 

Peppers  at  Home  (Col)  90 


Seattle  Feels  Effects 
Of  Defense  Program 

Seattle — Show-shops  here  are  beginning 
to  feel  the  effects  of  extra  spending  due 
to  defense  activities.  Folks  are  beginning 
to  loosen  their  purse  strings  and  are  get- 
ting the  entertainment  habit  once  more. 
The  radio  feud  between  Fred  Allen  and 
Jack  Benny  helped  the  Paramount  to  gar- 

$10,500  for  Greeks 
By  FWCoasters 

Los  Angeles — Fox  West  Coasters  Club, 
comprising  more  than  3,000  FWC  circuit 
employes  in  California  and  Arizona,  has 
contributed  $10,500  in  cash  and  signed 
commitments  to  the  Greek  War  Relief 
Fund,  of  which  Charles  P.  Skouras,  FWC 
president,  is  Southern  California  presi- 
dent. 

That  amount  was  awaiting  Skouras 
when  he  returned  January  12  from  a tour 
of  the  east. 


ner  top  grosses  this  week  with  the  show- 
ing of  “Love  Thy  Neighbor.”  All  other 


houses  fared  reasonably  good. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  11: 

(Average  is  100) 

Blue  Mouse — Comrade  X (M-G-M);  Dr.  Kil- 
dare’s Crisis  (M-G-M),  4th  wk 90 

Fifth  Avenue — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO);  Ro- 
mance of  the  Rio  Grande  (20th-Fox) 100 

Liberty — Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (UA)  ; Five 

Little  Peppers  in  Trouble  (Col)  100 

Music  Box — Flight  Command  (M-G-M);  Keep- 
ing Company  (M-G-M),  2nd  wk 90 

Orpheum — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN);  Meet  the 

Wildcat  (Univ),  2nd  wk 90 

Palomar — San  Francisco  Docks  (Univ);  Barn- 
yard Follies  (Rep),  plus  stage  show  90 

Paramount — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t); 

Jennie  (20th-Fox)  175 


Dick  Powell  Proves  Big 
Draw  in  San  Francisco 

San  Francisco — Dick  Powell  proved  a 
terrific  draw  at  the  Golden  Gate,  nearly 
doubling  the  theatre’s  average  take  in  spite 
of  a poor  screen  attraction.  Tire  Benny- 
Alien  feud  is  making  the  Paramount  a 
popular  place  these  days  where  “Love  Thy 
Neighbor”  is  the  current  product.  The 
Paul  Muni  fans  kept  the  Warfield  box- 
office  above  average,  while  “Bagdad”  and 
“Arizona,”  both  in  their  third  week,  held 


their  own. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  8: 

(Average  is  100) 

Fox — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN);  Come  On,  Marines 

(Rep),  10  days 100 

Golden  Gate — Saint  in  Palm  Springs  (RKO); 

Dick  Powell  on  stage 180 

Orpheum — Arizona  (Col);  Nobody’s  Sweet- 
heart (Univ),  3rd  wk 100 

Paramount — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t); 

Murder  Over  New  York  (20th-Fox),  10  days.. 150 
St.  Francis — Flight  Command  (M-G-M);  Gallant 
Sons  (M-G-M),  2nd  wk.,  moveover  from 

Fox 100 

United  Artists — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA),  3rd  wk.  .110 
Warfield — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox);  Michael 
Shayne,  Private  Detective  (20th-Fox) 120 


"Comrade"  Draws  Most 
Business  in  Denver 

Denver — “Comrade  X”  and  “Saint  in 
Palm  Springs”  at  the  Orpheum,  did  the 
most  money  here  last  week,  while  “Love 
Thy  Neighbor”  at  the  Denham  was  a close 
second  in  its  second  local  week.  It  is 
staying  for  a third. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  9: 

(Average  is  100) 

Aladdin — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA) 150 

After  a big  week  at  the  Denver. 

Broadway — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO);  Hullabaloo 

(M-G-M) 100 

After  a fair  week  at  the  Orpheum. 

Denham— Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t),  2nd 

wk 230 

Denver — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN) 130 

Orpheum — Comrade  X (M-G-M);  Saint  in  Palm 

Springs  (RKO)  190 

Paramount — Bank  Dick  (Univ) ; San  Francisco 

Docks  (Univ)  150 

Rialto — Hired  Wife  (Univ) ; Phantom  of  China 

Town  (Mono)  130 

“Hired  Wife”  after  a week  at  each  the  Den- 
ver and  Aladdin. 


B.  F.  SHEARER  COMPANY 

“Theatre  Equipment  Specialists” 

Heywood-Wakefield  Seats 

Wagner  Silhouette  Letters 

Motiograph  Projectors 

1964  So.  Vermont  RO.  1145 

LOS  ANGELES 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


33 


MILT  LAKE 

gALT  LAKE  CITY’S  1940  real  estate 
sales  were  highest  in  the  city’s  history, 
it  is  announced  by  the  Real  Estate  Board. 
Department  store  sales  rose  to  their  high- 
est level  since  the  middle  of  1930  last 
November,  it  is  also  disclosed.  The  mo- 
tion picture  industry  in  this  region  is  sit- 
ting tight  with  no  guesses  ventured  as  to 
what  the  new  year  will  bring  forth.  Forty 
sales  people  of  the  Utah  Power  and  Light 
Co.’s  Salt  Lake  division  were  told  that 
1941  will  mean  bigger  sales  in  the  elec- 
trical industry  because  of  the  bigger  pay- 
rolls incident  to  the  national  defense  pro- 
gram. Increased  volume  of  sales  of  Utah- 
manufactured  products  during  the  past 
year  is  mirrored  in  sales  tax  collection 
figures  reported  by  the  state  tax  com- 
mission. 

John  P.  Byrne  was  a visitor  at  the  Salt 
Lake  M-G-M  offices.  Accompanying  Bryne, 
was  E.  M.  Saunders,  western  division  man- 
ager. Bryne  recently  was  made  district 
supervisor  for  the  company  with  offices 
in  Denver  . . . Manager  Bill  Seib  of  Co- 
lumbia reports  “ Arizona ” moved  over  to 
the  local  Studio  after  a successful  run  at 
the  Centre,  and  that  it  is  doing  a big  busi- 
ness throughout  the  territory  also  . . . 
Manager  G.  S.  Pinnell  spent  the  holidays 
on  the  coast  and  is  now  back  busy  in  his 
Utah  territory  for  Sheffield- Republic  . . . 
H.  B.  Jorgensen,  Rigby,  Ida.,  exhibitor,  was 
in  town  signing  with  Republic  for  some 
product. 

Intermountain  Theatres,  Inc.,  held  a 
drive  during  December  and  several  cash 
prizes  were  awarded  as  well  as  trips  to  the 
Chicago  meeting  January  22  honoring  the 
fifth  anniversary  of  Barney  Balaban  as 
president  of  Paramount.  The  drive,  which 
was  held  from  Thanksgiving  until  Christ- 
mas, allotted  two  trips  to  local  contestants. 
The  trips  were  won  by  “Chet”  Price  of  the 
Victory  and  Bill  Glasmann  of  the  Para- 
mount, Ogden.  Jack  Braunagle  of  the 
Capitol,  Logan,  won  a cash  prize,  as  did 
Breck  Fagin,  Orpheum,  Idaho  Falls,  Ida.; 
next  in  line  were  Nevin  McCord  of  the 
Granada,  Boise,  and  Harold  Chesler  of  the 
Mario,  Salt  Lake.  Price  and  Glasmann 
will  accompany  General  Manager  Harry 
David  to  the  Chicago  banquet. 

RKO  held  a meeting  here  in  connection 
with  their  Depinet  drive,  according  to 
Manager  H.  C.  Fuller.  Attending  were 
Herb  MacIntyre,  district  manager,  and 
Drive  Captain  Leo  Devaney,  from  Canada 
. . . One  of  the  oldest  of  the  oldtimers  in 
the  show  business,  Bert  Orr,  of  Grace,  Ida., 
paid  a visit  to  Salt  Lake  oti  a booking  trip. 
Orr  recently  celebrated  his  26th  anniver- 
sary as  operator  of  the  Opera  House  at 
Grace,  and  February  2,  he  celebrates  his 
60th  birthday  . . . Manager  Tony  Hartford 
is  traveling  the  territory  currently  for  UA. 

The  Motion  Picture  Club  of  Salt  Lake 
elected  new  officers  as  follows:  “Buck” 
Wade,  Universal  manager,  president,  re- 
placing Harold  Chesler  of  Intermountain 
Theatres;  vice-president,  Terry  Smoot  of 
20th  Century-Fox,  replacing  Clyde  Blasius 
of  the  same  company;  secretary,  Ralph 
Pizza  of  Vitagraph,  replacing  Dan  Driscoll 
of  Fox  West  Coast;  treasurer,  E.  S.  Win- 
ward  of  RKO,  replacing  Joe  Madsen  of 
United  Artists  . . . Manager  F.  H.  Smith 
of  Paramount  is  back  from  a trip  into 


Idaho  . . . Branch  Manager  W.  W.  Mc- 
Kendrick  has  gone  into  southern  Utah 
with  his  Monogram  product  . . . G.  L. 
Cloward  of  Ross  Federal  is  back  from  a 
vacation  in  Los  Angeles  and  San  Fran- 
cisco. He  heads  for  Butte,  Mont.,  this 
week. 

Lola  Lane  stopped  over  briefly  while  en 
route  to  Minneapolis  to  begin  a 10-week 
personal  appearance  tour  . . . “Dear  Bru- 
tus” was  presented  by  a local  group  . . . 
“Go  West”  was  screened  last  week  for  the 
trade  . . . The  Joseph  I.  Lawrence  Thea- 
tre Co.  reports  that  the  new  theatre  at 
Provo,  Utah,  to  be  called  the  Academy,  is 
nearing  completion  and  should  open  by 
February  10.  The  800-seat  house  is  ultra- 
modern in  both  exterior  and  interior  de- 
sign. The  structure  is  of  brick  and  con- 
crete, completely  fireproof,  mid  called  for 
an  outlay  of  over  $50,000. 


A Party  and  Dance  by 
Montana  Screen  Club 

Butte,  Mont.  — The  Montana  Screen 
Club  held  their  first  annual  party  and 
dance  in  the  Masonic  ballroom  recently. 
Refreshments  and  a buffet  lunch  were 
served.  One  hundred  and  twenty  members 
and  guests  were  present.  The  club  presi- 
dent, Ed  Loy,  was  in  charge. 

Immediately  following  the  party,  Loy 
and  his  wife  left  for  Denver  to  spend  a 
week  on  business  and  carry  greetings  to 
the  Rocky  Mountain  Screen  Club  at  their 
New  Year’s  Eve  party. 


» IE  M V IE  R 

pRED  KNILL,  booker  for  Gibraltar  En- 
terprises, has  taken  a six-month  leave 
of  absence  because  of  ill  health.  Ted 
Thompson,  manager  of  the  Rialto  at  Love- 
land, Colo.,  has  taken  over  the  booking 
job  in  addition  to  his  present  post  . . . 
J.  S.  Church  has  sold  his  interest  in  the 
Palace,  Denver,  to  his  partner,  H.  J.  Gotts- 
chalk,  who  will  improve  the  house,  with  his 
first  move  being  to  install  new  seats  . . . 
Joe  Lucas  has  closed  the  State  in  Idaho 
Springs,  Colo. 

Henry  LeClair,  formerly  with  Gibraltar 
Enterprises,  has  accepted  a post  in  Chey- 
enne, Wyo.,  where  he  will  be  assistant  to 
Fred  Glass,  city  manager  for  Fox  . . . 
Alva  Lawter  has  been  named  manager  of 
the  Alpine,  succeeding  Joe  Gundy.  Dave 
Cockrill  owns  the  house.  Lawter  began 
his  theatre  work  as  assistant  manager  un- 
der Cockrill  at  the  Princess,  Newcastle,  Ind. 

One  of  the  really  busy  men  in  Denver 
is  the  artist  at  the  Denver,  Larry  Blair. 
Besides  originating  the  lobby  displays,  pos- 
ters, etc.,  he  takes  piano  lessons,  is  an 
expert  photographer,  builds  furniture  for 
three  small  Blairs,  and  is  now  assembling 
a scrapbook  of  his  artistic  ventures. 

Various  legislators  are  threatening  to  in- 
troduce an  amusement  tax  bill  in  the 
Colorado  legislature.  They  claim  this  would 
be  necessary  to  replace  the  revenue  that 
would  be  lost  in  case  the  service  tax  is 
repealed,  or  if  the  income  tax  exemptions 
are  raised.  Plans  also  call  for  rescinding 
of  sales  tax  on  milk  and  foods  carried  from 
store. 


JOHNNY  COLLINS,  long  a member  of  the 

Filmrow  family,  severed  his  connections 
with  the  Star  Theatre  recently  for  a job 
in  the  shipyards  . . . Universal  employes 
are  all  back  on  the  job  after  sessions 
with  the  flu  bug.  The  salesmen,  Cecil 
Fames  and  Jim  Hommel,  and  “Slats”  Wil- 
son, branch  manager,  are  back  from  New 
Year’s  vacations  and  ready  to  do  or  die 
in  their  big  sales  drive.  They  announce  a 
new  member  of  the  office  force,  Miss 
Louise  Luick,  late  of  Paramount.  Con- 
gratulations to  Universal  and  Miss  Luick. 

Republic  had  visitors  in  the  persons  of 
J.  T.  Sheffield  and  Eddie  Walton  from 
Seattle.  Mabel  Walsh,  stenographer , left 
for  a two  week  vacation  to  California 
. . . Verna  and  Edgar  Mercy  are  being 
congratulated  on  the  birth  of  a new  Mercy 
jr.  His  name  was  not  divulged,  but  cigars 
were  passed  out  via  Tom  Shearer  . . . Metro 
advises  that  Mrs.  Theo  Hasbrook  has  been 
on  the  flu  list  since  the  first  of  the  year 
. . . Ruth  Hawkins  drove  to  Seattle  for  a 
visit  with  friends  recently  . . . Lou  Amacher 
played  host  to  the  Roy  Browns  at  his 
beach  hotel. 

RKO  held  a screening  for  the  trade  of 
“Kitty  Foyle,”  and  later  held  open  house 
so  everyone  could  inspect  the  extensive 
remodeling  of  their  office,  including  the 
newly  installed  telephone  switchboard.  Leo 
Devaney,  RKO  district  manager  in  Canada 
and  newly-appointed  drive  leader  in  their 
current  sales  drive;  Harry  Gittelson,  editor 
of  their  house  organ,  Flash,  and  Herb 
MacIntyre,  western  district  sales  manager, 
held  a pep  meeting  with  the  local  office 
force  January  11  . . . Stanley  Gustafson 
is  improving  rapidly  after  spending  sev- 
eral weeks  in  bed  with  a broken  back. 
He  expects  to  be  back  at  work  soon. 

Visitors  were  numerous  on  the  Row  this 
week.  Johnny  Harvey  is  back  in  circula- 
tion, much  improved,  after  his  car  smash- 
up.  Al  Adolph,  Salem;  Harry  Gamble, 
North  Bonneville;  Ray  Henderson,  Albajiy, 
Don  Watrous,  Forest  Grove;  and  Bob 
Veness,  Mill  City,  were  among  those  in 
town  . . . Harry  Kline  had  a bad  siege 
with  the  flu  a?id  then  a setback  which 
almost  developed  into  pneumonia.  He  is 
able  to  sit  up  now  and  take  nourishment. 

V.  G.  Faulkner  is  the  new  manager  of 
the  Rivoli  Theatre  in  Portland.  George 
Berliner  will  be  the  new  assistant  man- 
ager at  the  Paramount  . . . Much  interest 
is  centered  on  the  independent  theatre 
owners’  meeting  and  there  has  been  a 
great  deal  of  discussion — pro  and  con — on 
the  subjects  taken  up  at  the  meeting. 

Jimmy  Sheffield  has  been  down  with  an 
attack  of  appendicitis  but  is  much  im- 
proved now  . . . Edythe  Schuhmann’s  fel- 
low Columbia  workers  are  getting  dis- 
couraged in  their  efforts  to  make  a west- 
erner out  of  her.  The  gal  hails  from  New 
Yoik  and  her  pals  are  coaching  her  on 
pronounciation  . . . she  leaves  out  her  R s. 
They  don’t  get  very  far  with  her  because 
when  the  going  gets  tough,  little  Edythe 
gives  ’em  the  boid. 


"U"  Termer  for  Carrillo 

Hollywood — Leo  Carrillo  has  signed  a 
termer  at  Universal. 


34 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


THE  defense  program  is  certainly  helping 
x financially  in  various  parts  of  this  ter- 
ritory. Seattle  is  feeling  the  joy  of  spend- 
ing from  the  increase  of  employment  at 
the  Boeing  plant.  Bremerton,  with  its  en- 
larged navy  yards,  has  caused  the  build- 
ing of  two  new  theatres.  Tacoma  and 
Olympia  are  feeling  the  spending  from  the 
large  army  base  at  Fort  Lewis  and  Camp 
McCord  . . . Maybe  the  radio  is  a help  at 
times.  The  Benny-Alien  feud  can  be  classed 
as  one  big  exploitation  gag  for  “Love  Thy 
Neighbor.”  The  result  here  is  a grand 
business  at  the  Paramount  . . . The  world 
loves  a fellow  who  always  remembers  that 
his  Mom  and  Dad  brought  him  up,  and 
that  he  can  repay  by  devoting  some  time 
to  their  happiness  after  he  is  on  the  road 
of  fame.  Joe  Penner  was  just  such  a boy, 
and  we  have  lost  one  grand  guy  with  his 
passing  . . . The  theatre  owners  situated  in 
Washington  apple  growing  area  have  been 
suffering  from  a glutted  market.  Here  is 
good  news  boys.  The  Washington  state 
apple  commission  has  already  started  plans 
for  spending  $1,000  per  day  for  advertising 
in  an  effort  to  move  the  Winesap  apples. 
Here’s  hoping  the  ads  bear  fruit. 

Planned  to  raise  money  to  help  enter- 
tain delegates  and  visitors  to  the  national 
convention  of  the  American  Federation  of 
Musicians  in  Seattle  this  summer,  the  Mu- 
sicians’ Ass’n  has  announced  a series  of 
dances.  O.  R.  McLain,  president  of  the  so- 
ciety, said  that  a different  well-known  or- 
chestra will  conduct  each  dance  and  a 
prize  will  be  awarded  the  band  attracting 
the  most  attendance.  The  national  con- 
vention will  be  held  here  June  9 and  will 
attract  some  1,200  delegates  from  the  im- 
portant centers  of  the  United  States  and 
Canada  . . . Negotiations  have  opened  be- 
tween Theatre  Employes  union,  Local  B- 22, 
and  theatre  owners  in  Seattle.  About  300 
workers  will  be  affected  by  the  agreement. 
The  contract  asks  improved  working  con- 
ditions arid  seeks  a clause  protecting  the 
union  members  if  called  for  draft  service. 
Both  Hamrick-Evergreen  and  Sterling 
Theatres  have  already  gone  on  record  for 
employes  called  under  the  Selective  Ser- 
vice Act,  having  made  announcements  at 
the  time  the  act  went  in  force. 

The  Ascap-BMI  music  war  has  brought 
out  many  of  the  local  song  writers.  O.  B. 
Clow,  owner  of  waffle  shops  all  through 
the  northwest,  has  been  a song  writer  for 
years  and  his  hobby  has  been  to  make 
recordings  of  all  his  numbers.  Clow  flew 
to  New  York  and  visited  with  BMI  and  is 
now  back  with  a contract.  Alice  Nadine 
Morrison  is  still  receiving  royalties  from 
her  song  “Love’s  Ship”  written  some  years 
ago.  Now  she  is  busy  batting  out  tunes  for 
BMI.  More  than  a dozen  local  writers 
have  received  contracts  . . . John  Ham- 
rick has  donated  the  use  of  his  Music  Hall, 
seating  2,200,  for  a benefit  performance 
being  sponsored  by  the  Friends  of  Britain, 
Inc.  Feature  of  the  show  will  be  the  per- 
sonal appearance  of  Grade  Fields,  the 
highest  paid  actress  in  England  . . . Cecilia 
Schultz,  Seattle’s  only  female  theatre 
operator,  is  back  from  New  York  where  she 
was  successful  in  signing  up  Lawrence  Tib- 
bett,  Yehudi  Menuhin,  Jose  Iturbi,  Helen 
Traubel,  and  many  other  noted  concert 
artists.  All  will  appear  at  various  inter- 
vals at  the  Moore  Theatre. 


The  local  office  of  RKO  is  fixed  up  with 
a series  of  electrical  flasher  gags  calling 
attention  to  the  Ned  Depinet  drive.  Under 
the  supervision  of  Eddie  Lamb,  branch 
manager;  Floyd  Henninger  and  Bill  Engel 
devoted  their  Saturday  afternoon  to  fix- 
ing up  the  office  and  it  is  one  grand  job 
and  should  be  worthy  of  mention  among 
the  RKO  notes.  The  drive  opened  in  Seat- 
tle with  the  appearance  of  Leo  Devaney, 
drive  captain;  Harry  Gittelson,  editor  of 
Flash,  and  Herb  MacIntyre,  western  divi- 
sion sales  manager  . . . Cigars  were  passed 
around  in  various  branches  of  the  Mercy 
family  this  past  week.  Edgar  and  Verne 
Mercy  of  Yakima  celebrated  the  arrival  of 
a son.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jack  Sweet  of  Seattle 
were  the  proud  parents  of  a daughter. 
Mrs.  Sweet  is  the  sister  of  Mrs.  Fred  Mercy 
jr.  . . . Harriett  Atkinson  has  been  trans- 
ferred from  the  Music  Box  to  the  Coli- 
seum and  will  take  charge  of  all  usherettes 
in  that  house. 

Jack  Rosenberg  in  Providence  Hospital 
recovering  from  a head  injury  sustained  in 
a skiing  accident  . . . L.  A.  McCracken,  ad- 
vance agent,  in  from  Los  Angeies  ahead  of 
“White  Zombie”  . . . Hal  and  Ethel  Daig- 
ler  out  for  California  and  a three-month 
vacation  in  Palm  Springs  . . . Ralph  Rav- 
enscroft  back  to  the  Paramount  studios 
after  campaigning  “Love  Thy  Neighbor” 

u = : ft 

He  Finished  With 
" Old  Black  Joe " 

Seattle — The  Ascap-BMI  war  is  becom- 
ing a gag  in  this  neck-ol-the-woods. 

The  police  radio  station,  KGPA,  was 
working  on  test  calls.  Radio  Operator 
Hadley  Clarke  whistled  a lew  bars  of 
"Down  Argentine  Way.''  Another  officer 
ran  into  the  room  and  shouted,  "You 
can't  do  that.  We  haven't  got  any  con- 
tract with  Ascap.'' 

Hadley  finished  his  testing  with  "Old 
Black  Joe." 

JJ 

. . . L.  J.  McGinley  addressing  the  con- 
vention of  Electrical  Products  at  the  Rai- 
nier Club.  Mac  gave  them  the  old  one- 
two  about  “Showmanship  in  Selling”  . . . 
J.  T.  Sheffield  and  Eddie  Walton  of  the 
Republic  office  out  for  Portland  for  a few 
days  . . . Arch  and  Mrs.  Bartholet  and  son, 
Bob,  here  from  Yakima  for  a few  days. 
Arch  is  city  manager  for  the  Mercy  houses 
there  . . . Bill  and  Mrs.  Evans  of  the  Post 
Street,  Spokane,  spending  some  time  here 
. . . Eddie  Miller  of  RCA  being  held  back 
from  his  Portland  trip  by  fog.  He  finally 
made  it  . . . Hugh  Bruen  in  from  Whittier, 
Cal.,  for  a meeting  with  his  theatre  part- 
ners, Ben  Shearer  and  Art  St.  John. 

Charley  and  Mrs.  Gilkey  and  son,  Dick, 
at  the  “Hudson’s  Bay’’  preview  along  with 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  and  Keith  McCor- 
mack . . . Bill  Forman,  general  manager  of 
Sterling  Theatres,  back  at  his  desk  after 
the  appendectomy  . . . Charley  Laidlaw  in 
from  Dayton  . . . Ollie  Wog,  branch  man- 
ager for  Producers  Releasing  Corp.  of  Port- 
land, will  also  be  in  charge  of  the  Seattle 
branch  with  the  resignation  of  Joe  Mer- 
rick . . . Bill  McCurdy,  manager  of  the  J. 


J . Parkers  Broadivay  in  Portland,  and  Bill 
Parker,  the  Northwest  exploiteer  for 
Metro,  both  wearing  honor  pins  presented 
by  Metro  for  outstanding  campaign  on 
“Land  of  Liberty”  . . . Frank  Newman  sr. 
back  from  Los  Angeles  . . . Frank  Graham, 
who  recently  leased  his  theatre  in  Auburn, 
has  left  for  New  York  to  attend  the  motor 
boat  show  in  Madison  Square  Garden.  His 
boat  will  be  ready  and  launched  in  March 
. . . Eldon  Pollock  sr.  is  in  the  hospital  re- 
covering from  a severe  flu  attack  . . . Zella 
Lamb  getting  a thrill  out  of  attending  a 
preview.  Zella  has  been  abed  since  October 
with  her  leg  in  a cast,  broken  in  two  places. 
She  made  the  preview  on  crutches  mid  a 
nurse  in  attendance. 

Betty  Condon  here  from  San  Francisco 
visiting  with  her  Pa  and  Ma,  Maury  and 
Lucille  Saffle,  and  being  greeted  by  her 
many  friends  not  only  on  the  Row  but  in 
town  . . . Word  from  Chicago  tells  that 
Izzy  Schlank,  formerly  of  Seattle,  has  been 
appointed  district  manager  for  United 
Artists  in  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  Min- 
neapolis field  . . . Bob  Poole,  executive 
secretary  for  the  Independent  Theatre 
Owners  of  the  Pacific  Coast,  and  Albert 
Law,  general  counsel  for  ITO,  here  to  at- 
tend a special  meeting  of  the  conference 
. . . Dick  Hays,  drama  editor  of  the  Times, 
getting  a special  invite  to  attend  Univer- 
sal’s “Back  Street”  premiere  in  Miami. 
Dick  and  his  wife,  Bess,  have  just  returned 
from  a three-week  vacation  in  the  middle 
west  . . . Wayne  Christy,  northwest  man- 
ager for  W.  C.  Automatic  Candy  Co.,  to 
Portland  for  a five-day  stay  . . . B.  F. 
Shearer  announces  that  Ted  Lay,  former 
manager  for  National  Theatre  Supply  in 
Los  Angeles,  has  joined  the  local  Shearer 
staff.  He  replaces  Gordon  Morris,  who  re- 
signed to  handle  theatres. 

Vic  Gauntlett  back  at  his  desk  after  the 
flu  attack  . . . Bill  and  Fredi  Shartin  back 
from  the  California  vacation  . . . Bill  Kos- 
tenbader  recovered  from  his  week  in  bed 
with  the  same  old  thing — flu  . . . Mrs.  Les 
Theuerkauf  and  her  son  Les  jr.  to  San 
Francisco  for  a visit.  They  were  accom- 
panied by  Mrs.  Theuerkauf’s  sister,  Mrs. 
Bert  Pollard,  who  was  returning  to  her 
home  after  visiting  the  Theuerkauf s here 
. . . M.  G.  Whitman  of  the  Universal  sales 
staff  cutting  short  his  vacation  and  hurry- 
ing back  from  California  to  keep  an  ap- 
pointment with  an  exhibitor  . . . Bud  Ben- 
son on  the  Row  from  Anacortes  after  two 
weeks  in  bed  battling  flu  . . . Roy  Irvine 
of  the  Ritz  in  Ritzville  in  town  on  a book- 
ing tour  . . . Ward  Pennington  here  from 
San  Francisco  to  take  up  his  new  spot 
with  Paramount  as  salesman  in  eastern 
Washington.  He  succeeds  Glen  Haviland, 
who  has  taken  over  the  sales  for  the  Seat- 
tle territory,  replacing  Dwight  Spracher 
who  moved  to  Paramount’s  San  Francisco 
office. 

Archie  Holt,  salesman  for  Fox  east  of 
the  mountains,  in  town  for  a few  days  . . . 
Fred  Girtanner  of  the  Procter  Street  in 
Tacoma  busy  with  his  booking  book  and 
saying  hello  to  friends  . . . Jim  Root,  as- 
sistant to  Joe  Cooper  at  the  Northwest 
Film  Club,  announces  that  the  doctor  has 
informed  him  that  he  will  be  a “pop”  some- 
time in  April  . . . Fred  Girtanner  of  the 
Procter  Street  in  Tacoma  in  booking. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


W 


34-A 


liLCȣ>  A1VC.ELES 

JN  FOR  BOOKINGS:  Harry  Nace  and 

Junior  Nace,  of  the  Nace-Publix  circuit 
in  Phoenix,  Ariz.;  Wade  Loudermilk, 
Nace’s  partner  in  Buckeye  and  Glendale, 
Ariz.;  Fred  Seigal,  Palomar  and  Margo 
theatres,  Oceanside;  Slim  Bevans,  LaMont 
Theatre,  LaMont  . . . Mrs.  Jerome  Saf- 
ron,  wife  of  Columbia’s  western  district 
manager,  is  recuperating  from  an  appen- 
dectomy which  she  underwent  at  the 
Cedars  Lebanon  Hospital. 

Mike  Newman,  Columbia  exploiteer,  has 
returned  from  San  Francisco,  where  he 
plugged  the  opening  of  “This  Thing  Called 
Love”  at  the  Orpheum  . . . The  Flu  bug 
has  downed  Tom  Soriero,  manager  of  Fox 
West  Coast’s  United  Artists  Theatre  down- 
town . . . M.  J.  E.  McCarthy,  Monogram 
salesman,  off  on  a tour  of  the  Sa?i  Diego 
territory. 

A rare  visitor  was  Bert  Fink,  one-time 
exhibitor,  who  hails  from  Winslow,  Ariz., 
and  at  one  time  was  connected  with  Wil- 
liam Nagel  in  the  operation  of  theatres  in 
New  Mexico  . . . E.  M.  Saunders,  western 
sales  manager  for  M-G-M,  came  in  from 
the  New  York  office. 

Joseph  Bernhard,  general  manager  for 
the  Warner  Theatres,  has  returned  to  New 
York  after  studio  conferences,  during 
which  he  caught  a sneak  preview  of  “Meet 
John  Doe,”  the  new  Frank  Capra  produc- 
tion. 

To  be  with  his  mother,  who  suffered  a 
stroke  recently,  Don  Goshay  has  secured 


leave  of  absence  for  a few  days  from  his 
post  as  engineer  at  Altec  Service  . . . Ruth 
Whitney  of  the  accounting  department  at 
M-G-M  had  a relapse  and  had  to  go  back 
to  bed  with  the  flu  after  working  one  day. 

Booking-.  Al  Rice,  operator  of  the  Ad- 
miral in  Hollywood;  Jay  Sutton,  partner 
with  Al  Galston  in  the  Hawaii  and  Marcal 
theatres,  also  in  Hollywood  . . . William  A. 
Scully,  Universal's  general  sales  manager, 
dropped  in  at  the  local  exchange  during 
his  recent  visit  to  the  studio  . . . Bert 
Lentz,  Columbia  salesman,  has  checked 
out  for  a jaunt  around  his  territory. 

Astor  Pictures  has  added  19  features 
to  its  lineup,  according  to  Lou  Goldstein. 
New  films  include  “Something  to  Sing 
About,”  starring  James  Cagney;  six  Tex 
Ritter  westerns  and  two  Ken  Maynard 
sagebrushers  . . . Al  O’Keefe,  Universal’s 
western  district  manager,  in  from  San 
Francisco  . . . Clair  Bruce  is  back  at  her 
job  as  switchboard  operator  at  Colum- 
bia after  time  out  to  nurse  the  flu. 

Barclay  Ardell,  Altec’s  branch  manager 
in  Seattle,  has  returned  there  after  spend- 
ing the  holidays  here.  He  stopped  off  in 
Salt  Lake  City  en  route  home. 

Preparations  for  the  annual  Ned  Depinet 
Drive  at  RKO  Radio  now  under  way.  It 
starts  January  25  and  ends  May  9 . . . 
Cobe  Wartman  of  the  DeLuxe  Theatre  has 
installed  the  new  “Eighty  Spot”  game  in 
his  house  . . . S.  M.  Pariseau,  Altec  branch 
manager,  returned  from  a brief  trip  to  San 
Francisco. 


Utilizes  Local  Angle  in 
Tieup  With  Bowes 

Glendale,  Cal.  — Learning  in  advance 
that  Major  Bowes  was  going  to  present  a 
Glendale  winner  over  his  “Salute  to  Cities” 
program,  Manager  Ed  Harris  of  the  Glen- 
dale successfully  beat  the  “stay-at-home” 
competition  by  arranging  to  rebroadcast 
the  show  to  his  theatre  audience  by  a 
hookup  over  the  sound  system. 

As  a prelude  to  the  broadcast,  Harris 
presented  the  parents  of  the  winning 
Bowes  contestant  along  with  the  mayor 
and  president  of  the  chamber  of  commerce. 
Prior  to  the  re-broadcast  he  presented  the 
six  best  contestants  in  a local  amateur 
show  in  a stage  revue. 


GN  Will  Release  PRC 
Lineup  in  Canada 

Los  Angeles — The  former  Grand  Na- 
tional Films,  Ltd.,  will  distribute  Producers 
Releasing  Corp.  product  in  Canada  and 
the  Maritime  provinces,  it  has  been  an- 
nounced following  completion  of  negotia- 
tions by  Leon  Fromkess,  PRC  export  man- 
ager. The  Canadian  outlet  will  be  rein- 
corporated, with  branches  in  St.  Johns, 
Montreal,  Toronto.  Winnipeg,  Calgary  and 
Vancouver. 


"Miss  Bishop"  at  Four  Star 

Los  Angeles — “Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop” 
has  opened  at  the  Four  Star  for  an  ex- 
tended run. 


How  to  operate  motion  picture  theatres 

profitably 

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giving  the  best  results  of  years  of  experience  as  a guide  in  establishing 
successful  policies,  building  profitable  business,  and  efficiently  operating  any 
size  theatre. 

The  Management  of 
Motion  Picture  Theatres 

By  FRANK  H.  RICKETSON.  Jr. 

Get  This  Great  Aid  to  Theatre  President,  Fox  Inter-Mountain  Theatres,  Inc. 

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34-B 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


6 


Declares  Denunciations 
Of  Decree  Are  Futile 


La  Crosse  Hearing 
Again  Delayed 

Madison,  Wis.~-Hearing  in  the  $1,472,- 
000  damage  suit  of  the  La  Crosse  Thea- 
tre Co.,  La  Crosse,  against  Paramount, 
United  Artists,  20th  Century-Fox,  Wel- 
worth  Theatre  Co.  and  the  Minnesota 
Amusement  Co.,  scheduled  to  be  held  in 
federal  court  here  January  G,  was  post- 
poned to  February  17  by  Judge  Patrick 
T.  Stone. 

The  action  was  opened  in  October,  but 
postponed  due  to  the  sudden  illness  of 
Atty.  Robert  A.  Hess,  Milwaukee,  counsel 
for  the  La  Crosse  company.  The  post- 
ponements have  been  vigorously  con- 
tested by  counsel  for  the  defendant  com- 
panies. 

VS  J 

Committees  Form  to 
Aid  Greek  Cause 

Indianapolis — Spyros  Skouras,  National 
Theatres’  head  and  national  chairman  of 
the  Greek  War  Relief  Ass’n,  has  appointed 
the  following  regional  committees  to 
represent  the  industry  in  the  drive  for 
Greek  war  relief  funds: 

Don  R.  Rossiter,  executive  secretary  of 
Associated  Theatre  Owners  of  Indiana, 
chairman:  Alex  Manta,  president  of  In- 
diana-Illinois  Theatres,  Chicago;  Marc  J. 
Wolf,  general  manager  of  Theatrical 
Managers,  Inc.,  Indianapolis:  Sam  Switow, 
Switow  Theatrical  Enterprises,  Louisville, 
Ky.:  S.  J.  Gregory,  general  manager  of 
Alliance  Theatre  Corp.,  Chicago;  Fred 
Greenberg,  manager  of  Warner  Bros.  Film 
Exchange,  Indianapolis;  Joe  Cantor  of  Co- 
operative Theatres,  Indianapolis;  Pete 
Mailers,  general  manager  of  Mailers  Bros., 
Fort  Wayne,  Ind.;  Trueman  Rembusch, 
president  of  Syndicate  Theatres,  Franklin, 
Ind.;  P.  H.  Dickson,  president  of  Affiliated 
Theatres,  Inc.,  Indianapolis. 

George  Landis,  branch  manager  of  20th 
Century-Fox  Film  Exchange,  Indianapolis; 
Abe  Kaufman,  operator  of  the  Fountain 
Theatre,  Terre  Haute,  Ind.;  A.  H.  Borken- 
stein,  operator  of  Wells  Theatre,  Fort 
Wayne,  Ind.;  H.  L.  Krieghbaum,  operator 
of  Char  Belle  Theatre,  Rochester,  Ind.; 
J.  M.  Dixon,  operator  of  Flora  Theatre, 
Flora,  Ind.;  Dick  Vlastos,  operator  of  Fow- 
ler Theatre,  Fowler,  Ind.;  Dick  Frank, 
branch  manager  of  United  Artists,  Indian- 
apolis; John  Servaas,  Exhibitors  Exchange, 
Indianapolis;  George  Settos,  Settos  Thea- 
tres, Indianapolis;  H.  P.  Vonderschmitt, 
Vonderschmitt  Amusement  Enterprises, 
Bloomington,  Ind.;  James  Bikos,  Bikos 
Bros.,  Gary,  Ind.;  Guy  Craig,  branch  man- 
ager of  Columbia  Pictures  Corp.,  Indian- 
apolis; Fred  Dolle,  president  of  Fourth 
Avenue  Amusement  Corp.,  Louisville,  Ky.; 
and  Charles  M.  Olson,  Olson  Theatre  En- 
terprises, Indianapolis. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  committee, 
$735  was  pledged  by  the  committee  mem- 
bers. This  will  form  the  nucleus  for  the 
drive  which  is  expected  to  get  under  way 
immediately.  S.  J.  Gregory  addressed  the 
meeting. 


Chicago — “The  consent  decree  is  now 
final.  Further  protests  or  denunciations 
are  futile  and  no  changes  or  modifica- 
tions are  likely  by  court  action  or  other- 
wise until  after  the  decree  is  put  into 
actual  operation.” 

Edward  G.  Zorn,  president  of  the  United 
Theatre  Owners  of  Illinois,  speaking  to  his 
membership  in  a special  bulletin.  Point- 
ing out  that  his  organization,  “together 
with  virtually  all  other  exhibitor  organi- 
zations, has  protested  against  the  im- 
position of  many  of  the  provisions,”  Zorn 
declares  that  compliance  with  the  de- 
cree is  up  to  the  distributor,  and  adds: 

“There  is  no  provision  anywhere  in  the 
decree  calling  for  exhibitor  participation 
or  cooperation  in  its  administrations  or 
operations.  Compliance  is  imposed  upon 
the  five  distributors  and  their  affiliated 
exhibitors,  and  not  upon  the  exhibitor; 
consequently,  its  operation  is  not  predi- 
cated upon  what  you,  as  an  exhibitor,  do 
but  rather  upon  what  the  distributors  do. 

Prepare  for  Starting  Date 

“The  decree  goes  into  effect  Sept.  1, 
1941.  Thus  the  exhibitor  has  six  to  eight 
months  in  which  to  prepare  himself  by 
studying  its  provisions.  We  may  as  well 
reconcile  ourselves  to  the  fact  that  we 
have  no  choice  but  compliance.  The  two 
most  important  provisions  of  the  decree 
are  the  block-of-five  restriction  and  the 
arbitration  system. 

“The  block-of-five  restrictions  apply 
only  to  pictures  released  after  September, 
1941.  The  five  distributors  who  are  parties 
to  the  consent  decree,  are  restrained  by 
law  from  offering  for  rental  to  exhibitors 
pictures  in  blocks  of  over  five.  The  dis- 
tributor cannot  sell  more  than  five  pic- 

(<  ^ 

"Too  Many  Fights" 

Says  UTOI  Chief 

Chicago — “Too  much  time  and  money 
is  being  spent  on  legal  theories  and  con- 
troversies," President  Edward  G.  Zorn 
declares  in  his  special  bulletin  to  UTOI 
members.  He  argues  that  “It's  a disease 
that  grows  worse  every  year  and  keeps 
our  business  in  an  unhealthy  state. 

“We  spend  too  much  time  telling  the 
world  about  what  is  wrong  with  the 
movies,  the  abuses  and  injustices  and 
incompetence  in  the  business,  and 
neglect  to  advance  a good,  clear  un- 
derstanding of  how  it  operates  and  why 
it  operates  that  way  even  within  the 
industry. 

“The  movie  theatres  are  doing  a good 
job  of  giving  fine  entertainment  and  re- 
laxation at  an  average  cost,  to  the  patron, 
of  seven  or  eight  cents  an  hour,  but  you 
would  never  know  it  from  the  people  in 
the  business.  Let's  get  together  to  pro- 
tect ourselves  and,  incidentally,  blow  our 
own  horns." 

Vfc  J 


tures  in  a block  at  one  time,  and  these 
five  pictures  must  be  made  and  have  had 
a trade  showing. 

“The  arbitration  system  is  placed  en- 
tirely in  the  hands  of  the  American  Ar- 
bitration Ass’n.  Any  cooperation  or  par- 
ticipation by  the  exhibitor  other  than  sub- 
mitting complaints  is  strictly  forbidden. 
Its  provisions  are  set  forth  in  strange  and 
tricky  clauses.  Lawyers  will  be  arguing 
about  their  meaning  and  interpretation  for 
years  to  come.  The  lack  of  clarity  in  the 
maze  of  legal  verbiage  means  that  ulti- 
mately the  arbitrators,  themselves,  will 
decide  just  how  most  of  the  decree  will 
be  interpreted  and  applied.” 


Warns  of  Discriminatory 
Legislation  in  Illinois 

Chicago — Urging  members  of  the  United 
Theatre  Owners  of  Illinois  against  con- 
cerning themselves  entirely  with  the  con- 
sent decree,  Edward  G.  Zorn,  president, 
warns  in  his  current  bulletin  of  impend- 
ing state  legislation  and  calls  for  “ef- 
fective resistance”  against  unfair  and  dis- 
criminatory taxation  and  regulation. 

“We  are  quite  willing  and  fully  expect 
to  pay  our  share  of  the  taxes  needed,  but 
we  must  be  prepared  to  fight  against 
having  the  movies  singled  out  for  special 
taxes  that  will  impose  a burden  in  excess 
of  that  carried  by  other  industries,”  he 
says,  and  continues: 

“Taxes  are  not  the  only  legislation  that 
cost  the  theatres  money.  You  will  be 
faced  with  all  sorts  of  proposed  require- 
ments, restrictions  and  regulations  espe- 
cially designed  for  your  business — two 
operators  in  a booth  laws,  censorship  bills, 
licensing  requirements,  etc.,  etc.  You  need 
only  to  look  back  to  the  last  session  of 
the  legislature  to  find  an  avalanche  of 
bills  detrimental  to  your  business. 

“Exhibitors  who  want  their  business  in- 
terests fairly  and  effectively  protected 
should  lend  their  support  and  join  forces 
with  their  fellow  exhibitors  at  once  for 
their  own  good.  You  can’t  organize  ef- 
fectively at  the  last  minute  to  deal  with 
emergencies.” 

Dispute  in  Chicago 
Over  the  Oriental 

Chicago — The  Oriental,  3,217-seat  house 
located  in  the  heart  of  Chicago’s  “White 
Way,”  is  currently  the  center  of  a dispute 
between  Jones,  Linick  & Schaefer,  present 
operators,  and  the  Metropolis  Corporation, 
New  York  City,  lessor  of  the  32  W.  Ran- 
dolph Street  Corp.  The  latter  corporation 
at  present  is  leasing  the  Oriental  to  Jones, 
Linick  & Schaefer. 

The  Metropolis  Corp.,  apparently  dis- 
satisfied with  the  operation  of  the  Ori- 
ental by  JL&S,  has  asked  Balaban  & Katz 
to  take  the  lease  on  the  theatre. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


C 


35 


A Second  Big  Week  for 
"Kitty”  in  the  Loop 


Chicago — With  a terrific  picture  as  a 
solid  foundation  and  a smash  exploitation 
campaign  handled  by  Tom  Gorman  and 
Bob  Haley,  the  RKO  Palace,  with  “Kitty 
Foyle,”  continues  the  business  pace-maker 
in  the  loop.  Doubled  with  another  RKO 
film,  “Saint  in  Palm  Springs,”  “Kitty” 
finished  as  big  a second  week  as  the  200 
per  cent  initial  stanza. 

M-G-M  is  in  No.  2 spot  in  town  with 
“Bitter  Sweet”  placing  at  the  Garrick  with 
150  per  cent  and  “Comrade  X”  taking  show 
money  at  130  per  cent  at  the  United 
Artists. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  9: 


(Average  is  100) 

Apollo — Arizona  (Col)  115 

Third  good  week. 

Chicago — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t)  120 


Second  week  finished  January  9 instead  of 
January  2 as  reported  in  this  column  last 
week.  Well-balanced  stage  show  headed  by  Ta- 
mara helped  keep  cashiers  busy. 

Garrick — Bitter  Sweet  (M-G-M)  150 

Women  flocked  to  see  the  Eddy-MacDonald 
team  after  two  highly  successful  weeks  at  the 


United  Artists. 

Oriental — One  Night  in  the  Tropics  (Univ). 

plus  stage  show  120 

Profited  by  general  good  business  in  loop. 

Palace — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO) ; Saint  in  Palm 

Springs  (RKO)  200 

Top  money-maker  in  loop.  Second  week  as 
big  as  first. 

Roosevelt — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA)  90 


Finished  three  weeks  at  Roosevelt.  One  of 
best  grossers  this  B&K  house  has  had  in 
long  time. 

State-Lake — Sky  Murder  (M-G-M).  plus 

stage  show  115 

Studio — Mannerheim  Line  (Artkino)  110 

Finished  four  big  weeks  at  Herb  Elisburg’s 
house.  Best  grosser  Studio  ever  had. 

United  Artists — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  130 

Milwaukee  First  Runs 
Do  Better  Than  Par 

Milwaukee  — Seasonable  temperatures 
and  some  first-class  hits  made  this  a first- 
rate  week  for  local  first  runs.  Leader  was 
“Comrade  X”  and  “Hullabaloo”  at  Fox’s 
Wisconsin,  with  all  other  houses  doing  bet- 
ter than  par. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  9: 

(Average  is  100) 

Palace — T.ove  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t);  Murder 


Over  New  York  (20th-Fox)  135 

Riverside — Tone  Wolf  Keeps  a Date  (Col), 

plus  Ted  Weems  on  stage  150 

Strand — Second  Chorus  (Para’t);  Chad  Hanna 

(20th-Fox)  120 

Warner — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN);  South  of 

Suez  (WB)  140 

Wisconsin — Comrade  X (M-G-M);  Hullabaloo 

(M-G-M)  160 


" Comrade " Big  Noise 
In  Indianapolis 

Indianapolis — A smash  230  per  cent,  or 
better  than  double  average  business,  was 
hung  up  by  “Comrade  X,”  coupled  with 
“Golden  Fleecing,”  in  a 10-day  run  at  the 
Palace.  “Love  Thy  Neighbor”  managed  to 
do  average  in  its  second  week  at  the  Circle, 
while  “Santa  Fe  Trail,”  in  a 10-day  en- 
gagement at  the  Indiana,  turned  in  a com- 
fortable 120  per  cent. 


(Average  is  100) 

Circle — Tove  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t) ; Meet 

the  Wildcat  (Univ),  2nd  wk 100 

Indiana — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN),  10  days 120 

Lyric — Jennie  (20th-Fox),  plus  Marcus 

stage  show  95 

Palace— Comrade  X (M-G-M);  Golden  Fleec- 
ing (M-G-M),  10  days  230 


(t  — ft 

: SPRINGFIELD 

* ■■■■  - — j 

CJAM  BONANSINGA,  stage  manager  at 
the  Orpheum,  reported  to  police  the 
theft  of  two  stage  spot  lights  valued  at 
$100.  M.  E.  Berman,  manager  of  the 
Orpheum,  has  invited  state  and  city  offi- 
cials and  other  dignitaries  to  a preview  of 
“Land  of  Liberty.” 

Edmond  Metzger,  manager  of  the  Strand, 
popularized  “The  Green  Archer”  serial  by 
placing  a target  in  the  center  of  the  out- 
side display  and  allowing  boys  to  shoot 
at  it  with  bow  and  arrows  having  rubber 
cup  points.  Those  scoring  bullseyes  were 
admitted  free. 

Sam  Bonansinga,  business  agent  of  the 
local  stage  employes’  union,  is  expecting 
no  opposition  when  he  runs  for  re-election 
as  president  of  the  Springfield  Federation 
of  Labor  in  the  January  28  election.  When 
the  March  of  Time’s  “Labor  and  Defense” 
shows  at  the  Orpheum,  he  will  give  several 
labor  speeches  in  its  behalf. 

Max  Tschauder,  manager  of  the  Roxy, 
was  all  smiles  when  “Santa  Fe  Trail”  did 
big  business  during  a two-week  run  at  his 
theatre  . . . The  Ballet  Russe  De  Monte 
Carlo  played  an  engagement  at  the  Or- 
pheum. 

Max  Tschauder,  manager  of  the  Roxy, 
and  M.  E.  Berman,  manager  of  the  Or- 
pheum, attended  the  inauguration  of  Gov- 
ernor Dwight  Green.  Berman  was  one  of 
the  chosen  few  who  sat  on  the  stage  . . . 
Many  of  the  boys  from  the  Kerasotes 
office  kicked  up  their  heels  at  the  gover- 
nor’s inaugural  ball. 

M.  E.  Berman,  of  the  Orpheum,  went  to 
the  airport  to  welcome  Lieut.-Com.  K.  C. 
Huffman,  with  the  U.  S.  Navy  at  St.  Louis, 
who  spoke  at  the  Mid-Day  Luncheon  Club 
and  put  in  several  good  “plugs”  for  “Flight 
Command”  which  opened  at  the  Orpheum 
a few  days  later. 

Edward  G.  Zorn,  president  of  the  United 
Theatre  Owners  of  Illinois,  and  Mrs.  Zorn 
left  for  Hollywood  Tuesday  via  the  Santa 
Fe  Chief.  Zorn  will  visit  the  film  studios 
while  in  Hollywood  and  look  over  some  of 
the  new  pictures  in  the  making.  He  will 
be  gone  three  weeks. 

Dozens  of  Illinois  exhibitors  have  been 
answering  a questionnaire  sent  out  by 
UTOI  Executive  Secretary  Bill  Crouch 
which  outlines  the  many  services  offered 
by  this  new  stateivide  association.  Ques- 
tionnaires were  sent  to  all  downstate  ex- 
hibitors. 

Gene  Rich,  M-G-M  representative,  has 
been  promoting  assistance  from  the  naval 
air  force  with  the  result  that  flying  ex- 
hibitions are  daily  occurrences  in  south- 
ern Illinois.  “Flight  Command”  is  the 
picture  getting  the  plugs. 

M or t Berman  of  the  Orpheum  is  look- 


ing forward  to  the  Barney  Balaban  Drive 
dinner  in  Chicago  this  month.  Mort’s  rec- 
ord for  the  drive  period  was  very  good 
and  he  hopes  to  be  among  the  top  money 
winners. 

One  of  the  cleverest  advertisements  seen 
locally  for  some  time  was  the  one  Dave 
Jones,  Senate  manager,  cooked  up  for 
“This  Thing  Called  Love.”  Jones  had  an 
expert  statistician  “clock”  the  laughs  in 
the  picture,  and  the  504  laughs  recorded 
show  the  way  the  film  is  going  over  here. 
The  advertisement  extolled  the  results  of 
the  checking. 

Dominic  Giachetto  received  a bowling 
ball  for  Christmas.  Bowling  records  now 
list  Dominic  as  one  of  the  best  keglers  in 
the  city  . . . Bill  Crouch,  UTOI  official, 
has  practically  recovered  from  an  auto 
crash  two  weeks  ago.  He  suffered  a brok- 
en nose  and  a cracked  knuckle.  He  was  on 
a business  trip  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
state. 

Russell  Armentrout  is  the  latest  Illinois 
exhibitor  to  join  the  ranks  of  the  UTOI. 
Armentrout  and  his  father  operate  thea- 
tres in  Barry,  Pittsfield  and  several  Mis- 
souri towns  . . . C.  D.  Redford  of  Auburn 
has  installed  new  sound  in  his  American 
there. 

Springfield  theatremen  turned  out  en 
masse  for  the  inauguration  of  Gov.  Dwight 
Green,  who  took  over  the  reins  on  Jan- 
uary 13.  Green  was  strongly  supported  by 
Illinois  exhibitors  during  the  campaign 
and  is  said  to  have  a good  understanding 
of  theatre  problems  . . . Fred  Bartow,  new 
Paramount  exploiteer,  is  due  here  in  a few 
days  to  offer  plans  for  exploiting  some  of 
the  new  Paramount  product. 


Police  Hold  Suspect 
In  Stench  Bombing 

Kirkwood,  Mo. — Local  police  are  holding 
a man  seized  by  Theodore  Lending,  pro- 
prietor of  the  Kirkwood  Theatre,  after  a 
bottle  containing  a stench  fluid  had  been 
broken  on  the  floor  of  the  theatre.  The 
Kirkwood  has  been  the  scene  of  four  stench 
bombings  since  last  September  1,  when  the 
theatre  hired  a non-union  projectionist 
after  refusing  to  renew  its  old  contract 
with  Local  143,  operators’  affiliate  of  the 
IATSE,  which  requires  the  employment  of 
two  projectionists  on  each  shift. 

Lending  told  police  he  was  ushering 
when  the  man,  accompanied  by  a woman, 
asked  to  be  seated  down  front.  Since 
ordinarily  these  seats  are  the  most  unde- 
sirable from  which  to  view  the  pictures, 
Lending  became  suspicious.  So  he  gave  a 
youth  free  admission  to  sit  directly  be- 
hind the  man  and  keep  a careful  watch 
on  him. 

When  the  youth  reported  to  Lending 
that  the  man  had  thrown  something  into 
the  aisle,  Lending  rushed  down  front  and, 
with  the  aid  of  several  patrons,  he  seized 
and  held  him.  In  the  commotion  the 
woman  fled. 

The  suspect  denied  he  had  thrown  the 
bottle  of  stench  fluid  to  the  floor.  He 
said  he  was  37  years  old  and  employed  by 
the  city  of  St.  Louis  in  a street  paving 
gang.  Later,  the  police  arrested  a young 
woman  who  refused  to  make  a statement. 


36 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


Grateful,  But  Wary  Over 
r ! No-New - Taxes  ” Pledge 


c<  ft 

RACINE  : 

vs  ■■  - >J 

gOOKED  for  stage  appearances  at  War- 
ner’s Venetian  Wednesday,  Jan.  29,  are 
Lawrence  Welk  and  his  Orchestra  . . . 
Mrs.  E.  J.  Berdinner  has  been  named  mo- 
tion picture  chairman  of  the  Racine  chap- 
ter of  the  Daughters  of  the  American 
Revolution,  and  is  offering  members  rating 
information  as  contained  in  the  DAR  na- 
tional magazine. 

The  Better  Films  League,  now  in  the 
most  active  year  in  its  history,  is  issuing 
weekly  rating  sheets  to  PTA  groups, 
schools,  the  libraries,  and  has  available 
rating  information  for  the  public. 

Conducted  by  Stan  Lambert,  manager  of 
Warner’s  Rialto,  twice-weekly  radio  pro- 
grams on  motion  picture  subjects  are 
broadcast  by  WRJN  whose  organist,  Ray 
Gruis,  plays  for  weekly  community  sing 
programs  each  Saturday  night  at  the  Ve- 
netian. 

Bobby  Jordan,  one  of  the  “Dead  End 
Kids,”  added  nothing  to  his  popularity  in 
Racine  when  he  failed  to  make  a sched- 
uled appearance  at  the  Fox-Midwesco  Up- 
town. 

In  Racine  recently  for  just  an  hour  be- 
tween trains  was  Sabu,  whose  latest  film 
assignment  was  the  title  role  in  “The 
Thief  of  Bagdad.” 

Ken  Mayer,  who  has  been  serving  as  as- 
sistant manager  at  the  Venetian,  has  re- 
turned to  his  former  post  as  treasurer  at 
the  Warner  in  Milwaukee.  He  is  succeeded 
in  Racine  by  Edward  Friedwald,  who  has 
been  associated  with  Warner  theatres  for 
nine  years  and  who  came  to  Racine  from 
an  assistant  managership  at  the  Jeffrey  in 
Chicago. 


"Wind"  Returns 

St.  Louis — “Gone  With  the  Wind”  has 
been  booked  for  a popular  engagement 
at  Loew’s  commencing  January  24.  The 
schedule  of  prices  has  been  announced  as 
follows:  Adults,  40  cents  for  matinees  and 
50  cents  at  night,  and  25  cents  for  children 
at  matinees.  The  doors  will  open  daily  at 
9 a.  m. 


Awards  Contract 

Waynesville,  Mo.— J.  F.  Ghosen  of  the 
Uptown,  Sedalia,  Mo.,  has  awarded  the 
general  contract  for  his  new  theatre  here 
to  John  Ethland  of  Versailles,  Mo.  The 
new  house  was  designed  by  Robert  O.  Boi- 
ler, architect,  Kansas  City,  Mo.  Construc- 
tion starts  at  once. 


VISITORS:  Don  LeBrun,  Kent  Theatre, 
South  Whitley:  Mrs.  William  Luckett, 
Scottsburg;  Harry  Vonderschmitt,  Bloom- 
ington: Gail  Lancaster,  Huntington:  H.  L. 
Kreighbaum,  Rochester:  Walter  F.  Easley, 
Tree,  Greensburg;  William  T.  Studebaker, 
Logan,  Logansport;  Percy  H.  Dickson, 
Eagles,  Wabash;  A.  B.  Thompson,  Park, 
North  Vernon:  Joseph  Schilling,  Auditor- 
ium, Connersville;  Abe  Kaufman,  Foun- 
tain, Terre  Haute;  A.  H.  Borkenstein, 
Wells,  Fort  Wayne. 

Also,  Pete  Mailers,  Family,  Fort  Wayne; 
Leonard  S.  Sowar,  Rivoli,  Muncie;  Wayne 
Gorman,  Ritz,  North  Manchester ; J.  M. 
Dixon,  Flora,  Flora;  Trueman  Rembusch, 
Syndicate  Theatres,  Franklin;  Roy  E.  Har- 
rold,  Princess,  Rushville;  James  and  S.  J. 
Gregory,  Alliance  Theatre  Corp.,  Chicago; 
Sam  Neall,  Kokomo;  J.  B.  Sconce,  Play- 
house, Edinburg;  Alex  Manta,  Indiana-Illi- 
nois  Theatres,  Chicago;  Sam  Switow, 
Louisville,  and  Jack  Van  Borssum,  Savoy, 
Terre  Haute. 

Frank  Reimer,  formerly  with  the  Quim- 
by  circuit,  Fort  Wayne,  is  now  connected 
with  Universal,  covering  the  northern  ter- 
ritory. He  assumes  the  duties  of  Wilbur 
Grant,  who  has  been  transferred  to  the 
Philadelphia  branch  . . . Thomas  W.  Mc- 
Kean, Warner  Bros,  confirmation  clerk 
and  son  of  Claude  McKean,  Warner  office 
manager,  leaves  this  month  to  join  the  U. 
S.  Army  for  training. 

Charles  Doads,  manager  of  the  Irving, 
Indianapolis,  announces  his  forthcoming 
marriage  to  Marian  Rowe.  The  ceremony 
takes  place  February  1 ...  Al  Blocker, 
booker  for  Theatrical  Managers,  Inc.,  re- 
ports his  son  has  recovered  from  pneu- 
monia. 

Booth  Tarkington,  Indianapolis  resident 
and  well-known  author,  announces  that  he 
will  not  attend  the  trial  of  his  $100,000 
damage  suit  against  Warner  Bros.  The 
suit  is  based  on  the  rights  to  his  novel 
“Penrod  and  Sam,”  and  was  filed  several 
years  ago. 


Vote  on  Daylight  Saving 

Urbana,  III. — Citizens  of  this  university 
town  next  April  will  vote  on  the  question 
of  whether  daylight  saving  time  shall  pre- 
yail  here  next  summer. 


Madison,  Wis. — While  exhibitor  leaders 
received  with  considerable  satisfaction  the 
opening  statement  of  Gov.  Julius  P.  Heil 
before  the  state  legislature  here  last  week 
that  no  new  taxes  would  be  required  to 
meet  the  budget  for  the  biennium,  they 
construe  the  fact  that  the  state  is  ex- 
pected to  collect  in  revenues  during  the 
next  two  years  only  $65,536,064  to  meet 
this  $74,469,148  budget,  to  indicate  some 
kind  of  additional  tax  legislation. 

Heil  told  the  legislature  that  “due  to 
improved  business  conditions,  it  might  rea- 
sonably be  expected  that  increased  income 
taxes  and  surtaxes,  together  with  strict 
economy  in  administration,  will  make  it 
possible  to  operate  the  state  government 
without  any  new  taxes.” 

Those  familiar  with  the  situation  here 
say  that  by  diverting  highway  funds  in 
the  coming  biennium,  the  administration 
will  be  able  to  pick  up  the  $8,933,084  need- 
ed to  balance  the  budget.  With  this  pro- 
cedure, exhibitor  leaders  have  in  the  past 
had  no  objection. 

The  governor  warned  the  legislature  that 
he  would  personally  oppose  any  attempts 
to  add  to  his  budget  and  stated  that  in 
view  of  national  defense  and  the  necessity 
for  increased  taxation  by  the  federal  gov- 
ernment, legislators  should  be  careful  of 
making  appropriations. 

It  is  believed  a fight  is  certain  to  de- 
velop in  the  legislature  against  highway 
diversion,  and  opponents  of  diversion  prob- 
ably will  introduce  tax  bills  to  make  up  the 
deficit. 

Governor  Heil  told  the  legislature  that 
in  his  budget  he  has  made  allowance  for  a 
session  of  only  120  days  and  for  each  day 
the  legislature  stayed  in  session  beyond 
that  time,  it  would  have  to  come  to  the 
emergency  board  for  funds. 


TRADE  DIRECTORY 

■ — A Handy  Guide  for  the  Exhibitor 

CHICAGO 

SIGNS  - MARQUEES  AND 
MAINTENANCE 


White  Way  Electric  Sign  & Maintenance  Co. 
Tom  Flannery,  President 

315-17  W.  Walton  Street 
Phone  DELaware  9111 


Preston  to  Open 

Salem,  Mo. — The  Preston,  new  500-seat 
house  of  May  and  Kenneth  Preston,  was 
to  open  this  week. 


Remodeling  Helps 

Mexico  Mo. — The  Liberty,  recently  re- 
modeled, has  been  doing  nice  business  since 
it  was  reopened  by  the  Frisina  circuit. 


May  Build  in  Decatur 

Decatur,  III. — It  is  reported  that  Gus 
Constant  plans  to  erect  a new  theatre  on 
the  lot  he  is  said  to  have  purchased  here 
some  weeks  ago. 


Building  at  Rolla,  Mo. 

Rolla,  Mo. — Mildred  R.  Karsch  and  as- 
sociates are  building  a 900-seat  second- 
run  theatre  here. 


THEATRICAL  PRINTING 


PRINTERS 


THEATRICAL 

1L  printing 

C OF  EVERY  \ 
DESCRIPTION 

1225  SO.  WABASH  AVE. 

„ CHICACO  • VIC  3456 


BOXOFTICE  : : January  18,  1941 


37 


Meet  in  Tribute  to 
Barney  Balaban 

Chicago — Paramount  executives  meet  at 
the  Drake  Hotel,  Thursday  to  pay  tribute 
to  Barney  Balaban  on  his  fifth  anniver- 
sary as  president  of  the  company. 

At  the  same  time,  winning  theatre  man- 
agers of  the  Barney  Balaban  drive,  held 
between  Thanksgiving  and  Christmas  (in 
some  cases  the  drive  concluded  New  Year’s 
Day)  will  attend  the  dinner  to  participate 
in  the  testimonial  and  receive  awards.  The 
contest  was  held  for  theatre  managers  of 
houses  either  owned  by  Paramount  or  af- 
filiated with  the  company.  All  told,  near- 
ly 400  persons,  including  all  Chicago  B&K 
theatre  managers,  will  attend  the  party. 

The  agenda  for  the  party  includes  a 
dinner,  speeches  by  several  Paramount  ex- 
ecutives and  heads  of  circuits  affiliated 
with  the  parent  company,  the  awarding  of 
prizes  to  the  theatre  managers,  and  an  en- 
tertainment program. 

List  of  Speakers 

A.  H.  Blank,  head  of  the  Tri-States  cir- 
cuit, Des  Moines,  who  is  national  chairman 
of  the  Barney  Balaban  drive  and  chairman 
of  the  committee  on  arrangements,  is  ex- 
pected to  be  one  of  the  principal  speakers. 
Others  expected  to  address  the  group  in- 
clude Adolph  Zukor,  chairman  of  the  board 
of  Paramount:  John  Balaban,  president  of 
Balaban  & Katz,  Chicago;  N.  L.  Nathan- 
son,  president  of  Famous  Players  Cana- 
dian Corp.,  Ltd.,  Toronto,  who  will  dis- 
cuss the  international  situation;  E.  V. 
Richards  of  Paramount-Richards  Theatres, 
Inc.,  New  Orleans;  Neil  Agnew,  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  distribution  for  Para- 
mount and  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  production  for  Para- 
mount. Scheduled  for  the  toastmaster’s 
role,  in  addition  to  a speaking  part,  is  A. 
M.  Bottsford,  associate  producer  for  Para- 
mount. 

In  From  New  York 

In  addition  to  those  mentioned  above, 
others  from  the  homeoffice  expected  to 
attend  include:  Stanton  Griffis,  chairman 
of  the  Paramount  executive  committee; 
Austin  C.  Keough,  vice-president  and 
Paramount  counsel,  and  Edwin  L.  Weisl, 
vice-president. 

Largest  delegation  to  the  Barney  Bala- 
ban testimonial  will,  of  course,  come  from 
Chicago  and  the  midwest.  Dave  Balaban 
of  B&K,  Chicago,  will  round  out  the  Bar- 
ney, John  & Dave  Balaban  trio  at  the 
meeting.  Others  expected  to  attend  are: 
J.  J.  Rubens,  together  with  all  executives 
of  the  Publix-Great  States  circuit,  plus  all 
city  managers;  Dave  Wallerstein,  B&K  dis- 
trict manager,  together  with  all  his  city 
managers. 

Included  among  the  others  expected  to 
be  present  at  the  affair  are:  John  Nolan, 
PublixComerford  Theatres,  Inc.,  Scran- 
ton, Pa.;  Harry  David,  president  of  Inter- 
mountain Theatres;  R.  J.  O’Donnell,  In- 
terstate circuit;  Julius  M.  Gordon,  Jeffer- 
son Amusement  Theatres,  Texas;  Karl 
Hoblitzelle,  owner  of  the  Interstate  circuit 
of  Texas:  Bob  O’Donnell,  general  manager 
of  Interstate  circuit;  Tracy  Barham,  North 
Iowa  Theatres;  Martin  Mullin  and  Sam 
Pinanski,  M&P  Theatres,  Boston;  M.  A. 
Lightman,  Malco  Theatres,  Tennessee; 
John  J.  Friedl,  president  Minnesota 


(< ft 

Influenza  Epidemic 
Sweeps  Columbia 

Columbia,  Mo. — The  influenza  epidemic 
that  is  sweeping  the  country  has  hit  this 
university  and  college  town.  As  a re- 
sult, attendance  at  local  theatres  has 
been  somewhat  curtailed.  At  the  Uni- 
versity of  Missouri  officials  have  con- 
verted a section  of  the  students'  activi- 
ties building  into  a temporary  hospital 
because  influenza  sufferers  have  crowd- 
ed the  regular  university  hospital  beyond 
capacity. 

^ - - J 

Amusement  Co.;  George  C.  Hoover,  Para- 
mount Enterprises,  Inc.,  Miami;  C.  R.  Ban- 
ford,  Publix-Banford  Theatres,  Asheville, 
North  Carolina;  Harry  L.  Nace,  Publix- 
Rickards-Nace,  Phoenix,  Arizona,  and 
Ralph  G.  Branton,  general  manager,  Tri- 
States  Theatres. 


C 1IHII 11  CAGO 

PARAMOUNT  will  hold  a one-day  meet- 
ing at  the  Edgewater  Beach  Hotel 
Thursday.  Neil  Agnew,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  distribution,  is  scheduled  to  pre- 
side. The  distributors  will  participate  in 
the  Barney  Balaban  testimonial  affair  fol- 
lowing their  meeting  . . . Essaness  Woods 
had  the  Chicago  premiere  of  “Let 
George  Do  It”  over  the  weekend.  Henri 
Elman  distributing  picture  . . . Latest  re- 
port has  “Fantasia”  opening  at  the  Shu- 
bert’s  “Grand  Opera  House,”  February  10 
. . . Ethel  Goldberg  will  marry  Seymour 
L.  Gale,  Chicago  boy,  on  Thursday.  Miss 
G.,  who  has  been  working  with  her  father, 
head  of  Joe  Goldberg,  Inc.,  the  past  three 
years,  is  well  known  among  local  exhibi- 
tors. 

Everybody  sorry  to  see  Duke  Hickey,  one 
of  the  most  popular  men  on  Filmrow,  leave 
for  New  York.  Duke  has  been  transferred 
to  the  New  York  office  of  Natio?ial  Screen. 
Successor  here  is  Phil  Rouda,  theatrical 
manager  for  Filmack  Trailer  Co.  here  for 
the  past  two  and  one-half  years.  Phil’s 
handling  special  trailers  at  National  Screen 
. . . Though  Jack  Hess  did  do  special  ex- 
ploitation for  Oriental  during  the  holiday 
season,  we  erred  when  we  said  he  suc- 
ceeded Fritz  Blocki  as  the  theatre’s  pub- 
licity director.  Harry  Miller,  of  the  Louis  G. 
Cowan  firm,  has  the  job.  Harry’s  first  job 
is  working  on  Rosemary  Lane  publicity, 
Ironically,  Rosemary  and  her  sister  are 
currently  competing  with  one  another. 
While  Rosemary’s  at  the  Oriental,  sister 
Lola  is  at  the  State-Lake. 

Allan  Waldman  has  been  upped  to  as- 
sistant managership  at  the  Chicago  . . . 
“This  Thing  Called  Love,”  previewed  at 
the  B&K  flagship  January  9,  had  the 
audience  rolling  in  the  aisles  . . . Johnny 
Jones  in  Florida  . . . Dorothy  Deere  says 
Stirling  Hayden,  new  Paramount  find,  is 
a star-in-the-making  . . . Nate  Platt,  stage 
production  manager  for  B&K  and  in 
charge  of  entertainment  for  the  big  Bar- 
ney Balaban  party  this  Thursday,  is 
lining  up  an  “all-star”  show. 


Against  Changing 
Censorship  Setup 

Chicago  — Exhibitors  and  producers 
joined  forces  here  when  they  protested 
against  any  changes  in  the  present  cen- 
sorship setup  in  Chicago  at  the  fourth  and 
final  public  hearing  held  at  the  city  coun- 
cil chambers. 

C.  C.  Pettijohn,  general  counsel  for  the 
Motion  Picture  Distributors  of  America, 
told  the  council  he  was  against  censorship 
in  any  form,  but  that  if  Chicago  must  have 
censorship  it  would  be  best  to  leave  the 
system  as  it  exists  now.  Jack  Kirsch,  presi- 
dent of  the  Allied  Theatre  Owners  of  Illi- 
nois, and  Morris  G.  Leonard  of  Balaban  & 
Katz  agreed  whole-heartedly  with  Petti- 
john’s  views. 

The  proposed  change  in  the  censorship 
setup  would  involve  setting  up  a new  board 
to  be  appointed  at  periodic  intervals  by 
the  mayor.  The  present  board  is  composed 
of  civil  service  employes  who  have  held 
their  posts  from  12  to  20  years. 

Another  change  in  the  proposed  amend- 
ment would  call  for  the  automatic  ap- 
proval of  all  films  that  would  be  shown 
to  adults.  The  proposed  board  would 
function  only  as  a “clearing  house”  in  de- 
ciding which  films  would  be  suited  for  all 
theatre  patrons  and  which  films  should  not 
be  shown  to  youngsters  under  21. 

The  proposed  changes  will  be  taken  up 
at  the  executive  session  of  the  committee 
on  judiciary  and  state  legislation  of  which 
Alderman  H.  L.  Brody  is  chairman.  A de- 
cision by  the  committee  is  expected  within 
the  next  few  weeks. 

Included  among  film  men  present  at 
the  hearing,  in  addition  to  those  already 
mentioned,  were:  C.  W.  Eckhardt,  branch 
manager,  20th  Century-Fox;  Phil  R. 
Dunas,  branch  manager,  Columbia  Pic- 
tures, and  Abe  Teitel,  foreign  film  dis- 
tributor. 


COUNTERACT  Fox’s  policy  of  week- 
end stage  shows  at  various  of  its  neigh- 
borhood units  here,  the  Hollywood  and  Co- 
lonial, independent  houses,  last  Sunday 
presented  the  “Revels  of  1941”  with  A1 
Buettner’s  orchestra  on  their  stages. 

For  the  second  time  in  the  last  six 
months,  Fox’s  Wisconsin  is  currently  of- 
fering a stage  attraction,  “Streets  of 
Paris.” 

Wyman  Calkins,  producer  of  the  Dr.  Sil- 
kini  shows  which  have  played  a number  of 
local  and  state  houses,  was  married  re- 
cently to  Miss  Irene  Brannum. 

Add  to  unusual  giveaways — a pair  of  skiis 
presented  at  a Saturday  kid  matinee  by 
the  Badger  in  Merrill. 

The  Wisconsin  in  La  Crosse  conducted  a 
radio  jamboree  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Greek  relief  fund.  All  talent  and  facilities 
were  donated  for  the  affair. 

The  Barron  city  council  has  passed  an 
ordinance  providing  for  an  annual  $35  li- 
cense for  theatres. 


38 


BOXOFFICE  ; : January  18,  1941 


"Downtown  Night" 
Continues  in  Kaycee 

Kansas  City — Theatres  here  view  with 
lukewarm  interest  the  return  to  the 
Thursday  night  “open  store”  policy  that 
proved  fairly  successful  before  the  holi- 
days. 

The  policy,  launched  as  part  of  a gen- 
eral business  movement  to  revivify  the 
downtown  area,  is  generally  regarded  a 
slight  boon  to  downtown  houses  and  as  a 
moderate  competitive  threat  to  neighbor- 
hood grosses. 

Most  of  the  mercantile  establishments 
that  usually  close  earlier  remain  open  on 
that  night  until  9:00  o’clock. 


Construction  Started 
On  New  700-Seater 

Des  Moines — Construction  work  on  a 
new  $25,000  theatre  was  started  here  Mon- 
day. The  new  house  is  being  built  by  the 
East  Des  Moines  Theatre  Corp.,  a partner- 
ship composed  of  the  Tri-States  Theatre 
Corp.  and  Roy  and  Lewis  L.  Lepovitz. 

The  Lepovitzes  have  operated  the  Iowa 
here  for  10  years.  Last  April  they  entered 
into  the  partnership  agreement  with  Tri- 
States,  at  which  time  they  first  announced 
plans  for  the  new  house  now  being  built. 

The  new  theatre  will  be  107  by  52  feet 
and  will  seat  700  persons.  A.  H.  Blank, 
president  of  Tri-States,  said  the  house  will 
be  air  conditioned  with  acoustical  walls, 
and  in  the  same  class  as  the  Uptown. 
Ingersoll  and  Hiland — all  newer  suburban 
houses.  It  is  expected  to  be  opened  in 
May.  A name  has  not  yet  been  chosen. 


A Big  Press-Preview  tor 
"Philadelphia  Story" 

Omaha — Tri-States’  Omaha  Theatre  has 
been  selected  as  the  site  of  a press-pre- 
view  of  “Philadelphia  Story”  the  night  of 
January  21.  All  seats  will  be  reserved 
with  a limited  number  available  to  the 
public.  Admission  will  be  75  cents. 

Three  hundred  newspaper  publishers  and 
members  of  the  press  from  Nebraska  and 
western  Iowa  are  being  invited,  as  well 
as  state  and  city  officials.  The  affair  is 
an  innovation  in  the  middle  west,  says 
District  Manager  Evert  R.  Cummings. 

Charles  Coryell  Takes 
Kozy  at  Bassett  Neb . 

Omaha— Charles  Coryell  has  taken  over 
the  Kozy  at  Bassett,  Neb.,  from  Mrs.  Zula 
Carlson.  The  house  will  be  operated  most- 
ly by  Coryell’s  daughter. 

Coryell  formerly  owned  the  telephone 
exchange  at  Bassett.  He  still  owns  and 
operates  the  exchange  at  Johnstown,  Neb. 


Behan  Joins  RKO 

Minneapolis  — Joe  Behan,  long  head 
booker  at  Warner  Bros,  here,  has  resigned 
to  become  head  booker  for  RKO  in  Des 
Moines.  Appointment  was  announced  by 
L.  E.  Goldhammer,  RKO  district  manager. 

BOXOFFICE  : : January  18,  1941 


Will  Draw  Battle  Lines 
Against  the  Decree 


Kansas  City — Burtus  Bishop  jr.,  new 
district  manager  for  Metro,  took  over  here 
January  13.  Formerly  branch  manager 
for  three  years  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  Bishop 
succeeds  H.  P.  Wolfberg,  who  goes  to  St. 
Louis  as  district  manager. 

Bishop  joined  Metro  in  1925  at  Char- 
lotte, N.  C.,  as  a salesman:  he  later  be- 
came branch  manager  there,  and  remained 
in  that  post  until  he  went  to  Pittsburgh 
as  branch  manager. 

Bishop,  who  is  young  enough  for  draft 
registration,  is  married  and  has  a four- 
year-old  son.  He’ll  have  charge  of  Kan- 
sas City,  Oklahoma  City  and  Memphis 
from  his  headquarters  here. 


Bishop  Pittsburgh  Dinner 
Proceeds  to  Charity  Fund 

Pittsburgh — Before  he  left  for  Kansas 
City  headquarters  of  his  new  Metro  dis- 
trict, Burtus  Bishop  jr.  was  the  honor 
guest  at  a testimonial  banquet  attended 
by  more  than  200  trade  members.  Pro- 
ceeds of  the  party,  approximately  $500, 
were  turned  over  to  the  charity  fund  of 
the  Pittsburgh  Variety  Club  at  Bishop’s 
request. 


Cummings  in  “Miami" 

Hollywood- — Universal  has  loaned  out 
Robert  Cummings  to  20th -Fox  for  a lead- 
ing role  in  “Miami,”  Betty  Grable  starrer 
to  be  made  in  Technicolor. 


Minneapolis — Battle  lines  against  the 
consent  decree  will  be  drawn  here  next 
Tuesday  and  Wednesday  when  Northwest 
Allied  will  hold  what  its  leaders  have  pro- 
claimed “the  most  important  convention 
ever  held  in  the  motion  picture  industry.” 

Initial  steps  will  be  taken  to  nullify 
the  five-block  purchase  plan  and  to  pro- 
vide for  20  per  cent  cancellation  along 
with  the  elimination  of  forced  buying  of 
shorts  and  pictures  deemed  offensive  on 
moral,  religious  or  racial  grounds. 

Provisions  designed  to  accomplish  these 
purposes  have  been  incorporated  into  a 
fair  trade  practices  law.  The  groundwork 
will  be  laid  at  the  convention  to  obtain 
passage  of  such  a measure  by  the  various 
state  legislatures  in  this  territory. 

The  independents  also  will  map  out 
campaigns  to  obtain  enactment  of  state 
laws  to  curb  16mm  film  competition,  ad- 
ditional theatre  construction  and  the 
Ascap  theatre  fees  and  to  defeat  proposed 
measures  to  levy  a state  admission  tax 
and  to  outlaw  theatre  gift  nights. 

Other  matters  scheduled  for  discussion 
include  the  reduced  student  admission 
price  on  which  the  government  is  in- 
sisting a tax  be  paid,  the  expected  gov- 
ernment action  to  tax  lower  admissions 
and  arbitration  under  the  decree. 

Abe  Kaplan,  prominent  Twin  City  in- 
dependent exhibitor,  is  chairman  of  the 
convention  committee.  Advance  indica- 
tions point  to  an  exceptionally  large  at- 
tendance. 

United  in  Ettort  to 
Win  Back  Patrons 

Minneapolis — In  line  with  a drive  to 
bring  the  public  “back”  to  the  theatre, 
independent  neighborhood  exhibitors  here 
have  launched  an  institutional  newspaper 
advertising  campaign  of  their  own.  All 
contribute  jointly  to  defray  the  cost  of 
a double  column  two-inch  box  over  the 
individual  theatres’  ads. 

Part  of  the  copy  in  the  box  is  changed 
frequently,  but  the  main  head,  “Visit  Your 
Friendly  Neighborhood  Theatre,”  always 
is  retained. 

One  of  the  ads  read:  "Always  a big 
entertainment  value!  Your  share  of  hap- 
piness awaits  you  here.  Perfect  relaxa- 
tion with  every  modern  convenience.  An 
entire  evening’s  pleasure  at  very  low 
prices.  Free  lighted  parking.  Save  time 
and  money  — attend  your  neighborhood 
theatre!” 

Another  of  the  ads  reads:  “A  well  bal- 
anced program  for  your  enjoyment,  every 
day.  The  big  Hollywood  features  plus  out- 
standing short  subjects  on  every  program. 
No  cheap  B to  Z double  feature  shows.” 


Richey  a Speaker 

Des  Moines — H.  M.  Richey  of  Metro 
was  here  Wednesday  to  address  the  better 
films  committee  of  the  Parent-Teachers 
Ass’n,  the  Federated  Women’s  Clubs  and 
the  Junior  Federation  at  the  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox screening  room. 


MW 


39 


"Kitty”  Smash  in  Kaycee; 
Almost  Triples  Average 


Kansas  City — The  surprise  package  of 
the  New  Year  came  early. 

“Kitty  Foyle”  proved  a winner  from 
the  opening  hour  at  the  Orpheum,  and 
in  its  first  week  a good  deal  more  than 
doubled  grosses.  It  was  far  and  away 
the  best  among  a lot  of  good  bills  in 
Kansas  City,  and  looked  like  a three-timer 
at  least  as  it  went  into  its  second  week. 
It  was  expected  to  set  a new  Orpheum 
record. 

“Chad  Hanna,”  playing  the  two  Fox 
first  runs — Esquire  and  Uptown — made  a 
good  showing.  Weather  was  bad. 

Detail  for  week  ended  January  9: 

(Average  is  100) 

Esquire — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox) 100 

Played  10  days  to  get  to  Friday  opening. 
Midland— Comrade  X (M-G-M);  Ellery  Queen, 

.Master  Deteetive  (Col)  125 

Played  10  days. 

Newman — Eove  Thy  Neighbor  (Para't),  hold- 
over   I"1® 

Good  for  a five-day  third  week. 

Orpheum — Ivitty  Foyle  (RICO) ; Saint  in  Palm 

Springs  (RKO)  ...290 

Going  about  as  strong  in  its  second  as  in  its 
first  week. 

Tower — Cherokee  Strip  (Para't),  plus  stage 

show  J®® 

Uptown — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox)  130 

Played  10  days. 

"Alley"  and  Lou  Holtz 
Draw  in  Minneapolis 

Minneapolis — Two  houses,  the  Minne- 
sota and  State,  cornered  most  of  the  busi- 
ness this  week.  Lou  Holtz,  Wendy  Barrie, 
Lola  Lane  and  Arlene  Judge  on  the  stage, 
brought  them  into  the  former,  while  “Tin 
Pan  Alley”  proved  an  ace  attraction  for 
the  State  and  will  continue  a second  week. 
"Comrade  X"  and  “Thief  of  Bagdad"  are 
holdovers. 

(Average  is  100) 

Aster — Blondie  Plays  Cupid  (Col);  Ellery 

Queen,  Master  Detective  (Col)  100 

Century — Comrade  X (M-G-M),  2nd  wk 90 

Esquire — Missing  People  (Mono);  Chamber  of 

Horrors  (Mono)  1^0 

Gopher — Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s  (Para’t) 90 

Minnesota — Margie  (Univ),  plus  stage  show, 


Lou  Holtz  Hollywood  unit  150 

Orpheum — Arizona  (Col),  10  days  8 5 

State — Tin  Pan  Alley  (20tli-Fox)  HO 

World— Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA).  3rd  wk 90 


"Kitty"  and  "Neighbor" 

Are  Magnets  in  Omaha 

Omaha — Brandeis  and  Omaha  theatres 
started  1941  with  a bang,  both  getting 
boxoffice  winners  for  the  New  Year’s  first 
week.  The  pace  was  too  strong  for  the 
Orpheum. 

“Kitty  Foyle”  and  “Saint  in  Palm 
Springs”  were  held  a second  stanza  at 
the  Brandeis  after  hold-out  business. 
“Love  Thy  Neighbor”  and  “Youth  Will 
Be  Served”  were  very  good  at  the  Omaha, 
a larger  house.  “Chad  Hanna”  and  “Char- 
ter Pilot,”  at  the  Orpheum,  suffered  badly 
from  the  competition. 

Business  is  being  helped  by  clear,  mild 
weather,  exceptional  in  these  parts  in 
January. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  11: 

(Average  is  100) 

Brandeis — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  Saint  in  Palm 


Springs  (RKO)  175 

Omaha — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t);  Youth 

Mill  Be  Served.  (20th-Fox)  150 

Orpheum — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox);  Charter 
Pilot  (20th-Fox)  100 


— Pictorial  Press  Photo 

Again  Variety  Chiet — 

Jerry  Zigmond,  manager  of  the  New- 
man, who  last  week  was  elected  chief 
barker  of  the  Kansas  City  Variety  Club 
by  directors  of  the  organization,  fol- 
lowing the  resignation  of  Jay  Means, 
Oak  Park  and  Bagdad,  who  withdrew 
due  to  the  press  of  personal  business. 
Means  was  chief  barker  last  year,  and 
recently  was  re-elected  to  the  post. 
Robert  F.  Withers,  branch  manager 
for  Republic-Midwest,  was  elected  sec- 
ond assistant  chief  barker  to  succeed 
Ward  Scott,  district  manager  of  20th- 
Fox,  who  moves  up  to  the  post  of  first 
assistant,  vacated  by  Zigmond. 


Names  New  Committees 
For  Kaycee  Variety 

Kansas  City  — Committees  have  been 
named  by  Jerry  Zigmond,  who  assumed 
the  presidency  of  the  Variety  Club  upon 
the  withdrawal  of  Jay  Means  because  of 
the  pressure  of  personal  business. 

Rube  Melcher  is  chairman  of  the  house 
committee,  comprised  additionally  of  Ward 
Scott,  R.  R.  Biechele,  O.  K.  Mason,  Reube 
Finkelstein,  Beverly  Miller  and  J.  H. 
States.  Chairmen  of  the  other  committees 
are  as  follows: 

Ways  and  means,  H.  J.  Griffith:  mem- 
bership, O.  K.  Mason:  entertainment,  Le- 
land  Allen:  “Kings  for  a Day,”  R.  F. 
Withers:  publicity,  Bill  Lansburg;  bowl- 
ing and  bowling  tournament,  Frank  Hens- 
ler;  welfare,  Arthur  Cole;  “Days  of  ’49,” 
Charles  Gregory:  charity  ball,  Earl  Jame- 
son; special  charities,  Jay  Means;  special 
events,  Finton  Jones;  golf,  T.  R.  Thompson. 


Bowers  Adds  One 

Beatrice,  Neb. — Harold  G.  Bowers,  who 
just  formed  a new  corporation,  the  Rialto 
Building  Co.  here,  bought  the  Rialto  Thea- 
tre from  Dean  Randall  of  Eugene,  Ore. 


Gateway  Situation 
Creates  Problem 


Minneapolis — Neighborhood  exhibitors 
here  are  worried  over  the  situation  in 
the  Gateway,  or  lower  loop,  where  a bit- 
ter war  is  in  the  process  of  making,  and 
the  matter  has  been  a topic  of  discussion 
at  several  meetings. 

It’s  all  the  result  of  the  licensing  of 
the  Gayety,  former  home  of  burlesque,  for 
operation  by  Irving  Gillman  as  a dime 
subsequent-run  double-feature  house. 

Claiming  the  district  is  overseated,  oth- 
er exhibitors  in  the  district  had  fought 
the  license.  Now  Harry  Dryer  is  readying 
still  another  house,  the  600-seat  Lyra, 
next  to  his  Bijou,  for  reopening.  He 
bought  the  house  more  than  three  years 
ago,  closed  it  immediately  and  has  kept 
it  dark  to  relieve  the  overseating  condi- 
tion. 

Moreover,  Dryer  and  the  others  pro- 
pose to  use  cash  giveaways  and  other 
“rackets”  along  with  the  double  features 
for  a dime.  Another  proposal  is  to  “blast” 
away  with  large  newspaper  ads,  calling  the 
public’s  attention  to  the  dime  shows  and 
asking  “Why  pay  more?” 

Hitherto,  there  has  been  an  unwritten 
agreement  among  the  Gateway  exhibitors 
not  to  advertise  the  double  features  and 
dime  admission  scale  in  the  newspapers. 
However,  Gillman  has  been  advertising  his 
dual  bills  and  10-cent  admission. 


McIntyre  and  Jackson 
Again  Head  Local  343 

Omaha — All  officers  of  Local  343,  IATSE, 
were  re-elected  for  1941  at  the  annual 
election.  R.  L.  McIntyre,  Orpheum,  starts 
his  second  term  as  president  and  Howard 
Jackson,  Omaha,  business  agent,  is  re- 
tained in  that  post. 

Other  officers  are:  Alvin  “Boots”  Kost- 
lan,  Brandeis,  first  vice-president;  Shep 
Owens,  Benson,  second  vice-president; 
Glenn  Jordan,  Muller,  financial  secretary; 
Baird  Loomis,  Brandeis,  treasurer.  Clyde 
Cooley,  operator  at  the  Fox  screen  room, 
was  retained  as  recording  and  corres- 
ponding secretary. 

Trustees  are  Bob  Murray,  Orpheum; 
Vic  Morterson,  Muse;  William  Werner, 
Omaha.  Delegates  to  the  Omaha  Central 
Labor  Union  are  Kostlan  and  Jackson;  to 
the  Council  Bluffs  labor  group,  Jackson 
and  J.  Gordon  Beck,  State. 

Cr  ft 

Reissue  Combination 
Runs  lor  15  Days 

Kansas  City — That  ”Scarface"-"Sky 
Devils"  combination,  reissues  released  by 
Astor  Pictures,  at  the  Apollo,  looks  like 
a good  one.  The  pair  ran  15  days  at  the 
Fox  suburban  house  here  and  did  a nice 
job.  It  has  done  well  in  the  St.  Louis 
area  also.  It  is  reminiscent  of  another 
reissue  combination  that  was  quite  suc- 
cessful for  a time  last  year — "Awful 
Truth"  and  “Lost  Horizon." 

^ - V 


40 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


K A Y C IE  IE 

gEVERLY  MILLER  has  just  returned 
from  a three-week  business-pleasure 
trip  that  included  St.  Louis,  Memphis,  New 
Orleans,  Beaumont,  Houston,  and  Dallas. 
He  saw  the  old  year  out  in  New  Orleans 
and  took  in  the  Sugar  Bowl  game.  He 
also  sold  his  encyclopedia  deal  to  the 
United  circuit  there.  In  Dallas,  he  re- 
newed friendships  with  a number  of  ex- 
Kansas  Citians,  namely,  Doug  Desch,  John 
Wangsberg,  John  Franconi  and  “Dutch” 
Olsmith.  In  the  same  town,  Miller  also 
ran  into  J.  Erwin  Dodson,  who  expects  to 
connect  soon  with  a coin-operated  music 
machine  company  through  Earl  Reynolds, 
who  is  also  an  ex-Kansas  City  film  man. 

R.  T.  “Bob”  Mann,  who  used  to  be  at 
the  Mainstreet,  at  the  Ashland  and  then 
at  the  Roanoke  here,  now  is  managing  the 
Missouri  at  Carrollton,  Mo.  . . . The  Ritz, 
Topeka,  Kas.,  is  being  remodeled  by  the 
owner,  B.  Kross,  at  a cost  of  $1,000.  The 
job  will  include  a new  front  and  a refur- 
bished interior. 

Fire  recently  damaged  the  old  Sedalia, 
Sedalia,  Mo.  . . . Jimmy  Muir,  assistant 
manager  at  the  Waldo,  has  gone  to  the 
Brookside  here  in  the  same  position. 
Charles  Weinstein  goes  from  the  Rockhill 
to  the  Granada.  Muir  replaces  Wayne 
Sisson. 

That  intra-mural  feud  at  Universal  has 
gotten  so  bad  they’re  calling  each  other 
Citizen  Kane  and  Comrade  Daynosky  now 
. . . Eddie  Green  says  he’s  looking  for  a 
hospital,  a painless  one  in  which  to  cut  off 
his  left  leg.  He  doesn’t  need  it  any  more. 
The  Metro  salesman  just  bought  a new 
hydromatic  Olds.  Yipeee!  . . . Harold  La- 
Marr  is  now  managing  the  Giles,  Kansas 
City,  replacing  Jerry  Rush. 

On  the  Row:  C.  C.  Rhodes,  Warsaw  and 
Buffalo,  Mo.;  Louis  Griefe,  Windsor,  Wind- 
sor, Mo.;  Sam  Meyers,  Roxy,  Rockville, 
Mo.;  Frank  Weary,  Farris  and  Vogue, 
Richmond,  Mo.  . . . G.  C.  Diamond  Enter- 
prises held  its  board  of  directors  and  man- 
agers meeting  here  January  13.  Attending 
were  Gus  Diamond,  Ben  Adams  of  the 
Roxy,  Eldorado,  Kas.;  T.  W.  Dickson,  Roxy, 
Crystal  City,  Mo.;  Elmer  Dillon,  Howard, 
Arkansas  City,  Kas.;  Paul  Dixon,  Vogue, 
Saiina,  Kas. 

When  F.  L.  “Doc”  Lowe  opens  the  Star 
at  Lebanon,  Mo.,  Ted  Irwin,  manager  of 


the  Star  at  Lyons,  Kas.,  will  take  over  part 
of  “Doc’s”  duties  with  the  houses  at  Hays 
and  Hoisington,  Kas.  . . . Max  Van  Buren, 
formerly  manager  of  the  Fox  Brookside, 
Kansas  City,  has  returned  to  Newton,  Kas., 
as  manager  of  the  Fox  Regent.  W.  R. 
Rowell  has  taken  a leave  of  absence. 

The  Kansas-Missouri  Theatres  Ass’n,  R. 
R.  Biechele,  Baker  Enterprises  and  George 
Blackwell,  posters,  faced  the  tough  job  of 
moving  out  of  221  West  18th  Street  this 
week  on  short  notice.  A brake  concern 
has  leased  the  offices  for  immediate 
occupancy. 

The  Dreamland,  Commonwealth  house 
at  Herington,  Kas.,  has  upped  its  admis- 
sion on  Tuesday  bargain  nights  to  15  cents, 
according  to  Glen  Deeter,  manager  . . . 
The  Fox  Brookside,  Kansas  City,  has  gone 
to  30  cents  from  25.  The  higher  price  in- 
cludes all  taxes. 

One  of  the  finest  vacations  about  which 
we’ve  heard  is  that  just  completed  by  Ruth 
Turgeon,  secretary  to  the  branch  manager 
at  Paramount.  This  was  the  itinerary:  To 
Brownsville,  Tex.,  by  train;  to  Mexico  City 
by  plane,  with  a stopoff  at  Tampico;  to 
the  capital  of  Yucatan,  Merida,  by  way  of 
Vera  Cruz;  a visit  to  the  ruins  at  Chichen 
Itza;  back  home  over  the  same  route. 

Ed  Bellew,  UA  exploiteer  out  of  Detroit, 
was  here  last  week  . . . Carl  Shalit,  district 
manager  for  Columbia,  also  out  of  Detroit, 
was  in  for  a meeting  with  salesmen  at  the 
Ben  Marcus  exchange. 

Betty  Caruso  is  the  new  biller  at  Repub- 
lic-Midwest, replacing  Frances  Bradford. 

Bill  Bradfield,  Columbia  salesman,  is  be- 


<r~ ■ ■ 

Lease  Offices  for 
Arbitration  Board 

Kansas  City — Indications  are  that  an 
arbitration  board  for  the  industry  will  be 
set  up  here  by  February  1.  While  mem- 
bership of  the  panel  of  30  or  40  non- 
industry  arbitrators  has  not  been  named 
and  the  secretary  of  the  board  still  has  to 
be  appointed,  the  American  Arbitration 
Ass'n  this  week  leased  a suite  of  offices 
in  the  Waltower  Building,  Ninth  and  Wal- 
nut Streets,  for  occupancy  February  1. 

Reaction  to  the  non-industry  character 
of  the  arbitration  setup  is  fairly  favor- 
able. Observers  here  feel  that  while 
laymen  may  require  longer  to  grasp  fac- 
tors fundamental  in  the  industry,  at  the 
same  time  divorcement  of  personnel  and 
location  from  the  industry  itself,  should 
make  for  impartiality. 

Vb  V 

ginning  to  save  fishskins.  He  caught  a Im- 
pound big  mouth  bass  on  Lake  Harris, 
Fla.,  recently,  and  as  proof,  is  having  it 
mounted  for  his  office  wall.  You  can  see  it 
after  February  15.  John  Graham,  UA  sales- 
man, was  in  the  boat  at  the  time,  so  maybe 
it’s  true. 

The  Cinema  Club,  that  organization  of 
Filmrow  young  blood,  held  a sneak  pre- 
view party  January  15.  After  the  pre- 
view at  Paramount  the  members  adjourned 
to  Variety  Club  with  their  dates.  Charley 
Siebenthaler  of  Missouri  Film  Lab  is  chair- 
man of  the  social  committee  which  was  in 

(Continued  on  page  42-B) 


TRADE  DIRECTORY 

""mA  HANDY  GUIDE  FOR  THE  EXHIBITOR  ■ 

KANSAS  CITY  TERRITORY 


EQUIPMENT  AND  SUPPLIES 

Peterson  “Freezem"  Mfg.  & Sales  Co. 

Blowers,  washers,  spray  nozzels,  office  and 
home  units. 

Special  Offer — Priced  to  Sell. 

Why  Pay  More? 

G.  A.  Peterson 

Victor  4075  316  Southwest  Blvd. 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

A.  A.  Electric  Machinery  Co. 

Ernest  Amoneno,  Mgr. 

1117  Cherry  St.  Phone:  Victor  8796 

Holmes  Projector  Sales  Co. 

Projectors  and  Sound  for  the  Largest  and  Small- 
est Theatre.  John  A.  Muchmore  and  R.  H.  Patt. 
1820  Wyandotte  St.  Kansas  City,  Mo.  HA.  7472 

Missouri  Theatre  Supply  Co. 

Distributors  for 

RCA,  Brenkert,  U.  S.  Air,  Heywood-Wakefield 
115  West  18th  St.  708  West  Grand  Ave. 

«ik  28H4  Oklahoma  City, 

<ansas  City.  Mo.  Okla. 

Stebbins  Theatre  Equipment  Co. 

1804  Wyandotte  St. 

C.  H.  Badger,  Mgr.  Phone:  GRand  0134 

Southwest  Theatre  Equipment  Co.,  Indp't 
Wichita,  Kas. 

C.  D.  Peck,  Mgr.  Phone  2-2153 


EXHIBITOR  ASSOCIATIONS 

K.  M.  T.  A. 

221  W.  18th  St.  — Harrison  4825 
Frank  Cassdl,  Pres.  Fred  Meyn,  Sec.-Treas. 

AIR  CONDITIONING 


National  Air  Conditioning  and 
Engineering  Corp. 

VI.  3535 

213  West  19th  St. — Kansas  City,  Mo. 
Manutacturing — Engineering — Installation 

~~  SCREEN  PUBLICITY 

Alexander  Film  Company 

Motion  Picture  Advertising 
E.  L Harris,,  Dist.  Mgr.,  Mo.,  Kan.,  Neb.,  Iowa 
239  East  72nd  Terrace 

Phone:  Hlland  2694 

FILM  LABORATORIES  ~ 

MISSOURI  FILM  LABORATORIES 

Charles  O.  Siebenthaler 
110  W.  18th  GR  0708 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Complete  Advertising  Trailer  Service 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  18,  1941 


41 


■JTIE  glamor  salesman,  Mannie  Goodman, 
in  Minneapolis  hot  from  a Miami  vaca- 
tion and  draping  Northwest  theatres  again 
with  flags  and  banners  . . . Dorothy  (Sa- 
rong) Crane,  the  attractive  Welworth  gal, 
back  on  the  job  after  a siege  at  the  hos- 
pital, battling  the  flu  . . . We’re  eager  to 
see  that  new  car  which  Billy  Evidon,  Co- 
lumbia office  manager,  has  had  “on 
order”  all  winter  . . . Ray  Barber,  the  “ol” 
paymaster  of  the  Pantages’  “Lucky  Star” 
game,  insists  that  his  swollen  jawbone  is 
not  the  result  of  fisticuffs,  but  purely  a 
three-point  landing  on  a skating  rink. 

Joe  Floyd,  the  P.  T.  Barnum  of  Sioux 
Falls,  S.  D.,  and  manager  of  the  Holly- 
wood Theatre  there,  “Chicagoing”  for  a 
few  days  . . . The  Pantages  ushering  staff, 
locally  regarded  as  the  best-looking  crew 
along  Hennepin  Avenue,  lost  one  of  its  top 
Casanovas  when  Rudy  Iverson  transferred 
his  allegiance  to  the  Minnesota  Theatre. 
That  leaves  John  “Texas”  Foley,  the  lad 
from  Abilene,  as  top  man,  his  pretty  drawl 
putting  him  one  up  on  Bob  “Nelson  Eddy” 
Holcomb. 

That  was  a nifty  front  Reno  Wilk  creat- 
ed for  his  double  horror  show  at  the  Es- 
quire. Newton  Green,  the  sign  artist,  col- 
laborated on  it  . . . Ted  Bolnick,  the  La- 
crosse, Wis.,  showman,  in  town  the  other 
day,  accompanied  by  Johnny  Sullivan,  the 
WKBH  radio  man  . . . Stanley  Neal,  Na- 
tional Screen  homeoffice  representative, 
here  long  enough  to  reveal  the  newest 
“baby”  of  that  enterprising  firm — a de- 
partment which  will  release  national  film 
ads  . . . Abe  Gill  reports  exhibitors  are  tak- 
ing to  his  line  of  low-cost  window  cards 
like  hot  cakes. 

Warner  exchange  visited  by  Lola  Lane, 
making  personal  appearance  at  Minnesota 
Theatre.  A trio  of  other  Hollywood  lumi- 
naries in  the  same  show,  Lou  Holtz,  Wendy 
Barrie  and  Arlene  Judge,  had  screen  fans 
excited.  Holtz  put  in  several  appearances 
at  the  Twin  City  Variety  Club.  All  four 
received  telegrams  from  Ben  Blotcky,  chief 
barker,  inviting  them  to  use  the  clubrooms 
during  their  Minneapolis  stay  . . . The 
mystery  surrounding  the  presence  of  so 
many  dogs  around  the  Warner  building  has 
been  solved.  Herb  Blass,  office  manager, 
keeps  his  cocker  spaniel  in  the  basement. 
The  spaniel  was  a recent  gift. 

Out-of-town  exhibitors  visiting  Filmrow 
included:  George  Westerman,  Milaca, 
Minn.;  Don  Buckley,  Redwood  Falls, 
Minn.;  R.  Pettingill,  Superior,  Wis.;  Jack 
Heywood,  New  Richmond,  Wis.;  Carl 
Sather,  Annandale,  Minn.,  and  Ed  Malone, 
Alma,  Wis.  . . . Florence  Grafft  resigning 
from  Warner  Bros,  to  devote  herself  to 
domestic  duties  . . . M-G-M  doing  fine  job 
getting  distribution  on  “Land  of  Liberty,” 
the  war  emergency  relief  film. 

Back  from  a visit  with  Tommy  Charack, 
former  Warner  salesman  here  and  now 
Los  Angeles  city  salesman,  Harold  Lyons, 
20 th-Fox  salesman,  reports  that,  even  in 
the  film  capital  with  its  numerous  hand- 
some men,  Tommy  has  the  fair  sex  fight- 
ing for  his  attentions.  Lyons  ran  into  Bill 
Shartin  in  Hollywood.  The  former  local 
Warner  salesman,  now  branch  manager  in 
Seattle,  was  visiting  California  with  the 


frau  . . . Lou  Adler,  United  Artists  home- 
office  representative,  a visitor. 

Even  though  he  missed  the  Rose  Bowl 
game  because  he  wouldn’t  fall  for  specu- 
lators’ prices,  Don  Buckley,  Redwood  Falls, 
Minn,  exhibitor,  in  town  this  week,  said 
he  had  the  time  of  his  life  during  his  Cali- 
fornia vacation  . . . "Nickey”  Goldhammer, 
RKO  district  manager,  back  from  his  Cali- 
fornia trip,  says  he  visited  his  company’s 
studio  and  looked  at  some  of  the  forth- 
coming releases.  You  don’t  have  to  be  told 
his  opinion  of  them — terrific  . . . Bill  Evi- 
don, Columbia  office  manager,  went  to  Des 
Moines  to  help  his  brother,  Mel,  Columbia 
branch  manager  there,  celebrate  the  lat- 
ter’s wedding  anniversary. 

What  with  Moe  Levy,  district  manager, 
and  Jack  and  Lou  Cohan,  salesmen,  back 
from  their  vacations  in  the  southland, 
20 th-Fox  looks  normal  again  . . . Ben  Blot- 
cky, Paramount  branch  manager  and  Twin 
City  Variety  Club  chief  barker,  is  another 

ft  = - = 

He  Has  an  Extra 
Word  tor  Hope 

Minneapolis — While  playing  a personal 
appearance  engagement  at  the  Minne- 
sota here,  Lou  Holtz  rated  Bob  Hope, 
Fred  Allen  and  Jack  Benny  as  the  na- 
tion's three  best  comics  on  screen  and 
radio.  He  asserted  that,  of  all  the  come- 
dians, Hope  is  the  only  good  looking 
one  and  the  only  one  that  can  make 
love  in  the  films  without  seeming 
ludicrous. 

Vt  ■ ■ -~=» 

vacationist  who  has  returned  to  his  desk. 
He  visited  Florida  . . . Nat  Roehlin,  M~G-M 
homeoffice  auditor,  in  town  . . . Le  Roy  J. 
Miller,  Universal  branch  manager,  visited 
northern  Minnesota  accounts  . . . Bill  Lans- 
berg,  Paramount  district  publicity  and  ex- 
ploitation man,  here,  working  on  “Second 
Chorus”  which  goes  into  the  Orpheum. 

Universal  here  seventh  nationally  and 
moving  upward  in  the  Bill  Scully  sales 
drive  . . . John  J.  Friedl  and  C.  B.  Stiff, 
Minnesota  Amusement  Co.  executives,  in 
Chicago  on  business  trip  . . . Harry  Green - 
stein,  Universal  assistant  booker,  wedded 
to  Rosabel  Frestman  . . .Joe  Paster,  Chi- 
cago independent  exhibitor,  in  town  . . . 
Morgan  Ames,  general  manager  for  Mort 
H.  Singer,  dropped  in  on  the  Orpheum. 


Closer  Checking 
Is  in  Prospect 

Minneapolis — More  checking  on  per- 
centage pictures  and  more  efficient  check- 
ing generally  are  in  prospect  for  this  ter- 
ritory in  consequence  of  some  recent  hap- 
penings. 

One  of  the  major  exchanges  was  consid- 
erably irked  when  an  out-of-town  exhibi- 
tor, playing  one  of  its  releases  on  percent- 
age and  unchecked,  reported  $400  gross 
on  Sunday,  $260  on  Monday  and  only  $8 
on  Tuesday,  the  last  day  of  the  run. 

In  another  instance,  an  exhibitor,  in 
still  another  fair-sized  out-of-town  situa- 
tion, also  playing  a percentage  picture  and 
unchecked,  reported  a gross  of  but  $25 
for  all  of  New  Year’s  day  and  evening. 

All  exchanges,  too,  are  eliminating 
checking  by  their  own  employes  who,  in  a 
number  of  instances,  have  been  assigned 
to  the  task  as  an  additional  duty.  In  too 
many  cases,  it  is  reported,  such  checking 
has  been  unsatisfactory. 


Quints'  Suit  Set 

Liberty,  Mo. — March  10  has  been  set 
for  trial  of  a $3,673  suit  by  E.  E.  Beach, 
Maple  Park,  Mo.,  against  the  Dionne  quin- 
tuplets, their  guardians  and  business  man- 
ager and  several  business  firms.  Beach 
alleges  he  secured  advertising  contracts 
using  the  quintuplets  for  them  with  the 
firms,  and  that  the  $3,673  is  owed  him  as 
commission. 


Paul  S.  Bliss 

Minneapolis — Paul  Southworth  Bliss,  a 
one-time  dramatic  and  film  editor  of  the 
old  Minneapolis  Journal,  passed  away  at 
the  age  of  52  in  Kansas  City.  He  left  news- 
papering  for  social  service  work  and  his 
most  recent  job  was  regional  social  security 
director  in  Kansas  City.  His  mother  here 
survives. 


Featured  Role  for  Lukas 

Hollywood — Paul  Lukas  has  been  signed 
for  a featured  role  in  Columbia's  “They 
Dare  Not  Love,”  Martha  Scott-George 
Brent  starrer. 


ft  ^ 

Waiting  on  F.  D.  R. 

Minneapolis — Northwest  Allied  is  awaiting  a reply  from  President  Roosevelt 
to  the  letter  sent  to  him  by  Fred  Strom,  its  executive  secretary,  asking!  the  nation's 
chief  executive  to  schedule  his  future  fireside  “chats"  on  Mondays,  instead  of 
Sundays,  in  order  to  lessen  boxoffice  damage  and  cause  less  loss  to  the  govern- 
ment in  admission  tax  revenue. 

“Sunday  is  usually  a day  which  brings  the  motion  picture  industry,  and  par- 
ticularly the  exhibitor,  the  greatest  amount  of  revenue,"  Strom  said  in  his  letter. 
"The  theatre  owner,  in  fact,  usually  regards  his  Sunday  as  three-sevenths  of  a week. 

“Last  Sunday  (January  4)  Northwest  theatres  were  practically  empty  in  the 
evening,  and  lest  this  request  be  interpreted  as  purely  a selfish  one  for  business 
reasons,  may  I also  point  out  that  the  government  lost  millions  of  dollars  in  taxes 
which  ordinarily  would  have  been  collected  on  Sunday  evening  admissions. 


42 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  18,  1941 


(t  ■ 

Choose  Comic.  Mystery 
And  Adventure  Shows 

Omaha — Comic,  adventure  and  mys- 
tery shows  rate  highest  with  Omaha 
high  school  girls,  according  to  a sur- 
vey just  completed  by  a University  of 
Omaha  graduate  student.  Romantic  pic- 
tures were  rated  below  the  other  three 
classifications. 

A total  of  2,587  girls  were  polled  in 
three  major  high  schools. 

VS  ■ ■ >) 

Sees  Gross  Booster 
In  Radio  Tune  Row 

Lincoln — Radio’s  Ascap-BMI  scrap  has 
given  Bob  Livingston,  owner  of  the  Capi- 
tol, an  idea  which  he  hopes  to  translate 
into  a profit.  His  first  move  has  been  to 
back  up  the  playing  of  “Tin  Pan  Alley” 
until  a little  later,  before  bringing  it  to 
town  for  its  subsequent  run. 

When  it  does  come  in,  the  newspaper  ads 
will  run  something  like  this: 

“You  must  be  tired  of  listening  for  a 
good  tune  on  your  radio,  so  come  down  to 
the  Capitol,  see  ‘Tin  Pan  Alley,’  and  lis- 
ten to  music  that  is  music.” 

This  isn’t  the  first  time  Livingston  at- 
tempted a wrestle  with  radio.  A little 
more  than  a year  ago,  he  was  betting  even 
money  with  the  “Pot  O’  Gold”  show,  guar- 
anteeing to  pay  just  as  much  as  the  pot  if 
the  listener,  who  won,  was  in  his  theatre, 
and  not  at  home  to  answer  the  phone  call. 
It  helped  business  at  first,  but  wound  up 
without  having  much  effect  over  the  long 
haul. 

Livingston  said  this  week  he  intended  to 
go  into  a huddle  with  Gene  Blazer,  the 
Nebraska  Ascap  representative,  and  var- 
ious film  men,  on  a proposal  to  gain  co- 
operative financial  aid  from  Ascap,  the 
combined  bankroll  of  film  and  music 
money  to  go  for  an  extensive  drive  to  take 
people  into  the  theatres,  away  from  the 
radio. 

“Radio,”  Livingston  contends,  “has  been 
busy  for  years  taking  from  the  exhibitor. 
First,  unable  to  develop  enough  personali- 
ties for  its  own  consumption,  it  went  after 
picture  names  for  its  programs.  Second,  it 
went  after  film  scripts,  took  the  meat  out 
of  them  and  threw  it  to  the  dialers  free. 
Third,  most  of  the  national  publicity  fos- 
tered by  networks  in  the  guise  of  film 
commentary  was  detrimental  to  the  film 
industry.  And  now,  having  done  about 
everything  possible  to  the  film  exhibitor 
and  the  industry,  it’s  trying  to  promote 
some  other  phase  of  the  entertainment 
business  for  nothing.  Showmen  have  been 
paying  Ascap  for  many  years,  have  gotten 
money  by  marketing  music,  and,  all  things 
considered,  should  be  given  a leg  up  in  a 
drive  for  theatre  attendance  by  Ascap 
now.” 


Basketball  on  Celluloid 

Iowa  City,  Ia. — Lee  Cochran  of  the 
visual  education  department  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Iowa  will  make  the  first  attempt 
to  record  Iowa  basketball  on  motion  pic- 
ture film  at  the  Northwestern-Iowa  game 
here  January  20. 


pLOYD  WOLFE,  Lynch,  Neb.,  celebrates 

his  40th  wedding  anniversary  this  week 
. . . Sol  Francis  is  back  from  the  Mono- 
gram meeting  in  St.  Louis.  Several  of  the 
company’s  officers  and  franchise  holders 
were  there,  Sol  said,  including  Benny  Ben- 
jamin of  Kansas  City,  well-known  to  ex- 
hibitors in  the  Omaha  area  . . . It’s  a 
birthday  for  Rosalie  Boughn,  Sun,  Wait- 
hill,  Neb. 

Herman  Fields,  Clarinda,  la.,  went  to 
the  Rose  Bowl  game.  While  in  California 
he  sent  a box  of  dates  to  exchanges  on 
Omaha  Filmrow.  Herman  explained  that 
exchanges  “are  always  asking  for  dates. 
So  I send  them  plenty  of  dates!”  . . . 
Murrel  Simpson,  Palace,  Clearwater , Neb., 
and  Estel  Tompkins,  Winfield,  la.,  have 
birthdays  this  week  . . . Frank  Good, 
Iowana,  Red  Oak,  la.,  a Monday  visitor 
as  usual. 

A.  Burrus,  Crete,  Neb.,  and  Sam  Stern 
of  Capitol  Pictures  are  among  those  who 
will  leave  soon  for  a vacation  in  Florida 
. . . Max  Rosenblatt  of  National  Screen 
reports  the  new  exhibitor  at  Pender,  Neb., 
hopes  for  more  fair  weather  so  that  he 
can  get  a lot  of  work  accomplished  on 
his  new  theatre  . . . Lew  Kozal,  Tri-States, 
celebrated  his  ninth  wedding  anniversary. 

It’s  birthday  time  at  Warner’s.  Now 
celebrating  are  Alice  Neal,  Frank  Han- 
non and  Leon  Mendelson  . . . C.  A.  Craig, 
Pierce,  Neb.,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stanley 
Blackburn,  Fremont,  Neb.,  among  visitors 
this  week  . . . Louis  Pats,  National  Screen 
manager  at  Des  Moines,  was  here  to  see 
Is  Sokolof  . . . Sid  McArdle,  United  Art- 
ists booker,  has  a wedding  anniversary 
just  past  and  Leo  Doty,  U A office  mana- 
ger, a birthday. 

Joe  Rosenberg,  former  film  peddler  on 
Davenport  Street,  is  back  in  Omaha  to 
set  up  his  headquarters  covering  five 
states  for  a cosmetic  firm.  He  has  been 
in  California  with  the  same  organization 
. . . Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jack  Logan,  Osceola, 
Neb.,  and  Herman  Thomas,  Kingsley,  la., 
were  on  Davenport  Street  . . . Carl  Weeks, 
Paramount  peddler,  is  celebrating  his 
sixth  wedding  anniversary. 

Mons  Thompson,  St.  Paul,  Neb.,  is  back 
from  the  big  football  game  on  the  west 

Gahe  Yorke  a Traveling 
Emissary  for  " Liberty " 

Lincoln — Gabe  Yorke,  who  came  here 
a month  ago  to  handle  the  premiere  drive 
for  Richard  A.  Rowland’s  “Cheers  for  Miss 
Bishop,”  has  been  signed  up  by  the  Hays 
office  to  become  a traveling  emissary  with 
the  Metro-booked  film,  “Land  of  Liberty.” 

He  went  from  the  premiere  here  Tues- 
day to  Chicago. 


Three-Year  Columbia 
Deal  With  Circuit 

Minneapolis — Columbia  here  has  closed 
a three-year  franchise  deal  with  the  Min- 
nesota Amusement  Co.  It  is  a hundred 
per  center  and  covers  the  entire  circuit. 


coast,  a sadder  but  wiser  man.  Ike  Rubin 
has  played  the  game  over  not  less  than 
100  times  since  he  returned  . . . J.  Mor- 
gan Reynolds,  exhibitor  at  Elwood  and 
Bertrand,  Neb.,  was  in  town  on  business 
. . . Paul  Connet,  RCA  service  man,  broke 
his  rib  while  playing  ping-pong . He 
slipped  on  the  floor  and  fell  against  the 
table. 

Will  Singer,  Brandeis  manager,  plans  to 
go  to  Chicago  any  day  now  to  see  his 
mother  . . . Lola  Andersen  of  Warner’s 
celebrates  her  20th  wedding  anniversary 
this  week,  while  Ruth  Cogley  of  the  same 
layout  is  celebrating  her  15th  w.  a.  . . . 
Haskell  Masters,  new  western  division 
manager  for  United  Artists,  was  here  and 
in  Lincoln  in  connection  with  the  “Miss 
Bishop”  premiere  . . . It’s  a birthday  for 
Ruth  Meyers  of  United  Artists  ...  By 
the  time  this  column  hits  your  desk  all 
officers  of  Omaha  Variety  Club  for  1941 
will  have  been  inaugurated. 

Fran  Williams,  secretary  to  Joe  Scott, 
Fox  branch  manager,  has  resigned  and 
will  go  to  California  to  live.  She  leaves 
January  24.  Dorothy  Nelson,  who  has 
been  the  hello  girl  and  bookers’  steno, 
will  take  Fran’s  job.  A newcomer  to  Film- 
row,  Golda  Handley  of  Kansas,  has  been 
employed  to  take  Dorothy’s  desk.  Fran 
plans  to  “be  a housewife,”  she  says  . . . 
The  Fox  exchange  is  the  only  one  on 
Davenport  Street  that  has  a private  office 
for  the  manager's  secretary. 


in  Style  and  Comfort 

That’s  the  thought  that  is  always  upper- 
most in  the  minds  of  those  who  attend 
you  at  Hotel  Fontenelle.  In  keeping  with 
this  policy,  the  management  is  constantly 
adding  new  features  for  your  comfort 
and  convenience.  The  Amber  Room  Cof- 
fee Shop,  the  King  Cole  Room,  and  the 
Black  Mirror- Bombay  Room  invite  you. 

HOTEL 


FONTENELII 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  18,  1941 


42-A 


IE  IMCO  IL  N 

ALL  This,  and  a Premiere,  too:  Lincoln 
was  host  to  Richard  A.  Rowland,  his 
wife;  William  Gargan,  his  wife;  Tay  Gar- 
nett, his  wife;  Bess  Streeter  Aldrich,  Sabu, 
Wayne  Morris,  Marsha  Hunt,  William 
Farnum,  Neil  Hamilton,  Irvin  S.  Cobb, 
Martha  O’Driscoll,  Mary  Anderson,  Brod- 
erick Crawford,  Albert  Dekker,  Sterling 
Holloway  and  Barbara  Pepper,  for  the 
premiere  of  “Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop”  . . . 
Bernie  Evens  and  Gabe  Yorke  got  a good 
night’s  sleep  for  the  first  time  in  almost 
a month  of  promotion  . . . Garnett  lec- 
tured at  the  University  on  how  to  make 
a picture  . . , Then  went  on  a three - 
station  hookup  in  Nebraska  with  Mrs. 
Aldrich,  and  Capt.  Barney  Oldfield,  in  a 
leadoff  airer  the  day  before  the  affair. 

Boom  Town  news:  Oscar  Johnson,  the 
exhibitor  in  Falls  City,  where  oil  was  re- 
cently struck,  is  opening  his  new  theatre, 
which  he  calls  the  Oil  City,  with  40  sets 
of  love-seats.  Available,  he  says,  to  very 
passionate  couples,  or  very  fat  singles  . . . 
Tip  to  Harry  Shumow,  Charlie  Lieb  et 
(Metro)  al:  Write  a letter  to  the  studio 
and  tell  ’em  to  start  pushing  Ann  Soth- 
ern  and  Ann  Rutherford  away  from  the 
calories,  or  it  won’t  be  long  until  they’ll 
be  also-rAnns  at  the  boxoffice. 

Sad  story:  Bob  Livingston  wondered 
why  he  didn’t  hear  from  his  wife,  Bar- 
bara, who  went  out  to  California  for  the 
express  purpose  of  seeing  the  Rose  Bowl 
game  before  settling  for  the  winter  in  Tuc- 
son, Ariz.  When  he  finally  heard,  a week 
later,  it  was  news  that  she  had  been 
taken  off  the  train  in  Los  Angeles,  whisked 
by  ambulance  direct  to  the  hospital,  and 
down  with  a severe  attack  of  pneumonia. 
She  never  even  got  to  hear  the  game  by 
radio,  but  is  much  better  now.  Nobody 
was  to  tell  him,  she  told  hospital  authori- 
ties, because  she  didn’t  want  to  worry  him. 

Telephone  call:  Sat  by  the  ’phone  the 
other  night  listening  to  Dick  Barrie,  or- 
chestra leader,  turn  down  his  wife’s 
(Anita  Boyer,  girl  singer  with  Artie  Shaw) 
plea  for  them  to  call  off  their  divorce 
action,  just  filed,  and  try  again.  Barrie, 
in  a lb-minute  session,  held  out  for  a 
“no.”  Anita  was  never  married  to  Shaw, 
as  Lana  Turner  was,  but  she  wanted  to 
part  company  with  him  . . . Correction: 
Involved  clauses  in  a recent  item  telling 
of  Paul  Anderson’s  being  engaged  to  Lois 
Nobles,  got  Harvey  Traylor  mixed  up  in  it. 
Harvey  wants  it  understood  he  was  not 

(r = 

Bowling  Tourney 
Nets  $ 3.734 

Kansas  City — A total  of  53,734  was 
netted  for  charity  by  the  two-day  annual 
Xmas  bowling  tournament  held  Decem- 
ber 21-22  by  Variety  Club  and  the  Kan- 
sas City  "Star."  Of  this  amount,  $632 
will  go  to  Kansas  City,  Kas.  public 
schools,  with  a dairy  furnishing  a like 
amount  of  milk  to  double  the  total,  and 
the  remainder  goes  to  Kansas  City,  Mo. 
public  schools.  The  Kansas  City  Bowl- 
ing Proprietors'  Ass'n  cooperated  in  this 
year's  venture,  the  most  successful  yet. 

VS  - JJ 


(t -h 

Barrett  Heads  KMT  A 
Legislative  Group 

Kansas  City — Rex  Barrett,  manager  of 
the  Uptown  and  Boone  in  Columbia,  is 
the  new  chairman  of  the  Missouri  legis- 
lative committee  of  the  Kansas-Missouri 
Theatres  Ass'n.  Also  named  to  the  com- 
mittee last  week  by  President  R.  R. 
Biechele  are  Frank  Cassil  of  St.  Joseph 
and  Tom  Edwards  of  Eldon. 


JJ 


in  the  engagement,  and  Anderson  wants 
it  understood,  too. 

Good  news:  The  local  theatres,  spon- 
soring the  10  best  poll  with  the  Sunday 
Journal  and  Star,  after  four  years,  finally 
got  a winner  of  the  free  trip,  all  expenses 
paid,  to  Hollywood  (the  top  prize),  right 
in  Lincoln.  All  the  others  had  lived  out- 
state.  It  was  a woman.  In  fact,  women 
made  6 to  1 more  entries  than  men.  Must 
have  been  that  the  guys  were  thinking 
more  in  terms  of  conscription  than  the 
cinema. 

Wire  from  Bill  Saal,  Republic  special 
rep:  “Lois  Ranson,  one  of  the  13  baby 
stars  this  year,  is  coming  in  as  a guest 
of  Richard  A.  Rowland  for  the  premiere. 
Would  appreciate  you  seeing  that  she  has 
a fine  time  on  her  first  trip  to  the  mid- 
west.” Stag  line  formed  on  the  right  . . . 
Journal’s  apt  description  of  Mary  Beth 
Hughes  ( Attention , Joe  Scott ) : “She  is 
one  of  those  girls,  so  constructed,  that  al- 
though sitting  across  the  table,  can  still 
be  next  to  you.” 


A.  H.  Blank  Speaker 
Al  Balaban  Fele 


Chicago — A.  H.  Blank  of  Des  Moines, 
head  of  the  Tri-States  circuit,  is  expected 
to  be  one  of  the  speakers  at  the  meeting 
of  Paramount  executives  here  Thursday 
to  pay  tribute  to  Barney  Balaban,  Para- 
mount president.  Blank  is  national  chair- 
man of  the  Barney  Balaban  drive  and 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  arrange- 
ments. 

Others  expected  to  address  the  group  in- 
clude Adolph  Zukor,  chairman  of  the  board 
of  Paramount;  John  Balaban,  president  of 
Balaban  & Katz,  Chicago;  N.  L.  Nathan- 
son,  president  of  Famous  Players  Cana- 
dian Corp.,  Ltd.,  Toronto,  who  will  dis- 
cuss the  international  situation;  E.  V. 
Richards  of  Paramount-Richards  Theatres, 
Inc.,  New  Orleans;  Neil  Agnew,  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  distribution  for  Para- 
mount, and  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  production  for  Para- 
mount. Scheduled  for  the  toastmaster’s 
role,  in  addition  to  a speaking  part,  is  A. 
M.  Bottsford,  associate  producer  for  Para- 
mount. 

Others  from  the  home  office  expected  to 
attend  include  Stanton  Griffis,  chairman 
of  the  Paramount  executive  committee; 
Austin  C.  Keough,  vice-president  and 
Paramount  counsel,  and  Edwin  L.  Weisl, 
vice-president. 


K A\  Y C HE  IE 

(Continued  from  page  41) 
charge  of  the  party,  with  Martin  Stone  of 
Screenland  aiding. 

Pop  Stanford  of  the  20th-Fox  screening 
r ooryi  lost  his  sister,  Mrs.  Brooks,  last  week 
. . . Evelyn  Wells  of  the  same  exchange 
lost  her  aunt.  Miss  Mabel  Gindera. 

On  the  Row:  Raymond  McKittrick,  Per- 
kins, Harrisonville,  Mo.;  Bob  Shelton,  Com- 
monwealth Theatres,  Warrensburg,  Mo.; 
Warren  Weber,  Pic,  St.  John,  Kas.;  W.  B. 
Cook,  Ideal,  Halstead,  Kas.;  Louis  Sosna, 
Sosna  at  Moberly  and  Sosna  at  Mexico, 
Mo.,  driving  a new  Hudson  car. 

Premiums  crack  Kansas  City  first  runs 
on  January  20  when  the  Uptown  and 
Esquire  launch  the  Constance  Bennett  cos- 
metics plan.  The  Plaza,  Fox  Midwest  first 
run  in  the  suburban  area,  will  start  the 
giveaway  in  February,  as  will  the  Gra- 
nada in  Kajisas  City,  Kas. 

Ray  Copeland,  big,  good-looking  Iowan, 
arrived  in  Kansas  City  Tuesday  to  assume 
the  managership  of  the  Paramount  branch 
here  ...  In  town  were  O.  F.  Sullivan,  Civic, 
Wichita,  Kas.;  Nick  Kotsis,  Holden,  Hol- 
den, Mo.,  and  Oswego,  Oswego,  Kansas  . . . 
Spencer  Hays,  Vogue  manager  at  Lee’s 
Summit,  Mo.,  has  gone  into  service.  He  is 
succeeded  as  manager  by  Parker  Melluish. 
Melluish  once  was  with  the  Newman  here, 
and  served  a spell  with  Dickinson  at 
Olathe,  Kas. 

Bud  Wolfberg,  who  used  to  have  the 
Straiid  and  Giles  here,  is  in  the  New  York 
publicity  departiiient  of  Warner  Bros.  He 
is  also  dohig  a lot  of  writing  on  the  side 
. . . Gle?i  W.  Dickinson  has  taken  over  the 
two  colored  houses  in  Topeka,  Kas.,  the 
Best  and  Ritz,  and  is  remodeling  them. 
Glen  has  the  Dickinson  in  Mission  Hill 
Acres  near  Kansas  City,  in  Olathe,  Kansas, 
aiid  at  Macon,  Mo. 

The  “Ice  Capades,”  ice  carnival  that  is 
knocking  them  cold  (figuratively  and  lit- 
erally) at  the  Pla-Mor  this  week,  is  presi- 
dented  by  John  H.  Harris,  national  chief 
barker  of  the  Variety  Club  and  well 
known  to  this  area. 


Donald  Ogden  Stewart  Chore 

Hollywood — Donald  Ogden  Stewart  is 
scripting  Metro’s  “A  Woman’s  Face.”  Joan 
Crawford  will  star  and  George  Cukor  will 
direct. 

d - - -ft 

Take  Your  Choice 
Of  Answers 

Kansas  City — On  the  record:  Kansas 
City  still  is  regarded  as  a low-price 
town,  very  unresponsive  to  shows.  Every 
now  and  then  some  observer  takes  a 
crack  at  explaining  why  this  should  be  so 
in  an  immediate  area  of  more  than  600,- 
000  people.  Whatever  the  cause,  no  one 
seems  to  be  able  to  remedy  it.  One 
phase  is  use  of  triples,  doubles,  dishes, 
etc.,  which  may  be  both  cause  and  effect, 
the  majority  opinion  tending  toward  the 
belief  it  is  more  effect. 

0-  JJ 


42-B 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  18,  1941 


QOD  BLESS  AMERICA!  We’re  proud  to 
be  Americans!  Probably  the  only  place 
in  the  world  where  1,700  people  will  sit  un- 
applaudingly  while  the  head  of  the  most 
wonderful  country  in  the  world  recites 
from  the  Bill  of  Rights  those  privileges 
which  make  it  so,  and  then  go  wild  with 
moronic  enthusiasm  when  Cab  Calloway 
croans  (and  I do  mean  “croans,”  Mr. 
Hague),  “Hi-De-Ho!”  (We’re  burned  up 
because  we  had  to  cheer  FDR  single- 
handed  at  the  Paramount  Monday)  . . . 
Ah,  but  Eddie  Dunn  did  a rushing  busi- 
ness on  Minnie  the  Moocher’s  b.  f.  . . . 
Yeah,  all  we  who  go  past  the  ducat-taker 
thumb  at  nose  rushed  to  hear  Cab  jive  . . . 
G.  Ralph  Branton  went  in  just  ahead  of 
Lou  Lepovitz  with  the  non-profitable 
Claytons  sandwiched  in  between. 

Smitty  highhatted  Boxoffice  downtown 
Saturday  afternoon,  so  we’re  threatening 
to  cut  off  his  publicity  . . . Smitty  is  re- 
taliating by  refusing  to  dig  us  up  our  an- 
nual calendar  . . . And  speaking  of  calen- 
dars, you  must  see  the  lovelies  Ed  Mason 
has  passed  out  to  everybody  but  us  . . . Just 
to  give  you  an  idea,  Bert  Thomas  says 
sadly,  “Sure  she’s  a honey,  but  a fella 
wouldn’t  dare  take  it  home.” 

Dallas  Day,  Lou  Elman’s  veteran  booker 
at  RKO,  took  to  the  hospital  about  Janu- 
ary 5 . . . Joe  Behan,  we  believe,  from 
Warner’s  in  Minneapolis,  is  here  doing 
Dallas’  chores  for  him  temporarily.  Bill 
Evidon,  Columbia  office  manager  in  Min- 
neapolis, was  here  with  his  charmin’  bride 
of  eight  months  helping  the  Mel  Evidons 
celebrate  their  15th  anniversary  . . . 
Brother  Mel  says  the  visitors  billed  and 
cooed  all  over  the  place.  Boxoffice  & Co. 
celebrated  their  first  anniversary  January 
13  (writing  Boxoffice  copy). 

Francis  Kappler  is  known  to  West  End- 
ers  as  “Little  Brown  Eyes,”  and  we  offer 
the  following  jig-saw  pieces  for  you  to 
puzzle  together  for  yourselves:  Dick  Kap- 
pler, Bert  Thomas,  Jean  Post,  Sy  Harlan, 
one  stranger,  o:ie  cop,  one  taxi,  pie-eyed 
female,  “Little  Brown  Eyes,”  driving  east- 
west-north- south,  “You  Irish  (censored) ,” 
loss:  One  taxi  fare,  and  a listing  of  the 
above  names  (not  in  the  Blue  Book) . 

Joan  Baxter  is  the  new  face  replacing 
Dorothy  Hahn  at  Columbia  ...  Joe  Jacobs 
came  to  DM,  January  13,  to  confab  with 
Tri  and  Central  States  on  Columbia  prod- 
uct. You’ll  find  600  Paramount  Building 
occupied  once  again,  and  by  Pioneer  . . . 
Max  Facter  reopened  the  Pioneer  offices 
in  DM,  January  13  . . . Max  and  his  pretty 
new  bride  have  been  combing  the  town 
for  an  apartment  . . . they  say  they  can’t 
make  Grand  Avenue  and  still  keep  their 
four-month-old  cocker  spaniel  ...  so 
they’re  not  going  to  make  Grand  Avenue, 
and  they  told  the  apartment  owners  what 
they  could  do  with  their  old  apartments, 
too. 

We  sat  in  the  new  chairs  the  Iowa  Film 
boys  gave  lies  & McKinney  for  Christmas 
and  found  them  very  comfortable  ...  we 
saw  the  back  of  the  new  Iowa  Film  Steno’s 
head  but  got  no  further  because  that  new 
red  job  of  McKinney’s  sidetracked  our  at- 
tention. Georgia  Bricker’s  husband,  Mr. 
Bricker,  is  a member  of  the  National  Ama- 


(<  = D 

Bill  to  Tax  "Slot" 

Films  in  Iowa 

Des  Moines — Republican  State  Repre- 
sentative Lee  Hoegh  of  Chariton,  la.,  has 
already  revealed  plans  to  introduce  a 
bill  in  the  current  legislature  to  tax 
dime-in-the-slot  motion  pictures. 

Hoegh  would  tax  the  slot  machine  film 
devices  between  $100  and  $300  a year. 

He  says  initial  income  from  the  ma- 
chines indicates  that  such  a levy  would 
not  be  out  of  line. 

V 

teur  Magician’s  Ass’n,  so  the  Brickers  had 
the  Great  Lester  out  to  their  house  one 
evening  while  he  was  playing  the  Para- 
mount so  that  they  could  watch  him  make 
the  groceries  disappear. 

Boxoffice  & Co.  didn’t  have  their  bags 
unpacked  from  the  Mexico  trip,  before 
a wire  arrived  from  Universal  trying  to 
convince  them  they  should  desert  the  home 
fires  again  on  January  31  for  a week  in 
Miami,  Fla.,  to  see  “Back  Street”  pre- 
miered . . . it’s  no  dice  . . . this  may  be 
a dirty,  smoky  little  midwestern  town  to 
some  people,  but  it’s  home  sweet  home 
to  us  and  we  intend  to  spend  a little  of 
our  time  here.  Bernie  Evens  and  Gabe 
Yorke  did  some  telephoning  and  wiring 
about  the  Lincoln  premiere  of  UA’s  “Cheers 
for  Miss  Bishop,”  even  going  so  far  as 
to  think  we  might  charter  Andy’s  Stin- 
son for  the  trip  . . . but  Boxoffice  & Co. 
decided  working  was  still  enough  of  a 
novelty  to  be  fun  and  didn’t  fall  for  it. 
If  Hollywood  wants  to  give  the  press  a 
shot  in  the  arm,  somebody’s  going  to  have 
to  think  up  something  besides  a pre- 
miere with  hard  liquor  and  peroxide 
blondes  to  prod  the  pens  of  the  glutted 
newsmen. 

Tinkle,  tinkle  and  a pair  of  old  shoes 
(“It’ll  be  bong -bong  before  long,”  quips 
& Co.  with  near-poetic  cynicism) : George 
Lofink,  Chuck  Elder’s  one-time  booker  pal 
at  Lou  Levy’s  Universal  hangout,  married 
Charlene  Ruble  Clark  on  December  14  and 
the  news  was  just  announced  t'other  day 
. . . Guess  that  clips  Samson’s  curly  locks 
for  sure  . . . Adam  J.  Marchack,  one  of 
the  pitch-playing  Morrie  Smith’s  boys 
over  at  Film  Transportation,  was  given 
a life  sentence  by  Mary  Nichols  of  Knox- 
ville, Iowa.  January  12  . . . and  they  say 
Adam  took  it  like  a little  man. 

Milt  and  Louella  Goodman  spent  part 
of  the  holiday  season  with  Louella’s  folks 
in  Fairfield  and  the  rest  of  the  time  in 
New  Orleans  . . . Milt  met  with  a terrible 
catastrophe,  though  ...  he  went  to  the 
famous  Antoines  for  dinner  and  then  lost 
his  appetite  . . . the  7-buck  ante  put 
Milt’s  stomach  on  the  same  skids  it  slipped 
under  his  purse.  There  was  stomach  trou- 
ble in  the  Bing  Miller  family,  too  . . . 
Bing  drove  to  and  from  St.  Louis  with 
the  maid  while  Mrs.  Bing  flew  with  the 
Bingo  . . . Mrs.  Bing  was  air  sick  three 
times  going  and  coming  but  still  insisted 
she  enjoyed  every  minute  of  it. 

We  stopped  in  at  Republic  the  other 
day  to  find  Bud  Moran  on  the  sick  list 
. . . Maybe  Bob  Newman  will  be  sorry 
he  told  on  the  rest  of  the  boys  when  he 


Cheers  Over  Lincoln 
For  "Miss  Bishop" 


Lincoln — The  “cheers”  in  the  film, 
“Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop,”  rang  through- 
out Lincoln,  Tuesday,  when  Richard  A. 
Rowland,  the  producer,  brought  on  12 
players  from  Hollywood  with  the  film  for 
world  premiere  here. 

He  was  trailed  by  wire  across  half  the 
United  States  with  quotes  gleaned  from 
the  Hollywood  reviews,  all  of  which  voted 
heavily  for  the  film  in  its  press  prevue  on 
the  coast.  The  reception  in  Lincoln,  locale 
of  the  film  and  home  of  the  book’s  author, 
Bess  Streeter  Aldrich,  was  no  less  cordial. 

Three  people  from  the  picture’s  cast  were 
on  hand — William  Gargan,  Lois  Ranson 
and  Mary  Anderson.  In  addition,  there 
was  Irvin  S.  Cobb,  and  Neil  Hamilton,  who 
traded  off  in  the  job  as  master  of  cere- 
monies. Other  players  were  Wayne  Mor- 
ris, Martha  O’Driscoll,  Barbara  Pepper,  Al- 
bert Dekker,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Far- 
num,  and  the  director,  Tay  Garnett.  Gar- 
nett was  bedded  by  flu  immediately  upon 
arrival,  and  aside  from  appearing  on  a 
broadcast  with  Mrs.  Aldrich  and  Barney 
Oldfield,  former  Journal  columnist,  the 
night  before,  he  was  too  weak  to  make  the 
rest  of  the  festivities. 

Premieres  are  usually  taken  to  territory 
which  is  well  sunned,  but  this  one  came 
to  Lincoln  in  what  is  generally  figured  to 
be  the  dead  of  winter.  The  troupe  got  off 
the  train  in  sleet  and  ice,  with  a heavy 
fog  hanging  over  everything,  but  it  didn’t 
stop  the  civic  dads  who  had  prepared  for 
such  an  occasion.  Everything  was  roofed. 

About  2,500  people  were  stuffed  in  the 
interior  of  the  Union  Station,  8,000  yowled 
at  appearances  in  the  University  coliseum, 
500  were  packed  in  the  chamber  of  com- 
merce dining  room  for  the  luncheon,  1,000 
at  the  informal  tea,  400  at  the  banquet, 
and  two  theatres  full,  a total  of  more  than 
3,000  seats. 

Gabe  Yorke,  sent  in  by  Richard  A.  Row- 
land to  handle  the  local  promotion  for  the 
show,  did  a good  job.  He  was  assisted  by 
Bernie  Evens  of  the  St.  Louis  UA  office. 
Fred  Stanley  had  charge  of  arrangements 
on  the  coast. 

Picture  began  its  regular  run  at  the 
Stuart  on  Wednesday. 


Gets  “King's  Row" 

Hollywood — Casey  Robinson  will  adapt 
“King’s  Row,”  from  Henry  Bellaman’s 
novel,  for  Warner. 


hears  that  the  rest  of  the  boys  have  told 
on  him  . . . they  say  Bob’s  real  name  is 
“Axel.”  And  that  little  item  leads  right 
into  the  fact  that  a *&&</£$+"  so-a7id-so 
skidded  into  Cliff  Nolte  the  other  icy 
morning  and  busted  the  axle  of  his  car. 

Clyde  and  Ann  Pratt  are  Gramp  and 
Granny  now.  They  were  just  whizzing  off 
for  New  Orleans  when  they  heard  the  good 
word  . . . Emil  Franke  is  wife  hunting, 
we  hear.  He  lost  Vi  somewhere  between 
the  Goodmans,  the  Evidons,  the  Orpheum 
and  home  the  other  night.  The  last  we 
heard  he  expected  to  catch  up  with  the 
phantom  female  any  minute. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


42-C 


Boom  Looks  Like  Real 
McCoy  to  Cleveland 


Cleveland — That  boom  for  which  ex- 
hibitors have  been  straining  their  eyes  for 
the  past  five  years,  looks  like  it’s  just 
around  the  corner  if  last  week’s  attendance 
at  local  first  runs  portend  a trend. 

Glen  Gray  with  his  orchestra  and  a top- 
notch  vaudeville  bill  with  “Chad  Hanna” 
on  the  screen,  brought  big  crowds  to  the 
RKO  Palace,  while  “Comrade  X,”  which 
opened  New  Year’s  Eve  at  Loew’s  State  to 
the  biggest  business  in  four  years,  piled  up 
a pretty  gross  in  a 10-day  run.  Two  hold- 
overs, “Santa  Fe  Trail”  and  “Love  Thy 
Neighbor,”  gave  good  accounts  of  them- 
selves and  “Here  Comes  the  Navy”  was 
moderately  successful  at  the  Allen. 
Weather  was  spotty. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  10: 


(Average  is  100) 

Allen — Here  Comes  the  Navy  (WB),  reissue...  . 90 

Hippodrome — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN)  90 

Held  a second  week. 

RKO  Palace — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox)  135 

Stage  show  with  Glen  Gray  and  his  orchestra, 
plus  a strong  vaudeville  bill. 

State — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  200 

Played  10  days,  including  New  Year’s  Eve. 
Stillman — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t)  200 


Played  10  days  in  its  second  week  downtown. 
Move  over  from  the  State. 


An  Upward  Trend  Is 
Felt  in  Auto  City 

Detroit — Local  first  runs  have  settled 
back  to  normal  week  bookings  following 
the  holiday  break  in  schedules.  The  trend 
of  business  last  week  was  generally  up- 
ward, although  figures  were  below  totals 
of  the  previous  week,  which  included  New 
Year’s  Eve.  Weather  was  mixed,  with  sev- 
eral days  of  slight  snow  and  considerable 
frost  and  sleet  that  hurt  evening  business. 
Principal  opposition  was  from  the  Sonja 
Henie  show  at  the  Olympia,  which  started 
off  well  Tuesday  night  for  an  eight-day 
stand. 

Detail  for  week  ending  .January  9: 

(Average  is  100) 

Adams — Thief  of  Bagdad  (LTA),  16  days; 

Sandy  Gets  Her  Man  (Univ)  iso 

Fox — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox);  Tone  Wolf 

Keeps  a Date  (Col)  

'Hudson’s  Bay’’  moved  to  Adams. 

Michigan— Second  Chorus  (Paia't),  plus  stage 

show  headed  by  Rosemary  Lane  155 

Closed  January  7 after  seven  days.  "Chorus" 
moved  to  Palms-State. 

Palms-State — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para't),  after 
wk.  at  the  Michigan;  Texas  Hangers  Ride 

Again  (Para’t)  

United  Artists — Comrade  X (M-G-M);  Long 

Voyage  Home  (UA)  120 

Third  week  for  both;  "Comrade  X"  moved  to 
Palms-State. 

More  Normal  Trends 
Apparent  in  Cincy 

Cincinnati — Business  assumed  more  nor- 
mal trends  last  week,  and  while  grosses  at 
various  downtown  spots  remained  at  a 
fairly  even  keel,  all  first-runs  maintained 
a good  average.  The  weather  held  clear 
and  cold. 

“Love  Thy  Neighbor”  and  “Comrade  X” 
tied  for  top  honors  at  120  per  cent.  Both 
were  held  over.  “Santa  Fe  Trail,”  in  its 
second  week  here,  did  average  business, 
and  “Philadelphia  Story,”  in  its  fourth,  ran 
90  per  cent. 

At  the  RKO  Shubert,  Lupe  Velez  in  “The 


Mexican  Spitfire,”  dualled  with  a stage 
show,  “Streets  of  Paris,”  featuring  Sid 
Marion  and  Cliff  Hall,  ran  115.  Outstand- 
ing business  of  the  week  went  to  the  legit, 
John  Barton  in  “Tobacco  Road,”  which 
was  a sell-out  for  the  opening  perform- 


ance. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  9: 

(Average  is  100) 

Albee — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t)  120 

Held  over,  shifted  to  Keith’s. 

Capitol — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M) 110 

Second  week  at  “pop”  prices.  Held  for  third 
and  final  week. 

Grand — Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (UA)  115 

Held  over,  shifted  to  Lyric. 

Keith’s — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN),  2nd  wk 100 

Lyric — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M),  4th  wk. . . . 90 

Palace — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  120 

Held  over,  shifted  to  Grand. 

Shubert — Mexican  Spitfire  Out  West  (RKO)...  115 
Also  stage  show. 


" Arizona " Pittsburgh  Ace ; 
"Melody  Ranch"  Big 

Pittsburgh — “Arizona”  registered  50  per 
cent  above  average  in  its  first  week  at  the 
Senator,  and  “North  West  Mounted  Po- 
lice” finished  high  in  its  fifth  and  final 
week  at  the  Ritz.  Penn’s  “Love  Thy 
Neighbor”  was  an  average  grosser  and 
Gene  Autry’s  “Melody  Ranch,”  at  the 
Barry,  brought  the  “folks”  to  Penn  Ave- 


nue. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  1: 

(Average  is  100) 

Barry — Melody  Ranch  (Rep)  120 

Fulton — Bank  Dick  (Univ)  00 

Penn — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t)  100 

Ritz — North  West  Mounted  Police  (Para’t), 

5th  d.  t.  wk H5 

Senator — Arizona  (Col)  150 

Stanley — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN),  2nd  wk.,  5 days.  90 
Warner — Christmas  in  July  (Para’t);  Here 

Comes  the  Navy  (WB),  reissue  110 


Into  Barboursville 

Pittsburgh — Arthur  Crissman,  who  has 
transferred  the  Lyric,  Glenville,  W.  Va., 
to  John  Cook,  is  entering  exhibition  at  Bar- 
boursville, W.  Va.,  around  February  1. 

a = ■—  

Foreign  Films  Grow 
Scarce  in  Detroit 

Detroit — Foreign  pictures  have  been 
dropping  out  of  the  local  scene  more  and 
more  as  the  war  progresses. 

The  Cinema,  once  a foreign-language 
house,  now  occasionally  shows  a French 
or  other  type  of  foreign  film.  Russian  pic- 
tures have  been  out  here  for  some  time 
now. 

The  Europa  shows  nothing  but  German 
films,  and  has  managed  a regular  weekly 
change  of  bill. 

Polish  pictures,  once  an  important 
factor  here,  have  been  disappearing 
gradually.  Typical  is  the  situation  at  the 
Chopin,  run  by  the  Chargot  circuit.  A 
year  ago  this  neighborhood  house  ran 
almost  entirely  on  Polish  bills.  Now,  how- 
ever, such  films  are  hardly  available, 
and  in  consequence,  the  management  is 
booking  in  a few  revivals,  but  only  for 
Saturday  midnight  shows. 

VS ■ J 


ID)  E T R Cl M T 

C.  BEATTY,  Butterfield  president,  was 
host  to  a meeting  of  circuit  managers 
at  the  office  Tuesday  . . . Irene  Chargot, 
M.  J.’s  daughter,  busy  selling  encyclo- 
pedias out  at  the  Esquire  . . . Edgar  E. 
Kirchner  of  the  Family  was  busy  with  his 
annual  reports  and  the  auditor  . . . Mrs. 
Kirchner  is  able  to  sit  up  for  the  first 
time  after  her  recent  illness  . . . Sam  Gold- 
berg has  taken  over  sole  ownership  of  the 
Savoy,  in  which  he  was  formerly  a partner. 

Fred  Schader  has  been  handling  British 
War  Relief  publicity  from  a special  office 
in  the  Statler  Hotel  . . . Joseph  B.  Mitchell, 
who  recently  sold  the  Rec  to  I.  J.  London, 
has  gone  to  California  . . . Bill  Carlson  is 
newly -appointed  entertainment  chairman 
of  the  Caravan  Shrine  Club  (that  was  six 
other  clubs  you  heard  about  before). 

Joe  La  Rose,  manager  of  the  Roosevelt, 
off  to  New  York  to  see  about  a new  musi- 
cal film  production  . . . Jane  Firman,  late 
cashier  at  the  Madison,  has  turned  blonde 
and  moved  to  Healy’s  . . . Walter  Mayor, 
her  up-and-coming  boy  friend  at  the 
Adams,  wants  to  see  his  family  more  . . . 
F.  A.  Schneider  of  the  Stratford  in  a ten- 
gallon  sombrero  astride  Old  Dobbin.  We 
just  saw  his  picture  when  he  was  sheriff 
up  in  Otsego  county  . . . Joe  Mellon,  the 
premium-exhibitor,  scaring  up  news  . . . 
Tony  Cici  of  the  Schulte  circuit  tried  to 
buy  up  those  pictures  of  him  in  the  old 
booth. 

Sam  Ackerman  of  the  East  Side  has 
taken  back  the  Alvin  (formerly  the  Loyal) 
from  Dave  Flayer  of  the  Amo,  and  closed 
it;  he  plans  to  sell  . . . H.  Eddie  Stuckey 
of  Paramount  has  one  of  that  kind  of  first 
names  too.  It’s  “Hilland”  . . . Charlie  Sny- 
der, film  censor,  dropped  his  office  down 
tivo  floors,  next  door  to  Walter  Stebbins’. 

Twentieth-Fox  Notes:  A.  Krikorian  of 
the  Holly,  Holly,  in  to  see  the  boys  . . . Jim 
Olson,  distinguished  aviator  from  Clare,  on 
the  stairway  . . . Jack  Sturm  almost  in  hid- 
ing . . . Manager  Lester  Sturm  on  his  way 
out  in  no  hurry  . . . Helen  Rose  wondering 
how  to  fill  up  her  column  in  Fox  news  . . . 
Leo  Sanshie,  booker,  a victim  of  the  flu. 

Elton  Samuels  doubling  as  manager  of 
both  the  Chopin  and  the  Imperial  for  M. 
J . Chargot  . . . M.  C.  Callahan,  who  has 
had  realty  coiitrol  of  several  of  Detroit’s 
downtown  theatres  for  years,  has  been 
named  to  the  new  five-man  Detroit  board 
of  zoning  appeals. 


Latta  General  Chairman 
Of  Tent  No.  1 Banquet 

Pittsburgh — C.  J.  Latta,  Warner  cir- 
cuit executive  and  recently  retired  Va- 
riety chief  barker,  will  serve  as  general 
chairman  of  the  1941  banquet  of  the  No. 
1 tent,  succeeding  John  H.  Harris,  na- 
tional Variety  president,  who  has  al- 
ways served  in  this  capacity  in  the  past. 
The  latter  requested  to  step  aside  due  to 
business  demands. 


Sign  Lon  Chaney  jr. 

Hollywood — Universal  has  signed  Lon 
Chaney  jr.  to  a term  pact. 


44 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


CLEVELAND 

JTJVERETT  STEINBUCK,  manager  of 
Loew’s  State  Theatre,  departed  these 
shores  last  Sunday  for  a ten-week  stay  at 
Port  Lauderdale,  Fla.,  having  been  granted 
a leave  of  absence  to  take  care  of  some 
personal  affairs,  including  the  sale  of  a 
home  there.  During  his  absence,  his  place 
will  be  taken  by  Maurice  Druker,  assistant 
manager  of  Poli’s  in  Worcester,  Mass.  . . . 
“GWTW,”  which  opened  its  popular  en- 
gagement at  Loew’s  State  on  January  17, 
is  offering  four  shows  daily,  with  an  adult 
price  scale  of  40  cents  for  matinees  and  55 
cents  for  evenings.  First  show  starts  at 
9 a.  m.;  last  show  at  9 p.  m. 

H.  L.  Tracy  of  the  Temple,  Willard,  is 
back  from  a session  at  Hot  Springs,  Ark., 
and  not  so  happy.  Says  he  still  is  bothered 
with  arthritis  . . . S.  P.  Gorrell,  Republic 
branch  manager,  was  out  in  the  territory 
adding  that  personal  touch  to  the  sales 
situation  . . . Travelers:  M.  B.  Horwitz  is 
in  Miami  Beach  for  one  week,  but  he  is 
planning  a longer  sojourn  there  later  in 
the  season.  Paul  Gusdanovic  of  the  La- 
Salle, Avalon  and  Regent  theatres,  and 
Mrs.  Gusdanovic  are  leaving  on  January 
20  . . . Shandor  Klinger,  associated  with 
Morris  Berkowitz  and  Oscar  Stotter  in 
theatre  interests,  is  in  Florida  with  his 
daughter  and  her  family. 

Republic’s  “Melody  Ranch”  opens  at  the 
Alhambra,  January  23,  to  the  accompani- 
ment of  a big  publicity  campaign  now  in 
the  making,  plus  a bombardment  of  spot 
announcements  over  WGAR,  as  arranged 
by  Republic’s  A1  Gregg  . . . Sam  Schultz, 
Monogram  office  manager,  went  to  St. 
Louis  to  attend  the  company  get-together 
. . . For  thrills,  we  refer  you  to  the  local 
Monogram  exchange  where  Bela  Lugosi  in 
person  (almost)  is  on  hand  to  welcome  all 
comers. 

Ernest  Schwartz,  president  of  the  Cleve- 
land M.  P.  Exhibitors  Ass’n;  G.  W.  Erd- 
mann, secretary,  and  L.  B.  Baldwin,  trea- 
surer, were  named  delegates  to  attend  the 
chamber  of  commerce  legislative  dinner  in 
Columbus  last  Tuesday.  It  was  a goodwill 
tour,  to  establish  friendly  relations  between 
the  legislators  and  the  Cleveland  exhibitors 
. . . “Miss  L,”  secretary  to  CMPEA’s  sec- 
retary, George  Erdmann,  vjhose  real  name 
is  Rickie  Labowitch,  underwent  an  opera- 
tion at  Mt.  Sinai  Hospital  . . . Pete  Wood, 
ITO  secretary,  was  on  hand  for  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  CMPEA  Ass’n  last  Thurs- 
day and  exchanged  the  usual  compliments 
with  President  Ernie  Schwartz. 

PRC’s  Hollywood  sneak  premiere  of 
‘“Misbehaving  Husbands”  at  the  Lorain 
Fulton,  kept  a lot  of  people  out  way  past 
their  bedtime.  The  show  was  flashed  at 
the  conclusion  of  the  regular  program 
without  previous  warning,  and  not  only  did 
everybody  stay,  but  some  came  in  for  the 
new  picture  which  kept  ’em  laughing  until 
the  final  flash.  Reaction  cards  were  dis- 
tributed to  the  guests  and  now  PRC  is 
waiting  for  the  verdict  . . . George  Lefko, 
RKO  branch  manager,  has  no  hesitancy  in 
telling  you  that  “Kitty  Foyle”  had  the  big- 
gest opening  at  the  Palace,  Canton,  of  any 
preceding  RKO  picture. 

Welcome  home  to  Matt  Goodman,  United 
Artists  branch  manager,  who  has  been  away 


from  his  desk  too  long.  Goodman,  who  was 
taken  ill  about  ten  weeks  ago,  is  just  back 
from  Florida  where  the  sunshine  put  the 
finishing  touches  to  his  convalescence.  He 
looks  fine  . . . Joe  Leavitt,  who  has  been 
in  the  picture  field  for  36  years  and  as  one 
of  the  charter  members  of  the  local  opera- 
tors’ union  has  seen  a lot  of  pictures,  says 
he  has  watched  the  unfolding  of  “Bitter 
Sweet”  at  every  performance  shown  at  the 
Colony  where  he  is  now  in  charge  of  the 
booth.  “In  all  of  my  long  experience,”  says 
Joe,  “this  is  the  best  picture  of  its  kind  I 
have  ever  seen.”  And  praise  from  a pro- 
jectionist, is  praise  indeed. 

M.  M.  Jacobs  of  Imperial  Pictures  was 
picture-shopping  in  New  York  last  week 
. . . Warner’s  Colony  has  introduced  a new 
type  of  business-builder  and,  believe  it  or 
not,  it  is  a picture  and  not  a game.  Every 
Thursday,  the  Colony  is  featuring  a News- 
reel Hour  in  addition  to  its  regular  pro- 
gram. It  consists  of  three  newsreels  and 
is  devoted,  largely,  to  world  affairs  . . . 
Evalyn  Friedl,  secretary  to  Warner’s  zone 
manager,  Nat  Wolf,  is  vacationing  in  New 
York  . . . Variety  Legion  Post  held  a new 
membership  card  party  at  the  Variety  Club 
at  which  every  old  member  brought  a new 
member.  Arrangements  were  in  the  hands 
of  Aaron  Wayne,  head  of  the  entertain- 
ment committee. 

“Long  Voyage  Home,”  the  Walter  Wan- 
ger  production  released  through  U A,  won 
No.  1 spot  on  Plain-  Dealer  Critic  W.  Ward 
Marsh’s  list  of  “ten  best.”  Although  exhibi- 
tors are  afraid  the  masses  won’t  go  for  this 
artistic  production,  Loew  officials  report 
that  during  its  run  at  the  State,  business 
built  up  daily  . . . L.  G.  Baldwin,  CMPEA 
treasurer,  and  Mrs.  Baldwin  are  leaving 
next  week  for  California  . . . Bert  Steam, 
UA  district  manager  and  current  chief 
barker  of  the  Variety  Club,  has  inaugu- 
rated a series  of  weekly  Saturday  night 
entertainments  with  a dancing  teacher  on 
hand  to  conduct  classes  in  La  Conga  and 
La  Rhumba.  Proceeds  from  the  program 
will  go  to  buy  an  iron  lung. 


Prosperity  Seemingly 
Hurts  Small  Towns 

Detroit — Reports  coming  in  from  up- 
state show  generally  poor  pickup  after 
New  Year’s  in  the  smaller  towns.  With 
some  signs  of  revival  in  industrial  cities, 
reason  for  the  continued  depression  in 
smaller  places  remains  a bit  obscure,  but 
a checkup  with  individual  exhibitors,  oddly 
enough,  shows  that  poor  business  may  be 
a sign  of  prosperity. 

Typical  of  answers  on  this  problem  is 
that  reported  by  A.  Krikorian  of  the  Holly 
Theatre  at  Holly.  As  he  has  analyzed  the 
situation,  small  town  patrons,  and  es- 
pecially farmers,  have  a little  bit  more  to 
spend — and  want  to  spend  it  on  somewhat 
more  expensive  amusements  than  their 
own  small  town  theatre  at  20  or  25  cents. 
So,  they  go  out  to  beer  gardens  in  some 
cases,  and  in  others  drive  perhaps  25  miles 
or  more  to  the  nearest  city  to  see  a first 
run  show.  At  Holly,  for  instance,  Kri- 
korian finds  that  his  regular  patrons  are 
in  some  cases  going  over  to  Pontiac  to  see 
a show  and,  perhaps,  to  spend  otherwise  in 
the  big  city. 

This  condition,  generally  confirming  re- 
actions of  other  small  independents,  ex- 
plains one  source  of  improved  business  in 
the  larger  Michigan  cities,  although  it  is 
not  true  for  the  upper  part  of  the  state 
where  there  are  no  larger  cities.  In  any 
case,  small  town  exhibitors  continue  to 
report  poor  business. 


Ben  Voorheis 

Portsmouth,  Ohio — Ben  H.  Voorheis, 
for  many  years  identified  with  Portsmouth 
theatres,  died  recently  in  Columbus  after 
a lingering  illness.  His  wife  survives. 


Adapts  "District  Attorney" 

Hollywood— Eve  Greene  is  adapting 
“Mr.  District  Attorney”  for  Republic. 


ALVIN  THEATRE 

(Formerly  Loyal  Theatre) 

At  13805  Grand  River  Ave.  — Detroit 

SACRIFICE  FOR  CASH  I ! 

LOOK  IT  OVER  — NO  REASONABLE 
CASH  OFFER  REFUSED 

This  sale  includes  Theatre  Building  and  All  Contents,  consisting  of: 
New  RCA  Sound,  Simplex  Projectors,  450  Upholstered  American 
Seats,  New  Screen,  New  Drapes,  New  Front,  New  Automatic  Oil- 
Heating  Unit,  New  Carpets,  and  Complete  Office  Equipment.  En- 
tire house  has  been  completely  remodeled  and  renovated  within 
last  two  years. 

COMPLETELY  EQUIPPED  — READY  TO  OPEN 
See  Me  Personally  — or  Wire  — Don't  Write 

SAM  ACKERMAN 

2717  Gratiot  Ave.,  Detroit  Phone:  Fltzroy  4606 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


45 


CINCINNATI 


37  Opened,  Building  in 
Three  Mideast  States 


New  York — Thirty-seven  new  theatres 
were  either  opened  or  in  various  stages  of 
building  in  Ohio,  Pennsylvania  and  West 
Virginia  during  the  last  quarter  of  1940, 
it  is  revealed  in  a survey  made  by  Box- 
office  correspondents  in  key  centers  of 
those  states. 

The  details,  by  states,  follow: 

Ohio 

Cincinnati — Harold  Bernstein  will  build 
a new  theatre  on  Montgomery  Pike. 

Cleveland  — A newsreel  theatre  has 
opened  here. 

Columbus — The  new  Boulevard,  operated 
by  the  MacDonald  circuit  and  seating  900, 
has  opened. 

Dayton — A new  900-seat  theatre  is  ex- 
pected to  be  built  by  Nick  Schaeffer  and 
Mauri  White. 

Norwalk — Norwalk  Theatre  Corp.  has  let 
a contract  for  a new  theatre  costing 
$150,000. 

Stanford — Lincoln  Theatre  Co.  has  be- 
gun construction  on  a new  675-seat 
theatre. 

Toledo — The  new  Esquire,  900  seats,  will 
open  in  January. 

Toledo — A new  1,800-seat  theatre  is  re- 
ported for  this  city. 

New  Philadelphia — Shea  Theatres’  new 
house  will  be  called  the  Quaker.  It  costs 
$100,000  and  seats  800. 

Youngstown — Warner  officials  are  plan- 
ning a 1,000  seater. 

Winchester — Colonel  Lee  is  constructing 
a new  house. 

Pennsylvania 

Beaver  Falls — Hanauer  Enterprises  have 
opened  the  new  State.  It  seats  536. 

East  McKeesport  — N.  A.  Malanos’ 
Alpha,  equipped  with  RCA  sound,  has 
opened. 

Madera — Howard  J.  Thompson’s  new 
Madera  has  been  opened. 

Marienville — Harry  Batastini  will  build 
a 300-seat  theatre. 

Millroy — Theodore  Shiffer  will  shortly 
open  his  new  theatre.  It  will  seat  400. 

Nanty  Glo — Philip  LaMantia  will  short- 
ly open  a new  500-seat  theatre. 

New  Freedom — F.  S.  and  C.  F.  Secrist 
are  building  a new  491-seater. 

Pittsburgh — The  New  Park  has  opened. 

The  new  Penn  in  Mount  Pleasant  also 
has  opened. 

John  E.  Stahl  has  opened  his  new  house 
at  Homestead  Park. 

Warners  have  opened  the  new  Whitehall 
in  the  Brentwood  district. 

Stoneboro  — Mid-State  Theatres  have 
opened  the  Stone. 

Uniontown — The  Monessen  Amusement 
Co.  will  build  a 1,178-seat  theatre. 

Wilkes  Barre — The  Comerford  circuit  is 
considering  plans  for  a 1,000  seater. 

West  Virginia 

Boomer — Archie  Clemens  is  building  a 
new  theatre. 

Cedar  Grove — B.  H.  Palmer  plans  to  open 
his  new  theatre  shortly. 

Charleston — John  B.  Gardner’s  new  Vil- 
lage, seating  500,  has  opened. 

Dr.  Newboldt,  circuit  operator,  has  pur- 
chased a theatre  site  here. 

The  Aarons  have  opened  their  new  Sun- 
seat,  450  seats. 

Kenawha  City — John  Gardner  is  build- 
ing a new  theatre. 

Midkif — Lon  Spurlock  has  opened  his 
new  house. 

Cedar  Grove — Archie  Clemens  will  add 


(t~  ' ft 

At  Least  It's  Not 
A Larceny  Charge 

Detroit — Sneaking  into  a theatre  with- 
out paying  the  admission  charge  is  not 
larceny,  according  to  Recorder's  Court 
Judge  W.  McKay  Skillman,  but  His  Honor 
was  unable  to  say  just  what  kind  of  an 
offense  it  was. 

One  Henry  Gentry  was  apprehended 
at  the  Fox.  and  charged  with  petty  lar- 
ceny for  allegedly  entering  without  pay- 
ing admission,  but  the  court  held  there 
was  no  theft,  and  hence  no  larceny. 

At  last  report,  legal  authorities  were 
trying  to  find  some  other  charge  on  which 
to  prosecute. 

VS—  — V 

another  theatre  to  his  Black  Diamond  cir- 
cuit when  he  builds  one  here. 

Oceania — James  Roberts  has  a new  thea- 
tre in  construction. 

Pine  Grove — James  Work’s  new  house 
seating  480  has  opened. 

The  new  Pine,  operated  by  Walter  B. 
Urling,  has  opened. 

South  Charleston — The  new  LaBelle  of 
the  Southern  Alpine  circuit  has  opened. 

Zanesville  Promotions 
Announced  by  Hiehle 

Zanesville,  Ohio — E.  J.  Hiehle,  city 
manager  for  Shea,  has  completed  a shift 
in  personnel  at  the  company’s  five  local 
houses.  Hiehle  said  that  in  each  instance 
the  transfer  means  a promotion  for  the 
men  involved. 

Richard  Watkins,  formerly  house  man- 
ager of  the  Imperial,  has  been  named  as- 
sistant to  John  Woodward,  manager  of  the 
Weller,  replacing  Sanford  Rowlands,  who 
recently  was  transferred  to  Bradford,  Pa. 

Winston  Drake,  house  manager  of  the 
Grand  since  the  theatre  reopened  several 
years  ago,  moves  to  the  Imperial  in  the 
same  capacity. 

Robert  Polland,  who  advanced  from  an 
usher  at  the  Quimby  to  house  manager,  has 
been  promoted  to  house  manager  of  the 
Grand.  Ted  Hooper,  formerly  head  of  ser- 
vice at  the  Weller,  becomes  manager  of 
the  Quimby. 

Robert  “Buddy”  Wright,  employed  by 
the  late  Caldwell  Brown,  has  been  given 
new  responsibilities  under  the  new  setup. 
He  will  serve  as  house  supervisor  at  the 
Liberty. 


Oliver  Willett  on  Flying 
" Vacation  " to  Miami 

Elkton,  Mich. — Oliver  Willett,  who 
manages  the  Star-Elkton  here  for  William 
Schulte  and  who  has  the  Strand  at  North 
Branch,  is  on  a two-week  flying  tour  to 
Miami,  Fla.,  sponsored  by  Gulf  Oil,  in  a 
cub  plane  he  purchased  recently.  The  oil 
company  provides  the  gas  and  oil  for  the 
entire  trip.  It  is  Willett’s  first  “vacation” 
since  he  entered  the  theatre  business  six 
years  ago. 


pLANS  are  going  ahead  for  the  Cinema 
Club's  annual  dinner,  election  of  of- 
ficers and  drawing,  to  increase  the  Mutual 
Benefit  Fund.  The  party  is  to  be  held  in 
February  at  the  Variety  Club  . . . J.  J. 
Grady,  20th-Fox,  has  cause  for  rejoicing 
in  the  company’s  two  latest  releases,  “The 
Girl  in  the  News,”  and  “Tall,  Dark  and 
Handsome,”  both  exceptional  in  entertain- 
ment value  . . . L.  B.  Wilson,  Wilson  Thea- 
tres, Covington,  Ky.,  just  returned  from 
Florida  where  he  was  on  business,  is  leav- 
ing again  to  remain  in  the  southland  until 
May.  Wilson  recently  purchased  a South 
American  thoroughbred,  which  he  expects 
to  enter  in  the  1942  Kentucky  Derby  . . . 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maury  White  and  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Nick  Shaefer  are  in  New  York  on  a 
combined  business  and  pleasure  trip. 

Guy  Greathouse  of  the  Elliott-W ard  cir- 
cuit was  in  hooking  . . . R.  H.  Dunbar, 
Warner  branch  manager,  threw  a house- 
warming for  the  salesmen  and  their  wives 
at  his  new  apartment  . . . Jim  Shanklin,  a 
director  of  the  West  Virginia  Exhibitors 
Ass’n,  has  been  elected  a delegate  to  the 
house  of  representatives  in  his  home 
state  . . . Mrs.  Babe  Shanklin  and  Mrs. 
Dorothy  McQueen  spent  several  days  at 
the  Chicago  furniture  mart  where  Mrs. 
Shanklin  bought  new  items  for  her  home, 
one  of  the  most  attractive  in  Roncevert 
. . . L.  O.  Davis,  Hazard,  Ky.,  is  recuper- 
ating from  flu  which  confined  him  to  bed 
following  his  return  from  Florida.  The  epi- 
demic proved  serious  throughout  the  ter- 
ritory. One  thousand  cases  were  reported 
in  Hazard,  and  schools  in  Harland  were  or- 
dered closed  due  to  the  disease  . . . 
M-G-M’s  new  exchange  is  under  construc- 
tion, while  Universal’s  new  building  is  on 
the  up  and  up. 

Charles  Behlen  is  remodeling  his  Lin- 
coln at  Stanford,  Ky.  . . . Francis  White, 
Roxy,  Lockland,  returned  from  a three- 
week  stay  in  Florida  . . . Allan  Moritz  jr., 
son  of  Allan  Moritz  of  Columbia,  has  left 
for  Fort  Benning,  Ga.  He  is  a first  lieu- 
tenant in  the  medical  corps  . . . Eddie 
Novak,  Midwest  Theatre  Supply,  has  also 
been  ordered  to  report  for  duty  . . . W.  R. 
Shafer  will  open  his  new  theatre  at  Olive 
Hill,  February  15  . . . The  Midkif f Theatre, 
between  Huntington  and  Logan,  W.  Va., 
will  be  opened  by  Mrs.  Garnet  Spurlock, 
whose  husband  formerly  operated  a sub- 
sequent run  in  Chicago. 

Nat  Kaplan  of  PRC  announces  they 
have  taken  on  distribution  of  “The  Ma- 
rines Are  Coming,”  reissue,  for  the  mid- 
east territory.  PRC  reports  exceptional 
business  on  “Misbehaving  Husbands”  at 
the  RKO  Family  the  week  of  the  9th  . . . 
Visitors  included  Mrs.  Fon  Sexton  and  son 
of  Columbus  and  F.  J.  Murray,  Universal 
home  office  . . . Pride  of  the  force  is  Uni- 
versal’s drive  board,  ornamenting  the  foyer 
of  the  office  and  showing  the  local  boys 
fourth  in  the  Bill  Scully  drive  at  the 
present  time. 


Book  Ted  Weems 

Columbus — Ted  Weems’  orchestra  is 
booked  for  the  week  of  January  31  at  the 
Loew’s  Broad. 


46 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


THE  new  Vitagraph  exchange  is  now 

under  construction  on  Filmrow  at  the 
corner  of  the  Boulevard  of  the  Allies  and 
Miltenberger  St.,  across  from  the  Para- 
mount Bldg.  Steam  shovel  excavating  has 
been  completed  and  the  contractor  is 
working  on  the  foundation.  The  new  two- 
story  building  will  be  a modern  film  ex- 
change, with  general  booking  and  execu- 
tive offices  on  the  second  floor,  and  film 
vaults,  storage  and  shipping  departments 
on  the  street  floor  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Charles  E.  Warner  of  Bridgeport,  W.  Va., 
among  the  finest  of  the  younger  folks  in 
exhibition,  were  in  the  city  for  several 
days  booking  for  their  portable  circuit. 
They  are  adding  several  new  spots. 

Bill  Probst  of  the  Universal  exchange 
is  the  father  of  a son  born  Tuesday-a - 
week-ago  in  St.  John’s  Hospital.  It’s  the 
Probsts’  first  child  . . . Dorothy  Goldstein 
of  Paramount  is  vacationing  in  Florida 
. . . Fred  Meyers,  former  local  Paramount 
sales  representative  and  until  recently  a 
New  York  state  field  man  for  this  com- 
pany, will  make  his  future  home  in  Cali- 
fornia . . . Warner  neighborhood  thea- 
tres have  a tieup  with  a coffee  company 
whereby  two  evenings  each  week  a mobile 
recording  unit  rolls  up  to  one  of  the 
houses  and  stages  a quiz  show.  KDKA 
broadcasts  these  programs  and  individual 
records  are  then  sent  to  the  participants. 
Schedule  includes  stops  at  the  Plaza, 
January  21;  Rowland,  January  23;  Etna, 
January  28;  South  Hills,  January  30. 

Death  of  two  exhibitors  saddened  Film- 
row  last  week.  Sam  Neaman  of  the  Roxy, 
Natrona,  died  January  7,  at  the  Passa- 
vant  Hospital  here,  nearby  where  he  was 
born.  A former  concessionaire,  he  had 
entered  exhibition  eight  years  ago  in  Na- 
trona. Sam  was  “one  of  the  boys”  in 
film  and  theatre  circles  and  he  will  be 
missed.  Surviving  are  his  widow,  Mrs. 
Anna  Neaman,  and  brothers  Morris,  Abe 
H.  and  Benjamin  R.  Neaman,  and  sisters 
Mrs.  Bessie  Lipman  and  Mrs.  Pauline 
Granovitz.  Lou  Padolf,  former  local  RKO 
salesman  and  now  an  exhibitor  in  Par- 
kersburg, W.  Va.,  is  a brother-in-law. 
Funeral  was  from  the  Blank  Bros.  Home 
January  8 and  interment  was  in  Gates 
of  Wisdom  Cemetery  that  afternoon  . . . 
John  B.  “Pop”  Kane,  Pitcairn  exhibitor 
for  18  years,  passed  away  Wednesday 
evening,  January  8,  in  Columbia  Hospital. 
He  had  suffered  a stroke  a week  before. 
“Pop”  was  admired  and  loved  by  all  who 
knew  him  and  he  will  be  sadly  missed  on 
Filmrow,  where  he  was  a regular  visitor 
several  times  weekly. 

When  the  general  assembly  convened 
in  regular  session  last  week,  the  list  of 
principal  appointees,  subject  to  senate 
action,  included  the  name  of  John  H. 
Harris,  local  theatre  executive,  reappointed 
by  Gov.  Arthur  H.  James  as  a member  of 
the  board  of  Western  Penitentiary  . . . 
Wallace  Held,  formerly  of  the  Fulton  house 
service  staff,  is  the  new  assistant  mana- 
ger at  the  Barry  . . . Lieut.  Jerry  M. 
Roth,  son  of  the  Penn  Ave.  exhibitor,  now 
at  Schuylkill  Arsenal,  Philadelphia,  will  go 
to  Camp  Lee  in  March  . . . Charles 
(Little  Chuck)  Stein,  19 -year-old,  four- 
foot,  56-pound  receptionist  in  the  Harris 


Smoky  City  Visitor — 

Sabu,  star  of  “The  Thief  of  Bagdad,” 
a visitor  in  Pittsburgh  in  connection 
with  the  opening  of  this  production  at 
Loew’s  Penn,  is  pictured  here  ivith  Abe 
Weiner,  United  Artists  branch  man- 
ager. 


Amusements’  office,  is  the  official  mascot 
of  the  Hornet  hockey  outfit.  He  wears 
a Hornet  uniform  with  the  numeral  “y2” 
on  the  back,  and  is  a camera  fiend. 

Mark  Goldman  has  some  special  re- 
cordings of  Edith  Fellows’  songs  from  her 
Monogram  hit,  “Her  First  Romance.”  This 
company  will  distribute  a Technicolored 
documentary  subject,  “Cavalcade  of 
Texas,”  which  was  exhibited  at  the  New 
York  and  San  Francisco  World's  Fairs  . . . 
Both  the  Dennis  King  and  the  Joe  Penner 
shows  canceled  local  Nixon  bookings  . . . 
A purse  containing  money  and  valuable 
articles  was  snatched  from  Miss  Sadie 


Kelly,  RKO  cashier,  when  she  departed 
from  the  exchange  after  working  hours 
one  evening  last  week.  The  two  young 
thieves  got  away  with  the  loot  although 
she  put  up  a fight. 

A flu  wave  has  closed  many  West  Vir- 
ginia schools  and  has  cut  into  theatre 
business  in  the  Mountain  State  . . . James 
G.  Balmer,  Harris  circuit  executive,  has 
been  in  St.  Francis  Hospital  for  an  ex- 
tensive checkup  . . . Nathan  M.  Katz, 
AMPTO  counsel,  was  chairman  of  this 
week’s  conference  of  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania Council  of  B'nai  B’rith  . . . Mrs. 
Sarah  Schu,  who  died  last  Thursday,  was 
the  mother  of  Helen  Schu  of  20 th-Fox, 
Marie  and  Esther,  of  Vitagraph,  and 
Louise,  until  recently  employed  by  Repub- 
lic. Funeral  services  were  held  Sunday 
afternoon  and  interment  was  in  Zim- 
merman’s cemetery. 

Ira  H.  Cohn,  20th-Fox  manager,  has  re- 
turned from  a vacation  at  Miami  Beach 
...  A new  crop  of  Lilliputians — and  two 
elephants  (so  they  say) — are  being  fea- 
tured on  the  Stanley  stage  this  week.  Those 
elephants  would  have  interested  Sabu,  who 
was  here  last  week  in  advance  of  the  open- 
ing of  “The  Thief  of  Bagdad.”  Singer’s 
Midgets  was  one  of  the  standard  acts  for 
years  and  the  new  company  should  find 
large  audiences  awaiting  their  appearance 
. . . Ken  Dawson’s  Victoria,  Gallitzen;  Joe 
Shapiro’s  Shapiro,  Mount  Union,  and  Harry 
Rachiele’s  Gem,  Derry,  are  sporting  new 
Artkraft  marquees.  W.  R.  Stich  and  E.  A. 
Hill  of  Artkraft  were  in  for  the  Burtus 
Bishop  jr„  testimonial  banquet. 

Archie  Fineman  and  Michael  N.  Shapiro 
were  “kings”  at  the  Variety  dinner  Janu- 
ary 13  . . . Harry  Seed’s  suntan  isn’t  quite 
the  “honey”  it  was  last  winter  for  the  rea- 
son that  the  season  “isn’t  so  hot”  in  Flor- 
ida and  additionally,  he  was  there  for  a 
shorter  period  this  time  ...  A Sun-Tele- 
graph editorial  the  other  day  reiterated 
this  statement:  “The  Golden  Triangle  has 
deteriorated  in  recent  years.  One  hundred 
thousand  fewer  people  come  downtown 
daily  than  10  years  ago.” 


At  the  Bishop  Testimonial  Banquet— 

A scene  at  the  dinner  given  by  members  of  the  local  trade  for  Burtus  Bishop 
jr.,  former  Metro  manager  in  Pittsburgh,  on  his  departure  for  Kansas  City 
to  assume  his  new  role  as  a district  manager.  Left  to  right:  C.  J . Latta,  War- 
ner circuit  executive;  Bishop;  C.  C.  Kellenberg,  Variety  Club  chief  barker, 
and  Bryan  D.  “Buck”  Stoner,  new  Metro  Pittsburgh  manager. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


47 


LOUISVILLE 


JOHNSON  MUSSELMAN  is  back  at  the 

Rialto  after  a serious  illness.  He  was 
in  the  hospital  for  11  days  with  pneu- 
monia, and  his  friends  are  sure  glad  to  see 
him  back  on  the  job.  A.  B.  McCoy  pinch 
hitted  for  him  during  his  absence  . . . Ira 
B.  Dyer,  who  formerly  owned  the  Uptown 
at  Tompkinsville,  Ky.,  is  back  in  the  thea- 
tre business  again,  having  purchased  the 
Ritz  at  Burksville  from  Haskell  Nivens. 
The  new  Sparks  at  Tompkinsville,  Ky., 
built  by  M.  H.  Sparks  and  owned  by  the 
Mid-State  Theatre  Co.,  is  scheduled  to 
open  next  week.  R.  A.  Jones  is  handling 
the  Ritz  at  Burksville  for  Dyer. 

Due  to  illness,  W.  C.  Durham  has  sold 
his  Majestic  at  Beaver  Dam,  Ky.,  to  Andy 
Anderson  who  also  owns  theatres  at  Hop- 
kinsville, Hodgenville,  and  Hartford.  Dur- 
ham has  moved  to  New  Jersey  for  his 
health , and  his  many  friends  throughout 
the  territory  will  miss  him. 

W.  R.  Shafer,  who  operates  theatres  at 
Morehead  and  Grayson,  Ky.,  has  opened 
the  New  Theatre  at  Olive  Hill,  Ky.  This 
is  a new  house  built  by  Shafer.  The  new 
Bell  at  Pineville,  owned  by  Dr.  J.  B.  Cornn 
and  W.  H.  Gaddie,  is  scheduled  to  open 
within  the  next  week.  The  building  is  a 
modern  theatre  and  includes  the  latest 
equipment  available. 

Visitors  to  the  city  included  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Louis  Wiethe  of  the  Kentucky,  La- 
tonia;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  N.  Miles,  Eminence, 
Eminence,  Ky.;  C.  D.  Arnold  and  Walter 
Cisco  of  the  Crystal,  Bardstoum,  Ky.;  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  W . R.  Shafer  of  Morehead,  Ky.; 


B.  J.  Curry,  Strand,  Horse  Cave;  M.  H. 
Sparks,  Sparks,  Tompkinsville. 

Business  at  local  theatres  got  back  to 
normal  again  after  the  holidays.  The 
openings  had  been  moved  to  Tuesday  for 
the  holiday  business  and  now  they  are 
back  to  their  regular  Friday  openings  . . . 
Business  has  been  on  the  increase  all  over 
the  city  due  to  the  expansion  and  erection 
of  many  new  defense  plants  . . . The  ush- 
ers’ strike,  which  had  been  on  for  two 
weeks,  has  been  settled. 

Robert  Holtrey  has  reopened  the  Lyric 
at  Waterloo,  Ind.  . . . Bruce  Aspley  is  im- 
proving his  projection  at  both  his  Plaza 
and  Trigg  theatres  in  Glasgow,  Ky.  . . . The 
Four  Star  Dixie  in  Fort  Mitchell,  Ky.,  has 
been  opened  by  John  Loofborow,  J.  M. 
Luhn  and  J.  E.  Crawford.  They  also  oper- 
ate theatres  in  Cheviot,  Ohio  . . . Don  Le- 
Brun  is  reported  building  a new  400-seafer 
in  South  Whitley,  Ind. 

The  Columbia  Hall  Theatre,  which  has 
been  operating  off  and  on  for  several 
months  with  pictures  and  roadshows,  is 
being  considered  as  a site  for  a recrea- 
tion center  for  soldiers  stationed  at  Fort 
Knox.  The  building  houses,  besides  the 
theatre,  a ballroom,  bowling  alleys  and  a 
billiard  parlor. 

New  RCA  sound  has  been  installed  by 
the  Settos  circuit  in  their  Cine  at  Linton, 
Ind.,  and  Ritz,  Boonville,  Ind.  . . . Claude 
L.  Plater  has  installed  new  lamphouses  in 
his  Tivoli  at  Spencer,  Ind.  . . . Bill  Floreke 
has  reopened  the  Elnora,  Elnora,  Ind., 
after  some  remodeling . The  house  has  been 
closed  for  some  time. 


Toledo  Local  Retains 
Its  Official  Slate 

Toledo — IATSE  Local  228  has  re-elected 
all  officers.  Edward  Boza  is  serving  his 
fourth  term  as  president;  Thomas  Irvins 
his  fifth  as  business  agent. 

Others  re-elected: 

Leslie  Moorhead,  vice-president;  Joseph 
Seligman,  financial  secretary;  Carl  Koch, 
recording  secretary;  V.  E.  Hostetter,  cor- 
responding secretary,  and  William  Leutz, 
treasurer.  A.  L.  Minter  was  named  ser- 
geant-at-arms. 

Ct  ft 

Cohens  Gave  Penner 
His  First  Break 

Detroit — The  death  of  Joe  Penner 
brought  back  memories  to  many  Detroit 
filmites.  Joe  was  a Detroit  boy,  as  the 
obituaries  made  very  plain,  and  re- 
membered that  fact  in  his  last  personal 
appearance  here  a few  years  back. 

He  started  his  stage  career  in  local 
amateur  shows,  and  gave  Ben  Cohen, 
now  sojourning  in  Miami,  and  his  brother, 
Lou,  credit  for  his  first  real  break  in 
show  business  at  the  old  Coliseum,  now 
slated  to  be  demolished  for  a housing 
project. 

^ — V 


Detroit  Subsequent  Runs 
Give  Product  Extra  Time 

Detroit — With  stronger  pictures  hitting 
the  second  and  subsequent  runs,  circuit 
operators  are  tending  to  hold  them  for  ad- 
ditional playing  time,  continuing  the 
phenomenon  that  marked  first  run  book- 
ings for  the  past  two  months  when  three 
pictures  went  five  weeks  simultaneously 
among  the  five  first  run  houses. 

Typically,  this  week  United  Detroit  cir- 
cuit held  over  “Hit  Parade  of  1941”  for 
two  extra  days  at  both  the  Regent  and 
Annex,  while  “North  West  Mounted  Po- 
lice,” out  at  the  Birmingham,  operated  by 
the  same  circuit  in  a special  zone  follow- 
ing first  runs  because  of  its  distance  from 
Detroit,  was  held  over  for  three  extra  days. 

Preparing  Wilson  for 
" Fantasia " Showing 

Detroit — “Fantasia”  is  slated  to  open 
here  early  in  February  at  the  Wilson,  which 
has  been  dark  since  the  Shuberts  gave  up 
their  musical  comedy  season  last  fall. 
House  will  remain  under  the  management 
of  Fred  Schader,  formerly  of  the  Fox. 

“Fantasia”  engineers  have  been  in  town 
for  the  past  week  working  on  installation 
of  special  sound  and  other  equipment  re- 
quired, and  definite  opening  date  was  de- 
pendent upon  when  this  work  was  com- 
pleted. 


C(  - 

Act  to  Regulate  Film 
Vending  Machines 

Cincinnati — Saul  M.  Greenberg,  attor- 
ney, has  presented  to  the  city  council  a 
petition  signed  by  50  theatre  managers, 
including  RKO  Theatres,  asking  that  it 
regulate,  license  and  tax  new  motion 
picture  vending  machines.  The  petition 
cites  the  investment  in  theatres  and 
urges  the  city  to  aid  in  maintaining  the 
high  standards  as  offered  by  motion  pic- 
ture exhibitors  here. 

The  petition  has  been  referred  to  the 
law  committee,  and  is  expected  to  be  re- 
turned to  the  council  within  the  week  for 
further  action,  according  to  Greenberg. 

tv  j 

Differ  in  Cleveland 
On  '10  Best'  Films 

Cleveland — Choice  of  the  10  best  pic- 
tures of  the  year  always  reveals  that  un- 
known quality — the  personal  equation.  So 
we  have  decided  differences  of  opinion 
by  the  local  motion  picture  critics.  You 
may  agree  with  W.  Ward  Marsh  of  the 
Plain  Dealer,  or  with  Arthur  Spaeth  of  the 
News,  or  with  neither  of  them.  At  any 
rate,  here  they  are: 

W.  Ward  Marsh,  The  Plain  Dealer: 

1.  The  Long  Voyage  Home. 

2.  Grapes  of  Wrath. 

3.  The  Great  Dictator. 

4.  Dr.  Ehrlich’s  Magic  Bullet. 

5.  The  Great  McGinty. 

6.  Mortal  Storm. 

7.  Foreign  Correspondent. 

8.  Rebecca. 

9.  I Love  You  Again. 

10.  Howards  of  Virginia. 

Arthur  Spaeth,  reporting  city-wide  poll 
in  The  News: 

1.  Grapes  of  Wrath. 

2.  Rebecca. 

3.  Foreign  Correspondent. 

4.  Mortal  Storm. 

5.  Boom  Town. 

6.  All  This,  and  Heaven  Too. 

7.  Our  Town. 

8.  Abe  Lincoln  in  Illinois. 

9.  Knute  Rockne — All-American. 

10.  My  Son,  My  Son. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  Spaeth’s 
list  is  the  result  of  a city-wide  poll  and  re- 
flects an  audience  choice.  Marsh’s  list,  on 
the  other  hand,  was  chosen  deliberately  as 
to  types.  Marsh  departed  from  the  usual 
manner  of  selection  by  giving  signal  honor 
to  the  best  picture  of  each  type  of  produc- 
tion. 


New  Albion  Blatt  Unit: 

Will  Close  Old  House 

Albion,  Pa. — The  new  theatre  under 
construction  here  for  the  Blatt  Bros.,  will 
be  ready  for  opening  the  first  week  in 
February.  The  house  has  been  named  the 
Perry  in  honor  of  Admiral  Perry,  who  was 
a native  of  the  community.  William  Gould 
of  the  Blatt  circuit  has  been  named  house 
manager.  When  the  Perry  is  opened,  the 
Blatt’s  Albion  here  will  be  closed  and  dis- 
mantled. 


48 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


Cleve  and  Beechwold  Are 
Taken  Over  by  Wiethe 

Columbus — Local  theatrical  circles  were 
informed  Monday  that  Louis  J.  Wiethe, 
young  Cincinnati  exhibitor,  had  taken  over 
operations  of  the  Cleve  and  Beechwold, 
both  neighborhood  houses  formerly  units 
in  the  MacDonald  circuit.  Former  is  a 
three-year-old  700-seater,  latter  an  800- 
seat  house  scheduled  to  open  in  about 
three  weeks. 

Wiethe  owns  and  operates  in  the  Queen 
City  area  the  Derby,  Roselawn,  Kentucky, 
Bond  and  Westwood  theatres. 

For  the  time  being,  buying  and  booking 
for  the  two  houses  will  be  handled  by  Mrs. 
C.  A.  MacDonald  and  Bill  Queen  of  the 
MacDonald  circuit. 


Special  Production  for 
" Protective " Society 

Pittsburgh — Monarch  Pictures,  Inc.,  un- 
der the  direction  of  Danny  Davis  and 
J.  A.  Logan,  will  make  a special  three- 
reel  production  for  the  First  Aid  Ambu- 
lance Corps,  a women’s  organization  for 
protection  of  U.  S.  citizens  in  case  of 
aggression.  An  all-local  cast  will  be  se- 
lected, according  to  Mrs.  Ellen  A.  Webb, 
organizer  of  the  corps  which  now  claims 
more  than  2,000  members.  Davis  and 
Logan  also  will  produce  a newsreel  of 
activities  of  the  corps. 


Lena  Stillwell  Announces 
1,000-Seater  in  Bedford 

Bedford,  Ohio — Mrs.  Lena  B.  Stillwell, 
owner  of  the  Bedford,  plans  to  build  a 
new  1,000-seat  theatre  here  this  spring. 
The  new  building  will  have  two  stores  in 
addition  to  the  auditorium.  Plans  have 
been  prepared  by  Paul  Matzinger,  Cleve- 
land architect.  The  project  will  cost  ap- 
proximately $65,000.  It  is  Mrs.  Stillwell’s 
plan,  at  present,  to  operate  both  houses, 
confining  the  old  house  to  a weekend 
policy. 


A Tieup  With  4-H  Clubs 
For  Republic  Picture 

Cleveland — A1  Gregg,  publicity  director 
here  for  Republic,  has  worked  up  a suc- 
cessful publicity  campaign  for  exhibitors 
playing  Republic’s  “Barn  Yard  Follies.’’ 

Gregg  has  effected  a tieup  with  the  4-H 
Clubs  of  Ohio  of  which  there  are  40  with  a 
membership  of  1,200  in  Cuyahoga  county 
alone.  In  “Barn  Yard  Follies,”  4-H  Clubs 
are  publicized  for  the  first  time. 

(t~  v~  "ft 

" Santa  Fe"  Sets 
Mark  in  Canton 

Canton — “Santa  Fe  Trail/'  originally 
booked  into  Warner's  Ohio  here  for  a 
week  opening  New  Year's  Eve,  was  held 
over  through  January  13,  to  establish  a 
new  house  record  for  the  past  10  years, 
Dick  Wright,  Warner  district  manager,  in- 
forms Bill  Harwell,  manager  of  the  Ohio. 

*fc======  ->J 


(< - ■ ===?> 

: ", Letter " Under  Fire  : 

^ — == v 

Pittsburgh  — Following  complaints  of 
several  exhibitors,  James  H.  Alexander, 
Republic  manager  here,  issued  the  follow- 
ing statement  regarding  a merchant  tieup 
reportedly  approved  by  him  on  certain  Re- 
public stars: 

“A  Mr.  Arthur  Levin,  who  supposedly 
represents  the  Metro  Publicity  Co.  of  New 
York  and  also  the  National  Flag  Institute 
of  New  York,  has  in  his  possession  a let- 
ter apparently  signed  by  me  recommend- 
ing his  ‘Lone  Ranger’  and  ‘Gene  Autry’ 
suits  to  the  exhibitors  of  this  territory.  I 
am  now  advised  by  several  responsible  ex- 
hibitors, and  am  told  other  ones  signed  up 
for  these  deals,  that  the  merchants  were 
solicited,  paid  out  money,  the  checks  were 
cashed,  the  date  for  the  deal  arrived — but 
no  deal. 

“If  anyone  solicits  you  using  any  letter 
signed  by  me,  please  first  call  me  on  the 
telephone  for  confirmation.” 


Banyen  Realty  Building 
North  Dayton  Theatre 

Dayton — Erection  of  a 1,100-seat  neigh- 
borhood theatre  in  North  Dayton  is  an- 
nounced by  the  Banyen  Realty  Co.  The 
theatre  is  a part  of  a $150,000  business 
section  to  be  constructed  near  the  600- 
family  low-rent  federal  housing  project  on 
a portion  of  old  McCook  field.  Construc- 
tion of  the  business  block  will  begin  im- 
mediately. Razing  of  a 14-room  residence 
now  on  the  estate  is  scheduled  to  begin 
this  week.  The  theatre  is  expected  to  be 
ready  for  occupancy  about  June  1,  the 
approximate  date  of  the  completion  of 
work  on  the  low-rent  housing  project. 


Cleveland  First  Run 
For  " Melody  Ranch " 

Cleveland — The  first  run  date  for  “Mel- 
ody Ranch”  has  been  set  for  January  23 
at  the  Alhambra.  Nat  Lefton,  Republic 
manager,  said  that  newspaper  announce- 
ments of  Autry’s  first  place  in  the  Box- 
office  BAROMETER  poll  on  western  ac- 
tors had  prompted  many  requests  for 
availabilities  on  the  picture. 


Anas  Improves  State 

Weirton,  W.  Va. — The  State  here  is 
being  newly  decorated  and  draped  and 
new  stage  curtains  are  being  installed 
for  N.  G.  Anas.  A marquee  was  recent- 
ly installed  at  the  State  and  the  Anas, 
which  was  formerly  known  as  the  Manas. 
Decorating  job  was  directed  by  William 
Naidenoff. 


Gets  Autry  Painting 

Pittsburgh — A striking  oil  painting  of 
Gene  Autry  and  Champ,  his  horse,  has 
been  presented  to  James  H.  Alexander,  Re- 
public Pittsburgh  manager,  by  the  local 
artist,  A1  Corbett.  The  portrait  is  dis- 
played at  the  Republic  office.  Corbett  is 
a former  employe. 


Heart  Attack  Fatal  to 
John  B.  “Pop1'  Kane 


Pittsburgh — John  B.  Kane,  veteran  ex- 
hibitor at  Pitcairn,  died  last  Wednesday 
at  Columbia  Hospital,  Wilkinsburg,  as  the 
result  of  a heart  attack.  He  was  in  his 
65th  year. 

“Pop”  Kane,  as  he  was  known  in  the 
trade,  had  visited  Filmrow  the  day  he 
was  stricken.  Until  that  time,  he  had 
never  been  seriously  ill,  members  of  the 
family  said.  He  had  operated  the  Nemo, 
Pitcairn,  for  18  years. 

Surviving  are  Mrs.  Ellen  Kane,  widow, 
and  son  William  E.  Kane,  and  daugh- 
ters Mrs.  Betty  Snyder  and  Mrs.  Jessie 
Morris.  Funeral  services  were  held  Sun- 
day afternoon. 


Not  a Single  Bowler 
Hits  a 200  Score 

Detroit — For  the  first  time  in  recent 
seasons,  the  Film  Bowling  League  went 
through  a session  without  a single  roller 
hitting  the  200  mark.  UA  went  ahead  last 
week  to  grab  off  first  place  from  Republic 
in  the  only  real  upset. 

Standings: 


Team — 

United  Artists  

Won 

37 

34 

Lost. 

23 

26 

26 

Cooperative  

Film  Drug-  

29 

Film  Truck  

27 

33 

Monogram  

27 

33 

Amusement  Supply  

26 

34 

20tli -Fox  

24 

36 

Donates  Two  Projectors 
To  Variety  of  Detroit 

Detroit— Walter  R.  Stebbins,  owner- 
manager  of  the  Film  Exchange  Building, 
has  donated  two  new  Simplex  projectors 
to  Detroit  Variety  Club  to  be  used  for  the 
club’s  mobile  equipment.  This  replaces 
older  equipment  which  is  taken  out  for  an 
average  of  three  shows  weekly  for  shut- 
ins. 

The  gift  was  made  by  Stebbins  in  mem- 
ory of  his  son,  Richard,  who  passed  away 
last  year. 


Burlesquer  Quits  Quickly 

Canton — After  two  and  a half  weeks  of 
burlesque,  the  Grand  here  has  been  shut- 
tered with  no  immediate  prospect  of  re- 
opening. Jimmy  Walters  was  producer. 


Markson  on  "Smiling  Ghost" 

Hollywood — Ben  Markson  will  script 
“Smiling  Ghost,”  from  the  Stuart  Palmer 
original,  for  Warner’s. 

C<  ii 

Bishop  Party  Swells 
Club  Charity  Fund 

Pittsburgh — Approximately  $500,  pro- 
ceeds from  the  testimonial  banquet  to 
Burtus  Bishop  jr.,  has  been  turned  over 
to  the  local  Variety  Club  charity  fund  at 
Bishop's  request.  The  former  Metro 
manager  has  been  promoted  to  district 
manager  in  Kansas  City. 

^ >J 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  18,  1941 


49 


Hlfomiion  BUREAU 


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MT191  Effect  Lighting  Devices 


USE  THIS  COUPON 

IF  WHAT  YOU  WANT  ISN'T  LISTED,  ASK  FOR  IT  BY  NAME 
UNDER  "REMARKS" 


MT192  Elec.  Measuring  Instruments 

MT193  Engines,  Diesel 

MT194  Fluorescent  Lamps  and  Fixtures 

MT195  Gelatine  Sheets 

MT196  Incandescent  Lamps 

MT197  Lighting  Fixtures 

MT198  Lighting  Plants,  Emergency 

MT199  Cove  Lighting 

MT200  Reflectors 

MT201  Reflector  Lamps 

MT202  Spot  and  Flood  Lamps 

MT203  Spot  and  Flood  Lights 

MT204  Storage  Batteries 

MT205  Switches,  Safety 

MT206  Switchboards 

MT207  Transformers,  Neon 


MAINTENANCE 


MT210  Bolts,  Expansion  and  Toggle 

MT211  Carpet  Spotting  Compounds 

MT212  Drills,  Rotary 

MT213  Fire  Extinguishers 

MT214  Fireproofing  Compounds 

MT215  Gum  Removers 

MT216  Safety  Ladders 

MT217  Seat  Patching  Kits 

MT218  Seating  Repairs 

MT219  Vacuum  Cleaners 


MT270  Rheostats 

MT271  Safety  Devices 

MT272  Slide  Projectors 

MT273  Sound  Projectors,  35mm 

MT274  Sound  Projectors,  16mm 

MT275  Stereoptlcons 

MT276  Tool  Kits 


SANITATION 


MT285  Cleansing  Compounds 

MT286  Deodorants  and  Disinfectants 

MT287  Flush  Valves 

MT288  Hand  Driers,  Electric 

MT289  Insecticides  and  Germicides 

MT290  Odor  Absorbers 

MT291  Ozone  Generators 

MT292  Paper  Towels  and  Cabinets 

MT293  Perfumes 

MT294  Plumbing  Fixtures 

MT295  Sanitary  Supplies 

MT296  Soaps  and  Cleansers 

MT297  Suction  Cleaners 

MT298  Washroom  Accessories 


SOUND 


MISCELLANEOUS 


MT225  Coin  Changing  Machines 

MT226  Fireproof  Safes  and  Files 

MT227  Music  Stands 

MT228  Organs,  Electric 

MT229  Popcorn  Machines 

MT230  Popcorn  & Confection  Supplies 

MT231  Staff  Uniforms 

MT232  Tickets 

MT233  Ticket  Machines 

MT234  Water  Coolers 


MT305  Amplifiers 

MT306  Amplifier  Tubes 

MT307  Hearing  Aids 

MT308  Horn  Lifts  and  Towers 

MT309  Intercommunicating  Systems 

MT310  Lamps,  Exciter 

MT311  Lens  Assemblies,  Sound 

MT312  Microphones 

MT313  Photoelectric  Cells 

MT314  Public  Address  Amplifiers 

MT315  Public  Address  Systems 

MT316  Radio  Tubes 

MT317  Record  Reproducers 

MT318  Sound  Equipment,  Complete 

MT319  Sound  Heads 

MT320  Sound  Service,  Contract 

MT321  Speakers 


The  MODERN  THEATRE 

Room  334  — 332  S.  Michigan  Ave. 

Chicago,  111.  1-18-41 

Please  obtain  for  me  free  descriptive  literature  on  the  following 
items.  (List  Key  Numbers  Below). 


Remarks: 


Name  

Theatre  

City  State 


PROJECTION 


MT240  Booth  Doors  and  Ports 
MT241  Carbon  Savers 
MT242  Carbon  Waste  Cans 
MT243  Change-Over  Devices 
MT244  Condensing  Lenses 
MT245  Dowsers 
MT246  Film  Cabinets 
MT247  Film  Cement 
MT248  Film  Handling  Devices 
MT249  Film  Preservatives 
MT250  Film  Reels 
MT251  Film  Rewinders 
MT252  Fire  Shutters,  Projection 
MT253  Intermittent  Movements 
MT254  Motion  Picture  Screens 
MT255  Motor  Brushes 
MT256  Motor-Generators 
MT257  Portable  Sound  Projectors 
MT258  Projection  Arc  Lamps 
MT259  Projeetion  Lenses 
MT260  Projection  Slides 
MT261  Projector  Carbons 
MT262  Projector  Parts 
MT263  Projector  Pedestals 
MT264  Rectifiers,  Bulb  Type 
MT265  Rectifiers,  Copper-Oxide 
MT266  Rectifiers,  Copper-Sulphide 
MT267  Reel-End  Signals 
MT268  Reflector  Equipment 
MT269  Rewind  Tables 


STAGE  EQUIPMENT 


MT330  Costumes 

MT331  Curtain  Controls 

MT332  Curtain  Tracks 

MT333  Stage  and  Effect  Lighting 

MT334  Stage  Hardware 

MT335  Stage  Rigging 

MT33G  Stage  Scenery 


STRUCTURE 


MT340  Architectural  Service 

MT341  Facing  Materials,  Exterior 

MT342  Flashed  Opal  Glass 

MT343  Flooring  Materials 

MT344  Glass  Blocks 

MT345  Insulation  Materials 

MT346  Metal  Trim  and  Mouldings 

MT347  Pipe  Hangers  and  Brackets 

MT348  Plate  Glass 

MT349  Steel  and  Iron  Roofing 

MT350  Steel  and  Iron  Sheet  Metal 

MT351  Structural  Glass 

MT352  Theatre  Fronts,  Porcelain 

MT353  Theatre  Fronts,  Structural  Glass 

MT354  Wood  Veneers 


50 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


Haggle  Over  Admissible 
Evidence  in  Waldo  Suit 


(r 

Would  Ease  Strict 
Vaude  Regulations 

Boston — Slackening  oi  Sunday  vaude- 
ville regulation  in  the  Bay  state  would 
go  into  effect  under  the  terms  of  a pro- 
posed law  filed  in  the  state  legislature 
by  Thomas  J.  Lane  of  Lawrence. 

Sunday  stage  shows  in  the  Bay  state 
are  at  present  stringently  restricted  by 
bluenose  laws,  many  of  them  coming 
into  existence  about  the  same  time  as 
the  once-enforced  regulation  that  made 
it  a criminal  offense  for  a man  to  kiss 
his  own  wife  on  the  Sabbath. 

Vaudevillians  may  not  dance  on  Sun- 
days here,  although  dancing  is  legal  in 
churches.  No  blackface  may  be  used, 
not  even  by  Negroes. 

IS  = —>J 

Welansky,  Broidy  at 
Monogram  Meeting 

Boston — Plans  for  the  annual  “March 
for  Monogram”  sales  drive  to  be  officially 
launched  February  22,  were  discussed  in 
St.  Louis  last  Saturday  where  Ben  Welan- 
sky, local  franchise  owner,  and  Steve 
Broidy,  newly-installed  national  sales  man- 
ager, were  among  those  laying  out  the 
schedule.  Broidy  previously  won  several  of 
these  competitions.  The  drive  will  run  for 
seven  weeks,  terminating  April  11. 


Kelly  to  Beletsky 

“At  the  time  we  made  the  deal  with 
you  for  this  year’s  product  for  your  various 
towns,  the  question  came  up  relative  to 
protection,  and  our  agreement  was  what- 
ever towns  we  had  sold  prior  to  making 
the  deal  with  you  and  which  conflict  with 
your  protection  setup,  particularly  in  the 
Maine  territory,  the  protection  on  such 
towns  would  stand  as  originally  sold. 

“Your  Mr.  Govan  called  us  on  the  ’phone 
and  said  that  it  was  his  understanding 
that  Rockland  was  to  have  protection  over 
Waldoboro.  Now,  we  sold  Waldoboro  much 
earlier  than  we  sold  you  in  Rockland,  and 
that  was  one  of  the  towns  where  the 
protection  was  to  stand  as  originally  sold 
as  opposed  to  your  protection  in  Rock- 
land which  you  receive  from  national  dis- 
tributors. Mr.  Govan  wants  definite  pro- 
tection over  Waldoboro  which  we  cannot 
give  him  this  season. 

“Will  you  kindly  correct  Mr.  Govan’s 
attitude  in  this  situation  as  he  has  noti- 
fied us  that  unless  we  give  him  protec- 
tion in  Rockland  over  Waldoboro,  he  will 
not  play  any  of  our  pictures.  I told  him 
that  it  would  be  agreeable  to  us  to  have 
Rockland  play  day  and  date  with  Waldo- 
boro, as  that  is  the  agreement  we  made 
with  Waldoboro  previous  to  closing  the 
deal  for  Rockland. 

“Many  thanks  for  your  kind  coopera- 
tion in  this  matter.” 


Boston — Disputes  as  to  the  extent  of 
evidence  admissible  in  the  plaintiff’s  at- 
tempts to  prove  alleged  conspiracy  in  the 
anti-trust  suit  brought  by  the  Waldo  The- 
atre Corp.  against  the  late  Joseph  Dondis 
et  ah,  broke  out  afresh  as  hearings  in  the 
litigation  continued  before  a master  in  the 
Federal  Bldg. 

“Apparently  it  is  the  view  of  the  de- 
fendants,” George  S.  Ryan,  plaintiff’s  at- 
torney, summed  the  matter,  “that  if  a con- 
spiracy is  alleged  relating  to  a particular 
situation  or  a particular  group  of  states, 
that  evidence  to  show  that  conspiracy  can- 
not be  admitted  unless  that  evidence,  at 
that  particular  time,  refers  to  the  specific 
situation  or  group  of  states. 

“I  have  no  doubt  that  under  the  new 
rules  a pleading  alleging  a conspiracy 
which  did  damage  to  this  plaintiff,  with- 
out any  of  these  allegations  that  have  been 
put  into  the  complaint  as  to  the  scope  of 
the  conspiracy,  would  state  a good  cause 
of  action  under  the  anti-trust  laws  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  new  rules.  I do  not 
conceive  that  if  a plaintiff  made  such  an 


Beletsky  to  Kelly 

“Excuse  my  delay  in  replying  to  your 
letter  of  the  16th  regarding  the  matter  of 
our  protection  at  Rockland  over  Waldo- 
boro. 

“Although  I would  indeed  desire  to  co- 
operate with  you  in  the  matter,  our  part- 
ner, Mr.  Dondis,  at  Rockland  absolutely 
refuses  to  play  any  pictures  in  Rockland 
which  may  play  Waldoboro  day  and  date 
or  ahead  of  him.  I am  sure  you  realize, 
Bill,  that  Waldoboro  is  direct  opposition 
to  Rockland. 

“If  this  specific  matter  was  brought 
up  when  we  set  the  deal,  I would  have 
advised  you  along  the  above  lines.  If  you 
could  not  get  them  in  at  Rockland  ahead 
of  Waldoboro,  I would  not  have  been  able 
to  sign  the  contract.  I am  wondering  if 
you  can  arrange  to  play  your  pictures  at 
Waldoboro  after  Rockland  as  all  other 
distributors  are  doing  at  the  present  time. 
I am  sure  the  exhibitor  in  question  should 
not  hold  your  exchange  as  the  one  excep- 
tion regarding  the  availability  of  his  prod- 
uct at  Waldoboro. 

“If  you  cannot  do  anything  in  this  mat- 
ter, I am  afraid  we  will  not  be  able  to 
use  your  product  at  Rockland,  consider- 
ing the  instructions  that  we  have  re- 
ceived from  our  partner,  I would  appre- 
ciate your  checking  into  this  matter 
further  and  see  what  can  be  accomplished.” 


allegation  that  he  would  be  limited  in  his 
proof  to  things  that  directly  affected  him. 

“As  Judge  Peters  has  ruled,  the  plaintiff 
is  entitled  to  show  conspiracy  as  a whole, 
even  though  he  may  be  damaged  by  only 
one  part  of  it.  Now,  in  showing  the  con- 
spiracy as  a whole  we  are  entitled  to  show 
the  history  of  this  industry  and  the  rela- 
tions of  these  parties.  And  the  evidence 
can’t  be  so  strictly  limited  as  the  defend- 
ants would  like  to  have  it,  particularly 
when  we  say  that,  for  example,  in  this 
document,  the  provision  in  regard  to  pro- 
tection is  very  closely  similar,  if  not  iden- 
tical, with  the  provision  in  regard  to  pro- 
tection which  was  read  by  Mr.  McClennen 
last  Friday,  I think.  We  say  that  these 
distributors  and  producers  have  their  main 
offices  in  New  York.  The  exhibitors  have 
their  main  offices  in  New  York. 

“They  deal  with  each  other,  and  have 
for  many  years  been  in  the  custom  of 
dealing  with  each  other  in  units.  Like  Fox 
dealing  with  Paramount,  or  Metro  or  Loew’s 
dealing  with  another  corporation.  And  it 
is  our  contention  that  evidence  to  show  the 
relations  of  the  parties  to  each  other,  and 
the  existence  of  a general  conspiracy  to 
restrain  trade  is  admissible  to  show  the 
existence  of  a conspiracy  by  which  the 
plaintiff  was  injured.  That  is,  the  plain- 
tiff being  injured  by  a certain  part  or 
portion  of  that  conspiracy. 

Counter  by  McClennen 

“Conspiracy  as  a crime  doesn’t  defer 
from  any  other  crime  so  far  as  the  rule 
of  evidence  is  concerned,  that  you  can’t 
show  the  crime  in  question  before  the 
court  by  showing  the  commission  of  other 
crimes,”  Edward  F.  McClennen,  Paramount 
counsel,  countered,  adding  “Of  course, 
there  is  no  civil  case  here  unless  such  a 
crime  is  shown. 

“It  is  true  that  if  a particular  con- 
spiracy is  shown,  that  a person  may  have 
suffered  damage  from  only  one  branch  of 
that  conspiracy  which  didn’t  directly 
touch  the  plaintiff,  may  be  shown.  But 
that  is  not  any  conspiracy  except  the  con- 
spiracy alleged.  The  distinction  is  well 
brought  out  by  what  Mr.  Caskey  has 
pointed  to.  If  there  was  a conspiracy  be- 
tween these  distributors  and  these  ex- 
hibitors named  in  the  suit,  which  was  as 
wide  as  New  England,  it  would  be  some- 
thing that  would  be  material  in  deter- 
mining whether  the  plaintiff  was  dam- 
aged by  that  conspiracy;  and  something 
that  tended  to  show  that  conspiracy — if  it 
didn't  directly  affect  the  plaintiff — might 
be  shown. 

“But  it  cannot  be  shown,  in  order  to 
lead  to  the  conclusion  that  there  was  a 
conspiracy  as  to  New  England  with  these 
other  defendants,  that  some  of  those  de- 
fendants entered  into  a conspiracy  in  re- 
straint of  trade  in  California,  or  outside 
of  New  England.  That  is,  such  evidence 
is  not  admissible  to  you  as  an  analogy  for 
the  purpose  of  showing  an  adulterous  dis- 
position. 

“It  is  admissible  only  where  the  par- 
ticular thing  has  some  indication  of  being 
(Continued  on  page  53) 


tr  — — — =s> 

: Offers  Letters  as  Exhibits  : 

vfc= — = - JJ 

Boston — Two  letters  directly  involving  theatres  operated  by  the  Waldo  Theatre 
Corp.  were  offered  by  George  S.  Ryan,  plaintiff's  attorney,  as  exhibits  at  hearings 
last  week  in  connection  with  the  anti-trust  suit  brought  by  the  theatre  corpora- 
tion against  the  late  Joseph  Dondis,  et  al.  Ojie,  dated  Jan.  16,  1937,  was  from 
William  P.  Kelly,  at  preseiit  a Universal  salesman  and  then  branch  manager  here 
for  the  company,  to  Phil  Seletsky,  M&P  Theatres  Corp.  booker.  The  other  was 
Seletsky’s  reply.  They  appear  below: 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


NE 


51 


"Kitty”  and  " Comrade ” 
Are  Strong  in  Hub 


Boston — Good  show  weather  plus  name 
attractions  made  it  a strong  first-run 
week  here  despite  legions  of  absentees 
because  of  a wave  of  colds  and  grippe 
which  has  closed  numerous  schools  and 
which,  according  to  the  superintendent 
of  schools’  figures,  had  15  per  cent  of  the 
entire  Boston  enrollment  out  last  week. 
“Kitty  Foyle”  held  over  and  “Comrade  X” 
went  an  additional  four  days. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  9: 


(Average  is  100) 

Fenway — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t);  Lady 

With  Red  Hair  (WB),  2nd  run ..110 

Keith  Memorial — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  Saint  in 

Palm  Springs  (RKO),  held  over 170 

Loew’s  Orpheum — Comrade  X (M-G-M);  Gal- 
lant Sons  (M-G-M)  135 

Loew’s  State — Same  as  Orpheum 115 

Metropolitan — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN);  Night  at 

Earl  Carroll’s  (Para’t) 150 

Paramount — Same  as  Fenway 105 


" Second  Chorus " Leads 
New  Haven  First  Runs 

New  Haven — New  Year’s  Eve  shows  were 
good-to-excellent,  but  only  the  Roger  Sher- 
man is  computed  in  the  week’s  take,  other 
local  first  runs  playing  single  perform- 
ances on  the  occasion.  New  Year’s  Day 
saw  crowds  exceeding  last  year.  Ideal 
weather  was  a contributing  factor  to  the 
increase  in  business. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  8: 

(Average  is  100) 

College — Arizona  (Col) ; Ellery  Queen,  Master 


Detective  (Col),  8 days,  2nd  wk 110 

Loew-Poli — Comrade  X (M-G-M);  Jennie  (20th- 

Fox),  8 days  130 

Paramount — Second  Chorus  (Para’t);  Murder 

Over  New  York  (20th-Fox),  8 days 185 

Roger  Sherman — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN);  She 

Couldnt’  Say  No  (FN) 155 

Eight  days,  plus  midnight  show. 


Barrows  Again  Named 
Local  182  President 

Boston — The  re-election  of  Thad  C. 
Barrows  to  the  presidency  of  operators’ 
Local  182,  marked  the  Academy  of  Mo- 
tion Picture  Arts  and  Sciences  member’s 
24th  year  of  organization  leadership  and 
his  30th  year  as  an  official  of  the  local 
IATSE  affiliate. 

Bernard  McGaffigan  was  elected  vice- 
president,  as  all  regular  officers  were  swept 
in.  Joseph  Rosen  became  treasurer  for 
1941;  Albert  R.  Moulton,  financial  secre- 
tary; and  James  Burke,  business  repre- 
sentative. Sergeant-at-arms  is  James 
O’Brien.  The  executive  committee,  in 
which  there  were  no  changes,  is  again 
comprised  of  Louis  Pirovano,  John  Diehl 
and  Joseph  Nuzollo. 


Beal  Will  Expound  on 
" How  to  Be  a Critic " 

Boston — “How  to  Be  a Critic”  is  the 
theme  of  a university  extension  course  here 
supervised  by  George  Britton  Beal,  mo- 
tion picture  editor  of  the  Boston  Post. 
Beal,  handling  a series  of  15  lectures  which 
was  to  have  begun  Friday,  plans  to  cover 
the  following  subjects:  “The  Rules  and 
Purposes  of  Criticism,”  “The  Difference 
Between  Objective  and  Suggestive  Criti- 
cism,” and  “Acting  for  Screen  and  Stage.” 


0 ft 

: NEW  HAMPSHIRE  : 

- - — j 

J^OBERT  J.  SHARBY,  21-year-old  Grove- 
ton  theatre  manager,  is  one  of  the  lat- 
est volunteers  for  military  service  from  the 
Draft  Board  No.  1 district  . . . The  Strand, 
Manchester,  is  giving  star  photos  to  chil- 
dren at  Saturday  afternoon  shows.  When 
the  full  set  of  10  is  assembled,  a free  show 
ticket  is  awarded. 

Walter  Young,  owner  of  Farmington’s 
Strand,  who  has  been  laid  up  with  neu- 
ritis, is  reported  to  be  improving  . . . Forty 
persons  participated  in  a big  amateur  show 
staged  at  the  Palace  in  Manchester,  Janu- 
ary 8,  with  Danny  Sullivan,  professional 
master  of  ceremonies  from  Boston,  of- 
ficiating. Cash  prizes  were  awarded. 

The  Strand  in  Dover  sponsored  a con- 
test to  determine  the  two  most  popular 
students  at  Dover  High  School.  Michael 
Mone,  1940  football  captain,  and  Marilyn 
Clark  copped  the  honors. 

Mel  Morrison,  manager  of  the  Strand 
in  Dover,  has  retired  as  president  of  the 
Dover  Retail  Merchants’  Ass’n,  but  was 
named  as  secretary  of  the  organization. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ansel  Sanborn  were  in 
Gov.  Robert  O.  Blood’s  party  at  the  third 
inauguration  of  President  Roosevelt.  San- 
born, who  operates  Carroll  county  film 
theatres,  is  a member  of  the  governor’s  ex- 
ecutive council. 

Edward  L.  Moody  of  Tamworth,  who 
took  films  for  Paramount  while  with  the 
second  Byrd  Antarctic  Expedition,  is  one  of 
the  latest  selectees  to  be  inducted  into 
military  service  in  this  state.  With  his  dog 
team,  he  mapped  out  locations  for  the  ad- 
vance bases  established  by  the  expedition. 


Only  One  of  42  Gets 
Censorial  Scissors 

Boston — Only  one  motion  picture  out  of 
42  presented  got  the  censorial  scissors  last 
week  in  the  Bay  State.  Marcel  Mekel- 
burg’s  and  Sam  Levine’s  “Sensation”  was 
removed  of  “damn”  in  several  places  in 
the  fifth  and  sixth  reels.  Among  films 
okayed  were  Harry  Asher’s  “Misbehaving 
Husbands,”  Warner’s  “Honeymoon  for 
Three,”  and  the  Universal  brevity,  “Beat 
Me,  Daddy,  Eight  to  the  Bar.” 

Eugene  M.  McSweeney,  commissioner  of 
public  safety,  made  “Invitation  to  a Mur- 
der” official  for  Sunday  showings  in  Mas- 
sachusetts under  the  revised  title  “Flight 
From  Destiny.” 

George  Raft  and  20  other  vaudeville 
acts  were  accorded  Sunday  permits.  Six 
other  routines  were  ordered  to  comply 
with  recommended  modifications,  while 
Billy  and  Edith  Hervey  were  refused  an 
okay. 


■pHEATRE  folks  around  town  were  sur- 
prised by  the  news  that  Ruth  Snelter, 
Park  City  cashier,  and  William  Nielsen, 
Hippodrome  doorman,  were  secretly  mar- 
ried last  August  . . . Earl  Robichaud  has 
succeeded  George  Downs  as  usher  at  the 
Globe  . . . Sympathy  to  Dan  Ritchelli, 
Colonial  manager,  whose  father-in-law 
was  killed  by  an  automobile  in  New  Haven 
. . . Kay  Oleynick,  Hippodrome  cashier, 
and  John  Musante,  projectionist  at  the 
same  theatre,  have  announced  their  en- 
gagement . . . Michael  Jacobson,  Strand- 
Palace  manager,  is  back  on  the  job  after 
an  illness  . . . Manager  Samuel  Haddle- 
man  of  the  Capitol  hopes  to  be  off  for 
Miami  by  the  first  of  February. 

Harry  F.  Shaw  and  Lou  Brown  were  in 
from  New  Haven  to  attend  a chamber  of 
commerce  luncheon  . . . Two  weeks  notices 
were  given  at  the  Lyric,  but  later  recalled 
. . . New  seats  have  been  installed  at  Sam 
Haddleman’s  Capitol  . . . Mrs.  Al  Schuman 
is  back  from  a trip  to  Hartford  . . . Ameri- 
can Manager  Michael  Carroll  and  his  wife, 
Marjorie,  were  guests  at  a house  party  in 
Stratford  . . . Agnes  Connolly,  Majestic 
relief  cashier,  is  back  on  the  job  after  an 
illness  . . . Harry  Rose  of  the  Globe  guested 
the  Post-Telegram  newsboys  for  “Behind 
the  News”  . . . “Santa  Fe  Trail”  did  extra- 
ordinary business  here  at  the  Warner. 

Lew  Harmon,  press  agent  recently  in 
Guilford,  has  joined  the  Sam  Harris  pub- 
licity staff  in  New  York  . . . Al  Smith,  man- 
ager of  Jacques  in  Waterbury,  was  a visi- 
tor and  announced  he  has  opened  a sec- 
ond theatre  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.  . . . Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Al  Schuman  of  the  Black  Rock 
entertained  at  their  home.  Among  the 
guests  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Ger- 
maine of  20th  Century-Fox  . . . Athan 
Prakas,  Rivoli  owner,  spends  most  of  his 
time  these  days  with  his  ear  glued  to  the 
radio  to  get  the  latest  news  from  the  Greek 
war  front  . . . Manager  Morris  Rosenthal 
of  the  Majestic  screened  “Land  of  Lib- 
erty” for  civic  and  patriotic  groups  . . . 
Ruth  Sidney,  Ann  Carney  and  Dorothy 
Peddle  were  in  New  Haven. 

Max  Rudnick  and  Jay  J . Hornick  were 
in  the  city  for  a Lyric  checkup  . . . Jimmy 
Dorsey  paid  a $50  reward  to  the  finder  of 
a case  of  music  which  he  lost  while  playing 
a personal  appearance  at  the  Lyric  . . . 
Mary  Zrelack,  American  cashier  who  has 
been  ill  with  a heavy  cold,  has  recovered 
. . . William  Amidon  of  the  Majestic  ser- 
vice staff,  also  serves  as  assistant  swim- 
ming coach  at  Central  High  School  . . . Pat 
McMann,  owner  of  the  State,  New  Britain, 
is  back  from  a trip  to  Miami  . . . Manager 
Ernie  Gracula  of  the  State,  Torrington, 
was  in  the  city  to  visit  his  parents. 

Loew-Poli  Projectionist  James  Leverone 
and  his  wife,  Jen,  are  back  from  Florida. 
Mrs.  Leverone  is  much  improved  in  health 
and  hopes  soon  to  be  able  to  return  to  her 
position  as  Loew-Poli  cashier  where  she  is 
veteran  of  Loew  cashiers  here  . . . Morris 
Rosenthal  has  decided  to  forego  this  usual 
trip  to  Florida  this  winter  and  hopes  to  get 
to  Missouri  in  the  early  spring  to  visit  his 
brother. 


52 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


Trade  Friends  Honor  Admissibility  of  Evidence 
Thomas  Donaldson  Waldo  Hearing  Snag 


New  Haven — Trade  friends  from  New 
York,  Boston  and  Providence,  as  well  as 
from  New  Haven,  attended  the  testimonial 
dinner  here  Tuesday  at  the  Hotel  Taft 
for  Thomas  G.  Donaldson,  who  is  leaving 
the  local  M-G-M  exchange  after  three  and 
one-half  years  to  become  exchange  head  in 
Boston  for  the  company. 

Maurice  N.  Wolf,  Metro  district  manager 
in  Boston,  was  toastmaster,  and  speakers 
included  Walter  Higgins,  Herman  Rifkin, 
Ben  Simon,  Harry  Shaw,  Hy  Fine,  Joseph 
Stein  and  Morey  Goldstein,  who  succeeds 
Donaldson  as  New  Haven  manager  for 
Metro. 

Dr.  Jacob  Fishman  presented  the  hon- 
ored guest  with  a scroll  and  radio-Victrola, 
and  during  the  evening  a number  of  con- 
gratulatory telegrams  to  Donaldson  were 
read,  including  one  from  the  governor  of 
New  Hampshire. 

A round  of  cocktails  preceded  the  din- 
ner. 


Donaldson  Attends  Fete 
For  Morey  Goldstein 

New  Haven — Thomas  J.  Donaldson,  New 
Haven  branch  manager  for  Metro,  recently 
promoted  to  Boston;  Milton  Hyams  and 
Morton  Katz,  Metro  salesmen,  and  George 
Weber,  checking  supervisor,  attended  the 
farewell  testimonial  dinner  in  Boston, 
Tuesday  in  honor  of  Morey  Goldstein, 
Boston  salesman  who  is  taking  over  in  New 
Haven  as  Metro  branch  head. 

Theatre  Accident  Suit 
Involved  Paint  Firm 

New  Haven — Ashton  LeGates  asks  $10,- 
000  from  A.  L.  Schneider  Co.,  a local  paint 
firm,  in  a new  type  of  theatre  accident  suit 
which  is  being  prepared  for  the  January 
term  of  superior  court. 

LeGates  charges  the  defendant  sold  some 
paint  to  the  Connecticut  Theatrical  Corp., 
which  owns  and  operates  the  Roger  Sher- 
man here.  The  theatre  company  applied 
the  paint  to  the  sidewalk  and  curbing  in 
front  of  the  theatre  which,  LeGates  claims, 
caused  the  walk  and  curb  to  become  slip- 
pery and  dangerous  and  caused  him  to 
fall  and  suffer  serious  injuries. 

The  paint  company  is  charged  with 
negligence  in  that  it  “sold  the  paint  to  the 
theatre  company  and  warranted  it  would 
dry  in  four  hours  not  warning  that  it  might 
actually  take  longer  so  that  precautions 
might  have  been  taken.” 

Educational  Counsellor 
For  Ascap  in  Address 

New  Haven — Prof.  S.  Stephenson  Smith, 
educational  counsellor  for  Ascap,  author 
and  theatre  critic,  spoke  at  Albertus  Mag- 
nus College  here  on  “Broadway  Tackles 
Politics.”  The  lecture  was  one  of  a series 
Professor  Smith  is  giving  throughout  the 
country  before  school  and  club  audiences 
while  he  makes  for  Ascap  a first-hand  in- 
quiry into  regional  and  campus  activities 
in  the  creative  and  interpretative  arts. 


(Continued  from  page  51) 
a part,  however  distant,  of  the  conspir- 
acy alleged.  Now  there  is  nothing  what- 
ever in  this  paper  that  is  offered  that 
has  the  remotest  tendency  to  show  any 
part,  however  remote,  of  the  conspiracy 
which  is  alleged.” 

John  Caskey,  20th-Fox  attorney,  object- 
ed to  the  admission  of  an  agreement  be- 
tween Warner  Bros.  Pictures  and  Skouras’ 
Theatre  Corp.  for  licensing  of  films  for 
23  seasons  beginning  with  1929-30.  Caskey 
took  exception  to  the  proved  exhibit  as 
being,  in  his  ranking,  “an  isolated  instance, 
occurring  12  years  ago,  relating  to  the  ex- 
hibition of  first-run  pictures  in  what  was 
then  the  fourth  largest  city  in  the  United 
States.  All  of  this  is  predicated  upon  Mr. 
Ryan’s  repeated  assertion,  but  not  yet  sub- 
stantiated by  any  proof,  that  the  provi- 
sions he  refers  to  are  unusual  preferences. 
I think  argument  can  be  made  that  they 
are  unusual  obligations.  There  is  no  sug- 
gestion in  this  case  that  plaintiff  had  at- 
tempted to  license  pictures  from  any  of 
the  distributors  on  any  terms  as  to  which 
there  was  a dispute,  other  than  the  dis- 
pute as  to  when  he  should  get  the  pic- 
tures. 

“It  is  not  suggested  that  the  plaintiff 
has  brought  us  into  court  because  of  not 
granting  him  the  right  to  reject  westerns 
or  to  reject  foreign  pictures.  It  isn’t  said 
that  there  is  any  complaint  here  at  all 
about  those  things.  There  is  no  complaint 
on  the  part  of  the  distributors  that  the 
plaintiff  had  agreed  that  if  he  erects  a 
new  first-run  theatre  in  Waldoboro  he 
will  give  us  the  same  general  representa- 
tion as  he  now  gives  us  in  the  Waldo  The- 

(t  ft 

: NEW  BRITAIN  : 

■■  — j 

^ICK  SHEA,  usher  at  the  WB  Strand, 
has  been  upped  to  doorman,  succeed- 
ing Steve  Wallack,  who  has  resigned  to 
work  in  a local  factory  . . . Eleanor  Bov- 
riak,  assistant  cashier  at  the  Arch  Street, 
has  joined  the  cashier’s  staff  at  the  WB 
Embassy  . . . John  S.  P.  Glackin  of  the 
Arch  Street  was  in  New  Haven  on  business 
last  Tuesday. 

Mother  of  Warren  Kingsbury,  WB  Em- 
bassy usher,  has  been  ill  at  home  . . . 
Peter  Peralcos,  owner  of  the  Palace,  who 
is  treasurer  of  the  local  Greek  Relief 
Ass’n  reports  receipts  for  Greek  relief  thus 
far  very  encouraging  ...  In  New  Britain 
last  fortnight  to  visit  Philip  Demas  of  the 
Roxy  was  S.  Fuzzerio,  foreign  pictures 
booker  of  Neiv  York. 

Richard  Crowley  is  a new  usher  at  the 
WB  Strand  . . . Arch  Street  has  finished 
its  two-year  Universal  pottery  deal  . . . 
More  Arch  Street  doings:  John  S.  P.  Glac- 
kin ill  with  the  grippe,  but  continuing  with 
his  theatre  duties  . . . The  theatre  held  a 
free  show  for  New  Britain  Herald  news- 
boys recently,  at  which  time  “Boys  of  the 
City”  and  “South  of  Suez”  were  shown. 


atre.  The  charge  is  ‘unusual,’  and  that 
charge  of  ‘unusual’  will  require  proof  as 
to  what  was  usual,  and  what  is  usual  has 
to  be  judged  in  the  light  of  circumstances. 

“Moreover,  there  is  no  evidence  in  this 
record  that  pictures  have  been  licensed 
to  Rockland  Amusement  Co.  or  to  M&P 
Theatres  Corp.,  other  than  by  this  same 
form  of  contact  which  Mr.  Ryan  desig- 
nates as  the  ordinary  form. 

“This  case  is  supposed  to  involve  a 
conspiracy  among  the  distributors  with 
the  defendant  exhibitor  to  grant  Rock- 
land 14  days  preference  or  priority  over 
Waldoboro,  and  we  think  it  inappropri- 
ate to  move  out  to  St.  Louis  and  find  out 
why  it  was  that  before  Skouras  Bros,  were 
willing  to  erect  the  new  Missouri  Theatre 
they  wanted  to  be  assured  of  certain  prod- 
uct under  the  then  competitive  condi- 
tions.” 

About  a Duck  Luncheon 

McClennen,  defendant’s  counsel,  then 
spoke  up.  “In  December,  1915  in  St.  Louis 
a very  delicious  wild  duck  luncheon  was 
held  through  the  courtesy  of  a brother 
of  the  St.  Louis  bar,  which  was  preferen- 
tial to  the  many  other  lawyers  of  the  city. 
It  is  quite  as  revelant  to  anything  we  are 
trying  here  as  is  this  exhibit.” 

“I  think,”  said  Francis  P.  Freeman, 
Master  appointed  by  U.  S.  district  court 
to  sit  on  the  hearings,  “I  understand  the 
point  that  counsel  for  defense  have  been 
making  since  the  case  started.  The  au- 
thorities seem  to  hold  that  a conspiracy, 
if  one  exists,  is  seldom,  if  ever,  proved 
by  direct  evidence.  I think  in  one  case 
they  say  that  conspirators  work  in  the 
dark,  that  they  are  sinister,  secretive,  and 
its  hide-away-by-night  individual;  and,  of 
course,  there  is  the  question  of  how  large 
the  compass,  of  how  far  into  the  dark 
ages  we  should  delve. 

"Close  to  a Record" 

“I  think  at  the  present  time,  Mr.  Mc- 
Clennen with  his  duck  dinner  in  1915 
comes  close  to  establishing  a record,  if 
not  absolutely  holding  the  blue  ribbon. 
I think  there  are  some  cases  cited  by  Mr. 
Ryan’s  brief  which  hold  that  evidence  of 
a conspiracy  by  one  defendant,  with  other 
conspirators  who  are  not  a party  to  the 
suit,  is  admissible  as  showing  the  ten- 
dency on  the  part  of  that  particular  de- 
fendant to  enter  into  a conspiracy,  al- 
though the  evidence  offered  may  not  bear 
on  conspiracy  alleged  in  the  complaint. 

“Now,  in  spite  of  many  complaints, 
which  Mr.  McClennen  has  made  to  Mr. 
Ryan,  I am  not  yet  convinced  that  Mr. 
Ryan  would  intentionally  misquote  the 
language  of  the  court  in  these  various 
decisions.  I did  feel,  when  this  case  start- 
ed, that  the  day  would  eventually  come 
when  we  would  receive  some  evidence  on 
Rockland  and  Waldoboro.  I still  have 
some  faith,  and  I think  perhaps  we  will 
have  to  go  along  a little  while  longer  and 
see  whether  I have  hoped  in  vain. 

“Hope  deferred  maketh  the  heart  sick,” 
quipped  the  defense  lawyer. 

“Your  Honor,”  Ryan  said,  “We  will  get 
plenty  of  evidence  before  you  get  through.” 


ROXOFFICE  : : January  18,  1941 


53 


JTDDIE  BOGGS,  usher  at  the  E.  M.  Loew’s, 
has  been  named  chief  of  service  staff 
. . . Louis  A.  Cohen,  Loew’s  Poli  Palace 
manager,  obtained  a co-op  ad  for  “Chad 
Hanna”  with  the  Butterfly  Hat  Shops, 
Hartford  . . . Weekend  business  in  Hart- 
ford has  been  picking  up  . . . Strand,  Stam- 
ford, played  Republic’s  "Trail  Blazers”  . . . 
Julian  B.  Tuthill,  motion  picture  editor  of 
the  Hartford  Times,  spoke  on  “Behind  the 
Scenes  in  Hollywood”  at  the  monthly 
meeting  of  Young  Israels  . . . Jack  Teraz- 
zio,  chief  of  the  State’s  service  staff,  has 
resigned  . . . Johnny  Downs  p.  a.’s  at  the 
Plymouth,  Worcester  ...  In  town  were 
Harry  F.  Shaw  and  Louis  A.  Brown  of 
Loew’s  Poli,  New  Haven  office,  to  see  Man- 
ager Jack  A.  Simons  of  the  local  Loew’s 
Poli  . . . E.  M.  Loew’s,  managed  by  George 
E.  Landers,  is  approaching  its  11th  anni- 
versary. 

In  Hartford  on  business  was  Maurice 
Radin  of  the  Peoples’  Candy  Co.,  Worces- 
ter . . . Manuel  Wendrow,  doorman  at  the 
Proven  Pictures,  has  resigned  . . . Lester 
Winick,  State  usher,  had  a cold  . . . Val- 
erie Rudek,  formerly  with  the  Loew’s  Ori- 
ental, Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  has  been  added  to 
the  cashier’s  staff  at  the  local  Loew’s  Poli 
. . . Regards  are  in  order  for  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lewis  J.  Blanco  of  Hartford,  who  are  now 
the  proud  parents  of  a girl.  Blanco  was 
formerly  student  assistant  at  the  Loew’s 
Poli  Palace  . . . Sammie  Rennert,  projec- 
tionist at  the  Astor,  East  Hartford,  has  re- 
signed to  work  for  Pratt  & Whitney  Air- 
craft. Charlie  Bradshaw,  assistant  projec- 
tionist at  the  E.  M.  Loew’s,  Hartford,  has 
taken  over  Rennert’s  former  duties.  George 
Goodroll  has  been  added  to  the  E.  M. 
Loew’s  projectionists’  staff  ...  In  town 
recently  to  visit  the  local  Loew’s  Poli  boys, 
was  Joel  A.  Levy  of  Loew’s  New  York  of- 
fices . . . Robert  Huges,  usher  at  the  WB’s 
Lenox,  is  back  on  the  job  again  after  re- 
cuperating at  home  from  an  infected  foot. 
Edward  Burns  filled  in  . . . Tommy 
Vaughan,  Loew’s  Poli  house  policeman,  is 
quite  a bowler. 

Charlie  Repass  of  the  Crown  was  in  New 
Haven  last  Tuesday  . . . Plans  for  a house 
bowling  team  at  the  Loew’s  Poli  have  been 
cast  aside  in  favor  of  those  for  a basket- 
ball team  . . . “Gone  With  the  Wind”  was 
to  have  opened  at  the  Loew’s  Poli  Thurs- 
day on  a continuous  performance-popular 
price  policy  . . . Elliot  Kronish  of  Loew’s 
Poli,  New  Haven  offices,  was  in  town  . . . 
“Ice  Follies  of  1941”  is  due  at  the  Arena, 
New  Haven,  February  3,  for  a week’s  en- 
gagement . . . Maurice  Sarashon,  box- 
office  head  at  the  Arena,  New  Haven,  was 
in  Hartford  on  business  . . . Blue  Barron 
and  his  orchestra  played  at  the  State  . . . 
“Love  Thy  Neighbor”  did  fine  business  at 
the  M&P’s  Allyn  during  its  two  weeks  at 
that  house  . . . Proven  Pictures  held  over 
sex  film,  “They  Must  Be  Told.” 

Bernard  William  Levy,  manager  of  the 
Proven  Pictures  and  also  division  manager 
of  the  Frederick  Lieberman  Theatres,  had 
a cold  . . . Prof.  S.  Stephenson  Smith,  edu- 
cational counsellor  for  Ascap  and  promi- 
nent educator  and  theatre  critic,  spoke  at 
St.  Joseph  College,  West  Hartford,  on  “The 
Stage  in  Wartime”  . . . Laurence  Wasilieff, 
doorman  at  the  WB’s  Strand,  has  resigned 
to  work  in  a local  factory  . . . While  Mrs. 


Alice  Erickson,  WB’s  Strand  cashier,  was 
ill  with  the  grippe,  Teresa  Kenny  filled  in 
. . . “Thief  of  Bagdad”  played  three  weeks 
at  the  WB’s  Regal  . . . WB’s  Strand  held 
“Santa  Fe  Trail”  for  a second  week  . . . 
Frankie  Ramsey,  assistant  manager  at 
WB’s  Strand,  is  reported  contemplating 
marriage  . . . Joe  Bernard,  chief  usher  at 
WB’s  Strand,  is  also  an  amateur  projec- 
tionist . . . Walls  surrounding  the  candy 
stand  at  E.  M.  Loew’s  have  been  repainted. 

In  Manchester  to  visit  Manager  Jack 
Sanson  of  the  State  were  Henry  Needles, 
WB  district  manager,  and  James  F.  Mc- 
Carthy, manager  of  the  WB’s  Strand, 
Hartford  . . . “Arizona”  went  into  a third 
week  at  the  E.  M.  Loew’s  . . . Jack  Boyd, 
M&P’s  Allyn  service  staff  member,  was  in 
Boston  visiting  friends  . . . Norman  Lang 
is  a new  cashier  at  E.  M.  Loew’s  . . . Har- 
old Rosenberg,  projectionist  at  E.  M. 
Loew’s,  is  now  in  Uncle  Sam’s  army  . . . 
Tom  Quinn  is  a new  usher  at  the  M&P’s 
Allyn  . . . Michael  Daly,  owner  of  the 
Hartford  Daly  and  Plainfield,  Plainfield, 
has  had  new  sound  equipment  installed  in 
the  booth  at  the  Daly  . . . Joseph  Font- 
anna,  coach  of  the  Lewis  High  School, 
Southington,  awarded  letters  at  an  as- 
sembly held  at  the  Colonial  Theatre  in  that 
town,  to  members  of  the  1940  football 
squad  ...  A film  depicting  the  activities 
of  the  “three  first  ladies”  of  China,  the 
Soong  sisters,  was  shown  in  Mackenzie  Hall 
by  the  Hartford  Committee  for  Chinese 
Relief  . . . New  seats  are  due  at  the  E.  M. 
Loew’s  soon,  reports  Hillmer  D.  Robinson, 
assistant  manager  . . . Bertha  Jedidian  is 
the  new  candy  girl  at  the  E.  M.  Loew’s. 

Governor  and  Mrs.  Hurley,  plus  a party 
of  friends,  attended  the  Loew’s  Poli,  Hart- 
ford, last  Friday  to  see  M-G-M  newsreel 
pictures  of  His  Excellency’s  inaugural  cere- 
mony and  ball  . . . Manager  Walter  B.  Lloyd 
of  the  M&P’s  Allyn  reported  fine  business 
with  "Second  Chorus.”  Walter,  incident- 
ally, reports  that  “ Texas  Rangers  Ride 
Again”  and  “A  Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s”  are 
due  at  that  theatre  soon  . . . Rudy  Frank, 
director  of  publicity  for  the  State,  an- 
nounces that  George  Raft  is  due  for  a 
p.  a.  at  that  theatre  January  18  . . . Re- 
public’s “Pride  of  the  Bowery”  played  the 
State. 

Two  Holdovers  in  Boston 
Give  Bookers  Headaches 

Boston  — Two  holdovers  in  first-run 
Boston  last  week  gave  additional  head- 
aches to  the  bookers  who  have  to  figure 
their  availabilities  from  the  local  deluxers. 

Ben  Domingo  kept  “Kitty  Foyle”  a sec- 
ond week.  The  Ben  Rogers  vehicle  was 
combined  with  “Saint  in  Palm  Springs.”  At 
the  State  and  Orpheum,  Loew’s  divisional 
manager,  Charles  E.  Kurtzman,  held  over 
“Comrade  X”  and  “Gallant  Sons”  for  an 
additional  four  days. 


Shift  Max  Nevetsky 

Worcester,  Mass. — Max  Nevetsky,  as- 
sistant manager  of  the  Loew’s-Poli  Elm 
Street,  last  week  was  named  assistant 
manager  of  the  Loew’s-Poli  Palace  here, 
replacing  Morris  Druker,  who  is  now  man- 
ager of  Loew’s  State,  Cleveland. 


Upbeat  Reflected  in 
Portsmouth  Survey 

Manchester,  N.  H. — The  extent  of  the 
industrial  boom  which  is  gladdening  the 
hearts  of  theatre  operators  in  Portsmouth 
and  environs,  is  shown  in  a report  on  a 
survey  made  by  Portsmouth  Navy  Yard  of- 
ficials, who  find  that  2,000  additional 
homes  are  needed  in  that  section  to  ac- 
commodate the  tremendous  influx  of  navy 
men  and  workers  at  the  big  national  de- 
fense base. 

It  is  estimated  approximately  half  that 
number  of  dwellings  in  the  low  and  me- 
dium-priced range  already  are  under  con- 
struction in  various  programs  including 
one  federal  housing  project. 

Elsewhere  in  the  state,  too,  film  men  are 
hearing  reports  which  reflect  the  greatly 
increased  income  of  Granite  Staters. 

For  instance,  during  the  past  year,  auto- 
mobile registration  was  the  heaviest  in 
history,  according  to  a report  just  issued 
by  the  state  motor  vehicle  department.  Of- 
ficials could  give  no  explanation  other  than 
a boost  in  incomes.  And  in  Manchester, 
the  past  year  saw  the  greatest  home  build- 
ing activity  in  15  years. 

These  encouraging  signs  are,  of  course, 
in  addition  to  the  many  reports  of  long- 
idle  textile  plants  reopening  to  rush  out 
orders  for  cloth  for  Uncle  Sam’s  service 
men. 

Carl  Jamroga  to  Manage 
Northampton  Academy 

Springfield,  Mass. — Carl  A.  Jamroga  of 
the  Phillips  here  has  been  transferred  by 
the  Rifkin  circuit  to  manager  of  the  Acad- 
emy, Northampton,  Mass.  He  succeeds 
Frankie  Shaughnessy,  who  has  joined  the 
National  Guard  as  a lieutenant.  Jamroga 
is  replaced  at  the  Phillips  by  George  Rabb, 
previously  at  Rifkin’s  Jefferson.  Albert 
Moreau,  formerly  of  Springfield,  becomes 
Rabb’s  assistant,  as  a result  of  the  series  of 
shifts  announced  by  William  Powell,  the 
circuit’s  division  manager. 

Agreements  Signed  With 
Operators  in  Boston 

Boston — Working  agreements  between 
local  exhibitors  and  operators’  local  182 
have  been  established  for  an  additional 
year  on  the  same  terms  as  existed  in  con- 
tracts which  expired  last  August  31,  after 
having  been  in  effect  for  two  years  pre- 
vious. 


ATO  Meets  Tuesday 

New  Haven — Allied  Theatre  Owners  of 
Connecticut  will  meet  Tuesday  afternoon 
at  the  Hofbrau  Haus.  A.  M.  Schuman  will 
preside. 


John  F.  Dempsey 

Boston  — John  F.  Dempsey,  stagehand 
for  the  past  30  years  and  a veteran  em- 
ploye of  local  M&P  Fenway,  died  last  week 
at  the  age  of  61,  following  collapse  while 
at  work  in  the  Boston  house. 


54 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


Award  Jorgensen  $5,000 
In  Interstate  Action 


Settlement  Ettected  in 
Kirschheimer  Suit 

Dallas — A settlement  out  of  court  was 
reached  Thursday  in  the  damage  suit  of 
Sam  Kirschheimer  against  the  Interstate 
circuit.  It  was  to  have  gone  to  trial  on 
that  day.  Kirschheimer  is  a Houston 
exhibitor. 

R.  Z.  Glass'  suit  against  the  circuit 
is  scheduled  for  Monday  before  Federal 
Judge  Atwell.  It  was  filed  some  time 
ago  by  Glass  when  he  operated  the 
Fair,  Knox  and  Lawn  theatres  here. 

■ ■ >J 

Confers  in  Memphis 
On  Film  Tribunal 

Memphis — First  steps  toward  the  es- 
tablishment here  of  an  arbitration  board 
to  settle  disputes  between  exhibitors  and 
distributors  as  provided  by  the  consent  de- 
cree, were  taken  last  week  during  the  visit 
of  J.  Noble  Braden,  executive  secretary  of 
the  American  Arbitration  Ass’n. 

At  a luncheon  for  him,  Braden  conferred 
on  the  matter  with  a number  of  business 
and  educational  leaders  including  Phil 
Pidgeon,  president  of  the  chamber  of  com- 
merce; Dean  S.  Walter  Jones  of  the  Mem- 
phis University  Law  School;  J.  Seddon 
Allen,  president  of  the  Memphis  and  Shel- 
by County  Bar  Ass’n;  Carl  B.  Wellborn, 
chairman  of  the  Tennessee  Society  of  Cer- 
tified Public  Accountants;  Noland  Fon- 
taine, district  manager  of  the  Bureau  of 
Foreign  and  Domestic  Commerce,  and  J. 
M.  Cour,  manager  for  Dun  & Bradstreet. 


Two  Projectionists  Are 
Held  in  Stench-Bombing 

Tyler,  Tex. — Two  motion  picture  op- 
erators are  being  held  by  local  police 
in  connection  with  the  stench-bombing 
of  S.  G.  Fry’s  Joy  Theatre  here  a fort- 
night ago.  Police  said  one  of  the  men  was 
seized  by  a “spotter”  in  the  theatre  on 
the  evening  it  was  stench-bombed,  and 
that  the  other  was  picked  up  following 
questioning  of  the  man  seized  by  the 
“spotter.” 

Fry  does  not  employ  union  operators, 
but  he  says  all  his  men  are  stockholders 
in  the  theatre. 

Gene  Coleman  Acquires 
The  Key  in  Midlothian 

Dallas — Gene  Coleman,  manager  of  the 
Texas  at  Seagoville  for  his  brother  R.  Q. 
Coleman,  has  purchased  the  Key  in  Mid- 
lothian in  his  own  right  from  J.  O.  (Buddy) 
Harris.  Midlothian  is  about  24  miles  south- 
west of  Dallas. 

Harris  still  owns  the  Ritz  in  Celina,  but 
devotes  practically  all  of  his  time  to 
operating  the  Buddy  Harris  Poster  Ex- 
change here. 


Ross  Federal  Manager 

Oklahoma  City — Ernest  A.  MacKenna 
has  been  appointed  Manager  of  the  Okla- 
homa branch  of  Ross  Federal  Service,  Inc. 


Dallas — In  his  suit  against  Interstate 
which  ended  Wednesday,  Holger  Jorgen- 
sen, owner  of  the  East  Grand  Theatre 
here,  was  awarded  $4,500  for  damages  and 
$500  for  attorneys  fees  by  a jury  in  Judge 
W.  H.  Atwell’s  federal  court.  The  jury 
did  not  say  whether  the  verdict  covered 
one  or  both  charges  involved  in  the  ac- 
tion, but  it  was  considered  here  to  have 
included  both. 

Jorgensen  claimed  damages  of  over  $50,- 
000  in  his  suit,  which  was  divided  into 
two  parts.  For  the  years  1935-36-37,  he 
claimed  specific  damages  because  of  the 
25-cent  minimum  restrictions  imposed  by 
Interstate  on  certain  pictures  which  forced 
the  East  Grand  to  raise  admission  prices 
from  20  to  25  cents.  Availability  was  the 
second  part,  with  Jorgensen  asking  dam- 
ages, claiming  that  an  agreement  existed 
between  Interstate  and  the  film  com- 
panies to  hold  the  East  Grand  15  days 
behind  the  White  Theatre,  owned  by  In- 
terstate, which  Jorgensen  claimed  was  a 
similar  operation  to  his  charging  a like 
admission  price. 

Interstate  argued  that  Jorgensen  was 
not  hurt  by  the  25-cent  restrictions,  that 
he  made  more  money  during  the  three 
years  it  was  in  effect  than  before,  and 
produced  Jorgensen’s  income  tax  records 
in  proof.  The  defense  showed  that  Jor- 
gensen voluntarily  raised  his  prices  on 
“B”  pictures  not  covered  in  the  restric- 
tions and  that  he  voluntarily  charged  20 
cents  for  his  matinees  when  competitive 
theatres  in  the  area  charged  15  cents  for 
matinees. 

As  to  the  availability  charge,  Inter- 

Bank  Night  Setup 
May  Be  Probed 

Springfield,  Tenn. — After  hearing  the 
evidence  against  two  defendants  charged 
with  obtaining  a $600  Bank  Night  pay- 
ment from  the  local  Capitol  Theatre 
through  fraudulent  substitution  of  tick- 
ets, General  Sessions  Judge  Earl  Swann 
has  threatened  a general  investigation  of 
the  theatre  Bank  Night  setup. 

He  stated:  “I  don’t  think  a thing  of 
this  kind  should  be  operated  where  such 
a fraud  could  be  committed.  The  episode 
shows  criminal  negligence  on  the  part  of 
the  officials  of  the  theatre  and  the  draw- 
ing judges,  and  others  connected  with  the 
drawing  are  also  guilty  of  criminal  negli- 
gence.” 

A.  L.  Hancock  is  manager  of  the  Capitol 
which  is  owned  by  the  Crescent  circuit. 
The  whole  matter  is  being  turned  over  to 
the  grand  jury  and  any  investigation 
would  follow  action  by  the  jury. 

Manager  Hancock  discovered,  after  giv- 
ing away  a $600  prize,  that  a large  num- 
ber of  tickets  bearing  the  register  number 
identical  to  the  winner’s  had  been  sub- 
stituted for  regular  tickets  in  the  drawing 
basket.  He  is  cancelling  all  Bank  Night 
drawings  until  the  matter  is  cleared  up. 


state  claimed  the  White  was  more  mod- 
ern and  larger  than  the  East  Grand,  that 
it  paid  more  film  rental  and  furnished  a 
greater  service  to  the  public  and  the  dis- 
tributors, and  that  the  clearance  existing 
between  the  two  theatres  was  reasonable. 

In  his  charge  to  the  jury,  Judge  Atwell 
said  that  a conspiracy  or  violation  of  law 
must  be  found  before  any  consideration 
could  be  given  to  damages,  which,  if  they 
existed,  must  be  weighed  in  dollars  and 
cents.  He  held  that  a conspiracy  be- 
tween Interstate  and  the  film  companies 
to  hold  the  East  Grand  back  of  the  White, 
if  it  existed,  would  be  an  unlawful  act. 
To  this  part  of  the  charge,  Interstate  took 
an  exception. 

H.  A.  Daniels,  former  film  man,  and 
W.  S.  Miller  of  20th  Century-Fox,  were 
put  on  the  stand  by  Interstate.  Both  said 
Jorgensen  had  told  them  he  benefited  by 
the  forced  increased  admission.  J.  E. 
Luckett  testified  for  the  defense  that  new 
equipment  and  progressive  methods  em- 
ployed by  competitive  theatres  to  the  East 
Grand,  had  more  to  do  with  claimed  losses 
by  the  plaintiff  than  price  or  availability. 

Depositions  were  read  from  Harry  Gold 
of  United  Artists,  Cresson  E.  Smith  of 
RKO,  Joe  Unger  of  Paramount,  Tom  Con- 
nors of  M-G-M,  Abe  Montague  of  Colum- 
bia, C.  E.  McCarthy  of  Universal,  and 
Carl  Leserman  of  Warner  Bros.  All  point- 
ed out  the  advisability  of  giving  preference 
in  clearance  to  better  houses  in  a com- 
munity. 

While  Interstate  denied  an  agreement 
existed  as  to  availability,  Jorgensen  pro- 
duced a document  which  he  said  was  pre- 
pared by  Interstate  showing  clearance 
schedules  between  various  theatres  and 
which  he  claimed  was  handed  to  the 
various  film  companies  by  Interstate. 

Interstate  characterized  this  as  a book- 
ing memorandum,  saying  no  agreement 
had  been  reached  with  any  of  the  film 
companies. 

Variety  Idea  Yields 
$5,000  tor  Britain 

Dallas — Final  check  of  receipts  of  hotel 
dances  put  on  here  by  theatre  men  for 
the  benefit  of  British  War  Relief,  dis- 
closed that  $5,000  was  turned  over  to  the 
cause.  The  committee  in  charge  was  com- 
posed of  I.  B.  Adelman,  chairman;  W.  G. 
Underwood,  J.  B.  Underwood,  Paul  Short, 
Besa  Short,  Frank  Starz,  R.  I.  Payne, 
Herman  Biersdorf,  James  O.  Cherry,  Jo 
Jack,  Mike  Rice,  Paul  Scott,  R.  E.  Grif- 
fith, Lloyd  Rust  and  Don  Douglas. 

Variety  Club  of  Texas  sponsored  the 
movement. 


Euler  Back  to  Dallas  as 
Booker  tor  R.  N.  Smith 

Dallas — Bob  Euler,  who  once  was  booker 
for  the  R.  N.  Smith  theatres  in  the  Val- 
ley, will  return  to  Dallas  soon  to  re- 
sume those  duties.  The  job  here  includes 
booking  for  Tri-State  Theatres,  owned  by 
B.  R.  McLendon  of  Atlanta. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  18,  1941 


S 


59 


New  Orleans  Grosses  Sanlone  May  Gei 

Are  Tolled  by  Flu  Mexic“  “uslry 


New  Orleans — While  opposition  of  the 
strongest  type  developed  here  last  week 
in  the  form  of  flu,  “Kitty  Foyle”  packed 
her  belongings  and  moved  from  the  Or- 
pheum  to  the  Liberty.  “Tin  Pan  Alley” 
made  sufficient  noise  at  the  Saenger,  and 
“Comrade  X”  drew  well  at  Loew’s  State, 
topping  the  week’s  grosses. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  9: 


(Average  is  100) 

Center — Charter  Pilot  (20th-Fox) 85 

Globe — Down  Argentine  Way  (20th-Fox),  2nd 

run 90 

Liberty — South  of  Suez  (WB),  2nd  run 85 

Loew’s — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  150 

Orpheum — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO)  130 

Saenger — Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox) 140 


Tudor — North  West  Mounted  Police  (Para’t) . . 100 

No  Standouts  in  Dallas ; 

" Comrade " Mild  Leader 

Dallas — There  were  no  standouts  on  Elm 
Street  for  the  week  ending  January  11. 
However,  “Comrade  X”  was  the  leader  at 
somewhat  above  average  and  winning  a 
holdover  at  the  Tower.  “Flight  Command” 
caused  lot  of  talk  and  interest  but  its 
gross  was  little  more  than  average.  The 
Capitol  came  back  with  another  double  bill 
after  unusual  success  the  previous  week- 
end with  a similar  bill  of  ware. 


(Average  is  100) 

Capitol — Lone  Wolf  Keeps  a Date  (Col) 90 

Played  Wednesday  through  Friday. 

Capitol — Doomed  Caravan  (Para’t);  Barnyard 

Follies  (Rep)  115 

Opened  Saturday  for  play  through  the  week- 
end. 

Majestic — Flight  Command  (M-G-M)  110 

Opened  midweek  following  none  too  successful 
run  of  “Arizona”  for  seven  days. 

Palace — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  120 

Played  nine  days,  going  to  Tower  for  holdover. 

Rialto — Christmas  in  July  (Para't) 90 

Played  three  days. 

Rialto — Dreaming  Out  Loud  (RKO) 100 

Opened  Friday  for  play  through  the  weekend. 

Tower — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t) 100 


Second  week  following  first  at  the  Palace. 


O.  C.  Business  Shows 
Signs  of  Perking  Up 

Oklahoma  City — Ideal  weather  condi- 
tions, better  attractions  and  lessening  of 
the  holiday  buying  “bottleneck,”  perked 
up  business  here  last  week.  Indications  are 
the  next  week  may  be  even  better. 


(Average  is  100) 

Criterion — Four  Mothers  (WB) 120 

Midwest — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA) 100 

State — Arizona  (Col),  2nd  wk 110 

Tower — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t) 120 


Moved  from  previous  good  -week  at  Criterion. 


AFM  Keeping  "Hands  OH" 
Of  Ascap-BMI  Dispute 

Nashville,  Tenn. — At  the  southern  re- 
gional division  convention  of  the  American 
Federation  of  Musicians,  an  official  spokes- 
man said  the  group  is  “keeping  its  hands 
off”  of  the  Ascap-BMI  controversy.  The 
same  official  predicts  the  fight  between 
song  writers,  publishers  and  the  broad- 
casters will  be  all  over  “within  the  next 
two  or  three  weeks.”  The  convention  was 
attended  by  40  delegates  from  12  southern 
states. 


He  Plans  Three — 

O.  C.  Lain,  head  of  the  Lam  Amuse- 
ment Co.,  Rome,  Ga.,  whose  firm  is 
Pushing  ahead  on  three  of  the  largest 
Georgia  theatre  projects  in  recent 
years.  The  above  photo  was  taken  at 
the  MPTOA  convention  in  Oklahoma 
City  last  winter. 

Lam  and  Associates 
Plan  3 New  Ones 

By  HELEN  HARDY 
Atlanta — Three  new  theatre  projects 
for  Georgia  are  announced  by  O.  C.  Lam 
and  associates  with  the  observation  that 
“business  prospects  for  1941  are  bright.” 

Lam  says  plans  have  been  drawn  for 
his  new  house  in  Rome  and  that  negotia- 
tions for  a building  site  are  progressing. 
This  will  be  the  fourth  for  Lam  in  Rome. 
The  new  house  will  seat  800,  and  an  ex- 
penditure of  $75,000  is  planned. 

In  Cedartown,  where  the  firm  already 
has  one  theatre,  a second  is  under  con- 
struction and  will  be  completed  early  in 
May.  In  connection  with  this  theatre,  ap- 
plication has  been  made  for  the  operation 
of  a broadcasting  station  in  the  same 
building.  It  will  be  named  the  “West,” 
after  the  oldest  settler  in  Cedartown,  and 
$100,000  will  be  expended  on  the  project. 

In  affiliation  with  Wendell  Welch  of 
Dallas,  Ga.,  and  Cooper  Welch  of  Atlanta, 
Ga„  a brother,  Lam  will  build  in  Grove 
Park  a new  theatre  to  seat  750.  This  pro- 
ject will  cost  $40,000. 


Changes  by  Lam 

Rome,  Ga.- — Officials  of  Lam  Amusement 
Co.  announce  that  Ross  Arnold  has  been 
made  manager  of  the  Alamo,  Newnan, 
Ga.,  replacing  Ecta  Hutchison,  resigned, 
who  has  joined  Wilby-Kincey  Theatres 
in  Burlington,  N.  C.  Milford  Smith,  for- 
merly assistant  manager  of  the  LaGrange, 
LaGrange,  Ga.,  is  now  manager  of  the 
Rockmart,  Rockmart,  Ga. 


By  LES  KETNER 

San  Antonio — The  million- dollar  Mexi- 
can film  industry  may  move  here  if  Mayor 
Maury  Maverick  offers  the  right  induce- 
ments, it  is  said  by  Jose  U.  Calderon, 
owner  of  the  Azteca  Films  Distributing  Co. 
of  Mexico  City,  who  was  in  the  city  briefly 
to  confer  with  the  mayor  and  also  with  J. 
J.  Jimenez  sr„  manager  of  the  Latin- 
American  Film  Exchange. 

Calderon  explained  that  labor  trouble  in 
Mexico  has  reached  a crisis,  with  the  11 
picture  companies  of  the  capital  ready  to 
move  elsewhere.  They  are  considering  Tia 
Juana,  but  Calderon  believes  that  he  has 
every  chance  to  persuade  them  to  come  to 
the  Alamo  City. 

“I  want  to  see  how  the  mayor  of  your 
city  feels  about  it,  and  what  the  city  has 
to  offer.  And  then  I want  to  be  sure  our 
Mexican  artists  could  come  and  go  across 
the  border  unhindered.  The  San  Antonio 
climate  is  even  more  ideal  than  California, 
and  we  would  not  use  only  Mexican  artists, 
but  local  talent  and  laborers  as  well,”  he 
said. 

The  Mexican  companies  seeking  the 
change  are  Groves,  Raul  de  Anda,  Raphael 
Sevilla,  Iracheta  y Elvira,  Miguel  Con- 
treres  Torres,  Alfonso  Sanchez  Tello,  Vi- 
cente Saiso  Piquer,  Juan  Pezet  and  Pro- 
ducciones  Soria.  These  companies,  Cal- 
deron said,  produce  50  pictures  a year, 
which  he  buys  and  distributes  to  Mexico, 
Central  and  South  America,  Spain  and  the 
United  States.  At  present  no  money  can 
be  drawn  from  Spain,  although  there  are 
pictures  that  have  cleared  over  half  a 
million  pesetas  there. 

A single  picture  in  Mexico  costs  an  aver- 
age of  150,000  pesos  to  produce;  in  San 
Antonio  it  would  mean  the  outlay  of  $40,- 
000  a picture. 

Following  his  conference  with  Mayor 
Maverick  and  Jimenez,  Senor  Calderon  left 
immediately  to  put  the  matter  directly 
before  the  motion  picture  companies  of 
Mexico  City. 

Ruffin  Will  Build  New 
Theatre  in  Humboldt 

Humboldt,  Tenn. — W.  F.  Ruffin,  presi- 
dent of  the  Chickasaw  Amusement  Co.,  an- 
nounces plans  for  the  erection  of  a new 
theatre  here.  Plans  are  for  a house,  mod- 
ern in  every  detail  and  in  equipment,  to 
seat  1,000.  Humboldt  is  only  a short  dis- 
tance from  the  site  of  the  proposed  $14,- 
000,000  shell-loading  plant  near  Milan. 

Cr  ft 

Will  Ask  Probe  of 
Ascap  in  Texas 

Austin,  Tex. — Rep.  Joe  Skiles  of  Den- 
ton, Tex.,  will  propose  an  investigation 
into  the  control  of  Ascap  over  music  in 
Texas  when  the  state  legislature  con- 
venes this  week.  Attorney  General 
Gerald  C.  Mann  will  be  asked  to  in- 
quire into  possible  Ascap  violation  of 
state  anti-trust  laws. 

**  J 


GO 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


D A IL  1IL  A S 

|)ELANEY  SEXTON,  once  a booker  here 
for  Robb  & Rowley,  drove  through 
Dallas  with  Mrs.  Sexton  from  their  home 
in  Los  Angeles.  For  the  past  two  years, 
Sexton  has  been  living  on  the  coast.  He 
says  he  is  a design  engineer  for  a camera 
company  which  is  now  using  two  of  his 
patents.  It  will  be  remembered  Sexton 
was  quite  a camera  bug  while  here. 

Reports  here  are  that  Mrs.  Marthe  Mc- 
Spadden,  the  Electra  showwoman,  is  ill  at 
her  home  with  the  flu  . . . Eddie  Fadal, 
manager  and  one  of  the  new  owners  of  the 
Ritz  at  Valley  Mills,  was  here  hooking  and 
placing  the  transportation  of  his  films  with 
one  of  the  film  motor  lines.  Incidentally, 
he  became  a subscriber  to  Boxoffice  and 
picked  up  a number  of  back  copies. 

Johnny  Long  and  his  booker  and  gen- 
eral manager,  Theo  Routt,  were  up  from 
their  Bay  City  headquarters  . . . H.  A. 
Daniels,  owner  of  theatres  at  Seguin,  was 
here  for  the  first  time  in  months,  pri- 
marily as  a witness  for  Interstate  in  the 
Jorgensen  trial.  Daniels  was  a salesman 
for  W.  G.  Underwood  and  United  Artists 
for  many  years.  His  Seguin  theatres  are 
booked  through  Jefferson  Amusement  Co. 

B.  G.  Herber  of  Herber  Bros.,  equipment 
dealers,  is  having  a time  of  it  with  the  flu 
which  set  in  before  the  New  Year  and  is 
holding  on  ..  . Ned  E.  Depinet,  RKO’s 
vice-president,  on  leaving  here  after  a 
visit  for  New  York,  said  he  was  very  happy 
to  have  been  here  again  and  to  have  seen 
so  many  of  his  old  friends.  He  commented 
also  on  the  growth  of  Dallas  since  his  days 
here  . . . Paul  Short,  National  Screen’s 
district  manager  and  chief  barker  of  the 
Variety  Club  of  Texas,  is  back  at  his  desk 
after  recovering  from  influenza. 

Lew  Groves,  who  opened  the  new  Villa, 
a neighborhood,  about  a year  ago  in  Okla- 
homa City,  was  on  the  Row  after  a visit 
with  his  brother,  Jack,  owner  of  the  Queen 
in  Houston  . . . R.  N.  Smith,  Valley  cir- 
cuit operator  of  Mission,  was  here  en 
route  home  after  attending  the  funeral  of 
Homer  Mulkey  in  Clarendon.  Col.  H.  A. 
Cole,  Allied  president,  remained  in  Clar- 
endon an  extra  day  to  assist  Mrs.  Mulkey 
in  whatever  way  he  could. 

Claude  Adkinson,  booker  for  20 th  Cen- 
tury-Fox, has  been  called  to  the  colors. 
He  will  go  in  training  at  one  of  the  camps 
in  San  Antonio  . . . G.  A.  Cole,  who  opened 
the  new  Cole  at  New  Braunfels  late  last 
year,  was  here  Wednesday  and  reported 
an  upturn  in  business  since  the  holidays 
. . . Another  visiting  exhibitor  was  Carl 
Allday,  owner  of  the  Eloia  in  Calvert. 

John  D.  Jones,  R&R  city  manager  and 
partner  in  San  Angelo;  H.  E.  Hardgrave, 
city  manager  in  Sherman,  and  A.  E.  Mc- 
Clain, R&R  manager  and  president  of  the 
chamber  of  commerce  in  Colorado  City, 


RSTOR  PICTURES 

Harwood  and  Jackson  Streets 
DALLAS,  TEXAS 


were  in  town  Wednesday  as  visitors  to  the 
circuit’s  home  office.  Earl  Schultz,  the 
circuit’s  manager  in  Crockett,  was  here 
earlier  in  the  week  . . . J.  Don  Alexan- 
der, president  of  Alexander  Film  Co.,  was 
here  to  conduct  a sales  meeting  with  com- 
pany salesmen  over  the  territory. 

Things  looked  much  brighter  when  Old 
Sol  came  out  in  full  blast  Wednesday 
morning.  For  the  past  few  weeks,  exhibi- 
tors have  taken  a licking  on  their  Satur- 
days and  Sundays,  because  of  the  rain. 
Last  Sunday  was  their  first  break  in  sev- 
eral weeks,  but  that  was  short-lived,  as  it 
rained  again  Monday  . . . R.  Z.  Glass,  own- 
er of  the  new  Stude  in  Houston,  here  for 
his  damage  suit  against  Interstate  to  be 
heard  in  Judge  Atwell’s  federal  court 
Monday,  said  he  has  passed  all  require- 
ments as  a second  lieutenant  in  the  U.  S. 
Air  Corps  Reserves  and  is  awaiting  his 
commission  from  Washington. 

Lee  Scarborough  was  on  the  Row  from 
his  new  Van  Theatre  at  Van.  He  said 
nearly  everybody  in  his  territory  has  had 
the  flu,  including  himself,  and  to  make 
it  worse  there  were  many  pneumonia 
cases  . . . Lee  Threet,  former  exhibitor 
and  now  engaged  in  the  distribution  of 
radios,  was  here  Wednesday  from  Lufkin. 

New  Waters  House  in 
Birmingham  Suburb 

Birmingham,  Ala. — N.  H.  Waters,  presi- 
dent of  Waters  Theatre  Co.,  which  oper- 
ates 12  neighborhood  houses  here,  an- 
nounces his  company  is  rebuilding  a new 
theatre  in  Homewood,  a suburb,  at  a cost 
of  $27,500.  He  said  he  expects  to  have 
the  building  finished  and  ready  for  occu- 
pancy by  March  15. 


Borrow  Lee  Bowman 

Hollywood  — Universal  has  borrowed 
Lee  Bowman  from  Metro  for  one  of  the 
leads  in  “Model  Wife.” 


As  Warner  Outlet — 

Gus  Diamond,  Kansas  City  showman, 
who  recently  opened  the  Vogue  in  Or- 
lando, Fla.  It  has  tied  up  Warner 
product  that  now  is  being  sold  away 
from  the  Sparks  circuit.  “Four  Moth- 
ers” was  the  opener.  Homer  Ellison 
is  manager  of  the  new  deluxer. 

Popcorn  OHice  Opened 
By  Warner  in  Dallas 

Dallas — Bob  Warner,  who  has  sold  pop- 
corn machines  in  Texas  for  the  past  eight 
years,  has  opened  a sales  and  display  of- 
fice at  302  y2  S.  Harwood  Street.  Ralph 
Warner,  formerly  with  Jefferson  Amuse- 
ment Co.  and  Interstate,  and  not  related 
to  Bob,  will  be  his  assistant. 


It  is  fitting  and  proper 

to  fee  DEFENSE  MINDED — ! 

• • • 

Yeah!  And  it  is  good  business  to 
be  DEFENSE  MINDED  in  the 
matter  of  increased  patronage. 
SIMPLEX  4 STAR  SOUND,  SIM- 
PLEX E 7 PROJECTORS  and  SIM- 
PLEX HIGH  INTENSITY  LAMPS 
make  better  defense  insurance 
against  box  office  blitzkriegs . . ! 

NATIONAL  THEATRE  SUPPLY  COMPANY 

Dallas,  Atlanta,  New  Orleans,  Memphis,  Charlotte  and  Oklahoma  City 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


61 


Walker  Says  Decree  Will 
Hamstring  "Little Man” 


Lampasas,  Tex. — The  adoption  of  the 
consent  decree  and  trailing  protests  from 
independent  exhibitors  that  it  will  be  of 
little  help  to  them  come  as  no  surprise 
to  Judge  Roy  L.  Walker,  president  of  the 
Theatre  Owners  Protective  Ass’n  here. 
He  says  as  much,  and  clearly,  in  the  fol- 
lowing bulletin : 

“In  1931  and  continuously  since  said 
time,  I have  entered  my  protest  against 
the  attempt  of  Allied  and  others  to  place 
our  business  in  the  hands  of  the  govern- 
ment or  the  department  of  justice,  at  all 
times  sounding  the  alarm  that  we  could 
expect  no  help  for  the  little  fellow 
through  such  agencies.  The  consent  de- 
cree proves  this.  Allied  and  others,  dur- 
ing the  past  ten  years,  have  hammered 
at  the  doors  of  Congress  and  the  depart- 
ment of  justice  asking  that  they  take  over 
the  distribution  and  exhibition  of  pictures 
and  lay  down  rules  and  regulations  for  our 
operation.  After  all  these  years  they  have 
brought  to  life  the  consent  decree,  and 
as  we  may  always  expect,  the  little  fellows 
received  no  relief  but  were  tied  more 
securely  to  the  will  and  desire  of  the  dis- 
tributors. Of  course,  Allied  protested 
against  the  final  consent  decree  but  it  is 
their  child  and  what  they  should  have 
expected. 

Made  Appeal  in  Washington 

“I  went  to  Washington  and  made  an 
appeal  to  the  department  of  justice  to 
not  force  this  decree  upon  us,  but  they 
had  already  made  up  their  minds  and 
nothing  could  be  done.  I also  went  to 
New  York  and  made  an  argument  against 
the  entry  of  the  decree  before  the  court, 
but,  with  both  the  department  of  justice 


0 = ft 

Felix  Robertson 
Dies  in  Lisbon 

Dallas — Judge  Felix  D.  Robertson,  the 
first  collection  attorney  here  for  Ascap 
and  who  represented  that  company  up 
until  a few  years  ago  in  Texas  and  Ar- 
kansas, died  last  week  in  the  Veterans' 
Hospital  at  Lisbon.  He  also  represented 
several  film  companies  and  had  a wide 
acquaintance  among  exhibitors. 

VS  - — =9 

and  the  distributors  hand  in  hand  ask- 
ing for  the  decree,  we  little  fellows  had 
no  chance. 

“The  decree  means  this: 

“1.  You  can  buy  no  picture  until  it 
is  trade  shown  in  Dallas. 

“2.  Pictures  must  be  bought  in 
blocks  of  5 or  less. 

“The  balance  of  the  decree  in  ref- 
erence to  arbitration,  clearance  and 
overbuying  really  means  nothing  to  we 
small  exhibitors. 

“In  my  opinion,  the  consent  decree 
will  affect  us  at  least  in  three  ways, 
as  follows: 

“1.  It  will  increase  the  cost  of  buy- 
ing and  the  cost  of  pictures  to  us  at 
least  double. 

“2.  It  will  cause  the  small  theatre 
to  run  pictures,  instead  of  from  three 
weeks  to  three  or  four  months  back  of 
the  key  cities,  to  six  to  twelve  months 
back  of  them. 

“3.  In  my  opinion,  it  will  neces- 
sarily force  the  small  theatre  to  join 
in  some  kind  of  buying  organization 


or  join  up  with  chains  already  doing 

buying  with  offices  in  Dallas. 

“I  hope  that  I am  wrong  in  just  what 
this  means  to  the  small  exhibitor  but  I 
have  given  it  careful  study  and  believe 
that  I am  right.  However,  we  have  the 
decree  and  we  must  make  the  best  of  it. 
It  is  up  to  us  to  give  it  a fair  trial  and 
see  how  it  will  work  out.  All  this  talk 
about  injunction  and  legislation  against 
the  decree  is  foolishness.  The  indepen- 
dent theatres  were  not  parties  to  the  suit 
and  have  no  rights  thereunder,  as  on  its 
face  it  does  not  affect  them,  and  any 
attempt  at  congressional  legislation  would 
make  a bad  matter  worse,  as  we  cannot 
expect  to  get  relief  through  agencies  that 
know  nothing  of  our  business.  This  is  the 
whole  trouble  and  what  has  caused  this 
decree:  certain  interests  trying  to  stir  up 
strife  and  contention  and  getting  the  worst 
of  it. 

Advice  to  Small  Exhibitor 

“The  decree  takes  effect  on  the  ques- 
tion of  buying  of  pictures  on  September 
1,  1941,  and  my  only  suggestion  to  the 
small  exhibitor  is  to  try  and  have  suf- 
ficient pictures  bought  before  that  time 
so  that  he  will  be  able  to  keep  his  play- 
ing time  open  for  several  months  in  order 
to  meet  the  new  buying  conditions.  Keep- 
ing in  mind  that  no  picture  can  be  sold 
or  offered  for  sale  or  lease  until  it  is 
trade  shown  in  Dallas  and  that  each  com- 
pany must  trade  show  five  pictures  before 
you  can  buy  a block  of  five.  It  is  not 
necessary  for  me  to  go  into  detail  as  to 
what  this  is  going  to  mean  to  you. 

“We  are  in  no  position  to  take  any 
action  and  will  not  be  until  we  can  prove 
what  the  decree  is  doing  to  us,  and  for 
this  reason  I am  asking  every  indepen- 
dent theatre  owner,  as  soon  as  the  new 
buying  starts,  to  advise  me  personally  of 
his  trouble  in  trying  to  comply  with  the 
decree.  I want  to  get  this  information 
from  every  exhibitor  in  order  that  I may 
be  prepared  to  present  concrete  examples 
of  what  it  is  doing  to  the  small  exhibitor. 
In  this  way  it  may  be  that  we  can  get 
some  relief.  Agitators  have  gotten  us  into 
this  situation  and  we  are  only  going  to 
get  out  of  it  by  an  organized  effort  on 
our  part.” 


Men  From  the  South  to 
Convention  of  NTS 

Dallas — National  Theatre  Supply  will 
hold  its  annual  sales  convention  February 
10  to  15,  in  New  York,  J.  I.  Roberts, 
branch  manager  here,  reports.  Managers 
from  all  over  the  country  will  attend. 
From  the  south  will  go  Jake  Watkins  of 
Oklahoma  City,  R.  L.  Bostick  of  Memphis, 
A1  Hodges  of  New  Orleans,  J.  C.  Brown 
of  Atlanta,  Howard  Marx  of  Charlotte  and 
Roberts. 


A Bride  tor  the  Son 
Of  C.  /.  Musselman 

Dallas — News  has  been  received  here 
that  John  Musselman,  son  of  the  well- 
known  Paris  exhibitor,  C.  J.  Musselman, 
was  married  in  Albany,  Tex.,  last  week  to 
Miss  Mary  Anna  Green. 

The  groom  receives  his  B.  A.  degree  this 
year  at  Texas  University  where  his  wife 
is  a junior. 


NEW  SOUND 
AT  LOW  COST 


1.  Complete  Unit  Matched 
Sound  System. 

2.  Superb  Quality  reproduc- 
tion of  all  wide  range  re- 
cordings. 

3.  Smooth  and  trouble-proof 
operation. 

4.  High  Power  output  for  any 
size  theatre. 

Trade  in  Your  Old  Sound 
and  Save  Money 

“Fair  Treatment  and  Adequate 
Service  Always” 

HERBER  BROS. 

408  S.  Harwood  - Dallas,  Tex. 


62 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


Rites  in  Clarendon 
For  Homer  Mulkey 

Clarendon,  Tex. — Funeral  services  were 
held  here  last  Sunday  for  Homer  Mulkey, 
veteran  Texas  exhibitor  who  died  Thurs- 
day in  a Fort  Worth  hospital  following  an 
operation.  Exhibitors  from  all  over  west 
Texas  were  here  for  the  rites  for  the  64- 
year-old  showman  who  had  been  a Texas 
exhibitor  for  31  years. 

The  auditorium  and  basement  of  the 
First  Christian  Church,  in  which  he  was 
an  elder,  was  filled  to  capacity  and  hun- 
dreds stood  out  in  the  streets.  The  six 
preachers  in  Clarendon  all  took  part  in 
the  services  and  all  spoke  of  Mulkey’s  ex- 
emplary life. 

“The  rich  and  the  poor,  white  and 
black,  the  underprivileged  and  fortunate, 
all  will  miss  him  and  what  else  can  I 
say?”  one  of  the  ministers  said  of  him. 

Mulkey  is  survived  by  his  wife  and  a 
brother  in  California,  who,  with  Lee  Bell, 
assistant  manager  of  the  Pastime  and  Cozy 
theatres  in  Clarendon,  were  with  him  when 
he  died. 

A partial  list  from  over  the  state  who 
attended  the  services  includes:  Col.  H.  A. 
Cole  and  J.  M.  Reynolds  of  Allied;  Henry 
Sorenson,  Burt  King,  Ted  Lewis,  T.  R. 
Barber,  Hiram  Parks,  all  of  Dallas;  Lon- 
nie Legg  of  Denison;  P.  V.  Williams  of 
Munday;  H.  S.  Leon  of  Haskell;  R.  N. 
Smith  of  Mission;  W.  J.  Wooten  of  Can- 
yon; Rufus  Layton,  Childress;  H.  B.  Skel- 
ton of  Panhandle;  J.  C.  Parker,  Dalhart; 
Jack  Hurst,  Abernathy;  Griffith  men  from 
Pampa  and  Lubbock,  and  many  others. 

The  Variety  Club  of  Texas,  of  which 
Mulkey  was  a member,  sent  a message  to 
the  Clarendon  Christian  Church  on  Mul- 
key’s passing. 

Mulkey  was  a member  and  active  work- 
er in  independent  theatre  owner  organiza- 
tions, and  for  the  last  several  years  was 
a director  of  Allied  of  Texas.  He  was 
also  a member  of  the  Lions  Club  and  was 
identified  with  a number  of  civic  and 
charitable  movements. 


To  Open  Plaza 

Weatherford,  Tex. — C.  H.  Jones  will 
soon  open  his  new  Plaza  here  in  a build- 
ing now  being  remodeled.  He  has  pur- 
chased equipment  for  the  venture.  It  will 
give  the  town  three  theatres.  Kindel  & 
Sadler  have  operated  the  Palace  and  Prin- 
cess here  for  many  years. 


Fourth  for  Corsicana 

Corsicana,  Tex.  — Construction  of  a 
fourth  house  has  been  started  here,  ac- 
cording to  Terry  McCary,  city  manager  for 
Texas  Consolidated  Theatres,  Inc. 


The  Queen  Feature  Service,  Inc. 

Quality  Theatre  Equipment  & Supplies 
191!iM>  Morris  A ve.  Phone  3-8665 

BIRMINGHAM,  ALA. 


Most  Recent  Photo — 

A more  recent  picture  of  Homer  Mul- 
key than  the  one  published  last  week, 
this  shows  the  Clarendon  exhibitor  as 
he  is  remembered  best  in  this  territory. 


Bill  Elliott  on  Tour 
Of  Southern  Area 

Little  Rock — Bill  Elliott,  film  cowboy, 
will  arrive  January  19  for  a personal  ap- 
pearance tour  which  will  take  him  to  Ar- 
kansas, Tennessee,  Kentucky  and  Okla- 
homa. 

He  will  open  his  tour  in  Memphis  next 
Saturday  and  will  visit  Jackson,  Tenn., 
Fulton,  Ky„  Jonesboro  and  Hot  Springs, 
Ark.,  before  coming  to  Little  Rock. 


pLU  IS  prevalent  in  New  Orleans  and 

throughout  Louisiana.  As  far  as  can  be 
learned  from  exchanges,  only  one  town, 
Crowley,  has  been  closed  by  authorities  . . . 
Katharine  Hepburn,  in  “Philadelphia 
Story,”  packed  the  Municipal  Auditorium 
at  $2.50  top  . . . The  Drive-In  on  the  lake 
front  has  closed  for  the  season  and  will 
reopen  in  April. 

Flash  Delivery  Co.  has  secured  an  exclu- 
sive contract  from  the  Saengers  for  the 
delivery  and  pickup  of  films  in  Louisiana 
. . . There  is  a new  face  in  the  office  of  the 
Louisiana  Motion  Picture  Equipment  Co. 
She  is  Miss  “Bobbie”  Adams,  stenographer 
. . . “GWTW”  comes  back  to  Loew’s  Janu- 
ary 24  . . . Helen  Vinson,  British  actress, 
has  been  made  honorary  vice-chairman  of 
the  local  British- American  Ambulance 
Corps. 

Miss  Berryl  Tarrant  is  now  employed  as 
an  assistant  to  W.  A.  Prewitt  of  the  Ameri- 
can Desk  Mfg.  Co.  . . . The  Paramount,  in 
Lake  Charles,  recently  destroyed  by  fire, 
has  been  rebuilt  and  is  now  open  for  busi- 
ness . . . Visitors  to  the  Row  this  week 
were  scarce. 

It  is  reported  that  the  Old  Dauphine 
will  be  reopened  as  a newreeler  at  a 10- 
cent  top  . . . Jake  Miller,  who  recently  re- 
tired from  the  theatre  business,  is  now  de- 
voting his  time  to  insurance. 


Is  Headstream  Aide 

Batesville,  Ark.  — Rex  Barrett  jr.,  of 
Columbia,  Mo.,  has  assumed  his  duties  at 
the  Melba  as  assistant  to  Manager  Bill 
Headstream.  Rex  is  the  son  of  Rex  Bar- 
rett, Columbia  mayor  and  manager  of  the 
Uptown  and  Boone  theatres  there. 


Scripting  for  Crosby 

Hollywood — Harry  Tugend  will  script 
“Birth  of  the  Blues,”  Bing  Crosby  starrer, 
for  Paramount. 


POSTERS 

POSTERS  POSTERS 

WE  HAVE  'EM  WITHOUT  A CONTRACT 

Preserve  Your  Independence  — We  Are  Here  to 
Stay.  Send  Us  Your  Orders  and  Used 


Paper  Now  — We  Appreciate 

Your  Business. 

EXHIBITORS 

POSTER  EXCHANGE,  Inc. 

218  So.  Liberty  St. 

New  Orleans,  La. 

BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


63 


JNTERSTATE  CITY  MANAGER  ED- 
WARD E.  COLLINS  is  mighty  proud 
of  that  shot  gun  his  fellow  managers  gave 
him  for  Christmas  . . . Mrs.  Virginia  Mills, 
45,  wife  of  Herbert  Mills,  local  projection- 
ist, passed  away  here  recently  . . . Hal 
Norfleet,  the  Drive-In  manager,  says  his 
business  is  increasing  nicely  and  looks  for- 
ward to  the  new  season  with  enthusiasm 
. . . Douglas  “Wrong  Way”  Corrigan  has 
returned  to  Los  Angeles  after  visiting  his 
wife’s  relatives  here. 

Lawrence  L.  Bernard,  former  assistant 
skipper  of  the  State,  is  now  acting  in  a 
similar  capacity  out  at  the  Harlandale  . . . 
Bob  May,  chief  of  service  at  the  Texas,  is 
expecting  to  become  a bridegroom  early 
next  month  . . . Walter  Tinney,  the  oper- 
ator, made  another  trip  to  the  hospital  for 
a complete  checkup  and  has  returned  to 
work. 

Jack  Clements  has  been  shifted  from 
the  Palace  to  the  Empire  service  staff  . . . 
Two  special  events  each  week  are  attract- 
ing plenty  of  attention  at  the  Texas.  They 
include  “Buzzo”  on  Wednesday  night  and 
the  Owl  Midnight  Jamboree  on  the  stage 
every  Saturday. 


Recovering  From  Flu 

Osceola,  Ark. — The  condition  of  Miss 
Emma  Cox,  owner  of  the  Gem,  is  reported 
to  be  improved,  although  the  attack  of 
flu  still  confines  her  to  her  home. 


r 

YOUR  PATRON  BUYS 


l The  Best  Popcorn 
l He  Can!  j 

) DO  YOU?  < 

1 Why  Not  Try  I 

! SUPERB  ! 
! SOUTH  AMERICAN  CORN  ! 
! FLAV  0 NUT  SEASONING  ! 

) Exclusive  With  ( 

Rube  Melcher 

i POPPERS  SUPPLY  CO. ! 

I GR.  0672  1717  Wyandotte  St.  ( 

I Kansas  City,  Mo.  ( 

Just  Try  Some ! 
i 1 


Recruit  Problem 
Solved  by  Stern 

Oklahoma  City — There  was  quite  a to- 
do  locally  concerning  what  the  boys 
brought  in  from  over  the  state  to  be  in- 
ducted into  the  Army  were  to  do  during 
a four  or  five-hour  wait  for  transporta- 
tion to  Fort  Sill,  so  Bert  Stern,  Criterion 
manager,  stepped  forward  with  an  idea. 

The  result  (and  some  nice  publicity 
with  pictures  and  all  in  the  local  press) 
was  that  the  boys  are  now  brought  to  the 
Criterion  in  charge  of  a sergeant  and 
admitted  to  see  the  theatre's  regular  pic- 
ture without  cost.  Time  is  matinee  period 
and  a special  section  is  roped  off. 

J 

Variety  Entertainment 
Entrusted  to  Hisey 

Memphis — Homer  Hisey  was  elected 
chairman  of  the  entertainment  committee 
for  the  monthly  luncheons  to  be  held  by 
Variety  this  year  at  the  inaugural  lunch- 
eon Monday.  M.  A.  Lightman  was  “King 
for  the  Day,”  and  in  conjunction  with 
Harry  Martin  of  the  Commercial  Appeal  he 
arranged  the  program. 

The  guest  list  included  Ethel  Taylor  of 
the  Memphis  Open  Air  Theatre;  Bill  El- 
liott, who  was  making  a personal  appear- 
ance at  the  Strand;  Nick  Lucas,  who  is 
appearing  at  the  Hotel  Claridge,  and 
Charlie  Wagner,  manager  of  Jeanette  Mac- 
Donald, who  was  here  for  a concert  ap- 
pearance. 

It  was  “Malco  Theatres  Day,”  and  these 
Malco  managers  were  in  for  the  occasion: 
J.  R.  McEachron,  city  manager,  Jackson, 
Tenn.;  Burgess  Waldron,  Princess,  Colum- 
bus, Miss.;  Paul  Jones,  city  manager,  Pine 
Bluff;  Clayton  Tunstill,  city  manager, 
Owensboro,  Ky.,  and  W.  Clyde  Smith,  city 
manager,  Hot  Springs,  Ark.  M.  S.  McCord, 
secretary-treasurer  of  Malco  Theatres  in 
North  Little  Rock,  was  also  on  hand. 


Addresses  Variety 

Dallas — Joe  P.  Harris,  superintendent 
of  Dallas  county  schools,  was  guest  speaker 
at  the  Variety  Club  weekly  luncheon  Mon- 
day. New  members  were  added  to  the 
club’s  roster,  including  C.  E.  Holmes  and 
Charles  Meeker,  both  of  Interstate  circuit 
and  former  honorary  members,  and 
Charles  R.  Rader,  a captain  on  the  po- 
lice department. 


lsley  to  Build  Third 
House  in  Abilene 

Dallas — Phil  R.  Isley  will  open  his  third 
theatre  in  Texas  soon.  He  is  now  re- 
modeling a building  in  Abilene  for  that 
purpose,  and  has  purchased  equipment  for 
the  house  to  seat  around  500.  Isley,  in 
his  expansion,  is  following  the  influx  of 
soldiers  into  towns  where  army  camps 
are  located.  He  now  operates  the  Granada 
in  Palacios  and  the  Plaza  in  Brownwood. 


New  Athens  Makes  Bow 

Athens,  Tenn. — The  opening  of  the  new 
Athens  was  staged  with  “Barnyard  Fol- 
lies” as  the  initial  offering. 


A IF  IL  A MY  A 

piLMROW  was  saddened  by  the  death 
of  Mrs.  E.  P.  Clay  of  McDonough,  Ga., 
last  week.  Mrs.  Clay  had  been  in  the 
theatre  business  for  many  years  and  was 
a frequent  visitor  . . . The  father  of 
Charlie  Karr,  booker  for  Martin  Theatres, 
passed  away  this  week  . . . Homer  Knowles, 
organist  at  the  Fox  for  the  past  five 
years,  will  report  at  Camp  Jackson,  S.  C., 
for  military  service,  January  26.  He  is 
succeeded  by  Jimmy  Beers. 

Marjorie  Amendola,  Capitol  City  Sup- 
ply Co.,  has  resigned  to  become  head  book- 
keeper in  the  comptroller’s  office  at  the 
capital  . . . Visitors:  E.  J.  Hunter,  Colquitt, 
Colquitt,  Ga.;  R.  H.  Dunn,  Camilla,  Ca- 
milla, Ga.;  M.  C.  Moore,  Riverside,  Jack- 
sonville, Fla.;  R.  D.  Page,  Maury,  Mt. 
Pleasant,  Tenn.;  Ed  Beach,  Silvertown, 
Thomaston,  Ga.;  J.  S.  Tankersley  jr., 
Ellijay,  Ellijay,  Ga.;  and  Mrs.  N.  W.  Kim- 
bro.  Liberty  and  Pickens,  S.  C.  . . . Flu 
list:  Roy  Avery,  Metro;  J.  U.  McCormick, 
Amity  Pictures,  and  J . E.  Estes,  20 th  Cen- 
tury-Fox. 

Johnny  McCarthy,  manager  of  the  Plaza, 
leaves  this  weekend  for  Washington,  D.  C., 
on  a belated  vacation  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stanley  Rosenbaum,  Muscles  Shoals  The- 
atres, Florence,  Ala.,  stopped  over  on  their 
way  to  Miami  for  a short  vacation  . . . 
Howard  Wallace,  Sack  Amusement  Co., 
is  in  Birmingham  on  business  . . . Ralph 
Marchmont  has  been  added  to  the  ship- 
ping department  of  20th  Century-Fox. 

Doug  Avey,  who  goes  with  Uncle  Sam 
the  first  of  February,  will  take  over  at 
the  Techwood  as  manager  until  that  time. 
Jack  H.  Hodges  has  been  moved  to  the 
Roxy  as  manager  . . . Al  Rook,  with  Re- 
public for  the  past  five  years,  has  handed 
in  his  resignation  and  will  join  his  brother, 
Charles,  at  Montgomery,  Ala.,  where  he 
operates  the  Charles  Theatre  . . . Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Robert  Wilby,  Wilby-Kincey  Thea- 
tres, are  in  Miami  Beach  until  March  1. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gus  King  of  the  Capitol 
City  Supply  Co.  have  left  on  a combina- 
tion business-pleasure  tour  through  Flor- 
ida. They  will  visit  Palm  Beach,  Tampa, 
and  wind  up  at  Miami,  where  Mrs.  King 
will  spend  several  weeks  . . . W.  C.  Sam- 
pler, booker  for  Columbia,  has  resigned 
to  accept  a post  with  Monogram  Southern 
Exchange,  New  Orleans,  as  office  man- 
ager and  booker,  effective  January  20  . . . 
Leonard  Seligman,  manager  of  the  Em- 
pire, has  purchased  the  Friendly,  Decatur, 
Ga.,  from  Crenshaw  Bonner.  The  theatre 
is  being  remodeled,  and  the  name  will 
be  changed  to  the  Wilson. 


Bessie  Loyless  Buys 
Abbey  in  Abbeville 

Abbeyville,  Ala. — The  Abbey,  owned  by 

L.  T.  Sheffield  of  Headland,  has  been  sold 
to  Mrs.  Bessie  Loyless  and  her  son,  Archie 

M.  Walker  of  Fort  Gaines,  Ga. 

Mrs.  Loyless  owns  and  operates  the  thea- 
tre at  Fort  Gaines,  and  her  family  owns 
and  operates  a chain  of  ten  houses  in 
Georgia  and  Alabama. 


64 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


CHARLOTTE 


yiSITORS:  Mrs.  H.  T.  Green,  Hollywood 
Theatre,  Manning,  S.  C.;  Harry  C.  Cook 
of  Mount  Olive  and  Warsaw,  N.  C.;  J. 
C.  Peed  of  Creedmore,  N.  C.;  Dick  Easton, 
Imperial,  Lancaster,  S.  C.;  A.  C.  Phillips, 
Strand,  Walhalla,  S.  C.;  E.  L.  Swinson, 
Paramount,  LaGrange,  N.  C.;  Charles 
Tucker,  Pembroke,  Pembroke,  N.  C.;  J.  A. 
Reynolds,  State,  Shelby,  N.  C.;  Lyle  M. 
Wilson,  General  Amusements  Co.,  Roanoke 
Rapids  and  Warrenton,  N.  C.;  Cary  Cau- 
dell,  Wanoca,  Wallace,  N.  C.;  Kit  Mc- 
Gowan of  the  Spring  Hope,  N.  C.,  thea- 
tre; W.  P.  Friedell,  Moncks  Corner  and  St. 
Stephens,  S.  C„  and  H.  P.  Herring  of  the 
Carolina  in  Conway,  S.  C. 

Junior  Jackson,  son  of  Ralph  Jackson 
of  the  Carolina  Delivery  Service,  is  ill  with 
flu  . . . P.  J.  Caudell,  owner  of  the  Wan- 
oca Theatre  in  Wallace,  N.  C.,  is  recuper- 
ating from  an  attack  of  flu  ..  . Harry  K. 
Lucas,  former  owner  of  the  Charlotte  in 
Charlotte,  and  now  head  of  the  Kozona 
Co.,  is  a patient  at  the  Presbyterian  Hos- 
pital in  Charlotte.  He  went  there  several- 
days  ago  for  treatment  . . . Jay  Schrader, 
UA  branch  manager,  is  recuperating  from 
an  attack  of  flu  ...  A new  theatre  is  being 
planned  by  the  Durham  Recreation  De- 
partment, Durham,  N.  C.  It  will  be  oper- 
ated during  the  summer  months  in  one  of 
the  parks. 

J.  R.  Holcombe  of  Columbia,  S.  C„  was 
awarded  the  contract  to  build  the  new 
Palmetto  in  Spartanburg,  S.  C.  Palmetto 
Amusement  Co.  (Wilby-Kincey)  will  oper- 
ate the  house,  which  is  supposed  to  be  com- 
pleted by  May  1 . . . Harry  Epting,  head  of 
the  engineering  department  of  National 
Theatre  Supply  for  the  southeast  with 
headquarters  in  Atlanta,  visited  the  Char- 
lotte office  . . . Benn  Rosenwald,  Metro 
branch  manager,  has  returned  to  his  of- 
fice after  spending  several  days  in  Ashe- 
ville, N.  C.,  conferring  with  Carl  Bamford 
of  Publix-Bamford  Theatres. 

Harold  Jonasson,  connected  with  Para- 
mount for  several  years,  has  been  trans- 
ferred to  the  booking  department  of  the 
Charlotte  branch  . . . North  Carolina  has  a 
flying  senator -exhibitor.  Roy  Rowe,  who 
operates  theatres  in  Burgaw,  Elizabethtown 
and  Bethel,  is  now  known  as  the  “Flying 
Senator.”  For  some  time  past,  Senator 
Rowe  has  been  taking  instructions  at  the 
Wilmington,  N.  C.  airport  and  he  recently 
flew  from  Wilmington  to  Raleigh  for  the 
opening  of  the  North  Carolina  legislature 
to  which  he  was  recently  elected.  The 
senator  expects  to  receive  his  private 
pilot’s  license  before  the  assembly  ad- 
journs. He  has  his  order  in  for  a plane  to 
be  delivered  at  an  early  date.  His  theatres 
require  him  to  commute  frequently  be- 
tween them  and  Charlotte.  He  states  that 
it  is  his  wish  to  save  “time.”  Senator  Rowe 
is  also  a vice-president  of  the  Theatre 
Owners  of  North  and  South  Carolina. 

W.  J.  Allen  of  the  Allen  (formerly  the 
New  Orpheum),  North  Wilkesboro,  N.  C., 
has  purchased  high  intensity  lamps  from 


Bryant  Theatre  Supply  . . . E.  R.  Medd  is 
now  connected  with  L.  S.  Sipe  and  H.  H. 
Everett  (Spindale  Amusement  Co.)  in  the 
capacity  of  manager  of  the  Carolina  in 
Spindale,  N.  C.  Medd  was  formerly  con- 
nected with  Dr.  R.  S.  Beam,  who  operated 
the  Carolina  in  Lumberton,  N.  C.,  prior  to 
it  being  taken  over  by  North  Carolina 
Theatres,  Inc.  Later  he  was  associated  with 
the  Bailey  Theatres  in  Wilmington,  N.  C., 
and  only  recently  he  returned  to  this  ter- 
ritory from  the  Sudekum  circuit  in  Nash- 
ville. 

R.  C.  Speece,  formerly  city  manager  of 
the  Lyric  and  Temple  theatres  in  Gas- 
tonia, N.  C.  (Wilby-Kincey) , has  been  pro- 
moted to  the  home  office  in  Charlotte 
where  he  will  be  in  the  booking  depart- 
ment . . . Bill  Sharpe,  for  many  years  con- 
nected with  Paramount  in  the  ad  sales  de- 
partment and  recently  with  National 
Screen  Accessories,  has  resigned  to  return 
to  Paramount  as  a salesman  . . . George 
W.  Parr  of  Lancaster,  S.  C.,  announces  the 
opening  of  his  new  de  luxe  Parr  Theatre 
on  January  21.  He  states  the  opening  at- 
traction will  be  “No,  No,  Nanette”  . . . 
James  Q.  Wray,  who  once  operated  a thea- 
tre in  York,  S.  C.,  died  recently  at  the  age 
of  73. 

The  many  friends  of  J.  A.  Reynolds,  who 
operates  the  State  in  Shelby,  N.  C.,  were 
saddened  to  learn  of  the  sudden  death  of 
his  mother,  Mrs.  Ada  I.  Reynolds  . . . The 
mother  of  P.  J.,  W.  F.  and  C.  H.  Caudell, 
who  operate  theatres  in  Fairmont,  Wal- 
lace, and  Marshville,  N.  C„  died  recently 
. . . Carl  Bamford  (always  par  golfer), 
president  of  the  Publix-Bamford  Theatres 
in  Asheville,  N.  C.,  has  been  elected  to  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  local  chamber  of 
commerce  . . . United  Artists  employes  are 
very  much  on  their  toes.  They  hope  to  win 
the  Arthur  Kelly  playdate  and  sales  drive 
which  ends  April  19.  The  prize — two 
weeks’  salary  for  every  employe. 

W.  H.  “Cotton”  Eubanks,  who  operates 
the  Wall  Estate  theatres  in  Rockingham, 
N.  C.,  has  acquired  a son-in-law.  His 
daughter,  Maitha,  was  recently  wed  to 
Carlton  Dunn,  also  of  Rockingham.  “Cot- 
ton” is  known  not  only  for  his  managerial 
ability,  fishing  (?) , but  also  for  his  ex- 
treme thoughtfulness  in  procuring  every 
comic  book  published  and  each  month 
sending  them  to  the  Orthopedic  Hospital 
in  Gastonia,  N.  C.,  for  the  entertainment 
of  the  confined  children  . . . J.  Francis 
White  jr.,  with  headquarters  in  Asheboro, 
N.  C.,  was  on  the  Roiv  accompanied  by  his 
managers,  Ben  Allen  of  the  Uptown,  Dur- 
ham, N.  C.;  Dick  Lassiter,  State,  Greens- 
boro, N.  C„  and  R.  L.  Groom,  Wake,  Ra- 
leigh, N.  C. 

Carolyn  Pitts  Shuman,  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sam  W.  Graver  (Craver  Thea- 
tres), was  married  recently  to  William  H. 
Welch,  also  of  Charlotte  . . . Theatregoers 
of  the  Carolinas  are  highly  elated  over  the 
announced  appearance  of  Katharine  Hep- 
burn at  the  Carolina  in  Charlotte,  Janu- 


BUFFALO  COOLING  EQUIPMENT 

1026  SANTA  fe  bldg.  BUFFALO  ENGINEERING  CO.,  INC.  Dallas.  Texas 


a a 

Two  Governors  See 
"Land  of  Liberty " 

Charlotte — The  opening  of  "Land  of 
Liberty"  at  the  Palmetto,  Columbia,  S.  C., 
last  Sunday  was  attended  by  Governor 
Maybank  and  other  high  state  officials. 
Four  days  later,  the  film  had  its  open- 
ing in  North  Carolina  at  the  Ambassador 
in  Raleigh,  with  Governor  Broughton  and 
educational  and  civic  leaders  in  attend- 
ance. 

The  Metro  film,  depicting  the  develop- 
ment of  America,  was  to  open  here  Sun- 
day at  the  Carolina. 

VS— i) 

ary  28,  in  “The  Philadelphia  Story.”  She 
also  appears  in  Durham,  N.  C.,  January 
29  and  Raleigh,  January  30.  Miss  Hep- 
burn’s motion  picture,  ‘‘The  Philadelphia 
Story,”  is  underlined  for  early  Carolina 
showings  . . . Jeanette  MacDonald  appears 
in  a concert  presented  by  the  Asheville 
junior  chamber  of  commerce  at  the  City 
Auditorium  in  Asheville,  N.  C.,  January  28. 

Ten  years  ago  this  week  the  following 
pictures  were  playing  in  the  Carolinas: 
Will  Rogers  in  “Lightnin,”  Richard  Bar- 
thelmess  and  Mary  Astor  in  “The  Lash,” 
Jackie  and  Jean  Arthur  in  “The  Gang- 
busters,”  Janet  Gaynor  and  Charles  Far- 
rell in  “The  Man  Who  Came  Back.” 


Remodeling  the  Ritz 

Bruceton,  Tenn.  — Remodeling  of  the 
Ritz  now  is  in  progress.  The  front  is  of 
structural  glass  with  a new  marquee  and 
ticket  booth. 


Follow  the  Trend  to 

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successfully  used,  and  recognized 
as  a theatre  necessity. 

® Eliminates  Any  and  All  Odors 
• Destroys  Bacteria 
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Sold  on  a Money  Back  Basis, 
KOZONO  is  UNCONDITIONALLY 
GUARANTEED  FOR  12  MONTHS. 

Catalogue,  list  of  users  and  detailed 
information  on  request. 

THE  KOZONO  COMPANY 

Dept.  B,  123  W.  Trade  Street 
CHARLOTTE,  N.  C. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


65 


ft  ' ■ ■ ft 

Concerning  the  Southeast 

vs  - = — - >) 


By  A.  JULES  BENEDIC 

Memphis — With  the  flu  bugaboo  finally 
on  the  wane,  the  Memphis  area  faces  the 
future  with  confidence,  interviews  with 
local  exhibitoi’s  and 
close.  There  is  a fine 
spirit  prevailing  and 
the  goose  undoubted- 
ly hangs  high. 

We  wend  our  way 
to  West  Memphis, 
which,  by  the  way,  is 
in  Arkansas,  and 
chat  with  J.  J. 

Rhodes,  satrap  of  the 
Crittenden  Theatre. 

“J.  J.”  was  most  en- 
thusiastic in  his  de- 
scription of  the  thea- 
tre, which  has  many 
points  of  merit.  For 
tenden,  built  entirely 
lowest  fire  rate  of  any  house  in  Arkansas, 
Tennessee  and  Mississippi.  All  wires  are 
in  steel  conduits,  and  steel  is  used  for  the 
backs  of  chairs.  In  a town  of  4,000,  this 
is  a most  creditable  operation.  In  addi- 
tion, Mr.  Rhodes  has  24,000  more  per- 
sons in  the  county,  so  this  excellent  cin- 
ema has  what  is  termed  a big  “draw.” 
Folks  come  here  even  from  Memphis,  the 
owner  reports. 

Handy  Square  Happenings 

Back  in  Memphis,  we  call  upon  Zerilla 
and  Maceri,  who  control  the  colored  situa- 
tions on  world-famous  Beale  Street.  Two 
shows  are  operating  at  present,  the  Daisy 
and  Palace.  The  old  Grand  has  been 
razed,  and  on  the  grounds  is  being  erected 
a fine  new  modern  show  for  colored  folks. 
This  operation  will  be  completed,  Mr.  Zer- 
illa says,  between  March  15  and  April  1. 

We  idle  out  to  the  Idlewild,  an  indepen- 
dent suburban  operation  in  the  hands  of 
Nate  Evans  and  the  Cullens  brothers.  This 
set-up  also  controls  the  Savoy,  a suburban 
house  devoted  to  Negro  patronage.  The 
Idlewild  is  the  last  word  in  modernity,  and 
a credit  to  the  city. 

We  run  out  to  the  Royal  in  Memphis,  a 
house  more  than  a quarter  of  a century 
old.  Walter  Parham  has  been  here  as 
owner-manager  since  ’26  ...  We  meander 
to  the  Madison  and  ballyhoo  about  with 
Bellas,  whose  first  name  is  Tom  . . . Mem- 
phis meals  are  on  a high  par.  A sign  reads 
“only  IIV2  hours  to  New  Orleans  by  bus” 
and  maybe  it’s  that  rather  close  proximity 
that  causes  this  cuisine  . . . On  the  Main 
Stem  we  visit  both  Loew  houses,  and  also 
Warner’s.  Down  at  Malco’s,  M.  A.  Light- 
man  is  not  available,  so  we  meander  away 
from  this  hospitable  southern  city,  and 
head  for  Atlanta. 

Old  Home  Week  on  The  Row 

En  route,  we  stop  at  Bolivar,  Term., 
where  the  tidy  Luez  Theatre,  we  ascertain, 
was  named  for  its  owner,  Miss  Louise 
Mask,  who  wanted  a name  with  only  four 
letters.  The  townspeople  joined  in  a con- 
test, and  the  contraction  of  this  pleasant 
lady’s  first  name  resulted  . . . We 
pull  into  Pulaski,  a Cumberland  strong- 
hold, and  jaw  with  E.  R.  Jackson,  who 
manages  the  Sam  Davis  for  this  important 
circuit.  He  tells  us  that  the  Best  Thea- 


tre, closed  for  two  years,  now  is  receiving 
finishing  touches  and  will  reopen  approxi- 
mately February  1. 

We  ramble  into  Rome,  Ga.,  and  go  to 
the  offices  of  O.  C.  Lam,  in  order  to  see 
his  secretary.  O.  C.  Lam,  according  to 
that  usually  authentic  publication,  Box- 
office,  is  in  Honolulu,  but  imagine  our 
surprise  when  Oscar  himself  shows  up 
after  our  request  to  see  the  guy  in  charge. 
It  seems  that  Mr.  Lam’s  planned  trip  to 
southern  waters  and  Hawaii  has  been 
postponed  for  the  time  being.  We  renew 
our  acquaintance  with  Oscar,  whose  three 
new  theatre  projects  are  detailed  elsewhere 
by  our  Atlanta  correspondent. 

Another  “old  home  week”  on  The  Row. 
In  a hurry,  we  don’t  catch  many  notes, 
but,  meeting  Ike  Katz  on  the  street,  we 
ascertain  that  PRC’s  staff  has  been  en- 
larged with  the  addition  of  Miss  Bernice 
Ball  to  the  office  force. 


Fire  in  Bristol 

Bristol,  Tenn. — The  New  Norton  was 
recently  destroyed  by  fire  with  a loss  of 
$50,000  to  $60,000.  The  fire  also  destroyed 
10  apartments  above  the  theatre. 


EXHIBITORS  seen  along  the  Row:  Earl 
Vandiver,  Kennett,  Kennett,  Mo.;  Hen- 
ley Smith,  Imperial,  Pocahontas,  Ark.; 
John  Crabtree,  Merlu,  Clarendon,  Ark.;  C. 
W.  Tipton,  New,  Manila,  Ark.;  P.  H.  Pierce, 
Von,  Booneville,  Miss.;  Claude  Gentry,  Ly- 
ric, Baldwyn,  Miss.;  G.  H.  Goff,  Rustic, 
Parsons,  Tenn.;  Norman  Fair,  Fair,  Somer- 
ville, Tenn.;  Orris  Collins,  Capitol,  Para- 
gould,  Ark.;  Louie  jr.  and  Henry  Haven, 
Imperial  Theatres,  Inc.,  Forrest  City,  Ark.; 
John  Shannon,  Shannon,  Portageville, 
Mo.;  W.  F.  Hammer,  Town,  Collierville, 
Tenn.;  Jack  Watson,  Palace,  Tunica,  Miss.; 
Mrs.  H.  G.  Brewer,  Savoy,  Clarksdale, 
Miss.;  Miss  Louise  Mask,  Luez,  Bolivar, 
Tenn.;  W.  O.  Taylor,  Uptown,  Dresden, 
Tenn.;  George  Hale  and  C.  H.  Collier, 
Globe,  Drew,  Miss.;  Charles  Collier,  Globe, 
Shaw,  Miss.,  and  B.  F.  Jackson,  Delta, 
Ruleville,  Miss. 

Bill  Bugie,  Paramount’s  local  manager, 
reports  his  crew  is  again  intact.  During  the 
flu  epidemic,  he  had  eight  employes  off  at 
one  time  . . . B.  V.  McDougald  of  Monti- 
cello  has  closed  the  Amusu  there.  He  will 
continue  to  operate  the  Drew  . . . Jack  Re- 
vill,  Paramount  salesman,  mid  the  family 
are  back  after  a visit  to  South  Carolina  . . . 
Juanita  Scruggs,  cashier  at  Vitagraph,  is 
back  on  the  fob  after  a fight  with  flu  . . . 
Mary  Ripley  Shattuck,  booker’s  secretary  at 
Vitagraph,  is  recuperating  from  an  ap- 
pendectomy at  Methodist  Hospital  . . . 
Frank  Neel,  Paramount  booker,  has  re- 
turned from  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  where  he 
visited  his  parents. 

Bill  Osborne,  branch  manager  for  Mono- 
gram, is  back  after  a trip  by  plane  to 
Jacksonville,  Fla.,  where  he  went  to  be 
with  his  brother  who  was  in  an  airplane 


OK  ft,  A.  CITY 

^HE  remodeled  Folly  is  getting  set  for 
reopening.  Standard  has  begun  teaser 
ads  to  call  attention  to  the  house,  but  has 
indicated  no  policy  or  pictures  as  yet.  Best 
guess  is  first-run  thrillers.  Word  has  it 
that  Dee  Fuller,  Circle  manager,  will  be 
named  manager  of  the  Folly  . . . Gordon 
Derrick,  house  manager  of  the  Warner  and 
former  assistant  manager  of  the  Circle, 
has  resigned  to  go  into  the  oil  business  in 
Texas. 

Work  is  going  ahead  nicely  on  the  Vari- 
ety Club’s  new  building  in  southtown.  It 
will  be  used  as  a health  center.  Walls  are 
up  and  the  roof  is  being  put  on  as  this 
opus  is  being  written.  It  is  expected  the 
club’s  $45,000  charitable  project  will  be 
completed  and  ready  for  use  sooner  than 
was  originally  expected. 

National  Theatre  Supply  gave  out  some 
nifty  leather  do-dads  which  can  be  used 
as  a brief  case  or  letter  container  on 
one’s  desk.  Made  a hit  with  the  trade  . . . 
Those  were  good  photos  of  Dee  Fuller  and 
his  lady  that  Dee  had  taken  at  Christmas 
time.  Could  be! 


Assign  Frankovich 

Hollywood — Mike  Frankovich  has  a 
featured  role  in  Universal’s  “Buck  Pri- 
vates.” 


crash.  Bill  reports  his  brother  was  badly 
bruised  and  shaken  up,  but  that  he  will 
soon  be  okay  again  . . . M.  B.  Hasty  of  the 
Joy,  Dardanelle,  Ark.,  paid  the  Row  his 
regular  monthly  booking  visit.  He  is  just 
up  from  ten  days  in  bed  with  the  flu  . . . 
Clayton  Tunstill,  Malco  city  manager  in 
Owensboro,  Ky„  reports  good  advance 
ticket  sales  on  “Little  Men”  for  a show 
being  sponsored  by  the  Federation  of 
Women’s  Clubs  there.  The  Federation  will 
use  their  percentage  to  furnish  a room  in 
the  city  hospital  . . . Tommy  Baldridge  is 
the  new  availability  clerk  at  Vitagraph. 

Lee  Gentry  is  the  new  accessory  sales- 
man at  Republic.  He  replaces  Seed  Wort- 
smith,  who  has  been  called  for  a year’s 
military  training.  Lee,  incidentally , is  the 
brother  of  Claude  Gentry  of  Baldwyn, 
Miss.  . . . Horace  Stanley  of  the  Radio  at 
Beebe,  Ark.,  another  visitor  . . . Marjeanne 
Baer,  Jimmy  Rogers’  secretary  at  Colum- 
bia, and  Billy  Crouch  were  married  Janu- 
ary 4.  The  couple  honeymooned  in  New 
Orleans  and  Florida.  He  will  leave  the  lat- 
ter part  of  January  for  a year’s  training 
at  Ft.  Oglethorpe,  Ga.  . . . E.  W.  Gibson, 
who  for  20  years  operated  the  Tutrovan- 
sum  in  Tutwiler,  Miss.,  died  recently  at  his 
home  after  several  months  illness.  Mrs. 
Gibson,  at  present,  is  operating  the  theatre. 

C.  C.  Mundo  and  E.  C.  Pickthorne  of 
Central  Theatres,  Inc.,  Little  Rock,  who 
just  opened  the  Liberty  in  North  Little 
Rock,  were  Filmrow  visitors  . . . A1  and 
Mrs.  Wilson  of  the  Bay  at  Red  Bay,  Ala., 
were  in  for  the  monthly  luncheon  by  the 
Variety  Club.  Wilson  recently  became  a 
full-fledged  member  of  the  club,  and  this 
was  his  first  trip  since  becoming  one  of  the 
boys. 


exchange  men  dis- 


BENEDIC 

one  thing,  the  Crit- 
of  steel,  enjoys  the 


66 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


Regeni  in  Sudbury 
To  Taylor  Chain 

Toronto — The  Regent  at  Sudbury,  Ont., 
reconstructed  a year  ago  at  considerable 
cost,  has  been  taken  over  by  20th  Century 
Theatres,  headed  by  Nat  Taylor  who  is 
the  chairman  of  the  Motion  Picture  Sec- 
tion of  the  Toronto  Board  of  Trade,  from 
R.  T.  Stevens  of  Sudbury,  owner  of  four 
other  theatres  in  northern  Ontario.  It  was 
acquired  on  a 10-year  lease  at  a reported 
rental  of  $30,000  per  year  and  will  be  un- 
der the  management  of  Jack  Alexander, 
brother  of  Harry  Alexander,  proprietor  of 
the  Lansdowne,  Toronto,  who  is  also  wide- 
ly known  as  the  president  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Theatres  Association  of  Ontario. 
The  Regent  is  the  second  largest  of  four 
theatres  in  Sudbury,  with  1,161  seats. 

Reconstruction  of  the  Madison,  Toronto, 
which  had  been  taken  over  December  1 
by  20th  Century  Theatres  from  the  estate 
of  John  Brady,  has  been  considerably  de- 
layed because  of  a holdup  of  delivery  of 
structural  steel  and  other  building  ma- 
terials due  to  war  demands  and  the  thea- 
tre may  not  be  opened  for  some  time  yet, 
although  it  had  been  announced  that  the 
Madison  would  reopen  at  the  end  of  1940. 
With  the  exception  of  the  side  and  rear 
walls,  the  theatre  is  being  rebuilt  through- 
out along  modern  lines. 

Incidentally,  there  has  been  an  intima- 
tion that  Famous  Players  Canadian  Corp. 
has  decided  not  to  rebuild  the  Alhambra 
which  is  opposition  to  the  Madison. 

The  Belmont,  a neighborhood  house  in 
the  Toronto  West  End  seating  320  persons 
which  had  been  idle  for  two  years,  has 
been  reopened  by  Paul  Naslen  who  has 
leased  the  theatre  for  five  years  from  the 
owner  of  the  property  which  includes  an 
apartment  building. 

The  Mayfair,  Jane  Street,  Toronto, 
which  has  been  operated  by  Abe  Polakoff 
for  years,  has  been  taken  over  by  Sam 
Firestone,  prominent  member  of  the  In- 
dependent Theatres  Ass’n,  who  owns  the 
Aster  and  Esquire,  Toronto,  and  the  Es- 
quire, Brantford,  Ont. 

Twentieth  Century  Theatres  is  proceed- 
ing with  the  erection  of  a new  theatre  in 
Chatham,  Ont.,  which  already  has  two 
houses,  the  Capitol  of  the  Famous  Players’ 
chain  and  the  Granada,  a unit  of  Hanson 
Theatres  Corp. 


Building  Last  Quarter 
Centered  in  Ontario 

Toronto — Theatre  construction  activ- 
ity in  the  Dominion  in  the  last  quarter  of 
1940  was  centered  mainly  in  the  province 
of  Ontario,  a survey  by  Boxoffice  corre- 
spondents in  key  centers  of  Canada  re- 
veals. Below  is  a break-down  by  provinces 
of  announced  new  theatre  building. 

Alberta 

Edmonton — The  new  780-seat  Garneau 
has  been  opened  by  Suburban  Theatres, 
Ltd.  It  cost  $100,000. 

Lethbridge — C.  F.  Doughty  has  acquired 
a site  for  a new  theatre. 

British  Columbia 

Courtenay — E.  W.  Bickle  has  opened  his 
new  E.  W.  Theatre. 

Vancouver — It  is  reported  a theatre  will 
rise  on  the  site  of  present  excavations  on 
Cambie  Street. 


f,  ft 

He'll  Have  Time  to 
Think  What  He  Said 

Toronto — Charles  Baltes,  an  officer  in 
the  German  army  in  the  last  war,  was 
fined  $300  and  sentenced  to  serve  six 
months  in  jail,  after  which  he  will  be 
interned  for  the  duration  of  the  war 
when  he  was  tried  in  Toronto  police  court 
on  a charge  of  creating  a disturbance  in 
Major's  St.  Clair  Theatre  during  a per- 
formance of  "Four  Sons."  According  to 
witnesses,  Baltes  shouted,  "That's  right, 

shoot  the  dirty  /'  when  German 

soldiers  were  depicted  machine-gunning 
Czech  civilians. 

Baltes  was  roughly  handled  by  patrons 
until  rescued  by  police  who  had  been 
called  by  Sam  Major,  proprietor  of  the 
theatre.  In  court,  Baltes  claimed  he  had 
said,  "That's  right,  they  shot  my  brother," 
but  his  story  was  denied  by  witnesses. 

^ — JJ 

Victoria — George  Waring  is  manager  of 
the  new  York. 

Victoria — Famous  Players  Canadian  an- 
nounces a $200,000  theatre  project. 

Ontario 

Cornwall — A 700-seat  theatre  is  contem- 
plated for  this  locality. 

Fort  William — Famous  Players  will  lease 
a building  here  for  conversion  into  a 
theatre. 

Hamilton — A 750-seat  theatre  is  planned 
here. 

Nobel — The  Allen  chain  has  opened  a 
theatre  here. 

Owen  Sound— L.  D.  Kniffen  will  convert 
a building  here  into  a theatre. 

Parry  Sound — The  Allens  are  now  oper- 
ating a new  theatre  here. 

Pembroke — Sam  and  Ben  Ulster  have 
started  construction  of  a new  theatre  down- 
town. It  will  seat  500. 

Sarnia — A third  house,  seating  between 
700  and  800,  is  in  prospect  for  this  town. 
Famous  Players  will  build. 

Tilbury — Twentieth  Century  Theatres  is 
operating  the  new  700-seat  Plaza.  Har- 
land  Rankin  is  manager. 

Welland — Famous  Players  is  erecting  a 
new  theatre  which  will  seat  800. 

Quebec 

Montreal — A.  Woolf  is  erecting  a new 
theatre  to  seat  800  on  Sherbrooke  St. 

A new  house  is  rumored  for  the  north 
side. 

A new  theatre  is  in  prospect  for  the 
west  end. 

Thirty  Candidates  Take 
Gov't  Projection  Course 

Toronto — Thirty  candidates  for  opera- 
tors’ certificates  are  taking  the  newly- 
organized  projectionists’  12  months’  course 
of  the  Ontario  government  under  the  di- 
rection of  O.  J.  Silverthorne,  which  had 
been  authorized  by  Premier  Hepburn  to 
standardize  instruction  of  apprentices,  the 
fee  being  $100.  It  has  been  announced  that 
radio  principles  have  been  added  to  the 
curriculum  as  a subject  so  that  the  stu- 
dents might  become  wireless  experts  for 
the  army  if  necessary. 

Among  those  taking  the  course  are  pro- 
jection apprentices,  electricians,  munition 
workers  on  night  shift  and  theatre  and 
exchange  employes.  At  the  conclusion  of 
the  course,  successful  students  will  be 
awarded  a diploma  of  qualification  which 
will  entitle  them  to  take  charge  of  thea- 
tre projection. 


Says  Grierson  Will 
Continue  in  Job 

Montreal — John  Grierson  will  remain  in 
Canada  and  serve  as  national  film  com- 
missioner, despite  his  announced  resigna- 
tion, according  to  the  Financial  Post.  The 
publication  suggested  that  he  should  be 
put  to  work  at  once  on  a documentary 
film  to  boost  war  savings  certificate  sales. 

The  producer  paused  in  Montreal,  en 
route  from  New  York  to  Ottawa,  long 
enough  to  inspect  the  new  picture,  “The 
Peoples  of  Canada,”  produced  at  Asso- 
ciated Screen  News  plant  by  Gordon  Sparl- 
ing. 


Grierson  Discusses  Relation 
Of  Films  to  War  Effort 

Ottawa — John  Grierson  of  London, 
England,  who  is  stepping  out  of  the  office 
of  Dominion  Film  Commissioner  which  was 
created  under  the  National  Film  Board 
Act  of  1939  by  the  Canadian  Parliament, 
has  made  two  public  appearances  in  both 
of  which  he  discussed  the  relation  of  films 
to  war  effort,  one  discussion  being  heard 
on  the  network  of  the  Canadian  Broad- 
casting Corp. 

Grierson  delivered  one  address  before 
the  Ottawa  Women’s  Forum  at  the  YMCA 
when  he  delved  into  the  psychology  of  mo- 
tion picture  entertainment  and  gave  an 
analytical  outline  of  the  principles  which 
underlie  wartime  propaganda,  tracing  the 
organization  and  effects  of  various  meth- 
ods of  disseminating  information.  During 
the  course  of  his  learned  discourse,  Grier- 
son described  at  length  the  special  char- 
acteristics of  the  Nazi  method  of  fright- 
fulness by  using  the  screen  for  a strategy 
of  terror  before  striking  a blow  at  a coun- 
try. 

Tea  was  served  following  the  address  by 
Grierson. 


Death  Closes  Colorful 
Career  of  B.  W.  Silver 

Toronto — Death  closed  the  colorful 
career  of  Boris  W.  Silver,  president  and 
general  manager  of  Colonial  Pictures,  Ltd., 
when  he  expired  suddenly  in  New  York 
City  where  he  had  gone  to  negotiate  for 
several  independent  features  for  the  Do- 
minion. 

Three  years  ago  Silver  came  to  Toronto 
practically  a stranger  to  establish  an  in- 
dependent exchange  and  took  a suite  of 
offices  in  the  Film  Exchange  Building, 
gradually  expanding  largely  through  his 
own  personality.  Only  recently  he  had  re- 
turned from  Montreal  with  his  salesman, 
James  Davidson,  after  dealing  with  a move 
to  establish  a branch  in  that  city  to  be 
added  to  those  in  Winnipeg  and  Vancou- 
ver. He  had  not  been  in  the  best  of  health 
for  some  time  but  maintained  a dapper 
figure,  which  had  become  familiar  as  he 
mingled  with  exhibitors  on  Filmrow.  At 
New  Year’s  he  donated  the  rental  for  the 
premiere  of  “One  Night  in  Paris”  at  the 
Avenue  to  the  British  War  Victims’  fund 
and  went  to  New  York  a few  days  later 
where  he  dropped  dead  while  talking  to 
two  film  men  at  Rockefeller  Center. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


K 


67 


MONTREAL 


Q.RADUALLY  creeping  back  to  normal 
after  the  holidays,  business  in  the  thea- 
tres is  found  encouraging  by  managers, 
most  of  whom  consider  that  1941  is  likely 
to  be  at  least  on  a par  with  1940  and  may 
be  better. 

United  Amusement  Corp.  theatre  man- 
agers presented  Frank  Warnicker,  invalid- 
ed veteran  manager,  associated  for  nearly 
a lifetime  with  the  Strand,  with  a New 
Year’s  gift  of  a radio  receiving  set  . . . Don 
Cameron,  assistant  manager  of  the  Snow- 
don, is  recovering  from  a severe  attack  of 
the  grippe  which  confined  him  to  his  home 
for  several  days. 

Lucienne  Boyer,  Parisian  film  star  and 
comedienne,  whose  visits  to  Montreal  have 
been  red  letter  events  for  the  students  of 
the  French-Canadian  university,  has  been 
arrested  in  Paris  on  a charge  of  speculat- 
ing in  foodstuffs.  She  is  the  wife  of  the 
comedian  Pills,  of  Pills  et  Tabett,  also 
well  known  on  this  continent  and  in  Pari- 
sian cinema  circles,  prior  to  the  German 
occupation  . . . “In  Spite  of  Hitler  We 
Re-open  Next  Week”  read  a poster  outside 
a wrecked  cinema  in  Coventry.  It  had 
been  placed  there  after  a raid  which  dam- 
aged the  theatre  previous  to  the  holocaust 
which  wiped  out  the  city. 

Theatre  doormen  often  have  reason  to 
feel  bellicose,  and  this  may  account  for 
the  fact  that  two  of  them,  Alex  Taylor 
of  the  Rialto  and  Eric  Byrd  of  the  Monk- 
land,  ar(  now  with  the  Canadian  Active 
Service  Force.  Taylor  is  in  Newfoundland, 
and  Byrd  has  already  arrived  in  England. 

Harvey  Bassett  of  ASN  still  department 
spent  the  New  Year’s  holiday  at  the  Seig- 
niory Club,  Montebello,  Que.,  covering  ac- 
tivities of  the  festive  season  there.  Charlie 
Wilkinson  of  the  same  department  spent 
several  days  at  Quebec  City  on  stills  for 
tourist  publicity  . . . J.  W.  Campbell,  news- 
reel editor  of  ASN,  was  a visitor  to  Ot- 
tawa . . . Colin  Munro,  formerly  of  the 
sales  department  of  Associated  Screen 
News,  who  is  with  an  artillery  unit,  is  one 
of  the  latest  Canadian  stalwarts  to  reach 
England. 

The  efforts  put  forth  by  the  Nazis  to 
prevent  the  showing  of  Charlie  Chaplin’s 
powerful  propaganda  picture,  “The  Great 
Dictator,”  caused  S.  Morgan-Powell,  edi- 
tor-in-chief of  Montreal  Star,  to  reflect 
that  “it  is  a curious  commentary  upon  the 
limits  of  German  psychology  that  it  should 
think  it  possible  by  protesting  against 
these  pungent  caricatures,  to  prevent  their 
propaganda  value  from  achieving  its  ob- 
ject. The  Nazis  tacitly  admit  their  value 
and  importance  by  asking  various  countries 
to  refuse  to  permit  their  presentation.” 

All  news  reporting  agencies  are  on  the 
alert  to  assist  their  country  in  time  of  war, 
and  newsreels  are  no  exception.  Last  week 
an  Associated  Screen  News  crew  proceeded 
to  Ottawa  and  interviewed  Hon.  Colin  Gib- 
son, minister  of  national  revenue.  Roy 
Tash,  cameraman  and  Dick  Harrison, 
sound  technician,  covered  a story  on  a 
new  plan  offered  by  the  Dominion  govern- 
ment for  installment  payments  of  this 
year’s  higher  income  taxes. 


From  theatre  usher  to  army  officer  is 
the  right-about-face  from  civilian  to 
military  life  achieved  by  Peter  Tessier, 
head  usher  of  the  Snowdon,  who  is  now 
Lieutenant  Tessier  of  the  Canadian  Active 
Service  Force  . . . Randolph  Walsh,  another 
of  the  Snowdo7i’s  ushers,  is  back  from  a 
month’s  military  training  . . . Miss  Rita 
Ireland,  cashier  at  the  Snowdon,  has  se- 
cured a position  in  the  office  of  No.  l Wire- 
less School. 

“The  Thief  of  Bagdad”  is  in  its  third 
week  at  the  Orpheum.  Another  color  film, 
“North  West  Mounted  Police,”  drew  ca- 
pacity audiences  to  the  Imperial  . . . “Bit- 
ter Sweet,”  musical  comedy  film,  is  held 
over  at  Loew’s  . . . “The  Ramparts  We 
Watch,”  March  of  Time  feature,  was  at 
the  York.  Fred  Astaire  and  Paulette  God- 
dard in  “Second  Chorus”  was  light  and 
bright  fare  at  the  Capitol. 


fJARRY  GLEAVES  of  the  Orpheum, 
Dawson  City,  made  the  trip  to  this 
city  by  plane  in  exactly  two  days  time.  He 
plans  an  extended  stay  . . . Chuck  Wilkins 
of  Bralorne  has  bought  a new  car  and  ad- 
vises that  he  is  very  well  pleased  with  it 
. . . Sam  Nagler  of  UA  returned  from  a 
trip  to  Vancouver  Island  reporting  that 
theatre  business  was  exceptionally  good. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  L.  Murray  of  Lillooet 
down  to  Victoria.  Mr.  Murray  is  member  of 
parliainent  for  the  Lillooet  district  and, 
consequently,  makes  many  trips  to  the 
coast  . . . Fred  Stone,  EU  salesman  just 
returned  from  a trip  to  the  Bridge  River 
Valley,  reports  very  cold  weather,  with 
some  snow  there. 

Ivan  Ackery  of  the  Orpheum  was  ar- 
ranging for  an  elaborate  “world  premiere” 
on  Thursday  of  “Hudson’s  Bay.”  The  pre- 
miere will  be  simultaneous  with  openings 
in  Winnipeg,  Regina,  Saskatoon,  Edmon- 
ton and  Victoria,  all  cities  whose  early  his- 
tory is  bound  up  with  that  of  the  great 
company,  the  origin  of  which  is  portrayed 
in  the  picture.  Streets  will  be  illuminated 
here  for  blocks  on  all  sides,  and  a Holly- 
wood orchestra  will  be  in  attendance.  It 
is  probable  that  one  or  more  stars  of  the 
picture  will  be  present.  The  entire  cere- 
monial will  be  filmed  for  Fox  Movietone 
News,  and  will  be  broadcast  over  a local 
station. 

Jim  Stewart  of  Pioneer  misses  his  favo- 
rite sport,  that  of  skiing,  but  doctor’s  or- 
ders will  not  allow  him  such  strenuous 
relaxation. 

Members  of  the  local  office  of  Empire 
Universal  Films  are  engaged  in  a business- 
getting drive  which  is  the  largest  that 
the  company  has  ever  put  on. 


Many  Dominion  Filmgoers 

Toronto  — In  1939,  Canadian  theatres 
were  patronized  by  138,497,043  persons, 
who  paid  a total  of  $34,010,115  for  gen- 
eral admission,  exclusive  of  amusement 
taxes. 


Hilarity  Abounds  at 
Affair  for  Jeffery 

By  ROY  CARMICHAEL 

Montreal — Motion  picture  distributors, 
managers,  owners,  producers  and  members 
of  allied  industries  mingled  together  in 
the  Stanley  Grill,  January  9,  in  one  of 
the  most  hilarious  parties  of  the  winter. 
The  occasion  was  a send  off  to  A.  J.  Jef- 
fery, retiring  Montreal  district  manager  of 
United  Artists,  who  has  been  appointed 
Toronto  district  manager. 

Jeffery  was  the  recipient  of  several  pre- 
sentations, some  valuable  and  serious,  oth- 
ers rather  comical.  He  had  to  acknowl- 
edge a couple  of  suitcases,  a bag  of  flour, 
an  old  bowling  club  trophy  cup,  a live  goat, 
a live  rooster,  and  a couple  of  steins  of 
beer — not  to  drink  but  as  a bath,  the  con- 
tents being  solemnly  poured  over  him  as  a 
quaint  means  of  wishing  him  godspeed  and 
good  luck. 

Arthur  Hirsch  of  Consolidated  Theatres, 
Ltd.,  presided  and  showered  encomiums 
on  the  guest.  Tom  Dowbiggin  of  Para- 
mount, assisted  by  John  Ganetakos,  of 
United  Amusement  Corp.,  was  master  of 
ceremonies.  Three  general  managers  from 
Toronto  graced  the  scene  with  their  pres- 
ence. They  were  Sam  Glazer,  United  Art- 
ists; Dave  Coplan,  Columbia,  and  Morris 
Milligan,  Paramount. 

Among  those  noted  at  the  head-table 
and  elsewhere  in  the  hall  were:  George 
Rotsky,  Consolidated  Theatres;  J.  Chauvin, 
United  Amusement;  W.  Lester,  United 
Amusement;  W.  J.  Singleton,  Associated 
Screen  News;  Lloyd  C.  Pearson,  Dominion 
Sound  Equipments;  N.  Lawand,  Confedera- 
tion Amusement;  Charles  Chaplin,  new 
Montreal  manager  of  United  Artists;  Ed 
English,  20th-Fox;  M.  Isman,  Empire-Uni- 
versal; Phil  Sherman,  Warner-Vitagraph; 
H.  Taylor,  RKO;  M.  Brown,  Paramount; 
John  Levitt,  Regent;  W.  Cass,  Regal;  W. 
Elman,  Columbia,  and  a host  of  inde- 
pendent theatre  proprietors  and  managers 
from  theatres  all  over  the  city. 

A floor  show  added  to  the  delights  of  a 
“well-spent  evening.” 


UA  Transferees  Report 
For  Their  New  Duties 

Montreal — C.  S.  Chaplin,  former  United 
Artists  manager  at  Saint  John,  has  ar- 
rived here  to  succeed  A.  J.  Jeffery,  Mon- 
treal district  manager,  who  has  been 
named  manager  of  the  Toronto  branch. 
Jeffery  succeeds  Sam  Glazer,  who  was 
promoted  to  Canadian  general  manager  on 
the  ascension  of  Haskell  Masters  to  the 
post  of  UA  western  division  manager  for 
the  United  States  and  Canada.  George 
Feiber  becomes  manager  of  the  Saint  John 
exchange. 


Double  Celebration 

Sudbury,  Ont. — Marking  the  Capitol’s 
10  th  anniversary  and  the  opening  of 
“North  West  Mounted  Police”  at  the  the- 
atre, was  a party  held  at  the  Hotel  Coul- 
son  by  Manager  Sid  Scott  and  his  wife. 
Guests  of  honor  were  members  of  the 
Mounted  Police  and  the  Ontario  Provincial 
Police. 


68 


BOXOFFICE  ;:  January  18,  1941 


L.  NATHANSON,  president  of  Famous 
Players  Canadian  Corp.,  has  gone  to 
Florida  to  spend  the  winter  on  the  advice 
of  his  family  physician,  having  required 
medical  attention  in  recent  months  because 
of  increased  business  responsibilities  and 
the  taking  on  of  added  duties  in  connec- 
tion with  national  war  work,  both  in  thea- 
tre cooperation  and  broadcasting  details. 

Isser  Singerman,  manager  of  the  Im- 
perial, Ottawa,  received  a visit  from  his 
entire  house  staff  immediately  after  the 
close  of  a recent  evening  performance 
when  he  was  presented  with  an  address 
and  the  gift  of  a traveling  bag  as  a token 
of  esteem.  In  accepting  the  token  of  good 
will,  Singerman  referred  to  the  happy  re- 
lations which  had  been  maintained  be- 
tween the  personnel  and  himself  through- 
out the  past  year. 

President  O.  R.  Hanson,  Vice-President 
Paul  Nathanson  and  General  Manager  A. 
W.  Perry  of  Empire-Universal  Films,  Ltd., 
Toronto,  are  making  a tour  of  inspection 
of  western  branches  of  the  company  to 
the  Pacific  coast  and  for  a study  of  war- 
time conditions  in  the  prairie  provinces. 

Sam  Glazer  has  become  established  in 
the  office  of  Canadian  district  manager  of 
United  Artists  in  succession  to  Haskell 
Masters  and  is  busily  engaged  in  the  or- 
ganization of  details,  including  the  in- 
stallation of  branch  officials  in  new  posts, 
the  latest  appointment  being  the  selection 
of  George  Heiber  as  manager  at  St.  John, 
N.  B.,  in  succession  to  Charles  Chaplin 
who  has  been  promoted  to  the  Montreal 
office,  following  A.  J.  Jeffery  who  has 
taken  over  the  Toronto  branch. 

Leslie  Jefferies  of  the  Patricia,  London, 
Ont.,  has  been  appointed  assistant  manager 
of  the  Grand,  Sudbury,  in  succession  to  J. 
M.  Silverthorne,  who  resigned  to  become 
manager  of  the  Strand,  an  Allen  house  at 
Tillsonburg.  Roy  Miller,  who  has  been  re- 
siding in  the  United  States  until  recently, 
has  been  appointed  assistant  manager  to 
Tom  McKnight  at  the  London  Patricia  in 
succession  to  Fred  Thompson  who  has 
been  made  manager  of  the  Rex  at  London. 
These  changes  have  been  announced  by  H. 
C.  D.  Main,  supervisor  of  Hanson  Theatres 
Corp.  Incidentally,  Main  has  intimated 
that  a convention  of  Hanson  chain  man- 
agers will  be  held  in  Toronto  in  the  spring 
to  replace  the  usual  get-together  in  De- 
cember which  was  cancelled  because  of 
other  important  business  details  in  connec- 
tion with  war  cooperation  work. 

The  Ottawa  franchise  in  the  Canadian- 
American  Baseball  League  has  been  finally 
transferred  officially  to  Schenectady , N. 
Y .,  and  the  Canadian  capital  will  have  to 
do  without  baseball  for  the  duration  of  the 
war  because  of  military  use  of  the  ball 
park.  Don  Stapleton,  manager  of  the  Cen- 
ter, Ottawa,  was  president  of  the  Ottawa 
Baseball  Club  for  several  years. 

Miss  Norma  Reney,  19-year-old  invalid 
of  Toronto,  has  received  a number  of  per- 
sonal gifts  from  Pat  O’Brien,  film  star,  in- 
cluding a gold  wrist  watch,  silk  nightgown 
and  a woolen  sweater.  Some  years  ago, 
O’Brien  received  a letter  of  encouragement 
from  the  Toronto  girl  “at  a time  when  I 


needed  inspiration.”  Last  November  when 
the  star  and  Mrs.  O’Brien  were  on  a holi- 
day tour,  they  made  a special  trip  -to  To- 
ronto to  visit  Miss  Reney. 

Two  visitors  to  Toronto  via  the  air  were 
Hollywood  personalities  who  were  “ferry- 
ing” war  planes  from  California  for  deliv- 
ery to  the  Royal  Air  Force.  They  were  John 
Trent,  actor,  and  Lewis  Bateman,  private 
pilot  of  Wallace  Beery,  who  were  in  a party 
of  ten  airmen  who  landed  planes  at  the 
Toronto  Island  airport  after  a stormy  ride. 

William  Forward,  sound  engineer  of  Do- 
minion Sound  Equipments,  Ltd.,  has  been 
appointed  an  instructor  of  the  Ontario 
government’s  school  of  projectionists  which 
has  been  opened  at  Toronto  for  its  first  12 
months’  term  with  30  pupils.  The  two 
other  instructors  are  government  employes, 
Hilliard  Gray,  theatre  inspector,  and  Mil- 
ton  Elliott,  chief  operator  who  has  been 
in  the  provincial  office  for  32  years. 

Henry  Marshall,  manager  of  the  Rideau, 
Ottawa,  is  now  the  happy  husband  of  Miss 
Audrey  Boehmer  of  that  city,  according  to 
recent  announcement.  Gordon  Beavis, 
manager  of  the  Royal,  North  Bay,  has 
taken  unto  himself  a wife  in  the  person  of 
Miss  Dodds  of  Peterboro,  Ont.,  where  Gor- 
don formerly  resided.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wanie 
Tyers  of  St.  Thomas,  Ont.,  have  announced 
the  arrival  of  a daughter,  Gail.  Tyers  is 
manager  of  the  Granada  in  that  city. 

Nick  Dotsch,  proprietor  of  the  Hillcrest, 
Toronto,  and  Mrs.  Dotsch  celebrated  the 
first  anniversary  of  their  marriage  by  tak- 
ing a trip  to  Chicago  after  which  Mrs. 
Dotsch  proceeded  to  Florida  for  a four- 
week  rest  while  he  returned  to  the  man- 
agement of  the  theatre. 

Al  Sanderson,  treasurer  of  Hanson 
Theatres  Corp.,  experienced  a holiday  at 


VICTORIA 

JHROUGH  the  courtesy  of  Ralph  Calla- 
dine,  proprietor  of  the  Plaza,  the  Rotary 
Club  is  sponsoring  a drive  to  aid  the  Lord 
Mayor  of  London’s  fund,  at  the  theatre. 
Each  night  before  the  showing  of  “Pastor 
Hall,”  a speaker  announces  the  plan  from 
the  stage  and  members  of  the  club  sell 
tickets  on  the  aisles. 

“Jock”  Robertson,  manager  of  the  Capi- 
tol, arranged  a plug  for  the  premiere  of 
“Hudson’s  Bay”  on  January  16  in  the  form 
of  a half  page  illustrated  article  on  the 
film  in  the  magazine  section  of  a local 
newspaper.  Victoria  was  one  of  the  most 
westernly  outposts  of  the  company  of  ad- 
venturers, which  today  operates  a depart- 
ment store,  fur  and  land  departments  here. 

The  city  council  is  looking  with  favor 
upon  efforts  to  establish  an  ice  arena  at 
the  Willows  Horse  Shoe  Building  in  the 
Exhibition  Grounds,  which  the  city  owns, 
but  wants  to  see  a definite  plan  before  en- 
dorsing the  proposal. 

Joe  Neagler  of  United  Artists  Vancouver 
office,  a visitor  to  the  city  last  week,  is 
expecting  “The  Thief  of  Bagdad”  to  have 
a record  opening  at  the  Plaza. 


the  Toronto  City  Hall,  having  been  called 
up  for  jury  duty  . . . Personal  gifts  donated 
by  various  Hollywood  stars  as  prizes  for  the 
War  Savings  Stamp  Campaign  of  Toronto 
but  which  were  not  used  because  of  re-ar- 
ranged plans  are  being  held  by  the  War 
Services  Committee.  They  will  be  offered 
shortly  in  a stunt  to  aid  Canada’s  war  ef- 
fort. 

Ed  Wells,  for  many  years  national  secre- 
tary of  the  Canadian  Film  Boards  of 
Trade,  has  been  named  secretary-trea- 
surer of  the  Motion  Picture  Distributors  of 
Canada  under  the  reorganized  setup.  He 
continues  as  secretary  of  the  boards  and 
his  office  is  in  conjunction  with  the  dis- 
tributors’ association. 

James  Melton  is  making  a personal  ap- 
pearance in  Toronto  on  January  22  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Royal  Regiment  of 
Canada  in  aid  of  Canadian  ivar  charities. 
He  plans  on  making  a visit  to  the  troops 
at  Camp  Borden  where  he  sang  for  the 
soldiers  on  a Canadian  trip  last  summer. 

Charles  P.  Wright,  born  a Scotsman  and 
a resident  of  Winnipeg  for  a long  period, 
has  been  named  as  a member  of  the  pro- 
duction staff  of  the  Canadian  Broadcast- 
ing Corp.  For  a time  he  was  in  Holly- 
wood where  he  worked  in  pictures  but 
most  of  his  experience  has  been  as  a thea- 
tre employe  in  the  Dominion  and  on  the 
stage  in  dramatic  stock  companies  . . . Pete 
Bardessino  and  Dan  Mascioli  of  the  Gold- 
fields Theatres  interests  were  in  Toronto 
on  a business  trip  from  Timmins,  northern 
Ontario. 

Grant  Garrette,  manager  of  the  Gen- 
eva, Orillia,  pulled  a good  stunt  for  “Two 
Girls  on  Broadway”  by  using  a life-size 
cutout  of  George  Murphy  and  two  girls 
for  a street  ballyhoo,  the  head  of  Murphy 
having  been  removed  from  the  set.  Male 
pedestrians  were  invited  to  have  their  pic- 
ture taken  with  their  faces  occupying  the 
vacaiit  head  space.  The  photographic 
prints  were  exhibited  in  the  window  of  the 
camera  shop  and  the  first  15  men  who 
identified  themselves  in  a picture,  standing 
between  the  two  lovelies,  received  passes 
to  the  show. 

Manager  Don  Doberer  of  the  Granada, 
Dunnville,  Ont.,  has  adopted  the  plan  of 
calling  up  three  persons  to  ask  them  what 
the  current  attraction  is  at  the  theatre  and 
the  correct  answer  brings  the  award  of  a 
pass  to  the  theatre.  He  doesn’t  just  know 
what  to  make  of  the  situation,  however, 
because,  over  a period  of  time,  he  did  not 
have  to  send  out  a complimentary. 

O.  J.  Silverthorne,  chairman  of  the  On- 
tario censor  board,  has  recovered  from  an 
attack  of  influenza  and  is  again  operating 
full  time. 


Team  Cummings  and  Arthur 

Hollywood  — Robert  Cummings  will 
have  the  lead  opposite  Jean  Arthur  in 
“The  Devil  and  Miss  Jones.”  Frank  Ross 
and  Norman  Krasna  produce  for  RKO. 


Metro  Renews  Hertz 

Hollywood — Metro  has  renewed  the 
writing  contract  of  David  Hertz. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


69 


RESPITE  decreases  in  business  reported 
by  all  managers  here,  New  Year’s  Eve 
frolics  were  more  successful  than  usual. 
All  downtown  houses  were  sold  out  two 
days  previous  to  the  showings,  while 
neighborhood  theatres  were  well  filled. 
Prizes  valued  at  $1,500  were  given  away  at 
the  Capitol  while  the  Rialto  offered  simi- 
lar prizes.  Several  hundreds  of  dollars 
in  prizes  were  given  away  at  the  smaller 
houses.  Despite  higher  admissions,  these 
frolics,  which  were  first  originated  at  the 
Capitol  under  Walter  Wilson,  gain  in 
popularity  every  year  and  are  unique  in 
Alberta.  Calgary  has  followed  the  example 
set  in  Edmonton  during  the  past  two 
years. 

Frank  H.  Kershall,  district  manager  for 
Famous  Players’  western  division,  was  a re- 
cent visitor  from  Calgary.  While  here  he 
conferred  with  several  managers  . . . Fred 
Tickell,  formerly  assistant  manager  of  the 
Capitol  in  Calgary,  has  arrived  here  to 
take  over  the  management  of  the  Prin- 
cess, neighborhood  theatre  of  the  Entwisle 
chain. 

A quiz  program  for  the  holders  of  thrift 
tickets  is  being  sponsored  by  the  Capitol 
under  the  management  of  Walter  Wilson. 
The  program  is  given  from  the  studio  of  a 
local  broadcasting  station  and  includes 
questions  of  topical  interest  as  well  as 
geographical  and  theatrical.  Contestants 
may  choose  the  subject  of  their  questions 
and  may  double  their  money  on  subse- 
quent questions. 

“The  Great  Dictator’’  is  expected  to 
show  at  the  Rialto  late  next  month  or 
early  in  February,  according  to  Jay  Lieber- 
man,  manager.  One  of  the  most  popular 
pictures  shown  recently  at  the  Rialto 
proved  to  be  “The  Thief  of  Bagdad,”  said 
Lieberman,  who  stated  that  heavy  bookings 
prevented  a holdover. 


Patrick  J.  Nolan  Dies 
After  Lengthy  Illness 

Ottawa — The  death  has  occurred  in  a 
local  hospital  of  Patrick  J.  Nolan,  indepen- 
dent theatre  owner  for  many  years,  after 
a lengthy  illness  thus  bringing  to  a close 
an  eventful  career  as  an  exhibitor  and 
politician. 

“Paddy,”  as  he  was  known,  was  born 
here  59  years  ago  and  early  became  the 
proprietor  of  a drug  store,  entering  the 
theatre  business  more  than  25  years  ago. 
He  opened  the  Rex  in  the  West  End,  added 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Nola  and 
eventually  opened  the  handsome  atmos- 
pheric Avalon  in  Ottawa  South.  For  some 
time  he  was  ably  assisted  in  the  operation 
of  the  three  houses  by  members  of  his 
family,  Maryan  Nolan  and  one  son,  Am- 
brose. An  opponent  of  the  chain  inter- 
ests, “Paddy”  caused  some  surprise  when 
he  leased  the  Avalon  to  Famous  Players 
six  years  ago.  Dining  his  lengthy  illness, 
the  Rexy  and  Nola  have  been  managed  by 
Miss  Maryan  Nolan  with  creditable  show- 
ing. 


To  Build  in  the  Spring 

Fort  Williams,  Ont. — Famous  Players 
will  build  a new  theatre  here  in  the  spring. 


Urge  Playing  Time  for 
Series  of  War  Films 

Toronto — The  Canadian  Legion  of  the 
British  Empire  Service  League  has  sent 
out  a general  order  to  all  Legion  branches 
and  zone  commanders  to  extend  coopera- 
tive assistance  to  local  theatre  managers  in 
the  presentation  of  the  “Canada  Carries 
On”  series  produced  by  the  National  Film 
Board  and  released  through  Columbia  Pic- 
tures of  Canada,  Ltd.,  on  a commercial 
rental  basis. 

Announcement  is  made  in  the  circular 
that  660  theatres  in  the  Dominion  have 
signed  contracts  for  these  monthly  releases 
and  the  Legionnaires  are  requested  to  sup- 
port the  performances  when  shown  and 
to  encourage  other  exhibitors  to  book  the 
series  as  a form  of  national  service. 

Into  Move  to  Restrict 
Juvenile  Patronage 

Winnipeg — As  the  result  of  a petition 
presented  to  the  Manitoba  legislature  urg- 
ing amendment  of  the  provincial  act  to 
prohibit  children  under  14  years  of  age  to 
attend  motion  pictures  classified  as  adult, 
a special  committee  is  now  investigating 
this  matter. 

Giving  evidence  before  this  committee, 
the  Rev.  W.  E.  Donnelly,  pastor  of  Young 
United  Church  here,  claimed  that  Catholic 
and  Protestant  churches,  service  organiza- 
tions, clubs,  etc.,  were  all  behind  this  ef- 
fort. At  the  same  time  he  brought  for- 
ward another  petition  with  an  additional 
5,000  names. 

Reverend  Donnelly  said  that  every  effort 
had  been  made  to  get  cooperation  from 
exhibitors  before  bringing  the  petition  for- 
ward. Although  there  had  been  much 
favorable  aid  given,  and  a certain  amount 
of  short-time  cooperation,  he  claims  ex- 
hibitors later  went  back  to  the  old  type  of 
adult  bills  at  children’s  matinees.  This 
move,  he  said,  was  explained  by  exhibitors 
as  due  to  a lack  of  films  of  the  kind  de- 
sired. 

E.  K.  Williams,  counsel  for  35  exhibitors 
of  the  city,  told  the  committee  he  believed 
he  was  talking  for  the  majority  of  parents 
when  he  said  the  answer  to  the  problem 
was  in  the  home  and  with  the  parents 
themselves.  He  argued  it  was  not  one 
that  could  or  should  be  worked  out  by  the 
government. 

Replying  to  one  member  of  the  “better 
films”  committee,  he  said  that  the  stand- 
ard of  business  morality  in  the  film  in- 
dustry was  as  high  as  in  any  other  type  of 
business.  Then  he  went  on  to  explain 
that  exhibitors  had  nothing  to  do  with  the 
nature  of  films  produced,  which  they 
bought  sight  unseen  for  the  year’s  show- 
ings. He  pointed  out  that  the  Winnipeg 
film  exchange  supplied  theatres  in  Mani- 
toba, Saskatchewan  and  western  Ontario 
and  that  the  demands  made  it  impossible 
to  get  films  classified  as  general  simply 
by  asking  for  them. 

In  reply  to  a suggestion  that  double 
features  be  abolished  at  Saturday  mati- 
nees, Williams  said  producers  would  like 
to  get  away  from  the  policy  but  the  public 
demanded  this  type  entertainment. 


Will  MM  III  PEG 

QVER  900  newspaper  carriers  of  the 
Winnipeg  Free  Press,  together  with 
their  mothers  and  helpers,  were  guests  of 
the  newspaper  at  a special  showing  of  “A 
Dispatch  From  Reuter’s”  at  Syl  Gunn’s 
Metropolitan.  The  occasion  was  to  mark 
the  distribution  of  awards  in  a contest 
sponsored  by  the  National  Newspaper  Car- 
rier Press  of  Minneapolis.  With  carrier 
pigeons  flitting  across  the  screen  and  car- 
rier boys  filling  his  house,  Gunn  had  a 
neat  tieup  with  his  film  and  also  a nice 
break  with  the  story  in  the  daily  which 
plugged  his  house  and  film. 

An  attractive  tieup  has  been  made  with 
the  T.  Eaton  Co.,  and  other  leading  book 
stores,  for  window  displays  of  the  book 
“Mem  Kampf,”  which  has  been  made  into 
a film  and  released  by  Grand  National. 
Proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  book  will  go  to 
charity  . . . Harold  Bishop  is  looking  for- 
ward to  big  doings  next  week  when  “Hud- 
son’s Bay”  opens  at  his  house.  Bishop,  to- 
gether with  George  Frazer  of  20 th  Cen- 
tury-Fox and  Jack  Fitzgibbons  of  the 
Metropolitan  have  cooked  up  some  effec- 
tive angles  for  publicizing  the  film. 

W.  H.  Keirl,  Coliseum,  Semans,  Sask., 
reports  good  business  on  the  Lord  Mayor’s 
dedication  program,  consisting  of  “The 
Warning”  and  “Hitler — Beast  of  Berlin” 
...  It  is  reported  that  the  continued  in- 
terest in  reports  from  Vichy  of  the 
strengthening  stand  being  taken  by  the 
Petain  government,  is  of  particular  inter- 
est to  exhibitors  in  western  Canada  in  view 
of  the  number  of  French  and  French  de- 
scendants who  make  up  theatre  audiences. 

Leslie  Allen,  formerly  with  Grand  Na- 
tional in  V ancouver , has  taken  over  the 
York  in  Victoria  . . . William  Kelly,  for- 
merly with  RKO  and  Warner  in  Calgary, 
has  been  appointed  manager  of  Grand  Na- 
tional’s Calgary  office  . . . S.  E.  Rost,  popu- 
lar Garrick  manager,  is  on  the  sick  list. 
Also  Andie  Ostrander,  assistant  treasurer 
at  the  Capitol,  who  has  achieved  complete 
ostracism  with  a case  of  “German  measles” 
. . . Paul  Nathanson,  vice-president  of  Em- 
pire Universal;  A.  W.  Perry,  general  sales 
manager  for  E-U,  and  Oscar  Hanson, 
president  of  Hanson  Theatres,  are  expected 
in  next  week. 

Another  visitor  will  be  J.  O’Loghlin,  gen- 
eral manager  of  20th  Century-Fox,  who 
will  arrive  here  for  the  opening  of  “Hud- 
son’s Bay”  at  the  Capitol  . . . Dave  Roth- 
stein  of  Rothstein  Theatre  Enterprises  has 
returned  from  Saskatoon  and  a tour  of 
the  circuit  in  Saskatchewan  . . . Bob  Ren- 
nie has  resigned  as  Winnipeg  booker  for 
Vitagraph  . . . S.  Greco,  formerly  with 
20th  Century-Fox  in  Winnipeg,  has  joined 
the  staff  of  Grand  National  . . . Ted  Cohen 
of  Warner’s,  Winnipeg,  has  returned  to  his 
post  after  a 30-day  military  training  per- 
iod . . . Miss  Frances  Goffman,  a local  ac- 
tress, has  gone  to  Hollywood  to  study  with 
Maria  Ouspenskaya. 


Lyric  in  Ruins 

Minnedosa — The  Lyric  is  in  ruins  after 
a fire  which  gutted  the  house  last  Friday 
evening.  Damage  is  estimated  at  about 
$15,000. 


70 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


Practical  Ideas  by  Practical  Showmen 
On  /merchandising  the  Motion  Picture 


M UJ  Cl  Ci  IE  T 


These  " Pickets " Were  Welcomed — 


A street  ballyhoo  used  by  Edward  H.  McBride  at  Loew’s  State  in  Providence 
for  “The  Thief  of  Bagdad.”  Sixteen  boys  were  used,  all  wearing  turbans 
and  carrying  an  individual  sign  in  color.  “Good  results,”  McBride  reports. 


“J’M  NOT  ‘COMRADE  X,’  but  I’m  going 
to  the  place  where  you’ll  find  him,”  was 
the  copy  carried  around  town  by  a sand- 
wich man  as  one  of  the  highlights  of  the 
“Comrade  X”  campaign  put  over  by  Louis 
Guidette,  State,  Charleroi,  Pa.  The  man 
passed  out  numbered  heralds,  and  those 
whose  numbers  corresponded  with  a list 
displayed  in  the  lobby  were  awarded  guest 
tickets. 

• 

The  cover  of  the  press  book  on  “Sea 
Hawk”  was  placed  in  the  boxoffice  window 
of  the  Symphony  Theatre  in  Chicago  by 
Manager  Bob  Kennedy,  a week  in  advance 
of  the  picture’s  run. 


Manager  James  F.  McCarthy  of  the 
Strand  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  distributed 
blotter-rulers  to  the  public  schools,  as  part 
of  his  publicity  on  “Thief  of  Bagdad.”  The 
blotter  rulers  were  in  the  shape  of  film 
strip  and  carried  film-like  scenes  from 
the  picture  down  the  length.  The  ruler 
ran  along  the  margin  and  playdate  copy 
at  one  end. 

• 

A youngster  dressed  in  woman’s  clothes 
paraded  downtown  Holyoke,  Mass.,  with 
a sign:  “If  you  think  I’m  funny,  wait  until 
you  see  ‘Sailor’s  Lady’  at  the  Victory  Thea- 
tre.” The  stunt  was  Manager  George 
Laby’s. 


Every  person  named  Kelly  in  Hartford, 
Wis.,  was  invited  to  be  an  opening  night 
guest  of  the  Hartford  Theatre  as  part  of 
the  “Little  Nellie  Kelly”  campaign  put 
over  by  Charlie  Braun.  The  invitation 
made  page  one  in  the  dailies. 


An  old  patrol  wagon  cruising  the  streets 
with  men  dressed  as  the  Marx  Bros.,  was 
part  of  the  ballyhoo  for  “Go  West”  put  on 
by  H.  D.  Grove  of  the  Fort  Theatre  at 
Rock  Island,  III. 

• 

An  identification  contest  was  one  of 
the  features  of  the  “Third  Finger,  Left 
Hand”  campaign  put  over  by  Milton  D. 
Lewis,  Fischer,  Danville,  111.  An  usher,  im- 
personating Myrna  Loy’s  “missing  hus- 
band,” toured  several  department  stores 
with  a copy  of  the  local  newspaper  under 
his  arm.  Customers  recognizing  him  re- 
ceived guest  tickets  to  the  theatre. 

• 

For  his  “Dulcy”  campaign,  Morris 
Rosenthal,  Loew’s  Poli,  Bridgeport,  had  a 
pretty  young  lady  in  uniform  stroll 
through  streets  with  a package  marked: 
“Kisses  from  Dulcy.”  To  all  the  curious 
she  tendered  a candy  kiss. 


Launch  " Land  of  Liberty " 
With  Advance  Screening 

Memphis  — Representatives  of  educa- 
tional, civic,  patriotic  and  other  organiza- 
tions, as  well  as  members  of  the  press, 
attended  an  advance  screening  of  “Land 
of  Liberty”  as  part  of  the  campaign  put 
over  for  the  film  by  Cecil  Vogel  of  Loew’s 
State.  A letter  from  Mayor  Chandler  urged 
citizens  to  see  the  picture. 

Vogel  also  arranged  a radio  round-table 
discussion  on  the  film,  and  secured  the 
cooperation  of  every  leading  group  in  the 
city  in  circularizing  information  on  the 
production. 


" Escape " Teasers 

Salt  Lake  City — “Escape”  teaser  lines 
were  utilized  in  a novel  way  by  Ray  Hen- 
dry of  the  Centre  during  his  campaign 
for  the  film.  Phrases  like  “You  can’t 
escape  ‘Escape’  ” were  stenciled  on  side- 
walks in  residential  and  business  districts. 

(t  ■■  — ft 

Seeing  It  Sold 
Cinches  Deals 

Evidence  that  good  showmanship  not 
only  sells  the  public  but  even  sells  a 
picture  to  an  exhibitor,  came  from  Eddie 
Selette,  the  Albany,  New  York,  showman 
whose  campaigns  have  frequently  merit- 
ed depiction  in  the  Selling  Seats  pages 
of  BOXOFFICE.  Following  the  reproduc- 
tion of  Selette's  front  for  "After  Mein 
Kampf,"  in  the  December  21  issue,  Selette 
received  a letter  from  a Michigan 
showman,  sold  on  the  idea  of  showing 
the  picture  himself,  and  asking  details. 

V*  J 


"Nuts"  Angle  to  Hilt 
In  "Go  West"  Gags 

Cleveland — An  “All-Laugh  Week”  was 
inaugurated  by  Joe  Longo,  Loew’s  publi- 
cist, as  part  of  his  “Go  West”  campaign. 
He  had  three  men,  dressed  as  the  Marx 
Bros.,  walk  along  crowded  shopping  streets 
and  hand  out  bags  of  nuts.  Also  dwelling 
on  the  “nut”  angle,  Longo  offered  guest 
tickets  for  the  nearest  correct  count  on  a 
large  bowl  of  them  displayed  in  a store 
window. 


Ed  Pentecost  Uses 
Postcard  Message 

Atlanta — A real  laugh-getter  was  the 
postcard  message  used  in  advance  of  “Go 
West”  by  Ed  Pentecost  of  Loew’s  Grand. 

The  message  read:  “At  the  request  of  a 
close  friend  of  yours,  we  are  shipping  you, 
under  separate  cover,  samples  of  our  rain- 
drops. Besides  bringing  relief  from  the 
drought,  they  can  also  be  used  in  larger 
quantities  to  bathe  the  canary.  We  would 
refer  you  to  the  manager  of  Loew’s  Grand 
Theatre  as  to  our  qualities,  but  he  has  gone 
completely  nuts  since  seeing  the  new  Marx 
Bros,  picture,  ‘Go  West.’  ” 


"Marxes"  in  Patrol  Wagon 

Rock  Island,  III. — Three  men  dressed  as 
the  Marx  Bros,  cruised  the  downtown  sec- 
tion in  a patrol  wagon  as  part  of  the  ad- 
vance “Go  West”  campaign  put  over  by 
H.  D.  Grove  of  the  Fort.  Grove  also 
planted  large  lumps  of  coal,  sprayed  with 
gold,  in  local  store  windows,  with  a sign 
reading:  “You  don’t  have  to  ‘Go  West’ 
to  find  a fortune  in  gold.” 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  18,  1941 


71 


SELLING  SEATS 


Big  Campaign  for 
"Kitty"  in  Philly 


A Sure  Trallic-Stopper — 

One  of  a series  of  window  displays  devoted  by  Blooming  dale’s  department 
store  in  New  York  to  the  film,  ‘‘They  Met  on  Skis.”  Other  angles  in  the 
store-wide  tieup  for  the  film  in  its  playdate  at  the  55th  Street  Playhouse 
included  newspaper  ads,  a 16 mm  reel  from  the  film  in  the  ski,  sports  and 
camera  departments,  and  a ski  fashion  show  in  the  theatre. 


Utilize  Portable  Radios 
To  Publicize  ", Nanette " 

Salt  Lake  City — Manager  Dave  Ed- 
wards of  the  Rialto,  for  “No,  No,  Nanette,” 
put  out  20  attractive  girls  with  portable 
radios  tuned  into  a special  “Nanette” 
broadcast  over  KDYL.  The  girls  visited 
downtown  stores  and  distributed  candy 
novelties  advertising  the  film  while  shop- 
ping crowds  listened  to  “No,  No,  Nanette” 
tunes. 


Auction  " Escape " 

Springfield,  III. — An  auction  of  four 
autographed  copies  of  “Escape”  garnered 
columns  of  publicity  and  art  for  Mort 
Berman  of  the  Orpheum.  Auction  was 
held  on  the  stage  and  proceeds  went  to 
charity.  Exploiteer  Gene  Rich  assisted 
and  helped  put  the  same  stunt  over  at 
Len  Worley’s  Madison  in  Peoria. 


Milking  Contest 

Denver — A milking  contest  on  the  stage 
of  the  Orpheum  was  arranged  by  Manager 
Mickey  Gross  and  Terry  Turner  of  RKO’s 
exploitation  department,  for  “Little  Men.” 
The  Denver  Post  cooperated  in  the  stunt. 


"Information"  Broadcast  Wider 

New  York — The  Lucky  Strike-spon- 
sored “Information  Please”  broadcast  net- 
work was  increased  by  20  stations  on  Janu- 
ary 3.  This  makes  a total  of  113  stations 
in  the  NBC  network  carrying  the  ether 
program  around  the  theme  of  which  RKO’s 
shorts  series  of  the  same  title  is  based. 


Many  Serialize  “Kitty" 

New  York — One  hundred  and  fourteen 
newspapers  are  using  the  “Kitty  Foyle” 
serialization  currently,  with  more  than  100 
additional  publications  scheduled  to  run 
it  within  the  next  few  weeks. 


May  Secure  Cooking 
School  Tieup  Free 


Boston  — Cooking  school  tieups  are 
available,  without  charge,  to  exhibitors  in 
those  parts  of  the  country  where  Lever 
Brothers  send  special  promotion  crews,  L. 
B.  Sanders  of  the  Consumers’  Service  De- 
partment informs  Boxoffice. 

Any  exhibitor  in  the  country  is  eligible 
to  avail  himself  of  the  cooking  school  plan 
if  he  is  in  a district  being  serviced  by  one 
of  the  concern’s  special  corps.  Such  seg- 
ments now  are  operating  in  certain  parts 
of  Massachusetts,  Pennsylvania,  West  Vir- 
ginia, Ohio,  Indiana,  New  York,  Illinois  and 
Missouri. 

Any  exhibitor  interested  in  the  proposi- 
tion, Sanders  suggests,  might  write  him  for 
further  information  at  Lever  Brothers,  50 
Memorial  Drive,  Cambridge,  Mass. 


Uses  School  Schedules 

Waterbury,  Conn. — With  the  coopera- 
tion of  the  local  board  of  education,  Ed 
Fitzpatrick  of  Loew’s  made  up  and  dis- 
tributed to  schools,  loose-leaf  sheets  on 
the  top  half  of  each  of  which  were  printed 
regular  students’  classroom  schedules.  The 
bottom  half  carried  theatre  copy. 

(t  ft 

Honor  Buttons  lor 
McCurdy,  Gilman 

New  York — M-G-M  has  awarded  Honor 
Roll  buttons  to  William  B.  McCurdy,  man- 
ager-publicity director  of  the  Broadway, 
Portland,  Ore.,  for  his  campaign  on 
“Land  of  Liberty,"  and  to  Sam  Gilman, 
manager  of  Loew's,  Dayton,  Ohio,  for 
his  on  “Bitter  Sweet." 

VS  ■ J 


Philadelphia — A “Kitty  Foyle”  news- 
paper contest  featured  the  campaign  put 
on  locally  by  Manager  Stanley  Benford  of 
the  Boyd  for  that  RKO  picture. 

The  Daily  News  sponsored  the  contest 
which  ran  for  ten  days  before  opening, 
with  generous  allotment  of  daily  stories 
and  photographs.  At  a Ritz-Carlton  Hotel 
luncheon  for  the  contestants,  the  winner 
was  selected  and  on  the  opening  day  she 
visited,  in  a Cadillac  car  decorated  with 
pennants  marked  “Kitty  Foyle,”  all  the 
spots  mentioned  in  the  Christopher  Mor- 
ley  novel.  The  same  evening  she  acted  as 
hostess  at  the  Boyd  habited  in  the  original 
gold  lame  gown  worn  in  the  film  by  Ginger 
Rogers. 

Producer  David  Hempstead  made  a spe- 
cial trip  to  Philadelphia  and  was  tendered 
a luncheon  attended  by  newspapermen  who 
interviewed  him. 

The  “Kitty  Foyle”  serialization  in  the 
Bulletin  ran  for  three  weeks.  Newspaper 
trucks  were  placarded  with  the  announce- 
ment and  newsstands  covered  with  tack 
cards. 

Fifteen  hundred  de  luxe  window  cards 
were  distributed  throughout  the  city;  tie 
ups  were  arranged  with  principal  book- 
stores featuring  specially-printed  cards 
with  Ginger  holding  a copy  of  the  book; 
daily  radio  broadcasts  over  WCAU  an- 
nounced the  premiere  at  the  Boyd  and  a 
15-minute  interview  with  the  winner  of 
the  Daily  News  contest  was  held  over  Sta- 
tion WPEN  on  opening  night. 


Serialization  of  "Kitty" 

Highlights  Campaign 

New  Orleans — Manager  Vic  Meyer  of 
the  Orpheum  used  the  serialization  of  the 
Christopher  Morley  novel  as  the  highlight 
of  his  campaign  on  “Kitty  Foyle.”  A tie- 
in  was  also  arranged  with  Godchaux’s  de- 
partment store  for  a complete  window  fea- 
turing a “white  collar  girl.”  Walgreen’s 
drug  stores  featured  a “Kitty  Foyle”  sun- 
dae and  the  local  bookstores  set  up  an 
elaborate  “Kitty  Foyle”  window  featuring 
the  popular  dollar  edition. 


Assure  Women  "Kitty"  Is 
Suitable  for  Children 

Detroit — The  local  tradeshowing  of 
“Kitty  Foyle”  was  combined  with  an  in- 
telligent piece  of  exploitation  in  the  form 
of  an  invitation  to  some  2,000  representa- 
tives of  Parent-Teachers’  and  similar  or- 
ganizations to  the  preview  at  Wisper  & 
Wetsman’s  Roosevelt. 

The  preview  was  announced  in  the  news- 
papers— one  of  the  few  ever  to  receive  any 
newspaper  publicity  whatever  here — but  in 
editions  after  the  starting  time  so  that 
only  the  invited  guests  would  attend. 

One  objective  of  the  outside  invitation 
was  to  convince  leaders  of  these  various 
civic  groups  and  women’s  organizations 
that  Ginger  Rogers,  the  film’s  star,  has 
made  in  “Kitty  Foyle”  a picture  wholly  for 
children.  It  will  be  recalled  her  former 
picture,  “Primrose  Path,”  was  banned  by 
the  censor  in  this  territory. 


72 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


Opinions  on  the  Current  Short  Subjects 


SHOUTS  REVIEWS 


Western  Daze 

Paramount  (Puppetoon)  9 Mins. 

Very  good.  One  of  the  most  striking 
novelties  in  shorts  today  created  and  pro- 
duced by  George  Pal  with  a musical  back- 
ground by  Andre  Kostelanetz  and  his  or- 
chestra. Photographed  in  Technicolor  the 
blend  of  shadings  is  gorgeous  to  the  eye, 
particularly  the  backdrops.  There  is  a 
bit  of  a story  which  stirs  the  puppets  into 
action  and  song.  There  is  Jim  Dandy,  the 
tenderfoot,  who  meets  up  with  two  scurry- 
looking bandits  only  to  be  put  on  the  spot 
for  allegedly  stealing  the  sheriff’s  horse. 
But  an  eye-full  of  femininity,  better 
known  as  the  sheriff’s  daughter,  saves  the 
day  for  Jim  Dandy,  as  does  the  wooden 
steed. 


The  Sacred  Ganges 

Paramount  (Fascinating  Journey)  11  Mins 
Impressive.  Benares  is  a city  in  India 
dedicated  to  the  worship  of  a strange,  in- 
comparable river,  the  Ganges.  The  peo- 
ple who  come  to  the  city  to  worship,  their 
holy  customs,  Hindus  of  all  castes  and  con- 
formities, young,  old,  betrothed  and  af- 
flicted are  covered  by  the  Technicolor  cam- 
era. As  social  or  historical  documentation 
it  ranks  high.  The  holy  men  who  sit  for 
years,  never  moving,  while  the  sacred 
Ganges  flows  by  — others  who  stare  for- 
ever in  the  sun  and  others  who  torture 
themselves  to  win  divine  favor  and  crema- 
tion of  the  dead  are  impressive  sights.  Nar- 
ration is  handled  by  Frank  Gallop. 


17.  S.  Military  Academy , 
West  Point 

Columbia  10  Mins. 

Well  filmed.  Nothing  new  on  the  sub- 
ject is  shown  in  this  reel.  Students  at  West 
Point  study  tactics,  mechanics,  chemistry, 
field  maneuvers,  handle  guns  and  flex 
their  muscles.  Then  they  play  football. 
Possibly  audiences  might  be  interested 
more  at  the  moment  than  at  any  other 
time. 

C,  ■ ft 

You,  the  People 

M-G-M  (Crime  Does  Not  Pay)  21  Mins. 

Excellent.  Were  there  more  short  sub- 
jects of  this  character  the  chances  are 
there  would  be  fewer  double  feature 
programs.  It's  packed  solid  with  an  ab- 
sorbing expose  of  election  racketeering. 
When  it's  over  it  leaves  the  deep  con- 
viction that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Citizen  owe 
it  to  themselves  and  to  their  country  to 
vote  as  a duty,  not  a convenience.  From 
behind  the  scene  it  shows  how  ballot 
boxes  are  stuffed,  voters  intimidated, 
business  men  victimized,  etc.  And  all 
this  in  a story  that  is  compact,  smooth 
and  smartly  handled. 

v- ,.4 


(i  - 0 

Breezy  Little  Bears 

Paramount  11  Mins. 

Terrific.  This  reel  featuring  three 
mischievious  little  bears — the  same 
ones  that  were  in  "Busy  Little  Bears" 
that  copped  an  Academy  Award  in 
1939 — should  send  patrons  of  all  ages 
out  of  your  theatre  asking  for  a re- 
peat showing.  It's  crammed  with  more 
delightful,  ingratiating  humor — the  na- 
tural kind — than  many,  many  cans  of 
studio  stock.  By  name  they  are  Hor- 
ace, Herbert  and  Herman.  Frank  Crum- 
it,  the  radio  star,  does  a grand  job  as 
commentator  in  pointing  up  the  situa- 
tions. And  they're  a scream;  first  in  a 
hay  loft,  then  in  a tub  of  soapsuds, 
sneaking  pies  off  the  window  sills, 
cowering  before  a goose,  dabbling 
around  a dairy,  cavorting  in  a baby 
carriage  and  much  more.  It's  a top- 
notch  laugh  provoker. 

^ - ■ > >J 

Old  New  Orleans 

M-G-M  (FitzPatrick  Traveltalk)  9 Mins. 

Colorful.  Technicolor  does  much  to  en- 
hance the  camera  highlights  of  this  his- 
toric Louisiana  city.  In  the  usual  Fitz- 
Patrick manner,  the  reel  offers  a wealth 
of  material  for  the  armchair  traveler;  not 
the  least  of  which  is  an  atmosphere  dis- 
tinctly associated  with  the  Old  World. 
This  is  particularly  true  in  the  many  evi- 
dences of  the  French  and  Spanish  influ- 
ences in  architecture,  landmarks,  parks, 
restaurants,  etc. 


Dog  in  the  Orchard 

Vitaphone  (Broadway  Brevity)  20  Mins. 

Compelling . A Mary  Roberts  Rinehart 
story  makes  an  interesting  tabloid  screen 
drama.  A farmer  who  killed  his  wife  in 
order  to  run  away  with  his  clandestine 
sweetheart  is  eventually  brought  to  jus- 
tice when  his  wife’s  dog  persists  in  coming 
back  and  bringing  the  sheriff  with  him. 
Neatly  handled  in  all  departments. 


The  Fighting  69th  Vz 

Vitaphone  (Merrie  Melody)  7 Mins. 

A rib  tickler.  In  Technicolor,  black  ants 
and  red  ants  imitate  man  in  warfare  when 
a picnic  food  spread  is  left  unguarded. 
They  perform  all  the  maneuvers  in  the 
book.  At  length,  an  armistice  is  arrived  at 
when  a lone  piece  of  cake  is  left.  There  is 
dispute  over  the  division  of  the  icing,  war 
commences  again. 


Timid  Toreador 

Vitaphone  (Looney  Tune)  7 Mins. 

Clever.  Porky  sells  hot  tamales  at  a bull 
fight.  He  wanders  into  the  ring  and  con- 
tacts the  bull.  There  follows  a harum- 
scarum  chase  all  over  the  place  when  the 
bull  gets  burnt — after  eating  the  tamales. 
After  many  close  shaves  Porky,  minus  a 
few  bristles,  wins  the  contest. 


Acrobatic  Aces 

Paramount  (Sportlight)  10  Mins. 

Interesting . Spectacular  acrobatics  and 
tumbling,  featured  by  a group  of  experts, 
highlight  this  entertaining  subject.  It  is 
the  sort  of  thing  most  people  marvel  at  on 
theatre  stages.  Here,  the  camera  is  a defi- 
nite improvement  over  the  stage,  in  that 
angles  and  slow  motion  are  presented.  The 
participants  do  their  stuff  outdoors  and 
offer  a variety  of  somersaults,  pirouettes 
and  back  flips  that  look  like  the  tops.  The 
experts  range  from  youngsters  to  a troupe 
of  men  and  a quartette  of  comely  girls. 


Meet  the  Fleet 

Vitaphone  (Technicolor  Special)  20  Mins. 

Interesting.  This  just  about  completes 
the  series  on  the  services.  With  a slight 
story  thread  the  footage,  neatly  filmed, 
tells  of  the  training  of  young  men  once 
they  join  the  force,  the  opportunities  for 
learning  trades  and  the  first  voyage  on  a 
battlewagon.  The  location  is  the  San 
Diego  naval  base. 


Problem  Pappy 

Paramount  (Popeye)  7 Mins. 

Fair.  Not  much  in  this  cartoon  dis- 
tinguishes it  from  others  of  the  series. 
Popeye’s  father,  it  seems,  becomes  imbued 
with  the  spirit  of  adolescence  and  goes  in 
for  some  flagpole  sitting.  He’s  perched 
rather  precariously  on  top  of  a high  build- 
ing and  the  footage  is  given  over  to  Pop- 
eye’s  efforts  to  get  him  down  to  safety. 


Boobs  in  Arms 

Columbia  (Three  Stooges)  18  Mins. 

Average.  A little  late,  the  Three  Stooges 
this  time  register  one  based  on  induction 
into  the  army.  They  are  men  of  goodwill, 
fundamentally,  but  run  into  a louse  of  a 
sergeant.  During  a sham  battle  they  are 
taken  prisoners,  inhale  laughing  gas,  de- 
moralize the  enemy  and  ride  off,  the  three 
of  them,  on  a passing  shell.  The  last  few 
hundred  feet  are  funny. 

a 

Sea  for  Yourself 

M-G-M  (Pete  Smith  Specialty)  10  Mins. 

Thriller.  The  magic  of  the  camera  sel- 
dom has  a better  opportunity  to  show 
off  than  in  this  blood-tingler.  Most  of 
it  is  shot  under  water,  depicting  a new 
kind  of  sport:  Spear-fishing.  The  men 
manipulate  with  special,  light-weight 
equipment  strapped  to  the  back.  Here 
they  go  after  the  game,  and  it's  mighty 
sporty  fun.  But  the  hair-raiser  comes 
when  a giant  ray  traps  a diver  in  a 
cave.  His  colleagues  come  to  the  res- 
cue, but  encounter  a swordfish  which 
must  be  eliminated  before  the  rescue  is 
affected.  It's  action  that  staging  can't 
match. 

■ >J 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  18,  1941 


73 


Date  at  side  of  column  is  week  ending.  Number  in  square  is  national  release  date.  Production  number  is  at  right. 
Running  time,  as  furnished  by  home  office  of  distributor,  follows  title.  As  local  conditions,  such  as  censorship, 
subject  this  to  change,  checkup  with  local  exchanges  is  recommended.  R — is  review  date.  PG — is  Picture  Guide 
>age  number.  Symbol  O indicates  BOXOFFICE  Blue  Ribbon  Award  Winner.  Symbol  © indicates  color  photography. 


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R — Nov.  16 

[27]  Mys.  Comedy 

Invisible  Woman 

(72) 

John  Barrymore 

Virginia  Bruce 

R — Jan  4 — PG-1 

|~3~|  Com.  Drama  5030 

W here  Did  You  Get 

That  Girl  (67) 

R — Dec.  28 

[~3~|  Adv.  Drama  5053 

Lucky  Devils  (64) 

[iq[  Western  5064 

Boss  of  Bullion  City 

(.  .) 

fio|  Drama  5027 

San  Francisco  Docks 

(66)  R — Dec.  7 

c cs  <m 

S t£  rH 

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[31]  Drama 

Back  Street  ( . . ) 

Margaret  Sullavan 

Charles  Boyer 

|~7~|  Comedy 

Buck  Private  ( . . ) 

Andrews  Sisters 

Abbott  & Costello 

[14]  Comedy 

Meet  the  Chump 

(•  •) 

Hugh  Herbert 

Lewis  Howard 

[21]  Mus.  Comedy 

Nice  Girl  ( . . ) 

Deanna  Durbin 

Franchot  Tone 

|^8]  Drama  5040 

Dark  Streets  of 

Cairo  ( . . ) 

Sigrid  Gurie 

UNITED  ARTISTS 

j29|  Drama 

Black  Out  (SO) 

Conrad  Veidt 

Valerie  Hobson 

R — Nov.  23 

[25]  Fantasy 

©Thief  of  Bagdad 

(109) 

Conrad  Veidt 

Sabu 

R — Oct.  19 

[ip]  Melodrama 

Son  of  Monte  Crlsto 

(102) 

Louis  Hayward 

Joan  Bennett 

R — Dec.  7 

|24]  Comedy 

Road  Show  (87) 

Adolphe  Menjou 

Carol  Dandis 

20TH-F0X 

[29]  Drama  120 

Tin  Pan  Alley  (94) 
Alice  Faye 

Jack  Oakie 

Betty  Grable 

R — Nov.  30 

|~6]  Drama  118 

Charter  Pilot  (70) 
Lynn  Bari 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R — Nov.  30 

[13]  Mystery  121 

Murder  Over  New 
York  (65) 

Sidney  Toler 

R — Nov.  30 

[2o|  Comedy  122 

Jennie  (77) 

William  Henry 
Dorris  Bowden 

R — Dec.  7 

[27]  Drama  123 

©Chad  Hanna  (88) 

Henry  Fonda 

Dorothy  Lamour 

R — Dec.  14 

[~3~[  Drama  115 

Hudson’s  Bay  (95) 

Paul  Muni 

Virginia  Field 

R— Dec.  28 

[loj  Melodrama  124 
Michael  Shayne,  Pri- 

vate Detective 

(77) 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R — Dec.  28 

Jl7j  Act.  Drama  125 

Romance  of  the  Rio 

Grande  (73) 

Cesar  Romero 

R — Jan.  11 — PG-5 

[24]  Drama  128 

Tall,  Dark  and 

Handsome  ( . . ) 

Cesar  Romero 

Virginia  Gilmore 

[34]  Drama  127 

Girl  in  the  News 

(77) 

Margaret  Lockwood 

R — Jan.  4 — PG-1 

|~7~]  Comedy 

Ride,  Kelly,  Ride 

(•  •) 

Eugene  Pallette 

Rita  Quigley 

[14]  Com.  Drama 

Golden  Hoofs  ( . . ) 

Jane  Withers 

(Buddy)  Rogers 

|2i]  Drama 

Western  Union  ( . . ) 

Robert  Young 

Virginia  Gilmore 

[28]  Mystery 

Scotland  Yard  ( . . ) 

John  Loder 

Nancy  Kelly 

RKO  RADIO 

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[20]  Drama  114 

No,  No,  Nanette 

(96) 

Anna  Neagle 

Richard  Carlson 

R— Jan.  11— PG-8 

[27]  Drama  112 

Kitty  Foyle  (108) 

Ginger  Rogers 

Herbert  Marshall 

R — Dec.  21 

[~3~|  Drama  161 

Convoy  (78) 

Clive  Brook 

Judy  Campbell 

R — Jan.  IS — PG-11 

[xo]  Drama  110 

Little  Men  (84) 

Kay  Francis 

Jack  Oakie 

R — Dec.  7 

[3t|  Musical  115 

Let’s  Make  Music 

(84) 

Bob  Crosby 

R — Dec.  14 

[24]  Mystery  116 

Saint  in  Palm 

Springs  (66) 

George  Sanders 

R — Jan.  4 — PG-3 

[3l|  Comedy  117 

Mr.  and  Mrs. 

Smith  (95) 

Carole  Lombard 

Robert  Montgomery 

[7]  Western  183 

Along  the  Rio 

Grande  ( . . ) 

Tim  Holt 

[H]  Comedy  120 

A Guy,  a Girl  and  a 

Gob  ( . . ) 

George  Murphy 

Lucille  Ball 

M 

Ci  d 3 

iH  © 

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1 « 

Q 1 S 
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O 

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ISiJjB  0 

|2g|  Drama  118 

Citizen  Kane  ( . . ) 

Orson  Welles 

REPUBLIC 

[29]  Comedy  018 

Meet  the  Missus 

(68) 

Roscoe  Karns 

R— Nov.  30 

|~5~|  Western  053 

The  Border  Legion 

(58) 

Roy  Rogers 

R — Nov.  30 

|~6~|  Comedy  008 

Barnyard  Follies 

(68)  R— Nov.  30 

Mary  Lee 

Rufe  Davis 

[20]  Drama  009 

Behind  the  News 

(75) 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R— Dec.  21 

[23|  Western  064 

Lone  Star  Raiders 

(57) 

Three  Mesquiteers 

R — Dec.  21 

[27]  Drama  019 

Bowery  Boy  (71) 
Dennis  O’Keefe 
Louise  Campbell 

R — Jan.  4 — PG-2 

|~0~~j  Western  074 

Wyoming  Wildcat 

(56) 

Don  “Red”  Barry 

Julie  Duncnn 

R — Jan.  11 — PG-8 

[14]  Western  054 

Robin  Hood  of  the 

Pecos  (59) 

Roy  Rogers 

R — Jan.  18 — PG-10 

[04]  Western 

Riding  on  a Rain- 

bow ( . . ) 

Gene  Autry 

Smiley  Burnette 

|3l]  Comedy 

Arkansas  Judge 

(•  •) 

Weaver  Bros,  and 
Elviry 

|~7~]  Comedy 

Petticoat  Politics 

(•  •) 

Higgins  Family 

Roscoe  Karnes 

[14]  Western 

Bad  Man  From  Rio 

(•  .) 

Don  “Red”  Barry 

[20]  Western 

Prairie  Pioneers 

(•  •) 

Three  Mesquiteers 

PARAMOUNT 

[jfj  Mus.  Com.  4011 
Night  at  Earl  Car- 
roll’s, A (63) 

Ken  Murray 

R— Nov.  23 

[13]  Western  4012 

Texas  Rangers  Ride 
Again  (68) 

John  Howard 

R — Nov.  9 

[27]  Outd’r  Dr.  3946 
l^@North  West 

Mounted  Police 

(126)  R — Oct.  26 
Madeleine  Carroll 

[27]  Comedy  4013 

..aye  Thy  Neighbor 

(82) 

Jack  Benny 

Fred  Allen 

R — Dec.  28 

|~3~j  Musical  4014 

second  Chorus  (88) 

Fred  Astaire 

Paulette  Goddard 

R — Dec.  7 

[jp]  Western  4051 

Doomed  Caravan 

(60) 

William  Boyd 

Russell  Hayden 

R — Jan.  18 — PG-9 

[l7]  Drama  4015 

Victory  (79) 

Fredric  March 

Betty  Field 

R — Dec.  21 

[24]  Comedy  4016 

Aldrich  Family  in 
Life  With  Henry 

(81) 

Jackie  Cooper 

[~7~|  Musical  Com. 
You’re  the  One  (83) 
Bonnie  Baker 

Orrin  Tucker 

[14]  Mystery 

Mad  Doctor,  Tlie 

(90) 

Basil  Rathbone 

[21]  Drama 

0 Virginia  (109) 

Madeleine  Carroll 

Fred  MacMurray 

R— Jan.  18— PG-1 2 

[28]  Western 

In  Old  Colorado 

(•  .) 

William  Boyd 

MONOGRAM 

[22]  Drama  4003 

Her  First  Romance 

(77)  R— Dec.  28 

[29]  Western  4052 

Rolling  Home  to 

Texas  (63) 

Tex  Ritter 

[~5~|  Western 

Trail  of  the  Silver 

Spurs  ( . . ) 

Range  Busters 

p]  Mystery 

Dead  Man’s  Shoes 

(.  .) 

Wilfrid  Lawson 

Leslie  Banks 

[20]  Melodrama 

You're  Out  of  Luck 

(62) 

Frankie  Darro 

R — Jan.  18 — PG-11 

|~6~|  Western 

Ridin'  the  Cherokee 
Trail  (.  .) 

Tex  Ritter 

Rgj  Melodrama 

Air  Devils  ( . . ) 

Leo  Gorcey 

Bobby  Jordan 

[28|  Drama 

Sign  of  the  Wolf 

(.  •) 

M-G-M 

[2&|  Drama  115 

Dr.  Kildare’s  Crists 

(75) 

Lew  Ayres 

Lionel  Barrymore 

R — Dec.  7 

[~6~|  Comedy  114 

Go  West  (82) 

Marx  Bros. 

R — Dec.  21 

[13]  Drama  113 

Comrade  X (89) 

Clark  Gable 

Hedy  Lamarr 

R— Dec.  14 

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|~3~|  Drama  117 

Flight  Command 

(114) 

Robert  Taylor 

Walter  Pidgeon 

R — Dec.  21 

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jfy  Drama  119 

Philadelphia  Story 

(112) 

Katharine  Hepburn 

Cary  Grant 

[24]  Comedy  121 

Wild  Man  of  Borneo 

(•  •) 

[24]  Historical 

Land  of  Liberty  (98) 

|3l|  Drama  122 

Come  Live  With 

Me  ( . . ) 

James  Stewart 

Hedy  Lamarr 

[6]  Comedy 

Blonde  Inspiration 

(•  .) 

John  Shelton 

Virginia  Grey 

[43]  Drama 

The  Bad  Man  ( . . ) 

Wallace  Beery 

Lionel  Barrymore 

£ 

COLUMBIA 

(28j  Mystery  2024 

Ellery  Queen,  Mas- 

ter Detective  (69) 
Ralph  Bellamy 
Margaret  Lindsay 

R — Nov.  30 

[|]  Western  2203 

Thundering  Fron- 

tier (67) 

Charles  Starrett 

R— Sept.  21 

|~9~|  Drama  2031 

Great  Plane  Rob- 

bery (53) 

Jack  Holt 

R — Dec.  14 

(20]  Mystery  2033 

Phantom  Submarine 

(70) 

Anita  Louise 

[25]  Outd’r  Dr.  2101 

Arizona  (128) 

Jean  Arthur 

R — Nov.  23 

[3^  Western  2211 

Wildcat  of  Tuscon 

(67)  Bill  Elliott 

[2]  Comedy  2205 

This  Tiling  Called 

Love  (98) 

Melvyn  Douglas 

Rosalind  Russell 

R— Dec.  28 

[U  Western  2204 

Pinto  Kid  (61) 

Charles  Starrett 

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[~j]  Drama 

Adam  Had  Four 
Sons  ( . . ) 

Warner  Baxter 

Ingrid  Bergman 

|~3~|  Melodrama 

The  Devil  Com- 
mands ( . . ) 

Boris  Karloff 

[13]  Western  2212 
Across  the  Sierra 

(•  .) 

Bill  Elliott 

[20I  Drama 

Return  of  Boston 
Blackie  ( . . ) 
Chester  Morris 
Rochelle  Hudson 

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30 

DEC. 

7 

DEC. 

14 

DEC. 

21 

DEC. 

28 

JAN. 

4 

JAN. 

11 

JAN. 

18 

JAN. 

25 

FEB. 

1 

FEB. 

8 

FEB. 

15 

FEB. 

22 

MAR. 

1 

Numeral  Is  production  number.  Running  time  follows  title.  First  date  Is  Na- 
tional release,  second  the  date  of  review  in  BOXOFFICE;  both  194#  unless 
otherwise  specified.  The  symbol  between  the  dates  Is  rating  from  the  BOX- 
OFFICE  review:  f|-  Very  good,  -f-  Good,  ± Fair,  zf.  Mediocre,  — Poor,  = Very 
Poor.  (J  Indicates  short  of  the  week.  © Indicates  color  photography. 


SHORTS 


T 


Prod. 

No. 


Title 


Rel.  Rat- 

Date  ing  Rev'd 


Prod. 

No. 


Title 


Rel.  Rat- 
Date  ing  Rev’d 


9-31 


+ 10-19 


+ 


10-19 

9-21 


+ 11-23 


10-19 
8-31 
12-  7 


Columbia 

ALE-STAR  COMEDIES 

2425.  .Blondes  and  Blunders  (16). 11-29 
2424.  .Bundle  of  Bliss,  A (18).. 11-  1 

2423..  Cold  Turkey  (16) 10-18 

1438.  .Fireman  Save  My  Choo- 

Choo  (18)  8-9 

14.37..  His  Bridal  Fright  (16)...  7-12 

2426.  His  Ex  Marks  the  Spot 

(..)  12-13 

2421.  .Pleased  to  Mitt  You  (18)..  9-  6 

1421..  5.inny  (he  Moodier  (1614)  3-  8 

2422..  5.ook  Speaks,  The  (18)...  9-20 

1436.  .Taming  of  the  Snood  (16)  6-28 

9437 . .Trouble  Finds  Andy 

Clyde  (18)  7-28 

2627.  .Watchman  Takes  a Wife, 

The  ( . . ) 1-10 

CINESCOFES 

2972.  .Floating  Elephants  (8)..  10-  4 

2971..  Hobby  Lobby  (11) 8-30 

2972 . .Industrial  Green  Island 

(10)  9-20 

2973..  Nice  Work  If  You 

Can  Do  It  (9)  11-  6 

2975  .©Ocean  Trails  (..) 1-31 

1975  . Odd  Vacations  (8Va) 6-16 

2974.  .Unusual  Crafts  ( . . ) 12-25 

COLOR  RHAPSODIES 
(In  Technicolor) 

2505..  A Helping  Paw  (7) 1-7 

2502..  ©Mr.  Elephant  Goes  to 

Town  (7V2)  10-  4 

2503..  Mad  Hatter,  The  (7) 11-  3 

2501 ..  Tangled  Television  (7%) . . 8-30 

1512..  Timid  Pup,  The  (8) 8-  1 

2504..  Wise  Owl  (7) 12-  6 

1511..  Ye  Ohle  Swap  Shoppe  (7V&)  6-28 

COLUMBIA  TOURS 

2556.  .Beautiful  British  Colum- 

bia (..)  12-20 

2557.  .From  Singapore  to  Hong 

Kong  (..)  1-10 

2551 ..  Historic  Virginia  (Andre  de 

la  Varre  Productions) 

(10)  8-16 

1558  . In  the  Land  of  Pagodas 

(9)  6-14 

2554 . . Islands  of  the  West 

Indies  (10)  10-25 

2553.  Old  and  New  Arizona 

(Special)  (9)  9-27 

2552..  5.voy  in  the  Alps  (la 

Varre  Productions)  (10) . 9-13 

2555.  .Sojourn  In  Havana 

(LaVarre  Prod.)  (9) 11-25 

COMMCNITY  SING 
1656  . No.  6 (Medley  of  Hits) 

(10)  6-28 

2651 . .No.  1 ..  (Jolly  Tunes — D. 

Baker  (10)  10-  2 

2652.  .No.  2.  . (Popular  Songs — D. 

Baker  (10)  11-  8 

2653.  .No.  3.  . (Melodies  That  Lin- 

ger— D.  Baker)  (10)  ...  .12-1.3 

2654.  .No.  4 (Gay  Tunes)  (..)...  1-  1 

FABLES  CARTOONS 
1754.  Barnyard  Babies  (7V2) 6-14 

2751..  Farmer  Tom  Thumb  (6)  ..  9-27 
2752.  .Mouse  Meets  Lion  (6)...  .10-25 

2753  . Paunch  ’n’  Judy  (6) 12-13 

1755  . Pooch  Parade  (6) 7-19 

2754.  .Streamlined  Donkey  (..)...  1-17 

NEW  YORK  PARADE 

2951.  .Magic  City,  The  (..) 12-25 

PHANTASIES  CARTOONS 

2702.  Happy  Holidays  (6) 10-25 

2705..  Little  Theatre,  The  (..)..  2-  7 

1706..  News  Oddities  (6) 7-19 

1756..  Peep  in  the  Deep,  A (6%)  8-23 

2701..  5.hool  Boy  Dreams  (5)...  9-24 

2704..  Tom  Thumb’s  Brother 

(..)  1-17 

2703.  .Wallflower,  The  (.  .) 11-29 

QUIZ  REELS 

2601.  Take  It  or  Leave  It  (9%)  12-  5 

2602.  .Take  It  or  Leave  It 

No.  2 (..)  12-25 

SCREEN  SNAPSHOTS 

1859  . No.  9 (10) 7-10 

Ken  Murray. 

1860  . No.  10  (9) 8-10 

Jack  Oakle. 

2851..  No.  1 (10) 9-6 

Ken  Murray. 

2852.  No.  2 (9) 10-18 

Don  Wilson. 

2853..  No.  3 (9) 11-22 

SPECIAL  (HAPPY-HOUR) 
2441.  .Puss  in  Boots  (reissue) 

(40)  11-21 

SPORT  REELS 

280.3..  Ali  the  Giant  Killer  (..).. 12-27 

1809..  Canvas  Capers  (11) 7-19 

2802.  Hunting  Wild  Deer  (9)...  11-22 


11-23 


10-23 
12-  7 


+ 11-23 


+ 


10-19 
12-  7 


+ 


2801..  Master  of  Cue  With  Willie 

Hoppe  (9)  10-4  4-  10-19 

1808..  5.ving  Strokes  With  Sam 

Snead  (10)  6-28  

2804 . . Splits,  Spares  and  Strikes 

(..)  1-10 

THREE  STOOGES  COMEDIES 

2404.  Boobs  in  Arms  (18) 12-27  .... 

2403.  .Cuckoo  Cavaliers  (17) ...  .11-15  ± 12-  7 

2401..  From  Nurse  to  Worse  (16)  8-23  + 8-31 

1108  How  High  Is  Up  (16).  7-16  = 8-3 

2402 ..  No  Census,  No  Feeling  (16)  10-  4 .... 

1407  . Nutty  But  Nice  (18) 6-14  

WASHINGTON  PARADE 
Series  2 

1906..  No.  5 (Tile  Archives)  (11).  7-  4 + 8-3 

1906  . No.  6 (Our  Nat’l  Defense) 

(10)  8-30  

Series  3 

2901..  No.  1 (The  Mint)  (10) 10-25  

2902.  .No.  2 (U.  S.  Military  Acad- 
emy) (Special)  (..) 12-13  .... 

2908..  No.  3 (U.  S.  Naval  Acad- 

emy) (Special)  (..)....  1-  3 .... 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 


- 5. 

-201 

- 6 
-815. 
- 4. 


214. 

-211. 

-212 

213. 

231 


293. 

291. 
294 

292. 


281. 

126. 

128. 

127. 

124. 


110. 

113. 

112. 

261. 

262 . 

109. 


Tom  Turkey  (7) 6-  8 

M-G-M  NEWS  OF  THE  DAY 
Released  Twice  Weekly 
OUR  GANG  COMEDIES 
.Goin’  Fishin’  (10)... 


PASSING  PARADE 
(New  Series) 

• American  Spoken  Here 


.Baron  and  the  Rose,  The 

(11)  

Dreams  (10)  


■ IV ay  in  the  Wilderness, 
A (10)  (Sepia) 


Cat  College  (9)  (Sej 
■ Football  Thrills  Of  193! 
Please  Answer  (9)44 
OQuicker’n  a Wink 


8-31 

10-19 


12-  7 


± 8-31 


11- 23 

12-  7 


= 12-  7 


X-151. 


What’s  Your  I.  Q.?  No.  2 

(9)  

SPECIAL 


Paramount 


9-  7 
10-26 
9-28 


± 7-6 


CRIME  DOESN’T  PAY 

• Buyers  Beware  (20) 8-17 

• tJEyes  of  the  Navy  (20).  10-26 

Soak  the  Old  (20) 8-24 

Think  First  (21) 9-  9 

.Women  in  Hiding  (22)  . . 6-22 

FITZPATRICK  TRAVEXTALKS 
(In  Technicolor) 

.Beautiful  Bali  (9) 11-23 

Capitol  City,  The — Wash- 
ington, D.  O.  (9) 9-7 

■ Cavalcade  of  San  Fran- 
cisco (9)  9-28 

Old  New  Mexico  (10) 10-26 

MINIATURES 
.Rodeo  Dough  (10)  (Sepia)  10-  9 ± 12-14 

M-G-M  CARTOONS 
(New'  Series) 

(Technicolor) 

Bookworm  Turns,  The 


44 

+ 


12-14 
9-  7 


9-28 
11-  9 


W-  94. 

(8)  . . . 

. Gallopin’ 

Gals  (8) 

. 7-20 
.10-26 

+ 

4- 

8-31 
11-  9 

W-  93. 

. Homeless 

Flea,  The  (8)  . . 

10-12 

++ 

12-  7 

W-241 . 

. Eonesome 

Stranger  (9) . . . 

.11-23 

■H- 

12-  7 

W-  89. 

Milky  Way,  The  (8) 

. 6-22 

+ 

7-  6 

W-  92. 

.Papa  Gets 

the  Bird  (8)  . . 

. 9-  7 

9-28 

W-  91. 

.Romeo  in 

Rhythm  (8)  . . . 

8-10 

± 

9-  7 

10-26 

Hh 

11-  9 

9-  7 

+ 

9-  7 

11-23 

+ 

12-28 

10-  5 

12-  7 

11-30 

44 

12-  7 

9-  7 

4+ 

9-28 

.11-16 

+ 

12-14 

10-12 

+ 

11-  9 

6-22 

■TIES 

+ 

7-  6 

6-29 

9-21 

-H- 

9-28 

8-24 

4+ 

9-  7 

10-12 

4+ 

12-  7 

11-30 

44 

12-  7 

6-10 

7-  6 

6-14 

44 

5-  4 

ANIMATED  ANTICS 
HO-4.  Bring  Himself  Back  Alive 

(7)  12-20 

H0-1. Dandy  Lion,  The  (7) 9-20 

H0-3.. Mommy  Loves  Puppy  (7). 11-29 

H0-2.  .Sneak,  Snoop  & Snitch  (7)  10-25 

BENCHLEY  COMEDIES 
SO-  1 . . Trouble  With  Husbands 

(11)  

COLOR  CLASSICS 
(In  Technicolor) 

C9-5 . . Snubhed  by  a Snob  (7). 

C9-6.  .You  Can’t  Shoe  a Horse- 
fly (7)  8-23 

COT. OR  CRUISES 
(New  Series  in  Cineeolor) 

K9-7 .. Pacific  Paradise  (10) «-21  .... 

FASCINATING  JOURNEYS 
(Technicolor) 

M0-  l..()River  Thames — Yester- 
day (10)  11-8  ff  11-23 


12-21 

10- 5 
12-  7 

11- 23 


.11-8  12-  7 


7-19  + 8-31 

-I-  8-24 


Prod. 

Rel. 

Rat- 

No.  Title 

Date 

ing; 

Rev’d 

FLEISCHER  CARTOONS 

FFO-1 . . Raggedy  Ann  (19) 

,12-20 

44 

12-21 

GABBY  CARTOONS 

GO-  2 . . Constable,  The  (7) 

11-15 

+ 

11-23 

GO-  l..Iving;  for  a Day  (7) 

10-18 

+ 

10-26 

HEADLINER 

A0-  3.. Johnny  Messner  and 

Oroh.  (11)  

.12-13 

-f- 

12-21 

A0-  2..Eisten  to  Harry  (10).... 
A0-  1.  .^Moments  of  Charm  of 

.10-25 

+ 

10-26 

1941  (10)  

. 9-13 

44 

10-  5 

A9-10.  . Pinky  Tomlin  and  Orch. 

(ID  

. 7-19 

+ 

8-31 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS 
Released  Twice  Weekly. 

PAR  \GRAPHICS 

V9-  9 . . Dangerous  Dollars  (11).. 

. 6-28 

V0-  1.  .Nature’s  Nursery  (10)  . . . 
V9-10.  .Paramount  Pictorial 

10-11 

10-26 

No.  2 (ID 

. 9-  9 

-+- 

8-24 

V0-  2.  .Seeing  Is  Believing  (11). 

.11-22 

+ 

12-  7 

popeye  cartoons 

E9-10 ..  Doing;  Impossikible  Stunts 

(7)  

8-  2 

-4 

8-17 

E0-  4.. Eugene,  the  Jeep  (7).... 

12-13 

12-  7 

E9-  9 Fightin’  Pals  (8) 

E8-11.  .It’s  the  Natural  Thing  to 

. 7-12 

44 

8-17 

Do  (7)  

. 7-28 

8-26 

E0-  2 My  Pop,  My  Pop  (7) 

10-18 

10-26 

E0-  8.  .Nurse  Mates  (7)  

E0-  1 . . Popeye  Meets  William 

. 6-21 

Tell  (7)  

. 9-20 

44 

10-  5 

E9-12  . Puttin’  on  the  Act  (7).. 
E9-11 . . Wimmin’  Hadn’t  Oug;hta 

. 8-30 

+ 

8-24 

Drive  (7) 

8-16 

-4 

8-24 

E0-  .3  With  Poopdeek  Pappy  (7) 

11-15 

o 

12-  7 

J9-6 
J0-1  . 

JO-2 . 
JO-3. 


R0-  1 
R0-  5 
R0-  4 
R0-  3 
R9-13 
R0-  2 


B9-  9 
B9-11 
B9-10 

B9-  6 
B9-  8 

B9-12 


6-28 
9-  6 
11-  1 
1-  3 


POPULAR  SCIENCE 
(In  Cineeolor) 

.(ID  

.(11)  

■(10)  

(10)  

GRANTLAND  RICE  SPORT- 
LIGHTS 

.Diving  Demons  (10) 9-  6 

.Feminine  Fitness  (10)....  1-10 

.Marine  Roundup  (10) 12-  6 

.Motorcycle  Stunting  (10). 11-  8 

.Sink  or  Swim  (10) 7-12 

■ Sporting  Everglades,  The 

(10)  10-  4 

STONE  AGE  CARTOONS 
Fulla  Bluff  Man,  The  (7).  8-  9 
.Pedagogical  Institution  (7)  9-13 
.Springtime  in  the  Rock- 

age  (7)  8-30 

Ugly  Dino,  The  (7) 6-14 

.Way  Back  When  a Razz- 
berry  Was  a Fruit  (7)  . 

.Way  Back  When  Women 
Had  Their  Weigh  (7).. 
UNUSUAL  OCCUPATIONS 
(In  Color) 


Republic 


MEET  THE  STARS 
028-1..  No.  1 (10) 12-24 

RKO  Radio 

DISNEY  CARTOONS 
(In  Technicolor) 

Big  nearted  Pluto  (..)...  1-24 


13.401 

13.402 

03.704 

13.701 

13.702 

03.112 

03.113 

13.101 

13.102 

13.103 


EDGAR  KENNEDY  COMEDIES 
.Drafted  in  the  Depot  (19). 12-20 
.Sunk  by  the  Census  (18).  9-  6 
.Trailer  Tragedy  (17)....  10-18 
LEON  ERROL  COMEDIES 
.Bested  by  a Beard  (20)  ...  7-26 
.He  Asked  for  It  (18) 9-27 

• Tattle  Talevision  (19) 11-29 

MARCH  OF  TIME 

• No.  12  (17) 8-2 

Spoils  of  Conquest. 

• ONo.  13  (20) 

Gateways  to  Panama. 

..No.  1 (19) 9-13 

On  Foreign  Newfronts. 

.No.  2 (18) 

Britain's  R.  A.  F. 

• No.  3 (19) 10-25 

Mexico,  Good  Neighbor’s 
Dilemma. 


10-  5 

12-  7 
12-21 


10-  5 
12-21 
12-  7 

11- 23 


44  11-  0 

± 8 24 


7-26  + 8-17 


9-27 


L9-6 . 

.No. 

6 

(11) 

8-  2 

44 

8-17 

L0-1 . 

.No. 

1 

(11) 

9-  7 

-4 

10-  5 

L0-2. 

• No. 

2 

(ID 

11-29 

+ 

12-  7 

-f  12-28 


04.107.  Bone  Trouble  (9) 

04.109.  . Donald’s  Vacation  (8).. 

. 6-28 
. 8-  9 

44 

8-10 

04,114.  .Fire  Chief  (..) 

11-22 

44 

12-14 

04, 1 1 3 . . Goofy’s  Glider  (8) 

.11-  1 

+ 

12-14 

04, 112.. Mr.  Mouse  Takes  a Trip 
(8)  

.11-  1 

+ 

11-23 

Pantry  Pirate  (8) 

04,110.  .Pluto’s  Dream  House  (8) 

.12-27 
. 8-30 

+ 

9-21 

04.108.  Put-Put  Trouble  (7) 

04,111 . .Window  Cleaners  (8).... 

. 7-19 
. 9-20 

44 

10-26 

9-21 
11-  9 


. 9-27 
.11-29 

9-21 

'.  8-  2 

+ 

8-10 

. 8-24 

44 

8-31 

. 9-13 

44 

9-21 

.10-  4 

+ 

10-19 

.10-25 

Hh 

10-26 

BOXOFFICE 


January  18,  1941 


77 


SHORTS  CHART 


WHAT'S  IN  THE  NEWSREELS 


Prod. 

No. 


Title 


Rel.  Rat- 
Date  Ins  Rev’d 


vt 


TUESDAY,  JANUARY  7 
Movietone  News,  No.  35 

President’s  message  to  Congress;  King  George 
in  Southampton;  Petain  in  Marseilles;  De  Gaulle 
in  England;  victory  fete  in  Athens;  Hopkins  flies 
to  London;  Phillips  leaves  for  Rome;  Zanuck  gets 
critic’s  award  plaque;  boxing,  skiing. 

News  of  the  Day,  No.  233 
Roosevelt  addresses  Congress;  Petain  in  mili- 
tary ceremony;  De  Gaulle  in  England;  Greece 
celebrates  victory;  Mrs.  Roosevelt’s  new  gowns; 
skiing;  badminton. 

Paramount  News,  No.  38 
Outstanding  events  of  1940. 

RKO  Pathe  News,  No.  38 
Roosevelt  speech;  Hopkins  to  England;  Brazil’s 
navy  reinforced;  football. 

Universal  Newsreel,  No.  943 
Roosevelt  speech;  Christmas  in  England;  De 
Gaulle  in  England;  Mummer’s  Parade  in  Phila- 
delphia; Hopkins  flies  to  London;  Miami  water 
sports;  skiing;  football. 

THURSDAY,  JANUARY  9 
Movietone  News,  No.  36 


budget;  Miami  Beach  swimmers  wear  fins;  Alice 
Marble  in  pro  debut;  golf;  boxing. 

News  of  the  Day,  No.  234 
War  news  from  Britain;  Coast  Guard  in  Pacific 
("’oast  stunt;  troops  train  at  Lake  Placid;  Anne 
Morgan  asks  food  for  France;  Alice  Marble  in 
pro  tennis  debut;  boxing. 

Paramount  News,  No.  39 
Alice  Marble  makes  pro  tennis  debut;  British 
army  in  African  campaign;  flying  convoy  guard; 
American  club  for  volunteers  in  London;  Roose- 
velt on  the  state  of  the  nation. 

RKO  Pathe  News,  No.  39 
Alice  Marble  makes  pro  tennis  debut;  R.  A.  F. 
flying  boats  patrol  convoy;  navy  bomber  lands  in 
three  inches  of  water;  U.  S.  and  Argentina  sign 
loan  pact;  children  in  London’s  air  raid  shelters; 
golf;  ice  boating. 

Universal  Newsreel,  No.  944 
England  ready  for  invasion;  refugee  diamond 
cutters  at  work  in  England;  U.  S. -Argentina  in 
loan  pact;  demonstrate  lightweight  machine  gun; 
Greeks  in  seashore  religious  ceremony;  reducing 
studios;  lifesaving  dog  in  Florida;  co-eds  wear 
military  style  hats;  pro  tennis;  toboggan  race; 


The  war  front  in  England;  Roosevelt 

announces 

golf. 

Prod. 

Rel. 

Rat- 

Prod. 

Rel. 

Rat- 

No.  Title 

Date 

ing 

Rev’d 

No. 

Title 

Date 

ing 

Rev’d 

13, 104.. No.  4 (19) 

. .11-22 

+ 

12-  7 

TERRY-TOONS 

Arms  and  the  men. 

1551 

©Billy  Mouse’s  Akwakade 

1.3,105..  No.  5 (19) 

. .12-20 

+ 

12-28 

(7)  

. 8-  9 

8-17 

Labor  and  Defense. 

1501 

■ Club  Life  in  the  Stone 

PATHE  INFORMATION 

PI, EASE 

Age  (7)  

8-23 

04.211.  No.  11  (10) 

. . 6-14 

H- 

6-15 

1503. 

• Happy  Haunting  Grounds 

04.212.ONo.  12  (12) 

. 7-12 

u 

7-13 

(7)  

10-18 

ni  or*  \n.  13  till 

8-  Q 

J- 

8-lft 

1553. 

.How  Wet  Was  My  Ocean 

14  201  Vo.  1 (11> 

9-16 

9-21 

(7)  

.10-  4 

o 

10-19 

14.202..  No.  2 (10) 

.10-4 

+ 

10-26 

1554. 

.landing  of  the  Pilgrims 

14.203.. No.  3 (10) 

.11-  1 

+ 

11-23 

(7)  

.11-  1 

+ 

12-  7 

14,204  . No.  4 (11) 

0517. 

• Love  in  a Cottage  (7)... 

7-28 

14,205.  .No.  5 (ID .. 

1552. 

.Lucky  Duck,  The  (7) 

9-  6 

7-  5 

9-21 

9-27 

+ 

10-26 

8-30 

+ 

9-21 

12-20 

11-22 

44 

12-14 

10-25 

+ 

11-23 

6-21 

8-  2 

+ 

9-21 

9-13 

9-21 

10-11 

10-26 

11-  8 

+ 

11-23 

12-  6 
ERNS 

+ 

12-14 

.11-  8 

o 

11-23 

6-14 

+ 

8-10 

. 8-16 

. 8-10 

8-10 

PATHE  NEWS 
(Released  Twice  Weekly) 

RADIO  FLASH  COMEDIES 
03,205.  Goodness,  a Ghost  (16)  . . 7-5 

PATHE  SPORTSCOPE 

04.312.  Arrow  Points  (8) 7-5 

14,302.  . Kentucky  Royalty  (9) 9-27  + 

14.301 . Quail  Quest  (9) 8-30  + 

14,305 . . Snow  Eagles  (9) 12-20 

14. 304..  Snow  Fun  (9) 11-22 

14.303 ..  5.ortsman’s  Partner  (9)..  10-25  -f- 

04.611 ..  Streamlined  (9)  6-21 

04.313.  .Trouble  Shooter  (9).. 

PICTURE  PEOPLE 

14.401..  No.  1 (10) 

14, 402  . No.  2 (9) 10-11 

14.403..  No.  3 (10) 11- 

14.404..  No.  4 (10) 12-  6 

RAY  WHITLEY  WESTERNS 
(New  Series) 

13. 501..  Bar  Buckaroos  (16) 11-  8 

03.504 ..  Corralling  a Schoolmarm 

(20)  

REELISMS 
(New  Series) 

04.613  . Hats  (9)  8-16 

04.61 1 . .Streamlined  (9)  .... 

04.612  Week  End  (9) 7-19 

20th  Century-Fox 

ADVENTURES  OF  A NEWS  CAJIERAMAN 
0201 . . Conquering  the  Colorado 

(11)  8-18  44 

1201 . . ^Midget  Motor  Mania 

(10)  11-  8 4+ 

BELIEVE  IT  OR  NOT — RIPLEY 
1601.  .Acquitted  by  the  Sea  (10)  9-27  ff 

ED  THORGERSEN— SPORTS 

0306..  Action  on  Ice  (9) 7-19 

1303.. BowUng  lor  Strikes  (10).. 12-20  + 

1302..  Lure  of  the  Trout  (9) 10-11  -f- 

1301 . .©Vacation  Time  in  Florida 

(8)  8-10  ± 

FATHER  HFBBARD’S  ALASKAN 
ADVENTURES 

1101.  Eskimo  Trails  (10) 8-  2 4-  8-17 

1103.  .Isle  of  Mystery  (10) 10-26  .... 

FASHIONS 
(In  Technicolor) 

0603 ..  Fashion  Forecasts  No.  7 

(8)  6-21  

0604.  Fashion  Forecasts  No.  8 

(8)  6-21  

FOX  MOVIETONE  NEWS 
Released  Twice  Weekly 
LEW  LEHR  AND  HIS  DRIBBLE  PUSS 
PARADE 

0401 . .Cheerio  My  Dears  (9)....  7-  6 

1401 . .Grunters  and  Groaners  (8).  8-30 

1402.  Tale  of  Butch  the  Parrot, 

The  (..)  12-6 

1,0 WELL  THOMAS  MAGIC  CARPET 

1102 . ©Florida,  Land  of  Flowers 

(9)  9-13  ± 

1104.  .Old  Dominion  State  (10). 11-22  -|- 


1504. 

1555 . 

0514. 

0515. 

0516. 

1505. 

1556. 

1502. 


5241 
5243 . 
5245 . 
5242 . 
5244 


.Magic  Pencil,  The  (7) 11-15  + 

©Plane  Goofy  (7) 11-29  ± 

Professor  Offke.vski  (7)....  6-14  ± 

Rover’s  Rescue  (7) 6-28 

Rupert  the  Runt  (7) 7-12 

.Snow  Man,  The  (7) 12-13 

©Temperamental  Lion,  The 

(7)  12-27 

Touchdown  Demons  (7)...  9-20  ± 


12  7 
12-  7 
6-  8 


10-19 


Universal 


LANTZ  CARTUNES 
(Technicolor) 

.Crazyhouse  (7V4)  

Knock-Knock  (7)  

Mouse  Trappers  (6%)... 

. Q Recruiting  Daze  (6).. 
.Syncopated  Sioux  (6%). 

GOING  PLACES  WITH 
GRAHAM  McNAMEE 


. 9-23 

11-25  — 

12 

. 1-27 

.10-28  -H- 

11 

.12-30 

4303. 

. No. 

78 

(9) 

6-17 

4304. 

. No. 

79 

(9) 

7-18  + 

8-  3 

4305. 

.No. 

80 

(9V2) 

5351 . 

.No. 

81 

(9) 

9-23  — 

9-21 

5352 . 

No. 

82 

(9) 

10-14 

5353 . 

.No. 

83 

(9) 

11-11 

5354 . 

.No. 

84 

(9) 

5.355 . 

85 

(9) 

5356. 

.No. 

86 

(9) 

2-19 

8-19 


10-19 


10-19 


10-19 
12-  7 


8-17 


SPECIAL  TWO  HEELERS 
.Swing:  With  Bing:  (19)....  9-  4 
STRANGER  THAN  FICTION 


4383 . 

• No. 

78  (9) 

6-10 

+ 

4384 . 

.No. 

79  (9) 

+ 

4385. 

No. 

80  (9) 

+ 

5371. 

■ No. 

81  (9) 

+ 

5372 . 

■ No. 

82  (9) 

5373. 

.No. 

83  (8) 

5374 . 

• No. 

84  (9) 

12-  2 

5375 . 

.No. 

85  (9) 

1-1 

5376 . 

.No. 

86  (9) 

2-5 

TWO  REEL 

MUSICALS 

8-  8 

6-22 

7-27 

7-27 

9-21 


+ 8-17 


8-17 
12-  7 


5225.  .Beat  Me,  Daddy,  Eight  to 

the  Bar  (..)  1-22 

The  Fashionaires  and  Cath- 
lyn  Miller. 

5221..  Class  In  Swing  (17) 9-11 

5223.  .Congamanla  (17)  10-16 

Jose  Cansino  Dancers, 

Eddie  Durant  & Orch. 

4231 ..  Hawaiian  Rhythm  (17).. 

Harry  Owens  and  His 
Royal  Hawaiians. 

42.33..  1 . Dream  of  Jeanie  With  the 

Light  Brown  Hair  (17)  8-28 

4110..  March  of  Freedom  (21)...  9-  6 
4230.  .Naughty  Nineties  (18)....  6-17 

5224.  .Tickled  Pinky  (18)  12-25 

Pinky  Tomlin,  Martha  Til- 
ton and  the  Pickard  Family. 

5223..  Torrid  Tempos  (18) 11-27 

4232.  .Varsity  Vanities  (17 Vi) 

Six  Hits  and  a Miss, 

Martha  Tilton. 


7-17  + 


UNIVERSAL  NEWS 
Released  Twice  Weekly 

Vitaphone 

BROADWAY  BREVITIES 


0202.. Alice  in  Movieland  (20).. 
6202  Ed  Sullivan’s  Hollywood 

.11-16 

12-  7 

(20)  

11-16 

6201.  Just  a Cute  Kid  (20) 

10-  5 

4008  . Ride,  Cowboy,  Ride  (20).. 

. 9-  9 

5109.  OSpills  for  Thrills  (19).. 

6-15 

44 

8-  3 

5110.. Young  America  Flic**  (20) 

8-  3 

THE  COLOR  PARADE 

(New  Series) 

MO  Famous  Movie  Dogs  (10). 
5408 . . Mechanix  Illustrated 

. 7-27 

+ 

8-17 

No.  4 (10)  

. 6-29 

+ 

6-15 

5410.. Movie  Dog  Stars  (10).... 

8-17 

5409.  .Valley,  The  (8)  

. 7-20 

+ 

7-  6 

ELSA  MAXWELL’S  BLUE 

RIBBON 

COMEDIES 

6101  ..Riding  Into  Society  (19). 

. 9-  7 

8-31 

HOLLYWOOD  NOVELTY 

6301.  .Football  Thrills  (10) 

6303.  .Mexican  Jumping  Beans 

. 9-28 

+ 

8-31 

(10)  

.12-  7 

+ 

12-  7 

6302..  Shark  Hunting  (10) 

11-  9 

I.OONEY  TUNES  CARTOONS 

6601.  .Calling  Dr.  Porky  (7).... 

. 9-21 

5614.  .Chewin’  Bruin,  The  (7).. 

. 6-  8 

6-22 

5616  . . Patient  Porky  (7) 

5615.  .Porky’s  Baseball  Broad- 

. 8-24 

44 

8-24 

cast  (7)  

. 7-  6 

44 

7-  6 

6604 .. Porky’s  nired  Hand  (7). 

.11-30 

O 

12-28 

6602.  .Prehistoric  Porky  (7)  . . . . 

.10-12 

+ 

10-26 

6603.  .Sour  Pubs  (7) 

11-  2 

6605.  .Timid  Toreador  (7) 

5613.  .Y'ou  Ought  to  Be  in 

12-21 

+ 

5-18 

MELODY  MASTERS 

6503.  .Jan  Garber  & Orcht.  (10)., 
6502.. Joe  Reiehman  & Orch. 

11-23 

(10)  

10-26 

6501.. Matty  Malneck  & Band 

(10)  

. 9-14 

44 

8-24 

5509.  . Ozzie  Nelson  & Orch.  (10) 

6-29 

44 

7-  6 

6504 . . Skinnay  Ennis  & Orch  (10)  1-  4 

+ 

12-28 

5510.  .Woody  Herman  & Orch. 

(10)  7-27 

MERRIE  MELODIES 
(In  Technicolor) 

Bedtime  for  Sniffles  (7)  . 11-23 
.Ceiling  Hero  (7) 7-  6 

■ Circus  Today  (7) 6-22 

Elmer’s  Pet  Rabbit  (7) 1-4 

• Egg  Collector  (7) 7-20 

.Ghost  Wanted  (7) 8-10 

Good  Night  Elmer  (7) 10-26 

.Holiday  Highlight  (7) 10-12 

• Little  Blabbermouse  (7)..  7-  6 (4 

.Malibu  Beach  Party  (7)..  9-14 
.Of  Fox  and  Hounds  (7).. 12-  7 

• Shop,  Look  and  Listen 

(7)  

■ Stagefright  (7)  

.Wacky  Wild  Life  (7) 11-  9 -f 

Wild  Hare,  A (7) 7-27 

SPORTS  PARADE 
(Color) 

. California  Thoroughbreds 

(10)  

. . Diary  of  a Racing  Pigeon 
(10)  

6402..  Dogs  You  Seldom  See  (10).  11-  2 

6401. Fly  Fishing  (10) 9-21 

TECHNICOLOR 

6001..  Flag  of  Humanity  (20)...  10-19 
6002  . March  on  Marines  (20). 

5007..  Pony  Express  Days  (20)..  7-13  -( 

5008.  .Service  With  the  Colors 

(20)  8-31 

VITAPHONE  VARIETIES 
5706  . All  Girl  Revue  (10) 6-22 


6706 
5326 

5321 
6709 
5.323 
5.325 
6104 
6703 

5322 

6701 

6707 

6708 

6702 
6705 

5324 


6404. 

6403. 


. 6-22 

+ 

7-  6 

. 1-  4 
. 7-20 
. 8-10 
.10-26 

o 

12-28 

. 10-12 

-+- 

ii  9 

. 7-  6 

44 

8-17 

. 9-14 
.12-  7 

■±_ 

9-  7 

.12-21 

± 

12-28 

. 9-28 

+ 

11-  9 

.11-  9 
. 7-27 

+ 

12-14 

. 1-11 

12-28 

.11-30 

+ 

12-  7 

11-  2 

+ 

8-31 

. 9-21 

10-26 

.10-19 

+ 

10-26 

.12-14 

44 

12-28 

. 7-13 

+ 

7-  6 

Serials 


8-  7 + 


1180 

1120 

973 

12-7 

081 

7-27 

082 

9-21 

5781 

7-6 

5681 

12-  7 

8-  3 

5881 

5581 

COLUMBIA 

. . Deadwood  Dick  7-19 

15  Chapters.  Don  Doug- 
las, Loma  Gray. 

. . Green  Archer,  The 10-25 

15  Chapters.  Victor  Jory, 
REPUBLIC 

, .Adventures  of  Red  Ryder 
Don  “Red”  Barry. 

. . King  of  the  Royal 

Mounted  9-20 

12  Chapters.  Allan  Lane. 

. .Mysterious  Doctor  Satan  12-13 
15  Chapters.  Robert  Wilcox. 
UNIVERSAL 
. .Green  Hornet  Strikes 

Again  12-24 

15  Chapters.  Warren  Hull. 

Junior  G-Men  9-  1 

12  Chapters.  Dead  End 
Kids.  Little  Tough  Guys. 

. . Sky  Raiders  4-  8 

12  Chapters. 

.Winners  of  the  West 7-  2 

13  Chapters.  Dick  Fo- 
ran,  Anna  Nagel. 


7-19 

-H 

7-27 

10-25 

r, 

Hh 

11-  9 

6-15 

+ 

6-  8 

9-20 

44 

8-24 

12-13 

+ 

11-23 

+ 11-  9 

+ 8-3 


= 5 11 


78 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


The  Industry’s  Market  Plate  for  Purchase 
or  Sale  of  Equipment,  Theatres,  Service 


CLERRMG  HOUSE 


• Classified  Ads  10c  Per  Word,  Payable  in  Advance. 


Minimum  $1.00.  Display  Rates  on  Request.  • 


GENERAL  EQUIPMENT 


AIR  CONDITIONING 


HELP  WANTED 


GRAB  THIS  ONE.  Pair  Motiograph 
De  Luxe  Projectors,  Peerless  Lamps,  Lar- 
gen  Sound,  double  channel  amplifier, 
lenses,  new  Da-Lite  screen.  Cash  price, 
no  trade,  $650.00.  WESTERN  THEATRE 
SUPPLY,  Omaha,  Neb. 


NEW  EQUIPMENT 

ONE  KILOWATT  ARCS  with  14"  re- 
flectors, $195.00;  medium  intensity, 
$129.50;  rear  shutters  for  Simplex,  $59.50; 
Western  Electric  soundscreens,  $37.50; 
Gyro  Stabilizer  soundheads,  $195.00;  Jen- 
sen Tweeters,  $14.95.  Theatre  completely 
equipped  cheap.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUP- 
PLY CORP.,  NEW  YORK. 


USED  EQUIPMENT 

WORLD’S  Fair  Ticket  receptacles,  45" 
high,  worth  $50.00,  now  $6.95;  Soundheads, 
amplifiers,  $9.95;  sound  projectors,  $59.50; 
arcs,  rectifiers,  $24.50;  Powers  projectors, 
$39.50;  lenses,  $2.95.  S.  O.  S.,  636  Eleventh 
Avenue,  New  York. 


BUY  NOTHING— Until  you’ve  compared 
our  prices.  Guaranteed  savings  of  from 
10%  to  40%.  Write  us.  STAR  CINEMA 
SUPPLY  CO.,  440  West  45th  St.,  New 
York  City. 


TWO  SIMPLEX  MECHANISMS.  Double 
bearing,  rear  shutter,  rebuilt.  B-1304, 
Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City, 
Mo. 


CLOSE  OUTS.  Generators,  Lamps,  Pow- 
ers, Motiographs,  Simplex,  Lenses,  Sound 
Equipment.  SACRIFICE  PRICES.  Steb- 
bins,  1804  Wyandotte,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

MOVIE  EQUIPMENT  COMPLETE. 
Holmes  Projector,  35mm  Microphone 
Speaker,  Amplifier,  Screen,  etc.  Good  con- 
dition. Sacrifice.  B-1324,  Boxoffice,  4804 
E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

LATE  MODEL,  streamlined,  low  intens- 
ity lamps  and  rectifiers.  10  lU  inch  reflec- 
tors. Guaranteed  like  new.  Bargain.  Cozy, 
Gravette,  Ark. 


SEAT  RECOVERING 


ARTIFICIAL  LEATHER  MOLESKIN— 
81c  per  yd.;  Sateen,  60c  yd.  Six  seats 
from  two  yards.  Samples  on  request. 
Commercialeather,  116  Merrimac  St.,  Bos- 
ton. 

SPECIAL  OFFER.  Artificial  Leather. 
Moleskin — 75  cents  yard;  Sateen — 55  cents 
yard.  Samples  on  request.  Manko-Fabrics 
Co.,  53  West  47th  St.,  New  York  City. 


CONCESSIONS  WANTED 


WANTED  — Popcorn  or  confectionery 
concession  in  theatre  in  or  near  Kansas 
City.  Box  1325,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St., 
Kansas  City,  Mo. 


AIR  CONDITIONING  PLANS  and  spec- 
ifications made  to  order  for  your  theatre 
from  architects’  building  plans  or  dimen- 
sioned sketches.  A complete,  unbiased 
analysis  of  your  requirements.  My  rea- 
sonable engineering  fee  may  save  you  mis- 
takes and  money.  Gordon  H.  Simmons,  926 
N.  Cass  St.,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 


THEATRE  GAMES 

BINGO  CARDS 

$2.00  per  thousand.  Lots  of  ten  thou- 
sand or  over — 25%  discount.  Cash  with 
order.  Die  cut  numbered  1 to  100  or  1 to 
75.  S.  Klous,  Boxoffice,  9 Rockefeller 
Plaza,  New  York  City. 


FILMS  FOR  SALE 

BUSSA  FILM  EXCHANGE  now  offer- 
ing outstanding  roadshow  attractions  for 
outright  sale.  35mm  sound.  Any  type  of 
picture  you  wish.  Low  prices.  On  sex, 
gangster,  action  pictures,  serials,  westerns. 
Uncle  Tom’s  Cabin  in  sound,  $350.00. 
Friendship,  Ohio. 


THEATRE  TICKETS 

UNEXCELLED  QUALITY— 50  rolls  stock 
tickets,  $12.50;  20  rolls,  $5.80.  Special 

printed  roll  or  machine  tickets,  100,000, 
$14.90;  50,000,  $9.40;  20,000,  $6.10.  Ship- 
ping charges  paid  to  1,000  miles.  Cash 
with  order.  Kansas  City  Ticket  Co.,  Dept. 
B,  1717  Wyandotte  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


THEATRES  WANTED 


WANTED:  THEATRES  to  lease  out- 
right or  arrange  operating  agreement. 
Western  Pennsylvania  and  Eastern  Ohio. 
B-1322,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas 
City,  Mo. 


INDIVIDUAL  desires  to  lease  theatre  in 
Missouri  or  Kansas,  within  50  mile  radius 
of  Kansas  City.  State  size  of  house,  equip- 
ment, terms  and  full  particulars  in  first 
letter.  Box  1326,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th 
St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


OPERATORS  AND  MANAGERS.  Movie 
circuits.  ROSHON,  State  Theatre  Bldg., 
Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

THEATRE  MANAGER  WANTED— Have 
splendid  opening  for  young  wide  awake 
live  wire  theatre  manager  not  afraid  of 
work  and  capable  of  delivering.  State  all 
in  first  letter.  If  can  do  art  work,  book- 
keeping or  lobby  work.  Advise  salary,  etc. 
B-1321,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas 
City,  Mo. 


SALESMEN  WANTED 

WE  WANT  EXPERIENCED  SALES- 
MEN! Splendid  opportunity  to  make  good 
income  handling  Alexander  streamlined 
Coming  Attraction  PREVIEW  TRAILERS. 
Company  now  serving  thousands  of  inde- 
pendent and  chain  theatres.  Aggressive 
salesmen  will  be  given  good  territories. 
Write  to  R.  E.  Fulham,  Sales  Manager, 
Alexander  Preview  Company,  Colorado 
Springs,  Colorado. 


THEATRES  FOR  SALE 

TWO  THEATRES — Wisconsin  industrial 
city.  Fully  equipped.  Ten  year  lease. 
Drawing  population,  75,000.  Good  reason 
for  selling.  B-1316,  Boxoffice,  4804  E. 
9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

THEATRE — Good  spot  for  live  wire.  In 
best  part  of  Colorado.  Cash  or  terms. 
Drawing  population,  3,000.  Write:  War- 
ren’s, Inc.,  Stevensville,  Montana. 

FOR  SALE — Theatre  with  all  new  equip- 
ment. Right  on  Route  60  at  the  mouth 
of  Big  Clear  Creek.  Reason  for  selling: 
ill  health.  Will  sell  for  half  I have  in- 
vested. Must  be  seen  to  be  appreciated. 
Expect  to  sell  within  the  next  two  weeks. 
Do  not  wait  to  write.  G.  W.  Wiseman, 
Gauley  Bridge,  W.  Va. 


PRINTING 

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500  8y2"xll"  sheets  and  500  6%  envelopes, 
on  good  grade  white  bond  paper,  black  ink. 
Up  to  5 lines  of  type,  $4.95  postpaid.  Send 
copy  and  check  with  order.  Paul  Miller 
Printing  Co.,  4806  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City. 
Mo. 


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BOXOFFICE  ::  January  18,  1941 


• Address  copy  to  BOXOFFICE,  4804  E.  Ninth  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 
Forms  close  Monday  noon  preceding:  publication  date. 


"THIS  THING  CALLED  LOVE" 


ROSALIND  RUSSELL,  MELVYN  DOUGLAS 


A COLUMBIA  PICTURE 


NATIONAL  EDITION 


> 

The  Story  of  the  Week! 


PHILADELPHIA  STORY 


Box-office  history’s  in  the  making! 

Get  your  share! 

M-G-M’s  “Philadelphia  Story”  is  a miracle  picture! 
The  miracle  is  where  the  crowds  come  from! 

As  we  go  to  press  it’s  4th  Week  at  Radio  City  Music  Hall! 

And  there’s  talk  about  a 5th! 

A five-year  record  set!  An  all-time  record  coming! 
Did  you  hear  about  Los  Angeles? 

Three  first  runs  playing  it  simultaneously! 

Never  before!  Perhaps  never  again! 

Detroit  is  doing  228%  of  normal*  Terrific! 

And  what  about  the  smaller  towns,  you  ask? 

The  first  one  is  Scranton,  Pa*,  coal-mining  town! 

And  doing  “Boom-Town”  ( which  played  advanced  prices)  biz! 

Exploit  “Philadelphia  Story”! 

There’s  gold  in  every  foot  of  it! 


PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

ASSOCIATED 

PUBLICATIONS 

BEN  SHLYEN 

Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor-in-Chief 

William  G.  Formby, 
Editor;  Jesse  Shlyen, 
Managing  Editor; 
Louis  Rydell,  Adver- 
tising Manager;  Mor- 
ris SCHLOZMAN,  BUSi- 
nes  s Manager;  J. 
Harry  Toler,  Editor 
Modern  Theatre  Sec- 
tion; A.  J.  Stocker, 
Eastern  Represent- 
ative; Ivan  Spear, 
Western  Manager. 

Editorial  Offices:  9 

ROCKEFELLER  PLAZA,  NEW 

york  city;  Publication 
Offices:  4804  east  9th 
ST.,  KANSAS  CITY,  MO.,- 

Hollywood:  6404  Hol- 
lywood blvd.;  Chi- 
cago: 332  SOUTH  MICH- 
IGAN BLVD. 

January  25,  1941 

Vol.  38  No.  10 


” Dear  Senator  Wheeler ” 


THIS  is  one  time  the  industry  did  not  re- 
treat under  fire,  but  turned  its  face  squarely 
into  the  accusation  and  let  the  answering  facts 
fly.  The  very  circumstance,  so  often  desired 
but  less  often  forthcoming,  makes  the  Wheeler- 
Hays  correspondence  important.  We  would 
say  important  of  and  by  itself  and  set  aside 
in  its  own  solitary  compartment.  More  so, 
through  this  department's  telescope,  however, 
because  it  introduces  steel  to  the  celluloid 
backbone  and  because  it  long  has  been  the 
conviction  here  that  a mating  of  this  nature 
must  be  permanently  encouraged  if  the  in- 
dustry entertains  any  intentions  about  not  be- 
ing constantly  kicked  in  the  backside. 

The  facts,  of  course,  must  be  familiar  by 
now.  Senator  Wheeler,  in  the  press,  accused 
the  industry  of  carrying  forward  "a  violent 
propaganda  campaign  intending  to  incite  the 
American  people  to  a point  where  they  will 
become  involved  in  war."  Wrapping  the 
august  cloak  of  senatorial  high-and-mighty  a 
bit  closer  around  his  shoulders,  he  threatened 
regulatory  legislation  unless  more  impartiality 
rules  the  roost. 

Riding  hard  to  the  rescue  came  Will  H.  Hays. 
By  analysis  and  trailing  statistic,  he  entered 
the  denial,  drawing  upon  last  year's  product 
to  advance  this  rebuttal: 

"The  record  thus  indicates  that  sixteen  per 
cent  of  the  newsreel  clips  dealt  with  a variety 
of  people  and  current  events  related  to  na- 
tional defense;  only  2.4  per  cent  of  the  short 
subjects  and  five  per  cent  of  the  features  ap- 
proved during  1940  had  any  relation,  direct 
or  indirect,  to  European  politics  or  the  Euro- 
pean war,  and  no  appreciable  fraction  of  even 
these  small  percentages  of  the  total  can  be 
said  to  show  an  intention  to  incite  to  war." 

Other  Days  Are  Ahead 

THUS,  the  particular  incident  may  or  may 
not  become  a closed  chapter.  But  if  it  does, 
let  no  one  get  the  idea  others  will  not  crop 
up.  As  hysteria  mounts,  and  it  will,  the  in- 
dustry and  the  tremendous  influence  it  can 
imprint  on  the  public  consciousness  will  be 
submitted  to  close  scrutiny,  subjected  to  minute 
criticism.  If  these  are  not  war  times  in  Amer- 
ica, certainly  they  are  not  peace  times. 

Your  observer  had  something  to  observe 
about  this  last  fall  when  "Pastor  Hall"  was  ex- 
periencing censorship  pains  in  Chicago  and 
“The  Ramparts  We  Watch"  in  Pennsylvania. 


With  your  leave  and  because  he  feels  those 
earlier  observations  are  more  pertinent  now 
than  then,  he  repeats,  briefly: 

"It  is  not  at  all  unlikely  that,  as  it  grows 
older  and  as  world  events  take  on  more  acute- 
ness, this  will  become  a business  of  communi- 
cation, as  well  as  of  entertainment,  through 
celluloid.  There  are  current  signs.  Through 
the  documentary  method,  ‘The  Ramparts  We 
Watch'  talks  preparedness.  'Pastor  Hall'  in- 
flicts its  sledge-hammer  blows  on  the  Nazi 
scheme  of  things  . . . Both  are  clear-cut  ex- 
amples of  communicating  thoughts  and  facts. 
No  doubt,  there  will  be  other  occasions  con- 
cerning themselves  with  other  matters.  In  one 
form  or  another,  and  presumably  as  well  as 
hopefully,  through  the  entertainment  approach 
chiefly,  the  industry  may  determine  for  itself, 
or  by  suggestion  advanced,  to  take  a stand 
on  other  issues  facing  the  nation  . . . No  one 
can  foretell  the  direction  from  which  [opposi- 
tion] may  develop.  For  it's  a large  country  full 
of  divergent  points  of  view.  This  ought  to  be 
no  deterrent,  however.  There  is  no  valid  rea- 
son why  the  freedom  surrounding  the  news- 
paper and  the  radio  should  be  denied  mo- 
tion pictures. 

"This  business  and  the  medium  at  its  dis- 
posal can  have  a great  deal  to  say  in  the 
cause  of  general  good  without  relinquishing 
its  commercial  character.  It  must  feel  free 
and  be  free  to  do  so  in  reasoned,  well-matured 
terms,  bush  league  fuehrers  in  the  guise  of 
police  and  political  censors,  and  from  there 
on  up,  notwithstanding." 

The  Job  Is  Weighty 

WITH  this  go  no  unbridled  liberties,  no 
quick  leaps  at  conclusions,  no  assump- 
tions a cause  is  necessarily  fitting  because  it 
is  noisy.  The  responsibility  is  a heavy  one. 
It  is  also  one  which  the  industry  cannot  suc- 
cessfully dodge  or  sidetrack. 

Insofar  as  Wheeler's  charge  is  concerned, 
we  believe  the  industry  guiltless.  In  fact,  all 
that  the  industry  has  done,  thus  far  at  least, 
is  to  peer  into  the  mirror  held  aloft  by  the 
times  and  to  reflect  in  essentially  typical  terms 
the  events  it  sees  there.  Like  the  press.  Like 
th®  radio. 

If  it  is  a reflection  which  many 
find  unpleasant  and  alarming,  the 
fault  lies  with  the  times  and  not 
with  the  industry. 


iC 


WHEELER'S  REGULATION  THREAT 
LEAVES  WASHINGTON  UNRUFFLED 


International  Situation 
Against  Action;  Reply 
By  Para't  "Adequate" 

By  EARLE  A.  DYER 

Washington — Threats  of  Senator  Burton 
K.  Wheeler  of  Montana  to  seek  legisla- 
tion regulating  the  “propaganda  activi- 
ties” of  the  industry  are  not  being  taken 
very  seriously  in  Washington,  where  it  is 
conceded  that  in  view  of  the  serious  inter- 
national situation  it  is  essential  that  the 
American  people  be  aroused  to  a realiza- 
tion of  the  need  for  an  adequate  defense. 

At  the  same  time,  it  is  felt  in  some  quar- 
ters that  the  Senator’s  charges  were  ade- 
quately answered  by  A.  J.  Richard,  editor 
of  Paramount  News,  to  whom  Wheeler  had 
complained  of  “propaganda  for  war”  and 
who  asserted  that  no  such  purpose  exists. 

As  evidence  of  the  nonpartisan  stand  of 
the  newsreels,  Richard  recalled  that  Sena- 
tor Wheeler  was  extensively  featured  two 
years  ago  when  he  was  fighting  the  pro- 
posed packing  of  the  supreme  court  by  the 
President. 

Scores  March  of  Time 

Undeterred  by  lack  of  support,  however, 
Senator  Wheeler  lashed  out  anew  against 
film  war  propaganda,  telegraphing  to  Louis 
de  Rochemont,  editor  of  the  March  of 
Time,  a demand  that  his  picture  and  ut- 
terances be  immediately  stricken  from 
“Uncle  Sam,  the  Non-Belligerent,”  latest 
March  of  Time  release. 

“This  issue  of  March  of  Time  may  make 
some  of  your  war-mongering  friends  lyrical 
when  they  see  it,  but  it  is  a thinly  dis- 
guised effort  to  report  current  events,”  the 
Senator  declared  caustically.  “It  is  so  ob- 
viously war  propaganda  that  I doubt 
whether  even  you  will  advance  a hypo- 
critical plea  of  impartiality.” 

Says  Staiement  Was  Cut 

Discussing  the  matter,  the  senator  said 
he  had  been  given  to  understand  that  his 
statement  would  be  used  equally  with  those 
of  the  President  and  that  he  was  surprised 
to  find  they  had  been  cut  to  once  sentence. 

While  the  Montana  senator’s  honesty, 
ability  and  popularity  are  admitted  in  all 
quarters  of  the  Capitol,  as  an  isolationist 
he  has  embarked  on  a course  counter  to 
that  of  the  administration  and  while,  as 
chairman  of  the  interstate  commerce  com- 
mittee, he  might  be  able  to  jam  a control 
measure  into  the  Senate,  it  would  get  no 
further.  And  there  is  only  a possibility 
that  he  could  get  it  through  even  his  own 
committee. 

The  future  course  of  all  motion  picture 
legislation  is  highly  uncertain  at  the  mo- 
ment, so  far  as  the  Senate  is  concerned. 
Before  he  resigned  to  become  governor  of 
West  Virginia,  Senator  Matthew  M.  Neely 
re-submitted  his  block  booking  and  divorce 
bills,  but  whether  they  ever  receiye  con- 
sideration is  seen  as  depending,  in  the  first 
instance,  on  who  succeeds  him  in  the 
Senate. 

A Senate  committee  now  is  struggling 


New  Production  Index  Provides 
Data  on  Forthcoming  Films 

To  fill  an  increasing  need  for  such  data,  BOXOFFICE  with  this  issue  starts  the 
new  Production  Index,  a department  of  vital  information  on  forthcoming  feature  pic- 
tures. Arranged  alphabetically  by  companies,  the  service  provides  title,  type,  top  cast 
names,  synopsis,  director,  and  release  date  where  it  has  been  set.  The  new  Pro- 
duction Index  appears  on  the  last  two  pages  of  this  issue;  it  will  be  published  each 
fourth  week. 


=====  ■ - V 

Crackdown  on  Ticket  Evaders 
Seen  Behind  Gov't  Warnings 


with  an  unprecedented  situation  to  deter- 
mine who  shall  be  seated  as  Senator  from 
West  Virginia.  Within  a few  moments  of 
the  time  Senator  Neely  was  sworn  in  as 
governor,  retiring-Governor  Holt  appointed 
Clarence  A.  Martin,  former  president  of 
the  American  Bar  Ass’n,  to  the  Senate 
position,  and  Neely  himself  named  Dr. 
Joseph  Rosier,  West  Virginia  college  presi- 
dent, to  the  same  post. 

If  Senator  Neely’s  nominee  is  seated,  it 
is  possible  he  will  take  up  the  film  fight 
where  the  new  governor  left  off — and  since 
Neely  is  a former  member  of  the  Senate, 
his  candidate  is  seen  as  having  a good 
chance. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  Martin  gets  the 
seat,  it  is  unlikely  that  he  will  interest 
himself  in  his  predecessor’s  bills  and,  al- 
though it  is  possible  to  put  through  a mea- 
sure introduced  by  a member  no  longer 
sitting,  it  is  more  likely  that  the  bills  will 
be  left  to  collect  the  dust  that  filters  into 
the  archives  of  the  interstate  commerce 
committee. 

(t  ft 

Top  Hits  of  the  Week 

As  culled  from  first  run  reports  in 
the  sectional  editions  of  Boxoffice. 


Average  is  100  per  cent. 

Philadelphia  Story — 

Detroit  (dual)  175 

Flight  Command — 

Washington  175 

North  West  Mounted  Police — 

Washington  175 

Hudson’s  Bay — 

Washington  175 

Comrade  X — 

Pittsburgh  170 

This  Thing  Called  Love — 

San  Francisco  (dual)  160 

Gone  With  the  Wind — 

Washington  160 

VS  ■ ....  j 


Washington — Behind  the  warning  of  the 
bureau  of  internal  revenue  that  exhibitors 
must  show  admission  prices  on  their  tickets 
is  a Washington  belief  a drive  against  vio- 
lators is  in  the  offing.  Thus  far,  the  bu- 
reau merely  has  pointed  out  failure  to 
show  prices  subjects  theatremen  to  severe 
penalties  under  the  law,  but  there  are  in- 
dications a number  of  instances  of  unpriced 
tickets  have  been  unearthed,  most  of  them 
apparently  among  low  admission,  tax-ex- 
empt houses.  Recently,  Boxoffice  re- 
ported investigators  were  gathering  infor- 
mation throughout  the  middle  west. 

It  is  revealed  that  there  is  little  difficul- 
ty in  ascertaining  which  exhibitors  are 
buying  tickets  on  which  the  price  of  ad- 
mission is  not  printed*  Ticket  manufac- 
turers are  required  to  submit  reports  on  all 
orders,  containing  the  name  of  the  pur- 
chaser, the  number  of  tickets  ordered,  the 
opening  and  closing  serial  numbers,  and 
proofs  or  sample  copies  of  the  tickets  them- 
selves. 

Check  on  Compliance 

The  collector’s  office,  it  is  disclosed,  ex- 
amines such  tickets  to  verify  whether  they 
are  in  all  instances  printed  in  accordance 
with  the  law  and  regulations,  and  with  re- 
spect to  any  improperly  printed  tickets 
(including  those  marked  “tax  free”  but  as 
to  which  there  is  no  record  of  an  exemp- 
tion having  been  granted)  an  immediate 
investigation  is  made  to  ascertain  whether 
admission  tax  is  due  and,  if  so,  whether 
adequate  steps  have  been  taken  to  insure 
its  collection. 

All  taxable  tickets  are  required  to  show, 
in  addition  to  the  price,  the  tax  and  the 
tstal,  the  name  of  the  place  to  which  they 
are  valid  for  admission  and  must  either  be 
dated  or  serially  numbered.  Circuits  de- 
siring to  use  tickets  showing  the  name  of 
the  circuit  rather  than  the  name  of  each 

(Continued  on  page  16) 


4 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1841 


"IT  LOOKS  LIKE  A GOOD  YEAR, " 
SAYS  THE  EXHIBITOR  AT  LARGE 

((  ft 


Defense  Spending  Viewed 
As  Hypo  for  Majority 
Of  Nation  s Houses 

Some  indecisions?  Of  course.  Differences 
of  opinio7i?  Naturally. 

But  up  and  down  the  land,  cross-sec- 
tionally,  theatremen  are  reflecting  general 
optimism  of  a high  order  for  this  new 
year.  Boxoffice  correspondents  asked  why. 
The  following  dispatches  report  their  find- 
ings : 


(, 

A 

Milwaukee 

u 

V 

Milwaukee — Loath  to  make  any  long 
range  predictions,  exhibitors  here  are 
nevertheless  hopeful  that  1941  business, 
during  the  first  six  months  at  least,  will 
top  that  of  the  previous  year. 

They  base  this  hope  on  the  fact  busi- 
ness has  shown  an  upward  spurt  within 
the  last  week  and  in  the  light  of  rising 
payrolls  resulting  from  increased  defense 
orders  in  this  territory. 

In  November,  the  state  industrial  com- 
mission estimated,  93,200  wage  earners 
were  employed  in  manufacturing  indus- 
tries in  Milwaukee — 11,500  more  than  in 
July,  just  before  the  defense  program  or- 
ders began  to  flow,  and  almost  equal  to 
the  average  for  1937.  The  estimated  week- 
ly payroll  for  November  was  $2,863,000,  a 
$563,000  increase  over  the  July  average 
and  $59,000  better  than  the  estimate  for 
that  month  in  1937. 

The  average  weekly  wage  in  November, 
1940,  was  $31.05,  compared  to  $28.45  in 
July,  and  averages  of  $27.75  in  1939,  $25.76 
in  1938  and  $27.68  in  1937.  The  average 
number  of  hours  worked  weekly  in  No- 
vember was  40.9,  compared  to  38.3  in  July 
and  averages  of  38.4  in  1939,  35.9  in  1938 
and  38.5  in  1937. 

(t  ft 

San  Francisco 

i — — j 

San  Francisco — Undisguised  enthusiasm 
prevails  among  all  theatre  owners,  inde- 
pendents and  circuits,  in  this  territory. 
Even  the  most  conservative  feel  that  1941 
will  be  a great  year  for  the  business  in 
Northern  California. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  the  exhibitor  the 
decree  is  strictly  in  his  favor,  even  though 
it  may  put  him  to  work,  and  he  feels  the 
studios  will  rush  fine  pictures  through 
during  the  first  six  months  of  this  year 
because  of  it. 

When  anyone  mentions  the  nation’s  de- 
fense program  around  this  city,  he  is  re- 
warded with  broad  smiles.  This  territory 
is  getting  a large  hunk  of  the  government’s 
spending  program  and  it  takes  no  expert 
in  economics  to  know  that  money  poured 


Grainger  Reflects 
Optimistic  Trend 

By  JAMES  R.  GRAINGER 

President,  Republic  Pictures  Corp. 

New  York — In  my  opinion,  prospects 
for  the  industry  for  1941  were  never 
better. 

From  my  obser- 
vation of  the  en- 
tire country  dur- 
ing a recent  tour, 

I find  general 
business  condi- 
tions on  the  up- 
grade which 
means  a larger 
circulation 
of  money  which, 
in  turn,  is  bound 
to  help  theatre  at- 
tendance. 

The  public,  I believe,  are  entertain- 
ment-minded at  the  present  time  and, 
unless  some  unforeseen  circumstances 
arise,  I believe  1941  will  be  a banner 
year  in  our  industry. 

VS— J 

into  a city  will  circulate.  The  navy  yard 
at  Mare  Island  has  almost  doubled  its 
population  within  the  past  few  months. 
Bethlehem  Steel  has  increased  its  person- 
nel and  payroll  tremendously.  The  Pre- 
sidio, one  of  the  natien’s  largest  army 
posts,  and  within  the  San  Francisco  city 
limits,  is  constantly  building  barracks  to 
accommodate  the  influx  of  soldiers.  And 
the  big  army  camps  at  Fort  Ord  and  Mon- 
terey are  only  a three-hour  ride  by  car 
or  bus. 

The  first  two  weeks  of  1941  further  in- 
dicate theatres  may  anticipate  big  box- 


By  SIDNEY  R.  KENT 
President,  20 th  Century-Fox 

Hollywood — Prospects  for  our  indus- 
try for  1941  will  be  in  proportion  to  the 
Hollywood  studios. 

Tire  national  pay- 
roll will  be  increas- 
ing by  leaps  and 
bounds  which  means 
that  the  money  will 
be  in  circulation  if 
we  have  the  product 
to  attract  it. 

Our  industry  is 
getting  a lot  of  com- 
petition that  did  not 
exist  a few  years 
ago.  Literally  doz- 


Long-Range  Prospects 
For  Increase  Seen 
In  Most  Areas 

office.  The  attitude  of  business  is  this 
year  will  be  a banner  one.  The  Christmas 
season  was  about  35  per  cent  over  1939 
sales  for  the  same  period.  This  will  give 
some  idea  of  why  the  exhibitor  is  making 
big  plans. 

Take  another  look  at  the  defense  angle. 
The  Bethlehem  plant,  the  McCormack 
shipbuilding  yards,  and  the  Presidio  are 
within  the  city’s  metropolitan  area.  The 
Mare  Island  navy  yard,  Camp  Ord  and 
Camp  Monterey,  the  new  Oakland  navy 
airport,  Hamilton  Field,  Moffat  Field,  and 
the  proposed  navy  training  field  on  Trea- 
sure Island  are  close  enough  to  the  city  to 
provide  patrons  for  the  city’s  theatres.  This 
is  a huge  addition  to  the  city’s  populace. 
Ctf  course,  there  are  houses  near  these 
camps,  fields,  and  plants  but  it  is  an  ac- 
cepted fact  the  soldier,  sailor,  and  worker 
head  for  San  Francisco  when  the  oppor- 
tunity presents  itself. 

d ^ 

Cincinnati 

vs  —>J 

Cincinnati — Business  in  1941  is  on  the 
upgrade,  is  the  consensus  of  opinion  among 
Queen  City  independent  and  chain  opera- 
tors. 

“Business  in  defense  program  areas,” 
states  Maurice  White,  associated  with  Ike 
Libson  in  RKO  theatres  and  president  of 
United  Theatres,  “undoubtedly  will  in- 
crease. Business  in  theatres  experienced  a 
(Continued  on  page  24) 


ens  of  new  race  tracks  throughout  the 
country,  pin  ball  games,  bowling,  pro- 
fessional football  and  many  other  types 
of  attractions  not  in  existence  a few  years 
back,  are  competing  with  us  for  the  loose 
dollar  that  is  available  for  entertainment 
of  some  kind,  and  this  makes  the  going 
tougher  for  us  than  ever  before  even  with 
the  same  quality  of  product  we  have  had 
in  the  past. 

In  my  opinion,  the  biggest  problem  the 
industry  has  to  solve  at  the  boxoffice  is 
this — how  to  get  in  the  youth  of  the  coun- 
try between  14  and  21  years  of  age.  I 
think  that  is  where  we  are  definitely  weak. 

All  of  these  things  put  together  as  prob- 
lems of  various  kinds  can  only  be  solved 
in  one  way.  That  is,  product. 


Says  It's  a Case  of  Product; 
Sees  Need  to  Attract  Youth 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


5 


Associated  Publications 


Editorial  Offices:  9 Rockefeller  Plaza,  New 
York  City.  Louis  Rydell,  Advertising  Man- 
ager. Wm.  Ornstein,  Eastern  Editor.  Tele- 
phone Columbus  5-6370,  5-6371,  5-6372.  Cable 
address:  "BOXOFFICE,  New  York.” 

Western  Offices:  6404  Hollywood  Blvd.,  Hol- 
wood,  Calif.  Ivan  Spear,  Manager.  Tele- 
phone Gladstone  1186. 

Publication  Offices:  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kan- 
sas City,  Mo.  Morris  Schlozman,  Business 
Manager.  Telephone  Chestnut  7777. 

Other  Associated  Publications:  BOXOFFICE 
BAROMETER.  BOXOFFICE  RECORDS, 
BOXOFFICE  PICTURE  GUIDE,  published 
annually:  THE  MODERN  THEATRE,  pub- 
lished monthly  as  a section  of  BOXOFFICE. 

ALBANY — 21-23  Walter  Ave.,  M.  Berrigan. 
ATLANTA — 183  Walton  St.,  Helen  Hardy. 
JAckson  5331. 

BOSTON — 14  Piedmont  St.,  Brad  Angler, 
Liberty  9305. 

BUFFALO — Buffalo  Theatre,  G.  C.  Maurer. 
CHARLOTTE — 216  W.  4th,  Pauline  Griffith. 
CHICAGO — 332  S.  Michigan  Blvd.,  Hal 
Tate.  Wabash  4575. 

CINCINNATI — 127  Tremont  St.,  Ft.  Thomas, 
Ky.,  Clara  Hyde.  Highland  1657. 
CLEVELAND — 12805  Cedar  Road,  Cleveland 
Heights,  Elsie  Loeb.  Fairmount  0046. 
DALLAS— 408  S.  Harwood,  V.  W.  Crisp, 
Southwestern  editor.  Telephone  7-3553. 
DENVER — 319  S.  Clarkson  St„  J.  A.  Rose. 

Telephone  Spruce  0318. 

DES  MOINES — The  Colonade,  Rene  Clayton. 
DETROIT — 424  Book  Bldg.,  H.  F.  Reves. 

Telephone  Cadillac  9085. 

HOLLYWOOD — 6404  Hollywood  Bvd.,  Ivan 
Spear,  Western  editor.  GLadstone  1186. 
INDIANAPOLIS — 42  West  11th  St.,  Kol- 
man  Hirschman. 

KANSAS  CITY — 4804  East  Ninth  St.,  Jesse 
Shlyen,  Midwest  editor.  CHestnut  7777. 
LITTLE  ROCK — P.  O.  Box  253,  Lynn  Hub- 
bard. 3-0156. 

MEMPHIS — 399  So.  2nd  St.,  Carolyne  Miller. 
MILWAUKEE — 210  East  Michigan  St.,  H. 

C.  Brunner.  Kilbourn  6670-J. 
MINNEAPOLIS — Essex  Bldg.,  Maurice  Wolff. 
NEW  HAVEN — 42  Church  St.,  Suite  915, 
Gertrude  Pearson.  6-4149. 

NEW  ORLEANS — 1136  Behrman  Ave.,  J.  W. 
Leigh. 

NEW  YORK  CITY — 9 Rockefeller  Plaza, 
William  Ornstein,  Eastern  editor. 
OKLAHOMA  CITY— Box  4547.  E.  W.  Fair. 
OMAHA — 5640  Woolworth.  Monte  Davis. 
PHILADELPHIA— 426  Pine  St.,  Joseph 

Shaltz.  WALnut  0860. 

PITTSBURGH — 1701  Blvd.  of  the  Allies,  R. 

F.  Klingensmith.  ATlantic  4858. 
PORTLAND,  ORE. — '925  N.  W.  19th  St., 
Harold  Donner.  Broadway  0136. 

ST.  LOUIS — 5149  Rosa  Ave.,  David  F.  Bar- 
rett. Flanders  3727. 

SALT  LAKE  CITY — 167  South  State  St., 
Viola  B.  Hutton.  WAsatch  165. 

SAN  FRANCISCO — 1095  Market  St.,  A1 
Scott.  Market  6580. 

SEATTLE — 2418  Second  Ave.,  Joe  Cooper. 
Seneca  2460. 

WASHINGTON — 1426  G St.,  Earle  A.  Dyer. 

IN  CANADA 

CALGARY- — The  Albertan,  Wm.  Campbell. 
HAMILTON — 20  Holton,  N„  Hugh  Millar. 
LONDON — 97  Adelaide  St.,  S.,  John  Gore. 
MONTREAL— 4330  Wilson  Ave.,  N.  D.  G., 
Roy  Carmichael.  Walnut  6519. 

REGINA — The  Leader-Post.  Bruce  Peacock. 
ST.  JOHN — 161  Princess  St.  D.  Fetherston. 
TORONTO — 242  Millwood.  Milton  Galbraith. 
VANCOUVER — 615  Hastings.,  C.  P.  Rutty. 
VICTORIA — 434  Quebec  St.,  Tom  Merriman. 
WINNIPEG — 709  Selkirk  Ave.,  Ben  Lepkin. 


As  Viewed  by  Red  Kann 


IN  THIS  space  a few  issues  back,  the 
young  reviewers  of  the  National 
Board  of  Review  had  their  story  told. 
The  conclusion  then  appeared  to  be 
that  these  boys  and  girls,  ages  rang- 
ing from  eight  to  eighteen,  are  (1)  in- 
dividuals with  definite  likes  and  dis- 
likes; (2)  not  part  of  tomorrow's,  but 
of  today's,  audience  and  (3)  not  a seg- 
regated section  of  that  audience  de- 
manding entertainment  rolling  off  their 
own  assembly  line. 

Four  of  them,  presumably  typical, 
went  on  the  air  Wednesday  afternoon 
to  explain  what  kinds  of  films  children 
think  children  prefer  to  see.  Some  of 
their  viewpoints  struck  us  as  arresting, 
and  who  knows  but  there  lurks  a les- 
son in  them  as  well.  Among  others, 
it  seems  these  cross-sectional  ideas 
hold  root: 

"Forty  per  cent  of  Hollywood's  bon- 
ers could  be  eliminated  if  they  would 
listen  to  us. 

"Gangster  pictures  are  all  right,  if 
they're  funny.  Having  the  cops  win  all 
the  time,  though,  becomes  monot- 
onous," insisting  even  a gangster  de- 
serves an  even  break.  Is  the  Hays 
office  listening? 

Love  pictures  are  variously  defined 
as  "moosh,  lovey-dovey  and  silly." 
Torrid  love  scenes  on  sofas  embarrass. 
Necking  is  bad  enough  in  the  park, 
but  in  a closeup,  "well,  it's  just  not 
nice." 

Child  performers  under  ten  get  razz- 
berries.  Over  ten,  they  are  expected  to 
act  their  age. 

Accuracy  is  apparently  a sort  of 
phobia.  They  know  how  many  stars 
ought  to  be  in  the  flag,  which  way  to 
bite  the  dust  after  a shot,  the  kind  of 
trees  that  flourish  in  southern  New 
Mexico. 

At  any  rate,  the  broadcast  appealed 
to  the  journalistic  appetite  of  the  New 
York  "World-Telegram."  Floyd  Taylor, 
assigned  to  interview  the  youthful 
broadcasters,  asked  one  of  them,  Dan- 
iel Feeley,  his  candid  opinion  of  Hedy 
Lamarr.  Daring  to  tread  where  old- 
sters could  not  possibly  display  the 
courage,  this  twelve-year-old  replied: 

"I  think  she  stinks  as  an  actress  and 
I wouldn't  call  her  any  too  beautiful." 

Plan  From  Detroit 

WALTER  R.  Stebbins,  manager  of 
the  Film  Exchange  Building,  De- 
troit, suggests  a one-reel  synopsis  of 
each  in-block  film  as  a way  out  for 


the  exhibitor.  He  would  have  it  show 
"the  essential  nature  of  the  film"  check- 
ed over  by  "a  board  of  some  type  . . . 
to  assure  essential  accuracy  in  sum- 
mation." 

Let's  get  out  the  spyglass.  Stebbins 
thinks  the  idea  would  be  permissible 
under  the  decree.  That  is  question- 
able; seemingly,  he  forgets  the  whole 
film,  after  completion,  must  be  shown, 
although  it  is  true  the  exhibitor  doesn't 
have  to  see  it.  But  if  we  were  in  the 
exhibition  business,  we  would  be  de- 
cidedly hesitant  about  attempting  to 
figure  out  values  on  the  basis  of  one- 
reel  boildown.  And,  if  we  were  in  the 
distributing  business,  what  a field  day 
this  one-reeler  plan  would  provide. 
Those  studio  editors  are  clever  birds. 

Amusing,  however,  is  Stebbins'  ob- 
servation: "Exhibitors  don't  like  to  keep 
on  looking  at  pictures — it  is  work,  after 
all."  If  it  is  work  for  the  exhibitor,  what 
is  it  for  the  audience? 

Please  advise. 

"Dear  Mr,  President" 

I T WOULD  be  pleasant  to  contem- 
I plate  it.  But  it  wouldn't  make  very 
much  sense. 

Northwest  Allied  has  written  the 
President  asking  him  to  schedule  fu- 
ture fireside  chats  for  Monday,  not  Sun- 
day, evening  because  "The  Champ" 
continues  a drawing  card  that  noth- 
ing in  Hollywood  can  approach  and 
theatres,  therefore,  are  very  shy  on 
customers  when  he  takes  to  the  air 
waves.  It  cuts  into  the  government's 
taxes,  too. 

We  like  to  think  of  this  as  a big 
and  vital  business.  And  so  it  is.  But 
the  President's  job  is  to  run  a business 
that  represents  all  the  people  alongside 
of  whom  Northwest  Allied  and  its  con- 
cern over  Sunday  night  grosses  loom 
as  significantly  as  a lonely  ripple  on 
the  ocean. 

Besides  that.  If  FDR  did  switch  from 
Sunday  to  Monday,  he  probably  would 
have  Cecil  B.  DeMille  protesting  on 
behalf  of  Lux  Theatre  of  the  Air. 

Steam  Letting 

THAT  sales  executive  whose  name 
frequently  gets  into  print,  must  be 
violently  dissatisfied  with  his  current 
post.  He  is  registering  his  disaffection 
so  widely  that  the  secret  is  rapidly  be- 
coming wide  open. 

So  wide  open  it  even  makes  this 
column. 


6 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


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Para ’t  Realigns  Sales, 
Gets  Set  for  5-Blocks 


Up  Another  Notch — 

He  is  understood  to  have  wanted  it  for 
a long  time.  Now  Charles  M.  Reagan, 
western  sales  manager  for  Paramount, 
becomes  assistant  general  sales  man- 
ager, a newly-created  post  and  part  of 
a rearrangement  preparatory  to  opera- 
tions under  the  decree. 


Morris  Joseph  Retires 
With  Universal  Pension 

New  York — With  the  retirement  of 
Morris  Joseph  as  New  Haven  branch  man- 
ager, Universal  for  the  first  time  in  its 
history  has  awarded  a pension  to  an  em- 
ploye. In  the  business  29  years,  Joseph 
spent  26  of  them  with  Universal.  He  plans 
to  leave  for  Miami  shortly. 

Succeeding  Joseph  is  John  Pavone,  for- 
merly Warner  manager  in  the  same  city 
and  who  was  special  representative  at 
New  Haven  until  Joseph’s  retirement. 


Chicago — Re-gearing  its  sales  machinery 
with  both  eyes  planted  on  operations  un- 
der the  decree,  Neil  P.  Agnew,  vice-presi- 
dent and  general  manager,  this  week  ef- 
fected these  Paramount  changes: 

1 —  Named  Charles  M.  Reagan,  current 
western  sales  manager,  to  a newly-created 
post  of  assistant  general  sales  manager. 

2 —  Elevated  George  A.  Smith,  now  west 
coast  district  manager,  to  Reagan’s  for- 
mer post  and  expanded  that  division  to 
embrace  six  southern  and  southwestern 
exchanges. 

3 —  Eliminated  the  southern  division,  un- 
til now  headed  by  Oscar  A.  Morgan  and 
named  the  latter  short  subjects  and  Para- 
mount News  sales  manager,  thereby  indi- 
cating a concentration  in  1941-42  on  those 
types  of  releases. 

These  shifts,  and  others,  were  divulged 
at  the  company’s  sales  meeting  which  was 
held  at  the  Edgewater  Beach  Hotel  mid- 
week and  which  was  climaxed  by  a tes- 
timonial dinner  arranged  by  Paramount’s 
theatre  partners  for  Barney  Balaban  at 
the  same  hotel  Thursday  evening. 

The  reshuffle,  while  it  reduced  national 
divisions  from  three  to  two,  at  the  same 
time  stepped  up  sales  districts  from  eight 
to  ten.  Joseph  J.  Unger,  eastern  divisional 
and  Canadian  sales  manager,  will  con- 
tinue in  that  post.  Several  of  his  districts, 
however,  undergo  realignment.  William 
Erbb,  New  England  district  manager  hand- 
ling Boston  and  New  Haven,  now  gets, 
additionally,  Albany  and  Buffalo.  Earl 
Sweigert,  Philadelphia  branch  manager, 
gets  a new  district  composed  of  Phila- 
delphia, Washington  and  Pittsburgh.  Mil- 
ton  S.  Kusell  will  handle  New  York,  New 


Jersey  and  Brooklyn,  giving  up  Albany 
and  Buffalo  to  Erbb  and  Philadelphia  and 
Washington  to  Sweigert.  Harry  Goldstein, 
district  manager  out  of  Pittsburgh,  will 
continue  to  handle  Cincinnati  and  Cleve- 
land as  in  the  past,  but  relinquishes  Pitts- 
burgh to  Sweigert  and  takes  on  Detroit 
and  Indianapolis  from  Allen  Usher,  dis- 
trict manager  in  Chicago.  Erbb,  Sweigert, 
Kusell  and  Goldstein  are  responsible  to 
Unger. 

Smith  gets  the  remaining  six  districts. 
Usher  is  to  supervise  Chicago  and  Milwau- 
kee as  in  the  past  but  takes  on  Minne- 
apolis from  R.  C.  LiBeau.  The  latter  will 
handle  Kansas  City,  St.  Louis  and  Des 
Moines,  encompassed  in  his  current  dis- 
trict, but  gives  up  Omaha  to  a new  dis- 
trict which  will  include  Denver  and  Salt 
Lake  City,  formerly  in  Smith’s  territory. 
No  manager  has  been  named  for  this  dis- 
trict for  which  headquarters  will  be  cen- 
tered in  Denver.  Hugh  Braly,  currently 
district  manager  out  of  Dallas,  transfers 
to  the  coast  where  he  will  handle  Los 
Angeles,  San  Francisco,  Portland  and  Se- 
attle, all  exchanges  in  Smith’s  old  area. 
Hugh  Owen  has  resigned  a district  man- 
agership with  UA  in  the  south  to  join 
Paramount  in  charge  of  Dallas,  Oklahoma 
City  and  Memphis,  which  is  Braly’s  old 
territory.  John  F.  Kirby,  former  branch 
manager  at  Atlanta,  has  been  elevated  to 
a district  composed  of  Atlanta,  Charlotte 
and  New  Orleans,  succeeding  Harold  F. 
Wilkes,  whose  temporary  retirement  is  dic- 
tated by  illness.  E.  B.  Price,  former  New 
Orleans  branch  manager,  becomes  Atlan- 
ta manager  and,  in  turn,  is  succeeded  in 
(Continued  on  page  22) 


Some  of  the  Principals  in  Sales  Realignment  at  Paramount — 

George  A.  Smith,  (left)  former  Pacific  Coast  district  manager,  becomes  western  sales  manager,  succeeding  Charles  M.  Rea- 
gan who,  in  turn,  becomes  assistant  general  sales  manager.  Smith’s  territory  will  embrace  the  six  south  and  southwestern 
exchanges  formerly  handled  through  the  southern  division  which  is  to  be  disbanded.  Oscar  A.  Morgan  (center),  former 
southern  sales  manager,  will  hayidle  national  sales  on  shorts  and  Paramount  News.  Del  Goodman  (right) , for  years  far  east- 
ern representative  for  20 th  Century-Fox,  is  designated  general  manager  for  Canada,  succeeding  Morris  A.  Milligan,  resigned. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


13 


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Abbott  and  Costello,  sensational  comics 
known  to  millions  of  radio  and  stage  fans ! 


Lou 

ABBOTT  * COSTELLO 


with 


LEE  BOWMAN 
ALAN  CURTIS 


JANE  FRAZEE  • NAT  PENDLETON  • SAMUEL  S.  HINDS 

and 


The  ANDREWS  SISTERS 


jVi'fh  the  world’s  champion  jitter-bugs 

land  a bevy  of  Hollywood’s  scintillating  lovelies 
| JEANNA  KELLY  • NELL  O’DAY  • NINA  ORLA  • KAY  LESLIE 
DOROTHY  DARRELL  • MARIA  MONTEZ  • NELLA  WALKER 


Directed  by  ARTHUR  LUBIN 
Associate  Producer,  ALEX  GOTTLIEB 


0~“  ^ 


16  Tribunal  Clerks  Lined  Up 

New  York — AAA  is  set  in  16  of  the  31  clerks  who  will  function  on  its  arbi- 
tration tribunals.  Here  they  are: 


City 

Type 

Clerk 

Address 

Dallas 

A 

C.  C.  Williams 

Fidelity  Building 

Denver  

C 

J.  B.  Milton 

Des  Moines  

C 

Bruce  Wilson 

Walnut  Building 

Detroit  

A 

Irvin  Yackness 

Indianapolis  

C 

Lloyd  Littell 

Underwriters  Building 

Kansas  City  

B 

J.  H.  Brink 

Los  Angeles  

A 

Walter  H.  Elliot 

Van  Nuys  Building 

Milwaukee  

B 

J.  L.  Loell 

Minneapolis  

A 

Sheldon  Ostroot 

Oklahoma  City  .... 

C 

Richard  Romang 

Omaha 

C 

Byron  Pulis 

Woodmen  of  World 

Portland 

c 

J.  P.  Nelson 

Pittock  Building 

St.  Louis  

B 

C.  W.  Hudson 

Cotton  Belt  Building 

Salt  Lake  City 

C 

Roy  Backman 

Cont’l  Bank  Building 

San  Francisco  

A 

Seattle  

B 

Joe  J.  Monahan 

Not  designated  yet 

How  to  find  the  clerks  and  the  tribunals  at  each  of  these  addresses?  Each 
office  will  be  listed  as  Motion  Picture  Tribunal  of  the  American  Arbitration  Ass’n. 
The  list  reveals  five  “A”  tribunals,  meaning  each  will  have  one  clerk  and  one  sec- 
retary of  higher  salary  background.  There  are  four  in  the  “B”  division  thus  far, 
meaning  each  will  also  have  one  clerk  and  one  secretary,  but  in  a lower  salary 
bracket.  There  are  seven  in  “C,”  meaning  each  will  have  one  clerk,  no  secretary. 

* ■ - V 


Tribunal  Clerks  lo 
Arbilralion  Schools 

New  York — The  second  session  of 
schooling  film  tribunal  clerks  in  the  work- 
ings of  arbitration  as  administered  by  the 
American  Arbitration  Ass’n  gets  under  way 
January  27  for  three  days.  It  trails  a 
similar  three-day  session  ended  January 
24  at  the  AAA’s  headquarters  here  for 
the  first  16  clerks  selected.  The  15  clerks 
that  begin  their  schooling  Monday  make 
up  the  31  to  be  in  charge  of  all  tribunals 
in  the  country. 

Last  week’s  program,  which  will  proba- 
bly be  followed  again,  was  highlighted 
with  addresses  by  James  V.  Hayes  and 
Robert  Sher,  department  of  justice  “trou- 
ble shooter”  and  consent  decree  expert, 
respectively,  on  aims  and  purposes  of  the 
decree.  The  group  also  heard  talks  by 
C.  V.  Whitney  of  the  administrative  com- 
mittee and  Frances  Kellor,  AAA  first  vice- 
president.  J.  Noble  Braden,  executive  di- 
rector of  the  film  arbitration  system,  and 
department  staff  heads  also  spoke  on  per- 
tinent operations.  Other  topics,  such  as 
handling  financial  forms  and  aspects  of 
publicity  and  public  relations  were  taken 
up  by  Dr.  Walter  Derenberg,  legal  re- 
search director  of  the  film  arbitration 
system,  and  Lawrence  Stessin,  publicity 
director. 

The  final  meeting  was  tui’ned  over  to 
a mock  arbitration  hearing,  in  which  typi- 
cal operations  in  the  administration  of 
AAA  machinery  in  respect  to  film  com- 
plaints were  pursued,  followed  by  an  open 
forum  in  which  the  clerks  and  AAA  per- 
sonnel exchanged  questions  and  answers. 

As  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  the  clerks 
are  from  no  particular  business  sphere, 
but  are,  in  the  main,  either  credit  men 
or  those  who  have  had  past  experience 
in  handling  contracts  or  have  held  busi- 
ness management  posts.  While  the  de- 
cree specifies  arbitrators  are  not  to  have 
had  any  past  or  present  association,  di- 
rectly or  indirectly,  with  the  industry  no 
such  stipulation  covers  tribunal  clerks. 
However,  the  AAA  has  automatically  ex- 
tended the  same  provisions  that  apply 
to  arbitrators  to  cover  clerks. 


Flu  Detains  Hays 

New  York — Detained  by  an  attack  of 
the  flu.  Will  H.  Hays  was  slated  to  leave 
for  the  coast  the  latter  part  of  the  week. 
He  had  planned  to  attend  the  inaugural 
ceremonies  in  Washington,  but  was  unable 
to  make  the  trip. 


May  Crack  Down  on 
Ticket  Tax  Evaders 

(Continued  from  page  4) 
individual  theatre  must  secure  written  per- 
mission from  the  bureau,  granted  only 
after  submission  of  a report  showing  the 
number  of  theatres  operated,  whether 
tickets  are  sold  at  all  of  the  houses  through 
ticket  vending  machines  which  record  the 
aumber  of  tickets  sold,  and  the  nature  of 
the  records  kept  at  the  home  office  and  at 
each  theatre. 

Tickets  sold  at  reduced  rates  must  show 
the  regular  established  price  of  admission 
and  also  the  reduced  price,  the  tax  due 
and  the  total.  The  tax  on  the  reduced 
price  is  based  on  the  regular  established 
price,  except  in  the  case  of  legitimate  thea- 
tres showing  a spoken  play  of  not  less  than 
one  hour  45  minutes  duration. 

The  bureau’s  explanation  is  issued  os- 
tensibly for  the  benefit  of  ticket  printers 
who  are  “confused”  concerning  the  re- 
quirements, but  is  viewed  as  direct  notice 
to  theatres  that  they  must  comply  strictly 
with  the  law  and  regulations. 

“In  accordance  with  section  1702  of  the 
internal  revenue  code,  the  price  at  which 
every  admission  ticket  or  card  is  sold  must 


Warner  Profit  Rises 
Almost  100  Per  Cent 

New  York — Warner  net  for  the  first 
quarter  of  its  new  fiscal  year,  the  13  weeks 
ending  November  30,  1940,  reflects  a gain 
of  $634,187  or  slightly  under  100  per  cent 
over  the  corresponding  period  last  year. 
The  current  statement  shows  $1,276,316  as 
compared  with  $642,129.  This  is  equiva- 
lent to  earnings  of  $12.81  per  preferred 
share  and  places  dividends  in  arrears  at 
December  1 of  $33.6875  per  share.  After 
allowing  for  preferred  dividends,  the  not  is 
equivalent  to  earnings  of  31  cents  per 
common  share  on  the  3,701,090  shares  out- 
standing November  30,  but  after  deducting 
shares  held  in  the  treasury. 


be  conspicuously  and  indelibly  printed, 
stamped  or  written  on  that  part  of  the 
ticket  which  is  to  be  taken  up  by  the  man- 
agement,” it  was  stated.  “This  require- 
ment is  applicable  to  tickets  which  are  to 
be  sold  for  less  than  21  cents  as  well  as 
those  selling  for  21  cents  or  more. 

“Despite  this  requirement  of  the  law, 
ticket  printers  are  sometimes  requested  to 
print  tickets  which  do  not  show  the  price, 
but  which  have  a space  in  which  the  price 
is  to  be  later  stamped  or  written  by  the 
theatre  or  other  place  before  the  tickets 
are  sold.  Ticket  printers,  as  such,  do  not 
incur  liability  to  any  penalty  by  printing 
such  tickets.  However,  in  view  of  the  fact 
that  the  theatre  or  other  place  will  incur 
liability  to  the  penalties  provided  by  sec- 
tion 1703  of  the  internal  revenue  code  if 
the  price  is  not  printed,  stamped  or  writ- 
ten on  the  tickets  at  the  time  they  are 
sold,  the  practice  of  printing  tickets  with- 
out the  price  is  regarded  by  the  bureau  as 
likely  to  result  in  violations  of  the  law  by 
proprietors  of  places  of  admission  and 
wherever  possible  orders  for  such  tickets 
should  be  discouraged  by  the  printer.” 


ft  - ' ^ 

Into  the  Charmed  Circle 

New  York — An  all-time,  all-kind  of  record  for  the  first  25  days  of  “The 
Philadelphia  Story”  at  Radio  City  Music  Hall  is  553,537  paid  admissions. 

The  film  began  its  fifth  week  Thursday  and  thereby  joined  the  charmed  circle 
of  “Snow  White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs”  and  “Rebecca,”  the  only  previous  attrac- 
tions to  run  that  long  in  the  theatre’s  eight-year  history.  “Rebecca,”  in  fact,  went 
six  weeks,  which,  on  the  basis  of  an  exceptionally  strong  $90,000  for  the  fourth 
week  of  “Story”  may  find  the  latter  holding  it  to  a tie  for  longest  run. 

Statisticians  are  willing  to  bet  “Story”  will  also  top  the  two  previous  long  run 
holders  for  a five-week  figure.  They  are  offering  a potential  $500,000  gross  for  five 
weeks  of  “Story,”  which  would  be  some  $10,000  over  “Snow  White”  and  “Rebecca” 
for  the  same  period.  “Snow  White”  attendance  for  the  first  25  days  was  544,519, 
while  “Rebecca”  pulled  504,415. 

v*  ■ - ^ 


16 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


WHAT  AFTER  THE  DECREE?  U.  S. 
SAYS  THE ATREMEN HOLD  ANSWER 


Warns  Against  Attempts 
To  Coerce  Exhibitors; 

Raps  Reprisal  Fear 

Washington — The  kind  of  business  this 
will  be  after  the  three-year  trial  period 
of  the  decree  has  run  out  by  November 
20,  1943,  is  largely  in  the  hands  of  the 
exhibitors  of  the  nation  and  the  degree 
of  cooperation  they  evidence  in  the  direc- 
tion of  making  the  consent  work  in  that 
period,  the  department  of  justice  believes. 

Without  publicly  so  stating,  the  depart- 
ment is  taking  cognizance  of  fears  of  re- 
prisals which  many  exhibitors  entertain 
by  declaring  it  will  not  tolerate  such  tac- 
tics where  they  become  known  and  by 
seeking  to  eliminate  them  in  inviting  ex- 
hibitors to  file  confidential  complaints  for 
private  investigation.  As  specifically  set 
forth  in  the  decree  text,  a close  watch  on 
operations  will  be  made  by  a special  unit 
within  the  department  under  Robert  L. 
Wright  who  conducted  pre-trial  examina- 
tions in  New  York. 

Eye  Acquisitions 

But  indicating  disturbances  already  are 
reverberating  is  that  portion  of  the  jus- 
tice department’s  formal  statement  which 
discloses  theatre  acquisitions  have  been 
undertaken  since  the  New  York  decree  was 
entered  “which  are  apparently  intended 
to  eliminate  the  possibility  of  the  inde- 
pendent theatres’  securing  relief  that  the 
decree  was  intended  to  provide.”  With 
this,  and  even  before  the  blocks  of  five 
selling  and  arbitration  are  effective,  goes 
a warning  that,  while  action  on  acquisi- 
tion is  limited  by  the  decree,  the  depart- 
ment is  prepared  to  proceed  under  the 
Sherman  Act  to  enjoin  or  divest  such  ac- 
quisitions when  undertaken  for  the  pur- 
pose and  effect  of  suppressing  or  elimi- 
nating competition.  Precisely  what  acqui- 
sitions, actual  or  contemplated,  the  de- 
partment is  hitting  at  has  not  been  di- 
vulged. At  any  rate,  enforcements  of  the 
decrees  entered  against  Pox  West  Coast  in 
Los  Angeles  November  27  and  against  B&K 
in  Chicago  December  10  will  be  handled 
by  Wright’s  unit  along  with  the  overall 
New  York  consent. 

Prefer  to  Investigate  Singly 

It  is  also  made  clear  that  the  depart- 
ment prefers  to  investigate  complaints  as 
they  arise  and  will  not  favor  having  them 
“cleared”  through  exhibitor  organizations, 
coming  to  Washington  in  bunches. 

But  it  gives  to  exhibitors  assurance  that 
they  will  be  protected  against  reprisals  in 
cases  where  they  filed  arbitration  com- 
plaints rather  than  accept  settlements 
negotiated  without  resort  to  the  decree  ma- 
chinery. Contempt  actions  face  any  per- 
son who  attempts  to  prevent  an  exhibitor 
from  exercising  any  of  his  rights  under  the 
decree,  it  is  made  clear. 

To  effectuate  the  purposes  of  the  gov- 
ernment’s suit  and  the  decree,  it  is  stressed, 


Jenkins  on  Coast  With 
Distribution  Handbook 


Hollywood  — Felix  A.  Jenkins,  general 
counsel  of  20th-Fox,  arrived  here  from 
New  York  the  latter  part  of  the  week  with 
a tentative  draft  of  his  handbook  on  dis- 
tribution provisions  of  the  consent  decree. 
The  printed  brochure  is  34  pages  and  is 
being  held  up  until  Sidney  R.  Kent,  presi- 
dent, officially  approves  its  distribution  to 
the  sales  force. 

Kent  has  been  conferring  all  week  with 
Herman  Wobber,  general  sales  manager, 
Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  Joseph  M.  Schenck  and 
other  studio  executives  on  the  1941-42  pro- 
gram and  how  the  company  will  be  geared 
to  operate  under  the  decree. 

Jenkins  is  due  to  make  a tour  of  ex- 
changes to  explain  the  provisions  of  the 
decree  shortly  after  Kent  approves  his 
handbook.  He  will  be  assisted  by  two 
other  home  office  lawyers  and  each  will 
cover  different  exchanges. 


Buckley.  Kent  Back 

Los  Angeles — Charles  A.  Buckley,  gen- 
eral counsel  for  FWC,  and  Larry  Kent, 
film  buyer  and  chief  booker  for  the  circuit, 
have  returned  from  New  York  where  both 
spent  several  months  conferring  with  Na- 
tional Theatres  home  executives. 


exhibitors  must  give  their  “wholehearted 
support.”  Otherwise,  when  the  three-year 
trial  period  expires  in  November,  1943,  the 
department  will  be  without  adequate  data 
as  to  the  working  of  the  decree  on  which 
to  base  its  policy  for  the  future. 

Explaining  that  enforcement  of  the  de- 
cree, in  the  first  instance,  rests  largely  in 
the  hands  of  independent  exhibitors,  the 
department  points  out  that  Wright’s  unit 
will  be  available  to  them  for  advice  with 
respect  to  the  remedies  available  to  them 
under  the  decree. 

“It  cannot,  of  course,  undertake  to 
initiate  or  prosecute  an  arbitration  pro- 
ceeding but  after  a final  arbitration  award 
is  made,  the  unit  will  undertake  to  see  that 
compliance  occurs,”  it  is  stated.  “Where 
an  appeal  is  taken  from  an  award  which 
involves  an  important  question  of  con- 
struction of  the  decree,  counsel  in  the 
unit  may  ask  the  appeals  board  for  leave 
to  participate  in  the  appeal  as  a friend  of 
the  court.” 

Check  on  Competition 

The  unit  also  will  undertake  to  ascer- 
tain the  competitive  effect  of  each  thea- 
tre acquisition  reported  by  the  consenting 
defendants  pursuant  to  Section  XI  of  the 
decree  and  recommend  such  action  with 
respect  thereto  as  may  be  warranted  under 
the  decree  and  the  Sherman  Act. 

Certain  types  of  exhibitor  complaints 
against  the  consenting  defendants  are  not 
subject  to  arbitration  under  the  decree  but 
nevertheless  may  involve  a violation  of  the 


Will  Continue  Efforts 
At  Voluntary  Action 
To  Settle  Plaints 

Sherman  act,  it  is  pointed  out.  The  decree 
unit  will  investigate  such  complaints  and 
recommend  such  appropriate  action  as 
is  not  inconsistent  with  the  decree,  and 
also  will  investigate  complaints  which  in- 
volve Sherman  act  violations  by  distribu- 
tors and  exhibitors  who  are  not  parties  to 
the  decree. 

At  the  same  time,  the  department  will 
continue  its  practice  of  referring  meri- 
torious complaints  which  do  not  involve 
sufficient  public  interest  to  warrant  fed- 
eral litigation  to  the  parties  complained 
against  for  voluntary  adjustment. 

“No  exhibitor’s  complaint  will  be  referred 
or  disclosed  to  any  distributor  or  other 
person  complained  against,  except  in  the 
course  of  legal  proceedings,  without  the 
express  authorization  of  the  complaining 
exhibitor,”  it  is  emphasized. 

The  department  requests  that  all  com- 
plaints be  forwarded  to  the  anti-trust  di- 
vision as  they  arise.  “It  has  no  objection 
to  the  simultaneous  clearing  of  exhibitor 
complaints  through  any  exhibitor  organi- 
zation,” it  is  explained,  “but  it  prefers  to 
make  its  own  prompt  and  independent  in- 
vestigation of  each  complaint  as  it  arises, 
instead  of  attempting  to  investigate  them 
at  a later  date  in  larger  groups.” 

Must  Give  Full  Picture 
Exhibitors  are  instructed  that,  in  for- 
warding complaints,  a complete  picture  of 
their  theatre  situation  must  be  given;  that 
is,  a description  of  the  seating  capacity, 
age,  condition  and  operating  policy,  in- 
cluding admission  prices,  run  and  clear- 
ance of  the  theatre  and  the  houses  com- 
peting against  it,  together  with  a descrip- 
tion of  the  manner  in  which  major  prod- 
uct has  been  divided  among  them  during 
the  current  and  immediately  preceding 
seasons. 

To  Study  Effect  of  Decree 
“The  unit  will  attempt  to  observe  and 
evaluate  the  effect  of  the  decree  on  the 
industry  as  a whole  by  a study  of  the  fol- 
lowing factors,  among  others,”  it  is  ex- 
plained: 

“The  extent  to  which  arbitration 
under  the  decree  succeeds  in  fairly  ad- 
justing the  specific  exhibitor  com- 
plaints of  which  the  department  has 
knowledge; 

“The  general  effect  of  the  decree, 
and  particularly  the  new  method  of 
selling,  on  competition  between  inde- 
pendent theatres,  unaffiliated  circuits 
and  affiliated  circuits; 

“The  effect  of  the  decree,  and  par- 
ticularly the  new  method  of  selling,  on 
competition  in  producing  and  dis- 
tributing films.” 

The  data  on  which  the  unit  principally 
will  rely  in  making  such  studies  will  come 
(Continued  on  page  22) 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


17 


Set  to  smash  at  the  box-office  with  all  the 
weight  and  power  of  the  most  dramatic 
American  love  story  ever  told! 

UNIVERSAL  PICTURES  presents 


"°vel  by  f ANNIE 


rected  b 


venson 


oced  b 


$wii‘ 

i-m-M 


Miami 

fWi*h  Artier 

rom  key  c| 

n*tiona 


February 

. Untry,n  after 

FEBRUARY 


■mmoim 


SSilS 


Weigh  Two  Sites  for 
Nat'l  Theatres  Meet 

New  York — Annual  meeting  of  National 
Theatres  divisional  and  home  office  ex- 
ecutives will  be  held  either  at  Palm  Springs 
or  Lake  Arrowhead,  Calif.,  the  week  start- 
ing February  10.  Palm  Springs  has  been 
mentioned  several  times  as  the  likely  spot, 
but  Spyros  Skouras  hasn’t  yet  made  up 
his  mind  definitely. 

Milton  Hossfeld,  home  office  booker, 
leaves  Wednesday  for  Dallas  on  his  vaca- 
tion and  from  there  will  meet  the  conven- 
tionites  at  the  designated  site.  Others  at- 
tending from  New  York,  in  addition  to 
Skouras,  will  be  William  T.  Powers,  Harry 
T.  Cox,  Edward  Zabel  and  Aubrey  Schenck. 

From  the  field  will  be  Charles  Skouras, 
Los  Angeles;  Arch  Bowles,  San  Francisco; 
Harold  J.  Fitzgerald,  Milwaukee;  Rick 
Ricketson,  Denver;  E.  C.  Rhoden,  Kansas 
City;  Mike  Rosenberg,  Los  Angeles;  Frank 
Newman,  Seattle,  in  addition  to  executive 
assistants. 

Main  topic  at  the  forthcoming  sessions 
will  be  the  new  order  of  operations  under 
the  decree.  As  an  affiliate  of  20th-Fox, 
National  Theatres  must  live  up  to  its  pro- 
visions. A recent  analysis  prepared  by 
Powers  and  Schenck  will  be  distributed  to 
the  divisions,  as  well  as  a handbook  pre- 
pared by  Felix  A.  Jenkins,  general  counsel 
for  20th-Fox. 

Bowles  has  been  in  town  for  the  past  10 
days.  The  trip  has  been  in  the  form  of  a 
combined  business  and  vacation  jaunt. 


(<  ■ " ft 

See  $300-400,000 
On  ", Liberty " Film 

New  York — Although  there  have  been 
too  few  engagements  on  which  to  base 
an  estimate,  M-G-M  sales  chieftains  hope 
to  realize  between  $300,000  and  $400,000 
on  “Land  of  Liberty/'  proceeds  of  which 
will  be  turned  over  to  war  relief  agencies 
of  all  stricken  foreign  countries. 

First  to  benefit  will  be  British  air  raid 
victims,  for  whom  the  first  $50,000  has 
been  earmarked. 

J 

Equipment  Association 
Convention  in  Chicago 

Chicago — The  second  annual  convention 
of  Theatre  Equipment  Protectice  Ass’n  will 
be  held  at  the  Congress  Hotel,  February 
8-10  with  Harry  Graham  of  Denver  as 
acting  chairman.  There  are  no  executive 
officers  in  the  organization  and  all  equip- 
ment manufacturers  have  been  invited  to 
attend. 

All  present  will  be  asked  to  cooperate 
with  President  Roosevelt’s  rearmament 
program.  Expected  to  be  present  are  45 
member  dealers  throughout  the  country 
whose  annual  business  aggregates  over 
$10,000,000. 


Hornstein  to  Meeting 

New  York — Joseph  Hornstein,  head  of 
the  company  which  bears  his  name  here 
and  one  of  the  organizers  of  Theatre 
Equipment  Protective  Ass’n,  will  leave 
February  7 for  Chicago  to  attend  the  three- 
day  annual  meeting  of  the  organization. 


Flashes  From  the  News  Front 


Accept  Decree  War  Plan 

Minneapolis — Formal  acceptance  of  a 
plan  to  nullify  via  state  law  certain  im- 
portant provisions  of  the  federal  consent 
decree  was  voted  at  the  special  meeting 
here  of  Northwest  Allied.  The  measure 
would  compel  distributors  to  sell  their  en- 
tire season’s  output  with  a minimum  20 
per  cent  cancellation.  Other  action  in- 
cluded a demand  for  an  immediate  reduc- 
tion of  film  rentals  by  ten  per  cent;  op- 
position to  50  per  cent  split  deals,  in- 
creased admissions  and  extended  playing 
time  for  any  pictures;  restriction  via  state 
laws  of  theatre  building  and  circuit  ex- 
pansion. 


Schlaifer  Out  of  UA 

New  York— L.  Jack  Schlaifer,  formerly 
western  sales  manager  for  United  Artists 
and  lately  sales  drive  leader  for  the  Ar- 
thur W.  Kelly  drive,  has  resigned. 


Approve  Fast  Time 

Madison,  Wis. — Leading  dailies  are  giv- 
ing support  to  a bill  proposing  adoption 
of  daylight  saving  time. 


Flu  Hits  South 

New  Orleans — The  wave  of  influenza, 
almost  of  epidemic  proportions,  is  depress- 
ing grosses  throughout  the  eight  south- 
eastern states. 


Interstate  Wins  Suit 

Dallas — The  Interstate  circuit  won  the 
anti-trust  suit  filed  by  R.  Z.  Glass,  former 
Dallas  exhibitor,  on  an  instructed  court 
verdict.  The  action  preceded  presentation 
of  any  defense  testimony. 


Would  License  Games 

Harrisburg,  Pa. — A bill  to  license  “chance 
games”  in  theatres  has  been  introduced  in 
the  legislature. 


Poise  Ascap  Rein 

Boston — A measure  to  restrict  the  activ- 
ity of  the  American  Society  of  Composers, 
Authors  and  Publishers  has  been  intro- 
duced in  the  state  legislature.  Ascap  won 
a point  in  Louisiana  in  a court  ruling 
that  its  agents  were  not  subject  to  state 
licensing. 


Talk  New  Zoning  Plan 

Detroit — A new  zoning  plan,  proposed 
by  Frank  J.  Downey,  Metro  manager, 
which  would  alternate  films  for  second 
runs  geographically,  is  being  discussed  with 
the  UDT  circuit  and  Co-Operative  Thea- 
tre Owners  of  Michigan. 


J.  I.  Roberts  Dead 

Dallas- — J.  I.  Roberts,  Dallas  manager 
for  National  Theatre  Supply,  was  killed 
in  a highway  auto  crash  Monday  near  Cor- 
sicana. 


Industry  Through  Last 
Congress  Unscathed 

Washington — Only  one  of  more  than  20 
film  measures  introduced  was  enacted  into 
law  during  the  Congress  which  automatic- 
ally ended  January  3. 

Repeal  of  the  1912  law  prohibiting  the 
interstate  transportation  of  prize  fight  pic- 
tures, introduced  by  Sen.  W.  Warren  Bar- 
bour (Rep.,  N.  J.) , represented  the  sole 
contribution  of  the  Congress  to  the  wel- 
fare of  the  film  industry  in  1939  and  1940. 

Nevertheless,  the  two  sessions  of  the 
Congress  kept  the  industry  active,  through 
the  efforts  of  Sen.  Matthew  M.  Neely 
(Dem.,  W.  Va.)  to  pass  his  bill  prohibit- 
ing block  booking  and  to  get  under  way  a 
companion  measure  prohibiting  producers 
or  distributors  from  having  any  interest 
in  theatres. 

Probably  only  the  fact  the  department 
of  justice  was  prosecuting  the  same  issues 
in  its  New  York  all-industry  suit  saved  the 
distributors  from  the  imposition  of  con- 
trols on  picture  sales.  Supported  grimly 
by  the  West  Virginia  senator  through  bit- 
ter fights  in  the  interstate  commerce  com- 
mittee and  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  the 
measure  was  passed  by  the  Senate  in  1939 
and  last  year  was  the  subject  of  lengthy 
hearings  by  the  house  committee  on  inter- 
state and  foreign  commerce.  That  commit- 
tee was  prepared  to  amend  the  bill  so  as 
to  make  it  less  onerous  when  it  suspended 
consideration  of  the  subject  to  await  the 
disposition  of  the  block  booking  question 
in  the  consent  decree  then  being  nego- 
tiated. 

With  the  final  adjournment  of  the  Con- 
gress all  measures  pending  “died”  and  will 
have  to  be  reintroduced  and  start  from 
scratch  if  they  are  to  be  pressed  this  ses- 
sion. However,  it  is  quite  likely  no  effort 
will  be  made  to  do  anything  further  with 
block  booking  until  it  is  learned  how  the 
new  setup  provided  for  in  the  consent  de- 
cree works  out.  With  the  fight-film  bill 
finally  passed,  only  one  of  the  three 
“stand-bys”  of  many  sessions  remains — 
the  copyright  bill,  on  which,  however,  lit- 
tle action  is  expected  until  world  condi- 
tions settle  down. 

One  other  measure  received  considera- 
tion during  the  past  session,  the  resolu- 
tion for  investigation  of  Secretary  of  the 
Interior  Ickes’  efforts  to  assess  producers 
for  making  pictures  in  national  parks  and 
public  lands.  Following  announcement  by 
Ickes  of  a schedule  of  fees  running  into 
real  money,  Sen.  Pat  McCarren  (Dem., 
Nev.)  last  March  introduced  and  secured 
Senate  approval  of  a resolution  for  an  in- 
vestigation, but  it  has  not  been  made. 

Aside  from  bills  on  block  booking  and 
copyright,  which  have  come  up  every  ses- 
sion for  a number  of  years,  the  only  film 
legislation  proposed  was  embodied  in  sev- 
eral bills  for  the  creation  of  a Fine  Arts 
Bureau,  a bill  to  permit  the  making  of 
newsreels  from  the  press  galleries,  and 
the  divorce  measure  proposed  by  Senator 
Neely. 

A tentative  effort  was  made  by  Senator 
Neely  to  get  his  divorce  bill  under  way,  but 
after  two  short  hearings  he  acceded  to  the 
request  of  company  representatives  that 
the  measure  be  held  in  abeyance. 


20 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


NATIONAL 


FIRST 


Warners’ Studio  is  Your 


yip  y No  other  entertainment  \ 
//carries  the  brand  of  Power  that 
Warners  load  into  THIS  kind  of  attraction! 


starring 


As  Marie,  the  taxi  dancer  and  killer’s  com- 
panion— deep  down  just  another  woman 
whose  hungry  heart  yearned  for  one  man. 


As  ‘Mad  Dog’  Earle,  enemy  of  all  that 
is  decent  and  good,  defiant  of  every 
law  on  earth — except  the  High  Sierras! 


with  Alan  Curtis  • Arthur  Kennedy 
Joan  Leslie  • Henry  Hull  • Henry  Travers  k ®BESir^  ‘ .’^1 

Screen  Play  by  Jpho  Huston  and  W.  R.  Burnett  • From  a Novel  by  W.  R.  Burnett 


Decree  Aftermath 
"Up  to  Exhibitors" 

(Continued  from  page  17) 
from  its  own  files,  supplied  by  complain- 
ing exhibitors,  the  consenting  defendants 
and  other  members  of  the  industry;  the 
records  of  the  consenting  defendants 
which  are  accessible  to  it  under  the  terms 
of  the  decree;  and  the  records  of  the  arbi- 
tration proceedings  and  their  disposition 
under  the  decree  kept  by  the  American 
Arbitration  Ass’n  and  the  appeals  board. 

“At  the  end  of  the  three-year  trial 
period,”  the  statement  continues,  “the  imit 
will  attempt  to  answer  the  following  ques- 
tions and  make  specific  recommendations 
based  upon  the  answers  to  these  questions: 

“1.  Has  the  three-year  trial  of  the 
consent  decree  demonstrated  that  the 
competition  required  by  the  Sherman 
act  can  be  achieved  in  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry  without  securing  the  di- 
vorcement of  production  and  distribu- 
tion from  exhibition? 

“2.  If  it  has,  must  the  decree  be 
modified  in  other  respects  in  order  to 
achieve  such  competition  in  the  in- 
dustry? 

“3.  If  it  must  be  so  modified,  what 
are  the  specific  modifications  which 
will  achieve  that  end? 

“The  above  outline  of  the  pi’oposed  ac- 
tivities of  the  decree  unit  is  necessarily  ten- 
tative and  subject  to  modification  in  the 
light  of  experience,”  the  department  de- 
clares in  a plea  for  cooperation.  “Sugges- 
tions for  any  modifications  of  this  policy 
which  will  increase  the  effectiveness  of  the 
decree  and  the  work  of  the  unit  are  hereby 
invited  and  will  receive  careful  consider- 
ation. 

Must  Cooperate  to  Work  Well 
“All  exhibitors  and  their  organizations 
must  know  that  without  their  whole- 
hearted support,  neither  the  decree  nor  the 
decree  unit  can  function  properly.  While 
the  department  is  heartily  in  favor  of  the 
settlement  of  individual  differences  with- 
out resort  to  arbitration  by  voluntary 
agreement  between  the  parties  involved 
wherever  the  agreement  is  a fair  one,  it 
should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  decree 
was  intended  to  relieve  small  exhibitors 
from  the  pressure  which  large  circuits  and 
distributors  have  been  able  to  exert  in  the 
past  with  respect  to  the  terms  of  such  in- 
formal settlements.  Unless  free  use  of  the 
arbitration  machinery  established  by  the 
decree  is  made  by  all  exhibitors,  this  pur- 
pose will  not  have  been  fulfilled. 

“It  has  been  suggested  that  small  ex- 
hibitors who  insist  on  filing  arbitration 
complaints  rather  than  accepting  settle- 
ments negotiated  without  resort  to  the 
decree  machinery,  may  be  subjected  to  re- 
prisals in  connection  with  future  negotia- 
tions with  the  consenting  defendants.  The 
department  believes  that  these  fears  are 
unfounded,  but  is  prepared  to  prosecute 
for  contempt  any  person  who  attempts  to 
prevent  an  exhibitor  from  exercising  any 
of  his  rights  under  the  decree,  by  economic 
coercion  or  otherwise. 

Would  Punish  for  Reprisals 

“The  suggestion  also  has  been  made  that 
exhibitors  fear  that  complaints  which  are 
made  to  the  department  and  referred  to 


What  the  Studios  Are  Doing 


No  Disney  Competition 
For  Cartoon  Award 

Hollywood — After  winning  the  Acad- 
emy of  Motion  Picture  Arts  and  Sciences 
award  for  his  short  cartoons  for  five 
consecutive  years,  Walt  Disney  has  noti- 
fied Academy  officials  he  will  not  com- 
pete in  that  classification  this  year.  Pro- 
ducer gave  as  his  reason  the  belief  that 
it  is  more  important  for  him  to  focus 
public  attention  on  his  feature-length  sub- 
jects, although  the  Academy  has  ruled 
“Fantasia”  may  not  compete  because  its 
Los  Angeles  release  date  is  beyond  the 
deadline.  Disney  stressed  his  action  was 
not  to  be  construed  as  indicating  any  an- 
tagonistic attitude  toward  the  Academy. 
Forty  Features  in  Work; 

Heavy  February  Slated 

Studios  are  continuing  to  hold  to  their 
fast  picture-making  pace,  which  finds  40 
features  now  in  work,  another  16  sched- 
uled for  camera  starts  during  the  balance 
of  January  and  22  more  written  in  for 
launching  during  February.  Of  them,  21 
are  in  the  top-budget  category.  RKO 
Radio  and  M-G-M,  with  four  each  to  roll 
this  month,  are  the  busiest  spots,  while 
Paramount  leads  the  February  list  with 
six  starters. 

Studios  Stock  Up  on 
New  Story  Properties 

Walter  Wanger  has  swung  back  into  ac- 


tion with  the  purchase  of  “Sundown,”  a 
new  Saturday  Evening  Post  serial  by  Barre 
Lyndon,  which  United  Artists  will  release 
. . . 20th  Century-Fox  paid  a reported 
$110,000  for  screen  rights  to  the  venerable 
Brandon  Thomas  play,  “Charley’s  Aunt,” 
and  also  bought  “The  Dead  Take  No  Bows” 
from  Richard  Burke  . . . “Reunion,”  story 
of  France  under  German  rule  by  Ladis- 
laus  Bus-Fekte,  goes  to  M-G-M  . . . Para- 
mount bought  “Dangerous  Holiday,”  spy 
melodrama,  from  Sidney  Shelton  and  Ben 
Roberts. 

Three  More  for  Rowland; 

Hathaway  Leaves  Para't 

Henry  Hathaway,  producer-director,  and 
Paramount  have  amicably  severed  their 
contract.  Hathaway  will  announce  a new 
connection  shortly  . . . United  Artists  has 
picked  up  its  option  on  Richard  A.  Row- 
land, whose  first  for  the  company  was 
“Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop.”  He  will  do  three 
more  for  UA  . . . M-G-M  has  assigned 
James  Stewart  to  appear  opposite  Jeanette 
MacDonald  in  the  re-make  of  “Smilin’ 
Through”  . . . Brian  Aherne  will  co-star 
with  Claudette  Colbert  and  Ray  Milland 
in  Paramount’s  “Skylark”  . . . Edgar  Ber- 
gen, Charlie  McCarthy,  Fibber  McGee  and 
Molly  will  headline  a forthcoming  RKO 
Radio  musical  . . . Paramount  has  launch- 
ed an  extensive  radio  exploitation  cam- 
paign for  “You’re  the  One,” 


$175,000  to  Shearer  on 
Certain  Story  Rights 

New  York — Norma  Shearer,  represent- 
ing the  iate  Irving  G.  Thalberg’s  estate, 
has  received  $175,000  from  M-G-M  as  set- 
tlement for  claims  and  interests  in  certain 
story  rights  of  pictures  made  while  her 
late  husband  was  in  charge  of  production 
for  M-G-M.  However,  the  settlement  does 
not  preclude  the  estate  from  receiving  a 
percentage  of  additional  monies  from  the 
distribution  of  pictures  made  during  the 
tenure  of  Thalberg. 

Mendel  Silberberg,  coast  attorney,  repre- 
sented Miss  Shearer  and  the  Thalberg 
estate,  while  Leopold  Friedman  and  Irving 
Greenfield  acted  for  Loew’s,  Inc.,  parent 
company  for  M-G-M. 


distributors  will  bring  reprisals  from  them. 
The  department  believes  that  these  fears 
are  not  well  founded,  but  is  also  prepared 
to  take  whatever  steps  are  necessary  to 
punish  such  conduct.  It  can  obviously  do 
nothing  about  the  cases  of  those  exhibitors 
who  may  let  such  fears  prevent  them  from 
making  complaints  to  it. 

“The  questions  which  will  be  up  for  de- 
cision on  November  20,  1943,  must  inevit- 
ably be  largely  determined  by  the  data 
collected  by  the  department  during  the 
preceding  three-year  period.  Unless  ex- 
hibitors make  full  use  of  the  arbitration 
procedure  set  up  by  the  decree  and  supply 
full  information  with  respect  to  the  effect 
of  the  decree  on  their  business  to  the 
decree  unit,  that  data  will  be  woefully  in- 
complete. Without  such  exhibitor  coopera- 
tion on  a substantial  scale,  these  questions 
are  certain  to  be  erroneously  decided,  to 
the  detriment  of  exhibitors  and  the  in- 
dustry as  a whole.” 


Paramount  Realigns 
Sales  Under  Decree 

(Continued  from  page  13) 
the  former  city  by  Saul  Frifield,  former 
salesman  in  the  Charlotte  territory,  thus, 
Usher,  LiBeau,  Braly,  Owen,  Kirby  and 
the  one  thus  far  undesignated  district 
manager  comprise  the  division  headed  by 
Smith  who  originally  started  with  Para- 
mount in  Canada,  then  was  transferred 
to  Milwaukee  and  Cincinnati  and  later  to 
San  Francisco.  He  was  made  west  coast 
district  head  when  Myke  H.  Lewis  re- 
signed that  post  about  two  and  a half 
years  ago. 

“Although  the  creation  of  two  sales  di- 
visions gives  the  western  group  the  great- 
est number  of  exchanges,”  Agnew  ex- 
plains, “quotas  will  be  about  evenly  bal- 
anced because  of  the  denser  population 
and  correspondingly  greater  number  of  ac- 
counts in  the  eastern  territory.” 

Meanwhile,  Del  Goodman,  long  far  east- 
ern representative  for  20th  Century-Fox, 
becomes  general  manager  for  Canada,  suc- 
ceeding Morris  A.  Milligan,  who  has  re- 
signed because  he  reportedly  declined  to 
accept  a shift  to  the  prairie  states. 

All  promotions  and  changes  are  to  be- 
come effective  between  February  1 and 
March  1. 


Screen  Two  New  Ones 

Chicago — “The  Lady  Eve,”  produced  by 
Preston  Sturges  and  co-starring  Barbara 
Stanwyck  and  Henry  Fonda,  and  “Reach- 
ing for  the  Sun”  with  Joel  McCrea  and 
Ellen  Drew  were  screened  for  Paramount’s 
sales  officials  during  their  three-day  meet- 
ing. “Western  Daze,”  first  of  the  George 
Pal  Madcap  Model  shorts,  also  was  shown. 


22 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


NO 

Scissors 


NO 

Brush 


NO 

Pasting 


by  the  simple  process  of  fold- 
ing the  reviews  page  down 
the  middle . Already  punch- 
ed. it's  ready  lor  placing  in 
the  famous  PICTURE  GUIDE 
three-ring  binder . 


t 


5 be 


Can  Now  Be  Filed  in  the 


For  Your  Further  Convenience — 

These  reviews  are  Indexed  Alphabetically  in  the  RE- 
VIEW DIGEST  pages  published  every  week  in  BOX- 
OFFICE  facing  the  FEATURE  REVIEWS  page.  The 
number  preceding  the  picture  title  is  your  continuous 
guide  to  the  page  on  which  the  review  appears  in  The 
PICTURE  GUIDE. 

And  More  Service — 

Additionally  the  reviews  are  indexed  in  the  BOOKING 
CHART  where  the  pictures  are  listed  by  Company  in 
the  order  of  release  covering  a period  of  39  weeks. 

And  Still  More — 

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Date  , , 194 

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Theatre  

Signed  

Address  

City State 


"A  Good  Year/'  Says 
Exhibitor  at  Large 

(Continued  from  page  5) 
sharp  revival  with  the  New  Year.  The 
weather  continued  open  which  had  a good 
effect.  And  we  can  expect  the  huge  sums 
being  expended  by  the  government  to  have 
a beneficial  effect  on  industry  in  general. 
Motion  pictures  will  get  their  share.” 

Wess  Huss,  of  Associated  Theatres  and 
president  of  the  ITO,  agreed  business, 
while  sluggish  in  general,  is  reviving  and 
the  outlook  for  1941  looks  very  encourag- 
ing. 

Harold  Bernstein,  independent  exhibitor 
and  secretary  of  the  ITO,  thinks  the  full 
burden  of  good  business  rests  with  the  pro- 
ducer. “It  is  up  to  the  producer  to  combat 
the  increasing  lagging  interest  shown  by 
the  public  in  motion  pictures.  It  is  a mat- 
ter of  better  product,  which  we  must  have 
to  combat  this  lack  of  interest.  When  we 
have  good  product  we  have  good  business,” 
is  his  comment. 

The  decree  meets  with  some  speculation, 
but  little  enthusiasm.  “We  have  tried 
everything  else,”  states  White,  “and  lived 
through  it.  We  have  gone  through  every 
other  change  in  distribution  and  we  may 
as  well  try  this.” 

To  sit  tight  and  await  developments  is 
the  disposition  of  other  exhibitors.  The 
opinion  is  expressed  among  large  chain 
owners,  that  word-of-mouth  will  ade- 
quately advertise  the  worth  of  available 
features  without  the  necessity  of  managers 
and  exhibitors  attending  trade  showings, 
which  in  some  cases  is  looked  upon  as  an 
encroachment  on  time. 

ft  ft 

Little  Rock 

vs  - V 

Little  Rock,  Ark. — While  independent 
exhibitors  in  this  area  are  not  taking  the 
decree  too  seriously,  most  of  them  are 
opposed  to  it.  In  fact,  they  say  they  al- 
ready are  faced  with  plenty  of  problems 
and  that  the  decree  will  bring  about  more 
worries  for  them.  Some  say  they  do  not 
thoroughly  understand  the  new  law  and 
that  few  can  tell  how  it  is  going  to  work 
out. 

“We  have  everything  to  lose  and  noth- 
ing to  gain,”  said  one  exhibitor.  “Instead 
of  having  to  buy  films  10  or  12  times  a 
year,  the  way  I see  it,  I shall  have  to  buy 
them  120  times  a year.” 

Theatre  business  is  holding  its  own  in 
this  area  and  some  exhibitors  say  that  in 
this  particular  section  it  should  show  a 
decided  pickup  in  1941.  Construction 
work  at  Camp  Robinson,  near  Little  Rock, 
has  brought  several  thousand  workers  in 
various  crafts  to  the  city.  It  also  is  esti- 
mated between  30,000  and  40,000  soldiers 
will  be  stationed  at  Camp  Robinson  in 
the  near  future. 

C.  C.  Mundo,  owner  of  the  Rex  here, 
recently  opened  the  new  Liberty,  North 
Little  Rock.  Malco  will  open  a new  house 
in  the  Park  Hill  section,  North  Little  Rock. 
The  Crescent,  owned  by  O.  G.  Wren,  is  be- 
ing reconstructed  at  a cost  of  several 
thousand  dollars. 

Practically  all  Arkansas  industrial  cities 
expect  a better  year  in  1941  than  in  1940. 


fr  ' 

Oklahoma  City 

VSi  - ■ J 

Oklahoma  City — Business  in  Oklahoma 
will  be  up  as  far  as  boxoffices  are  con- 
cerned as  theatre  men  look  fer  much  bet- 
ter grosses  in  1941  than  in  1940.  The  lat- 
ter was  not  a bad  year,  however,  as  some 
general  improvement  was  shown  over  the 
previous  year.  Biggest  boost  is  expected 
to  be  in  medium  sized  towns. 

Defense  spending  will  probably  have 
some  effect  on  grosses,  but  it  is  not  felt 
that  the  amount  of  Oklahoma’s  share  will 
bring  any  gross  boom  during  1941.  Subur- 
bans are  expected  to  benefit  most. 

Previously  at  the  turn  of  the  year  thea- 
tre owners  have  generally  been  worried 
about  the  year’s  grosses  but  this  year  con- 
cern is  more  in  the  direction  of  what  is 
going  to  happen  on  the  decree  phase  of 
operations.  Oklahoma  is  certain  to  wit- 
ness film  “hoarding”  from  now  on  out 
with  every  picture  of  any  value  being  played 
for  every  day’s  playing  time  it  will  stand. 
Plenty  of  changes  of  policy  are  looked  for 
as  a result  of  the  jumbled  state  of  the 
booking  end  of  the  business. 

Both  circuit  executives  and  independent 
operators  are  far  more  concerned  about 
what  the  decree  is  going  to  do  to  1941’s 
business  than  they  are  about  the  amount 
of  business  available.  They  have  plenty  of 
confidence  on  the  latter  score  and  none 
whatever  on  the  former. 

ft  1 1 1 (v 

Wilmington 

vs = V 

Wilmington,  Del. — Independent  opera- 
tors differ  sharply  from  one  of  the  two 
circuits  operating  local  houses  in  regard 
to  the  outlook  for  1941  in  the  12  theatres 
of  the  city. 

Edgar  Doob,  manager  of  Loew’s,  pre- 
dicts as  far  as  Loew’s  is  concerned,  busi- 
ness would  exceed  1940  by  about  20  per 
cent.  “The  year  started  out  with  a bang 
for  us,”  Doob  explains,  “and  I predict  1941 
will  be  one  of  the  best  years  the  theatre 
has  had.  The  studios  are  concentrating 
their  production  for  home  consumption 
with  the  loss  of  the  foreign  market.” 

On  the  other  hand,  Joseph  A.  DeFiore, 
manager  of  the  Park,  independent  neigh- 
borhood house  and  president  of  the  Inde- 
pendent MPTOA  of  Delaware  and  East- 
ern Maryland,  paints  an  entirely  different 
picture. 

A member  of  the  Delaware  committee 
for  national  defense,  DeFiore  explains  so 
far  business  for  the  majority  of  the  inde- 
pendent houses  is  far  below  expectations. 

ft  ft 

Miami 

Vi-  - ■ ■ >J 

Miami — Expectations  of  local  theatremen 
for  this  year  are  most  clearly  indicated 
by  the  fact  that  theatre  construction  has 
eutpaced  that  of  any  other  year  during 
the  past  decade.  Besides  numerous  costly 
renovations,  there  have  been  four  new 
houses  opened  in  the  past  three  months. 

Even  in  the  suburban  area  of  metro- 
politan Miami,  the  resort  city  of  Holly- 
wood, attendance  appears  to  be  up  con- 
siderably over  that  of  last  year  at  this 
same  time. 


Paramount  Partners 
To  Meet  in  March 

New  York — Looked  upon  as  its  most 
important  conclave  in  years,  Paramount 
theatre  partners  from  this  country  and 
Canada  will  convene  in  Virginia  during  the 
latter  part  of  March  for  a three-day  ses- 
sion that  will  attract  every  ranking  execu- 
tive of  the  company’s  theatre  enterprises, 
as  well  as  those  from  the  parent  company’s 
home  office.  Y.  Frank  Freeman  is  ex- 
pected to  be  the  sole  coast  representative. 

“We’re  in  the  theatre  business  to  make 
money,  just  as  every  one  else  is,”  de- 
clared a circuit  spokesman  in  poising  what 
he  considered  the  leading  thought  to  dom- 
inate the  session.  “If  the  decree  doesn’t 
prove  to  be  onerous,  we’ll  make  that  money. 
If  it  does,  we’ll  have  to  find  other  ways 
to  make  a buck,  and  that  way  will  prob- 
ably be  among  ourselves.” 

The  Virginia  meeting,  exact  date  and 
place  of  which  have  not  yet  been  set,  will 
present  problems  in  operation  that  have 
not  come  up  since  1930.  The  impact  of 
the  industrial  boom  as  it  bears  on  shifting 
populations  where  huge  numbers  of  work- 
ers have  moved  to  take  new  factory  jobs 
is  a big  factor  which  works  both  ways. 
Economies  to  be  considered  in  the  light  of 
higher  operating  costs  to  conform  to  the 
decree  is  another  topic  of  importance. 

Pat  Garyn  Succumbs 
To  a Heart  Attack 


Marriage  License  Gets 
" Ecstasy " Past  Censors 

New  York — Following  four  years  of 
censorial  prodding  by  Samuel  Cummins, 
an  approved,  appended  version  of  “Ecs- 
tasy” has  entered  a fourth  week  at  the 
Ambassador.  The  censor  board  reversed 
the  usual  procedure  of  snipping  and  or- 
dered the  inclusion  into  the  footage  of  a 
divorce,  and  a wedding  license  for  the 
straying  lovers  to  prove  their  legal  right 
to  the  highly  touted  climax  of  the  film. 
The  additional  footage  runs  about  1,000 
feet. 


Dallas  — W.  P.  (Pat)  Garyn,  52,  wide- 
ly known  in  national  distribution  circles, 
died  Wednesday  morning  in  St.  Paul’s 
hospital  here  due  to 
a heart  attack. 

Garyn  located  in 
Dallas  in  the  fall  of 
1937  with  Trailer- 
Made  Service.  Sub- 
sequent deals  includ- 
ed the  organization 
of  independent  com- 
panies such  as  Texas 
Film  Co.,  which  pass- 
ed over  into  other 
hands.  Mrs.  Vera 
Garyn  was  due  here 
by  plane  Wednesday 
night  to  complete 
pat  garyn  funeral  arrangements 
along  with  a sister,  Mrs.  Wolfe,  of  St. 
Louis. 


24 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


"WHY  TALK  ABOUT 
PATRIOTISM  WHEN  YOU 
CAN  DO  SOMETHING 
ABOUT  IT!" 


Mr,  Exhibitor,  when  you  play  “LAND 
OF  LIBERTY”  it’s  a rare  opportunity  to 
score  at  the  box-office  and  simultaneously 
in  the  grateful  heart  of  your  community! 


SEE  IT  WITH  YOUR  OWN  THRILLED  EYES 

(Ask  for  a screening  at  your  M-Q-M  Branch ! Ask  anyone  who  has  seen  it!) 

AND  YOU’LL  JOIN  THE  CHEERING  CRITICS! 


(continued  above) 


The  entire  cost  of  making  "Land  of 
Liberty"  was  donated  by  the 
organized  industry! 

(1)  Every  producer  joined  in  making  this  timely  entertain- 
ment which  dramatizes  America  and  its  democratic  way 
of  life. 

(2)  All  sales  profits  realized  are  being  donated  to  war 
emergency  work, 

(3)  All  the  services  of  distribution  are  given  free. 

(4)  Exhibitors  are  asked  for  rental  only.  Exceptional 
opportunities  are  yours  through  live -wire  showmanship! 

(5)  M-G-M  is  handling  distribution  on  behalf  of  the 
industry.  Communicate  with  your  M-G-M  Branch. 


“Stunning  ...  a glowing  tribute 
to  the  narrative  power  of  the 
cinema  . . . Interesting,  informa- 
tive and  entertaining ...  A strik- 
ing dramatization  of  the  nation’s 
history  and  belongs  in  every 
theatre  ...  A monumental 
success.”  — M.  P.  HERALD 


“The  film  is  unique . . . extremely 
well  handled  by  Cecil  B.  DeMille 
. . . the  cast  is  enough  to  knock 
anyone’s  both  eyes  out.” 

—BOX  OFFICE 


“This  unique  production  is  in  a 
class  by  itself...  One  of  the 
finest  achievements  of  its  kind 
the  industry  has  ever  known . . . 
Fascinating.”  — FILM  DAILY 


REMEMBER! 


“A  magnificent  job  . . . swiftly 
moving  . . . studded  with  drama 
. . . in  consideration  of  the  pres- 
ent temper  of  the  people  of 
this  country,  general  world  con- 
ditions and  the  preoccupation 
of  the  nation  with  matters  of 
freedom  and  the  support  of  the 
democratic  ideal,  this  film  should 
find  strong  popular  support  at 
the  theatre.”  — M.  P.  DAILY 

“Truly  a ‘Cavalcade  of 
America.’...”  —VARIETY 

“Rare  indeed  are  the  oppor- 
tunities of  encountering  in  any 
medium  such  vitally  absorbing 
entertainment . . .Amazing 
entertainment  force,  capable  of 
holding  a rank-and-file  audience 
spellbound  through  its  entire 
length.”  —HOLLYWOOD  REPORTER 


BELOW:  Two-fisted  showmanship  packed  Williamsport  test  run.  This  is  a typical 
ad.  Complete  campaign,  easily  duplicated,  available  at  your  M-G-M  Branch. 


139  FAMED  STARS! 

200  SPECTACULAR  SCENES! 
1000  EXPLOSIVE  THRILLS! 


lltfP  Of 


☆ 


50  big ...  it  took  the  thrill-treasures  of 

51  mighty  Hollywood  producers .. .to 
bring  it  to  you  I Adventure!  Drama  I 
Romancel  A rousing  pageant  of  fight- 
ing America  ...  an  entertainment 
unparalleled  in  screen  history! 


MOTION  PICTURE 
INDUSTRY  OF  THE 
UNITED  STATES 
presents 


CECIL  B. 
DEMILLE 


AMONG  THE  139  GREAT  STARS 
YOU  WILL  SEE! 


DON  AMECHE 
GEORGE  ARLISS 
EDWARD  ARNOLD 
BINNIE  BARNES 
JOHN  BARRYMORE 
LIONEL  BARRYMORE 
WARNER  BAXTER 
WALLACE  BEERY 
WALTER  BRENNAN 
GEORGE  BRENT 
BOB  BURNS 
CLAUDETTE  COLBERT 
GARY  COOPER 
BETTE  DAVIS 
RICHARD  OIX 

( by 


IRENE  DUNNE 
HENRY  FONDA 
JOEL  McCREA 
FREDRIC  MARCH 
ROBERT  MONTGOMERY 
ANNA  NEAGLE 
GEORGE  RAFT 
ANN  RUTHERFORD 
RANDOLPH  SCOTT 
JAMES  STEWART 
LEWIS  STONE 
MARGARET  SULLAVAN 
SPENCER  TRACY 
LORETTA  YOUNG 


• f 


ation  Picture  Produo 


i Datrlbulon  of  A 


OOIDWTN  • MATH 


I’m  proud  to  be 
an  American  and 
proud  to  present 
in  my  theatre- 


Mister  American 
Showman: 

Here’s  a truly 
great  and 
inspiring 
attraction! 

Get  behind 
it  with 
your  heart!” 


LAND 


PRINTED  IN  U.S. 


Opinions  on  Current  Productions,  and 
t xploitips  for  Selling  to  the  Public 


FERTURE  REVIEWS 


High  Sierra  F Melodrama 

WB  ( ) 100  Minutes  Hel.  Jan.  25,  '41 

Every  foot  of  the  way  "High  Sierra"  is  solidly  compact 
entertainment  with  thrill  and  suspense  elements  that  fade 
and  recur  in  quick  succession.  Audiences  are  going  to 
relish  this  one.  Also,  it  is  another  to  enlarge  the  batting 
average  of  the  team  comprising  Hal  Wallis,  Mark  Hellinger, 
Raoul  Walsh.  Chief  performances  turned  in  by  Humphrey 
Bogart  and  Ida  Lupino  are  sharply  etched  and  restrained; 
their  emotional  impact  is  keen.  The  supporting  field  never 
lets  that  section  down.  The  W.  R.  Burnett  story  deals  with  a 
gangster  type  since  gone  into  the  history  book.  Played  by 
Bogart  it  tells  of  a big  time  bandit  "released"  from  prison 
to  pull  a highly  remunerative  jewel  robbery  at  a resort 
hotel.  The  setup  is  carefully  planned,  Bogart's  part  is  to 
get  the  “rocks"  and  deliver  them  to  his  boss  in  Los  An- 
geles. By  the  time  he  gets  to  this  point  he  proves  himself 
something  of  a human  being  in  diverse  sequences  with 
Miss  Lupino,  a migrating  Ohio  family  going  west  and 
with  a stray  dog  in  a mountain  camp.  Throughout  there 
is  the  symbolism  of  the  title,  throughout  the  approach  is 
tellingly  realistic  and,  concluding,  has  that  much  sought 
after  different  quality. 

Ida  Lupino,  Humphrey  Bogart,  Henry  Hull,  Henry  Travers. 

Alan  Curtis,  Arthur  Kennedy. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Bogart  and  Miss  Lupino  are  the  names  for 
the  marquee.  An  interesting  stunt  can  be  worked  up  by 
buying  back  numbers  of  the  local  dailies  and  imprinting 
a heavy  block  type  headline  diagonally  across  page  one 
to  the  tune  of  "Gunman  Trapped  On  High  Sierra."  Should 
make  a striking  throwaway.  Buy  spot  announcement  time 
on  the  local  radio.  Plug  "Wanted"  posters  around  the 
main  drag. 

CATCHLINES:  No  Man  Ever  Reached  Greater  Heights  to 
Wait  for  Death. 

In  "High  Sierra"  You'll  Find  Relentless  Drama  Mounting 
to  a Peak  of  Thrills. 


Life  With  Henry  F Comodv 

Paramount  (401G)  82  Minutes  Rel.  Jan.  24,  '41 

That  boy's  here  again — Henry  Aldrich,  the  All-American 
adolescent  whose  air  antics  make  his  ether  program  one  of 
the  more  popular  with  both  adults  and  youngsters.  There 
is  no  readily-discernible  reason  why  this,  the  second  chap- 
ter in  his  screen  career,  shouldn't  prove  comparably  accept- 
able to  everyone  who  enjoys  clean,  human,  down-to-earth 
entertainment.  In  most  departments  it  is  considerable  of  an 
improvement  over  the  initial  film  venture,  "What  a Life," 
which  did  right  well  itself.  In  characterizations,  dialogue 
and  situations,  the  feature  comes  closer  to  ensnaring  the 
atmosphere  of  the  Aldrich  Family  radio  stint.  Jackie  Cooper 
again  is  cast  as  Henry,  while  his  inseparable  foil,  "Dizzy," 
is  portrayed  by  Eddie  Bracken.  Both  are  highly  creditable 
delineations  of  typical  American  youngsters  with  a pen- 
chant for  getting  into  trouble.  Henry  makes  application  to 
accompany  a boys'  trip  to  Alaska  and  undertakes  to  earn 
the  necessary  $100  which,  plus  certain  character  qualifica- 
tions, would  make  him  eligible.  Production  and  direction 
were  ably  handled  by  Jay  Theodore  Reed. 

Jackie  Cooper,  Leila  Ernst,  Eddie  Bracken,  Fred  Niblo,  Hedda 
Hopper,  Kay  Stewart,  Moroni  Olsen,  Rod  Cameron. 

EXPLOITIPS:  This  is  the  second  in  the  Aldrich  Family 
series  and  has  considerable  exploitation  value  through 
the  fact  that  the  radio  show  of  the  same  name  is 
one  of  the  most  popular  in  the  nation.  Have  high  schools 
conduct  an  election  to  select  their  most  popular  male  stu- 
dent, the  winner  to  be  guest  of  honor  at  the  opening  day's 
showing.  Give  title  credits  to  Jackie  Cooper. 

CATCHLINES:  Yes,  Henry  Aldrich  Is  Back  Again  ...  In  :om 
and  Out  of  More  Trouble  Than  You'd  Think  Two  Boys  Could  le_Y' 
Cook  Up. 

It's  Funny  as  the  Radio  Show  . . . And  a Riot  on  the  Screen 
. . The  Further  Adventures  of  Henry  Aldrich,  American  Boy. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  F Comedv 

RKO  Radio  (117)  95  Minutes  Rel.  Jan.  31,  '41 

British  Alfred  Hitchcock,  who  demonstrated  to  Hollywood 
and  audiences  everywhere  his  ability  as  a dramatic  di- 
rector in  "Rebecca"  and  as  a pilot  of  suspense  and  action 
in  "Foreign  Correspondent,"  displays  an  equal  flair  for 
.^anta\  humor  jn  this,  his  first  American  comedy.  As  entertain- 
arg:<>  ment  in  the  lighter  vein,  it  is  virtually  flawless,  and  with 
Carole  Lombard  and  Robert  Montgomery  to  grace  the 
marquee,  there  is  no  apparent  reason  why  it  shouldn't 
quickly  attain  the  hit  class.  Hitchcock  was  furnished  all 
of  the  materials  necessary  to  inspire  the  best  work  of  a 
master  craftsman.  There  were  a speedy,  bubbling  and 
brilliantly-dialogued  screenplay  by  Norman  Krasna;  un- 
stinting production  accoutrements;  and  a wisely  selected 
and  sensitive  cast.  The  co-stars,  Lombard  and  Montgomery, 
turn  in  magnificent  comedy  performances,  while  their  fast 
pace  fails  to  tire  the  supporting  mummers.  They  portray  a 
young  married  couple  who  are  constantly  feuding,  de- 
spite their  love  for  each  other,  and  in  the  face  of  a set  of 
rules  of  conduct,  entirely  of  the  wife's  making.  After  three 
years  of  bliss,  a technicality  is  uncovered  to  establish  that 
they  never  were  legally  married.  They  separate,  but  the 
feuding  continues  through  a new  courtship  which  terminates 
in  an  ultimate — and  this  time  legal — marriage. 

Carole  Lombard,  Robert  Montgomery,  Gene  Raymond,  Jack 

Carson,  Philip  Merivale,  Lucile  Watson,  William  Tracy. 

EXPLOITIPS:  The  teaming  of  Robert  Montgomery  and 
Carole  Lombard  is  unusual  enough  to  warrant  special  pro- 
motion. Director  Alfred  Hitchcock's  name  should  also  be  of 
some  value  on  the  marquee.  Direct  a special  campaign 
toward  the  Smiths,  holding  a special  "Smith"  night,  award- 
ing prizes  for  the  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  who  most  closely  re- 
semble Montgomery  and  Miss  Lombard,  etc. 

CATCHLINES:  He  Directed  "Rebecca"  . . . And  Now  Al- 
fred Hitchcock  Gives  You  the  Comedy  Sensation  of  1941. 

They  Scrapped  Through  Three  Years  of  Bliss  . . . Then 
They  Marry  Again  to  Start  the  Fight  Anew. 

Fast,  Bubbling  Dialogue  . . . And  Humor  in  the  Lighter 
Vein. 

er  v 

lere  < 


Honeymoon  for  Three 

WB  ( ) 76  Minutes 

A farce  comedy  about  a novel-writing  Casanova,  it  strains 
rather  hard  for  laughs  in  many  sequences,  but  in  its  entirety 
manages  to  pan  out  sufficient  humorous  lines  and  situ- 
ations to  please  generally,  although  audiences  cannot  be 
expected  to  consider  it  particularly  uproarious.  The  picture 
is  unstintingly  produced  and  the  retarding  weaknesses  are 
attributable  to  writing  and  direction,  which  apparently  went 
overboard  in  an  effort  to  point  up  the  script's  best  qualities. 
There  is  nothing  in  the  story  about  a honeymoon.  George 
Brent  is  a successful  modern  author,  sought  after  by  women 
of  all  ages  and  stations,  but  in  love,  passively,  with  his  ef- 
ficient secretary,  Ann  Sheridan.  Arriving  in  Cleveland  for  a 
lecture,  he  encounters  an  old  sweetheart  who  romantically 
decides  he  is  the  only  man  in  her  life  and  prepares  to 
desert  her  husband.  The  secretary's  fast  thinking  un- 
ravels all  of  the  tangled  situations  which  result  and  she, 
of  course,  winds  up  with  the  ink-slinging  Lothario.  Directed 
by  Lloyd  Bacon. 

Ann  Sheridan,  George  Brent,  Charlie  Ruggles.  Osa  Massen. 

Jane  Wyman,  William  T.  Orr,  Lee  Patrick. 


F 


Comedy 

Rel.  Jan.  18,  '41 


.earn 

Very 


EXPLOITIPS:  There  is  plenty  of  potential  marquee  and 
exploitation  material  to  work  with  on  this  one.  Give  Ann 
Sheridan  and  George  Brent,  whose  names  have  been  linked 
romantically  in  real  life,  a buildup  as  the  screen's  newest 
and  most  sensational  romantic  team.  Don't  neglect  the 
"oomph"  appellation  for  Miss  Sheridan.  Charlie  Ruggles 
is  another  selling  name  which  might  fit  into  your  plans. 
Make  title  tieups  with,  for  example,  a car  dealer,  on  the  line: 
"Make  it  a 'Honeymoon  for  Three'  by  giving  your  bride  a 
new  Ford."  Prepare  mailing  pieces  as  pamphlets  labeled: 
"Honeymoonersl  Make  no  plans  until  you've  read  this,"  and 
emblazon  picture  and  theatre  copy  through  the  inside. 


CATCHLINES:  He  Knew  All  About  Love  ...  In  His 
Novels  . . . But  When  a Real  Woman  Fell  For  Him  . . . 
He  Found  He  Wasn't  So  Smart. 


16 


BOXOFFICE 


January  25,  1941 


13 


An  Interpretative  Analysis  of  Opinions  Deduced 
from  the  language  of  lay  and  Trade  Press  Reviews 


REVIEW  DIGEST 

AND  PICTURE  GUIDE  INDEX 


+ + + »+ 2 


44  44  ++++++  + ++ 


44  + +4  44  44  44  + 14+ 


-4  4-4-4- 


n+  l- 

7+  2- 
6+  3— 
9+  4- 


+ 44  44  + + 12+ 


44  44  44  44 

44+4+4+4 


Aldrich  Family  In  Mfc  Willi 

Henry  (Porn)  + 

.Alone  the  Rio  Ornndo  (RKO).  + 

Always  a Bride  (FN.) zp 

Angela  Over  Broadway  (Col) . . ± 

Ape,  Tho  (Mono)  + 

Argentine  Nights  (Unlv) ± 

Arise,  My  Love  (Para) 44 

Arizona  (Col)  44 

. Arkansas  .Judge  (Bop) ± 

B 

..Back  Street  (llnlv)..  44 

Bank  Dick,  The  (Dnlv)  44 

Barnyard  Follies  (Rep) + 

Before  I Bang  (Col) + 

Behind  tho  News  (Rep) ± 

Beyond  tho  Sacramento  (Col) 

Billy  the  Kid  In  Texas  (PRC) 

Bitter  Sweet  (M-O-M) 44 

Blackout  (DA)  + 

Dlondlo  Plays  Capld  (Col) + 

Border  legion  (Rep) + 

Boss  of  Bullion  City  (Unlv) . 

. . Bowery  Boy  (Rep) ^ 

Bride  Wore  Crutches  (20th-Fox)  ± 
Brigham  Yoong — Frontiers- 
man (20th-Fox)  44 

..Buck  Privates  (Unlv) +4 

Bury  Me  Not  on  the  Lone 

Prairie  (Colv)  

C 

Calling  All  Husbands  (W'B)  ■ ■ ± 

Case  of  tho  Black  Parrot  (FN)  - 
Caught  In  tho  Act  (PRC)  • 

Chad  llunnn  (20th-Fox) dz 


Charlie  Chan  at  the  Wax 

Museum  (20tlt-Fox)  + ± — + + + + 

Charter  Pilot  (20th-Fox) zp  + - + +4  ± + 

. .Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop  (UA)  44  44  +4  +4  ++  ++  ++ 

Cherokee  Strip  (Para) + + ± + 4+4- 

Christmas  In  July  (Para) 

City  for  Conquest  (WB) . 

Colorado  (Hep) 

..Como  Live  With  Me  (M-G-M) . 

Comrade  X (M-G-M) 

Convoy  (RKO) 

D 

Dancing  on  n Dime  (Pam) 

Dark  Streets  of  Cairo  (Dnlv). 

Devi)  But,  The  (PRC) 

Devil's  Pipeline  (Unlv) 

Diamond  Frontier  (Unlv) 

Dispatch  From  Router's  (WB) 

Dr.  Kildare's  Crisis  (M-G-M) 

Dr.  Kildare  Goes  Home 

(M-G-M)  

i Doomed  Caruvan  (Pam) 

Down  Argentine  Way  (2l)-Fox) 

Dreaming  Out  Loud  (RKO)  . . . 

Drums  of  the  Desert  (Mono) 

Dulcy  (M-G-M)  

E 

Fast  of  the  River  (FN) ... 

Cilery  Queen,  Master  Detec- 
tive (Col)  

Escape  (M-G-M)  

Escape  to  Glory  (Col) 

F 

0.  Face  Behind  the  Mask  (Col).. 


6+  3- 
7+  3- 
15+ 


44  44  44  44 


- ± -4  -4 
44  44  44  44 


7+  l- 
+ 12+  1- 
+ 14+ 


4+  3- 
± 2+  4- 

± 7+  0— 


II 


ill 

I jjj 


it 


Fantasia  (Disney)  4+ 

Fargo  Khl  (RKO)  + 

Father's  Son  (WB)  

Father  Is  a Prince  (FN) ± 

Fight  for  Life,  The  (Col)  + 

Five  Little  Peppers  In 

Trouble  (Col)  ± 

Flight  Command  (M-G-M)  ..  +f 

Flight  From  Destiny  (WB)...  + 

Four  Mothers  (WB)  44 

Four  Sons  (20tli-Fox) 44 

Freedom  Radio  (Col)  

Friendly  Neighbors  (Rep)  ± 

Frontier  Vengeance  (Unlv)  o 

Fugitive  From  Justice  (WB)  ± 
Fugitive  From  a Prison  Camp 
(Col) 

G 

Gallant  Sons  (M-G-M) - . + 

Gay  Cnballero.  The  <20th-Fox>  + 

Girl  From  Havana  (Rep) ± 

.Girl  in  the  News  (20th-Fox)  + 

Girls  Under  21  (Col) — 

Give  Us  Wings  (Unlv) — 

Glamour  for  Sale  (Col) ± 

Go  West  (M-O-M) + 

Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M)  44 

Great  Commandment  (20-Fox) 

Great  Dictator,  The  (UA) 44 

Great  Plane  Robbery  (Col) ...  + 

Great  Profile,  The  (20th-Fox)  + 


44  ++  ++  14+ 

+ + 5+1- 

— 2+  3 — 

= - - 3+9- 


± 4+  + ± ± 9+  3- 


44  44  44  44  44 


+4  + 12+1- 


± 44  44  4- 


H 


(Para 


Hard  Boilei 

Haunted  Honeymoon  (M-G-M) 

Her  First  Romance  (Mono) 

Here  Comes  tho  Navy  (WB) 

High  Sierra  (FN) 

Hired  Wife  (Unlv)  

Hit  Parade  of  1941  (Rep) 

Hold  That  Woman  (PRC) 

Honeymoon  for  Three  ( WB)  . 

Howards  of  Virginia  (Col) 

Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox) 

Hullabaloo  (M-G-M)  

Di  1 } 

I’m  Nobody’s  Sweetheart 

Now  (Unlv)  

I'm  SUB  Alive  (RKO) 

Invisible  Woman,  The  (Unlv)  44  4* 

1 

Jennie  (20th-Fox)  + 4- 

K 

..Keeping  Company  (M-G-M)..  — ± 

Kitty  Foyle  (RKO) 44  44 

Knute  Kockne — All  American 

(WB)  44  44 

L 

I.addle  (RKO)  + ± 

Lady  Eve,  The  (Para) 

Lady  With  Red  Hair  (WB) . . . + ± 

i Land  of  Liberty  (M-G-M)....  +4  ± 

Law  and  Order  (Unlv) dz 

leather  Pushers,  The  (Unlv) . . + ± 

Let's  Mako  Music  (RKO)..  ■ + ± 

Letter,  The  (FN)  44  -4 

1 ..LIT  Abner  (RKO)  + 

Little  Bit  of  Heaven  (Unlv)..  44  -4 


zp  dz  + + ± 


44  44  44  44  4- 


+ 14+ 

+ 10+ 


+ + ± 9+2- 


44  44  44  44 


The  plus  and  minus  signs  indicate  the  degree  ol  lavor  or  dislavor  ot 
the  review.  Where  our  compiler  is  unable  to  form  any  opinion  from 
the  review  the  sign  "o"  is  used.  Blank  spaces  indicate  no  review 
This  department  serves  also  as  an  Alphabetical  Index  to  leature  re- 
leases. Listings  cover  reviews  appearing  by  the  Saturday  preceding 


date  ol  this  issue.  It  will  be  brought  up  to  date  from  week  to  week. 
The  meaning  of  the  various  signs  and  their  combinations  is  as  follows: 
44  Very  Good;  4-  Good;  — Fair;  + Mediocre;  - Poor;  = Very  Poor 
In  the  summary  44  Is  rated  os  2 pluses;  = as  2 minuses. 

(Numeral  preceding  title  is  Picture  Guide  Review  page  number). 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15.  1941 


19 


unu  VDTTP  rrWVFNTFW(T  lndexeii  on  ,he  adjoining  two  pages  are  the  pictures 
1 Ull  X LJ  U XI  UUil  V JZiil  iliil  l/IIl  reviewed  in  the  new  style  started  January  4.  The  num- 
ber preceding  title  is  your  key  to  the  Picture  Guide  pages,  the  new  reviews  being  added  each  week.  Addi- 
tionally. a Quarterly  Index,  arranged  alphabetically  by  companies,  will  be  published  for  Picture  Guide  use. 


The  Mad  Doctor 


F 


Scattergood  Baines 


Paramount  (4018)  90  Minutes  Rel.  Feb.  14,  '41 

In  most  situations  this  will  prove  a celluloid  problem 
child.  The  film  is  too  long  to  function  as  supporting  lore 
and  is  not  sufficiently  meritorious  to  grace  the  upper  half 
of  the  bill  except  in  the  most  unimportant  program  arrange- 
ments. The  picture  starts  out  as  a chiller,  goes  off  at  a 
tangent  to  invade  the  fields  of  psychiatry,  and  then  settles 
down  to  a routine  of  unmysterious,  endless  and  useless 
murders.  The  entire  blame  for  the  feature’s  frailties,  and 
they  are  legion,  is  attributable  to  the  story,  the  multitudi- 
nous vagaries  of  which  an  apparently  hard-working  cast 
and  director  were  unable  to  transcend.  Basil  Rathbone 
portrays  the  mad  doctor,  whose  favorite  pastime  is  marry- 
ing heiresses  and  promptly  dispatching  them  to  a better 
world.  Ultimately  he  falls  in  love  but,  by  this  time,  his  past 
has  caught  up  with  him  and  he  is  forced  to  continue  his  orgy 
of  killings.  Directed  by  Tim  Whelan. 

Basil  Rathbone,  Ellen  Drew,  John  Howard,  Barbara  Allen. 

Ralph  Morgan,  Martin  Kosleck,  Kitty  Kelly. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Basil  Rathbone,  Ellen  Drew  and  John  How- 
ard rate  the  marquee  and  advertising  credits.  Among  radio 
fans  the  name  of  Barbara  Allen  (Vera  Vague)  might  also 
be  worthy  of  exploitation.  Have  house  artist  construct  a 
leering  compo-board  portrait  of  Rathbone  with  green,  blink- 
ing eyes,  to  be  mounted  above  the  marquee  or  used  as  the 
lobby  center-piece.  Emphasize  the  picture’s  chill  angles  by 
staging  a special  "midnight  show”  and  install  a heart 
tester”  in  the  lobby  to  ascertain  whether  or  not  prospective 
patrons  are  "healthy”  enough  to  "take  it.”  Stills  depicting 
Rathbone  in  particularly  sinister  poses  could  be  tied  into 
displays  of  health  foods  and  tonics,  along  the  lines:  “Do 
you  feel  like  this?  Try  Pep-O.” 

CATCHLINES:  He  Committed  a Series  of  Horrible  Crimes 

. . Then  Discovered  That  Real  Love  Couldn't  Erase  His 


RKO  Radio  (123)  G9  Minutes  Rel.  Feb.  21.  '41 

A fair  portion  of  the  nation's  filmgoers  should  receive 
"Scattergood  Baines”  as  another  entertaining  treatise  on 
small  town  life.  Again  the  accent  is  on  a philosophical  old 
gent  who  gives  advice  freely,  who  bests  the  slickest  brains 
from  the  big  city  and  maneuvers  the  minds  and  morals  ol 
his  community  with  his  little  linger.  And,  to  top  it  all  off, 
he  plays  a courtly  cupid.  The  role  is  tailored  for  Guy  Kibbee. 
One  day  he  wanders  into  Coldriver  with  $40.  He  invests 
$37.50  in  a "problematical”  venture,  makes  $750.  He  runs 
this  stake  into  a bankroll,  control  ol  a spur  line,  two-car 
railroad,  real  estate  and  a full-rigged  hardware  store.  Then 
he  sits  around  in  front  of  his  store  dispensing  advice  to  all 
comers  and  weathers  the  storm  ol  adversity  in  shipshape 
style.  Spice  this  dish  v/ith  dry  humor,  rustic  accents  and  a 
romantic  problem  and  you  have  "Scattergood  Baines." 

Guy  Kibbee,  Carol  Hughes,  John  Archer.  Francis  Trout. 

Emma  Dunn,  Lee  White. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Since  this  film  is  based  on  the  Clarence 
Budington  Kelland  stories  a good  deal  of  effort  should  be 
expended  on  the  bookshop  and  the  dispensers  of  magazines. 
Tie  these  outlets  in  v/ith  posters  and  stills.  A spot  announce- 
ment over  a radio  station  should  contact  the  audience  that 
is  not  to  be  reached  through  other  channels.  Get  an  old 
buggy,  decorate  with  signs  and  have  it  driven  up  and 
down  the  main  drag  by  an  appropriately  costumed  bally- 
hoo man. 

CATCHLINES:  Meet  Scattergood  Baines  He's  Slick  and 
Sharp  . . But  You'll  Love  Him. 

He  Put  Coldriver  on  the  Map  ...  He  Plays  Cupid  ...  He 
Has  Plenty  of  Friends  . . . He'll  Make  More,  When  You  Meet 
Him  . . . That's  Scattergood  Baines. 


A Human  Monster  . . . Whose  Heart  Was  Touched  by  a 
Beautiful  Girl  . . . Too  Late. 

Basil  Rathbone  in  a Sinister  Role  of  a Mad  Doctor  Whose 
Past  Wouldn't  Let  Him  Alone. 


He  Out-Slicked  the  City  Slickers  . And  Ran  $40  Into  a 
Hardware  Store. 

Clarence  Budington  Kelland's  Inimitable  Sage  Comes  to 
the  Screen. 


The  Face  Behind  the  Mask  F „„„„„ 

Columbia  (2029)  69  Minutes  Rel.  Jan.  16,  '41 

The  horror-gangster  crowd  will  get  their  money  s v/orth  in 
"The  Face  Behind  the  Mask,”  which  offers  Peter  Lorre  in 
the  main  role.  He  is  a Hungarian  immigrant  who  gets  hor- 
ribly burned  in  a hotel  fire— his  face  is  disfigured.  He  turns 
criminal  in  order  to  get  funds  to  pay  for  plastic  surgery. 
The  best  a doctor  can  do  is  create  a mask  to  hide  the  dis- 
figuration. He  meets  a beautiful  blind  girl  and  they  be- 
come close  companions.  Lorre  tries  to  quit  his  gang.  They 
think  he  has  framed  them.  The  girl  is  killed  by  a planted 
bomb.  Lorre,  in  revenge,  informs  the  police  and  flies  the 
gang  out  to  the  middle  of  a desert  in  Arizona  v/here  they 
all  perish.  The  various  contributing  elements  of  the  story 
are  well-handled  and  Robert  Florey  s direction  effectively 
keeps  them  alike.  It  is  good  enough  as  support  for  any 
program. 

Peter  Lorre,  Evelyn  Keyes,  Don  Beddoe,  George  E.  Stone, 
John  Tyrrell,  Stanley  Brown. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Play  this  one  up  with  the  horror  angle  in 
the  fore.  Run  a one-shot  newspaper  contest  with  a col- 
lection of  portraits  of  various  players  who  are  wearing 
masks.  For  correct  identification  offer  passes.  Invite  chil- 
dren to  come  to  the  theatre  wearing  grotesque  masks.  For 
poster  displays  have  a rear  view  of  Lorre  with  the  following 
print:  "We  Dare  You  to  Look  At  This  Man’s  Face  and  For- 
get It.”  Get  up  a mask  display  with  borrowed  items  from 
museums,  department  and  art  stores. 

CATCHLINES:  When  You  See  This  Man’s  Face  on  the 
Screen  . . . You'll  Never  Forget  It. 

What  Nameless  Terror  Lurks  Behind  This  Mask?  . 
What  Strange  Vengeance  Is  Brewing? 

A Thrilling  Story  ol  Gang  Terrorism  And  a Terrible 
Retribution. 


The  Monster  and  the  Girl  F ,,""1 


Paramount  ( ) 62  MinuteB  Rol. 

While  this  cannot  hope  lor  universal  patronage  or  ac- 
claim, it  should  find  takers  in  profitable  numbers  among 
the  horror  fans  for  whom  it  will  be  a treat.  The  film  has 
plenty  of  suspense  and  a bumper  crop  of  murders,  suf- 
ficient to  sate  the  appetites  of  the  most  avid  chill-seekers. 
The  production  is  adequately  mounted,  enacted  by  an  able 
cast  and  competently  directed.  It  was  produced  under  the 
title  of  "D.  O.  A.”  (Dead  on  Arrival),  which  former  name 
is  an  index  to  its  story  material.  In  fact,  the  screenplay 
adroitly  merges  two  yarns.  The  opening  sequences  reveal 
the  story  of  an  innocent  girl  from  the  hinterlands  who, 
seeking  employment  in  the  city,  is  tricked  into  a life  ol 
shame  by  mobsters.  Her  brother  attempts  to  avenge  her 
betrayal  and  is  accused  of,  and  executed  for,  a murder 
of  which  he  is  innocent.  Before  dying  he  gives  a scientist 
permission  to  use  his  brain,  which  is  transferred  to  tho 
body  of  a live  ape.  Escaping,  fhe  anthropoid  sets  out  on 
a mission  of  revenge  and  kills  all  members  of  the  mob  as 
well  as  the  district  attorney  who  sent  the  innocent  man  to 
the  chair.  Directed  by  Stuart  Heisler. 

Ellen  Drew,  Robert  Paige,  Paul  LukaB,  Joseph  Calleia,  Onslow 
Stevens,  George  Zucco,  Rod  Cameron,  Phillip  Terry. 
EXPLOITIPS:  Ellen  Drew  is  probably  the  only  name  here 
worthy  of  exploitation  effort.  Sell  the  picture  on  its  chill- 
horror  angles.  Have  house  artist  construct  a life-sized  fig- 
ure of  a gorilla  with  eyes  which  emit  green  flashes  and 
mount  it  above  the  marquee  or  as  the  lobby  center-piece. 
A figure  of  Ellen  Drew  shrinking  from  it  would  add  to  the 
layout.  Spot  one-minute  broadcasts  on  radio  stations  as- 
serting the  "gorilla”  has  "escaped”  and  warning  everyone 
to  "keep  out  ol  its  way.”  Stage  a midnight  "horror"  show 
CATCHLINES:  Half-Man  . Half-Gorilla  And  All  Bad 
Was  the  Beast  Produced  Through  a Scientist's  Cunning 
He  Had  a Terrible  Mission  in  Life  . . Died  Before  He  Com- 
pleted It  . . But  Lived  Again  . . in  a Gorilla's  Body. 


BOXOFFICE 


February  15.  1941 


27 


26 


REVIEW  DIGEST 


++  Very  Good;  4 Good;  ± Fair;  -+•  Mediocre;  — Poor;  —Very  Poor 


In  the  summary  ++  is  rated  as  2 pluses;  — as  2 minuses. 


P.  G.  Page  Title  Distr. 

Let’s  Make  Mnsic  (KKO) 

Letter,  The  (FN)  

l..Li'l  Abner  (KKO)  

Little  Bit  of  Heaven  (Univ) . . . 

Tattle  Men  (KKO)  

Little  Nellie  Kelly  (M-G-M) . . . 

Lone  Star  Raiders  (Rep) 

Lone  Wolf  Keeps  a Date  (Col) 

Long  Voyage  Home  (UA) 

Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para).... 

Lucky  Devils  (Cniv) 

Lucky  Partners  (RKO) 

M 

5.  Maisie  Was  a Lady  (M-G-M). 

Margie  (Univ)  

Mark  of  Zorro,  The  (20th-Fox) 

Meet  the  Missus  (Rep) 

Meet  the  Wildcat  (Univ) 

Melody  and  Moonlight  (Rep)  . . 

Melody  Ranch  (Rep) 

Men  Against  the  Sky  (RKO)  . . 
Mexican  Spitfire  Out  West 

(KKO)  

Michael  Shayne,  Private 

Detective  (20th-Fox)  

Misbehaving  Husbands  (PRC)  . 

Missing  People  (Mono) 

Moon  Over  Burma  (Para) 

Mortal  Storm,  The  (M-G-M)  . . 
13  . Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  (RKO).. 
Mummy’s  Hand,  The  (Univ) . . 
Murder  Over  New  Fork 

( 20th- Fov)  


N 

Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s  (Para) 

Night  Train  (20tli-Fox) 

Nobody’s  Children  (Col) 

8.. No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO) 

No  Time  for  Comedy  (FN) 
North  West  Mounted  Police 
(Para)  


o 

Oklahoma  Renegades  (Rep) . . . 
Ol’  Swimmin’  Hole  (Mono) 

On  the  Spot  (Mono) 

One  Million  B.  C.  (UA) 

One  Night  in  the  Tropics 

(Univ)  


P 

Passport  to  Alcatraz  (Col) 

Pastor  Hall  (UA) 

Phantom  of  Chinatown  (Mono) 
Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  . . 

Pier  13  (20th-Fox) 

Play  Girl  (RKO)  

Pony  Post  (Univ)  

Prairie  Law  (RKO) 

Prairie  Schooners  (Col) 

15.. Pride  of  the  Bowery  (Mono).. 
Public  Deb  No.  1 (20th-Fox)  . . 

Q 

Quarterback,  The  (Para) 

Queen  of  the  Yukon  (Mono)  . . . 

R 

Ragtime  Cowboy  Joe  (Univ) . . 
Ramparts  We  Watch  (RKO).. 

Range  Busters  (Mono) 

Rangers  of  Fortune  (Para) .... 
Remedy  for  Riches  (RKO) .... 
Rhythm  on  the  River  (Para) . . 
Ride,  Tenderfoot,  Ride  (Rep)  . 
10.  .Robin  Hood  of  the  Pecos  (Rep) 
5.  .Romance  of  the  Rio  Grande 

(20th-Fox)  


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P.  G.  Page  Title  Distr. 

S 

Safari  (Para)  

3..  5aint  in  Palm  Springs  (RKO). 
Sandy  Gets  Her  Man  (Univ) . . . 

Sandy  Is  a Lady  (Univ) 

San  Francisco  Docks  (Univ)  . . . 

Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN) 

Sea  Hawk,  The  (WB) 

Second  Chorus  (Para) 

Seven  Sinners  (Univ) 

She  Couldn’t  Say  No  (FN) 

12 . . Six  Lessons  From  Madame 

La  Zonga  (Univ)  

Sky  Murder  (M-G-M) 

Slightly  Tempted  (Univ) 

So  Von  Won’t  Talk  (Col) 

Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (UA) .... 

South  of  Suez  (WB) 

Spring  Parade  (Univ) 

Street  of  Memories  (20th-Fox) . 
Strike  Up  the  Band  (M-G-M). 

T 

Take  Me  Back  to  Okla.  (Mono) 
14.  Tall,  Dark  and  Handsome 

(20th-Fox)  

Texas  Rangers  Ride  Again 

(Para)  

Texas  Terrors  (Rep) 

That  Gang  of  Mine  (Mono) .... 
They  Knew  What  They  Wanted 

(RKO)  

Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA) 

Third  Finger,  Left  Hand 

(M-G-M)  

This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col) . 
Three  Men  From  Texas  (Para) 
Thundering  Frontier  (Col) .... 

Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox) 

Too  Many  Girls  (RKO) 

Torpedo  Raider  (Mono) 

Trail  Blazers  (Rep) 

Trail  of  the  Vigilantes  (Univ) . 
Trailin’  Double  Trouble  (Mono) 

Triple  Justice  (RKO) 

Tugboat  Annie  Sails  Again 
(WB)  

u 

Under  Texas  Skies  (Rep) 

Up  in  the  Air  (Mono) 

v 

Victory  (Para)  

Villain  Still  Pursued  Her, 

The  (RKO)  

12  ..Virginia  (Para)  

W 

Wagon  Train  (RKO)  

Wagons  Westward  (Rep) 

West  of  Pinto  Basin  (Mono) . . 

Westerner,  The  (UA) 

Where  Did  You  Get  That  Girl 

(Univ)  

Who  Is  Guilty?  (Mono) 

Who  Killed  Aunt  Maggie? 

(Rep)  

Wildcat  Bus  (RKO) 

Wild  Horse  Range  (Mono) 

World  in  Flames  (Para) 

Wyoming  (M-G-M)  

8 .. Wyoming  Wildcat  (Rep) 

Y 

Yesterday’s  Heroes  (20th-Fox) 

You'll  Find  Out  (RKO) 

Young  Bill  Hickok  (Rep) 

Young  People  (20th-Fox) 

11.. You're  Out  of  Luck  (Mono)... 
Youth  Will  Be  Served 

(20th-Fox)  

Yukon  Flight  (Mono) 


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32 


BOXOFFICE 


January  25,  1941 


What  the  AAA  Clerks  Look  Like — 

Of  the  19  appointed  to  the  film  tribunals  under  the  decree,  two  are  missing 
from  these  mass  shots.  The  studied  camera  studies,  however,  include:  upper 
row,  left  to  right  and  standing — Charles  Chambers,  San  Francisco;  Walter 
Elliott,  Los  Angeles;  Detlef  Hansen,  Atlanta;  J.  B.  Milton,  Denver,  and 
Joseph  J.  Monahan,  Seattle.  Same  upper  tier,  left  to  right,  but  seated: 
Lloyd  Littell,  Indianapolis ; J.  P.  Nelson,  Portland:  Irving  Yackness,  Detroit, 
and  J.  H.  Brink,  Kansas  City. 

The  lower  panel  shows  these  men,  standing  and  proceeding  from  left  to 
right:  Richard  Romang,  Oklahoma  City:  Roy  Backman,  Salt  Lake;  Sheldon 
Osroot,  Minneapolis,  and  J.  L.  Loell,  Milwaukee.  Seated,  in  the  same  order, 
are:  Byron  Pulis,  Omaha;  C.  W.  Hudson,  St.  Louis;  C.  C.  Williams,  Dallas, 
and  Bruce  Wilson,  Des  Moines. 


Admission  Tax  Return 
Over  43  Millions 

Washington — Reduction  of  the  admis- 
sion-tax exemption  last  July  and  gener- 
ally improved  business  brought  federal  ad- 
mission tax  collections  for  1940  to  a new 
peak  of  $43,483,372.84,  according  to  bureau 
of  internal  revenue  figures. 

The  year’s  take  more  than  doubled  the 
$19,876,311.98  collected  in  1939,  and  on 
the  basis  of  five  months’  experience  with 
the  lower  exemption  indicated  that  the 
1941  revenue  would  be  between  $60,000,000 
and  $70,000,000,  probably  quite  close  to  the 
latter  figure. 

Reflecting  the  usual  year-end  let  down, 
collections  in  December  declined  to  $6,653,- 
971  from  $7,124,225.19  in  November,  which 
was  the  peak  month  of  the  year,  but  con- 
tinued the  spread  over  1939,  when  $1,- 
974,534.56  was  collected  in  December. 

For  the  first  five  months  of  its  applica- 
tion, the  20-cent  exemption  brought  in 
probably  $20,000,000  in  additional  revenue, 
making  allowance  for  the  better  business 
which  is  believed  to  have  prevailed  as  com- 
pared with  1939.  Bureau  figures  for  the 
first  half  of  the  fiscal  year,  July  to  De- 
cember 31,  show  collections  of  $32,315,- 
541.31  compared  with  $10,720,084.47  in  the 
preceding  comparative  semester,  an  in- 
crease of  $21,595,456.84.  For  1940  as  a 
whole,  an  increase  of  $23,607,060.86  was 
shown  over  the  preceding  year. 

The  drop  in  collections  in  December  was 
the  first  decline  recorded  for  a number  of 
months  and  broke  the  upward  trend  which 
had  been  displayed  consistently  up  to  that 
time  from  the  adoption  of  the  20-cent  ex- 
emption in  July.  Collections  for  the  year, 
by  months,  were  reported  by  the  bureau 


as  follows: 

1940 

1939 

January 

1,486,534.64 

1.564,134.28 

February  .... 

1.852,763.82 

1.503.127.31 

March 

2.390.931.82 

1.606.996.13 

April 

2.000,902.18 

1.384.721.72 

May  . 

1,791.095.76 

1.605.987.70 

June 

1.645.603.31 

1,491.260.37 

July 

1.650.162.91 

1.534.249.77 

August 

4.407,097.18 

1,513.468.12 

September 

5,851.655.13 

1.852,256.14 

October  ... 

6.628.429.90 

1.727,931.46 

November 

7,124,225.19 

2,117.644.42 

December 

6.653.971.00 

1.974,534.56 

Metro's  Realignment 
Awaits  Rodgers'  Return 

New  York — Realignment  of  a score  of 
M-G-M  branch  sales  posts,  particularly 
the  promotion  and  transfer  of  bookers,  of- 
fice managers,  student  bookers  and  sales- 
men is  expected  to  be  completed  shortly 
after  the  return  from  the  coast  of  William 
F.  Rodgers,  general  sales  manager,  who  is 
due  Monday. 


Schnitzers  in  for  Funeral 

Pittsburgh — Joseph  I.  Schnitzer,  his 
wife  and  his  brother,  Abe,  were  here  Fri- 
day from  Hollywood  to  attend  funeral 
services  for  Mrs.  Schnitzer,  mother  of  the 
two  men. 


Need  lor  Greater  Effort  in 
Merchandising — Schine 

Gloversville,  N.  Y. — The  necessity  for 
greater  effort  in  merchandising  entertain- 
ment as  a result  of  the  decree,  was  em- 
phasized by  J.  Myer  Schine,  president  of 
the  circuit  bearing  his  name,  during  the 
course  of  a four-day  zone  managers’  meet- 
ing here.  Schine  observed  this  effort  will 
be  most  needed  in  the  immediate  future. 

Attending  the  meetings  were  Zone  Man- 
agers Louis  Lazar,  Frank  Boucher  and  Gus 
Lampe,  bookers  and  home  office  execu- 
tives. 

During  the  sessions  it  was  revealed  one 
manager  and  two  assistants  have  been 
called  for  selective  training.  They  are  Her- 
man Addison,  manager  of  the  State,  Cort- 
land, N.  Y.,  who  is  scheduled  to  leave  for 
a training  camp  January  29,  and  two  as- 
sistants from  the  Ohio  zone  who  are  to 
leave  January  27. 

The  circuit’s  long  closed  Palace  in  Wat- 
ertown reopens  Saturday  on  a two-day 
policy. 


3 Tribunal  Clerks 
Are  Added  by  AAA 

New  York — Additional  information  on 
tribunal  clerks  for  local  AAA  arbitration 
boards  since  the  printing  of  page  16  is  as 
follows : 

The  address  for  Joe  J.  Monahan  in  Seat- 
tle has  been  designated  as  the  Marion 
Building.  New  appointments,  all  Class  A 
boards,  are:  Atlanta,  Detlef  H.  Hansen  jr., 
Mortgage  Guaranty  Bldg.;  Boston,  Henry 
de  la  Morandiere,  Chamber  of  Commerce; 
Washington,  H.  B.  Barton,  Denrike  Bldg. 

The  Class  A rating  means  that  each 
board  will  have  one  clerk  and  one  secre- 
tary of  higher  salary  background.  Clerks 
have  been  named  now  for  19  tribunals. 


Matty  Fox  Due  Monday 

New  York — Matty  Fox,  Universal  ex- 
ecutive, arrives  here  Monday  from  the 
coast. 


BOXOFFICE  ;:  January  25,  1941 


N 


33 


ri Philadelphia  Story”  Stays 
Strong  in  Fourth  Week 


New  York — This  is  the  fourth  week  in 
a row  that  this  department  has  led  off 
with  “The  Philadelphia  Story.”  If  it’s 
getting  routine  here,  it  isn’t  at  the  Music 
Hall,  where  there’s  good  cause  for  excite- 
ment over  $90,000  at  the  end  of  the  fourth 
week.  The  fifth  ends  January  29,  but 
the  attraction  may  go  a sixth. 

Otherwise,  it’s  generally  on  the  quiet 
side.  No  particular  reason,  just  quiet. 
Some  managers  say  too  much  important 
radio  competition  all  of  a sudden;  others 
aren’t  saying.  Anyhow,  “Second  Chorus” 
at  the  Paramount  is  about  the  only  other 
entrant  in  the  big  money,  with  $50,000 


for  the  first  week. 

(Average  is  100) 

Astor — The  Great  Dictator  (TJA),  15th  wk. 

roadshow 100 

Broadway — Fantasia  (Disney),  10th  wk. 

roadshow 140 

Capitol — Flight  Command  (M-G-M) 90 

Criterion — Behind  the  News  (Rep) 85 

Globe — Night  Train  (20th-Fox),  4th  wk 110 

Paramount — Second  Chorus  (Para't),  plus 

stage  show  120 

Radio  City  Music  Hall — The  Philadelphia 

Story,  4th  wk,  plus  stage  show 140 

Rialto — Convoy  (RKO)  100 

Rivoli — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO).  2nd  wk 100 

Roxy — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox),  2nd  wk. 

plus  stage  show 11.0 

Strand — Four  Mothers  (WB),  2nd  wk,  plus 

plus  stage  show 100 


Inauguration  Visitors 
Hypo  to  W ashington 

Washington  — Washington’s  greatest 
event,  the  history  making  third  term  in- 
augural, swelled  city  with  out  of  town 


guests,  with  first  run  houses  cashing  in. 
“Mounties”  and  “Hudson’s  Bay”  vied  for 
“mushing”  honors;  neck  and  neck  at  tape. 
“Flight  Command”  on  moreover  to  Col- 
umbia, following  nine  day  stay  at  Capitol, 
still  on  the  beam. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  23. 

(Average  is  100) 

Capitol — Hudson's  Bay  (20th-Fox)  and  stage 


show  175 

Columbia — Flight  Command  (M-G-M)  move- 

over  from  Capitol  after  9 day  stay 175 

Earle — North  West  Mounted  Police  (Para) 

stage  show  175 

Keith’s — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO),  3rd  wk 95 

Metropolitan — Escape  to  Glory  (Col) 80 

Palace — GWTW  (M-G-M)  160 


P hilly  Does  Right  by 
" Philadelphia  Story " 

Philadelphia — “The  Philadelphia  Story” 
was  the  biggest  news  this  week,  garner- 
ing a boxoffice  of  $26,500,  which  is  175  per 
cent  of  normal  business  at  the  Boyd.  Busi- 
ness elsewhere  was  kept  down  by  cold  and 
slushy  weather,  and  the  still-present  wave 
of  flu  and  grippe. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  24: 


(Average  is  100) 

Aldine — The  Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (TJ-A), 

2nd  wk 65 

Boyd — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  175 

Big  sendoff  from  critics  brought  results. 

Earle — Invisible  Woman  (Univ),  plus  Ted 

Weems  orchestra  on  stage  100 

Pox — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t)  95 

Karlton — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN),  2nd  run, 

third  wk.  downtown  90 

Keith’s — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO),  2nd  run 105 

Stanley — Comrade  X (M-G-M),  2nd  run 100 

Stanton — Texas  Rangers  (Para’t)  75 


— Metropolitan  Photo  Service 

Charity  Was  Their  Keynoter — 

Tuesday  and  the  Hotel  Astor  saw  the  induction  of  new  officers  of  M.  P. 
Associates.  On  the  dais  were  Arthur  Greenblatt  of  Monogram  who  is  becom- 
ing increasingly  popular  as  a toastmaster  in  Hew  York;  Jack  Ellis  of  RKO, 
retiring  president  after  three  consecutive  terms;  Joseph  Lee  of  20 th  Century- 
Fox,  new  president,  and  Sol  Trauner  of  Columbia,  who  was  re-elected 
treasurer. 

In  his  valedictory,  Ellis  stated  Associates  had  disbursed  200  charity  checks 
in  its  first  year,  400  in  its  second  year  and  750  last  year.  Jack  Bowen,  new 
M-G-M  district  manager,  presented  the  organization  with  a $600  check,  net 
proceeds  of  the  recent  testimonial  given  him  and  E.  K.  O’Shea.  Among  the 
speakers  stressing  the  charity  work  were  Major  Leslie  E.  Thompson,  vice- 
president  of  the  Will  Rogers  Memorial  Fund;  Sam  Rinzler  of  Randforce 
Harry  H.  Buxbaum  of  20 th-Fox  and  Lee. 

Jim  Frank  of  National  Theatre  Supply,  who  was  elected  first  vice-president 
named  five  directors,  including  Ellis,  Nat  Beier  of  UA,  Jack  Hattem  of  Inter - 
boro  Circuit,  Adolph  Haas  of  Alexander  Film  and  David  Levy  of  Universal. 


(r  — ft 

Flu  and  Weather 
Whittle  Takes 

New  York — Theatre  grosses  took  a ter- 
rific beating  during  the  week  as  bad 
weather  and  influenza  played  havoc  with 
attendance  figures,  according  to  Harry 
Brandt,  head  of  the  circuit  bearing  his 
name  and  the  ITOA. 

He  said  Monday  night  was  worse  than 
any  summer  evening  and  that  he  had 
never  seen  business  so  bad. 

(k  =i) 

RKO  District  Heads  Talk 
Selling  Under  Decree 

New  York — RKO  district  managers  held 
a one-day  meeting  at  the  Waldorf  Thurs- 
day on  a call  issued  by  Ned  E.  Depinet 
and  there  discussed  selling  policies,  in- 
cluding plans  to  be  employed  under  the 
decree.  Home  office  executives  also  at- 
tended and  addresses  were  delivered  by 
George  J.  Schaefer,  president,  and  A.  W. 
Smith  jr.,  general  sales  manager.  Addi- 
tionally, product  for  release  the  remain- 
der of  the  season  was  gone  over. 

In  attendance  from  the  field  were  Herb 
MacIntyre,  Dave  Prince,  L.  E.  Goldham- 
mer,  Walter  Branson,  Charles  Boasberg, 
Nat  Levy,  Gus  Schaefer,  Bob  Wolff  and 
Sol  Sachs.  The  headquarters  contingent 
included  Bob  Mochrie,  eastern  sales  man- 
ager; Cresson  E.  Smith,  western  sales 
manager;  A.  A.  Schubart,  manager  of 
exchange  operations;  S.  Barret  McCor- 
mick, director  of  advertising  and  pub- 
licity; W.  H.  Clark,  treasurer;  Phil  Reis- 
man,  head  of  the  foreign  department; 
Harry  Michaelson,  short  subject  sales 
manager;  Leon  Bamberger,  Mike  G.  Poller, 
William  Dahler,  William  Horne,  Lou  Miller, 
W.  J.  McShea  and  E.  J.  Smith  jr. 

Newbury  Heads  N.  J.  Allied 
Again  Until  Convention 

Trenton — Lee  Newbury  was  re-elected 
president  of  Allied  of  New  Jersey  at  a 
state-wide  meeting  here,  an  adjourned 
session  of  the  organization’s  21st  con- 
vention. He  will  hold  office  for  a “short” 
term,  or  until  the  next  convention  early 
this  fall.  With  Newbury,  the  entire  in- 
cumbent slate  will  function  in  the  same 
manner. 

This  includes  Vice-presidents  Maury 
Miller  for  northern  New  Jersey  and  Ralph 
Wilkin  for  southern  New  Jersey;  Henry 
H.  Loewenstein,  secretary,  and  Dave  Sna- 
per,  treasurer.  New  board  members  elect- 
ed are  Florence  Rosen,  Bridgeton;  H.  A. 
Hill,  Paulsboro;  Sam  Frank,  Hammon- 
ton;  Jack  Waxman,  Atlantic  City,  and 
Morris  Spewack,  Carteret.  Three  ex-of- 
ficio board  members,  a new  designation, 
are  George  Gold,  Irving  Dollinger  and 
Sidney  Samuelson.  Jacob  Unger  and  Frank 
Gravatt  were  re-elected  to  the  board. 


John  Powers  Services 

New  York — Funeral  services  for  John 
Powers,  57,  were  held  at  the  Universal 
Funeral  Parlor  Tuesday.  Powers,  who  died 
suddenly,  was  long  identified  with  D.  W. 
Griffith,  Inc.  and  handled  the  run  of  “Way 
Down  East”  in  London. 


34 


.BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


^^ALTER  READE  and  the  missus  left  Fri- 
day for  a Palm  Beach  vacation  . . . Abe 
Left’s  daughter,  Ethel,  on  February  9 will 
marry  L.  Bieberfeld  at  Riverside  Plaza,  fol- 
lowing which  the  couple  will  spend  their 
honeymoon  at  Lake  Placid.  They  met  at 
NYU  and  carried  on  the  romance  ever 
since.  After  the  ceremonies,  Leff  and  his 
wife  will  head  for  Miami  for  a vacation 
. . . Robert  Riskin  made  his  headquarters 
at  the  Selznick  International  offices  while 
in  town  . . . Hal  B.  Wallis  got  in  from 
Washington  Wednesday  for  a short  stay 
. . . Joe  Seider  has  been  confined  to  bed 
at  the  Buckingham  Hotel  with  arthritis 
. . . His  son,  Eddie,  is  back  from  a Miami 
vacation,  nicely  browned  . . . Bill  Stein, 
who  recently  sold  his  four  New  Jersey 
houses  to  St.  Cloud  Amusement  Co.,  left 
over  the  weekend  for  Miami  and  two 
months’  rest.  On  his  return,  he  says  he 
will  get  back  into  the  business.  He  has 
several  things  in  mind  now,  but  is  waiting 
until  he  has  a vacation  behind  him. 

New  M.  P.  Associates  members  include 
Ralph  Pielow,  Bob  Bernstein,  Irving  Dol- 
linger,  Eugene  Picker,  Joe  Engler,  Bob 
Fannon,  Abe  Fox,  Wilbur  Snaper  and  Wal- 
ter Brecher  with  Sam  Rinzler  and  Louis 
Frisch  already  signifying  their  intention 
of  joining  up  . . . Bill  Sussman,  Jack 
Bloom,  Jack  Sichelman  are  back  at  their 
20 th-Fox  home  office  desks  after  Miami 
vacations  . . . Bill  Gerhing  got  back  from 
Chicago  Monday  after  a one-day  meeting 
there  . . . The  RKO  trade  screening  Tues- 
day morning  at  the  Astor  on  “Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith”  brought  out,  among  others,  Eddie 
Stern,  Al  Margulies,  Jack  Penelles,  Harold 
Klein,  Mike  Edelstein,  Sam  Rinzler, 
Charles  McDonald,  Sol  Schwartz,  Dave 
Lustig,  Laurence  and  Andrew  Bolognino, 


— Photo  by  Cosmo-Sileo 

Sears  in  His  Huddle — 

Robert  Riskin  is  greeted  by  Mort 
Blumenstock  on  his  New  York  arrival 
to  confer  with  Gradwell  L.  Sears  on 
the  sales  policy  governing  “Meet  John 
Doe,”  which  the  former  produced  with 
Frank  Capra  for  Warner  release. 


Al  Suchman,  Eddie  Seider,  Henry  Brown, 
Abe  Levy,  Myron  Starr,  Joe  Rosenzweig, 
Walter  Reade  jr„  Louis  Geller,  Fred 
Schwartz,  Sam  Goodman,  Irving  Dashkin, 
Joe  Rosenbloom,  Arthur  Mayer,  Bob  Un- 
gerfeld,  Irving  Renner  and  Ben  Rossasy. 

A sudden  influx  of  English  clients  is  the 
influence  . . . which  accounts  for  Schwartz 
& Frohlich  serving  tea  and  cookies  each 
afternoon  . . . and  that  means  employes  as 
well  as  the  cash  customers  . . . William  F. 
Rodgers  was  due  from  the  coast  over  the 
weekend,  which  would  bring  him  back  to 
his  desk  Monday  . . . Recent  visitors  in- 
clude John  Harris  of  Pittsburgh  and  Harry 
Kalmine,  Warner  zone  manager  in  Pitts- 
burgh . . . Edward  Raftery  is  the  recipient 
of  one  of  the  last  photographs  posed  by 
the  late  Mort  Shea,  presented  to  the  at- 
torney by  Shea’s  widow  . . . Leonard  Picker 
is  visiting  his  office  after  being  rudely  in- 
terrupted by  business  while  vacationing  in 
Florida.  He  was  poised  to  resume  in  Miami, 
but  may  have  been  stymied  at  the  last 
minute  . . . Gilbert  Miller  should  be  headed 
for  Hollywood  before  month-end  to  pro- 
duce his  Broadway  stage  success,  “Ladies 
in  Retirement,”  for  Columbia.  Lester  Co- 
wan is  associate  producer  . . . Roland 
Reed,  RKO  director,  is  in  town  from  the 
studios.  About  a week  . . . Leo  Pillot  was 
on  special  assignment  for  UA  in  Geneva 
and  Amsterdam  <New  York,  U.  S.  A.)  in 
behalf  of  “Pastor  Hall.” 

Their  local  vacation  terminated,  J.  Wal- 
ter Ruben,  Metro  director,  his  wife,  Vir- 
ginia Bruce,  and  daughter  Susan  have  re- 
turned to  Hollywood  . . . Oscar  Levant  is 
west  for  Paramount  and  a role  in  “Kiss  the 
Boys  Goodbye”  . . . J.  Robert  Rubin  was 
among  the  many  flu  victims  of  the  week 
. . . Harry  Buxbaum  broke  down  Monday, 
and  treated  the  boys  at  the  20th-Fox  ex- 
change to  a luncheon  because  that  was  the 
day  he  added  another  year  to  his  gray 
hairs  . . . Harry  M.  Goetz  is  back  from  the 
coast  . . . Leopold  and  Ruth  Friedman  were 
in  Washington  for  the  inaugural  cere- 
monies . . . Bill  Scully  had  been  invited, 
but  was  unable  to  attend  due  to  pressure 
of  business  . . . Arthur  Loew  is  planning  to 
make  a trip  to  Australia  shortly.  Incident- 
ally, he  was  recently  operated  on  his  right 
hand  which  has  left  a scar  . . . J.  Coller, 
manager  of  the  Major,  lower  east  side,  is 
happy  over  the  recent  engagement  of  his 
daughter,  Ruth,  to  Edward  Meister  . . . 
Nat  Holt,  RKO  division  manager,  has  been 
around  on  his  usual  booking  trip  . . . Local 
Paramount  employes  will  benefit  by  Na- 
tional Screen  moving  out  of  the  ground 
floor  space.  It  will  be  converted  into  a 
recreation  room. 

Sam  Kaplan,  RKO  projectionist  in  Pre- 
view B at  the  Music  Hall,  is  the  latest 
new  poppa  handing  out  cigars.  It’s  a boy 
. . . Leon  Rosenblatt,  partner  of  Isidore 
Welt,  General  Manager  Bernie  Brooks  and 
Monogramites  Bill  Moses  and  Arthur 
Greenblatt  making  a cozy  luncheon  group 
at  the  subterranean  Childs  in  the  Para- 
mount Building  . . . Burt  Champion,  radio 
press  contact  at  UA,  down  with  influenza 
and  bronchitis  . . . Nat  Wachsberger,  Film 
Alliance  head,  also  bedded  with  a cold, 
which  will  postpone  his  scheduled  coast 
trip  . . . Ruth  Weisberg  of  Mort  Blumen- 


The  Wallises  Arrive — 

The  executive  producer  for  Warner 
hits  the  town  for  shows  and  such, 
after  attending  the  inauguration  in 
Washington.  With  Hal  B.  is  Mrs. 
Wallis,  professionally  known  as  Louise 
Fazenda,  of  course. 


stock’s  staff  at  Warner  is  back  at  her  desk 
after  a week  under  the  doctor’s  care  . . . 
Nine  pairs  of  binoculars  have  been  received 
by  M-G-M’s  foreign  department  in  re- 
sponse to  an  appeal  relayed  from  its  Lon- 
don office.  They  will  be  shipped  abroad 
through  arrangements  made  by  C.  Suydam 
Cutting,  chairman  of  the  American  Com- 
mittee for  Defense  of  British  Homes. 
Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  Si  Seadler,  David 
Blum,  Michael  Mindlin,  Stanley  Byre,  M.  D. 
O’Brien  and  William  German  are  among 
the  contributors  . . . Mrs.  William  Mad- 
den, popular  receptionist  at  M-G-M’s 
eighth  floor  desk,  has  retired  to  the  more 
domestic  scene.  She  has  been  replaced  by 
Mrs.  Milton  Levine  . . . Edwin  A.  Aaron, 
assistant  to  William  F.  Rodgers,  has  re- 
ceived his  diploma  for  an  advanced  course 
in  public  speaking  from  the  Dale  Carnegie 
Institute  of  Effective  Speaking  and  Hu- 
man Relations. 

Harry  Moskowitz,  Loew  construction 
head,  returned  Wednesday  from  a two- 
week  trip  to  Kansas  City,  St.  Louis  and 
Evansville,  Ind.  . . . Dave  Levy,  local  Uni- 
versal branch  manager,  is  vacationing  in 
Miami  and  due  back  in  about  10  days  . . . 
Charles  L.  O’Reilly  plans  to  leave  for 
Miami,  February  22.  He  was  among  the 
turnouts  for  the  presidential  inauguration 
in  Washington  . . . Deanna  Durbin,  Mickey 
Rooney,  Nelson  Eddy  also  were  in  the  Capi- 
tol for  the  inauguration  and  have  returned 
to  the  coast  . . . Simone  Simon  has  fin- 
ished a week  of  p.  a.’s  at  Loew’s  State  . . . 
Bill  Sussman  is  due  back  next  week  from 
Miami  where  he  has  been  spending  the 
past  three  weeks  vacationing  . . . Ralph 
Pielow,  local  branch  manager  for  M-G-M, 
and  the  missus  have  been  looking  over 
Forest  Hills  apartments  since  they  moved 
down  from  the  upstate  key  center. 

Sidney  Schwartz,  M-G-M  foreign  travel- 
ing auditor,  will  return  to  the  Far  East 
(Continued  on  page  36-D) 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


35 


Freiday  Musi  Amend 
Plaint  Against  "U" 


New  York — Court  news  of  the  week  was 
featured  by  activity  in  William  Freiday’s 
stockholder  suit  against  Universal,  its  of- 
ficers and  directors.  The  Universal  di- 
rector was  ordered  to  serve  an  amended 
complaint  separately  stating  each  cause  of 
action. 

Among  the  important  points  to  be  re- 
stated is  the  demand  the  deal  between 
Universal  and  Big-U-Film  Corp.  be  res- 
cinded. The  court  ruled  on  one  feature 
when  Justice  Edward  R.  Koch  in  the  su- 
preme court  declared  the  voting  trust 
agreement  which  is  under  fire  does  not 
constitute  a wrong  to  Universal,  but  may  to 
its  stockholders.  The  suit  claims  waste 
and  mismanagement  and  seeks  $2,000,000 
damages  from  the  officers  and  directors  as 
well  as  the  ousting  of  those  allegedly  re- 
sponsible. 

Dismiss  “Test  Pilot"  Suit 

Suit  by  Delores  Lacy  Collins  as  ad- 
ministratrix of  the  estate  of  James  H.  Col- 
lins, deceased,  against  M-G-M,  M-G-M 
Distributing  Corp.,  Loew’s,  and  Culver  Ex- 
port for  $1,000,000  damages  for  the  alleged 
plagiarism  in  “Test  Pilot”  of  her  husband’s 
book,  “Test  Pilot,”  has  been  dismissed  by 
Federal  Judge  John  C.  Knox.  The  action 
also  sought  an  injunction  and  an  account- 
ing of  profits. 

Alvin  A.  Harnes  and  Howard  A.  Gray 
have  filed  a supreme  court  action  against 
Warner  and  Vitagraph,  claiming  the  pla- 
giarism of  a play  which  resulted  in  "Doc- 
tor Ehrlich’s  Magic  Bullet.”  Damages  of 
$75,000  and  an  injunction  are  sought. 
Warner  is  seeking  a transfer  to  the  fed- 
eral court,  claiming  diversity  of  citizen- 
ship. 

Suit  by  J.  Raymond  Cornell  against 
Mary  Pickford  for  $250,000  alleged  libel 
in  an  article  published  in  January,  1934, 
in  the  Boston  Sunday  Advertiser  has  been 
dismissed  by  Federal  Judge  John  C.  Knox. 
The  suit  charged  the  actress  of  accusing 
Cornell  of  being  party  to  a plot  to  kidnap 
her. 

Point  to  Goldwyn 

Judge  Edward  A.  Conger  in  the  federal 
court  has  formally  denied  UA’s  plea  to 
dismiss  Samuel  Goldwyn’s  suit  against  it 
and  ordered  the  producer  to  re-frame  that 
part  of  his  complaint  which  seeks  damages 
for  alleged  interference  with  the  distribu- 
tion of  “The  Westerner.”  UA  must  answer 
within  ten  days  of  Goldwyn’s  compliance 
with  this  order. 

Leonard  Goldstein  has  filed  a $25,000 
supreme  court  action  against  Mervyn  Le 
Roy,  claiming  the  producer  persuaded  him 
to  give  up  his  contract  with  Kenny  Baker, 
promising  him  adequate  compensation  for 
it.  No  compensation  has  been  paid.  Le  Roy 
claims  the  contract  Goldstein  had  is  not 
enforceable  under  California  law  and  that 
Goldstein  has  no  agent’s  license. 

Suit  by  Films  Sonores  Tobis,  S.  A., 
French  production  company,  against 
Charles  Chaplin,  Charles  Chaplin  Film 
Corp.,  and  UA  was  dismissed  by  Federal 
Judge  John  C.  Knox.  The  suit  sought 
an  injunction  accounting  of  profits  and 
damages  against  Chaplin’s  “Modern 
Times,”  claiming  the  picture  to  be  a “de- 


liberate piracy”  of  the  plaintiff's  film,  “A 
Nous  La  Liberte.” 

Suit  by  the  Juno  Theatre  Corp.,  opera- 
tor of  the  Bedford  Theatre,  against  the 
late  Sotores  D.  Cocalis  for  $9,748  has  been 
settled  out  of  the  supreme  court.  Un- 
der the  terms  of  a contract  whereby  Co- 
calis was  employed  as  film  buyer  for  the 
Bedford,  the  cost  of  films  was  not  to  ex- 
ceed 25  per  cent  of  the  theatre’s  gross. 
The  amount  sued  for  represented  the  al- 
leged charge  for  film  above  that  amount. 

Republic  Suit  Dismissed 

Federal  Judge  John  C.  Knox  has  dis- 
missed a suit  by  Republic  Pictures  Corp. 
of  Delaware  and  Republic  Pictures  against 
the  Federal  Film  Co.  and  Frank  J.  Whit- 
tle. It  sought  damages,  an  accounting 
and  an  injunction,  claiming  the  defendants 
were  distributing  eight  Republic  features 
and  two  serials  without  permission. 

RCA,  Westinghouse  Electric  and  Manu- 
facturing Co.,  General  Electric  Co.,  and  30 
officers  and  directors  of  RCA  have  applied 
to  the  supreme  court  to  dismiss  a $260,000,- 
000  stockholder  action  against  them.  Suit 
charges  RCA  lost  $10,000,000  through  in- 
vestments in  RKO,  and  $240,000,000  by 
purchasing  worthless  patents  from  the 
other  corporate  defendants  in  return  for 
600,000  shares  of  stock  worth  $40  a share. 

Supreme  Court  Justice  Ferdinand  Pe- 
cora  has  dismissed  a counter  claim  by 
Edward  Sheldon  and  Margaret  Ayer 
Barnes  against  Paramount  in  connection 
with  a suit  by  Guthrie  McClintic  against 
Miss  Barnes  and  Sheldon,  in  which  Para- 
mount, Gilbert  Miller  and  Charles  Froh- 
man,  Inc.,  were  added  as  defendants  by 
Miss  Barnes  and  Sheldon.  McClintic  seeks 
$67,608  representing  half  of  what  Miss 
Barnes  and  Sheldon  received  from  Loew’s 
for  the  plagiarism  of  “Dishonored  Lady” 
in  “Letty  Lynton.”  They,  in  turn,  sued 
Paramount,  Miller  and  Frohman  for  $50,- 
000,  claiming  these  defendants  had  ruined 
the  London  presentation  of  their  play. 
The  court  ruled  Paramount  had  not  as- 
sumed any  obligations  under  the  contract 
for  the  London  play. 


SEC  November  Summary 
Lists  Two  Stock  Deals 

Washington — Only  two  film  stock  trans- 
actions are  reported  by  the  securities  and 
exchange  commission  in  its  second  No- 
vember summary  of  the  activities  of  cor- 
poration officers  and  directors  in  the  se- 
curities of  their  companies. 

In  Paramount  Pictures,  the  commission 
reported  the  acquisition  of  1,000  shares  of 
common  stock  by  Anson  C.  Goodyear,  di- 
rector, New  York,  increasing  his  holdings 
to  2.000  shares. 

In  Universal  Pictures,  Preston  Davie,  di- 
rector, New  York,  was  reported  to  have 
acquired  30  shares  of  eight  per  cent  first 
preferred  stock,  representing  his  entire  in- 
terest in  that  class. 


Rose  London-Bound 

New  York — David  Rose,  managing  di- 
rector for  Paramount,  arrived  from  the 
coast  early  in  the  week  and  was  scheduled 
to  leave  for  London  the  latter  part. 


Much  fanfare  marked  the  inauguration  of  the  “March  of  Dimes”  drive  in 
New  York  what  with  parades  of  ushers  who  did  some  shivering  in  the  trek 
down  Broadway  and  a reviewing  stand  like  the  above.  Wearing  overcoats,  left 
to  right,  are  Ed  Sullivan,  columnist  of  the  New  York  Daily  News  and  master 
of  ceremonies;  Marvin  Schenck,  Eugene  Picker,  Charles  C.  Moskowitz  and 
Oscar  A.  Doob.  They’re  with  Loew’s,  of  course.  Nicholas  M.  Schenck  is  na- 
tional chairman.  Above,  Sullivan  changes  Times  Square  into  Dimes  Square 


36 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


Peg  "Fantasia"  for  76 
Runs  by  End  of  '42 

New  York — Long-range  distribution  of 
“Fantasia”  by  Walt  Disney  is  pegged 
optimistically  at  76  roadshow  engagements 
up  to  the  end  of  1942.  This  embraces  12 
key  city  runs  of  indefinite  duration,  of 
which  one  is  under  way  here,  and  four 
more  scheduled  by  the  middle  of  February 
in  Philadelphia,  Washington,  Boston  and 
Chicago.  Toronto  may  be  an  addition 
within  the  period. 

The  balance  of  the  76  dates  will  be 
spotted  in  cities  of  less  than  key  propor- 
tions, but  only  after  the  first  12  engage- 
ments are  completed.  This  will  enable  Dis- 
ney to  utilize  the  special  sound  equipment 
in  the  later  showings.  New  equipment  of 
fabricated  composition  will  be  in  produc- 
tion by  that  time  to  go  into  the  larger 
number  of  houses. 


— Photo  by  Cosmo-Sileo 

The  Biographical  Actor  Arrives — 

“ The  Sea  Wolf”  behind  him,  Edward  G.  Robinson  reaches  Gotham  for  a 
couple  of  weeks’  stay.  On  the  left  is  Jean  Westervelt,  his  step-daughter,  on 
the  right,  Mrs.  R. 


Handling  " Night  Train " 

In  British  Possessions 

New  York — M-G-M,  which  financed  50 
per  cent  of  the  production  for  “Night 
Train,”  produced  by  GB  in  England,  will 
release  the  picture  in  all  British  posses- 
sions. While  20th-Fox  is  handling  the 
film  in  this  country,  M-G-M  had  an  op- 
portunity to  do  so  but  rejected  it  because 
it  did  not  meet  up  with  their  domestic  re- 
quirements. Both  M-G-M  and  20th-Fox 
will  share  equally  in  the  international 
profits  of  the  film  which  Robert  T.  Kane 
made  last  year. 


Meet  lor  Depinet 

New  York — Leo  Devaney,  Depinet  drive 
leader,  and  RKO  home  office  executives 
held  a meeting  at  the  local  exchange  pre- 
sided over  by  Robert  Wolff.  A.  W.  Smith 
jr.,  general  sales  manager,  also  attended. 


RKO  Winds  Up  "Mr.  Smith" 
Previews  in  Detroit 

New  York — With  a preview  at  the 
Michigan,  Detroit,  on  Tuesday,  RKO 
washes  up  a series  of  32  mass  “sneaks”  of 
“Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith.”  The  entire  United 
States  and  Canada  were  blanketed.  In 
each  exchange  city,  RKO  district  and 
branch  managers  were  hosts.  The  initial 
preview  was  held  at  the  Century,  Buffalo, 
January  17  where  Gus  Schaefer,  Elmer 
Lux,  Terry  Turner,  Harry  Reiners  and 
George  Degnon  were  present. 

The  screening  at  the  Astor  Theatre  here 
Tuesday  morning  was  thronged. 


Blumberg  Returns 

New  York— Nate  J.  Blumberg,  Universal 
president,  returned  Saturday  from  an  ex- 
tended business  trip  to  the  studio. 

William  A.  Scully,  general  sales  mana- 
ger, may  manage  a Florida  vacation  in 
three  to  four  weeks. 


Urges  Lower  Legit 

Price  on  Sunday 

New  York — “It  is  not  enough  that  the 
Broadway  theatre  managers  have  agreed 
not  to  raise  prices  on  Sunday;  I think  they 
ought  to  lower  them.  Members  of  the  mo- 
tion picture  audiences  are  not  $4.40  or 
even  $3.30  patrons  and  there  is  little  use 
in  wishing  that  they  were.” 

So  states  James  F.  Reilly,  executive  sec- 
retary of  the  League  of  New  York  Thea- 
tres, in  a report  to  Actors’  Equity  Ass’n  on 
the  Sunday  performance  experiment  be- 
gun last  November. 

He  is  of  the  opinion  the  experiment  has 
not  been  in  operation  long  enough  to  draw 
a conclusion  on  its  success,  although,  for 
the  time  being  “the  managers  seem  to  be 
very  well  satisfied  with  the  results.”  Reilly 
urges  legit  theatre  managers  to  attempt 
“heavier  concentration  on  advertising”  to 
advise  audiences  that  Sunday  shows  are 
now  available. 


Nine  New  York  Studios  on 
SAG's  " Unfair " List 

New  York — The  Screen  Actors  Guild 
has  placed  the  following  New  York  studios 
on  the  “unfair”  list  for  alleged  refusal  to 
enter  into  a contract  with  the  guild,  or  to 
abide  by  the  conditions  of  employment 
contained  in  the  basic  agreement  of  the 
SAG: 

Advance  Cinema  Equipment  Co.,  Com- 
monwealth Pictures  Corp.,  Courier  Produc- 
tions, Ted  Eshbaugh  Studios,  General  Busi- 
ness Films,  Rowland  Rogers  Picture  Ser- 
vice, Ruby  Film  Co.,  Willard  Picture  Pro- 
ductions and  Films  of  Commerce  Co. 


Commercial  Theatre  Program 

Toronto — The  first  commercially  spon- 
sored theatre  program  bowed  here  at  the 
Famous-Players  Imperial.  Sponsored  by  a 
biscuit  company,  the  musical  show  is 
scheduled  for  weekly  appearance. 


They're  West  to  Meet  the  Producers — 

Object:  Plans  for  1941-42.  Therefore  to  Hollywood  go  Charles  Schwartz,  UA 
attorney;  Murray  Silverstone,  chief  of  world-wide  operations,  and  Arthur  W. 
Kelly,  vice-president  and  general  sales  manager. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


36-A 


New  Managers  Get  a Welcome — 

Variety  Club  members  welcomed  two  new  exchange  managers  to  the  Wash- 
ington Filmrow  with  a party  at  the  Willard  Hotel.  Appearing  above  at  the 
head  table  are,  left  to  right,  John  Allen,  new  M-G-M  manager;  Hardie 
Meakin,  chief  barker  of  the  club,  and  Max  A.  Cohen,  new  Universal  branch 
head. 


WASHINGTON 


JJUMOR  and  music  reigned  on  the  occa- 
sion of  the  Inaugural  Gala  last  Sun- 
day evening  when  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished audiences  ever  assembled  in 
Constitution  Hall  was  entertained  by  a 
cast  embracing  the  leaders  of  stage,  screen 
and  opera.  Robert  E.  Sherwood,  sched- 
uled m.  c„  became  a flu  victim;  Eddie 
Cantor  was  selected  for  the  coveted  role, 
but  he,  too,  was  indisposed,  and  finally 
Doug  Fairbanks  jr.  filled  in  the  breach 
and  acquitted  himself  admirably  in  such 
an  extemporaneous  assignment  . . . Rise 
Stevens  of  the  Met,  recently  signed  by 
Metro,  and  Nelson  Eddy  offered  vocal  se- 
lections. Raymond  Massey  gave  an  ex- 
cerpt from  “Abe  Lincoln  in  Illinois”  . . . 
Mickey  Rooney  came  to  the  fore,  seem- 
ingly out  of  place  on  such  a program,  but 
became  the  hit  of  the  evening  when  he 
offered  a portion  of  his  own  symphony  on 
the  piano,  an  artistic  gaze,  and  encored 
with  impersonations  of  Gable  and  Lionel 
Barrymore  from  “Test  Pilot,”  and  one  on 
the  Louis-Paychek  fight.  Irving  Berlin 
sang  his  own  composition,  “God  Bless 
America,”  Ethel  Barrymore  read  a 
poem  by  Walt  Whitman,  and  Charlie 
Chaplin  concluded  the  program  with  his 
touching  and  stirring  rendition  of  the 
concluding  speech  in  “The  Dictator.” 

The  flu  plague  has  struck  the  20 th-Fox 
staff,  with  Sara  Young,  Edythe  Silverberg 
and  May  Feldman  battling  attacks  at 
home  . . . Elmer  Nolte  and  Freddie  Smouff 
of  the  Durkee  circuit  were  Row  visitors 
. . . RKO's  Russ  Hildebrand  is  mourning 
the  passing  of  his  father  in  York,  Pa. 
. . . RKO’s  Emmet  Cashman,  home  office 
auditor,  is  in  ..  . The  booking  depart- 
ment features  a front  that  is  quite  an  in- 
novation; built  to  the  ceiling,  allowing  win- 
dows for  the  bookers  only,  and  accenting 
the  Ned  Depinet  Drive. 

The  Metro  staff  was  glad  to  see  Phil 
Bobys  return  to  his  duties  following  a 
siege  of  the  flu  . . . Freida  Cohen  was 
feted  with  a luncheon  by  the  girls  of  the 


staff  and  gifted  with  a hostess  gown  by 
the  Pep  Club  on  her  resignation  . . . 
Blanche  LeMan  comes  from  Boston  to 
join  the  cashier’s  department  . . . Jules 
Lapidus,  Universal  district  manager,  visit- 
ed with  Branch  Manager  Max  Cohen  . . . 
“Rusty”  Duncan,  secretary  to  Frank  La 
Falce,  shook  the  flu  enough  to  return  to 
work  but  is  courting  laryngitis. 

Explosion  and  fire  in  the  booth  of  the 
Little  during  the  showing  of  “Pastor  Hall” 
cleared  the  house  in  record  time  and  in 
orderly  fashion  . . . The  President's  inau- 
guration remained  to  be  a call  to  cameras 
for  the  entire  eastern  staff  of  Paramount 
News  ...  A.  J . Richard  and  William 
Montague,  Paramount  executives,  visited 
for  the  occasion. 

The  “Mile  O'  Dimes”  campaign  has 
been  launched  and  the  Row  will  be  rep- 
resented by  a unit  donation.  Anyone  in 
the  field  who  would  like  to  make  a con- 
tribution toward  the  fight  against  infan- 
tile paralysis,  same  to  be  included  in  the 
group  sum,  will  please  forward  their  of- 
fering to  your  correspondent,  Charles  T. 
Hurley,  913  New  Jersey  Ave.,  Washington; 
chairman  of  the  film  distribution  unit  . . . 
Remember!  Your  dime  on  the  line  will 
help  straighten  a spine. 

An  announcement  from  John  J . Payette, 
Warner  general  zone  manager,  advises 
that  a special  plaque  will  be  posted  on 
the  boxoffices  of  all  Warner  houses  in 
the  near  future.  The  Warner  theatres  are 
the  first  to  sign  up  with  the  motion  pic- 
ture committee  of  the  national  defense 
group,  the  plaque  being  evidence  of  their 
enthusiam  in  support  of  the  defense 
effort  . . . The  Warner  club  rooms,  lo- 
cated in  the  Tivoli  Bldg.,  were  formally 
opened  January  15,  with  all  club  mem- 
bers and  their  friends  in  attendance.  The 
club  will  be  open  every'  day  but  Sunday, 
with  two  nights  each  week  to  be  known 
as  “Surprise  Night”  at  which  time  enter- 
tainment will  be  presented.  Club  officers 


are:  James  Root,  president;  Harry  An- 
ger, vice-president;  Harry  Lohmeyer,  vice- 
president  of  welfare. 

Harold  Wilsher  of  the  Lyric,  Occquan, 
became  the  proud  pappy  of  a 6 V2 -pound 
girl  at  Garfield  Hospital  January  8 . . . 
Mrs.  Sam  Wheeler  is  convalescing  nicely 
in  Pittsburgh  . . . Arthur  Silverstone, 
newly  appointed  UA  district  manager  for 
the  Washington  territory,  held  a sales 
meeting  with  the  staff  at  the  local  ex- 
change . . . M.  K.  Murphy  of  Appalachia 
came  up  for  the  weekend  . . . RKO’s  Russ 
Hildebrand  finally  shooed  the  flu. 

Tommy  Goldberg  of  the  Walbrook,  Bal- 
timore, is  building  a 400-seafer  opposite 
the  Walbrook  . . . Spud  Query  was  a 
visitor  from  Marion,  Va.,  and  advised  that 
the  New  Norton  which  was  recently  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  is  being  rebuilt  and  will 
be  ready  in  about  eight  weeks  . . . The 
flu  epidemic  forced  the  Virginian,  St. 
Charles,  Va.,  to  close  . . . Columbia’s  Danny 
Rosenthal  celebrated  his  sixth  wedding 
anniversary  on  the  13 th  ■ . . Angie  Sokol 
is  scheduled  to  resign  from  Clark  Film 
in  early  February  in  order  to  join  her 
husband  at  Ft.  Bliss,  Tex.  . . . The  sick 
list  at  Warner  theatres  reveals  that 
“Rusty”  Duncan  and  Isabelle  Baugh  were 
home  nursing  severe  colds,  and  that  Bill 
Ewing  was  indisposed  by  the  flu  for  the 
first  time,  but  since  recovered. 

Metro’s  Freida  Cohen  from  now  on 
will  labor  for  Uncle  Sam  . . . Ida  Barezof- 
sky  has  returned  from  her  vacation  which 
included  a stay  at  S.  Fallsburg,  N.  Y.,  for 
a spree  of  winter  sports  and  a visit  to 
the  home  office  . . . Lou  Litchenstein, 
20th-Fox  auditor,  is  in  for  a check  and 
his  coat  of  Florida  tan  is  the  cynosure 
of  all  eyes  . . . January  26  is  the  joint 
natal  day  for  Grayson  Mills  and  Kate 
Hartnett  . . . Rebecca  Foster  is  home 
battling  a cold  . . . Edgar  Moss,  district 
manager,  was  a visitor. 


$2,500  to  Him — 

Percy  Friedman,  Yeadon  Theatre, 
Yeadon,  Pa.,  winner  of  first  place  and 
$2,500  in  the  subsequent-run  bracket 
of  the  M-G-M  exploitation  contest 
just  concluded.  His  campaign  was  on 
“The  Women.” 


36-B 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


He  Was  Promoted— 

Earle  W.  Sweigert,  long  Paramount’s 
Philadelphia  branch  manager,  is  to 
supervise  a newly-created  sales  dis- 
trict embracing  his  own  city,  Wash- 
ington and  Pittsburgh  under  a sales 
realignment  for  operations  under  the 
decree.  Philadelphia  and  Pittsburgh 
are  now  supervised  by  Milton  Kusell; 
Pittsburgh  by  Harry  Goldstein.  Ulrick 
Smith,  salesman,  succeeds  Sweigert  as 
Paramount  manager.  See  page  13  for 
full  details. 


Briggs  Visits  Key  Centers 
En  Route  to  PRC  Parley 

New  York — O.  Henry  Briggs,  president 
of  Producers  Releasing  Corp.,  left  Friday 
for  Chicago  and  a number  of  other  key 
centers  en  route  to  the  coast  where  he 
expects  to  arrive  within  the  next  week. 
While  in  Hollywood  he  will  go  over  pro- 
duction plans  with  George  Batcheller,  su- 
pervisor of  production. 

No  general  sales  manager  is  to  be  ap- 
pointed for  some  time,  Briggs  stated.  Re- 
cent additions  to  the  home  office  staff  are 
Joseph  Sullivan  and  Sam  Kestenbaum. 


14  Big  Ones  Due 

New  York — Fourteen  “high  bracket” 
pictures  are  due  from  Columbia  during  the 
next  six  months.  With  eight  shooting,  sev- 
eral to  start  in  February  and  a number 
of  others  in  preparation,  the  company  is 
now  in  the  midst  of  one  of  the  heaviest 
schedules  in  its  history. 

Public  Will  Challenge 
Inflated  Statements 

New  York — W.  G.  Van  Schmus,  manag- 
ing director  of  the  Music  Hall,  at  the 
Ampa  meeting  Thursday,  urged  the  in- 
dustry not  to  underestimate  the  public's 
intelligence  and  not  to  exaggerate  in 
advertising  "because  the  public  will 
challenge"  inflated  statements.  Keynot- 
ing his  talk  with  a discussion  of  the 
Music  Hall's  operation.  Van  Schmus  said 
that  in  eight  years  the  big  theatre  has 
grossed  $34,000,000  and  played  to  more 
than  48,000,000  people. 

-V 


PHILADELPHIA 


J^OVEL  experience  for  the  local  industry 
was  the  sneak  preview  of  “Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Smith”  at  the  Orpheum.  Hollywood- 
ites  came  all  the  way  across  country  to 
gauge  audience  reaction.  The  theatre  an- 
nounced film  would  be  added  to  the  regu- 
lar 9 o’clock  show,  but  did  not  reveal  its 
name  in  advance  . . . Leo  Posel’s  Benner 
opened  in  the  presence  of  a large  gather- 
ing of  industryites  . . . The  Variety  Club 
will  give  a testimonial  dinner  Monday  to 
David  “Skip”  Weshner,  who  is  leaving  for 
the  green  fields  of  New  York  . . . Allen 
Lewis,  ex-star  of  the  Showmen’s  Club,  will 
be  dined  February  17. 

Horlacher  and  Clark  Film  are  now 
handling  the  new  recruiting  trailer  for  the 
111  th  Infantry,  Pennsylvania  National 
Guard,  with  some  141  independents  and  80 
Warner  houses  in  this  area  set  to  play  it 
. . . That  makes  the  fourth  trailer  the  two 
companies  are  handling  free.  The  others 
are  for  the  Salvation  Army,  United  Cam- 
paign  and  Infantile  Paralysis  Campaign 
. . . Jimmy  Tighe,  who  did  publicity  for  the 
Democratic  city  committee,  is  now  pub- 
licizing Cash  Quiz  . . . Lewen  Pizor, 
UMPTO.  is  in  the  hospital  for  a short 
stay. 

Earle  Sweigert,  newly  appointed  Para- 
mount district  manager,  went  off  to  Chi- 
cago for  a company  meeting.  His  new  ap- 
pointment was  practically  a birthday 
present.  He  cut  his  cake  on  the  24t,h  . . . 
Florence  Jackel,  Republic,  marked  a birth- 
day on  the  25th,  and  Ray  O’Rourke,  Doris, 
26th  . . . Mel  Koff,  Darby,  and  the  Mrs. 
celebrate  a wedding  anniversary  on  the 
29th  . . . Bill  Brooker,  Paramount  publici- 
teer,  returns  Monday  from  a Virginia  tour 
where  he  arranged  premieres  for  “Vir- 
ginia” in  five  cities. 

George  Kurlansik,  Park  and  Town,  Al- 
lentown, is  thinking  about  a Florida  vaca- 
tion . . . Harry  Stiefel,  Mam  and  Roxy, 


Ephrata,  and  Bud  Hissner,  Academy,  Le- 
banon, were  among  the  out -of -t owners 
around  this  week  . . . Betty  Chambers, 
pretty  Metroite,  is  ill.  Her  co-worker,  Ann 
Morrison,  is  recuperating  from  a little  bout 
with  the  knife  . . . Milt  Young,  Warner 
publicity  tycoon,  was  downed  by  grippe 
...  A dutch  lunch  was  the  feature  at  the 
Variety  Club  Saturday. 

First  Russian-made  film  to  play  Phila- 
delphia in  a long  time  is  “Mannerheim 
Line,”  at  Charles  Steerman’s  Cinema  Arts 
. . . William  Goldberg  and  Dick  Mayers 
were  host  to  critics  at  a luncheon  celebrat- 
ing Goldberg’s  tenth  year  of  operation  of 
the  house.  Incidentally,  “The  Baker’s 
Wife,”  now  in  its  16th  week,  has  set  a 
new  long-run  record  since  advent  of  talk- 
ing films,  film  chroniclers  say  . . . Eddie 
Tracht,  Vine  Street  projectionist,  had  a 
relapse  from  a recent  operation,  and  was 
rushed  to  a hospital.  Is  reported  doing 
well. 

Percy  Friedman,  Yeadon  Theatre,  Yea- 
don,  came  away  with  the  $2,500  prize  in 
Metro’s  independent  exhibitor  competition 
for  campaigns  for  ‘‘The  Women”  . . . Jer- 
ome Engel,  Family,  Glen  Lyon,  won  $100 
for  exploitation  of  the  ‘‘Dr.  Kildare”  series, 
and  Jack  Harris,  Mayfair,  won  $100  for 
his  campaign  on  “Fast  and  Furious”  . . . 
John  Schaefer  is  representing  Arthur 
Ziehm  in  this  territory.  First  release  is  a 
twin  horror  bill,  “Torso  Murder  Mystery” 
and  “Face  at  the  Window.” 

Four  years  ago,  Phil  Manes,  then  at  the 
S-W  Model,  used  to  arrange  special  service 
for  a crippled  girl.  He  has  just  received  a 
letter  from  her  thanking  him  . . . Sid  Pop- 
pay,  Majestic,  Gettysburg,  arranged  a 
benefit  concert  for  the  Crippled  Children’s 
Home  . . . Bill  Lafferty,  Liberty,  used  the 
magic  exploitation  touch  to  promote  an 
automobile  giveaway  two  times  in  a row. 
The  Tacony  Business  Men’s  Ass’n  footed 
the  bill. 


They  Look , But  Goldman  Got  It — 

Left  to  right,  it’s  a case  of  Maurice  Gable,  who  succeeded  David  E.  Weshner 
as  Warner  district  manager  in  Philadelphia;  Ted  Schlanger , zone  head,  and 
Jack  Goldman,  manager  of  Keith’s  in  that  city.  Goldman  won  first  prize  for 
corralling  the  largest  number  of  Kiddie  Movie  Check  sales  during  what  was 
known  as  the  “ Stanley -Warner  Kiddie  Check  Championship  Sales  Contest.” 


BOXOFFICE 


January  25,  1941 


3G-C 


(Continued  from  page  35) 
by  way  of  Capetown,  South  Africa.  He 
got  his  passport  and  visa  during  the  week, 
and  now  it’s  a matter  of  getting  reserva- 
tions on  the  next  sailing  ...  A.  A.  Schu- 
bart,  RKO  exchange  head,  returned  early 
in  the  week  from  Boston  and  Philadelphia 
. . . Steve  Pallos  is  due  back  from  the  coast 
within  the  next  10  days  . . . Dave  Loew 
didn’t  take  any  chances  when  he 
came  east.  He  brought  along  his  own 
bowling  ball.  Incidentally,  he’s  stay- 
ing at  the  Lou  Brechers  . . . Nicholas 
M.  Schenck  has  again  delayed  his  de- 
parture for  Miami,  business  details 
keeping  him  in  town  . . . Arch  Bowles, 
northern  California  divisional  head,  has 
been  in  town.  He  hasn’t  been  feeling  well 
of  late  and  the  trip  is  more  in  the  nature 
of  a rest  . . . Charles  E.  McCarthy  is  back 
from  the  coast  . . . Milton  Berle  has  re- 
turned to  Hollywood  after  appearing  on 
the  Kate  Smith  program  Friday  night  and 
a one-time  p.  a.  at  the  Roxy  with  “Tall, 
Dark  and  Handsome.” 

Phil  Brody , formerly  with  National 
Screen  in  Connecticut,  now  managing 
Rand  force’s  Leader  in  Brooklyn,  will  become 
a benedict  March  16  when  he  takes  the  step 
with  Gladys  Lustig  . . . Ben  Resnick,  until 
recently  of  the  Regent,  Brooklyn,  is  now 
supervisor  for  the  Margolies  circuit  in  New 
Jersey  with  headquarters  at  the  Mayfair, 
W.  New  York,  N.  J.  . . . Gabriel  Pascal 
will  not  report  from  Lisbon  until  January 
29,  having  been  delayed  again  and  again 
on  the  transatlantic  crossing  . . . The  flu 
got  Alexander  Korda  just  as  he  was  pre- 
paring to  return  to  the  coast  . . . Douglas 
Fairbanks  did  a swell  m.  c.  job  at  the  in- 
augural dinner  preceding  President  Roose- 
velt’s official  induction  to  a third  term. 

Offer  Hand  for  Benefit 
Opening  of  " Virginia " 

New  York — A host  of  theatrical  celeb- 
rities have  combined  to  offer  their  names 
and  talents  in  the  formation  of  a commit- 
tee to  assist  in  the  benefit  opening  of  “Vir- 
ginia” at  the  Paramount,  January  28,  in 
behalf  of  the  Maple  Leaf  Fund,  which  is 
the  Canadian  organization  for  British  war 
relief. 

Chairman  of  the  committee  is  Cana- 
dian-born actress,  Margaret  Bannerman. 
Those  helping,  including  a few  who  will 
participate  in  the  entertainment  at  the 
premiere,  include  Raymond  Massey,  as 
master-of-ceremonies;  Anton  Dolin,  Mary 
Pickford,  Gertrude  Lawrence,  Peggy  Wood, 
Constance  Collier,  Diane  Barrymore,  Jill 
Esmond,  Jessica  Tandy,  Maurice  Evans, 
Michael  Bartlett,  Ann  Andrews,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gilbert  Miller,  Hassard  Short,  Mar- 
garet Webster,  Auriol  Lee,  Anne  Fran- 
cine,  Alicia  Markova,  Tosca  Brissing  and 
Marguerite  d’Alvarez. 

Ralph  Pielow  Meets  ITOA 
Members  at  Astor  Session 

New  York — Ralph  Pielow,  recently  ap- 
pointed local  M-G-M  branch  manager,  was 
formally  introduced  to  members  of  the 
ITOA  at  their  regular  meeting  Wednesday 
at  the  Astor.  Jack  Bowen,  district  man- 
ager, made  the  introductory  speech. 


((  — = - ft 

Brandt  Still  Sour, 

Also  Experimental 

New  York — Although  he  and  the  ITOA 
have  pledged  lull  cooperation  on  the  de- 
cree, Harry  Brandt  still  has  his  doubts 
about  its  success. 

"I  don't  see  how  it  is  going  to  work," 
he  says.  He  sees  the  sales  of  two  major 
companies  who  signed  the  document  as 
seriously  affected  unless  each  makes 
better  product  than  released  during  the 
current  season. 

However,  he  admits  there's  nothing 
like  experimenting,  but  what  is  to  be 
done  if  the  experiment  fails,  he  will  not 
conjecture. 

VS ~ V 

Allied  Will  Discuss 
Course  on  Decree 

Washington  — Allied’s  future  course 
anent  the  consent  decree  will  be  the  major 
topic  at  the  organization’s  annual  direc- 
tors’ meeting  here  January  27  and  28. 
Much  discussion  will  revolve  around  mea- 
sures for  collecting  evidence  and  informa- 
tion from  exhibitors  on  alleged  inequities 
and  cooperation  with  the  justice  depart- 
ment in  handling  such  complaints. 

Important  also  on  the  directors’  agenda 
will  be  the  consideration  of  a possible  pro- 
gram to  further  opposition  to  distributor 
practices  through  federal  or  state  legisla- 
tion banning  block  booking  and  seeking 
theatre  divorcement.  The  Ascap-BMI  fight 
for  control  of  music  for  broadcasting  will 
be  taken  up  from  the  exhibitor’s  view- 
point. 

Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  president,  will  be  hon- 
ored at  the  annual  dinner,  and  officers  for 
new  year  will  be  elected. 


Forming  New  York  Allied 

New  York — About  50  theatres  reputedly 
have  pledged  to  form  a New  York  state 
unit  of  Allied.  Max  Cohen,  former  regional 
vice-president  of  New  York  Allied,  now  an 
MPTO  affiliate,  is  the  prime  figure  be- 
hind the  movement  for  the  new  group. 


Television  Demonstration 

New  York — The  Dumont  television  sys- 
tem, claiming  improved  long-range  trans- 
mission, touches  off  two  days  of  demon- 
strations by  the  National  Television  Sys- 
tem Committee,  Friday  and  Saturday.  Fol- 
lowing Dumont,  RCA  and  Bell  Labora- 
tories were  to  demonstrate  their  system, 
and  CBS’s  demonstration  was  to  be  held 
on  Saturday. 


Scotch  Walker  Reports 

Washington  — The  renomination  of 
Frank  Walker  as  postmaster  general  has 
gone  to  the  senate  for  approval,  thereby 
scotching  recent  reports  Walker  would  quit 
the  cabinet  at  the  year’s  turn. 


$1.75  KAO  Dividend 

New  York — KAO  directors  have  de- 
clared a $1.75  dividend  out  of  surplus  on 
the  7 per  cent  cumulative  preferred  for 
the  quarter  ending  December  31. 


■pHE  sudden  cold  weather  had  a bad  ef- 
fect on  boxoffice  takes  all  over  town. 
Influenza  in  this  section  has  also  been  felt 
in  the  weekly  grosses  . . . Wilma  Near 
has  succeeded  Elizabeth  Quisenberry  as 
cashier  at  the  State  . . . Frank  Storino, 
manager  of  the  Lincoln,  took  his  wife  to 
Norfolk  to  visit  relatives  . . . Those  new 
poster  frames  on  the  front  of  the  Colonial 
are  very  attractive  . . . Harvey  Dunnavant 
has  succeeded  Dick  Henry  on  the  service 
staff  at  the  Venus  . . . Dave  Kamsky, 
publicity  head  for  Neighborhood  Theatres, 
arranged  for  the  serialization  of  “Kitty 
Foyle”  in  the  Times-Dispatch. 

The  12th  annual  theatrical  ball  will  be 
held  at  Tantilla  Garden  on  Tuesday,  Feb- 
ruary 25.  Sponsored  by  Local  87,  IATSE, 
this  event  is  looked  forward  to  each  year 
as  a grand  reunion  of  all  theatrical  folks. 
Harry  Jarvis  is  general  chairman  this 
year,  assisted  by  Claude  Wilson,  Dan  An- 
derson, Tom  Jones,  Otis  Bugg,  Buck  Col- 
gin,  Earl  Clator,  John  Clator,  Frank 
Mathews,  John  Leary,  Stuart  Atkisson,  Joe 
LaPrade,  Tom  Murphy,  Bill  Walsh,  James 
Evans,  Kenneth  Sickinger,  Bernard  Mc- 
Cann, Louis  Levin,  L.  C.  Ratliff.  Proceeds 
go  to  the  benefit  fund  of  the  local. 

Ed  Trainor,  former  checker  for  Warner, 
is  now  with  Ross  Federal  here  . . . Char- 
lie Yerby  is  certainly  missed  around  Loew’s 
since  he  was  promoted  to  assistant  mana- 
ger of  Loew’s  Capitol,  Washington  . . . 
Walter  Vincent  was  in  town  visiting  with 
Frank  O’Brien  at  the  Colonial  . . . Harold 
Wood,  Neighborhood  Theatres’  official,  has 
returned  to  his  desk  after  being  out  with 
the  grippe  . . . Bill  Ballenger,  manager 
of  the  Grand,  and  his  wife  held  open 
house  the  other  Sunday  all  day  long,  and 
practically  every  theatre  man  and  his  wife 
or  friends  visited  them  sometime  during 
the  day  . . . Mercer  Stillman,  Berio  rep- 
resentative, visited  relatives  in  Pittsburgh. 

Frank  O’Brien,  Allen  Sparrow  and  Har- 
old Wood,  members  of  the  convention 
committee  of  the  MPTO  of  Virginia,  are 
making  plans  for  a bigger  and  better  con- 
vention this  year,  which  will  be  held  at 
the  Shoreham  in  Washington,  February  2 
and  3 . . . Dick  Harrity,  United  Artists 
salesman,  was  here  . . . Also  Elbert  Grover, 
RKO  salesman  . . . The  State  duckpin 
team  won  the  first  half  in  the  Theatrical 
Midnight  League  by  nine  games,  with 
Loew’s  taking  second  place  and  Brook- 
land,  third. 


Mills  Forms  Exchange 

New  York  — Bernard  H.  Mills  has 
formed  Equity  Film  Exchanges  to  cover 
the  metropolitan  area.  He  was  formerly  a 
Republic  franchise  holder. 


More  Ascap  Woes 

Lansing,  Mich. — Ascap  faces  a 25  per 
cent  franchise  tax  in  Michigan  under  a 
proposed  law  aimed  at  agencies  collecting 
royalties  on  copyrighted  music. 


Filmarte  Reopens 

New  York — The  Filmarte  has  reopened. 
Opening  attraction  was  “Hatred.”  Joseph 
Plunkett  is  one  of  a trio  of  operators. 


36-D 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


sisalir 


PRODUCTION 


CENTER 


(Hollywood  Office — Suite  219  at  6404  Hollywood  Blvd.;  Ivan  Spear,  Western  Manager) 


Academy  Units  Start 
Recognition  Task 

Although  no  date  nor  locale  for  the 
forthcoming  Academy  Awards  banquet  has 
yet  been  announced,  beyond  the  fact  that 
it  will  be  held  late  in  February,  various 
Academy  branches  have  begun  to  set  the 
required  machinery  in  motion  whereby 
kudos  will  be  distributed  for  endeavors  in 
a number  of  fields. 

John  Aalberg,  chairman  of  the  Academy 
sound  recording  award  committee,  has  an- 
nounced the  following  nominations  for  the 
award  for  achievement  in  that  classifica- 
tion: 

“Arizona,”  Columbia;  “Behind  the  News,” 
Republic;  “Captain  Caution,”  Hal  Roach; 
“Grapes  of  Wrath,”  20th  Century-Fox; 
“Howards  of  Virginia”  (Col),  General  Ser- 
vice Equipment;  “Kitty  Foyle,”  RKO  Radio; 
“North  West  Mounted  Police,”  Paramount; 
“Our  Town,”  Sol  Lesser;  “The  Sea  Hawk,” 
Warner;  “Spring  Parade,”  Universal; 
“Strike  Up  the  Band,”  M-G-M.  One  will 
be  chosen  from  this  group  by  a committee 
including  Aalberg  as  chairman;  Lawrence 
Aicholtz,  Daniel  Bloomberg,  Bernard 
Brown,  W.  P.  Delaplain,  C.  W.  Faulkner, 
Lloyd  Goldsmith,  George  Groves,  Russell 
Hanson,  Roger  Heman,  John  K.  Hilliard, 
Kenneth  Lambert,  W.  W.  Lindsay  jr.,  John 
Livadary,  C.  L.  Lootens,  Russell  Malmgren, 
J.  G.  Matthews,  Thomas  Moulton,  William 
Mueller,  K.  M.  Pier,  Clem  Portman,  El- 
mer Raguse,  Loren  Ryder,  Gordon  Saw- 
yer, Douglas  Shearer,  James  G.  Stewart, 
John  A.  Stransky,  Homer  Tasker,  W.  L. 
Thayer,  S.  J.  Twining,  W.  W.  Wells,  E.  H. 
Wetzel  and  J.  R.  Whitney.  This  commit- 
tee has  begun  reviewing  the  nominated 
films  in  a projection  room  at  the  Walt 
Disney  plant. 

Cinematography  Ballots  Out 

Nominations  ballots  for  cinematography 
and  film  editing  have  been  mailed  out  to 
directors  of  photography  and  film  editors. 
Lensers  will  nominate  ten  black-and-white 
and  six  color  films  for  the  final  vote.  Edi- 
tors will  name  ten  candidates,  the  winner 
to  be  determined  by  a committee  from  the 
Society  of  Motion  Picture  Film  Editors, 
which  will  be  selected  by  Walter  Wanger, 
Academy  president,  and  Edmund  D.  Han- 
nen,  SMPFE  president. 

With  Pete  Smith  as  chairman,  short  sub- 
jects producers  held  a dinner  meeting  to 
discuss  the  selection  of  nominating  com- 
mittees, classification  of  entries  for  the 
Academy  Award,  and  the  method  of  bal- 


loting to  be  employed.  Attending  were: 

E.  H.  Allen,  Henry  Binder,  Lou  Brock, 
Vernon  Caldwell,  Robert  Carlyle,  Jack 
Chertok,  Roy  Disney,  Jerry  Fairbanks, 
James  FitzPatrick,  Ira  Genet,  Richard 
Goldstone,  George  Hall,  Lou  Harris,  Gor- 
don Hollingshead,  Jason  Joy,  Valeria 
Janus,  Walter  Lantz,  Lewis  Lewyn,  Del 
Lord,  Hugh  McCollum,  George  Pal,  Har- 
riet Parsons,  Fred  Quimby,  John  Rose, 
Leon  Schlesinger,  Jack  Warner  jr„  Jules 
White,  Robert  Winkler,  Guenther  Lessing 
and  James  Bromis. 

Producers  association  officials,  planning 
their  annual  meeting  to  elect  officers  for 
the  year,  expect  Will  Hays,  MPPDA  presi- 
dent, to  check  in  from  New  York  in  time 
for  the  session.  It  is  scheduled  for  Febru- 
ary 3. 


Stewart  With  MacDonald 

James  Stewart  has  been  given  the  lead 
opposite  Jeanette  MacDonald  in  “Smilin’ 
Through.”  He  has  appeared  in  but  one 
previous  MacDonald  film,  “Rose  Marie,” 
in  which  he  made  his  film  debut.  Victor 
Saville  will  produce  “Smilin’  Through.” 


In  Recognition — 

For  “outstanding  contribution  to 
Americanism’’  via  his  radio  program, 
“Big  Town,”  Edward  G.  Robinson  is 
the  recipient  of  the  American  Legion’s 
citation  of  honor.  Here  Robinson  ac- 
cepts the  award  from  Dr.  Russell 
Starr,  Legion  executive. 


Picture-Making  Pace 
Sustained  by  Slate 

Intent  on  holding  to  the  picture-mak- 
ing pace  which  now  finds  40  features  in 
work,  Hollywood  producers  have  sched- 
uled another  16  for  camera  starts  during 
the  balance  of  January,  while  22  more  are 
written  in  for  February  launchings. 

RKO  Radio  and  M-G-M,  with  four  each 
to  roll  this  month,  are  the  busiest  spots. 
The  former  studio  lists  “Tom,  Dick  and 
Harry,”  “Repent  at  Leisure,”  “Before  the 
Fact”  and  “Hang  Out  the  Moon,”  while 
M-G-M  will  gun  “Love  Crazy,”  “Blossoms 
in  the  Dust,”  “Dr.  Jekyll  and  Mr.  Hyde” 
and  “A  Woman’s  Face.”  Other  January 
starters  include: 

“Texas,”  “A  Girl’s  Best  Friend  Is  Wall 
Street”  and  “Senate  Page  Boys”  at  Colum- 
bia; “The  Great  American  Broadcast”  and 
“The  Cowboy  and  the  Blonde”  at  20th 
Century-Fox;  Republic’s  “Mr.  District  At- 
torney;” Paramount’s  “Skylark;”  Warner’s 
“Mother’s  Boys,”  and  Monogram’s  “Sign  of 
the  Wolf.” 

Paramount  leads  the  list  for  February. 
During  that  month  it  will  roll  “Pioneer 
Woman,”  “Hold  Back  the  Dawn,”  “Little 
Miss  Muffet,”  “College  Mystery,”  “The 
Night  of  January  16”  and  “Aloma  of  the 
South  Seas.”  Destined  for  March  cam- 
eras are  “Dildo  Cay”  and  “Buy  Me  That 
Town.” 

Scheduled  also  for  February  are: 

Republic’s  “You’ll  Never  Get  Rich,” 
“Lady  of  New  Orleans”  and  “Bachelor  for 
a Day;”  20th  Century-Fox’s  “Man  Hunt,” 
“Miami”  and  “A  Yank  in  the  R.  A.  F. ;” 
Universal’s  “Oh,  Charlie”  and  “Mutiny  in 
the  Arctic;”  Monogram’s  “Trail  of  the 
Yukon”  and  “Million  Dollar  Mystery;” 
Warner’s  “Flight  Patrol,”  “Navy  Blues” 
and  “Sergeant  York;”  M-G-M’s  “Get  a 
Horse”  and  “Lady  Be  Good,”  and  Colum- 
bia’s “Her  First  Beau.” 

Universal  and  Republic  each  have  one 
chalked  in  for  a March  start.  The  former 
studio  will  launch  “Amateur  Angel,”  the 
latter  “Puddin’  Head.” 


Now  Range  Busters,  Inc . 

George  W.  Weeks  has  changed  the  name 
of  his  production  unit  releasing  through 
Monogram  from  Phoenix  Productions,  Inc., 
to  Range  Busters,  Inc.  He  is  planning 
eight  more  “Range  Busters”  westerns  for 
the  1941-42  season. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


37 


(2inematlc5 


Robert  Riskin,  Frank  Capra’s  scenarist 
and  production  partner,  is  in  New  York 
conferring  with  Gradwell  L.  Sears,  Warner 
sales  head,  on  plans  for  the  Capra-Riskin 
production,  “Meet  John  Doe.” 

* 

Jack  L.  Warner  has  been  elected  to  mem- 
bership on  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Los 
Angeles  Philharmonic  Orchestra.  He  is  the 
only  motion  picture  executive  on  the 
board. 

* 

Charles  Boyer  has  returned  from  New 
York,  where  he  made  a radio  appearance, 
to  report  to  Paramount  for  a film  assign- 
ment . . . Oscar  Levant,  musician  and  one 
of  the  “Information  Please”  stars,  also  is 
in  the  Marathon  Street  studio.  He  has  a 
role  in  “Kiss  the  Boys  Goodbye.” 

* 

Producer  Robert  Sparks  is  back  at  his 
Columbia  desk  after  honeymooning  with 
his  new  bride,  Penny  Singleton,  whom  he 
married  New  Year’s  Day  . . . Harry  Sher- 
man went  to  Chicago  to  attend  the  cele- 
bration honoring  Barney  Balaban’s  fifth 
anniversary  as  Paramount  president  . . . 
Leon  Schlesinger , the  cartoon  producer,  is 
in  New  York  for  two  weeks  on  business. 

•k 

The  Masquers  staged  a 15-act  show  in 
honor  of  John  Barrymore,  January  21,  with 
Barrymore  and  Orson  Welles  headlining  in 
a one-act  satire  on  the  former’s  life.  Rudy 
Vallee  was  master  of  ceremonies,  William 
Collier  sr.  served  as  toastmaster  and  other 
acts  included  Charles  Laughton,  Reginald 
Gardiner,  Pat  O’Brien,  Joe  E.  Brown,  Alan 
Mowbray,  Adolphe  Menjou,  Frank  Fay,  Ab- 
bott and  Costello,  Fred  Niblo  and  others. 

★ 

M.  A.  Goldrick,  assistant  foreign  man- 
ager for  Electrical  Research  Products.  Inc., 
checked  in  from  the  Orient,  where  he  has 


spent  eight  months  touring  Erpi  offices 
in  China,  the  Malay  States,  India,  Aus- 
tralia and  the  Philippines.  He  will  spend 
two  weeks  here  before  proceeding  to  New 
York. 

* 

A.  M.  Botsford,  executive  assistant  to 
William  LeBaron  at  Paramount,  served 
as  toastmaster  at  the  testimonial  dinner, 
honoring  Barney  Balaban’s  fifth  anni- 
versary as  company  president,  in  Chicago 
January  23  . . . Alfred  E.  Green  has  re- 
turned to  Columbia  after  three  weeks  in 
Washington,  gathering  atmosphere  for  his 
next  piloting  chore,  “Senate  Page  Boys.” 
* 

Paul  Wurtzel,  of  RKO  Radio’s  messen- 
ger department,  has  enlisted  in  the  navy 
and  reports  for  duty  in  a few  days.  He 
is  18  years  old  and  a nephew  of  20 th 
Century -Fox’s  Sol  Wurtzel  . . . William 
Perlberg,  20 th  Century-Fox  producer,  is 
spending  a week  in  New  York  looking  at 
the  new  plays. 

* 

Francis  T.  Harlan,  managing  director  of 
20th  Century-Fox’s  English  production, 
has  checked  in  to  confer  with  studio  and 
homeoffice  executives  on  plans  for  his 
unit  during  the  coming  season. 

* 

Norman  Moray,  Warner  short  subjects 
sales  head,  arrives  February  1 for  confer- 
ences on  the  1941-42  program. 

* 

Claudette  Colbert  has  returned  from  two 
weeks  of  skiing  in  Sun  Valley  to  prepare 
for  her  next  Paramount  assignment. 
While  in  the  northern  resort  she  won  the 
first  guest  slalom  ski  event  for  women. 

* 

Director  Ralph  Murphy  is  back  on  the 
job  at  Paramount  following  a short  holi- 
day. 


Start  Production  on 
Defense  Subjects 

Cameras  have  begun  turning  on  the  first 
in  the  series  of  short  subjects  which  will 
keynote  Hollywood’s  contribution  to  the 
national  defense  program.  The  one- 
reeler,  concerning  hygiene,  is  being  made 
at  20th  Century-Fox  with  Darryl  Zanuck, 
a lieutenant-colonel  in  the  signal  corps 
reserve,  supervising,  and  John  Ford  di- 
recting from  a script  prepared  by  Wil- 
liam Ullman  jr.  Second  in  the  group  will 
follow  immediately.  Films  are  destined  for 
the  exclusive  use  of  army  and  navy  of- 
ficials in  training  draftees  and  new  en- 
listed men,  and  will  not  be  shown  to  the 
public. 

Greek  Relief  Broadcast 

Grauman’s  Chinese  Theatre  has  been  se- 
lected as  the  locale  for  the  gigantic  broad- 
cast being  planned  jointly  by  motion  pic- 
ture and  radio  charities  committees  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Greek  War  Relief  Ass’n. 
The  show  will  be  broadcast  coast-to-coast 
February  8 and  will  be  transmitted  via 

• 38 


shortwave  to  London  and  Athens.  With 
Jack  Benny  and  Bob  Hope  as  co-masters  of 
ceremonies,  volunteer  entertainers  will  in- 
clude Ronald  Colman,  Alice  Faye,  Fanny 
Brice,  Clark  Gable  and  Carole  Lombard, 
Tony  Martin,  Mickey  Rooney,  Burns  and 
Allen,  Eddie  (Rochester)  Anderson, 
Charles  Laughton  and  Shirley  Temple. 

Launch  March  of  Dimes 

Eddie  Cantor  staged  his  annual  March 
of  Dimes  broadcast  for  the  national  infan- 
tile paralysis  campaign  January  25  over 
three  major  networks.  Participating  were 
Bob  Hope,  Burns  and  Allen,  Fanny  Brice, 
Jack  Benny,  Humphrey  Bogart,  Bob  Burns, 
James  Cagney,  Joan  Blondell,  Lew  Ayres, 
Rudy  Vallee,  Mickey  Rooney  and  others. 

In  ceremonies  at  the  city  hall  in  Los 
Angeles,  W.  V.  C.  Ruxton,  president  of 
the  British-American  Ambulance  Corps, 
launched  a national  drive  to  raise  funds 
for  more  ambulances.  He  was  received 
by  Mayor  Fletcher  Bowron,  with  film  not- 
ables in  attendance  including  Mary  Pick- 
ford,  Ronald  Colman,  Benita  Hume,  Regi- 
nald Gardiner,  Mary  Astor,  Sir  Cedric 
Hardwicke,  Joe  E.  Brown  and  Nigel  Bruce. 

Alan  Mowbray,  Rudy  Vallee,  Jean  Par- 
ker, Roy  Rogers,  William  Lundigan,  Los 
Ranson  and  Sheila  Ryan  planed  to  San 


UA  Executives  in  a 
Production  Huddle 


In  from  New  York  for  a series  of  con- 
ferences with  the  various  United  Artists 
producers,  and  to  discuss  a number  of  as 
yet  undisclosed  matters  pertaining  to  UA 
operations,  are  Murray  Silverstone,  who 
heads  the  company;  Arthur  W.  Kelly,  sales 
head;  and  Charles  Schwartz,  UA  counsel. 
They  are  expected  to  remain  for  at  least 
two  weeks  and  may  extend  their  sojourn 
beyond  that  time. 

Another  arrival  was  Alexander  Korda, 
who  went  to  New  York  a short  time  ago 
to  discuss  release  details  with  UA  execu- 
tives for  his  latest  production,  “That 
Hamilton  Woman.”  While  in  the  east, 
Korda  also  appeared  to  give  a deposition 
in  connection  with  the  UA-Samuel  Gold- 
wyn  litigation. 

Blumberg  to  New  York 

With  the  departure  for  New  York  of 
President  Nate  Blumberg,  huddles  at  Uni- 
versal pertaining  to  production  plans  and 
budgets  for  the  1941-42  season  have  come 
to  an  end.  J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  chairman 
of  the  board;  Joseph  H.  Seidelman  and 
William  A.  Scully  preceded  Blumberg  east 
after  conferences  with  studio  executives, 
including  Cliff  Work  and  Matty  Fox.  Be- 
fore his  departure,  Blumberg  declared  no 
definite  plans  had  been  set  regarding  the 
possibility,  as  reported  from  New  York, 
that  Universal  may  transfer  its  laboratory 
printing  work  from  Consolidated  to  an- 
other company.  It  was  indicated  that  no 
further  word  on  the  matter  will  be  forth- 
coming until  Blumberg  has  studied  the 
situation  upon  his  return  to  the  home- 
office. 


Charles  McCarthy  East 

First  to  leave  for  the  east  after  produc- 
tion conferences  at  20th  Century-Fox  was 
Charles  E.  McCarthy,  advertising-publicity 
chieftain.  He  will  be  followed  shortly  by 
Herman  Wobber,  sales  head,  and  Presi- 
dent Sidney  R.  Kent. 

William  F.  Rodgers,  Metro’s  general  sales 
manager,  has  decided  to  spend  another 
week  at  the  studio,  discussing  possible  sales 
policy  changes  concerning  short  subjects 
as  a result  of  the  consent  decree.  He  also 
is  looking  at  pictures  currently  in  work 
and  those  completed  and  awaiting  release 
dates. 

George  Brown,  new  publicity-advertis- 
ing director  at  Paramount,  attended  the 
Chicago  get-together  of  homeoffice  sales 
executives  and  district  managers  January 
21-23.  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  vice-president 
in  charge  of  studio  operations,  trained  out 
in  time  to  participate  in  the  dinner  given 
President  Barney  Balaban,  January  23, 
honoring  his  fifth  anniversary  as  head  of 
the  company.  Meeting  was  devoted  to 
mapping  of  sales  and  promotional  plans 
for  “Virginia”  and  “The  Lady  Eve,”  as 
well  as  discussions  on  the  possible  road- 
showing of  “I  Wanted  Wings,”  withdrawn 
from  the  regular  release  schedule  recently 
by  Neil  F.  Agnew,  sales  chief. 


Diego  January  17  to  participate  in  a Brit- 
ish War  Relief  rally.  They  also  enter- 
tained the  enlisted  men  of  W.  S.  Van 
Dyke’s  marine  corps  stationed  there. 


BOXOFFICE  ;:  January  25,  1941 


COMES  now — it  is  hoped — an  end  to 
the  industry’s  record  season  on  polls. 
With  the  forthcoming  annual  Acad- 
emy dinner,  Hollywood  will  have  harvest- 
ed the  last  of  a bumper  crop  of  accolades, 
the  likes  of  which,  in  both  quantities  and 
diversity,  have  never  before  been  ap- 
proached. 

Time  was,  and  even  comparatively  new- 
comers in  the  ranks  of  observers  on  af- 
fairs cinematic  can  remember,  when  so- 
called  annual  popularity  polls  were  limit- 
ed to  a few  accredited  tradepapers  and 
even  fewer  of  the  more  widely  read  col- 
umnists and  air  commentators.  Now, 
everyone  and  every  medium  with  an  audi- 
ence of  more  than  two  indulges  in  the 
popular  year-end  sport  of  picking  the 
“winnahs.”  For  weeks  studio  publicity 
releases  have  been  cluttered,  to  the  des- 
pair of  editors,  with  such  startling  an- 
nouncements as  “The  Motion  Picture  Re- 
view Club  of  Long  Beach  . . . has  chosen 
‘The  Way  of  All  Flesh’  as  the  best  film 
seen  during  1940;”  “A  readers’  poll  of 
1940’s  best  movies,  conducted  by  the  Har- 
risburg Telegraph,  resulted  in 

“The  motion  picture  reviewing  committee 
of  the  Moose  Lodge  has  selected  as  the 
most  popular  actors  and  actresses  of 
1940  ” 

The  above  and  scores  of  similar  unim- 
portant and  uninteresting  findings  are 
proof  sufficient  that  the  poll  idea  has  got- 
ten very  much  out  of  hand.  The  interests 
of  the  industry  and  those  responsible  for 
its  public  relations  will  be  best  served  if 
steps  are  taken  to  discourage  further 
growth.  If  not,  it  won’t  be  long  before 
readers  will  be  assailed  with  the  informa- 
tion that: 

Mala  is  winner  of  the  North  Poll. 

Victor  McLaglen,  complete  with  medals, 
is  selected  as  the  outstanding  figure  on 
the  Totem  Poll. 

Charles  Starrett,  Tim  McCoy  and  Ken 
Maynard  finish  in  a three-way  tie  in  the 
Gallop  Poll. 


Anne  Shirley  is  the  all-time  champion 
Poll-y  Anna. 

Ann  Sheridan’s  prolonged  suspension 
sets  a record  in  the  Poll  Vault. 

Name  your  own  winner  in  the  Poll  Cat. 

“Grapes  of  Wrath”  was  a cinch  to  win 
the  Poll  Weevil. 

But  the  Indians  of  Stanford  still  domi- 
nate the  Rose  Poll. 

With  characteristic  propensity  toward 
the  super,  Cecil  B.  DeMille  proposes  that 
the  situation  be  further  complicated  with 
the  suggestion  that  an  Academy  of  Radio 
Arts  and  Sciences  be  organized  to  encour- 
age and  recognize  artistic  and  technical 
achievements  in  the  broadcasting  field.  To 
do  this  he  urges  a series  of  annual  awards 
be  sponsored  for  writing,  adaptations,  pro- 
duction, performances  and  technical  ad- 
vancements. 

One  of  these  days,  it  may  even  be  pos- 
sible to  tune  in  the  Rinso-Big  Town  air  pro- 
gram without  hearing  Edward  G.  Robinson, 
its  star,  receiving  a plaque,  scroll,  citation 
or  other  form  of  kudo. 

A local  radio  station  each  evening  lists 
the  seven  biggest  news  stories  of  the  day 
in  the  order  of  their  importance.  On  one 
such  broadcast,  Number  Three  concerned 


the  minute  details  of  Bette  Davis’  finding 
a seat  in  a cactus  plant  while  working  on 
location  in  Death  Valley,  and  her  subse- 
quent taking  of  sustenance  from  off  the 
mantel.  The  bombing  of  London  and 
other  war  news  was  Number  Five. 

Thus  has  the  gentle  art  of  press-agentry 
progressed  in  Hollywood. 


Perry  Lieber  reports  that  “William 
Eglington,  head  of  the  RKO  camera  de- 
partment, has  gone  into  the  chicken  and 
egg  business  in  a big  way  and  now  has 
1,000  laying  hens.” 

Verily,  Mr.  Eglington  is  headed  for  a 
producership. 


A survey  of  the  files  of  the  Screen  Actors 
Guild's  statistical  department  was  recently 
made  to  ascertain  numbers  of  members  who 
have  had  previous  work  in  lines  which  might 
be  useful  in  the  national  defense  program. 
Former  carpenters  topped  the  list  with  200. 
There  were  100  each  of  former  painters  and 
former  electricians,  while  blacksmiths  and 
plumbers  tied  for  third  with  50  each. 

There  was  nary  a butcher  nor  farmer  in 
the  lot — which  still  leaves  as  an  unsolved 
mystery  the  source  of  Hollywood's  quantities 
of  ham  and  corn. 

Ballyhoodlums:  Although  it  did  com- 
mand considerable  space  and  air  news  time, 
probably  the  cheapest  publicity  gesture  of 
recent  months  was  the  bid  sent  John  N. 
Garner,  former  vice-president  of  the 
United  States,  by  Producer  Charles  R. 
Rogers,  offering  the  statesman  a role  in  a 
forthcoming  picture  he  will  make  for  Co- 
lumbia ...  If  Russell  Birdwell  continues 
to  publicize  the  Hopi  Indians  as  a by-prod- 
uct of  his  activities  on  behalf  of  Pi#lucer 
Howard  Hawks,  they  should  reciprocate  by 
making  him  an  honorary  chief  in  the  tribe 
— in  which  event  an  appropriate  redskin 
cognomen  for  the  prince  of  the  freelancers 
would  be  “Collect-Much-Wampum-Bird- 
well.” 


Glib , Gangsters , Gloomy 


Three  pictures — running  the  range  from 
farce  to  melodrama  to  sombre  melancholy 
— topped  the  list  of  six  which  the  studios 
saw  fit  to  unfurl  for  Hollywood’s  review- 
ing fraternity  during  the  week.  While 
each  is  equipped  to  stand  on  its  own 
merits,  RKO  Radio’s  “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith,” 
measured  from  all  aspects,  topped  its  com- 
petitors. 

The  first  American  comedy  to  be  piloted 
by  British  Alfred  Hitchcock,  it  aptly  dis- 
plays that  he  possesses  a flair  for  humor 
equal  to  his  ability  as  a dramatic  director, 
demonstrated  in  “Rebecca,”  and  as  a mas- 
ter of  suspense  and  action,  shown  in  “For- 
eign Correspondent.”  It  is  virtually  flaw- 
less entertainment  in  the  lighter  vein  and, 
with  Carole  Lombard  and  Robert  Mont- 
gomery to  top  the  marquees,  seems  cer- 
tain to  quickly  attain  the  hit  class.  Hitch- 
cock, it  should  be  said,  was  provided  with 
the  best  ingredients  obtainable — a speedy, 
bubbling,  brilliantly  dialogued  script  by 
Norman  Krasna;  unstinting  production 
accoutrements  supplied  by  Harry  E.  Ed- 


ington;  and  a wisely-selected  and  sensitive 
cast.  Too,  there  is  an  excellent  musical 
score  by  Edward  Ward,  which  contributes 
greatly  to  the  picture’s  general  quality. 
Lombard  and  Montgomery  turn  in,  as  was 
to  be  expected,  magnificent  comedy  per- 
formances, their  fast  pace  matched  all  the 
way  by  such  supporting  players  as  Gene 
Raymond  and  Jack  Carson. 

Dealing,  as  it  does,  with  the  last  phases 
of  gangdom’s  rule  in  the  United  States, 
Warner’s  “High  Sierra”  is  keyed  to  an  ex- 
citing pitch  throughout  and  can  be  char- 
acterized as  cops-and-robbers  melodrama 
on  the  highest  possible  plane.  Prosperity, 
resultantly,  should  be  its  fate  at  the  box- 
office,  particularly  where  action-loving 
audiences  predominate.  The  entry  can 
safely  be  written  down  as  another  show- 
manlike contribution  to  the  Warner  slate 
by  Producer  Mark  Hellinger,  who  again 
demonstrates  his  capabilities  as  picture- 
maker,  while  Raoul  Walsh  established  ex- 
actly the  right  tempo  in  his  first-rate  di- 
rectorial job.  Humphrey  Bogart,  who  has 


played  many  a gangster  role  in  his  screen 
career,  has  never  turned  in  a more  sincere 
and  straightforward  portrayal;  Ida  Lu- 
pino  again  draws  attention  to  her  unde- 
niable histrionic  abilities;  and  the  sup- 
porting cast,  including  such  splendid  play- 
ers as  Alan  Curtis,  Joan  Leslie  and  Jerome 
Cowan,  is  equally  impressive. 

As  an  artistic  triumph,  “So  Ends  Our 
Night,”  the  first  David  Loew-Albert  Lewin 
production  for  United  Artists,  might  be 
criticized  on  only  one  count — overlength. 
As  entertainment  with  popular  appeal, 
however,  it  struggles  under  several  handi- 
caps. Talbot  Jenning’s  script,  from  the 
Erich  Maria  Remarque  novel,  ‘“Flotsam,” 
is — as  was  its  source — slowly  unfolded,  re- 
lating in  tortuous  detail  the  plight  and  dis- 
mal wanderings  of  German  refugees.  The 
theme  is  monotonous  part  of  the  time, 
sombre  all  of  the  time,  and  probably  will 
require  intensive  selling  to  make  it  appeal- 
ing to  audiences  whose  cinematic  tastes 
currently  lie  elsewhere.  Although  it  will 
(Continued  on  page  41) 


BOXOFFICE  ;:  January  25,  1941 


39 


Hoi  lyw  ood — 

— Personnelities 


Barnstormers 

Free  Lance 

BASIL  KATHBONE  will  act  as  master  of  cere- 
monies at  the  annual  Los  Angeles  Chamber  of 
Commerce  banquet,  to  be  held  February  21  at  the 
Ambassador  Hotel. 

Metro 

NELSON  EDDY  checks  out  February  4 on  his 
annual  concert  tour,  covering  more  than  24  towns 
and  returning  here  April  17  after  his  final  ap- 
pearance, in  St.  Louis. 

Monogram 

JOHN  KING  of  the  “Range  Busters”  opened  a 
three-day  p.  a.  engagement  at  the  Minor  Thea- 
tre in  Dallas,  January  18. 

Republic 

SMILEY'  Bl'RNETTE  has  returned  from  Denver, 
where  he  was  guest  of  honor  at  the  National 
Western  Livestock  Show. 

20th  Century-Fox 

MILTON  BEKLE  opens  a two-week  nightclub 
engagement  in  Miami,  January  28,  following  a 
week  of  p.  a.’s  with  “Tall.  Dark  and  Handsome” 
at  the  Roxy  in  New  York. 

Blurbers 

Paramount 

MURPHY  McHENRY  has  returned  to  his  pub- 
licity desk  after  three  days  in  the  Wilshire  Hos- 
pital with  a flu  attack. 

CLIFF  LEWIS  to  accompany  Susanna  Foster 
and  Dolly  Loehr  on  their  p.  a.  tour,  beginning 
January  27  and  covering  22  key  cities. 

JAMES  SAKNO  added  to  publicity  staff  to 
work  on  art.  He  formerly  held  a similar  job  at 
M-G-M. 

Universal 

JOHN  JOSEPH,  advertising-publicity  director, 
is  in  New  York  for  a month’s  stay,  during  which 
he  will  attend  the  Miami  premiere  of  “Back 
Street.” 

Warner  Bros. 

SAM  CLARK  has  checked  out  on  an  advance 
exploitation  junket  for  “Meet  John  Doe,”  on 
which  he  will  make  key  cities  throughout  the 
country. 

BILL  HEBERT  joins  studio  staff,  replacing 
JERRY  HOFFMAN,  who  has  resigned.  Hebert  was 
with  Paramount  until  recently. 

Briefies 

Columbia 

ALAN  MOWBRAY  signed  to  star  in  an  un- 
titled two-reel  comedy  which  Jules  White  will 
produce  and  direct.  John  Gray  wrote  the  script. 

RKO  Radio 

Fifth  in  a series  of  two-reelers  starring  Leon 
Errol  is  now  in  production  with  Harry  D'Arcy 
directing  for  Producer  Lou  Brock. 

Cleflers 

Columbia 

MORRIS  STOLOFF  scoring  “Meet  Boston 
Blackie.” 

SAMMY  CAHN  and  SAUL  CHAPLIN  to  write 
songs  for  “Time  Out  for  Music,”  an  Irving  Briskin 
production. 

Alexander  Korda 

EUGENE  ZADOR,  on  loan  from  M-G-M,  scor- 
ing “That  Hamilton  Woman.” 

Metro 

BRONISLAU  KAPER  to  score  “A  Woman’s 
Face.” 

Paramount 

ANDREA  SETARO  scoring  "Road  to  Zanzibar,” 
with  VICTOR  YOUNG  conducting  the  recording 
orchestra. 

SIGMUND  KRUMGOLD  and  LEO  SHUKEN 

scoring  “Lady  Eve.” 

VICTOR  YOUNG  and  ANDREA  SETARO  scor- 
ing “I  Wanted  Wings.” 

20th  Century-Fox 

MACK  GORDON  and  HARRY  WARREN  doing 
music  and  lyrics  for  “Sun  Valley.” 

Universal 

FRANK  SKINNER  completes  score  for  “Back 
Street.” 

Warner  Bros. 

MAX  STEINER  doing  score  for  “The  Great  Lie.” 


Loanouts 

RKO  Radio 

ALAN  MARSHAL  borrowed  from  David  O.  Selz- 
nick  for  one  of  the  leads  in  “Tom,  Dick  and 
Harry,”  starring  Ginger  Rogers. 

Republic 

JACQUELINE  WELLS  borrowed  from  Warner 
lor  the  feminine  lead  in  Gene  Autry’s  next,  “Song 
at  Twilight.” 

Meggers 

Columbia 

GILBERT  MILLER  and  LESTER  COWAN  to 

co-produce  “Ladies  in  Retirement,”  the  play  by 
Edward  Percy  and  Reginald  Denham.  Cameras  will 
roll  in  mid-March  on  the  murder  mystery  melo- 
drama. 

Metro 

MILTON  BREN  to  produce  “Devil  Fish,”  a story 
of  deep-sea  fishing,  as  a Wallace  Beery  starrer. 
Marjorie  Main,  Leo  Carrillo  and  Virginia  Weidler 
draw  supporting  roles. 

NORMAN  McLEOI)  to  pilot  “Lady  Be  Good.” 

Monogram 

HOWARD  BRETHERTON  to  pilot  “King  of  the 
Zombies,”  starring  Bela  Lugosi,  which  Lindsley 
Parsons  will  produce.  Ed  Kelso  did  the  screen- 
play. 

Warner  Bros. 

BEN  STOLOFF  to  direct  “Mother’s  Boys,”  draft 
comedy  featuring  William  T.  Orr.  Fred  Niblo  jr. 
did  the  script. 

Options 

Columbia 

ALEXANDER  HALL  given  new  long-term  di- 
rectorial pact.  His  next  assignment  will  be  “Bed- 
time Story.” 

Larry  Darmour 

JACK  HOLT  set  to  star  in  an  untitled  serial, 
rolling  about  July  15. 

Metro 

WILLIAM  TANNEN  draws  a featured  role  in 
“The  Crime  of  Mary  Andrews.” 

ROBERT  THOEREN  signs  new  long-term  writ- 
ing ticket. 

OSA  MASSEN  given  a featured  lead  in  the  Joan 
Crawford  starrer,  “A  Woman’s  Face.” 

FAY'  BAINTER  draws  term  ticket. 

PHILIP  DORN,  featured  player,  given  contract 
renewal. 

Monogram 

GRACE  BRADLEY'  signed  for  the  feminine  lead 
in  “Sign  of  the  Wolf,”  a Paul  Malvern  production. 

Paramount 

RAYMOND  WALBURN  draws  a comedy  lead  in 
“Kiss  the  Boys  Goodbye.” 

BRIAN  AHERNE  joins  the  cast  of  “Skylark.” 

CAROLY'N  LEE,  five-year-old  player,  signed  to 
a long-time  ticket  to  star  in  three  pictures  yearly. 

BARBARA  JO  ALLEN  (Vera  Vague)  draws  the 
heavy  role  in  “Kiss  the  Boys  Goodbye.” 

VICTOR  JORY  signed  for  a lead  in  “Men  of 
Action,”  new  Harry  Sherman  “Hopalong  Cassidy” 
western. 

HELEN  MACK  given  a lead  in  “Power  Dive,” 
which  Picture  Corp.  of  America  is  producing. 

RKO  Radio 

ALBERTO  VILA,  South  American  singing  star, 
field  for  another  term.  He  made  his  American 
debut  in  “They  Met  in  Argentina.” 

WENDY  BARRIE  and  KENT  TAYLOR  booked 
for  the  leads  in  “Repent  at  Leisure,”  to  be  pro- 
duced and  directed  by  Frank  Woodruff.  Jerry 
Cady  is  scripting  from  an  original  by  James  Gow 
and  Arnold  D’Usseau. 

BENNY  RUBIN  given  a comedy  lead  in  “Sunny.” 

TIM  HOLT  given  new  contract  calling  for  his 
appearance  in  five  westerns  for  the  1941-42  slate. 

Republic 

DENNIS  O’KEEFE  given  lead  in  “You’ll  Never 
Get  Rich.” 

20th  Century-Fox 

ROBERT  ELLIS  and  HELEN  LOGAN,  writing 
team,  handed  new  term  deal. 

ALAN  MOWBRAY  signed  for  a comedy  lead  in 
‘The  Cowboy  and  the  Blonde.” 

SHEPPERD  STRUDWICK  given  term  acting 
contract. 

Universal 

DOROTHY  TREE  draws  featured  role  in  “The 
Man  Who  Lost  Himself.” 


ROBERT  ARMSTRONG  handed  a featured  role 

in  “Mr.  Dynamite.” 

NILS  ANTHER,  silent  screen  star,  signed  for  the 
second  male  lead  in  “The  Man  Who  Lost  Himself.” 

Warner  Bros. 

RALPH  SPENCE  signs  one-picture  writing  deal, 
joining  the  Harlan  Thompson  production  unit. 

GEORGE  TOBIAS  given  new  term  deal  as  a 
featured  player. 

NAN  WYNN,  New  York  and  Chicago  night  club 
and  radio  singer,  given  term  contract  and  a role 
in  “No  Hard  Feelings.” 

GARRET  C’RAIG,  featured  player,  held  for  an- 
other term. 

Percenteers 

HA  BUY  HAM,  for  seven  years  Myron  Selznick’s 
London  representative,  has  checked  in  for  the 
duration  of  the  war. 

Scripters 

Columbia 

MORTON  THOMPSON  and  MALYIN  WALD  to 

“One  Way  Street,”  from  their  own  original. 

CLYDE  BRUCKMAN  and  FELIX  ADLER  to 
“Yankee  Doodle  Andy,”  an  Andy  Clyde  two-reeler. 
Jules  White  is  producer-director. 

FELIX  ADLER  and  CLYDE  BRUCKMAN  to 
‘Hie  Hie  Horray,”  a two-reel  comedy. 

JOE  HOFFMAN  to  “The  Officer  and  the  Lady.” 
Irving  Briskin  will  produce. 

ROBERT  ANDREWS  to  “A  Saint  in  Diamonds.” 

Paramount 

FRANK  PARTOS  to  "Dildo  Cay.”  to  be  pro- 
duced  and  directed  by  Edward  H.  Griffith. 

W.  L.  RIVER  completes  first  draft  of  “Pioneer 
Woman,”  the  William  A.  Wellman  production, 
which  will  co-star  Barbara  Stanwyck  and  Joel 
McCrea. 

JAMES  GOW  to  “Paramount  Parade”  for  Pro- 
ducer Sol  Siegel. 

Picture  Corp.  of  America 

MAXWELL  SHANE  and  ED  CHURCHILL  to  an 

untitled  script  to  star  Richard  Arlen,  for  Para- 
mount release. 

Republic 

MILT  GROSS  and  JACK  TOWNLEY  to  “Pud- 
din’  Head,”  forthcoming  Judy  Canova  starrer. 

20th  Century-Fox 

CARL  KRUGER  teamed  with  HORACE  MeCOY 

on  “Sioux  City.” 

STANLEY  RAUH  and  MANNING  O’CONNOR 

to  “The  Dead  Take  No  Bows,”  next  in  the 
“Michael  Shayne”  sleuth  series. 

Universal 

VIC  McLEOI)  to  “Cracked  Nuts.” 

BRENDA  WEISBERG  to  “Give  the  Kids  a 
Break.”  Ken  Goldsmith  will  produce. 

Warner  Bros. 

PHILIP  and  JULIUS  EPSTEIN  to  "The  Man 
Who  Came  to  Dinner.” 

HAROLD  SHl’MATE  to  “Bad  Men  of  Missouri.” 

Story  Buys 

Metro 

“Reunion,”  by  Ladislaus  Bus-Fekete.  Joseph 
Mankiewicz  will  produce. 

20th  Century-Fox 

“Charley’s  Aunt,”  play  by  Brandon  Thomas. 
Purchase  price  was  reported  as  $110,000. 

“Remember  the  Day,”  a play  by  Philo  Higley 
and  Philip  Dunning.  Dunning  and  Tess  Slesinger 
are  scripting. 

Two  untitled  stories  by  Edward  Van  Every.  They 
will  be  combined  under  the  title  “Coney  Island.” 

Technically 

Columbia 

HENRY  FREULICH  tensing  “A  Girl's  Best 
Friend  Is  Wall  Street.” 

MARIE  KAY  supervising  dance  sequences  in 
“They  Dare  Not  Love.” 

CARY  ODELL  set  as  art  director  on  “A  Girl’s 
Best  Friend  Is  Wall  Street.” 

Metro 

CHARLES  LAWTON  photographing  exterior  lo- 
cation scenes  for  “Roosty.” 

AL  JENNINGS  named  assistant  director  of  lo- 
cation unit  filming  snow  sequences  in  Sun  Val- 
ley for  “A  Woman’s  Face.” 

WILLIAM  DANIELS  to  lens  “Love  Crazy.” 

RKO  Radio 

RICHARD  VAN  HESSEN  named  sound  re- 
corder on  “Sunny,”  with  ALEX  KAHLE  handling 
still  pictures. 

MARK  LEE  KIRK  set  as  associate  art  director 
on  “Tom,  Dick  and  Harry.” 

20th  Century-Fox 

WILLIAM  IHNEN  to  handle  art  direction  on 
“Man  Hunt.” 

Warner  Bros. 

JERRY  SCHOOLMAN  named  technical  advisor 
on  "Miss  Wheelwright  Discovers  America." 

HAROLD  MeLERNON  to  edit  “No  Hard  Feel- 
ings.” 

SOL  POLITO  to  lens  "Sergeant  York.” 


40 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


New  Preview  Sysiem 
Siaris  Off  With  Old 


Although  it  developed  into  nothing  more 
than  a tempest  in  a teapot,  the  previewing 
of  “So  Ends  Our  Night,”  United  Artists 
release  produced  by  David  L.  Loew  and 
Albert  Lewin,  gave  further  evidence  of  the 
precariousness  of  Hollywood’s  new  preview 
system. 

Under  terms  of  the  agreement  reached 
by  members  of  the  producers  association 
last  December,  major  studios  decided  that 
after  that  date  all  “press”  previews  would 
be  held  in  studio  projection  rooms,  pre- 
ferably in  afternoons,  and  that  only  the 
working  critical  and  reviewing  press  would 
be  invited. 

However,  the  Loew-Lewin  unit  had 
scheduled  the  press  showing  of  its  picture 
for  the  evening  of  January  24  at  Grau- 
man’s  Chinese  Theatre.  Two  days  before, 
Thornton  Sargent,  PWC  district  manager, 
and  Spyros  Cardos,  of  the  Chinese,  noti- 
fied Loew-Lewin  representatives  the  pre- 
view was  to  be  cancelled;  submitting  as 
their  authority  a statement  from  Presi- 
dent Charles  P.  Skouras,  who  had  just  re- 
turned from  New  York  and  who,  upon 
scrutinizing  the  matter,  declared  he  did 
not  intend  to  violate  the  new  system  as 
worked  out  by  the  producers  association. 

Avoid  Court  Action 

Loew  and  Lewin,  in  New  York,  were 
apprised  of  the  situation  by  their  repre- 
sentatives here,  and  promptly  retained  At- 
torney David  Tannenbaum  with  instruc- 
tions that  he  file  suit  in  federal  court 
charging  PWC  with  breach  of  contract. 
Tannenbaum  was  to  have  sought  an  af- 
firmative injunction  compelling  the  thea- 
tre to  stage  the  preview  in  accord  with  the 
written  agreement.  Loew-Lewin  attaches 
insisted  that  the  element  of  alleged  col- 
lusion between  FWC  and  the  producers 
association  would  also  be  brought  into  the 
battle. 

On  the  verge  of  the  court  action,  how- 
ever, Skouras  ordered  the  preview  to  go  on 
as  scheduled  when  PWC  attorneys  con- 
ferred with  Tannenbaum  and  reached  an 
agreement  whereby  the  projected  suit  was 
withdrawn.  Skouras  declared  he  had  de- 
cided the  arrangements  to  cancel  the 
showing  should  never  have  been  made,  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  it  was  during  his 
absence  in  New  York  that  the  preview  was 
set  into  the  theatre  by  FWC  executives. 

Miss  the  "Glamour” 

Two  weeks  or  more  ago,  the  Loew-Lewin 
unit  had  announced  it  was  disregarding 
the  “no-theatre  preview”  ruling  because, 
attaches  contended,  it  would  be  unfair  to 
the  picture  to  screen  it  in  a “cold”  projec- 
tion room  without  any  audience  save  critics 
and  because,  it  was  further  contended, 
abolishing  “press”  previews  in  the  theatres 
tended  to  “rob”  Hollywood  of  a portion  of 
its  “glamour.”  Loew-Lewin  officials  also 
pointed  out  that  the  company  is  not  itself 
a member  of  the  producers  association  and 
has  no  projection  room  facilities  “in  keep- 
ing with  the  picture’s  importance.” 


Adapting  Runyon  Story 

“The  Old  Doll’s  House,”  Damon  Runyon 
story,  is  being  adapted  for  Warner  by  An- 
thony Coldeway. 


^ = . ■ ■ ^ 

: Spearheads  ; 

vs  - - — —o 

(Continued  from  page  39) 


undoubtedly  strike  a sympathetic  chord, 
even  its  anti-Nazi  note  may  be  too  late  to 
prove  much  of  an  asset.  Performances  are 
all  that  could  be  expected  from  a cast 
topped  by  such  players  as  Fredric  March, 
Margaret  Sullavan  and  Prances  Dee;  al- 
though Miss  Dee  has  deplorably  little  to  do. 
The  burden  of  the  acting  chore,  however, 
falls  to  Glenn  Ford,  a promising  new  face, 
who  ably  fulfills  the  task  he  was  called 
upon  to  deliver.  John  Cromwell,  in  his 
direction,  did  everything  he  possibly 
could  to  elevate  and  speed  the  film,  while 
the  supporting  cast,  a large  one  including 
numerous  well-established  names,  is  gen- 
erally excellent. 

* * * 

Rating  as  better  than  average  is  20th 
Century-Fox’s  “Tall,  Dark  and  Handsome,” 
another  story  of  gangdom  which  vacillates 
between  comedy  and  melodrama,  with  an 
occasional  musical  moment  thrown  in  to 
further  confuse  its  accurate  designation. 
Script  by  Karl  Tunberg  and  Darrell  Ware 
is  unadulterated  hokum,  but  those  who  are 
not  too  critical  of  plot  consistencies  will 
vote  the  film  a top-rate  job  of  picture- 
making. It  boasts  a particularly  good  cast, 
in  which  Cesar  Romero,  as  a soft-hearted 
mobster,  and  Virginia  Gilmore,  his  roman- 
tic interest,  dominate.  On  the  comedy  side 
there  are  long-legged  Charlotte  Greenwood 
and  Milton  Berle,  complete  with  his  new 
nose,  in  addition  to  a number  of  lesser 
lights.  H.  Bruce  Humberstone  did  a not- 
able directorial  job  and  Fred  Kohlmar,  in 
his  first  producer  assignment  for  the  com- 
pany, acquitted  himself  with  honors. 

* * * 

The  perennial  western — without  which 
no  preview  lineup  would  be  complete — was 
represented  by  RKO  Radio’s  “Along  the 


Rio  Grande,”  while  Republic  contributed 
a rural  melodrama  with  hillbilly  music  in 
“Arkansas  Judge.” 

In  the  former  Tim  Holt  stakes  out  a new 
claim  on  his  enviable,  fast-growing  repu- 
tation as  one  of  the  up-and-coming  new 
sagebrush  stars,  again  demonstrating  that 
few  of  his  rivals  can  surpass  him  in  act- 
ing ability.  He  appears  to  advantage  in  a 
story  containing  more  meat  than  the  aver- 
age outdoor  yarn,  scripted  by  Arthur  V. 
Jones  and  Morton  Grant  from  a Stuart 
Anthony  original.  Producer  Bert  Gilroy 
surrounded  Holt  with  an  able  supporting 
cast  in  which  Ray  Whitley  and  Emmett 
Lynn  appear  as  the  inevitable  two  buddies 
and  Betty  Jane  Rhodes  supplies  the  lit- 
tle romantic  interest  that  was  considered 
necessary.  Edward  Killy  contributed  the 
standard  brand  of  direction. 

Hillbilly  rhythm  and  corn  are  among 
the  products  coming  from  ’way  down  in 
Arkansas.  And  the  Republic  entry  has  a 
little  of  the  former  and  bushels  of  the  lat- 
ter— possibly  as  large  a load  as  was  ever 
dumped  on  to  the  celluloid.  However,  it  is 
probably  the  kind  of  corn  small-town  audi- 
ences like  and  will  buy,  although  urban 
and  sophisticated  patrons  will  continue  to 
express  a preference  for  theirs  on  the  cob. 
It  stars  the  Weaver  Brothers  and  Elviry, 
who  handle  their  roles  satisfactorily,  with 
Leon  Weaver  turning  in  the  best  perform- 
ance in  a Will  Rogers  type  of  role.  Roy 
Rogers,  minus  his  horse,  is  also  on  hand, 
with  Spring  Byington  and  Pauline  Moore 
contributing  smaller  parts.  Dorrell  and 
Stuart  McGowan  scripted  from  a novel  by 
Irving  Stone,  “False  Witness.”  Frank  Mc- 
Donald’s direction  is  commendable  and 
Armand  Schaefer,  functioning  as  associate 
producer,  saw  to  it  that  the  vehicle  was 
provided  with  the  necessary  trappings. 


Universal  Names  Gottlieb 
An  Associate  Producer 

After  a year  on  the  lot  as  a scenarist, 
during  which  he  scripted  five  pictures, 
Alex  Gottlieb  has  been  given  a berth  as 
an  associate  producer  at  Universal.  Gott- 
lieb was  formerly  advertising  head  for 
United  Artists  and  Columbia  in  New  York, 
and  was  publicity  director  for  Walter 
Wanger  in  Hollywood  some  years  ago.  No 
assignment  has  been  handed  him  as  yet 
in  his  new  position. 

Other  Changes 

Francis  Langton,  head  of  the  Paramount 
studio  writers’  department,  has  resigned 
and  checked  off  the  lot.  He  was  with  the 
company  for  nine  years.  After  a three- 
week  vacation  Langton  will  announce  a 
new  affiliation.  As  a result  of  his  de- 
parture, the  Paramount  writer  and  story 
departments  will  be  combined  with  Wil- 
liam Dozier,  who  recently  joined  the  studio, 
in  charge  of  both. 

Republic  has  signed  Martin  Broones,  at 
one  time  head  of  M-G-M’s  music  depart- 
ment, to  a term  ticket  as  an  associate 
producer.  His  first  assignment  will  be 


set  after  Broones  has  surveyed  studio  pro- 
cedure and  studied  a number  of  story 
properties. 

Jerry  Hoffman,  former  20th  Century- 
Fox  producer  and  more  recently  a mem- 
ber of  the  Warner  studio  publicity  staff, 
has  turned  in  his  resignation,  effective 
in  two  weeks.  No  future  plans  have  been 
announced. 

(t = ft 

War  Film  Casts  Must 
Be  Fingerprinted 

Some  12,000  technicians,  players  and 
other  studio  workers  who  will  engage  in 
the  production  of  films  relating  to  na- 
tional defense  will  be  fingerprinted  by 
Uncle  Sam  during  the  coming  year,  the 
studios  have  been  notified  by  federal 
authorities. 

Ruling  applies  to  those  going  on  loca- 
tion in  national  parks  and  other  terri- 
tories under  U.  S.  domain.  Workers  also 
must  show  that  they  are  full-fledged 
American  citizens,  according  to  new  war 
and  navy  department  regulations. 

VSr =====  m J 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


41 


Technicians  Deal 
With  Producers 

Negotiations  are  now  under  way  between 
producers  and  the  sound  technicians  local, 
IATSE,  the  craft  having  filed  demands  for 
complete  jurisdiction  in  the  studios,  guar- 
anteed employment,  wage  increases  and  a 
54-hour  minimum  week,  with  time  and  a 
half  pay  after  40  hours.  Harold  V.  Smith 
heads  the  union’s  negotiating  committee 
and  Pat  Casey,  Hays  office  labor  contact, 
is  handling  the  matter  for  the  producers, 
who  have  informed  Smith  no  deal  can  be 
set  until  the  technicians  have  ironed  out 
a jurisdictional  dispute  with  the  elec- 
tricians’ union. 

Projectionists  Request 

Demands  have  also  been  filed  with  pro- 
ducers by  the  studio  projectionists,  ask- 
ing for  a minimum  six-hour  call,  and  re- 
questing wage  increases  and  other  adjust- 
ments. The  local  has  called  a general 
membership  meeting  for  January  27  to 
approve  the  new  contract,  which  specifies 
a 36-hour  week  and  two  weeks  vacation 
with  pay  for  men  at  the  studios  who  are 
employed  40  weeks  or  more  a year. 

Studio  laborers  and  utility  workers, 
IATSE,  are  disputing  with  the  Studio  Util- 
ity Employes  on  jurisdiction  over  laborers 
at  the  Fine  Arts  studio  and  the  Universal 
ranch.  The  former  craft  has  threatened 
a walkout  unless  lot  executives  cease  hiring 
SUE  men.  The  matter  has  been  referred 
to  Casey  of  the  Hays  office  for  study. 

Art  Directors  Dicker 

Producers  are  also  dickering  with  the 
Art  Directors  Guild  on  a demand  for  a 
basic  wage-hour  agreement. 

Screen  Writers  Guild  is  claiming  juris- 
diction over  scripters  employed  by  Walt 
Disney  and  other  cartoon-makers.  SWG 
has  also  completed  a tentative  draft  of  a 
proposed  contract  licensing  agents  who 
represent  film  writers.  A membership 
meeting  has  been  set  for  January  27  to 
approve  details  of  the  agreement.  It  is 
similar  in  scope  to  that  between  the  Screen 
Actors  Guild  and  the  Artists  Managers 
Guild. 

SAG  will  resume  its  producer  parleys 
January  29,  at  which  time  the  Guild’s  drive 
to  secure  higher  wages  for  day  players 
and  freelancers,  and  a reclassification  of 
pay  brackets  for  extras,  will  be  renewed. 


Retain  Richard  Rowland  to 
Produce  Three  lor  UA 

United  Artists  has  picked  up  its  option 
on  Producer  Richard  A.  Rowland,  who 
will  produce  three  more  pictures  for  the 
company.  His  original  deal  called  for 
an  option  for  one  more  after  “Cheers  for 
Miss  Bishop,”  with  an  option  beyond  that 
for  two  more. 

Rowland  is  now  preparing  “The  Battle 
of  Britain,”  which  may  be  the  first  un- 
der his  new  deal. 


Hathaway  Pact  Settled 

Henry  Hathaway  and  Paramount  have 
agreed  to  an  amicable  severance  of  Hath- 
away’s contract  as  a producer-director.  He 
will  announce  future  plans  shortly. 


Blue  Ribbon  Winners — 

A camera  roundup  of  Boxoffice  Blue 
Ribbon  Winners  for  November  and 
December.  In  the  first  row  are  those 
awarded  the  coveted  plaques  from  the 
National  Screen  Council  for  “North 
West  Mounted  Police.”  At  the  top, 
Cecil  B.  DeMille,  producer,  exhibits  his 
award  to  William  H.  Pine  (right),  an 
onlooker.  Center,  Mrs.  Natalie  Kal- 
mus,  color  director  for  Technicolor, 
brings  out  her  two  previous  awards 
(“Drums  Along  the  Mohawk”  and 
“ Pinocchio ”)  to  keep  the  new  one 
company.  At  the  bottom,  Madeleine 
Carroll.  In  the  second  row  are  win- 


ners for  “Tin  Pan  Alley,”  December 
Blue  Ribboner.  Top  is  Kenneth  Mac- 
Gowan,  producer.  Center,  Walter  Lang, 
director.  Bottom,  Helen  Logan  and 
Robert  Ellis,  who  did  the  writing  job. 


42 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


PCCITO  Final  Session  in 


^HE  local  news  front  buzzed  merrily  the 

past  week  with  all  the  exhibitors  in 
town  attending  the  PCCITO  meeting. 
Theatres  were  represented  from  every  sec- 
tion of  the  state  and  all  enjoyed  them- 
selves at  the  meeting.  The  newspapers 
covered  the  meeting  and  took  pictures  of 
the  officers. 

Mr.  Gould  announced  his  new  theatre  in 
Dallas  is  coming  along  nicely  . . . Carl  Por- 
ter was  in  doing  some  hooking  as  was  Art 
Kolstad  of  Hood  River.  Art  has  been  in 
semi-retirement  for  several  months,  but 
is  back  in  the  harness  with  active  man- 
agement of  the  Kolstad  enterprises. 

Mrs.  Hartman,  Estacada;  Dutch  Stover, 
Bend;  Mr.  Rosenfield,  The  Dalles;  Basil 
Bashor,  Kelso;  George  Roy,  Eugene;  Earl 
Baltazar,  Rainer;  Eino  Hemmila  and  the 
Mrs.,  Medford;  Dick  Fisk,  Bandon;  Ken 
Spears,  Winlock;  Mr.  Pragastis,  Oregon 
City;  all  in  town  for  the  meeting,  but 
tending  to  their  booking  chores  in  the 
meantime. 

Word  was  received  here  of  the  death  of 
Bobby  Sutters  in  a plane  crash.  Sutters  was 
an  instructor  in  aviation  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  was  flying  with  a student 
pilot  when  the  plane  went  into  a tailspin 
and  crashed.  He  was  well  known  on  the 
Row. 

Ron  Harrington,  long  a favorite  figure 
on  Filmrow,  took  over  the  job  as  manager 
of  the  Star  Theatre,  Portland  . . . Ross 
Nelson  and  Ray  Harmon,  Independence, 
were  in  town  booking  and  buying  adver- 
tising. Harmon  recently  renovated  the 
booth  at  the  Isis  . . . Ron  Burroughs  of 
the  Blue  Bird  Theatre  has  a new  hobby. 
He  is  learning  electric  welding. 

Ted  Hackley’s  father  is  reported  sick  and 
Ted  made  a hurry-up  trip  to  Seattle  to 
visit  him.  Tom  Tomlinson  was  down  from 
Seattle  to  visit  friends  and  renew  acquaint- 
ances . . . Andy  Anderson  was  slightly 
bruised  in  an  accident  on  the  road  back 
from  Corvallis  last  week. 

Denny  Hull  was  another  Portland  visi- 
tor . . . Banjo  Miller  has  a reason  to  be 
proud  these  days.  As  secretary  of  the  Ore- 
gon ITO  he  played  host  to  the  other  of- 
ficials of  the  PCCITO  and  arranged  for  a 
private  car  to  transport  the  group  to  Seat- 
tle for  the  meeting  there.  At  the  Seattle 
meeting  Ben  Shearer  treated  the  gang  to 
cigars  and  cigarettes  and  carnations  for 
the  ladies. 


Open  Yiddish  Studios 

Hollywood — Offices  and  studios  for  the 
production  of  Jewish  pictures  have  been 
opened  here  by  Louis  Weiss  and  Sam 
Rosen  at  1357  North  Gordon  Street.  These 
Yiddish  pictures  are  the  first  to  be  pro- 
duced in  Hollywood  and  shooting  will  start 
on  the  initial  production  in  February. 


Leads  for  "Leisure" 
Hollywood — Wendy  Barrie  and  Kent 
Taylor  have  been  booked  for  the  leads  in 
RKO’s  “Repent  at  Leisure,”  to  be  pro- 
duced by  Cliff  Reid  and  directed  by  Frank 
Woodruff. 


Series  a Strong  Draw 


ft  = v~ 

Get  News-Ban  Orders 
In  RKO-Hearst  Till 

San  Francisco — Ada  Hanafin  and  Fred 
Johnson,  drama  critics  of  the  "Examiner" 
and  “Call-Bulletin"  respectively,  are  said 
to  have  received  orders  from  the  powers 
that  be  that  RKO  products  are  not  to  be 
reviewed  or  publicized  in  any  way  in 
either  of  the  newspapers.  The  papers, 
both  Hearst  owned,  are  obeying  the  com- 
mand which  came  directly  from  San 
Simeon  supposedly  in  protest  to  Orson 
Welles'  “Citizen  Kane." 

^ 0 

Albert  Law  Opens  Law 
Office  in  Los  Angeles 

Los  Angeles — Albert  J.  Law,  former  de- 
partment of  justice  deputy  stationed  here 
and  active  in  the  government’s  anti-trust 
suit  against  the  industry,  has  opened  law 
offices  in  the  Subway  Terminal  Building. 
He  was  recently  named  general  counsel  for 
the  Pacific  Coast  Conference  of  Indepen- 
dent Theatre  Owners. 


Scripting  "Henry  and  Dizzy" 

Hollywood — Paramount  has  ticketed 
Val  Burton  to  script  “Henry  and  Dizzy.” 
Sol  C.  Siegel  will  produce. 


Los  Angeles — Termed  by  Pacific  Coast 
Conference  of  Independent  Theatre  Own- 
ers spokesmen  as  one  of  the  most  signifi- 
cant and  constructive  sessions  yet  held  by 
that  organization  was  the  meeting  staged 
January  20  at  the  Elks  Club,  with  some  100 
independent  showmen  in  this  territory  at- 
tending. 

Keynoting  the  conclave  were  discus- 
sions of  the  government’s  consent  decree, 
the  urgency  of  educating  exhibitors  to  the 
proper  procedure  in  the  matter  of  arbi- 
tration, and  a survey  of  the  possible  ef- 
fects on  theatre  operators  of  the  Ameri- 
can Society  of  Composers,  Authors  and 
Publishers  battle  with  the  radio  networks. 

Exhibitors  were  urged  by  Albert  J.  Law, 
former  department  of  justice  deputy  and 
now  general  counsel  for  the  PCCITO,  to 
clear  any  and  all  grievances  against  dis- 
tributors or  other  theatres  through  him 
and  the  PCCITO.  Law  declared  himself 
willing  and  ready  to  offer  advice  and 
counsel  on  consent  decree  problems  when- 
ever they  might  arise  with  any  exhibitor. 
He  also  discussed  the  decree  and  its  rami- 
fications insofar  as  showmen  in  this  ter- 
ritory are  concerned. 

Milton  Arthur  presided  over  the  gather- 
ing, which  was  the  fourth  and  last  in  a 
series  up  and  down  the  Pacific  Coast.  Law 
and  Robert  H.  Poole,  the  PCCITO’s  ex- 
ecutive secretary,  also  attended  sessions  in 
Seattle,  Portland  and  San  Francisco. 


At  the  PCCITO  Meeting  in  Seattle — 

Scenes  at  the  board  meeting  of  the  Pacific  Coast  Conference  of  Independent 
Theatre  Oivners  in  Seattle.  Top  row,  left  to  right:  “Banjo’’  Miller,  unidenti- 
fied, Bob  Poole,  Bill  Ripley,  Hugh  Bruen,  Ben  Levin,  Jack  Burrnan,  Jim 
Hone,  West  Johnson,  Rotus  Harvey.  Below,  standing,  same  order:  Jose  Sar- 
odka,  Joe  Bradt,  Art  Kolstad,  West  Johnson,  Bill  Ripley,  Sam  Whitesides, 
Bob  White,  Milt  Odem.  Seated:  “Banjo”  Miller,  Lloyd  Claver,  George  Hunt, 
Don  Meyers,  M.  W.  Mattecheck. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


43 


ILOS  AMCiIEILK— — — "Philadelphia Story" 


DESS  EMANUEL,  Foreign  Films  exchange, 
is  recovered  from  her  recent  flu  at- 
tack and  back  on  the  job  again  . . . Lou 
Goldstein  of  Astor  Pictures  announces  he 
has  acquired  three  foreign  releases  for  dis- 
tribution in  this  territory — “Mayerling,” 
“Ballerina”  and  “Song  of  Freedom”  . . . 
When  her  incinerator  at  home  exploded, 
Ida  Traves,  Columbia  film  inspectress,  suf- 
fered serious  burns  which  will  keep  her 
away  from  her  job,  recuperating,  for  at 
least  a month  . . . Fred  Mercy,  operator  of 
theatres  in  Yakima  and  Walla  Walla, 
Wash.,  dropped  in  for  a visit  with  ac- 
quaintances here  . . . Booking:  George  Dia- 
mos,  Lyric  Amusement  Co.  of  Arizona;  Ben 
Aranda,  Eureka  Theatre,  Brawley. 

Ben  Mohi  opened  his  new  Pic  fair  Janu- 
ary 24.  He  formerly  operated  the  Century 
and  Princess  theatres  . . . Harry  Gerlinger 
has  taken  over  the  Wistaria  in  Sierra 
Madre  from  J.  S.  Slate  . . . Bill  Cox  has 
sold  his  Paramount  and  Chief  Theatres  in 
Casa  Grande,  Ariz.,  to  the  Louis  Long  cir- 
cuit ...  A.  Fakuda,  Royal  Theatre,  Han- 
ford, came  in  for  bookings. 

Seymour  Willing,  formerly  with  Mike 
Levinson,  independent  distributor,  has  now 
gone  into  the  field  for  himself  with  a pic- 
ture titled  “Sinful  Souls”  . . . Sarah  Sachs 
of  M-G-M’s  billing  department  bedded 
with  the  flu  . . . Booking:  Phil  Greenbaum, 
Castle  and  Mecca;  Vic  Walker,  in  from 
Santa  Ana;  Murray  Hawkins  of  the  Swan 
circuit;  Jack  Goldberg,  booker  for  Ben 
Bronstein;  Irwin  Kanowitz  of  the  Union. 

Walter  Gregg,  formerly  ivith  the  Louis 
Long  circuit  in  Arizona,  has  taken  over 
the  Rex  in  Phoenix  from  R.  B.  Killeen  . . . 
William  F.  Rodgers,  Metro’s  general  sales 
manager,  came  in  from  New  York  for 
studio  conferences  and  dropped  in  for  a 
visit  at  the  local  exchange  . . . More  book- 
ers: Henry  Milstein,  Gardena,  Gardena, 


SALT 

JOHN  RUGAR  of  Park  City  was  re-elected 
* president  of  the  Intermountain  Thea- 
tre Association  at  a meeting  of  the  group 
in  the  Newhouse  Hotel.  George  Smith  of 
Magna,  Utah,  is  vice-president,  and  Rugar, 
J.  J.  Gillette  of  Tooele,  Utah,  J.  H.  Har- 
ris of  Burley,  Idaho,  E.  H.  Steele  of  Nephi, 
Utah,  Paul  deMordaunt  of  Blackfoot, 
Idaho,  and  Walter  Hull  of  Ely,  Nevada,  are 
directors. 

The  Victory  Theatre  here,  under  the 
management  of  Chet  Price,  announces  a 
new  policy.  This  house  has  been  running 
first-run  pictures  for  some  time,  and  now 
changes  over  to  showing  one  first  run  pic- 
ture and  one  carry  over  from  the  Centre, 
Utah  or  Studio  theatres.  These  are  houses 
of  the  Intermountain  Theatres,  Inc.,  chain. 

Manager  Chet  Price  and  Bill  Glasmann, 
Intermountain  theatre  managers,  accom- 
panied by  General  Manager  Harry  David, 
left  here  this  week  to  attend  the  ban- 
quet in  Chicago  given  to  honor  Barney 
Balaban,  president  of  Paramount,  as  part 
of  the  Fifth  Anniversary  Drive.  Price  and 
Glasmann  were  prize  winners  here.  Others 


and  Grand,  Torrence;  J.  D.  “Judy”  Poyn- 
ter,  Ramona,  Ramona;  Dave  Cantor,  San 
Clemente,  San  Clemente;  Tommy  Hunt- 
ington, Seville,  Chula  Vista. 

Jack  Cooper,  M-G-M  booker,  is  minus  a 
tooth — a bad  molar  which  he  had  yanked 
. . . M-G-M  employes  have  resumed  their 
Tuesday  night  skating  sessions  at  Pan-Pa- 
cific Auditorium  . . . Sam  Milner,  Univer- 
sal salesman,  is  in  from  a tour  through  the 
Arizona  territory  . . . Francis  Bateman  is 
back  at  Republic  after  a holiday  in  Palm 
Springs  . . . A1  Minor,  Burbank  exhibitor, 
is  in  the  White  Memorial  Hospital  in  Pasa- 
dena for  a checkup  . . . Herb  MacIntyre, 
RKO’s  western  district  manager,  checked 
out  for  a tour  through  the  territory  . . . 
Jim  Schiller  is  in  Phoenix  on  M-G-M  ex- 
ploitation. 

Here  for  conferences  with  executives  of 
National  Theatre  Supply,  which  distributes 
his  product  in  11  western  states,  is  E.  P. 
Whitley,  general  sales  manager  for  the 
American  Seating  Co.  of  Grand  Rapids, 
Mich.  . . . Joe  Bernhard,  Warner  Theatres 
chieftain,  has  returned  to  New  York  after 
spending  a week  here  huddling  with  studio 
and  theatre  officials  . . . Walter  E.  Green, 
president  of  the  National  Theatre  Supply 
Co.,  has  returned  east  after  conferring  here 
with  Oscar  Oldknow,  Pacific  Coast  head 
...  No  one  can  get  Bess  Booth,  M-G-M 
secretary,  to  admit  where  she  got  that 
green  zercon  ring  which  she’s  wearing  on 
the  correct  finger.  She’s  had  it  since 
Christmas. 

A three-hour  meeting  was  held  at  RKO 
Radio  to  discuss  the  forthcoming  Ned 
Depinet  sales  drive,  with  Leo  Devaney, 
Canadian  sales  manager  and  drive  leader, 
presiding.  Also  in  on  the  session  were  Herb 
MacIntyre,  western  district  head;  Max 
Kravetz  of  Stephens-Lang  Productions 
and  William  Burke,  homeoffice  auditor. 


LAKE 

winning  cash  awards  were  Jack  Braun- 
agle,  Capitol,  Logan,  Utah;  Breck  Fagin, 
Orpheum,  Idaho  Falls,  Idaho;  Nevin  Mc- 
Cord, Granada,  Boise,  Idaho,  and  Harold 
Chestler,  Mario,  Salt  Lake  City. 

RKO  District  Manager  Herb  MacIntyre 
and  Captain  Leo  Devaney  have  been  in 
Salt  Lake  City  for  a few  days  attending 
special  meetings  in  connection  with  the  big 
Ned  Depinet  Drive  now  under  way  . . . 
RKO  has  released  the  latest  picture  of  the 
Dionne  Quintuplets  in  “Growing  Up.” 

“Kitty  Foyle”  is  a holdover  at  the  local 
Rialto  as  is  “Comrade  X”  at  the  Studio. 
“Rose  Marie”  and  “Call  a Messenger”  are 
being  held  at  the  Star  . . . John  P.  Byrne 
and  E.  M.  Saunders,  M-G-M  officials,  have 
returned  to  their  respective  headquarters 
after  visiting  here  with  Branch  Manager 
Sam  Gardner  for  several  days.  Confer- 
ences were  also  held  with  the  sales  force. 

The  Lake  Theatre,  operated  by  Andy 
Floor,  has  been  operating  under  a picture 
program  policy  of  late  rather  than  pic- 
tures and  vaudeville.  A first  run  picture 
and  subsequent  run  are  shown. 


Is  Tops  in  Seattle 


Seattle — Heavy  rains  for  a couple  of 
days  kept  the  show-lovers  home  this  week. 
However  “The  Philadelphia  Story”  enjoyed 
the  town’s  top  business  at  the  Fifth.  The 
Benny-Alien  feud  still  continues  at  the 
Paramount  and  folks  are  still  trekking 
there.  Other  houses  just  can  boast  fair 
business. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  18: 


(Average  is  100) 

Blue  Mouse — White  Zombie  (SR);  Phantom 

of  Chinatown  (Mono)  90 

Fifth  Avenue — The  Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M); 
Michael  Shayne,  Private  Detective  (20th- 

Fox)  150 

Liberty — Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (UA) ; Five 

Little  Peppers  in  Trouble  (Col) 90 

Music  Box — Flight  Command  (M-G-M);  Keep- 
ing Company  (M-G-M),  3rd  wk 90 

Orpheum — Second  Chorus  (Para’t);  Night 

Train  (20th-Fox)  90 

Palomar — Invisible  Woman  (Univ) ; Black 

Diamonds  (Univ),  plus  stage  show  85 

Paramount — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t); 

Jennie  (20th-Fox),  2nd  wk 110 


" Kitty  Foyle”  Holds  L.  A . 
First  Run  Bright  Spot 

Los  Angeles — “Kitty  Foyle,”  opening 
ing  day  and  date  at  the  RKO  Hillstreet 
and  Pantages  theatres,  proved  the  only 
bright  spot  in  an  otherwise  under-normal 
week  for  first-run  houses  here.  Holdovers 
included  “Santa  Fe  Trail”  at  the  Holly- 
wood and  Downtown  for  a second  average 
week;  “Love  Thy  Neighbor,”  grossing  par 
business  in  its  second  stanza  at  the  Para- 
mount, and  “Flight  From  Destiny,”  which 
wound  up  a third  inglorious  week  at  the 
Four  Star  to  make  way  for  “Cheers  for 
Miss  Bishop.” 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  15: 


(Average  is  100) 

Chinese — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox);  Romance 

of  the  Rio  Grande  (20th-Fox)  85 

Downtown — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN),  2nd  wk 100 

Four  Star — Flight  From  Destiny  (WB), 

3rd  wk 50 

Hollywood— Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN),  2nd  wk 100 

Pantages — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  Ellery  Queen, 

Master  Detective  (Col)  150 

Paramount- — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t),  2nd 

wk.,  plus  stage  show  100 

Hillstreet — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO) ; Ellery  Queen, 

Master  Detective  (Col)  150 

State — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox);  Romance 

of  the  Rio  Grande  (20th-Fox)  100 


"Kitty  Foyle”  on  Dualler 
Does  Best  in  Denver 

Denver — “Kitty  Foyle”  and  “I’m  Still 
Alive”  at  the  Orpheum  were  the  best  busi- 
ness getters,  but  with  the  Denver  double 
bill — “This  Thing  Called  Love”  and  “Lady 
With  Red  Hair”  a close  second.  “Santa  Fe 
Trail”  goes  to  the  Rialto  from  the  Aladdin; 
“This  Thing  Called  Love”  moves  over  from 
the  Denver  to  the  Aladdin,  and  “Kitty 
Foyle”  and  “I’m  Still  Alive”  move  to  the 
Broadway  from  the  Orpheum.  The  stock 
show  had  quite  a bit  to  do  with  the  good 
grosses. 

Detail  for  the  week  ended  January  15: 

(Average  is  100) 

Aladdin — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN),  after  a wk. 

at  the  Denver  125 

Broadway — Comrade  X (M-G-M);  Saint  in 
Palm  Springs  (RKO),  after  a wk.  at  the 

Denver  

Denham — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t),  3rd  wk.  .100 
Denver — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col)  ; Lady 

With  Red  Hair  (WB)  135 

Orpheum — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  I’m  Still 


44 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


Alive  (RKO)  140 

Paramount — East  of  the  River  (FN);  Phantom 

Submarine  (Col)  .125 

Rialto — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA),  after  a wk.  at 
the  Denver  and  Aladdin;  Street  of  Memo- 
ries (20th-Fox)  120 


Take  Under  Expectation 
In  S.  F.  First  Runs 

San  Francisco — Business  on  Market 
Street  not  so  good  as  anticipated  this  week 
with  all  houses  showing  pretty  good  films. 
“This  Thing  Called  Love”  headed  the  pa- 
rade to  the  boxoffice  at  the  Orpheum.  The 
Bob  Crosby  double  feature,  on  the  stage 
and  on  the  screen,  was  disappointing  at 
the  Golden  Gate.  The  Crosby  orchestra 
coupled  with  the  world  premiere  of  the 
Crosby  film,  “Let’s  Make  Music”  was  ex- 
pected to  make  crowds  but  fell  short. 
“Thief  of  Bagdad”  did  well  enough  in  its 
third  week  to  be  held  another.  “Hudson’s 
Bay”  was  the  poorest  draw  on  the  Street. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  15: 


(Average  is  100) 

Fox — Comrade  X (M-G-M);  Romance  of  the 

Rio  Grande  (20th-Fox)  115 

Golden  Gate — Let’s  Make  Music  (RKO),  plus 

Bob  Crosby  and  orchestra  on  stage  95 

Orpheum — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col); 

Ellery  Queen,  Master  Detective  (Col) 100 

Paramount — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t); 

Murder  Over  New  York  (20th-Fox),  2nd  wk.  .110 
St.  Francis — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN);  Marines 
March  On  (Rep),  moveover,  2nd  wk.  on 

Market  St 100 

United  Artists — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA),  3rd  wk.  .100 
Warfield — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox);  Michael 
Shayne,  Detective  (20th-Fox),  2nd  wk 60 


Brisk  Weather  Benefits 
Grosses  in  Salt  Lake 

Salt  Lake  City — Sunshine  with  brisk 
cold  weather  in  this  city  has  intensified 
theatre  patronage,  with  all  houses  report- 
ing good  attendance.  “Arizona”  continues 
for  over  two  weeks  and  is  now  at  the  Studio 
after  first  opening  at  the  Centre.  “Kitty 
Foyle”  is  holding  over  at  the  Rialto.  The 
Capitol  packed  them  in  with  “A  Little  Bit 
of  Heaven”  which  was  tied  in  with  the 
Parent  Teachers  Association. 

Details  for  week  ending  January  17: 

(Average  is  100) 

Capitol — Romance  of  the  Rio  Grande  (20th- 


Fox) ; A Tittle  Bit  of  Heaven  (Univ) 110 

Centre — The  Westerner  (UA)  110 

Rialto — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO),  3rd  wk 115 

Studio — Arizona  (Col),  3rd  wk 115 

Utah — Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (UA) ; Christmas 

in  July  (Para’t)  110 

Victory — Queen  of  the  Mob  (Para’t) ; Miracle 

on  Main  Street  (Col)  115 


Hitching  Post  Opens ; 

Will  Show  Westerns 

Hollywood  — The  first  theatre  devoted 
exclusively  to  the  showing  of  westerns  and 
outdoor  films  opened  here  January  25  when 
the  Hitching  Post  was  given  its  press  pre- 
miere. 

The  Hitching  Post,  operated  by  the  Tele- 
View  Corp.,  was  formerly  known  as  the 
Tele-View  Revival  Theatre.  First  bill  was 
Republic’s  “Melody  Ranch,”  starring  Gene 
Autry,  and  “Robin  Hood  of  the  Pecos,”  a 
Republic  western  featuring  Roy  Rogers. 
Tele- View  also  will  continue  to  operate  its 
News-View  Theatre. 

Opening  was  preceded  by  a “wild  west” 
street  parade  in  which  cowboy  stars  from 
several  studios  participated. 


^■HIS  WEEK  saw  the  gathering  of  all  in- 
dependent exhibitors  in  this  territory  to 
listen  to  an  analysis  of  the  consent  de- 
cree. Meeting  was  held  in  the  Washing- 
ton Hotel  . . . The  ticket  sale  for  the 
personal  appearance  of  Grade  Fields,  the 
English  stage  star,  is  nearing  a record 
here.  This  clever  gal  is  doing  her  chores 
on  behalf  of  the  British-American  War 
Relief  Association.  Prices  range  from  one 
dollar  to  ten.  Place  will  be  John  Hamrick’s 
Music  Hall.  Two  thousand  tickets  were 
printed  and  the  first  thousand  have  been 
sold  with  yet  eight  days  to  go,  and  the 
ones  sold  are  of  the  five  and  ten  dollar 
class. 

Claude  Jensen,  partner  of  John  von  Her- 
berg,  owners  of  many  theatre  and  other 
enterprises,  here  for  a couple  of  days  which 
included  an  inspection  of  Von’s  Cafe,  lat- 
est Seattle  venture  of  the  life-long  friends 
and  business  associates.  While  von  Her- 
berg  resides  here  Jensen  has  lived  in  Port- 
land for  the  past  20  years. 

The  Palomar  and  its  manager,  Jerry 
Ross,  garnered  nice  publicity  by  working 
with  the  Bon  Marche  department  store. 
Alphonse  Berge,  known  as  the  “Great 
Drapo”  headlining  the  Palomar  bill,  dem- 
onstrated his  stuff  for  the  benefit  of  the 
women  patrons  of  the  Bon  and  the  store 
went  to  town  on  advertising  the  fact. 
Berge  takes  large  strips  of  cloth  and 
transforms  the  yardage  into  almost  any 
type  of  dress  in  20  seconds. 

Ben  Shearer  expects  to  open  his  new 
theatre  in  Bremerton  some  time  in  April. 
Bjarne  Moe  designed  the  job  . . . Murray 
Peck,  writing  from  Spokane,  tells  that  he 
has  been  presented  with  a five-year  pin 
and  made  a member  of  the  Veteran 
Scouter’s  Association.  He  has  also  been 
appointed  “ Skipper ” of  his  own  “ ship ” in 
the  Sea  Scouts  . . . Well,  well,  so  the  fam- 
ous saying  of  Bill  Shartin’s  has  reacted. 
Bill  is  now  in  the  hospital  following  an 
operation.  He  is  allowed  to  play  pinochle 
with  his  friends,  but  he  does  it  laying  on 
his  tummy.  Quick  recovery  Bill  . . . Mrs. 
Charlie  Greime  of  Wenatchee  suffered  a 
heart  attack,  but  is  coming  along  fine. 
Charlie  is  taking  her  to  California  in  a 
few  days  where  she  will  stay  until  she  has 
fully  recovered. 

Mrs.  Don  Condon  visiting  from  San 
Francisco  whispers  that  she  will  be  the 
mother  of  a youngster  some  time  in  June. 
The  “gramps”  will  be  Maury  Saffle,  local 
branch  manager  of  Metro.  Papa  is  with 
the  Golden  State  Theatres  in  the  Bay  City. 

Harvey  Day,  sales  manager  for  Terry 
Tunes,  here  from  Hew  York  and  visiting 
with  Herndon  Edmond.  Many  friends  will 
remember  Harvey  from  the  Educational 
contact  . . . Paul  Volkman  in  from  Wapato 
for  the  first  time  since  last  June.  Paul 
missed  the  exhibitors  meeting  owing  to 
illness  in  the  family. 

Ed  Metzger  lunching  on  the  Row  with 
J.  T.  Sheffield  prior  to  Sheff’s  trip  to 
Portland  . . . Tommy  Tomlinson  of  the 
Republic  office  to  Portland  to  confer  with 
the  booker  there  . . . Changes  around  the 


Sterling  Theatres  find  Darrell  Schmalle  in 
charge  of  the  Winter  Garden  Theatre;  Bill 
Fleming  acting  manager  at  the  Rivoli  and 
Bill  Keating  holding  down  the  fort  at  the 
Colonial.  Jim  Sechser  was  appointed  as- 
sistant manager  at  the  Woodland. 

Milburn  Kenworthy  and  his  wife,  after 
spending  several  days  here,  have  returned 
to  Moscow,  Ida.  . . . Ted  and  Mrs.  Gamble 
of  the  Capitol  in  Portland  here  for  a quick 
visit  . . . Don  Geddes,  manager  of  the  Or- 
pheum, back  on  the  job  after  being  home 
sick  with  tummy  trouble  . . . Vic  Gaunt- 
lett,  head  of  the  Hamrick-Evergreen  pub- 
licity department,  suffering  a relapse  of  flu 
and  again  confined  to  his  home  . . . Har- 
old Brake  of  the  B.  F.  Shearer  Company 
in  San  Francisco  spending  a few  days 
visiting  the  Seattle  office. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slats  Wilson  over  from 
Portland  . . . Bruce  Keller  from  Portland 
meeting  friends  here  . . . Ray  Ackles  in 
from  Spokane  for  the  first  time  since  his 
illness  . . . Jimmy  Beal,  manager  of  the 
Portland  Columbia  office,  in  for  the  ex- 
hibitors meet  . . . Mrs.  Harry  W.  Wall, 
who,  until  Christmas  Day  was  Mildred 
Bishop  of  Lewiston,  Ida.,  here  booking  pic- 
tures. The  Walls  recently  returned  from 
their  honeymoon  in  California. 

Here  to  attend  the  RKO  Radio  Pictures 
meeting  with  the  Hew  York  heads  were  H. 
Woolfe,  manager  and  Myer  Mackinson, 
salesman,  Winnipeg,  Canada;  Joe  McPher- 
son, manager,  and  Reggie  Doddridge,  sales- 
man, Calgary,  and  Bill  Jones,  Vancouver, 
B.  C.,  Canada  ...  Ho  grandfather  on 
Filmrow  is  prouder  than  Ray  Felker.  The 
baby  born  to  his  daughter  Dorothy  (Mrs. 
Robert  Harnish)  arrived  on  the  birthday 
of  his  great  grandfather.  The  son  has  been 
named  Robert  Michael. 

Frank  and  Mrs.  Mitchell  of  Walla  Walla 
at  a preview  with  Junior  and  Dorothy 
Mercy.  Mitchell  is  business  manager  of  the 
Walla  Walla  Union  Record  . . . Bill  Con- 
ner on  the  Row  from  Tacoma,  first  time 
since  his  flu  illness  . . . The  Nate  Weitz- 
mans  back  from  their  honeymoon  and 
settled  in  their  new  apartment  . . . Eugene 
O’Brien  of  the  Warner  auditing  depart- 
ment here  for  his  regular  chores. 

Ted  Rising,  West  Coast  division  man- 
ager; W.  H.  Freisleben,  division  service 
manager,  both  of  RCA  here  from  San 
Francisco.  Also  here  is  Phil  Wolds  to  take 
the  place  of  Andy  Hash  of  the  RCA  Re- 
cording division.  Andy  is  still  in  the  hos- 
pital recovering  from  an  auto  accident  . . . 
Alys  Johnson  entertaining  her  card  and 
luncheon  club  . . . C.  L.  Edwards  shooting 
news  shots  for  Paramount  with  a group  of 
soldiers. 


B.  F.  SHEARER  COMPANY 

“ Theatre  Equipment  Specialists” 

Heywood-Wakefield  Seats 

Wagner  Silhouette  Letters 

Motiograph  Projectors 

1964  So.  Vermont  RO.  1145 

LOS  ANGELES 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


W 


43 


1TARL  CARROLL  brought  his  new  road- 

show  into  the  Golden  Gate  and  proved 
the  public  will  still  pay  to  see  beautiful 
girls.  Bert  Wheeler  headed  a bill  of  ten 
acts.  His  apple  and  sandwich  eating  act  is 
a wow  . . . Ward  Pennington  has  been 
upped  from  booker  to  salesman  at  Para- 
mount. He  wrill  cover  the  northern  terri- 
tory . . . T.  Aspwell  is  back  at  his  office 
manager’s  desk  at  M-G-M  after  a winter 
vacation  . . . Chan  Carpenter,  who  left 
Universal  the  first  of  the  year,  has  started 
an  independent  booking  service. 

Guy  Kibbee  and  Patsy  Kelly  in  visiting 
. . . The  Depinet  Drive  has  started  at  RKO 
and  will  continue  for  15  weeks  . . . Bill 
Covert  has  returned  to  the  El  Camino  in 
San  Bruno  as  manager  . . . The  Alcazar 
opened  on  Tuesday  after  being  dark  over 
a year  ...  To  fill  the  vacancy  created 
when  Howard  Moody  was  given  the  man- 
agership of  the  new  Saji  Carlos,  Fox  West 
Coast  has  promoted  Albert  Mooney  from 
chief  of  service  to  treasurer  at  the  Fox. 
Havillah  Malsbury  has  been  upped  to 
chief,  and  Lucius  Sanborn  climbs  from 
usher  to  assistant  chief  of  service  ...  Ed 
Morris  is  back  at  All-Star  after  a three- 
week  battle  with  the  flu  . . . The  Kinema 
in  Fresno  has  reopened  after  a remodeling 
job.  The  Rex  in  the  same  city  is  discon- 
tinuing burlesque  in  favor  of  Spanish  pic- 
tures. 

Roy  Cooper,  San  Francisco  division  man- 
ager for  the  Golden  State  and  S.  F.  Thea- 
tres, Inc.,  has  appointed  Fred  Curtice  his 
assistant.  The  San  Francisco  division 
numbers  19  neighborhood  theatres.  Curtice 
has  been  active  in  the  industry  here  since 
1931,  coming  up  from  an  usher  to  assist- 
ant to  J.  C.  Richards  at  the  Uptown.  Joe 
Hildreth  succeeds  Curtice  at  the  Uptown 
. . . Arch  Bowles  off  to  New  York  on  Fox 
business  . . . Walter  Cree  is  quite  elated 
over  the  new  air  training  school  being  built 
at  Tulare.  Hundreds  of  workers  are  build- 
ing the  huge  field  and  hangars  and  when 
they  have  finished  there  will  be  600  to  800 
students  at  the  school.  It  means  plenty  of 
added  boxoffice  at  Walter’s  El  Rey. 

RKO  previewed  “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith"  at 
the  Alhambra  . . . Bob  Lippert  is  back  at 
his  desk  after  a trip  east  on  Pacific  Prem- 
ium business.  Do'c  Henning  leaves  for  Seat- 
tle for  the  same  reason  . . . Harry  Ettling, 
backstage  major  domo  at  the  Golden  Gate, 
received  a gaily  colored  card  from  the  in- 
mates of  San  Quentin  in  appreciation  of 


REVIEW 


FLASHES 


NOBODY'S  CHILDREN  (Col)— A maudlin  tale 
of  two  orphans,  a brother  and  sister,  the 
latter  a cripple.  It  is  an  item  for  the  senti- 
mental segment  of  audiences.  Edith  Fel- 
lows, Billy  Lee,  Georgia  Caine. 


the  New  Year’s  Day  show  which  Ettling  as- 
sembled. “Five  Thousand  Thank  You’s,” 
was  the  wording  on  the  card  . . . Al  Grub- 
stick  is  back  in  S.  F.  as  Warner  salesman 
after  several  months  in  Denver.  Bud  Mac- 
Donald is  also  back  in  the  booking  depart- 
ment  until  V.  Preston  recovers  from  burns 
suffered  recently  at  his  home  . . . The  Ave- 
nue Theatre,  damaged  by  fire  in  Novem- 
ber, will  reopen  on  January  30.  The  thea- 
tre has  been  completely  remodeled  and  ad- 
ditional seats  have  been  installed. 

The  Curran,  dark  for  several  weeks  due 
to  Joe  E.  Brown’s  unexplained  cancella- 
tion of  his  date  here,  will  reopen  on  Febru- 
ary 11  with  “There  Shall  Be  No  Night,” 
the  Alfred  Lunt-Lynn  Fontanne  play.  Ruth 
Chatterton  is  expected  to  follow  with 
“Pygmalion”  . . . Barbara  Cohen  is  leaving 
Columbia  to  join  her  husband  in  Nevada. 
Jack  Tillman,  exchange  manager,  will  get 
his  new  secretary  from  Los  Angeles  . . . 
Robert  Patton  moves  from  the  Mayfield  in 
Palo  Alto  to  the  managership  of  the  Or- 
land  in  Orland  . . . Alice  Barnacle,  for  four 
years  assistant  head  at  the  El  Capitan,  is 
now  working  for  the  Esquire  . . . The  Es- 
quire booked  “Sky  Devils”  and  “Scarface” 
for  a four-day  revival,  but  was  forced  to 
hold  the  oldtimers  for  a week  because  of 
demand  . . . Grade  Fields  collected  a hat- 
ful for  the  British  Relief  Fund  at  her  one- 
night  stand  at  the  Opera  House. 

Bruno  V ecchiarelli,  owner-operator  of 
the  Strand  in  Gilroy,  is  the  first  theatre- 
man  (brought  to  our  attention)  to  be 
drafted.  Bruno  has  been  given  six  months 
to  make  arrangements  and  then  will  be  off 
to  camp.  Tony  Funari,  assistant  manager 
at  the  Santa  Clara,  is  also  off  to  camp  as  a 
voluntary  enlistment  . . . Herb  Jack,  Fox 
usher  critically  injured  when  he  fell  seven 
floors  down  the  elevator  shaft  at  the  thea- 
tre, has  been  moved  from  the  hospital  to 
his  home  . . . Lloyd  Ownbee  is  back  from 
National  Theatre  Supply  managers’  meet- 
ing in  Los  Angeles  . . . Wanda  Keith  has 
taken  a clerical  job  at  National  Screen 
Accessories,  leaving  the  Embassy’s  usher’s 
staff. 

Dave  Nathanson  of  Producers  Releasing 
Corp.  is  using  a telegram  from  Ed  Gates, 
manager  of  the  Esquire,  to  help  sell  “Mis- 
behaving Husbands.”  The  Blumenfeld  cir- 
cuit has  booked  this  picture  and  “Devil 
Bat”  for  a first  run  showing  at  their  first 
run  houses  . . . Doc  Hart,  former  exchange 
man  and  well  known  on  the  Row,  is  dead 
. . .Jim  Riley  off  on  a flying  trip  to  Los 
Angeles  . . . Morris  Gallus,  formerly  of  the 
Majestic,  has  bought  himself  a lot  in 
Richmond  with  the  express  purpose  of 
building  a theatre  at  a later  date  . . . Ger- 
ald Hardy  has  purchased  the  Piedmont  in 
Oakland.  His  father,  Douglas  Hardy,  will 
manage  . . . Alvin  Hatch  is  again  operating 
the  Half  Moon  Bay  after  Jack  Redmond 
relinquished  . . . Warner’s  new  contract 
clerk  is  Clarice  Troth. 

The  Embassy,  downtown  subsequent  run, 
has  gone  in  for  door-to-door  distribution 
of  its  programs.  Barney  McGettigan  is  do- 
ing the  art  work  . . . Ted  Lewis  goes  into 
the  Bal  Tabarin  February  20  . . . Hal  Nei- 
dus,  for  seven  years  manager  of  the  Or- 
pheum,  leaves  the  theatre  when  the  Blum- 


New  on  the  Coast — 


Hugh  Braly,  former  Paramount  dis- 
trict manager  supervising  Dallas,  Mem- 
phis and  Oklahoma  City,  shortly  takes 
over  George  A.  Smith’s  territory  com- 
posed of  Los  Angeles,  San  Francisco, 
Portland  and  Seattle.  Smith  becomes 
western  sales  manager  under  a re- 
shuffle designed  to  meet  decree  opera- 
tions. Full  detail  on  page  13. 


F&M  Sell  a San  Francisco 
First-Run  to  Blumenteld 

San  Francisco — Fanchon  & Marco  has 
sold  the  Orpheum  to  Joe  Blumenfeld  of 
the  Blumenfeld  Theatre  Circuit.  The  Or- 
pheum, first  run  Market  Street  house 
showing  Columbia  and  Universal  films, 
has  been  under  the  F&M  banner  for  the 
past  seven  years. 

Blumenfeld  will  now  operate  first  runs 
in  San  Francisco,  Oakland,  Stockton,  and 
Sacramento.  In  December,  1940,  he  opened 
the  completely  rebuilt  Esquire  Theatre, 
subsequent  run  theatre  in  downtown  San 
Francisco.  It  is  assumed  that  the  Esquire 
will  be  used  now  for  moveover  and  sluff 
pictures. 


Buy  "Benjamin  Blake" 

Hollywood — “Benjamin  Blake,”  a novel 
by  Edison  Marshall,  has  been  acquired  by 
20th-Fox.  The  story,  laid  in  18th-century 
England,  will  be  produced  by  William 
Perlberg.  Purchase  price  was  reported  as 
$50,000. 


enfeld  circuit  takes  over.  Neidus  will  re- 
main with  Fanchon  & Marco  . . . Joe  Hee 
has  left  United  Artists  to  accept  a civil 
service  position  . . . “Thief  of  Bagdad ’’  is 
in  its  fourth  big  week  at  the  UA  while 
“Love  Thy  Neighbor ’’  continues  to  draw  in 
its  third  week  here  . . . Booking:  Sam 
Anea,  Concord,  Concord;  Harry  Hyashina, 
Star  and  Lincoln,  Stockton;  Yates  Hamm, 
Livermore,  Livermore;  Ray  Kelsall,  Vic- 
tory, San  Jose;  Bill  Peters,  Manteca,  Man- 
teca, and  Al  Chamberlain,  Vista,  Rio  Vista. 


44 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


Paramount  Bigwigs  Honor  Drive  Winners  at 
At  Sales  Meeting  Balaban  Testimonial 


Chicago — Attending  the  three-day  Para- 
mount sales  convention  at  the  Edgewater 
Beach  Hotel  Tuesday  through  Thursday 
were:  Neil  F.  Agnew,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  production,  who  presided  at  the 
meetings:  Adolph  Zukor,  chairman  of  the 
board  at  Paramount  Pictures;  Barney 
Balaban,  president;  C.  J.  Schollard,  H.  W. 
Braly,  George  Brown,  J.  J.  Donohue,  A.  J. 
Dunne,  W.  H.  Erbb,  G.  B.  J.  Frawley,  H. 
H.  Goldstein,  R.  M.  Gillham,  M.  R.  Good- 
man, Del  Goodman,  D.  Gibbs,  Allen  Usher, 
M.  S.  Kusell,  J.  F.  Kirby,  R.  C.  Li  Beau, 
F.  A.  Leroy,  H.  J.  Lorber,  O.  A.  Morgan,  A. 
Moss,  H.  Owens,  C.  M.  Reagan,  Geo.  A. 
Smith,  Earl  W.  Sweigert,  J.  J.  Unger,  A. 
Wilke,  and  Rudolph  Montgelas. 


Berman  Tops  Great-States 
In  Drive  for  Balaban 

Chicago — Mortimer  E.  Berman,  manager 
of  the  Orpheum,  Springfield,  was  winner 
in  the  Publix-Great  States  Circuit’s  par- 
ticipation in  the  Barney  Balaban  drive. 
Berman,  who  was  top  man  in  the  entire 
Great  States  circuit,  and  who,  of  course, 
topped  the  central  district,  won  the  in- 
dividual prize  offered  by  Jules  J.  Rubens. 

Other  winners  announced  by  Henry 
Stickelmaier  were:  Walter  F.  Grometer, 
Harvey,  Illinois,  northern  district;  and 
Frank  Staley,  Edwardsville,  southern 
district. 

Additional  winners  were:  Harry  Dun- 
can, Quincy;  William  T.  Langdon,  Kanka- 
kee; Thomas  C.  Pierce,  Kewanee;  William 
A.  Hartman,  Kewanee;  Gilbert  C.  Brown, 
Bloomington;  Marvin  S.  Harris,  Joliet;  A. 
J.  Damon,  Chicago  Heights;  Henry  Foehr- 
kalb,  Wood  River;  John  J.  Haney,  Wau- 
kegan; C.  B.  Atkins,  Blue  Island;  John  L. 
Mitchell,  Waukegan;  and  I.  Wienshienk 
of  Alton. 

Also  number  one  man  in  his  division  was 
Ralph  Lawler,  manager  of  the  Paramount 
Theatre,  Toledo,  Ohio. 


Willian  Holden  Wins  First 
Prize  in  Loop  Division 

Chicago — William  B.  Holden,  manager 
of  the  B&K  Flagship,  the  Chicago  Theat- 
re, won  first  prize  in  the  loop  division  of 
the  theatre  circuit’s  participation  in  the 
Barney  Balaban  drive.  The  announce- 
ment of  Holden’s  victory,  together  with 
that  of  other  winners  in  the  circuit’s 
drive,  was  announced  by  drive  chairman, 
Harry  Lustgarten. 

Capturing  second  place  in  the  loop 
division  was  Ben  Feldman,  manager  of 
the  United  Artists  Theatre.  Other  win- 
ners were  as  follows:  “A”  houses — A1 
Bachman,  Harding,  first,  and  a tie  for 
second,  Roy  MacMullen,  Granada,  and 
Les  Walrath,  Varsity.  “B”  houses — tie  for 
first,  Sam  Claggett,  Belmont,  and  Harry 
Odendhal,  Congress.  Ken  Blewett  at  the 
Regal  placed  second.  “C”  houses — Walter 
Lyons,  Biltmore,  first,  and  a triple  tie  for 
second,  Jerry  Winsberg,  Senate,  Jack 
Lynch,  Manor,  Leonard  Schiff,  Central 
Park.  “General  Release”  houses — Kenneth 
(Continued  on  page  47) 


Chicago — Paramount  executives,  heads 
of  circuits  affiliated  with  the  company, 
and  winning  theatre  managers  in  the  re- 
cently concluded  Barney  Balaban  drive — 
numbering  400-odd  persons  in  all — met 
here  at  the  Drake  last  Thursday  to  pay 
homage  to  the  Paramount  president  on 
the  occasion  of  his  fifth  anniversary  as 
president  of  the  company. 

A.  M.  Botsford,  Paramount  producer, 
was  toastmaster  at  the  banquet  held 
Thursday  night,  which  climaxed  the  day’s 
festivities.  In  chronological  order,  speak- 
ers who  were  to  have  addressed  the  as- 
semblage included:  A.  H.  Blank,  presi- 
dent, Tri-States  Theatres,  Inc.;  Stanton 
Griffis,  chairman,  executive  committee, 
Paramount;  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  vice-presi- 
dent and  general  manager  of  Para- 
mount studios;  Adolph  Zukor,  chair- 
man of  the  board  of  directors;  Leo 
Spitz  of  Spitz  & Adcock,  law  firm;  Neil  F. 
Agnew,  vice-president  and  sales  manager 
for  Paramount;  Hugo  Sonnenschein,  Son- 
nenschein,  Berkson,  Lautmann,  Levinson 
& Morse;  John  Balaban,  secretary  and 
treasurer,  Balaban  & Katz;  and  E.  V. 
Richards,  Paramount-Richards  Theatres, 
Inc. 

The  entire  assemblage  rose  as  one  man 
when  Barney  Balaban  addressed  the  men 
who  had  come  to  pay  him  tribute. 

Another  highlight  of  the  evening  was 
the  presentation  of  awards  to  theatre 
managers  who  topped  their  respective  cir- 
cuits in  the  Barney  Balaban  Fifth  Anni- 
versary Drive  held  November  to  December, 
1940.  Those  who  were  to  step  up  to  the 


podium  and  receive  their  prizes  were: 

S.  A.  Ammerman,  Comerford-Publix 
Theatres;  A.  H.  Bachman,  Balaban  & Katz 
Theatres;  Harold  D.  Barnes,  Central  States 
Theatres;  Gregory  Beck,  Comerford-Publix 
Theatres;  Mortimer  E.  Berman,  Great 
States  Theatres;  Harry  Botwick,  M&P 
Theatres;  Jack  Braunagel,  Intermountain 
Theatres;  S.  R.  Claggett,  Balaban  & Katz 
Theatres;  Jack  Dahmer,  Jefferson  Amuse- 
ment Theatres;  A.  D.  Deason,  Interstate 
circuit;  James  Dempsey,  M&P  Theatres; 
Edward  Dunn,  Tri-States  Theatres;  Ken- 
neth Edgerly,  Balaban  & Katz  Theatres; 
Joseph  Farrell,  Comerford-Publix  Theat- 
res; Clark  Field,  United  Detroit  Theatres; 
John  T.  Floore,  Interstate  circuit;  W.  L. 
Gelling,  Jefferson  Amusement  Theatres; 
Jack  Goodwin,  M&P  Theatres;  Walter  F. 
Grometer,  Great  States  Theatres;  Albert 
Hamilton,  M&P  Theatres;  William  Hart- 
nett, M&P  Theatres;  Grant  Hawkins, 
United  Detroit  Theatres;  Carl  Herman, 
Comerford-Publix  Theatres;  William  B. 
Holden,  Balaban  & Katz  Theatres;  Wil- 
liam Keith,  Publix-Bamford  Theatres. 

Also  Jack  King,  Interstate  circuit, 
Frank  Labar,  Publix-Bamford;  Walter 
Lyons,  Balaban  & Katz  Theatres;  William 
Martin,  Publix-Indiana  Theatres;  William 
Miskell,  Tri-Sta,te  Theatres;  Geo.  Moffitt, 
M&P  Theatres;  Harry  Odendhal,  Balaban 
& Katz  Theatres;  Everett  Olsen,  Minnesota 
Amusement  Theatres;  Roy  Peffley,  Northio 
Theatres;  Ralph  E.  Phillips,  Minnesota 
Amusement  Theatres;  A.  G.  Pickett, 
Publix-Richards-Nace  Theatres;  Woodrow 
(Continued  on  next  page) 


In  for  the  Doings — 

On  the  left,  Harry  Sherman,  producer  of  the  Hopalong  Cassidy  series,  is  first 
of  the  Paramount  executives  to  arrive  in  Chicago  for  the  company  sales 
meeting  and  the  Barney  Balaban  Testimonial  Dinner.  To  the  right  the  guest 
of  honor  himself  and  Mrs.  Balaban  are  being  welcomed  by  John  Balaban, 
secretary -treasurer  of  Balaban  and  Katz  in  Chicago,  and  A.  H.  Blank,  presi- 
dent of  Tri-States  Theatres,  and  national  chairman  of  the  drive  in  behalf 
of  the  Paramount  president. 


BOXOFFICE  ;:  January  25,  1941 


c 


45 


They're  First  Run  Winners — 

First  and  second  prize  winners  in  the  first-run  division  of  the  Metro-Gold- 
wyn-Mayer  exploitation  campaign.  At  the  left  is  Roy  E.  Hanson,  Jefferson 
Theatre,  Goshen,  Ind.,  who  took  $2,500  as  the  top  money  for  his  campaign 
on  “Joe  and  Ethel  Turp  Call  on  the  President.’’  Right  is  Rex  Williams  of 
the  Elco  in  Elkhart,  Ind.,  who  annexed  $750  for  his  campaign  on  “Judge 
Hardy  and  Son.” 


Honor  Drive  Winners  at 
Balaban  Testimonial  Fete 

(Continued  from  preceding  page) 


Praught,  Minnesota  Amusement  Theatres; 
Chester  Price,  Intermountain  Theatres; 
Morris  Simms,  M&P  Theatres;  Frank 
Staley,  Great  States  Theatres;  E.  J.  Sul- 
livan, Interstate  circuit;  S.  E.  Tanner,  Jef- 
ferson Amusement  Theatres;  Frank  Upton, 
United  Detroit  Theatres;  Lorenz  Wegener, 
Central  States  Theatres;  and  Charles  Zinn, 
Minnesota  Amusement  Theatres. 

Other  winners  who  were  unable  to  be 
present  at  the  testimonial  were:  Henry 
Brownlee,  Malco  Theatres;  Willis  W. 
Grist  jr„  Dominion  Theatres;  George  Laby, 
Western  Massachusetts  Theatres;  Louis 
Marcks,  Western  Massachusetts  Theatres; 
J.  R.  McEachron,  Malco  Theatres;  David 
F.  Perkins,  Western  Massachusetts  Theat- 
res; Charles  R.  Smith,  Western  Massa- 
chusetts Theatres;  Edward  A.  Smith, 
Western  Massachusetts  Theatres;  Harl  A. 
Wolever,  Dominion  Theatres;  and  Remmel 
Young,  Malco  Theatres. 

The  entertainment  portion  of  the  ban- 
quet started  off  with  a stirring  tableau  en- 
titled “To  the  Stars  and  Stripes,”  pre- 
sented by  the  B&K  Chicago  Theatre  ballet 
with  choral  ensemble.  Following  a com- 
munity songfest  entitled,  appropriately  en- 
ough after  a smash  Paramount  picture, 
“Love  Thy  Neighbor,”  a regular  floor  show 
with  Lou  Holtz  as  master  of  ceremonies  en- 
tertained the  guests. 

A riotous  satire  of  the  picture  business 
in  general,  and  Paramount  in  particular, 
with  Jack  Benny  as  chief  “banterer,” 
had  the  audience  in  hysterics.  Following 
the  showing  of  a special  Paramount  news- 
reel taken  at  luncheon  that  day,  a floor 
show  consisting  of  top  names  in  Chicago’s 
show  business  proved  a fitting  climax  to 
the  topnotch  evening’s  entertainment.  In- 


cluded among  those  who  entertained  the 
guests  were  Jane  Froman,  the  Nicholas 
Brothers,  Wendy  Barrie,  Arlene  Judge  and 
Lola  Lane. 

Scheduled  to  come  in  from  the  Para- 
mount Studios  in  Hollywood  were:  Phil 
Reagan,  Constance  Moore  and  Stirling 
Hayden,  the  studio’s  new  acting  find  of 
“Virginia”  who  flew  from  New  York  to 
be  present. 

The  complete  attendance  in  alphabetical  order 
of  those  who  were  to  be  present  at  the  Barney 
Balaban  dinner  were:  J.  M.  Abraham,  Balaban 
& Katz  Theatres:  Adam  Adams,  Paramount  Theat- 
re, Newark,  N.  J. ; Girard  Adams,  Comerford- 
Publix  Theatres;  John  Quincy  Adams,  Interstate 
Circuit;  Neil  Agnew,  Paramount  Home  Office;  A. 
L.  Anson,  Minnesota  Amusement  Theatres;  C.  B. 
Atkins,  Great  States  Theatres;  Waldo  Bail,  Bala- 
ban & Katz  Theatres;  Barney  Balaban,  Paramount 
Home  Office;  David  Balaban,  Balaban  & Katz 
Theatres;  Elmer  Balaban,  H&E  Balaban  Cir- 
cuit; Harry  Balaban,  H&E  Balaban  Circuit; 
John  Balaban,  Balaban  & Katz  Theatres;  Carl 
Bamford,  Publix-Bamford  Theatres;  Tracy  Bar- 
ham, Northio  Theatres;  Ray  Beall,  Interstate 
Circuit;  E.  C.  Beatty,  W.  S.  Butterfield  Theatres; 
Hector  Bishop,  Balaban  & Katz  Theatres;  Robert 
Blair,  Paramount-Richards  Theatres;  A.  H.  Blank, 
Tri-States  Theatres;  Myron  N.  Blank,  Tri-States 
Theatres;  Raymond  Blank,  Tri-States  Theatres; 
Kenneth  Blewett,  Balaban  & Katz  Theatres;  Ben 
Bloomfield,  Balaban  & Katz  Theatres;  Ted  Boisu- 
meau,  Balaban  & Katz  Theatres;  R.  W.  Bolstad, 
Famous  Players  Canadian  Theatres;  Rudy  Born, 
Great  States  Theatres;  A.  M.  Botsford,  Para- 
mount Studio;  T.  J.  Bragg;,  Famous  Players  Can- 
adian Theatres;  Hugh  Braly,  Paramount  Pictures; 
George  Brandt,  Balaban  & Katz  Theatres;  G. 
Ralph  Branton.  Tri-States  Theatres;  J.  A.  Bran- 
ton,  Minnesota  Amusement  Theatres;  Maxwell 
Braswell,  Paramount-Richards  Theatres;  William 
Briscoe,  Balaban  & Katz  Theatres;  A.  H.  Brolly, 
Balaban  & Katz  Theatres — Television;  Edward  E. 
Brown,  President  1st  National  Bank  of  Chicago; 
Gil  C.  Brown,  Great  States  Theatres;  George 
Brown,  Paramount  Studio;  Milton  Brown,  Great 
States  Theatres;  Harry  Browning,  M&P  Theatres; 
Gibbons  Burke,  Paramount-Richards  Theatres; 
A1  Burne,  Balaban  & Katz  Theatres;  Wallace  V. 
Camp,  Western  Massachusetts  Theatres;  Raymond 
Carsky,  Balaban  & Katz  Theatres;  N.  L.  Carter, 
Paramount  Richards  Theatres;  Louis  V.  Charipar, 
Balaban  & Katz  Theatres;  Bernard  Cobb,  Balaban 


& Katz  Theatres;  Miles  Concannon,  Balaban  & 
Katz  Theatres;  Billy  Connors,  Publix-Indiana 
Theatres;  A.  P.  Conroy,  Balaban  & Katz  Theatres; 
James  Cooney,  Balaban  & Katz  Theatres;  Charles 
Cottle,  B&K  Theatres;  E.  E.  Crabtree,  Great 
States  Theatres;  Edward  A.  Cuddy,  M&P  Theatres; 
Evert  R.  Cummings,  Tri-States  Theatres;  A.  J. 
Damon,  Great  States  Theatres;  Harry  David,  Inter- 
mountain  Theatres;  Charles  F.  Davidson,  B&K 
Theatres;  Jess  Day,  Central-States  Theatres;  J.  J. 
Deitch,  Tri-States  Theatres;  Louis  Deutsch,  Min- 
nesota Amusement  Theatres;  Edward  Dloughy, 
B&K  Theatres;  J.  J.  Donohue,  Paramount  Pictures; 
John  P.  Dromey,  Great  States  Theatres;  Gaston 
Dureau,  Paramount-Richards  Theatres;  Allen 
Dumont,  Allen  Dumont  Laboratories,  Inc.;  A.  J. 
Dunne,  Paramount  Home  Office. 

L.  E.  Eastman.  B&K  Theatres;  William  Eddy, 
B&K  Theatres — Television;  Max  Edelstein,  Min- 
nesota Amusement  Theatres;  Adolph  Eisner,  B&K 
Theatres;  Oliver  Epps,  Paramount-Richards 
Theatres;  William  H.  Erbb,  Paramount  Pictures; 
Aaron  Feinberg,  B&K  Theatres;  B.  W.  Feldman, 
B&K  Theatres;  Hy  Fine,  M&P  Theatres;  Joseph 
W.  Finley,  Minnesota  Amusement  Theatres;  V.  J. 
Fisher,  B&K  Theatres;  John  J.  Fitzgibbons,  Famous 
Players  Canadian;  Henry  Foehrkalb,  Great  States 
Theatres;  G.  B.  J.  Frawley,  Paramount  Home 
Office;  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  Paramount  Studio; 
Harry  B.  French,  Minnesota  Amusement  Theatres; 
John  J.  Friedl,  Minnesota  Amusement  Theatres. 

Jack  Garber,  B&K  Theatres;  Ben  Geldsaler, 
Famous  Players  Canadian  Theatres;  Robert  M. 
Gillham,  Paramount  Home  Office;  Maurice  Glass, 
B&K  Theatres;  Leslie  H.  Gleason,  B&K  Theatres; 
Leonard  H.  Goldenson,  Paramount  Home  Office; 
Ernest  E.  Goldstein,  Western  Massachusetts  Theat- 
res; Harry  H.  Goldstein,  Paramount  Pictures; 
Nathan  E.  Goldstein,  Western  Massachusetts 
Theatres;  Samuel  Goldstein,  Western  Massachusetts 
Theatres;  Dell  Goodman,  Paramount  Home  Office; 
W.  W.  Goodman,  Malco  Theatres;  Julius  M. 
Gordon,  Jefferson  Amusement  Theatres;  M.  F. 
Gowthorpe,  Paramount  Home  Office;  Melvin 
Greenblatt,  Paramount-Richards  Theatres;  Stan- 
ton Griffis,  Paramount  Home  Office. 

Marvin  S.  Harris,  Great  States  Theatres;  B.  H. 
Harrison,  Wilby-Kincey  Theatres;  Thor  Hauschild, 
Publix-Indiana  Theatres;  William  Heasman,  Great 
States  Theatres;  Raymond  Hendry,  Intermountain 
Theatres;  Archie  Herzoff,  B&K  Theatres;  A.  H. 
Higginbotham,  Paramount-Richards  Theatres; 
Robert  Hines,  Paramount-Richards  Theatres;  Karl 
Hoblitzelle,  Interstate  Circuit;  Jack  Hoefler,  Great 
States  Theatres;  Perry  Hoeffler,  Great  States 
Theatres;  Roger  Holden,  American  Red  Cross;  W. 
K.  Hollander,  B&K  Theatres;  George  C.  Hoover, 
Paramount  Enterprises;  M.  W.  Hork,  B&K  Theat- 
res; E.  J.  Hudson,  United  Detroit  Theatres. 

Elmer  Immerman,  B&K  Theatres;  Walter  Im- 
merman,  B&K  Theatres;  William  K.  Jenkins, 
Lucas  & Jenkins;  I.  Jacobsen,  B&K  Theatres;  A. 
W.  Jones,  B&K  Theatres;  G.  A.  Kenimer,  Florida 
States  Theatres:  Harry  Kalcheim,  Paramount 
Home  Office;  P.  M.  Kalleres,  Gary  Theatres;  Jack 
Katz.  B&K  Theatres;  J.  N.  Katz,  B&K  Theatres; 
Sam  Katz,  B&K  Theatres;  A.  J.  Kaufman,  B&K 
Theatres;  Joseph  Kaufman,  B&K  Theatres;  Dun- 
can R.  Kennedy,  Publix-Indiana  Theatres;  Austin 
Keough,  Paramount  Home  Office;  Elmore  Keyes, 
Great  States  Theatres;  H.  F.  Kincey,  Wilby- 
Kincey  Theatres;  Joseph  Kinsky,  Tri-States  Theat- 
res; J.  F.  Kirby,  Paramount  Home  Office;  Milton 
S.  Kusell,  Paramount  Pictures. 

William  T.  Langdon,  Great  States  Theatres; 
Ralph  Lawler.  Paramount  Theatre,  Toledo,  Ohio; 
Claude  Lee,  Paramount  Home  Office;  A1  Leonard, 
B&K  Theatres;  M.  G.  Leonard,  B&K  Theatres;  F. 

A.  Leroy,  Paramount  Home  Office;  Sam  Levin, 
B&K  Theatres;  Gene  Levy,  Paramount  Theatre, 
Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  Edwin  B.  Lewis,  Great  States 
Theatres;  M.  D.  Lewis,  Great  States  Theatres;  R. 

B.  Libeau,  Paramount  Pictures;  M.  A.  Lightman, 
Malco  Theatres;  Byron  Linn,  Comerford-Publix 
Theatres;  Louis  R.  Lipstone,  Paramount  Studio; 
H.  J.  Lorber,  Paramount  Home  Office;  L.  J. 
Ludwig,  Minnesota  Amusement  Theatres;  Harry 
Lustgarten,  B&K  Theatres;  J.  J.  Lynch,  B&K 
Theatres;  Herbert  Lyon,  B&K  Theatres;  Louis 
Machat,  B&K  Theatres,  R.  C.  MacMullen,  B&K 
Theatres;  Hugh  Martin,  Publix-Indiana  Theatres; 
M.  E.  McClain,  Central-States  Theatres;  J.  R.  Mc- 
Cullough, Great  States  Theatres;  Vincent  McFaul, 
Buffalo  Theatres;  L.  M.  McKechneay,  Tri-States 
Theatres;  John  McKenna,  Paramount  Richards 
Theatres;  Francis  W.  McManus,  M&P  Theatres; 
William  G.  Methe,  B&K  Theatres;  Max  Milstein, 
B&K  Theatres;  Fred  Minton,  Jefferson  Amuse- 
ment Theatres;  John  H.  Mitchell,  Publix-Indiana 
Theatres;  John  L.  Mitchell,  Great  States  Theat- 
res; Fred  Mohrhardt,  Paramount  Home  Office;  A. 
J.  Moreau,  M&P  Theatres;  Oscar  Morgan,  Para- 
mount Home  Office;  Alec  Moss,  Paramount  Home 
Office;  George  E.  Mullare,  Great  States  Theatres; 
M.  J.  Mullin,  M&P  Theatres. 

Harry  L.  Nace,  Publix-Richards-Nace  Theatres; 
Charles  Nesbitt,  B&K  Theatres;  Leon  Netter,  Para- 
mount Home  Office,  John  Nolan,  Comerford- 
Publix  Theatres;  E.  E.  O’Donnell,  B&K  Theatres; 
Robert  J.  O’Donnell,  Interstate  Circuit,  William 
O’Donnell.  Interstate  Circuit;  Milton  Officer,  B&K 
Theatres:  J.  J.  O'Leary,  Comerford-Publix  Theat- 
res; Frank  Omick,  Great  States  Theatres;  Hugh 
Owen,  Paramount  Home  Office. 

Francis  Pallester,  B&K  Theatres;  C.  W.  Perrine, 
Minnesota  Amusement  Theatres;  Louis  Phillips, 
Paramount  Home  Office;  Thomas  O.  Pierce,  Great 
States  Theatres;  Samuel  Pinanski,  M&P  Theatres; 
Joseph  Pipher,  B&K  Theatres;  George  Planck, 


46 


BOXOFFICE 


January  25,  1941 


Northio  Theatres;  Abe  J.  Platt,  B&K  Theatres; 
N.  M.  Platt,  B&K  Theatres;  Irvin  L . Porter, 
Chicago;  Clifford  C.  Porter,  Jefferson  Amusement 
Theatres;  Harry  Potter,  B&K  Theatres. 

Paul  Raibourn,  Paramount  Home  Office;  Melvin 
J.  Rainey,  B&K  Theatres;  C.  M.  Regan,  Para- 
mount Home  Office;  Harry  G.  Redmon,  Great 
States  Theatres;  E.  V.  Richards,  Paramount* 
Richards  Theatres;  Boris  Riedel,  B&K  Theatres; 
Roy  Rogan,  Great  States  Theatres;  George 
Romine,  B&K  Theatres;  Thomas  P.  Ronan,  Great 
States  Theatres;  Harry  Royster,  Paramount  Home 
Office;  C.  B.  Rubens,  Great  States  Theatres;  J.  J. 
Rubens,  Great  States  Theatres;  M.  M.  Rubens, 
Great  States  Theatres;  C.  J.  Russell  sr.,  M&P 
Theatres;  Charles  A.  Ryan,  Comerford-Publix 
Theatres; 

J.  J.  Sampson,  B&K  Theatres;  Edward  Sapinsley, 
Malco  Theatres;  James  Savage,  B&K  Theatres; 
Jack  Schaeffer,  B&K  Theatres;  Leonard  Schiff, 
B&K  Theatres;  Max  Schosberg,  Paramount  Home 
Office;  C.  J.  Scollard,  Paramount  Home  Office; 
Edward  Sequin,  B&K  Theatres;  Philip  Seletsky, 
M&P  Theatres;  Raleigh  Sharrock,  Paramount- 
Richards  Theatres;  Ralph  Sherry,  B&K  Theatres; 
Harry  Sherman,  Paramount  Studio;  E.  M.  Simonis, 
Comerford-Publix  Theatres;  G.  A.  Smith,  Para- 
mount Pictures;  Harry  Smith,  Western  Massa- 
chusetts Theatres;  McNeil  Smith,  B&K  Theatres; 
Samuel  Soible,  B&K  Theatres;  Philip  Solomon, 
B&K  Theatres;  Hugo  Sonnenschein,  Chicago; 
Harry  Spiegel,  Comerford-Publix  Theatres;  Leo 
Spitz,  Chicago;  William  E.  Spragg,  M&P  Theatres; 
Warren  L.  Stafford,  B&K  Theatres;  Leo  Stahr, 
B&K  Theatres;  Isadore  Stein,  B&K  Theatres; 
Robert  M.  Sternburg  M&P  Theatres;  Henry  C. 
Stickelmaier,  Great  States  Theatres;  C.  B.  Stiff, 
Minnesota  Amusement  Theatres;  C.  L.  Stoddard, 
M&P  Theatres;  A.  G.  Stolte,  Tri-States  Theatres; 
Rollin  K.  Stonebrook,  Paramount  Enterprises; 
Joseph  Stout,  B&K  Theatres;  E.  W.  Sweigert, 
Paramount  Home  Office; 

Arthur  Thaler,  B&K  Theatres;  Raymond  Thomp- 
son, B&K  Theatres;  James  R.  Thomson,  B&K 
Theatres;  E.  R.  Toerpe,  Great  States  Theatres;  A. 
L.  Trebow,  B&K  Theatres;  Edward  Trunk,  B&K 
Theatres. 

J.  J.  Ungar,  Paramount  Home  Office;  F.  B. 
Unseld,  B&K  Theatres;  Elmer  C.  Upton,  B&K 
Theatres;  Allen  Usher,  Paramount  Pictures;  Ray 
Van  Getson,  B&K  Theatres. 

David  R.  Wallerstein,  B&K  Theatres;  Leslie 
Walrath,  B&K  Theatres;  J.  A.  Walsh,  Paramount 
Home  Office;  Harry  M.  Warren,  Central-States 
Theatres;  H.  I.  Wasserman,  M&P  Theatres;  Isadore 
Weinshienk,  Great  States  Theatres;  Robert  Weit- 
man,  Paramount  Theatre,  New  York  City;  Ralph 
Wettstein,  B&K  Theatres;  F.  N.  Weber,  Great 
States  Theatres;  J.  R.  Wheeler,  Publix-Indiana 
Theatres;  E.  E.  Whitaker,  Lucas  & Jenkins 
Theatres;  R.  B.  Wilby,  Wilby-Kincey  Theatres; 
Raymond  Willie,  Interstate  Circuit;  A1  Wilkie, 
Paramount  Home  Office;  Charles  Winchell,  Min- 
nesota Amusement  Theatres;  Jerry  Winsberg,  B&K 
Theatres;  Paul  Witte,  Great  States  Theatres;  Jack 
Wohl,  Great  States  Theatres;  Clare  Woods,  In- 
termountain Theatres;  L.  C.  Worley,  Great  States 
Theatres. 

George  Zeppos,  Publix- Wheeling  Theatre;  Jerry 
Zigmond,  Newman  Theatre,  Kansas  City,  Mo., 
Adolph  Zukor,  Paramount  Home  Office. 


PARAMOUNT  SIDELIGHTS: 

SPECIAL  television  demonstration  of 
the  B&K  radio  station,  W9XBK,  was 
held  at  a special  press  luncheon  at  the 
Drake  Hotel  on  Thursday.  Executives  and 
officials  of  Paramount,  both  from  New 
York  and  Hollywood,  also  viewed  the 
special  demonstration.  Paramount  theat- 
re associates,  as  well  as  Paramount  theatre 
managers  from  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  also  attended  the  luncheon. 


The  Paramount  people  made  a beaten 
path  between  the  Edgewater  Beach  and 
the  Drake  Hotel.  The  3-day  sales  con- 
ference was  held  at  the  Edgewater  Beach 
Hotel  starting  Tuesday,  while  the  Barney 
Balaban  testimonial  dinner  was  held  at 
the  Drake  on  Thursday. 


Preston  Foster  came  through  town  Tues- 
day en  route  to  Washington  to  attend  the 
President’s  Ball. 


Shows  “Brazil  Today" 

St.  Louis — Julien  Bryan,  camera  corre- 
spondent and  lecturer,  spoke  and  exhibited 
his  motion  picture,  “Brazil  Today,”  under 
the  auspices  of  the  YMCA  Town  Hall. 


Stage  Shows  Lend  Power 
To  Milwaukee  Runs 

Milwaukee — Theatre  Row  was  rich  in 
girlie  shows  with  “Streets  of  Paris”  grac- 
ing the  stage  of  Fox’s  Wisconsin,  Ada 
Leonard  and  her  All-American  Girl  Band 
on  the  boards  at  the  Riverside  and  “A 
Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s”  on  the  flickers 
playing  Fox’s  Palace.  Topnotcher  for  the 
week  was  the  Wisconsin  show  at  hiked 
admissions  of  44  cents  and  65  cents. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  16: 

(Average  is  100) 

Palace — Victory  (Para’t);  A Night  at  Karl 


Carroll’s  (Para't)  110 

Riverside — Give  Us  Wings  (Univ);  Ada  Leon- 
ard on  stage  150 

Strand — Comrade  X (M-G-M);  Hullabaloo 

(M-G-M) 100 

Warner — Kour  Mothers  (WB);  Trail  ot  the 

Vigilantes  (Univ)  125 

Wisconsin — The  Bank  Dick  (Univ) — Streets  of 
Paris  on  stage  165 


Indianapolis  Experiences 
A Below  Average  Week 

Indianapolis — A week  that  stayed  below 
average  in  all  but  one  instance — that  af- 
forded by  Loew’s  Palace  where  “Go  West” 
and  “Land  of  Liberty”  dualed  to  100  per 
cent — was  chalked  up  by  Indianapolis  first 
runs. 

Detail  for  week  ended  January  18: 

(Average  is  100) 

Alamo — Fugitive  From  a Prison  Camp  (Col); 


Thundering  Frontier  (Col)  90 

Circle — The  Bank  Dick  (Univ) ; One  Night  in 

the  Tropics  (Univ)  90 

Indiana — -Four  Mothers  (WB);  Street  of 

Memories  (20th-Fox)  90 

Lyric — Michael  Shayne,  Private  Detective 
(20th-Fox);  Raymond  Scott  orchestra  on 

stage 95 

Palace — Go  West  (M-G-M);  Land  of  Liberty 

(M-G-M)  100 


Back  With  Ice  Show 

St.  Louis  — Russell  Markert,  of  New 
York’s  Radio  City  Music  Hall  and  former- 
ly with  the  Missouri  Theatre  here,  is  han- 
dling the  “Ice  Capades  of  1941,”  which 
opened  a six-night  stand  here  at  the 
Arena  January  20. 


Paramount  Bigwigs 
At  Sales  Meeting 

(Continued  from  page  45) 

Edgerly,  Park,  LaGrange,  first  place,  and 
Ray  Thompson  at  the  Luna  second. 

Assistant  managers  who  shared  the 
prize  awards  were:  W.  Bader,  Chicago; 
W.  Brasch,  United  Artists;  N.  Brown, 
Harding;  R.  Copeland,  Granada;  C.  Tuck- 
er, Special,  Varsity;  J.  Anderson,  Belmont; 
T.  Tietz,  Congress;  D.  C.  Charlton,  Regal; 
T.  Wayner,  Biltmore;  T.  J.  McQuin, 
Senate;  T.  Mooney,  Manor;  F.  Leonard, 
Central  Park. 

Winners  of  the  special  meritorious 
awards  were:  W.  Bail,  manager,  La 
Grante  Theatre;  C.  S.  Levin,  manager, 
Belpark  Theatre;  R.  Emilio,  assistant, 
Belpark  Theatre;  L.  Eastman,  manager, 
Valencia  Theatre;  G.  Rosenthal,  assistant, 
Garrick  Theatre;  Charles  Davidson,  book- 
ing department;  Joseph  Stout,  booking 
department;  Ed  Sequin,  advertising  de- 
partment; Jack  Garber,  advertising  de- 
partment; Jack  Katz,  advertising  depart- 
ment. The  entire  advertising  department 
was  also  given  a special  group  award  for 
their  exploitation  effort. 

The  judging  committee  was:  John  Bala- 
ban, secretary  and  treasurer  of  Balaban 
& Katz;  Walter  Immerman,  circuit  execu- 
tive, and  W.  K.  Hollander,  publicity  di- 
rector. 

Members  of  the  drive  committee  who 
worked  with  Harry  Lustgarten,  chairman, 
were:  Dave  Wallerstein,  Nate  Platt,  Dave 
Balaban,  Abe  Platt,  J.  J.  Sampson  and 
Jack  Abraham. 


Reopens  With  "Desire" 

St.  Louis — The  Hollywood  has  been  re- 
opened with  “Sins  of  Desire.” 


In  Subsequent-Run  Field  Money — 

Morrie  Parfrey,  Vogue,  East  Chicago,  Ind.,  at  the  left,  took  second  prize 
among  subsequent  runs  and  $750  in  the  M-G-M  exploitation  contest  just 
concluded.  His  campaign  was  on  ‘‘Northwest  Passage.”  Jack  Albertson 
(right),  Indiana  Theatre,  Indiana  Harbor,  Ind.,  won  third  prize  in  the  same 
bracket,  getting  $500  for  his  campaign  on  “Young  Tom  Edison.” 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


47 


Asks  Edward  G.  Robinson  upon  his  ar- 
rival in  snowbound  Chicago  last  Sat- 
urday. Robinson , who  has  just  com- 
pleted the  “Sea  Wolf,”  was  en  route 
to  President  Roosevelt’s  inaugural.  He 
brought  along  a parchment  scroll  con- 
taining the  signatures  of  Warner  stars 
unable  to  attend  but  desirous  of  ex- 
tending their  good  wishes  to  the  Presi- 
dent. 


Press  Preview  Held  in 
Chicago  for  ", Smiths " 

Chicago — The  Chicago  press  preview  of 
RKO’s  “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith”  was  held  at 
the  Palace  Monday  night  following  a cock- 
tail party  and  dinner  at  the  Bismarck 
Hotel.  Terry  Turner  of  the  RKO  home 
office  handled  the  preview,  assisted  by 
Bob  Hickey,  RKO  exploitation  man  in 
Chicago. 

David  Hempstead,  producer  of  the  same 
company’s  “Kitty  Foyle,”  who  was  on  his 
way  back  to  Hollywood  following  a brief 
visit  in  New  York,  addressed  the  preview 
audience  briefly  prior  to  the  showing  of 
“Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith.” 

In  addition  to  those  mentioned  above,  at 
the  cocktail-dinner  party  and  preview 
were:  Mort  Singer,  head  of  the  RKO- 
Singer  circuit,  Chicago;  Tom  Gorman, 
division  manager  RKO  theatres,  Chicago; 
Frank  Smith,  manager  of  the  Palace,  and 
his  wife;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hal  Nelson,  Rock- 
ford Star;  Ralph  Banghart,  Waukegan 
Post;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harold  Carey,  Joliet 
News-Herald;  Jean  Cunningham,  Ham- 
mond Time;  Eva  Beth  Miller,  Peoria  Star; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morgan  Ames,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Walter  Branson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sam  Gore- 
lick,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  A.  O’Brien, 
RKO;  William  Hackman,  Danville  News; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hal  Tate,  Boxoffice;  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Roy  Topper,  American;  Ed 
Johnson,  Tribune;  Doris  Arden,  Times; 
Irving  Yeargin,  Motion  Picture  Herald; 
Dorothy  Perschel,  Tribune;  Lucia  Perrigo, 
American;  Howdee  Meyers,  Tribune;  Joe 
Esler,  Film  Daily;  Dan  Goldberg,  Variety; 
Jim  Booth,  S&S  Theatres;  M.  W.  Rubens, 
Great  States;  Alex  Halperin,  Warners; 
Jack  Rose,  and  Alex  Manta,  Rose  circuit; 
Jack  Kirsch,  Allied  Theatre  Owners  of 
Illinois;  and  Lou  Reinheimer,  Reinheimer 
circuit. 


^■HE  big  army  training  camp  now  being 
constructed  in  the  vicinity  of  Rolla 
and  Lebanon,  has  attracted  another  new 
theatre  to  that  sector.  F.  L.  Lowe  of  the 
Star  Theatre  Co.,  Hays,  Hoisington  and 
Lyons,  Kas.,  is  erecting  a 500-seater  at 
Lebanon.  Work  is  being  rushed  for  a 
spring  opening  . . . The  flu  has  hit  Du 
Quoin,  111.,  keeping  upwards  of  250  chil- 
dren out  of  school.  Public  gatherings  have 
been  banned  by  city  officials.  Theatre  at- 
tendance has  been  affected. 

Henry  C.  “Hank”  Riegel  jr.,  manager  of 
the  St.  Louis  Theatre,  cooperated  with 
Les  Kaufmann,  exploiteer  for  Fanchon  & 
Marco,  in  putting  the  finishing  touches  to 
the  campaign  for  the  local  premiere  of  Re- 
public’s “Barnyard  Follies.” 

Louis  Ansell  of  the  Ansell  Bros,  circuit 
and  Barney  Rosenthal,  veteran  local  film 
exchange  manager,  are  leading  members  of 
the  Variety  Club  in  a ticket-selling  drive 
for  various  local  shows  and  parties  to  aid 
the  infantile  paralysis  fund. 

Chester,  III.,  is  another  town  in  this 
area  that  has  found  it  necessary  to  sus- 
pend school  classes  because  of  flu.  At 
Chester  High  School,  more  than  a third 
of  the  students  were  home  because  of  ill- 
ness. Athletic  activities  have  also  been 
suspended. 

Lou  Astor,  in  the  home  office  sales  de- 
partment of  Columbia,  and  Carl  Shalit, 
district  manager  from  Detroit,  were  local 
visitors.  They  conferred  with  Clarence  D. 
Hill,  local  manager,  on  the  outlook  for 
1941  in  these  parts  . . . Ray  Colvin,  head 
of  Exhibitors  Supply  Co.,  and  Mrs.  Col- 
vin have  returned  from  a motor  trip  to 


CJEEN  along  Filmrow:  William  Stude- 
baker,  Logan  Theatre,  Logansport;  Roy 
E.  Harrold,  Princess,  Rushville;  Jack  Van 
Borssum,  Savoy,  Terre  Haute;  Art  Clark, 
Indiana,  Bloomington;  Robert  Hudson, 
Hudson  Enterprises,  Richmond;  Harry  Van 
Noy,  Paramount,  Anderson;  Mrs.  Hilda  P. 
Long,  Hippodrome,  Sheridan;  Joe  Schil- 
ling, Auditorium,  Connersville;  and  Har- 
old Reckley,  Chateau,  Greencastle. 

The  Vogue  was  robbed  of  $25  by  two 
bandits  . . . Max  Page,  formerly  with  the 
Sconce  circuit,  is  now  in  the  booking  de- 
partment of  Hudson  Enterprises  of  Rich- 
mond, Did.  . . . James  Smith,  formerly 
with  Columbia,  is  now  head  shipper  for 
Paramount. 

RCA  announces  a new  plant  to  cost 
$450,000  and  to  employ  1,000  men  will  be 
built  here  to  take  care  of  its  share  of 
the  national  defense  program  . . . Claude 
Allison  of  the  Strand  is  taking  advantage 
of  radio’s  Ascap-BMI  fight,  by  advertis- 
ing that  his  patrons  may  hear  the  re- 
stricted tunes  in  his  theatre. 

Ben  Schleeter  of  the  Liberty  in  Alexan- 
dria has  been  on  the  sick  list  . . . Frank 
Michelfelder,  husband  of  Minnie  Michel- 
felder,  cashier  at  United  Artists,  died  last 
week  . . . The  flu  epidemic  has  closed 


California.  They  left  here  during  the 
Christmas  holidays  and  motored  to  various 
parts  of  California  and  the  west  while 
away. 

Professionals  of  stage,  radio  and  hotel 
floors  appeared  in  “The  Nights  of  Stars” 
benefit  show  held  in  the  Municipal  Audi- 
torium Friday,  for  the  Christmas  Benefit 
for  children  organization,  headed  by 
Mayor  Bernard  F.  Dickmann.  The  show 
helped  make  up  a deficit  of  $8,000  exper- 
ienced this  year  when  clothing,  shoes  and 
toys  were  given  to  some  30,000  needy 
children  for  Christmas.  Acts  from  Fanchon 
& Marco’s  Fox,  Grand  and  Garrick  theat- 
res, Radio  Stations  KMOX,  KSD,  KWK 
and  WIL  and  from  the  Chase,  Park  Plaza 
and  Jefferson  hotels  assisted  in  putting 
the  benefit  across. 

Marian  Anderson,  Negro  contralto,  will 
make  her  fourth  appearance  in  recital 
here  Tuesday  evening  at  the  Opera  House 
in  the  Municipal  Auditorium.  Several 
years  ago  she  sang  before  a small  Negro 
audience  at  Poro  College  here  . . . Nor- 
man Probstein  of  the  Rio  has  returned  to 
Dartmouth  College  . . . Sam  X.  Hurst, 
local  correspondent  for  Variety,  was 
bedded  with  flu  for  a few  days. 

Tommy  Martin,  usher  of  the  Hi-Pointe, 
has  grabbed  himself  a daytime  job  as  a 
collector  . . . Patricia  Postar,  cashier  at 
the  Granada,  has  returned  to  her  cage 
after  a two-week  visit  to  Pittsburgh  ...  A 
sound  motion  picture,  “Perpetual  Sacri- 
fice,” was  shown  at  the  St.  Louis  Cathedral 
School  auditorium  Tuesday.  A choir  of 
60  voices  sang  the  liturgical  chant  of  the 
Mass  in  connection  with  the  showing.  The 
film  was  produced  by  Religious  Films,  Inc. 


schools  in  several  communities,  including 
Shelbyville  and  Seymour. 

Roy  E.  Harrold  and  Don  R.  Rossiter, 
president  and  executive  secretary  of  Asso- 
ciated Theatre  Owners  of  Indiana,  will  at- 
tend Allied  convention  to  be  held  at  the 
Carlton  Hotel  in  Washington,  D.  C„  Jan- 
uary 27-28.  Rossiter  leaves  early  by  plane 
to  be  at  the  Allied  Information  Depart- 
ment’s special  meeting  on  the  26th. 


Assessments  on  Four 
Exceed  $1,000,000 

Milwaukee — Among  the  42  Milwaukee 
enterprises  having  a 1940  assessment  value 
of  $1,000,000  or  more  are  the  Majestic 
Bldg.,  theatre  and  stores,  assessed  at  $1,- 
780,000;  the  Empire  Bldg.,  housing  the 
Riverside  Theatre,  $1,513,000;  the  Warner 
Theatre  Bldg..  $1,094,000,  and  the  Carpen- 
ter Bldg.,  housing  the  Wisconsin  Theatre, 
$1,231,000. 


Hold  South  American  Star 

Hollywood  — Alberto  Vila,  South 
American  singing  star,  has  been  held  for 
another  term  by  RKO.  He  made  his  Amer- 
ican debut  in  “They  Met  in  Argentina.” 


1I1MIIDM  AW  A POLISS 


48 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


Support  Bill  for 
Daylight  Saving 

Madison,  Wis. — Milwaukee  dailies  have 
given  editorial  support  to  the  Murray  bill 
introduced  in  the  state  senate,  which 
would  remove  the  present  statutory  re- 
strictions which  prevent  localities  from 
adopting  daylight  saving,  retaining  mere- 
ly the  provision  that  the  state  shall  go 
according  to  standard  time.  The  measure 
provides  for  daylight  saving  for  any  com- 
munity in  Wisconsin  that  may  desire  it. 

Strongest  proponent  of  the  measure  has 
been  the  state  medical  society,  which  has 
been  advocating  the  adoption  of  daylight 
saving  time  in  Wisconsin  for  the  past  sev- 
eral months.  Labor  and  farmers  are  ex- 
pected to  go  along  with  exhibitors  in  op- 
posing the  measure. 

Would  Repeal  Picketing  Ban 

Also  of  interest  to  exhibitors  is  the  move 
by  labor  to  repeal  the  Catlin  and  Peterson 
acts  adopted  by  the  1939  legislature.  The 
former  law  forbids  picketing  by  a minority 
of  any  bargaining  unit  or  by  workers  not 
employed  by  the  firm  against  which  a 
strike  is  called.  The  Peterson  law  forbids 
secondary  picketing  and  permits  employ- 
ers, as  well  as  labor  unions  and  individ- 
ual employes,  to  bring  actions  before  the 
employment  relations  board.  Both  meas- 
ures were  bitterly  fought  in  the  last  legis- 
lature by  the  Wisconsin  Federation  of  La- 
bor and  the  CIO  as  “anti-labor.” 

While  the  administration’s  budget  bill 
calls  for  no  additional  taxes,  it  is  regard- 
ed likely  by  some  leaders  that  additional 
assessments  will  have  to  be  made  to  meet 
a difference  of  more  than  $8,000,000  be- 
tween budget  requests  and  estimated  reve- 
nues for  the  biennium. 

Any  tax  proposals  affecting  the  indus- 
try, such  as  a fee  on  film  defeated  in  the 
1939  legislature,  will  meet  with  stiff  op- 
position from  exhibitors. 

A straw  in  the  wind  as  to  the  likelihood 
of  additional  taxes,  including  a sales  tax, 
is  seen  in  the  introduction  of  a joint 
resolution  to  amend  the  state  constitution 
to  prohibit  the  levying  of  taxes  on  “food, 
clothing,  fuel  or  other  necessities  of  life.” 

The  resolution  must  pass  the  1941  leg- 
islature and  the  1943  legislature  and  be 
submitted  to  the  electorate  at  a refer- 
endum before  the  constitution  can  be 
changed  to  prohibit  the  levying  of  these 
taxes. 


6 ===b 

Nearly  One  in  Ten 
Have  Influenza 

St.  Charles,  Mo.— Upwards  of  1,000  per- 
sons in  this  city  of  11,000  are  ill  with  in- 
fluenza. The  majority  of  cases  are  of  a 
mild  nature.  Many  cases  have  not  been 
reported  to  Dr.  A.  A.  Gossow,  city  health 
officer.  About  one  of  seven  among  the 
3,009  students  in  public  and  parochial 
schools,  are  away  from  classes  because 
of  illness.  Most  of  them  have  the  flu 
but  there  are  also  a considerable  num- 
ber of  mump  cases. 


SPRINGFIELD 


pAULINE  DRURY,  cashier  at  the  Fox- 
Lincoln,  enjoying  driving  to  St.  Louis, 
but  almost  had  to  feel  her  way  back 
through  a heavy  fog  . . . Max  Tschauder, 
manager  of  the  Roxy,  was  away  from  the 
office  a few  days  because  of  illness  . . . 
M.  E.  Berman  and  Charles  Brown,  man- 
ager and  assistant,  respectively,  of  the 
Orpheum,  presented  prizes  to  a group  of 
boy  winners  in  a model  airplane  contest 
staged  in  connection  with  the  showing  of 
“Flight  Command.” 

Dave  Jones,  manager  of  the  Senate,  and 
Bernard  Palmer,  manager  of  the  Lory, 
Highland,  III.,  of  the  Kerasotes  chain,  were 
among  the  winners  in  the  M-G-M  ex- 
ploitation campaign  . . . C.  C.  Murray, 
manager  of  the  Fox-Lincoln,  fixed  up  a 
special  front  for  “Hudson’s  Bay,”  which 
was  doing  excellent  business  at  his  theatre. 

Lee  Brownlow,  operator  at  the  Fox-Lin- 


coln, was  absent  from  work  for  a week 
with  flu  . . . “This  Thing  Called  Love” 
attracted  fine  crowds  during  its  first-run 
two-week  engagement  at  the  Senate  . . . 
One  hundred  representative  citizens  of 
Springfield  were  guests  of  M-G-M  at  a 
special  screening  of  “Land  of  Liberty”  at 
the  Orpheum. 

W.  G.  Bishop,  Chicago,  publicity  direc- 
tor for  M-G-M,  was  in  Sprmg field  work- 
ing on  a “Land  of  Liberty”  campaign  with 
M.  E.  Berman,  manager  of  the  Orpheum 
. . . Springfield  theatre  managers  who 
supervised  a “ten  best  film  contest”  as- 
sembled for  a group  picture  for  the  local 
papers.  Included  were : Joe  Nepote,  Es- 
quire; Edmond  Metzger,  Strand;  M.  E. 
Berman,  Orpheum;  C.  C.  Murray,  Fox- 
Lincoln;  Howard  Moore,  Roxy  assistant; 
Ray  Coe,  Fox-Lincoln  assistant;  Max 
Tschauder,  Roxy;  Charles  Brown,  Or- 
pheum assistant;  Nicholas  Kerasotes,  Pan- 
theon; and  Dave  Jones,  Senate. 


C IHI I c A G CO 


^•RAINING  Through:  Murray  Silverstone, 
president  of  United  Artists,  and  his 
wife;  Arthur  W.  Kelly,  vice-president  and 
general  sales  manager;  and  Attorney 
Charles  Schwartz  and  Mrs.  Schwartz.  The 
trio  of  UA  officials  were  en  route  to  Holly- 
wood to  view  the  company’s  latest  product. 
They  were  seen  off  at  the  Dearborn  Street 
station  before  boarding  the  Santa  Fe 
Chief  by:  Haskell  Masters,  midwest  dis- 
trict sales  manager,  and  Irving  Schlank, 
recently  appointed  United  Artists  district 
zone  manager  for  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and 
Minneapolis. 


yet  . . . First  draftee  reported  on  Chicago’s 
Film  Row  is  Charles  Teitel,  son  of  Abe 
Teitel,  well  known  distributor  of  foreign 
films.  Young  Teitel,  25,  who  has  been 
working  with  his  father,  is  currently  sta- 
tioned at  Fort  Sheridan. 

Joe  Abramson,  brother  of  Lou  Abramson, 
who  is  Jack  Kirsch’s  secretary,  was  in- 
stalled as  adjutant  of  the  Jewish  War 
Veterans  of  the  Gen.  Edward  S.  Solomon 
Post  No.  153,  last  Tuesday.  Joe,  who  is  a 
former  member  of  the  local  film  board,  is 
currently  working  for  Excel  Projector  Co. 


Heading  eastward  after  arriving  aboard 
Sante  Fe  Chief:  Charlotte  Greenwood, 
Martin  Brooks,  Prestoii  Foster  and  John 
Joseph.  Latter  is  head  of  Universal  pub- 
licity department  . . . “Fantasia”  now 
scheduled  to  open  at  the  B&K  Apollo  early 
in  February  . . . Newly  elected  officers  of 
the  Reel-Fellows  Club,  film  salesmen  or- 
ganization, will  be  installed  at  the  club’s 
dinner-dance,  to  be  held  January  31  at  the 
Congress  Hotel. 


Benny  Rubin  for  "Sunny" 

Hollywood — RKO  has  signed  Benny 
Rubin  for  a comedy  lead  in  “Sunny.” 


TRADE  DIRECTORY 

• A Handy  Guide  for  the  Exhibitor-  ■ 1 

CHICAGO 


Irving  Schlank,  recently  appointed  divi- 
sion manager  for  United  Artists,  was  given 
a diamond  wrist  watch  by  his  friends  at  a 
testimonial  dinner  held  at  the  Congress 
Hotel  . . . Herb  Elisburg  says  he  did  165 
per  cent  on  first  week  of  “After  Mein 
Kampf”  . . . Jerome  I.  Gumbiner,  son  of 
Abe  Gumbiner,  who  graduates  from  the 
University  of  Wisconsin  in  June,  was 
awarde  dthe  Greenlinger  Award  at  the  na- 
tional convention  of  the  Phi  Sigma  Delta 
Fraternity  in  Dallas.  This  award  is  given  to 
the  outstanding  member  of  the  fraternity 
throughout  the  United  States;  it  is  given 
only  to  the  best  scholar  and  to  the  one 
who  did  most  in  outside  activity  for  his 
chapter  during  the  year. 

Film  Bookers  Club  held  luncheon  meet- 
ing at  their  headquarters  in  the  Crillon 
Hotel  recently,  to  discuss  their  first  event 
of  the  season,  a dinner-dance  to  be  held 
February  7.  Hotel  has  not  been  chosen 


SIGNS  - MARQUEES  AND 
MAINTENANCE 


White  Way  Electric  Sign  & Maintenance  Co. 
Tom  Flannery,  President 

315-17  W.  Walton  Street 
Phone  DELaware  9111 


THEATRICAL  PRINTING 


PRINTERS 


THEATRICAL 
L PRINTING  ' 
f OF  EVERY  { 
DESCRIPTION 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


48-A 


Lending  Foils  Another 
Attempt  by  Stenchers 

Kirkwood,  Mo.  — Theodore  Lending, 
owner-manager  of  the  Kirkwood  Theatre, 
who  has  been  having  trouble  with  stench- 
bombers  of  late,  became  suspicious  when 
two  men  purchased  tickets  for  the  show 
one  evening  last  week.  So  he  called  the 
police.  One  of  the  men  left  before  the 
officer  put  in  an  appearance,  and  the 
other  tried  to  leave  when  John  Law  came 
in  and  took  a seat  behind  him. 

Taken  into  custody  outside  the  theatre, 
the  man  was  searched  by  the  policeman 
who  reported  he  found  two  bottles  of 
stench  fluid  in  the  man’s  pockets.  He  told 
the  police  that  he  and  his  companion 
were  promised  $10  by  a stranger  to  release 
the  fluid  in  the  theatre. 

On  January  10,  Lending  clamped  a 
headlock  on  a stench-bomber.  He  has  also 
frustrated  several  other  “bombing”  at- 
tempts since  September  1 when  he  re- 
fused to  renew  his  contract  with  the  Pro- 
jectionists’ Local  143. 


"Pappy"  Cheshire  Sees 
Himself  on  the  Screen 

St.  Louis — “Pappy”  Cheshire,  for  the 
past  ten  years  impresario  for  hillbilly 
radio  shows,  saw  himself  as  others  see 
him  last  Tuesday  when  he  and  other  stars 
of  his  KMOX  radio  troupe  journeyed  out 
to  the  St.  Louis  Theatre  for  the  midwest 
premiere  of  Republic’s  “Barnyard  Follies.” 
In  the  film,  “Pappy”  has  the  part  of  head- 
master of  an  orphanage. 

A battery  of  two  200,000,000  candle- 
power  searchlights,  together  with  six  spots 
were  utilized  to  light  up  Grand  Boulevard 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  theatre.  The  search- 
light equipment  used  was  en  route  from 
Hollywood  to  Miami,  Fla.,  for  the  world 
premiere  of  Universal’s  “Back  Street”  on 
February  4. 

Name  Committees  for 
Milwaukee  Council 

Sheboygan,  Wis. — Mrs.  William  Fester- 
ling,  president  of  the  Better  Films  Coun- 
cil here,  announces  committee  appoint- 
ments as  follows: 

Preview,  Mrs.  Henry  E.  Smith,  chair- 
man; Mrs.  O.  R.  Eichenberger,  Mrs.  Floyd 
Garner  and  Mrs.  Arthur  Gandre;  press 
committee,  Mrs.  E.  H.  Rothe,  chairman, 
who  will  select  her  own  assistants;  Sun- 
day afternoon  committee,  Mmes.  Earl 
Trowbridge,  Frank  Liebl  and  Martin  De  Ny. 

The  council  attended  a morning  preview 
of  “Land  of  Liberty”  at  the  Rex  here. 


"BOXOFFICE  is  one  of  my  favo- 
rite publications,  and  I look  for- 
ward to  each  issue,  particularly 
The  Modem  Theatre,  which  is 
always  kept  on  file  for  quick 
reference.” 

—ROBERT  E.  BRYANT, 
Capitol  Theatre, 

Rock  Hill,  N.  C. 


/?X,  jJu  MolionFdvu  't/-. . A. 


r,  = ^ 

A Dud  Is  a Dud  in 
Any  Language 

St.  Louis — Another  slant  on  1941  as 
Harry  C.  Arthur  jr.  of  F&M  sees  it: 

“The  exhibitor  doesn't  want  success 
without  effort.  We're  all  willing  to  dig 
in  and  go  to  work  if  a reasonable  chance 
for  success  seems  possible.  But  too  many 
times,  against  our  better  judgment,  we've 
advertised  over  our  heads,  exploited  to 
the  high  heavens,  only  to  meet  the  same 
meager  boxoffice  grosses  as  other  ex- 
hibitors throughout  the  nation  experi- 
enced on  the  same  pictures.  No  amount 
of  effort  is  going  to  transform  a dud 
into  a ‘wow'." 


VS  ^ 

MILWAUKEE 

^HE  PABST  Theatre  here  resumed  its 

showing  of  weekend  German  films  Jan- 
uary 24  . . . Earl  Fischer,  manager  of  the 
Alamo,  is  on  a two-week  vacation  . . . Jos- 
eph R.  Rosenfeld,  manager  of  the  Modjes- 
ka,  has  been  re-elected  president  of  the 
Mitchell  Street  Advancement  Ass’n. 

Mrs.  Phillip  J.  Tolkan,  who  before  her 
marriage  several  years  ago  was  Monya 
Zamil,  secretary  to  Ben  J.  Miller,  film  at- 
torney arid  secretary  of  the  Variety  Club, 
is  the  mother  of  a baby  girl  . . . Grace 
Bannow,  personal  secretary  to  the  An- 
drews Sisters,  is  visiting  her  parents  here. 

Ken  Mayer,  who  has  been  assistant  man- 
ager at  Warner’s  Venetian  in  Racine,  has 
returned  to  Milwaukee  to  his  former  post 
as  treasurer  of  the  Warner.  He  is  suc- 
ceeded at  the  Venetian  by  Edward  Fried- 
wald,  who  has  been  assistant  manager  at 
the  circuit’s  Jeffrey  in  Chicago  . . . More 
than  500  junior  police  boys  and  girls  were 
the  guests  of  Jack  Keegan,  manager  of 
Warner’s  Venetian  in  Racine,  at  an  an- 
nual theatre  party  last  week. 

Russell  Leddy,  manager  of  Fox’s  Or- 
pheum  in  Green  Bay,  and  Harold  S.  Knud- 
sen,  manager  of  the  circuit’s  Fond  du  Lac 
in  Fond  du  Lac,  addressed  the  Lions  Club 
in  the  latter  city  . . . Edward  Duclos,  New 
Holstein  theatre  manager,  is  confined  in 
a Sheboygan  hospital  with  a strained  back 
resulting  from  a fall. 

The  Rivoli  in  La  Crosse  announces  a 
new  type  of  double  feature  entertainment 
on  Fridays  and  Saturdays  consisting  of 
a feature  film  and  a comedy  round-up  of 
shorts.  The  show  runs  about  three  hours 
. . . Fox  has  shifted  H.  G.  Dimmit  from 
Racine  to  its  Strand  in  Manitowoc,  where 
he  succeeds  Verne  Rounds,  and  Joe  Klau- 
zer  from  its  Paradise  in  West  Allis  to  its 
Sherman  in  Milwaukee.  Charles  Hacker  is 
the  new  manager  at  the  Paradise. 

Walter  Holt  is  the  new  manager  of 
the  E skin-operated  house  at  Kiel.  He  was 
formerly  projectionist  at  the  circuit’s 
Rialto  in  Kaukauna  and  is  succeeded  there 
by  Francis  Bisel,  who  has  been  projec- 
tionist at  Kiel  . . . Norman  Pettingill, 
Superior  exhibitor,  has  a hobby  of  paint- 
ing murals,  and  his  scenes  can  be  viewed 


St.  Louis  PRC  Branch 
Is  Formed  by  Three 

St.  Louis — A local  branch  of  Producers 
Releasing  Corp.  has  been  organized  here. 
Incorporators  are  Andrew  R.  Dietz,  well- 
known  local  film  exchange  manager  and 
salesman;  Noah  Bloomer,  theatre  owner  of 
Belleville,  HI.;  and  Philip  C.  Kopitsky, 
University  City.  Kopitsky  & Kessler,  St. 
Louis,  are  attorneys  for  the  new  com- 
pany. 


Theatre  Attractions,  Inc., 

Organized  in  Mound  City 

St.  Louis — Theatre  Attractions,  Inc.,  has 
been  incorporated  here  to  carry  on  and 
conduct  a general  advertising  business 
both  as  principals  and  agents,  including 
the  preparation  and  arrangements  of  ad- 
vertisements; to  direct  and  produce  radio 
programs,  and  to  engage  generally  in  the 
theatrical  business. 

Incorporators:  Walter  Lutz,  10  shares; 
Louis  Bauer,  10  shares,  and  L.  C.  Craig, 
St.  Louis,  1,590  shares.  Karol  A.  Korn- 
gold  is  attorney  for  the  company. 


Funeral  Services  Held 
For  Hannah  Rosenthal 

St.  Louis — Funeral  services  were  held 
Tuesday  at  the  Rindskopf  Chapel  for  Han- 
nah Sisco  Rosenthal,  wife  of  Barney  Ros- 
enthal, veteran  local  exchange  owner, 
manager  and  salesman  and  a charter  mem- 
ber and  leader  of  St.  Louis  Variety. 

Following  the  services  at  the  chapel  the 
body  was  taken  to  B’nai  Amoona  Cemetery 
in  St.  Louis  county  for  interment. 

Mrs.  Rosenthal,  apparently  in  good 
health,  died  of  a heart  ailment  on  Janu- 
ary 19. 

The  services  were  attended  largely  by 
members  of  the  local  film  colony. 


St.  Louis  Variety  Club 
May  Open  Restaurant 

St.  Louis— Variety  Club  executives  are 
considering  a proposal  to  open  a restaurant 
as  a means  of  increasing  its  revenue.  The 
club,  now  located  in  the  basement  of  the 
Roosevelt  Hotel,  will  be  moved  to  the 
mezzanine  of  the  Missouri  Theatre  Build- 
ing. 

A committee  headed  by  Harry  C.  Arthur 
jr.,  chief  barker,  and  Lou  Ansell  of  the 
Ansell  Bros,  circuit,  is  acquainting  mem- 
bers with  the  idea.  A “chef  of  ability” 
would  preside  over  the  kitchen,  if  the 
idea  goes  through. 


in  a number  of  business  places  throughout 
Upper  Wisconsin. 

The  Home  Theatre  Corp.  at  Antigo  has 
re-elected  Mose  A.  Jansen,  president;  Dr. 
C.  E.  Zellmer,  vice-president,  and  T.  L. 
Jordan,  secretary-treasurer.  Also  re-elected 
by  stockholders  are  Directors  Earl  Plantz 
and  Ray  Walch  . . . Old-time  silents  have 
made  their  bow  at  the  Town  Grill  in  Osh- 
kosh. 


48-B 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


Northwest  Allied  Accepts 
Plan  to  Fight  Decree 


r,  — — ---■■ft 

Northwest  Allied 
Rosier  Zooms 

Minneapolis — -During  the  past  year, 
under  its  new  regime  and  with  dues 
consideraly  reduced.  Northwest  Allied 
has  shown  a 300  per  cent  increase  in 
membership,  with  210  theatres  now  repre- 
sented as  against  42  before  and  St. 
Paul  independents  signed  up  100  per 
cent.  These  figures  were  made  public 
by  President  E.  L.  Peaslee  at  the  con- 
vention here  this  week. 

^ - ■ ■ JJ 

"Kiiiy"  and  "Nanette" 
Big  in  Minneapolis 

Minneapolis  — The  heaviest  boxoffice 
play  currently  is  going  to  the  Orpheum, 
which  has  “No,  No,  Nanette”  and  Cab 
Calloway,  on  the  stage  and  screen,  re- 
spectively, and  “Kitty  Foyle”  at  the  State. 
“Tin  Pan  Alley”  is  a holdover,  having 
moved  over  from  the  State  to  the  Century 
for  an  extension  of  its  loop  first-run.  “Gal- 
lant Sons,”  Gopher  offering,  also  is  at- 
tracting some  attention. 


(Average  is  100) 

Aster — Doomed  Caravan  (Para’t);  Remedy 

for  Riches  (RKO)  ' 90 

Century — Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox),  2nd  wk. . . 95 

Gopher — Gallant  Sons  (M-G-M)  100 

Minnesota — Her  First  Romance  (Mono),  plus 

stage  show  90 

Orpheum — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO),  plus 

stage  show  125 

state — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO)  150 

World — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA),  3rd  wk 90 


" Kitty  Foyle " Holds  Lead 
In  Second  Kaycee  Week 

Kansas  City — First  run  business:  Fair. 
Weather:  Rain  and  snow.  Competition: 
Tough  (included  Ice  Capades  at  Pla-Mor). 
Leader:  “Kitty  Foyle”  at  the  Orpheum,  in 
its  second  week.  Also  good:  “Flight  Com- 
mand” at  the  Midland. 


(Average  is  100) 

Esquire — Li’l  Abner  (RKO)  80 

Midland — Might  Command  (M-G-M  1;  Keeping 

Company  (M-G-M)  130 

Newman — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t), 

2nd  wk.,  held  over  75 

Orpheum— Kitty  Foyle  (RKO) ; Saint  in  Palin 

Springs  (RKO),  held  over  150 

Tower — Michael  Shayne,  Private  Detective 

(20th-Fox),  plus  stage  show  90 

Uptown — Li’l  Abner  (RKO)  90 


Omaha  Takes  Hold  Firm 
Against  Inclemencies 

Omaha  — Unfavorable  weather,  so-so 
product  and  strong  competition  pulled 
grosses  down  to  normal  figures.  Exhibi- 
tors report  generally  good  business,  con- 
sidering all  angles. 

Orpheum  reported  above  average  busi- 
ness for  “Second  Chorus”  and  “Murder 
Over  New  York”  dual.  Other  two  first- 
runs  were  glad  to  get  “satisfactory”  grosses, 
Omaha  with  “Go  West”  and  “Gallant 
Sons,”  Brandeis  with  second  week  of 
“Kitty  Foyle”  and  “Saint  in  Palm  Springs.” 

Annual  Golden  Glove  events  and  twice- 
a-week  professional  ice  hockey  are  fur- 
nishing the  competition.  Old  Man  Winter 


Minneapolis — Northwest  Allied  will  at- 
tempt to  obtain  passage  of  a state  law 
to  nullify  many  important  consent  decree 
provisions.  This  decision  was  reached  at 
the  final  session  of  the  convention  here. 

The  circumventing  measure  would  com- 
pel distributors  to  sell  their  entire  sea- 
son’s product  with  a minimum  20  per  cent 
cancellation,  as  at  present,  in  place  of 
groups  of  five  as  provided  in  the  decree. 
It  also  would  permit  exhibitors  to  elimi- 
nate films  deemed  objectionable  on  moral, 
religious  and  racial  grounds. 

The  unit  also  decided: 

(1)  To  demand  an  immediate  reduc- 
tion in  film  rentals  of  at  least  ten  per 
cent,  based  on  the  shift  in  population 
from  the  territory  due  to  the  military 
program  and  better  employment  condi- 
tions in  industrial  sections  elsewhere. 

(2)  To  launch  a campaign,  enlisting 
all  industry  branches,  to  bring  the  pub- 
lic back  to  the  theatres  and  offset  com- 
peting entertainment. 

(3)  To  resist  50  per  cent  split  deals, 
increased  admissions  and  extended  play- 
ing time  for  any  pictures. 

(4)  To  retain  the  “democratic 
right”  to  maintain  and  set  admission 
prices  on  all  pictures.  Advanced  admis- 
sions for  particular  films  and  boosted 
children’s  prices  were  opposed. 

(5)  To  seek  revocation  of  an  inter- 
nal revenue  department  ruling  requiring 
an  admission  tax  on  reduced  student 
tickets. 

(6)  To  ask  film  exchanges  to  quit 
servicing  schools  and  other  such  insti- 
tutions showing  films  to  the  general 
public  and  charging  admission  therefor. 

(7)  To  seek  restriction  of  theatre 
building  and  circuit  expansion  via  state 
laws. 

Omaha's  Arbitration 
Board  Bows  Feb.  1 

Omaha — The  arbitration  board  with  jur- 
isdiction over  the  Omaha  trade  area  of 
Nebraska  and  western  Iowa  will  be  opened 
formally  February  1,  following  selection 
of  a special  panel  of  20  arbitrators  from 
this  area,  according  to  an  announcement 
by  the  American  Arbitration  Ass’n. 

The  arbitrators  will  be  business  and 
professional  men,  who  will  receive  $10 
a day  while  settling  controversies  between 
distributors  and  exhibitors. 


is  supplying  cold  wind  and  snow. 
Details  for  week  ending  January  18: 

(Average  is  100) 

Brandeis — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  Saint  in  Palm 


Springs  (RKO),  2nd  wk 100 

Omaha— Go  West  (M-G-M);  Gallant  Sons 

(M-G-M)  100 

Orpheum — Second  Chorus  (Para’t);  Murder 

Over  New  York  (20th-Fox)  120 


(8)  To  propose  a measure  which  will 
curb  free  shows  and  the  exhibition  of 
16mm  films. 

S.  P.  Halpern,  local  attorney,  informed 
the  exhibitors  that,  under  a court  ruling 
in  the  state  of  Washington,  all  existing 
Ascap  contracts  are  illegal  and  unen- 
forceable. The  question  as  to  whether 
members  should  refuse  to  pay  the  music 
tax  was  referred  to  a committee. 

A resolution  calling  for  the  organiza- 
tion’s support  of  a theatre  divorcement 
bill,  now  in  the  state  legislature,  was  re- 
jected. 


Kaycee  Trade  Begins  to 
See  Merit  in  Decree 

Kansas  City — There  seems  to  be  a dis- 
position among  film  and  theatremen  to 
regard  somewhat  more  favorably  the  con- 
sent degree,  in  which  connection  they 
think  of  the  sales  in  blocks-of-five  and 
arbitration.  As  the  time  approaches  for 
arbitration  to  become  effective,  exhibitors 
are  expressing  a little  more  confidence  in 
the  possibility  of  the  arbitration  setup  to 
do  them  some  good.  At  least,  they  feel, 
the  arbitration  boards  will  be  impartial, 
and  while  the  fact  that  the  boards  will 
not  include  anyone  in  the  industry  may 
mean  a long  time  for  the  reaching  of  a 
decision,  there  will  be  less  disposition  on 
the  part  of  either  complainant  or  defend- 
ant to  be  dissatisfied  with  decisions  as 
unfair. 

Exhibitors  are  inclined  to  think  that 
selling  in  blocks  of  five  will  tend  to  make 
pictures  better.  Some  complaints  will  be 
filed  with  the  board,  according  to  report, 
as  soon  as  it  is  named  and  starts  func- 
tioning. 


Danielson  in  Hospital 

Minneapolis— E.  L.  Danielson,  Mable, 
Minn.,  exhibitor,  came  to  Minneapolis  to 
attend  the  Northwest  Allied  convention. 
Before  the  meeting  he  went  to  a local 
hospital  for  a physical  examination.  Re- 
sults of  the  examination  were  such  that 
Danielson  decided  to  remain  at  the  hospital 
and  pass  up  the  convention. 

(<  - ■ - -h 

Divorcement  Bill 
In  Minnesota 

Minneapolis — A bill  has  been  intro- 
duced into  the  state  legislature  provid- 
ing for  the  divorcement  of  producer  and 
distributor  owned  and  controlled  theat- 
res. It  is  similar  to  the  law  passed  in 
North  Dakota  and  later  knocked  out  in 
the  courts.  President  E.  L.  Peaslee  of 
Northwest  Allied  says  that  his  or- 
ganization did  not  know  about  its  in- 
troduction until  he  heard  about  it  over 
the  radio  and  he  is  unaware  as  to  who 
is  sponsoring  it. 

IS  - ■ . , V 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


MW 


49 


QARL  MANSFIELD,  Colfax,  Schuyler, 
Neb.,  writes  Boxoffice  complete  in- 
formation to  correct  a previously  printed 
item  and  we’re  glad  to  get  his  letter. 
Mansfield  and  Harold  D.  Bowers  of  Weep- 
ing Water,  Neb.,  own  the  theatre  and 
Mansfield  operates  it.  Bowers  married 
Exhibitor  Mansfield’s  niece  and  Mrs.  A. 
D.  St.  Clair,  wife  of  the  Wymore,  Neb., 
exhibitor,  is  Mr.  Manfield’s  daughter. 
Thanks  for  the  information,  Exhibitor 
Mansfield. 

B.  A.  Tomte,  Paramount  peddler,,  is 
celebrating  his  lAth  wedding  anniversary 
. . . Faye  Honey,  Tecumseh,  Neb.,  was 
on  Davenport  street  wearing  a snappy 
tweed  suit  . . . Clyde  Cooley,  Fox  screen 
room  operator,  was  41  years  old  this  week, 
the  youngest  movie  operator  (in  age)  in 


Omaha.  His  wife’s  birthday  was  the  same 
day  . . . Roy  Bott,  exhibitor -may or  at 
Hooper,  Neb.,  was  on  Filmrow.  Also  Carl 
Johnson,  Grand,  Red  Oak,  la. 

Bill  Laird  is  the  new  poster  clerk  at 
Warner’s.  He’s  a brother  of  Dorothy  Laird, 
who  works  in  the  office  of  the  same  lay- 
out. Dorothy  is  quitting  soon  to  join  her 
husband  on  the  coast.  Hubby  is  in  the 
navy.  Margaret  Collins,  no  relative  of 
Tom,  will  take  Dorothy’s  place  as  steno 
. . . Ike  Rubin,  who  sells  pictures  for 
Paramount  when  he  is  not  worrying  about 
Nebraska’s  football  team,  was  called  to 
Chicago  by  the  serious  illness  of  his  broth- 
er-in-law. 

Fred  Hunt,  former  operator  at  Omaha 
theatres,  and  former  shipping  clerk  at 
Quality  Theatre  Supply,  died  at  his  home 
this  week  of  a heart  attack.  He  was  about 
50  years  old.  He  was  vice-president  of 
Local  B47,  Film  Exchange  Employes  Union 
. . . Dad  Jenkins,  City,  David  City,  Neb., 
has  been  confined  to  his  bed  because  of 
kidney  trouble  . . . Jack  Riggs,  Sun,  Cen- 
tral City,  Neb.,  has  been  recovering  from 
an  attack  of  flu. 

Howard  Kennedy  jr..  Bow,  Broken  Bow, 
Neb.,  has  been  promoting  prize  fights  in 
addition  to  operating  the  theatre.  The 
fights  are  held  in  the  old  Lyric  Bldg.  . . . 
Exhibitor  Nelson,  who  runs  the  theatre  at 
North  Loup,  Neb.,  also  has  a garage  busi- 
ness . . . Dick  Lysinger  reports  he  had 
the  Grand  at  Ravenna,  Neb.,  “packed  for 
the  first  time  in  history.”  It  was  an  im- 
plement film  free  to  farmers  in  the  sur- 
rounding territory. 


There’s  a lot  of  rivalry  going  on  be- 
tween two  of  our  younger  exhibitors. 
They  are  Maynard  Nelson,  manager  of 
the  World,  and  George  Munroe  jr.,  mana- 
ger of  the  Fort,  both  at  Kearney  ,Neb. 
When  one  pulls  a stunt  to  publicize  a 
picture,  then  the  other  one  thinks  up 
another  stunt  which  he  hopes  ivill  outdo 
the  other.  The  people  in  and  around  Kear- 
ney are  getting  a real  display  of  show- 
manship from  both  sides,  our  scouts  tell  us. 

H.  B.  Shook,  manager  of  Photophone 
sales  for  RCA,  from  Camden,  N.  J.,  was 
here  to  see  Frank  Van  Husan  of  West- 
ern Theatre  Supply  on  business  . . . Mem- 
bers of  Local  343,  IATSE,  report  they  are 
on  the  lookout  for  two  slot  film  machines 
expected  to  show  up  in  Omaha  in  a 
couple  of  weeks.  They  will  demand  an 
operator  be  employed  for  each  machine 
for  maintenance. 


When  " Miss  Bishop " Took  a Bow — 

The  world  premiere  of  “Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop,”  held  simultaneously  at 
the  Stuart,  Nebraska  and  Lincoln  theatres  in  Lincoln,  Neb.,  Tuesday,  Jan- 
uary 14,  drew  many  film  and  literary  notables.  Directly  above  are  shown, 
left  to  right:  Walter  White,  chairman;  Bess  Streeter  Aldrich,  author  of 
the  book  from  which  the  film  was  made,  and  Irvin  S.  Cobb,  literary,  film 
and  radio  figure,  at  the  speaker’s  table  during  the  dinner  hosted  by  the 
chamber  of  commerce.  In  the  center  frame  are  the  Hollywood  contingent, 
including,  from  left  to  right : Mrs.  William  Farnum,  William  Farnum, 
Mary  Anderson,  William  Gargan,  Martha  O’Driscoll,  Wayne  Morris,  Pro- 
ducer Richard  A.  Rowland  and  Albert  Dekker.  At  the  top,  Richard  A. 
Rowland,  the  producer,  as  he  addressed  a crowd  of  6,000  at  the  Coliseum 
public  reception. 


Censor  an  Act 

Minneapolis — Censorship  reared  its  head 
here  when  the  police  department  purity 
squad  head,  Sig  Couch,  acting  on  com- 
plaints, ordered  the  Minnesota  Theatre  to 
direct  Lou  Holtz,  the  comedian,  to  elimin- 
ate a piece  of  comedy  business  from  his 
show.  No  effort  was  made  to  defy  the 
order.  The  department  claims  the  right  to 
revoke  theatre  licenses  in  instances  where 
the  entertainment  is  offensive,  but  show- 
houses  can  combat  the  order  in  the  courts 
which  ultimately  would  decide  the  issue. 


50 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


K A Y C E IE 


Bills  Affecting  Industry 
Stirring  in  Nebraska 


£*LE  BRATTON  brought  in  a note  of 
optimism  from  Council  Grove,  Kas., 
where  he  operates  the  Ritz.  On  the  Row 
this  week,  Cle  said  he  had  recently  talked 
with  farmers.  Some  of  them  had  been  dig- 
ging post  holes,  and  reported  moisture 
down  from  60  to  72  inches,  the  deepest 
it  had  been  in  the  memory  of  any  of 
those  in  the  group.  This,  farmers  say, 
practically  guarantees  a wheat  crop,  and 
makes  conditions  excellent  for  corn. 

On  the  Row:  D.  E.  Burnett,  State, 
Lamed,  Kas.;  Hank  Doering,  Peoples,  Gar- 
nett, Kas.;  G.  C.  Coffman,  Osceola,  Os- 
ceola, Mo.;  Frank  Cassil,  Rialto  and  Up- 
town, St.  Joseph,  Mo.;  Glen  Newbold, 
Temple,  Yates  Center,  Kas.;  A.  J.  Sim- 
mons, Plaza,  Burlington,  Kas.  . . . Vernon 
Watkins  is  the  name  of  the  addition  to 
the  booking  staff  at  H.  J.  Griffith  Thea- 
tres, Inc.,  assisting  W.  G.  McKinney  and 
Virginia  Beuerman.  He’s  from  Oklahoma 
City. 

Carroll  Moore,  manager  of  the  Waldo, 
has  ten  acres  of  land  half  a mile  from 
where  they’ve  just  brought  in  a 500-bar- 
rel oil  well,  near  Benton,  111.  ...  “I  pick 
the  damndest  times!”  moans  E.  L.  Harris, 
Alexander  Film  Company  representative. 
He  went  to  Colorado  Springs  (home  office) 
last  week  and  got  hung  up  by  the  snow 
storm  at  Goodland  and  Topeka,  Kas., 
both. 

Quite  a few  film,  theatre  and  allied 
trades  men  went  to  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  Janu- 
ary 22,  for  the  opening  of  Frank  Cassil’s 
Uptown.  Frank  has  the  Rialto  there,  too. 
The  Uptown  formerly  was  the  Rivoli  . . . 
Frank  Meade  is  reportedly  severely  ill 
from  the  effects  of  a recent  fall.  He 
operates  the  Meade  and  Parma  at  King- 
man,  Kas. 

Here’s  a mental  picture  for  you:  Imag- 
ine Bill  Lansburg,  Paramount  exploiteer, 
singing  while  Nick  Lucas  (who  gets  paid 
for  singing)  accompanies  him  on  the  gui- 
tar. It  happened  the  other  evening  at  a 
party  for  Lucas,  who  has  been  at  the 
Tower.  Jerry  Zigmond,  manager  of  the 
Newman,  told  riddles  as  his  contribution 
to  the  party  (everyone  had  to  do  some- 
thing)— and  they  were  pretty  snazzy  rid- 
dles, too. 

It’s  getting  tougher  all  the  time  to  find 
a parking  spot  on  Filmrow.  It  doesn’t 
bother  us  because  we  ride  the  street  car 
mostly,  but  it  must  annoy  exhibitors  in 
from  out  of  town,  or  in  from  the  suburbs. 
It  seems  to  have  become  a habit — or  a 
game — to  park  as  far  as  you  can  from 
the  next  car  without  actually  leaving 
enough  room  for  another  car  to  get  in. 
We  looked  the  other  day,  and  at  least  ten 
more  cars  could  have  been  parked  on  the 
Row.  If  those  parking  had  left  just 
enough  room  to  get  in  and  out  rather 
than  a whole  car  length  (less  bumper) 
between  them  and  the  next  one. 

The  roster  of  Universal  exchange  em- 
ploye teams,  fighting  it  out  tooth  and  toe- 
nail for  some  of  that  Universal  drive 
money,  shifted  somewhat  last  week,  but 
didn’t  jar  the  Kellys  from  top  spot.  Com- 
(Continued  on  page  36-A) 


Lincoln — Legislative  corridors  here  all 
are  buzzing  with  talk  of  several  bills  soon 
to  be  hoppered  of  interest  to  the  amuse- 
ment industry.  Motion  pictures  seem  a 
cinch  to  draw  the  attention  of  most  of 
them. 

First  in,  although  eyed  coldly  by  most 
solons  and  Governor  Dwight  Griswold,  is 
the  proposed  one-cent  tax  measure,  which 
will  put  a penny  tax  on  every  purchase  of 
what  the  bill  describes  as  non-essentials. 
In  this  field  are  cosmetics,  liquor,  cigar- 
ettes, and  all  amusement  tickets.  It  mat- 
ters not  whether  an  article  or  ticket  costs 
five  cents  or  $5,  the  one-cent  ante  will  be 
on  it.  This  money  is  earmarked  for  relief. 

The  man  who  is  readying  the  measure 
is  Sen.  E.  M.  Neubauer,  who,  in  his  first 
term  as  a legislator,  had  two  bills  before 
the  house,  one  on  divorcement,  and  one  a 
reel  tax.  Neither  of  those  passed. 

Ascap,  which  is  already  up  to  its  neck 
in  a struggle  with  BMI,  may  feel  again  the 
ire  of  the  Nebraska  legislature.  It  was  in 
1937  that  the  unicameral  passed  a law 
making  music  combinations  illegal,  a law 
which  is  even  now  facing  test  in  the  U.  S. 


EQUIPMENT  AND  SUPPLIES 

Peterson  "Freezem"  Mfg.  & Sales  Co. 

Blowers,  washers,  spray  nozzels,  office  and 
home  units. 

Special  Offer — Priced  to  Sell. 

Why  Pay  More? 

G.  A.  Peterson 

Victor  4075  322  Southwest  Blvd. 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 


A.  A.  Electric  Machinery  Co. 

Ernest  Amoneno,  Mgr. 

1117  Cherry  St.  Phone:  Victor  8796 

Holmes  Projector  Sales  Co. 

Projectors  and  Sound  for  the  Largest  and  Small- 
est Theatre.  John  A.  Muchmore  and  R.  H.  Patt. 
1820  Wyandotte  St.  Kansas  City,  Mo.  HA.  7472 


Missouri  Theatre  Supply  Co. 

Distributors  for 

RCA,  Brenkert,  U.  S.  Air,  Heywood-Wakefield 
115  West  18th  St.  708  West  Grand  Ave. 

GR.  2864  Oklahoma  City, 

Kansas  City,  Mo.  Okla. 


Stebbins  Theatre  Equipment  Co. 

1804  Wyandotte  St. 

C.  H.  Badger,  Mgr.  Phone:  GRand  0134 


Southwest  Theatre  Equipment  Co.,  Indp't 
Wichita,  Kas. 

C.  D.  Peck,  Mgr.  Phone  2-2153 


Supreme  Court.  The  law  this  time  will 
probably  be  in  the  form  of  a levied  tax  on 
every  dollar  collected  by  Ascap  in  Nebras- 
ka from  the  various  licensees. 

A censorship  measure  is  apt  to  make  its 
appearance,  and  there  may  be  another  at- 
tempt by  the  legislators  to  fasten  some  tax 
troubles  on  those  who  do  business  in  Ne- 
braska via  circuit  ownership. 


/.  T.  Ghosen  Building 
In  Waynesville,  Mo. 

Kansas  City — J.  T.  Ghosen,  who  oper- 
ates theatres  at  Sedalia,  Versailles,  and 
other  Missouri  cities,  is  building  a new 
500-seat  house  at  Waynesville,  Mo.,  near 
the  new  Ft.  Leonard  Wood.  Ghosen  is  re- 
modeling and  extending  an  existing  build- 
ing. 


Peterson  "Freezem"  Moves 

Kansas  City — Peterson  “Freezem”  Man- 
ufacturing and  Sales  Co.  has  moved  into 
its  new  quarters  at  322  Southwest  Blvd. 


EXHIBITOR  ASSOCIATIONS 

K.  M.  T.  A. 

221  W.  18th  St.  — Harrison  4825 
Frank  Cassil,  Pres.  Fred  Meyn,  Sec.-Treas. 

AIR  CONDITIONING 

National  Air  Conditioning  and 
Engineering  Corp. 

VI.  3535 

213  West  19th  St. — Kansas  City,  Mo. 
Manufacturing — Engineering — Installation 

SCREEN  PUBLICITY 

Alexander  Film  Company 

Motion  Picture  Advertising 
E.  L.  Harris,  Dist.  Mgr.,  Mo.,  Kan.,  Neb.,  Iowa 
239  East  72nd  Terrace 

Phone:  Hlland  2694 

FILM  LABORATORIES 

MISSOURI  FILM  LABORATORIES 

Charles  O.  Siebenthaler 
110  W.  18th  GR  0708 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Complete  Advertising  Trailer  Service 

WOTFT  <5 

HOTEL  MONROE 

MAIN  AT  19TH  ST. 

Two  Blocks  From  Filmrow 
Completely  Renovated  . . Fire- 
Proof  . . Innerspring  Mattresses 

and  Only  1.50  with  Bath  . . . 
$1.00  Without 
CLEAN  AND  FRIENDLY 
Weekly  Rates 


TRADE  DIRECTORY 

'A  HANDY  GUIDE  FOR  THE  EXHIBITOR 

KANSAS  CITY  TERRITORY 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


51 


P ^ CARD  from  Charlie  Weiner,  indepen- 
dent distributor,  postmarked  Rapid 
City,  S.  D.,  and  showing  Mt.  Rushmore, 
says:  “There  isn’t  a sign  of  snow  out  here 
and  the  hotel  menus  have  brook  trout  at 
50  cents  so  I’m  happy.  I went  out  to  see 
how  Borglum  is  getting  along  with  the 
national  landmark.  There’s  a show  that’s 
free.  There  won’t  be  enough  seats  for  the 
rush  when  it’s  finished”  . . . Jack  Haley 
of  Jam  Handy  in  from  Detroit,  Mich.,  to 
look  things  over.  His  pictures,  distributed 
by  Charlie  Weiner,  have  been  shown  in  re- 
cent weeks  at  the  Orpheum  and  Minnesota 
theatres. 

Out-of-town  exhibitors  visiting  Filmrow 
included  Tom  Hall,  Buhl  arid  Cook,  Minn.; 
Sim  Heller , Grand  Rapids,  Minn.;  Don 
Buckley,  Redwood  Falls,  Minn.;  Lyle  Web- 
ster, Chippewa  Falls,  Minn.;  Gene  Mc- 
Carthy, Fergus  Falls,  Minn.;  Jack  Hey- 
wood.  New  Richmond,  Wis.;  William 
Amacher,  Castlewood,  S.  D.;  Joe  Schindel, 
Granite  Falls,  Minn.,  and  Charles  Con- 
nought,  Olivia,  Minn. 

Charlie  Jackson,  Warner  salesman, 
hasn’t  heard  from  his  parents  in  London 
since  November  28,  and  he’s  plenty  wor- 
ried. While  a cousin  was  taking  his  wife  to 
the  hospital  in  London,  a bomb  struck  the 
ambulance  and  blew  him  to  pieces.  His 
wife,  however,  escaped  with  slight  injuries 
and  came  through  her  confinement  nicely 
. . . Bill  Grant,  Warner  city  salesman  here, 
in  second  place  in  the  entire  district  in 
the  Sears  sales  drive. 


In  Style  and  Comfort 

That’s  the  thought  that  ts  always  upper’ 
most  in  the  mimls  of  those  who  attend 
you  at  Hotel  Fontenelle.  In  Leeping  with 
this  policy,  the  management  is  constantly 
adding  new  features  for  your  comfort 
and  convenience.  The  Amber  Room  Cof- 
fee Shop,  the  King  Cole  Room,  and  the 
Black  Mirror- Bombay  Room  invite  you. 

HOTEL 


FONTENELLE 


“Make  Money  With  M-G-M,”  read  signs 
in  the  M-G-M  exchange  . . . First  theatri- 
cal and  film  ball  to  be  held  at  Marigold 
Ballroom,  January  27  . . . Livingston  Lan- 
ning,  Minnesota  Theatre  manager,  back 
from  a conference  with  E.  J.  Weisfeldt  in 
Milwaukee  . . . Mort  H.  Singer  and  Mor- 
gan Ames,  Orpheum  heads,  in  town  for  a 
few  days  . . . Edgar  Rodberg,  formerly  of 
Omaha,  has  joined  the  Warner  office  staff 
here. 

Gilbert  Nathanson,  Republic  branch 
manager,  back  from  his  Florida  vacation 
. . . Nate  Rocklyn,  M-G-M  homeoffice 
traveling  auditor,  a visitor  . . . “Ice  Follies 
of  1941,”  coming  into  Arena,  March  10-23, 
already  has  started  its  newspaper  adver- 
tising campaign  . . . Frank  Soule,  Repub- 
lic homeoffice  supervisor,  a visitor  . . . The 
father  of  John  Hafich,  M-G-M  checker, 
passed  away  . . . Bill  Scholl,  RKO  ex- 
ploiteer,  escorted  Wendy  Barrie  through 
the  exchange  and  introduced  her  to  em- 
ployes. She  was  playing  a personal  ap- 
pearance engagement  at  the  Minnesota. 
Lola  Lane,  also  playing  at  the  Minnesota, 
was  taken  in  tow  by  “Kelly”  Evidon  for  a 
jaunt  through  the  Warner  exchange. 

Paramount  looked  at  “Virginia”  in  the 
screening  room  and  they’re  saying  it’s  a 
dandy  . . . Ben  Landy,  Columbia  booker, 
boasting  of  handball  victories  . . . Vern 
Sessler,  Paramount  salesman,  back  on  the 
job  after  a vacation  in  Florida  . . . “Hy” 
Chapman,  Columbia  branch  manager,  at- 
tended a sales  conference  in  Chicago  . . . 
Chief  Barker  Ben  Blotcky  of  the  Twin 
City  Variety  Club  happy  because  the  or- 
ganization was  able  to  show  a bigger  bank 
balance  January  1 than  at  the  correspo?id- 
ing  period  a year  ago,  despite  heavier  ex- 
penditures for  charity  and  social  purposes 
in  1940. 

Moe  Levy  and  Joe  Podoloff,  20th-Fox 
district  and  branch  managers,  respectively, 
in  Chicago  together  for  a sales  meeting  . . . 
Bill  Lansburg,  Paramount  exploiteer,  in 
town  . . . Ray  Nolan,  RKO  homeoffice 
auditor,  in  town  . . . Ben  Blotcky  cheered 
by  reports  of  heavy  business  that  “Love 
Thy  Neighbor”  is  chalking  up  in  the  ter- 
ritory ...  A record  number  of  banners 
and  cards  in  RKO  plugging  the  Depinet 
drive.  With  new  streamlined  fluorescent 
lighting  at  the  desks,  RKO  bookers  are 
working  under  daylight  conditions  at  all 
times. 

Tom  Caulfield,  who  at  one  time  was 
Minnesota  Theatre  doorman,  is  now  its 
assistant  manager  . . . Earl  Tetting,  Min- 
nesota Theatre  publicity  man,  here  for  a 
few  days  after  spending  a brief  interval 
in  New  York.  Then  hopped  off  to  Milwau- 
kee . . . Steve  Broidy,  Monogram  general 
sales  manager,  a visitor  . . . Joe  Floyd, 
Welworth  circuit  manager  in  Sioux  Falls, 
S.  D.,  stopped  over  en  route  home  from  a 
coin  machine  industry  convention  in  Chi- 
cago . . . Al  Fineberg,  head  of  the  theatre 
air  conditioning  company,  to  Florida  for 
his  health. 


Polishing  "Blossoms" 

Hollywood — Margaret  Cram  is  polish- 
ing “Blossoms  in  the  Dust,”  Greer  Garson 
starrer  for  Metro. 


Barkers  of  Tenl  No.  8 
Review  the  Year 

By  B.  O.  TELLER 

Kansas  City — A real,  heart-to-heart 
meeting  was  held  January  20  by  mem- 
bers of  Variety  Club.  It  was  Jerry  Zig- 
mond's  first  time  in  the  chair,  and  the 
Newman  manager  put  responsibility  for  the 
future  of  the  Tent  squarely  on  the  shoul- 
ders of  individual  members.  He  stated 
bluntly  that  members  have  as  good  a 
club  as  they  work  for,  and  stressed  the 
fact  that  responsibility  for  developing  and 
carrying  through  a program  is  on  the  per- 
sonnel of  committees  he  has  named. 

Variety  members  often  overlook  one  of 
the  primary  objectives  of  the  organiza- 
tion, Charley  Shafer,  Fox  Midwest,  said, 
and  that  is,  good  fellowship  within  the 
industry.  Kansas  City  is  one  of  the  largest 
film  centers  in  the  U.  S.  from  the  stand- 
point of  personnel,  and  he  felt  that  the 
club,  hard  to  get  started,  is  doing  a lot 
of  good  and  can  do  more.  H.  J.  Griffith 
of  Griffith  Theatres  also  commented. 

A Good  Job 

The  Tent  here  has  done  a pretty  good 
job,  according  to  Arthur  Cole  of  Para- 
mount. On  the  basis  used  by  other  clubs 
for  totting  up  the  score,  Kansas  City  Va- 
riety will  complete  its  year  of  1940  pretty 
close  to  the  $10,000  for  charity  pledged 
at  the  beginning.  Cole  stressed  the  fre- 
quency with  which  the  club  is  called  on 
for  aid. 

The  club  has  attracted  community  at- 
tention through  its  charitable  activities. 
A letter  from  C.  Whit  Pfeiffer,  welfare 
agency  director  for  Kansas  City,  was  read; 
in  it  Pfeiffer  complimented  members  of 
Variety  very  strongly  for  the  help  they’ve 
given  children  of  Kansas  City  through  the 
money  raised  in  the  bowling  tournament. 

Rube  Melcher,  chairman  of  the  house 
committee,  reported  on  some  tentative 
plans  being  made  by  that  group. 

The  Committees 

Following  are  the  committees,  appointed 
by  Zigmond,  for  1941.  The  first  member 
listed  for  each  committee  is  chairman 
thereof. 

House — Rube  Melcher,  Ward  Scott,  Dick 
Biechele,  Rube  Finkelstein,  O.  K.  Mason, 
Beverly  Miller,  Jim  States. 

Ways  and  Means — H.  J.  Griffith,  C.  A. 
Schultz,  J.  H.  States,  J.  W.  McKinney, 
Finton  Jones,  Beverly  Miller,  Sam  Abend, 
A.  F.  Baker. 

Membership — O.  K.  Mason,  Harry  Mc- 
Clure, Ralph  Morrow,  Jack  Renfro,  Ward 
Scott,  C.  A.  Schultz,  O.  L.  Williamson,  Roy 
Young,  Les  Durland. 

Entertainment — Leland  Allen,  James  Mc- 
Connell, Hal  Perrin,  Stanley  Goldberg,  Nat 
Hechtman,  Frank  Ritter,  J.  W.  Lewis. 

Kings  For  A Day — R.  F.  Withers,  Beverly 
Miller,  Dr.  N.  Zoglin,  George  Baker,  Finton 
Jones,  H.  J.  Griffith. 

Publicity — Bill  Lansburg,  Claude  Morris, 
Homer  Blackwell,  Harold  Cohen,  Lon  Cox, 
Norris  Cresswell,  Leo  Finkelstein,  John 
Graham. 

Bowling  and  Bowling  Tournament — 
Frank  Hensler,  Fred  Meyn,  Sam  Naster, 
C.  E.  Shafer,  Is  Beiser,  Jack  Barnett,  Gus 


52 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


KANSAS  CITY, 

(Continued  from  page  35) 


Kubitzki,  Prank  Lambader,  George  Hinton. 

Welfare — Arthur  Cole,  C.  M.  Parkhurst, 
E.  C.  Rhoden,  Ben  Shlyen,  W.  E.  Truog, 
Dick  Biechele,  Ed  D.  Durwood,  Lee  Jones, 
E.  L.  Harris,  Dr.  C.  L.  Gilles. 

Days  of  ’49 — Charles  Gregory,  J.  W. 
Lewis,  J.  W.  McKinney,  Frank  Ritter, 
Truly  Wildman,  Wm.  Benjamin,  Jack 
Barnett,  W.  E.  Gregory,  Eddie  Green,  C. 
C.  Knickerbocker,  Ray  Higdon,  George 
Harttmann,  J.  H.  Harris,  C.  E.  Esterley. 

Charity  Ball — Earl  Jameson,  James  Mc- 
Connell, Beverly  Miller,  Hal  Perrin,  Sam 
Abend,  Barney  Joffee,  Nat  Hechtman, 
Larry  Klein,  L.  J.  Kimbriel,  Leland  Allen. 

Special  Charity  — Jay  Means,  Ben 
Marcus,  Grover  Parsons,  Collins  Riley, 
Prank  Smith,  E.  S.  Sutter,  J.  H.  Kelley, 
Max  Barewin,  E.  M.  Block,  Russ  Borg,  Don 
Davis,  George  Fuller,  George  Baker. 

Special  Events — Finton  Jones,  Harold 
Lux,  George  Peterson,  Wm.  Porter,  C.  H. 
Potter,  H.  S.  Stulz,  R.  R.  Thompson,  Mor- 
ton Truog,  Tom  Baldwin,  Frank  Bowen. 

Golf — T.  R.  Thompson,  R.  C.  LiBeau, 
Joe  Maguire,  Lawrence  Parrott,  Jack 
Shriner,  Lauren  Turner,  Wm.  Bradfield, 
Fred  Bredehoft,  Ed  D.  Durwood. 

Hollingsworth  Will  Ready 
Third  House  in  Beatrice 

Beatrice,  Neb. — Frank  and  Marie  Hol- 
lingsworth, owners  of  the  Rialto  Theatre 
here,  will  remodel  a recently  acquired 
downtown  building  into  a 400-seat  thea- 
tre. The  property  is  almost  directly  across 
the  street  from  the  Pix  Theatre,  also  oper- 
ated by  the  Hollingsworths. 

Work  will  start  February  1 and  it  is 
planned  to  have  the  job  completed  late  in 
March.  Scott-Ballantyne  Company  of 
Omaha  will  supervise  the  remodeling  and 
equipping. 

Fox  Midwest  to  Play 
Astor  Combination 

Kansas  City — The  Astor  Pictures  com- 
bination of  “Scarface”  and  “Sky  Devils” 
has  been  booked  for  the  entire  Fox  Mid- 
west circuit  following  two  weeks  of  record- 
breaking  business  at  the  circuit’s  subse- 
quent run  Apollo  here. 


Kerr  Set  to  Reopen 

Council  Bluffs,  Ia. — Earl  W.  Kerr  ex- 
pects to  reopen  the  Broadway  Theatre  here 
by  February  1.  The  house,  following  a 
fire  late  last  year,  has  been  extensively  re- 
modeled, including  new  seats,  sound  and 
cooling  equipment,  new  furnishings,  ticket 
office  and  a new  marquee. 


Back  to  Des  Moines 

Minneapolis — Tom  Burke,  former  Na- 
tional Screen  branch  manager  here  and 
lately  Monogram  exchange  manager  in 
Des  Moines,  will  go  to  the  latter  city  for 
National  Screen.  He  is  a Minneapolis 
resident. 


New  Air-Loc  Quarters 

Minneapolis — Air-Loc  (theatre  seats) 
Manufacturing  Co.  has  moved  into  new 
and  larger  quarters,  taking  over  an  en- 
tire building.  The  company  is  owned  by 
Joe  Numero  and  Ted  Karatz. 


rade  Daynosky  was  “taken”  by  Citizen 
Kane,  and  Kane  moved  off  the  bottom. 
The  standings:  Kellys,  Kleins,  Sieves, 
Kanes  and  Daynoskys. 

It’s  a little  early  for  Spring,  but  things 
are  beginning  to  grow:  that  mustache  of 
Charley  Siebenthaler’s,  for  instance.  It’s 
been  a season  for  that  sort  of  growth. 
We  recall  W.  G.  McKinney  last  fall;  Dick 
Salt  more  recently,  and  now  Siebenthaler . 

Big  news  of  the  week  really,  though, 
is  the  7 -pound  baby  boy  whose  birth 
January  19  has  started  buttons  popping 
off  Poppa  Bill  Redden’s  vest.  The  mana- 
ger of  Ross  Federal  Service  says  it  hap- 
pened at  St.  Luke’s,  that  the  name  is 
William  Burch  Redden,  and  that  everyone 
is  doing  fine. 

Simon  Galitzki,  who  has  the  Coed  at 
Topeka,  Kas.,  and  Mrs.  Galitzki  cele- 
brated Simon’s  birthday,  January  16,  as 
guests  of  the  Albert  Matlofs  of  Van  Nuys, 
Calif.,  at  Earl  Carroll’s  theatre  in  Holly- 
wood . . . Joe  Green,  who  used  to  manage 
Bill  Fulton’s  houses  here,  and  who  opened 
the  Brookside,  was  in  the  past  week  vis- 
iting friends  and  waiting  for  the  delivery 
of  a new  Cadillac.  Joe  now  is  managing 
the  Raymond  Theatre  at  Pasadena,  Calif., 
which  Bill  Reinke  (formerly  of  the  Tower 
here)  and  Chet  Johnson  have.  Between 
times  Joe  is  appearing  in  pictures.  He 
appears  as  second  lead  to  Leon  Errol  in 
RKO's  “The  Fired  Man.” 

Tom  Edwards,  Ozark,  Eldon,  Mo.,  cur- 
rently is  in  bed  with  the  flu  . . . The 
Lakin  Theatre  at  Lakin,  Kas.,  is  cele- 
brating its  third  birthday.  Shows  are  held 
in  the  high  school  auditorium  . . . In- 
fluenza, widely  suffered  by  a lot  of  peo- 
ple, isn’t  helping  the  boxoffice  any  at  the 
moment. 

Jerry  Baker  is  remodeling  the  Liberty 
at  Mexico,  Mo.  The  remodeling  includes 
a new  marquee,  new  light  fixtures,  ad- 
dition of  modern  rest  rooms,  new  carpet, 
redecoration  and  repainting , new  screen, 
new  lamps  and  lenses.  The  Rex  at  Mexi- 
co also  is  being  refurbished. 

Bill  Fulton,  who  has  the  Southtown, 
Strand  and  Vogue  here,  and  the  State 
in  Kansas  City,  Kas.,  is  in  California, 
where  he  has  purchased  a ranch  in  Hid- 
den Valley,  40  miles  out  of  Hollywood 
. . . The  Junction,  Junction  City,  Kas., 
a Griffith  house  managed  by  John  San- 
ders, has  been  recarpeted.  The  order  went 
to  National  Theatre  Supply  . . . Bill  Ver- 
Brugge  is  operating  a show  in  the  high 
school  auditorium  at  Reading,  Kas. 

Jack  Goldliar,  district  manager,  was  in 
last  week  with  Haskell  Masters,  new  west- 
ern sales  manager  for  United  Artists,  for 
a meeting  with  salesmen  here  . . . The 
Claflin  Theatre  at  Claflin,  Kas.,  has  been 
closed  . . . F.  J.  Peterson  is  managing  the 
Panama,  which  recently  was  reopened  at 
Burlingame,  Kas.,  by  C.  L.  Miller  of 
Topeka. 

Bob  Haley,  who  used  to  manage  the  Or- 
pheum  here,  was  in  this  week  from  Chi- 
cago for  RKO.  He  handled  the  special 


preview  for  press  and  exhibitors  of  this 
territory  on  “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith”  at  the 
Orpheum,  Monday  evening.  It  was  a 
“sneak  preview”  for  the  theatre,  a special 
presentation  for  newspaper  men  from 
Western  Missouri  and  Kansas,  and  for  ex- 
hibitors from  Kansas  City  and  the  terri- 
tory. 

Metro  employes  enjoyed  a sleigh  ride  on 
January  17  . . . The  Kansas-Missouri 
Theatres  Association  and  Baker  Enter- 
prises have  moved  their  offices  from  221 
West  18 th  Street  to  126-28  West  18 th 
Street,  ground  floor.  This  is  the  spot  the 
association  has  occupied  three  times,  off 
and  on,  since  the  building  was  completed. 

Ted  Wilkins,  shipping  clerk  at  Repub- 
lic-Midwest the  past  year,  has  been  ap- 
pointed booker  to  succeed  Jim  Weakley. 
Wilkins,  who  will  work  with  Johnny  Scott, 
is  succeeded  by  Cleo  Burrell  jr.,  who  has 
been  with  Film  Delivery. 


Ad  Service  Partners 

Kansas  City  — Jim  Weakley,  formerly 
booker  for  Republic-Midwest,  has  joined 
Blackwell’s  Advertising  Service  on  Film- 
row  here  as  a partner.  The  company  re- 
cently moved  to  221  West  18th  St. 


Assignment  for  Epsteins 

Hollywood — Philip  and  Julius  Epstein 
are  adapting  “The  Man  Who  Came  to 
Dinner”  for  Warner. 


I \ 

J The  Times  Are  j 

> CRITICAL  I 

I Once  in  a While  ( 

I A Customer's  Taste  is  CRITICAL  ( 
} Every  Time  She  Steps  in  the  ( 
1 Lobby  to  buy  a Box  of  Corn.  < 

YOU  DON'T  HAVE  TO  WORRY  J 
I WHEN  YOU  USE 

! SUPERB  ; 

; SOUTH  AMERICAN  CORN  j 

I and  | 

! FLAW  0 NUT  SEASONING  | 

Exclusive  With 

| POPPERS  SUPPLY  CO. | 

RUBE  MELCHER 

) GR.  0672  1717  Wyandotte  St.  ( 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

I Prices  Are  Going  Up l [ 
\ 1 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


52-A 


Films  Draw  Surpasses 
Stage,  Holds  Singer 

Minneapolis — With  few  exceptions,  it’s 
pictures,  not  stage  shows,  which  attract 
the  vast  majority  of  patrons  into  a theat- 
re, and  that’s  the  way  it  will  continue  to 
be,  in  the  opinion  of  Mort  H.  Singer,  owner 
of  the  Orpheum  here  and  many  other  large 
theatres  throughout  the  country  in  which 
he  plays  a combination  of  stage  entertain- 
ment and  films  at  frequent  intervals. 

And  for  that  reason,  Singer  sees  no 
come-back  in  prospect  for  vaudeville,  he 
said  here  when  he  stopped  over  to  inspect 
his  Orpheum.  The  public,  generally  speak- 
ing, don’t  want  vaudeville  as  a regular 
fare  and  it  only  will  go  to  see  name  stars 
or  important  bands  which  it  is  especially 
anxious  to  catch  in  the  flesh,  according  to 
Singer. 

“A  good  stage  show  coupled  with  a weak 
picture  usually  will  not  draw  profitable 
business,”  he  asserted.  “On  the  other 
hand,  a worth-while  picture  will  pull 
heavily  alone  or  even  when  combined  with 
weak  stage  fare.  The  number  of  stage 
attractions  which  can  hold  up  strongly  at 
the  boxoffice  alone,  on  the  other  hand,  is 
small.  That  isn’t  only  my  experience,  but 
the  experience  of  all  other  theatre  oper- 
ators.” 

One  of  the  main  reasons  for  this  situa- 
tion, Singer,  believes  is  that  women  consti- 
tute the  principal  potential  theatre  cus- 
tomers and  they,  in  the  aggregate,  prefer 
films  to  vaudeville.  The  women  bring  the 
men  along  to  the  showhouses,  he  points 
out. 


Commonwealth  Transfers 
Parrott  to  Creston,  la. 

Kansas  City — Commonwealth  Theatres 
this  week  announced  that  L.  D.  Parrott, 
who  for  several  years  has  been  in  charge 
of  the  auditing  department,  has  been 
transferred  to  Creston,  la.,  as  city  man- 
ager for  the  circuit. 

Merl  Hillyer,  city  manager  at  Creston, 
comes  to  Kansas  City  as  manager  of  the 
Benton.  Howard  Woolf  of  the  Benton 
goes  to  Lawrence,  Kans.,  as  manager  of 
the  Varsity  under  Stan  Schwahn,  city 
manager  for  Commonwealth.  Hazel  joy 
Ralph,  with  Commonwealth  several  years, 
is  taking  over  the  auditing  department. 


McClain  Shifts  Several 
Central  States  Heads 

Fremont,  Neb. — Several  switches  in  per- 
sonnel have  been  made  by  M.  E.  McClain, 
district  manager  of  Central  States  Thea- 
tres here. 

Ed  Schoenthal,  formerly  of  the  Sun, 
Holdrege,  has  been  moved  into  Fremont  to 
run  the  Empress. 

Johnny  Matthews  has  gone  from  the 
Rex,  in  Albion,  to  replace  Schoenthal  in 
Holdrege. 

Art  Johnson,  until  lately  assistant  man- 
ager of  the  Fremont  Empress,  has  taken 
over  the  vacated  post  in  Albion. 


Gerbrach's  String — 

Joe  Gerbrach,  Central  States  Theatres’ 
city  manager  in  Ames,  la.,  poses  with 
one  day’s  catch  while  deep  sea  fishing 
off  the  Florida  coast  recently.  Left  to 
right  are  the  fishing  boat’s  captain, 
Eddie  Wall;  the  mate,  Sterling  Stew- 
art and  Gerbrach.  Joe’s  feat  of  land- 
ing the  two  sailfish  at  the  same  time 
overshadowed  the  fishing  trip  of  the 
Duke  of  Windsor  and  Wally  in  the 
Florida  sports  columns. 

ft  — -ft 

: Back  Seat  tor  Wally  : 

VS—  ■ ■ V 

Ames,  Ia. — .The  sunny  south  hasn’t 
slowed  Ames’  Joe  Gerbrach  down  a bit. 

In  fact,  judging  from  a column  in  the 
Miami  (Fla.)  Daily  News,  January  10, 
Windsor  and  Wally  had  to  hire  a press 
agent  to  get  any  attention  in  Florida  with 
Joe  around  making  news. 

His  latest  exploit  is  right  in  line  with 
his  theatre  tactics,  designed  to  pull  two 
customers  instead  of  one  past  the  ticket- 
taker.  He’s  using  a 24-thread  line  down 
in  Florida  and  landing  two  fish  at  once — 
sailfish. 

Bob  Munroe’s  “Fishing  Guide”  column  in 
the  Miami  Daily  News  tells  the  story: 

“Possibly  I should  try  to  appear  profes- 
sionally excited  over  the  Duke  and  Duchess 
of  Windsor’s  visit  to  Cat  Cay,  and  toss  off 
a three-star  essay  on  the  six  barracuda 
and  the  yellowtail  he  managed  to  snag  day 
before  yesterday  fishing  with  Uncle  Lou 
Wasey  on  the  Cookie;  but  somehow  my 
perverted  sense  of  values  gets  me  off  today 
on  the  subject  of  a 148-pound  Allison  tuna 
taken  just  offshore  here  Thursday  morn- 
ing by  one  of  Captain  Wall’s  customers 
aboard  the  Emergency  II. 

“D’ye  mind? 

“The  customer’s  name  is  Joe  Gerbrach 
and  he  hails  from  Ames,  Iowa — but  don’t 
let  that  fool  you.  Joe  is  quite  a deep-sea 
fisherman,  as  he  demonstrated  yesterday 
in  more  ways  than  one. 

“As  to  the  Allison — and  by  the  way,  I’m 
pleased  to  note  they’re  running  more  man- 
sized  as  the  season  gets  under  way — it 
was  only  a 40-minute  job  for  him  with  a 
24-thread  outfit.  So  what  did  he  do  then? 
Why,  if  you’ll  believe  Captain  Wall,  and 
you’d  better  or  smile  when  you  call  him 
that,  this  visitor  from  ‘where  the  tall  corn 
grows,’  stepped  out  and  caught  himself 


St.  Paul  Independents 
Agree  to  Rein  Duals 

St.  Paul — In  a move  to  halt  the  rapid 
spread  of  double  features,  independent 
neighborhood  exhibitors  here  have  agreed 
to  eliminate  the  Thursday  and  Friday 
night  twin  bills  and  confine  their  dual 
shows  to  the  special  Saturday  midnight 
performances.  They  also  agreed  that  they’d 
only  advertise  one  of  the  two  features  in 
the  newspapers. 

Like  in  Minneapolis,  the  St.  Paul  inde- 
pendents started  by  only  double  featuring 
on  Saturdays  in  connection  with  their 
midnight  shows.  Then  they  started  with 
Friday  and  lately  Thursday  also  has  been 
included.  It  has  been  feared  that  it  would 
be  simply  a matter  of  time  before  dual 
billings  would  be  a regular  everyday 
policy. 

In  some  St.  Paul  districts,  overseating  is 
acute  and  one  hard-pressed  exhibitor  even 
used  “Knute  Rockne — All-American”  as  a 
surprise  supporting  dual  on  a midnight 
show.  This  particular  section  has  eight 
houses  within  a six  blocks’  radius. 


Friedl  Finds  Cheer  in 
Forthcoming  Product 

Minneapolis — John  J.  Friedl,  president 
of  the  Minnesota  Amusement  Company, 
the  territory’s  principal  circuit,  is  enthusi- 
astic over  the  product  outlook.  It  probably 
is  the  best,  he  believes,  in  the  industry’s 
history.  The  fine  pictures  now  being  re- 
leased and  impending  make  him  optimistic 
over  the  1941  prospects  and  he  anticipates 
steady  boxoffice  gains. 

State  theatre  bookings  here  constitute 
the  strongest  films  ever  booked  into  the 
house  consecutively,  Friedl  feels.  They  are 
“Kitty  Foyle,”  “Santa  Fe  Trail”  and 
“Philadelphia  Story,”  which  have  been 
designated  “The  Big  Three”  in  the  pub- 
licity matter  and  which  follow  “Love  Thy 
Neighbor,”  “Comrade  X”  and  “Tin  Pan 
Alley.”  Friedl  regards  “Philadelphia 
Story”  as  “one  of  the  finest  motion  pictures 
ever  produced.” 


two  sailfish  simultaneously!  Yeh  . . . two, 
that’s  right.  The  weights  were  55  and 
44  pounds,  respectively.  I asked  about 
that  particularly. 

“Captain  Wall  says  not  two,  but  three, 
struck  together.  The  third  one  just  missed 
getting  hooked,  or  the  story  might  have 
been  that  much  better.  Gerbrach  handled 
both  rods  without  any  sort  of  help  (ex- 
cept a little  advice)  from  the  guide,  stand- 
ing one  up  on  its  holder  while  he  pumped 
up  the  fish  on  the  other  for  a while,  and 
finally  bringing  both  gamesters  within 
gaffing  distance  of  the  Emergency’s  cock- 
pit. Whereupon  the  crew  stepped  in  and 
boated  ’em. 

“What  a man,  h’m?  . . . But  do  you  im- 
agine that  was  all?  No,  indeedy;  the 
angler  still  had  time  to  gather  in  four 
albacore,  five  dolphin,  and  a kingfish  be- 
fore the  boat  returned  to  the  Miami  Beach 
Chamber  of  Commerce  dock  before  mid- 
afternoon. Ho-hum  . . .” 


52-B 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


New  Pacts  by  Local  343 
Provide  for  Vacation 

Omaha  — Two-year  contracts  recently 
signed  between  Local  343,  IATSE,  and 
about  two-thirds  of  the  Omaha  theatres, 
contain  two  important  features,  union  of- 
ficials say. 

They  report  them  as:  (1)  a week’s  va- 
cation with  pay,  (2)  a five  per  cent  pay 
increase.  The  vacation-with  pay  clause  is 
new  to  Omaha  operators  and,  according  to 
Local  343  officials,  is  comparatively  new 
in  the  nation.  The  contracts  otherwise 
were  the  same  as  former  years. 

The  contracts  were  signed  with  the  Ep- 
stein circuit  and  all  Omaha  independents, 
officials  said.  The  Epstein  houses  are: 
Benson,  Berkley,  Circle,  Corby,  Lothrop, 
Roseland,  Tivoli;  and  the  independents 
are:  Beacon,  Cass,  Fort,  Minne  Lusa,  Mul- 
ler, Muse,  North  Star,  Ritz  and  Vinton. 

Local  343  is  now  negotiating  the  same 
two  provisions  in  contracts  with  Tri- 
States  Theatres  and  the  Mort  H.  Singer 
circuit,  due  for  renewal  on  February  1, 
1941.  Tri-States  have  the  first-run 
Omaha  and  Orpheum,  Singer  has  the  first- 
run  Brandeis. 

Local  343’s  contract  with  Ralph  D.  Gold- 
berg for  his  seven  theatres  expires  Octo- 
ber 1,  1941.  Goldberg  has  the  Arbor,  Ave- 
nue, Dundee,  Military,  State,  Town  and 
Winn. 


Dunn  and  Miskell  Guests 
At  Dinner  for  Balaban 

Des  Moines — Eddie  Dunn,  Paramount 
Theatre  manager  here,  and  Bill  Miskell 
of  the  Orpheum  in  Omaha,  Thursday 
night  were  guests  at  the  Paramount  din- 
ner for  Barney  Balaban  in  Chicago  as 
winners  of  Tri-States  Theatres’  Thanks- 
giving-to-Christmas  campaign. 

Announcement  of  winners  was  held  up 
until  last  week  as  a result  of  some  close 
races.  Dunn’s  “Tin  Pan  Alley”  and 
“Westerner”  showings  put  him  over  in  this 
area. 

Accompanying  Dunn  and  Miskell  to  Chi- 
cago Wednesday  night  were  A.  G.  Stolte, 
Evert  Cummings,  Joe  Kinsky,  Myron  Blank 
and  Joe  Deitch. 

A.  H.  Blank,  listed  as  a speaker  on  the 
Balaban  dinner  program,  G.  Ralph  Bran- 
ton  and  Ray  Blank  went  in  Monday  night 
to  spend  the  week  in  conferences  with 
Paramount  executives. 

Will  Try  to  Get  Product 
Via  Arbitration  Board 

Minneapolis — An  appeal  to  the  arbi- 
tration board,  as  soon  as  it  is  established, 
to  help  him  obtain  product  for  his  Es- 
quire, local  loop  sure-seater,  is  contemp- 
lated by  Bennie  Berger,  prominent  circuit 
owner,  he  announces. 

“I  intend  to  lose  no  time  in  learning  if 
I have  any  rights,”  says  Berger.  He  as- 
serts the  Esquire  is  unable  to  obtain  major 
screen  product  because  practically  all  of 
it  is  sewed  up  by  the  Minnesota  Amuse- 
ment Co. 

Irving  Gillman,  who  took  the  Esquire 
from  Berger  and  then  gave  it  back,  is 
suing  Minnesota  Amusement  and  major 
exchanges  here  because  he  says  he  couldn’t 
get  pictures. 


<7  — ■ - ■ ft 

Chain  Opposes  50% 
Rentals  on  Film 

Minneapolis — The  Minnesota  Amuse- 
ment Co.,  the  territory's  principal  cir- 
cuit, has  joined  the  independents  in 
fighting  against  50  per  cent  rentals.  It 
has  turned  down  both  "Gone  With  the 
Wind”  and  "The  Dictator”  on  such 
terms. 

As  far  as  "GWTW”  is  concerned,  it  is 
willing  to  pay  40  per  cent,  increase  ad- 
missions, reserve  seats,  give  preferred 
playing  time  and  eliminate  children's 
admissions  in  neighborhood  houses  and 
situations  where  it  hasn't  played  the 
film  yet.  Independent  exhibitors  are  op- 
posing the  other  M-G-M  terms,  as  well 
as  the  50  per  cent  split. 

While  silent  regarding  the  opposition 
to  its  terms,  M-G-M  here  points  out  the 
picture  even  hasn't  been  offered  to  Twin 
City  accounts  as  yet. 

Vfc  V 

1IL  H N C CO  IL  N 

pREMIERE  AFTER-MATH : B e r n i e 

Evens,  the  St.  Louis  exploiteer,  heard 
that  United  Artists  may  want  to  send  him 
to  Canada  to  work  in  Mary  Pickford’s 
home  town  . . . Gabe  Yorke  left  town 
promising  to  be  back  in  three  weeks  front- 
ing for  the  all-industry  epic,  “Land  of  Lib- 
erty” . . . Bob  Huffman  wore  an  ice-pack 
instead  of  a hat  for  three  days  after  the 
premiere — to  bed  and  to  work  . . . Irvin  S. 
Cobb  said  Lincoln  had  the  nicest  people 
he  had  ever  seen,  and  the  bumest  big 
hotel  . . . Biggest  offstage  hit:  Albert  Dek- 
ker,  who  couldn’t  tell  his  brand  of  stories 
on  the  stage  ...  A swell  disappearance 
publicity  stunt  for  Mary  Anderson  back- 
fired at  Columbus,  Neb.,  when  coast  p.  a. 
Fred  Stanley  didn’t  wake  up  in  time  to 
wake  her  up  . . . By  the  time  Carl  Reese 
(Republic)  and  Howard  Federer  got  around 
to  calling  Lois  Ranson,  she  had  gone  to  bed 
. . . There  wasn’t  a single  squawk  on  the 
part  of  the  townspeople  regarding  the  af- 
fair— everything  was  ducky. 

Yoo-hoo,  Kansas  City:  Albert  Dekker  ate 
a total  of  nine  steaks  in  Nebraska,  break- 
fast, luncheon  and  dinner,  and  said  they 
were  the  best  he  ever  tasted!  He  ivas 
framed  with  fish  on  his  last  meal. 

From  Hollywood:  Barbara  Livingston, 
whose  husband,  Bob,  runs  the  Capitol  here, 
writes  that  she’s  finally  up  and  around 
after  that  attack  of  the  flu  which  put  her 
in  the  hospital  the  day  she  landed  for  the 
express  purpose  of  seeing  the  Rose  Bowl 
game.  She’s  Tucson  bound  . . . Seen  at  the 
Golden  Gloves  fights:  Sol  Yeager,  who, 
standing  with  hands  in  pockets  and  look 
of  disgust  on  his  face,  indicated  his  belief 
that  he  could  have  cleaned  up  the  whole 
24  fighters  in  a battle  royal. 

Coincidence:  Gene  Shanahan,  Nebraska 
theatre  manager,  announced  one  week  he 
would  be  married  February  1,  and  the 
next  week,  received  his  draft  questionnaire. 
That  will  list  him  as  “un-married,”  with 
the  draft  board.  There  will  be  2,064  Ne- 
braskans called  up  in  February. 

Bigtime  visitor:  J.  H.  Cooper  due  in  from 
New  York  to  sound  reactions  on  the  pre- 


AFL  Resolution  Asks 
Film  Problem  Probe 

Minneapolis — An  investigation  by  the 
authorities  of  alleged  unfair  practices,  re- 
garding moving  pictures  as  they  affect  the 
Minnesota  Theatre,  independently  operated 
4,000-seater,  is  called  for  by  a resolution 
adopted  by  the  Central  Labor  Union,  which 
includes  all  of  the  A F of  L bodies. 

The  resolution’s  passage  was  preceded 
by  a discussion  during  which  a mass  meet- 
ing at  the  municipal  auditorium  in  the 
theatre’s  behalf  was  advocated.  However, 
no  definite  plans  for  the  meeting  have 
been  made  yet. 

Patronage  of  the  Minnesota  and  other 
theatres  was  urged.  Charges  were  made 
that  the  erection  of  new  theatres  here  has 
been  blocked  and  suspicion  was  voiced  as 
to  motives  preventing  licensing  of  some 
theatres. 

The  Minnesota,  using  a policy  of  feature 
pictures,  shorts  and  stage  shows,  has  been 
unable  to  obtain  major  screen  product, 
with  one  minor  exception,  because  the 
Minnesota  Amusement  Company — Mort  H. 
Singer  pool — has  practically  all  the  major 
films  sewed  up  for  downtown  Minneapolis. 
The  owners  themselves,  previously  operat- 
ing the  house,  had  the  same  difficulty  and 
claimed  their  failure  was  due  to  it.  How- 
ever, a threatened  suit  based  on  the  situa- 
tion never  materialized. 


miere  which  was  the  biggest  shot  in  the 
arm  for  local  show  biz  in  years,  will  prob- 
ably stay  in  Lincoln  two  or  three  days. 

Ten  Best  Poll  stuff:  Dean  Pohlenz,  who 
ran  the  Sunday  Journal  and  Star  10  best 
poll  of  pictures,  is  almost  ready  for  a 
strait-jacket.  Winner  turned  out  to  be  a 
woman  who  is  partially  invalided,  and  may 
not  be  able  to  make  the  jaunt  . . . Not  a 
single  townsman  won  in  the  associated 
contest  in  York,  all  the  prize  takers  in  M. 
E.  Lofgren’s  toivn  scattered  far  west. 

About  managers:  B.  M.  Montee  of  the 
Rivoli,  Beatrice,  was  in  Lincoln  with  a 
Beatrice  Sun  photographer  shooting  pre- 
miere pictures  . . . Eddie  Terhune,  who 
was  brought  here  to  manage  the  Kiva,  was 
hauled  out  overnight  to  take  reins  of  the 
Chief,  Colorado  Springs,  Colo.,  a much  big- 
ger job  since  it’s  the  ace  house  of  the 
L.  L.  Dent-Westland  string  in  Colorado 
. . . There’s  a brother  act  at  the  Lincoln 
here — Bob  Anderson  ushers,  and  Paul  An- 
derson manages. 


ALWAYS  A GOOD  NIGHT'S 
REST-AWAY  FROM  ANY 
STREET  CAR  NOISE 


J 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


52-C 


yj^JAAAAAA ! Waaaaaa!  Waaaaaa!  And 
lest  you  can’t  decipher  that,  my  dears, 
it’s  little  Carroll  Segal  . . . the  new  Segal 
infant  must  have  some  personality  to  get 
away  with  keeping  Jack  up  all  night  with 
such  a noise  and  still  sell  him  the  idea 
that  it’s  something  to  go  around  bragging 
about.  The  Segals  acquired  Carroll  re- 
cently via  adoption. 

About  pets  (the  kind  you  can  speak  right 
out  about  in  front  of  everybody > : Chuck 
Elder  has  a cat,  Alexander,  who  shudders 
at  the  sight  of  a mouse  . . . Chuck  says 
Alex  will  make  a nice  rug  some  day,  but 
until  then  he’s  a total  loss.  Betty  and 
Ralph’s  red-headed  spaniel,  Throckmor- 
ton (Throcky)  Olson,  is  now  in  the  pink, 
and  Ralph  still  thinks  he’s  cute  despite  his 
plumbing  troubles  ( Throcky’ s,  not  Ole’s). 

Some  of  that  fancy-looking  lettering  on 
those  fancy-looking  flashes  of  Burton  Jer- 
rell’s  is  the  handiwork  of  Opal  Judd  . . . 
our  Opie  is  a very  talented  female  . . . 
we  had  lunch  with  her  last  Saturday  and 
she  tells  us  she’s  going  to  change  her 
name  . . . Walt  (Dimples)  Lohman,  now 
working  in  St.  Louis,  is  the  fella  who  wants 
her  to  take  his  and  she  flashes  a diamond 
to  prove  it. 

Once  every  five  or  ten  years,  Hollywood 
births  a picture  like  “Philadelphia  Story,” 
and  we  scratch  our  bald  head  (we’ve  got 
hair  to  burn,  but  we  like  the  sound  of  that) 
and  wonder  if  maybe  we  haven’t  been  mis- 
judging ’em  out  there.  After  the  press  pre- 
view the  other  night,  we  trudged  up  to  the 
R&T  with  Clayton  . . . while  he  was  push- 
ing out  a most  flattering  review,  we  heard 
at  least  five  different  enthusiastic  com- 
ments about  the  picture  floating  around 
the  halls  ...  to  date,  we’ve  heard  nothing 
but  praise,  even  from  the  cash  customers! 

Munching  a piece  of  Jack  Segal’s  Christ- 
mas candy  and  thumbing  through  our 
Boxoffice  notes,  we  see  that  Joe  Garrison, 
Universal’s  district  manager  in  Kaycee, 
was  here  last  week  dickering  with  Tri- 
States,  Central  States  and  Pioneer  on 
product.  Ole  Olson  says  that  Lou  Elman 
is  strutting  around  bragging  about  his 
ping-pong  game  and  referring  to  himself 
as,  “Champ,”  since  he  beat  Ole  one  game 
. . . the  pay-off:  Ole  had  never  played 
more  than  a couple  of  games  in  his  life 
when  he  took  on  Elman!  Lou,  Bob 
Leach,  Ole  and  A1  Hill  may  be  found  these 
evenings  at  RKO  busy  batting  the  ball 
around  and  using  some  fancy  language. 

Lou  Levy’s  little  team  mates  cut  loose 
and  won  another  Universal  drive  ...  a 
short  drive,  we  believe,  although  we  can’t 
see  what  difference  it  makes,  since  the 
film  biz  seems  to  be  just  one  darn  drive 
after  another.  Our  pick-up  man,  Beverly 
Mahon,  reveals  the  whereabouts  of  Jack 
Mathewson  who  resigned  as  chief  of 
service  at  the  Des  Moines  . . . he’s  tending 
door  at  the  Tromar  ballroom  for  Kermit 
Bierkamp  . . . next  time  you  want  to  tap 
a toe,  drop  around  and  say  hello  to  Jack 
on  your  way  in  to  do  it  . . . here’s  the  spot 
to  mention  Harry  the  Holdsberg’s  latest 
attempt  to  crack  the  R&T  front  page  wide 
open  ...  he  got  a gal  to  go  out  to  Fort 
Des  Moines  and  teach  some  of  the  sojer 
boys  the : Dig-it  . . . then  Harry  slyly 


mentioned  it  to  Clayton,  and  raismg  an 
eyebrow  pregnant  with  meaning,  informed 
him  that  “Second  Chorus,”  was  probably 
opening  at  his  theatre. 

Gabe  Yorke,  fresh  from  cheering  Miss 
Bishop  for  UA  at  Lincoln,  popped  into 
town  last  week  to  wave  banners  for  the 
Hays  office  and  the  “Land  of  Liberty” 
and  to  spread  the  word  that  the  one  thing 
which  kept  Miss  Bishop  from  turning 
cartwheels  was  the  absence  of  Boxoffice 
& Co.  who  had  too  much  work  to  do,  Jack 
Moffett  who  had  ditto,  they  say,  and  G. 
Ralph  Branton,  who  was  on  ice  . . . 
literally.  Gabe  and  Jack  Kennedy  leased 
the  Fox  screening  room  for  Friday  night  in 
order  to  show  the  film  men  how  Hollywood 
says  they  won  the  liberties  they  prize. 

Metro’s  Mr.  Richey  stood  up  Des  Moines 
club  women  last  week  when  ice  forced 
him  to  cancel  his  date  with  them  in  Des 
Moines,  but  the  gals  are  gonna  have 
somebody  to  answer  their  questions  about 
the  film  industry  anyway  . . . Gabe’s 
promised  to  stand  up  and  let  ’em  shoot 
at  him  after  they  see  a screening  of  “Land 
of  Liberty”  Tuesday. 

Emil  Franke’s  idea  for  promoting  his 
new  stage  show  “Screwballs  of  1941”  con- 
sisted of  putting  Press  Agent  Charlie  Riley 
into  a strait  jacket  and  a cell  for  the 
benefit  of  press  and  public  . . . Emil  got  a 
strait  jacket  from  Broadlawns  hospital 
and  a cell  from  the  police  department  but 
the  gag  flopped  when  he  failed  to  get  co- 
operation from  the  press  ...  A midnight 
dress  rehearsal  Thursday  kept  him  from 
opening  without  advance  warning  though. 

Everyone  else  may  have  been  ogling 
Ruth  Chatterton  in  the  Fort  Des  Moines 
lobby  Monday,  but  a fella  with  sharp  eyes 
could  have  spotted  Haskell  Masters, 
western  division  sales  manager  for  United 
Artists;  Don  McLucas  from  Omaha,  and 
a coupla  more  visitors  over  in  the  corner 
. . . Keep  it  under  your  hat,  but  we  could 
swear  we  heard  ’em  talking  about  Denver 
. . . and  they  weren’t  ordering  sandwiches. 

Wonder  if  Russ  Fraser  ever  got  lined 
up  on  the  photo  exhibit  he  wanted  for 
the  Parrot  Film  photo  salon?  . . . Russ 
spotted  it  while  he  was  shooting  Younk- 
ers  tearoom  footage  for  Tri-States  and 
started  bidding.  Harry  Hiersteiner’s  fam- 
ily has  been  smoking  marihuana  again. 
A note  from  Bobby  Stone  says  he’s  signed 
a contract  with  Monogram  . . . Which  re- 
minds us  that  we  saw  his  picture  iden- 
tified as  “Bobby  Jones”  in  one  of  the 
trades  (not  Boxoffice)  ...  It  makes  us 
feel  good  to  know  we’re  not  the  only  ones 

Cr  0 

Cent  and  a Half 
For  Pictures 

Minneapolis — The  giveaway  to  end  all 
giveaways  occurred  when  the  Alhambra, 
local  independent  neighborhood  house, 
gave  away  a pie  baker,  costing  I8V2C 
at  wholesale,  to  all  feminine  patrons  buy- 
ing a 20  cent  admission.  The  picture 
was  "Knute  Rockne — All-American." 

■■  ■ JJ 


who  slip  now  and  then,  but  we  betcha 
Bobby  ain’t  gonna  like  it. 

“Ask  your  druggist  for  genuine  Carter’s 
Little  Liver  Pills”  . . . Well,  mebbe  it  isn’t 
theatre  news,  but  when  we  called  DD 
for  information  she  sez  “justaminit”  and 
the  next  thing  we  hear  is  the  CLLP  blurb. 

DD  attended  the  dinner  ahead  of  the 
“Philadelphia  Story”  press  preview  with 
a game  leg  and  without  Harry  Gottlieb 
. . . the  ice  was  responsible  for  both  . . . 
it  hung  Harry  up  in  Coon  Rapids  and  it 
threw  Dorothy  . . . The  Lionel  Wassons 
were  in  from  Marshalltown  for  the  affair 
(the  preview,  not  DD’s  set-to  with  the 
ice)  . .'.  being  just  a drab,  brown-headed 
wench  ourselves,  we  aren’t  exactly  en- 
thusiastic about  our  dazzling  and  pre- 
ferred blonde  sisters,  but  we  have  to  con- 
cede there’s  something  mighty  purty  about 
Mrs.  Lionel  . . . and  we’re  willing  to 
wager  now  that  we’ve  seen  both  of  them, 
that  she  and  Mrs.  Harry  Warren  will  stack 
up  with  any  of  the  dazzlers  in  the  biz. 

G.  Ralph  Branton  decorated  his  pres- 
ence at  the  preview  dinner  with  Mrs.  B. 
and  Nancy,  who’s  prettiness  he  probably 
takes  credit  for,  although  anybody  can  see 
she’s  the  spit’n  image  of  her  maw.  Lois 
and  Jack  Kennedy  sat  across  from  us, 
and  while  we  don’t  want  to  give  the  im- 
pression that  everybody  at  the  dinner  was 
a raving  beauty,  we  have  to  report  the 
news  as  we  see  it,  and  we  saw  Lois  look- 
ing lovelier  than  usual  in  a dubonnet  hat 
sprouting  dubonnet  feathers.  We  rode 
from  Younkers’  Tearoom  to  the  theatre 
with  Ray  Blank  who  was  wondering  how 
Emil  Franke’s  “Screwball”  show  would 
stack  up  at  the  Orpheum. 

Charlie  Riley,  “Screwball”  advance  man, 
settled  down  gratefully  in  the  quiet,  rest- 
ful atmosphere  of  the  Clayton  household 
and  began  to  discuss  legit  and  relax  . . . 
“Ah,  Peace,  it  is  wonderful,”  he  mut- 
tered comfortably  . . . suddenly,  the  doors 
burst  open  and  in  rushed  Harry  Holds- 
berg,  the  Eddie  Dunns  and  a few  other 
people  . . . Harry  hurried  to  the  telephone 
and  called  Emil  Franke,  becoming  dis- 
believingly  vociferous  and  a little  on  the 
noisy  side  when  Emil  said  he  couldn’t  get 
over  for  a little  while  longer  because  he 
had  a hold-out  (“This  Thing  Called  Love”) 

. . . Harry  hung  up  the  receiver  and  he 
and  Eddie  spent  the  time  until  Emil  ar- 
rived snorting  to  each  other  . . . Emil 
brought  Vi,  Bill  Scholl  and  a merry  soul 
(his  own)  . . . the  congregation  scattered 
at  an  unreasonable  hour,  and  some  of  us 
ended  up  eating  chop  suey  at  the  Hong 
Kong  where  who  do  you  think  popped  up? 
Yeah,  the  inevitable  Joe  Ancher  who  asked 
us  if  we’d  been  out  bicycle  riding.  Peace 
may  be  wonderful,  Charlie,  but  how  do 
you  know? 

A letter  arrives  from  Mort  Blumenstock 
in  New  York  objecting  with  all  202  lbs. 
to  being  referred  to  as  “Whispy.” 


Jim  Owen  Wed 

Branson,  Mo. — Jim  M.  Owen,  owner  of 
the  Owen  Theatre  here,  on  January  18 
married  Miss  Barbara  Lewis  of  Pryor,  Okla. 
Ceremony  was  held  in  Fairfax,  Okla. 


52-D 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


(r 


Says  Trade  Needs 
One  Spokesman 

Detroit — "There  is  a definite  need  for 
an  informal  organization  that  will  be 
able  to  speak  for  all  theatre  operators 
of  Detroit,"  says  David  M.  Idzal,  man- 
aging director  of  the  Fox.  "At  present, 
there  does  not  seem  to  be  any  one  body 
or  spokesman  who  can  speak  for  the 
theatre  industry  when  a common  spokes- 
man is  required. 

“The  amusement  industry  will  be 
called  upon  to  do  much  in  connection 
with  national  defense,  with  Red  Cross 
activities,  and  other  worthy  local  and 
national  causes.  There  should  be  a com- 
mon forum  through  which  we  can  present 
our  position  and  our  willingness  to  do 
our  share,  and  more,  in  which  operators 
whether  independents,  owners  of  one 
little  house,  or  of  big  chains,  can  unite 
whatever  their  individual  business  dif- 
ferences." 

V-'  . =!) 

Sales  Tax  Income  Is 
Increasing  in  Ohio 

Columbus — Assuming  the  generally  ac- 
cepted fact  that  an  excellent  barometer 
of  business  conditions  in  Ohio  is  the  col- 
lection of  the  retail  sales  tax,  the  state 
treasury  department  gives  out  official  fig- 
ures showing  that  the  retail  tax  for  1940 
was  13y2  per  cent  greater  than  the  pre- 
vious year.  The  same  source  reveals  that 
although  the  sales  tax  increased  131/2  per 
cent,  the  total  admissions  tax  collected 
during  1940  increased  only  3.2  per  cent. 
Obviously  the  amusement  business  dur- 
ing 1940  failed  to  keep  pace  with  the  in- 
creased business  in  other  lines. 

The  dollar  comparison  is  that  the  1940 
retail  tax  netted  $52,771,562  as  against 
$46,504,018  in  1939.  Opposed  to  this  com- 
fortable increase,  the  department  states 
that  the  total  admission  tax  collected  dur- 
ing 1940  amounted  to  $1,694,120.39  as 
against  $1,641,670.47  for  1939. 


Solid  in  Support  tor 
Defense  Program 

Pittsburgh — Independents  of  this  ter- 
ritory in  cooperation  with  Allied  Theatre 
Owners  of  Western  Pennsylvania  have 
joined  with  IATSE  Local  171  as  whole- 
heartedly endorsing  the  national  defense 
program  as  set  forth  by  the  President. 

Both  groups  pledge  their  willingness  “to 
continue  uninterrupted  an  agreeable  re- 
lationship and  resolve  to  adhere  strictly 
to  the  principles  that  are  in  accord  with 
the  government’s  national  defense  pro- 
gram.” 

Furthermore,  they  “stand  in  opposition 
to  all  individuals  or  groups  that  champion 
any  ‘isms’  except  Americanism”  and  offer 
their  joint  cooperative  service  in  opposi- 
tion to  all  elements  who  expound  subver- 
sive un-American  ideas  or  principles.  They 
dedicate  themselves  “to  maintain  the 
democratic  principles  that  we  now  enjoy.” 


Propose  Licensing  Theatre 
Games  in  Pennsyl vania 


May  Legalize  Bingo 
Games  in  Michigan 

Detroit — Michigan  exhibitors  who 
watched  the  disappearance  of  cash  give- 
aways from  their  theatres  in  the  past  two 
or  three  years,  find  themselves  faced  with 
possible  legalization  of  Bingo  and  similar 
games,  including  raffles,  when  operated 
by  churches  or  veterans’  or  fraternal  or- 
ganizations. The  move  is  threatened  in 
a bill  introduced  by  Senator  Ernest  G. 
Nagel  at  Lansing. 

The  bill  does  not,  in  the  opinion  of 
some  showmen,  do  more  than  legalize  the 
existing  situation  in  most  sections  of  the 
state  where  churches  and  lodges  are  gen- 
erally conducting  Bingo  parties  despite  the 
official  interpretation  of  the  state  gam- 
bling laws  that  such  games  are  illegal. 
For  this  reason,  because  it  would  appar- 
ently offer  little  inducement  for  further 
spread  of  games,  little  effort  has  been 
made  as  yet  to  oppose  it.  The  consensus, 
however,  is  that  if  cash  prizes  are  to  be 
allowed  for  one  group,  they  should  be  al- 
lowed to  all,  although  no  exhibitors  in- 
terviewed were  prepared  to  advocate  leg- 
islation for  this  objective. 

Service  Employes  Union 
Keeps  Pickets  at  Post 

Detroit — Difficulties  of  the  Building 
Service  Employes  International  with 
downtown  theatres  continued  at  a stand- 
still last  week,  with  pickets  still  on  duty, 
particularly  at  UDT  houses.  No  immedi- 
ate settlement  was  in  prospect. 

Picketing  appeared  confined  to  down- 
town houses.  An  earlier  statement  print- 
ed in  Boxoffice  that  pickets  had  been 
assigned  to  Wisper  & Wetsman  suburban 
houses,  as  given  out  by  a union  repre- 
sentative, was  denied  by  spokesmen  for 
W&W  who  said  no  pickets  had  actually 
appeared  on  duty  at  any  of  their  houses. 

Detroit  Civic  Leaders  to 
See  " Land  of  Liberty " 

Detroit — M-G-M’s  “Land  of  Liberty” — 
the  industry’s  contribution  to  war  emer- 
gency welfare,  with  all  proceeds  devoted 
to  this  purpose — will  be  screened  January 
31  for  54  representatives  of  Detroit  civic 
clubs  representing  14,000  civic  leaders. 
Filming  will  be  at  the  Film  Projection 
Room. 


Feel  Immune 

Columbus,  Ohio — Taking  Gov.  John  W. 
Bricker  at  his  word,  it  is  now  “officially” 
definite  that  there  will  not  be  an  increase 
in  the  state’s  three  per  cent  admission  tax 
during  the  next  two  years. 


Harrisburg — Initial  industry  measure  to 
be  introduced  in  the  Pennsylvania  general 
assembly  is  a bill  providing  for  the  licens- 
ing of  all  theatre  owners  who  operate 
“chance”  games.  A Senate  bill,  introduced 
by  John  J.  Haluska,  would  tax  the  opera- 
tors $600  in  towns  of  over  3,000  popula- 
tion; $1,200,  population  from  3,000  to  10,- 
000;  $1,600  in  cities  over  10,000  popula- 
tion. Exhibitor  additionally  would  de- 
duct 15  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  prize 
award  and  make  returns  to  the  county 
treasurers’  office,  who  would  hire  an  ad- 
ditional employe  to  supervise  such  collec- 
tions. All  chance  games,  whether  played 
in  theatres  or  not,  would  be  taxed  $25, 
although  special  licenses  would  be  issued 
to  church  and  charitable  organizations  for 
$1. 

Thirty-two  organizations,  with  a mem- 
bership of  800,000,  will  press  for  legisla- 
tion designed  to  bar  roadside  signs  from 
Pennsylvania  highways  during  the  current 
session.  Billboard  laws  come  before  the 
general  assembly  regularly. 

A political  tabulation,  unofficial,  shows 
that  the  horse  racing  bill  can  win  three- 
to-one. 

There  is  a proposal  for  the  placing  of  a 
tax  on  soft  drinks. 


Youngstown  Council  Zones 
Area  to  Permit  Theatre 

Youngstown,  Ohio — City  council  has 
cleared  the  way  here  for  the  construction 
of  a neighborhood  theatre  on  the  North- 
side  at  Belmont  and  Francisca  Avenue,  by 
passing  an  ordinance  extending  a com- 
mercial zone  eastward  along  Francisca 
Avenue. 

Herman  Heller,  spokesman  for  the  group 
planning  to  build  the  theatre,  assured 
councilmen  in  a letter  that  free  parking 
space  for  200  to  300  cars  will  be  provided 
on  the  site. 


Flu  Closes  Schools  in 
Queen  City  Suburbs 

Cincinnati — While  the  flu  has  not  as 
yet  invaded  downtown  Cincinnati  to  seri- 
ously affect  business,  schools  in  adjacent 
suburbs  are  being  closed.  Schools  in  Ft. 
Thomas,  Ky.,  have  been  ordered  closed 
temporarily. 

Reports  are  that  the  epidemic  is  men- 
acing business  in  West  Virginia  and  ad- 
jacent territory. 


In  Legislative  Debut 

Charleston,  W.  Va. — Opening  of  the 
West  Virginia  legislature  found  an  ex- 
hibitor as  a new  member  of  the  house  of 
delegates.  He  is  J.  C.  “Jim”  Shanklin  of 
Ronceverte,  vice-president  of  the  West 
Virginia  Theatre  Managers  Ass’n  who  was 
elected  as  a representative  from  Greenbrier 
county. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


ME 


53 


A New  Branch  Manager  Is  Honored — 

At  the  testimonial  to  Bryan  D.  Stoner  in  Cleveland  to  celebrate  the  elevation 
of  the  Ohio  salesman  to  the  branch  manager’s  berth  in  the  Pittsburgh  ex- 
change. At  the  speaker’s  table,  left  to  right,  here  are  shown  Jack  Sogg, 
chairman  of  arrangements;  Frank  D.  Drew,  Cleveland  Metro  manager; 
Stoner,  and  his  father  Frank.  The  elder  Stoner  made  a surprise  trip  from 
Buffalo  for  the  occasion. 


Shows  Enjoy  a Boom 
Week  in  Cleveland 


Cleveland — A flock  of  exceptionally 
good  pictures  combined  with  unusually 
mild  winter  weather  resulted  in  a holiday- 
time for  the  downtown  first  runs,  while 
the  flesh  shows  got  their  full  share  of  the 
business  as  well.  The  Hippodrome  enjoyed 
11  big  days  with  “Kitty  Foyle”  as  the  mag- 
net, the  engagement  netting  45  per  cent 
better  than  average.  It  moved  over  to  the 
Allen  for  an  extended  downtown  run.  Over 
at  the  Palace,  George  Raft  in  person,  drew 
’em  in  from  all  corners  of  the  city.  His 
monologue  and  his  dancing  won  him  a 
place  in  the  amusement  field  that  will  be 
hard  to  emulate.  The  Palace  picture,  “No, 
No,  Nanette”  the  companion  piece  to  the 
good  vaudeville  bill  which  Raft  headed, 
brought  the  take  to  35  per  cent  over  par. 
“Flight  Command”  at  the  State  was  anoth- 
er winner  going  over  usual  take  some  20 
per  cent  and  thereby  winning  a move-over 
engagement  at  the  Stillman.  The  two 
holdovers,  “Santa  Fe  Trail”  at  the  Allen 
and  “Comrade  X”  at  the  Stillman,  both 
came  through  with  better  than  average 
grosses.  “Santa  Fe  Trail”  in  its  third 
week  downtown  was  five  per  cent  over  the 
line,  while  “Comrade  X”  in  its  second  week 
soared  to  35  per  cent  above  the  line. 

Sonja  Henie  and  her  ice  carnival  played 
five  SRO  performances  at  the  Arena  and 
“Hellzapoppin”  with  Billy  House  and  Ed- 
die Carr  in  the  Olsen  and  Johnson  roles 
attracted  comfortable  crowds. 

Weather  was  generally  fair  and  unusu- 
ally mild. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  17: 


(Average  is  100) 

Allen — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN)  105 

Played  11  days  after  a 2-week  run  at  the 
Hippodrome. 

Hippodrome — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO)  145 

Played  straight  11  days. 

Palace — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO)  135 

George  Raft  in  person  headed  a strong  vaude- 
ville bill. 

State — Flight  Command  (M-G-M)  120 

Stillman — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  135 


Second  week  on  a move-over  from  the  State. 


Omens  Fine.  But  Business 
Only  Fair  in  Cincinnati 

Cincinnati — Open  weather,  the  settle- 
ment of  the  long  drawn  out  street  car  and 
bus  strike,  and  good  boxoffice  fare  ought 
to  have  pepped  up  business;  but  it  didn’t. 
Receipts  in  all  downtown  houses  were  only 
fair,  with  the  exception  of  RKO  Shubert, 
where  Sally  Rand’s  revue  and  a screen 
offering,  “Keeping  Company,”  featuring 
Frank  Morgan  and  Virginia  Weidler  took 
peak  grosses  of  the  week. 

“GWTW,”  advertised  as  the  third  and 
final  week,  held  over  with  10  per  cent 
above  average  grosses.  “Kitty  Foyle,” 
pulled  best  of  the  first  run  screen  offer- 
ings. 

Detail  for  week  ended  January  16: 


(Average  is  100) 

Albee — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO)  115 

Held  for  a second  week,  shifted  to  Keith’s. 

Capitol — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M)  110 

Third  week,  held  for  fourth. 

Grand — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  90 

Second  and  final  week. 

Keith’s — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t)  90 

Second  and  final  week. 

Lyric — Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (UA)  85 


Second  and  final  week. 

Palace — Flight  Command  (M-G-M)  110 

Held  over. 

Shubert — Keeping  Company  (M-G-M)  140 

Also  stage  show. 


Weather-Inspired  Caution 
Depresses  Detroit  Take 

Detroit — Local  show  business  took  a 
slight  dip,  including  both  downtown  houses 
and  neighborhoods,  generally  attributed  to 
the  prevailing  wet  weather,  with  several 
days  of  fog.  Weather  was  considered  ideal 
for  spread  of  the  flu  which  has  begun  to 
worry  health  officers  in  the  state,  but  has 
so  far  been  played  down  in  press  reports. 
Some  fear  of  gathering  publicly  was  re- 
sponsible for  a slight  drop  in  attendance, 
exhibitors  seemed  to  feel. 

“Philadelphia  Story”  rated  top  drawing 
power  of  the  week,  surprising  some  ad- 
vance predicters. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  16: 


(Average  Is  100) 

Adams — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox),  after 

9 days  at  the  Fox  125 

Cinema — Rebecca  (UA),  revival  policy  for  this 

week  90 

Fox — Arizona  (Col)  ; The  Bank  Dick  (Univ), 

8 days  110 

Michigan — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN);  Aldrich  Fam- 
ily in  Fife  With  Henry  (Para’t),  played  9 

days  130 

Palms-State — Comrade  X (M-G-M),  after  3 

wks.  at  the  Michigan  100 

United  Artists — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M); 
Maisie  Was  a Fady  (M-G-M)  175 


"Comrade  X"  Leads  the 
Field  in  Pittsburgh 

Pittsburgh — “Comrade  X”  grabbed  the 
big  dough  as  the  first  hit  of  1941  at  Loew’s 
Penn.  “Santa  Fe  Trail,”  in  the  Warner 
after  a Stanley  engagement,  did  upwards 
of  double  average.  “Hudson’s  Bay”  In  the 
Fulton  marked  up  a successful  initial  week. 
“Comrade  X,”  “Flight  Command,  “Santa 
Fe  Trail”  and  “Love  Thy  Neighbor,”  the 
latter  another  “hold  over”  film,  were  in 
exhibition  for  nine  days. 

Details  to  January  10: 


(Average  is  100) 

Barry — Ellery  Queen,  Master  Detective  (Col); 

Pride  of  the  Bowery  (Mono)  110 

Fulton — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox)  150 

Penn — Comrade  X (M-G-M).  9 days  170 

Ritz — Fove  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t),  2nd  d.  t. 

wk.,  9 days  110 

Senator — Arizona  (Col),  2nd  wk 95 

Stanley — Flight  Command  (M-G-M),  9 days.. 115 

Warner — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN),  2nd  d.  t.  wk., 

9 days  190 


Who's  Paying  Defense 
Tax,  Queries  Wood 


Columbus — Venturing  the  opinion  that 
the  defense  tax  is  being  paid  out  of  box- 
office  receipts  and  not  by  the  theatre- 
going public,  P.  J.  Wood,  in  a bulletin  to 
the  members  of  the  Independent  Theatre 
Owners  of  Ohio,  declares:  “If  this  is  true, 
exhibitors  should  know  it  and  act  accord- 
ingly in  buying  their  film  and  setting  up 
their  other  operating  expenses.” 

The  ITO  secretary’s  bulletin  followed  the 
release  by  the  United  States  Treasury  of 
an  estimate  that  total  collections  from 
the  admissions  tax  for  the  fiscal  year  end- 
ing June  30,  1931,  will  amount  to  $69,000,- 
000,  an  increase  of  $49,000,000  over  the  ad- 
mission tax  collections  for  the  fiscal  year 
ending  June  30,  1940,  with  exemption  set 
at  40  cents. 

The  answer  as  to  who  is  paying  the  tax, 
Wood  suggests,  can  be  available  to  the 
exhibitors  by  comparing  the  net  gross 
(that  is,  the  total  gross  receipts  less  the 
amount  of  the  defense  tax  collected  and 
paid  to  the  government)  for  the  six 
months  ending  December  31,  1940,  with 
the  gross  receipts  for  the  six  months  end- 
ing December  31,  1939. 

ft  - ft 

Hitherto  M.  D/s  From 
Law  Schools 

Columbus — A specialist,  composed  of 
“equal  parts  of  producer,  distributor,  af- 
filiated theatre  executive  and  indepen- 
dent theatre  owner"  is  the  doctor  pre- 
scribed to  treat  the  industry's  boxoffice 
ills  by  P.  J.  Wood,  secretary  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Theatre  Owners  of  Ohio,  in  a 
recent  bulletin.  Wood's  diagnosis  that  the 
industry  is  ill  is  predicated  upon  “the 
failure  of  boxoffice  receipts  to  reflect  the 
increases  in  most  other  industrial  lines." 
His  composite  physician  would  “meet  at 
some  central  point  and  decide  upon  some 
course  of  treatment  that  will  bring  about 
a quick  recovery  in  boxoffice  receipts." 

b -J) 


54 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


L.  PINDAT,  Republic  special  represen- 
tative, is  headquartering  at  the  local 
branch  office  for  several  weeks  . . . Herb 
Greenblatt  and  his  RKO  staff  are  hard 
at  work  on  the  Depinet  drive  which  con- 
tinues to  May  9.  Herb  will  not  vacation 
until  after  that  date  . . . Sam  Fineberg 
has  a new  Oldsmobile  . . . John  J.  Ma- 
loney is  around  covering  his  district  for 
Loew’s  and  is  very  much  himself  follow- 
ing his  recent  operation  and  illness  . . . 
Melvin  Mann,  RKO  booker,  is  photo- 
graphing a number  of  exhibitors  and  dis- 
playing his  prints  under  the  glass  of  the 
bookers  counter  . . . Marty  Seed,  now 
managing  the  Regal,  Wilkinsburg,  forward- 
ed a patriotic  letter  to  his  old  roommate, 
Joe  Minsky,  Cleveland  Vitagraph  salesman 
and  nephew  of  Harry  Minsky  Kalmine, 
who  has  been  called  by  the  government 
for  army  training  at  Camp  Devers. 

“Mr.  Manley  Lifetime”  is  the  tag  under 
which  our  hookkeeping  department  recent- 
ly sent  an  advertisement  statement  in- 
tended for  Roy  J.  Jeffries,  the  popcorn 
machine  representative.  Manley  Lifetime 
is  the  machine  model  which  Jeffries  is  so 
successfully  selling  in  this  area  ...  A 
number  of  local  theatres  are  going  for  a 
Saturday  matinee  “Tootsie  Rolls”  tieup 
. . . Burglars  jimmied  the  front  door  of 
the  Regent,  East  Liberty,  and  cracked  a 
combination  safe.  They  stole  90  cents  from 
an  outer  compartment  . . . Nixon  box- 
office  has  been  open  for  a couple  of  weeks 


— refunding  on  tickets  which  had  been 
purchased  for  several  shows  that  canceled 
local  engagements  . . . Nat  Lee,  local 
theatrical  man,  was  held  by  police  last 
week  on  charges  of  conducting  an  inde- 
cent exhibition  at  the  Polish  Falcon  Hall, 
Ambridge.  Five  films  and  a projector 
were  confiscated  by  state  motor  police. 
In  the  raid,  five  strip  teasers  escaped. 

C.  C.  Kellenberg,  Variety’s  chief  barker, 
is  seeking  the  proper  date  for  next  fall’s 
annual  banquet  here,  and  local  barkers 
are  pepping  up  for  the  national  conven- 
tion of  the  various  tents  which  will  be 
staged  in  Atlantic  City  the  latter  part  of 
April  . . . The  Joseph  Misrachs  were  in 
charge  of  the  January  17  family  night 
party  at  the  club,  and  Bob  Post  and  Bob 
Fiske  were  “kings”  at  the  January  20 
dinner  . . . Harry  Kalmine  and  Joe  Feld- 
man were  in  New  York  for  several  days 
booking  Stanley  stage  shows  . . . Frank 
J.  Harris,  theatre  executive  and  Allegheny 
county  Republican  chairman,  is  vacation- 
ing at  Miami  until  February  8. 

“GWTW”  scrambled  scene  layout  jig- 
saw puzzle  was  featured  on  the  front  page 
of  last  week’s  Pittsburgh  Shopping  News 
with  a circulation  of  185,000  . . . Otto 
Brauning,  RKO  auditor,  is  on  duty  at  the 
local  branch  exchange  . . . Bill  Odeum, 
chief  engineer  for  the  Brenkert  Light  Pro- 
jection Co.,  was  around  checking  up  on 
the  many  local  installations,  and  report- 
ing everything  satisfactory  . . . Larry  Clin- 


ton’s orchestra  is  due  in  the  Stanley  Janu- 
ary 31. 

Thieves  broke  into  the  new  West  End, 
rifled  a candy  vending  machine,  and  ran- 
sacked the  office.  They  gained  entrance 
through  a rear  door  . . . Allegheny  county 
commissioners’  legal  department  is  filing 
court  suit  against  the  borough  of  Mun- 
hall  to  collect  $90.85,  the  cost  of  print- 
ing special  ballots  for  a Sunday  show  ref- 
erendum during  the  November  5 general 
election.  The  borough  refused  to  pay  the 
bill  because  “movie  interests”  asked  for 
the  vote.  Under  the  state  law,  the  bor- 
ough is  liable  for  payment,  according  to 
county  attorneys  . . . Judge  Henry  H. 
Wilson,  in  Butler  county  court,  has  re- 
served decision  on  a petition  asking  for 
a special  referendum  on  Sunday  motion 
pictures  at  Rochester.  The  issue  was  de- 
feated in  Rochester  by  87  votes,  but  at- 
torneys for  the  Rochester  Amusement  Co. 
claim  that  the  referendum  was  conducted 
“negligently  and  carelessly.” 

Eight  persons  have  been  nominated  by  a 
jury  of  33  newspaper  and  magazine  edi- 
tors and  publishers  as  possible  recipients 
of  the  third  annual  national  humanitarian 
award  of  the  Variety  Clubs  of  America, 
Eugene  L.  Connelly,  national  chairman, 
has  announced.  As  in  the  preceding  two 
years,  the  1940  award  will  consist  of  a 
bronze  medallion,  an  enscrolled  citation 
and  $1,000  in  cash.  Father  Flanagan  of 
(Continued  on  page  58) 


GENE  AUTRY 

eJtete,  IdJe  /Tfce  AqcUn! 

ROY  ROGERS 

T 

THREE  MESQUITEERS 

TTM  ATFYflNnFR'Q 

DON  BARRY 

J11YL  fiLLAHlNJJl.Ii  D 

SMILEY  BURNETTE 

3.1  Annual 

"HIT  PARADE" 

"BRUMfl  TTD" 

"SCATTERBRAIN" 

ItUUJNU  - Ur 

"MELODY  & MOONLIGHT" 

MARCH  - APRIL  - MAY 

"BARNYARD  FOLLIES" 

"SIS  HOPKINS" 

For  Full  Details 

ETC. 

SEE  . . . SAM  — HYMIE  — LOU  — JOE 

REPUBLIC  CORRAL  1701  Blvd.  of  the  Allies,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


55 


ID)  IE  Y R €>  III  T 


New  Zoning  Schedule  for 
Detroit  to  Get  Hearing 


Detroit — Detroit’s  proposed  new  zon- 
ing schedule  for  alternate  release  of  films, 
broached  in  these  pages  months  ago  by 
Frank  J.  Downey,  M-G-M  manager,  after 
laying  dormant  for  some  time,  is  defi- 
nitely on  the  agenda  for  discussions  cur- 
rently between  Downey  and  representa- 
tives of  the  two  largest  exhibitor  groups 
affected,  United  Detroit  Theatres  and  Co- 
operative Theatres  of  Michigan. 

Sentiment  of  exhibitors  who  have  com- 
mented on  the  idea  is  generally  favor- 
able, provided  that  some  means  of  mak- 
ing the  plan  general  in  the  city  is  carried 
out. 

Under  the  proposed  plan,  all  pictures, 
beginning  with  the  second  runs,  would 
play  either  the  east  or  west  side  of  the 
city  the  first  week  available,  then  move 
to  the  opposite  side  the  next  week,  in- 
stead of  playing  at  all  houses  of  the  same 
run  simultaneously  as  at  present.  Houses 
on  each  side  of  town  would  get  a break 
by  having  pictures  of  approximately  even 
boxoffice  value  released  at  the  same  time, 
one  to  each  side. 


Milberger  President 
Ot  Local  No.  444 

New  Kensington,  Pa. — New  Kensington- 
Tarentum  Local  No.  444  has  elected  the 
following  officers  for  1941:  R.  Milberger, 
president;  Anthony  Haraznik,  vice-presi- 
dent; I.  E.  Fike,  business  agent;  Clyde 
Johnson,  secretary;  Charles  Wolfe,  finan- 
cial secretary-treasurer;  Joseph  Milburn, 
sergeant-at-arms;  J.  J.  McCloskey  and 
Ray  Craig,  members  of  the  executive 
board. 


Theatrical  Mutual  Ass'n 
Re-elects  McCloskey 

New  Kensington,  Pa. — J.  J.  McCloskey, 
retired  president  of  the  local  operators’ 
union,  has  been  re-elected  president  of  the 
Theatrical  Mutual  Ass’n.  Paul  Milberger 
is  the  new  vice-president,  and  other  new 
officers  are  I.  E.  Fike,  secretary;  Charles 
Wolfe,  treasurer;  B.  Zamparini.  H.  Hogge, 
A.  Haraznik,  trustees,  and  John  Phillips, 
steward. 

Lunds  Open  Remodeled 
Circle  in  Bobtown,  Pa. 

Bobtown,  Pa. — The  Circle  has  reopened 
here  after  being  streamlined.  Features  of 
the  modernization  include  construction  of 
new  walls  and  other  remodeling  and  the 
installation  of  new  velour  drapes,  frames, 
lighting  fixtures,  screen  and  newly  painted 
ceiling  and  lobby.  John  Lund,  operator  of 
five  theatres  with  his  son  Werner,  super- 
vised the  Bobtown  streamlining. 


New  Front  for  WB  Strand 

Pittsburgh — New  modern  marquee  front 
and  lobby  floor  is  being  installed  this  week 
at  the  Warner’s  Strand,  Oakland  district. 


0 — ft 

Horror  Thrives  in 
The  Auto  City 

Detroit — Horror  bills  are  continuing  to 
grow  into  a regular  trend.  Currently. 
Monogram's  combination  of  "The  Ape" 
and  “The  Human  Monster,"  after  going 
a full  week  at  each  United  Detroit's  Re- 
gent and  Annex,  moved  into  Midwest 
Theatre's  Colonial. 

The  Cinema,  normally  a first-run,  spe- 
cial picture  house,  has  shifted  to  a re- 
vival policy  temporarily,  and  is  "scaring" 
the  customers  in  with  the  combination 
of  "Dracula"  and  "Frankenstein." 

VI - ■ V 

Resume  Midwest  Suit 
Trial  Next  Tuesday 

Detroit — Trial  of  the  lawsuit  of  Mid- 
west Theatres  against  Cooperative  The- 
atres of  Michigan,  which  was  slated  to 
be  resumed  Tuesday,  has  been  postponed 
a week  to  next  Tuesday.  A.  J.  Levin,  at- 
torney for  the  defendant,  has  been  seri- 
ously ill  and  is  now  in  Florida  for  a brief 
convalescence.  The  testimony  of  Coopera- 
tive, as  defendant,  is  expected  to  start 
when  the  case  is  resumed  in  federal  court. 

The  new  trial  date  coincides  with  open- 
ing of  the  trial  of  another  suit  in  which 
Midwest  is  defendant.  It  was  brought  by 
Jacob  Schreiber  in  circuit  court,  but  is 
expected  to  be  postponed  because  of  the 
physical  impossibility  of  trying  both  cases 
simultaneously. 

"Pop"  Kane's  Son  Takes 
Over  Pitcairn  Theatre 

Pitcairn,  Pa. — William  E.  Kane,  son  of 
the  late  John  B.  “Pop”  Kane,  has  assumed 
operation  of  the  Nemo  here.  “Bill,”  who  is 
a school  teacher  and  well  known  in  the 
tenth  legislative  district,  has  been  out  of 
touch  with  the  theatre  business  for  sev- 
eral years  although  he  had  formerly  as- 
sisted his  father,  the  veteran  exhibitor, 
who  died  January  8 as  the  result  of  a heart 
attack. 

Mrs.  Anna  Neaman  Keeps 
Natrona  Roxy  Operating 

Natrona,  Pa. — The  Roxy  here  is  now  be- 
ing operated  by  Mrs.  Anna  Neaman,  wid- 
ow of  Samuel  Neaman,  who  died  January 
7.  Mrs.  Neaman’s  brother-in-law,  Lou 
Padolf,  former  film  salesman  and  now  an 
exhibitor  at  Parkersburg,  W.  Va.,  is  as- 
sisting as  is  Francis  Patrick  Michael  Mc- 
Coy, projectionist. 


Open  New  Winoma 

Winoma,  W.  Va. — The  new  Winoma  has 
been  opened  by  R.  L.  Pugh. 


J^LEX  SCHREIBER,  Associated  Theatres 
head,  visiting  Cleveland  to  look  into 
fluorescent  lighting  and  decorations  . . . 
Frank  Mellon,  old-timer  among  Detroit 
managers,  is  new  manager  of  Associated’s 
Norwood  . . . Louis  B.  Goodman,  manager 
of  W&W’s  Oakman.  was  a personal  friend 
of  Charles  Hall  (Don  Carlos  of  Monkey 
Hotel  fame) , who  died  in  the  house  while 
working  his  act  there  in  his  first  theatre 
date  in  months. 

Sydney  and  Erving  Moss  have  moved 
their  headquarters  from  the  David  Stott 
Building  to  their  new  ParJcside  Theatre 
. . . The  Krim  Brothers  are  starting  con- 
struction on  their  new  1,000-seater  in 
Highland  Park  to  be  called  the  Krim  . . . 
Mac  Krim  and  the  rest  of  the  clan  are 
in  Florida,  leaving  Sol  in  town  alone  . . . 
Brothers  Harry  and  Leonard  Krim,  16  and 
17,  reached  the  semi-finals  in  the  Dia- 
mond Belt  matches,  and  go  in  the  Golden 
Gloves. 

Bill  Levinson  of  Los  Angeles,  who  is  a 
Variety  member  at  Pittsburgh,  was  a De- 
troit visitor  . . . Louis  Kirchner  was  able 
to  close  the  clubrooms  up  promptly  Sat- 
urday night  . . . Bill  Murray  of  Grand 
Rapids  with  a party  of  three,  Ray  Branch 
of  Hastings,  and  Lee  Ward  of  Mount 
Pleasant  were  among  the  upstaters  down 
to  Variety  . . . Toastmaster  at  the  recent 
Variety  banquet  to  Jack  Flynn,  Ira  W. 
Jayne  was  guest  of  honor  himself  at  one 
Wednesday.  He’s  been  presiding  circuit 
judge  of  Wayne  county  for  ten  years  . . . 
Bill  Carlson,  ex-chief  barker,  became  high 
priest  and  prophet  of  Moslem  Temple  on 
his  way  “through  the  chairs.” 

Betty  Bryden,  booker,  is  moving  to  larger 
quarters  in  the  Fox  Building  . . . Milt  Lon- 
don is  sending  out  invites  on  opening  of 
the  new  Midtown  . . . Oswald  Garrison 
Villard,  former  editor  of  The  Nation,  lib- 
eral weekly,  was  taken  seriously  ill  on  the 
stage  of  the  Cass  during  a lecture  . . . 
George  W.  Trendle,  ex-UDT  president,  is 
co-chairman  of  Detroit’s  “Miles  of  Dimes” 
anti-polio  campaign. 

Paris  Bucci,  who  specializes  in  Italian 
film  distribution,  is  forming  Cine  Roma 
Film  Co.  . . . Marion  Poupard  of  the  ac- 
counting department  and  Bea  Mattingly, 
the  boss’  secretary,  both  of  Paramount, 
were  flu  victims  . . . Elizabeth  Cleveland, 
contract  clerk,  did  better.  Off  sick  one 
day,  and  came  back  married  . . . Mrs. 
William  Flemion,  wife  of  the  PRC  mana- 
ger, is  back  in  the  hospital  following  an 
attack  of  pneumonia  . . . Gil  Becker  and 
Cliff  Perry  of  M-G-M  each  with  two  lovely 
luncheon  partners. 

TWENTIETH-FOX  NOTES:  Have  you 
heard  Jess  (NO A)  Veldman’s  accent?  . . . 
Floyd  Keillor  due  in  Friday  (it’s  payday) 

. . . Leland  Sanshie  and  Al  Rupert  talk- 
ing about  touring  the  Bad  Lands  . . . 
Helen  Rose  reports  Fox  working  two  shifts 
now  . . . Harold  C.  Robinson,  Film  Truck 
Service  manager,  is  not  going  south  at 
present  because  of  his  mother’s  serious 
illness  . . . Irving  Belinsky  fraternizing 
at  Variety  Wednesday  with  his  pharma- 
ceutical Aesculapians. 

Al  Boodman,  son  of  Jacob  of  Detroit 
Film  Cleaning  Co.,  has  left  National  Screen 


5G 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


here  to  join  A1  Dezel  Roadshows  at  Chi- 
cago. He  has  disclosed  his  engagement 
to  Raye  Nelson  of  Detroit  . . . Edward 
Lamoreaux,  manager  of  the  Empire  in 
Windsor,  was  robbed  of  $67  in  his  office 
by  two  armed  bandits  . . . Harry  K.  Mc- 
Williams, formerly  of  the  publicity  de- 
partment of  UDT,  became  the  father  of  a 
six-pound  girl  recently,  he  learned  by 
phone  while  in  Hollywood.  The  mother, 
known  to  opera  followers  as  Rosa  Di  Giulio, 
was  in  New  York  when  the  baby  arrived. 

Forman  Brown,  who  gave  a puppet  show 
Monday  for  the  Frank  G.  Tompkins  Mem- 
orial, is  retiring  from  this  field  to  do 
script  writing  . . . Joe  Conti  of  the  Monte 
Carlo  Studios,  back  in  town,  saw  his  own 
role  in  “East  of  the  River”  at  the  Palms- 
State  . . . Alfred  G.  Wilson  of  the  Wil- 
son was  named  a governor  of  the  Detroit 
Museum  Founders  Society  for  1941. 


WOLVERINE  DOINGS: 

Harold  Muir,  now  with  Harry  Hobolth’s 
DeLuxe  at  Imlay  City,  was  formerly  with 
the  Fra  Diavolo  Magic  Show. 


Raoul  Cleaver,  former  branch  manager 
for  Powers  Pictures,  and  a distributor 
here  since  1912,  was  in  from  Saginaw 
visiting  along  Filmrow. 


William  Kent  is  new  state  salesman  for 
Monogram.  Formerly  with  Dezel  Road- 
snows. 


Charles  T.  Wolfe  has  sold  his  theatre 
at  Constantine  to  Harold  Kortes,  operator 
at  Plainwell  and  Otsego. 

Louis  /.  Wiethe  Acquires 
Two  From  MacDonald 

Columbus,  Ohio — The  Cleve  and  Beech- 
wold  theatres  here,  units  of  the  MacDon- 
ald chain,  have  been  acquired  by  Louis  J. 
Wiethe,  Cincinnati  circuit  owner.  The 
former  is  a three-year-old  house  with  700 
seats  and  the  Beechwold,  now  under  con- 
struction, is  scheduled  to  open  shortly. 

The  MacDonald  organization  for  the 
time  being  will  continue  to  handle  the 
booking  and  buying  for  the  two  houses. 
The  organization  is  headed  by  the  widow 
of  the  late  C.  A.  MacDonald,  who  died 
recently. 

Cooking  School  Matinees 
Are  Proving  Successful 

Cleveland — Exhibitors  in  this  territory 
have  had  great  success  with  the  special 
cooking  school  matinees  arranged  by  F. 
Arthur  Simon  of  Lake  Shore  Sales  Co.,  in 
cooperation  with  the  General  Electric  Co. 

The  school  is  held  on  an  afternoon  on 
which  the  theatre  does  not  regularly  have 
a matinee.  Regular  theatre  admission  is 
charged.  A public  cooking  demonstration 
by  experts  is  held  on  the  stage  and  at 
each  performance  a $175  electric  cooking 
stove  is  given  away  free,  as  well  as  20 
baskets  of  assorted  foodstuffs. 


Theatre  Likely  for  Oakdale 

Oakdale,  Pa. — Real  estate  circles  indicate 
that  a modern  theatre  will  be  erected  here. 
Owners’  names  are  not  available. 


Silverman,  who  operates  theatres  in  Penn- 
sylvania, was  a Filmrow  visitor  for  the 
first  time  in  ten  years  . . . Leonard  Green- 
berger  of  the  Moreland  is  the  father  of  a 
boy  born  January  15.  This  automatically 
makes  Henry  Greenberger  of  the  Commun- 
ity circuit  a member  of  the  local  Grand- 
fathers’ Club  . . . Al  Sunshine,  who  has 
been  manager  of  the  local  office  of  Holly- 
wood Advertising  Co.  for  the  past  six  years, 
has  resigned  to  join  Rational  Screen  Ser- 
vice. He  is  succeeded  by  Manny  Goodman, 
who  comes  here  from  Hollywood  Advertis- 
ing Co.’s  Chicago  office. 

Douglas  George,  manager  of  the  Winda- 
meer  Theatre,  spoke  before  the  students  of 
Shaw  High  School  on  “How  to  Appreciate 
Motion  Pictures”  . . . Wally  Caldwell’s  new 
de  luxe  Esquire  in  Toledo  is  scheduled  to 
open  January  30.  Bob  Bial  of  Art  Guild 
Studios,  Cleveland,  is  furnishing  the  lobby 
display  frames  for  the  Esquire  . . . S.  A. 
Galanty,  Columbia  district  manager,  spent 
his  short  Cleveland  stay  in  bed  at  the 
Statler  Hotel.  It  was  a slight  case  of 
ptomaine  . . . Harry  Reinhart,  the  Canton 
theatre  owner,  invited  Cleveland  film  men 
and  their  wives  down  to  Canton  on  Janu- 
ary 25  for  a big  hurrah  staged  at  the  Bel- 
den  Hotel.  It  was  just  Reinhart’s  way  of 
saying  au  revoir  prior  to  pulling  out  for 
California  for  the  rest  of  the  winter. 

On  the  sick  list:  Joe  Kauffman,  Uni- 
versal branch  manager,  is  still  very  ill  at 
Mount  Sinai  . . . Ted  Scheinberg,  20th- 
Fox  salesman,  in  with  the  flu  . . . S.  P, 
Gorrel,  Republic  branch  manager,  home 
all  week  with  a bad  cold  . . . Frank  Hunt, 
20th-Fox  head  booker,  was  called  away 
from  the  office  last  week  on  account  of  the 
death  of  his  wife’s  mother  ...  I.  J. 
Schmertz,  20 th-Fox  branch  manager,  sends 
back  postcards  of  sunshine  and  flowers  in 
bloom  just  to  make  us  snow  bound-ers  feel 
even  worse  . . . M.  B.  Horwitz,  general 
manager  of  the  Washington  circuit,  is  back 
from  a quickie  Florida  jaunt  of  seven  days. 

Urban  Anderson  is  back  from  Chicago 
where  he  attended  the  national  coin  ma- 
chine convention.  Anderson  is  president 
of  Midwest  Specialties  Co.,  distributors  of 
the  “slot”  coin  films  . . . Miss  Rickie  Labo- 
witch,  secretary  of  G.  W.  Erdmann  of 
Cleveland  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors  Ass’n, 
is  resting  comfortably  following  an  opera- 
tion at  Mount  Sinai. 


Complete  Remodeling  on 
Metro  Detroit  Offices 

Detroit — Remodeling  of  the  M-G-M  of- 
fices following  removal  of  district  offices 
by  Manager  Jack  Flynn  to  Chicago,  has 
been  completed,  with  enlarged  space  now 
available  for  local  sales  and  booking. 

Frank  J.  Downey,  branch  manager,  takes 
over  the  southwest  corner  office  vacated 
by  Flynn,  while  John  Morgan,  assistant, 
gets  Downey’s  old  office.  Warren  Slee, 
publicity  head,  moves  into  the  former  dis- 
trict file  room,  and  his  office  is  being 
used  for  salesmen’s  offices,  making  two 
rooms  devoted  to  this  purpose.  New  book- 
ing department  has  just  been  completed 
with  low  type  booking  desk  for  convenience 
of  exhibitors. 

Robert  Bernstein,  salesman  here  for  sev- 
eral months,  has  been  transferred  to  the 
New  York  office,  and  Floyd  Chrysler  has 
been  “loaned”  to  the  Chicago  office. 


In  New  Territory — 

Harry  Goldstein,  Paramount  district 
manager  who  will  supervise  Detroit 
in  addition  to  Cincinnati,  Cleveland 
and  Didianapolis  under  a re-shuffling 
preparatory  to  operations  under  the 
decree.  Allen  Usher,  Chicago  district 
manager,  has  been  handling  Detroit 
until  now.  See  page  13  for  full  detail. 


CLEVELAND 

TOE  MINSKY,  Vitagraph  city  salesman, 
was  the  man  of  the  hour  last  week.  The 
employes  of  Vitagraph  and  the  Warner 
theatre  department  held  a special  dinner- 
dance  in  the  Warner  club  rooms  in  his 
honor,  while  the  industry  at  large  staged 
a big  party  for  him  Monday,  January  20, 
at  the  Variety  Club.  The  occasion  of  all 
this  special  attention,  was  Minsky’s  depar- 
ture to  join  Uncle  Sam’s  boys  at  Camp 
Shelby,  Miss. 

Arnold  Nathanson  of  the  Warner  theatre 
publicity  department  breaks  into  the  news 
via  the  society  columns.  On  February  2, 
at  4 p.  m.,  in  the  chapel  of  the  Temple, 
East  105 th  St.  and  Ansel  Road,  he  will  be 
married  to  Miss  Ruth  Schmitmann,  for- 
merly of  Buffalo.  It  will  be  an  open  church 
wedding  and  all  frieiids  are  welcome  . . . 
“Kitty  Foyle”  is  chalking  up  a new  set  of 
records  in  its  local  key  runs.  George  Lefko, 
RKO  branch  manager,  reports  the  picture 
is  doing  outstanding  business  in  Akron, 
Canton  and  Cleveland  where  it  ran  11  days 
at  the  Hipp  before  moving  over  to  the 
Allen  for  a?i  extended  stay. 

Marge  Britton,  one  of  the  Vitagraph 
secretaries,  has  announced  her  engage- 
ment to  Jack  Nolan  of  this  city  . . . Eddie 
Catlin  of  the  Vitagraph  sales  force  is 
back  from  a Florida  interlude  . . . Alice 
Dunham  has  resigned  as  United  Artists 
cashier  to  assume  domestic  duties  follow- 
ing her  marriage  late  this  month.  Leah 
Goldman,  her  assistant,  moves  up  into  first 
place,  and  Harriet  Kolisky  joins  the  UA 
family.  The  exchange  personnel  held  a 
farewell  party  at  the  Variety  Club  in  hon- 
or of  Miss  Dunham,  who  severs  a five- 
year  connection  with  the  exchange. 

Eddie  Miller,  Hippodrome  manager,  is  a 
flu  victim  but  now  on  the  mend  . . . Jack 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


57 


P III  T T S B U R G H 

(Continued  from  page  55) 


Boys  Town,  and  Miss  Martha  Berry  of 
Georgia  received  the  first  two  awards. 
The  committee  includes  Harry  M.  Bitner, 
Edward  T.  Leech  and  Oliver  J.  Keller, 
Pittsburgh  publishers. 

Saal  Gottlieb,  M-G-M's  city  salesman, 
is  back  on  the  job  after  a Florida  vaca- 
tion and  looking  like  a million  . . . Martha 
Shulgold  of  Crown  Film  Co.  struck  her 
trial  balance  for  the  year  late  Monday 
afternoon  after  a short  worry  regarding 
a difference  of  four  bits  . . . Irving  Dietz 
will  offer  a new  sports  wrestling  subject 
which  features  two  rough  and  ready  gals 
on  the  mat  . . . Charlie  Baron  pleased 
with  an  advance  look  at  the  “ten  best’’ 
poll  . . . Dave  Shanahan,  Nixon’s  assist- 
ant treasurer,  a benedict. 

A.  P.  Way,  DuBois  exhibitor,  will  attend 
the  national  Allied  directors’  meeting  in 
Washington,  D.  C„  January  27  and  28. 
Fred  J.  Herrington,  recently  renamed  the 
local  AMPTO’s  representative  on  the  na- 
tional board,  local  Allied  prexy  Fred  A. 
Beedle,  M.  A.  Rosenberg  and  Bill  and 
Harry  Walker  are  others  who  will  attend 
...  A new  quiz  show,  Put  and  Take,  made 
its  debut  over  WWSW  last  Friday  evening 
ing  a broadcast  from  the  stage  of  the  En- 
right, with  Walt  Framer  and  Johnny  Davis 
as  emcees  . . . M.  Akselrad’s  Regent,  Mc- 
Kees Rocks,  has  installed  a cooling  system 
from  A.  & S.  Sternberg,  Inc. 

John  Currie,  who  joined  National  Thea- 
tre Supply  here  five  years  ago,  has  re- 
turned to  the  local  branch  office  as  tem- 
porary manager,  and  will  be  on  duty  until 
E.  B.  Morton  is  well  enough  to  return  to 
the  job.  Morton  was  much  inproved  this 
week,  but  on  the  doctor’s  advice  he  will 
take  a long  rest.  A.  F.  Baldwin,  of  NTS’s 
home  office,  who  had  been  in  charge  of 
business  until  Currie  arrived,  is  returning 
to  New  York  . . . Several  West  Virginia 
theatres  were  closed  this  week  because  of 
the  flu  epidemic  . . . Republic  has  re- 
modeled its  local  shipping  quarters  . . . 
We  have  understood  for  some  time  that 
Oliver  K.  Eaton  will  be  connected  with 
AAA  here. 

AMPTO  directors  were  expected  to  meet 
in  special  session  here  prior  to  the  na- 
tional Allied  directors’  meeting  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C„  January  27  and  28  . . . Our 
national  edition  last  week  reported  that 
Earle  Sweigert,  Paramount’s  Philadelphia 
manager,  has  been  named  to  a district 
post  embracing  Washington,  Philadelphia 
and  Pittsburgh  . . . March  of  Time’s  latest 
release,  ‘‘Uncle  Som — the  Non-Belligerent,” 
screened  for  the  trade  Tuesday  afternoon 
at  the  uptown  Rialto,  has  Kaspar  Monahan 
of  the  Press  wondering  if  it  can  keep  that 
title  long  enough  to  make  the  rounds! 

Lew  and  Milt  Lefton  this  week  denied 
any  and  all  humors  that  Producers  Re- 
leasing Corp.  was  merging  with  any  other 
company.  PRC  is  coming  along  very  well 
and  everything  is  satisfactory.  Duddy  Lef- 
ton of  the  local  exchange  is  doing  a splen- 
did job,  and  at  the  end  of  the  first  six- 


week  period  in  the  PRC  drive  is  leading 
the  country  in  sales  . . . S.  David  Lefton 
and  Stanley  Lieberfarb  of  PRC  have  of- 
fered their  services  to  the  government,  and 
are  ready  for  army  camp  life  at  any  time 
. . . The  industry’s  patriotic  picture,  “Land 
of  Liberty,”  distributed  by  M-G-M,  profits 
of  which  go  to  welfare  work,  is  booked 
to  open  in  the  Fulton  February  5 with 
M-G-M’s  ‘‘Keeping  Company.” 

Abe  Weiner,  Harry  Rees,  William  Scott 
and  James  H.  Nash  of  this  city  joined 
United  Artists  sales  organizations  of  Bert 
M.  Steam’s  district  in  Cleveland  for  a 
weekend  conference  . . . Back  on  the  job 
this  week  after  battling  with  the  flu  were 
Fred  Solomon,  American  Poster  Service; 
Guy  V . Ida,  McDonald;  Lou  Bender,  Mill- 
vale;  Mark  Goldman,  Monogram;  Abe 
Sternberg,  A.  & S.  Steinberg,  Inc.  . . . 
Bob  Finkel  has  resigned  his  Monogram 
studio  post  and  is  now  connected  with  an 
RKO  producer.  His  dad,  Bill  Finkel,  south 
side  exhibitor,  recently  visited  with  him 
in  Hollywood  . . . Andy  Dowd,  local  lisp- 
ing projectionist,  has  been  offering  a $5 
reward  for  the  return  of  his  uppers,  which 
were  stolen  while  “parked”  in  a downtown 
cafe. 

E.  W.  Smith  has  resigned  from  mana- 
gerial duties  with  the  Mervis  Bros,  circuit, 
and  I.  L.  Butler  is  no  longer  with  the 
Sam  Gould  theatres  . . . Jeanette  Mac- 
Donald was  honored  at  a reception  Tues- 
day afternoon  in  the  Twentieth  Century 
Club  and  she  appeared  in  concert  in  Syria 
Mosque  Thursday  night  . . . Leo  Abernathy 
is  being  opposed  for  re-election  as  presi- 
dent of  the  AFL-Pittsburgh  Central  La- 
bor Union  by  Hunter  P.  Wharton  of  the 
Hoisting  Engineers’  Union.  Abernathy  is 
head  of  the  International  Alliance  of  Bill- 
posters, Billers  and  Distributors  . . . Sey- 
mour Lefton,  youngest  son  of  the  Lew  Lef- 
tons,  is  recovering  in  Montefiore  Hospital 
following  an  appendectomy.  The  hospital 
was  under  quarantine  this  week  and  mem- 
bers of  his  family  couldn’t  visit  with  him. 

Al  Selig,  RKO  exploitation  representa- 
tive, was  in  a huddle  the  other  day  with 
Herb  Greenblatt  on  campaigns  for  “Kitty 
Foyle”  and  “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith,”  the 
latter  comedy  having  been  screened  for 
the  trade  at  the  uptown  Rialto  Tuesday 
afternoon. 

Andy  Battiston  has  taken  a gas  station 
in  McKeesport  for  his  son  Richard  to 
operate  . . . Freeman  and  Newbold’s  the- 
atre at  Iaeger,  W.  Va„  was  recently  de- 
stroyed by  fire  . . . The  Mort  Englands 
have  returned  from  their  southern  cruise 
and  Havana  vacation  . . . Paul  O.  Klingler, 
manager  of  the  Rialto,  Lewistown,  Pa.,  in 
returning  "GWTW”  will  again  present  this 
epic  on  a reserved  seat  policy. 


Buy  “Remember  the  Day" 

Hollywood — Twentieth-Fox  has  pur- 
chased screen  rights  to  “Remember  the 
Day,”  a play  by  Philo  Higley  and  Philip 
Dunning.  Dunning  and  Tess  Slesinger 
have  been  assigned  to  script. 


Farewell  for  Stoner 
Is  Well  Attended 


Cleveland — More  than  125  film  folk 
from  all  sections  of  this  territory  turned 
out  to  do  honor  to  Bryan  D.  “Buck”  Stoner 
at  a farewell  testimonial  dinner  held  in 
the  Hollenden  Hotel,  January  13.  The 
affair  was  arranged  with  mixed  emotions, 
because  his  many  friends,  while  happy  over 
his  promotion  to  manager  of  the  M-G-M 
exchange  in  Pittsburgh,  nevertheless  re- 
gretted his  leaving  Cleveland. 

Seated  at  the  speaker’s  table  with  Stoner 
were  Frank  D.  Drew,  Cleveland  branch 
manager;  Jack  Sogg,  chairman  and  sales- 
man in  the  Cleveland  office;  Lou  Marks, 
who  is  succeeding  Stoner  here;  Harry 
Goldstein,  Paramount  district  manager; 
Bert  Stearn,  United  Artists  district  man- 
ager; Charles  Boasberg,  RKO  district 
manager;  Charles  Raymond,  division  man- 
ager for  Loew’s  Theatres;  Nat  Holt,  RKO 
Theatres  division  manager;  Ernest  Sch- 
wartz, president  of  the  Cleveland  Motion 
Picture  Exhibitors  Ass’n  and,  as  a surprise 
guest,  Frank  Stoner  of  Buffalo,  father  of 
the  guest  of  honor. 

An  informal  reception  in  the  Variety 
club  rooms  for  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stoner  fol- 
lowed the  dinner. 


Among  out-of-town  exhibitors; 

Frank  Henson Loew’s  Akron 

Orville  Crouch Loew’s  Canton 

Ray  Hickman. .Shea  manager  in  New  Phila. 

Ed  Hiehle Shea  manager  in  Zanesville 

Jack  Hynes Paramount,  Youngstown 

F.  King Shea  manager  in  Newark 

Bob  Rhodes  Colonial,  Akron 

M.  A.  Shea  jr Ashtabula 

Earl  Gibbs  Andover 

Ernie  Austgen Cuyahoga  Falls 

Jim  Beidler  Toledo 

Biggio  Brothers  Steubenville 

Bill  Tallman  and  Bill  Bridges 

Ceramic,  East  Liverpool 

Abe  Cohen East  Palestine 

George  Delis  Canton 

Louis  Eick  Martins  Ferry 

Paul  Ellis  Warren 

Harry  Flinn Berea 

Max  Greenwald  Elyria 

F.  H.  Hathaway Struthers 

August  Ilg  Lorain 

Harold  Kay  Painesville 

Wayne  Kimball  Louisville 

Reichblum  Brothers East  Liverpool 

Joe  Robins  Warren 

Harry  Reinhart  Canton 

Pete  Ruffo  Niles 

Sam  Shia  St.  Clairsville 

Martin  Smith  Toledo 

Dan  Stearns  Willoughby 

Walter  Steuve  Findlay 

Joe  Trunk  Youngstown 

Guy  Lalama  Youngstown 

Nat  Walker  Salem 

Ray  Wallace  Alliance 

Peter  Wellman  Girard 

Maurice  Baker  Steubenville 

George  Davis  Wellsville 

George  Shenker  Lorain 

Hal  Shreffler  Shelby 

Jerry  Steel  Oberlin 

Paul  Vogel  Wellsville 

Walter  Schwartz  Youngstown 

Chris  Velas  Bellaire 


58 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


JJENRY  REISSE  of  Amusement  Enter- 
prises, operating  several  theatres  in 
the  local  territory,  and  Hughy  Bernard, 
prexy  at  the  local  Towers,  attended  the 
inauguration  of  President  Roosevelt  and 
from  Washington  went  to  New  York  for 
several  days  . . . Henry  Houchon,  60,  of 
Waddy,  Ky.,  here  on  a visit,  collapsed  in 
the  lobby  of  the  Kentucky  Theatre.  He  died 
on  the  way  to  the  hospital  . . . Holdovers 
seem  the  vogue  at  downtown  houses.  The 
Rialto  held  “Kitty  Foyle”  for  a second 
week,  and  “Go  West”  was  moved  to  the 
Brown  for  a second  week  run.  “Land  of 
Liberty”  played  to  well  receiving  audiences 
at  Loew’s  and  local  critics  gave  much 
credit  to  the  feature  . . . Harry  Gorman 
of  Republic  was  in  town  for  several  days. 

Jack  Story,  Mary  Agnes,  Jamestown, 
Ky.,  paid  one  of  his  very  rare  visits  to 
Louisville.  Story,  who  is  probably  the 
youngest  exhibitor  in  the  state,  21,  made 
a flying  visit  to  several  theatres  under  the 
guidance  of  Carl  Mock  of  Universal  . . . 
Nomination  for  busiest  man  in  town  and 
who  really  can  take  it,  belongs  to  Chester 
Wentzell  of  the  local  Norman.  He  is  now 
serving  on  the  draft  board  in  addition  to 
his  duties  as  booker  for  his  theatre  . . . 
Additions  to  the  local  round  table  lunch- 
eon at  Thompson’s  were  noted  as  Sylves- 
ter Grove  of  the  local  Capitol  and  Shelby, 
and  W.  E.  Carrell  of  the  Falls  City  Thea- 
tre Equipment  Co. 

The  old  play  company,  “Adrift  in  New 
York,”  is  going  into  its  23rd  week  at  the 
Seelbach  . . . W.  S.  Moore  of  the  Temple, 
Portland,  Tenn.,  has  been  ill  for  several 
days  with  influenza  . . . C.  M.  Caldwell  is 
opening  his  new  Hart  at  Munfordville,  Ky., 
about  February  1.  The  building  will  be 
quite  a showplace  in  the  town.  Caldwell 
also  operates  theatres  at  Cave  City  and 
Scottsville,  Ky.,  and  has  just  installed  new 
lamps  in  his  Lyric  at  Scottsville,  Ky. 

Ira  Masden,  who  has  been  operating 
16mm  shows  at  Brandenburg , Ky.,  has  in- 
stalled new  35 mm  equipment  and  has  re- 
named his  theatre  the  New  Ace  . . . B.  J. 
Curry  of  the  Strand  at  Horse  Cave,  Ky., 
has  installed  new  seats  . . . Charles  H. 
Behlan,  who  operates  theatres  at  Nicholas- 
ville,  Lancaster  and  Stanford,  is  erecting 
a new  theatre  at  Stanford  . . . Visitors  in- 
cluded Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  M.  Caldwell  of 
Scottsville,  Ky.,  Mrs.  Paul  Sanders  of  the 
Alhambra,  Campbellsville;  A.  N.  Miles  of 
the  Eminence,  Eminence,  Ky;  M.  H.  Sparks 
of  Tompkinsville,  Ky. 


L,  B.  Wilson  to  Devote 
Time  to  Radio  Station 

Cincinnati — L.  B.  Wilson  of  Covington, 
Ky.,  theatre  owner  and  president  of  sta- 
tion WCKY,  recently  aligned  with  CBS, 
has  resigned  as  president  of  the  company 
operating  the  Liberty,  Broadway  and  Wil- 
son theatres.  Wilson  will  be  vice-president 
of  the  company  and  his  position  as  head 
is  taken  by  George  L.  Hill,  prominent 
Covington  grocer.  Hill  announces  there 
will  be  no  changes  in  the  management  or 
policy  of  the  theatres.  Wilson  will  devote 
his  entire  time  to  his  radio  station. 


(,  ft 

" How  About  a 
Smoky  City  Epic?” 

“Ol  forthcoming  films  announced  four 
will  have  New  Orleans  backgrounds.  The 
New  Orleans  background  has  been  over- 
done. How  about  a film  with  a Pitts- 
burgh background?  One  concerning  the 
romance  of  industrial  achievement." — 

E.  V.  Durling's  “Portraits  in  Words," 
Pittsburgh  “Sun-Telegraph." 

0 - J 

Variety  Chairmen 
Named  by  Howard 

Detroit — Seven  key  men  have  been  ap- 
pointed to  chairmanships  of  committees 
to  handle  activities  of  Detroit  Variety  for 
1941  by  Chief  Barker  John  Howard.  The 
club  is  starting  off  its  1941  season  with 
its  annual  banquet,  at  which  formal  in- 
stallation of  officers  and  initiation  of  new 
members  will  take  place. 

Committee  heads  are:  House  commit- 
tee: Edgar  E.  Kirchner,  manager,  Family 
Theatre;  welfare,  William  Flemion,  resi- 
dent manager,  Producers’  Releasing  Corp.; 
entertainment,  Wade  Allen,  Fine  Arts 
Theatre;  ways  and  means,  David  M.  Idzal, 
managing  director,  Fox  Theatre:  finance 
and  auditing,  Bernard  Kilbride,  circuit 
operator;  membership,  David  Flayer,  own- 
er, Amo  Theatre,  and  sports  and  outdoor 
activities,  John  Howard,  branch  manager, 
Paramount. 

Committeemen  appointed  to  the  mem- 
bership committee  are:  Walter  Shafer, 
Wayne  (Mich.)  Theatre;  Larry  Becker, 
American  Seating  Co.;  W.  J.  Turnbull, 
National  Theatre  Supply  Co.  manager; 
Eddie  Heiber,  Universal  manager;  Rob- 
ert Mork,  Mork-Green  Studios,  and  Jack 
Young,  Paramount. 

Appointees  to  the  sports  committee  are: 
Jack  R.  McPherson,  National  Screen  Ser- 
vice manager;  Harry  Lush,  manager,  Pen- 
niman-Allen  Theatre,  Plymouth,  Mich.; 
Jack  Susami,  Universal  Pictures,  and  Frank 
Wagner,  Wagner  Electric  Sign  Co. 

Other  committeemen  will  be  announced 
later. 

I A Signs  Two  New  Pacts 
In  Detroit  Territory 

Detroit — Two  new  contracts  have  been 
signed  up  by  the  IATSE  in  this  territory, 
Roger  Kennedy,  a vice-president,  reports. 
The  first  covers  the  field  of  laboratory 
technicians  of  all  types  working  in  indus- 
trial studios.  About  50  men  are  involved, 
divided  between  Jam  Handy  and  Wilding 
Studios. 

At  Cadillac,  Mich.,  a new  IA  local  has 
organized  the  projection  field  for  the  first 
time.  Signed  were  some  15  members  with 
the  Butterfield  circuit,  which  operates  all 
the  theatres  in  Cadillac,  as  well  as  inde- 
pendent exhibitors  in  surrounding  towns. 


Goodman  Back  at  Desk 

Cleveland — A.  M.  Goodman,  United 
Artists  branch  manager,  has  returned  to 
his  duties  after  a three-month  illness. 


ARRIS  WOLFBERG,  new  district  man- 
ager for  M-G-M,  visited  the  local  ex- 
change getting  acquainted  and  address- 
ing the  personnel  in  a get-together  talk 
. . . Warner’s  Bob  Smeltzer,  district  man- 
ager, was  also  here  in  the  interests  of  the 
“20th  Year  for  Sears”  drive.  The  local 
force  is  well  up  in  the  running  . . . W.  W. 
Brumberg,  Warner  publicity-shooter,  was 
here  promoting  latest  Warner  releases  . . . 
Genial  Bill  Onie,  president  of  the  Queen 
City  Variety  Club  and  local  Monogram 
head,  announces  the  “Bill  Onie  Third  An- 
niversary Playdate  Drive,”  set  for  Feb- 
ruary 16  to  April  11.  Onie  is  enthusi- 
astic over  “Her  First  Romance,”  Mono- 
gram release  of  the  Gene  Stratton-Porter 
story,  starring  Edith  Fellows. 

Bob  Drew,  Monogram’s  West  Virginia 
representative,  has  resigned  to  open  a 
school  for  instruction  of  seaplane  pilots. 
The  new  venture  is  thriving  on  the  Ohio 
River.  Drew’s  place  has  been  taken  by 
Ezra  Skirball  . . . 20 th-Fox  reports  nu- 
merous voluntary  bookings  on  “Night 
Train,”  due  to  its  being  listed  as  one  of 
the  ten  best  pictures  in  the  New  Critics’ 
poll  . . . John  Gardner,  manager  of  the 
new  Labelle,  Alpine  circuit  house  recently 
opened  in  S.  Charleston,  is  about  to  be- 
come a benedict. 

The  Weaver  Bros.,  operating  the  Plaza 
at  Miamisburg  in  conjunction  with  Palm 
Garden,  have  disposed  of  the  garden  and 
will  devote  all  their  time  to  the  theatre 
. . . Warner’s  Thelma  Watkins  announces 
her  engagement  to  W.  Yockey  . . . Virgil 
Jackson  has  returned  from  Florida  . . . 
Louis  Wiethe  has  taken  over  two  houses 
from  the  C.  A.  MacDonald  chain,  the  Cleves 
at  Columbus  and  the  new  Beechwold,  un- 
der construction  at  Beechwold,  a Colum- 
bus suburb,  which  is  expected  to  open  in 
February. 

Harry  Jennings  was  in  town  . . . The 
Freeman-N ewbold  circuit  is  reported  plan- 
ning to  rebuild  their  theatre  at  lager, 
W.  Va.,  recently  destroyed  by  fire  . . . 
Friends  of  John  Jones,  former  manager  of 
the  Southern  and  Majestic  theatres,  Co- 
lumbus, read  with  much  interest  his  daily 
column  in  the  Dispatch,  Jones  having 
taken  up  newspaper  work. 

Mrs.  Floyd  Williamson,  Regal,  Dayton, 
visited  the  local  exchanges  lining  up  book- 
ings . . . Moe  Baughman  and  Dorothy 
Maddux,  Warner’s,  are  on  the  sick  list 
with  flu  . . . “Thief  of  Bagdad”  opened 
to  exceptional  boxoffices  and  is  rated  as 
“A”  entertainment  by  Queen  City  critics 
. . . “GWTW”  did  larger  Saturday  and 
Sunday  business  on  its  repeat  week  than 
it  did  on  the  opening.  Indications  are 
for  several  more  weeks  on  this  film’s  re- 
turn engagement. 


" Legislative  Breakfast” 

Columbus — P.  J.  Wood,  ITOO  secretary, 
entertained  Wednesday  morning  at  the 
Variety  Club  with  his  regular  “legislative 
breakfast.”  Purpose  is  to  give  the  law- 
makers an  inside  on  the  workings  of  the 
industry,  and  in  particular  problems  of  the 
exhibitors  throughout  Ohio. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


59 


Chas.  Philbrook  to  Build 
Crafton  Heights  House 

Pittsburgh — Rumored  for  a long  period, 
and  now  acknowledged  “in  the  trade,”  are 
plans  for  the  opening  of  a theatre  in 
Crafton  Heights.  Seating  capacity  will  be 
around  400.  Backing  the  project  is  the 
name  of  Charles  Philbrook,  former  Shera- 
den  exhibitor. 


Farewell  Dinner 

Cleveland — The  M-G-M  Pep  Club  last 
week  held  a farewell  dinner  party  in  honor 
of  Jean  Chapman  who  after  12  years  with 
the  local  M-G-M  exchange,  resigned  to  go 
domestic.  Marie  Flynn  succeeds  her  as  ac- 
countant clerk;  Gertrude  Shaw  becomes 
statement  clerk,  and  Jean’s  sister,  Marie 
Mack,  takes  over  the  switchboard. 


Canton  Warner  Frolic 

Canton,  Ohio  — Canton  Warner  Bros, 
club,  comprised  of  executives  and  em- 
ployes of  the  Ohio  Theatre  here,  will  hold 
its  annual  winter  frolic  at  the  Colonade 
Inn,  Tuesday  night,  January  28,  according 
to  William  Harwell,  manager  of  the  Ohio. 
R.  Jay  Myers  jr.,  is  assisting  Manager  Har- 
well with  arrangements. 


To  Camp  Shelby 

Columbus — Lee  Fisher,  assistant  pub- 
licist for  RKO,  left  Wednesday  for  Camp 
Shelby,  Miss.,  for  a year’s  training  under 
selective  service.  He  is  the  first  of  the 
local  theatrical  crew  to  have  his  number 
called. 


B CO  W IL I m CG 

Detroit — Amusement  Supply  moved  up 
two  notches  last  week  in  the  Film  Bowl- 
ing League,  confirming  the  high  scores 
that  gave  them  the  all-season  high  in 
earlier  weeks  of  the  season.  Individual 
high  scores  were  rung  up  by  Jack  Susami, 
219,  and  Max  Englander,  201. 

Standings: 


Team — 

Won 

Lost 

United  Artists  

. 40 

24 

Co-operative  

. 38 

26 

Republic  

. 37 

27 

Film  Drug1  

. 32 

32 

Amusement  Supply  

. 29 

35 

Film  Truck  

28 

36 

Monogram  

28 

36 

20th  Century-Fox  

24 

40 

Detroit — The  Nightingales  got  back  into 

stride  last  week  with 

half 

a dozen 

good 

scores  rolled  up  after 

an 

all-season 

low 

a week  ago.  S.  J.  Lambly  totaled  561,  with 

one  202  score,  while 

Jack 

Hall  got 

558, 

including  a 211.  Romulus  Albu  hit  a 209 

and  T.  Goossen  hit  the  week’s  high  of  212. 

Standings: 

Team — 

Won 

Lost 

Forenzen  Flower  Shop  . . 

. 38 

26 

National  Carbon  Co 

. 38 

26 

Motiograph  

. 37 

27 

McArthur  

34 

30 

National  Theatre  Supply 

. 34 

30 

Ernie  Forbes 

28 

36 

Amusement  Supply  

. 26 

38 

Brenkert  Projectors  . . . . 

. 22 

42 

Select  lor  Crown 

Pittsburgh — Crown  Film  Co.,  managed 
by  Max  Shulgold,  has  secured  the  local 
franchise  for  distributing  Select  Pictures 
product.  Select  has  announced  16  pro- 
ductions for  the  season,  first  of  which  is 
“Adolescence,”  with  Leon  Janney,  which 
is  completed  and  ready  for  release. 


Mrs.  Albert  A.  Weiland 
Dies  From  Heart  Attack 

Pittsburgh — Mrs.  Amelia  C.  Reckinger 
Weiland,  wife  of  Albert  A.  Weiland,  pioneer 
film  distributor  and  exhibitor,  died  of  a 
heart  attack  last  week  as  she  entered  the 
Capitol  Theatre  on  Warrington  Avenue. 
She  had  just  passed  the  doorman  when 
she  was  stricken. 

Funeral  services  were  held  Wednesday 
morning  from  the  family  home.  Surviving 
are  her  husband,  proprietor  of  the  Weiland 
Theatre  in  the  Oakland-Bellefield  district; 
ten  children,  three  grandchildren,  two  sis- 
ters and  one  brother. 


105-Year-Old  Mother 
Of  A1  Taylor  Dies 

Cincinnati — Death  came  last  week  to 
the  105-year-old  mother  of  A1  Taylor. 
She  was  the  great-great  grandmother  of 
Mae  Taylor,  who  aids  her  grandfather  in 
booking  for  his  Dixie  and  is  often  here 
with  him  on  Filmrow.  Taylor  himself 
boasts  of  85  years. 


Dies  in  Childbirth 

Erie,  Pa. — Mrs.  Joseph  Seyboldt  jr., 
daughter-in-law  of  the  veteran  exhibitor, 
died  here  in  childbirth  last  week.  The  de- 
ceased’s husband  is  the  projectionist  at 
the  Regent  and  booker  for  the  Gem. 


Sound  Engineer  Dies 

Detroit — W.  G.  Nelson,  34,  sound  engi- 
neer for  about  25  local  theatres,  died  last 
week  in  Henry  Ford  Hospital  from  pleurisy. 
He  was  with  RCA  for  about  ten  years. 


ANY  NEWS  TODAY? 

Planning  a new  theatre?  Remodeling?  Being  promoted?  Getting  married?  Got  a new  baby  (infant)?  Buy- 
ing new  equipment?  Been  elected  mayor?  Son  or  daughter  graduating?  Proud  of  a new  exploitation  stunt? 
Hired  a new  staff  member?  Solved  a knotty  problem? 

Then  Tell  It  To  BOXOFFICE 

BOXOFFICE, 

4804  E.  Ninth  St.. 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 


NAME 


THEATRE 


LOCATION 


60 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


Follow  Precedent  in 
Clearance— Bevan 


Boston — A1  Bevan,  M&P  Theatres  Corp. 
assistant  booker,  recalled  to  the  stand  in 
the  Waldo  Theatres  Corp.  vs.  the  late 
Joseph  Dondis,  et  al.  anti-trust  suit,  re- 
plied in  the  affirmative  to  plaintiff’s  at- 
torney, George  S.  Ryan’s  question:  “Did 
you  find  in  your  dealings  with  any  dis- 
tributor, take  in  1930-31,  that  they  gave 
as  a reason  for  violating  protection  that 
another  distributor  had  done  the  same 
thing?” 

In  further  questioning  Bevan  declared 
that  representatives  of  all  the  major  ex- 
changes, at  different  times,  asked  him 
what  protection  was  being  given  him  by 
the  other  exchanges. 

Responding  to  questions  on  talks  be- 
tween Bevan  and  Paramount  exchange  of- 
ficials Bevan  told  the  court,  presided  over 
by  Master  Francis  P.  Freeman,  that  in  a 
conversation  on  protection  with  Eddie 
Ruff,  branch  manager  for  Paramount  at 
New  Haven,  he  (Bevan)  asked  “for  certain 
clearance  for  some  of  the  towns  in  Con- 
necticut” but  that  an  accord  had  not  been 
reached  on  what  the  clearance  should  be  in 
towns  in  Connecticut. 

“Too  Much  Sought" 

When  queries  turned  to  Metro’s  attitude 
on  protection  requests,  Bevan  declared  that 
Jack  Byrne,  branch  manager  for  Metro  in 
Boston  at  the  time,  dismissed  arguments 
as  to  what  other  distributors  were  allow- 
ing in  clearance  as  irrelevant.  The  dis- 
cussion at  that  time  pertained  to  the  M&P 
theatres  in  New  England  outside  of  Con- 
necticut. 

The  crux  of  the  objections  by  Metro  to 
the  clearance  requests  was  that  too  much 
was  being  sought,  informed  Bevan. 

Concentrating  upon  the  request  for  pro- 
tection from  one  company  by  citing  the 
fact  that  another  company  was  according 
the  desired  protection,  Ryan  inquired  as 
to  the  advantage  to  the  company  (desir- 
ing the  protection)  and  was  told  its  ad- 
vantage lay  in  its  convenience. 

This  was  elaborated  by  the  M&P  as- 
sistant booker  with:  “Your  local  managers 
will  call  you  up  or  write  you  a letter  and 
tell  you  that  someone  is  violating  a clear- 
ance, and  you  forget  what  they  had  and 
have  to  look  it  up.  If  everybody  is  the 
same  you  don’t  have  to  look  it  up.  Some- 
times they  complain  of  something  that 
isn’t  so  at  all.  Where  there  is  a difference 
between  the  different  exchanges  over  a 
given  situation.” 


Lydon  Will  Confer  With 
Allied  States  Leaders 

Boston — Frank  Lydon,  eastern  regional 
vice-president  of  Allied  States  Ass’n  and 
president  of  the  Independent  Exhibitors, 
Inc.,  planned  to  leave  Boston  over  the 
weekend  for  the  Washington  conference 
of  Allied  leaders.  Arthur  K.  Howard,  bus- 
iness manager  of  the  Independent  Exhibi- 
tors, and  Nathan  Yamins,  former  local  and 
national  Allied  president,  expected  to  ac- 
company Lydon  in  official  capacity. 


Massachusetts  Solons 
Get  Anti- Ascap  Bill 


Grippe  Hits  Trade 
In  New  England 

Boston — Grippe,  which  closed  numerous 
New  England  schools  and  universities,  hit 
hard  at  this  territory’s  grosses  this  week 
and  last.  It  has  been  estimated  an  aver- 
age of  one  person  out  of  every  five,  has 
already  had  the  grippe  in  these  states. 
Thousands  have  kept  away  from  theatres 
becauses  of  fear  of  contagion. 

In  Boston  and  suburban  towns,  “Ice 
Follies  of  1941”  was  no  film  hypo.  The 
Boston  Garden  show  played  to  some  100,- 
000  during  its  seven  days  here.  Only  com- 
forting point,  as  far  as  exhibitors  were 
concerned,  was  the  announcement  that 
Sonja  Henie  would  skip  Boston  this  year, 
partly  because  of  a proposed  rental  in- 
crease, which,  based  on  last  year’s  figures, 
would  lift  her  lodging  expenses  400  per 
cent. 


The  Cinema  Club's  Fifth 
Dinner-Dance  March  16 

Boston — The  fifth  annual  dinner-dance 
of  the  Cinema  Club  will  be  held  March 
16.  Executives  of  the  bookers’  organiza- 
tion have  set  the  fete  for  the  Cocoanut 
Grove,  film  district  nitery. 

William  Cuddy,  first  vice-president  and 
RKO  booker,  is  in  charge  of  the  programs, 
assisted  by  Charles  Wilson  of  Republic. 
Larry  Herman  of  the  Ralph  Snider  circuit 
is  in  charge  of  printing.  Tom  Fermoyle 
of  M&P  has  been  appointed  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  arrangements.  Abe  Barry 
of  Columbia  has  supervision  over  tickets. 

Aiding  in  general  supervision  of  the  af- 
fair are  Charles  Repec,  M-G-M  head 
booker  and  Cinema  Club  second  vice- 
president;  Dave  Grover  of  RKO,  Cinema 
treasurer;  and  Harry  Smith  of  RKO, 
Cinema  Club  secretary. 

"Slot"  Films  Franchise 
To  Wm,  McLaughlin 

Boston — William  H.  McLaughlin,  who 
recently  sold  the  Stoneham  in  Stonham  to 
Al  Rudenstein,  has  taken  over  the  Essex 
county,  Massachusetts,  franchise  for  the 
Mills-Roosevelt  screenings.  A number  of 
other  local  film  men,  including  members 
of  the  exhibition,  equipment,  and  distribu- 
tion fields  here,  have  financial  interest  in 
the  New  England  promotion  of  the  ma- 
chines. 


Nominate  in  March 

Boston — Nominations  for  new  officers 
of  the  Exchange  Employes  Local,  AFL  af- 
filiate, will  probably  take  place  in  March, 
followed  by  April  elections.  Mathew  Mori- 
arty  of  Universal  heads  the  union  local. 


Boston — An  anti-Ascap  bill  has  been 
filed  in  the  Massachusetts  legislature.  The 
petition,  some  38  pages  long,  had  not  been 
printed  up  to  press  time,  and  details, 
therefore,  were  not  generally  known. 

Arthur  K.  Howard,  Independent  Exhibi- 
tors business  manager,  who  last  year  came 
out  against  local  action  against  Ascap  in 
lieu  of  concentrated  national  Allied  efforts, 
told  this  publication  he  could  take  no 
stand  on  the  present  bill  until  settling  of 
an  Allied  States  Ass’n  national  poll  at  the 
forthcoming  Washington  confab. 

Other  bills  affecting  the  industry  were 
filed  but  are  still  unprinted. 

Legislative  spokesmen  agree  off  the 
scenes  that  no  great  amount  of  activity 
is  to  be  expected  on  Beacon  Hill  for  the 
next  month.  The  legislative  body  has 
been  slow,  too,  in  forming  committees. 

An  unusual  quantity  of  labor  legislation 
will  probably  be  acted  upon  this  year.  The 
film  industry,  in  recent  past  sessions,  has 
come  out  unscathed  on  this  score. 


Saltonstall  Advocates 
No  New  Taxes  for  '41 

Boston — The  film  industry  looks  for  one 
of  its  best  legislative  years  in  some  time 
here,  although  a new  record  total  of  bills 
was  filed  in  both  the  Massachusetts  sen- 
ate and  house. 

One  of  the  brightest  signposts  was  Gov. 
Leverett  Saltonstall’s  announcement  he 
would  advocate  no  new  taxes.  His  stand 
resulted  in  the  absence  for  the  first  time 
in  years  of  a proposed  sales  tax,  peren- 
nially filed  by  State  Commissioner  of 
Taxes  Henry  F.  Long. 

A bill  did  get  in  though  for  imposition 
of  a three  per  cent  tax  on  luxuries,  the 
proceeds  to  be  divided  between  public 
welfare  and  reduction  of  local  levies. 


New  Lottery  Proposal  to 
New  Hampshire  Solons 

Concord,  N.  H. — Despite  defeat  of  a 
similar  bill  in  1939,  a new  state  lottery 
proposal  designed  to  provide  revenue  for 
old-age  assistance,  is  sought  in  House  Bill 
No.  78,  which  has  been  introduced  at  the 
new  biennial  session  of  the  legislature  here 
by  Rep.  John  C.  O’Brien  of  Manchester. 

A referendum  would  be  submitted  to  the 
people  in  the  various  cities  and  towns  at 
a special  election  and  a majority  of  the 
voters  would  have  to  approve  the  plan  be- 
fore the  lottery  could  be  held.  Fifty  per 
cent  of  the  lottery  receipts  would  go  to- 
ward prizes,  the  state  would  receive  25  per 
cent,  and  the  remaining  25  per  cent,  less 
expenses  of  a commission  conducting  the 
lotteries,  would  be  distributed  to  various 
cities  and  towns  in  the  state. 

The  bill  has  been  referred  to  the  house 
ways  and  means  committee  for  public 
hearings. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


NE 


61 


"Kitty  Foyle"  Leads  in 
Second  Boston  Week 


Boston — “Kitty  Foyle,”  in  its  second 
week  at  Keith’s  Memorial,  led  the  field 
last  week  in  first-run  Boston.  Heavy  con- 
centration of  grippe  and  flu  here  did  no 
good  for  boxoffices.  A streak  of  record 
cold  weather  for  the  winter  kept  others  at 
home.  Detail  for  the  week  ending  Janu- 
ary 16: 


(Average  is  100) 

Fenway — Four  Mothers  (WB) ; Texas  Rangers 

Ride  Again  (Para't)  70 

Keith’s  Memorial- — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  Saint 

in  Palm  Springs  (RKO),  2nd  wk 145 

Loew’s  Orpheum — Arizona  (Col);  Angels  Over 

Broadway  (Col)  90 

Loew’s  State — Arizona  (Col);  Angels  Over 

Broadway  (Col)  85 

Metropolitan — Second  Chorus  (Para’t);  Michael 

Shayne,  Detective  (20th-Fox)  80 

Paramount — Four  Mothers  (WB);  Texas 

Rangers  Ride  Again  (Para’t)  70 


"Kitty  Foyle"  Holds  Lead 
Second  Providence  Week 

Providence — A generally  fair  week  was 
enjoyed  by  the  Providence  first  runs  with 
“Kitty  Foyle”  on  a dual  bill  and  in  its 
second  week  at  the  Albee  leading  the  field 
with  50  per  cent  over  average. 

A second  week  stanza  also  was  earned 
by  “Santa  Fe  Trail”  at  the  Carlton. 

(Average  is  100) 


Albee — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  Saint  in  Palm 

Springs  (RKO),  2nd  wk 150 

Carlton — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN);  Where  Did 

You  Get  That  Girl  (Univ),  2nd  wk 90 

Fays — Ducky  Devils  (Univ);  Ragtime  Cowboy 

Joe  (Univ)  120 

Majestic — Four  Mothers  (WB) ; South  of  Suez 

(WB) 110 

State — Go  West  (M-G-M);  Land  of  Liberty 

(M-G-M) 100 

Strand — Victory  (Para't);  Dancing  on  a 

Dime  (Para’t)  80 


New  Haven  Grosses  Hold 
Against  Sport  Events 

New  Haven — Business  was  better  this 
week  in  spite  of  the  competition  of  outdoor 
skating.  “Flight  Command”  at  the  Loew- 
Poli  and  “Thief  of  Bagdad”  at  the  Roger 
Sherman  were  the  leaders.  Exhibitors  wel- 
comed back  the  5,000  Yale  students. 

Detail  for  week  ended  January  16: 


(Average  Is  100) 

College — Comrade  X (M-G-M);  Jennie  (20th- 

Fox),  2nd  wk 100 

Loew-Poli- — Flight  Command  (M-G-M);  Street 
of  Memories  (20th-Fox),  including  midnight 

New  Year’s  Eve  performance  120 

Paramount — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t),  re- 
turn engagement;  World  in  Flames  (Para’t), 

6 days  90 

Roger  Sherman — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA) ; Mexi- 
can Spitfire  Out  AVest  (RKO) 130 


"Kitty"  Holds  On 

Boston — Harry  McDonald,  RKO  divi- 
sional manager,  put  “Kitty  Foyle”  into  a 
third  week  at  Keith’s  Memorial  to  make 
it  the  town’s  only  holdover.  “The  Saint 
in  Palm  Springs”  also  stayed  for  the  three 
weeks.  Common  RKO  Memorial  practice 
is  to  shift  subsequent-features  on  hold- 
overs. 


To  a Friday  Change 

Hartford — The  M&P’s  Allyn,  managed 
by  Walter  B.  Lloyd,  is  now  starting  all 
new  shows  on  Friday  instead  of  Thursday. 


EPIDEMIC  of  influenza  is  spreading 
throughout  the  state  with  schools  and 
many  public  gathering  places  closed.  The 
epidemic  seems  most  severe  at  Water- 
ville,  Bangor,  Lewiston  and  Auburn.  Doc- 
tors have  publicly  warned  the  public  to 
“stay  away  from  crowds.”  All  local  thea- 
tres are  being  affected  but,  at  present, 
the  situation  is  not  critical. 

Ralph  W.  Pinkham,  manager  of  the 
Temple,  Houlton,  Me.,  for  the  past  ten 
years,  has  been  transferred  to  Bath  to 
take  charge  of  the  Uptown,  formerly  man- 
aged by  Francis  J.  Gooch.  Gooch,  at  the 
same  time,  went  to  Houlton  to  manage  the 
new  Houlton,  directly  adjacent  to  the 
Temple. 

The  Strand  here  is  being  remodeled  and 
redecorated,  with  fluorescent  lighting  fix- 
tures installed  in  the  lobby.  New  carpets 
will  be  laid  throughout  the  theatre.  Walls 
are  to  be  repainted  for  the  most  part, 
except  those  in  the  remodeled  inner  lobby. 
These  will  have  a leather  covering  with 
walnut  agate  glass  and  clear  glass  doors 
and  display  frames,  according  to  Leo 
Young,  manager. 

Marjorie  Peterson,  screen  and  stage 
star,  played  the  leading  role  in  Victor 
Herbert’s  “Babes  in  Toyland,”  presented 
by  Guy  Palmerton  at  the  Civic  Theatre 
last  week.  She  was  supported  by  a New 
York  company. 


PREVALENCE  of  grippe  epidemic  in 
Rhode  Island  has  many  theatres  work- 
ing with  reduced  staffs,  but  still  worse, 
preponderance  of  illness  is  now  being  no- 
ticed in  theatre  grosses  . . . Providence 
theatre  managers  who  in  the  past  couple 
of  years  have  ran  up  against  censorial 
troubles,  now  face  new  headaches  along 
these  lines  in  Chapter  1047  of  city  or- 
dinance, No.  495,  approved  by  City  Council 
December  31  and  now  in  effect.  Ordi- 
nance regulates  billboards  and  outdoor  ad- 
vertising. Portion  directly  due  to  bring 
worry  to  theatres  is  Section  16,  which 
reads:  “No  outdoor  advertising  of  an  ob- 
scene, indecent,  licentious  or  immoral 
character  or  kind,  or  depicting  the  com- 
mission of  any  crime,  shall  be  displayed 
or  maintained  on  or  as  part  of  any  bill- 
board or  structure  ...  In  order  more  ef- 
fectually to  secure  compliance  with  this 
regulation,  no  outdoor  advertising  shall  be 
displayed,  exposed,  posted  up  or  exhibited 
. . . unless  the  subject  matter  thereof  shall 
have  first  been  approved  by  the  bureau  of 
police  and  fire  of  the  city  in  writing.” 
Violations  will  be  subject  to  $10  per  day 
fine  for  every  day  display  continues. 

Fay’s  Theatre,  which  dropped  its  vaude- 
ville-film policy  eight  months  ago,  returned 
to  stage  shows  January  24.  House  has  done 
well  with  first-run  westerns  and  melo- 
dramas but,  according  to  Operator  Edward 
M.  Fay,  lack  of  product  necessitates  drop- 
ping of  the  dual-feature  policy  and  re- 


Luxury  Tax  Bill  to 
Include  Theatres 

Portland — A broad  luxury  tax  bill,  which 
provides  levies  on  amusements,  cosmetics, 
candy,  jewelry,  soft  drinks  and  tobacco, 
has  been  drafted  by  Rep.  E.  Sam  Farwell 
for  introduction  in  the  Maine  legislature 
in  the  near  future. 

The  purpose  of  the  bill  is  to  obtain 
“new  money”  by  which  the  state  can 
finance  old-age  assistance,  welfare  pro- 
grams, including  pauper  support,  and  meet 
increasing  costs  of  expansion  of  govern- 
mental activities. 

A tax  of  one  cent  for  each  10  cents 
or  fractional  part  thereof  on  theatre  ad- 
missions will  be  provided  by  the  bill.  The 
tax  on  cigarettes  and  all  other  forms  of 
tobacco  would  be  five  per  cent  of  the  retail 
selling  price  of  each  article. 

A 10  per  cent  levy  would  be  imposed 
on  the  retail  price  of  cosmetics  or  toilet 
preparations:  a two  per  cent  levy  on  all 
jewelry  sales  and  a similar  tax  on  all 
candy  sales.  The  soft  drink  tax  would  in- 
clude one-fourth  cent  on  each  five  cent 
bottle;  20  cents  a gallon  on  syrups. 


Change  Vaudeville  Days 

Holyoke,  Mass.  — The  Holyoke  has 
vaudeville  Thursday,  Friday,  Saturday, 
instead  of  Monday,  Tuesday,  Wednesday. 


sumption  of  single  features  and  variety 
acts. 

New  fronts  have  recently  gone  up  on 
Associated  Theatres’  Empire  and  Bijou 
and  District  Manager  George  Cronin  is 
sporting  a new  car — all  indicating  business 
good  at  these  theatres.  Empire  staff  is 
awaiting  delivery  of  new  uniforms  . . . 
Manager  Matt  Reilley  of  Associated’s  Pal- 
ace, Cranston,  has  effected  a tieup  with 
Marty’s  Clothing  Mart  through  which  su- 
per clothing  store  carries  advertising  in 
theatre  programs  and  contributes  a suit 
of  clothes  as  prize  in  a number  drawing 
conducted  at  the  theatre  once  a month. 

George  Sarrais,  Providence  College  foot- 
baller, is  that  husky  new  outside  doorman 
wearing  the  Strand  Theatre  uniform  . . . 
Providence  newspaper  critics  tossed  or- 
chids galore  to  Ruth  Hussey,  Providence 
gal,  for  her  work  in  “Flight  Command’’ 
following  film’s  opening  at  Loew’s  State. 
Which  pleased  Manager  Ed  McBride  plenty 
and  helped  film’s  grosses  no  end. 

M&P  circuit  is  running  cooking  schools 
at  their  Strand,  Pawtucket,  and  Stadium, 
Woonsocket,  one  matinee  weekly  during 
this  month.  Florence  Buxman  of  Spry  Re- 
search Kitchen  conducting  the  school  . . . 
Hugh  Kelly,  special  officer  at  the  Strand, 
Pawtucket,  for  the  past  seven  years  and 
who  was  stricken  ill  Christmas  Eve,  died 
at  his  Pawtucket  home,  January  12. 


62 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


jyjYER  STANZLER,  operator  of  the  Com- 
munity in  Wakefield,  has  left  Rhode 
Island  for  Florida  climes  . . . Nathan  Yam- 
ins,  former  local  and  national  Allied  presi- 
dent, plans  to  hit  Florida  the  last  week  of 
the  month  . . . Joe  Mathieu,  circuit  owner 
headquartering  in  Winchendon,  is  another 
exhibitor  with  a Florida  ticket  . . . Warren 
Nichols,  operator  of  the  Gem  in  Peter- 
borough, is  scheduled  to  take  his  golf  bags 
to  Florida  soon. 

Florence  Scully  of  M-G-M  has  been  con- 
valescing . . . David  Ambuter,  head  of  the 
Ambuter  Film  Labs  here,  went  home  last 
week  with  the  grippe  . . . Michael  J . Hur- 
ney,  office  head  of  Specialty  Pictures,  Inc., 
returned  to  the  district  after  being  con- 
fined with  the  flu  . . . Sam  Berg,  Cinema 
Club  president,  has  set  the  fifth  annual 
charitable  ball  of  the  bookers  and  office 
managers  fraternity  for  the  Cocoanut 
Grove,  March  16. 

Jack  Shea,  circuit  owner,  was  in  from 
New  York  . . . Abe  Barry,  Columbia  branch 
manager,  has  returned  from  his  vacation 
. . . Irving  Beck  of  M-G-M  was  here  from 
New  York  . . . Sam  Torgan,  Lowell  ex- 
hibitor, has  been  ill  . . . Morris  Safner, 
Woonsocket  exhibitor,  has  had  the  grippe 
. . . John  Glazier,  booker  for  Western 
Massachusetts  Theatres,  Inc.,  has  been  ill 
. . . Phil  Berler,  E.  M.  Loew  head  booker, 
has  had  the  grippe. 

Ann  McClellan,  Universal  contract  clerk, 
has  resigned  because  of  a change  of  resi- 
dence to  California  . . . Ben  Domingo,  city 
manager  for  the  RKO  Theatres,  has  been 
mourning  the  death  of  his  mother.  His 
mother-in-law  passed  away  a few  days 
previously  . . . Ed  Morey,  Republic  branch 
manager,  has  had  the  grippe  . . . Bill  Haw- 
kins of  Capitol  Theatre  Supply  Co.  has 
been  out  . . . Joe  Stanzler  of  East  Green- 
wich, R.  I.,  has  had  the  grippe  . . . Roy  E. 
Heffner,  local  distributor  and  exhibitor, 
bagged  three  deer  during  the  course  of  a 
recent  western  hunting  trip. 

Ann  Harrington  of  M-G-M  has  been  out 
with  the  flu  . . . Helen  Glazier  of  Pro- 
ducers’ Releasing  Corp.  had  the  grippe 
. . . Shep  Epstein,  field  representative  for 
Arthur  K.  Howard  of  the  Independent  Ex- 
hibitors, Inc.,  had  the  grippe  last  week 
. . . A1  Gould  of  Mount  Pleasant,  R.  I., 
had  the  grippe  . . . William  H.  McLaugh- 
lin jr.,  son  of  the  former  Stoneham  exhibi- 
tor, has  been  named  an  alternate  for  Ann- 
apolis by  Congresswoman  Edith  Nourse 
Rogers. 

Katherine  Galvin  of  Columbia  was  to 
have  become  a bride  this  week  . . . Anna 
Krim,  personal  secretary  to  the  local  Co- 
lumbia branch  manager,  has  a diamond 
. . . Lou  Newman  has  been  appointed  man- 
ager of  the  Trans  Lux  in  Boston,  operated 
by  Interstate  . . . Harriet  Botnick,  veteran 
Columbia  employe,  was  absent  for  the  first 
time  in  years  because  of  the  grippe. 

Shirley  Rachlier  of  Universal  has  been 
out  with  the  grippe  . . . Miriam  Haines  of 
Universal  was  also  ill  . . . Bernard  Levin, 
local  Columbia  accessories  manager,  had 
the  grippe  . . . Joe  Cohen,  booker  for  the 
Morris  Pouzzner  chain,  and  his  bride  have 
been  honeymooning  in  Florida  . . . E.  H. 
Wolk,  Chicago  manufacturer,  stopped  off 


€>  S T O 

in  Boston  last  week  en  route  from  Mon- 
treal to  New  York  . . . Kenneth  R.  Doug- 
lass, Capitol  Theatre  Supply  Co.  head,  was 
out  last  week  with  the  grippe  . . . L.  L. 
Foster,  Capitol  executive,  also  had  a touch 
of  the  flu  . . . Dorothy  Rooney  of  Univer- 
sal had  the  grippe  . . . Emma  V.  Corbett 
of  the  Universal  booking  department  had 
the  grippe. 

Carl  Jamroga  has  been  appointed  man- 
ager of  the  Academy  in  Northampton  by 
Julian  Rif  kin.  Jamroga  formerly  managed 
the  Phillips  in  Springfield  . . . Joseph 
Brennan,  executive  secretary  of  the  MPTO 
here,  was  out  last  week  with  a severe  case 
of  flu  . . . John  Caskey,  New  York  at- 


torney representing  20 th-Fox  in  the  Waldo 
Theatre  Corp.  anti-trust  suit  being  heard 
here,  was  out  last  week  with  the  grippe 
. . . Marian  Neenan  of  M&P  returned  to 
work  last  week  following  the  grippe  . . . 
Wendell  Love  of  Springfield  has  been  run- 
ning film  shows  at  the  Olivette  Commun- 
ity House,  although  still  in  high  school.  He 
hopes  to  enter  the  film  business  on  a full 
basis  when  he  graduates  in  June. 

Stirling  Hayden,  Bostonian  whose  first 
film  appearance  is  in  the  supporting  male 
role  in  “Virginia,”  is  due  here  next  month 
as  part  of  the  exploitation  campaign  on 
the  release.  Hayden  has  been  cast  in  the 
(Continued  on  page  64-C) 


CAPITOL 

AGAIN  STEPS  OUT  FRONT 
bringing  to 

New  England  Exhibitors 


the  combined  personnel  and  mechanical  equipment  oi  the  two 
largest  projector  repair  shops  in  New  England  under  the  per- 
sonal direction  of  Mr.  P.  E.  Comi  of  Theatre  Service  and  Supply 
Company  and  Mr.  A1  Nasif  of  Capitol  Theatre  Supply  Company. 

We  believe  that  this  combination  of  experience,  personnel  and 
equipment,  located  under  one  roof,  in  our  recently  enlarged 
quarters,  will  provide  the  finest  possible  service  to  our  customers. 

After  February  1,  1941,  we  invite  you  to  inspect  these  enlarged 
and  modernized  shop  facilities  at  this  handy  location. 


CAPITOL  THEATRE  SUPPLY  COMPANY 


NEW  ENGLAND  ORGANIZATION  FOR 
NEW  ENGLAND  EXHIBITORS 

28-30  PIEDMONT  STREET  • BOSTON,  MASS. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


63 


JJXHIBITORS  have  until  January  31 
to  worry  about  new  legislation  in  the 
current  session  of  the  state  legislature. 
After  that  no  new  bills  can  be  filed  . . . 
Allied  Theatre  Owners  of  Connecticut  met 
Tuesday  for  lunch  and  the  regular  bi- 
weekly talk  on  problems  of  the  business 
. . . A big  social  event  was  the  Donaldson 
dinner  which  expressed  the  good  wishes 
of  the  trade  to  the  departing  and  the  new 
local  Metro  exchange  manager.  Bouquets 
to  the  committee  for  arrangements.  Mau- 
rice N.  Wolf  was  in  fine  style  as  toast- 
master. Twenty-two  Boston  film  men  in- 
cluding the  entire  Metro  office  staff  came 
down  in  a private  railroad  car.  Donaldson 
bade  the  boys  goodbye  in  an  earnest  speech. 
The  film  circle  liked  Morey  Goldstein  at 
first  sight  and  predicted  he  would  receive 
the  cooperation  he  asked  for  in  his  talk. 

Harry  Shaw  was  to  the  point  in  his  own 
inimitable  style  at  the  banquet.  Jack  Fish- 
man did  a smart  job  of  presenting  the 
beautiful  parchment  scroll  and  a hand- 
some radio-Victrola  combination  to  Don- 
aldson. Hy  Fine  was  given  his  usual  en- 
thusiastic reception.  Ben  Simon,  Walter 
Higgins,  Herman  Rifkin  and  Joseph  Stein 
added  speeches.  The  governor  of  New 
Hampshire,  mayor  of  Berlin,  N.  H.,  and 
headmaster  of  Donaldson’s  school  in  Ber- 
lin sent  wires.  Mack  Murray  floored  them 
with  his  “psychic”  reading.  Virgie  Scott 
contributed  hilarious  lyrics.  And  another 
New  Haven  manager  makes  good. 

The  grippe  bug  is  becoming  increasingly 
active.  Latest  on  the  sick  list  include  I. 
J.  Hoffman  and  B.  E.  Hoffman,  Warner 
theatre  department  executives;  Lou  Phil- 
lips, Modern  Theatre  Supply  manager; 
Max  Melincoff,  Warner  theatre  depart- 
ment; Norman  Randall,  assistant  at  Para- 
mount, New  Haven  . . . Jeanette  Berliner 
keeping  to  her  Republic  booking  post  in 
spite  of  a bad  cold  . . . Marian,  daughter 
of  the  late  Abe  Fishman,  home  from  Uni- 
versity of  Connecticut  with  the  grippe  . . . 
“Dean”  Morris  Joseph,  looking  himself 
again,  visited  Meadow  Street  and  his  Uni- 
versal office  before  leaving  for  a Florida 
vacation  . . . Lucy  Flack  escaped  unhurt 
when  her  Pontiac  car  was  badly  damaged 
in  a collision  . . . J.  H.  Reilly  jr„  WICC 
news  reporter,  died  of  cerebral  hemor- 
rhages after  being  stricken  in  his  car. 

Peter  Perakos  and  Joseph  Quittner  are 
reported  erecting  a 1,000-seat  theatre  in 
East  Hartford  . . . The  Albert  Smiths  have 
a new  vertical  neon  sign  on  their  500-seat 
Colonial,  Walnut  Beach  . . . Morris  Druc- 
ker,  assistant  at  the  Poli,  Worcester,  has 
been  transferred  to  the  State,  Cleveland, 
to  substitute  for  Everett  Steinbuck,  on 
leave  of  absence,  while  Max  Nevetsky,  as- 
sistant  at  Elm  Street,  fills  Drucker’s 
Shoes. 

The  Barney  Pitkins  (he  is  RKO  man- 
ager) are  in  Florida  and  may  take  in  Ha- 
vana, too  . . . Sam  Rosen  of  Rosen  Film 
Deliveries  is  getting  set  for  a visit  to  Flor- 
ida and  some  fishing  . . . Earl  Wright, 
20th-Fox,  just  back  from  St.  Petersburg, 
says  he  caught  enough  fish  to  supply  all 
the  neighbors.  He  has  pictures  to  prove 
it  . . . Ben  Cohen,  former  College  manager, 
on  leave  from  Calcutta,  still  visiting  in 
town. 


New  Haven  20 th-Fox  exchange  rated 
eighth  in  the  country  in  the  Sidney  R. 
Kent  Drive  . . . All  Poli  houses  played  the 
special  newsreel  shots  of  the  Hurley  in- 
auguration, including  not  only  the  in- 
augural ceremonies  arid  parade,  but  also 
the  ball  at  the  armory.  Opening  day  at 
the  Poli,  Hartford,  had  the  governor  and 
staff  members  as  honor  guests  . . . Martin 
Larkin  of  the  Hays  office  is  spending  some 
time  in  New  Haven,  Bridgeport,  Water- 
bury,  and  other  New  England  towns  on 
“Land  of  Liberty,”  documentary  “war  re- 
lief” film  which  soon  plays  all  Poli  towns. 
Bert  Mackenzie,  Boston  M-G-M  exploita- 
tion man,  also  spent  a few  days  in  the  ter- 
ritory on  exploitation  of  the  picture. 

Bob  Russell  and  Nat  Rubin  gave 
“GWTW"  a second  big  sendoff  in  New 
Haven  . . . "Love  Thy  Neighbor,”  back 
for  a six-day  re-engagement  at  the  Para- 
mount, after  a tremendous  first  week,  was 
co-featured  with  “World  in  Flames”  this 
time  . . . Morris  Rosenthal  staged  a special 
screening  at  the  Majestic,  Bridgeport,  of 
"Land  of  Liberty,”  inviting  150  publicity 
and  personnel  executives  of  leading  fac- 
tories, educators,  city  officials,  and  the 
press. 

Projector  Repair  Shop 
Above  Capitol  Supply 

Boston — Kenneth  R.  Douglass,  Capitol 
Theatre  Supply  head,  has  turned  the  sec- 
ond floor  of  Capitol  quarters  into  a pro- 
jector repair  shop  to  accommodate  the 
combination  of  personnel  and  mechanical 
equipment  of  Capitol  with  that  of  the  The- 
atre Service  & Supply  Co.  The  move  gives 
Capitol  the  largest  projector  repair  shop 
in  New  England. 

P.  Edward  Comi  of  the  Theatre  Service 
& Supply  Co.  and  A1  Nasif  of  the  Capitol 
Theatre  Supply  Co.  will  personally  su- 
pervise the  shop  when  the  new  setup  goes 
into  effect  February  1.  The  enlarged  and 
modernized  shop  facilities  will  be  open  to 
inspection  at  that  time. 

Al  Herman  New  England 
Manager  lor  Monogram 

Boston — Al  Herman  has  been  installed 
here  as  New  England  manager  for  Mono- 
gram, succeeding  Steve  Broidy  who  be- 
came national  sales  manager.  Herman  was 
recently  New  England  district  manager  for 
Universal  and  before  that  was  connected 
in  an  executive  capacity  with  several 
other  major  distributors. 


Weekly  Quiz  Program 

Hartford — A quiz  program  which  will  be 
a regular  Friday  feature,  has  been  started 
at  the  State  here.  Cash  awards  totaling 
$100  will  be  given  away  weekly  for  correct 
answers.  Jack  Lacey,  local  radio  station 
announcer,  will  be  the  quizmaster. 


Martha  Scott  and  Brent 

Hollywood — Martha  Scott  has  been  set 
for  the  lead  opposite  George  Brent  in 
“They  Dare  Not  Love,”  Sam  Bischoff  pro- 
duction for  Columbia. 


Turn  to  Radio  When 
Printers  Walk  Out 

New  Haven — Theatres,  along  with  other 
advertisers,  took  all  available  air  space  on 
local  stations  WELI,  WBRY  and  WICC 
when  they  were  confronted  last  week  with 
a two- day  suspension  of  publication  of  the 
Morning  Journal-Courier  and  a one-day 
suspension  of  the  evening  Register,  both 
John  Day  Jackson  papers. 

A strike  by  Local  47,  International  Typo- 
graphical Union,  for  a $3  weekly  wage  in- 
crease, a written  contract  and  a two-week 
vacation  with  pay,  caused  the  tieup,  first  in 
the  history  of  the  Courier  and  second  for 
the  Register,  the  only  New  Haven  dailies. 

Theatres  were  swamped  with  telephone 
calls,  and  business  showed  a drop,  although 
it  was  impossible  to  trace  this  directly  to 
the  lack  of  a press. 

The  Register  has  resumed  publication 
under  a temporary  agreement  with  the 
union. 


Sunday  Censor  Gives  31 
Clean  Bill  of  Health 

Boston — Films  were  given  a clean  bill 
of  health  by  the  Sunday  Bureau  of  Cen- 
sorship when  the  entire  list  of  31  went 
through  without  eliminations.  The  fea- 
tures surveyed  included  M-G-M’s  “Maisie 
Was  a Lady,”  20th-Fox’s  “Girl  in  the 
News,”  and  Monogram’s  “You’re  Out  of 
Luck.” 

The  title  change  of  Paramount’s  “Magic 
in  Music”  to  "Hard-boiled  Canary”  was 
noted. 

The  Cathry  Dancers  was  the  only  vaude- 
ville routine  to  be  refused  a Sunday  li- 
cense, although  four  other  acts  including 
the  George  White  “Scandals”  tab,  were 
clipped.  Ben  Blue  and  16  other  vaudeville 
acts  were  okayed  for  Sabbath  showings. 


Horace  Decelles  to  Helm 
Of  Richmond , N . Adams 

North  Adams,  Mass.  — Horace  Decelles, 
assistant  manager  at  the  Capitol,  Pitts- 
field, and  formerly  assistant  manager  of 
the  Paramount,  has  been  appointed  man- 
ager of  the  Richmond,  succeeding  Thomas 
W.  Chatburn  who  has  resigned  due  to 
poor  health.  Gerald  Savoie,  former  man- 
ager of  the  Richmond,  was  shifted  from 
the  Victory,  Holyoke,  to  the  Capitol,  Pitts- 
field, replacing  Decelles. 


Boost  Elizabeth  Wilson 
To  Academy  Manager 

Northampton,  Mass. — Elizabeth  Wilson, 
cashier  and  assistant  manager  of  the 
Academy  here,  has  been  upped  to  man- 
ager, succeeding  M.  Frank  Shaughnessy, 
who  is  now  recuperating  from  injuries  re- 
ceived in  an  automobile  accident. 

It  was  announced  earlier  in  Springfield 
that  Carl  Jamroga,  manager  of  the  Phil- 
lips in  that  city,  would  handle  the  Acad- 
emy, a Herman  Rifkin  house. 


64 


BOXOFF1CE  ::  January  25,  1941 


HARTFORD 


(r  = ' =Si 

May  Have  to  Resort 
To  Female  Help 

Hartford — Factories  and  shops  in  this 
area  participating  in  the  defense  pro- 
gram are  cutting  heavily  into  the  per- 
sonnel of  local  theatres  and  creating  for 
exhibitors  a first-class  problem. 

Ushers  are  being  lured  away  almost 
daily  as  well  as  a number  of  higher- 
placed  employes,  including  student  as- 
sistants and  assistant  managers. 

Exhibitors  generally  believe  they  will 
have  to  resort  to  female  employes  to 
solve  the  problem  for  the  duration  of  the 
war  emergency,  at  least. 

J 

Birthday  Ball  Plans  in 
Charge  of  Jack  Simons 

Hartford — Jack  A.  Simons,  manager  of 
Loew’s  Poli,  has  been  appointed  chairman 
of  the  President’s  Birthday  Ball  to  be  held 
January  30  at  the  Hartford  Club. 

Rudy  Prank,  publicity  director  for  the 
State,  and  Wallace  J.  Cooper,  assistant 
manager  of  Loew’s  Poli,  are  in  charge  of 
entertainment.  Other  committees:  Re- 
ception, Morris  Schulman,  Schulman  The- 
atres; George  E.  Landers,  E.  M.  Loew’s; 
David  E.  Sugarman,  Colonial.  Concessions: 
Walter  B.  Lloyd,  Allyn;  James  F.  McCar- 
thy, Strand;  Personnel:  Louis  A.  Cohen, 
Palace;  Michael  J.  Daly,  Daly. 


Springfield  Local  186 
Inaugurates  Officers 

Springfield,  Mass. — Officers  for  the  new 
year  were  inaugurated  recently  by  Local 
186  at  the  Central  Labor  Union  hall  here. 
They  include:  Benjamin  G.  Hull,  Bijou, 
business  agent;  Louis  Williamson,  Bijou, 
president;  Granville  G.  Best,  vice-presi- 
dent; Arthur  J.  Payette,  Arcade,  secretary- 
treasurer,  and  Owen  Holmes,  Garden; 
Yvan  Ellia,  Paramount,  and  Edwin  B.  Web- 
ber, Broadway,  executive  board  members. 

The  Local’s  next  meeting  will  be  held 
February  3 at  the  labor  union  hall. 


Joseph  E hr  lick  to  Manage 
Gayety  for  E . M.  Loew 

Boston — Joseph  Ehrlick  has  been  ap- 
pointed manager  of  the  Gayety  by  E.  M. 
Loew.  Ehrlick,  former  assistant  publicist 
for  Loew’s  State  and  Orpheum  here,  was 
for  several  years  assistant  to  Advertis- 
ing Manager  Jack  Granara  at  local  RKO 
theatres.  Ehrlick  has  also  been  connected 
in  an  exploitation  capacity  with  United 
Artists  and  the  handling  of  roadshows  last 
summer  for  Harry  Segal. 


Head  Theatre  Firm 

Hartford — The  secretary  of  state  has  re- 
ceived a certificate  of  organization  from 
the  State  Hartford  Theatre,  Inc.,  naming 
as  officers : Theodore  Harris  of  West  Hart- 
ford, president;  Martin  D.  Harris  of  Pas- 
saic, N.  J.,  vice-president;  and  Sam  E. 
Harris  of  Passaic,  treasurer-secretary. 


jyjANAGER  BILL  FLANAGHAN  of  the 
Lyric  reports  Ideal  has  reseated  that 
990-seat  house  . . . While  Charlie  Repass, 
Crown  manager,  was  ill  at  home  with  the 
flu,  Barney  Fitzpatrick,  the  Crown’s  chief 
of  service,  filled  in  . . . Manuel  Wendrow, 
former  Proven  Pictures  doorman,  is  a new 
usher  at  the  State  . . . Bill  “Big  Ben”  Benn, 
projectionist  at  the  Crown,  has  been  ill 
with  the  flu.  Leo  Tasmannio  filled  in  . . . 
Irving  Freedman,  former  chief  of  the 
State’s  service  staff,  is  the  new  doorman 
at  the  State  . . . Jack  A.  Simons,  Loew’s 
Poli  manager,  was  ill  with  the  grippe  . . . 
Elihu  Brooks,  doorman  at  the  Loew’s  Poli, 
was  given  a two-week  leave  of  absence  due 
to  Trinity  College  exams. 

The  Empire,  New  London,  managed  by 
Tommy  Ware,  has  been  redecorated  . . . 
O.  H.  Matinzi,  manager  of  the  Palace, 
Rockville,  visited  his  parents  in  Plymouth, 
Mass.  . . . Jules  Frank,  Loew’s  Poli  chief 
of  service,  now  takes  his  day  off  on  Fri- 
day . . . Mrs.  Joseph  Loftus,  wife  of  the 
Colonial  janitor,  is  dead  . . . Nick  Mascoli 
of  the  Plaza,  W aterbury , was  ill  with  the 
grippe  . . . The  Children’s  Museum  of  Hart- 
ford presented  a motion  picture  program 
on  New  England  last  Sunday  afternoon 
. . . Blue  Barron  and  his  orchestra  played 
to  SRO  business  at  the  State  . . . Phil  Ber- 
gin,  student  assistant  at  the  Loew’s  Poli 
Elm  Street,  Worcester,  is  noiv  assistant 
manager  . . . John  Moreno  has  joined 
the  ushers’  corps  at  the  State  . . . Jules 
Frank,  chief  of  service  at  the  Loew’s  Poli, 
had  a bad  cold. 

Joseph  Miklos,  manager  of  the  Broad- 
way over  in  Norwich,  is  reportedly  contem- 
plating marriage  . . . Stanley  Barnett  is 
the  new  doorman  at  Proven  Pictures  here, 
succeeding  Manuel  Wendrow,  resigned  . . . 
Frankie  Ramsey,  assistant  manager  at  the 
WB’s  Strand,  was  in  New  Haven  . . . Rob- 
ert Tamkin  is  the  new  relief  doorman  at 
the  WB’s  Strand  . . . Joseph  Bernard, 
chief  of  the  WB’s  Strand  service  staff,  had 
a bad  cold  . . . Sylvester  Markoski,  assist- 
ant manager  at  the  Proven  Pictures,  an- 
nounces the  appointment  of  Rosalie  Gur- 
aso  as  cashier  at  that  theatre. 


^^HEN  the  epidemic  of  cold  and  influ- 
enza cases  began  to  reach  disturbing 
proportions  in  New  Hampshire,  children 
were  refused  admittance  to  theatres  in 
Dover.  City  Health  Officer  George  Bren- 
nan barred  youngsters  from  all  public 
gathering  places  in  an  effort  to  curb  fur- 
ther spread  of  the  flu.  Later  a similar 
order  was  issued  in  Keene,  where  more 
than  700  school  children  were  ill. 

Arthur  Brock  of  Laconia,  a member  of 
the  “Mimic  Four,”  famous  vaudeville  team 
of  the  early  1900’s,  has  received  word  of 
the  death  of  one  of  the  quartet,  William 
B.  Van  Duser,  in  Davenport,  la.  At  one 
time,  Van  Duser  leased  the  Moulton  Opera 
House  in  Laconia  for  theatrical  produc- 
tions. 

In  the  neighboring  state  of  Vermont,  the 
inauguration  address  of  the  new  governor, 


Kitty  Newcomb  of  the  Crown,  New  Lon- 
don, is  soon  to  be  Mrs.  Mondo  Baldelli  . . . 
Harold  Thomas,  assistant  manager  of  the 
New  London  Crown,  was  in  New  Haven 
recently  . . . Joseph  Samartano,  manager 
of  the  Loew’s  Poli  Palace,  Meriden,  landed 
a newspaper  color  contest  for  “North  West 
Mounted  Police”  . . . Alhambra,  Torring- 
ton,  brought  back  “Hell’s  Angels”  . . . 
Raymond  England,  manager  of  the  Colo- 
nial, Southington,  has  been  named  chair- 
man of  the  local  committee  for  the  Presi- 
dent’s Birthday  Ball  . . . “Flight  Com- 
mand” was  held  over  for  a second  week  at 
the  Loew’s  Poli  Palace. 

Thomas  Quinn  is  the  new  usher  at  the 
M&P's  Allyn,  succeeding  Norman  Lang, 
resigned  . . . George  Feschler,  usher  at 
the  WB’s  Regal,  has  been  upped  to  door- 
man . . . The  Laurel  Cinema  Club  held  a 
meeting  in  the  club  room  of  Sam  Merman’s 
Camera  Exchange  . . . Patricia  Ellis,  film 
star,  did  a p.  a.  at  the  State,  Torrington 
. . . Three  training  motion  pictures,  “In- 
fantry Crossing  Stream,”  “Employment  of 
Machine  Guns  in  Defense,”  and  “Infantry 
Hasty  Field  Fortifications,”  were  shown  at 
a meeting  of  reserve  officers  in  this  dis- 
trict last  Thursday  evening  in  the  Hartford 
Federal  Building. 

The  play,  “Ladies  in  Waiting,”  is  due  at 
the  E.  M.  Loew’s  Court  Square,  Spring- 
field,  Wednesday,  February  5,  as  the  first 
in  a series  to  be  shown  at  that  E.  M.  Loew 
house  under  the  sponsorship  of  the  Spring- 
field  Playgoers’  League.  Such  big  produc- 
tions as  “The  Man  Who  Came  to  Dinner,” 
“The  Little  Foxes,”  and  “Life  With 
Father,”  are  due  at  the  same  theatre  . . . 
Schulman’ s Plaza,  Windsor,  brought  back 
“Mikado,”  starring  Kenny  Baker  . . . Mrs. 
M.  Oakley  Christoph,  film  columnist  on  the 
Hartford  Courant,  spoke  on  “ The  Theatre 
of  Today,”  at  a meeting  of  the  Guild  of 
St.  Theresa  in  the  Sacred  Heart  parish, 
Wethersfield  . . . Betty  Van  Dyke,  former 
director  of  publicity  at  the  State,  Hart- 
ford, appeared  in  the  Hartford  Players’ 
production  of  “Shadows  and  Substance,” 
at  the  Avery  Memorial. 


William  H.  Wills,  included  a recommenda- 
tion for  direct  repeal  of  the  state  law 
legalizing  amusement  machines.  The  new 
executive  favored  abolishing  the  machines 
regardless  of  the  loss  of  revenue  involved. 

Keene’s  new  radio  station,  WKNE,  was 
dedicated  recently  with  nearly  100  guests 
in  attendance.  Special  guests  included 
Gov.  Robert  O.  Blood  and  members  of  his 
military  staff  and  executive  council. 


Show  German  Comedy 

Hartford — The  German  comedy,  “Das 
Ekel,”  was  shown  at  Saegerbund  Hall. 


To  “Episode  in  Lisbon" 

Hollywood — “Episode  in  Lisbon,”  an 
Edgar  Selwyn  production  for  Metro,  is  be- 
ing adapted  by  Everett  Freeman. 


BOXOFFICE  : ; January  25,  1941 


G4-A 


BRIDGEPORT 


^JRS.  OLIVE  J.  SIMMS,  cashier  at  the 
E.  M.  Loew’s  Court  Square,  has  re- 
turned to  Springfield  after  a visit  to  her 
husband,  who  is  living  at  present  in  St. 
Catharine’s,  Canada  . . . Manager  George 
E.  Freeman  of  the  Loew’s  Poli  reported 
smash  SRO  business  with  “Flight  Com- 
mand” . . . Philip  Smith  is  a new  usher 
at  the  Broadway,  succeeding  Joseph  Dolan, 
resigned  . . . Louis  Lambert,  projectionist 
at  the  Garden,  and  Simone  Sirois  of 
Springfield  are  slated  to  be  married  some 
time  in  February  . . . Stevan  Colter,  pro- 
jectionist at  the  Loew’s  Poli,  returned  last 
week  to  Springfield  after  a physical  check- 
up at  the  Leahy  Clinic  in  Boston. 

Mrs.  Anne  A.  Snow  is  the  cashier  at  the 
WB’s  Capitol,  replacing  Evelyn  King,  who 
has  left  for  fields  unknown  . . . Romeo 
Pelliquin,  former  WB’s  Capitol  porter,  is 
now  stationed  with  Uncle  Sam’s  army  at 
Fort  Devans,  Mass.  . . . Herman  Rifkin  of 
the  Rifkin  Theatres  returned  to  this  area 
last  Wednesday  after  attending  the  Mono- 
gram convention  out  in  St.  Louis.  Julian 
Rifkin  of  the  Boston  office  was  also  in 
town  last  week  . . . Bernard  Cramber,  U A 
exploitation  field  representative,  was  in 
Springfield  to  set  a ‘‘Thief  of  Bagdad” 
campaign  for  the  local  Loew’s-Poli  rolling 
. . . Johnny  Sullivan,  electrician  at  the 
Loew’s-Poli,  won  the  speed  skating  contest 
at  Porter  Lake  last  Monday  night. 

The  flu  epidemic  hit  not  only  Spring- 
field  theatre-goers  last  week,  but  theatre 
help  as  well.  As  Boxoffice  went  to  press, 
those  ill  with  the  flu  in  this  town  were: 
Eddie  Powers,  assistant  manager,  F&M 
Art;  Henry  Cook,  GB’s  Paramount  chief 
engineer;  William  “Billy”  Powell,  division 
manager,  Rifkin  Theatres:  Arthur  Roberts, 
GB’s  Paramount  usher;  Johnny  Smail,  Ar- 
cade usher,  and  Guy  Kellogg,  GB’s  Para- 
mount usher. 

William  Carroll  of  the  Warner,  Lynn, 
was  recently  operated  on  for  appendicitis 
. . . Manager  Joseph  Flynn  of  the  Victoria, 
Lawrence,  has  recovered  from  an  illness 
. . . Henry  Smith,  son  of  Edward,  GB’s 
Paramount,  Springfield  manager,  will 
leave  in  about  a week  for  training  in  Uncle 
Sam’s  air  corps  . . . Palace,  Lawrence,  has 
been  remodeled  and  redecorated  . . . George 
E.  Freeman,  Loew’s-Poli,  Springfield  man- 
ager, has  been  appointed  chairman  of  the 
Springfield  Greek  War  Relief  Ass’n  motion 
picture  committee. 

Ted  Holt  of  Loew’s-Poli  maintenance 
department.  New  Haven,  Conn.,  is  in  town 
to  repair  seats  at  the  local  Loew’s-Poli 
. . . Katharine  Hoar  has  been  named  chief 
candy  girl  at  the  Loew’s-Poli  ...  All  ser- 
vice staff  members  at  the  F&M  Art  are 
now  sporting  new  uniforms  . . . Melvin  M. 
Aronson  and  Joseph  J.  Josephs,  GB’s  Para- 
mount chief  of  service  staff  and  doorman, 
respectively,  are  now  taking  fencing  les- 
sons at  the  West  Springfield  YMCA  . . . 
F&M  Art  played  Monogram’s  “Queen  of 
the  Yukon”  . . . GB’s  Paramount  had  Re- 
public’s “Barnyard  Follies.” 

Henry  Cook,  chief  engineer  at  the  GB’s 
Paramount,  will  have  six  teeth  extracted 
within  two  weeks  . . . Mary  Manning,  re- 
ceptionist for  the  Western  Massachusetts 
Theatres,  Inc.,  had  a cold  . . . Arthur 


Deane  Nelson,  chief  of  the  service  staff  at 
the  E.  M.  Loew’s  Court  Square,  is  grow- 
ing a mustache  . . . Now  sporting  a nifty 
new  wrist  watch  is  Pauline  Norat,  candy 
girl  at  the  E.  M.  Loew’s  Court  Square  . . . 
John  Ross  is  a new  part-time  usher  at  the 
WB’s  Capitol,  succeeding  Thomas  Kenney, 
who  is  now  a full-time  man  at  that  thea- 
tre ..  . Raymond  Title  of  the  F&M  Art 
was  in  Boston’s  film  district  last  week  on 
business. 

Sammy  Kaye  and  his  orchestra  are  due 
at  the  local  GB’s  Paramount  for  a three- 
day  run,  starting  Monday  . . . Ernest  W. 
Whitford  of  the  E.  M.  Loew’s  Court  Square 
reports  that  bigger  and  better  vaudeville 
acts  are  due  at  that  theatre  in  February 
. . . Alex  Condinno,  former  Broadway  usher, 
is  a new  usher  at  the  Jefferson  . . . Joseph 
Condinno  is  the  new  Garden  doorman,  suc- 
ceeding Raymond  Grainger,  resigned  . . . 
J.  Jerauld,  assistant  to  Harry  Smith,  divi- 
sion manager  and  also  director  of  public- 
ity for  the  Western  Massachusetts  Thea- 
tres, Inc.,  visited  George  W.  Coleman  and 
Hy  Nozak  of  the  Arcade. 

Tony  diCaro,  assistant  manager  at  the 
WB’s  Capitol,  has  a large  new  sign  entitled 
“Stand  by  America!”  in  a prominent  place 
in  his  office  . . . Charlie  Harvey  is  the 
new  porter  at  the  WB’s  Capitol  . . . Eve 
“Auntie”  Sarafini,  cashier  at  the  WB’s 
Capitol,  had  the  grippe  . . . The  Massa- 
chusetts state  employment  service  last 
week  reported  that  6,820  persons  found 
jobs  in  the  Bay  State  during  the  month  of 
December  . . . M.  Frank  Shaughnessy  of 
the  Academy,  Northampton,  is  recuperating 
in  the  Cooley  Dickinson  Hospital,  North- 
ampton, from  injuries  received  in  an  auto- 
mobile accident  last  fortnight  outside  of 
Northampton  . . . Carl  Jamroga,  manager 
of  the  Phillips,  Springfield,  had  the  grippe. 

Richard  Diodate  is  a new  doorman  at 
the  Garden,  Springfield  ...  In  town  last 
Monday  to  see  Manager  George  E.  Free- 
man of  the  Loew’s-Poli  concerning  plans 
for  “Gone  With  the  Wind,”  was  Harry  F. 
Shaw,  division  manager  of  the  Loew’s  Poli 
circuit  . . . Daniel  Schwartz,  assistant  man- 
ager at  the  Jefferson,  Springfield,  has  re- 
signed, as  has  also  Albert  Morreau,  as- 
sistant manager  at  the  Forest  Park  Phil- 
lips . . . Dickie  Larsen,  usher  at  the  Ar- 
cade, has  sold  a love  song  (the  title  of 
which  is  to  be  announced  soon)  to  a music 
publishing  company. 


Results  From  Protest 

Springfield,  Mass. — A union  projection- 
ist was  hired  to  exhibit  “U.  S.  Tobacco- 
land,”  a 16mm  commercial  by  Chesterfield, 
following  a protest  by  Local  186.  The 
IATSE  Local  considers  the  16mm  field  its 
sphere  of  operation,  and  has  been  actively 
opposing  all  efforts  to  negate  its  stand. 


See  Anderson  Film  Early 

Hanover,  N.  H. — This  Dartmouth  College 
town  had  the  distinction  on  January  15 
of  being  one  of  the  first  communities  in 
the  nation  to  witness  a film  of  Maxwell 
Anderson’s  play,  “Journey  to  Jerusalem,”  a 
recent  Broadway  stage  hit. 


V- >J 

fjARRY  F.  SHAW,  Loew’s  New  England 
division,  and  his  wife,  Flo,  are  going 
to  Hollywood  in  March.  They  have  planned 
the  trip  for  several  years  and  have  always 
ended  up  in  Cuba  or  Mexico,  but  this 
year  it  will  really  be  the  west  coast  . . . 
Mark  Larkin  of  the  Hays  office  was  in 
town  . . . Ernest  Graculia,  manager  of  the 
State,  Torrington,  made  the  papers  when 
he  had  his  picture  taken  with  Patricia 
Ellis. 

Managers  Matt  L.  Saunders  of  the 
Loew-Poli,  Morris  Rosenthal  of  the  Majes- 
tic, and  Harry  Rose  of  the  Globe  were  in 
New  Haven  for  the  testimonial  dinner  to 
Thomas  Dojialdson,  departing  M-G-M  ex- 
change head  . . . The  Palace,  Stamford, 
is  again  playing  vaudeville  on  Saturdays 
. . . George  Mangone,  manager  of  the  Play- 
house in  Ridgefield,  has  been  transferred 
to  the  Playhouse  in  nearby  Rye,  N.  Y. 
Richard  Night  of  the  New  Canaan  Play- 
house is  looking  after  the  Ridgefield 
Theatre. 

Manager  Manny  Kugell  of  the  Warner 
was  the  first  trade  flu  victim  in  town. 
His  wife  and  little  daughter  were  also  ill 
. . . Manager  Morris  Rosenthal  of  the  Ma- 
jestic ran  two  morning  previews  of  “Land 
of  Liberty”  ...  Ed  Madden,  Lyric  man- 
ager, has  been  busy  in  New  York  . . . Max 
Rudnick  is  sending  his  friends  and  busi- 
ness associates  crates  of  oranges  and 
grapefruit  from  Florida  . . . Bert  McKen- 
zie, M-G-M  field  man  from  Boston,  was  in 
town  and  landed  himself  in  the  middle  of 
two  column  art  in  the  dailies  pratting 
Manager  Matt  L.  Saunders  for  his  advance 
campaign  on  “Gone  With  the  Wind.” 

The  city-owned  Klein  Memorial  is  nego- 
tiating with  the  United  booking  office  and 
Lee  Shubert  in  New  York  to  bring  legiti- 
mate attractions  here.  The  city  was  once 
one  of  the  principal  try-out  towns  in  the 
east,  but  during  the  past  15  years  has  seen 
only  about  a half-dozen  legitimate  attrac- 
tions . . . Gus  Myers  jr.,  orchestra  leader  at 
the  Globe,  has  been  on  the  sick  list. 

Lou  Carroll  is  manager  of  the  Alham- 
bra, Torrington.  The  house  is  using  re- 
issues four  days  a week  at  10  and  20  cents 
and  vaudeville  two  days  . . . Johnny  Downs 
did  a personal  appearance  at  the  State, 
Torrington  . . . John  Scanlon  of  the  War- 
ner, Torrington,  is  looking  for  a new  as- 
sistant manager  . . . Cecila  Svobowitz, 
cashier  at  the  Palace,  Torrington,  will  be- 
come a bride  on  February  22  . . . Thomas 
Murphy  of  the  Lyric  was  feted  by  theatri- 
cal friends  at  a testimonial  dinner  mark- 
ing his  37th  year  in  show  business. 

Back  from  illness  absences  are  Horace 
Vitallie  of  the  Lowe-Poli  and  Richard 
Carey  of  the  Majestic  . . . Harry  Rose  of 
the  Globe  guested  Post-Telegram  carriers 
at  “Behind  the  News”  . . . Instead  of  go- 
ing up  on  admissions  for  “North  West 
Mounted  Police,”  the  Warner  eliminated 
the  balcony  price  and  made  the  admission 
standard  for  the  entire  theatre  . . . The 
sudden  sleet  storm  hit  theatres  hard  all 
over  the  western  section  of  the  state. 


64-B 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


Women  s Civic  Federation 
Hears  John  Mason  Brown 

Boston — John  Mason  Brown,  New  York 
dramatic  critic,  spoke  at  the  Copley-Plaza 
last  week  before  the  Women’s  Civic  Fed- 
eration of  Massachusetts  on  “The  Theatre 
and  the  Movies.” 

Brown  said  the  art  of  the  motion  picture 
is  lagging  behind  its  mechanical  achieve- 
ments, and  he  called  Walt  Disney’s  “Fan- 
tasia” the  purest  picture  of  the  winter  in 
camera  terms,  suggesting  that  it  travels 
from  the  sublime  to  the  ridiculous  and  has 
a mixture  of  good  and  bad  which,  accord- 
ing to  Brown,  “is  so  typical  of  Hollywood.” 


Memorial  Mass 

Boston — The  Catholic  Motion  Picture 
Guild  plans  a Memorial  Mass  in  memory 
of  the  “deceased  of  the  industry”  for  next 
month.  This  film  district  organization,  to 
which  any  film  man  may  belong  regard- 
less of  his  religious  preference,  is  also 
completing  arrangements  for  a retreat 
group  which  will  attend  Campion  Hall  in 
Andover  for  the  weekend  of  April  4. 


"Range  Busters"  Popular 

Boston  — Tom  O’Brien,  Monogram 
booker,  reports  that  George  Weeks’  new 
“Range  Busters”  series  is  catching  on  in 
New  England  in  sizable  proportions. 
O’Brien  told  this  publication  that  “200 
theatres  in  the  New  England  states  al- 
ready are  booking  the  westerns.” 


Schuman  to  Modernize 

Bridgeport — A.  M.  Schuman  plans  to 
modernize  his  Black  Rock  here.  The  pro- 
ject will  include  a complete  overhauling 
job,  new  seats,  slightly  increased  capacity, 
more  modern  rest  rooms,  new  booth  equip- 
ment, redecorating,  new  carpets,  and  mar- 
quee alterations. 


Study  Officers'  Fees 

Glastonbury,  Conn.  — At  a meeting  of 
the  Glastonbury  police  commission,  a com- 
mittee comprising  Commissioners  Hune 
and  Samuel  W.  Friend  was  appointed  to 
study  a system  of  handling  fees  for  special 
officers  stationed  at  places  of  amusement, 
including  theatres. 


Leaves  War  Behind 

Bridgeport,  Conn. — Michelina,  sister  of 
Anthony  Masella,  assistant  manager  at 
Loew’s  Globe,  has  arrived  in  this  country 
by  Clipper  after  being  trapped  by  the  war 
in  Naples.  Miss  Masella,  a voice  student, 
made  her  opera  debut  in  Italy  a few  days 
before  the  country  entered  the  war. 


Has  New  Kiddie  Deal 
Boston — Joseph  Schmuck,  local  film  and 
premium  distributor  with  offices  on  Mel- 
rose Street,  has  a new  kiddie  deal.  The 
latest  juvenile  premium  is  operated  in  con- 
junction with  film  shorts. 


Settle  Bank  Night  Suit 

Boston — Joe  Mathieu,  circuit  owner,  and 
Roy  E.  Heffner  have  settled  a Bank  Night 
lottery  suit  out  of  court. 


(Continued  from  page  63) 


second  male  lead  in  “Aloma  of  the  South 
Seas”  . . . Daniel  Schwartz  has  been  ap- 
pointed manager  of  the  Jefferson  in 
Springfield.  He  replaces  George  Rabb  who 
was  promoted  to  the  managership  of  the 
Phillips  . . . Harry  Olshan,  Columbia  sales- 
man, has  been  convalescing  at  home  fol- 
lowing a Beth  Israel  operation  . . . Tom 
Fahey  of  the  M&P  Theatres  Corp.  has 
been  on  the  sick  list  . . . Joseph  Plunkett, 
M&P  auditor,  was  out  with  the  flu. 

Fred  Sharby,  New  Hampshire  circuit 
owner,  may  take  his  golf  bags  to  Florida 
. . . Charles  Stern,  United  Artists  execu- 
tive, was  in  town  . . . Meyer  Fox  of  Colum- 
bia was  in  last  week  after  the  grippe  . . . 
Frederick  R.  Greenway,  Loew’s  State  man- 
ager, was  another  grippe  victim  . . . Mrs. 
Frank  Petrone  of  Columbia  was  ill  . . . Ina 
Mercier  of  Columbia  was  also  out  . . . 
James  Depsey,  manager  of  the  Paramount 
in  Lynn,  has  made  a radio  title  with  a 
Salem  station,  broadcast  being  piped  week- 
ly from  the  stage  . . . Dorothy  Donoghue 
has  joined  the  exchange  force  of  Colum- 
bia here. 

Film  district  construction  jobs  continue 
on  the  new  buildings  to  house  RKO  and 
National  Screen  Service  respectively  . . . 
Hy  Teich,  head  of  the  Four  Star  Pro- 
gram Co.,  has  been  mourning  the  death 
of  his  mother,  the  late  Mrs.  Pearl  Teich 
of  Chelsea  . . . Gerald  Savoie  has  been 
transferred  from  the  Victoria  in  Holyoke 
to  the  Capitol  in  Pittsfield  as  manager  . . . 
The  American  Institute  of  Decorators  held 
its  annual  convention  at  the  Hotel  Statler 
here  this  week  . . . Maurice  Druker,  assist- 
ant to  J.  J.  Moloney  at  the  Poli  in  Wor- 
cester, has  been  named  acting  manager  of 
the  State  in  Cleveland. 

Vera  Smith  and  Mary  Connors,  switch- 
board operators  at  M&P,  were  both  out  at 
the  same  time  with  the  grippe.  Secretaries 
and  other  fellow  employes  filled  in  . . . Ed 
Renick  of  M-G-M  has  been  convalescing 
. . . E.  M.  Loew  plans  to  transfer  his  local 
Tremont  Street  headquarters  to  the  Metro- 
politan Theatre  Building  where  a number 
of  other  circuit  offices  are  located  . . . Jack 
O’Brien,  assistant  to  Managing  Director 
Jack  Goodwin,  led  the  Metropolitan  staff 
in  the  recent  movie  check  sales  drive.  The 
house  walked  away  with  a competitioji 
among  the  some  100  M&P  Theatres  Corp. 
houses. 

R.  J.  Curran  of  M-G-M  was  ill  here 
with  grippe  . . . Sayde  Weiner  of  M-G-M 
has  been  ill  . . . New  iron  grilles  have 
been  installed  on  the  United  Artists  and 
Republic  exchange  building  . . . Roland 
Moon  has  promoted  a cooking  school  at 
the  Cameo  in  South  Weymouth,  Arthur 
Lockwood  and  Louis  Gordon  house  . . . 
Frank  Shaughnessy,  manager  for  the  Her- 
man Rifkin  circuit,  was  injured  recently  in 
an  auto  accident  . . . Sadie  Feltman  of 
M-G-M  has  been  out  . . . Solly  Levin  of 
the  M-G-M  office  force  was  out  last  week 
with  the  flu. 


Borrowed  for  an  Autry 

Hollywood  — Republic  has  borrowed 
Jacqueline  Wells  from  Warner  for  the  fem- 
inine lead  in  Gene  Autry’s  next,  “Song  at 
Twilight.” 


Says  Public  Will  Force 
Music  War  Settlement 

Durham,  N.  H. — A prediction  that  pub- 
lic demand  would  force  a mutual  decision 
settling  the  Ascap-BMI  controversy  was 
voiced  by  Dr.  S.  Stephenson  Smith,  edu- 
cational counsellor  for  the  composers’  and 
publishers’  organization,  during  an  inter- 
view while  on  a lecture  visit  here  at  the 
University  of  New  Hampshire. 

The  Little  in  Whitefield 
T o Mrs . Selma  Arcieri 

Whitefield,  N.  H. — Announcement  is 
made  of  the  purchase  by  Mrs.  Selma  Ar- 
cieri of  Boston  of  the  interest  of  William 
W.  Banzhaf  in  the  Little  Theatre  and  the 
four-story  brick  block  in  which  it  is  lo- 
cated here.  Mrs.  Arcieri  has  taken  over 
management  of  the  house. 


Western  Massachusetts 
Circuit  Plans  Meet 

Springfield,  Mass. — Harry  Smith,  divi- 
sion manager  and  also  director  of  pub- 
licity for  the  Western  Massachusetts  Thea- 
tres, Inc.,  announces  that  a divisional 
managers’  meeting  will  be  held  in  the 
Broadway  Theatre  building  headquarters 
of  the  circuit  here  within  a few  weeks. 


Plugs  " Fantasia " 

Boston — Jack  Goldstein,  exploitation 
head  here  for  the  roadshow  engagement  of 
“Fantasia,”  spotted  an  ad  for  the  Broad- 
way-New York  engagement  of  the  Disney 
feature  to  open  his  Hub  campaign.  Sup- 
plementary equipment  necessary  for  the 
local  screens  have  been  installed  at  the 
Majestic,  leased  from  the  Shubert  interests 
for  the  run.  Redecoration  has  also  been 
going  on  at  the  house. 


Farber  Joins  Borotf 

Boston — George  Boroff,  National  Com- 
mittee for  Education  book  distribution  New 
England  franchise  owner,  reports  Sam 
Farber  has  become  associated  with  him  in 
this  territory.  Boroff  has  taken  over  the 
entire  first-floor  quarters  at  37  Melrose 
Street  in  the  district. 

(<  ■ ' 

: NEW  BRITAIN  : 

VS—  J) 

]yjR.  AND  MRS.  Swen  Swanson  of  New 
Britain  are  expecting  a visit  from  the 
Stork  some  time  in  February.  Mr.  S.  is 
projectionist  at  the  WB’s  Embassy  here 
...  In  New  Haven  last  week  on  business 
were:  Peter  Perakos,  Palace;  John  S.  P. 
Glackin,  Arch  Street;  and  Pat  McMahon. 
State. 

Mother  of  Warren  Kingsbury,  WB’s  Em- 
bassy usher,  has  been  ill  with  pneumonia 
at  New  Britain  General  Hospital  . . . Randy 
Mailer,  WB’s  Strand  manager,  takes  his 
day  off  on  Monday  . . . Phil  Demas  of 
the  Roxy  reports  Polish  pictures  at  that 
theatre  have  been  doing  pretty  good  lately. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


G4-C 


From  All  Corners 


OF  the  Nation-- 


PRINCESS  THEATRE 


WAUSEON,  OHIO 


Sept.  18.  1940 


BOXOFFICE: 

Relative  to  our  recent  ad  in  BOXOFFICE:  To 
date,  within  the  first  week  after  publication,  we 
have  received  109  answers  to  this  ad,  the  replies 
coming  from  Massachusetts  to  Washington,  from 
Minnesota  and  Montana  to  Texas. 

The  response  was  almost  unbelievable.  Cer- 
tainly I could  think  of  no  other  medium  that  might 
return  such  a result. 


P.  R.  TOUNEY 


Whatever  You  Have  to 


BUY  — SELL  — TRADE 


For  Best  Results  Use  the 


Section  of 


< 


(MICE 


64-D 


Interstate  Wins  Suit  Via 
An  Instructed  Verdict 


New  Tax  Proposal 
By  Gov.  O'Daniel 

Austin,  Tex. — Places  of  amusement  are 
slated  for  additional  taxation  if  a pro- 
posal submitted  by  Gov.  W.  Lee  O'Daniel 
in  his  message  to  the  legislature  goes 
through. 

“Every  person,”  reads  the  proposal, 
“firm,  association  of  persons,  or  corpora- 
tion, owning  or  operating  any  place  of 
amusement  which  charges  . . . admission 
. . . shall  file  with  the  state  comptroller 
of  public  accounts  a quarterly  report  on 
the  25th  days  of  January,  April,  July  and 
October  for  the  quarter  ending  on  the 
last  day  of  the  preceding  month;  said 
report  shall  show  the  gross  amount  re- 
ceived for  admissions  and  said  person, 
firm,  etc.,  at  the  time  of  making  such 
report  shall  pay  to  the  treasurer  of  this 
state  a tax  of  one  and  one-half  (1.5) 
per  cent  of  the  total  gross  receipts  . . 

The  proposal  provides,  further,  that 
“this  tax  shall  be  in  addition  to  and  not 
in  lieu  of  any  other  taxes  now  levied  by 
law.” 


Postpone  Passage  of 
Operators  Ordinance 

Memphis — The  city  commission  has 
postponed  passage,  on  second  reading,  of 
the  proposed  operators’  ordinance  for 
further  consideration,  after  John  Shea, 
attorney  representing  the  operators’  union, 
entered  an  informal  protest. 

Mayor  Chandler  advised  Shea  that  union 
representatives  could  meet  with  members 
of  the  commission  to  discuss  objectionable 
phases  of  the  bill,  after  the  attorney  told 
the  commissioners  he  had  been  instructed 
by  the  organization’s  executive  board  to 
enter  the  protest. 

One  of  the  main  objections  to  the  pro- 
posal, according  to  Shea,  is  that  section 
requiring  health  examinations  of  opera- 
tors. He  charges  that  portion  of  the  or- 
dinance is  not  definite  enough  and  “should 
be  defined  fully  as  to  what  disabilities 
would  include.” 


$20,000  Loss  When  Fire 
Levels  Royal,  Newark 

Newark,  Ark. — The  Royal  in  Indepen- 
dence county  was  leveled  by  fire  recently 
with  the  loss  estimated  at  $20,000.  The 
blaze  originated  from  a defective  flu.  It 
spread  quickly  to  other  part  of  the  build- 
ing. 

Newark  has  no  fire  department,  but  a 
“bucket  brigade”  prevented  the  fire  from 
spreading.  The  theatre,  owned  by  O.  F. 
Craig,  editor  of  the  Newark  Journal,  was 
the  only  one  in  town.  It  was  partly  cov- 
ered by  insurance. 

Plans  are  under  way  for  rebuilding. 


Theatre  for  Gillette,  Ark. 

Gillette,  Ark. — R.  A.  Wilson’s  new  the- 
atre here  is  to  be  completed  within  the 
next  few  weeks.  This  is  the  first  theatre 
operation  in  this  town. 


Dallas — Before  the  defense  had  present- 
ed any  testimony,  R.  Z.  Glass,  former 
Dallas  exhibitor,  lost  his  triple-damage 
suit  totaling  over  $50,000  against  the  In- 
terstate circuit  via  an  instructed  jury  ver- 
dict Monday  afternoon  in  Judge  W.  H. 
Atwell’s  federal  court. 

The  hearing  started  at  10  o’clock  in  the 
morning.  Glass,  who  owned  the  Fair  and 
Knox  theatres  here  during  1935-36  and 
’37,  when  he  claimed  he  was  damaged 
by  Interstate  because  of  the  25-cent  mini- 
mum restrictions  price  clause,  took  the 
stand  before  noon  and  recounted  his  al- 
leged damages  from  his  records.  Then, 
after  a recess,  Glass  told  how  he  had 
sold  his  three  theatres  here  to  Karl  Hob- 
litzelle  for  $40,000  and  also  of  a partner- 
ship later  between  himself  and  Hoblit- 
zelle  in  the  new  Stude  at  Houston.  The 
damage  suit  was  filed  some  time  after 
this  partnership  had  been  in  operation, 
it  was  disclosed. 

Following  this  initial  testimony,  the 
plaintiff’s  father,  R.  W.  Glass,  who  said 
he  was  manager  of  the  Fair  in  those  years 
and  kept  books  for  all  three  theatres,  said 
the  balcony  at  the  Fair  had  about  130 
seats  and  that  on  occasions  he  had  sold 

Ascap  Wins  Royally 
Rights  in  Louisiana 

New  Orleans — A cheering  episode  in  a 
currently  dark  chapter  has  been  written 
for  Ascap  in  Louisiana  where  the  state 
supreme  court  ruled  for  the  music  writers 
and  publishers  society. 

The  high  court  upheld  a district  court’s 
decision  that  a law  passed  in  1934  im- 
posing a fee  on  the  society’s  right  to 
collect  on  its  copyrighted  pieces  when  these 
were  presented  for  profit  was  illegal. 

The  law  which  failed  to  stand  the  test 
of  constitutionality  demanded  a license 
fee  of  $5,000  a year  for  each  parish  in 
which  Ascap  sought  to  collect  fees  from 
taverns,  hotels,  clubs  and  the  like  that 
used  its  copyrighted  music.  Ascap ’s  win- 
ning contention  was  that  the  law  was  un- 
constitutional because  it  imposed  a local 
criminal  penalty  for  compliance  with  a 
federal  law:  the  copyright  act. 


Sunday  Night  Show  Ban 
Will  End  in  Abilene 

Abilene,  Tex. — This  “blue  law”  West 
Texas  town,  soon  to  be  the  headquarters 
for  the  45th  Division,  is  going  to  do  away 
with  its  ban  on  Sunday  night  shows.  A 
city  ordinance,  recently  passed,  allows 
films  to  operate  on  Sunday  nights  until 
11  p.  m.  in  place  of  the  former  7 p.  m. 
closing  hour. 


from  500  to  650  balcony  tickets  in  one 
night.  He  added  there  was  no  attendant 
to  see  whether  these  patrons  sat  down- 
stairs in  the  25-cent  seats  or  not. 

He  said  he  could  not  answer  from  the 
stand  without  his  records  as  to  whether 
the  Fair  had  played  a certain  list  of  pic- 
tures restricted  to  25  cents  or  whether  it 
had  played  any  of  these  pictures  on  double 
bills,  restrictions  on  which  were  also 
claimed  as  part  cause  for  the  alleged  dam- 
ages. Testimony  on  the  balcony  15-cent 
tickets  and  the  double  billing  of  “A”  pic- 
tures was  taken  by  the  defense,  and  with- 
in a few  minutes  the  plaintiff  rested  his 
case. 

Grants  Motion 

Judge  Atwell  then  allowed  a brief  re- 
cess, the  jury  retired  and  the  motion  for 
an  instructed  verdict  was  put  and  grant- 
ed. The  judge  pointed  out  to  the  jury 
that  Glass  had  all  of  his  records  with 
supporting  evidence  of  his  alleged  damages 
in  ’35-36  and  '37,  including  bank  checks 
and  boxoffice  statements,  but  that  in  con- 
nection with  1934,  the  year  Glass  used 
to  gauge  later  losses,  he  had  only  book 
entries  without  the  customary  supporting 
records. 

Judge  Atwell  told  the  jury  the  plaintiff 
admitted  he  had  sold,  as  a general  prac- 
tice, several  times  the  number  of  balcony 
tickets  that  he  had  balcony  seats,  and 
that  none  checked  where  these  patrons 
sat,  and  therefore  a jury  could  only  guess 
at  damages,  if  any,  on  the  25-cent  re- 
striction clause.  In  conclusion,  he  in- 
structed the  jury  to  render  a verdict  in 
favor  of  Interstate. 


There  were  indications  this  week  that 
Interstate  would  ask  Judge  Atwell  to  set 
aside  the  jury  verdict  in  the  Jorgensen 
case  on  the  grounds  it  was  at  variance 
with  evidence  presented  and,  further,  that 
a new  trial  be  granted. 

Other  possibilities  expressed  were  that 
Judge  Atwell  might  reduce  the  damages 
granted  to  a lower  figure.  Jorgensen,  who 
operates  the  East  Grand  Theatre  here, 
was  awarded  a total  of  $4,500  by  a fed- 
eral jury  last  week,  plus  $500  attorney’s 
fees,  on  claims  he  suffered  damages  be- 
cause of  the  25-cent  minimum  restric- 
tions and  because  of  an  alleged  agree- 
ment existing  between  Interstate  and  film 
companies  to  hold  back  the  East  Grand 
15  days  behind  the  White  Theatre,  owned 
by  Interstate. 


The  Glass  case  winds  up  all  pending  dam- 
age suits  against  Interstate  resulting  from 
the  government’s  case  against  the  circuit 
on  the  25-cent  and  double-bill  provisions. 
One  case  from  Houston,  however,  that  of 
O.  B.  Bridges  vs.  Interstate  covering  the 
time  Bridges  operated  the  Palace  there 
and  docketed  to  be  heard  before  Judge 
Atwell  here  later,  may  or  may  not  be 
tried,  it  was  advanced  in  local  theatre 
circles. 


BOXOFFICE  ; ; January  25,  1941 


S 


65 


Flu  Epidemic  Is  Taking  Philadelphia  Story" 
Big  Toll  in  Carolinas  Strongest  in  Dallas 


Charlotte — The  flu  epidemic  now  sweep- 
ing the  Carolinas  has  caused  a number  of 
theatre  towns  to  close  and  local  health 
authorities  to  restrict  patronage  to  per- 
sons above  16  years  of  age. 

In  South  Carolina,  theatres  in  the  fol- 
lowing towns  have  been  closed:  Parris 
Island,  Walterboro,  Ridgeland,  Lancaster, 
Marion,  Fairfax,  Abbeville,  Ware  Shoals, 
Woodruff,  Greer  and  Honea  Path.  North 
Carolina  towns  ordering  theatres  to  close 
include  Cherryville,  Belmont  and  Kings 
Mountain. 

In  Charleston,  S.  C.,  the  Pastime  Amuse- 
ment Co.  (Albert  Sottile)  has  closed  its 
Majestic  and  canceled  all  flesh  attrac- 
tions at  the  Victory  because  of  the  epi- 
demic. Also,  the  company’s  Riviera,  Gloria 
and  Garden  theatres  have  been  required 
to  rope  off  every  other  row  of  seats. 

Like  Charlotte,  Gastonia,  N.  C.,  and  a 
number  of  other  Carolina  operations  are 
refusing  to  sell  tickets  to  children  under 
16.  Also,  local  authorities  are  urging  the 
public  not  to  attend  church  services  as 
a health  measure. 

That  the  malady  is  showing  signs  of 
letting  up  in  some  sections,  is  indicated 
by  the  reopening  of  all  theatres  in  An- 
derson and  Belton,  S.  C.,  following  a tem- 
porary shutdown. 


Flu  Whips  Carolinas; 

Grosses,  Service  Hit 

Charlotte — The  Carolinas  are  confront- 
ed with  the  worst  epidemic  of  influenza 
since  1918.  Health  authorities,  however, 
announce  that  the  type  is  not  so  severe 
as  that  in  1918.  Many  exchanges  are 
seriously  crippled  on  account  of  illness  of 
employes.  The  following  is  a partial  list 
of  flu  victims: 

Republic:  Roy  Bradley  and  Berda  Grif- 
fith. 

RKO:  Roger  Mitchell  and  Gene  Dyer. 

Columbia:  Skinner  Williamson,  Nellie 
Lay,  Janie  Choate  and  the  wife  of  Carl 
Patterson,  booker,  his  daughter,  Beulah 
Margaret,  and  his  sons,  Carl  jr.  and  Jimmy. 

Metro:  Margaret  Adams,  Rose  Mcllroy 
and  Jewell  Terry. 

Paramount:  E.  C.  DeBerry,  Nancy  Wo- 
mack, Aileen  Simpson  and  Bob  Fite. 

20th  Century-Fox:  Harry  Jones,  Jean 
Hoyle,  Martha  Farr,  Bill  Henderson  and 
Frank  Lowry. 

Monogram:  Clara  Blackwelder  and  Mrs. 
Adams. 

Universal:  Jimmy  Greenleaf. 

Sound  Engineering  Service  Co.:  Eddie 
(Rosy)  Rosenblatt. 

North  Carolina  Theatres,  Inc.  (Wilby- 
Kincey)  : Doretta  Fitzgerald,  Mrs.  H.  F. 
Kincey  and  children,  Sara  and  Junior. 

Carolina  Delivery  Service:  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ralph  Jackson  and  children. 

New  Bern,  N.  C.:  T.  B.  Kehoe,  Show 
Shop  Theatre. 

Washington,  N.  C.:  C.  A.  Turnage, 


$500  to  Him — 

George  Limerick,  Aztec,  Enid,  Okla., 
winner  of  third  place  and  $500  in  the 
first-run  division  of  the  M-G-M  ex- 
ploitation contest  just  concluded.  The 
campaign  was  on  “Another  Thin 
Man.” 


Jacksonville.  Fla,.  House 
Is  Robbed  of  $2,500 

Jacksonville,  Fla. — The  Sunday  re- 
ceipts totaling  $2,500,  garnered  from  a 
capacity  crowd,  were  lost  by  Manager 
Robert  C.  Heekin,  manager  of  the  Florida 
Theatre,  to  a bandit  who  apparently  wait- 
ed in  the  theatre  until  the  last  show  was 
over. 

At  gun’s  point  the  bandit  compelled 
Heekin  to  take  the  money  from  the  safe. 
He  then  tied  Heekin,  Assistant  Manager 
Francis  Seel  and  Baxter  Weeks,  doorman. 

The  Florida  is  the  ace  Sparks  house  in 
Jacksonville. 


Stengel  Adds  Two 

Memphis — Kermit  C.  Stengel  of  the 
Rockwood  Amusement  Co.,  Inc.,  has  an- 
nounced the  opening  of  two  new  theatres 
in  western  Tennessee,  one  to  be  located 
in  Humboldt,  and  the  other  in  Milan, 
Tenn.  These  houses  are  expected  to  be 
completed  by  early  spring. 


Turnage  and  Rita  theatres. 

Erwin,  N.  C.:  O.  F.  Jernigan,  Peerless 
Theatre. 

Everett  Enterprises:  Ann  Everett, 

daughter  of  H.  H.  Everett. 

Independent  Theatre  Supply  Co.:  Ed- 
die Carroll. 

Producers  Releasing  Corp.:  E.  E.  Heller. 


Dallas — Extreme  cold  here  found  “Phila- 
delphia Story”  getting  the  most  customers 
at  the  Majestic.  Hepburn  starred  in  the 
play  on  the  Melba  stage  only  two  weeks 
ago.  “Flight  Command”  took  a spurt 
over  Saturday  and  Sunday  to  end  about 
20  per  cent  above  average.  “This  Thing 
Called  Love”  was  up  25  per  cent  for  nine 
days  and  went  to  the  Tower.  The  Capi- 
tol continues  a big  pick-up  with  one 
double  a week  over  the  weekend. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  18. 


(Average  is  100) 

Capitol — Great  Plane  Robbery  (Col) 80 

Capitol — Scarface  (Astor)  and  Lucky  Devils 

(Univ)  125 

Majestic — Flight  Command  (M-G-M) 120 

Majestic — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M) 130 

Opened  strong  on  Wednesday  and  due  for  hold- 
over. 

Palace — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col) 125 

Played  9 days,  getting  Palace  back  to  week- 
end opening  following  extra  shows  during  holi- 
days. 

Rialto — East  of  the  River  (FN) 100 

Rialto — Texas  Rangers  Ride  Again  (Para’t) . . . 100 

Tower — Comrade  X (M-G-M) 100 

Held  over  four  days  throughout  Tuesday. 

Tower — Flight  Command  (M-G-M) 100 


Held  over  three  days  only,  starting  Wednesday, 
to  get  back  to  Saturday  change. 

Visitors  Restore  Takes  in 
Flu-Hit  New  Orleans 

New  Orleans — Flu  took  a heavy  toll 
from  the  neighborhoods  but  the  metro- 
politan area  seemed  to  have  escaped  to 
a certain  extent  owing  to  the  great  num- 
ber of  visitors  and  tourists.  One  of  the 
highlights  of  the  week  was  Katharine 
Hepburn’s  personal  appearance  in  the  legit 
“Philadelphia  Story,”  which  at  $2.50  top 
packed  the  Municipal  Auditorium. 

At  Loew’s  State,  “Flight  Command”  drew 
heavily,  dividing  honors  with  “Chad  Han- 
na” at  the  Saenger  and  “Santa  Fe  Trail” 


at  the  Orpheum. 

(Average  is  100) 

Center — Angels  Over  Broadway  (Col) 90 

Globe — Arise,  My  Love  (Para’t) 80 

Liberty — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO)  90 

Loew's — Flight  Command  (M-G-M) 135 

Orpheum — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN) 130 

Saenger — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox) 135 

Tudor — Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox) 90 


Good  Films  Spell  Good 
Week  in  Okla.  City 

Oklahoma  City — It  was  a good  week 
for  Oklahoma  City  last  week  even  though 
a few  days  of  cold  and  bad  weather  hit 
the  town.  Quality  of  the  films  had  most 
to  do  with  the  results.  Figures  on  “Gone 
With  the  Wind”  at  the  Criterion  are  as 
near  regular  hundred  per  cent  could  be 
figured  making  an  allowance  for  fact  only 
three-a-day  could  be  run  as  compared  with 
usual  five-a-day  run  on  top  films. 

(Average  is  100) 

Criterion — Gone  Withi  the  Wind  (M-G-M) 140 

Previously  played  first  road-show  run  at  Mid- 
west and  Tower.  Small  price  boost  at  Cri- 
terion from  40  to  55  cents. 

Liberty — A Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s  (Para’t); 


Three  Men  From  Texas  (RKO) 90 

Midwest — Second  Chorus  (M-G-M) 125 

State — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO)  140 

Tower — Flight  Command  (M-G-M) 110 


Did  good  business  in  a prior  week  run  at 
Midwest. 


Two  New  Azteca  Films 

San  Antonio — Azteca  Film  Exchange 
announces  two  new  films  for  current  re- 
lease, “Milagro  de  la  Calle  Mayor”  and 
“La  Noche  De  Los  Mayas.” 


66 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


piLMROW  enjoyed  a boat  ride  and  dance 
sponsored  by  Mike  Pisciatti,  on  the  eve- 
ning of  January  24.  Another  one  is  sched- 
uled later  in  the  year. 

Deanna  Durbin  will  visit  New  Orleans, 
February  3,  accompanied  by  her  mother 
and  manager,  for  a couple  of  days  stopover 
following  her  appearance  at  the  Presi- 
dent’s Ball  . . . While  attempting  to  quell  a 
disturbance  in  the  Casino  Theatre  on 
North  Rampart  Street,  James  Lansiter,  an 
usher,  was  shot  in  the  neck. 

Among  visitors  to  the  Row:  Louisiana — 
J.  Gaude,  Magic,  Port  Allen;  L.  G.  Lang- 
lois,  New  Roads,  Alamo;  O.  A.  Ott,  Kent- 
wood, Kentwood;  Vic  Maurin,  Fox,  Houma; 
Gordon  G.  Ogden,  Chimes,  Baton  Rouge; 
Mrs.  Gene  Anthony,  Ideal,  Ponchatoula; 
J.  C.  Keller,  Eunice;  L.  C.  Lampo,  Avalon, 
Jeanerette;  Mrs.  H.  H.  Everett,  McGee, 
McGee;  A.  Marrelo,  Rendevois,  Grand  Isle; 
Morris  Meltz,  Arcade,  Ferriday.  Mississippi 
— Stanley  Taylor,  Crosby,  Crosby;  Ed  De- 
laney, Pike,  Magnolia;  Frank  Bishop,  Va- 
riety, Ellisville. 

John  Caldwell  of  the  Royal  Theatre, 
Bernice,  is  preparing  for  the  opening  of  a 
new  house  at  Ruston,  La.  It  will  have  a 
seating  capacity  of  approximately  450  and 
will  be  modern  in  every  detail,  as  well  as 
independent  . . . Houses  catering  to  colored 
patrons  report  a great  increase  in  business, 
attributed  to  the  number  of  men  employed 
by  the  WPA  and  various  defense  programs. 
Over  1,000  have  recently  been  put  to  work 
on  street  improvements  and  the  erection 
of  the  new  U.  S.  hospital  on  the  lake  front. 

Many  upstate  houses  thoroughly  dis- 
infect the  premises  after  each  performance 
as  a precaution  against  the  spread  of  the 
flu  and  open  all  windows  and  doors  a few 
hours  before  the  regular  opening  time.  A 
few  of  the  local  neighborhoods  are  adopt- 
ing the  same  method  and  report  favorable 
results  as  regards  coughing. 

The  Writers  Project  (WPA)  is  preparing 
to  formulate  a history  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry  in  New  Orleans.  It  is  esti- 
mated that  three  or  more  years  will  be 
necessary  to  complete  the  work. 

The  Atlantic  Films  (Goodrow  and  Sli- 
man)  are  now  the  official  representatives 
of  the  Producers  Releasing  Corp.  . . . Wil- 
lis H.  Cobb,  president  of  the  Exhibitors 
Poster  Service  who  has  just  returned  from 
a business  trip  upstate,  reports  business 
increasing.  He  finds  that  the  firm’s  adver- 
tisement in  Boxoffice  carries  his  message 
to  hundreds  of  exhibitors  in  a short  space 
of  time,  to  exhibitors  he  could  not  visit  in 
many  weeks.  His  clerical  force  has  been 
enlarged  to  take  care  of  additional  orders. 

THAT  HUNTING  CLUB  AGAIN: 

The  last  session  of  the  Filmrow  Hunting 
Club  was  held  with  open  doors  and  win- 
dows after  the  arrival  of  a committee  that 


CORRECTION 

Through  a typographical  error,  the  ad- 
dress of  the  EXHIBITORS  POSTER  SER- 
VICE, Inc.  in  New  Orleans,  was  given 
as  218  So.  Liberty  in  the  last  issue.  The 
correct  address  is  221  So.  Liberty  St. 


accepted  an  invitation  to  act  as  judges  at 
the  beauty  contest,  held  on  the  night  of 
the  session,  at  the  Shrimp  Packing  Plant 
to  select  Miss  Fertilizer  for  1941.  The 
committee  reported  that  as  the  weather 
was  slightly  chilly  the  promoters  insisted 
that  the  contest  be  held  with  closed  doors 
and  windows.  Heading  the  committee  were 
Bob  Kelly,  Columbia,  and  W.  H.  Cobb  of 
the  Exhibitors  Poster  Service  who  were 
excused  by  the  president  on  account  of 
sudden  illness. 

The  business  session  was  cut  very  short 
on  account  of  the  moonlight  excursion 
given  by  the  Filmrow  inhabitants  on  the 
steamer  Capitol.  As  the  boat  was  about 
to  leave,  the  assemblage  threw  care  up 
against  the  rear  end  of  the  20th-Fox  ex- 
change and  made  a hotfoot  for  the  boat, 
as  tickets  were  not  good  after  the  date 
stamped  on  them.  The  boat  had  already 
pulled  out,  but  backed  up  to  accommodate 
the  late  comers.  Arriving  there  they  dis- 
covered that  a vaudeville  performance  was 
already  in  progress,  a turkey-in-the-straw 
contest  between  Vic  Maurin  of  the  Fox 
Theatre  of  Houma,  and  Lou  Langlois  of 
the  Arcade  of  New  Roads  for  the  cham- 
pionship of  Louisiana.  So  realistic  was  the 
contest  that  the  judges,  Anthony  Sumpia 
of  the  Raceland  Theatre,  Raceland,  La. 
and  A.  J.  Brussard,  Bruce,  Crowley,  re- 
served their  decision  until  later.  One  of 
the  highlights  of  the  affair  was  the  pres- 
ence of  the  treasurer,  who,  it  is  said,  ac- 
cidentally dropped  the  books  of  the  club  in 
the  middle  of  the  Mississippi  River. 

Honorary  members  elected  at  an  execu- 
tive session  held  in  the  boiler  room  of  the 
steamer  were:  A.  Marrelo,  Rendevois, 
Grand  Island;  A.  L.  Runbach,  Algy  Thea- 
tre, New  Orleans.  Music  for  the  turkey-in- 
the-straw  contest  was  furnished  by  the  At- 
lantic Films  string  orchestra  and  sound  ef- 
fects by  the  National  Theatre  Supply  Co.’s 
mechanical  force,  led  by  Frank  Ruffino  of 
the  Gaiety  Theatre. 


Ark.  Theatres  Join  in 
Polio  Fund  Campaign 

Little  Rock — It  is  announced  that  150 
motion  picture  theatres  in  the  state  will 
participate  in  a program  Thursday  eve- 
ning, January  30,  in  connection  with  the 
“Fight  Infantile  Paralysis”  campaign.  The 
program  will  be  held  in  110  or  more  in- 
dependent houses  and  between  30  and  40 
chain  theatres.  The  program  was  arranged 
by  Eli  Collins,  former  MPTOA  president, 
who  is  now  unemployment  compensation 
commissioner  for  Arkansas. 

O.  G.  Wren,  Little  Rock,  president  of 
the  Ai'kansas  ITO,  and  K.  K.  King,  Searcy, 
secretary,  are  working  with  Collins  in  ar- 
ranging the  program  for  film  houses  in 
the  state.  Malco  theatres  and  the  R&R 
theatres  also  are  co-operating  with  Col- 
lins and  others  in  the  plan. 


Holden  in  "Texas” 

Hollywood— William  Holden  has  been 
selected  to  play  the  male  lead  in  Col- 
umbia’s “Texas,”  temporary  title.  The 
production  will  start  within  a few  days, 
with  Stuart  Heisler  directing  and  Sam 
Bischoff  as  producer.  “Texas”  tells  a 
story  of  the  cattle  wars  in  the  Panhandle 
state,  in  the  days  immediately  following 
the  Civil  War. 


Fourth  tor  Gulfport 

Gulfport,  Miss. — With  three  theatres 
already  operating,  plans  are  being  made 
to  establish  a fourth  here,  according  to 
announcement  by  Joe  Graham  Post, 
American  Legion,  that  tentative  plans 
have  been  made  for  the  establishment  of 
a theatre  building  in  which  picture  pro- 
grams may  be  shown. 


SIMPLEX  SOUND 

IS  SOUND  BUSINESS  FOR  YOU 

More  People  Every  Day  Are  Listening  To  and 

Enjoying 

simplex  SOUND 

and  Telling  Others  About  Its  Quality. 

Your  Theatre  Will  Profit  With 

SIMPLEX  ""  SOUND 
NATIONAL  THEATRE  SUPPLY  CO. 

ATLANTA  — DALLAS  — MEMPHIS  — NEW  ORLEANS  — CHARLOTTE 

OKLAHOMA  CITY 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


67 


Notables  Turn  Out  for 
'Our  Night'  Premiere 

Miami  — Many  nationally  prominent 
figures  turned  out  for  the  world  pre- 
miere of  ‘‘So  Ends  Our  Night,”  at  the 
Lincoln  and  Surf  theatres  here  Friday, 
January  24. 

Among  those  attending,  as  a tribute  to 
both  the  new  David  L.  Loew-Albert  Lewin 
production  unit  and  to  Glenn  Ford,  cur- 
rently hailed  screen  newcomer,  were  Sin- 
clair Lewis,  George  Ade,  Paul  Draper, 
Jack  Dempsey,  Sophie  Tucker,  Paul  White- 
man,  Harry  Richman,  Desi  Arnaz,  Maxie 
Rosenbloom,  Abe  Lyman,  Lucille  Ball,  Car- 
lyle Blackwell,  Jan  Pearce,  Terry  Lawlor. 

Also  Gladys  Swarthout,  Grace  George, 
William  A.  Brady,  Walter  Winchell,  Dan- 
ton  Walker,  Rita  Johnson,  Stanley  Kahn, 
Max  Fleischer,  Lee  Shubert,  Major  Al- 
bert Warner,  N.  B.  Shanberg  and  E.  J. 
Sparks. 

John  Boyd's  Enlistment 
Brings  Houston  Shuttle 

Houston — The  departure  of  John  Boyd, 
River  Oaks  manager,  for  the  Army  re- 
sulted in  the  following  changes  in  Hous- 
ton houses:  Pat  Daley,  assistant  manager 
of  the  Metropolitan,  promoted  to  mana- 
ger of  the  River  Oaks;  John  By  us,  North 
Main  assistant  manager,  shifted  to  the 
Metropolitan  in  place  of  Daley;  George 
Pattillo,  Eastwood  assistant  manager,  to 
the  North  Main,  and  Oran  Deford  to  the 
Eastwood. 


Back  to  Flesh 

San  Antonio — The  Texas  adopted  a 
vaude-film  policy  last  week  presenting  the 
“All  American  Revue”  in  conjunction  with 
Universal’s  “One  Night  in  the  Tropics.” 


ID)  A IIL  IL  A S 

fjENRY  FORD,  west  Texas  chain  opera- 
tor in  the  silent  days,  and  now  a 
hotel  and  property  owner  in  Wichita  Falls, 
spent  a few  hours  on  the  Row  visiting 
with  friends.  Ford  also  owns  the  Am- 
bassador Hotel,  bordering  Sullivan  Park 
here,  where  several  in  the  business  have 
established  residence  . . . Gene  Hendon, 
former  manager  of  the  Grand  in  Pecos 
for  Oskar  Korn,  and  who  managed  thea- 
tres in  East  Texas  and  Louisiana  before 
that,  was  here  renewing  old  acquaint- 
ances. He  is  seeking  a new  connection. 

Projection  and  sound  men  were  here 
from  the  north  and  east  holding  con- 
ferences on  equipment  distribution.  They 
were  Wayne  Brenkert,  head  of  the  Bren- 
kert  Electric  Co.;  Homer  Snook,  sales  man- 
ager of  RCA  Photophone,  and  Edward 
Auger,  also  of  RCA’s  Photophone  division 
. . . Herbert  and  Mrs.  Stroud  of  the  Texas 
and  Strand,  Hamilton,  were  here  Monday 
. . . Ben  Ferguson,  manager  and  part 
owner  of  the  new  Campus  at  College  Sta- 
tion, was  here  for  a short  visit.  With 
him  was  his  wife. 

E.  R.  Rainosek  of  Iraan  finished  up  his 
quarterly  trip  to  the  Row  and  returned 
after  two  days  here  to  that  far  west 
Texas  town.  He  is  owner  of  the  Texas 
Theatre  there  and  also  operates  a grocery 
store  . . . Phil  Isley,  who  will  soon  open 
his  third  Texas  theatre  at  Abilene, 
dropped  in  between  visits  there  and  to 
Brownwood  and  Palacios,  spending  a few 
hours  in  his  Filmrow  office. 

R.  H.  and  Mrs.  Thompson,  owners  and 
operators  of  the  Mecca  in  Jacksboro,  were 
here  bookmg.  She  is  quite  active  in  the 
theatre’s  management  as  well  as  in  hand- 
ling business  details  on  the  Row. 


J.  I.  Roberts  Dies 
In  Highway  Crash 

Dallas — A major  shock  to  Filmrow  and 
to  exhibitors  generally  over  Texas  was  the 
sudden  death  Monday  night  of  J.  I.  Rob- 
erts, National  Theatre  Supply  Co.  manager, 
a victim  of  an  automobile  crash  on  Hous- 
ton Highway  about  ten  miles  south  of 
Corsicana. 

Actual  details  of  the  accident  were  lack- 
ing, but  it  was  reported  he  was  killed  in- 
stantly. 

Roberts  was  identified  through  cards 
in  his  pocket.  Corsicana  authorities  no- 
tified Mrs.  Roberts  of  the  tragedy  in  Dal- 
las. 

With  the  arrival  Wednesday  of  Oscar 
Oldknow,  southern  division  manager  for 
National  Theatre  Supply,  burial  arrange- 
ments were  completed.  Exhibitors  from 
over  a wide  area  came  in  for  the  last  rites. 

Pallbearers  were:  E.  S.  Gardner,  W. 

B.  Hardin,  M.  J.  Koneman,  A.  G.  Smith, 
F.  R.  Hansen  and  C.  W.  A.  McCormack. 
Honorary  pallbearers  were:  Charles  Dunn, 
Don  Douglas,  John  Miller,  J.  I.  Watkins, 
Herb  Griffin,  P.  G.  Cameron,  F.  C.  Nance, 

C.  C.  Ezell,  Jack  Zern,  S.  G.  Fry,  H.  P. 
Nettleton,  W.  E.  Green,  E.  H.  Rowley, 
H.  B.  Robb,  Oldknow,  W.  G.  Underwood, 
R.  J.  O'Donnell,  E.  C.  Zrenner,  T.  R. 
Clemmons,  F.  D.  Wilkie,  Will  Horwitz,  Burt 
King,  Arthur  De  Stafeno,  R.  D.  Thrash 
and  Howard  Thrash. 

Roberts  is  survived  by  his  wife,  a son, 
Jim;  a daughter,  Virgie  Bell,  and  a brother 
Winifred. 

Roberts  was  47  years  old.  He  came  to 
Dallas  from  Atlanta  in  1923  as  manager 
of  Southern  Theatre  Equipment  Co.  for 
the  Oldknow  interests. 

He  continued  in  this  capacity  until  the 
organization  of  National  Theatre  Supply 
Co.,  which  absorbed  the  Oldknow  busi- 
ness. His  ability  brought  a transfer  to 
New  York  as  a home  office  executive  for 
the  new  company.  During  his  residence 
east,  he  also  served  as  manager  of  the 
New  York  distribution  branch. 

Some  time  later,  Roberts  was  trans- 
ferred back  to  Dallas  as  branch  manager 
with  supervision  over  Oklahoma  as  well. 
In  1933  he  put  on  a sales  campaign  cele- 
brating his  10th  year  with  the  company. 

Among  organizations  with  which  he  was 
identified  were  the  Shriners  and  the  Va- 
riety Club  of  Texas. 


Irwin  Waite  Will  Helm 
Miami  Beach  Theatre 

Austin,  Tex.— Dick  Waite,  manager  of 
the  Paramount,  states  that  his  brother, 
Irwin  Waite,  has  resigned  as  manager  of 
the  Liberty,  Beaumont,  to  take  over  the 
helm  of  the  Sheridan,  Miami  Beach,  Fla. 
Irwin  is  a former  manager  of  the  first 
Miami  Beach  theatre,  the  Community. 


File  Robbery  Charge 

Oklahoma  City — Charges  of  robbery 
with  firearms  against  five  men  have  been 
filed  in  justice  court  here  for  the  $422 
robbery  January  8 of  the  Criterion. 


THE  NEW 
'ACE”  MODEL 


SEE  THE  NEW 

ADVANCE 

POP  CORN  MACHINES 

4 NEW  STREAMLINED 
MONEY  MAKERS 

More  Features,  Better  Prices,  More 
Attractive,  Two-Year  Guarantee. 

Write  for  literature 

HERBER  BROTHERS 


408  S.  HARWOOD 


DALLAS.  TEXAS 


68 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


Second  Fordyce  House 
For  K.  Lee  Williams 


L T.  SHEFFIELD  and  A.  C.  Saunders, 
operators  of  theatres  in  Headland  and 
Hartford,  Ala.,  and  Bonifay,  Fla.,  were  in 
town  booking  . . . Roscoe  B.  Gann  has 
resigned  from  Universal  to  take  over  as 
Republic  office  manager  and  booker.  Gann 
has  been  with  “U”  for  the  past  18  years. 
Paul  Stephens,  who  has  also  been  with 
the  same  company  for  20  years,  will  leave 
also  and  assist  in  the  booking  department 
at  Republic. 

Wm.  K.  Jenkins,  Lucas  & Jenkins,  was 
in  Chicago  for  Barney  Balaban’s  fifth  an- 
niversary banquet  celebration  by  Para- 
mount. J.  H.  Harrison  and  R.  B.  Wilby 
of  Wilby  Theatres  also  attended  . . . Claude 
Zellner,  secretary  at  Lucas  & Jenkins  The- 
atres, attended  the  inaugural  in  Wash- 
ington. 

Visitors:  A.  L.  Sheppard,  Grand, 

Waynesboro,  Ga.;  Curtis  Ware,  Royce, 
Royston,  Ga.;  J.  Jarrell,  Roxy,  Commerce, 
Ga.;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  J.  Woodward, 
Strand,  Winder,  Ga.;  Fred  McLendon  and 
Eddie  Tomberlin,  Union  Springs,  Ala.; 
L.  J.  Duncan,  A1  Dun  Amusement  Co., 
West  Point,  Ga.;  Paul  Engler,  Famous  and 
Frolic,  Birmingham;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Law- 
rence Shields,  L&J’s  city  manager  at  Co- 
lumbus, Ga.;  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank 
Miller  and  son,  Augusta,  Ga.  . . . Harry 

Variety  Installation 
Appears  Promising 

Atlanta — February  1 has  been  selected 
by  directors  of  Variety  for  their  banquet 
to  be  highlighted  by  the  installation  of 
officers  and  the  appearance  of  Deanna 
Durbin  as  guest  of  honor. 

Officers  to  be  installed  include:  William 
K.  Jenkins,  chief  barker;  Harry  G.  Ball- 
ance,  first  assistant  chief  barker;  Charles 
E.  Kessnich,  second  assistant  chief  bar- 
ker; R.  B.  Wilby,  dough  guy,  and  E.  E. 
Whitaker,  property  master. 

At  a meeting  of  the  board  last  week, 
arrangements  committees  were  appoint- 
ed. They  already  are  hard  at  work  on 
plans  which  should  make  this  banquet 
one  of  the  most  outstanding  events  ever 
conducted  by  the  local  Tent. 

The  guest  list  is  expected  to  read  like 
a “Who’s  Who.”  Governor  Talmadge  of 
Georgia  and  city  and  state  officials  as 
well  as  national  Variety  officers,  will  be 
present. 

The  banquet  will  be  held  in  the  Dixie 
Ballroom  of  the  Henry  Grady  Hotel  start- 
ing promptly  at  7:30  p.  m. 

Chief  Barker  Jenkins  announces  tick- 
ets will  cost  $1.50  per  person  for  a barker 
and  his  wife  or  guest.  Tickets  for  addi- 
tional guests,  however,  will  cost  $5.  Res- 
ervations may  be  made  through  Willis  J. 
Davis,  Fox  Theatre  Bldg.,  Atlanta. 

The  number  of  outsiders  is  being  held 
down  to  100.  All  members  of  the  club, 
both  resident  and  non-resident,  are  re- 
quested to  send  in  their  reservations  as 
soon  as  possible. 


Graham,  Universal  branch  manager,  will 
return  from  the  west  this  week  . . . 
Lamar  Swift,  formerly  manager  of  the 
Bradley,  Columbus,  Ga.,  has  been  made 
city  manager  for  Lucas  & Jenkins  at  Way- 
cross,  Ga. 

Ike  Katz,  Producers  Releasing  Corp., 
was  in  Washington  for  the  inaugural  . . . 
Howard  Wallace,  Sack  Amusement  Co.,  is 
in  Tennessee  and  West  Virginia  this  week 
. . . Mrs.  Jack  Elwell,  Amity  Exchange, 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Jenkins,  Million 
Dollar  Productions,  spent  the  weekend  in 
Chattanooga  . . . Dorothy  Norris  has  been 


Fordyce,  Ark. — K.  Lee  Williams,  man- 
ager of  the  K.  Lee  Williams  Theatres,  Inc., 
announced  on  a visit  here  last  week  the 
leasing  of  a Main  Street  building  which 
will  be  remodeled  into  a modern  theatre. 

Plans  also  have  been  made,  Williams 
said,  to  enlarge  his  company’s  Dallas 
Theatre  here  and  to  install  a new  cool- 
ing system. 


added  to  the  personnel  of  20 th  Century- 
Fox  . . . Irma  Lane  has  resigned  from 
Universal  to  become  secretary  to  the  head 
of  the  state  safety  patrol. 


SENSITIdflM  BARGAINS 

IN 

New— Used — Factory  Reconditioned 


THEATRE  EQUIPMENT 


1000 


-Used  Steel  Folding  Chairs. 
Each — F.O.B.  Atlanta. 


(In  lots  of  100  or  more)  $1.25 


1000 Factory  Reconditioned  Upholstered  Chairs  — Equipped  with 

Spring  Seats.  (In  lots  of  100  or  more)  $3.00  Each — F.O.B.  At- 
lanta. 

100 Factory  Reconditioned  Low  Intensity  Lamps  Complete  with 

lQW  Reflectors.  $190.00  Per  Pair — F.O.B.  Atlanta. 

100—  —Factory  Reconditioned  Low  Intensity  Rectifiers  Complete  with 
Tungar  Bulbs,  30  Ampere  Rating — For  use  on  110-220-volt 
Alternating  Current.  $100.00  Per  Pair — F.O.B.  Atlanta. 

50—  —Factory  Reconditioned  Simplex  Projectors  Complete  with 
Front  Shutter  Mechanisms — Double  Bearing  Intermittent 
Movements — 16"  Upper  and  Lower  Magazines — New  5-Point 
Pedestals  Complete  with  Switches.  $500.00  Per  Pair — F.O.B. 
Atlanta. 

We  absolutely  guarantee  every  piece  of  equipment,  new  or  used, 
sold  by  this  company  with  a money  back  guarantee. 

Consult  Us  lor  Prices  and  Data 

—On— 

MARQUEES  — DECORATIVE  MIRRORS  — NEON  SIGNS  — VENETIAN 
BLINDS  — WAGNER  SIGN  LETTERS  — DIRECTIONAL  SIGNS  — NEON 
BOXOFFICE  SIGNS  — CHROME  LOBBY  FRAMES  — VACUUM  CLEAN- 
ERS — CARPETS  — BRANDT  CHANGE  MACHINES  — AMERICAN 
CHAIRS  — GENERAL  REGISTER  TICKET  MACHINES  — LIGHTING  FIX- 
TURES — CHROME  CASHIER  CHAIRS  — STAGE  AND  HOUSE  DRAP- 
ERIES — POPCORN  AND  PEANUT  MACHINES  — CURTAIN  TRACKS 
AND  CONTROLS  — LAWSON  SAND  URNS  — SCREENS  AND  FRAMES  — 
FLOOR  AND  TABLE  LAMPS  — PROJECTION  EQUIPMENT  — TICKET 
BOXES  AND  TICKET  CHOPPERS  — FANS  AND  BLOWERS  — CHRO- 
MIUM FURNITURE  — AIR  WASHERS  AND  PUMPS  — ASH  RECEIVERS  — 
SOUND  SYSTEMS. 

BEFORE  YOU  BUY--- 

SOUTHLAND  THEATRE  EQUIPMENT  COMPANY 


INCORPORATED 


P.  O.  Box  952 

183  Walton  St.,  N.  W. 


Jackson  5331 
Atlanta,  Georgia 


BOXOFFICE  : ; January  25,  1941 


69 


Toddy  and  Jenkins  Merge; 
Form  Exchange  Company 


By  HELEN  HARDY 

Atlanta — Ted  Toddy  of  Dixie  National 
Pictures  and  John  Jenkins  of  Million  Dol- 
lar Pictures  have  merged  and  formed  a 
new  company,  Consolidated  National  Film 
Exchanges,  closing  a long-term  contract 
for  exclusive  national  distribution  of  all 
product  released  by  Million  Dollar  Pic- 
tures and  Dixie  National  Pictures. 

The  consolidation  involves  $250,000  for 
the  present  exchanges  and  their  pictures 
and  an  additional  eight  pictures  each  year 
from  the  combined  studios.  The  new  com- 
pany controls  national  distribution  of  eight 
all-colored  cast  features  for  immediate 
release,  with  a release  schedule  of  four 
pictures  a year  from  Million  Dollar  and  a 
like  number  from  Dixie  National,  in  ad- 
dition to  three  series  of  shorts. 


Home  office  of  Consolidated  will  be  in 
Atlanta,  in  the  firm’s  own  building  at 
141  Walton  St.  Dallas  office  is  at  302  y2 
S.  Harwood.  In  addition,  exchanges  will 
be  opened  in  New  York,  Chicago  and  on 
the  west  coast. 

Toddy  long  has  been  associated  with 
Columbia  in  the  southeast.  Four  years 
ago  he  organized  Dixie  Film  Exchange, 
and  a year  ago  the  national  organization 
bearing  a similar  name.  Jenkins,  for  the 
last  five  years,  has  been  southern  repre- 
sentative for  Million  Dollar  Pictures  and 
a year  ago  was  named  executive  repre- 
sentative of  the  company. 

The  new  firm  will  release  all-colored 
cast  pictures  and  specialty  white  exploi- 
tation attractions  for  various  producers 
in  Hollywood  and  New  York. 


CHARLOTTE 


QHARLES  H.  ARRINGTON,  president 
of  the  Theatre  Owners  of  North  and 
South  Carolina,  and  Mrs.  Aureola  D.  Whar- 
ton, who  assists  him  in  the  management 
of  his  Cameo  Theatre  in  Rocky  Mount, 
N.  C„  paid  the  local  office  of  the  associ- 
ation a week’s  visit.  Arrington  was  elect- 
ed to  the  presidency  at  the  December 
meeting  and  his  visit  was  for  the  purpose 
of  making  himself  thoroughly  familiar 
with  the  association’s  activities.  He  ex- 
pressed his  desire  to  meet  personally  every 
exhibitor  in  the  Carolinas  and  that  this 
thought  may  be  carried  out,  he  is  plan- 
ning many  trips  throughout  the  territory. 
He  will  be  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Walter 
Griffith,  the  association’s  secretary. 

The  Princess,  Ayden,  N.  C.,  recently  ac- 
quired by  C.  E.  Myers  of  Rich  Square, 
N.  C.,  from  W.  C.  Ormond,  was  destroyed 
by  fire  . . . The  Grand,  Charlotte’s  lead- 
ing colored  theatre,  has  just  been  reno- 


vated. The  theatre  is  operated  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Morris  Nuger  . . . Charles  A.  Harper 
is  opening  his  new  Ann  in  Estill,  S.  C., 
on  January  27  . . . Joe  Brecheen,  local 
RKO  manager,  announces  that  the  Depi- 
net  drive,  which  starts  on  January  25  and 
ends  on  May  9,  will  keep  him  on  the  jump 
inasmuch  as  two  of  his  salesmen  are  con- 
fined with  flu.  On  Saturday,  January  25, 
the  first  of  the  drive  meetings  was  to  be 
held  at  the  local  branch.  Attending  were 
to  be  Leo  Devaney,  drive  captain,  and  also 
Canadian  division  manager;  T.  Harry 
Gittleson,  from  the  New  York  office,  and 
Dave  Prince,  district  manager,  Atlanta  . . . 
George  W.  Parr,  who  has  just  completed 
his  new  Parr  in  Lancaster,  S.  C.,  which 
was  to  have  opened  January  21,  advises 
of  an  indefinite  postponement  due  to  the 
flu  epidemic. 

Jack  London,  Republic  salesman  in  east- 
ern North  Carolina,  arrived  for  the  week- 


end laden  with  a supply  of  wild  geese  and 
country  hams  (roast  beef  to  Jack),  which 
he  confiscated  from  a customer  exhibitor 
. . . The  Lyman  in  Lyman,  S.  C.,  oper- 
ated by  J.  C.  Holland  and  his  wife,  is  no 
place  for  thieves.  Two  youths  who  recent- 
ly attempted  robbery  of  the  theatre  were 
sentenced  to  life  imprisonment.  Later  a 
Negro  youth  made  the  same  try.  He  failed 
to  open  the  safe,  but  was  awarded  a three 
year  prison  term  . . . Benny  Ralston  of 
Sound  Engineering  Service  Co.  has  re- 
turned from  New  York  where  he  spent  a 
week  on  business. 

The  New  Theatre  in  Hamlet,  N.  C., 
owned  by  K.  E.  Bryson,  has  been  closed 
after  two  months  operation  . . . J . H. 
Webster,  manager  of  Captain  Willie  Cul- 
pepper’s theatre  operations  in  Elizabeth 
City  and  Hertford,  N.  C.,  and  Craddock, 
Va.,  has  just  completed  a 12-family  apart- 
ment in  Craddock  . . . Ralph  Cook,  as- 
sociated with  his  brother,  Henry,  in  the 
operation  of  the  Ritz,  Walterboro,  S.  C„ 
returned  in  his  plane  from  the  air  races 
in  Miami.  Cook  already  has  his  private 
pilot’s  license  and  will  take  an  examina- 
tion for  a commercial  license  within  a few 
days. 

Harry  K.  Lucas,  formerly  owner  and 
operator  of  the  Charlotte  here,  is  confined 
to  Presbyterian  Hospital  after  a tonsil- 
lectomy. He  is  improving  and  hopes  to 
be  home  shortly  . . . John  H.  Vickers  of 
Carolina  Delivery  Service  and  his  son,  John 
H.,  jr.,  are  visiting  his  mother  in  Tif- 
ton,  Ga.  . . . Mrs.  Sarah  Ritchie  has  been 
added  to  the  booking  department  of  Uni- 
versal. 

Verne  Davis,  owner  and  operator  of  the 
Alva  and  Mimosa  theatres  in  Morganton, 
N.  C„  and  the  Marion  in  Marion,  N.  C., 
is  taking  his  usual  mid-winter  fishing 
sojourn  in  St.  Petersburg,  Fla.  W.  P.  Er- 
win, his  Marion  manager,  is  now  booking 
the  theatre  and  paid  his  first  visit  to  the 
Row  last  week  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  W. 
Lamont  of  Saginaw,  Mich.,  will  arrive  this 
week  for  an  extended  stay  with  their  son, 
Jack  Lamont,  manager  of  Monogram  . . . 
Judging  from  recent  stork  showers,  it  ap- 
pears as  though  the  old  bird  will  be  mighty 
busy  in  February,  especially  at  the  homes 
of  “Happy”  Bell  (Metro)  and  Ernest 
Stellings  (Everett  Enterprises ) . . . The 
handsome  young  gent  in  the  local  Metro 
office  is  Vince  Thompson,  student  booker. 

Metro  salesmen  are  busily  engaged  in 
taking  photographs  of  every  theatre  in  the 
territory  . . . Visitors  on  the  Row:  Senator- 
exhibitor  Roy  Rowe  of  the  Pender  Thea- 
tre, Burgaw,  N.  C.;  O.  T.  Kirby  of  the 
Palace  and  Dolly  Madison  theatres,  Rox- 
boro,  N.  C.;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joe  Anderson, 
Ritz,  Tabor  City,  N.  C.;  Jeff  Wilson,  Bis- 
coe,  Biscoe,  N.  C.;  George  Carpenter, 
Colonial,  Valdese,  N.  C.;  the  Patovi,  Madi- 
son, N.  C.,  and  the  Main,  Granite  Falls, 
N.  C.;  Albert  Powell  of  the  B.  B.  Ander- 
son circuit,  Marion,  S.  C. 

Mrs.  S.  S.  Stevenson  is  still  seriously  ill 
at  her  home  in  Henderson,  N.  C.  Her 
husband  is  a former  president  of  the  Thea- 
tre Owners  of  North  and  South  Carolina 
and  operates  the  Stevenson,  Embassy  and 
Vance  theatres  in  Henderson  and  also  the 
Stevenson  and  Carolina  theatres  in  Rock 
Hill,  S.  C. 


70 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


After  Seizure  of  Films 
Officials  Face  Jail 


By  A.  JULES  BENEDIC 

Birmingham — The  public  prints  are  rife 
with  a big  motion  picture  story.  In  short, 
the  police  chief  and 
three  other  promi- 
nent officials  were 
given  48-hour  jail 
sentences  over  the 
seizure  of  the  mo- 
tion picture,  “French 
Girls’  Club,”  starring 
Danielle  Darrieux, 
which  ran  last  Octo- 
ber at  Frank  Mer- 
ritt’s Galax  Theatre. 

As  this  is  written, 
one  convicted  offi- 
cial, City  Attorney  benedic 
J.  H.  Willis,  said  he  would  seek  a review 
of  the  case  by  the  Alabama  supreme  court. 
The  other  three,  Police  Chief  T.  A.  Riley, 
Assistant  City  Attorney  John  S.  Foster, 
and  City  Commissioner  Eugene  (Bull) 
Connor,  were  silent  as  to  decisions  to 
serve  the  contempt-of-court  sentences  or 
appeal.  At  this  writing,  none  of  the  quar- 
tette actually  had  begun  serving  the  sen- 
tences, which  had  been  meted  out  by 
Judge  E.  M.  Creel  in  circuit  court. 

It  was  contempt  of  court,  Judge  Creel 
ruled,  when  police  seized  a print  of  the 
controversial  film  last  October  26,  sev- 
eral hours  after  Circuit  Judge  John  Den- 
son had  issued  an  injunction  to  prevent 
interference  with  its  exhibition.  A fifth 
city  official,  Police  Judge  Henry  J.  Mar- 
tin, had  been  cited  for  contempt,  but 
charges  were  dismissed  after  it  was  shown 
he  had  had  no  knowledge  of  the  court 
order. 

Theatre  Wins  In  End 

Attorneys  for  W.  M.  Merritt,  manager 
of  the  theatre,  a brother  of  the  circuit 
head,  charged  that  Riley  and  Connor 
banned  the  picture  because  Merritt  had 
failed  to  submit  to  them  newspaper  proofs 
of  ads  for  the  picture.  A police  sergeant 
had  approved  the  film  on  moral  grounds, 
but,  in  subsequent  court  proceedings,  the 
content  of  the  film  was  attacked  as 
salacious. 

During  the  last  week  of  October,  num- 
erous court  proceedings  were  held,  with 
first  the  theatre  interests,  then  the  city, 
holding  the  whip  hand.  There  were  three 
injunctions  issued,  one  of  which  prevent- 
ed police  from  picketing  the  theatre  and 
stopping  patrons  from  entering. 


Once-Overing  the  Orr  Circuit 
Albertville,  Ala. — We  angle  into  Al- 
bertville, hoping  to  see  Colonel  Thos.  E. 
Orr,  head  of  the  Alabama  theatre  cir- 
cuit bearing  his  name,  but  history  repeats, 
and  he’s  out  of  town,  and  we  see  in- 
stead Hammond  Green,  the  Colonel’s  Man 
Friday,  whose  other  title  is  circuit  mana- 
ger. We  chat  with  Hammond,  who  re- 
calls our  visit  six  years  ago,  when  we 
were  his  guest  at  the  Albertville  horse 
show.  The  Colonel,  we  find,  is  in  Bir- 


mingham with  his  family,  for  a short 
visit. 

We’re  next  into  Boaz,  and  shake  hands 
with  Carl  Medlock,  Rialto  impresario. 
This  is  another  Orr  stronghold,.  The 
Rialto  is  a new  theatre  erected  last  sum- 
mer and  replaces  the  old  Rialto  ...  At 
Attalla  we  renew  acquaintance  with  Jack 
Brown,  who’s  been  at  the  helm  of  the 
Liberty  for  Colonel  Orr  these  two  score 
years  or  more  ...  At  Tallapoosa,  just 
over  the  line  in  Georgia,  we  gallop  to 
the  Grand  and  there  meet  T.  R.  Harris 
. . . Another  pleasant  Orr  call  was  upon 
S.  S.  Barksdall,  in  charge  of  the  DeKalb 
and  Strand  at  Fort  Payne,  Ala. 

We  clip  to  Collinsville  in  Alabama,  and 
at  the  Cricket  Theatre  wangle  a bit  with 
M.  G.  Weaver,  own- 
er-manager, whose 
multitudinous  duties 
include  theatre 
operation,  being 
head  of  the  water- 
works and  other  en- 
terprises. Weaver’s 
also  chief  stockhold- 
er in  the  new 
hosiery  mill  here 
and  in  his  spare  mo- 
ments conducts  a 
realty  enterprise. 
He’s  very  proud,  and 
justly  so,  of  the  new  improvements  at  the 
Cricket,  completed  Christmas  Eve,  which 
include  new  chairs,  screen,  sound  equip- 
ment and  projectors.  Other  improvements 
are  contemplated  for  the  theatre,  in  an- 
ticipation of  expected  good  business 
through  the  influx  from  the  new  industry. 

We  peregrinate  to  Piedmont  and  renew 
acquaintance  with  J.  G.  Varnell  of  the 
Princess,  who  is  under  the  weather  tem- 
porarily from  the  well  known  flu  . . . At 
the  Allison  in  this  town  we  meet  J.  E. 
Aaron,  who  conducts  an  operation  quite 
creditable  to  this  Alabama  town. 

Gadding  about  Gadsden,  we  meet  Messrs. 
Dixon  and  Parker  of  the  Princess  and 
Capitol  respectively,  Sudekum  holdings, 
while  out  in  East  Gadsden  we  meet  H.  T. 
Bailey,  who  runs  the  independent  Dixie 
. . . Roy  Gamel  of  the  Bremen  in  Bremen, 
just  over  the  line  in  Georgia,  a Martin 
stronghold,  is  another  call  before  ambling 
back  to  Atlanta. 


Atlanta  Merger  Interests 
Atlanta — Back  to  Atlanta,  The  Row’s 
chief  topic  for  the  week  is  the  merger 
between  Ted  Toddy  and  John  Jenkins,  of 
Dixie  Films  Exchange  and  Million  Dollar 
Distributing,  respectively.  These  concerns, 
both  handling  pictures  with  colored  casts, 
as  well  as  other  product,  decided  on  co- 
operation and  expansion.  John  tells  us  some 


The  Queen  Feature  Service,  Inc. 

Quality  Theatre  Equipment  & Supplies 

1912  Vs  Morris  Ave.  Phone  3-866."> 

BIRMINGHAM,  ALA. 


Ct  ==fr 

: There's  Gratitude  : 

IS'  JJ 

Oklahoma  City — Paul  Harrup,  secretary 
of  the  Hi-Y  Councils  of  the  YMCA  in 
Oklahoma  City,  paid  a tribute  to  the  local 
Variety  Club  in  a letter  sent  last  week 
to  Louis  C.  Griffith,  chief  barker. 

“Wise  men  of  the  ages  have  proclaimed 
Christian  character  the  gem  that  sends 
forth  more  brilliance  and  affords  more 
genuine  happiness  than  all  other  jewels,” 
Harrup  said,  “You  have  shared  generously 
in  our  humble  efforts  to  develop  this  gem 
in  the  hearts  and  minds  of  our  youth. 

“Your  generous  and  substantial  gift  to 
our  new  camp  development  has  helped  to 
erect  a monument  to  the  character  ser- 
vice of  scores  of  youth  down  through  many 
years  to  come. 

“We  are  grateful  for  your  fine  interest, 
express  our  sincere  appreciation  for  the 
good  work  and  warm  friendship  of  you 
and  the  Variety  Club  and  wish  for  every- 
one the  most  bountiful  blessings.” 

The  letter  was  in  particular  appreci- 
ation of  the  club’s  furnishing  a truck  and 
equipping  it  with  portable  motion  picture 
equipment  to  furnish  pictures  for  shut-ins. 
Howard  Wortham,  Horace  Falls  and  Hy 
Berling  are  members  of  the  joint  commit- 
tee in  charge  of  this  part  of  the  club’s 
activities. 


big  things  are  in  prospect  when  the  con- 
cern gets  its  new  offices  opened  in  Chi- 
cago and  New  York.  At  present,  offices 
are  being  maintained  in  Atlanta  and  Dal- 
las. Both  principals  in  the  transaction  are 
well  known  along  the  Row. 


LIKE  A FLASH 


OF  LIGHTNING 


KOZONO 

Will  Eliminate: 

Unpleasant  Odors  of  ALL  Kinds; 
Stale  and  Impure  Air  Indoors; 
Use  of  Perfumes  and  Deodor- 
izers; 

Dangerous  Germs  and  Bacteria. 

To  back  up  this  claim,  KOZONO 
is  offered  on  a MONEY  BACK 
GUARANTEE. 

Write  for  Complete  Catalogue 
and  Information 

THE  KOZONO  COMPANY 

123  West  Trade-B 

CHARLOTTE,  NORTH  CAROLINA 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


71 


gOB  BUSH,  manager  of  the  Midwest 
Theatre  here,  has  resigned  to  become 
manager  of  the  new  Uptown  at  12th  and 
Hudson,  opening  within  the  next  two 
weeks.  Bush  has  been  manager  of  several 
Standard  Theatres  during  the  past  few 
years.  The  Uptown  is  being  built  by  the 
Sieber  interests  here.  It  has  been  leased 
by  Charles  “Chuck”  Ferris. 

Jake  Jones  has  resigned  as  assistant 
manager  of  the  Liberty  and  left  for  Shaw- 
nee, where  he  will  again  join  the  staff  of 
his  father’s  theatre  operating  organiza- 
tion in  that  city  . . . Fred  White,  former 
State  chief  of  service  and  assistant  man- 
ager of  the  Tower,  has  left  to  take  a 
job  with  the  Malco  organization. 

E.  H.  Husley  jr.,  former  doorman  at  the 
State,  and  more  recently  with  the  Peak 
Theatre  at  Colorado  Springs,  was  a visitor 
last  week.  He  has  resigned  from  the  latter 
position  and  is  awaiting  his  call  to  join 
the  U.  S.  Army  Air  Corps. 

Fred  White  has  taken  himself  a wife; 
former  Shirley  Davis,  Criterion  cashier 
. . . Paul  Verderey,  State  Theatre  usher, 
was  one  of  the  boys  caught  in  the  draft 
and  is  set  to  leave  for  Fort  Sill  February 
5.  Incidentally  Paul  told  us  something 
the  State’s  management  didn’t  mention: 
That  T.  B.  Noble  jr.  ordered  a two  weeks 
salary  check  for  him  as  a going-away 
present. 

RKO  exchange  held  a special  press 
screening  of  “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith”  Janu- 
ary 21  at  the  State  with  newspaper  folk 
from  all  over  the  state  sitting  in  . . . Bob 
Pfotenhauer  has  returned  from  Tulsa 
bragging  heavy  about  Talbot’s  remodeled 
Majestic  there  which  Bob  says  is  one  of 
the  finest  show  houses  in  the  Southwest. 
The  new  Majestic  was  set  as  the  site  of 
an  indefinite  “Gone  With  the  Wind”  run 
last  week.  Same  film  is  playing  Okla- 
homa City  a second  time  at  the  Criterion 
to  very  nice  business  on  three  a day. 

Work  is  progressing  on  Griffith’s  new 
Main  Street  Theatre  in  Tulsa  with  a stucco 
front  up  and  work  startmg  on  the  re- 
mainder of  the  outside  walls. 

Andy  Higgins  was  a recent  visitor. 
Things  are  going  good  for  Higgins  who 
is  now  working  some  60  hours  a week  in 
an  airplane  factory  at  Wichita,  Kas.  He’s 
traded  in  his  old  bus  on  a new  wagon  . . . 
Sam  Caporal  is  putting  the  finishing 
touches  on  his  new  Bison  on  Northeast 
23rd  Street. 

C.  A.  Gibbs,  Columbia  exchange  mana- 
ger, is  back  from  an  extended  vacation 
and  a much  happier  man  for  the  rest. 
All  set  to  go  to  work  on  selling  Columbia 
this  year  . . . Bud  Gray,  RKO  exploita- 
tion man,  was  in-again  and  out-again  last 
week  doing  some  exploitation  work  on 
“Kitty  Foyle”  which  started  its  run  at  the 
State  last  week  . . . Frank  Bruner  of 
United  Artists  was  also  in  town  to  do 


some  “pushem”  on  “The  Thief  of  Bag- 
dad” which  played  at  the  Midwest.  And 
Jimmy  Birge  has  a two  city  exploitation 
job  on  “Gone  With  the  Wind,”  it  playing 
Oklahoma  City  and  Tulsa  simultaneously. 

Those  pictures  Burley  Hyde,  Tower 
Theatre  operator,  took  at  the  state  con- 
vention are  worth  seeing.  Hyde  filmed 
the  annual  banquet  and  caught  all  the 
boys  when  they  thought  the  reels  weren’t 
spinning.  The  Variety  Club  has  the  films 
for  showing  to  any  who  may  desire  to  see. 

Mary  Ellen  Foster,  cashier  at  the  Liberty 
Theatre,  is  back  on  the  job  following  an 
attack  of  the  flu  . . . Oklahoma’s  Bob 
Wills  really  brought  the  business  to  the 
Rialto  last  week  when  the  Griffith  house 
showed  his  picture,  “Carry  Me  Back  to 
Oklahoma.”  It  wowed  ’em  in  Tulsa  at  the 
Rialto  also  and  we  understa?id  in  the 
latter  spot  it  did  more  business  than 
“Boom  Town.”  No  exhibitor  has  to  be 
told  of  Bob  Wills’  pulling  power  in  Okla- 
homa. 

Word  comes  back  from  Montgomery, 
Ala.,  of  Charles  T.  Rook’s  new  house,  said 
to  represent  some  $100,000  investment  . . . 
A pat  on  the  back  to  J.  Eldon  Peak  whose 
Oklahoma  Theatre  Supply  Co.  is  leading 
the  nation  in  sales  for  Brenkert  projec- 
tors . . . The  draft  got  Paul  Townsend, 
Liberty  manager,  but  the  board  turned 
him  down  due  to  his  high  blood  pressure. 

Chet  Humphreys  has  made  Jimmy 
Adams,  who  has  been  around  in  local  thea- 
tre circles  for  quite  a spell,  new  manager 
of  his  Log  Cabin  Theatre. 

B.  H.  “Bob”  Pfotenhauer,  manager  of 
the  State,  Oklahoma  City,  is  enjoying  a 
series  of  anonymous  love  letters  from  an 
admirer  who  has  started  writing  him  a 
note  every  time  she  plans  to  come  to  the 
State  and  is  hoping  that  he  will  be  around 
so  she  can  “get  another  look  at  him.” 

Walter  Shuttee  Acquires 
Two  Houses  in  Cherokee 

Oklahoma  City — Walter  B.  Shuttee,  un- 
til recently  general  manager  of  Standard 
Theatres,  Inc.,  here,  has  purchased  the 
Mex  and  Ritz  in  Cherokee.  He  will  move 
to  Cherokee  about  March  1,  personally 
directing  the  two  houses.  He  resigned  his 
post  here  December  15. 

Shuttee  came  here  three  years  ago  to 
become  manager  of  the  Criterion,  Midwest 
and  other  houses  in  the  Standard  group. 
Before  that  he  was  engaged  in  the  theatre 
business  in  Nebraska  and  Colorado  for 
eight  years.  He  was  reared  in  El  Reno 
and  served  as  a bank  clerk  before  enter- 
ing the  motion  picture  business. 


Role  for  Nils  Asther 

Hollywood — Nils  Asther,  silent  screen 
star,  has  been  signed  for  the  second  male 
lead  in  Universal’s  “The  Man  Who  Lost 
Himself.” 


Cc  - ft 

A New  Way  to  Get 
Into  a Theatre 

Charlotte — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morris  Nuger, 
who  operate  the  Grand  in  the  Bidde- 
ville  colored  section,  had  a novel  experi- 
ence recently  which  neither  hardly  will 
soon  forget. 

Mrs.  Nuger,  who  assists  her  husband 
as  cashier,  was  approached  one  evening 
by  a woman  who  said  "I'd  like  very 
much  to  see  Mr.  Nuger,"  then  turned  and 
walked  to  the  street. 

Mrs.  N.  pushed  the  buzzer  summon- 
ing Mr.  N.  to  the  boxoffice  and  informed 
him  a party  wished  to  see  him,  so  he 
walked  to  the  street  entrance  and  asked 
the  woman  what  she  wanted.  In  reply, 
she  reached  into  her  coat  and  brought 
forth  a shiny  revolver,  which  she  point- 
ed at  Mr.  N.,  stating  that  she  wished  him 
to  take  the  revolver  as  security  for  two 
theatre  tickets  for  her  and  the  boy  friend. 
Speechless,  he  merely  indicated  with  his 
thumb  to  go  ahead. 

VS  ■ J 


■JWO  Interstate-employed  girls  are  among 

the  284  nominees  for  University  of  Texas 
beauty  honors.  Joyce  Mcllroy,  Paramount 
cashier,  and  Betty  Waite,  candy  girl  at 
the  same  theatre,  are  the  candidates. 

Two  new  ten-minute  sound  pictures, 
“Mexicana”  and  “You  and  Your  Child,” 
have  been  added  to  the  Visual  Instruc- 
tion Bureau’s  film  library  and  are  ready 
for  distribution,  according  to  Mrs.  Joe 
Moore,  director  . . . Skinny  Pryor,  top 
man  at  the  Cactus,  anticipates  a bigger 
and  better  year  for  his  independent  East- 
Sixth-Street  house. 

Mary  and  Francis  Vickers  (he’s  the  as- 
sistant manager  at  the  State)  are  house 
hunting  . . . Victoria  Blanca,  Mexican 
screen  star,  played  a sellout  midnight  show 
at  the  Capitol  . . . “Maisie  Was  a Lady” 
(M-G-M)  owled  at  the  Paramount  . . . 
Ruth  Lewis,  amusement  editor  of  the  Aus- 
tin American- Statesman,  is  back  from  her 
annual  trip  to  the  New  York  show-shops. 
David  Botter,  a reporter  on  the  same 
sheet,  took  over  while  Ruth  was  in  the 
Big  City  . . . Les  Carpenter  is  The  Daily 
Texan’s  new  amusement  editor. 

“Land  of  Liberty”  received  a big  send- 
off  by  local  newshounds  who  caught  the 
screening  . . . Lena  and  Earl  Podolnick 
are  planning  to  build  a little  nest  of  their 
own  soon.  Earl  is  the  State’s  well-dressed 
skipper. 


Sam  Stokes  Will  Helm 
Corpus  Christi  String 

McAlester,  OKla. — Sam  Stokes,  mana- 
ger of  the  three  McAlester  theatres  here 
for  the  past  13  years,  has  been  promoted 
to  manager  of  13  theatres  with  head- 
quarters in  Corpus  Christi,  Tex.  He  will 
be  succeeded  by  Alex  Blue  of  Palestine, 
Tex.  Alston  Hardin  will  continue  as  as- 
sistant manager  in  McAlester. 


BUFFALO  COOLING  EQUIPMENT 

1026  santa  fe  bldg.  BUFFALO  ENGINEERING  CO.,  INC.  Dallas  Texas 


72 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


n 

Gadsden  Theatre 
Man  Injured 

Gadsden,  Ala. — A second  blood  trans- 
fusion was  deemed  necessary  for  Ben- 
ton W.  Pierce  jr.,  assistant  manager  of 
the  Princess  Theatre  here,  after  an  in- 
cident highly  unusual. 

A monument  to  a war  hero  stands  in 
the  heart  of  town.  It  divides  traffic  into 
right  and  left  movements. 

During  a fog  on  January  9,  Pierce 
drove  into  the  monument  after  his  wind- 
shield became  cloudy.  His  car  was  de- 
molished and  he  was  critically  injured. 

At  this  writing  his  condition  warrants  the 
belief  he  will  pull  through. 

Fourteen  hours  later,  a similar  acci- 
dent happened  at  the  monument. 

In  this,  two  persons  were  killed,  two 
hurt  rather  badly. 

Now  the  city,  after  placing  red  lights 
on  all  sides  of  the  obstruction,  has  de- 
cided to  do  away  with  the  monument,  at 
least  in  its  present  position. 

^ . =U 

S ANTON  IE 

JNTERSTATE  City  Manager  E.  E.  Col- 
lins has  been  chosen  to  head  the  Bexar 
county  President’s  Birthday  Ball  commit- 
tee. Dance  and  floor  show  will  be  held 
at  the  Municipal  Auditorium  Thursday 
night  . . . “Buzzo”  has  been  transferred 
from  the  Texas  over  to  the  Empire  in 
conjunction  with  “Gift  Night”  every 
Wednesday  . . . LeeRoy  Handley,  skipper 
of  the  Harlandale,  is  back  on  duty  after 
a sojourn  in  the  Santa  Rosa  Hospital. 

Genial  Johnny  Floor e,  Majestic  bigwig, 
was  in  Chicago  Tuesday  for  the  Balaban 
& Katz  reception  honoring  John,  who  is 
co-winner  in  the  Hallowe’en  to  Christ- 
inas drive  . . . Additional  changes  in  per- 
sonnel at  downtown  Interstate  houses  in- 
clude the  following:  Martin  Burns,  new 
chief  of  service  at  the  Palace;  Beverly 
Jolley,  candy  saleslady  in  the  Palace  ar- 
cade, and  Katherine  DeSold,  ticket  seller 
at  the  Prince. 

Travelers:  George  Burnett  to  Houston; 
Patsy  LaBasse,  vocalist,  to  Oklahoma  City; 
H.  W.  Kier,  commercial  picture  producer, 
has  returned  from  a business  trip  to  Aus- 
tin, and  Charlie  Freeman,  Interstater,  has 
returned  to  Dallas  after  catching  the  Texas 
stageshow. 

H.  Menck  is  a new  addition  to  the  Ma- 
jestic service  staff  . . . Nick  Price,  men- 
talist,  known  as  “The  Great  Bogota,”  is 
in  town  . . . Recent  visitors  to  Sunny 
Santone  were  Jack  H.  Adams  jr.,  Adams 
Film  Exchange,  Dallas;  Jack  Huey,  RKO, 
Dallas;  Herman  Craven,  Columbia,  Dallas, 
and  Salesman  Taylor,  south  Texas  repre- 
sentative for  Metro  out  of  Dallas. 


Open  Booking  Service 

Atlanta — Lex  Benton  and  George  Jones 
have  opened  a booking  service  at  192 
Luckie  St.,  N.  W.  Both  are  well  known 
throughout  the  Atlanta  trade  territory. 


m IE  M P 1IHII  III  <§ . 


jyjRS.  LELA  FLIPPIN  and  Juanita  Wil- 
liams of  the  Grand  at  Cardwell,  Mo., 
were  recent  Filmrow  visitors  . . . Cliff 
Wallace,  branch  manager  of  the  local  Ross 
Federal  checking  office,  is  off  to  Miami 
for  a fishing  trip  with  the  company’s  of- 
ficials. 

Jess  Norman,  operator  of  two  theatres 
in  England,  Ark.,  who  has  been  seriously 
ill  the  past  three  months,  now  is  greatly 
improved  and  will  soon  be  able  to  return 
to  his  business  . . . C.  E.  Peppiatt,  branch 
manager  for  UA  in  New  Orleans,  spent 
several  days  in  Memphis  calling  on  his 
circuit  accounts. 

R.  L.  Osborne  and  Mrs.  Osborne  of  the 
Harlem,  Belzoni,  Miss.,  paid  the  Row  one 
of  their  infrequent  visits  this  past  week 
. . . Walter  Parham  of  the  Royal,  Mem- 
phis, has  installed  new  projectors  in  his 
house. 

Moses  Sliman  and  Mrs.  Sliman  who 
opened  their  New  Lux  Theatre  at  Luxora, 
Ark.,  January  23,  paid  the  Row  their 
initial  booking  visit,  and  while  in  Mem- 
phis subscribed  for  Boxoffice.  This  is  the 
first  theatre  operation  for  Luxora. 

Exhibitors  seen  on  the  Row:  Barney 
Haberfeld,  Varsity,  Amory,  Miss.;  Jack 
Marshall,  Frances,  Dyersburg,  Tenn.;  J.  J. 
Sharum,  Walnut  Ridge,  Ark.;  Buster  Clark, 
Alamo,  Pine  Bluff,  Ark.;  Wilfred  Bonds, 
Dyer,  Dyer,  Tenn.;  H.  G.  Brewer,  Savoy, 
Clarksdale,  Miss.;  Harry  Shaw,  Ritz,  Aber- 
deen, Miss.;  John  Mohrstadt,  Missouri, 
Hayti,  Mo.;  R.  H.  Fisher  and  H.  H.  Alex- 
ander, Crescent,  Belzoni,  Miss.;  Raymond 
Kinkle,  Joiner,  Joiner,  Ark. 

Yola  Spiotta  of  Film  Transit,  Inc.,  is 
back  at  her  desk  after  several  days’  ab- 
sence due  to  the  death  of  her  grand- 
mother . . . S.  T.  “Doc”  Lyles  jr.,  mana- 
ger of  the  Ritz  at  Oxford.  Miss.,  is  con- 
fined to  his  home  due  to  the  flu. 

M.  H.  Brandon,  president  of  Film  Tran- 
sit, Inc.,  who  makes  his  headquarters  in 
Charlotte,  spent  several  days  at  his  Mem- 
phis office  recently  . . . Jack  Guest  made 
one  of  his  rare  booking  trips,  and  while 
here  announced  the  opening  of  his  new 
theatre  in  Smackover,  Ark.,  around  Feb- 
ruary 20.  Guest  now  has  two  theatres  in 
Camden,  Ark. 

F.  G.  “Bob”  Roberts  of  the  Ritz  at 
Bald  Knob,  Ark.,  was  seen  on  the  Row 
recently  for  the  first  time  in  many  weeks 
...  H.  I.  “Buddy”  Mansfield,  Universal’s 
branch  manager,  is  back  from  a visit  to 
the  district  office  in  Atlanta. 

E.  H.  Smothers  of  the  Dixie  at  Cam- 
den, Tenn.,  still  confined  to  his  home  due 
to  illness.  His  son  is  operating  the  thea- 
tre during  his  absence  . . . W.  S.  Tyson 
of  the  Grand  at  Water  Valley,  Miss.,  was 


Build  Profits-Patronage  With 

PARAMOUNT  PREMIUM  CO. 

P.  O.  Box  1074  163  Walton  St. 

ATLANTA,  GA. 


on  the  Row  booking  for  the  first  time 
since  before  the  holidays. 

Loyd  Hutchins  of  the  Ozark  Amuse- 
ment Co.  advises  his  company  is  opening 
a theatre  in  Williford,  Ark.  They  now 
have  theatres  in  Black  Rock,  Calico  Rock, 
Hardy,  Melbourne,  Revendon,  Salem  and 
Yellville,  Ark. 

Lawrence  Landers  of  the  Landers  at 
Batesville,  Ark.,  was  in  a very  unhappy 
frame  of  mind  on  his  recent  visit  here. 
The  day  before  he  had  arisen  at  the 
crack  of  dawn  to  go  quail  hunting,  and 
on  his  way  to  the  game  preserve  he  had 
two  flat  tires,  and  after  finally  getting 
there,  lost  his  cigarette  lighter  and  his 
favorite  bird  dog  decided  to  run  away. 

C.  V.  Jones,  R&R  executive  of  Dallas, 
spent  a couple  of  days  in  Memphis  recent- 
ly with  his  local  booker,  Alton  Sims  . . . 
Richard  Bryant,  booker  for  Strand  En- 
terprises, Inc.,  is  driving  a new  car. 

George  Simpson,  traffic  manager  for 
Film  Transit,  Inc.,  had  his  little  eight- 
year-old  daughter  down  to  spend  the  holi- 
days with  him  . . . M.  V.  Smith  of  the 
U.  S.  Army  Motion  Picture  Service  was 
in  booking  for  Camp  Joe  T.  Robinson  in 
Little  Rock. 

G.  W . Haynes  of  Strand  Enterprises  has 
installed  new  seats  in  his  Roxy  here. 
Strand  at  Philadelphia  and  Star  at  Marked 
Tree  . . . Malco  Theatres  have  announced 
the  opening  of  their  new  Park  Hill  Thea- 
tre in  North  Little  Rock  for  approximate- 
ly March  1.  This  will  be  their  third  thea- 
tre in  N.  Little  Rock. 

The  stage  attraction  at  the  Malco  Mem- 
phis featuring  Milton  Slosser,  organist, 
Berl  Olswanger,  pianist,  and  the  Blue 
Belles,  three  local  girls,  have  been  booked 
for  the  second  week. 

M.  A.  Connett  and  J.  A.  Owen  have 
opened  a new  theatre  in  Philadelphia, 
Miss.,  during  the  last  few  weeks. 

Lyle  Richmond  and  John  Mohrstadt, 
who  in  the  past  have  done  the  booking 
for  their  circuit  of  Missouri  theatres,  now 
find  it  necessary  to  have  some  one  else 
do  their  booking  in  order  to  give  them 
more  time  to  devote  to  other  business 
interests.  Accordingly,  Charles  Ferry  will 
handle  their  feature  bookings  and  Mau- 
rice Olds  will  book  their  shorts.  Ferry 
and  Olds  paid  the  Row  their  initial  book- 
ing trip  a fortnight  ago. 


Produces  "Devil  Fish" 

Hollywood — Milton  Bren  will  produce 
“Devil  Fish,”  story  of  deep-sea  fishing,  for 
Metro.  Wallace  Beery  will  be  starred,  with 
Marjorie  Main,  Leo  Carrillo  and  Virginia 
Weidler  in  supporting  roles. 


RSTOR  PICTURES 

Harwood  and  Jackson  Streets 
DALLAS,  TEXAS 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


s 


72-A 


HOUSTON 

^■HE  opening  of  the  Motion  Picture 

Operators  new  club  rooms  was  a gala 
affair  attended  by  city  and  county  of- 
ficials, representatives  from  Dallas,  Beau- 
mont, San  Antonio,  Tyler,  Lufkin  and 
many  other  Texas  towns.  All  indepen- 
dent theatre  owners  of  Houston  were  pres- 
ent as  well  as  officials  of  Interstate  thea- 
tres from  Dallas  and  Houston.  Operators’ 
wives  and  friends  were  well  represented 
and  were  given  souvenirs  along  with  plenty 
to  eat  and  drink.  Dancing  followed  the 
reception. 

O.  B.  Bridges,  former  oumer  of  the 
Croum,  Cozy  and  Midway  theatres  here, 
was  a visitor  from  New  Orleans  where  he 
is  noio  managing  the  Joy-Strand  Theatre 
. . . Mr.  McDaniel  of  the  Queen  has  re- 
turned to  the  job  after  two  weeks  of 
ilhiess. 

Murry  Smith  of  Beaumont  and  Harvey 
Hill  of  Dallas  were  visitors  the  past  week 
. . . Houston’s  Drive-In  Theatre  still  is 
going  strong  despite  the  cold  weather. 

Cotton  Mulliniz  of  the  Joy  Theatre  en- 
tertained four  friends  Jrom  Ft.  Worth 
the  past  week,  showing  them  the  town  and 
feeding  them  fried  chicken  at  the  Dixie. 

L.  W.  Merchant,  Tower  Theatre  pro- 
jectionist, also  in  the  sound  business, 
equipped  the  Operators  Club  with  the 
communicating  system  . . . Raymond  Hay, 
manager  of  the  North  Main  Theatre,  has 
been  appointed  chairman  of  the  under- 
privileged children’s  committee  in  his  local 
Kiwanis  Club. 

Jerry  Jobin,  assistant  chief  usher  at 
the  Metropolitan,  has  been  transferred  to 
Lever’s  office  with  J.  T.  Baine,  who  was 
only  recently  rehired,  taking  Jerry’s  post 
. . . Weldon  Parsons,  city  manager  of  the 
neighborhood  houses,  is  looking  at  homes. 

In  spite  of  a broken  blood-vessel  in 
his  right  leg,  W.  E.  Bremer,  Kirby  man- 
ager, has  been  valiantly  pushing  his  plans 
for  entertainment  at  the  President’s  Ball 
and  has  promised  that  the  entertain- 
ment this  year  will  be  the  best  ever  pre- 
sented and  worth  the  price  of  admission. 

F.  B.  Logan,  Kirby  electrician  who  has 
been  recovering  from  a serious  opera- 
tion, is  resting  at  home  and  is  feeling 
fine  . . . Miss  Thelma  Ward,  an  employe 
of  the  Horwitz  Theatres  for  18  years,  was 
recently  married  to  Dewey  Edgar. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Will  Horwitz  have  re- 
turned from  an  extended  trip  that  included 
New  York,  Florida  and  Panama  . . . Add 
to  the  growing  list  of  Houstonians  who 
have  gained  recognition  in  Hollywood  the 
name  of  Don  Castle.  He  was  signed  to 
a long-term  contract  by  Paramount  and 
has  a featured  role  in  the  film  “So  You’re 
the  One”  with  another  Houstonian,  Bon- 
nie Baker,  and  Orrin  Tucker. 

When  Mrs.  “Chang”  Jackson,  secretary 
to  Al  Lever,  left  this  week,  she  could  not 
be  accused  of  being  hasty — she  resigned 
the  last  of  March.  As  it  was  then  planned, 
Mrs.  A.  C.  Driver  (formerly  Miss  Mildred 
Jones)  will  replace  her. 


a ' — 

Protest  Proposed 
Amusement  Tax 

Oklahoma  City — Members  of  the  Thea- 
tre Owners  of  Oklahoma,  Inc.,  headed  by 
President  Morris  Loewenstein,  have  pro- 
tested to  Gov.  Leon  C.  Phillips  against  a 
proposed  five  per  cent  amusement  tax 
as  provided  in  a bill  introduced  in  the 
current  legislative  session  last  week. 

Approximately  15  members  of  the  as- 
sociation met  with  Phillips  to  discuss  the 
bill  and  the  tax  problem.  A committee  is 
to  be  named  to  study  the  question. 

The  association  members  protested  that 
they  were  already  overtaxed. 

IS  - V 


New  "Beast"  Deal 

New  York  — Pathe  Laboratories  an- 
nounces its  Atlanta  franchise-holder,  Ike 
Katz  of  Producers  Releasing,  has  consum- 
mated a deal  on  “Beast  of  Berlin”  with  the 
Publix-Wilby  Kincey  circuit  for  the  Caro- 
linas.  The  picture  had  extended  runs 
throughout  the  Interstate  and  the  Jeffer- 
son circuits  in  Texas. 


Alsina  Sells  to  Saenger 

New  Orleans — The  Famous  Theatre,  one 
of  the  largest  in  the  lower  section  of  the 
city,  has  been  taken  over  by  the  Saenger 
interests.  Joe  Alsina,  proprietor  hitherto, 
who  has  been  in  ill  health,  it  is  said  is 
planning  an  extensive  tour  in  the  endeavor 
to  regain  his  health. 


A Great  Educator 

New  Orleans — A tribute  to  motion  pic- 
tures as  “one  of  the  greatest  educators  out- 
side the  classroom”  was  paid  by  Mrs.  E. 
Williams,  newly  elected  president  of  the 
Louisiana  Better  Films  Council.  Another 
new  officer  of  the  organization  is  Mrs.  L. 
A.  Zollinger,  secretary. 


Give  Cosmetics 

Oklahoma  City — The  Midwest,  Stan- 
dard first-run  house  here,  has  begun  dis- 
tribution of  Constance  Bennett  Cosmetics 
in  a special  giveaway  stunt  to  promote 
Thursday  and  Friday  night  business. 


Bob  Martin  a Father 

Memphis — Bob  Martin,  manager  of  the 
Bells  in  Bells,  Tenn.,  was  all  smiles  on 
his  recent  visit  to  the  Row,  the  reason 
for  which  was  the  arrival  of  an  eight- 
pound  baby  on  Sunday,  January  12.  Both 
the  baby  and  Mrs.  Martin  are  doing  nice- 
ly. This  is  their  first  child. 

(<  -■  ft 

Atlanta  Tribunal 
By  February  1 

Atlanta — A regional  tribunal  for  arbi- 
trating disputes  in  the  industry  will  be 
opened  here  February  1 following  selec- 
tion of  a panel  of  40  arbiters  from  this 
area,  it  is  reported.  It  will  be  composed 
of  business  and  professional  men. 

I >J 


pi  i a m ii 

J^L  WEISS  of  the  Olympia  had  to  hang 
out  the  SRO  sign  as  thousands  of 
Miamians  stormed  his  boxoffice  to  be  part 
of  the  audience  of  “Dr.  I.  Q.’s”  initial 
Miami  coast-to-coast  broadcast.  This  was 
the  first  of  a series  of  six  programs  to 
be  broadcast  from  the  stage  of  the  local 
theatre  on  successive  Monday  nights  . . . 
Friends  of  A.  R.  Ninninger,  veteran  Fort 
Lauderdale  showman,  are  congratulating 
him  on  having  passed  his  40th  anniversary 
as  a theatreman  . . . The  Max  Fleischers 
have  moved  into  a handsome  new  home 
they  purchased  recently  on  North  Bay 
Road,  Miami  Beach. 

Latest  threat  to  Texas’  claim  for  being 
the  best  producer  of  beautiful  girls,  is 
quite  obviously  Miami.  And  the  latest 
personification  of  this  threat  is  Mary 
Joyce  Walsh,  recently  “Miss  Florida,”  who 
has  gone  west  with  a 20 th  Century-Fox 
contract  in  her  handbag. 

Current  activity  at  the  Colonnade  Stu- 
dios is  in  preparation  for  the  filming  of 
an  English  war  feature  to  be  titled  “Bomb 
Shelter.”  It  will  take  precedence  over  the 
previously  scheduled  “Tigress  and  the 
Lady.” 

With  the  opening  of  the  new  British- 
Colonnade  Theatre  School  being  started 
at  the  studio,  additional  space  and  facili- 
ties are  being  made  available  at  the  Coral 
Gables  production  center  where  actual 
shooting  and  sound  reproduction  have  been 
underway  since  midsummer.  Among  the 
school’s  sponsors  are  Lady  Louis  Mont- 
batten  and  Alexander  Korda. 


Honor  Picquet 

Charlotte— Charles  W.  Picquet,  presi- 
dent for  many  years  of  the  Theatre  Own- 
ers Ass’n  of  North  and  South  Carolina, 
and  who  operates  the  Carolina  theatres  in 
Southern  Pines  and  Pinehurst,  N.  C.,  was 
honored  recently  by  the  Kiwanis  with  the 
“Builders  Cup”  for  outstanding  civic  en- 
deavor during  1940. 


Plug  Warner  Short 

Austin,  Tex. — The  Warner  short, 
“Young  America  Flies,”  based  on  the 
CAA  program  which  is  being  carried  out 
on  the  University  of  Texas  campus,  was 
given  prominent  publicity  in  the  U.  of  T. 
daily  when  the  featurette  played  the  Var- 
sity Theatre. 


Sonneman  Opens  Fourth 

Fayetteville,  Ark. — W.  F.  Sonneman 
held  the  formal  opening  of  his  new  thea- 
tre here  January  16.  The  house,  located 
near  the  campus  of  the  University  of  Ar- 
kansas, is  Sonneman’s  fourth  in  this  town. 


Thieves  Take  $700 

Stuttgart,  Ark. — The  Majestic  here  was 
robbed  of  $700  in  cash  and  valuable  pa- 
pers, including  stocks  and  bonds,  by  thieves 
who  entered  the  private  office  of  Mana- 
ger Alger  Lancaster  and  battered  the 
combination  off  the  safe. 


72-B 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


Conslruciion  Pace  in 
Southern  Area  High 


Kirby  Gets  District ; Price  Transferred — 

John  F.  Kirby,  Paramount’s  branch  manager  at  Atlanta,  gets  a district  com- 
posed of  that  city,  Charlotte  and  New  Orleans,  succeeding  Harold  F.  Wilkes, 
temporarily  retired  by  illness.  This  is  part  of  a rearrangement  looking  to- 
ward operations  under  the  decree.  It  includes  abandonment  by  Paramount 
of  its  southern  division,  appointment  of  Oscar  A.  Morgan  as  sales  manager 
of  shorts  and  newsreels  and  transfer  of  E.  B.  Price  (right),  current  New 
Orleans  manager,  to  Atlanta  succeeding  Kirby.  Saul  Frifield,  salesmaji  out 
of  Charlotte,  becomes  New  Orleans  manager. 

(Full  detail  on  page  13) 


New  York — In  the  last  quarter  of  1940, 
twenty  theatres  were  opened  in  Texas  or 
in  various  stages  of  construction,  a survey 
by  Boxoffice  reveals.  New  theatre  con- 
struction also  was  keeping  apace  in  a 
number  of  other  southern  states  during  the 
same  quarter,  including  North  and  South 
Carolina,  Oklahoma  and  Tennessee. 

The  detailed  break-down,  by  states,  fol- 
lows: 

North  Carolina 

Goldsboro — Worth  Stewart  and  his  as- 
sociates have  opened  the  Wayne. 

Hamlet— -K.  E.  Bryson  has  opened  his 
new  theatre. 

Lenoir — Work  has  started  on  Lenoir 
Theatres’  new  850-seat  house. 

Old  Fort — John  V.  Robinson  has  opened 
the  new  theatre  here. 

Wilmington — Wilby-Kincey  has  opened 
the  Bailey. 

Oklahoma 

Oklahoma  City — L.  B.  Warren  of  Yukon, 
Okla.,  has  started  work  on  a new  525-seat 
house. 

Griffith  Amusement  Co.  announces  plans 
for  two  new  theatres. 

Wilburton — K.  Lee  Williams  Theatres, 
Inc.,  has  leased  a business  building  to  be 
remodeled  into  a subsequent  run  house. 

South  Carolina 

Barnwell — G.  Frank  Lundy,  who  operates 
the  Ritz,  is  constructing  a 250-seat  house. 

Elloree — Dr.  J.  T.  Greene  will  soon  open 
a new  theatre. 

Pageland — W.  D.  VanDerburgh  of  the 
Pageland  will  erect  a new  350-seat  house. 

Rock  Hill — Robert  E.  Bryant  has  opened 
the  new  Pix. 

Spartanburg — Construction  has  started 
on  the  new  850-seat  house  by  Palmetto 
Amusement  Co.,  the  fourth  unit  here,  to 
be  known  as  the  Palmetto.  Opening  is 
scheduled  for  April. 

Sumter — K.  Ward  has  opened  the  new 
Rex. 

Summerton — W.  S.  Walker  has  a new 
house  under  construction. 

Tennessee 

Chattanooga  — Independent  Theatres, 
Inc.,  has  opened  the  Capitol,  new  600- 
seater,  seventh  unit  in  the  circuit. 

Erwin — Cherokee  Amusements,  of  which 
Tony  Sudekum  and  Earle  Hendren  are  ex- 
ecutives, has  opened  the  new  Capitol. 

Memphis — Mike  Cianciolo  has  opened 
the  Luciann,  seating  1,200  and  costing  ap- 
proximately $100,000. 

Sheffield — Muscle  Shoals  Theatres  has 
under  construction  a 1,000-seat  house, 
scheduled  to  open  February  1,  to  cost  $75,- 
000. 

Tullahoma — Crescent  Amusements  of 
Nashville  is  building  a theatre. 

Texas 

Bay  City — Weldon  Smith  will  build  a 
500-seat  theatre  on  a site  in  this  town. 

Bremond — John  Bielamowicz  opened  a 
new  theatre  here  during  Christmas  week. 

Brownsville — Interstate  plans  to  include 
a theatre  in  a building  project  here  that 
will  also  house  stores  and  offices. 

Brownswood — Texas  Consolidated  Thea- 


tres has  let  a contract  for  an  800-seat 
theatre  to  cost  approximately  $40,000. 

Dallas — Ray  V.  Starling  has  a new,  RCA- 
equipped  house  under  construction  here. 

Garland — H.  R.  Bisby  has  opened  a new 
house  near  an  airplane  factory. 

Grapevine — J.  K.  Buckner  has  opened 
the  new  660-seat  Palace  here. 

Houston — Lou  Baxley  and  W.  J.  Lytle 
have  opened  their  new  880-seat  Plaza. 

Humble — it  is  reported  Oskar  Korn  plans 
to  erect  a theatre. 

Linden — B.  R.  McLendon  has  opened  a 
new  theatre. 

Mineral  Wells — E.  L.  Fawkes  will  build 
a 260-seat  theatre. 

The  Resort  Amusement  Co.  has  a thea- 
tre under  construction  here. 

Oak  Cliff — L.  L.  Dunbar  started  con- 
struction this  week  on  a new  800-seat 
theatre. 

Orange — Tom  R.  Clemmons  has  opened 
his  new  Royal. 

Palacios — The  new  1,500-seat  Granada 
has  opened. 

Phil  R.  Isley  is  building  a 1,000-seat 
house. 

Rio  Grande  City — M.  F.  Garcia  has 
opened  a new  theatre  here  exclusively  for 
Mexican  audiences. 

Sundown  — Wallace  Blankenship  has 
opened  his  new  Wallace. 

Van — Lee  Scarborough  has  a new  thea- 
tre under  construction. 

Whiteface — Wallace  Blankenship,  Pan- 
handle circuit  operator,  is  building  a new 
theatre. 


Fire  Damages  Elba 

Elba,  Ala. — A fire  which  started  in  the 
rear  of  the  building,  damaged  the  Elba 
Theatre  here  recently.  The  Elba  was  re- 
modeled more  than  a year  ago. 


^HE  U-ARK  Theatre,  Fayetteville’s  new- 
est house,  opened  Thursday,  January 
16,  W.  F.  Sonneman,  owner  and  manager, 
has  announced  . . . The  4-Mile  Theatre 
has  opened  in  the  Schoffner  Building  on 
Asher  Avenue,  Little  Rock  . . . L.  Braziel 
and  wife  who  have  operated  the  Rex  at 
Bearden  for  the  past  few  years,  have 
moved  to  Little  Rock  . . . Luxora  is  to 
have  a new  film  house,  which  will  be 
known  as  the  “Lux.”  Moses  Sliman  will 
open  the  theatre  which  will  have  a seat- 
ing capacity  of  450. 

Pete  Park,  projectionist  at  the  Royal, 
Fayetteville,  underwent  an  operation  at 
the  City  Hospital  . . . Plans  for  a cele- 
bration of  the  President’s  birthday  are 
under  way  at  the  U-Ark,  Fayetteville,  for 
January  30.  One  dollar  admittance  will 
be  charged. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  T.  Nichols  of  Clarks- 
ville announce  the  engagement  of  their 
niece,  Miss  Geraldine  Hudson,  to  Audley 
Scarborough,  also  of  Clarksville.  Scar- 
borough is  connected  with  the  Palace 
there  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs.  Avery  Shinn  of 
Russellville  announce  the  engagement  of 
their  daughter,  Adalissa,  to  Thomas  Aus- 
tin Wilson  jr.  of  Russellville.  The  wed- 
ding will  take  place  January  31.  Wilson 
is  assistant  manager  of  Malco  theatres 
at  Russellville. 


Matson  Remodeling 

Dallas — Mrs.  C.  W.  Matson  has  let  a 
contract  to  W.  B.  King  of  King  Scenic  Co. 
for  the  remodeling  of  her  Majestic  in  Som- 
erville. King  said  the  work  will  start  at 
once. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


72-C 


Luncheon  Meeting  by 
Charlotte  Variety 

Charlotte — The  local  Variety  Club  re- 
cently held  its  first  luncheon  meeting  of  all 
charter  members  at  the  Hotel  Charlotte. 
Plans  for  elaborate  headquarters  in  the 
Hotel  Charlotte  were  presented  and  ap- 
proved. Renovation  starts  immediately 
with  completion  in  about  six  weeks. 

Chief  Barker  H.  H.  Everett  announces 
the  following  house  committee:  Chairman: 
John  H.  Vickers,  second  assistant  chief 
barker  (Carolina  Delivery  Service) ; vice- 
chairman:  Phil  Longdon  (20th  Century- 
Fox);  Jay  Schrader  (United  Artists),  Rog- 
er Mitchell  (RKO),  and  Harry  Hardy 
(North  Carolina  Theatres,  Inc.) 


The  Loop  Bows 

Mobile,  Ala. — The  Loop,  Mobile’s  new- 
est neighborhood  house,  had  its  formal 
opening  recently.  It  was  built  by  Para- 
mount-Richards  Theatres,  Inc.,  at  a cost 
of  about  $50,000.  It  seats  1,000.  Mean- 
time, construction  on  a new  colored  thea- 
tre, the  Ace,  on  Congress  Street  at  Davis 
Ave.,  by  C.  H.  and  J.  E.  King,  is  nearing 
completion.  The  $15,000  house  will  have 
a capacity  of  492. 


Laying  Foundation 

Houston — Foundation  work  is  under 
way  on  a $30,000  theatre  and  store  build- 
ing for  Negroes  at  3404  Holman  St.  The 
theatre  will  seat  550,  according  to  M.  M. 
Lewis,  builder. 


(?  ' ~ — — 

: About  a Little  Man  : 

^ 7 

Oklahoma  City — The  local  sheriff  was 
very  angry  last  week. 

A certain  H.  J.  Wallingford  came  into 
his  office  and  used  the  phone.  The  next 
thing  the  sheriff  knew,  Wallingford  was 
soliciting  funds  for  the  sheriff’s  “Littlejohn 
Memorial,”  a quite  non-existent  project. 

Sheriff  Goff  and  his  boys  were  raging 
mad  about  the  whole  thing  when  the 
phone  rang.  A call  came  from  the  man- 
ager of  the  Joy  Theatre  who  said  that  a 
little  fellow,  who  said  he  was  a pal  of  the 
sheriff,  was  there  to  collect  the  theatre’s 
contribution  for  the  sheriff’s  memorial. 

The  sheriff  sent  his  men  flying,  but  by 
the  time  they  arrived  the  little  man  was 
gone. 

However,  as  they  still  stewed  moments 
later,  another  call  came  in,  this  time  from 
the  manager  of  the  Jewel,  a colored  house 
here.  This  time  the  sheriff  suggested  to 
tell  the  man  to  come  and  get  a check  from 
them. 

When  they  arrived,  they  found  Walling- 
ford had  already  picked  up  the  check, 
but  caught  him  a moment  later  when  the 
little  man  stopped  to  ask  a Negro  police- 
man whether  the  check  was  any  good  or 
not  and  where  he  could  cash  it. 


With  Army  Theatre 

Bristol,  Tenn. — Lieut.  Jay  Baumgart- 
ner, with  former  experience  with  local 
theatres,  is  credited  with  excellent  man- 
agement of  the  government  training  camp 
theatre  at  Camp  Jackson,  S.  C. 


Reports  Increase  lor 
Tennessee  Circuit 

Chattanooga — Emmet  R.  Rogers,  district 
manager  for  Eastern  Theatres,  states  that 
its  largest  local  theatre,  the  Tivoli,  had 
an  increase  of  20  per  cent  for  1940  over 
1939,  and  that  increases  for  the  State, 
Bijou  and  Rialto  were  even  greater.  He 
attributes  increases  to  better  business  con- 
ditions and  better  pictures.  Independent 
Theatres,  which  last  month  opened  the 
New  Capitol,  reported  increases  for  the 
Riveria,  Park,  American,  Cameo,  Ritz,  and 
Rivoli.  The  Grand  Amusement  Co.,  oper- 
ating local  Negro  theatres,  recently 
opened  the  Harlem  and  plans  another  soon 
which  will  double  the  seating  capacity  for 
Negro  houses. 


Elm  Street  Hippodrome 
Undergoes  Remodeling 

Dallas — One  of  Elm  Street’s  old  theat- 
rical landmarks  is  now  going  modern. 

The  old  Hippodrome,  whose  marble  walls, 
big  pipe  organ  and  first  run  pictures  were 
the  pride  of  Dallas  entertainment  during 
the  regime  of  E.  H.  Hulsey,  is  now  getting 
a new  front,  streamlined  marquee  and 
other  improvements  to  bring  it  up  to 
date. 

For  the  past  few  years  it  has  been  oper- 
ated as  the  Joy  with  burlesque  and  pic- 
tures. It  is  owned  by  Percy  Wade  of  Ok- 
lahoma City  and  operated  by  his  son, 
Gene.  Incidentally  the  house  name  is  be- 
ing changed  to  the  Wade. 


ANY  NEWS  TODAY? 

Planning  a new  theatre?  Remodeling?  Being  promoted?  Getting  married?  Got  a new  baby  (infant)?  Buy- 
ing new  equipment?  Been  elected  mayor?  Son  or  daughter  graduating?  Proud  of  a new  exploitation  stunt? 
Hired  a new  staff  member?  Solved  a knotty  problem? 

Then  Tell  It  To  BOXOFFICE 

BOXOFFICE. 

4804  E.  Ninth  St., 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 


NAME 


THEATRE 


LOCATION 


72-D 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


W.  C.  Tyers  Campaigns 
Earn  Hanson  Award 

Toronto — W.  C.  Tyers,  manager  of  the 
Granada  at  St.  Thomas,  Ont.,  has  been 
awarded  the  plaque  as  the  grand  prize  for 
the  best  picture  exploitation  throughout 
1940  among  the  managers  of  the  Hanson 
Theatres  Corp.,  according  to  announcement 
by  H.  C.  D.  Main,  general  supervisor  of  the 
circuit.  Tyers  rolled  up  a total  of  130 
points  with  one  “Best  Campaign  of  the 
Month,”  seven  honorable  mentions  in  the 
competition  and  45  promotional  highlights, 
indicating  that  he  kept  plugging  with  pro- 
motional features  every  week  throughout 
the  year. 

Coincident  with  this  award,  Pres.  O.  R. 
Hanson  has  approved  a competitive  award 
system  for  1941  to  be  featured  by  the 
presentation  of  an  annual  trophy,  plus  a 
personal  prize  of  an  attractive  plaque 
which  is  to  remain  the  permanent  property 
of  the  winning  manager.  In  addition,  there 
will  be  quarterly  competitions  for  cash 
prizes,  with  $100  to  be  distributed  for  each 
three  months’  exploitation  on  the  basis  of 
$50  to  the  leading  manager  for  the  period, 
$30  for  second  place  and  $20  for  third 
manager  in  the  standing.  This  makes  it 
possible  for  one  manager  to  win  $200  dur- 
ing 1941.  The  competition  will  be  con- 
ducted on  the  point  system  and  additional 
points  will  be  awarded  for  practical  sug- 
gestions on  theatre  maintenance,  account- 
ing, equipment  operation,  staff  manage- 
ment and  other  features,  according  to  in- 
formation supplied  by  Mr.  Main.  The 
plaque  to  be  awarded  at  the  end  of  1941 
will  be  similar  to  that  which  has  been 
sprung  as  a surprise  for  1940  exploitation 
work,  the  winner  being  Wannie  Tyers. 

Grant  Garrette  Runner  Up 

The  runner  up  in  the  1940  compilation 
was  Grant  Garrette  of  the  Geneva,  Orillia, 
Ont.,  who  captured  104  points  with  one 
best  campaign  of  the  month,  two  honor- 
able mentions  and  69  promotional  high- 
lights. The  third  manager  was  T.  A.  Mas- 
caro  of  the  Capitol,  Belleville,  who  scored 
67  points  with  three  best  campaigns  and 
22  highlights  and  fourth  was  Lome  Moore 
of  the  Grand,  Sudbury,  with  61  points  for 
two  best  campaigns,  one  mention  and  21 
highlights.  G.  D.  Beavis  of  the  Royal, 
North  Bay,  earned  59  points  with  one  cam- 
paign, two  mentions  and  24  highlights. 

Next  in  order  were  Tom  McKnight,  Pa- 
tricia, London,  Ont.,  with  52  points; 
seventh,  Emmett  Stark,  Palace,  Timmins, 
43  points;  eighth,  Henry  Marshall,  Rideau, 
Ottawa,  30  points;  ninth,  Frank  Miley, 
Granada,  Nepanee,  26  points,  and  10th, 
Don  Doberer,  Granada,  Dunnville,  23 
points.  Supervisor  Main  pointed  out  that 
the  showings  were  made  with  limited  bud- 
gets but  that  continuous  plugging  with 
inexpensive  ideas  had  brought  results. 
Miley  and  Doberer  have  small  theatres,  for 
instance,  but  they  were  among  the  first  10 
in  the  exploitation  records  of  the  past  year. 


Adapt  a "Michael  Shayne" 

Hollywood  — “The  Dead  Take  No 
Bows,”  next  in  20th-Fox’s  “Michael 
Shayne”  sleuth  series,  is  being  scripted  by 
Stanley  Rauh  and  Manning  O’Connor. 


Ct  ......  ^ 

Report  Tracy  Flies 
Planes  to  Canada 

Regina — Belief  that  Spencer  Tracy  was 
a recent  visitor  in  Regina  and  Leth- 
bridge, was  expressed  in  the  Lethbridge 
“Herald"  the  other  day.  The  story  going 
the  rounds  in  the  Alberta  city  was  that 
Tracy,  a pilot  of  some  experience,  is  one 
of  a number  of  American  fliers  who  have 
been  ferrying  American-built  planes  into 
Canada.  The  system  calls  for  the  pilots 
to  fly  the  planes  in  and  then  return  to 
the  United  States  via  commercial  airlines. 

According  to  the  story,  Tracy  had  been 
unable  to  fly  out  of  Regina  owing  to  the 
weather,  so  he  traveled  to  Lethbridge  by 
train.  A porter  on  the  Lethbridge-Regina 
run  claimed  to  have  talked  to  him. 

Vfc  V 

Plans  Advanced  for 
War  Stamps  Drive 

Toronto — Plans  for  the  Dominion-wide 
campaign  for  the  sale  of  War  Savings 
Stamps  were  advanced  at  a luncheon  meet- 
ing in  the  Royal  York  Hotel,  at  which 
Walter  P.  Zoller  of  Montreal,  general 
chairman  of  the  government  committee, 
was  present.  Theatres  across  Canada  are 
preparing  to  cooperate  in  this  drive  dur- 
ing February  and  March  under  the  spon- 
sorship of  the  Canadian  Motion  Picture 
War  Services  Committee  of  which  N.  L. 
Nathanson  is  chairman. 

Handling  details  for  theatre  cooperation 
is  a sub-committee  which  has  already  held 
several  meetings,  the  personnel  being 
Chairman  Nathanson,  Col.  John  A.  Coo- 
per, O.  R.  Hanson,  T.  J.  Bragg  and  N.  A. 
Taylor.  Physical  distribution  of  campaign 
trailers  and  advertising  accessories  will  be 
done  by  Regal  Films,  Ltd.,  through  its  six 
branches.  Henry  L.  Nathanson,  general 
manager  of  Regal,  was  recently  added  to 
the  Motion  Picture  War  Services  executive 
in  succession  to  H.  M.  Masters.  During 
the  absence  of  N.  L.  Nathanson  in  Florida 
for  a rest,  chairmanship  duties  are  being 
performed  by  J.  J.  Fitzgibbons,  vice-presi- 
dent of  Famous  Players  Canadian  Corp. 

Intimate  Grierson  May 
Keep  Commissionership 

Ottawa — From  the  office  of  the  National 
Film  Board  has  come  an  intimation  that 
John  Grierson  of  London,  England,  is  re- 
considering his  resignation  as  film  commis- 
sioner of  the  Dominion  government  and 
may  decide  to  continue  in  the  post  in- 
definitely, although  he  had  announced  that 
the  supervision  of  the  Board  should  be  in 
the  hands  of  a Canadian,  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  the  organization  work  has  been 
completed. 

The  chairman  of  the  board  is  Hon.  J.  A. 
MacKinnon,  minister  of  trade  and  com- 
merce in  the  federal  cabinet,  but  no  an- 
nouncement has  been  made  by  him  because 
of  absence  from  the  country  and  subse- 
quent illness.  The  resignation  of  Grierson 
was  scheduled  to  take  effect  at  the  end  of 
January. 


Effective  Treatment 
For  "Hudson's  Bay" 

Winnipeg — The  opening  of  “Hudson’s 
Bay”  at  the  Capitol  was  attended  with  as 
complete  a publicity  campaign  as  has  ever 
been  attempted  here.  It  was  carried  out 
by  George  Fraser  of  20th  Century-Fox  and 
Harold  Bishop  and  Jack  Fitzgibbons  jr. 

The  campaign  included  a telephone 
hookup  between  John  Sutton,  who  appears 
in  the  film,  speaking  from  Hollywood,  and 
Clifford  Wilson,  official  historian  of  the 
company  at  Winnipeg.  A 15-minute  nar- 
rative script  prepared  by  Wilson  was  aired 
over  CJRC.  In  addition,  through  an  ar- 
rangement with  CJRC,  two  announcers  at- 
tended the  opening  night  at  which  they 
carried  out  interviews  with  local  celebri- 
ties. Another  good  move  was  the  featur- 
ing in  the  company’s  window  of  an  auto- 
graphed copy  of  the  script. 

Letters  to  Schools 

The  T.  Eaton  Co.  tied  in  with  a full  win- 
dow display  as  well  as  cooperative  ads,  and 
the  lobby  of  the  Capitol  was  furnished  with 
models  of  early  forts,  blankets,  muskets, 
bead  work  and  a variety  of  other  articles 
loaned  from  the  HBC  Museum.  Doormen 
and  ushers  at  the  Capitol  were  dressed  in 
trappers’  costumes  and  the  front  of  the 
house  was  built  up  to  represent  an  old-time 
stockade. 

Letters  were  circulated  to  school  prin- 
cipals and  teachers  and  also  to  the  fur 
trade  in  the  city.  The  HBC  distributed 
50,000  stuffers  and  mailing  inserts  calling 
attention  to  the  opening.  Excellent  co- 
operation from  the  film  trade  was  mani- 
fested through  the  efforts  by  which  Frank 
Vaughan,  Universal  manager  in  Winnipeg, 
arranged  to  have  his  father-in-law,  oldest 
living  Hudson’s  Bay  factor,  to  be  available 
for  newspaper  interviews. 


Toronto  Clearance  Board 
Has  Rosenfeld,  Cohen 

Toronto — Louis  Rosenfeld,  general  man- 
ager of  Columbia  Pictures  of  Canada,  Ltd., 
and  Wolfe  Cohen,  Canadian  district  man- 
ager of  Warner  Bros.,  have  been  named  as 
the  representatives  of  the  film  distribu- 
tors to  the  newly  created  Ontario  clear- 
ance board  to  act  in  an  advisory  capacity 
in  dealing  with  booking  reforms. 

They  are  working  with  Nat  Taylor,  vice- 
president  of  the  Independent  Theatres 
Association  of  Ontario,  in  studying  the 
priority  schedule  situation  as  a further 
step  toward  reorganization  of  trade  regu- 
lations. 


Sees  " Ski  Patrol " 

Montreal — Through  the  combined  ef- 
forts of  Empire-Universal  Films  and  R.  L. 
Vallee,  manager  of  the  New  Premier  Thea- 
tre, Sherbrooke,  Que.,  officers  and  men 
of  the  Sherbrooke  Fusilier  Regiment, 
A.  C.  A.,  attended  a free  presentation  of 
the  picture  “Ski  Patrol.”  Canadian  regi- 
ments are  introducing  ski-training,  and 
newsreels  recently  pictured  Canadian 
troops  on  skis.  Montreal  police  force  also 
has  established  a ski  patrol. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


K 


73 


T A.  McCULLOCH  had  an  overflow  crowd 
* at  his  Royal  George,  Toronto,  for  a 
Sunday  night  patriotic  performance  at 
which  Mayor  P.  J.  Conboy  officiated,  with 
other  members  of  the  City  Council  present, 
the  result  being  a donation  of  $106.10  for 
the  British  War  Victims’  Fund.  The  ex- 
tra 10  cents  was  a dime  which  was  found 
on  the  floor  after  the  show  . . . W.  E.  ‘'Ted” 
Fraser,  manager  of  the  Century,  Trenton, 
Ont.,  has  been  cooperating  with  S.  J.  Mc- 
Master,  publisher  of  the  Quinte  Sun,  in  a 
“Find-the-Name”  contest  for  which  he  has 
provided  all  the  passes  as  prizes.  Editor 
McMaster  says:  “Ted  Fraser  is  about  the 
livest  man  in  Trenton.  He  has  a keen 
sense  of  advertising  values  and  he  cer- 
tainly makes  use  of  them.” 

Roy  Miller,  assistant  manager  of  the  Pa- 
tricia, London,  has  been  appointed  man- 
ager of  the  Marks  at  Oshawa  in  succession 
to  Keith  Wilson,  resigned.  Howard  Binns, 
formerly  doorman  at  the  Granada,  Hamil- 
ton, has  been  transferred  to  London  to 
succeed  Miller  . . . G.  J.  Lofty  has  joined 
the  Royal  Canadian  Air  Force  and  is  now 
in  training  at  Toronto.  He  was  formerly 
an  operator  at  the  Corona,  Winnipeg, 
owned  by  J.  Pearson  . . . J . J . Allen,  promi- 
nent theatre  pioneer,  has  been  confined 
to  his  home  in  Toronto  once  more  after 
showing  evidence  of  permanent  recovery 
from  a previous  lengthy  illness.  Ray  S. 
Allen,  supervisor  of  the  Allen  chain,  spent 
a brief  period  in  a local  hospital  because 
of  kidney  trouble  but  has  returned  to  his 
business  duties. 

Mrs.  Joshua  Smith,  owner  of  the  Ave- 
nue, Toronto,  has  contributed  the  receipts, 
amounting  to  $127.50,  to  the  British  War 
Relief  Fund,  this  being  the  take  for  the 
New  Year’s  Eve  show  at  which  John  Lodge, 
star  of  the  picture  “One  Night  in  Paris,” 
made  a personal  appearance.  It  was  at  this 
performance  that  Boris  Silver,  president  of 
Colonial  Pictures,  last  appeared  in  public 
before  his  sudden  death  in  New  York  a 
few  days  later  . . . Syd  Taube,  energetic 
member  of  the  Canadian  Picture  Pioneers, 
has  been  compelled  to  take  a rest  in  the 
southern  states  because  of  overwork  in 
connection  with  the  campaigns  of  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  War  Services  Committee,  in- 
cluding the  rodeo  which  featured  Gene 
Autry. 

Harry  J.  Allen,  general  manager  of 
Grand  National  Films,  Ltd.,  Toronto,  spent 


several  days  in  Winnipeg  where  he  for- 
merly resided  and  was  met  by  a roundup  of 
old  friends.  Allen  made  the  western  busi- 
ness trip  to  arrange  for  the  release  of  a 
group  of  features  . . . Two  sons  of  Capt. 
W.  M.  Gladish,  Canadian  film  writer  and 
organizer,  are  now  in  uniform  for  active 
service  with  the  armed  forces.  The  eldest 
is  with  the  Royal  Canadian  Air  Force  and 
the  second  is  with  the  infantry  . . . Em- 
mett Stark  of  the  Palace,  Timmins,  turned 
out  a novel  front  for  “ New  Moon,”  con- 
sisting of  fibre  board  done  in  dark  blue 
with  brilliant  stars  and  quarter  moon  on 
each  panel  and  sailing  ships,  the  title  be- 
ing displayed  in  large  cutout  letters. 

Harry  Neun,  manager  of  the  Granada, 
Chatham,  pulled  off  a three-way  stunt 
when  he  distributed  sticks  of  chewing  gum 
attached  to  small  cards  which  bore  the 
message,  “Three  Big  Treats  for  You.”  One 
was  the  showing  of  “Melody  Ranch”  at 
the  Granada,  the  second  was  a suggestion 
to  listen  to  Gene  Autry  on  the  Sunday  eve- 
ning radio  program  and  the  third  was  the 
gum  ...  In  a review  of  the  past  year,  H. 
C.  D.  Main,  supervisor  of  the  Hanson 
Theatres  Corp.,  pointed  out  that  this  com- 
pany inaugurated  holidays  with  pay  for  all 
employes,  group  insurance,  a Christmas 
bonus  plan,  various  salary  increases  and 
more  adequate  staffing  of  theatres.  And 
now  President  Hanson  has  authorized  cash 
prizes  for  exploitation  competitions 
throughout  1941. 

Tom  Pringle,  proprietor  of  the  Ideal, 
Toronto,  held  a special  matinee  on  a week- 
day, the  proceeds  from  which  were  donated 
for  the  relief  of  bombing  victims  in  Great 
Britain  . . . Accordmg  to  Ernie  Moule, 
veteran  manager  of  the  Capitol,  Brantford, 
the  theatres  of  that  city  recently  cooper- 
ated with  the  local  women’s  organizations 
in  stagmg  a performance  for  which  the  ad- 
mission price  was  an  aluminum  cooking 
utensil  which  is  to  be  converted  into  an 
implement  of  war. 

Leonard  Levy  of  the  Toronto  office  of 
Columbia  has  joined  the  colors  and  is  now 
wearing  the  uniform  of  the  Royal  Cana- 
dian Air  Force  . . . George  Degnom  is  now 
in  charge  of  feature  publicity  for  the  Ca- 
nadian branches  of  RKO  Distributing 
Corp.  of  Canada  under  the  direction  of  Leo 
M.  Devaney,  general  manager  for  the  Do- 
minion. 


Ten  Toronto  Theatres  Will 
Auction  Gifts  From  Stars 

Toronto — The  10  theatre  managers  of 
Toronto’s  North  End  are  cooperating  in 
the  preparation  of  a combined  stunt  for 
the  auction  of  numerous  articles  which  had 
been  donated  by  actors  and  actresses  of 
Hollywood  some  weeks  ago  as  a contribu- 
tion to  the  war  effort.  It  has  been  de- 
cided to  stage  simultaneous  “sales”  of  the 
gifts  in  each  of  the  10  theatres,  the  pro- 
ceeds to  be  turned  over  to  the  Toronto 
Telegram  for  the  Lord  Mayor’s  Fund  for 
the  relief  of  British  war  victims.  Prac- 
tically all  of  the  donations  are  accom- 
panied by  personal  letters  or  certificates 
which  denote  that  the  article  had  been 


used  in  designated  sequences  of  feature 
films  or  had  been  the  personal  property  of 
the  star.  Some  of  them  are  quite  valu- 
able, apart  from  intrinsic  interest. 

This  auction,  which  is  scheduled  for  the 
near  future,  is  the  outcome  of  the  coopera- 
tive activity  of  the  10  managers  in  con- 
nection with  the  War  Savings  Stamp  Cam- 
paign by  theatres  across  the  Dominion  last 
July.  The  North  Toronto  theatres  com- 
prise the  Belsize,  Bedford,  Eglinton  and 
Capitol  of  the  Famous  Players’  chain; 
Oriole,  Circle,  Avenue  and  Hudson,  in- 
dependent houses;  the  Beverly  of  the  Han- 
son circuit  and  the  Hollywood,  leading 
local  cinema  of  the  Allen  chain,  all  of 
whom  are  actively  cooperating  on  a com- 
mon basis  for  the  cause. 


Critics,  Exhibs  Agree 
On  Four  Out  of  Ten 


Toronto — A poll  of  Canadian  critics  re- 
sulted in  the  selection  of  the  following  as 
the  10  best  features  of  the  past  year: 

1.  “Gone  With  the  Wind;”  2.  “Rebecca;” 
3.  “Foreign  Correspondent”  and  “North 
West  Mounted  Police;”  5.  “Our  Town;”  6. 
“Mortal  Storm”  and  “Pride  and  Preju- 
dice;” 8.  “Abe  Lincoln  in  Illinois;”  9. 
“Pinocchio,”  “Convoy”  and  “Waterloo 
Bridge.” 

A vote  of  theatre  managers  on  the  10 
biggest  features  of  the  year  had  the  fol- 
lowing result: 

1.  “Rebecca;”  2.  “Northwest  Passage;”  3. 
“Swanee  River”  and  “Waterloo  Bridge;” 
5.  “North  West  Mounted  Police;”  6. 
“Irene;”  7.  “Gone  With  the  Wind,”  “My 
Son,  My  Son,”  “Four  Feathers”  and  “Ship- 
yard Sally.” 

The  exhibitors  named  the  10  most  popu- 
lar stars  in  the  following  order: 

1.  Spencer  Tracy;  2.  Clark  Gable;  3. 
Mickey  Rooney;  4.  Gary  Cooper;  5.  De- 
anna Durbin;  6.  Jeanette  MacDonald;  7. 
Bette  Davis  and  Nelson  Eddy;  9.  Tyrone 
Power;  10.  Gene  Autry. 

Incidentally,  the  Toronto  Daily  Star  is 
in  the  midst  of  compiling  a vote  among 
the  film  fans  of  the  Dominion  to  secure  a 
rating  of  pictures  and  stars  of  the  past 
year  according  to  public  taste  but  the  out- 
come will  not  be  ready  for  several  weeks. 


Westboro  Will  Have  Its 
First  Theatre  by  May 

Toronto — A syndicate  has  been  organ- 
ized for  the  construction  of  the  first  thea- 
tre in  Westboro,  a town  in  the  Ottawa 
Valley,  for  which  a site  has  been  purchased 
on  Main  Strept  on  which  a theatre  to  seat 
500  persons  has  been  started,  the  contrac- 
tor being  Baker  Bros,  of  Ottawa.  The 
house  is  to  be  opened  in  May. 

Biltmore  Theatres,  Ltd.,  Toronto,  has 
bought  a theatre  site  on  Princess  Street  in 
Kingston,  Ont.,  at  a cost  of  $25,000  for  the 
erection  of  a house  to  seat  750  and  mea- 
suring 60  by  140  feet.  There  are  already 
three  theatres  in  Kingston,  all  operated  by 
Famous  Players  Canadian  Corp.,  the  popu- 
lation of  the  city  being  approximately  25,- 
000.  The  largest  is  the  Capitol  which  has 
accommodation  for  1,177.  Biltmore  Thea- 
tres, which  is  headed  by  B.  Laxer,  con- 
structed the  Biltmore  at  Oshawa,  Ont., 
more  than  one  year  ago,  this  being  classed 
as  the  first  all-concrete  cinema  in  the  Do- 
minion. The  Kingston  theatre  will  be  of 
similar  type. 

The  Theatre  Holding  Corp.,  operating 
the  Allen  chain,  has  closed  the  Capitol  in 
Kirkland  Lake,  Ont.,  following  the  ac- 
quisition of  the  LaSalle  in  that  city  from 
the  Cinemas  Rousson -Trudeau  Limitee  and 
will  continue  to  operate  the  Strand,  Up- 
town and  LaSalle  in  the  gold  mining  cen- 
ter. The  Capitol  seats  516  while  the  La- 
Salle has  716  seats. 

The  Marks,  Oshawa,  Ont.,  has  been  mod- 
ernized by  the  construction  of  a new  front, 
sound  equipment,  seats  and  other  new  fea- 
tures. This  house  is  a unit  of  the  Hanson 
chain. 


74 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


JS^  PAT  on  the  back  and  a kick  in  the 
pants  were  simultaneously  administer- 
ed to  showmen  here  last  week  by  the  Rev. 
J.  W.  Clarke  of  Knox  Church.  Doctor 
Clarke,  speaking  at  a meeting  of  the  Win- 
nipeg presbytery  of  the  United  Church  of 
Canada,  praised  house  operators  for  their 
cooperation  in  discontinuing  Sunday  mid- 
night shows.  At  the  same  time  he  urged 
suburban  residents  to  be  on  the  strict  look- 
out for  any  neighborhood  houses  which 
might  be  tempted  to  sneak  through  the 
occasional  midnight  filming. 

Britain  is  still  producing  films  in  spite 
of  air  raids  and  blackouts.  This  statement 
was  made  here  last  week  by  Paul  Nathan- 
son,  vice-president  of  Empire-Universal. 
Nathanson  also  said  that  new  pictures  in 
production  in  Britain  are  designed  to  raise 
the  morale  of  the  people.  To  do  this,  the 
films  either  deal  with  the  heroic  elements 
of  the  fight  which  Britain  is  now  carry- 
ing on,  or  are  of  a comedy  nature  de- 
signed as  relief.  A.  W.  Perry,  general  sales 
manager  of  E-U,  who  was  here  with  Nath- 
anson,  said  Canadians  are  showing  con- 
siderable liking  for  British  films  and  this 
has  been  on  the  increase  since  the  war 
broke  out. 

Jack  Randall,  College  Theatre  manager, 
carried  off  the  biggest  bonus  at  the  end  of 
the  year  of  all  manager  of  Western  Thea- 
tres, Ltd.  . . . “Hitler — Beast  of  Berlin”  is 
being  used  to  swell  the  Lord  Mayor’s  Fund 
. . . “The  Warning”  is  being  widely  book- 
ed. Another  film,  “One  Night  in  Paris,” 
recently  reviewed  for  the  trade,  is  describ- 
ed as  one  of  the  most  unusual  of  the  sea- 
son in  the  field  of  musical  melodrama. 

Vaudeville  acts  have  been  introduced  at 
the  Times  and  the  Plaza  here  and  seem  to 
be  going  over  very  well  judging  by  the  re- 
action of  patrons.  An  excellent  house  saw 
this  type  of  entertainment  introduced  last 
week  at  Billy  Williams’  Plaza.  Mike  Good- 
man, Times  manager,  emceed  the  show  in 
a professional  manner.  The  undertaking 
is  under  the  personal  supervision  of  Sam 
Rosenblatt,  supervisor  for  Western  Thea- 
tres, Ltd. 

“Mein  Kampf,”  recently  screened  for  the 
press,  earned  praise  in  the  dailies  . . . 
“Scarface,”  with  Paul  Muni,  has  been  re- 
issued to  the  accompaniment  of  favorable 
critical  comment  ...  At  the  Metropolitan, 
Syl  Gunn  has  been  making  extensive  use 
of  Radio  Station  CJRC  to  plug  his  films. 
Recently  Gunn  used  this  medium  to  bally- 
hoo “A  Dispatch  From  Reuter’s”  and  “Sec- 
ond Chorus.” 

A visitor  to  the  city  was  Leon  Asper, 
whose  Lyric  burned  down  in  Minnedosa 
recently.  Asper  returned  to  Neepawa  where 
he  will  run  his  Roxy  . . . Jack  Kurk,  man- 
ager of  the  Neepawa  Roxy,  has  gone  to 
Carmen,  where  he  is  to  manage  the  Boyne 
. . . Frency  Noel,  well-known  theatre  man, 
who  is  now  operating  the  Nola  at  Bins- 
carth,  was  in  the  city  recently  on  his  way 
to  Fort  William  . . . Max  Heppner  of  the 
Colonial  is  in  Montreal  . . . J.  P.  O’Loghlin, 
general  manager  of  20 th  Century-Fox,  was 
here  for  the  opening  of  “Hudson’s  Bay.’’ 
. . . George  Dowbiggin,  F-P  booker,  has 
been  made  a corporal  and  instructor  in 
the  Winnipeg  Light  Infantry. 


Commercial  Sponsor 
For  a Stage  Show 

Toronto — Commercial  sponsorship  has 
invaded  the  realm  of  theatres  in  the  Do- 
minion through  the  presentation  of  a musi- 
cal program  of  the  Weston  Biscuit  Co.,  To- 
ronto, on  the  stage  of  the  Imperial,  ace 
house  of  the  Famous  Players’  chain,  one 
night  of  the  week,  namely  Wednesday  at 
9:30  o’clock.  The  program,  which  has 
been  featured  on  the  air  for  some  time  as 
“Memoirs  in  Music,”  is  comprehensive  in 
scope  and  includes  Lou  Snyder’s  20-piece 
orchestra,  the  40  Weston  Singers,  Lawrence 
Defoe,  Marilyn  Stewart  and  Duncan  Gil- 
lard,  with  the  latter  as  master  of  cere- 
monies, produced  and  directed  by  Frank 
Dennis. 

The  series,  which  forms  practically  the 
first  tieup  with  commercial  sponsorship  in 
actual  conjunction  with  regular  screen 
performances,  is  being  featured  by  co- 
operative advertising,  a separate  newspaper 
display  being  used  to  announce  the  one- 
night  attraction  which  runs  for  30  min- 
utes, with  the  volume  and  flash  propor- 
tions to  provide  adequate  showmanship. 

Radio  programs  have  been  conducted  in 
theatres  in  recent  years  but  these  have 
been  in  the  nature  of  amateur  competi- 
tions and  quiz  contests,  some  of  which  have 
been  scheduled  at  hours  when  regular  per- 
formances were  not  being  presented.  An- 
other current  stunt  in  Toronto  has  been 
the  recording  of  quiz  programs  on  the 
stage  of  neighborhood  theatres  and  the 
presentation  of  the  recorded  questioning  as 
a radio  feature  a day  or  two  later  when 
the  theatre  obtains  a plug  on  the  air. 


Secure  Greater  Income  lor 
Maple  Leal  Fund  Benefit 

New  York — A special  press  preview  of 
“Virginia”  has  been  arranged  by  Para- 
mount for  the  Paramount  Theatre  here 
on  Monday,  January  27,  preceding  by  a 
day  the  premiere,  proceeds  of  which  will 
go  to  the  Maple  Leaf  Fund,  national  Cana- 
dian organization  for  British  war  relief. 

The  great  demand  for  tickets  to  the  pre- 
miere impelled  Paramount  to  schedule  the 
press  preview,  thus  releasing  for  sale  a 
large  block  of  tickets. 

Among  notables  who  will  attend  the  pre- 
miere Tuesday  are  Loring  Christie,  Cana- 
dian minister  to  the  United  States  and 
Mrs.  Christie,  and  the  British  consul  at 
New  York,  Godfrey  Haggard. 

The  program  to  precede  the  picture  in- 
cludes Raymond  Massey  as  master  of  cere- 
monies; Glenn  Miller  and  his  Orchestra; 
a talk  by  Victor  Guggin,  president  of  the 
Maple  Leaf  Fund,  and  a telephone  message 
to  the  audience  from  Madeleine  Carroll, 
co-star  with  Fred  MacMurray  in  “Vir- 
ginia,” from  Hollywood. 

Terence  O'Neill  Is  Named 
Victoria  York  Manager 

Victoria — Terence  O’Neill  has  been  ap- 
pointed manager  of  the  York  Theatre 
which  is  operated  by  the  David  Theatres, 
Ltd.,  of  Vancouver.  O’Neill  was  formerly  a 
free  lance  newspaper  writer  and  at  one 
time  on  the  staff  of  the  Toronto  Star.  He 
also  is  an  experienced  radio  announcer. 


J^EWSREEL  and  radio  operators  from  all 
over  America  will  attend  the  great 
Victory  Mass  which  Cardinal  Villeneuve  of 
Quebec  has  arranged  to  be  held  in  the  his- 
toric church  of  Notre  Dame  in  Montreal, 
February  9.  A great  gathering  of  notables 
will  attend  and  special  facilities  will  be 
given  the  cameramen  to  picture  the  his- 
toric ceremony. 

Slowly  recovering  from  Quebec’s  long 
Christmas  and  New  Year’s  holiday  which 
extends  to  January  6,  exhibitors  are  be- 
ginning to  find  their  way  to  Filmrow  again. 
M.  Rozon  of  the  Royal,  Hudson,  and 
George  Champagne  of  the  Roxy  and 
Auditorium,  Shawinigan  Falls,  were 
amongst  the  earliest  to  show  up. 

“Un  Royaume  du  Cheval,”  French  ver- 
sion of  “Kingdom  for  a Horse,”  Canadian 
Cameo  short  produced  by  Associated 
Screen  Studios,  is  playing  at  the  Cinema 
de  Paris  . . . Montreal  branch  of  the 
National  Film  Society  is  holding  its  eve- 
ning showings  weekly  on  Thursdays  in- 
stead of  Fridays  until  the  end  of  February 
. . . United  Amusement  is  leading  in  the 
Filmrow  Bowling  League  race,  with  Regal, 
second,  and  Paramount,  third. 

Sympathy  is  expressed  with  Ben  E.  Nor- 
rish,  president  of  Associated  Screen  News, 
on  the  death  of  his  sister-in-law.  Miss 
Lillian  A.  Cowan,  who  served  overseas  as 
a nurse  in  the  first  Great  War  ..  . Roy 
Tash,  news  cameraman  of  Associated 
Screen  News,  filmed  a ski  picture  at  Hunts- 
ville, Ont.,  and  then  pictured  the  manu- 
facture of  airway  beacons  near  Toronto 
for  the  National  Film  Board. 

Arthur  L.  Brown,  assistant  general  sales 
manager  of  the  Northern  Electric  Com- 
pany, has  returned  from  a business  trip 
to  the  west  during  which  he  took  charge 
of  the  office  at  Vancouver,  B.  C.,  until  the 
recovery  of  T.  C.  Clarke,  district  manager, 
from  an  illness.  Brown’s  return  was  suit- 
ably celebrated  at  an  informal  luncheon 
given  by  the  vice-president,  M.  K.  Pike, 
at  the  Mount  Stephen  Club  of  which 
Brown  is  president. 

J.  W.  Campbell,  newsreel  editor,  and 
Ross  Beesley,  cameraman  of  Associated 
Screen  News,  were  in  Ottawa  filming  a 
story  of  “Science  at  War”  as  represented 
in  the  ivartime  work  of  the  National  Re- 
search Laboratories.  Beesley  also  covered 
preparations  for  the  National  War  Sav- 
ings Campaign,  and  then  swung  eastward 
to  get  additional  war  slants  for  the  news- 
reels. 

“The  Thief  of  Bagdad”  completed  four 
weeks  at  the  Orpheum  . . . Change  of  own- 
ership of  the  Amherst  is  marked  by  the 
omission  of  that  theatre  from  the  column 
of  announcements  run  by  the  United 
Amusement  Corporation  chain.  The  Am- 
herst runs  a separate  ad  in  the  evening 
papers  . . . Mayfair  is  staging  amateurs 
Friday  nights. 

Parisian  films  showing  in  Montreal 
theatres  include  “Le  Charme  de  la  Bo- 
heme”  and  “Une  Femme  par  Interim”  at 
the  Dominion;  “Le  Pere  Lebonnard”  and 
“Le  Fantome”  at  the  Cartier;  “Le  Mai- 
tre  de  Forges”  and  “Monsieur  Sans-Gene” 
at  the  Maisonneuve;  “Coup  de  Bourse”  and 
“Les  Fregates  du  Ciel”  at  the  Chateau. 


BOXOFFICE  : ; January  25,  1941 


75 


J^JANAGERSHIP  of  the  Dreamland,  one 
of  the  Entwisle  chain,  has  been  taken 
over  by  Clarence  Entwisle,  former  man- 
ager of  the  Princess.  F.  Tickell,  formerly 
assistant  manager  of  the  Capitol  in  Cal- 
gary, has  been  appointed  manager  of  the 
Princess. 

Regular  weekly  meeting  of  the  Theatre 
Managers’  Ass’n  held  recently,  saw  the  en- 
rollment of  all  Edmonton  managers.  Last 
to  become  members  of  the  association  were 
W.  Wilson  jr„  manager  of  the  Roxy  and 
Garneau,  and  W.  Shaker,  manager  of  the 
Avenue. 

Leo  Maher  and  W.  Yuill  of  the  Majes- 
tic and  Monarch,  Medicine  Hat,  were  re- 
cent visitors.  While  here,  they  visited  the 
Garneau  in  order  to  obtain  first-hand  in- 
formation on  the  most  up-to-date  theatre 
equipment  before  launching  an  extensive 
program  of  alterations  to  the  two  Medi- 
cine Hat  houses  . . . Harry  Phillips,  Abe 
Feinstein  and  J.  Cohen,  all  of  Calgary, 
were  recent  visitors. 

As  a former  outpost,  long  known  in  the 
history  of  the  Hudson’s  Bay  Co.,  great  in- 
terest is  being  shown  in  the  premiere  of 
Paul  Muni’s  latest,  “Hudson’s  Bay,”  which 
opened  at  the  Capitol  last  week,  states 
Manager  Walter  Wilson. 

W.  Shaker  of  the  Avenue  is  receiving 
congratulations  on  the  recent  birth  of  a 
daughter. 


Silver's  Death  Occasions 
Revamp  for  Colonial 

Toronto — A business  trip  was  made  to 
Toronto  by  Budd  Rogers,  general  manager 
of  Alliance  Films  Corp.,  New  York,  follow- 
ing the  sudden  death  in  that  city  of  Boris 
W.  Silver,  president  of  Colonial  Pictures, 
Ltd.,  Canadian  distributing  agency  for  Al- 
liance and  British  pictures. 

The  business  is  being  continued,  it  has 
been  announced,  but  a reorganization  is 
said  to  be  necessary,  this  being  the  rea- 
son for  the  visit  of  Rogers  who  has  an  in- 
terest in  the  enterprise,  for  which  a new 
head  will  have  to  be  appointed. 


gEN  PLOTTEL  of  Empire  Universal  is 
going  around  these  days  with  a large 
smile  on  his  face,  the  reason  being  the 
many  holdovers  that  his  pictures  are  en- 
joying . . . Nat  Levant  of  Columbia  and 
Sam  Nagler  of  UA  enjoying  the  pleasures 
of  buying  new  cars  . . . G.  G.  Baiss  of  the 
Capitol  Theatre,  Duncan,  ill  in  bed  with 
influenza. 

O.  R.  Hanson,  president,  and  Paul 
Nathanson,  vice-president  of  Empire  Uni- 
versal Films,  visiting  Vancouver.  This  is 
Hanson’s  first  visit  to  the  city  in  a good 
many  years  and  both  he  and  Mrs.  Hanson, 
who  is  accompanying  him,  are  thoroughly 
enjoying  the  mild  weather. 

Ralph  Calladine  of  the  Plaza,  Victoria, 
is  very  busy  these  days  arranging  the 


Gilt  Devotees  Stress 
British-Made  Angle 

Toronto — A number  of  exhibitors  who 
have  engaged  in  the  practice  of  giving 
merchandise  as  patronage  builders  have 
played  up  a British  angle  in  connection 
with  giveaways,  since  the  Dominion  gov- 
ernment placed  an  embargo  on  the  import 
of  dishes,  cutlery,  jewelry  and  other  arti- 
cles from  other  than  “sterling  countries” 
which  had  been  used  for  premiums.  Prod- 
ucts from  Britain  are  now  being  empha- 
sized. 

“Britain  Delivers  the  Goods,”  “Help  Win 
the  War,”  “Made  in  England”  and  “Buy 
British”  are  the  slogans  which  are  being 
used  by  Manager  Howard  Elliott  of  the 
Beverly,  a Toronto  neighborhood  house, 
for  his  giveaways  which  are  dishes  from 
Great  Britain. 

"London  Under  Fire"  to 
The  Dominion  Shortly 

Toronto — Warner  will  shortly  release 
“London  Under  Fire”  in  Canada  as  a se- 
quel to  “London  Can  Take  It,”  and  the 
exchange  will  again  turn  over  the  total 
rental  proceeds  to  the  British  War  Relief 
Fund.  In  the  case  of  the  previous  picture, 
which  was  produced  under  official  auspices, 
the  distributing  company  in  the  Dominion 
added  a contribution  of  25  per  cent  to  the 
rentals  and  it  is  expected  that  the  total 
gross  on  “London  Can  Take  It”  for  the 
whole  continent  will  be  in  excess  of  £15,- 
000,  of  which  £6,000  has  already  been  paid 
as  a first  installment. 

Grand  Forks  Exhibitor 
Acquires  Alta.  House 

Grand  Forks,  B.  C. — Mr.  Tillie,  exhibi- 
tor here,  has  entered  the  prairie  territory 
by  securing  control  of  the  Opera  House 
at  Pincher  Creek.  When  alterations  are 
completed  the  name  of  the  Alberta  house 
will  be  changed  to  the  Fox. 

In  the  Turner  Valley  oil  fields  district, 
the  Sharp  Circuit  has  acquired  the  Dia- 
mond Hall  at  Black  Diamond.  It  will  be 
opened  as  a motion  picture  theatre  under 
the  management  of  Harry  Patten. 


many  details  of  the  new  home  he  is  build- 
ing on  Cadboro  Bay  Rd.  . . . Les  Allen 
announces  that  Terrance  O’Neill  has  taken 
over  the  management  of  his  York  Thea- 
tre in  Victoria. 

Building  has  been  started  on  one  of  the 
largest  drydocks  in  Canada  at  Esquimau 
and  when  completed  should  increase  the 
number  of  naval  men  stationed  at  that 
base  . . . Jim  Haworth  of  Rio  Ladysmith 
reports  record  business  for  his  engage- 
ment of  “It’s  in  the  Air”  . . . Ray  Tarling 
of  the  Film  Exchange  Tennis  Team  was 
selected  to  play  in  the  Burnaby  league  and 
managed  to  win  the  first  game  for  that 
team. 

Sympathy  to  Gordon  Kerr,  whose  father 
died  Monday,  January  13. 


gASK’WAM 

•pHE  Strand,  Prince  Albert,  missed  a 
Monday’s  business  recently  due  to  the 
non-arrival  of  the  feature  picture,  “Sec- 
ond Chorus.”  Delay  was  due  to  bad  weather 
for  flying  in  the  south  of  the  province  . . . 
Credit  for  buying  the  first  1941  city  busi- 
ness license  in  North  Battleford  went  to 
the  Empress  Theatre. 

Lenore  Williams,  secretary  of  the  Capi- 
tol, Regina,  is  back  on  the  job  after  an 
extended  vacation  in  British  Columbia. 
During  her  absence  she  was  relieved  by 
Nora  Runciman  . . . Marjorie  Hawe,  trea- 
surer at  the  Met,  Regina,  is  out  with  the 
measles. 

Friends  in  Regina  were  glad  to  hear  that 
Fred  W.  Tickell,  for  many  years  on  the 
staff  of  the  Capitol,  Calgary,  had  left  his 
position  as  assistant  manager  to  take  over 
managerial  duties  at  the  Princess,  Ed- 
monton. Tickell  spent  some  weeks  in  Re- 
gina last  fall  managing  the  Capitol  in  the 
absence  of  Larry  Graburn.  Bert  H.  Wiber 
has  been  promoted  from  floor  manager  to 
assistant  manager  at  the  Capitol,  Calgary. 

Jack  Reid,  United  Artists,  Winnipeg,  was 
a recent  visitor  in  Regina,  paving  the  way 
for  “The  Thief  of  Bagdad,”  due  at  the 
Rex  soon.  During  his  stay,  he  received  a 
letter  from  Bernice  Bailey,  18-year-old 
daughter  of  Marsh  Bailey,  manager  of  the 
Strand,  Bryden,  Ont.,  telling  him  that  she 
had  just  become  a licensed  apprentice  pro- 
jectionist. 


Film  Board  Completes 
"People  of  Canada" 

Montreal — The  National  Film  Board’s 
latest  motion  picture  “People  of  Canada” 
was  rushed  to  completion  this  week  by 
Associated  Screen  Studios  for  its  Canadian 
premiere  at  Ottawa. 

One  of  the  most  ambitious  undertakings 
to  be  handled  for  Canada’s  Film  Board, 
the  picture  has  been  nine  months  in  the 
making.  It  was  directed  by  Gordon  Spar- 
ling, production  chief  for  Associated 
Screen  Studios,  and  tells  the  story  of  the 
variety  of  racial  strains  making  up  the 
nationhood  of  Canada. 

John  Grierson,  Canada’s  film  commis- 
sioner, said  that  while  the  film  contains  no 
mention  of  the  war,  he  felt  it  was  the  best 
war  picture  produced  so  far.  “It  is  a 
film,”  Grierson  said,  “that  shows  the  con- 
tribution of  these  people,  and  at  the  same 
time  shows  their  skill,  persistence  and  cul- 
ture. It  also  brings  out  the  blessing  of  re- 
ligious and  racial  tolerance.” 

Interest-Free  Income  Tax 
Payments  Are  Now  Due 

Montreal — To  take  advantage  of  in- 
terest-free installment  payments  of  in- 
come taxes,  payments  must  commence  this 
month,  the  minister  of  national  revenue  is 
informing  theatre  audiences. 

Hon.  Colin  Gibson,  minister  of  revenue, 
spoke  on  this  subject  before  the  news  cam- 
era of  an  Associated  Screen  News  crew. 
The  interview  is  now  being  carried  by  all 
major  newsreels.  The  minister  explains 
that  while  Dominion  income  taxes  are 
higher,  the  government  is  easing  the  bur- 
den by  making  provision  for  payment  in 
instalments. 


VANCOUVER 


76 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


Practical  Ideas  by  Practical  Showmen 
On  Merchandising  the  Motion  Picture 


SELLIISG  SEATS 


"Land  of  Liberty"  Is 
A Publicity  Magnet 


The  campaign  put  on  for  the  run  of 
“Land  of  Liberty”  at  the  Rialto,  Williams- 
port, Pa.,  is  viewed  as  the  most  com- 
prehensive on  the  picture  to  date.  4s  a 
pattern  of  what  might  be  done  elsewhere, 
Boxoffice,  therefore,  publishes  the  detail. 

Exhibitors  are  reminded  that  this  is  the 
attraction  which  is  being  released  by 
M-G-M  with  the  net  proceeds  to  go  to 
war  emergency  relief  as  the  organized  in- 
dustry’s contribution. 

Williamsport,  Pa. — The  campaign  here 
for  “Land  of  Liberty”  took  the  school  angle 
as  the  initial  selling  point. 

This  was  based  on  the  theory  the  film 
is  a graphic  portrayal  of  memorable  events 
in  the  progress  of  this  country  which  stu- 
dents have  either  read  or  are  reading 
about.  Dr.  A.  M.  Weaver,  school  superin- 
tendent, called  a meeting  of  all  principals 
and  urged  them  to  give  the  engagement 
every  possible  support  in  the  school  as- 
semblies, classrooms,  on  bulletin  boards, 
etc.  Students  were  dismissed  earlier  than 
usual  during  the  three-day  engagement  to 
enable  them  to  attend  matinees. 

The  next  most  important  point  stressed 
in  the  campaign  was  cooperation  with 
churches.  Every  clergyman  received  an  in- 
vitation to  a private,  advance  screening. 
It  was  well  attended  and  many  openly 
expressed  their  approval  of  the  film. 
Timed  to  coincide  with  the  screening,  these 
clergymen  received  special  letters  from  the 
Hays  office  in  New  York  enlisting  their 
support.  The  result  was  that  the  film  and 
theatre  were  mentioned  on  numerous 
pulpits  during  Sunday  sermons. 

Message  to  Women 

Church  and  religious  cooperation  was 
heightened  through  contact  with  the 
Knights  of  Columbus,  which  passed  a 
resolution  endorsing  the  film,  as  did  the 
YMCA  and  the  YWCA. 

While  it  was  still  undetermined  at  the 
time  of  the  engagement  as  to  just  what 
charities  would  share  in  the  profits,  the 
management  was  able  to  secure  a strong 
testimonial  from  the  local  head  of  the 
American  Red  Cross.  This  was  printed  in 
newspapers  as  “A  Message  to  the  Women 
of  Williamsport.”  Permission  to  use  this 
endorsement  was  granted  in  a telephonic 
message  with  the  national  headquarters 
of  the  Red  Cross  in  Washington. 

A heavy  barrage  of  correspondence  ema- 
nating from  the  MPPDA  was  important. 
The  association  sent  letters  to  leaders  in 
public  and  civic  life,  city  officials,  leading 
clubwomen,  and  ministers  and,  through 
MPPDA  intervention,  letters  were  also  sent 


With  Fanfare — 

A brief  concert  is  put  on  in  front  of 
the  Rialto  in  Williamsport,  Pa.,  by  the 
Junior  Drum  and  Bugle  Corps  of  the 
American  Legion.  The  occasion  was 
the  opening  night’s  show  of  “Land  of 
Liberty,”  designated  American  Legion 
Night.  To  the  side  are  the  Legion’s 
girl  drum  majors  in  a Color  Guard 
ceremony  that  was  part  of  a stage 
presentation. 


out  from  headquarters  of  the  Legion  of 
Decency,  Boy  Scouts,  Boys’  Club  of  Ameri- 
ca, Lions  International,  American  Legion, 
etc.,  to  units  of  their  organizations  here. 

Normally  there  is  an  ironclad  rule  on 
Williamsport  newspapers  not  to  give  any 
publicity  to  theatres.  However,  because 
of  the  charity  nature  of  the  film,  an  ex- 
ception was  made  and  both  papers  offered 
exceptional  cooperation.  As  soon  as  the 
management  secured  official  proclamations 
from  the  government  and  mayor  estab- 
lishing “Land  of  Liberty”  Days,  both  were 
printed  by  the  papers,  which,  additionally, 
had  their  city  editors  attend  the  opening 
night  and  write  reviews. 

Public  Officials  Cooperate 

Cooperation  was  extended  by  every  pub- 
lic official  contacted,  whether  in  a state, 
city  or  town  capacity.  Mayor  Leo  C.  Wil- 
liamson not  only  attended  the  private 
screening  but  agreed  to  lend  his  name  in 
any  way  possible  that  would  help  pub- 
licize the  film.  His  first  official  act  was 
to  write  a statement  of  thanks  for  the 
screening  to  the  theatre  manager.  This 
letter  carried  the  playdates,  sincere  praise 
of  the  film  and  congratulations  for  bring- 
ing the  world  premiere  here.  His  procla- 
mation of  “Land  of  Liberty”  Days,  the 
first  he  had  issued  in  connection  with 
a film,  as  well  as  his  letter  of  praise  were 
picked  up  by  the  newspapers.  He  also 
helped  by  speaking  of  the  engagement  at 
meetings  and  social  functions  he  attend- 
ed prior  to  the  opening. 

The  opening  night  was  designated  Amer- 
ican Legion  Night  and  was  so  advertised. 
The  organization’s  Junior  Drum  and  Bugle 
Corps,  consisting  of  50  members  and  three 
girl  drum  majors,  marched  through  the 


streets  opening  night  carrying  banners  and 
proceeded  to  the  theatre.  Here  they  held 
a short  concert  in  front  of  the  house. 
They  then  proceeded  down  aisles  of  the 
theatre  to  the  stage,  where  a Color  Guard 
ceremony  was  held.  A mailing  list  to  500 
members  announcing  the  event  was  used 
over  the  signature  of  the  unit  commander. 


Capital  Responds  to 
“Land  of  Liberty" 

Washington — Congressional  leaders,  Brit- 
ish War  Relief  agencies  and  capital 
reviewers  combined  their  enthusiasm  to 
make  the  premiere  of  “Land  of  Liberty” 
here  an  outstanding  publicity  and  boxoffice 
success.  The  designation  of  $50,000  de- 
rived from  the  release  of  the  picture  for 
British  air  raid  victims,  struck  a respon- 
sive chord,  and  legislators  and  war  relief 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


77 


SELLING  SEATS 


agencies  were  active  in  supporting  the 
engagement. 

Highlights  of  Dan  Terrell’s  campaign 
for  the  Columbia  Theatre  engagement  fol- 
low: An  advance  screening  for  represen- 
tatives of  16  educational,  civic  and  patri- 
otic organizations.  Later,  bundles  of  cards 
were  handed  out,  with  this  copy:  “I  have 
just  seen  ‘Land  of  Liberty,’  a motion  pic- 
ture which  deserves  our  full  support,  and 
take  this  means  of  letting  you  know  that 
it  opens  its  Washington  engagement  next 
Thursday.”  The  message  also  included 
other  facts  about  the  film. 

For  the  first  time,  the  local  public 
school  system  permitted  the  hanging  of 
placards  in  every  school  building  in  the 
District  of  Columbia.  In  addition,  10,000 
heralds  were  distributed  in  schools  and 
special  material  was  sent  to  all  high  school 
newspaper  editors. 

Special  postcards  were  imprinted  and 
distributed  at  the  end  of  each  perform- 
ance to  those  wishing  to  advise  friends 
about  the  picture.  The  Boy  Scouts  in- 
cluded a special  announcement  on  the 
picture  in  their  mimeographed  bulletin 
which  goes  to  every  troop  in  the  city.  An- 
nouncements also  were  made  at  the  week- 
ly meetings  of  Rotary,  Kiwanis  and  other 
local  civic  organizations. 


Arrange  Three-Way  Tie 
For  Sheridans  Latest 

Hollywood — A three-way  tie  involving 
RCA-Victor,  Warner  Bros.,  and  Chester- 
field, resulted  in  exploitation  of  “Honey- 
moon for  Three,”  starring  George  Brent 
and  Ann  Sheridan,  in  2,000  daily  papers 
and  300  weeklies,  beginning  January  20. 
By  arrangement  with  Chesterfield,  a half- 
page ad  ran  in  the  2,000  dailies  fea- 
turing a picture  of  Miss  Sheridan  stand- 
ing by  an  RCA-Victor  radio,  and  a credit 
line  for  “Honeymoon  for  Three.”  In  ad- 
dition, cutouts  of  Miss  Sheridan,  men- 
tioning “Honeymoon  for  Three,”  will  be 
displayed  by  several  thousand  Victor  deal- 
ers. 


Deliver  the  Tunes — 

Some  of  the  20  girls  David  Edwards  of 
the  Rialto,  Salt  Lake  City,  outfitted 
with  portable  radios  which  were  tuned 
in  to  a special  “No  No,  Nanette”  broad- 
cast. Visiting  downtown  stores,  the 
girls  distributed  candy  novelties  plug- 
ging the  picture,  while  shoppers  list- 
ened to  the  Nanette  tunes. 


"Kitty"  on  Shopping  Tour 
To  Sell  Film  in  Dayton 

Dayton,  Ohio — A “White  Collar  Girl” 
shopping  tour,  sponsored  by  a local  paper, 
featured  the  campaign  by  Manager  Bill 
Clark  of  the  Keith  here  for  “Kitty  Foyle.” 

A girl  dressed  as  Kitty  visited  stores  and 
public  places  at  specified  times.  People 
recognizing  her  and  tapping  her  on  the 
shoulder  with  certain  editions  of  the  co- 
operating newspaper  received  passes  for 
the  picture. 

The  stunt  was  started  a week  in  advance 
of  opening  with  co-op  merchant  ads  and 
story  breaks. 


(<  ■ ft 

: Ryan  on  Ushers  : 

^ 0 

Chicago — The  problem  of  selecting  and 
training  ushers  is  discussed  by  Charles  H. 
Ryan  in  a recent  bulletin  which  went  to 
Warner  theatre  managers.  It’s  Ryan  from 
now  on,  but  to  the  trade. 

“In  selecting  ushers,  see  that  they  have 
a good  education,  speak  properly  and  have 
good  breeding.  They  should  be  coached  on 
how  to  handle  cranky  patrons,  remember- 
ing that  your  customer  is,  after  all,  their 
employer  and  pays  their  salary,  and  is 
therefore  entitled  to  every  consideration 
that  they  can  give  them. 

“In  addressing  patrons,  the  usher  should 
say  ‘How  far  down,  please?’  and  to  patrons 
whom  he  disturbs  on  the  aisle  or  obstructs 
their  vision  of  the  screen,  say  ‘Pardon 
please.’ 

“In  most  theatres  in  handling  crowds, 
ropes  are  an  important  part  of  theatre 
equipment.  Everybody  on  the  staff  must 
be  particularly  cheerful  when  the  house  is 
full  and  people  are  standing  in  the  rear 
and  in  the  lobby.  The  manager,  his  as- 
sistant and  chief  of  service  should  wear  a 
broad  smile,  helping  create  ‘Good  Will’  and 
saying  pleasant  things  to  those  standing  so 
that  the  standees  will  not  become  im- 
patient. 

“Patrons  should  never  be  spoken  to 
crossly  at  any  time,  particularly  in  a 
crowd.  The  reason  for  this  is  that  too 
many  people  hear  you  and  take  sides — not 
with  you,  but  with  the  patron.  Handling 
crowds  is  difficult  and  courteous  attention 
is  everything  in  business  today. 

“Have  the  chief  of  service  bring  to  your 
attention  any  remarks  overheard  in  the 
lobby  in  regard  to  the  likes  or  dislikes  of 
your  program  and  house  service.  At  your 
weekly  service  staff  meeting,  give  a re- 
sume of  the  mistakes  made  during  the 
week,  such  as  poor  handling  of  crowds, 
employes  saying  the  wrong  thing  at  patron, 
neglecting  to  say,  ‘Thank  you,’  ‘This  way, 
please’  or  selling  single  seats. 

“Call  attention  sharply  to  the  fact  that 
they  must  hustle  and  use  their  utmost  ef- 
forts to  keep  all  seats  filled.  You  are  pro- 
tecting the  theatre’s  investment  when  you 
give  your  personal  attention  to  this  item.” 


♦ 


1941 


1941 


DON'T  LET  THE 

SEASON  PASS 

Without  attending  our  Mammoth  Owl  Show  every 
Saturday  night.  Come  as  late  as  10  p.m.  and  see 
a complete  show.  Ear  phones  for  the  hard  of  hear- 
ing. 

PARKSIDE  THEATRE 

East  Warren  at  Dickerson  FREE  PARKING 


♦ 


Looks  Real — 

The  above  “pass”  was  printed  up  as  a throwaway  by  Edward  Jacobson,  man- 
ager of  the  Parkside  Theatre  in  Detroit. 


78  BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


Opinions  on  the  Current  Short  Subjects 


SHORTS  REVIEWS 


Paunch  and  Judy 

Columbia  (Fable)  GV2  Mins. 

Average.  Father  tries  his  hand  at  pho- 
tography. His  young  daughter  gets  in  his 
hair.  At  length,  he  blows  up  and  falls 
into  the  clutches  of  a French  poodle,  an 
English  bulldog  and  a Dachshund  who 
make  sport  of  him  until  a salesman  sets 
him  off  on  the  exasperation  routine  again. 


Beautiful  British  Columbia 

Columbia  (Columbia  Tour)  IOV2  Mins. 

Good  travel  fare.  The  most  westerly 
province  of  Canada  is  capably  presented 
here  in  color.  The  footage,  though  brief, 
covers  a good  deal  of  ground.  Camera 
compositions  include  plenty  of  pretty 
young  misses. 


Mrs.  Ladybug 

M-G-M  (Technicolor)  8 Mins. 

Clever.  Well  away  from  run-of-the-mill 
animation  is  this  one  after  the  famed 
fable.  And  the  elders  won’t  be  too  critical 
of  it,  either.  Story  invention  is  bright. 
It  has  Mama  Ladybug  overburdened  with 
housework,  considering  the  large  brood  of 
offspring  in  her  charge.  When  she  finally 
decides  to  advertise  for  a maid,  a villain- 
ous spider  dresses  up  and  gets  the  job. 
But  he  doesn’t  get  the  large  helping  of 
little  ladybugs  he  anticipated. 


Watchman  Takes  a Wife 

Columbia  (Andy  Clyde)  16  Mins. 

Standard.  Andy  Clyde  gets  himself  mar- 
ried to  Betty  Compson  after  a number  of 
awkward  moments.  Following  the  honey- 
moon, egged  on  by  a scheming  lawyer,  he 
grows  suspicious  of  his  wife  and  starts 
shooting  at  a salesman.  Later  he  finds 
that  she  only  wanted  to  get  him  a motor 
scooter  to  replace  his  decrepit  bicycle. 


TUESDAY,  JANUARY  14 
Movietone  News,  No.  37 
Willkie  endorses  Roosevelt  policies;  munitions 
ship  destroyed  off  Australia;  Knox  tells  of  navy 
reorganization;  army  ski  maneuvers;  rifle  produc- 
tion; new  west  coast  dam  takes  shape;  motor  boat 
show;  New  Hampshire  dog  sled  races;  billiards 
in  Chicago;  skiing. 

News  of  the  Day,  No.  235 
Liner  on  reef  off  Florida;  discuss  aid  to  Britain; 
Shasta  Dam  under  construction;  air  show  in  Miami; 
rifle  production;  Hialeah  opens;  billiards;  skiing. 
Paramount  News,  No.  40 
Boston  track  meet;  motor  boat  show;  Miami  air 
show;  fashions  for  men;  California  dam  under 
construction;  defense  bill  debate;  Greeks  take 
Koritza. 

RKO  Pathe  News,  No.  40 
Greeks  take  Koritza;  Willkie  backs  Roosevelt 
policies;  liner  grounds  off  Florida;  Shasta  Dam 
building;  Farley  off  to  South  America;  motor  boat 
show;  Miami  air  races;  skiing. 

Universal  Newsreel,  No.  945 
Knox  discusses  navy  changes;  Henry  Ford  at 
California  plane  plant;  Miami  air  show;  girls  learn 
defense  work;  religious  ceremony  in  Washington; 
Shasta  Dam  building;  liner  aground  off  Florida; 
motor  boat  show;  billiards;  racing  at  Hialeah. 


Uncle  Sam — The  Non- 
Belligerent 

RKO  21  Mins. 

(March  of  Time,  Vol.  6,  No.  7) 

Timely.  A composite  picture,  not  neces- 
sarily embodying  all  the  contributing  ele- 
ments with  which  the  man  in  the  street 
is  continually  buffeted,  emerges  from  the 
chamoers  of  the  editors  of  March  of  Time 
in  the  first  issue  of  the  new  year.  March 
of  Time’s  connections  with  the  Canadian 
Film  Commissioner  are  good  because  they 
have  again  obtained  interesting  iootage 
filmed  by  German  army  cameramen  which 
show  life  in  France  under  the  heel  of  the 
Nazi  boot  and  a few  of  Hitler's  military 
shenanigans — the  100-miie  gun  which  looks 
like  a phoney.  Additionally,  tne  local  foot- 
age oilers  a picture  of  the  lineup  in  the 
isolationism-interventionism  battle  which 
is  brewing  in  Wasnington,  the  Gaiiup  poll 
of  public  opinion  on  aid  to  Britain,  and 
a few  main  Streeters  who  voice  their  opin- 
ions on  the  last  mentioned  issue.  It  is 
as  timely  as  last  week’s  headlines  and 
as  current  as  the  weekend  review  of  the 
news.  “Uncle  Sam— Non  Belligerent”  takes 
place  as  a revelation  of  what  is  happening 
at  the  moment  here  and  abroad. 


All's  Well 

Paramount  (Gabby  Cartoon)  7 Mins. 

Amusing.  Most  audiences  should  get  a 
kick  out  of  Gabby  attempting  to  diaper  a 
baby.  While  overdone,  it’s  probably  not 
much  out  of  line  with  what  usually  goes 
on  when  it  comes  time  for  an  infant’s 
change  of  dress.  In  this  instance,  the  lit- 
tle one,  somewhat  precocious  for  its  age, 
gives  Gabby  a severe  beating  before  the 
effort  is  accomplished. 


THURSDAY,  JANUARY  16 
Movietone  News,  No.  38 

London  afire;  British  enter  Sidi  Barrani;  Hull 
gives  Congress  views  on  lend-lease  bill;  passengers 
quit  stranded  “Manhattan;”  March  of  Dimes;  Gol- 
den Gloves  bouts. 

News  of  the  Day,  No.  236 
Bombs  ignite  London;  New  York  firemen  re- 
turn with  praise  for  British  fire  laddies;  fall  of 
Sidi  Barrani;  Hull  on  invasion  peril;  March  of 
Dimes;  Golden  Gloves. 

Paramount  News,  No.  41 
The  war  in  Libya;  Sidi  Barrani;  on  the  Medi- 
terranean; Malta,  Athens,  Turkey;  London  on 
fire;  March  of  Dimes. 

RKO  Pathe  News,  No.  41 
London  set  afire  by  bombs;  British  round  up 
Italian  prisoners;  March  of  Dimes  drive  opens; 
passengers  quit  stranded  "Manhattan;”  spring  hat 
fashions;  British  reinforce  war  aid  to  Greece;  Gol- 
den Gloves  bouts. 

Universal  Newsreel,  No.  946 
Bombs  set  London  afire;  New  York  firemen 
return  from  London  with  praise  for  firefighters; 
British  launch  desert  blitzkrieg;  fleet  battle  Axis 
planes  in  Mediterranean;  Mrs.  Roosevelt  visits  in- 
fantile paralysis  victims;  cat  show;  stock  car  race; 
Golden  Gloves  bouts. 


Unusual  Crafts 

Columbia  (Cinecolor)  9 Mins. 

Interesting.  The  arts  and  crafts  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Scilly  Islands  off  the 
coast  of  England  are  offered  here.  The 
folks  makes  various  objects  from  stone 
for  jewelry,  model  ships  and  the  like. 


U.  S.  Naval  Academy 

Columbia  (Washington  Parade)  10  Mins. 

Good  program  jiller.  Annapolis,  the 
naval  academy  and  the  midshipmen  are 
smartly  filmed  here.  It  shows  the  boys 
at  their  studies,  making  muscles,  parad- 
ing and  eventually  being  assigned  to  the 
fleet. 


Take  It  Or  Leave  It  No.  2 

Columbia  11  Mins. 

Fair.  Bob  Hawk  gets  four  people,  from 
all  indications  carefully  picked  and  re- 
hearsed, up  on  the  stage  of  a theatre  and 
pops  questions  at  them  about  crime,  lang- 
uages, etiquette  and  sound.  One  makes 
off  with  $64.  Where  they  like  this  sort  of 
thing,  it  should  go  over. 


AIL  the  Giant  Killer 

Columbia  (World  of  Sports)  10  V2  Mins. 

Average.  Ali  Baba,  a Turkish  wrestler, 
and  Hardboiled  Haggerty,  a native  grunt 
and  groaner,  have  it  out  in  the  ring. 
The  Turk  is  a little  guy,  the  American 
over  six  feet.  It  is  a case  of  David  and 
Goliath.  After  the  first  hundred  feet,  it 
becomes  tiresome. 


Screen  Snapshots  No.  5-20 

Columbia  10  Mins. 

Usual  stuff.  The  Invisible  Man  attends 
a party  at  the  Hollywood  Pirate’s  Den 
where  Bob  Hope  and  his  radio  troupe,  plus 
Harry  Ritz  and  Andrea  Leeds  are  present 
and  go  through  their  shenanigans.  Jerry 
Colonna  does  his  familiar  double  talk  poem 
routine. 


f ^ 

TO  SPEED  TELEGRAMS 
AT  LOW  COST-PHONE 

Postal 

Telegraph 

CHARGES  FOR  TELEGRAMS 
esfilw-r*  ’PHONED  IN  APPEAR  ON  YOUR  . 

TELEPHONE  BILL.  J 


WHAT'S  IN  THE  NEWSREELS 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


79 


Date  at  side  of  column  is  week  ending.  Number  in  square  is  national  release  date.  Production  number  is  at  right. 
Running  time,  as  furnished  by  home  office  of  distributor,  follows  title.  As  local  conditions,  such  as  censorship, 
subject  this  to  change,  checkup  with  local  exchanges  is  recommended.  R — is  review  date.  PG — is  Picture  Guide 
page  number.  Symbol  O indicates  BOXOFFICE  Blue  Ribbon  Award  Winner.  Symbol  © indicates  color  photography. 


P-R-C 

flf]  Com.  Drama  It 

Hold  That  Womai 

(66) 

James  Dunn 

R— Nov.  30 

(20I  Western  11 

Billy  the  Kid  Ou 

lavred  (60) 

Bob  Steele 

e s 

5 .So 

bU 

HU  Mystery  1C 

Marked  Men  (70) 

Warren  Hull 

! 

WARNER-F.  N. 

[lsj  M'drama  FN473 

Fugitive  From  Jus- 

tice (53)  R-June  22 
Roger  Pryor 

Lucille  Fairbanks 

[22]  M’drama  WB424 

Gambling  on  the 

High  Seas  (56) 

Wayne  Morris 

Jane  Wyman 

R — Oct.  12 

fl3j  Drama  FN467 

Man  Who  Talked 

Too  Much  (75) 

George  Brent 

R — July  6 

[13]  Drama  FN454, 

yAll  This,  and 

Heaven  Too  (143) 

Bette  Davis 

Charles  Boyer 

R — June  22 

HU  Com.  with  Mu. 

WB407 

My  I.oye  Came  Back 

(85)  R— July  6 

Olivia  de  Havilland 

Jeffrey  Lynn 

1(27]  Comedy  FN474 

Ladies  Must  Live 

(58) 

Rosemary  Lane 

Wayne  Morris 

R — July  27 

in  Drama  FN460 

They  Drive  by  Night 

(95)  R — July  20 

George  Raft 

Ann  Sheridan 

Hoj  Ac.  Dram  WB414 

River's  End  (69) 

Dennis  Morgan 

Elizabeth  Earl 

R — Aug.  24 

HU  Drama  WB417 

Money  and  the 

Woman  (67) 

Jeffrey  Lynn 

Brenda  Marshall 

R — Aug.  17 

[24]  Act.  Dr.  W 15412 

Flowing  Gold  (82) 

Pat  O’Brien 

John  Garfield 

Frances  Farmer 

R — Aug.  31 

[3l|  Drama  WB401 

Sea  Hawk,  The 

(126) 

Errol  Flynn 

Brenda  Marshall 

i 

! 

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UNIVERSAL 

fl4j  Com.  Drama  4008 

Sandy  Is  a Lady 

(64)  R— May  25 
Baby  Sandy 

Eugene  Pallette 

[21]  Comedy  4037 

I Can’t  Give  Yon 
Anything  But 

Love  (61) 

Broderick  Crawford 
R— May  11 

(28)  Drama  5046 

The  Fugitive  (77) 

Ralph  Richardson 

Diana  Wynyard 

R— July  6 

(~5~[  Com.  Drama  4007 

Private  Affairs  (74) 

Nancy  Kelly 

Roland  Young 

R — June  15 

HU  Melodrama  4057 

Black  Diamonds  (52) 

R— July  27 

HU  Western  4064 

Son  of  Roaring  Dan 

(64)  R— Aug.  17 

Johnny  Mack  Brown 

HU  Com.  Dr.  4023 

You’re  Not  So 

Tough  (72) 

R — June  1 

HU  Outd’r  Dr.  4000 

When  Daltons  Rode 

(81)  R— Aug.  3 

n M'drama  4039 

South  to  Karanga 

(69) 

Charles  Bickford 

R — Aug.  3 

m Comedy  4003 

Boys  From  Syracuse 

(72)  R— July  20 

Allan  Jones 

Martha  Raye 

UNITED  ARTISTS 

HU  Melodrama 

South  of  Fago  Pago 

(97) 

Victor  McLaglen 

Jon  Hall 

Francis  Farmer 

R— July  20 

[~9]  Melodrama 

Captain  Caution 

(86)  R — Aug.  10 

Victor  Mature 

Louise  Platt 

HU  Drama 

Foreign  Correspon- 

dent (120) 

Joel  McCrea 

Daraine  Day 

R — Sept.  7 

HU  Action  Drama 

Kit  Carson  (97) 

Jon  Hall 

Lynn  Bari 

R— Sept.  7 

20TH-F0X 

[14]  Drama  047 

Four  Sobs  (88) 

Don  Ameche 

Mary  Beth  Hughes 
R — June  8 

[21]  Mystery  04a| 

Charlie  Chan’s  Mnr- 

der  Cruise  (75) 
Sidney  Toler 

Marjorie  Weaver 

R — May  4 

|2gj  Outd’r  Dr.  049 

Lucky  Cisco  Kid 

(68) 

Cesar  Romero 

Mary  Beth  Hughes 
R — June  1 

[~5~|  Com.  Drama  052 

Sailor’s  Lady  (66) 
Nancy  Kelly 

Jon  Hall 

R— July  6 

HU  Drama  046 

Manhattan  Heart- 
beat (71) 

V.  Gilmore 

R.  Sterling  R-June  8 

HU  Drama  050 

©Maryland  (91) 
Walter  Brennan 

Fay  Bainter 

Brenda  Joyce 

R— July  13 

n Drama  101 

The  Man  I Married 

Joan  Bennett  (77) 

Francis  Lederer 

R— July  20 

|~9~|  Com.  Drama  104 

The  Girl  From  Ave- 

nue A (73) 

Jane  Withers 

Kent  Taylor 

R — Aug.  10 

HU  Melodrama  103 

©Return  of  Frank 

James  (92) 

Henry  Fonda 

Gene  Tierney 

R — Aug.  17 

H|]  Drama  106 

Pier  13  (66) 

Lynn  Bart 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R— Aug.  17 

HU  Comedy  109 

Young  People  (79) 

Shirley  Temple 

Jack  Oakie 

R— July  20 

RKO  RADIO 

[~7~|  Western  084 

Prairie  Law  (60) 
George  O’Brien 

"R — June  8 

[2i|  Com.  Drama  034 

Pop  Always  Pays 

(67) 

Leon  Errol 

R — June  22 

|28l  Drama  035 

Anne  of  Windy 

Poplars  (86) 

Anne  Shirley 

R — June  22 

|~5~]  Drama  036 

Dr.  Christian  Meets 

the  Women  (68) 

Jean  Hersholt 

R — June  29 

HU  Com.  Drama  039 

Cross  Country 

Romance  (68) 

Gene  Raymond 

Wendy  Barrie 

R — June  29 

HU  Drama  029 

Tom  Brown’s  School 

Days  (82) 

James  Lydon 

Fred.  Bartholomew 

Cedric  Hardwicke 

R — June  29 

HU  Western  085 

Stage  to  Chino  (59) 
G.O’Brien  R-Aug.  24 

HU  Com.  Drama  037 
Millionaires  in 

Prison  (63) 

L.  Tracy  R-June  29 

n Drama  061 

©Queen  of  Destiny 

(95)  R-Nov.26, ’38 

as  "60  Glorious 

Years” 

[9]  Melodrama  042 

One  Crowded  Night 

(68)  R — Aug.  3 

Billie  Seward 

William  Haade 

[iq[  Drama  041 

Stranger  on  the 

Third  Floor  (64) 

Peter  Lorre 

John  McGuire 

R — Sept.  7 

HU  Propaganda  171 

Ramparts  We  Watch 

(8  7)  R— July  27 

HU  Drama  043 

Wildcat  Bus  (63) 

F.  Wray  R-Aug.  24 

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HU  Act'n  Drama  9*7 

Wagons  Westward 

(70)  R — June  29 

Chester  Morris 

Anita  Louise 

[25]  Musical  Com.  908 
Grand  Ole  Opry  (67) 
R — July  6 

[27|  Western  955 

Carson  City  Kid  (57) 

R — July  6 

HU  Western  992 

One  Man’s  law  (57) 
Don  "Red”  Barry 
Janet  Waldo 

R— July  13 

HU  Drama  903 

Three  Faces  West 

(81)  R — June  22 

John  Wayne 

Sigrid  Gurle 

HU  Comedy  909 

Scatterbrain  (72) 
Judy  Canova 

R— July  13 

HU  Western  944 
Carolina  Moon  (65) 
G.  Autry  R — July  20 

[30]  Drama  904 

Girl  from  God’s  Co’n- 
try  (71)  R — Jul  27 
Chester  Morris 

HU  Western  956 

Ranger  and  the 
Lady  (59) 

R.  Rogers  R-July  27 

HU  Musical  910 

Sing,  Dance,  Plenty 
Hot  (72) 

Johnny  Downs 

Ruth  Terry 

R — Aug.  3 

(HU  Western  071 

Tulsa  Kid  (57) 

Don  "Red”  Barry 

R — Aug.  3 

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|jj|  Drama  3937 

Safari  (81) 

Doug.  Fairbanks  jr. 
Madeleine  Carroll 

R — June  1 

[2i|  Mys.  Com.  3938 
Ghost  Breakers  (85) 
Bob  Hope 

Paulette  Goddard 

R — June  15 

(zjj]  Drama  3939 

Queen  of  the  Mob 
(61)  R— June  29 

Ralph  Bellamy 
Blanche  Yurka 

Jean  Cagney 

[~6~|  Drama  3940 

W ay  of  All  Flesh 
(86)  R — June  1 

Akim  Tamlroff 
Gladys  George 

HU  Western  3959 

Stagecoach  War 
(63)  R— July  6 

Bill  Boyd 

Russell  Hayden 

HU  Drama  3941 

©Untamed  (83) 

Ray  Milland 

Patricia  Morison 

R — June  29 

n Melodrama  3942 
Golden  Gloves  (69) 
Richard  Denning 
Jean  Cagney 

R — Aug.  3 

|~9~|  Melodrama  3943 
Mystery  Sea  Raider 

(78)  R— Aug.  10 
Henry  Wilcoxon 
Carole  Landis 

HU  Comery  3944 

Cornin'  Round  the 
Mountain  (63) 

Bob  Burns 

Una  Merkel 

R— Aug.  17 

HU  Com.  Drama  3945 
The  Great  McGinty 

(83) 

Brian  Donlevy 

Muriel  Angelus 

R— July  27 

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MONOGRAM 

(ill  Com.  Drama  3915 
On  the  Spot  (62) 

Frankie  Darro 

R — June  8 

|jg[  Western  3960 
Wild  Horse  Range 

(51) 

Jack  Randall 
iR — June  22 

M’drama  3927 
Last  Alarm  (61) 
Polly  Ann  Young 
Warren  Hull 

R — July  13 

[~3~|  Western  3956 

The  Golden  Trail 

(52) 

Tex  Ritter 

R— July  13 

HU  Mystery  3910 

Haunted  Honse  (70) 

R — Aug.  3 

H|]  Melodrama  4020 
Boys  of  the  City 
East  Side  Kids  (63) 

R — Aug.  31 

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Doomed  to  Die  (67) 

Boris  Karloff 

R— Aug.  10 

HU  Mys.  Drama  3913 

Langhing  at  Danger 
(62)  R— Aug.  10 

HU  Western  3958 
Arizona  Frontier 
(55)  R— Sept.  14 

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Queen  of  the  Yukon 

(63) 

Charles  Bickford 
Irene  Rich 

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(JMortal  Storm,  The 
(99)  R — June  16 

Margaret  Sullavan 
James  Stewart 

[21I  Com.  Drama  42 
Captain  Is  a Lady 

(65)  R — June  29 

Virginia  Grey 

Billie  Burke 

Charles  Coburn 

[28]  Musical  31 

New  Moon  (100) 
Jeanette  MacDonald 

Nelson  Eddy 

R — June  22 

|~5~|  Comedy  43 

Andy  Hardy  Meets 
Debutante  (89) 
Mickey  Rooney 

R — July  6 

'(ijj  Drama  44 

Sporting  Blood 
(82) 

Robert  Young 
Maureen  O’Sullivan 
R— July  13 

HU  Com.  Drama  45 
We  Who  Are  Yonng 

(79) 

Lana  Turner 

John  Shelton 

R— July  20 

HU  Com.  Drama  47 

Gold  Rush  Maisie 
(82) 

Ann  Sothern 

Lee  Bowman 

R — Aug.  3 

n Costume  Com.  40 

y Pride  and  Preju- 
dice (118) 

Greer  Garson 

Laurence  Olivier 

|~9l  Com.  Drama  60 

I Love  You  Again 
(99) 

William  Powell 
Myrna  Loy 

R— Aug.  17 

HU  Comedy  49 

Golden  Fleecing  (68) 
Lew  Ayres 

Rita  Johnson 

R — Aug.  24 

[30|  Drama  48 

Boom  Town  (120) 
Clark  Gable 

Spencer  Tracy 
Claudette  Colbert 

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[~6~1  M'drama  1028 
Passport  to  Alcatras 
(60);  Jack  Holt 

R — June  22 

HU  Drama  1031 

Girls  of  the  Road 

(61) 

Ann  Dvorak 

Lola  Lane 

R — June  It 

[27)  Western  1214' 

Return  of  Wild  BUI 
Bill  Elliott 

(67)  R— July  13 

|U  Comedy  1921 
Out  West  With  the 

Peppers  (61) 

Edith  Fellows 

R— July  13 

HU  Drama  1038 

M.litary  Academy 

(66) 

T.  Kelly  R-July  13 

HU  Adventure  1110 

I Married  Adven- 
ture (78)  R-July  20 

HU  Comedy  1012 

Blondie  Has  Servant 
Tronble  (70) 

Penny  Singleton 
Arthur  Lake 

R— July  27 

[7]  Drama  1008 

The  Lady  in  Ques- 

tion (81) 

Brian  Aherns 

Rita  Hayworth 

R — Aug.  10 

HU  Melodrama  1M0 

The  Secret  Seven 
(62)  R — Aug.  24 

HU  Western  2201 
Durango  Kid  (65) 

R — Sept.  7 

HU  Com.  Drama  1008 

He  Stayed  for 
Breakfast  (87) 

Loretta  Young 
Melvyn  Douglas 

R — Aug.  13 

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[~7~|  Comedy  FN571 

She  Couldn't  Say  No 

(63) 

Roger  Pryor 

R — Dec.  28 

[21]  Reissue 

Here  Comes  the 

Navy  (86) 

James  Cagney 

Pat  O'Brien 

[23]  Adv.  Dr.  FN651 

Santa  Fe  Trail  (110) 

Errol  Flynn 

Olivia  DeHavllland 

R — Dec.  21 

[4]  M’drama  WB503 

Four  Mothers  (86) 

The  Lane  Sisters 

Jeffrey  Lynn 

R — Dec.  14 

[II]  M’drama  FN572 

Case  of  the  Black 

Parrot  (60) 

Wm.  Lundlgan 

Maris  Wrlxon 

[Ig]  Com.  Drama 

Honeymoon  for 

Three  (77) 

George  Brent 

Ann  Sheridan 

HU  Drama 

High  Sierra  (100) 

Humphrey  Bogart 

Ida  Lupino 

:[Y]  Drama 

Father’s  Son  (..) 

jjohn  Litel 

;Frieda  Inescort 

[~3~|  Drama  WB520 

Flight  From  Destiny 

(74) 

Thomas  Mitchell 

R— Jan.  4— PG-4 

[is]  Com.  Drama 

She  Stayed  Kissed 

(.  .) 

Dennis  Morgan 

Jane  Wyatt 

HU  Com.  Drama 

Strawberry  Blonde 

(..) 

James  Cagney 

Olivia  de  Havilland 

3 

UNIVERSAL 

ITT]  Comedy  5026 

Margie  (59) 

Mischa  Auer 

Nan  Grey 

R— Sept.  21 

pX3]  Drama  5008 

Trail  of  the  Vigil- 
antes (76) 

Franchot  Tone 

R— Dec.  14 

[2o|  Drama  6025 

Give  Cs  Wings  (62) 
Little  Tough  Guys 
Wallace  Ford 

R — Nov.  16 

|27|  Mys.  Comedy 
Invisible  Woman 

(72) 

John  Barrymore 
Virginia  Bruce 

R — Jan  4 — PG-1 

[3]  Com.  Drama  5030 

Where  Did  You  Get 

That  Girl  (65) 

R — -Dec.  28 

|~3~|  Adv.  Drama  5053 

Lucky  Devils  (62) 

[ip]  Western  6064 

Boss  of  Bullion  City 

(59) 

|io|  Drama  5027 

San  Francisco  Docks 

(66)  R — Dec.  7 

3 

| § 6 

§ 

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[arl« 

HU  Comedy 

Buck  Privates  ( . . ) 

Andrews  Sisters 

Abbott  & Costello 

[~7~|  Drama 

Back  Street  ( . . ) 

Margaret  Sullavan 

Charles  Boyer 

HU  Comedy 

Meet  the  Chump 

(.  .) 

Hugh  Herbert 

Lewis  Howard 

[2i|  Mus.  Comedy 

Nice  Girl  (..) 

Deanna  Durbin 

Franchot  Tone 

H|]  Drama  5040 

Dark  Streets  of 

Cairo  ( . . ) 

Sigrid  Gurie 

Barbara  O’Nell 

R — Dec.  7 

[~7~]  Comedy 

Mr.  Dynamite  ( . . ) 

UNITED  ARTISTS 

1 . 

V > ‘ 

” %4  /-S*r1  4-* 

hJsIs? 

S3© 

[To]  Melodrama 

Son  of  Monte  Crlsto 

(102) 

Louis  Hayward 

Joan  Bennett 

R — Dec.  7 

gj]  Comedy 

Road  Show  (87) 

Adolphe  Menjou 

Carol  Landis 

20TH-F0X 

fg~|  Drama  118 

Charter  Pilot  (70) 
Lynn  Bari 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R— Nov.  30 

[ia]  Mystery  121 

Murder  Over  New 
York  (65) 

Sidney  Toler 

R — Nov.  30 

j2p|  Comedy  122 

Jennie  (77) 

William  Henry 
Dorris  Bowden 

R — Dec.  7 

[27]  Drama  US 

©Chad  Hanna  (88) 
Henry  Fonda 

Dorothy  Lamour 

R — Dec.  14 

|~3~|  Drama  115 

Hudson’s  Bay  (95) 
Paul  Muni 

Virginia  Field 

R — Dec.  28 

[Ip]  Melodrama  124 
Michael  Shayne,  Pri- 
vate Detective 
(77) 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R — Dec.  28 

^7]  Act.  Drama  126 
Romance  of  the  Rio 
Grande  (73) 

Cesar  Romero 

R — Jan.  11 — PG-5 

^ Drama  128 

Tall,  Dark  and 

Handsome  ( . . ) 

Cesar  Romero 

Virginia  Gilmore 

HU  Drama  127 

Girl  in  the  News 

(77) 

Margaret  Lockwood 

R— Jan.  4— PG-1 

[~7~|  Comedy 

Itide,  Kelly,  Ride 

(.  .) 

Eugene  Pallette 

Rita  Quigley 

HU  Com.  Drama 

Golden  Hoofs  ( . . ) 

Jane  Withers 

(Buddy)  Rogers 

HU  Drama 

©Western  Union 

Robert  Young 

Virginia  Gilmore 

(• .)  ! 

HU  Mystery 

Scotland  Yard  ( . . ) 

John  Loder 

Nancy  Kelly 

ip! 

Q 0 . 
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8 =35. 

.©  oj  *- 

0£Ss 

RKO  RADIO 

[~g]  Western  182 

Fargo  Kid,  The  (63) 
Tim  Holt 

R — Nov.  2 

j20|  Drama  114 

No,  No,  Nanette 

(96) 

Anna  Neagle 

Richard  Carlson 

R— Jan.  11 — PG-8 

[gl]  Drama  112 

Kitty  Foyle  (108) 
Ginger  Rogers 
Herbert  Marshall 

R— Dec.  21 

[Y|  Drama  181 

Convoy  (78) 

Clive  Brook 

Judy  Campbell 

R — Jan.  18 — PG-11 

|Io]  Drama  110 

Little  Men  (84) 

Kay  Francis 

Jack  Oakle 

R— Dec.  7 

|l7]  Musical  115 

Let’s  Make  Music 

(84) 

Bob  Crosby 

R — Dec.  14 

HU  Mystery  116 

Saint  In  Palm 
Springs  (66) 

George  Sanders 

R — Jan.  4 — PG-3 

HU  Comedy  117 

Mr.  and  Mrs. 

Smith  (95) 

Carole  Lombard 
Robert  Montgomery 

[~7~|  Western  183 

Along  the  Rio 

Grande  ( . . ) 

Tim  Holt 

HU  Comedy  120 

A Guy,  a Girl  and  a 

Gob  (..) 

George  Murphy 

Lucille  Ball 

HU  Com.  Drama  123 

Scattergood  Baines 

(..) 

Guy  Kibbee 

HU  Drama  118 

Citizen  Kane  (..) 

Orson  Welles 

[7]  Drama  121 

Play  Girl  (77) 

c 

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£3.3 

REPUBLIC 

|~6~|  Western  083 

The  Border  Legion 

(58) 

Roy  Rogers 

R — Nov.  30 

|~6~|  Comedy  008 

Barnyard  Follies 
(68)  R — Nov.  30 

Mary  Lee 

Rufe  Davis 

p Drama  009 

Behind  the  News 

(75) 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R— Dec.  21 

[23]  Western  084 

Lone  Star  Raiders 

(57) 

Three  Mesquiteers 

R — Dec.  21 

I27 ] Drama  019 

Bowery  Boy  (71) 

Dennis  O’Keefe 

Louise  Campbell 

R— Jan.  4 — PG-2 

[g~|  Western  074 

Wyoming  Wildcat 

(56) 

Don  "Red”  Barry 

Julie  Duncan 

R— Jan.  11 — PG-8 

|I^]  Western  054 

Robin  Hood  of  the 

Pecos  (59) 

Roy  Rogers 

R — Jan.  18— PG-1 0 

HU  Western 

Riding  on  a Rain- 

bow ( . . ) 

Gene  Autry 

Smiley  Burnette 

HU  Comedy 

Arkansas  Jndge 

(•  .) 

Weaver  Bros,  and 
Elviry 

HU  Comedy 

Petticoat  Politics 

(.  .) 

Higgins  Family 
Roscoe  Karnes 

HU  Western 

Bad  Man  From  Rio 

(.  .) 

Don  "Red”  Barry 

HU  Western 

Prairie  Pioneers 

(.  .) 

Three  Mesquiteers 

PARAMOUNT 

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Mounted  Police 
(126)  R — Oct.  26 

Madeleine  Carroll 

[27 ] Comedy  4013 

lxive  Thy  Neighbor 

(82) 

Jack  Benny 

Fred  Allen 

R — Dec.  28 

[~3~]  Musical  4014 

Second  Chorus  (88) 

Fred  Astaire 

Paulette  Goddard 

R— Dec.  7 

HU  Western  4051 
Doomed  Caravan 

(62) 

William  Boyd 

Russell  Hayden 

R — Jan.  18 — PG-9 

|l7]  Drama  4015 

Victory  (79) 

Fredric  March 

Betty  Field 

R— Dec.  21 

HU  Comedy  4016 

Aldrich  Family  in 

Life  With  Henry 

(82) 

Jackie  Cooper 

[~7~|  Musical  Com. 
You’re  the  One  (83) 

Bonnie  Baker 

Orrin  Tucker 

HU  Mystery 

Mad  Doctor,  The 

(90) 

Basil  Rathbone 

HU  Drama 

©Virginia  (109) 

Madeleine  Carroll 
Fred  MacMurray 

R — Jan.  18 — PG-12 

HU  Western  4052 
In  Old  Colorado 

(.  .) 

William  Boyd 

|~7~|  Comedy 

Hard  Boiled  Canary 

0 

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£3 

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MONOGRAM 

[22]  Drama  44)03 

Her  First  Romance 

(77)  R— Dec.  28 

[29]  Western  4052 

Rolling  Home  to 

Texas  (63) 

Tex  Ritter 

[sT|  Western 

Trail  of  the  Silver 

Spurs  ( . . ) 

Range  Busters 

p]  Mystery 

Dead  Man’s  Shoes 

(..) 

Wilfrid  Lawson 

Leslie  Banks 

p|  Melodrama 

You’re  Out  of  Lack 

(62) 

Frankie  Darro 

R — Jan.  18— PG-11 

[~6~|  Western 

Ridin’  the  Cherokee 

Trail  (...) 

Tex  Ritter 

HU  Melodrama 

Air  Devils  ( . . ) 

Leo  Gorcey 

Bobby  Jordan 

0 

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UnJcc 

M-G-M 

fe]  Comedy  114 

Go  West  (82) 

Marx  Bros. 

R — Dec.  21 

[Is]  Drama  113 

Comrade  X (89) 

Clark  Gable 

Hedy  Lamarr 

R — Dec.  14 

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[~g[  Drama  117 

Flight  Command 

(114) 

Robert  Taylor 

Walter  PldLceon 

R — Dec.  21 

[xo]  Com.  Drama  118 

Molsle  Was  a Lady 

(79) 

Ann  Sothern 

Lew  Ayres 

R— Jan.  11 — PG-5 

[I7]  Drama  119 

Philadelphia  Story 

(112) 

Katharine  Hepburn 

Cary  Grant 

HU  Comedy  121 

Man  of  Borneo  (78) 

HU  Historical 

Land  of  Liberty  (98) 
R — Jan.  25 — PG-15 

HU  Drama  122 

Come  Live  With 

Me  (..) 

James  Stewart 

Hedy  Lamarr 

[~7~|  Comedy 

Blonde  Inspiration 

(•  •) 

John  Shelton 

Virginia  Grey 

HU  Drama 

The  Bad  Man  ( . . ) 

Wallace  Beery 

Lionel  Barrymore 

HU  Drama 

Trial  of  Mary  Dngan 

(..) 

Robert  Young 

Laraine  Day 

HU  Comedy 

Andy  Hardy’s  Pri- 

vate Secretary 
(•■) 

Mickey  Rooney 

COLUMBIA 

8 

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[~a]  Drama  2031 

Great  Plane  Rob- 

bery (53) 

Jack  Holt 

R — Dec.  14 

04  9 

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^ Outd’r  Dr.  8101 

Arizona  (128) 

Jean  Arthur 

R — Nov.  23 

HU  Western  8211 

Wildcat  of  Tuxcon 

(57)  Bill  Elliott 

[2]  Comedy  £205 

This  Thing  Called 

Love  (98) 

Melvyn  Douglas 

Rosalind  Russell 

R — Dec.  28 

3 

OB 

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[le]  Mys.  Dr.  2080 
Face  Behind  the 

Mask  (69) 

Peter  Lorre 

[~3~]  Melodrama 

Thie  Devil  Com- 

mands ( . . ) 

Boris  Karloff 

|~6]  Drama 

Adam  Hod  Four 
Sons  ( . . ) 

Warner  Baxter 

Ingrid  Bergman 

H5]  Western  2212 

Across  the  Sierra 

(58) 

Bill  Elliott 

HU  Drama 

Meet  Boston  Blackie 

(..) 

Chester  Morris 
Rochelle  Hudson 

[27]  Comedy 

Blondle  Goes  Latin 

(.  .) 

HU  Western  2205 
Outlaws  of  the  Pan- 
handle (59) 

Charles  Starrett 

DEC. 

7 

DEC. 

14 

DEC. 

21 

DEC. 

28 

JAN. 

4 

JAN. 

11 

JAN. 

18 

JAN. 

25 

FEB. 

1 

FEB. 

8 

FEB. 

15 

FEB. 

22 

MAR. 

1 

1 MAR. 

e 

Looking  Ahead  at  Forthcoming 
Pictures  Now  in  the  Making 


PRODUCTIOn  INDEX 


COMPANY 

TITLE 

TYPE 

STARS 

THUMBNAIL  SYNOPSIS  RELEASE  DATE 

COLUMBIA 

PENNY  SERENADE 

Drama 

Irene  Dunne 

Cary  Grant 

Beulah  Bondi 

A girl  marries  a penniless  reporter  in  Tokyo. 
Driven  to  San  Francisco  by  the  Japanese  earth- 
quake of  1923,  they  lose  their  baby,  then  find 
happiness  through  adopting  another.  George  Stev- 
ens, director. 

Not  Set 

THE  LONE  WOLF  TAKES 
A CHANCE 

Mystery 

Warren  William 
Henry  Wilcoxon 

J une  Storey 

Based  upon  the  stories  by  Louis  Joseph  Vance, 
this  finds  Warren  William,  as  the  Lone  Wolf,  com- 
ing out  of  retirement  again  to  aid  a lady  in  dis- 
tress. Sidney  Salkow,  director. 

Not  Set 

THEY  DARE  NOT  LOVE 

Drama 

George  Brent 

Martha  Scott 

Paul  Lukas 

Story  of  two  who  fall  in  love  in  modern,  Nazi- 
controlled  Vienna,  but  who  are  kept  apart  by  the 
Gestapo  because  they  are  suspected  of  anti-Nazi 
leanings.  James  Whale,  director. 

Not  Set 

A GIRL'S  BEST  FRIEND 
IS  WALL  STREET 

Comedy 

Franchot  Tone 

Joan  Bennett 

This  tells  of  a Wall  Street  telephone  operator 
who  plays  the  financial  and  matrimonial  game  all 
backward,  but  who  nevertheless  walks  off  with  a 
fortune  and  the  street’s  most  eligible  young 
broker.  Richard  Wallace,  director. 

Not  Set 

SENATE  PAGE  BOYS 

Drama 

Herbert  Marshall 
Virginia  Bruce 

Topical  story  concerning  a little-known  phase 
of  our  national  legislature,  and  the  influence  these 
page  boys  have  on  Congress  and  its  members. 
Director,  not  set. 

Not  Set 

THE  THREE  SCRATCHES  Mystery 

Ralph  Bellamy 
Margaret  Lindsay 
Charles  Grapewin 

Second  in  the  series  of  “Ellery  Queen”  detec- 
tive dramas,  with  Ralph  Bellamy  in  the  title 
role.  James  Hogan,  director. 

Not  Set 

HER  FIRST  BEAU 

Romance 

Jane  Withers 

Jackie  Cooper 

From  the  stage  play,  “June  Mad,”  this  deals 
with  young  love  in  the  springtime,  and  its  comic 
and  dramatic  developments.  J.  Theodore  Reed, 
director. 

Not  Set 

M-G-M 

THE  ZIEGFELD  GIRL 

Drama  with 
Music 

James  Stewart 

Judy  Garland 

Hedy  Lamarr 

Lana  Turner  portrays  one  of  the  Ziegfeld  girls 
and  the  picture  deals  with  her  career,  romances 
and  ultimate  fall  from  the  pinnacle.  Robert  Z. 
Leonard,  director. 

Not  Set 

BILLY  THE  KID 

Western 

Drama 

Robert  Taylor 

Brian  Donlevy 

Mary  Howard 

Re-make  of  a historical  western  tracing  the  life 
of  one  of  the  west's  most  notorious  gunmen. 
Frank  Borzage,  David  Miller,  directors. 

Not  Set 

ANDY  HARDY'S  PRI- 
VATE SECRETARY 

Comedy- 

Drama 

Mickey  Rooney 

Lewis  Stone 

Cecilia  Parker 

Newest  in  the  “Judge  Hardy”  series,  in  which 
Andy  goes  into  business  for  himself — with  ludi- 
crous results.  George  B.  Seitz,  director. 

Not  Set 

THE  TRIAL  OF  MARY 
DUGAN 

Melodrama 

Laraine  Day 

Robert  Young 
Marsha  Hunt 

On  trial  for  her  life,  Mary  Dugan  seems  doomed 
to  be  convicted  of  murder  until  her  lawyer- 
sweetheart  reveals  the  true  killer.  Norman  Z.  Mc- 
Leod, director. 

Feb.  28 

FREE  AND  EASY 

Comedy 

Robert  Cummings 
Rath  Hussey 
Reginald  Owen 

Sophisticated  comedy  concerning  the  life  and 
loves  of  playboys  and  playgirls  high  in  the  social 
scale.  Edward  Buzzell,  director. 

Not  Set 

ROOSTY 

Drama 

Lionel  Barrymore 
Edward  Arnold 

Gene  Reynolds 

Concerns  the  regeneration  of  a gangster  and  his 
boy  when  they  are  forced  to  hide  out  on  a small 
farm.  Harold  S.  Bucquet,  director. 

Not  Set 

LOVE  CRAZY 

Comedy 

William  Powell 
Myrna  Loy 

William  Powell  and  Myrna  Loy  portray  a 
scrapping  married  couple  who  go  to  the  divorce 
courts  over  absurd  quarrels,  and  reconcile  in  the 
nick  of  time.  Jack  Conway,  director. 

Not  Set 

A WOMAN'S  FACE 

Drama 

Joan  Crawford 
Melvyn  Douglas 
Conrad  Veidt 

A beautiful  woman’s  face  is  horribly  scarred  in 
an  accident.  Story  concerns  her  inward  mental 
battle  to  force  herself  to  go  out  and  meet  the 
world  again.  George  Cukor,  director. 

Not  Set 

DR.  JEKYLL  AND 

MR.  HYDE 

Drama 

Spencer  Tracy 

Ingrid  Bergman 

From  Robert  Louis  Stevenson’s  fantastic  story 
of  the  doctor,  respected  and  eminent,  who  dis- 
covers a concoction  whereby  he  turns  into  a lust- 
ful, murderous  beast.  Victor  Fleming,  director. 

Not  Set 

MONOGRAM 

AIR  DEVILS 

Aviation 

Drama 

David  Gorcey 

Joan  Barclay 

Another  in  the  “East  Side  Kids”  series  which 
finds  the  boys  working  in  an  aviation  plant  and 
becoming  heroes  by  thwarting  would-be  saboteurs. 
Joseph  Lewis,  director. 

Feb.  21 

PARAMOUNT 

ONE  NIGHT  IN  LISBON 

Drama 

Madeleine  Carroll 
Fred  MaeMurray 
Akim  Tamiroff 

This  has  Europe  at  war  as  its  background  and 
concerns  the  efforts  of  a group  of  Americans  to 
return  to  the  United  States  via  Clipper.  Edward 

H.  Griffith,  director. 

June  13 

CAUGHT  IN  THE  DRAFT  Comedy 

Bob  Hope 

Dorothy  Lamour 
Eddie  Bracken 

Topical  story  of  the  nation’s  conscription  pro- 
gram, which  traces  Bob  Hope’s  adventures  as  a 
draftee.  David  Butler,  director. 

May  30 

HOLD  BACK  THE  DAWN 

Drama 

Paulette  Goddard 
Charles  Boyer 

Story  with  a refugee  background,  concerning 
European  war  victims  attempting  to  find  haven 
in  America.  Mitchell  Leisen,  director. 

Not  Set 

SKYLARK 

Comedy 

Claudette  Colbert 

Ray  Mil  land 

Walter  Abel 

Based  on  the  stage  success  by  Samson  Raphael- 
son,  this  reunites  the  stars  of  “Arise  My  Love.” 
Mark  Sandrich,  director. 

Not  Set 

REPUBLIC 

BAD  MAN  FROM  RIO 

Western 

Don  Barry 

Virginia  Carroll 

El  Lobo,  a masked  rider,  thwarts  the  efforts  of  a 
grasping  villain  to  seize  the  property  of  the  niece 
of  a Mexican  hacendado.  George  Sherman,  director. 

Feb.  14 

BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


83 


COMPANY 

TITLE 

TYPE 

stars 

THUMBNAIL  SYNOPSIS  RELEASE  DATE 

REPUBLIC 

(Continued) 

PRAIRIE  PIONEERS 

Western 

Bob  Livingston 

Bob  Steele 

Rufe  Davis 

Latest  in  the  western  adventures  of  the  “Three 
Mesquiteers.”  Lester  Orlebeck,  director. 

Feb.  21 

CITADEL  OF  CRIME 

Drama 

John  Wa.vne 

Frances  Dee 

Edward  Ellis 

Concerns  gang-busting  activities  in  Kansas  City. 
John  H.  Auer,  director. 

Not  Set 

RKO  RADIO 

THEY  MET  IN 
ARGENTINA 

Musical 

James  Ellison 
Maureen  O’Hara 
Buddy  Ebsen 

South  America,  its  atmosphere  and  its  music, 
supply  the  background  for  this  extravaganza. 
Leslie  Goodwins,  Jack  Hively,  directors. 

Not  Set 

THE  DEVIL  AND 

MISS  JONES 

Comedy 

Jean  Arthur 

Robert  Cummings 
Charles  Cobum 

Jean  Arthur  portrays  a New  York  shop  girl 
whose  romantic  inclinations  plunge  her  into  plenty 
of  complications.  Sam  Wood,  director. 

Mar.  14 

SHOW  BUSINESS 

Comedy 

Alan  Mowbray 

Donald  McBride 

Elyse  Knox 

Two  stage  producers  with  a shoestring  bankroll 
pose  as  sailors  to  secure  financing  from  an  old 
lady  whose  first  and  only  love  was  a sailor. 
Gruing  Reis,  director. 

Mar.  21 

SUNNY 

Musical 

Anna  Neagle 

John  Carroll 

Ray  Bolger 

Adapted  from  the  famous  stage  musical  with 
a circus  background,  and  for  which  Jerome  Kern 
supplied  the  musical  score.  Herbert  Wilcox, 
director. 

Not  Set 

HANG  OUT  THE  MOON 

Musical 

Rosemary  Lane 

Dennis  O’Keefe 

A host  of  children  noted  for  their  dancing  and 
singing  ability  will  be  prominently  featured  in 
this  musical  in  addition  to  the  adult  leads.  Jack 
Hively,  director. 

Not  Set 

20TH-F0X 

THE  OUTLAW 

Historical 

Western 

Walter  Huston 
Thomas  Mitchell 

Jack  Beutel 

Concerns  the  career  of  that  notorious  bandit, 
Billy  the  Kid,  portrayed  herein  by  a new  screen 
discovery.  Jack  Beutel.  Howard  Hughes,  director. 

Mar.  21 

DEAD  MEN  TELL 

Mystery 

Sidney  Toler 

Sen  Yung: 

Sheila  Ryan 

Latest  in  the  sleuthing  adventures  of  the  peren- 
nial Oriental  detective,  Charlie  Chan.  Harry 

Lachman,  director. 

Mar.  28 

RIDE  ON,  VAQUERO 

Western 

Cesar  Romero 
Chris-Pin  Martin 

Lynn  Roberts 

The  Cisco  Kid,  in  the  person  of  Cesar  Romero, 
again  stumbles  into  romance  and  adventure  along 
the  border.  Herbert  J.  Leeds,  director. 

Apr.  18 

A VERY  YOUNG  LADY 

Comedy 

Jane  Withers 

Nancy  Kelly 

John  Sutton 

At  an  exclusive  school,  Jane  Withers  falls  in 
love  with  one  of  the  professors,  but  sacrifices  him 
when  she  learns  he  loves  one  of  the  other  teachers, 
Nancy  Kelly.  Harold  Schuster,  director. 

June  6 

BLOOD  AND  SAND 

Drama 

Tyrone  Power 

Linda  Darnell 

Laird  Cregar 

Drama  of  Mexican  bull-fighting,  with  Tyrone 
Power  essaying  the  role  once  brought  to  the  screen 
by  Rudolph  Valentino.  Rouben  Mamoulian,  di- 
rector. 

May  30 

MIAMI 

Musical 

Betty  Grable 

Jack  Haley 

Robert  Cummingrs 

The  famed  Florida  play  spot  is  the  locale  for 
this  extravaganza,  to  be  filmed  in  Technicolor. 
Walter  Lang,  director. 

Not  Set 

UNITED  ARTS. 

POT  O'  GOLD 

Musical 

James  Stewart 
Paillette  Goddard 
Horace  Heidt 

Adapted  from  the  radio  show  of  the  same  name, 
this  features  that  program’s  orchestra  leader, 
Horace  Heidt.  and  shows  what  occurs  to  the  win- 
ners of  a “pot  o’  gold.’’  George  Marshall,  director. 

Not  Set 

BROADWAY  LIMITED 

Drama 

Dennis  O’Keefe 

Victor  McLagrlen 

Patsy  Kelly 

Entire  action  of  this  drama  takes  place  aboard 
one  of  the  nation’s  crack  transcontinental  ex- 
presses. Gordon  Douglas,  director. 

Not  Set 

UNIVERSAL 

MODEL  WIFE 

Comedy 

Joan  Blondell 

Dick  Powell 

Lee  Bowman 

Domestic  entanglements  supply  the  motif,  with 
Lee  Bowman,  as  the  other  man,  almost  succeed- 
ing In  splitting  up  the  happy  home  of  Dick 
Powell  and  Joan  Blondell.  Leigh  Jason,  director. 

Mar.  14 

THE  FLAME  OF  NEW 
ORLEANS 

Drama 

Marlene  Dietrich 
Bruce  Cabot 

Roland  Young: 

Marlene  Dietrich  returns  to  her  glamorous 
“sultry”  roles  in  the  story  of  a southern  charmer 
and  her  romantic  adventures.  Rene  Clair,  director. 

Not  Set 

NICE  GIRL 

Romance 
with  Music 

Deanna  Durbin 
Franchot  Tone 

Robert  Stack 

Another  chapter  in  the  career  of  Deanna  Dur- 
bin, interspersed  with  musical  interludes,  and  in 
which  she  becomes  involved  in  a love  affair  with 
Franchot  Tone.  William  A.  Seiter,  director. 

Feb.  21 

THE  LADY  FROM 
CHEYENNE 

Western 

Loretta  Young: 

Robert  Preston 
Edward  Arnold 

A naive  schoolteacher  comes  to  Wyoming  in 
the  1880’s,  becomes  infuriated  at  the  crooked  ele- 
ment running  Cheyenne,  and  chases  the  gangsters 
out  of  town.  Frank  Lloyd,  director. 

Mar.  28 

MR.  DYNAMITE 

Melodrama 

Lloyd  Nolan 

Irene  Hervey 

J.  Carrol  Naish 

A world  series  pitcher,  involved  in  a murder 
when  he  hides  a beautiful  girl  accused  of  the 
killing,  turns  detective.  John  Rawlins,  director. 

Mar.  7 

WARNER 

MISS  WHEELWRIGHT 
DISCOVERS  AMERICA 

Comedy- 

Drama 

Jeffrey  Lynn 

Priscilla  Lane 

Ronald  Reagran 

Chronicles  the  adventures  of  a debutante  who, 
deprived  of  the  chance  of  acquiring  European 
culture  because  of  the  war,  learns  something 
of  her  own  country.  Curtis  Bernhardt,  director. 

Not  Set 

WINGED  VICTORY 

Drama 

Geraldine  Fitzgrerald 
James  Stephenson 
Donald  Crisp 

Action  is  laid  in  a sanitarium  in  Scotland 
wherein  mental  disorders  of  various  kinds  are 
treated.  Irving  Ropper,  director. 

Not  Set 

STRANGE  ALIBI 

Drama 

Arthur  Kennedy 

Joan  Perry 

Minor  Watson 

A detective-lieutenant  is  ostensibly  fired  from 
the  force  so  he  can  join  a gang  of  racketeers  and 
capture  them.  Ross  Lederman,  director. 

Not  Set 

AFFECTIONATELY 

YOURS 

Drama 

Merle  Oberon 

Dennis  Morgan 

Rita  Hayworth 

Ralph  Bellamy 

A foreign  correspondent  doesn’t  realize  how 
much  he  loves  his  wife  until  he  learns  she,  in 
America,  has  divorced  him.  Then  he  returns  to 
try  to  win  her  back,  pursued  by  a girl  who  loves 
him.  Lloyd  Bacon,  director. 

Not  Set 

THE  BRIDE  CAME 

C.  O.  D. 

Comedy 

Bette  Davis 

James  Cagney 

Stuart  Erwin 

A Texas  oil  king’s  spoiled  daughter  tries  to 
elope  with  an  orchestra  leader.  An  airplane  pilot, 
hired  by  her  father,  breaks  up  the  elopement  by 
kidnaping  her.  William  Keighley,  director. 

Not  Set 

84 


BOXOFFICE  ::  January  25,  1941 


The  Industry’s  Market  Plate  hr  Purchase 
or  Sale  of  Equipment,  Theatres,  Service 


CLEHRinG  HOUSE 


• Classified  Ads  10c  Per  Word,  Payable  in  Advance. 


Minimum  $1.00.  Display  Rates  on  Request. 


GENERAL  EQUIPMENT 

GRAB  THIS  ONE.  Pair  Motiograph 
De  Luxe  Projectors,  Peerless  Lamps,  Lar- 
gen  Sound,  double  channel  amplifier, 
lenses,  new  Da-Lite  screen.  Cash  price, 
no  trade,  $650.00.  WESTERN  THEATRE 
SUPPLY,  Omaha,  Neb. 

TREMENDOUS  SAVINGS.  Rear  shut- 
ters, heavy  duty  Powers  gates,  replace- 
ment parts,  lamphouses,  and  thousands  of 
other  items.  Write  us.  STAR  CINEMA 
SUPPLY  CO.,  440  W.  45th  St.,  New  York 
City. 


NEW  EQUIPMENT 

ONE  KILOWATT  ARCS  with  14"  re- 
flectors, $195.00;  medium  intensity, 
$129.50;  rear  shutters  for  Simplex,  $59.50; 
Western  Electric  soundscreens,  $37.50; 
Gyro  Stabilizer  soundheads,  $195.00;  Jen- 
sen Tweeters,  $14.95.  Theatre  completely 
equipped  cheap.  S.  O.  S.  CINEMA  SUP- 
PLY CORP.,  NEW  YORK. 

SENSATIONALLY  LOW  PRICES  NOW 
IN  EFFECT.  “LIGHTMASTER”  one-kilo- 
watt projection  arc  lamps.  Unmistakably 
better  snow-white  projection  light.  “DUO 
SOUNDMASTER”  sound  heads,  with  the 
stabilizing  gyrofilter,  no-shock  starting,  in- 
stant lateral  adjustment;  amplifiers  with 
copper  sulphide  DC  exciter  lamp  supply 
and  calibrated  volume  control;  two-way 
horn  systems.  Write  for  complete  cata- 
logue new  and  reconditioned  sound  and 
projection  equipment.  SCOTT-B  ALLAN  - 
TYNE  CO.,  222  No.  16th  St.,  Omaha,  Neb. 


USED  EQUIPMENT 

WORLD’S  Fair  Ticket  receptacles,  45" 
high,  worth  $50.00,  now  $6.95;  Soundheads, 
amplifiers,  $9.95;  sound  projectors,  $59.50; 
arcs,  rectifiers,  $24.50;  Powers  projectors, 
$39.50;  lenses,  $2.95.  S.  O.  S.,  636  Eleventh 
Avenue,  New  York. 

FOR  SALE — Pair  Superior  M.  Projectors, 
Synchrofilm,  Mazda  lamps,  Arctic  blower, 
chairs.  Quick  sale.  Five  hundred  dollars. 
John  Cinadr,  Moulton,  Texas. 

CLOSE  OUTS.  Generators,  Lamps,  Pow- 
ers, Motiographs,  Simplex,  Lenses,  Sound 
Equipment.  SACRIFICE  PRICES.  Steb- 
bins,  1804  Wyandotte,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

POWERS  PARTS;  film,  portable  pro- 
jectors; amplifiers;  seats.  F.  Shafer, 
Washington,  Ind. 


SEAT  RECOVERING 


ARTIFICIAL  LEATHER  MOLESKIN-- 
81c  per  yd.;  Sateen.  60c  yd.  Six  seats 
from  two  yards.  Samples  on  request. 
Commercialeather,  116  Merrimac  St.,  Bos- 
ton. 

SPECIAL  OFFER.  Artificial  Leather. 
Moleskin — 75  cents  yard;  Sateen — 55  cents 
yard.  Samples  on  request.  Manko-Fabrics 
Co.,  53  West  47th  St.,  New  York  City. 


AIR  CONDITIONING 

AIR  CONDITIONING  EQUIPMENT— 
Blowers,  Washers,  Reflectors,  Variable 
Speed  and  V-Pulleys.  SOUTHERN  AIR 
CONDITIONING  CO.,  145  Walton  St.,  N. 
W.,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

FILMS  FOR  SALE 

BUSSA  FILM  EXCHANGE  now  offer- 
ing outstanding  roadshow  attractions  for 
outright  sale.  35mm  sound.  Any  type  of 
picture  you  wish.  Low  prices.  On  sex, 
gangster,  action  pictures,  serials,  westerns. 
Uncle  Tom’s  Cabin  in  sound,  $350.00. 
Friendship,  Ohio. 


EQUIPMENT  WANTED 

WANTED  POWERS  6-B  base  only  (any 
condition,  head  optional).  Quote  price 
plus  condition.  B-1331,  Boxoffice,  4804 
E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

USED  SIMPLEX  COMPLETE.  Pair  syn- 
crofilm  soundheads.  Cash.  A.  McNeil,  244 
Temperance  St.,  New  Glasgow,  Nova  Scotia. 

25,000  C.F.M.  fan  with  pulleys  and  mo- 
tor. Wallins  Theatre,  Wallins  Creek,  Ky. 

WANTED— About  200  good  used  uphol- 
stered chairs.  RCA  or  Simplex  semi-port- 
able sound  projector  and  three  collapsible 
stands.  O.  C.  Johnson,  Rivoli,  Falls  City, 
Neb. 

USED  POWERS  sound  heads,  upper 
magazines,  6-B  frames.  Must  be  real  cheap. 
B-1330,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas 
City,  Mo. 

THEATRES  WANTED 

WANTED:  THEATRES  to  lease  out- 
right or  arrange  operating  agreement. 
Western  Pennsylvania  and  Eastern  Ohio. 
B-1322,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas 
City,  Mo. 

INDIVIDUAL  desires  to  lease  theatre  in 
Missouri  or  Kansas,  within  50  mile  radius 
of  Kansas  City.  State  size  of  house,  equip- 
ment, terms  and  full  particulars  in  first 
letter.  Box  1326,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th 
St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

BUY  OR  LEASE  Theatre.  Address:  Box 
265,  Chippewa  Falls,  Wisconsin. 

PAY  GOOD  PRICE  for  small  town  the- 
atre.  Buy  anywhere.  Delma  Crow,  Box  66, 
Imperial,  Nebraska. 

WANTED:  Small  Movie  Theatre.  Balti- 
more, Maryland  or  suburbs  section.  Ad- 
dress: B.  Grzanek,  426  N.  Milton  Ave., 
Baltimore,  Md. 

BUYT  OR  LEASE  theatre.  Small  town. 
Give  full  details.  With  net  profits.  No 
competition.  B-1328,  Boxoffice,  4804  E. 
9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


HELP  WANTED 

OPERATORS  AND  MANAGERS.  Movie 
circuits.  ROSHON,  State  Theatre  Bldg., 
Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

THEATRE  MANAGER  WANTED— Have 
splendid  opening  for  young  wide  awake 
live  wire  theatre  manager  not  afraid  of 
work  and  capable  of  delivering.  State  all 
in  first  letter.  If  can  do  art  work,  book- 
keeping or  lobby  work.  Advise  salary,  etc. 
B-1321,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas 
City,  Mo. 


POSITIONS  WANTED 

ARTIST-OPERATOR.  P.  O.  Box  1222, 
Anniston,  Alabama. 

CAPABLE  SHOWMAN  MANAGER— 
Eleven  years  thorough  experience  every 
phase,  circuit  and  independent  operation. 
Thirty,  family,  reliable,  prefer  south.  Cur- 
rently city  manager  three  houses.  B-1327, 
Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City, 
Mo. 


SALESMEN  WANTED 

WE  WANT  EXPERIENCED  SALES- 
MEN! Splendid  opportunity  to  make  good 
income  handling  Alexander  streamlined 
Coming  Attraction  PREVIEW  TRAILERS. 
Company  now  serving  thousands  of  inde- 
pendent and  chain  theatres.  Aggressive 
salesmen  will  be  given  good  territories. 
Write  to  R.  E.  Fulham,  Sales  Manager, 
Alexander  Preview  Company,  Colorado 
Springs,  Colorado. 


THEATRES  FOR  SALE 

TWO  THEATRES — Wisconsin  industrial 
city.  Fully  equipped.  Ten  year  lease. 
Drawing  population,  75,000.  Good  reason 
for  selling.  B-1316,  Boxoffice,  4804  E. 

9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

THEATRE  FOR  SALE  OR  RENT— 
Southeastern  South  Dakota.  600  seats. 

Population:  Twelve  Thousand.  Latest 

equipment.  B-1329,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th 
St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

THEATRE  IN  MISSISSIPPI— Now  op- 
erating as  all -colored.  Must  sell  imme- 
diately. Priced  reasonably.  B-1318,  Box- 
office,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


THEATRE  GAMES 

BINGO  CARDS 

$2.00  per  thousand.  Lots  of  ten  thou- 
sand or  over — 25%  discount.  Cash  with 
order.  Die  cut  numbered  1 to  100  or  1 to 
75.  S.  Klous,  Boxoffice,  9 Rockefeller 
Plaza,  New  York  City. 


ror  DUlLfi  •speciui  iiuneis 

L/'  TO  FILMACK  ! 

You'll  Benefit  By  It! 

FILM  A CK  TR  A I L E R C 0. 

837  So.  Wabash  Ave.  « Chicago,  I!!. 


BINGO  CARDS 

Rock  Bottom  Prices 
Box  No.  1276 

BOXOFFICE  MAGAZINE 
4804  E.  Ninth  St.  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


BOXOFFICE  : : January  25,  1941 


• Address  copy  to  BOXOFFICE,  4804  E.  Ninth  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 
Forms  close  Monday  noon  preceding:  publication  date. 


PREEMINENT 


ALL  three  Eastman  negative  films  make 
important  contributions  to  the  startling 
beauty  of  today’s  screen  productions.  Un- 
varying dependability  and  wide  latitude 
make  them  the  established  favorites  of 
critical  cameramen.  Eastman  Kodak 
Company,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

J.  E.  BRULATOUR,  INC.,  Distributors 

Fort  Lee  Chicago  Hollywood 


PLUS-X 

for  general  studio  use 


SUPER-XX 

when  little  light  is  available 


BACKGROUXD-X 


for  haehgrounds  and  general  exterior  work 


EASTMAN  NEGATIVE  FIEMS 


> 


i:  NATIONAL  EDITION 


58  ANTI-TRUST  SUITS  SEEK  $27,629,556  IN  DAMAGES,  MARKING  A NEW  HIGH  ...  NO 

ssWi«jBSF 


PUNITIVE  RELIEF  FOR  PAST  INJURIES  VIA  DECREE,  BUT  ARBITRATION  SEEN  PRO- 

■ 


"BOXOFFICE"  INTRODUCES  "THE  NEW 


VIDING  "QUICK  REMEDY"  BY  MYERS 


GLAMOUR  GIRL;"  SEE  PAGE  3 EDITORIAL  FOR  WORD  ON  WHO  AND  WHAT  SHE 


IS  . . . REVIEWS  THAT  REALLY  TELL  . . . "THE  REVIEW  DIGEST"  . . . "BOOKING  CHART" 


SOARING! 


Truly  the  Miracle  of  Show  Business!  Day  after  day  the  fact  becomes  more 
clearly  established  that  “GWTW”  at  popular  prices  on  its  second  round  is 
doing  business  that  would  be  phenomenal  for  any  other  picture’s  roadshowing! 
Let  the  experience  of  its  extended  runs  guide  you  in  your  own  booking! 

(Note:  By  the  time  these  lines  appear  there  will  be  further  extensions  of  current  runs  and  many  new  hold-overs.) 


HELD  OVER  3 WEEKS! 

Boston  • St.  Louis  • Buffalo  • Washington,  D.  C.  • Cleveland  • Pittsburgh  • Worcester  • Oklahoma  City 
Hartford  • New  Haven  • Bridgeport  • New  York. 


HELD  OVER  2 WEEKS! 

Baltimore  • New  Orleans  • Kansas  City  • Rochester  • Houston  • Toledo  • Columbus  • Atlanta  • Memphis 
Syracuse  • Richmond  • Nashville  • Springfield  • Tulsa  • Norfolk  • Reading  • Wilmington  • Canton  • Evansville  • Harrisburg 
Cincinnati  • Philadelphia  • Akron  • Providence  • Dayton  • Indianapolis  • ELEVEN  DAYS:  Boston  »Waterbury,  etc.,  etc. 


CAPITOL,  N.  Y. 
SENSATIONAL! 

Imagine!  The  first  12  days 
of  “GWTW”  at  the  Capitol 
at  popular  prices  attracted 
27,910  more  people  than  the 
first  12  days  of  its  record  run 
of  11  weeks  here  last  year! 


SETTING  FOR 
A DIAMOND! 

A tip-off  to  those  spots  which 
play  less  than  a week:  “When 
you  have  a diamond,  give 
it  the  proper  setting.”  Play 
“GWTW”  on  preferred  time. 
Clear  the  decks  for  extra  days ! 


PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

ASSOCIATED 

PUBLICATIONS 

BEN  SHLYEN 

Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor-in-Chief 

William  G.  Formby, 
Editor;  Jesse  Shlyen, 
Managing  Editor; 
Louis  Bydell,  Adver- 
tising Manager;  Mor- 
ris SCHLOZMAN,  Busi- 
n e s s Manager;  J. 
Harry  Toler,  Editor 
Modern  Theatre  Sec- 
tion; A.  J.  Stocker, 
Eastern  Represent- 
ative; Ivan  Spear, 
Western  Manager. 

Editorial  Offices : 9 

ROCKEFELLER  PLAZA,  NEW 

york  city;  Publication 
| Offices'.  4804  east  9th 

I ST.,  KANSAS  CITY,  MO.,- 

Hollywood : 6404  Hol- 
lywood blvd.;  Chi- 
f cago:  332  south  Mich- 
igan BLVD. 

FEBRUARY  15,  1941 
Vol.  38  No.  13 


The  New  Glamour  Girl 


"RADIO-TELEVISION  on  15  by  20  Foot 

* N Screen  Called  Epochal"  went  that  head- 
line two  weeks  ago.  It  was  not  designed  to 
frighten.  And  the  story,  definitely,  was  not 
blown  up  beyond  its  worth.  In  fact,  it  climaxed 
a series  of  yarns  which  BOXOFFICE  had  been 
reporting  in  the  last  few  weeks  based  on 
demonstrations  arriving  in  one  lump. 

The  first  startler  was  a coaxial  cable  en- 
terprise on  the  part  of  Columbia  Broadcasting 
System  to  show  how,  in  a handful  of  months, 
it  had  advanced  experimentations  in  full-color 
television  to  a point  where  whatever  wonder- 
ments may  have  prevailed  over  the  black  and 
white  kind  faded  into  complete  obscurity.  No 
doubt  you  may  have  read  the  occasion  then 
had  two  receiving  sets  flanking  each  other. 
Over  each  came  the  same  demonstration  and, 
while  the  small,  telecast  images  were  iden- 
tical, of  course,  the  similarity  in  eye  values 
ended  there.  The  difference  was  marked  to 
a degree  which  induced  the  impression,  if  not 
an  irrevocably  final  conclusion,  that  television 
in  black  and  white  might  be  outmoded  be- 
fore actually  getting  under  way. 

The  current  startler  deals  with  the  headline 
reference  at  the  top  of  the  column  and  a bit 
of  RCA  wizardry  which  picked  up  scenes  at 
Camp  Upton  sixty-eight  miles  from  New  York 
and  others  over  a 102-mile  circuit  and  tele- 
vised them  on  a theatre-size  screen.  The  sig- 
nificant point  here  is  that  television  through 
the  air  and  without  dependence  upon  coaxial 
cables,  or  wires  between  point  of  transmission 
and  point  of  reproduction,  is  a fact. 

This  briefest  sort  of  account  tends  to  reduce 
the  situation  to  a more  simple  statement  than 
the  facts  themselves  allow.  It  is  quite  essen- 
tial to  observe  all  television  continues  in  its 
experimental  stages;  that,  aside  from  technical 
developments  and  further  perfections,  there  is 
the  economic  side  which,  clearly  enough, 
means  ways  of  absorbing  investment  and  con- 
veying television  to  the  market  place. 

She  Bears  Watching 

TIME  was  when  activity  in  television  was 
surrounded  by  an  aura  of  mystery  and 
much  uncertainty.  No  one  quite  knew  what 
the  gain  was,  although  widespread  was  the 
general  realization  the  various  experiment- 
ing leaders  were  hard  at  it.  Even  now,  it  is 
difficult  to  know  exactly  whether  current 
progress,  coming  at  one  time,  merely  hap- 
pened that  way  or  was  designed  that  way  to 
indirectly  serve  notice  the  time  is  close. 


What  do  these  events  suggest  insofar  as  the 
film  industry  is  concerned?  They  might  sug- 
gest many  things.  It  seems  on  the  conserva- 
tive side  to  assume  television  will  excite  a 
vast  public  interest  if  and  when  the  invention 
can  become  a nation-wide  factor.  Whether 
this  will  be,  or  indeed  can  be,  in  terms  of 
one  program  televised  to  the  entire  country  or 
whether  in  terms  of  the  same  program  origi- 
nating simultaneously  in  a series  of  telecast- 
ing centers  is  an  engineering  problem,  not  one 
this  column  presumes  to  answer. 

No  matter  how  it  comes,  when  it  does,  like- 
wise does  it  seem  on  the  conservative  side  to 
predict  a powerful  competitive  attraction  for 
motion  pictures  is  on  the  way.  Casually  pre- 
vails the  vague  realization  here  is  something 
about  which  something  ought  to  be  done. 
Paramount  holds  an  interest  in  Dumont  and 
RKO  is  tied  structurally  to  RCA,  but  beyond 
that  this  entire  business  has  no  known  work- 
ing agreements  or  understandings  with  televi- 
sion groups,  nor  has  it  sought  any. 

It  became  painfully  apparent  this  is  a state 
of  affairs  requiring  attention,  not  the  frenzied 
attention  which  accompanied  the  onrush  of 
talking  pictures  after  they  had  arrived,  but 
a planned  and  plotted  attention  prior  to  the 
event  and  as  far  ahead  of  it  as  might  be  pos- 
sible and  feasible.  This  industry  was  taken 
for  one  beautiful  ride  in  assorted  sound-proof- 
ing mish-mosh  at  the  studios  and  on  inter- 
changeability, as  well  as  on  price,  in  theatre 
sound  reproducers;  it  could  very  easily  face 
an  identical  ride  in  television. 

Courtship  Time 

HOWEVER,  this  department,  to  its  honest 
discredit,  has  no  specific  proposals  to  ad- 
vance. It  has  no  idea  whatsoever  as  to  the 
willingness  or  otherwise  on  the  part  of  tele- 
vision interests  to  effect  an  arrangement  with 
the  film  business,  but  it  does  know  this  should 
not  rule  off  the  attempt. 

The  industry  has  the  talent  which  many  be- 
lieve television,  if  and  when,  will  need.  But, 
assuming  this  will  not  be  so,  there  remains 
an  important  function  for  those  in  this  busi- 
ness to  undertake  on  behalf  of  their  own 
interests. 

For,  if  television  is  not  here  now,  it  will  be 
and  in  order  would  appear  to  be  another 
courtship.  Film  may  not  win 
the  girl,  but  they  should  try. 

Television  may  grow  up  into 
one  helluva  glamour  girl. 


1C 


AFTER  $27,629,556,  NEW  HIGH, 
IN  TRUST  ACTIONS  VS.  MAJORS 

r,  - a 


Additional  Twenty  Cases 
Disposed  Of;  58  Now 
Pending  in  Courts 

New  York — A record  sum  of  $27,629,556 
damages  is  sought  from  major  distributors 
in  58  pending  anti-trust  suits.  This  is  ex- 
clusive of  20  cases  that  have  been  dis- 
posed of  and  which  sought  an  additional 
$1,637,750  damages  since  February,  1940. 

Of  the  58  cases  still  alive,  46  seek  mone- 
tary satisfaction,  some  with  coupled  de- 
mands for  injunctions  of  one  form  or 
other.  The  other  12  make  no  demands 
whatsoever  for  money,  seeking  injunctive 
relief  only.  The  list  includes  two  actions 
filed  last  month  and  represents  authori- 
tative information  up  to  and  including 
January  31,  1941. 

It  reveals  23  suits  were  filed  during 
1940,  as  compared  with  33  docketed  in  the 
preceding  12-month  period.  While  there 
was  a noticeable  reduction  in  private 
actions  last  year,  the  figure  is  still  well 
ahead  of  the  11  filed  in  1938.  The  gov- 
ernment, which  filed  three  regional  anti- 
trust actions  against  Schine,  Crescent  and 
Griffith  in  1939,  did  not  move  against 
any  circuits  last  year. 

Concerning  1940 

The  present  crop  compares  with  58 
suits,  seeking  $23,904,431  pending  in 
February,  1940.  This  was  exclusive  of  26 
cases,  seeking  $4,143,541,  that  were  dis- 
posed of  in  the  12-month  period  prior  to 
last  February.  Of  the  26  cases  settled, 
only  14  sought  monetary  damages. 

Of  the  pending  litigation,  the  govern- 
ment’s New  York  equity  action  still  open 
against  Columbia,  UA  and  Universal  is 
probably  the  most  important  from  an  in- 
dustry point  of  view.  The  same  undoubt- 
edly also  is  true  of  the  department  of 
justice  suits  against  Schine,  Crescent  and 
Griffith,  although  settlements  are  being 
attempted  in  two  cases,  with  Crescent  not 
yet  being  reached. 

Big  Claim  by  Momand 

The  most  important  private  action  pend- 
ing, if  only  from  a monetary  consideration, 
is  that  of  A.  B.  Momand  of  Shawnee, 
Okla.,  which  in  three  separate  petitions, 
the  earliest  dating  from  June,  1937,  seeks 
damages  aggregating  $9,636,631. 

Of  the  cases  disposed  of  in  the  past 
year,  the  government’s  criminal  contempt 
proceedings  against  Balaban  & Katz  in 
Chicago  and  Fox  West  Coast  in  Califor- 
nia, claiming  violations  of  consent  decrees 
were  outstanding.  Runner  up  was  af- 
firmation of  a decision  in  favor  of  the 
majors  in  the  significant  Westway  case 
in  Baltimore,  involving  clearance. 

From  a standpoint  of  money  involved, 
dismissal  of  the  $876,600  suit  brought  in 
Indianapolis  by  Apollo  against  Warner  and 
the  other  majors  last  June  ranks  first. 
Other  settlements  affected  during  the 
year,  either  for  want  of  prosecution,  dis- 


At  a Glance 

New  York — The  anti-trust  suit  picture, 
nationwide  and  in  boildown: 

As  of  February,  1939,  pending  were  36 
actions  seeking  $23,366,081  in  damages. 
This  was  exclusive  of  11  suits  seeking 
$4,263,224  disposed  of  variously  in  one 
year  up  to  that  time. 

As  of  February,  1940,  pending  were  58 
actions  seeking  $23,904,431.  This  was  ex- 
clusive of  26  suits  seeking  $4,143,541  dis- 
posed of  variously  in  one  year  up  to  that 
date. 

As  of  February,  1941,  pending  were  58 
suits  seeking  $27,629,556,  or  an  all-time 
money  high.  This  too,  was  exclusive  of 
20  actions  seeking  $1,637,750  disposed  of 
variously  in  one  year  up  to  that  time. 

V5—  ■ V 

missal  by  the  courts,  monetary  consid- 
eration or  compromise  of  demands,  include: 

Earl  Whittaker  against  Vitagraph,  four 
other  majors  and  competitive  operators 
in  Utah;  New  Haymarket  against  B&K  in 
Chicago;  Peck  against  Paramount  in  Geor- 
gia; Linden  against  Vitagraph  in  Mary- 
land; K-M-K  against  Miller  in  Chicago; 
Odom  against  Paramount  in  Atlanta; 
Rosewood  against  Silverman  in  Chicago; 
Byers  against  Murphy  in  Roanoke;  Com- 
monwealth against  Colonial  in  Boston; 
Smith  against  M-G-M  in  Georgia;  Git- 
tone  against  Warner  in  Philadelphia; 
Aetna  Amusement  against  Maine  & New 
Hampshire  in  Boston;  William  and  Elsie 
Haas  Littlejohn  against  C.  E.  Huish  in 
Salt  Lake  City;  Schwartz  & Myers  against 
20th  Century-Fox,  Frankfort,  Ky.;  Pollard 
against  Maine  and  New  Hampshire  in  Bos- 
ton. 


Hollywood — Unofficial  spokesmen  for 
Columbia  regard  it  as  very  unlikely  any 
effort  will  be  made  to  re-edit  “This  Thing 
Called  Love”  in  an  effort  to  have  the  film 
removed  from  the  “C,”  or  “condemned” 
classification  imposed  upon  it  by  the  Na- 
tional Legion  of  Decency.  This  viewpoint 
traces  to  the  fact  the  picture  has  played 
widely  in  key  runs  and  is  heavily  sold. 


Music  Hall  Opening  on 
Schedule,  Sans  Change 

New  York — Despite  pressure  presumably 
focalizing  from  sources  affiliated  with,  or 
close  to,  the  National  Legion  of  Decency 
in  Brooklyn,  “This  Thing  Called  Love” 
opened  on  schedule  at  the  Music  Hall, 
Thursday. 

Columbia  has  on  hand  a number  of  let- 
ters from  various  organizations,  the  com- 
munications having  been  mailed  from 


One  Plaintiff  Alone  Asks 
$9,636,631;  Five  Are 
Settled  in  Texas 

Defense  attorneys  have  filed  briefs  in 
the  Gary,  Ind.,  action,  which  may  take 
this  case  off  the  calendar. 

Five  cases  against  Interstate  Circuit  in 
Texas  were  disposed  of  during  the  year. 
These  are  not  included  in  the  survey  be- 
cause, while  the  distributors  were  named 
as  conspirators  with  the  defendant,  they 
were  not  named  parties  defendant.  The 
action  brought  by  Dunbar  for  $54,443  and 
$5,000  attorney’s  fees  was  settled;  the 
complaint  filed  by  Paul  Scott  seeking  dam- 
ages of  $315,000,  plus  an  injunction,  was 
to  be  reached  for  trial  about  March,  1940, 
but  was  settled  before  trial;  the  suit  filed 
by  H.  N.  Jorgensen  for  $35,556  was  tried 
last  month,  resulting  in  a judgment  of  $1,- 
500  treble  damages  for  the  plaintiff,  and 
defendants  will  move  to  set  aside  the  ver- 
dict; the  Kirchheimer  action  for  $16,344 
was  settled  last  month,  and  the  R.  Z.  Glass 
action  for  $68,443  was  also  tried  last  month 
resulting  in  a verdict  for  the  defendants. 

Of  the  cases  instituted  in  the  past  12 
months,  that  filed  in  Los  Angeles  by  Cri- 
terion against  the  MPPDA  and  other  de- 
fendants for  $1,500,000  damages  ranks  top- 
most from  a monetary  viewpoint.  The 
eight  majors  as  well  as  Will  H.  Hays, 
Joseph  I.  Breen  and  Samuel  Goldwyn  are 
named.  It  is  noteworthy  that  a practice 
seldom  pursued  in  the  filing  of  anti-trust 
cases  in  the  past — the  naming  of  the 
MPPDA  as  co-defendants — has  taken  on 
new  life.  Of  the  suits  started  since  Janu- 
( Continued  on  page  12) 


Brooklyn  and  registering  their  protests  in 
what  is  understood  to  be  an  identical  vein 
which  suggests  they  are  following  a gen- 
eral line  of  predetermined  attack. 

When  the  Legion  first  saw  “This  Thing 
Called  Love,”  it  placed  it  in  the  “B”  group, 
or  suitable  for  adults.  It  is  understood 
that,  when  the  attraction  began  to  play 
first  run  around  the  country,  a number  of 
Catholic  priest's  filed  protest  with  the 
Legion,  this,  in  turn,  leading  to  a second 
review  and  the  current  “C”  grouping. 

Meanwhile,  the  film  has  completed  ap- 
proximately 40  key  city  engagements  and 
now  reaches  its  New  York  first  run  late  be- 
cause of  prior  picture  commitments  at 
the  Hall.  Columbia  points  out  all  state 
censor  boards,  including  New  York,  Ohio, 
Pennsylvania,  Virginia,  Kansas  and  Mary- 
land passed  the  film  without  deletions,  that 
(Continued  on  page  13) 


Changes  in  "This  Thing”  Not 
Likely,  Despite  Legion  Ban 


4 


BOXOFFICE  February  15,  1941 


The  splendid  informative  and  interesting  editorial  content  of  BAROMETER  makes 
it  a "desk"  and  not  a "bookshelf"  publication.  It  has  a year-through,  almost  daily 
utility  value  to  our  entire  circulation  in  every  branch  of  the  industry.  It  is  the 
only  annual  publication  issued  by  a tradepaper — local  or  national — which  cov- 
ers the  field,  being  the  only  annual  publication  reaching  the  entire  industry  and 
paralleling  BOXOFFICE's  wide  circulation. 

Not  only  does  BAROMETER  do  a thorough  job  of  coverage  on  product  for  the 
past  year,  but  also  on  the  physical  phase  of  the  theatre — inside  and  out.  Besides 
there's  a very  good  look  into  what  is  coming  for  the  year  ahead. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


BIGGER,  and  BETTER  THIN  EVER 

Out  Next  Week 


5 


PUNITIVE  DAMAGES  ON  OLD  ILLS 
OUT  UNDER  DECREE,  SAYS  MYERS 


Rates  Clearance  Clause 
Decree's  Most  Vital; 
Criticism  Is  Mild 

By  LEONARD  WEISBERG 
New  York — “The  decree  offers  nothing 
to  the  exhibitor  who  is  looking  for  puni- 
tive damages  for  past  injuries.  He  still  has 
his  right  of  action  under  the  Sherman  act. 
But  to  the  exhibitor  seeking  a quick  and 
specific  remedy,  arbitration  under  the  de- 
cree may  fill  the  bill.” 

This  is  but  one  of  many  observations 
made  by  Abram  F.  Myers,  Allied’s  general 
counsel,  over  the  decree,  arbitration,  the 
Sherman  act  and  phases  of  trade  prac- 
tices affected  by  each  in  an  article  en- 
titled: “Arbitration  and  the  Independent 
Exhibitor,”  appearing  in  Arbitration  Jour- 
nal, published  by  the  American  Arbitration 
Ass’n. 

Others  who  are  represented  with  articles 
in  the  publication  are  James  V.  Hayes, 
who  was  considered  the  decree  expert  by 
the  government  in  drawing  up  the  docu- 
ment’s provisions;  Austin  C.  Keough,  Para- 
mount’s general  counsel,  and  Paul  F.  War- 
burg, chairman  of  the  AAA’s  administra- 
tive committee. 

Clearance  "Most  Important" 

Myers  states  the  most  important  of  all 
remedies  provided  by  the  decree  is  that 
against  unreasonable  clearance.  However, 
he  sees  this  factor  and  all  others  de- 
signed to  revert  to  the  benefit  of  the  in- 
dependent exhibitor  as  depending  in  large 
measure  “on  whether  the  tribunals  func- 
tion quickly  and  cheaply.  Unless  hearings 
on  proceedings  under  Sections  IV,  VII  and 


ft  - - ft 

Sees  Return  of  Good 
Sans  Former  "Abuse" 

New  York — In  the  article  he  contributes 
to  "Arbitration  Journal,"  Abram  F.  My- 
ers, Allied's  general  counsel,  known  for 
a subtle  wit,  buries  this  dandy:  “The 
Sherman  Law  giveth  as  surely  as  it 
taketh  away." 

But  immediately  preceding  this  line, 
Myers  is  serious,  and  offers  this:  "Sec- 
tion XX  of  the  rules  of  arbitration  wisely 
provides  for  submission  to  the  tribunals 
controversies  between  exhibitors  and 
distributors  other  than  those  arising  out 
of  the  decree  itself.  This  opens  the  way 
for  the  restoration  of  commercial  arbi- 
tration in  the  motion  picture  business 
with  ample  safeguards  against  a return 
of  the  abuses  which  discredited  the  for- 
mer (compulsory  arbitration)  system. 

"It  is  to  be  expected  that  the  dis- 
tributors will  hereafter  include  in  their 
licenses  an  optional  clause  which  will 
make  use  of  the  arbitration  machinery 
established  by  the  decree.  If  so,  I hope 
the  exhibitors  will  sign  it." 

VS  ■ J 


How  Clerks  Were  Chosen 


New  York — For  the  first  time,  Paul  Warburg,  chairman  of  the  AAA  adminis- 
trative committee,  reveals  the  manner  in  which  the  organization  selected  arbiters 
for  the  31  key  city  tribunal  panels.  He  explains  the  process  in  the  "Arbitration 
Journal,"  as  follows: 

“First  of  all,  we  are  giving  priority  to  men  who  have  served  as  honor  men 
on  our  national  and  special  panels  for  many  years.  When  men  are  chosen  who 
are  not  on  our  panel,  they  must  be  sponsored  by  at  least  two  business  organiza- 
tions in  their  locality — all  of  which  must  agree  upon  the  nominee  according  to 
the  qualifications  we  prescribe  and  send  them. 

"But  no  matter  from  what  source  men  are  drawn  for  the  panel,  we  require 
the  following  information:  age,  citizenship,  education,  honors  and  positions;  busi- 
ness experience,  public  or  non-prgfit  making  positions  held  or  services  rendered; 
law  school  and  date  of  graduation,  bar  association  membership  and  field  of 
practice;  whether  nominee  has  or  has  had  any  connection  with  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry;  his  previous  experience  as  an  arbitrator,  other  data  which  has  a 
bearing  upon  a nominee's  qualifications;  and  lastly,  references  from  at  least  two 
organizations  acceptable  to  the  administration." 


IX  can  be  disposed  of  quickly,  they  will 
be  of  absolutely  no  benefit  to  exhibitors. 
Delay  of  even  a few  weeks  would  amount 
to  a denial  of  justice.  And  unless  the  costs 
can  be  kept  within  reasonable  bounds,  ex- 
hibitors will  not  be  able  to  arbitrate  at 
all.” 

The  Allied  counsel  states  “there  is  rea- 
son to  believe  distributors  would  rather 
see  the  system  succeed  than  to  see  it 
fail.”  He  then  discusses  the  “main  rem- 
edy” sought  by  the  government  in  its 
original  petition — theatre  divorcement — 
which  the  decree  postpones  for  three  years. 

“Upon  the  conduct  of  the  consenting 
defendants  during  the  trial  period,  as  evi- 
denced by  the  records  of  the  arbitration 
tribunals,  depends  the  ultimate  decision  of 
the  attorney  general  whether  to  stand  on 
the  decree  as  entered  or  to  proceed  with 
the  demand  for  the  divestiture  of  thea- 
tres,” Myers  asserts. 

“The  more  cases  filed  and  the  more 
awards  entered  against  distributors,  the 
worse  will  the  record  appear,”  he  adds. 
“Taking  a broad  view,  it  is  decidedly  to 
the  advantage  of  the  distributors  to  settle 
as  many  claims  as  possible  before  pro- 
ceedings are  begun.  If,  at  the  end  of  three 
years,  it  should  appear  that  no  cases  have 
been  filed  and  no  awards  have  been  made, 
there  would  be  no  record  on  which  the 
attorney  general  could  apply  to  the  court 
for  further  relief.” 

Characterizing  the  decree  as  “reasonable 
and  mild — perhaps  too  mild,”  Myers  con- 
tends many  of  its  provisions  are  compli- 
cated and  technical. 

“They  are  surrounded  by  safeguards  de- 
signed to  protect  the  distributors  and  the 
theatre  circuits  in  the  enjoyment  of  their 
lawful  rights  as  distinguished  from  their 
monopolistic  privileges.  Resort  to  inter- 
pretation will  be  necessary  to  ascertain  the 
true  meaning  of  many  of  these  provisions. 
In  clearance  cases,  arbitrators  will  require 
extrinsic  aid  in  determining  what  is  rea- 
sonable and  what  is  unreasonable. 

“The  purpose  of  the  decree  to  remedy 
conditions  graphically  depicted  in  the  gov- 
ernment’s complaint  shines  through  every 
line  of  its  verbiage,”  Myers  continues.  “Ar- 


bitrators both  on  the  local  tribunals  and 
on  the  appeal  board  in  interpreting  and 
applying  the  decree  will  give  full  scope  to 
its  remedial  purpose,  it  will  be  liberally 
construed  in  favor  of  independent  ex- 
hibitors.” 

Discussing  the  effects  of  some  of  the 
awards  which  arbitration  tribunals  may 
make,  Myers  includes  these: 

(1)  If  an  exhibitor  has  had  unwanted 
features  or  shorts  forced  on  him,  the  ar- 
bitration tribunal  may  cancel  the  exhibi- 
tor’s license  so  far  as  the  unwanted  prod- 
uct is  concerned. 

(2)  If  an  exhibitor  has  been  denied  a 
run  of  pictures,  and  he  can  qualify  under 
conditions  of  the  decree,  the  tribunal  may 
order  the  distributor  to  offer  its  pictures 
to  the  complaining  exhibitor. 

(3)  If  a distributor  has  sold  its  product 
away  from  an  independent  exhibitor  and 
to  a circuit  theatre,  and  the  independent 
can  qualify  under  the  decree,  the  tribunal 
can  pit  the  two  contending  theatres 
against  each  other  in  bargaining  for  film 
without  regard  to  circuit  buying  power.  If, 
in  the  latter  case,  its  award  is  not  obeyed 
in  good  faith,  the  tribunal  may  award 
compensatory  damages  to  the  independent 
exhibitor. 

Myers  regards  the  following  as  among 
“unique  features”  of  the  arbitration  sys- 
tem: 

(1)  The  decree  provides  for  the  insti- 
tution of  arbitration  proceedings  by  dis- 
tributors against  exhibitors. 

(2)  Although  exhibitors  stand  to  gain 
by  the  awards,  actually  the  proceedings 
have  for  their  main  purpose  the  enforce- 
ment of  a decree  entered  in  a suit  by  the 
government  under  a public  statute. 

(3)  Controversies  can  be  arbitrated 
which  could  not  be  the  subjects  of  civil 
actions  at  law;  not,  at  least,  without  al- 
legations and  proof  of  combination  and 
conspiracy,  which  will  be  unnecessary  in 
proceedings  under  the  decree. 

(4)  The  arbitration  tribunals  are 
charged  with  the  duty  of  deciding  certain 
controversies  on  abstract  principles  of 

(Continued  rn  page  13) 


6 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


^ the  parade  of  youth 


Take  it  from  a cagey 
bi rd . . . turn  the  page ! 


I 


s 


SUSA  jONtS  w‘n9‘n9  anc^  sing'ng  their  way  the  length 

and  ALLAN  Qncj  breadth  of  the  country  in  one  of  the 

greatest  personal  appearance  tours  ever  planned... covering  40 
* key  cities.  Broadcasts. ..civic  celebrations. ..concerts. ..interviews. ..reams 
and  reams  of  publicity  ...  all  to  make  all  America  beat  a path  to  your  box  office! 

BUT  THAT’S  NOT  ALL!  SUSANNA  FOSTER  and  ALLAN  JONES 

climax  their  thrilling  tour  with  personal  appearances  together  on  the... 

f/fllTN  HCURr  Friday,  Feb.  21,  8 to  9 P.M.,  E.S.T.  over 
* the  111  stations  of  the  Columbia  Broadcasting 

System.  This  tremendous  broadcast  will  be  plugged  by 
Kate  Smith  for  an  entire  week  on  her  daytime  broadcasts. 


That’s  how  Paramount  builds  audiences ... 
and  pre-sells  them  for  your  box  office! 


SUSANNA  FOSTER'S  TOUR 


ALLAN  JONES9  TOUR 


"i-- 


Washington  Tribunal 
Gets  First  Plaint 

Baltimore— Declaring  the  Durk.ee  house, 
the  Ambassador,  is  not  entitled  to  a seven- 
day  clearance  over  his  Walbrook  here, 
Thomas  D.  Goldberg  of  the  Walbrook  & 
Hartford  theatres  has  filed  the  first  com- 
plaint before  an  arbitration  tribunal.  The 
demand  was  filed  with  the  Washington 
board  February  7 and  will  most  likely  be 
heard  the  first  week  in  March. 

Over  a number  of  years,  according  to 
Goldberg,  the  Walbrook  has  participated 
in  a 21 -day  subsequent  clearance  following 
first  run,  together  with  similar  houses  in 
their  respective  zones.  The  Forest,  two 
miles  from  the  Walbrook,  and  owned  by 
Durkee  interests,  also  operated  on  the  same 
setup.  Not  far  distant  the  Gwynn  was 
taken  over  by  Durkee  from  an  independent 
some  time  ago. 

As  soon  as  Durkee  built  the  Ambassador, 
an  “A”  house,  a demand  for  seven  days’ 
clearance  over  the  Walbrook  was  made  of 
all  distributors.  M-G-M  and  Paramount 
declined  to  accede  to  the  demands,  accord- 
ing to  Goldberg,  these  companies  purport- 
edly basing  their  decision  on  precedent  of 
dealing  with  the  Walbrook  over  a score  of 
years. 

It  is  said  Durkee  asked  for  the  clearance 
because  of  the  Walbrook’s  admission  scale 
of  10-25-40  cents,  while  the  Ambassador 
had  a 30-cent  evening  admission.  The  40 
cent  price  for  the  Walbrook  applied  only 
for  loges. 

Durkee  has  played  M-G-M  and  Para- 
mount “A”  films  in  the  Forest,  a 25-cent 
house. 

Early  this  month,  Durkee  booked  “Com- 
rade X”  at  the  Ambassador  on  practically 
a day-and-date  run  with  the  Walbrook. 
This  was  followed  with  “Northwest  Pass- 
age” the  following  week,  on  the  same  setup. 
“Flight  Command”  has  been  dated  into  the 
Walbrook  for  February  23-25  and  for 
February  23-26  at  the  Ambassador. 

Goldberg  has  also  bought  20th-Fox  and 
Warner,  signatories  to  the  decree,  in  addi- 
tion to  other  product.  He  did  not  buy  RKO, 
the  fifth  decree  company.  And  since  he  is 
enjoying  a virtual  day-and-date  policy 
with  the  Ambassador  and  Forest  on 
M-G-M  and  Paramount  product,  the  com- 
plaint filed  is  against  20th-Fox  and  War- 
ner which  are  reported  to  be  giving  Durkee 
the  clearance  he  demanded. 

Another  feature  to  be  discussed  at  the 
arbitration  proceeding  is  the  20th-Fox 
franchise  with  Durkee.  It  does  not  expire 
until  1942. 

In  talking  about  the  case,  Goldberg 
emphasizes  the  friendly  relationship  which 
has  existed  between  him  and  M-G-M  and 
Paramount.  He  also  points  out  his  theatre 
is  two  miles  from  the  Ambassador,  yet  the 
Pimlico  and  Avalon  are  about  a mile  away 
in  another  direction  but  do  not  figure  in 
the  clearance  angle. 

Currently  being  built  opposite  the  Wal- 
brook by  Goldberg  is  the  Hilton,  which  is 
expected  to  be  ready  soon. 


“Pal  Joey"  to  Columbia 

New  York — Columbia  has  bought  the 
film  rights  to  John  O’Hara’s  stage  play, 
“Pal  Joey.”  George  Abbott,  who  produced, 
will  make  the  film. 


— Bachrach 

First  Over  the  Line — 


So  far  as  is  known,  the  first  complaint 
lodged  under  the  arbitration  section  of 
the  consent  decree  was  filed  by  Thomas 
D.  Goldberg,  an  oldtime  fire-eater  in 
exhibitor  organizations  and  represent- 
ing the  Walbrook  Amusement  Corp., 
operating  the  Walbrook  and  Hartford 
theatres,  Baltimore.  Filed  with  the 
Washington  tribunal,  the  complaint 
concerns  clearance. 

Indep'l  Supply  Men 
In  Goodwill  Move 

Chicago — P.  S.  Guss  of  Intermountain 
Theatre  Supply  Co.  has  been  named  chair- 
man of  a committee  set  up  by  members  of 
Theatre  Equipment  Dealers  Protective 
Ass’n  to  foster  goodwill  and  ethics  between 
manufacturers  and  dealers.  The  annual 
convention  was  held  at  the  Congress.  Ar- 
thur Theil  of  the  middle  west  and  John 
Philbert  of  the  coast  also  are  on  the  com- 
mittee. 

The  consensus  among  the  independent 
dealers  is  that  there  is  more  activity  in 
new  building  in  the  middle  west  and  the 
south  than  ever  before. 

Manufacturers  who  spoke  to  the  group 
present  assured  a steady  supply  of  equip- 
ment, barring  emergencies  brought  about 
by  the  national  defense  program,  and 
urged  all  dealers  to  stack  up  on  supplies 
to  obviate  shortages  which  might  crop  up 
if  the  defense  program  seriously  cuts  into 
production. 

The  next  meeting  is  slated  for  June,  the 
city  yet  to  be  decided.  Harry  Graham  of 
Denver  presided  as  acting  chairman.  The 
only  officer  named,  Graham  was  elected 
executive  secretary. 

Among  the  speakers  were  E.  A.  Williford 
of  National  Carbon,  William  Gedris  of 
Ideal  Seating,  Fred  Matthews  of  Motio- 
graph  and  Oscar  Neu  of  Neumade  Prod- 
ucts. The  meeting,  instead  of  lasting  three 
days,  continued  to  a fourth. 


Schenck  Is  Called 
Loew's  "Churchill" 

New  York — One  of  the  greatest  tributes 
ever  paid  a film  executive  was  the  descrip- 
tion given  Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  president 
of  Loew’s  and  M-G-M,  by  David  Warfield 
at  the  company’s  stockholder’s  meeting 
when  he  referred  to  Schenck  as  “The 
‘Churchill’  of  our  company.” 

Warfield,  who  owns  a big  block  of  stock 
and  is  a director,  was  sitting  in  the  audi- 
ence listening  to  a minority  stockholder 
heap  praise  on  Schenck.  He  waited  until 
the  stockholder  finished  and  without  ris- 
ing shouted  across  the  room,  “Mr.  Schenck 
is  the  Churchill  of  our  company.” 

Warfield  was  applauded,  following  which 
J.  Robert  Rubin,  chairman  of  the  meeting, 
introduced  him  and  alluded  to  the  fact  he 
was  the  star  of  “The  Music  Master.”  The 
former  stage  star  then  became  the  idol  of 
most  of  the  stockholders  who  later  rushed 
to  shake  his  hands,  and  compliment  him. 

One  stockholder,  who  declined  to  give 
his  name,  started  the  ball  rolling  when 
he  got  up  and  out  of  a clear  sky  began, 
“In  no  small  measure  the  leadership  of  Mr. 
Schenck  is  what  keeps  Loew’s  out  in  front. 
There  is  none  other  as  capable  or  as  quali- 
fied.” This  was  seconded  by  Rubin,  who 
said,  “He  is  very  able.  His  leadership  is 
more  essential  in  these  times.” 

Going  further,  Rubin  added,  “Everything 
I own  is  invested  in  the  company  and  I am 
heartily  in  sympathy  with  your  senti- 
ments.” 

Joseph  Pulvermacher,  an  attorney  who 
said  he  represented  a substantial  amount 
of  stock,  then  took  the  floor.  “We  are  very 
fortunate  to  have  the  type  of  leadership  we 
have  in  our  organization.”  He  then  re- 
flected on  the  past  10  years  when  times 
were  not  so  good  but  the  company  con- 
tinued to  pay  dividends  regularly. 

George  N.  Armsby,  a director  and  stock- 
holder, was  of  the  opinion,  and  so  ex- 
pressed himself,  that  he  would  like  to  see 
Schenck  continue  on  the  job  for  life  rather 
than  for  another  five  years. 

Schenck’s  new  five-year  contract  was 
voted  by  an  overwhelming  majority.  All  di- 
rectors were  continued  for  another  year. 
Officers  were  elected  the  afternoon  fol- 
lowing the  stockholders’  session. 

Asked  for  a picture  on  the  outlook,  Ru- 
bin asserted  “It  is  very  encouraging.  South 
American  business  is  improving  and  we  are 
hopeful  everything  will  be  good  in  the  next 
year.” 

(,  = 

3.000,000  See  'GWTW' 

In  New  York  Area 

New  York — At  M-G-M  where  statistics 
frequently  reach  the  stratosphere,  or  the 
sub  layer  of  it  anyway,  they  have  figured 
out  that  “Gone  With  the  Wind”  by  Tues- 
day had  been  seen  by  3,000,000  people 
in  the  New  York  area  alone.  The  word 
came  in  connection  with  decision  to  hold 
the  film  for  a fourth  week  at  the  Capitol 
which  it  did  on  Thursday.  Manager  Her- 
man Landwehr  stated  350,000  had  caught 
the  attraction  at  his  theatre  thus  far. 
That  is,  at  regular  prices. 

VI-  ■ >) 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


9 


Associated  Publications 


Editorial  Offices:  9 Rockefeller  Plaza,  New 
York  City.  Louis  Rydell,  Advertising  Man- 
ager. Wm.  Ornstein,  Eastern  Editor.  Tele- 
phone Columbus  5-6370,  5-6371,  5-6372.  Cable 
address:  "BOXOFFICE.  New  York.” 

Western  Offices:  6404  Hollywood  Blvd.,  Hol- 
wood,  Calif.  Ivan  Spear,  Manager.  Tele- 
phone Gladstone  1186. 

Publication  Offices:  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kan- 
sas City,  Mo.  Morris  Schlozman.  Business 
Manager.  Telephone  Chestnut  7777. 

Other  Associated  Publications:  BOXOFFICE 
BAROMETER.  BOXOFFICE  RECORDS, 
BOXOFFICE  PICTURE  GUIDE,  published 
annually;  THE  MODERN  THEATRE,  pub- 
lished monthly  as  a section  of  BOXOFFICE. 

ALBANY— 21-23  Walter  Ave..  M.  Berrigan. 
ATLANTA — 183  Walton  St.,  Helen  Hardy. 
JAckson  5331. 

BOSTON — 14  Piedmont  St.,  Brad  Angier, 
Libe-rty  9305. 

BUFFALO — Buffalo  Theatre,  G.  C.  Maurer. 
CHARLOTTE — 216  W.  4th,  Pauline  Griffith. 
CHICAGO — 332  S.  Michigan  Blvd.,  Hal 
Tate.  Wabash  4575. 

CINCINNATI — 127  Tremont  St.,  Ft.  Thomas, 
Ky.,  Clara  Hyde.  Highland  1667. 
CLEVELAND — 12805  Cedar  Road,  Cleveland 
Heights,  Elsie  Loeb.  Fairmount  0046. 
DALLAS- — 408  S.  Harwood,  V.  W.  Crisp, 
Southwestern  editor.  Telephone  7-3553. 
DENVER — 319  S.  Clarkson  St.,  J.  A.  Rose. 

Telephone  Spruce  0318. 

DES  MOINES — The  Colonade,  Rene  Clayton. 
DETROIT — 424  Book  Bldg.,  H.  F.  Reves. 

Telephone  Cadillac  9085. 

HOLLYWOOD — 6404  Hollywood  Bvd.,  Ivan 
Spear,  Western  editor.  GLadstone  1186. 
INDIANAPOLIS — 42  West  11th  St.,  Kol- 
man  Hirschman. 

KANSAS  CITY — 4804  East  Ninth  St.,  Jesse 
Shlyen,  Midwest  editor.  CHestnut  7777. 
LITTLE  ROCK — P.  O.  Box  253,  Lynn  Hub- 
bard. 3-0156. 

MEMPHIS — 399  So.  2nd  St.,  Carolyne  Miller. 
MILWAUKEE — 210  East  Michigan  St.,  H. 

C.  Brunner.  Kilbourn  6670-J. 
MINNEAPOLIS — Essex  Bldg.,  Maurice  Wolff. 
NEW  HAVEN — 42  Church  St.,  Suite  915, 
Gertrude  Pearson.  6-4149. 

NEW  ORLEANS — 1136  Behrman  Ave.,  J.  W. 
Leigh 

NEW  YORK  CITY — 9 Rockefeller  Plaza, 
William  Ornstein,  Eastern  editor. 
OKLAHOMA  CITY — Box  4547.  E.  W.  Fair. 
OMAHA — 5640  Woolworth.  Monte  Davis. 
PHILADELPHIA — 426  Pine  St.,  Joseph 
Shaltz.  WALnut  0860. 

PITTSBURGH — 1701  Blvd.  of  the  Allies,  R. 

F.  Klingensmith.  ATlantic  4858. 
PORTLAND.  ORE. — 925  N.  W.  19th  St., 
Harold  Donner.  Broadway  0136. 

ST.  LOUIS — 5149  Rosa  Ave.,  David  F.  Bar- 
rett. Flanders  3727. 

SALT  LAKE  CITY — 167  South  State  St., 
Viola  B.  Hutton.  WAsatch  165. 

SAN  FRANCISCO — 1095  Market  St.,  A1 
Scott.  Market  6580. 

SEATTLE — 2418  Second  Ave.,  Joe  Cooper. 
Seneca  2460. 

WASHINGTON — 1426' G St.,  Earle  A.  Dyer. 
IN  CANADA 

CALGARY — The  Albertan,  Wm.  Campbell. 
HAMILTON — 20  Holton,  N„  Hugh  Millar. 
LONDON— 97  Adelaide  St.,  S.,  John  Gore. 
MONTREAL — 4330  Wilson  Ave.,  N.  D.  G„ 
Roy  Carmichael.  Walnut  5519. 

REGINA — The  Leader-Post.  Bruce  Peacock. 
ST.  JOHN — 161  Princess  St.  D.  Fetherston. 
TORONTO — 242  Millwood.  Milton  Galbraith. 
VANCOUVER— 615  Hastings.,  C.  P.  Rutty. 
VICTORIA — 434  Quebec  St.,  Tom  Merriman. 
WINNIPEG — 709  Selkirk  Ave.,  Ben  Lepkln. 


Expect  10,000  Theatres 
To  Play  Defense  Shorts 


New  York — Ten  thousand  theatres  are 
expected  to  join  hands  in  the  industry’s 
move  to  cooperate  on  national  defense 
through  trailers  and  shorts  which  will 
reach  them  without  rental.  Certificates  of 
cooperation  to  a total  of  between  5,000  and 
7,500  already  are  reported  by  Harry 
Brandt,  chairman  of  a special  subcommit- 
tee, to  the  theatre  division  of  which 
Joseph  Bernhard  of  Warner  is  chairman 
and  E.  V.  Richards  of  Saenger  Theatres, 
co-chairman.  Working  with  them  are  A. 
H.  Blank,  Des  Moines;  Si  H.  Fabian,  Al- 
bany; John  H.  Harris,  Pittsburgh;  Ed 
Kuykendall,  MPTOA;  Sam  E.  Morris,  New 
York;  Charles  C.  Moskowitz,  New  York; 
John  J.  O’Connor,  New  York;  R.  J.  O'Don- 
nell, Dallas;  Spyros  Skouras,  New  York; 
Robert  B.  Wilby,  Atlanta,  and  Nathan 
Yamins,  Fall  River,  Mass. 

In  transit  are  12  one-minute  trailers 
made  by  the  war  department  to  stimulate 
recruiting.  They  will  be  released  three  at 
a clip  at  three-week  intervals  through  a 
series  of  clearing  houses,  based  on  ex- 
change centers,  which  have  been  set  up  by 
William  A.  Scully,  chairman  of  the  dis- 
tributors’ division  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Committee  Cooperating  for  National  De- 
fense. George  J.  Schaefer,  RKO  president, 
is  chairman  of  the  national  coordinating 
committee  and  Francis  S.  Harmon,  of  the 


Hays  organization,  is  coordinator.  Three 
hundred  prints  of  each  trailer  have  been 
struck  off.  By  titles,  the  series  embraces: 

“The  Infantry,”  “The  Air  Corps,”  “The 
Armored  Force,”  “The  Coast  Artillery,” 
“Flying  Cadets,  No,  1,”  “Flying  Cadets, 
No.  2,”  “Flying  Cadets,  No.  3,”  “The  Field 
Artillery,”  “Oversea  Commands,”  “The 
Signal  Corps,”  “The  Medical  Department” 
and  “The  Quartermaster  Corps.”  Addition- 
ally and  thus  far,  at  least,  “Power  for  De- 
fense,” a 10-minute  short,  is  also  avail- 
able. It  was  made  by  the  National  Defense 
Advisory  Commission  and  narrates  the 
story  of  the  use  of  TVA  power  for  defense 
industries  in  the  southeastern  portion  of 
the  country. 

National  Film  Carriers,  Inc.,  with  ap- 
proval of  the  Interstate  Commerce  Com- 
mission, has  volunteered  to  handle  ship- 
ments of  these  and  other  films  sponsored 
by  the  committee  without  charge.  Special 
red,  white  and  blue  labels,  carrying  the 
shield  of  the  committee,  are  being  for- 
warded to  exchanges  to  be  affixed  to  all 
shipments. 

Scully’s  distribution  committee  includes 
Neil  F.  Agnew,  Paramount;  George  Dem- 
bow,  National  Screen  Service;  Ned  E. 
Depinet,  RKO;  William  F.  Rodgers,  Loew’s; 
Gradwell  L.  Sears,  Warner,  and  Herman 
Wobber,  20th  Century-Fox. 


(r 


Film  Outposts  on  Nat’l  Defense 

New  York— William  A.  Scully,  chairman  of  the  distributors’  division  of  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  Committee  Cooperating  for  National  Defense,  has  divided  the  nation  into 
six  districts.  In  each  exchange  area,  one  distributor  has  been  designated  as  the  clear- 
ing house  for  national  defense  films.  Here  they  are: 


City — 


Clearing  House 


Address 


Albany  

Atlanta  

Boston  

Buffalo  

Charlotte  

Chicago  

Cincinnati  

Cleveland  

Dallas 

Denver  

Detroit  

Des  Moines  

Indianapolis  

Kansas  City  

Los  Angeles  

Memphis  

Milwaukee  

Minneapolis  

New  Haven  

New  Orleans  ... 

New  York  

Oklahoma  City 

Omaha  

Philadelphia  ... 

Pittsburgh  

Portland,  Ore. 

St.  Louis  

Salt  Lake  City. 
San  Francisco 

Seattle  

Washington  .... 


Columbia  

Paramount 

Columbia 

United  Artists 

United  Artists 

Paramount 

Universal 

United  Artists 

RKO 

,20th  Century-Fox. 

.Loew’s 

.Columbia 

.Universal 

,20th  Century-Fox.. 
,20th  Century-Fox.. 

.Loew’s 

,20th  Century-Fox. 

.Universal 

.Vitagraph 

. Paramount 

.Loew’s 

.RKO 

.Columbia 

.Vitagraph 

.Vitagraph 

.Paramount 

.Vitagraph 

.Loew’s 

.RKO 

.RKO 

.Universal 


1050  Broadway 

154  Walton  St..  N.  W. 

57  Church  St. 

505  Pearl  St. 

224  West  Second  St. 

1306  S.  Michigan  Ave. 

1634  Central  Parkway 

10.017  Lake  Ave. 

402  S.  Harwood  St. 

2101  Champa  St. 

2310  Cass  Ave. 

1003  High  St. 

326  N.  Illinois  St. 

1720  Wyandotte  St. 

2019  S.  Vermont  Ave. 

502  S.  Second  St. 

1016  North  8th  St. 

1019  Currie  Ave.,  N. 

134  Meadow  St. 

215  S.  Liberty  St. 

630  9th  Ave. 

706  W.  Grand  Ave. 

1516  Davenport  St. 

1225  Vine  St. 

1623  Blvd.  of  the  Allies 

909  N.  W.  19th  St. 

3304  Olive  St. 

123  S.  Second  East  St. 

251  Hyde  St. 

1216  Second  Ave. 

.913  New  Jersey  Ave.,  N.  W. 


Vi: 


4 


10 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


Nj 


L'J-'ii  - i 


JAMES  CAGNEY 


THE  STRAWBERRY  BLONDE 
with  Rita  Hayworth  and 
LAN  HALE  • JACK  CARSON 
GEORGE  TOBIAS 

ien  Play  by  Julius  J.  and  Philip  G.  Epstei 
From  a Play  by  James  Hagan 

Directed  by  RAOUL  WALSH 


$27,629,556  New  High 
In  Anti-Trust  Suits 

(Continued  from  page  4) 
ary,  1940,  the  Hays  office  is  named  in 
three;  the  Criterion  case  above,  that  of 
Netcong  against  Warner  and  seven  other 
majors  in  New  Jersey,  and  another  of  Wes- 
tor  against  Warner  and  the  other  majors, 
also  in  New  Jersey. 

In  addition  to  the  three  actions  named 
in  the  preceding  paragraph,  the  following 
were  commenced  since  January,  1940: 

Shapiro  against  Warner  for  damages  of  $225,000 
and  injunction,  in  Philadelphia.  Co-defendants  are 
the  seven  majors. 

Waldo  Theatre  Corp.  against  Dondis  for  dam- 
ages of  $250,000  and  injunction,  in  Maine.  Co- 
defendants are  seven  majors,  excepting  Columbia. 

Loew’s  Drive-In  against  20th  Century-Fox  for 
damages  of  $450,000,  in  Boston.  Co-defendants  are 
M-G-M,  Paramount  and  Warner. 

Governor  Ritchie  Theatres  against  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox for  damages  of  $225,000,  in  Boston.  Co- 
defendants are  M-G-M,  Paramount  and  Warner. 

Miami  Drive-In  against  20th  Century-Fox  for 
damages  of  $450,000,  in  Boston.  Co-defendants 
are  Paramount  and  Warner. 

Lynn  Open  Air  Theatre  against  20th  Century-Fox 
for  damages  of  $450,000,  in  Boston.  Co-defendants 
are  M-G-M,  Paramount  and  Warner. 

E.  M.  Loew’s  against  20th  Century-Fox  for 
damages  of  $120,000,  in  Boston.  Co-defendants  are 
the  seven  majors,  the  Massachusetts  Amusement 
Corp.,  Massachusetts  Operating  Co.,  and  Middlesex 
Theatres. 

Mount  Vernon  Theatre  Corp.  against  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox for  damages  of  $150,000,  in  Boston.  Co- 
defendants are  M-G-M,  Paramount  and  Warner. 

Miami  Drive-In  against  Loew's  for  damages  of 
$450,000,  in  Boston.  Co-defendants  are  Columbia, 
M-G-M,  RKO,  UA  and  Warner. 

Winchester  Theatre  Co.  against  20th  Century- 
Fox  for  damages  of  $300,000,  in  Boston.  Co-defend- 
ants are  the  seven  majors,  the  Massachusetts 
Amusement  Corp.,  Massachusetts  Operating  Co., 
and  Middlesex  Theatres. 

Hollingsworth  against  Fox  Beatrice  Theatre 
Corp.  for  damages  of  $234,300,  in  Lincoln.  Neb.  Co- 
defendants are  the  majors  excepting  Columbia 
and  Warner  and  Republic  Pictures  of  Midwest. 

Courter  against  Warner  for  damages  of  $574,200, 
in  Trenton,  N.  J.  Co-defendants  are  the  seven 
majors. 

M-F-S  Corp.  against  Warner  for  damages  of 
$330,000,  in  Philadelphia.  Co-defendants  are  the 
seven  majors. 

Battin  against  Cocalis  Amusement  Co.  for  dam- 
ages of  $450,000,  in  Trenton.  Co-defendants  are 
the  eight  majors,  William  A.  Scully,  James  J. 
Thompson  and  Evangelos  Hardaloupas,  individu- 
ally and  as  executors  and  trustees  under  the 
last  will  and  testament  of  Soterias  D.  Cocalis, 
deceased,  and  Munroe  Stein. 

Cassil  against  Paramount  for  damages  of  $452,- 
775,  in  St.  Joseph,  Mo.  Co-defendants  are  Charles 
G.  Geiger,  Barney  Dubinsky,  Irwin  Dubinsky,  Ed- 
ward Dubinsky  also  known  as  Edward  Durwood, 
William  ' Dubinsky,  and  Kansas  City  Operating  Co. 

Johnson  and  Hartman  against  Minnesota  Amuse- 
ment Co.  for  damages  of  $523,500,  in  Sioux  Falls, 
S.  D.  Co-defendants  are  the  eight  majors,  Wel- 
worth  Theatres,  Monogram  Pictures  of  Minnesota, 
E.  R.  Ruben.  S.  W.  Fitch,  C.  B.  Stiff,  F.  C. 
Myers,  and  Republic  Pictures  Corp.  of  Minne- 
apolis. 

Bridges  against  Interstate  for  damages  of  $300.- 
000,  in  Dallas.  Co-defendants  are  the  majors,  ex- 
cept UA  and  Universal. 

Hennepin  against  Paramount  for  damages  of 
$30,000,  in  Minnesota.  Co-defendants  are  the  seven 
majors,  Minnesota  Amusement  Co.,  and  American 
Amusement  Co. 

Orange  Theatre  Corp.  against  Rayherstz  Amuse- 
ment Co.  for  damages  of  $450,000,  in  Trenton.  Co- 
defendants are  the  eight  majors,  David  Weinstock, 
Benjamin  Weinstock,  J.  Joshua  Goldberg,  Emanuai 
Hertzig  and  Harry  Brandt. 

Block  and  Sork  against  Warner  for  damages  of 
$62,700  and  injunction,  in  Philadelphia.  Co-defend- 
ants are  the  e’ght  majors,  except  M-G-M,  Repub- 
lic; Jay  Emanuel,  East  Reading  Theatre  Co.,  Ra- 
jah Theatre  Co.,  Wilmer  & Vincent,  David  D. 
Brodstein,  George  Lessey,  and  Comerford-Publix 
Theatres  Corp. 

Milton  against  Warner  for  damages  of  $378,000 
and  injunction,  in  Philadelphia.  Co-defendants  are 
the  eight  majors,  except  Columbia  and  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox. 

The  only  action  brought  within  the  year 
in  which  there  is  no  demand  for  monetary 


Zukor  Industry  Chairman 
For  Greek  War  Relief 


New  York — Adolph  Zukor,  functioning 
for  several  weeks  in  that  capacity,  now 
emerges  officially  as  chairman  of  the 
amusement  division  of  the  Greek  War 
Relief  Ass’n.  Offices  have  been  estab- 
lished in  the  Paramount  Bldg. 

On  his  advisory  committee  are  Will  H. 
Hays,  Sidney  R.  Kent,  Joseph  Bernhard, 
W.  G.  Van  Schmus,  Martin  Quigley  and 
Sam  H.  Harris.  Gradwell  L.  Sears  is 
chairman  of  the  distributors’  division  and 
John  H.  Harris,  Pittsburgh,  chairman  of 
the  exhibitors’  committee.  The  nation  has 
been  cut  up  into  a dozen  zones  of  which 
prominent  theatremen  are  local  chairmen. 

This  list  includes  Arch  B.  Bowles,  Fox 
West  Coast,  San  Francisco;  John  J.  Friedl, 
Minnesota  Amusements,  Minneapolis; 
Harry  M.  Kalmine,  Warner  theatres, 
Pittsburgh;  M.  A.  Lightman,  Malco  Thea- 
tres, Memphis;  Martin  J.  Mullin,  M.  & P. 
Theatres,  Boston;  Robert  J.  O’Donnell, 
Interstate,  Dallas;  E.  C.  Rhoden,  Fox 
Midwest,  Kansas  City;  E.  V.  Richards, 
Saenger  Theatres,  New  Orleans;  Rick 
Ricketson,  Fox  Intermountain,  Denver; 
Jules  J.  Rubens,  Great  States  Theatres, 
Chicago;  Joseph  R.  Vogel,  Loew’s,  New 
York,  and  Robert  B.  Wilby,  Valatenga 
Theatres,  Atlanta. 

Organizational  Committee 

Additionally,  there  will  be  a committee 
representing  exhibitor  organizations  com- 
posed of  Harry  Brandt,  H.  A.  Cole,  E.  L. 
Kuykendall,  Abram  F.  Myers,  M.  A.  Ro- 
senberg, W.  A.  Steffes  and  Nathan  Yamins. 

Leslie  E.  Thompson,  who  has  handled 
the  Will  Rogers  drives  and  for  two  years 
hand-running  handled  the  industry’s  Red 
Cross  drive,  will  be  chairman  of  this  one, 
and  A.  P.  Waxman,  its  director.  Assist- 
ing them  will  be  Jack  Connolly,  Leonard 
Goldenson,  Paramount,  and  George  P. 
Skouras,  Skouras  theatres. 

The  drive  runs  from  March  25  to  30. 


damages  is  that  of  the  River  Theatre  Corp. 
against  Skouras  in  New  York.  The  plaintiff 
seeks  only  an  injunction. 

The  following  actions,  still  pending,  were 
instituted  before  January,  1940,  and  all 
seek  monetary  damages: 

Rivoli  Theatre  Co.  against  UA  for  damages  of 


Many  Suits  Settled; 
58  Actions  Pending 


$262,950,  in  Tampa,  Fla.  Co-defendants  are  Co- 
lumbia, RKO,  Warner,  Casino  Enterprises,  Con- 
solidated Theatres  and  Frank  Rogers.  The  suit, 
the  oldest  on  record,  was  filed  October  7.  1932. 

Colcata  Corp.  against  Moore  for  damages  of  $1,- 
200,000  and  $25,000  attorney’s  fees,  in  Los  Angeles. 
Co-defendants  are  William  H.  Moore  jr.,  Charles  C. 
Irwin  and  Charles  P.  Skouras  as  trustees  in  bank- 
ruptcy for  Fox  West  Coast,  Spyros  Skouras  and 
Charles  P.  Skouras  as  Skouras  Bros.  The  original 
action  was  commenced  June  25,  1935,  with  an 

amended  complaint  filed  February  22,  1939. 

A.  & W.  Amusement  Co.  against  Paramount  for 
damages  of  $100,000,  in  Boston.  Co-defendants  are 
the  seven  majors  and  RKO-Rhode  Island  Corp. 

Elite  Amusement  Enterprises  against  Paramount 
for  damages  of  $100,000,  in  Boston.  Co-defendants 
are  the  seven  majors. 

Fidel  Amusement  Co.  against  Paramount  for 
damages  of  $100,000,  in  Boston.  Co-defendants  are 
the  seven  majors. 

Nashua  Theatres  against  Colonial  for  damages 
of  $100,000,  in  Boston.  Co-defendants  are  the 
eight  majors. 

Standard  Amusements  against  Paramount  for 
damages  of  $100,000,  in  Boston.  Co-defendants  are 
the  seven  majors. 

The  last  five  cases,  namely,  A.  & W.,  Elite, 
Fidel,  Nashua  and  Standard,  were  heard  before  a 
special  master  on  May  18,  1940.  Decisions  are 

pending. 

Loretta  L.  Momand  against  Paramount.  The 
plaintiff  is  from  Shawnee,  Okla.,  but  brought  the 
action,  which  is  for  treble  damages  although  the 
amount  is  not  stated,  in  Boston.  It  names  all 
majors  as  defendants. 

A.  B.  Momand,  also  of  Shawnee,  against  Uni- 
versal for  damages  of  $3,000,000.  Action  filed  in 
Boston  and  names  all  majors  except  Paramount. 

Quemos  Theatre  Co.  against  Warner  for  dam- 
ages of  $3,525,000,  in  Trenton.  Co-defendants  are 
the  seven  majors,  Grand  National  Films,  Edward 
Peskay,  Skouras  Theatres  Corp.  and  Fox  Theatres 
Corp. 

A.  B.  Momand  against  20th  Century-Fox  for 
damages  of  $1,676,119,  in  Oklahoma  City.  Co- 
defendants are  the  seven  majors,  excepting  Para- 
mount. 

A.  B.  Momand  against  Griffith  for  damages  of 
$4,960,512  in,  Oklahoma  City.  Co-defendants  are 
Paramount,  Warner,  Consolidated  Amusement  Co., 
Consolidated  Theatres,  Regal  Theatres,  Pathe  Ex- 
change and  Educational  Film  Exchange. 

LaCrosse  Theatres  against  Paramount  for  dam- 
ages of  $1,050,000,  in  Wisconsin.  Co-defendants  are 
20th  Century-Fox,  UA,  Welworth  Theatres  of 
Wisconsin,  Minnesota  Amusement  Co.,  and  Ed 
Rubin. 

Savannah  Theatre  Co.  against  Lucas  & Jenkins 
for  damages  of  $654,000,  in  Atlanta.  Co-defendants 
are  the  eight  majors. 

Gorham  against  Kurson  for  damages  of  $100,000, 
in  Vermont.  Co-defendants  are  the  eight  majors. 

Millinocket  against  Kurson  for  damages  of  $100,- 
000  and  injunction,  in  Maine.  Co-defendants  are 
the  eight  majors  and  the  Graphic  Circuit. 

Millett  against  Kurson  for  damages  of  $100,- 
000  and  injunction,  in  Maine.  Co-defendants  are 
Columbia,  RKO,  UA,  Warner  and  the  Graphic 
Circuit. 

Folley  against  Randforce  for  damages  of  $750,- 
000,  in  New  York.  Co-defendants  are  the  eight 
majors,  Monogram  and  Republic. 

Tegu’s  Palace  against  Interstate  for  damages  of 
$125,000,  in  Vermont.  Co-defendants  are  the  eight 
majors,  excepting  RKO  and  20th  Century-Fox, 
Rockingham  Operating  Co.  and  Graves  Theatres. 

United  Exhibitors  against  20th  Century-Fox  for 
damages  of  $425,000,  and  injunction,  in  Pittsburgh. 
Co-defendants  are  the  seven  majors,  Monogram, 
Republic,  Erie  Amusement  Corp.,  Colonial  Amuse- 
ment Co.  and  a large  number  of  individual  ex- 
hibitors. 

Harrison  Bros,  against  Warner  for  damages  of 
$210,000  and  injunction,  in  Philadelphia.  Co-de- 
fendants are  the  seven  majors. 

The  following  cases,  also  instituted  be- 
fore January,  1940,  seek  only  injunctions  or 
restraining  orders,  making  no  demands  for 
monetary  damages: 

Gary  Theatre  Co.  against  Columbia,  in  Chicago. 
Co-defendants  are  the  seven  majors.  Decision  on 
appeal  is  pending. 

Adelphi  against  Paramount,  in  Chicago.  Co-de- 
fendants are  the  eight  majors,  B&K,  Walter  Im- 
merman,  Abe  Kaufman  and  Joe  Kaufman. 

Ford  against  Paramount,  in  Chicago.  Co-defend- 
ants are  the  eight  majors,  excepting  M-G-M,  B&K, 
S.  C.  M.  Theatres  and  Sam  C.  Meyers. 

The  government’s  actions  against  Griffith. 
Schine  and  Crescent. 

Graves  against  Warner,  in  Philadelphia.  Co- 
defendants are  the  eight  majors,  excepting  20th 
Century-Fox  and  Columbia,  and  the  Warner  Circuit. 

Goldberg  against  Tri-States  Theatres,  in  Omaha, 
Neb.  Co-defendants  are  the  eight  majors. 

395  Amusement  Corp.  against  Randforce,  in 
New  York.  Co-defendants  are  all  majors,  excepting 
Columbia,  M-G-M  and  RKO,  and  William  Yost. 


12 


BOXOFFICE 


February  15,  1941 


Damages  for  Old  Ills 
"Ouf"  Under  Decree 

(Continued  from  page  6) 
“reasonableness,”  with  no  fixed  standards 
to  guide  them, 

(5)  A complaining  exhibitor  may  be 
awarded  a run,  or  be  given  a reduction 
in  clearance,  at  the  expense  of  another 
exhibitor,  without  joining  the  latter  as  a 
party;  although,  of  course,  the  affected 
exhibitor  may  intervene. 

The  article  presented  by  Hayes  is  a 
compilation  of  excerpts  from  his  opening 
statement  before  Federal  Judge  Henry  W. 
Goddard  at  the  time  the  proposed  decree 
was  presented  to  the  court  and  which  has 
previously  been  reported  by  Boxoffice. 
The  highlight  of  his  statement,  it  is  re- 
called, was  his  assertion  that  “the  ap- 
proach on  the  part  of  the  defendants  fil- 
ing the  consent  and  on  the  part  of  the 
government,  was  an  endeavor  to  meet, 
through  the  terms  of  the  decree,  a solu- 
tion of  the  alleged  evils  and  the  alleged 
abuses  in  the  industry,  without  resorting 
to  the  very  drastic  remedy  of  divorce- 
ment.” 

Still  May  Sue 

Keough  devotes  the  bulk  of  his  article 
to  a review  of  the  various  sections  of  the 
decree  and  the  part  the  AAA  will  play 
in  administering  arbitration.  He  makes 
the  point  at  the  outset  that  the  decree 
gives  exhibitors  certain  privileges  not 
otherwise  provided  by  law;  namely,  the 
settlement  of  disputes  arising  under  the 
document.  “However,”  he  states,  “the 
decree  does  not  take  away  an  exhibitor’s 
right  to  sue  where  he  believes  he  has 
been  injured  either  by  a violation  of  law, 
breach  of  contract  or  other  alleged  wrong.” 

Observing  exhibitors  generally  are  op- 
posed to  trade  showings  and  groups  of 
five  selling  sections  of  the  decree  on  the 
ground  the  new  selling  system  will  im- 
pose hardships  in  time  consumed  and  costs 
increased  that  will  outweigh  any  good  that 
can  possibly  come  from  it,  Keough  asserts; 
“It  is  to  be  hoped  they  are  mistaken. 
In  any  event,  the  decree  can  be  amended 
if  the  experiment  does  not  prove  the  new 
system  a good  thing  for  all  concerned.” 

The  Paramount  counsel,  after  offering 
numerous  “considerations”  that  played  a 
part  among  the  consenting  distributors  in 
promulgating  the  rules  of  arbitration,  con- 
cludes with  this: 

Imposes  New  Rules 

“To  the  extent  that  the  decree  imposes 
obligations  voluntarily  undertaken  by  the 
distributors,  it  imposes  upon  them  new 
rules  of  trade  conduct.  It  does  not  go  be- 
yond this.  It  does  not  make  new'  law.  It 
does  not  empower  the  arbitrators  to  es- 
tablish additional  trade  practices  or  put 
additional  restraints  or  limitations  upon 
either  the  distributors  who  consented  to 
the  decree  or  exhibitors  who  arbitrate 
under  it.  Economic  and  social  theories  are 
not  to  be  legislated  into  existence  by  ar- 
bitration.” 

The  AAA’s  views  of  how  it  is  going  to 
administer  “the  most  comprehensive  sys- 
tem of  arbitration  ever  set  up  in  this 
country  for  a single  industrial  group”  is 
the  subject  of  Warburg’s  article. 

“We  want  to  use  the  first  year  to  find 
out  whether  arbitration  is  a system  which 


Or  ~ 

Top  Hits  oi  the  Week 

As  culled  from  the  first  run  re- 
ports in  the  sectional  editions  of 
Boxoffice.  Average  is  100  per  cent. 


Gone  With  the  Wind — 

Dallas  285 

Indianapolis  250 

Cleveland,  New  Orleans 20J 

Philadelphia  185 

Back  Street — 

Washington  175 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith — 

New  Orleans  175 

Philadelphia  Story — 

Washington  175 

Second  Chorus — 

New  Orleans  175 

This  Thing  Called  Love — 

Cleveland  175 

vi  9 


" Liberty " in  54  Dates 
Draws  450,000  Persons 

New  York — The  first  54  engagements  of 
“Land  of  Liberty”  have  played  to  approxi- 
mately 450,000  persons.  Figures  indicate 
the  film  is  doing  “good  25  per  cent  busi- 
ness,” according  to  an  M-G-M  spokesman. 


Lead  in  UA  Drive 

New  York — Charles  Stern,  Jack  Gold- 
har  and  Bert  Stearn,  district  managers, 
are  up  front  in  the  UA  standings  after 
one  month  of  the  Arthur  W.  Kelly  drive. 


business  groups  can  afford  to  install  and 
to  run  practically  as  a method  of  self- 
regulation and  as  an  integral  part  of  their 
business  mechanism,”  is  the  way  he  puts 
it. 

No  bottlenecks  in  settling  disputes  will 
be  allowed  to  arise,  he  states,  “for  cases 
will  be  put  on  the  calendar  and  settled 
with  the  greatest  possible  speed  so  no 
hardships  will  result  either  to  distributor 
or  producer,  or  to  the  public  that  wants 
to  see  a picture.” 

In  citing  what  he  terms  the  AAA’s  “own 
problems”  in  relation  to  the  administra- 
tion of  film  tribunals,  Warburg  states  that 
hitherto,  commercial  arbitration  proceed- 
ings conducted  by  the  AAA  “have  had 
behind  them  centuries  of  experience  and 
court  decisions.  This  practice  is  founded 
upon  arbitration  law  and  its  legal  inter- 
pretation, which  afford  a competent  guide. 
Under  the  decree,  the  AAA  sets  out  with- 
out any  such  seaworthy  law  boat  and  with 
no  legal  compass.” 

No  "Experts"  Allowed 

One  of  the  strongest  arguments  in  favor 
of  arbitration,  he  continues,  has  been  the 
reference  of  a dispute  to  experts,  a prin- 
ciple strongly  adhered  to  by  the  AAA  in 
all  its  practices. 

“The  decree  applies  a contrary  principle 
and  imposes  as  a condition  of  appoint- 
ment ignorance  and  lack  of  experience 
with  the  industry.  This  necessitates  the 
training  of  arbitrators  to  become  experts 
in  the  motion  picture  industry,”  is  War- 
burg’s conclusion. 

Another  AAA  “handicap”  recognized  by 
Warburg  is  the  lack  of  “advisory  com- 
mittees” which  existing  tribunals  can  go 
to  for  expert  advice  on  trade  practices  in 
various  trades  and  industries.  “From  such 
friendly  and  experienced  sources  of  ad- 


"This  Thing"  Changes 
Termed  Not  Likely 

(Continued  from  page  4) 
no  protests  have  been  received  from  any 
exhibitors  who  thus  far  have  picked  up 
their  playdates  or  from  any  of  the  public 
who  thus  far  have  seen  the  film.  Further- 
more, headquarters  sentiment  matches 
studio  sentiment  in  that  changes  are  prob- 
ably out  of  the  question  because  of  con- 
tractual commitments  and  fundamentals 
in  the  structure  of  the  story  itself. 

It  is  also  pointed  out  at  Columbia  that 
the  film  was  passed  by  the  National  Board 
of  Review,  that  it  was  approved  in  script 
and  in  completed  form  by  Joseph  I.  Breen, 
production  code  administrator,  and  given 
code  seal  No.  6,846.  The  current  attitude  of 
the  Legion  and  its  latter  day  “C”  group- 
ing therefore,  largely  sound  a mystery  note 
insofar  as  the  producer  is  concerned. 

The  Legion’s  explanatory  notation  fol- 
lows; 

“The  treatment  of  the  plot  concentrates 
throughout  the  greater  portion  of  the  film 
upon  a marriage  situation  which  as  screen 
material  is  highly  suggestive  and  objec- 
tionable. The  film,  moreover,  reflects  ideas 
contrary  to  the  Christian  concept  of  mar- 
riage.” 

Wholesale  condemnations  are  rare  in  the 
Legion’s  career.  “Strange  Cargo,”  an 
M-G-M  release,  was  so  rated.  It  had  played 
a few  situations  before  seen  by  the  LOD. 
When  it  arrived  in  Detroit,  the  police  cen- 
sor there  attacked  it.  This  drew  the  LOD’s 
attention  to  it,  it  is  understood,  and  a 
condemned  rating  followed  because  of  a 
religious,  not  a sex,  approach.  The  film 
was  finally  LOD-approved  after  M-G-M 
made  revisions  which  proved  acceptable. 

LOD  headquarters,  via  Father  McClaf- 
ferty,  explain  the  Legion  will  be  glad  to 
look  at  “This  Thing  Called  Love”  a third 
time  with  the  idea  of  again  revising  the 
classification  provided  Columbia,  if  it  is 
willing,  can  make  satisfactory  alterations. 

This  is  what  Boxoffice  thought  of  the 
film; 

“Like  an  avalanche,  this  is  slow  in  start- 
ing, but  once  it  attains  speed  ...  it  car- 
ries everything  before  it  with  a crash  and 
roar  of  laughs.  Being  another  in  the  sub- 
stantially-produced, smartly-lined,  impres- 
sively cast  comedies  in  which  Columbia  has 
been  specializing,  there  is  no  reason  why 
the  film  should  not  follow  in  the  financial 
footsteps  of  its  illustrious  predecessors.” 


vice,  the  new  motion  picture  tribunal  is 
completely  divorced  as  to  membership  on 
the  board  or  membership  on  any  of  its 
relevant  committees.” 

He  goes  further  to  say  the  introduction 
of  paid  arbitrators,  contrary  to  the  AAA’s 
practice  of  utilizing  “honorary  services  of 
arbitrators,”  presents  a “challenge  to 
maintain  the  high  prestige  and  integrity 
of  this  new  panel.” 

Still  another  problem  Warburg  refers  to 
is  the  “unprecedented  pace”  at  which  ar- 
bitration is  expanding  throughout  the 
country.  “In  the  31  cities,  one  in  each 
motion  picture  exchange-arbitration  dis- 
trict, this  tribunal  will  be  the  only  visible 
center  for  the  convergence  of  controversies 
arising  in  other  industrial  groups.” 


BOXOFFICE  :;  February  15,  1941 


13 


Paramount  Net  Last 
Year  at  $7,617,000 

New  York — With  net  earnings  for  the 
fourth  quarter  ended  January  4,  1941,  esti- 
mated at  $2,807,000,  Paramount’s  profits 
for  the  53  weeks  to  that  date  amounted 
to  $7,617,000,  including  $974,000  share  of 
undistributed  profits  of  partially  owned 
non-consolidated  subsidiaries  and  $98,000 
profit  on  purchase  on  debentures.  Earn- 
ings for  the  year  ended  December  31,  1939, 
were  $3,874,000,  including  $1,117,000  share 
of  undistributed  earnings  of  partially  own- 
ed non-consolidated  subsidiaries.  Earnings 
for  the  last  quarter  of  1939  amounted 
to  $1,030,000,  not  including  $245,000,  repre- 
senting the  amount  of  dividends  received 
by  the  corporation  and  its  consolidated 
subsidiaries. 

Increasing  the  dividend  by  five  cents, 
directors  declared  a 20  cents  payment  on 
the  common,  together  with  a quarterly 
dividend  of  $1.50  on  the  first  preferred 
and  the  usual  15  cents  on  the  second  pre- 
ferred, payable  April  1 to  stockholders  of 
record  March  14. 

During  1940,  the  company  acquired  10,- 
482  first  preferred  shares  and  22,600  sec- 
ond preferred,  of  which  2,500  shares  and 
11,400  shares  respectively  were  purchased 


in  the  final  quarter.  These  were  acquired 
at  a discount  of  approximately  $203,500 
which  amount  has  been  credited  to  spe- 
cial capital  surplus.  Also  acquired  during 
the  12-month  period  were  $925,000  prin- 
cipal amount  of  3Y4  per  cent  debentures 
at  a discount  of  approximately  $98,000. 

Guaranteed  Gets  Eleven 
Condor  Productions 

New  York — Guaranteed  Pictures  Co., 
Inc.,  has  secured  world  distribution  rights 
to  the  following  Condor  Productions  for- 
merly distributed  by  Grand  National: 

“Captain  Calamity,”  “Devil  on  Horse- 
back,” "We’re  in  the  Legion  Now,”  “Love 
Takes  Flight,”  “Yellow  Cargo,”  “Navy  Spy,” 
“Gold  Racket,”  “Bank  Alarm,”  “King  of 
the  Sierras,”  “Trailing  Trouble”  and 
“Boots  of  Destiny.”  The  first  three  are 
in  color. 


Sell  "Dugan"  Outside  in 
"Wind"  and  "Story"  Jam 

New  York — M-G-M  has  booked  six  test 
runs  of  “The  Trial  of  Mary  Dugan”  away 
from  the  regular  first-run  accounts  because 
the  latter  are  tied  up  with  “Gone  With 
the  Wind”  and  “The  Philadelphia  Story.” 
The  spots  are  Charlottesville,  Va.,  Charles- 
ton, West  Va.,  Youngstown,  Ohio,  Elmira, 
N.  Y.,  Memphis  and  Williamsport,  Pa. 


Flashes  From  the  News  Front 


WB  Wins  "Spy"  Suit 

New  York — Katherine  Moog  is  not  en- 
titled to  damages  in  connection  with  War- 
ner’s “Confessions  of  a Nazi  Spy,”  a fed- 
eral court  jury  ruled  here  in  her  suit  for 
$75,000.  She  charged  that  the  film  libeled 
her. 


Largest  Stock  Month 

Washington — Rolling  up  the  largest  to- 
tal of  film  stock  deals  ever  reported  to  the 
SEC  for  one  month,  officers  and  direc- 
tors of  film  companies  and  large  holders 
of  film  securities  moved  155,000  shares. 
Atlas  Corp.  alone  acquired  140,000  RKO 
common  and  preferred. 


Yorke  Rejoins  20th-Fox 

Los  Angeles — Gabe  Yorke,  recently  han- 
dling special  exploitation  on  “Cheers  for 
Miss  Bishop”  and  on  “Land  of  Liberty,” 
has  rejoined  20th-Fox  as  western  divisional 
promotion  manager.  His  headquarters  will 
be  here. 


Would  Legalize  Beano 

Concord,  N.  H. — A bill  to  legalize  Beano, 
with  a 50  per  cent  tax  on  the  prizes,  has 
been  introduced  in  the  state  legislature. 
Bank  Night  was  cleared  of  anti-lottery 
charges  in  the  first  such  test  case  in  the 
country. 


Near-Epidemic  in  Illinois 

Springfield — Roland  R.  Cross,  state 
health  director,  says  cases  of  measles 
and  scarlet  fever  are  approaching  epi- 
demic proportions. 


Sues  Yamins  for  $10,650 

Boston— Suits  for  collection  of  Bank 
Night  royalties  allegedly  due  Roy  E.  Heff- 
ner as  assignee  of  Affiliated  Enterprises, 
Inc.,  have  been  filed  in  Taunton  superior 
court  against  Nathan  Yamins  of  the  Strand 
and  Park  at  Fall  River.  Heffner  asks  a 
total  of  $10,650. 


Defense  Questionnaire 

Columbus — The  ITO  of  Ohio  is  asking 
exhibitors  for  data  on  admission  prices 
charged  prior  to  July  1,  1940,  and  those 
charged  today.  The  figures  are  to  be  used 
when  and  if  the  federal  government  seeks 
to  lower  the  ticket  tax  exemption  from  20 
cents. 


Operate  Cleveland  House 

Cleveland — Harry  Brandt,  New  York 
ITOA  president,  and  Louis  and  Marty 
Levine  have  formed  a company  to  operate 
the  Lake  Theatre  here,  recently  leased 
from  Warner. 


On  Individual  Basis 

Minneapolis — Acting  individually,  inde- 
pendent exhibitors  are  demanding  film 
rental  reductions.  Northwest  Allied  re- 
cently urged  exchanges  to  grant  adjust- 
ments. Distributors  are  holding  out  against 
immediate  cuts. 


Iowa  Distributor  Tax  Bill 

Des  Moines — A bill  has  been  introduced 
in  the  legislature  to  tax  exchanges  $1,000 
per  year  for  a license,  plus  $1  per  reel  for 
films,  including  newsreels  and  shorts, 
brought  into  the  state. 


This  Is  De  Sylva — 

New  executive  producer  at  Paramount 
succeeding  William  Le  Baron.  B.  G. 
“Buddy”  De  Sylva  went  from  De 
Sylva,  Brown  and  Henderson,  song 
publishers,  to  production  via  Fox  and 
Universal.  In  between  were  stage  plays 
in  New  York  where  he  can  boast  three 
current  hits — “Louisiana  Purchase,” 
“Du  Barry  Was  a Lady”  and  “Panama 
Hattie.”  Finishing  up  at  Paramount 
under  his  aegis  is  “Caught  in  the 
Draft,”  co-starring  Bob  Hope  and 
Dorothy  Lamour. 


Nal'l  Theatre  Supply 
In  Six-Day  Meeting 

New  York — Internal  problems  and  a 
discussion  by  manufacturers  of  their  prod- 
uct highlighted  the  six-day  meeting  of  29 
National  Theatre  Supply  branch  managers 
at  the  Belmont  Plaza  Hotel.  Walter  E. 
Green,  president,  wielded  the  gavel  and 
Oscar  S.  Oldknow,  vice-president,  western 
and  southern  division  manager,  acted  as 
vice-chairman. 

On  Wednesday  afternoon  the  managers 
visited  the  Alexander  Smith  factory  and  on 
Saturday  visited  the  Broadway  Theatre 
where  the  company’s  new  E-7  projector  is 
in  operation. 

Among  the  manufacturers  who  spoke 
were  Herbert  Griffin  and  Arthur  Meyer  of 
International  Projector,  Cy  Dash  of  Hert- 
ner  Electric  Co.,  W.  W.  Irwin  of  Irwin 
Seating,  J.  E.  Macauley  of  Macauley  Mfg., 
J.  A.  Scheick  of  Bausch-Lomb  Optical  Co., 
H.  B.  Myrtle  and  H.  A.  Olson  of  General 
Electric,  H.  E.  Barth,  vice-president  of 
American  Blower  Corp.,  E.  Wagner  of  Wag- 
ner Signs,  J.  S.  Mill  of  Rowe  Mfg.  Co., 
J.  P.  Travis  of  Universal  Building  Products 
and  E.  A.  Williford  of  National  Carbon. 


”U"  Parent  Shows  Loss 

New  York — Universal  Corp.,  on  last 
November  2,  had  a deficit  of  $553,039  de- 
spite the  fact  its  principal  subsidiary,  Uni- 
versal Pictures,  showed  a 53-week  net 
profit  of  $2,232,805,  it  is  revealed  in  the 
company’s  annual  report. 


14 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


(<  ft 


"U"  Hammers  Away 
On  Star  Lineups 


Laughton,  Lombard, 
Dunne  Included 


Chicago — Definitely  listing  23  stellar  ve- 
hicles for  1941-42,  an  analysis  of  Uni- 
versal’s program  makes  it  clear  the  com- 
pany is  driving  harder  than  ever  in  the 
direction  of  personalities  and  stars. 

Of  the  47  features  plotted  for  the  new 
season,  as  reported  exclusively  in  Boxof- 
fice  last  week,  William  A.  Scully,  general 
sales  manager,  divulged  detail  on  36  as 
the  three-day  convention  drew  to  a close 
at  the  Blackstone  Monday,  although  in 
some  instances  titles  were  not  revealed. 

As  far  as  it  went: 

Deanna  Durbin  will  star  in  two.  Joe 
Pasternak  will  produce  both.  Henry  Kos- 
ter  and  William  A.  Seiter  will  direct  one 
each. 

To  Film  Stage  Hit 

“Hellzapoppin’,”  Broadway  musical  com- 
edy hit  with  Olsen  and  Johnson  featured. 
Jules  Levey  and  Mayfair  Prod,  will  make 
it. 

Three  from  Frank  Lloyd  Productions, 
Inc.;  no  detail. 

One  starring  Irene  Dunne.  Bruce  Man- 
ning will  produce  from  his  own  and  Felix 
Jackson’s  script. 

Charles  Laughton  in  “Almost  an  Angel.” 
Joe  Pasternak  will  produce  and  Henry 
Koster  direct. 


Hints  Theatres  Are 
Today's  "Bottleneck” 

Chicago — As  a one-time  exhibitor — 
about  20  Years  or  more,  in  fact — Nate  J. 
Blumberg  qualifies  as  an  observer  on 
exhibition  and  its  trends.  Said  he  to  the 
Universal  convention  here: 

“Exhibitors  must  come  to  realize  that 
all  we  can  do  is  make  the  finest  pic- 
tures we  know  how,  make  them  avail- 
able when  they  are  needed  and  in- 
ject in  them  that  certain  something  that 
is  called  boxoffice  appeal.  After  that, 
it's  the  exhibitors'  job  to  make  the  public 
come  to  his  theatre  to  see  them.  If  there 
is  a ’bottleneck'  in  this  business  today, 
it's  in  the  theatre.” 

i) 

One  to  be  produced  and  directed  by 
Sam  Wood. 

“Badlands  of  Dakota”  described  “as  an 
epic  production  for  which  one  of  the  finest 
casts  and  directorial  combinations  of  the 
year  is  being  assembled.” 

Franchot  Tone  and  Virginia  Bruce  co- 
starred  in  one  to  be  produced  and  directed 
by  Seiter. 

W.  C.  Fields  in  “Never  Give  a Sucker 
an  Even  Break,”  featuring  Gloria  Jean, 
Baby  Sandy  and  Butch  and  Buddy.  Ed- 
die Cline  will  direct. 


One  featuring  “a  new  figure  of  gro- 
tesque horror.”  It  will  be  billed  as  “The 
Wolf  Man.” 

Bud  Abbott  and  Lou  Costello  in  “Ride 
’Em  Cowboy”  and  “They’re  in  the  Navy 
Now.” 

“The  Yukon  Trail.” 

“The  Ghost  of  Frankenstein,”  a sequel, 
of  course,  to  “Frankenstein.” 

“Bombay  Clipper,”  based  on  exploits 
of  cross-ocean  flyers. 

“Straight  From  the  Heart,”  starring 
Gloria  Jean.  Islin  Auster  will  be  associ- 
ate producer. 

Two  starring  the  Dead  End  Kids  and 
Little  Tough  Guys. 

A “Novelty"  Film 

“Mermaid  in  Distress,”  a “novelty  idea 
production”  with  Vaughn  Paul  as  asso- 
ciate producer. 

“The  Black  Cat,”  starring  Basil  Rath- 
bone  and  featuring  Broderick  Crawford, 
Hugh  Herbert  and  Anne  Gwynne.  This  is 
described  as  a “wacky  horror  picture.” 

Two  starring  Baby  Sandy. 

“Captive  Wild  Woman,”  featuring  “a 
(Continued  on  page  16) 


Boyer-Sullavan  Again 

Charles  Boyer  and  Margaret  Sullavan 
in  one  produced  by  Bruce  Manning. 

Margaret  Sullavan  and  Franchot  Tone 
co-starred  in  one,  produced  and  directed 
by  William  A.  Seiter. 

One  starring  Carole  Lombard. 

One  starring  George  Raft,  with  Carol 
Bruce  and  Broderick  Crawford  featured. 
Bruce  Manning  will  produce  from  a script 
by  himself  and  Jackson. 

One  starring  Loretta  Young. 

“Hilo  Hattie,”  starring  Marlene  Diet- 
rich.  Joe  Pasternak  will  produce. 


Something  Amusing  Lights  Up  Faces  at  Universal's  Convention — 

Maybe  it  was  merely  the  cameraman  after  a pleasant  shot  of  the  rostrum.  Anyway,  here  they  are  at  the  Blackstone,  Chi- 
cago. Top  row,  left  to  right:  Matty  Fox,  vice-president;  Cliff  Work,  vice-president  and  studio  manager;  Nate  J.  Blumberg, 
president;  William  J.  Heineman,  western  sales  manager;  on  his  feet,  William  A.  Scully,  vice-president  and  general  sales 
manager;  J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  chairman  of  the  board;  his  face  hidden,  Joseph  H.  Seidelman,  vice-president  in  charge  of 
foreign  sales,  and  Frank  J.  A.  McCarthy,  eastern  sales  manager.  Bottom  row , in  the  same  order:  John  E.  Joseph,  director 
of  advertising  and  publicity;  Adolph  Schimel,  attorney;  B.  B.  Kreisler,  short  subject  sales  manager;  Clair  Hague,  Canadian 
representative;  Paul  J.  Nathanson,  vice-president  of  Empire-U niversal;  A.  W.  Perry,  general  manager  of  that  company; 
James  J.  Jordan,  manager  contract  department,  and  F.  T.  Murray,  manager  of  exchange  operations.  Above,  a closer  view 
of  the  sales  phalanx — Heineman,  Scully  and  McCarthy . 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


15 


What  the  Studios  Are  Doing 


Hollywood  Selecting  Academy 
Award  Recipients 

Hollywood — With  the  final  results,  as 
tabulated  by  certified  public  accountants, 
to  be  announced  at  the  Academy  of  Motion 
Picture  Arts  and  Science’s  13th  annual 
Awards  banquet  February  27,  some  12,000 
industry  workers  are  now  engaged  in  se- 
lecting those  they  consider  most  worthy  of 
recognition  in  the  yearly  event  from  among 
the  list  of  ten  films,  five  actor  and  five 
actress  performances.  Candidates  for  best 
production  honors  are  Warner’s  “All  This, 
and  Heaven  Too”  and  “The  Letter;”  Walter 
Wanger-UA’s  “Foreign  Correspondent,” 
20th  Century-Fox’s  “The  Grapes  of  Wrath,” 
Charles  Chaplin-UA’s  “The  Great  Dicta- 
tor,” RKO  Radio’s  “Kitty  Foyle,”  Argosy- 
Wanger-UA’s  “The  Long  Voyage  Home,” 
Metro’s  “The  Philadelphia  Story,”  David 
O.  Selznick-UA’s  “Rebecca”  and  Sol  Les- 
ser-UA’s  “Our  Town.”  Best  actor  per- 
formance nominees  are  Charles  Chaplin, 
“The  Great  Dictator;”  Henry  Fonda,  “The 
Grapes  of  Wrath;”  Raymond  Massey,  “Abe 
Lincoln  in  Illinois;”  Laurence  Olivier,  “Re- 
becca;” James  Stewart,  “The  Philadelphia 
Story.”  Best  actress:  Bette  Davis,  “The 
Letter;”  Joan  Fontaine,  “Rebecca;”  Kath- 
arine Hepburn,  “The  Philadelphia  Story;” 
Ginger  Rogers,  “Kitty  Foyle;”  Martha 
Scott,  “Our  Town.” 


Speculate  on  Where 
Goldwyn  Will  Turn 

Settlement  of  the  Samuel  Goldwyn-UA 
lawsuit,  with  Goldwyn  now  released  from 
his  UA  distribution  contract,  is  giving  rise 
to  conjectures  as  to  where  the  producer 
will  henceforth  release  his  films.  Only 
definite  information  available  is  that  his 
next  will  be  “The  Little  Foxes,”  starring 
Bette  Davis.  The  fact  Miss  Davis  was  bor- 


rowed from  Warner,  in  exchange  for  the 
loan  of  Goldwyn’s  Gary  Cooper,  strength- 
ens reports  that  the  most  likely  possi- 
bility is  Goldwyn  will  release  through  that 
company,  plus  the  fact  Goldwyn  had  once 
tentatively  planned  to  distribute  “The 
Westerner”  through  Warner  and  cancelled 
out  when  UA  threatened  legal  action. 
20th  Century-Fox  is  mentioned  as  another 
candidate,  while  there  have  been  rumors 
Goldwyn  may  even  release  through  UA 
. . . Four  UA  units,  Edward  Small,  Sol 
Lesser,  Argosy  Corp.-Walter  Wanger  and 
David  O.  Selznick,  are  planning  March 
starts  on  new  films  . . . George  W.  Weeks 
is  preparing  “Tumbledown  Ranch  in  Ari- 
zona” as  his  next  “Range  Busters”  west- 
ern for  Monogram  . . . Also  for  Monogram, 
Sam  Katzman  is  readying  “Murder  by 
Proxy”  and  an  East  Side  Kids  vehicle, 
“Ghosts  of  the  Night.” 


Dramatic  Films  Hold 
Production  Spotlight 

Dramatic  offerings  hold  the  dominant 
position  in  the  lineup  of  product  to  be 
made  during  the  next  three  months. 
Sharing  the  second  ranking  position  are 
westerns  and  comedies,  with  musicals 
bringing  up  the  rear  of  the  procession. 
Dramatic  entries  numbered  15,  with  six 
each  of  westerns  and  comedies  and  five 
musicals. 


Intensive  Exploitation 
For  "The  Lady  Eve" 

Paramount  has  lined  up  an  intensive 
field  exploitation  campaign  for  “The  Lady 
Eve,”  covering  openings  in  30  key  cities 
following  its  New  York  premiere  February 
26  . . . Extensive  tieups  whereby  Western 
Union  offices  everywhere  will  plug  “West- 
ern Union”  have  been  set  by  20th-Fox. 


"U"  Hammers  Away 
On  Star  Lineups 

(Continued  from  page  15) 

new  type  of  star  aimed  to  capture  the 
interest  of  novelty  seekers.” 

Rudy  Vallee  starred  in  “Radio  Follies.” 

Two  starring  Hugh  Herbert.  One  will 
be  “Hello,  Sucker”  and  the  other  “Man  or 
Mouse.” 

“Juke  Box  Jennie,”  based  on  the  juke 
box  craze. 

The  rest  of  the  program  will  be  drawn 
from  these  properties: 

“Havana  Nights,”  “Moonlight  in  Ha- 
waii,” “You’ve  Got  to  Have  Rhythm,” 
“Men  of  the  Mounted,”  “Sea  Spoilers,” 
“Frisco  Kate,”  “Half  Way  to  Shanghai,” 
“Mississippi  Gambler,”  “Black  Fleet,” 
“Terror  of  the  South  Seas”  and  “Flying 
Cadets.” 

The  seven  actioners  to  star  Dick  Foran, 
Leo  Carrillo  and  Andy  Devine  generally 
will  deal  with  American  adventure  along 
the  Mexican  border  in  the  days  of  Span- 


ish, Mexican  and  American  conflict.  They 
will  be  “Beyond  the  Pampas,”  “In  Old 
Monterey,”  “Viva  Pancho,”  “Sunset  on 
the  Sierras,”  “Dons  of  San  Marcos,”  “The 
Fighting  Padre”  and  “The  Americanos.” 

The  seven  westerns  designed  for  Johnny 
Mack  Brown,  with  Fuzzy  Knight  and  Nell 
O'Day  featured,  are  not  listed  by  title. 

In  serials,  Scully  stated  the  company 
planned  two  with  adult  appeal.  First  will 
be  “Riders  of  Death  Valley,”  starring 
Foran,  Carrillo,  Buck  Jones,  Charles  Bick- 
ford, Jeanne  Kelly  and  Lon  Chaney  jr.  It 
will  be  in  15  chapters.  In  13  episodes, 
will  be  “The  Gang  Busters”  and  with  it 
goes  the  possibility  it  may  be  remade 
into  a series  of  featurettes  or  a full- 
length  feature.  “The  Sea  Raider”  and 
“Head  Hunters  of  Amazon”  will  be  in  12 
chapters  each. 

The  93  reels  of  shorts,  aside  from  the 
usual  104  issues  of  Universal  Newsreel, 
break  down  into  four  series: 

One  special  two-reeler  “of  sufficient 
timeliness  to  warrant  special  exploitation.” 

Fifteen  “Stranger  Than  Fiction”  in  one 
reel  each. 

Thirteen  “Personality”  musicals,  each  in 
two  reels,  featuring  top-name  bands  and 
Hollywood  film  youngsters. 

Thirteen  Andy  Panda  cartoons  by  Wal- 


23  "A"  Produclions 
On  Universal  List 

Chicago — Universal  will  have  23  “A”  pic- 
tures, three  of  which  are  to  be  produced  by 
Frank  Lloyd  and  one  (“Hellzapoppin’  ”)  by 
Jules  Levey,  William  A.  Scully,  general 
sales  manager,  told  Boxoffice  at  the  con- 
clusion of  the  company’s  four-day  conven- 
tion at  the  Blackstone.  The  budget  for  the 
feature  program  will  range  from  $16,- 
000,000  to  $18,000,000,  he  added,  this 
representing  the  greatest  outlay  under  the 
new  regime. 

Discussing  sales  policy,  the  general  sales 
manager  asserted  “it  will  be  flexible  and 
made  to  fit  each  and  every  situation.  Uni- 
versal Pictures  is  an  insurance  policy  for 
the  exhibitor,”  he  added.  In  addition  to  the 
47  features,  14  outdoor  and  action  pictures, 
four  serials  there  will  be  13  two-reelers 
and  43  singles  with  a special  two-reel  sub- 
ject to  be  made  up  by  the  newsreel  depart- 
ment, as  yet  untitled. 

“Selling  will  begin  right  away,”  Scully 
stated.  Divisional  Heads  William  J.  Heine- 
man  and  Frank  J.  A.  McCarthy  will  hold  a 
series  of  meetings  with  district,  branch 
and  other  members  of  the  sales  force.  On 
Thursday,  Heineman  met  here  with  the 
districts  supervised  by  E.  T.  Gomersall  and 
Joseph  E.  Garrison.  He  returned  to  New 
York  after  the  sessions,  leaving  Sunday  for 
the  coast  where  he  will  convene  in  San 
Francisco  with  the  district  handled  by 
A.  J.  O’Keefe. 

On  Saturday,  McCarthy  met  with  Dave 
Miller  and  his  mideast  branches  in  Cleve- 
land. On  Tuesday  next  he  will  be  in  New 
Orleans  where  he  will  go  over  details  of 
product  and  sales  policy  with  Harry  Gra- 
ham and  his  southern  forces. 

Discussing  the  personnel,  Scully  said, 
“We  are  always  interested  in  the  right 
manpower  and  prefer  to  promote  within 
the  ranks.”  In  this  connection  he  men- 
tioned the  promotion  of  James  Frew  from 
salesman  to  New  Orleans  branch  manager, 
succeeding  W.  M.  “Snake”  Richardson  who 
is  now  holding  down  the  managerial  reins 
in  Atlanta. 


ter  Lantz,  each  a one-reeler  in  color. 

Fifteen  “Going  Places,”  each  in  one 
reel. 

The  convention  terminated  with  a ban- 
quet. Prior  to  it,  however,  Scully  told  his 
men  Universal  again  had  increased  its 
total  of  exhibitor  accounts,  adding  an- 
other ten  per  cent  to  the  number  which 
the  company  had  divulged  ten  months  ago 
in  Atlantic  City. 

J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  board  chairman,  in 
an  address  told  the  conventioneers  Uni- 
versal’s financial  position  is  the  strongest 
in  its  history,  and  solidly  endorsed  the 
progress  made  since  the  Blumberg  ad- 
ministration took  over  three  years  ago. 

Pasternak,  although  listed,  did  not  make 
the  meetings,  but  Milton  H.  Feld,  another 
associate  producer,  did.  Charles  D.  Prutz- 
man,  vice-president  and  general  counsel 
who  attended  the  “Back  Street”  premiere 
at  Miami,  returned  directly  to  New  York 
and  thus  was  another  absentee.  Addresses 
were  made  by  Frank  J.  A.  McCarthy, 
eastern  sales  manager;  William  J.  Heine- 
man, western  sales  manager,  and  Cliff 
Work,  studio  head. 


16 


BOXOFFICE  ;:  February  15,  1941 


17 


Opinions  on  Current  Productions,  and 
Cxploitips  hr  Selling  to  the  Public 


FEATURE  REVIEWS 


Meet  the  Chump  F 

Universal  ( ) 60  Minutes  Rel.  Feb.  14,  '41 

If  squirrels  bought  theatre  tickets,  this  would  undoubtedly 
smash  all  existing  boxoffice  records  because  it  is  nuttier 
than  a 30-cent  drugstore  sundae.  The  amount  of  human 
patronage  it  will  attract,  however,  is  problematical,  insofar 
as  its  customers  must  be  limited  to  those  who  can  take 
their  humor  raw,  crude  and  unrefined,  and  who  are  not  too  2- 
exacting  as  to  cast.  Had  not  the  designation  been  over- 
worked, the  feature  would  be.  classified  as  a screwball  com- 
edy. It  takes  up  where  all  others  in  that  category  left  off, 
resorting  to  most  of  the  tried-and-true  gags  found  in  such 
offerings  since  the  days  of  Mack  Sennett — and  incorporating 
a few  of  its  own  creation.  The  picture  is  reasonably  funny  in 
spots,  dull  in  others,  but  on  the  whole  should  serve  satis- 
factorily where  mirthful  support  material  is  desired.  What 
little  story  structure  it  has  concerns  the  efforts  of  Hugh  Her- 
bert to  appear  insane  as  a cover-up  for  a $5,000,000  short- 
age in  his  nephew  s estate,  of  which  he  is  administrator. 
Edward  Cline  s direction  reflects  his  early  training  as  a 
master  of  broad  comedy. 

Hugh  Herbert,  Lewis  Howard,  Jeanne  Kelly,  Anne  Nagel, 
Kathryn  Adams,  Shemp  Howard,  Richard  Lane. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Hugh  Herbert  is  the  name  for  the  marquee 
Conduct  an  amateur  contest  on  the  stage  for  imitators  of 
the  "woo-woo"  comedian.  Send  out  two  men  in  straight- 
jackets  for  street  ballyhoo,  carrying  signs  reading:  "Think 
we're  crazy?  Wait  till  you  see  Hugh  Herbert  in  'Meet  the 
Chump'."  Give  out  small  sacks  of  peanuts,  imprinted- 
Hugh  Herbert  says  'Nuts  to  You,  too'."  Dress  ushers  as  at- 
tendants in  a sanitarium  and  rig  up  a booth  where  patrons 
can  be  given  a burlesque  psycho-analysis. 

CATCHLINES:  When  Hugh  Herbert  Really  Tries  to  Act 
Crazy  . . . Even  Where  Five  Million  Dollars  Is  Involved 
You  Get  the  Laugh  of  Your  Life. 

The  Woo-Woo  Specialist  . . . Hugh  Herbert  ...  Is  Here 
Again  ...  In  the  Picture  That's  Guaranteed  Not  to  Make 
Sense. 


t-  x- 


The  Trial  of  Mary  Dugan  A 

M-G-M  (125)  90  Minutes  Rel.  Feb.  14,  '4J 

That  a good.  thing  is  worth  repeating  almost  goes  without 
saying.  This  is  the  case  in  the  remake  of  "Dugan."  Emerg- 
ing again  after  12  years,  the  courtroom  drama,  when  it 
achieves  that  status  after  the  preliminaries,  makes  the  grade 
easily  as  effective  dramatic  entertainment.  Although  memory 
o t e first  film  version  is  somewhat  dim  for  comparative 
purposes,  the  latest  treatment  is  additionally,  a field  day 
for  neatly-turned  performances,  particularly  the  supporting 
members  of  the  cast.  Laraine  Day  emotes  the  title  role,  giv- 
ing what  it  requires.  Her  counsel  is  Robert  Young.  They 
keep  the  romantic  substance  on  tap  expertly.  "Dugan's"  big 
scenes  are  laid  in  a courtroom  where,  in  this  case,  Miss  Day 
is  on  trial  for  her  life,  for  the  murder  of  her  employer.  All 
the  evidence,  until  Young  comes  back  from  South  America 
at  the  psychological  moment,  is  just  so  much  more  grease 
to  speedily  skid  her  to  the  gallows.  But  Young  aspires  to 
be  a_  Clarence  Darrow  of  his  generation.  He  takes  over 
and,  in  a manner  that  has  become  historic  stage  and  screen 
business,  clears  her.  Norman  Z.  McLeod  directed. 

Laraine  Day,  Robert  Young,  Tom  Conway,  Frieda  Inescort, 
John  Litel,  Marsha  Hunt,  Marjorie  Main,  Sara  Haden. 

EXPLOITffS:  Hitch  your  exploitation  to  the  rapidly  rising 
stock  of  Miss  Day.  The  name  values  of  the  cast  are  readily 
apparent.  Feature  Miss  Main.  Her's  is  one  of  the  best  pe^ 
[?rmajC®?  “ the  show.  Work  on  creating  interest  in  the 
Bayard  Veiller  play  with  which  a new  generation  is  not 
oo  familiar.  In. keeping  with  the  courtroom  aspect  of  the 
story,  circulate  ’summonses"  imprinted  with  the  legal  flim- 

Ca  mg  iattentL°n  t0  !he  film-  A disPlay  of  identical 
knives  in  a clue  cabinet  will  attract  spectators. 


CATCHLINES:  Did  She  Kill? 
A Girl  on  Trial  for  Her  Life 
Odds  to  Save  Her. 


28 


. For  $20,000,000  ...??? 
. A Boy  Fighting  Against 


new. 
> rp 


Road  Show  F 

Comedy 

United  Artists  ( ) 85  Minutes  Rel.  Jan.  24,  '41 

The  action  starts  in  a nut  house  and  gets  nuttier  every  foot 
of  the  way.  There  have  been  countless  screwball  comedies 
about  allegedly  sane  people  but  this  is  probably  the  first 
one  in  which  the  leading  characters  are  admittedly  screw- 
reo  balls.  There  are  no  limits  to  the  number  of  laughs  it  will 
heP  ‘urmsh  the  customers  who  relish  their  humor  in  the  broadest 
possible  vein  with  gags  and  slapstick  predominating.  Al- 
though unstintingly  and  modernly  mounted,  the  production 
is  reminiscent  of  the  early-day  screen  funfests  which  pre- 
vailed before  art  came  to  the  industry.  Adolphe  Menjou 
justifies  his  place  in  the  topline  by  proving  the  greatest 
laugh-garnerer,  although  he  is  pressed  by  Patsy  Kelly  and 
Charles  Butterworth.  Properly  merchandised,  the  feature 
should  pay  its  way  handsomely.  Escaping  from  an  asylum, 
Menjou  and  a young  companion  finds  refuge  in  a broken- 
down  traveling  carnival,  owned  and  operated  by  Carole 
Landis  They  are  put  to  work  and  the  motivation  from  that 
point  forward  serves  only  as  a frail  framework  upon  which 
are  plastered  the  fast  flow  of  gag  situations.  Hal  Roach 
produced  and  directed. 

Adolphe  Menjou,  Carole  Landis,  John  Hubbard,  Charles 
Butterworth,  Patsy  Kelly,  George  E.  Stone,  Margaret  Roach. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Give  the  topline  mention  to  Adolphe  Menjou 
Carole  Landis  and  John  Hubbard.  Imbue  the  lobby  and 
theatre  front  with  a carnival  atmosphere,  including  a loud- 
voiced  "barker,"  a steam  calliope  if  it  is  obtainable,  and 
sawdust  scattered  around  the  foyer.  The  novel  by  Eric 
Hatch  has  been  widely  read  and  can  be  made  the  basis 
of  library  and  bookstore  tieups.  Three  original  songs  by 
Hoagy  Carmichael  should  be  plugged  with  music  stores, 
dance  bands,  and  via  other  outlets.  Stress  comedy  angles  in 
advertising  and  exploitation. 

CATCHLINES:  There's  Something  Radically  Wrong  With 
Your  Funny-Bone  If  You  Don't  Agree  This  Is  the  Most  Hil- 
arious Comedy  of  the  Year. 

It  Was  Funny  as  a Novel  . , And  "Road  Show"  Is  a 

Downright  Riot  on  the  Screen. 


ired 


Ride , Kelly , Ride  F 

Comedy 

20th  Century-Fox  (129)  64  Minutes  Rel.  Feb.  7.  '41 

As  racetrack  features  go,  this  measures  up  to  expecta- 
tions. Obviously  designed  for  the  action  houses  and  the 
Saturday  matinee  trade,  it  has  the  necessary  qualifications 
to  please  in  those  situations,  but  isn't  pretentious  enough  to 
secure,  or  even  expect,  bookings  in  more  important  situa- 
tions. The  cast  is  uniformly  competent  but  lacks  anything 
in  the  way  of  selling  names— with  the  one  possible  excep- 
tion  of  Eugene  Pallette,  who  supplies  the  comedy.  Young 
Marvin  Stephens  has  the  leading  role,  that  of  a cowhand 
whose  riding  prowess  attracts  the  attention  of  Pallette  and 
Hichard  Lane,  owners  of  a racing  stable.  They  train  him 
as  a jockey.  Stephens  is  borrowed  by  Charles  D.  Brown 
another  stable-owner,  to  ride,  and  is  pushed  into  the  fence 
another  jockey.  Then  his  pals  get  together  and  agree  to 
fix  a race  so  a long-shot  will  win  planning  to  use  the 
proceeds  to  pay  Stephens'  hospital  expenses.  When  Stephens 
hears  this  he  escapes  from  the  hospital  and  upsets  their 
plans  by  winning  the  big  race.  Norman  Foster  directed. 

Eugene  Pallette,  Marvin  Stephens,  Rita  Quigley,  Richard 
Lane,  Frankie  Burke,  Charles  D.  Brown,  Chick  Chandler. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Direct  your  exploitation  toward  the  sporting 
fraternity  by  placing  track  cards  and  advertising  matter  in 
night  clubs,  pool  halls  and  in  the  vicinity  of  race  tracks, 
a^all  and  football  grounds.  Dress  a youth  as  a jockey 
and  have  him  parade  a racehorse  with  a blanket  on  which 
is  picture  and  theatre  billing.  Stencil  streets  and  sidewalks 
with  hoof  prints  of  a horse  leading  to  the  theatre.  Gild  two 
or  three  dozen  horseshoes,  obtainable  from  a blacksmith 
and  string  them  around  the  marquee.  Suspend  a floral  horse- 
— sh°®  °y|r  the  cashier's  cage.  Decorate  the  lobby  and  interior 
( erY  ?^lth  oldtlme  Currier  <S  Ives  prints  of  famous  racehorses  of 
ir  the  past. 

. CATCHLINES:  It's  the  Grandest  Racing  Story  Ever  Brought 
Bought SCreSn  ' ’ ' ?his  Tale  °f  a Iockey  Who  Couldn't  Be 


BOXOFFICE  February  15,  1941 


25 


An  Interpretative  Analysis  of  Opinions  Deduced 
From  the  language  of  lay  and  Trade  Press  Reviews 


REVIEW  DIGEST 

AND  PICTURE  GUIDE  INDEX 


zi 

i 

el-*  1 

1 £ 

5 1 J g || 

zc 

! 

P.  G.  Pag 

Title 

Dlstr. 

Boxoffl. 

Harr  Iso 

Variety 

C 

6 

E 

3 l 

B £ 

I!||  it  1 

. Aldrich  Family  In  Mfc  With 

Henry  (Porn)  + 

..Along  the  Rio  Grande  (RKO) . + 

Aiwa) h a Bride  (FN.) q: 

Angels  Over  Brondwny  (Col) . . ± 

Ape,  The  (Mono) + 

Argentine  Nights  (Cnlv) ± 

Arise,  My  Love  (Para) -B 

ArUona  (Col)  44 

..Arkansas  Judge  (Rep)  ± 

B 

..Back  Street  (Unlv)..  44 

Bank  Dick,  The  (Cnlv) ft 

Barnyard  Follies  (Rep) . . + 

Before  I Hang  (Col) 

Behind  the  News  (Rep) 

Beyond  the  Sacramento  (Col) 

Billy  tho  Kid  In  Texas  (PRC) 

Bitter  Sweet  (M-G-M) 

Blackout  (CA)  

Blondlo  Plays  Cupid  (Col) 

Border  Legion  (Rep) 

Boss  of  Bullion  City  (Unlv). 

.Bowery  Boy  (Rep) 

Bride  Wore  Crutches  (UOth-Fox) 
Brigham  Young — Frontiers- 
man (20tta-Fox)  

..Buck  Prlvntcs  (Cnlv) 

Bury  Me  Not  on  the  Lone 

Prairie  (Unlv)  

C 

Culling  All  Husbands  (\VB> 

Case  of  the  Bluck  Parrot  (FN) 
Caught  In  the  Act  (PRC) . 

Chad  Hanna  (20tli-Fox) 

Charlie  Chan  at  the  Wax 

Museum  (20th-Fox)  

Charter  Pilot  (SOth-Fox) 

..Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop  (UA) . . 

Cherokee  Strip  (Parn) 

Christmas  in  July  (Para) 

City  for  Conquest  (WB) 

Colorado  (Rep)  

..Como  Live  With  Me  (M-G-M). 

Comrade  X (M-G-M) 

. Convoy  (RKO)  

D 

Dancing  on  a Dime  (Para) 

Dark  Streets  of  Cairo  (Unlv) 

Devil  Bat,  The  (PRC) 

Devil’s  Pipeline  (Unlv) 

Diamond  Frontier  (Unlv) 

Dispatch  From  Reuter’s  (WB) 

Dr.  Kildare's  Crisis  (M-G-M)  . 

Dr.  Kildare  Goes  Home 

(M-G-M)  

Doomed  Caravan  (Para) 

Down  Argentine  Way  (20-Fox) 
Dreaming  Out  Loud  (RKO)  . . . 
Drums  of  the  Desert  (Mono) 

Dulcy  (M-G-M)  

E 

Boat  of  the  River  (FN) 

Ellery  Qacen,  Muster  Detec- 
tive (Col) 

Kscnpe  (M-G-M)  

Escape  to  Glory  (Col) 

F 

I Face  Behind  the  Mask  (Col) 


fil 


± + + + 


± + ± + 44 


± ± 9+  4- 


44  44  + + «+ 


+ — + ++  — + 

++  +F  ++  4+  ++  ++ 


±-±  + + - + <H-i 

tt  tt  tt  tt  tt  it  + 1H 


44  «H- 
6+  1 

± 2+  1 


Fantasia  (Disney) 

Fargo  Kid  (RKO)  

Father’s  Son  (WB)  

Father  Is  a Prince  (FN) . 
Fight  for  Life,  The  (Col) 
Five  Little  Peppers  In 

Trouble  (Col)  

Flight  Command  (M-G-M 
. Flight  From  Destiny  (WI 

Four  Sons  (20tli-Fox) 

Freedom  Radio  (Col)  . . . 
Friendly  Neighbors  (Rep) 
Frontier  Vengeance  (Unlv 
Fugitive  From  Justice  (WB) 
Fugitive  From  a Prison  Camp 
(Col)  


44  44  44  44 


44  4+  44  4+  44  44 

+ + ± ++  ++  if 


Gallant  Sons  (M-G-M) 

Gay  Caballero,  The  (20th-Fox) 

Girl  From  Havana  (Rep) 

Girl  In  the  News  (20th-Fox) . . 

Girls  Under  21  (Col) 

Give  Us  Wings  (Unlv) 

Glamour  for  Sale  (Col) 

Go  West  (M-G-M) 

Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M) 
Great  Commandment  (20-Fox) 

Great  Dictator,  The  (CA) 

Great  Plane  Robbery  (Col) 

Great  Profile,  The  (20th-Fox) 

H 

Hurd  Boiled  Canary  (Parn) 
Haunted  Honeymoon  (M-G-M) 
Her  First  Romance  (Mono) 
Here  Comes  the  Navy  (WB) 

..High  Sierra  (FN) 

Hired  Wife  (Cnlv)  

Hit  Parade  of  1941  (Rep)  . . 
Hold  That  Woman  (PRC)  . 
Honeymoon  for  Three  (WB) 
Howards  of  Virginia  (Col)  . . 
Hudson's  Bay  (20th-Fox) 
Hullabaloo  (M-G-M)  

I 

1 Want  a Divorce  (Para) . 

I’m  Nobody’s  Sweetheart 

Now  (Unlv)  

I’m  Still  Alive  (RKO) 

Invisible  Woman,  The  (Cnlv). 

J 


.Keeping  Company  (\ 
Kitty  Foyle  (RKO). 
Knute  Kockne — All  Ai 


I.tuldli 

Lady 

Lady 


(RKO)  

Eve,  The  (Para) 

With  Red  Hair  (WB) . 
of  Liberty  (M-G-M) 

Mid  Order  (Unlv) 

er  Pushers,  The  (Unlv) 
Make  Music  (RKO) 

, The  (FN) 

ibner  (RKO)  

Bit  of  Heaven  (Unlv). 


44  4+  14+ 

+ 6+  1- 
2+  3 — 

— - 3+9- 

44  + 4+ 

- + 3+9- 

+ »+ 

10+  1- 
+ 10+  1- 
+ 10+ 

1+ 

6+  0 
2+  3— 
± ft+  5— 


+ ± ± + ~ + + 
+ + + + + 


± 9+3- 

± 7+  4- 

T-  M-  7- 


44  44  44  44  44  44  44  44S*e+ 


44  + 44  + 


+ ± 44  44 


++  + i*+  * 


4+  4+  44  + + »3+ 


9+  3- 
4+  4- 
0+  3- 


44  44  44  -4  >#+ 

-I-  44  + + »+  3- 

= ± + q:  7+  o- 


44  44  44  + + K+ 


44  + + 44  44 


+ ±12+1- 


- ± - 44 
44  44  44  44 


44  44  44  44  44 


+ + ± + 7+  4 


+ ± 8+4- 


44  44 


The  plus  and  minus  signs  indicate  the  degree  ol  favor  or  disfavor  of 
the  review.  Where  our  compiler  is  unable  to  form  any  opinion  from 
the  review  the  sign  "o"  is  used.  Blank  spaces  indicate  no  review. 
This  department  serves  also  as  an  Alphabetical  Index  to  feature  re- 
leases. Listings  cover  reviews  appearing  by  the  Saturday  preceding 


date  of  this  issue.  It  will  be  brought  up  to  date  from  week  to  week 
The  meaning  of  the  various  signs  and  their  combinations  is  as  follows: 
44  Very  Good;  + Good;  — Fair;  T Mediocre;  — Poor;  = Very  Poor 
In  the  summary  ff  la  rated  as  2 pluses;  = as  2 minuses. 

(Numeral  preceding  title  is  Picture  Guide  Review  page  number). 


OXOFFICE  : : February  15.  1941 


19 


FOR  YOUR  CONVENIENCE 


Indexed  on  the  adjoining  two  pages  are  the  pictures 
reviewed  in  the  new  style  started  January  4.  The  num- 
ber preceding  title  is  your  key  to  the  Picture  Guide  pages,  the  new  reviews  being  added  each  week.  Addi- 
tionally, a Quarterly  Index,  arranged  alphabetically  by  companies,  will  be  published  for  Picture  Guide  use. 


The  Mad  Doctor  F 

Paramount  (4018)  90  Minutes  Rel.  Feb.  14,  '41 

In  most  situations  this  will  prove  a celluloid  problem 
child.  The  film  is  too  long  to  function  as  supporting  fare 
and  is  not  sufficiently  meritorious  to  grace  the  upper  half 
of  the  bill  except  in  the  most  unimportant  program  arrange- 
ments. The  picture  starts  out  as  a chiller,  goes  off  at  a 
tangent  to  invade  the  fields  of  psychiatry,  and  then  settles 
down  to  a routine  of  unmysterious,  endless  and  useless 
murders.  The  entire  blame  for  the  feature's  frailties,  and 
they  are  legion,  is  attributable  to  the  story,  the  multitudi- 
nous vagaries  of  which  an  apparently  hard-working  cast 
and  director  were  unable  to  transcend.  Basil  Rathbone 
portrays  the  mad  doctor,  whose  favorite  pastime  is  marry- 
ing heiresses  and  promptly  dispatching  them  to  a better 
world.  Ultimately  he  falls  in  love  but,  by  this  time,  his  past 
has  caught  up  with  him  and  he  is  forced  to  continue  his  orgy 
of  killings.  Directed  by  Tim  Whelan. 

Basil  Rathbone,  Ellen  Drew,  John  Howard,  Barbara  Allen, 
Ralph  Morgan,  Martin  Eosleck,  Kitty  Kelly. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Basil  Rathbone,  Ellen  Drew  and  John  How- 
ard rate  the  marquee  and  advertising  credits.  Among  radio 
fans  the  name  of  Barbara  Allen  (Vera  Vague)  might  also 
be  worthy  of  exploitation.  Have  house  artist  construct  a 
leering  compo-board  portrait  of  Rathbone  with  green,  blink- 
ing eyes,  to  be  mounted  above  the  marquee  or  used  as  the 
lobby  center-piece.  Emphasize  the  picture's  chill  angles  by 
staging  a special  "midnight  show"  and  install  a "heart 
tester"  in  the  lobby  to  ascertain  whether  or  not  prospective 
patrons  are  "healthy"  enough  to  “take  it."  Stills  depicting 
Rathbone  in  particularly  sinister  poses  could  be  tied  into 
displays  of  health  foods  and  tonics,  along  the  lines:  "Do 
you  feel  like  this?  Try  Pep-O." 

CATCHLINES:  He  Committed  a Series  of  Horrible  Crimes 
. . . Then  Discovered  That  Real  Love  Couldn't  Erase  His 
Past. 

A Human  Monster  . . . Whose  Heart  Was  Touched  by  a 
Beautiful  Girl  . . . Too  Late. 

Basil  Rathbone  in  a Sinister  Role  of  a Mad  Doctor  Whose 
Past  Wouldn't  Let  Him  Alone. 


Scattergood  Baines  F 

RKO  Radio  (123)  69  Minutes  Rel.  Feb.  21,  '41 

A fair  portion  of  the  nation's  filmgoers  should  receive 
"Scattergood  Baines"  as  another  entertaining  treatise  on 
small  town  life.  Again  the  accent  is  on  a philosophical  old 
gent  who  gives  advice  freely,  who  bests  the  slickest  brains 
from  the  big  city  and  maneuvers  the  minds  and  morals  of 
his  community  with  his  little  finger.  And,  to  top  it  all  off, 
he  plays  a courtly  cupid.  The  role  is  tailored  for  Guy  Kibbee. 
One  day  he  wanders  into  Coldriver  with  $40.  He  invests 
$37.50  in  a "problematical"  venture,  makes  $750.  He  runs 
this  stake  into  a bankroll,  control  of  a spur  line,  two-car 
railroad,  real  estate  and  a full-rigged  hardware  store.  Then 
he  sits  around  in  front  of  his  store  dispensing  advice  to  all 
comers  and  weathers  the  storm  of  adversity  in  shipshape 
style.  Spice  this  dish  with  dry  humor,  rustic  accents  and  a 
romantic  problem  and  you  have  "Scattergood  Baines." 

Guy  Kibbee,  Carol  Hughes,  John  Archer,  Francis  Trout, 
Emma  Dunn,  Lee  White. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Since  this  film  is  based  on  the  Clarence 
Budington  Kelland  stories  a good  deal  of  effort  should  be 
expended  on  the  bookshop  and  the  dispensers  of  magazines. 
Tie  these  outlets  in  with  posters  and  stills.  A spot  announce- 
ment over  a radio  station  should  contact  the  audience  that 
is  not  to  be  reached  through  other  channels.  Get  an  old 
buggy,  decorate  with  signs  and  have  it  driven  up  and 
down  the  main  drag  by  an  appropriately  costumed  bally- 
hoo man. 

CATCHLINES:  Meet  Scattergood  Baines  . He's  Slick  and 
Sharp  . . . But  You'll  Love  Him. 

He  Put  Coldriver  on  the  Map  ...  He  Plays  Cupid  ...  He 
Has  Plenty  of  Friends  . . . He'll  Make  More,  When  You  Meet 
Him  . . . That's  Scattergood  Baines. 

He  Out-Slicked  the  City  Slickers  . . . And  Ran  $40  Into  a 
Hardware  Store. 

Clarence  Budington  Kelland's  Inimitable  Sage  Comes  to 
the  Screen. 


The  Face  Behind  the  Mask  F 

Columbia  (2029)  69  Minutes  Rel.  Jan.  16,  '41 

The  horror-gangster  crowd  will  get  their  money's  worth  in 
"The  Face  Behind  the  Mask,"  which  offers  Peter  Lorre  in 
the  main  role.  He  is  a Hungarian  immigrant  who  gets  hor- 
ribly burned  in  a hotel  fire — his  face  is  disfigured.  He  turns 
criminal  in  order  to  get  funds  to  pay  for  plastic  surgery. 
The  best  a doctor  can  do  is  create  a mask  to  hide  the  dis- 
figuration. He  meets  a beautiful  blind  girl  and  they  be- 
come close  companions.  Lorre  tries  to  quit  his  gang.  They 
think  he  has  framed  them.  The  girl  is  killed  by  a planted 
bomb.  Lorre,  in  revenge,  informs  the  police  and  flies  the 
gang  out  to  the  middle  of  a desert  in  Arizona  where  they 
all  perish.  The  various  contributing  elements  of  the  story 
are  well-handled  and  Robert  Florey's  direction  effectively 
keeps  them  alike.  It  is  good  enough  as  support  for  any 
program. 

Peter  Lorre,  Evelyn  Keyes,  Don  Beddoe,  George  E.  Stone, 
John  Tyrrell,  Stanley  Brown. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Play  this  one  up  with  the  horror  angle  in 
the  fore.  Run  a one-shot  newspaper  contest  with  a col- 
lection of  portraits  of  various  players  who  are  wearing 
masks.  For  correct  identification  offer  passes.  Invite  chil- 
dren to  come  to  the  theatre  wearing  grotesque  masks.  For 
poster  displays  have  a rear  view  of  Lorre  with  the  following 
print:  "We  Dare  You  to  Look  At  This  Man's  Face  and  For- 
get It."  Get  up  a mask  display  with  borrowed  items  from 
museums,  department  and  art  stores. 

CATCHLINES:  When  You  See  This  Man's  Face  on  the 
Screen  . . . You'll  Never  Forget  It. 

What  Nameless  Terror  Lurks  Behind  This  Mask?  . . . 
What  Strange  Vengeance  Is  Brewing? 

A Thrilling  Story  of  Gang  Terrorism  And  a Terrible 
Retribution. 


The  Monster  and  the  Girl  F 


Paramount  ( ) 62  Minutes  Rel.  

While  this  cannot  hope  for  universal  patronage  or  ac- 
claim, it  should  find  takers  in  profitable  numbers  among 
the  horror  fans  for  whom  it  will  be  a treat.  The  film  has 
plenty  of  suspense  and  a bumper  crop  of  murders,  suf- 
ficient to  sate  the  appetites  of  the  most  avid  chill-seekers. 
The  production  is  adequately  mounted,  enacted  by  an  able 
cast  and  competently  directed.  It  was  produced  under  the 
title  of  "D.  O.  A."  (Dead  on  Arrival),  which  former  name 
is  an  index  to  its  story  material.  In  fact,  the  screenplay 
adroitly  merges  two  yarns.  The  opening  sequences  reveal 
the  story  of  an  innocent  girl  from  the  hinterlands  who, 
seeking  employment  in  the  city,  is  tricked  into  a life  of 
shame  by  mobsters.  Her  brother  attempts  to  avenge  her 
betrayal  and  is  accused  of,  and  executed  for,  a murder 
of  which  he  is  innocent.  Before  dying  he  gives  a scientist 
permission  to  use  his  brain,  which  is  transferred  to  tho 
body  of  a live  ape.  Escaping,  the  anthropoid  sets  out  on 
a mission  of  revenge  and  kills  all  members  of  the  mob  as 
well  as  the  district  attorney  who  sent  the  innocent  man  to 
the  chair.  Directed  by  Stuart  Heisler. 


Ellen  Drew,  Robert  Paige,  Paul  LukaB,  Joseph  Calleia,  Onslow 
Stevens,  George  Zucco,  Rod  Cameron.  Phillip  Terry. 


EXPLOITIPS:  Ellen  Drew  is  probably  the  only  name  here 
worthy  of  exploitation  effort.  Sell  the  picture  on  its  chill- 
horror  angles.  Have  house  artist  construct  a life-sized  fig- 
ure of  a gorilla  with  eyes  which  emit  green  flashes  and 
mount  it  above  the  marquee  or  as  the  lobby  center-piece 
A figure  of  Ellen  Drew  shrinking  from  it  would  add  to  the 
layout.  Spot  one-minute  broadcasts  on  radio  stations  as- 
serting the  "gorilla"  has  "escaped"  and  warning  everyone 
to  “keep  out  of  its  way."  Stage  a midnight  "horror"  show, 
CATCHLINES:  Half-Man  . Half-Gorilla  And  All  Bad 
. . Was  the  Beast  Produced  Through  a Scientist's  Cunning. 
He  Had  a Terrible  Mission  in  Life  . Died  Before  He  Com- 
pleted It  . . . But  Lived  Again  . . in  a Gorilla's  Body. 


26 


February  15,  1941 


27 


BOXOFFICE 


REVIEW  DIGEST 


-ttVery  Good;  4- Good;  — Fair;  -t- Mediocre;  — Poor;  —Very  Poor 


In  the  summary  tt  is  rated  as  2 pluses;  = as  2 minuses. 


P.  G.  Pace  Title  Dlstr. 

Little  Men  (REO)  

Little  Nellie  Kelly  (M-G-M)... 
Lone  Rider  Kides  On  (PRC)  . . 

Lone  Star  Raiders  (Rep) 

Lone  Wolf  Keeps  a Date  (Col) 

Long:  Voyage  Home  (DA) 

Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para) 
Lucky  Devils  (Univ) 

M 

26.  .Mad  Doctor,  The  (Para) 

5..Maisie  Was  a Lady  (M-G-M).. 

Margie  (Univ)  

Mark  of  Zorro,  The  (20th-Fox) 

28.  .Meet  the  Chump  (Univ) 

Meet  the  Missus  (Rep) 

Meet  the  Wildcat  (Univ) 

Melody  and  Moonlight  (Rep).. 

Melody  Ranch  (Rep) 

Men  Against  the  Sky  (RKO)  . . 
Mexican  Spitfire  Out  West 

(RKO)  

Michael  Shayne,  Private 

Detective  (20th-Fox)  

Misbehaving  Husbands  (PRC). 
27.. Monster  and  the  Girl  (Para).. 

Moon  Over  Burma  (Para) 

Mortal  Storm,  The  (M-G-M) . . 
13.  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  (RKO)... 
Mummy's  Hand,  The  (Univ).. 
Murder  Over  New  York 

(20th-Fox)  


N 

Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s  (Para) 

Night  Train  (20th-Fox) 

18.. Nobody’s  Children  (Col) 

8 . No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO) 

No  Time  for  Comedy  (FN)  . . . . 
North  West  Mounted  Police 
(Para)  


o 

Ol*  Swimmln’  Hole  (Mono) .... 

On  the  Spot  (Mono) 

One  Million  B.  C.  (UA) 

One  Night  in  the  Tropics 

(Univ)  

Outlaws  of  tlie  Panhandle  (Col) 

P 

Passport  to  Alcatraz  (Col) .... 

Pastor  Hall  (UA) 

Petticoat  Politics  (Rep) 

Phantom  of  Chinatown  (Mono) 
Phantom  Submarine,  The  (Col) 
Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  . 

23..  Pinto  Kid  (Col)  

Play  Girl  (RKO)  

Pony  Post  (Univ)  

Prairie  Law  (RKO) 

Prairie  Schooners  (Col) 

15..  Pride  of  the  Bowery  (Mono).. 
Public  Beb  No.  X <20th-Fox)  . . 

Q 

Quarterback,  The  (Para) 

R 

Ragtime  Cowboy  Joe  (Univ) . . 
Rangers  of  Fortune  (Para) 
Remedy  for  Riches  (RKO) 
Rhythm  on  the  River  (Para).. 
25.  Ride,  Kelly,  Ride  (20th-Fox) . 
Ride,  Tenderfoot,  Ride  (Rep). 

19.. Ridin'  on  a Rainbow  (Rep).... 

25..  Road  Show  (UA)  

10.  .Robin  Hood  of  the  Pecos  (Rep) 

17..  Rolling  Home  to  Texas  (Mono) 
5.  .Romance  of  the  Itlo  Grande 

( 20th-Fox)  

s 

Safari  (Para)  

3.. Saint  in  Palm  Springs  (RKO). 


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P.  G.  Page  Title  Dlstr. 

Sandy  Gets  Her  Man  (Univ)  . . . 

Sandy  Is  a Lady  (Univ) 

San  Francisco  Docks  (Univ)  . . . 

Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN) 

27.  .Scattergood  Baines  (RKO)... 
Second  Chorus  (Para) 

23..  5.cret  Evidence  (PRC) 

Seven  Sinners  (Univ) 

She  Couldn’t  Say  No  (FN) 

12.  .Six  Lessons  From  Madame 

La  Zonga  (Univ)  

Sky  Murder  (M-G-M) 

Slightly  Tempted  (Univ) 

20.  .So  Ends  Our  Night  (UA) 

So  You  Won’t  Talk  (Col) 

Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (UA).... 

South  of  Suez  (WB) . 

Spellbound  (UA)  

Spring  Parade  (Univ) 

Street  of  Memories  (20th-Fox) 
Strike  Up  the  Band  (M-G-M)  . 

T 

Take  Me  Back  to  Okla.  (Mono) 

14..  Tall,  Dark  and  Handsome 

<20th-Fox)  

Texas  Rangers  Ride  Again 

(Para)  

Texas  Terrors  (Rep) 

That  Gang  of  Mine  (Mono) .... 
They  Knew  What  They  Wanted 

(RKO)  

Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA) 

Third  Finger,  Left  Hand 

(M-G-M)  

This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col). 
Three  Men  From  Texas  (Para) 
Thundering  Frontier  (Col) 

Tin  Pan  Alley  (20fh-Fox) 

Too  Many  Girls  (RKO) 

Torpedo  Raider  (Mono) 

Trail  Blazers  (Rep) 

Trail  of  the  Silver  Spurs  (Mono) 
Trail  of  the  Vigilantes  (Univ) . 
Trailin’  Double  Trouble  (Mono) 

28..  Trial  of  Mary  Dugan  (M-G-M) 

Triple  Justice  (RKO) 

Tugboat  Annie  Sails  Again 

(WB)  

U 

Under  Texas  Skies  (Rep) 

Up  in  the  Air  (Mono) 

V 

Victory  (Para)  

Villain  Still  Pursued  Her, 

The  (RKO)  

12.  Virginia  (Para)  

W 

Wagon  Train  (RKO)  

Wagons  Westward  (Rep) 

West  of  Pinto  Basin  (Mono) . . 
Westerner,  The  (UA) 

24..  Western  Union  (20th-Fox)  . . . . 
Where  Did  Y’ou  Get  That  Girl 

(Univ)  

Who  Is  Guilty?  (Mono) 

Who  Killed  Aunt  .Maggie? 

(Rep)  

Wild  Horse  Range  (Mono) 

24..  Wild  Man  of  Borneo  (M-G-M) 

World  in  Flames  (Para) 

Wyoming  (M-G-M)  

8 . . Wyoming  Wildcat  (Rep) 

Y 

Yesterday’s  Heroes  (20th-Fox) 

You’ll  Find  Out  (RKO) 

Young  Bill  Hickok  (Rep) 

11..  You’re  Out  of  Luck  )Mono)  . . . 

21..  You’re  the  One  (Para) 

Youth  Will  Be  Served 

(20th-Fox)  

Yukon  Flight  (Mono) 


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20 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


Term  Price  for  "Lady" 
Tops  for  a Play 

New  York — In  the  face  of  spirited  com- 
petition, Paramount  nabs  “Lady  in  the 
Dark,”  hit  musical  play  starring  Gertrude 
Lawrence.  Barney  Balaban,  in  comment- 
ing on  the  purchase,  states  the  price  is 
“substantially  above  $275,000”  while  Para- 
mount asserts  this  is  the  highest  ever 
paid  by  a film  producer  for  a stage 
property. 

Produced  by  Sam  H.  Harris,  Paramount 
is  understood  to  have  financed  the  play 
to  the  tune  of  30  per  cent,  but  other 
interested  parties  include  Howard  S.  Cull- 
man, Jules  E.  Brulatour  and  Harris. 

Meanwhile,  special  handling  goes  to 
“The  Lady  Eve.”  Neil  P.  Agnew  has 
mapped  out  a three-way  publicity  and  ex- 
ploitation campaign  the  first  part  of  which 
is  under  way  for  the  New  York  opening 
at  the  Paramount  February  26.  The  sec- 
ond phase  will  be  a three-week  drive  to 
precede  the  opening  in  one  key  city  in 
each  of  Paramount’s  ten  sales  districts 
in  what  may  be  a tipoff  as  to  the  manner 
in  which  this  company  will  proceed  under 
the  decree  and  blocks  of  five  sales. 

The  third  phase  will  be  a three-week 
campaign  ahead  of  the  openings  in  20 
additional  key  cities  about  March  21. 

The  purchase  price,  according  to  the 
New  York  Times,  was  $283,000.  That  paper 
declared  theatrical  circles  viewed  the  figure 
as  “astronomical”  and  added  this  com- 
ment : 

“Broadway’s  surprise  was  the  more  ap- 
parent because  it  had  not  expected  the 
movies  would  go  beyond  $200,000  for  a hit 
play  in  view  of  the  economies  adopted 
since  the  collapse  of  the  foreign  market 
and  the  subsequent  decline  in  film  profits 
due  to  the  war.  Loss  of  the  foreign  market 
is  estimated  to  represent  a drop  of  30  to 
40  per  cent  in  film  company  earnings.” 

Times  Square  reports  added  Miss  Law- 
rence, star  of  the  play,  may  appear  in  the 
film. 

Paramount  Interest  in  Play 
Shaves  Price  lor  “Lady" 

New  York — Paramount’s  reputed  30  per 
cent  interest  in  “Lady  in  the  Dark”  will 
cut  the  approximate  $283,000  it  paid  for 
the  film  rights  to  about  $197,100  thereby, 
and  by  this  approach,  bringing  the  pur- 
chase figure  well  under  the  record  buy 
for  stage  properties.  Nevertheless,  the  ac- 
quisition remains  well  among  the  leaders 
over  the  years. 

According  to  the  New  York  Times,  Par- 
amount’s bid  rose  to  its  high  level  because 
Warner  had  offered  $275,000,  but  this  is 
not  confirmed.  At  any  rate,  the  “Lady  in 
the  Dark”  deal  launched  that  newspaper 
into  a discussion  of  play  purchases  by  film 
producers.  It  cites  the  previous  high  as 
having  gone  to  “Arsenic  and  Old  Lace,” 
purchased  recently  by  Warner  for  $175,000, 
plus  a percentage  of  the  gross.  Earlier, 
the  same  company  paid  $83,000  for 
“George  Washington  Slept  Here”  and 
$75,000  for  “Old  Acquaintance.”  M-G-M 
parted  with  $130,000  for  “Panama  Hattie,” 
the  account  continued,  and  Columbia  $70,- 
000  to  $75,000  as  a down  payment  on  “Pal 


Second  Complaint 
Due  Under  Decree 

Washington— Aside  from  the  Walbrook, 
Baltimore,  case  on  clearance,  the  local 
board  of  the  AAA  has  been  informed 
another  complaint  will  be  filed  in  the 
near  future.  Unlike  the  first,  this  will  not 
involve  protection  between  houses  in  the 
same  city,  but  will  revolve  around  clear- 
ance granted  a theatre  in  one  small 
Maryland  town  over  another  house  in 
the  same  community. 

. — = ->J 

New  England  Arbiter 
Has  His  First  Case 

Boston — The  first  New  England  arbi- 
tration case  was  filed  Thursday  afternoon 
by  Ben  Gold,  independent  operator  of  the 
Park  Theatre  at  Nashua,  N.  H.,  with  the 
local  clerk,  Henry  de  la  Morandiere,  at 
the  newly  established  offices  here  in  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce  Building. 

Independent  Exhibitors,  Inc.,  of  which 
Gold  is  a member,  assisted  Gold  in  pre- 
paring the  case  and  laid  the  groundwork 
for  the  hearing,  in  which  action  under 
Section  6 of  the  code  is  sought. 

Gold  alleges  inability  to  buy  any  major 
product.  The  complaint  states  that  the 
Shea  circuit,  Edward  Grainger  its  general 
manager,  has  tied  up  all  major  product 
for  its  two  Nashua  theatres  with  the  single 
exception  that  recently,  following  the 
Morse  and  Rothenberg  anti-trust  suit,  de- 
cision on  which  has  not  yet  been  handed 
down,  Morse  and  Rothenberg  have  been 
sold  Columbia  pictures  for  their  house,  the 
only  other  theatre  in  the  city. 


Illinois  Independent  Files 
Against  Loew's,  Inc. 

Chicago — With  the  words,  “E.  P.  Van 
Derveer  claims  that  Loew’s,  Inc.,  has  arbi- 
trarily refused  to  license  second  run  pic- 
tures for  exhibition  at  the  State  Theatre, 
Morris,  111.,”  the  film  arbitration  office  in 
Chicago  has  its  initial  case. 

Van  Derveer,  who  operates  one  of  three 
houses  in  the  downstate  town,  the  other 
two  being  operated  by  the  Anderson  cir- 
cuit, filed  his  complaint  Thursday  against 
Loew’s,  Inc.,  Chicago,  claiming  inability  to 
obtain  Metro  product. 


Joey,”  plus  a percentage  of  the  gross. 

“For  a long  time,”  reported  the  Times, 
“the  $250,000  Paramount  paid  for  ‘Abie’s 
Irish  Rose’  in  1928  set  the  pace  for  play 
purchases  by  the  movies.  Record  prices 
for  plays  in  recent  years  were  ‘You  Can’t 
Take  It  with  You,’  $200,000;  ‘Hellzapop- 
pin’,’  $200,000;  ‘The  American  Way,’  $225,- 
000;  ‘Room  Service,’  $255,000;  ‘The  Man 
Who  Came  to  Dinner,’  $275,000  and  ‘To- 
bacco Road,’  $200,000  plus  a royalty  pay- 
ment to  Jack  Kirkland,  the  producer. 
The  film  version  will  open  at  the  Roxy 
February  20  in  competition  with  the  play, 
now  in  its  eighth  year  on  Broadway.” 

Paramount  is  reported  to  have  sold 
rights  to  “The  Play’s  the  Thing”  to  RKO 
for  $45,000. 


Indirect  Swing  by 
Hears!  at  RKO 

New  York — Repercussions  of  the  diffi- 
culties between  William  Randolph  Hearst 
and  RKO  over  “Citizen  Kane,”  indicating 
the  situation  has  not  been  settled,  were 
seen  late  in  the  week  when  the  New  York 
Journal- American  gave  almost  a column  to 
a lawsuit  filed  by  Joseph  Ermolieff,  Euro- 
pean producer,  against  the  distributor.  A 
companion  story  appeared  in  the  Daily 
Mirror,  in  both  instances  the  dispatches 
coming  from  special  Los  Angeles  corre- 
spondents of  these  Hearst  papers. 

While  it  is  not  without  precedent  for 
stories  of  this  nature  to  appear  in  New 
York  newspapers,  Times  Square  opinion, 
in  part  at  least,  read  into  them  and  their 
length  more  of  a play  than  normally  might 
be  accorded  yarns  containing  their  gen- 
eral news  values.  Some  held  it  to  be  sig- 
nificant, too,  that  the  dispatches  were 
sent  to  their  specific  Hearst  newspaper 
here  and  not  over  the  wires  of  the  Inter- 
national News  Service,  Hearst-operated, 
which  serves  hundreds  of  papers  outside 
of  the  Hearst  string. 

The  story  itself  was  an  account  of  a 
$1,042,000  action  brought  by  Ermolieff. 
It  said  Schaefer  deliberately  broke  a con- 
tract under  terms  of  which  Ermolieff  was 
to  produce  both  an  English  and  French 
version  of  a story  entitled  “I  Solemnly 
Swear.”  The  producer  claims  he  signed  a 
contract  July  8,  1939,  that  he  and  RKO 
were  to  divide  net  profits  and  negative 
costs  and  that  the  picture  was  to  cost 
$600,000.  He  further  alleges  RKO  repudi- 
ated the  deal  October  31  of  that  year. 
The  picture,  he  adds,  was  to  be  released 
as  “Outpost  in  Morocco.” 

Already  Taking  Bows  lor 
" Pot  O'  Gold”  Premiere 

New  York — UA  expects  to  garner  for 
itself,  and  take  the  bows  for  gathering  for 
the  country  at  large,  considerable  Latin- 
American  goodwill  through  a super-elab- 
orate world  premiere  of  James  Roosevelt’s 
“Pot  O’  Gold”  in  Mexico  City  just  before 
Easter.  The  event  will  be  timed,  if  plans 
materialize,  to  take  advantage  of  a gi- 
gantic nationwide  day-and-date  effort  for 
Easter  bookings  in  this  country. 

Opening  of  the  film  below  the  border, 
is  seen  as  a natural  through  the  presence, 
of  President  Roosevelt’s  son  as  producer. 
Additionally,  there  is  good  reason  alone  in 
the  fact  that  the  film  boasts  some  preten- 
tious Mexican  production  numbers. 

UA  is  heading  for  special  attention  in 
still  another  direction,  it  appears.  Accord- 
ing to  Monroe  Greenthal,  director  of  ad- 
vertising and  publicity,  five  of  the  com- 
pany’s next  seven  releases  are  scheduled 
for  first  run  here  at  the  Music  Hall.  They 
are  “That  Uncertain  Feeling,”  “Major 
Barbara,”  “That  Hamilton  Woman,”  “So 
Ends  Our  Night”  and  “Cheers  for  Miss 
Bishop.” 


See  Big  “Virginia"  Play 

New  York — Paramount  has  225  pre-re- 
lease  bookings  on  “Virginia”  to  date.  Neil 
F.  Agnew  expects  to  have  285  dates  be- 
fore general  release,  February  22. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


N 


21 


Among  Those  at  Universal's  Convention — 

It  goes  like  this,  from  left  to  right:  Dave  Levy,  Big  U,  New  York;  Frank  J.  A. 
McCarthy , eastern  sales  manager;  George  E.  Schwartz,  Philadelphia;  John 
Pavone,  New  Haven;  Paul  Baron,  Boston;  Max  Cohen,  Washington,  and 
Jules  Lapidus,  district  manager.  All  men  have  returned  to  their  offices 
with  the  exception  of  McCarthy  who  is  holding  regional  sales  meetings. 


Points  to  Universal's 
"Unalterable  Policy" 

Chicago — It  is  Universal’s  unalterable 
policy  that  salesmen  must  deal  fairly  with 
exhibitors  and  avoid  any  promises  that 
cannot  be  reduced  to  writing  in  contracts, 
William  A.  Scully  declared  at  the  com- 
pany’s final  convention  session.  The  slo- 
gan for  next  season  will  be  “Universal 
Pictures,  the  Exhibitor’s  Insurance  Policy 
for  1941-42.” 

Jim  Frew  succeeds  W.  M.  (Snake)  Rich- 
ardson as  manager  in  Atlanta  where  John 
Ezell  has  resigned,  as  reported  in  Box- 
office’s  Southern  edition  last  week.  Gor- 
don C.  Craddock  now  is  assistant  to  Wil- 
liam J.  Heineman,  western  sales  manager, 
while  H.  H.  Hull  succeeds  Craddock  in 
charge  in  Indianapolis.  Jack  Bannon, 
long  secretary  to  Sam  Dembow  and  lat- 
terly in  the  state  right  field  on  his  own, 
becomes  assistant  to  Frank  J.  A.  Mc- 
Carthy, eastern  sales  manager.  Scully 
introduced  them,  as  he  did  Harold  Dudoff, 
India  representative,  and  L.  L.  Foeldes, 
Universal’s  representative  in  Central 
Europe. 

Convention  enthusiasm  was  further 
aroused  by  wired  reports  indicating  “Back 
Street”  had  been  held  over  in  14  first 
runs.  Paul  J.  Nathanson,  Canadian  dis- 
tributor, informed  Nate  J.  Blumberg  and 
the  assemblage  it  was  his  opinion  Uni- 
versal is  now  the  second  ranking  company 
in  the  Dominion.  John  Joseph,  director 
of  advertising  and  publicity,  detailed  the 
“Back  Street”  premiere  in  Miami  and 
reported  a generally  favorable  press.  Ad- 
dresses Monday  included  one  from  J. 
Cheever  Cowdin,  chairman  of  the  board, 
and  from  Blumberg.  While  the  banquet 
that  evening  officially  terminated  the 
meetings,  divisional  and  district  mana- 
gers went  into  a huddle  Tuesday. 


Name  Change 

Albany — RKO  Proctor  Mt.  Vernon  Corp. 
has  made  a name  change  to  Parkway  The- 
atre Corp.  Prentice-Hall,  Inc.,  90  Broad 
St.,  recorded  papers. 


Wind  Up  Remittance 
Hearings  Next  Week 

New  York — Arbitration  hearings  on  pro- 
posed changes  in  the  allocation  plan  for 
British  remittances  as  suggested  by 
M-G-M,  are  expected  to  wind  up  before 
Milton  J.  Handler,  impartial  arbitrator, 
next  week.  Sam  Cohen  of  M-G-M’s  legal 
department  is  presenting  arguments  for 
the  company  and  Joseph  H.  Hazen  of 
Warner  is  acting  for  the  other  seven 
majors. 

With  England  permitting  a total  of 
$12,900,000  to  be  transferred  to  this  coun- 
try for  the  year  started  November  1, 
M-G-M  claims  its  share  of  the  money 
should  be  based  on  net  business  rather 
than  gross. 

More  From  " London  Can 
Take  It"  Forwarded 

New  York — The  $25,000,  earmarked  and 
already  forwarded  to  Lord  Beaverbrook, 
British  minister  of  aircraft  production, 
represents  the  bulk,  but  not  necessarily  all, 
of  the  returns  on  “London  Can  Take  It,” 
Quentin  Reynolds’  short  distributed  by 
Warner. 

All  proceeds,  less  print  cost,  go  to  the 
British  Spitfire  fund. 

(<  ■ ft 

Opposing  Radio? 

Now  Take  a Look 

New  York — A nation-wide  survey  dis- 
closes that  87  per  cent  of  sponsored  radio 
film  commentators  are  engaged  by  ex- 
hibitors, according  to  the  National  Radio 
Film  Commentators  Circle,  headed  by 
David  Lowe  of  station  WNEW  of  New 
York.  The  group  states  it  polled  178  film 
commentators  appearing  over  stations  in 
48  states,  Alaska,  Hawaii  and  Puerto 
Rico,  and  declares  its  findings  are  a 
significant  disclosure  in  light  of  the  "pur- 
ported anti-radio  feelings  of  the  Holly- 
wood producers." 

^ - ...  ... . J) 


28  Independents  Test 
Theatre  Guide  Ads 

New  York — With  RKO,  Loew’s  and 
Skouras  having  their  theatre  guides  ap- 
pearing regularly  in  local  newspapers,  28 
independent  theatres  last  week  inserted  a 
group  ad  under  the  name  of  United  Neigh- 
borhood Theatres  as  an  experiment.  One 
circuit  operator  who  participated  in  the 
combination  stated  the  rate  was  cheaper 
under  this  plan.  It  also  was  felt  that  if 
he  advertised  alone  his  theatres  would  be 
lost  on  the  page  with  small  copy. 

If,  however,  the  idea  clicks,  similar  ar- 
rangements will  be  worked  out  with  other 
papers.  The  experiment  was  tried  in  the 
N.  Y.  Post.  Theatres  listed  included  the 
Ace,  Freeman,  Heights,  Jerome,  Kings- 
bridge,  Metro,  Mt.  Eden,  Astor  (Bklyn), 
Ascot,  Fleetwood,  Lido,  Fenway,  Tower, 
Granada,  Avalon,  DeLuxe,  Oxford,  Vogue, 
Prospect,  Grand,  Savoy,  Kent,  Star,  Zenith, 
Earl,  Luxor,  Ogden,  and  Surrey. 


Yorke  Rejoins  20th-Fox 
In  West  on  Promotion 

New  York — Gabe  Yorke  has  rejoined 
20th-Fox,  this  time  as  western  divisional 
promotion  manager  with  headquarters  in 
Los  Angeles.  For  the  past  few  weeks  he 
had  been  handling  special  exploitation  for 
“Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop,”  which  was  pro- 
duced by  Richard  A.  Rowland  for  UA,  and 
“Land  of  Liberty.”  Under  his  new  duties 
he  will  supervise  promotion  work  in  co- 
operation with  theatres  playing  the  com- 
pany’s product.  He  was  formerly  adver- 
tising manager  for  20th-Fox  and  also  head 
of  advertising  for  Fox  West  Coast  cir- 
cuit. The  February  8 eastern  edition  of 
Boxoffice  exclusively  reported  Yorke  re- 
joining 20th-Fox. 


Hearing  on  Publicists' 
Demands  February  17 

New  York  — The  second  adjourned 
hearing  between  the  Screen  Publicists 
Guild  and  representatives  of  the  majors 
before  NLRB  Trial  Examiner  Dan  Baker 
has  been  set  for  February  17  due  to  Baker’s 
illness.  Baker  is  listening  to  testimony  over 
the  SPG’s  demand  for  designation  as  col- 
lective bargaining  agent  for  what  is 
claimed  to  be  a majority  of  members 
among  publicists  at  home  offices. 


Screeno  Eastern  Rights 
To  Dave  Dietz  Firm 

New  York — The  Dave  Dietz  company 
has  been  named  by  J.  S.  Markstein,  Chi- 
cago, general  manager  of  the  Screeno 
Amusement  Co.,  as  the  distributor  of 
Screeno  in  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Penn- 
sylvania and  West  Virginia.  The  new 
firm,  Eastern  Screeno  Co.,  succeeds  George 
B.  West,  who  withdrew  to  take  care  of  his 
interests  in  the  Monogram  exchanges  at 
St.  Louis,  Cincinnati  and  Kansas  City. 

Markstein  came  here  from  Chicago  to 
close  the  deal. 


22 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


J^ICHOLAS  M.  SCHENCK  is  due  back 
from  a belated  visit  to  the  M-G-M 
studios  on  Monday.  He  was  on  the  coast 
about  a week  . . . Sam  Rinzler  left  Thurs- 
day to  join  his  partner,  Louis  Frisch,  in 
Miami.  Because  of  the  bad  weather,  Frisch 
is  staying  on  a little  longer  than  he  con- 
templated . . . John  Dervin,  UA  Boston 
manager,  was  in  town  the  other  day  . . . 
Jacob  James  Milstein  and  Arthur  Gottlieb 
plan  to  head  for  Mexico  about  the  middle 
of  next  month,  with  a short  stopoveF  at 
Miami  for  a fishing  vacation  . . . Haskell 
Masters’  wife  has  joined  him  here,  mov- 
ing in  from  Toronto  the  early  part  of  the 
week.  Their  son  has  been  here  some  time 
and,  as  soon  as  their  daughter  finishes 
school,  she  will  head  for  New  York  . . . 
Harry  Mersay  of  20th-Fox  has  March  2 
set  as  his  departure  date  for  Miami. 

Glenn  Ford,  Columbia  contract  player, 
has  returned  to  the  coast  after  an  exten- 
sive vacation  in  the  east  . . . Clarence  Nash, 
the  "voice”  of  Donald  Duck,  got  into  town 
Sunday  . . . Ona  Munson  left  Sunday  for 
the  coast  after  appearing  on  the  " Big 
Town”  broadcasts  with  Edward  G.  Robin- 
son . . . Joseph  Seider  has  gone  to  Cuba 
and  promises  to  come  back  with  plenty  of 
fishing  stories  . . . Charles  Moses  has 
turned  the  Palace,  Port  Richmond,  S.  I., 
over  to  Si  Fabian  and  in  return  got  the 
Staten,  New  Dorp,  S.  I.  In  other  words,  it 
was  a swap  and  eliminated  competition 
between  the  two  men  in  those  towns  . . . 
On  Monday  night,  last,  Warner  sneaked 
"Mr.  John  Doe,”  latest  Frank  Capra  pic- 
ture, at  an  RKO  house  in  White  Plains  . . . 
Dick  Rowland  was  in  Toronto  the  middle 
of  the  week  for  the  trade  screening  of  his 
UA  film,  "Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop”  . . . 
Harry  Goetz  is  reported  asking  $250,000  for 
the  screen  rights  to  "Sister  Eileen”  and 
M-G-M  is  reported  offering  $40,000  for 
"Mr.  and  Mrs.  North.”  Would  be  for  Loy 
and  Powell. 

David  Loew  will  embark  on  his  return 
coast  trip  February  21  . . . Oscar  Doob 
predicts  that  in  three  years,  the  “9  o’clock 
plan”  in  local  circuit  houses  will  bring 
about  week  bookings  of  pictures  instead  of 
split  weeks  . . . Johnny  Murphy  and  Eddie 
Dowden  of  Loew’s  returned  from  Buffalo 
after  short  trips  upstate  . . . Jerry  Sager, 
handling  Westchester  publicity  for  the 
Loew  circuit,  has  been  laid  up  with  flu  . . . 
John  W.  Hicks  jr„  foreign  head  for  Para- 
mount, returned  Saturday  on  the  Ancon 
from  Panama  City  where  he  conducted  a 
meeting  of  South  American  managers  . . . 
Merian  C.  Cooper  has  sailed  for  England 
for  additional  data  on  “The  Eagle  Squad- 
ron” to  be  released  by  UA  . . . W.  Ray 
Johnston  has  been  in  the  east  conferring 
with  Steve  Broidy,  Monogram  general 
sales  manager.  Incidentally,  Eddie  Golden, 
now  on  his  own  as  an  independent  pro- 
ducer for  Monogram,  says  he  expects  to 
have  an  important  announcement  about  his 
plans  shortly.  He’s  been  visiting  various 
key  cities  the  past  few  weeks. 

S.  Machnovitz  and  Mrs.  M. — he’s  Uni- 
versal’s treasurer — are  others  who  extend- 
ed their  southern  stay,  but  are  due  back 
momentarily  . . . Doug  Churchill,  Holly- 
wood correspondent  for  the  New  York 
Times,  is  in  town.  He  left  Miami  early 
for  a few  days  at  Nassau;  thereafter,  his 


, ■ — Metropolitan  Photos 

One  Leaves , but  Two  More  Arrive — 

Above  (left),  Jack  Hively,  co-director  of  "They  Met  in  Argentine”  for  RKO, 
reaches  New  York  on  vacation.  Top  right  photo  is  another  arrival,  this  time 
of  Guy  Kibbee,  star  of  “ Scattergood  Baines”  who  is  in  Montpelier , Vt.,  for  the 
premiere  of  the  film.  As  they  came  in,  out  went  Jean  Hersholt  carrying  with 
him  the  grey  hat  worn  by  the  President  during  his  three  campaigns.  Pre- 
sented to  Hersholt,  it  will  be  auctioned  at  the  Associated  Actors  and  Artistes 
ball  at  the  Ambassador , Los  Angeles,  March  17  for  the  benefit  of  the  M.  P. 
Relief  Fund  of  which  Hersholt  is  president. 


visit  here  . . . The  Charles  D.  Prutzmans 
figured  on  a short  visit  to  Havana,  found 
they  could  fly  over  but  couldn’t  get  passage 
back  in  time  to  make  the  New  York-bound 
tram.  Anyway,  they  were  among  the  many 
who  attended  the  Press  Photographers’  ball 
at  the  Astor  Friday  night  . . . Matty  Fox, 
back  from  Miami  and  the  Universal  Chi- 
cago convention,  will  continue  in  the  east 
for  another  two  weeks  or  thereabouts. 
Then  Hollywood. 

Joe  Rosthal  of  Loew’s  foreign  depart- 
ment continues  on  the  sick  list  ...  Ed 
Raftery  returned  early  in  the  week  from 
a trip  to  Kansas  City,  Oklahoma  City  and 
Newark,  Ohio.  In  the  latter  city,  he  met 


Ed  C.  Grainger,  who  came  back  with  him 
. . . Gabe  Yorke  left  for  the  coast  Friday  to 
assume  his  new  duties  as  western  promo- 
tional manager  for  20th-Fox  . . . Herman 
and  Rose  Gluckman  leave  February  22  for 
New  Orleans  and  the  Mardi  Gras.  From 
there  they  will  continue  by  car  to  the 
coast.  Eugene  and  Mrs.  Picker,  who  had 
planned  to  accompany  them,  leave  Febru- 
ary 28  for  Los  Angeles  where  they  will 
meet  the  Gluckmans.  After  a vacation 
there  the  quartet  will  head  for  home  to- 
gether . . . Bill  White  of  the  Skouras  cir- 
cuit didn’t  pay  much  attention  to  the  pe- 
destrian crossing  signals  at  45th  & Broad- 
way until  Jack  Harris  pointed  the  system 
(Continued  on  page  25) 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


23 


RKO  Cleans  Up  All  Claims 
Against  It  With  $7,250 


New  York — It  took  years,  but  RKO  and 
its  reorganization  detail,  in  the  form  of 
final  claims,  this  week  cleared  federal 
courts.  Nothing  else  hangs  fire. 

The  cleanup  took  form  in  $7,250  addi- 
tional allowances  granted  by  Federal  Judge 
William  O.  Bondy  to  firms  of  attorneys 
and  accountants  for  their  stint  in  the  pro- 
ceedings. 

David  Stock  and  Donald  Macks,  attor- 
neys for  H.  Cassel  and  Co.,  were  allowed 
$1,500  out  of  $9,000  requested,  providing 
Kommel  and  Rosenberg,  also  attorneys 
for  Cassel,  have  their  appeal  denied.  The 
latter  firm  asked  for  $15,000  and  was 
granted  nothing. 

George  L.  Schein,  attorney  for  the  in- 
dependent protective  committee  for  com- 
mon stockholders,  received  an  additional 
allowance  of  $4,500  to  the  $8,000  already 
received.  He  had  asked  $100,000.  His  ac- 
countants, Gottheimer  and  Bercu,  who  had 
received  $2,000  out  of  $30,000  sought,  were 
granted  an  additional  $1,250.  This  wipes 
out  the  last  remaining  vestige  of  RKO  in 
the  U.  S.  courts,  as  nothing  else  is  hang- 
ing fire. 

May  Set  Precedent 

A decision  which  may  have  some  bear- 
ing on  future  copyrights  was  handed  down 
in  the  supreme  court  when  Justice  Peter 
Schmuck  dismissed  Stephen  Tamas’  suit 
against  20th  Century-Fox  in  which  Tamas, 
an  Hungarian  playwright,  sought  an  in- 
junction, accounting  of  profits  and  dam- 
ages against  “Stowaway.”  He  claimed  the 
Shirley  Temple  picture  was  based  on  his 
story.  The  court  found  no  plagiarism  other 
than  the  title  which  could  not  be  copy- 
righted and  remarked  Tamas  had  already 
lost  in  the  Hungarian  courts.  Under  the 
ruling  it  may  develop  that  U.  S.  courts 
will  follow  European  ones  in  deciding  is- 
sues. 

Katherine  Moog’s  $75,000  libel  action 
against  Warner  was  tossed  out  by  a fed- 
eral jury.  The  action  claimed  libel  in 
“Confessions  of  a Nazi  Spy,”  with  the 
plaintiff  charging  the  part  played  by  Lya 
Lys  in  the  film  was  meant  to  represent 
her.  The  jury,  before  Judge  Matthew  T. 
Abruzzo,  ruled  otherwise. 

Suit  of  Harry  Essex  and  Sid  Schwartz, 
playwrights,  against  Republic  Pictures  was 
dismissed  on  its  merits  by  mutual  consent 
in  federal  court.  The  action  sought  an 
injunction,  accounting  of  profits,  and  dam- 
ages against  “Money  to  Burn”  with  the 
plaintiffs  charging  the  film  was  a deliber- 
ate piracy  of  their  play,  “Something  for 
Nothing.” 

Travelcade  Sues  Consolidated 
Travelcade  Film  Corp.  filed  suit  in  the 
supreme  court  against  Consolidated  Film 
Industries  seeking  $25,000  damages  for 
alleged  failure  to  deliver  prints  on  time. 
The  plaintiff  says  it  gave  Consolidated 
six  negatives  in  August  with  the  under- 
standing that  15  prints  of  each  would  be 
ready  in  six  days.  After  two  months  of 
waiting  it  is  alleged  Consolidated  stated  it 
could  not  do  the  job.  By  that  time  the 
prints  were  outdated  and  could  not  be 


(<  ft 

F.  D.  R.  Will  Address 
Academy  Award  Dinner 

Hollywood — President  Roosevelt  will 
address  the  Academy  Awards  dinner, 
February  27,  via  radio  from  Washington. 
Walter  Wanger,  Academy  president,  ar- 
ranged it  while  on  a recent  visit  to  the 
White  House. 

Vfc  = JJ 

sold,  the  plaintiff  charges.  The  films  were 
all  travelogues. 

Philip  Chapman,  projectionist,  has  filed 
a supreme  court  suit  against  the  Empire 
State  Operators  and  Square  Enterprises, 
Inc.,  operators  of  the  Square  Theatre, 
Brooklyn,  claiming  the  union  suspended 
him  when  he  refused  to  leave  his  job  at 
the  Square  where  he  has  been  employed 
for  two  years  to  take  a job  at  another 
theatre.  He  seeks  reinstatement  and  his 
job  back. 


Weingarten  and  Wyngate 
Secure  Rights  to  "Ecstasy" 

New  York  — Max  Weingarten  and 
Michael  Wyngate  were  returned  victors 
in  a one-day  trial  over  Eureka  Productions 
and  Samuel  Cummins  when  Justice  Aaron 
Steuer  in  supreme  court  handed  down  a 
decision  from  the  bench  that  the  picture, 
“Ecstasy,”  belongs  to  the  plaintiffs.  An  in- 
junction against  further  distribution,  ac- 
counting of  profits,  damages,  and  return 
of  prints  were  ordered.  The  defendants’ 
rights  in  the  film  ran  out  October,  1939, 
according  to  the  complaint,  which  claimed 
the  plaintiffs  had  purchased  the  rights  for 
the  next  five  years  from  the  producers, 
Elekta  Films  of  Czechoslovakia.  Fitelson 
and  Mayers  represented  the  plaintiffs. 

Would  Question  Zanuck 

Application  to  examine  Darryl  F.  Zanuck, 
vice-president  of  20th-Fox,  has  been  made 
by  Eleanor  Harris.  The  plaintiff,  author 
of  the  original  on  which  “Brigham  Young” 
was  based,  seeks  $50,000  damages  for  al- 
leged failure  to  give  her  proper  screen 
credit. 

RKO  has  notified  the  federal  court  of 
its  intentions  to  examine  Helen  Twelve- 
trees  before  trial  on  February  24.  The 
company  is  being  sued  for  an  injunction, 
accounting  of  profits  and  $100,000  dam- 
ages for  alleged  libel  in  “I’m  Still  Alive” 
which,  the  actress  claims,  is  based  on  her 
life  with  her  former  husband,  Jack 
Woody,  Hollywood  stunt  man. 


Botsford  to  LeBaron ; 

Moss  Joining  Wanger 

Hollywood — Producers  A.  M.  Botsford 
and  Jack  Moss  have  resigned  their  Para- 
mount posts.  Botsford  will  continue  in  as- 
sociation with  William  LeBaron  who  re- 
cently resigned  as  Paramount  production 
head.  Moss  joins  Walter  Wanger  as  pro- 
duction associate. 


December  Is  Record 
Film  Stock  Month 


Washington  — Approximately  155,000 
shares  of  film  company  stocks  were  in- 
volved in  transactions  entered  into  in 
December  by  officers  and  directors  of  film 
companies  and  large  holders  of  film  se- 
curities, it  is  shown  by  the  semi-monthly 
summary  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange 
Commission. 

The  largest  total  of  film  stocks  ever  re- 
ported for  one  month  by  the  commission, 
the  greater  part  of  the  volume  was  ac- 
counted for  by  the  more  than  140,000 
shares  of  Radio-Keith-Orpheum  common 
and  preferred  stock  acquired  by  the  Atlas 
Corporation  in  an  almost  daily  series  of 
purchases. 

Transactions  of  the  month,  as  reported 
by  the  commission,  were  as  follows: 

General  Theatres  Equipment  Corp.:  Ac- 
quisition of  200  shares  of  capital  stock  by 
Edward  C.  Delafield,  director,  New  York, 
giving  him  a total  of  400  shares. 

Keith-Albee-Orpheum:  Disposition  of 
9,000  shares  of  7 per  cent  preferred  stock 
(2,000  shares  of  gift  in  trust  for  children), 
by  Michael  J.  Meehan,  New  York,  reducing 
his  interest  to  17,004  shares;  exchange  of 
10  shares  of  preferred  stock  for  10  pre- 
ferred voting  trust  certificates  by  Malcolm 
Kingsberg,  officer,  New  York,  who  held 
490  shares  of  preferred  and  the  10  certifi- 
cates at  the  close  of  the  month. 

Loew’s  Boston  Theatres:  Acquisition  of 
four  shares  of  common  stock  by  Loew’s  In- 
corporated, making  a total  holding  of  117,- 
787  shares. 

Loew’s,  Inc.:  Acquisition  of  100  shares 
of  common  stock  by  A1  Lichtman,  officer, 
New  York,  representing  his  total  interest 
at  the  close  of  the  month. 

Radio-Keith-Orpheum:  Acquisition  by 
the  Atlas  Corp.,  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  of  138,- 
578  shares  of  common  and  2,900  shares 
of  six  per  cent  preferred  stock;  at  the 
close  of  the  month  Atlas  held  732,896 
shares  of  common,  327,812  warrants  for 
common  and  35,481  shares  of  preferred 
stock  direct  and  268,230  shares  of  common 
through  the  American  Company.  Dispo- 
sition of  600  shares  of  common  stock  and 
75  shares  of  preferred  by  Frederick  L. 
Ehrman,  director,  New  York,  leaving  him 
with  200  shares  of  common  and  no  pre- 
ferred; and  disposition  of  2,000  shares  of 
common  stock  by  L.  Lawrence  Green,  di- 
rector, New  York,  leaving  him  with  2,250 
shares. 

Trans  Lux  Corp.:  Disposition  of  500 
shares  of  common  stock  by  Robert  L.  Gor- 
don, director,  New  York,  his  total  hold- 
ings, and  acquisition  of  200  shares  of  com- 
mon by  Walter  Siemers,  director,  Jamaica, 
N.  Y.,  giving  him  1,200  shares. 

Twentieth  Century-Fox:  Acquisition  of 
1,000  shares  of  common  stock  by  Sidney 
R.  Kent,  officer.  New  York,  giving  him  a 
total  of  3,180  shares. 


Handles  Select  List 

New  York — Equity  Exchange  will  han- 
dle Select  Attractions’  output  in  Greater 
New  York,  Albany  and  Buffalo,  according 
to  a deal  closed  early  in  the  week. 


24 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


e r 

(Continued  from  page  23) 

out  to  him  . . . Milton  Feld  came  on  to 
New  York  from  the  Chicago  convention 
. . . Arthur  W.  Kelly  walks  to  his  office 
every  morning  from  home,  and  vice  versa. 

William  F.  Rodgers  is  back  at  his  desk 
after  a trip  to  Detroit  where  he  conferred 
with  “Ted”  O’Shea,  Jack  Flynn  and  John 
Maloney  . . . Budd  Rogers  says  he  expects 
three  Mayflower  (English)  productions 
from  London  within  the  week  . . . Leonard 
Picker,  Columbia  attorney,  left  for  Florida 
Friday  on  the  second  installment  of  his 
vacation  . . . Tom  Connors  returned  from 
Dallas  Thursday  and  left  the  next  day  for 
a Florida  vacation  . . . Edward  M.  Saun- 
ders is  there  already  . . . Monroe  Greenthal 
is  back  from  a trip  to  the  coast,  mostly  to 
look  at  a flock  of  new  product  . . . Mrs. 
David  Palfreyman  has  the  flu  and  a stay 
at  St.  Clare’s  Hospital  behind  her.  She 
was  discharged  Friday. 

Guy  Kibbee,  accompanied  by  Terry 
Turner,  was  in  Montpelier,  Vt.,  and  Clare- 
mont, N.  H.,  for  personal  appearances  with 
“Seattergood  Baines”  . . . Abraham  Leff 
of  the  Five  Boro  Circuit  in  the  Bronx 
announces  the  marriage  of  his  daughter, 
Ethel,  to  Albert  J.  Beberfeld.  The  groom 
is  connected  with  a theatre  cleaning  sup- 
ply house  . . . Harry  Gittleson,  editor  of 
RKO’s  publication.  Flash,  has  returned 
from  Toronto  after  a tour  with  Leo  De- 
vaney  in  connection  with  the  Ned  Depinet 
Drive  . . . Albert  Lewin  goes  to  Washington 
Wednesday  to  deliver  an  address  before 
the  student  body  of  four  Catholic  univer- 
sities on  the  functions  of  a producer. 

B.  S.  Moss  has  gone  to  Miami  . . . Nor- 
man Moray  has  been  in  the  same  spot  for 
the  past  week  . . . Milt  Kusell  has  con- 
verted the  space  formerly  occupied  by  Na- 
tional Screen  Accessories  at  the  local 
Paramount  exchange  into  a recreation 
room  . . . Leah  Peterson,  cashier  at  the 
same  branch,  has  returned  from  Florida 
with  a nice  tan  . . . Nat  Steinberg  is  the 
exhibitor  who  took  over  the  Parkway,  Mt. 
Vernon,  from  RKO  on  a leasing  deal  . . . 
Bob  Benjamin  has  called  off  his  trip  to  the 
coast,  for  the  present  . . . Joe  Unger  is 
eyeing  Miami  shores,  waiting  for  the 
weather  to  warm  up  a bit  before  making 
reservations  . . . Harry  Goetz  will  make 
another  trek  to  Hollywood  the  latter  part 
of  the  month  . . . John  Joseph  left  over 
the  weekend  for  the  coast.  On  Thursday  he 
got  together  with  Oscar  Doob,  Art  Schmidt 
and  Dave  Lipton  for  a reunion  of  B&K 
days  in  Chicago  ...  5.  Barret  McCormick 
has  been  down  with  a touch  of  the  flu  . . . 
Alec  Moss  goes  to  Miami  late  in  the  week. 
Vacation,  of  course. 

A brewers’  convention  without  beer 
would  be  an  awfully  dull  affair,  but  not  so 
a press  photographers’  dance  without 
cameramen.  Yet  that’s  the  big  story  about 
the  12th  annual  shindig  the  lensers  tossed 
off  at  the  Hotel  Astor  Friday  evening,  not 
unless,  of  course,  there’s  a story  in  the  fact 
that  some  3,700  persons  crowded  into  the 
ballroom  and  some  100  creme  de  la  creme 
of  the  professional  theatrical  world  con- 
tributed upwards  of  four  hours  of  enter- 


€>  A\  I D)  W 

tainment.  Then  there  was  dancing  until 
dawn  between  the  orchestras  of  Eli  Dant- 
zig  and  Augusto  Sanabia  and  his  Rum 
Conga  band.  Then,  too,  there  were  a couple 
of  up-and-coming  boys  working  like  bea- 
vers at  master  ceremoning — Ed  Sullivan, 
Harry  Hershfield,  Henny  Youngman,  Olsen 
& Johnson  and  Nick  Kenny,  to  mention 
just  a few.  And  just  to  round  out  the 
reportorial  job,  here  are  a few  of  the 
names  who  appeared  and  contributed  a 
couple  of  thousand  of  dollars’  worth  of 
fun:  Danny  Kaye,  Boris  Karloff,  Ethel 
Merman,  Lee  Tracy,  Lyle  Talbot,  Willie 
Howard,  Glenda  Farrell,  Gloria  Stuart, 
Carol  Bruce,  Luise  Rainer,  Jack  Durant, 
Victor  Moore,  Helen  Morgan,  Herman  Tim- 
berg,  Belle  Baker,  Diosa  Costello,  Lionel 
Stander,  Bill  Robinson,  John  Beal,  Jane 
Pickens,  Ben  Bernie,  Bert  Lytell,  Arthur 
Treacher,  James  Dunn  and  Gilda  Gray. 


Dr.  Emanuel  Stern,  in  charge  of  welfare 
of  the  Paramount  home  office  employes, 
has  been  wider  observation  at  the  French 
Hospital  for  the  past  few  days  . . . Hal 
Horne  of  the  Walt  Disney  Hornes  has  been 
laid  up  at  home  with  a bad  back  . . . Mor- 
ris Jacks,  New  Jersey  operator,  is  back 


REVIEW 


FLASHES 


GOLDEN  HOOFS  (20th-Fox) — Considerable 
of  an  improvement  over  the  last  two  or 
three  Jane  Withers  vehicles  is  reflected  in 
this  treatise  on  the  sport  of  harness  racing 
which  should  slide  nicely  into  the  pro- 
gram groove,  particularly  in  those  sectors 
where  the  Withers  name  is  a marquee  mag- 
net. Walter  Morosco  and  Ralph  Dietrich 
produced;  Lynn  Shores  directed. 

PHANTOM  COWBOY  (Rep)— A tale  of  Span- 
ish settlers  and  landowners  who  are  fall- 
ing into  the  grasp  of  an  unscrupulous  ranch 
hand,  and  are  saved  by  a prairie  Robin 
Hood  and  a returning  cowboy.  Liberally 
strewn  with  outdoor  action,  discharging 
firearms  and  fast  riding  horses.  Don  Barry, 
Virginia  Carroll. 

STRAWBERRY  BLONDE  (WB)— A full  mea- 
sure of  laughs,  a few  tears,  a large  helping 
of  romance  and  a dash  of  bittersweet 
nostalgia  are  expertly  blended  against  au- 
thentic backgrounds,  atmosphere  and 
music  of  the  gay  nineties  to  compound  a 
story  which,  entrusted  to  a sterling  cast, 
emerges  as  a film  treat  for  which  great 
popularity  and  profit  may  be  confidently 
prophesied.  James  Cagney,  Olivia  de  Havil- 
land  and  Rita  Hayworth  are  starred.  Wil- 
liam Cagney  produced;  Raoul  Walsh  di- 
rected. 

Complete  reviews  on  the  above  features  will 
appear  in  an  early  issue. 


from  Florida  via  New  Orleans,  where  he 
stopped  off  for  some  oysters.  He  says  his 
Community  at  Morristown  broke  every 
record  with  “The  Philadelphia  Story”  . . . 
More  than  1,200  members  and  guests  at- 
tended the  Paramount  Pep  Club’s  St. 
Valentine  Day  Party  at  the  Capitol  Hotel. 
A buffet  supper,  presentation  of  “The 
Gofers  Go  to  Town,”  a play  written, 
staged  and  featuring  home  office  employes, 
and  dancing  to  the  music  of  Dick  Raymond 
and  his  orchestra,  headed  the  program 
. . . Dock  Condon  was  in  Philadelphia  for 
the  opening  there  of  “Fantasia.”  While  he 
was  absent,  his  secretary,  Marjorie  Chap- 
man, lost  her  wallet.  “It’s  not  the  money,” 
she  bemoans,  “it’s  my  social  security  card 
that  I miss.” 

Leslie  E.  Thompson,  president  of  Trans 
Lux,  is  in  Palm  Beach  vacationing  . . . 
Harry  Brandt  heads  for  southern  vacation 
spots  March  2.  Meanwhile,  brothers  Louis 
and  “Bingo”  returned  from  their  Miami 
siestas  over  the  weekend  . . . Robert 
Young’s  first  eastern  vacation  in  five  years 
has  terminated  and  he  is  now  back  on  the 
M-G-M  lot  . . . Rise  Stevens,  Metropolitan 
Opera  star  recently  signed  by  M-G-M,  sang 
at  Carnegie  Hall  Wednesday  night  at  a 
benefit  concert  for  British  and  Greek  war 
relief  . . . Herbert  J.  Yates  is  on  the  coast 
planning  Republic’s  lineup  for  next  season 
with  James  R.  Grainger  and  M.  J.  Siegel 
. . . Howard  Dietz  has  returned  from  a 
combined  vacation  and  business  trip  on 
the  coast  . . . R.  Yentes  of  the  local  20th- 
Fox  exchange  has  been  called  to  the  colors 
and  is  at  Fort  Ethan  Allen  in  New  England. 
Richard  Skillman  of  the  home  office  also 
is  in  training  . . . John  Hay  Whitney  is  in 
Hollywood  for  conferences  on  betterment 
of  relations  with  Latin  America. 

Byron  Kantack  of  the  M-G-M  legal  staff 
has  been  called  by  the  National  Guard, 
207  Division,  for  active  service  . . . Jean 
Gabin,  French  actor,  is  due  by  Clipper 
sometime  in  March  to  report  for  20 th-Fox 
work  on  the  coast  . . . Francis  L.  Harley, 
20 th-Fox  managing  director  in  England,  is 
vacationing  in  Miami  and  plans  to  return 
to  London  early  in  March  . . . Ben  Mig- 
gins,  European  managing  director  for  the 
same  company,  is  back  from  Miami  and 
claims  he  hasn’t  put  on  any  weight  . . . 
Harry  Reinhardt  has  been  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  20th-Fox  home  office  credit 
union,  succeeding  Edwin  S.  Fraser  jr. 
Eugene  McEvoy  has  been  named  vice- 
president  and  Nat  Brower  secretary.  Jo- 
seph Tyrrell  is  the  new  treasurer  . . . 
Greta  Garbo  is  due  to  return  to  the  coast 
in  a week. 


Bills  Regulating  Outdoor 
Advertising  in  Albany 

Albany — Regulation  of  outdoor  adver- 
tising, for  years  a bone  of  contention  in 
the  legislature,  is  to  be  chewed  over  at 
the  current  session.  Bills  restricting  this 
type  of  advertising  already  have  been 
introduced  by  Sen.  Thomas  C.  Desmond, 
Newburgh,  and  by  Sen.  G.  Frank  Wallace, 
Syracuse,  and  Assemblyman  Robert  F. 
Wagner,  New  York.  Others  are  expected. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


25 


Long  Runs  Causing 
Philly  Produci  "Jam" 

Philadelphia — Long  runs  in  Warner’s 
downtown  key  houses  have  caused  a “jam- 
up”  of  product  which  “means  slow  strangu- 
lation for  every  subsequent  run  indepen- 
dent exhibitor  in  this  area,”  William  Gold- 
man, independent  circuit  head,  charges. 

In  a letter  mailed  to  all  exchanges — 
with  mimeographed  copies  going  to  all  in- 
dependent exhibitors  in  the  area — Gold- 
man asserts: 

“The  bottleneck  means  that  many  im- 
portant pictures  will  be  delayed  until  Lent, 
when  patronage  always  falls  off,  and  this 
backlog  of  films  will  not  become  available 
until  into  the  summer.  Further,  delay  in 
promptly  playing  the  pictures  while  they 
are  new  and  novel  has  a marked  effect  on 
the  receipts,  inasmuch  as  these  pictures 
have  been  published  in  the  movie  maga- 
zines months  back. 

“And  while  the  first  run  downtown 
houses  are  tied  up  with  extended  run  pic- 
tures, coupled  with  the  fact  that  distribu- 
tors will  not  agree  to  their  'A’  pictures 
going  into  ‘B’  houses,  there  is  an  accumu- 
lation of  unplayed,  undated  pictures,  dry- 
ing up  in  the  vaults.  And  this  backlog 
thus  created  stops  the  flow  of  product, 
the  life’s  blood  of  the  theatre,  to  the  inde- 
pendent subsequent  run  exhibitor,  whose 
only  alternative  is  to  close  his  doors,  or 
turn  to  repeats  and  reissues,  which  is 
tantamount  to  shuttering  his  theatre. 

Olfers  an  “A"  Outlet 

“I  realize  naturally  that  these  pictures, 
now  being  bottlenecked  because  of  War- 
ner’s physical  impossibility  to  play  them, 
are  under  contract  to  Warner.  But,  I am 
sure  that  it  should  likewise  recognize  an 
emergency  exists,  and  therefore  should 
make  pictures  available  for  play-off  else- 
where, for  which  we  can  offer  the  Erlanger 
(recently  acquired  by  Goldman)  for  an  im- 
mediate and  meritorious  run  in  an  ‘A’ 
theatre — also  preventing  ‘A’  pictures  from 
going  into  a ‘B’  house. 

“To  further  aid  a steady  infiltration  of 
product  to  the  subsequent  run  houses  now 
being  threatened  with  the  impending  shut- 
down, we  would  also  be  willing  to  waive 
the  usual  28  days  protection. 

“If  Warner  should  refuse  to  release  these 
pictures,  then  it  should  likewise  make  the 
same  gesture,  and  waive  its  protection,  and 
permit  these  pictures  to  go  into  the  sub- 
sequent run  theatres.” 

The  theatres  he  mentions  as  tied  up  are 
the  Boyd,  with  “Philadelphia  Story”  in 
its  fourth  week,  the  Fox,  with  “High 
Sierra”  in  its  second,  the  Stanley,  with 
“Gone  With  the  Wind”  in  its  third,  and 
the  Aldine,  with  “Fantasia”  coming  in  for 
an  indefinite  run. 


Hollywood  Who's  Who 
Covers  500  Players 

New  York — A listing  of  500  thumbnail 
biographies  and  pictures  of  screen  players 
in  19  different  categories  with  a foreword 
to  each  group  by  a representative  spokes- 
man is  one  of  the  features  of  Hollywood 
Who’s  Who,  new  semi-annual  magazine 
published  by  Dell  Publishing  Co.,  the  first 
edition  of  which  hits  the  newsstands  Feb- 
ruary 14.  Albert  P.  Delacorte  is  editor. 


PHILADELPHIA 

BENEFIT  show  for  the  widow  of 

Jimmy  Jones,  late  orchestra  leader  at 
the  Fays,  was  scheduled  at  that  house  for 
Sunday.  Jimmy  Klaiss  takes  his  place  on 
the  podium  . . . Maurice  Rosen,  son  and 
aide  de  camp  of  Sam  Rosen,  Monogram 
exchange  head,  has  been  listed  as  I-A  by 
his  draft  board  and  may  be  in  uniform  the 
first  week  of  March  . . . Lillian  Gimbel  is 
the  new  girl  behind  the  cashier’s  window 
at  Monogram.  She  replaces  Mollie  Ellman, 
who  is  busy  becoming  Mrs.  Joseph  Miller 
. . . Norman  “Nooky”  Beckett  will  cele- 
brate the  16th  anniversary  of  his  cigars, 
etc.,  emporium  at  13th  and  Vine,  Febru- 
ary 25. 

Al  Holmstock,  U A shipper,  is  due  to  go 
into  National  Guard  uniform  Monday  for 
a year’s  service  . . . Cecil  Felt,  who  was 
given  a premature  send-off  party  and  then 
was  turned  down  by  Uncle  Sam’s  army,  did 
the  big  thing  by  giving  a “reciprocation 
stag  party’’  at  the  Showmen’s  Club  Thurs- 
day . . . Testimonial  dinner  for  Earle 
Sweigert  and  Ulrik  Smith,  recently  pro- 
moted Paramounters,  will  be  held  at  the 
Warwick  February  21  . . . Allen  Lewis  will 
be  honored  by  Fellow  Showmen-clubbers 
Monday  with  a dinner.  Moe  Verbin  is  dis- 
pensing  tickets. 

A smart  exploitation  job  was  handled  by 
William  Blum  and  George  Handy  for  the 
opening  of  “Fantasia”  at  the  Aldine.  They 
held  a special  preview,  at  which  they  in- 
vited every  important  newspaper  execu- 
tive, all  the  critics,  all  exchange  heads,  a 
number  of  judges  and  many  other  key 
citizens.  Result  was  that  the  whole  town 
was  buzzing  with  “Fantasia.”  All  the  pap- 
ers gave  plenty  of  space,  with  the  Record 
contributing  columns  by  its  film  and  music 
critics;  its  feature  columnist,  Charles 
Fisher,  and  a front-page  story  on  the 
Junior  League’s  benefit  showing  Wednes- 
day night. 

The  Arcadia  is  getting  a renovation  and 
repair  once-over  . . . Steve  Barutio’s  dis- 
trict is  leading  the  Warner  league  in  com- 
petitiori  for  $1,750  in  cash  prizes,  in  a 
business  drive  dedicated  to  Joe  Bernhard’s 
10 th  anniversary  with  Warners. 


(—  ~ ft 

Clearance  Up  First  Here 

New  York — Looming  as  the  first  local  complaint  with  the  arbitration  tribunal  is  the 
grievance  on  clearance  of  Jack  Fields  of  the  Cameo,  Jersey  City,  against  Skouras 
Fulton  and  major  distributors. 

Fields  contends  his  theatre  seats  more  than  1,400  while  he  has  to  follow  a number 
of  500  and  600  seat  houses,  including  the  Fulton.  He  has  complained  to  local  ex- 
changes for  some  time  and  recently  engaged  Emil  K.  Ellis,  attorney,  to  secure  relief 
from  the  majors.  Ellis  had  been  working  on  the  case  for  a while  and  then  dropped  it. 

Before  taking  over  the  theatre.  Fields  had  been  a booker  for  the  New  Jersey 
Paramount  exchange  for  a number  of  years. 

V 


"Fantasia"  125%  Top 
In  a Slow  Stanza 


New  York — Catch-as-catch-can  sounded 
like  the  Broadway  first  run  theme  song 
for  the  week,  so  “Western  Union,”  “Vir- 
ginia” and  “Gone  With  the  Wind”  caught 
the  best  there  was  around,  which  was 
nothing  special. 

The  telegraphic  epic  at  the  Roxy  holds 
until  February  20,  when  “Tobacco  Road” 
goes  in.  The  former  tallied  a creditable 
$43,000  the  first  stanza.  “Virginia”  at  the 
Paramount  wound  up  a second  week  with 
a very  nice  claimed  $49,000  and  holds  a 
third.  “Wind”  was  a nice  $40,000  at  the 
end  of  the  third  week,  and  ends  a four- 
week  engagement  Wednesday,  following  up 
with  “Go  West.”  The  Strand  is  hobbling 
along  with  “Honeymoon  for  Three,”  al- 
though the  booking  calls  for  two  weeks 
and  the  Music  Hall’s  “Arizona”  was  some- 
what disappointing,  dropping  out  Wed- 
nesday to  make  room  for  “This  Thing 
Called  Love.” 

(Average  is  100) 

Astor — The  Great  Dictator  (UA),  18th  road- 


show wk 100 

Broadway — Fantasia  (Disney),  13th  road- 
show wk 125 

Capitol — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M), 

3rd  wk HO 

Criterion — Life  With  Henry  (Para’t)  90 

Globe — Night  Train  (20th-Fox),  7th  wk 100 

Paramount — Virginia  (Para’t),  2nd  wk, 

plus  stage  show  100 

Radio  City  Music  Hall — Arizona  (Col), 

plus  stage  show  85 

Rialto — Face  Behind  the  Mask  (Col)  95 

Rivoli — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO),  4th  wk 100 

Roxy — Western  Union  (20th-Fox),  plus 

stage  show  HO 

Strand — Honeymoon  for  Three  (WB),  plus 

stage  show  90 


" Back  Street "Story" 
Divide  Capital  Honors 

Washington — Debut  of  “The  Philadel- 
phia Story”  at  the  Palace  and  “Back 
Street”  at  Keith’s  call  for  toss  of  coin,  as 
both  share  the  limelight  and  are  going 
strong.  “Gone  With  the  Wind”  on  move- 
over  to  Columbia  from  Palace  still  riding 
even  keel. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  13: 


(Average  is  100) 

Capitol — Road  Show  (UA),  plus  stage  show...  90 

Columbia — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M) 100 

Earle — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col), 

plus  stage  show  HO 

Keith’s — Back  Street  (Univ)  175 

Metropolitan — Victory  (Para’t)  100 

Palace — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  175 


Warner  Men  to  Coast  to 
Confer  on  New  Season 

New  York — Gradwell  Sears,  Carl  Leser- 
man,  Sam  Schneider,  Ben  Kalmenson  and 
Roy  H.  Haines  will  leave  for  the  Warner 
studio  the  first  week  in  March  for  confer- 
ences on  next  season’s  program.  The  home 
office  group  was  scheduled  to  depart  last 
week  but  deferred  the  trip  until  next 
month. 

Columbia's  11th  Annual 
Dinner-Dance  Feb . 22 

New  York — Columbia  will  hold  its  11th 
annual  dinner  and  dance  February  22  at 
the  Waldorf.  The  affair  will  be  formal 
with  Phil  Weissman,  president  of  the 
Columbian  Club,  handling  arrangements. 


26 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


^HE  Variety  Club  will  celebrate  a com- 
bination St.  Valentine’s  Day-Washing- 
ton’s  Birthday  with  a luncheon  at  the  Wil- 
lard Monday,  February  17.  Archie  Engel 
and  Eddie  Melnicker  will  be  “Kings  for 
the  Day”  . . . John  J.  Payette,  Warner  zone 
manager,  is  sun  tanning  on  Miami  shores. 
He  was  accompanied  by  George  Crouch, 
assistant  zone  manager,  and  A1  Pratt,  War- 
ner sound  man.  The  trio  no  doubt  will 
break  bread  with  other  notables  from  the 
local  scene,  namely,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abe 
Lichtman,  Columbia’s  Sam  Galanty,  and 
Monogram’s  Harry  Brown  . . . Sidney 
Bowden  of  the  Wilder  circuit  is  vacation- 
ing via  a cruise  to  South  America. 

Sidney  Lust  gave  a farewell  party  at  his 
Hyattsville  house  Tuesday  evening  Febru- 
ary 11,  for  the  entire  personnel  of  Com- 
pany F,  1st  Maryland  Regiment  of  the 
National  Guard,  which  has  been  called  to 
service  . . . Max  Cohen,  Universal  branch 
manager,  returned  from  the  managers’ 
convention  in  Chicago,  gathered  his  flock 
and  headed  for  the  regional  in  Philly.  In- 
cluded in  the  group  were  salesmen  Joe 
Young,  Walter  Davis,  Barney  Frank,  and 
Sam  Tabor  . . . Joe  Kaliski,  a veteran  of 
the  Row,  has  joined  the  Warner  sales  staff 
in  Cleveland  . . . John  F.  Allen,  Metro 
branch  manager,  accompanied  District 
Manager  Rudy  Berger  on  a swing  through 
Virginia. 

A consent  decree  meeting  was  held  last 
Friday  with  the  salesmen  and  bookers  of 
the  20th-Fox  staff,  with  William  Sussman 
and  Fred  Pride  presiding  . . . May  Feld- 
man, secretary  to  Branch  Manager  Sam 
Wheeler,  is  at  her  home  in  Rochester  for 
a respite  . . . A1  Miller,  accessory  manager, 
is  mourning  the  loss  of  his  father  . . . Ian 
Sichelman,  son  of  20th-Fox’s  Ira,  will  cel- 
ebrate his  second  birthday  on  the  17th. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jack  Sichelman  are  expected 
from  New  York  for  the  occasion. 

Stanly  Summers,  20 th-Fox  head  ship- 
per, is  vacationing  in  the  southland  . . . 
Joe  Bernheimer,  20 th-Fox  projectionist, 
celebrated  a birthday  February  13  . . . 
Likewise  Mollie  Gurtove. 

George  T.  Coleman  of  St.  Paul,  Va.,  has 
taken  over  the  State,  Damascus,  from  F.  L. 
McCready  . . . Bob  Scheck,  owner  of  the 
Ld.  Baltimore,  accompanied  by  Mike  Lev- 
enthal,  manager,  took  a boat  to  Miami  . . . 
Sammy  Bandler  of  the  Leader  has  a 
wrenched  back,  the  cause  has  the  medicos 
baffled  . . . Columbia’s  Danny  Rosenthal 
was  bedded  with  a cold  for  three  days  . . . 
Margaret  Mortensen  has  resigned  from 
RKO  to  join  the  British  air  corps  staff  . . . 
Esther  Katznell  and  Marie  Metzler  are  the 
newcomers  to  the  RKO  fold  . . . Nat  Levy, 
district  manager,  and  Leo  Devaney,  Ned 
Depinet  drive  leader,  held  a drive  meeting 
with  the  entire  RKO  force. 

Mrs.  Louis  Gullen  of  Lawrenceville  is 
wrestling  with  an  attack  of  grippe  . . . 
Paul  Ramsdell  of  Gaithersburg  is  enjoying 
the  shade  of  the  palm  trees  . . . “U”  notes 
reveal  that  Jack  Klein,  assistant  shipper, 
journeyed  to  Philly  to  attend  a wedding; 
Myrtle  Friess  added  another  year  on  the 
11th;  Eunice  Girardi  has  bested  a severe 


cold  while  her  co-worker  Claudia  Pfaff  is 
at  home  heeding  a threat  of  pneumonia. 

Rudy  Berger,  Metro  district  manager, 
celebrated  his  seventeenth  year  with 
M-G-M  February  6.  Anna  Ridgely  also 
took  a bow  for  the  same  day  marked  her 
twelfth  year  with  company  . . . Mrs.  John 
F.  Allen  and  family  have  arrived  from 
Cincinnati  and  taken  residence  on  Calvert 
Street  . . . The  Carolina  of  Washington 
has  changed  hands  from  A.  Marticos  to 
Samuel  L.  Ashman  & Co. 

Columbia’s  “ Exhibitors  Goodwill  Cam- 
paign” has  been  set  for  the  13  week  period 
of  March  1 to  May  30  . . . Rita  Morrison 
is  serving  as  a temporary  clerk  at  UA  . . . 
Marjorie  Stinette,  former  secretary  to 
Monogram’s  Harry  Brown,  is  en  route  to 
Hollywood  to  join  her  sister  in  the  office 
of  Will  Hays  . . . George  Gill  of  PRC  vis- 
ited the  Big  City  . . . NSS’s  drive,  ‘‘Beat 
Par  Campaign,”  was  launched  February  3 
and  will  carry  to  June  7.  $16,000  in  prizes 
is  worth  shooting  at,  with  all  employes 
eligible. 

Henry  Hiser’s  engagement  of  “Night 
Train”  broke  all  records  at  the  Hiser  . . . 
NSS’s  Norman  Robbins  has  been  assigned 
to  the  Philly  branch  for  a spell  . . . Branch 
Manager  Art  Jacobson  headed  for  Rich- 
mond, Norfolk  and  surrounding  situations. 

Bill  Taxing  Chains 
Counts  Theatres 

Albany — A bill  licensing  chain  stores  in 
New  York  state,  with  theatres  included  in 
the  definition  of  “store,”  and  requiring 
the  payment  of  yearly  fees  of  from  $50  to 
$1,000,  depending  upon  the  number  of 
outlets,  is  pending  in  the  legislature.  As- 
semblyman Louis  Bennett  of  New  York 
City  is  sponsor  of  the  measure  for  a third 
consecutive  year.  It  was  killed  in  com- 
mittee in  1939  and  1940. 

The  license  fee  is  fixed  at:  $50  for  each 
store  in  excess  of  two  and  not  more  than 
five;  $100  for  each  store  in  excess  of  five 
and  not  more  than  ten;  $250  for  each 
store  in  excess  of  ten  and  not  more  than 
25;  $1,000  for  each  store  in  excess  of  25. 

Violation  of  the  act  is  made  a misde- 
meanor, punishable  upon  conviction  by  a 
fine  of  $25  to  $100.  For  each  day  the 
violation  continues,  the  offense  is  declared 
a separate  and  distinct  one. 


TOE  FIELDS,  Rivoli,  and  his  wife  flew 

down  to  Florida  . . . Lawrence  Schan- 
berger  had  members  of  the  Amateur  Press 
Club  review  “Back  Street.”  The  best  one 
was  published  in  the  Baltimore  News-Post 
...  A “Get-Together”  party  was  held  by 
Variety.  Free  beer  and  sandwiches  were 
served  . . . Abe  Cohen,  Essex,  is  sporting  a 
new  car  . . . While  Louis  Azarel,  News-Post 
columnist,  was  in  Florida  for  the  premiere 
of  “Back  Street,”  his  column  was  written 
one  day  by  Howard  Burman,  a member  of 
Variety  . . . Vacationing  in  Florida  are 
Frank  Durkee  and  Arthur  Pacy  . . . “The 
Man  Who  Came  to  Dinner,”  with  Alexan- 
der Woollcott,  was  held  over  at  the  Ford 
for  a second  week.  That  hasn’t  happened 
there  in  many  a year. 

William  K.  Saxton,  Loew’s  city  manager, 
is  in  Smai  Hospital  . . . Clift  Jarrett,  for- 
mer assistant  manager  of  the  Hippodrome, 
is  now  selling  marquee  neon  lighting  . . . 
‘‘Night  Train”  is  in  its  11th  record-break- 
ing week  at  the  Little  . . . Nine  hundred 
children  attended  a party  at  the  Stanley 
as  guests  of  Rodney  Collier,  manager.  They 
saw  ‘‘Santa  Fe  Trail”  . . . Victor  Ackman 
is  now  doorman  at  Loew’s  Century.  He  re- 
places John  Brady,  resigned  . . . Nearly 
400,000  Baltimoreans  have  seen  “GWTW” 
. . . The  Cinema  is  featuring  Artkino’s 
“Mannerheim  Line,”  film  record  of  the 
Soviet -Finnish  war  . . . Howard  Cooling, 
Maryland  censor  board  inspector,  says  he 
is  going  on  a diet  . . . Tom  Goldberg,  Wal- 
brook,  has  received  a permit  from  the  City 
Council  to  build  a new  theatre  on  the  site 
of  his  former  Goldberg,  across  the  street 
from  the  Walbrook.  House  will  seat  about 
500,  will  be  named  the  Hilton. 

Those  attending  the  Jewish  War  Vet- 
erans convention  in  Louisville:  Dave  Kai- 
ser, Maryland  Display  Co.;  Harry  Vogel  - 
stein,  Baltimore  Poster  Co.,  and  Nathan 
Kress  . . . Leon  Zeller,  Roxy,  and  his  wife, 
returned  from  Florida  with  coats  of  tan 
. . . Gertrude  Meade,  cashier,  Rivoli,  un- 
derwent an  operation  Friday.  She  is  com- 
ing along  nicely  . . . Reports  that  plans  for 
a Managers’  Club  in  Baltimore  are  under 
way  . . . George  Raft,  Wayne  Morris  and 
Maureen  O’Hara  appeared  at  the  Presi- 
dent’s Birthday  Ball  here  . . . J.  L.  Schan- 
berger,  Keith’s,  reports  that  the  premiere 
of  “Back  Street”  last  Thursday  was  a big 
success.  Most  of  the  proceeds  were  turned 
over  to  the  Maryland  League  for  Crippled 
Children.  Prices  were  $1  and  50  cents. 


We  are  opening  the 

TOWN  THEATRE,  DETROIT 

(Formerly  known  as  ORCHESTRA  HALL) 

200  Seats  — Centrally  Located 

FOREIGN - RELIGIOUS- UNUSUAL 


Pictures  WANTED  — Write  or  Wire 


Jack  Broder 


3747  Woodward  Ave.,  Detroit,  Mich. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


27 


IB!  U IF  IF  A IL  O 


UNIVERSAL’S  “Buck  Privates”  was 
“sneaked”  at  A.  C.  Hayman’s  Lafayette. 
The  preview  was  handled  by  George  Mc- 
Kenna, manager  of  the  theatre,  and  W.  F. 
Bork,  city  salesman  for  the  exchange. 
John  J.  Scully,  branch  manager  for  Uni- 
versal, was  unable  to  attend  because  of  an 
important  company  meeting  in  Chicago 
. . . Leland  Stowe,  noted  foreign  corre- 
spondent, lectured  at  Kleinhans  Music  Hall 
. . . Kiddie  parties  are  in  order  on  Wash- 
ington’s birthday  at  the  various  Shea 
houses,  with  prizes  to  be  distributed  to 
lucky  children.  Through  neighborhood  tie- 
ups,  Bob  Dame,  Niagara  manager,  secured 
a camera  and  a scooter;  Jim  Stubbe,  North 
Park,  a radio,  and  Bob  Demming,  Elm- 
wood, a bicycle. 

W.  E.  J.  Martin,  Courier-Express  scribe, 
tells  us  the  Apollo  will  soon  be  opened. 
It  is  a Basil  Bros,  house  . . . Tonawanda’s 
rebuilt  Star  is  about  ready,  too,  and  plans 
tor  a university  district  theatre  are  going 
forward  . . . Phil  Fox  of  Columbia  is  the 
father  of  a boy  . . . This  week  finds  Jack 
Fury,  Shea  electrician,  on  the  sick  list. 
He  is  confined  to  his  home  . . . Allan 
Poole  of  the  maintenance  department  was 
called  home  because  of  the  illness  of  his 
wife  and  children  . . . Carl  Rindcen,  Ken- 
more  manager,  celebrates  a birthday, 
March  5. 

After  the  British  relief  benefit  at  the 
Great  Lakes,  George  A.  Mason  will  ready 
his  staff  for  another  benefit,  a three-hour 
vaudeville  show  to  be  presented  at  the 


Lakes  March  8 for  Greek  war  relief.  Show 
will  be  sponsored  by  Variety.  Working  to 
assure  its  success  are  Elmer  Lux,  RKO 
branch  manager;  Murray  Whiteman,  Irv- 
ing Fried,  Phil  Fox  of  Columbia;  Syd  Sam- 
son, 20th  Century-Fox;  Melvyn  Schwartz, 
Ralph  Maw,  M-G-M;  George  F.  Hanny 
jr.,  Stanley  Kozanowski  and  Nicholas  J. 
Basil  of  the  Basil  Bros.  Circuit  . . . Shea 
service  employes’  Benevolent  Association, 
through  Mart  Murret,  president,  are  still 
trying  to  organize  a party  for  members  to 
be  held  at  the  Variety  Club  shortly.  May 
we  suggest  they  contact  Syd  Lehman, 
newly  elected  chief  barker  . . . After  look- 
ing out  the  window  at  the  snow  drifts,  we 
wonder  how  Marion  Gueth  and  Marion 
Walsh  are  enjoying  their  cruise  through 
southern  waters. 

Shea’s  Hippodrome,  sister  theatre  to  the 
Buffalo,  will  inaugurate  a new  policy  on 
the  28 th  by  bringing  back  stage  shows. 
This  will  mark  the  first  time  in  almost  a 
decade  that  the  boards  of  the  Hipp  have 
felt  the  step  of  living  people.  Local  ob- 
servers are  of  the  belief  the  new  venture 
will  meet  with  success.  The  Hippodrome, 
in  its  prime,  presented  such  stars  as  Clara 
Kimball  Young,  Milton  Berle,  Earl  Car- 
roll’s  “Vanities”  and  “The  Chocolate  Sol- 
dier.” This  will  make  the  third  part-time 
vaudeville  house  in  Buffalo.  The  other 
two  are  Shea’s  Buffalo  and  Dipson’s  Twen- 
tieth Century  . . . F.  Schlageter,  musician 
who  played  under  Victor  Herbert,  died  last 
week  in  Florida.  He  was  the  uncle  of  Paul 
Schlageter , Shea  switchboard  operator. 


Detroit  and  Chicago  to 
See  " Fantasia " Next 

New  York — The  next  two  engagements 
of  “Fantasia”  are  set  for  the  Wilson,  De- 
troit, February  18,  and  the  Apollo,  Chi- 
cago, February  19.  Although  theatres  have 
not  yet  been  definitely  set,  the  following 
two  cities  to  show  the  film  are  San  Fran- 
cisco and  Pittsburgh,  with  Washington  to 
follow. 

Installation  Party  lor 
Big  U Club  Officers 

New  York — Newly  elected  officers  of  the 
Big  U Club  were  inducted  at  a ceremony 
and  party  at  the  exchange  on  Friday. 
Harry  Fellerman  is  president;  Fred  Mayer, 
vice-president;  James  Davidson,  treasurer; 
Rose  Youngfield,  secretary,  and  Tom  Goff, 
sergeant-at-arms. 

"Double  Bill  Shock  Show" 
Lined  Up  by  Paramount 

New  York — Paramount  is  offering  a 
“double  bill  shock  show”  in  the  form  of 
“The  Mad  Doctor”  coupled  with  “The 
Monster  and  the  Girl.”  Bookings  on  the 
first-named  will  be  held  up  in  dual  ter- 
ritories until  prints  of  “Monster”  arrive 
at  the  exchanges  around  February  28. 


Topline  for  C.  Aubrey 

Hollywood — Metro  has  signed  C.  Au- 
brey Smith  for  a topline  in  their  remake 
of  “Dr.  Jekyll  and  Mr.  Hyde.” 


Curb  Youngsters  in 
Amusement  Field 


Albany — A law  uniformly  regulating  the 
employment  of  youngsters  under  16  in  mo- 
tion pictures,  stage  shows,  theatres  and 
all  other  branches  of  the  entertainment 
business,  is  proposed  in  identical  bills 
sponsored  by  Sen.  William  H.  Hampton, 
Utica,  and  by  Assemblyman  Harold  B. 
Ehrlich,  Buffalo. 

The  measure  inserts  a new  section  in 
the  education  law  and  repeals  a section  of 
the  penal  law.  It  would  allow  children  to 
work  in  pictures,  shows,  etc.,  provided 
written  consent  is  given  by  the  board  of 
education  of  a city,  village  or  district,  or 
by  a delegated  school  official.  This  per- 
mission would  be  granted  when  school  au- 
thorities deem  the  employment  not  to  be 
harmful  or  undesirable  from  the  viewpoint 
of  welfare  and  proper  education  of  the 
child. 

Application  in  writing  would  have  to  be 
made  72  hours  before  a proposed  perform- 
ance, such  application  to  contain  detailed 
information  as  to  the  child,  the  part  it  is 
to  play,  etc.  Action  by  officials  on  the 
application  could  not  be  delayed  more 
than  48  hours.  The  commissioner  of  edu- 
cation would  have  power  to  prescribe  rules. 

Violation  of  the  act  would  be  a misde- 
meanor. The  state  department  of  labor 
would  be  entrusted  with  its  enforcement. 


20lh-Fox  N.  Y.  Branch 
Gets  Decree  Analysis 

New  York — Having  discussed  the  de- 
cree with  the  Philadelphia  sales  force  the 
week  before,  William  Sussman,  eastern  di- 
vision head  for  20th-Fox,  and  Fred  Pride 
of  Dwight,  Harris,  Koegel  & Caskey,  at- 
torneys for  the  distributor,  detailed  vari- 
ous phases  of  the  document  to  the  New 
York  exchange  Monday,  on  Thursday  ap- 
peared before  the  Cincinnati  staff  and  on 
Friday  the  Cleveland  office. 

Next  week  both  men  expect  to  visit  a 
number  of  other  branches  and  will  con- 
tinue these  junkets  until  the  entire  di- 
vision is  covered. 

Felix  Jenkins,  general  counsel  for  20th- 
Fox,  has  been  making  the  rounds  of  the 
entire  coast  division,  working  his  way  to 
the  midwest,  following  which  he  will  head 
south.  Division  Manager  William  C.  Geh- 
ring  has  been  accompanying  Jenkins  on 
the  midwest  tour  and  will  be  with  him  on 
the  southern  trek. 

When  National  Theatres  divisional  and 
district  heads  meet  with  home  office 
executives  at  its  annual  convention  on 
the  coast,  Richard  E.  Dwight  of  the  same 
legal  firm  as  Pride  will  talk  to  the  circuit 
men  on  the  decree.  The  dates  for  the  con- 
vention have  again  been  put  back  with 
present  indications  the  sessions  will  not 
take  place  before  March  3. 


Action  Against  Delaware 
Blue  Laws  Is  Blocked 

Wilmington,  Del. — Attempts  to  repeal 
the  ancient  Delaware  Sunday  blue  laws 
by  a record-breaking  action  in  the  general 
assembly  at  Dover  ran  afoul  of  varied  but 
stern  opposition  in  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives Friday,  after  the  senate  had 
passed  the  liberalizing  local  option  mea- 
sure the  day  before  by  a 14  to  3 vote. 

The  bill,  introduced  by  Senator  Paul 
Rinard  of  Wilmington,  Thursday  morning, 
was  reported  favorably  by  the  judiciary 
committee  early  in  the  afternoon  and  half 
an  hour  later  was  called  up  for  a vote. 

Similar  procedure  was  attempted  in  the 
house  in  an  effort  to  pass  it  and  place  the 
bill  before  Governor  Walter  Bacon,  but 
opposition  forced  postponement. 

The  bill  would  abolish  the  two-century 
old  sabbath  statutes  and  substitute  local 
option.  While  Sunday  shows  are  not  men- 
tioned in  the  measure,  they  would  be  pos- 
sible in  those  municipalities  where  legis- 
lative bodies  approve  and  provide  proper 
regulations. 


Demolish  Albany  Dwelling 
For  New  Warner  House 

Albany — A wrecking  company  is  de- 
molishing a dwelling  at  290  Delaware 
Avenue  to  make  way  for  a 699-seat  thea- 
tre to  be  built  for  and  leased  by  Warner 
Bros.  House  will  cost  between  $40,000  and 
$50,000. 


28 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


NEWS 


THE 


PRODUCTION  CENTER 


AND  VIEWS 


(Hollywood  Office — Suite  219  at  6404  Hollywood  Blvd.;  Ivan  Spear,  Western  Manager) 


Whiiher  Goldwyn?  Is 
Moot  Studio  Topic 

Settlement  of  the  Samuel  Goldwyn- 
United  Artists  lawsuit  whereby  Goldwyn, 
as  announced  last  week,  is  given  a release 
from  his  UA  distribution  contract,  has 
given  rise  to  queries  as  to  the  possible 
channels  through  which  the  veteran  pro- 
ducer’s future  films  will  be  released.  The 
only  definite  information  available  through 
the  Goldwyn  organization  is  that  his  next 
film,  “The  Little  Foxes,”  will  go  into  work 
shortly  and  that  Bette  Davis  has  been  bor- 
rowed from  Warner  for  the  lead  in  the 
screen  version  of  the  Lillian  Heilman  play, 
which  William  Wyler  will  direct. 

Both  20th  Century-Fox  and  Warner  have 
been  mentioned  as  strong  possibilities  by 
those  conjecturing  as  to  where  Goldwyn’s 
product  will  be  distributed,  and  there  have 
even  been  rumors  circulating  to  the  effect 
he  may  release  through  UA  despite  his 
long,  and  now  successful  efforts,  to  break 
away  from  that  organization.  Most  likely 
of  the  three,  the  consensus  is  in  the  ab- 
sence of  any  confirmation,  is  Warner.  Rea- 
soning advanced  for  this  candidate  is  the 
fact  that  at  the  time  he  was  making  “The 
Westerner,”  Goldwyn  had  gone  so  far  as 
to  tentatively  arrange  a release  deal  for 
that  picture  with  the  Warner  company, 
which  was  later  withdrawn  when  UA 
threatened  legal  action.  Too,  indications 
that  Goldwyn  may  favor  a Warner  deal 


are  seen  by  some  in  the  interchange  of 
talent  which  has  been  manifested  between 
the  two  organizations.  For  example,  Gold- 
wyn, in  borrowing  Bette  Davis  for  “The 
Little  Foxes,”  lent  Gary  Cooper  to  Warner 
to  star  in  “Sergeant  York.” 

A joint  official  statement  was  issued  by 
Goldwyn  and  UA  when  settlement  of  their 
suit  was  reached.  It  follows: 

“Negotiations  have  been  completed  be- 
tween Samuel  Goldwyn  and  United  Artists, 
whereby  United  Artists  has  granted  to  Mr. 
Goldwyn  his  immediate  release  from  his 
United  Artists  distributing  contract.  United 
Artists  has  also  arranged  for  the  purchase 
of  Mr.  Goldwyn’s  stock  in  the  United  Art- 
ists distributing  corporation.  Mr.  Gold- 
wyn’s suit  against  United  Artists  will  be 
immediately  withdrawn.” 


Botsford.  Moss  Quit 

Producers  A.  M.  Botsford  and  Jack  Moss 
have  resigned  their  Paramount  posts. 
Botsford  will  continue  in  association  with 
William  LeBaron  who  recently  resigned  as 
Paramount  production  head.  Moss  joins 
Walter  Wanger  as  production  associate. 


Katzman  Prepares  One 

For  Monogram,  Sam  Katzman  is  pre- 
paring “Murder  by  Proxy,”  being  scripted 
by  A1  Martin,  and  “Ghosts  of  the  Night,” 
an  East  Side  Kids  vehicle  which  William 
Lively  is  writing. 


Rosten  Film  Volume 
Due  in  ihe  Fall 

Two  solid  years  of  exhaustive  research 
and  analysis,  during  which  the  film  colony 
in  its  every  phase  was  placed  under  a 
figurative  microscope  by  Dr.  Leo  C.  Rosten 
and  his  Motion  Picture  Research  Project, 
will  culminate  this  fall  in  the  form  of  the 
first  of  a three-volume  series  which  Rosten 
is  now  writing  under  grants  from  the 
Carnegie  Institute  and  the  Rockefeller 
Foundation. 

Rosten  told  Boxoffice  he  expects  to 
have  the  initial  volume  in  his  trilogy  com- 
pleted this  spring,  to  be  published  probably 
in  September  by  Harcourt-Brace.  He  has 
closed  his  Hollywood  headquarters  and  re- 
tired to  a San  Fernando  Valley  retreat 
with  a carload  of  data,  charts,  facts  and 
figures  from  which  the  books  are  being 
shaped. 

The  work  has  been  delayed,  Rosten  ex- 
plained, for  since  last  July  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  national  defense  commission 
as  Hollywood  representative  and  has  de- 
voted considerable  of  his  time  since  to 
that  work,  in  addition  to  his  research  pro- 
ject. As  a matter  of  fact,  he  is  due  in 
Washington,  in  about  six  weeks  for  fur- 
ther defense  program  conferences,  which 
means  his  other  work  will  again  be  tabled 
for  some  time. 

First  to  Personalities 

First  volume  in  the  series  will  be  devoted 
to  the  people  of  the  motion  picture  colony 
— the  salaries  they  earn,  the  jobs  they 
hold,  their  outlook  on  life.  In  essence,  Ros- 
ten points  out,  it  will  be  a sociological 
analysis — “but  a readable  one,”  he  adds. 

Volume  Two  will  concern  the  industry 
itself — the  economics  of  picture-making, 
size  of  the  various  film  corporations,  fi- 
nancial records,  the  growth  of  organized 
labor,  and  exhibitor  problems.  Third  in  the 
series  will  treat  of  the  actual  completed 
motion  picture — what  goes  into  it,  what 
must  be  left  out  of  it,  censorship  regula- 
tions both  domestic  and  international,  the 
Production  Code,  the  influence  of  the  film 
throughout  the  world  and  other  aspects. 

Rosten  plans  to  headquarter  here  until 
the  work  of  correlating  and  writing  his 
material  has  been  completed.  A sociolo- 
gist, he  is  also  noted  as  the  author,  under 
the  pseudonym  of  Leonard  Q.  Ross,  of 
“The  Education  of  Hyman  Kaplan,”  a 
series  of  humorous  sketches  first  con- 
tributed to  the  New  Yorker  and  then  com- 
piled in  book  form. 


The  Studio  Delegation — 

From  Hollywood  came  these  Universal  executives  to  Chicago  for  the  co?n- 
pany’s  annual  sales  convention.  Left  to  right,  Milton  Feld,  studio  executive; 
Dan  Kelley,  casting  director,  and  Cliff  Work,  vice-president  and  studio 
manager. 

(Production  Details  on  Page  15  This  Issue) 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


29 


Averting  All  Doctoring — 

When  O.  Henry  Briggs  made  his  first  visit  to  Hollywood  since  his  election 
to  the  presidency  of  Producers  Releasing  Corp.,  local  employes  of  the  com- 
pany tendered  him  a “red  apple”  reception.  Here  is  the  lineup  of  PRC  pro- 
ducers who  tendered  their  chieftain  some  brightly  polished  Washington 
apples — left  to  right:  T.  H.  Richmond,  Sigmund  Neufeld » Jed  Buell,  Briggs, 
E.  B.  Derr  and  John  T.  Coyle. 


Drama  to  the  Fore;  Westerns, 
Comedies,  Then  Musicals 


Unadulterated  dramatic  offerings,  rang- 
ing from  mysteries  and  stories  of  adven- 
ture to  aviation  melodramas,  hold  the 
dominant  position  in  the  lineup  of  prod- 
uct to  come  out  of  Hollywood’s  motion  pic- 
ture studios  during  the  next  three-month 
period.  Sharing  the  second  ranking  posi- 
tion are  the  ever-reliable  westerns  and 
comedies,  with  musicals  bringing  up  the 
rear  of  the  procession. 

Dramas  to  be  produced  include: 

Monogram — “The  Million  Dollar  Mys- 
tery” and  “Trail  of  the  Yukon.”  Warner — 
“Dive  Bomber.”  Metro  — “Washington 
Melodrama.”  Paramount — “Aloma  of  the 
South  Seas,”  “College  Mystery”  and 
“Forced  Landing.”  Republic — “The  Lady 
From  New  Orleans.”  Twentieth  Century- 
Fox — “Man  Hunt.”  RKO  Radio — “Before 
the  Fact”  and  “Water  Gypsies.”  Universal 
— an  untitled  Richard  Arlen-Andy  Devine 
co-starrer.  Sol  Lesser — “Strange  Victory.” 


Argosy  (for  release  by  Walter  Wanger 
through  United  Artists) — “The  Eagle 
Squadron.”  David  O.  Selznick — “Jane 
Eyre.” 

Among  the  westerns  are  Columbia’s 
“Texas”  and  “North  of  the  Lone  Star;” 
Warner’s  “The  Bad  Men  of  Missouri;” 
Paramount’s  “Pioneer  Woman,”  and 
Monogram’s  “Tumbledown  Ranch  in  Ari- 
zona” and  “The  Pioneers.” 

“Little  Miss  Muffett”  and  “Buy  Me  That 
Town”  are  Paramount’s  contributions  to 
the  comedy  slate.  RKO  Radio  has  “Tom, 
Dick  and  Harry”  and  “True  to  Form.”  Uni- 
versal will  launch  “Oh,  Charlie,”  and  Hal 
Roach  is  preparing  “Niagara  Falls.” 

In  the  musical  category  are  Metro’s 
“Lady  Be  Good”  and  “Smilin’  Through.” 
Paramount  lists  “Birth  of  the  Blues;”  Re- 
public will  roll  “Rookies  on  Parade,”  and 
20th  Century-Fox  is  preparing  “Miami.” 


Cartoonists  Prepare 
For  New  Bargaining 

Having  launched  its  collective  bargain- 
ing fight  against  Walt  Disney  Productions, 
Inc.,  by  filing  an  “unfair”  complaint 
against  the  cartoon  studio  with  the  na- 
tional labor  relations  board,  the  Screen 
Cartoonists  Guild  is  now  preparing  to  open 
bargaining  negotiations  with  two  other 
production  units — Walter  Lantz  and  Screen 
Gems.  SCG  members  at  the  Disney  plant 
met  to  elect  unit  officers,  then  partici- 
pated in  a general  meeting  with  other  SCG 
personnel,  at  which  it  was  revealed  a con- 
tract covering  working  conditions  and  wage 
demands  is  already  being  drafted  for  sub- 
mission to  Disney  executives.  The  NLRB 
is  not  expected  to  set  a hearing  date  on 
the  SCB  petition  against  Disney,  however, 
for  about  three  weeks.  Disney’s  plant  is 
charged  with  maintaining  a “company” 
union,  the  Federation  of  Screen  Cartoon- 


ists, and  of  refusing  to  open  bargaining 
negotiations  with  the  SCG,  although  the 
latter  claims  a majority  of  the  approxi- 
mately 600  Disney  employes. 

Check  Extras'  Earnings 

Before  taking  any  steps  toward  elim- 
inating so-called  “casual”  extras  from  the 
industry  in  accordance  with  recommenda- 
tions of  the  producer-Screen  Actors  Guild 
standing  committee,  the  SAG  and  Central 
Casting  Corp.  are  making  a check  on  ex- 
tras’ earnings.  These  figures,  expected  to 
be  complete  by  March  1,  will  be  used  as 
the  basis  of  any  pruning  of  extra  lists, 
deemed  necessary  to  aid  the  currently  ser- 
ious unemployment  situation. 

Screen  Publicists  Guild  has  appointed  a 
new  negotiating  committee,  headed  by 
Jerry  Breitigam,  to  meet  with  producers 
concerning  revisions  which  the  organiza- 
tion is  seeking  in  its  five-year  contract 
with  producers.  It  particularly  desires 
changes  in  clauses  pertaining  to  vacations 
and  severance  pay. 

Affiliated  Property  Craftsmen,  Local  44, 
IATSE,  is  seeking  the  aid  of  the  IA  inter- 


90-Minute  Airshow 
For  Greek  Cause 

Paced  by  all  the  trappings  usually  asso- 
ciated with  a gala  world  premiere,  Holly- 
wood’s film  industry  united  with  the  radio 
world  to  participate  in  one  of  the  most 
extensive  benefit  efforts  staged  to  date 
when  a 90-minute  broadcast  was  unfurled 
February  8 at  Grauman’s  Chinese  Theatre 
on  behalf  of  the  Greek  War  Relief  Fund. 
NBC  and  the  Mutual  network  aired  the 
show,  which  tied  into  similar  broadcasts 
emanating  from  London  and  Greece.  More 
than  2,000  spectators  filled  the  theatre, 
paying  an  average  of  $10  per  seat,  the  en- 
tire proceeds  going  into  Greek  War  Relief 
coffers. 

Spencer  Tracy  presided  and  Jack  Benny 
and  Bob  Hope  shared  the  master  of  cere- 
monies chore.  Performers  included  Mickey 
Rooney,  Lewis  Stone,  Fay  Holden  and  Ann 
Rutherford  of  the  “Hardy  Family;”  Tony 
Martin,  Robert  Taylor,  Barbara  Stanwyck, 
Melvyn  Douglas,  Charles  Laughton,  Clark 
Gable,  Merle  Oberon,  George  Raft,  Ron- 
ald Colman,  Groucho  Marx,  Madeleine  Car- 
roll,  Frank  Morgan,  Dick  Powell,  Alice 
Faye,  Reginald  Owen,  Charles  Holland, 
Shirley  Temple,  Carole  Lombard,  Myrna 
Loy,  Tyrone  Power  and  many  others.  Louis 
K.  Sidney  of  M-G-M  produced  the  broad- 
cast and  Meredith  Willson  conducted  the 
music. 

Meantime  the  British  American  Ambu- 
lance Corps  held  a benefit  premiere  of 
“London  Can  Take  It”  and  a French  film, 
“Of  Human  Passions,”  at  the  Esquire  Thea- 
tre in  Hollywood,  with  proceeds  going  into 
its  coffers  for  the  purchase  of  field  ambu- 
lances for  the  British  forces. 

French  War  Relief  Association  held  a 
Valentine  benefit  ball  at  the  Biltmore 
Hotel,  with  Carmen  Miranda  among  the 
film  headliners  appearing  on  the  program. 

Production  is  scheduled  to  start  early  in 
March  on  “Let  the  Rafters  Ring,”  to  which 
British  members  of  the  film  colony  are 
contributing  their  services  and  revenue 
from  which  will  go  to  Britain  and  Ameri- 
can charities.  Frank  Lloyd  will  wield  the 
megaphone  on  opening  scenes,  to  be  shot 
at  RKO  Radio,  with  Madeleine  Carroll, 
George  Sanders,  Charles  Laughton  and 
Jessie  Ralph  to  face  the  cameras.  RKO 
Radio  will  distribute  the  film  at  cost. 


Buy  Van  Druten  Play 

Warner  has  acquired  screen  rights  to 
“Old  Acquaintance,”  Broadway  play  by 
John  Van  Druten.  Olivia  de  Havilland  is 
tentatively  set  for  a top  line. 


national  in  its  current  negotiations  with 
producers,  in  which  it  is  demanding  a six- 
hour  minimum  call,  improved  wages  and 
working  conditions. 

Laboratory  Technicians,  Local  683, 
IATSE,  has  forwarded  a draft  of  its  pro- 
posed new  producer  contract  to  the  IA 
international  for  approval  before  sub- 
mitting it  to  producers.  New  pact  calls  for 
a guaranteed  36-hour  minimum  week,  im- 
proved working  conditions  and  a 10  per 
cent  wage  increase  in  all  classifications. 


30 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


ARELY,  if  ever,  have  so  many  pro- 
duction, distribution,  exhibition  and 
exploitation  mistakes  been  wrapped 
up  in  a package.  The  reference  is  to  the 
“Spook  - Week  - With  - a - Double-Terror- 
Show”  program  which  just  closed  at  the 
Paramount  Theatre,  Los  Angeles.  “The 
Mad  Doctor”  and  “The  Monster  and  the 
Girl,”  both  Paramount  productions,  were 
dualed.  Presumably  exhibitors  in  other 
cities  are  being  urged  to  book  the  same 
double-chiller  bill. 

The  ultimate  Patsy  in  the  error-laden 
situation  will  be  Ellen  Drew.  For  months 
that  personable  young  lady  has  been  hailed 
by  Paramount  publicists  as  one  of  the  star 
discoveries  of  the  century.  Reams  of  copy 
have  been  released  touting  her  talents  and 
the  great  plans  the  company  has  for  her 
film  future.  Miss  Drew  does  photograph 
well,  has  considerable  acting  ability  and, 
with  the  proper  careful  handling,  could 
probably  go  places.  She  was  given  the  top 
feminine  acting  spot  in  both  of  the  horror 
features,  either  one  of  which  bits  of  mis- 
casting was  sufficiently  dangerous  to 
jeopardize  her  career. 

Then,  to  make  doubly  sure  of  ruining 
her  popularity,  the  powers-that-be  book 
the  two  films  as  a single  unit — a handicap 
which  few  players  could  overcome,  even  if 
they  were  exceptional  features,  each  with 
entirely  different  subject  matter.  A fan 
would  have  to  be  rabid,  indeed,  to  want  to 
see  his  or  her  favorite  starred  in  both 
pictures  on  a double  bill;  and,  to  date,  Miss 
Drew  is  a favorite  with  comparatively  few 
ticket  buyers. 

Incidentally,  “The  Monster  and  the  Girl” 
was  produced  under  the  title,  “D.  O.  A.,” 


Students  in  advanced  dramatics  at 
Stephens  College,  Columbia,  Mo.,  named 
Bette  Davis’  portrayal  in  Warner’s  “The 
Letter”  the  year’s  outstanding  screen  per- 
formance. 

Doesn’t  that  make  the  annual  Academy 
balloting  and  dinner  a trifle  anti-climactic 
and  superfluous? 

Studio  executives  who  are  constantly  on 
the  lookout  for  new  screen  material  would 
do  well  to  spend  a little  of  their  time  fur- 
ther considering  Orrin  Tucker,  the  orches- 
tra leader  who  made  his  film  debut  in 
Paramount’s  “You’re  the  One.”  Tuck- 
er has  looks,  personality  and  a singing 
voice,  and  displayed  remarkable  compe- 
tence as  an  actor  in  his  first  camera  ap- 
pearance. In  addition,  he  and  his  orches- 
tra rate  near  the  top  among  popular  mu- 
sic fans — a factor  which  would  certainly 
add  lustre  to  his  boxoffice  draw. 

Ballyhoodlums:  Whenever  a trade  item 
appears  stating  that  someone  is  “dicker- 
ing” for  a story  with  somebody  else,  which 
property  “might”  be  considered  as  a “pos- 
sible” production  for  such-and-such  a pro- 
ducer, it’s  a cinch  that  all  of  the  prin- 
cipals are  clients  of  Dave  Epstein,  guess- 
agent  de  luxe.  Witness  the  following  vague 
venture  into  the  improbable:  “Jack  Oakie 
is  negotiating  with  Howard  Estabrook  for 
rights  to  a comedy  skit  taken  from  Esta- 
brook’s  three-act  play,  ‘The  Grady  Family,’ 
produced  in  1914  by  Klaw  and  Erlanger. 
Oakie  wants  the  sketch  for  a contemplated 
South  American  tour.” 


and  as  such  was  intensively  publicized  for 
nearly  a year — finished  and  shelved.  Sud- 
denly it  emerged  with  a new  name.  Only 
those  with  a close  touch  on  the  Hollywood 
pulse  knew  it  to  be  the  same  picture. 


There’s  an  explanation  for  the  smell  of 
sulphur  and  brimstone  which  assails  the 
nostrils  of  the  sojourner  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Gower  and  Melrose.  RKO  Radio  is 
producing  at  one  and  the  same  time  “The 
Devil  and  Miss  Jones”  and  “The  Devil  and 
Daniel  Webster.” 

If  Bill  Boyd  ever  decides  he  is  tired  of  play- 
ing Hopalong  Cassidy  in  the  films,  he  should 
be  a cinch  for  radio  offers  following  his  ap- 
pearance on  a recent  Charlie  McCarthy- 
Edgar  Bergen  airshow.  Another  Hollywoodian 
to  display  suprising  poise  and  magnetism 
before  a coast-to-coast  microphone  was  Pro- 
ducer David  O.  Selznick  when  he  received  a 
kudo  on  DeMille's  Lux  Theatre  program. 


Hysteria , Horror,  Horses 


Another  starvation  week  confronted 
Hollywood’s  hungry  reviewing  brigade. 
There  were  no  groceries  and  only  four 
meager  offerings  to  feed  the  souls  of  the 
esthetes  and  the  maws  of  the  boys  and 
girls  who  write  on  string.  Of  the  quaver- 
ing quartette,  Hal  Roach’s  “Road  Show” 
for  United  Artists  release  was  an  easy  best. 

There  have  been  innumerable  screwball 
comedies  about  people  who  were  allegedly 
sane — but  this  is  probably  the  first  one  in 
which  the  leading  characters  are  admitted- 
ly zanies.  The  action  in  the  Arnold  Bel- 
gard-Harry  Langdon-Mickell  Novak  script, 
from  Eric  Hatch’s  novel,  gets  under  way 
in  a nut  house  and  gets  nuttier  as  it  pro- 
gresses. For  the  customers  who  relish  their 
humor  in  the  broadest  possible  vein,  with 
gags  and  slapstick  predominating,  there 
are  no  limits  to  the  number  of  laughs  it 
will  furnish.  Roach,  who  both  produced 
and  directed,  evidently  had  the  early-day 
screen  funfests — which  prevailed  before 
Art  came  to  the  industry — firmly  in  mind 
when  he  made  it;  and,  properly  merchan- 
dized, the  film  should  come  through  with 
a handsome  revenue  record.  Adolphe  Men- 
jou,  in  the  topline,  justifies  that  casting 
by  garnering  most  of  the  laughs,  with 
Patsy  Kelly  and  Charles  Butterworth 
pressing  him  for  the  honors.  Carole  Lan- 
dis and  John  Hubbard  carry  the  romantic 
leads  acceptably. 


Further  in  the  non  compos  mentis 
classification  was  Universal’s  “Meet  the 
Chump,”  which  would  undoubtedly  smash 
all  existing  boxoffice  records,  if  squirrels 
bought  theatre  tickets — for  it  is  nuttier 
than  a dime’s  worth  of  peanut  brittle. 
Just  how  much  human  patronage  it  will 
attract  is,  however,  problematical — for  its 
customers  must  be  limited  to  those  who  can 
take  their  humor  raw,  crude  and  unrefined, 
and  are  not  too  exacting  as  to  cast.  The 
original  story  by  Hal  Hudson  and  Otis 
Garrett,  and  the  script  by  Alex  Gottlieb, 
take  up  where  all  previous  screwball  come- 
dies left  off,  resorting  to  most  of  the  tried- 
and-true  gags  found  in  such  offerings 
since  the  days  of  Mack  Sennett  and  in- 
corporating a few  of  their  own  creation. 
Edward  Cline’s  direction  reflects  his  early 
training  as  a master  of  broad  comedy.  The 
vehicle  is  reasonably  funny  in  spots,  dull 
in  others,  but  on  the  whole  should  serve 
satisfactorily  wherever  mirthful  support 
material  is  desired.  Hugh  Herbert  so  com- 
pletely dominates  the  cast  that  the  work 
of  the  supporting  players  passes  almost  un- 
noticed. 

* * * 

The  chills  were  supplied  by  “The  Mon- 
ster and  the  Girl,”  second  of  its  ilk  to  be 
unfurled  by  Paramount  within  two  weeks. 
It  cannot  hope  for  universal  patronage  or 


acclaim,  but  should  find  takers  in  profit- 
able quantities  among  the  horror  fans, 
who  almost  undoubtedly  will  consider  it  a 
treat.  The  original  script  by  Stuart  An- 
thony has  plenty  of  suspense  and  a bumper 
crop  of  murders  which  should  be  sufficient 
to  sate  the  appetites  of  the  most  avid  of 
chill-seekers.  Adequately  mounted  as  to 
production  trappings,  the  feature  is  en- 
acted by  an  able  cast,  topped  by  Ellen 
Drew  and  Robert  Paige,  and  was  given 
competent  direction  by  Stuart  Heisler.  In 
supporting  spots  are  such  established 
menaces  as  Paul  Lukas,  Joseph  Calleia  and 
George  Zucco. 

* * * 

As  racetrack  features  go,  20th  Century- 
Fox’s  “Ride,  Kelly,  Ride”  measures  up  to 
expectations.  Obviously  it  was  designed 
for  the  action  houses  and  Saturday  mati- 
nee trade  and  has  the  necessary  qualifi- 
cations to  please  in  those  situations.  It 
isn’t  pretentious  enough,  however,  to  se- 
cure or  even  expect  bookings  in  more  im- 
portant spots.  The  cast  is  uniformly  satis- 
factory, but  lacks  anything  in  the  way  of 
selling  names — with  the  one  possible  ex- 
ception of  Eugene  Pallette,  who  supplies 
the  comedy.  William  Conselman  jr.  and 
Irving  Cummings  jr.  contributed  the  script, 
adapted  from  a Peter  B.  Kyne  story,  and 
Norman  Foster  directed  for  the  Sol  M. 
Wurtzel  production  unit. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


31 


Hoi  lyw  ood — 

— Personnelities 


Brielies 

Columbia 

Cartoon  Films,  Ltd.,  is  launching  a new  series 
of  short  subjects  using  a new  three-color  process 
developed  and  perfected  by  Dunningcolor  Corp. 
Claim  is  that  the  new  process  simplifies  and  re- 
duces the  number  of  laboratory  operations  re- 
quired for  turning  out  release  prints.  Series  will 
be  for  Columbia  release. 

EL  BRENDEL  is  starring  in  an  untitled  two- 
reel  hillbilly  comedy,  scripted  by  Harry  Edwards 
and  Elwood  Ullman  and  being  directed  by  Del 
Lord.  Lord  is  also  co-producing  with  Hugh  Mc- 
Collum. 

Metro 

Next  Technicolor  cartoon  will  be  “Abdul — The 
Bui  Bui  Ameer,”  with  Hugh  Harman  producing 
the  one-reeler. 

Next  Carey  Wilson  short  subject  will  be  “Watch- 
dog of  a Nation,”  story  of  Harvey  W.  Wiley,  the 
man  who  created  the  Pure  Foods  act. 

Paramount 

A distribution  deal  has  been  set  with  Scientific 
Films  for  a series  of  novelty  shorts  titled  “Speak- 
ing of  Animals.”  First,  “Down  on  the  Farm,” 
will  be  released  nationally  April  18. 


Cleflers 

Columbia 

WALTER  G.  SAMUELS  sells  two  original  songs 
for  use  in  “Betty  Co-Ed.” 

Metro 

E.  Y.  “YIP”  HARBURG  sells  three  new  tunes 
for  use  in  “Babes  on  Broadway.” 

FRANZ  WAXMAN  handling  musical  score  on 
“Dr.  Jekyll  and  Mr.  Hyde.” 

Warner  Bros. 

HOWARD  JACKSON  scoring  “Singapore 
Woman.” 

NAT  FINSTON  completes  recording  of  three 
operettas — “Algeria,”  by  Victor  Herbert;  “Sari,” 
by  Emmerich  Kalman,  and  “High  Jinks,”  by  Ru- 
dolph Friml.  They  are  for  reference  of  M-G-M 
producers  and  directors  as  the  operettas  are  slated 
for  future  production. 


Loanouts 

Paramount 

OLIVIA  DE  H \\  ILLAND  borrowed  from  War- 
ner for  a co-starring  spot  with  Paulette  Goddard 
and  Charles  Boyer  in  "Hold  Back  the  Dawn.” 

RKO  Radio 

IRVING  REIS,  director,  has  been  borrowed  by 
the  Columbia  Broadcasting  System  to  produce  and 
direct  a special  program  of  welcome  for  the  “S. 
S.  America”  when  it  docks  at  San  Francisco 
after  its  maiden  voyage  in  the  U.  S.  Merchant 
Marine  from  New  York. 


Meggers 

Columbia 

GEORGE  MARSHALL  to  direct  “Texas,”  a 
Samuel  Bischoff  production  starring  William 
Holden. 

Paramount 

COLBERT  CLARK  named  associate  producer 
on  “Little  Miss  Muffett,”  Ann  Shirley  starrer  to  be 
made  by  the  Sol  C.  Siegel  unit. 

20th  Century-Fox 

RALPH  DIETRICH  and  WALTER  MOROSCO  to 

co-produce  “Man  Alive,”  a musical  being  scripted 
by  John  Larkin  from  an  Albert  Duffy  story. 


Options 

Columbia 

ANN  MILLER,  dancing  star,  signed  for  a role 
in  ‘‘Show  Business.” 

Metro 

C.  AUBREY  SMITH  d raws  a topline  in  “Dr. 
Jekyll  and  Mr.  Hyde.” 

SIDNEY  BLACKMER  joins  cast  of  “Love  Crazy.” 


BARTON  MacLANE  joins  cast  of  “Dr.  Jekyll 
and  Mr.  Hyde.” 

ROBERT  Z.  LEONARD  given  new  producer- 
director  contract.  He  has  been  associated  with  the 
company  for  17  years  and  will  next  produce  “Two 
Women.” 

KATHLEEN  LOCKHART  draws  support  role  in 
“Love  Crazy.” 

Paramount 

.LEAN  PHILLIPS,  featured  player,  given  new 
contract  and  a role  In  “Little  Miss  Muffett.” 

PRESTON  STURGES  given  new  writer-director 
contract.  He  is  now  preparing  “Sullivan’s  Travels” 
as  a Joel  McCrea  starrer. 

EDITH  HEAD  draws  new  term  contract  as 
fashion  designer  and  head  of  the  studio  wardrobe 
staff. 

NILS  ASTHER  signed  for  a topline  in  “The 
Night  of  January  16.” 

KATHRYN  STEVENS  draws  a role  in  “The 
Pioneer  Woman.”  She  is  the  daughter  of  Director 
Sam  Wood. 

Picture  Corp.  of  America 

RICHARD  ARLEN  signed  to  star  in  two  more 
aviation  features  for  Paramount  release  following 
“Power  Dive.” 

Republic 

The  ADA  BROADBENT  dancers,  ballet  group, 
signed  to  perform  three  routines  in  “Sis  Hopkins,” 
the  Judy  Canova  starrer. 

20th  Century-Fox 

JANE  WITHERS  given  new  seven-year  contract, 
effective  when  her  present  deal  expires  in  Decem- 
ber. She  has  appeared  in  26  films  for  the  company 
since  1934.  Her  next  will  be  “Coast  to  Coast,” 
musical  to  be  produced  by  Milton  Sperling  from 
an  Ethel  Hill  script. 

Universal 

GLADYS  GEORGE  and  BARTON  MacLANE 

given  toplines  in  “Hit  the  Road,”  a “Little  Tough 
Guys”  feature  to  be  directed  by  Joe  May. 

Warner  Bros. 

FAYE  EMERSON,  San  Diego  Community  Thea- 
tre actress,  given  term  contract  and  a role  in 
“The  Bride  Came  C.  O.  D.” 


Scripters 

Columbia 

SETON  I.  MILLER  to  “Heaven  Can  Wait,”  from 
a play  by  Harry  Segal.  Everett  Riskin  will  pro- 
duce. 

KAREN  DE  WOLF  to  “Cowboy  Joe,”  for  pro- 
duction by  Robert  Sparks. 

IRWIN  SHAW  to  “Mr.  Twilight,”  to  be  pro- 
duced by  Everett  Riskin. 

Frank  Lloyd 

GEORGE  BRUCE  to  an  untitled  screenplay  which 
Lloyd  will  produce  and  direct  for  Universal  release. 

Metro 

FRED  FINKLEHOFF  to  “Babes  on  Broadway,” 
forthcoming  musical. 

WILLIAM  R.  LIPMAN  to  “The  Bugles  Blow  at 
Midnight,”  for  production  by  Frederick  Stephani. 

MARION  PARSONNET  to  “Washington  Melo- 
drama,” from  a story  by  L.  Du  Rocher  Macpherson. 
Edgar  Selwyn  and  S.  Sylvan  Simon  will  produce 
and  direct,  respectively. 

DOANE  HOAG  to  “Wills,”  a John  Nesbitt  Pass- 
ing Parade  short. 

EDMUND  KELSO  to  “I  Cover  the  Town,”  next 
Frankie  Darro  to  be  produced  by  Lindsley  Parsons. 

Paramount 

J.  ROBERT  BREN  and  GLADYS  ATWATER  to 

“Two  Bad  Angels,”  a Sol  C.  Siegel  production 
with  Lloyd  Nolan  and  Betty  Brewer  in  the  top- 
lines. 

CURTIS  KENYON  and  KENNETH  EARL  to 

“The  Night  of  January  16.” 

EVERETT  FREEMAN  to  “Kiss  the  Boys  Good- 
bye,” from  the  Clare  Booth  play. 

BRADFORD  ROPES  to  “Paramount  on  Pa- 
rade,” musical  to  be  produced  by  Sol  C.  Siegel. 

RKO  Radio 

NORTON  PARKER  to  “Deadwood  Days,”  an 
original  by  Tom  Gibson.  Bert  Gilroy  will  produce 
the  Tim  Holt  western. 


LYNN  ROOT  and  FRANK  FENTON  to  an  un- 
titled George  Sanders  starrer  for  Producer  How- 
ard Benedict. 

Sol  Lesser 

FRANCES  MARION  to  “Strange  Victory,”  from 
the  Rose  Franken-William  Brown  Meloney  story. 
Martha  Scott  will  be  starred. 

20th  Century-Fox 

JOHN  TAINTOR  FOOTE  to  “The  Black  Swan” 
for  Producer  Harry  Joe  Brown. 

STEVE  FISHER  to  “Red  Cross  Girl,”  from  his 
own  original.  Harry  Joe  Brown  will  produce. 

CHARLES  FISHER  to  “Red  Cross  Nurse.”  Harry 
Joe  Brown  produces. 

Warner  Bros. 

AENEAS  MACKENZIE  and  WALLY  KLEIN  to 

“The  Widow  of  Devil’s  Island,”  forthcoming  Bette 
Davis  starrer,  from  an  original  story  by  Nichol 
Smith. 

CASEY  ROBINSON  to  “One  Foot  in  Heaven,” 
from  the  Hartzell  Spence  original. 


Story  Buys 

Columbia 

“Pal  Joey,”  the  play  by  John  O’Hara,  with 
songs  by  Rodgers  and  Hart.  George  Abbott,  who 
produced  the  stage  version,  has  been  signed  to 
transfer  it  to  the  screen. 

Metro 

“Johnny  Eager,”  by  James  Edward  Grant.  John 
W.  Considine  jr.  will  produce  the  underworld  story. 

Paramount 

“Lady  in  the  Dark,”  Broadway  hit  by  Moss 
Hart,  with  music  by  Kurt  Weill  and  lyrics  by 
Ira  Gershwin.  Production  will  start  when  the  New 
York  stage  run  and  road  tour  have  been  com- 
pleted. Purchase  price  was  more  than  $275,000. 

20th  Century-Fox 

“Duchess  by  Appointment,”  by  Lady  Mary 
Cameron.  Cobina  Wright  jr.  will  be  starred  in  the 
Ralph  Dietrich-Walter  Morosco  production. 

“Fraternity,”  magazine  story  by  Mary  C.  Mc- 
Call jr. 

Warner  Bros. 

“Old  Acquaintance,”  Broadway  play  by  John 
Van  Druten.  Olivia  de  Havilland  is  tentatively  set 
for  a topline. 


Technically 

Metro 

ART  SMITH  named  unit  manager  on  “Lady  Be 
Good.” 

JOE  BORGEAU  to  edit  “Come  Back  Miss 
Pipps,”  Our  Gang  one-reeler. 

BUD  LAWTON  to  lens  “The  Man  Who  Changed 
the  World,”  a Carey  Wilson  short. 

RICHARD  DUCE  named  unit  art  director  on  all 
future  short  subjects,  his  first  to  be  “The  Man 
Who  Changed  the  World.” 

CHARLES  HUNT  named  unit  production  man- 
ager on  “The  Uniform.” 

HUGH  BOSWELL  set  as  assistant  director  on 
“The  Uniform.” 

Paramount 

HALDANE  DOUGLAS  designing  sets  for  “Little 
Miss  Muffett.” 

JOHN  COONAN  named  assistant  director  on 
“Aloma  of  the  South  Seas.”  BUDDY  COLEMAN 
will  be  the  assistant  director  on  “Little  Miss  Muf- 
fett.” 

TED  TETZLAFF  to  photograph  “The  Night  of 
January  16.” 

RKO  Radio 

EDDIE  DONAHUE  named  assistant  director  on 
“My  Life  With  Caroline.” 

WILLIAM  HAMILTON  to  edit  “Before  the 
Fact.”  It  is  his  600th  cutting  assignment. 

VICTOR  MILNER  to  photograph  “My  Life  With 
Caroline.” 

Universal 

RALPH  DE  LACY  named  art  director  on 
“Double  Date.” 

Warner  Bros. 

ARTHUR  LUKER  replaces  CHUCK  HANSON  as 

second  assistant  director  on  “Miss  Wheelwright 
Discovers  America.”  Hanson  has  been  set  as  first 
assistant  to  Director  Anatole  Litvak  on  “The 
Gentle  People.” 

ESDRAS  HARTLEY  named  art  director  on 
"Highway  West.” 

TERRY  MORSE  to  edit  “Three  Sons  O'  Guns.” 

CARL  WEYL  named  art  director  on  "The  Gentle 
People.” 


32 


BOXOFFICE  :•  February  15,  1941 


Begin  Balloting  on 
Award  Contenders 


From  among  ten  films,  five  actor  and 
actress  performances,  five  supporting  actor 
and  actress  performances,  five  directorial 
and  15  writing  achievements,  some  12,000 
motion  picture  workers  are  now  engaged 
in  selecting  those  whom  they  deem  most 
worthy  of  recognition  in  the  Academy  of 
Motion  Picture  Arts  and  Sciences’  13th 
annual  Awards  of  Merit.  Ballots  were 
mailed  out  February  13  and  the  final  re- 
sults, as  tabulated  by  certified  public  ac- 
countants, will  be  announced  at  the 
Awards  banquet  scheduled  for  February 
27  at  the  Biltmore  Bowl. 

Candidates  for  best  production  honors, 
as  selected  by  actors,  directors,  writers  and 
the  producer  and  technical  members  of  the 
Academy: 

“All  This,  and  Heaven  Too,”  Warner; 
“Foreign  Correspondent,”  Walter  Wanger- 
United  Artists;  “The  Grapes  of  Wrath,” 
20th  Century-Fox;  “The  Great  Dictator,” 
Charles  Chaplin-UA;  “Kitty  Foyle,”  RKO 
Radio;  “The  Letter,”  Warner;  “The  Long 
Voyage  Home,”  Argosy  Coi-p. -Walter  Wan- 
ger-UA;  “Our  Town,”  Sol  Lesser-UA;  “The 
Philadelphia  Story,”  Metro;  “Rebecca,” 
David  O.  Selznick-UA. 

Best  performance  by  an  actor,  as  nomi- 
nated by  Class  A members  of  the  Screen 
Actors  Guild: 

Charles  Chaplin  in  “The  Great  Dicta- 
tor,” Chaplin-UA;  Henry  Fonda  in  “The 
Grapes  of  Wrath,”  20th  Century-Fox; 
Raymond  Massey  in  “Abe  Lincoln  in  Illi- 
nois,” Max  Gordon  Plays  and  Pictures- 
RKO  Radio;  Laurence  Olivier  in  “Re- 
becca,” David  O.  Selznick-UA;  James 
Stewart  in  “The  Philadelphia  Story,” 
Meti’o. 

Best  performance  by  an  actress,  nomi- 
nated by  the  SAG: 

Bette  Davis  in  “The  Letter,”  Warner; 
Joan  Fontaine  in  “Rebecca,”  Selznick-UA; 
Katharine  Hepburn  in  “The  Philadelphia 
Story,”  Metro;  Ginger  Rogers  in  “Kitty 
Foyle,”  RKO  Radio;  Martha  Scott  in 
“Our  Town,”  Lesser-UA. 

SAG’s  nominations  for  best  performance 
by  an  actor  in  a supporting  role: 

Albert  Basserman  in  “Foreign  Corres- 
pondent,” Wanger-UA;  Walter  Brennan  in 
“The  Westerner,”  Samuel  Goldwyn-UA; 
William  Gargan  in  “They  Knew  What 
They  Wanted,”  RKO  Radio;  Jack  Oakie 
in  “The  Great  Dictator,”  Chaplin-UA; 
James  Stephenson  in  “The  Letter,” 
Warner. 

SAG’s  nominations  for  best  performance 
by  an  actress  in  a supporting  role: 

Judith  Anderson  in  “Rebecca,”  Selznick- 
UA;  Jane  Darwell  in  “The  Grapes  of 
Wrath,”  20th  Century-Fox;  Ruth  Hussey  in 
“The  Philadelphia  Story,”  Metro;  Barbara 
O’Neil  in  “All  This,  and  Heaven  Too,” 
Warner;  Marjorie  Rambeau  in  “Primrose 
Path,”  RKO  Radio. 

Best  directorial  achievement,  as  nomi- 
nated by  the  Screen  Directors  Guild: 

John  Ford,  “The  Grapes  of  Wrath,” 
20th  Century-Fox;  Sam  Wood,  “Kitty 
Foyle,”  RKO  Radio;  William  Wyler,  “The 
Letter,”  Warner;  George  Cukor,  “Tire 
Philadelphia  Story,”  Metro;  Alfred  Hitch- 
cock, “Rebecca,”  Selznick-UA. 

Writing  nominations  were  made  by 


(2lnematlc5 


Kay  Kyser,  orchestra  leader,  is  here  for 
huddles  with  RKO  Radio  executives  con- 
cerning plans  for  his  third  starring  film, 
which  David  Butler  will  produce  and 
direct. 

* 

Myrna  Loy  is  planning  a trip  to  her  for- 
mer ranch  home  near  Redersberg,  Mt., 
when  she  has  completed  her  current 
M-G-M  assignment. 

* 

Harry  Link  of  Leo  Feist,  Inc.,  has  re- 
turned to  New  York  after  conferences  at 
M-G-M  concerning  a campaign  on  the 
musical  selections  in  “Ziegfeld  Girl.” 

* 

Combining  business  with  pleasure,  S. 
Charles  Einfeld,  Warner  advertising -pub- 
licity head,  has  sailed  for  Honolulu.  While 


on  vacation,  Einfeld  will  investigate  pos- 
sibilities of  taking  the  Hollywood  press  to 
Hawaii  for  the  world  premiere  of  “Navy 
Blues,”  forthcoming  musical. 

* 

Director  Jack  Hively  of  RKO  Radio  is 
in  New  York  to  confer  with  Herbert  and 
Dorothy  Fields  on  their  story,  “Father 
Takes  a Wife,”  which  Hively  will  pilot 
. . . Norma  Shearer  has  returned  from  a 
Sun  Valley  vacation. 

* 

William  Setter,  his  wife,  Marian  Nixon, 
and  their  family  are  in  from  a week’s 
holiday  in  Palm  Springs  . . . Merian  C. 
Cooper,  executive  producer  for  the  Argosy 
Corp.,  has  sailed  for  Europe  to  gather  data 
for  “The  Eagle  Squadron,”  to  be  filmed 
for  release  by  Walter  Wanger  through 
United  Artists. 


screen  writers  meeting  qualifications  for 
active  membership  in  the  Screen  Writers 
Guild.  Nominated  for  the  best  original  mo- 
tion picture  story  were: 

“Arise,  My  Love,”  Paramount,  by  Ben- 
jamin Glazer  and  John  S.  Toldy;  “Comrade 
X,”  Metro,  by  Walter  Reisch;  “Edison,  the 
Man,”  Metro,  by  Dore  Schary  and  Hugo 
Butler;  “My  Favorite  Wife,”  RKO  Radio, 
by  Bella  and  Samuel  Spewack  and  Leo  Mc- 
Carey,  and  “The  Westerner,”  Goldwyn-UA, 
by  Stuart  N.  Lake. 

For  the  best-written  screenplay,  re- 
gardless of  whether  developed  from  pub- 
lished material  or  from  an  original  by 
some  other  writer  or  writers: 

“The  Grapes  of  Wrath,”  20th  Century- 
Fox,  by  Nunnally  Johnson;  “Kitty  Foyle,” 
RKO  Radio,  by  Dalton  Trumbo;  “The  Long 
Voyage  Home,”  Ai’gosy  Corp. -Wanger-UA, 
by  Dudley  Nichols;  “The  Philadelphia 
Story,”  Metro,  by  Donald  Ogden  Stew- 
art; “Rebecca,”  Selznick-UA,  by  Robert 
Sherwood  and  Joan  Harrison. 

Best  original  screenplay,  the  writer  or 
writers  of  which  are  also  the  sole  author 
or  authors  of  the  original: 

“Angels  Over  Broadway,”  Columbia,  by 

REVIEW 

FLASHES 

STRAWBERRY  BLONDE  (WB)— A full  mea- 
sure of  laughs,  a few  tears,  a large  helping 
of  romance  and  a dash  of  bittersweet 
nostalgia  are  expertly  blended  against  au- 
thentic backgrounds,  atmosphere  and 
music  of  the  gay  nineties  to  compound  a 
story  which,  entrusted  to  a sterling  cast, 
emerges  as  a film  treat  for  which  great 
popularity  and  profit  may  be  confidently 
prophesied.  James  Cagney,  Olivia  de  Havil- 
land  and  Rita  Hayworth  are  starred.  Wil- 
liam Cagney  produced;  Raoul  Walsh  di- 
rected. 


Ben  Hecht;  “Dr.  Ehrlich’s  Magic  Bullet,” 
Warner,  by  John  Huston,  Norman  Burn- 
side and  Heinz  Herald;  “Foreign  Corres- 
pondent,” Wanger-UA,  by  Charles  Bennett 
and  Joan  Harrison;  “The  Great  Dictator,” 
Chaplin-UA,  by  Charles  Chaplin,  and  “The 
Great  McGinty,”  Paramount,  by  Preston 
Sturges. 

Previously  announced  were  nominations 
for  best  achievements  in  art  direction, 
sound  recording,  cinematography,  music, 
film  editing  and  short  subjects,  including 
cartoons  and  one-  and  two-reel  films. 

Simultaneously  Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  chair- 
man of  the  Academy  Research  Council,  an- 
nounced the  appointment  of  six  commit- 
tees of  technical  experts  to  assist  in  ap- 
praising nominations  for  scientific  or  tech- 
nical achievement  awards.  Membership  in- 
cludes : 

Committee  on  laboratory  nominations — 
Sidney  Solow,  chairman;  Gerald  Best, 
Philip  E.  Brigandi,  C.  R.  Daily,  Fred  Gage, 
John  K.  Hilliard,  George  DeMoss,  Kenneth 
Pier,  Carl  Schillinger,  Ray  Wilkinson. 
Committee  on  lighting  nominations — John 
Arnold,  chairman;  Earl  Miller,  Walter 
Strohm,  Joseph  Valentine.  Committee  on 
photographic  nominations — Keith  Glen- 
nan,  chairman;  Lawrence  Aicholtz,  Winton 
Hoch,  Grover  Laube,  Virgil  Miller.  Com- 
mittee on  production  equipment  nomina- 
tions— Mitchell  Leisen,  chairman;  Gavin 
Burns,  Richard  Day,  D.  Iszard,  H.  F. 
Koenekamp,  Irving  Pichel.  Committee  on 
sound  nominations — E.  H.  Hansen,  chair- 
man; Lawrence  Aicholtz,  Daniel  Bloom- 
berg, Lloyd  Goldsmith,  John  Livadary, 
Wesley  C.  Miller,  T.  T.  Moulton,  William 
Mueller,  Clem  Portman,  Loren  Ryder. 
Committee  on  special  effects  nominations 
— Farciot  Edouart,  chairman;  R.  O.  Bin- 
ger,  Merle  Chamberlin,  Arnold  Gillespie, 
Stanley  Horsley,  Paul  Lerpae,  William 
Thomas,  Joseph  Valentine,  Vernon  Walker. 


An  SMPE  Chairman 

Loren  Ryder  has  been  appointed  chair- 
man of  the  West  Coast  Admissions  Com- 
mittee of  the  Society  of  Motion  Picture 
Engineers  by  President  Emery  Huse. 
Members  of  Ryder’s  committee  include  H. 
W.  Remerschied,  Hollis  Moyse,  K.  F.  Mor- 
gan and  J.  G.  Frayne. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


33 


LOS  A\I'vHGillEILIE 


Westerners  in  Chicago — 

For  the  Universal  product  and  sales  convention  at  the  Blackstone  Hotel. 
Top  row,  left  to  right : A.  J.  O’Keefe,  district,  manager,  Los  Angeles;  E.  T. 
Gomersall,  district  manager;  G.  C.  Craddock,  assistant  to  Wm.  J.  Heineman, 
western  sales  manager,  and  Heineman.  In  the  bottom  row,  same  order,  are : 
Jack  Langan,  Denver;  L.  J.  McGinley,  Seattle;  C.  J.  Feldman,  Los  Angeles; 
R.  O.  Wilson,  Portland;  Barney  Rose,  San  Francisco;  O’Keefe,  again,  and 
C.  R.  Wade,  Salt  Lake  City. 

(Product  Lineup  on  Page  15  in  This  Issue ) 


SALT 

Q.RACIE  FIELDS,  famed  English  com- 
edienne who  played  to  a packed  taber- 
nacle here  in  December  to  aid  British  war 
relief,  will  appear  again  in  Salt  Lake  City 
March  18,  completing  a nationwide  tour 
of  this  country  . . . Anna  May  Wong,  Chi- 
nese actress,  has  been  invited  to  make  a 
personal  appearance  at  the  Coconut  Grove 
ballroom  here  for  the  “Bowl  of  Rice”  party 
given  for  Chinese  war  relief  . . . Susanna 
Foster,  the  Utah  National  Guard’s  “Sweet- 
heart for  a Day,”  sliced  a gigantic  birth- 
day cake  with  the  engraved  saber  of  a 
colonel  while  here  for  a concert. 

The  Victory  here  has  inaugurated  park- 
ing service  with  the  new  policy  of  one  big 
repeat  engagement  picture  and  a first  run 
. . . Harry  David,  general  manager  for 
Intermountain  Theatres,  Inc.;  Chet  Price, 
Victory  manager;  and  Bill  Glasmann  of 
Ogden,  are  back  from  New  York  ...  An 
attractive  lobby  display  for  “Go  West”  was 
on  display  at  C.  Clare  Woods’  Capitol, 
with  intensified  lighting  making  up  the 
scheme  of  the  display  . . . “City  for  Con- 
quest” is  a holdover  at  the  Victory. 

“Rebecca,”  second  run,  is  holding  over 
at  the  Star  . . . “Foreign  Correspondent” 
went  two  weeks  at  the  Studio  and  “Phila- 
delphia Story”  is  now  being  transferred 
there  after  a successful  week  at  the  Centre 
. . . J.  S.  Abrose  was  in  Salt  Lake  for  a few 
days  in  connection  with  the  Arthur  W. 


LAKE 

Kelly  sales  drive.  Abrose  is  in  charge  of 
Salt  Lake,  Denver  and  Omaha  for  UA  . . . 
Bob  Hill,  district  supervisor  for  Columbia, 
was  in  conferring  with  branch  manager 
Bill  Seib  . . . F.  H.  Smith,  Paramount 
branch  manager,  is  expected  back  from  a 
sales  trip  through  Idaho. 

The  Joe  Lawrence  Theatre  Co.  enjoyed 
a successful  opening  of  their  newly  ac- 
quired theatre,  the  Olympus  at  Holliday. 
The  building  has  been  completely  reno- 
vated with  new  equipment,  displays  and 
seats  . . . Sam  Gardner,  M-G-M  chief  here, 
is  back  from  an  extensive  sales  trip  into 
Montana  where  he  found  conditions  “fairly 
good”  . . . M-G-M’s  “Maisie  Was  a Lady” 
was  well  received  when  previewed  here  this 
past  week  . . . Fox  Intermountain  Theatres 
will  hold  a regional  meeting  in  Idaho  Falls 
this  weekend.  More  than  35  managers  of 
the  Fox  chain  will  be  present  from  cities 
in  Utah,  Idaho,  Montana  and  Wyoming, 
according  to  Frank  P.  Larson,  in  charge  of 
arrangements.  Rick  Ricketson  of  Denver, 
general  manager  of  the  chain,  will  preside. 

Practically  unnoticed  by  bystanders, 
Bing  Crosby  and  his  eldest  son,  Gary, 
stepped  off  a train  at  the  U.  P.  depot  here 
and  made  a sightseeing  tour  of  Salt  Lake 
before  continuing  on  to  Sun  Valley.  It 
was  Gary’s  first  trip  out  of  sunny  Cali- 
fornia. They  will  meet  Mrs.  Crosby  and 
the  other  boys  at  Sun  Valley. 


QJEORGE  A.  SMITH,  former  western  dis- 
trict sales  chieftain  for  Paramount,  is 
conducting  his  successor,  Hugh  Braly,  on 
a tour  of  the  Pacific  Coast  exchanges. 
Smith  is  due  in  New  York,  March  1,  to 
become  western  division  sales  manager  for 
the  company,  and  was  tendered  a farewell 
banquet  February  7 at  the  Elks  Club,  at- 
tended by  250  exhibitors  throughout  the 
local  territory.  A.  M.  Botsford,  Paramount 
producer,  acted  as  toastmaster. 

Combining  business  with  pleasure  on  a 
two-week  jaunt,  Ben  Fish,  western  district 
manager  for  United  Artists,  has  sailed  for 
Honolulu  . . . Altec  Service  has  installed 
a complete  new  sound  system  in  Fox  West 
Coast’s  Uptown  Theatre,  neighborhood 
house  here  ...  In  for  bookings:  Murray 
Hawkins,  general  manager  of  the  Swan 
circuit;  Jenne  Dodge,  Mission  and  May- 
fair  theatres,  Ventura;  Mrs.  Lorraine  Va- 
luskis,  Valuskis,  Willowbrook  . . . Herb 
MacIntyre,  western  district  manager  for 
RKO,  back  in  town  after  a visit  to  the  San 
Francisco  exchange. 

Interior  of  the  M-G-M  exchange  has 
been  freshened  up  with  a new  coat  of  paint 
. . . Mike  Newman,  Columbia  exploiteer, 
back  from  a business  junket  which  took 
him  to  San  Francisco  and  Seattle  in  con- 
nection with  openings  in  those  cities  of 
“This  Thing  Called  Love”  . . . Film  Alli- 
ance’s “The  Challenge”  opened  an  indefi- 
nite run  at  the  Hawaii  in  Hollywood, 
February  11,  coupled  with  the  David  O. 
Selznick  production,  “Rebecca.” 

When  Mac  Sinift  opened  his  new  Nor- 
mandie, February  1,  among  those  attend- 
ing was  George  Finch,  a San  Diego  ex- 
hibitor and  old  friend  of  Sinift  . . . Jerry 
Persell,  manager  of  the  local  Postal  Tele- 
graph office,  didn’t  have  to  buy  his  tickets 
for  the  Greek  War  Relief  show  at  the  Chi- 
nese Theatre.  He  won  two  $10  seats  on  one 
of  Fox  West  Coast’s  punchboards. 

Services  were  held  February  11  for  Viola 
Pennell,  secretary  at  20th  Century-Fox, 
who  died  February  6 as  the  result  of  in- 
juries suffered  when  an  automobile 
knocked  down  the  horse  on  which  she  was 
riding.  Miss  Pennell  never  regained  con- 
sciousness. Engaged  in  operations  with 
Victor  McLaglen’s  Light  Horse  Troop  at 
the  time  of  her  accident,  Miss  Pennell  was 
given  a military  funeral  by  the  McLaglen 
organization,  following  which  her  body 
was  sent  home  to  her  family  in  Overland, 
Mo. 

J.  G.  Maddux,  who  formerly  operated 
theatres  in  Auburn,  Wash.,  came  in  for  a 
visit  with  Filmrow  acquaintances  . . . Boris 
Posner,  operator  of  the  Arlington,  checked 
in  on  a booking  trip  . . . Frances  Ramirez, 
secretary-booker  at  the  Azteca  exchange, 
took  a couple  of  days  off  to  nurse  a cold. 

Howard  Stubbins,  Monogram  franchise 
holder  for  the  Pacific  Coast,  left  for  San 
Francisco,  Portland  and  Seattle  for  a 
week’s  tour  of  his  exchanges  . . . Fox  West 
Coast  has  transferred  Clark  Blythe  from 
its  local  real  estate  department  to  San 
Francisco  to  take  charge  of  the  circuit’s 
northern  California  theatre  rentals.  Robert 
Northmore  replaces  Blythe  here. 


34 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


Their  Own  " Premiere " — 


Heading  the  parade  of  screen  cowboys,  Indians  and  stage  coaches  which  pre- 
ceded the  recent  opening  of  the  Hitching  Post  Theatre  on  Hollywood 
Bind,  in  Hollywood  were  “Arkansas  Slim”  Andrews,  Betty  Miles  and  Tex 
Ritter,  Monogram  cowboy  star.  All  three  are  appearing  in  “Ridin’  the 
Cherokee  Trail.”  New  theatre  is  the  first  in  the  film  city  devoted  exclu- 
sively to  screening  western  fare. 


Unsettled  Weather  Aids 
Grosses  in  Salt  Lake 


Salt  Lake  City — Unsettled  weather  con- 
ditions may  have  added  to  the  good  patron- 
age enjoyed  by  local  theatres  this  week. 
The  Intermountain  area  is  experiencing  a 
wide  variety  of  weather  with  Montana, 
usually  bitter  cold  during  January  and 
February,  reporting  weather  like  spring. 

A holdover  bill  was  reported  at  the  Vic- 
tory, which  is  double  feature,  one  picture 
being  “Prairie  Schooners”  and  the  other 
“City  for  Conquest.”  “Philadelphia  Story” 
was  in  its  second  week  at  the  Studio  after 
its  initial  week  at  the  Centre. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  5: 

(Average  is  100) 

Capitol — Go  West  (M-G-M);  The  Face  Behind 


the  Mask  (Col)  105 

Centre — This  Thing:  Called  Gove  (Col) 105 

Rialto — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  (RKO)  105 

Studio — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  105 

Utah — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox);  Private 

Detective  (20th-Fox)  105 

Victory — Prairie  Schooners  (Col);  City  for 

Conquest  (WB),  2nd  run  105 


Seattle  First  Runs  Give 
Way  Before  Stage  Show 

Seattle — Lunt-Fontanne,  appearing  in 
person  at  the  Metropolitan  did  a sweet 
business  with  a sellout  at  all  performances. 
Motion  pictures,  despite  added  flow  of 
money  in  town,  are  not  doing  what  they 
should  in  comparison  to  general  business. 
Liberty  got  away  to  a fine  start  on  “This 
Thing  Called  Love.”  Other  houses  just  get- 
ting along. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  8: 


(Average  is  100) 

Blue  Mouse — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox);  Saint 

in  Palm  Springs  (RKO),  3rd  wk 90 

Fifth  Avenue — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  Tall,  Dark 

and  Handsome  (20th-Fox),  2nd  wk 90 

Liberty — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col) 120 

Music  Box — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M); 
Michael  Shayne,  Detective  (20th-Fox), 

4th  wk 90 

Orpheum — High  Sierra  (FN);  Where  Did  You 

Get  That  Girl?  (Univ),  2nd  wk 90 

Palomar — Ridin’  on  a Rainbow  (Rep) ; Remedy 

for  Riches  (RKO),  plus  stage  show 90 

Paramount — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  (RKO); 

Little  Men  (RKO)  100 


"Hudson  s Bay"  on  Dual 
Is  Leader  in  Denver 

Denver — “Hudson’s  Bay”  and  “Michael 
Shayne,  Detective”  at  the  Denver  took  in 
the  most  money.  “Philadelphia  Story,”  in 
its  second  week  at  the  Orpheum,  was 
around  average. 


Detail  for  the  week  ending  February  6: 

(Average  is  100) 

Aladdin — Four  Mothers  (WB),  after  wk.  at 
Denver;  Here  Comes  the  Navy  (WB),  day 

and  date  with  the  Broadway  110 

Broadway — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO),  2nd  wk.  after 
a wk.  at  Broadway;  Here  Comes  the  Navy 
(WB),  day  and  date  with  the  Aladdin ......  100 

Denham — Victory  (Para’t)  60 

Denver— Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox);  Michael 

Shayne,  Detective  (20th-Fox)  135 

Orpheum — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M), 

2nd  wk 100 

Paramount — Fseape  to  Glory  (Col);  Murder 

Over  New  York  (20th-Fox)  110 

Rialto — Arizona  (Col),  after  wk.  at  each  the 
Denver  and  Aladdin;  The  Outsider  (SR)  ....120 


Holdovers  Rival  New  Ones 
In  San  Francisco  Runs 

San  Francisco — The  best  the  first  runs 
could  do  this  week  was  hold  their  own — or 
worse.  “Long  Voyage  Home”  opened  at  the 


United  Artists  but  could  do  no  better  than 
a bit  above  average.  “Kitty  Foyle”  did  the 
same  in  its  second  week.  A couple  of 
fourth-weekers,  “This  Tiling  Called  Love” 
and  “Comrade  X”  managed  to  garner  con- 
siderable patrons  despite  the  fact  that  they 
have  been  on  Market  Street  for  a month. 
The  followers  of  “Maisie”  helped  the  War- 
field  do  average  business. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  5: 

(Average  is  100) 

Fox — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M) ; Jennie 

(20th-Fox),  2nd  wk 100 

Golden  Gate — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO),  plus  stage 

show,  2nd  wk HO 

Orpheum — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col) ; 

Ellery  Queen,  Master  Detective  (Col),  4th  wk. . 80 
Paramount — Tall,  Dark  and  Handsome  (20th- 


Fox) ; Keeping  Company  (M-G-M)  90 

St.  Francis — Comrade  X (M-G-M) ; Romance 

of  the  Rio  Grande  (20th-Fox),  4th  wk 90 

United  Artists — Long  Voyage  Home  (UA) HO 

Warfield — Maisie  Was  a Lady  (M-G-M); 

Night  Train  (20th-Fox)  100 


"This  Thing  Called  Love" 
Heads  Good  L,  A . Week 

Los  Angeles — Top  hit  of  a generally 
prosperous  week  in  the  first-run  houses 
was  “This  Thing  Called  Love,”  booked 
with  “Remedy  for  Riches”  in  a day-date 
run  at  the  RKO  Hillstreet  and  Pantages 
theatres.  Extended  runs  included  “Cheers 
for  Miss  Bishop,”  continuing  a normal 
draw  in  its  third  week  at  the  Four  Star, 
and  “High  Sierra,”  coupled  with  “She 
Couldn’t  Say  No,”  dipping  slightly  under 
average  in  its  second  stanza,  day-date,  at 
Warner’s  Downtown  and  Hollywood. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  5:: 


(Average  is  100) 

Chinese — Come  Live  With  Me  (M-G-M) ; 

Land  of  Liberty  (M-G-M)  .100 

Downtown — High  Sierra  (FN);  She  Couldn’t 

Say  No  (FN),  2nd  wk 90 

Four  Star — Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop  (UA), 

3rd  wk 100 

Hillstreet — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col); 

Remedy  for  Riches  (RKO)  150 

Hollywood — High  Sierra  (FN);  She  Couldn’t 

Say  No  (FN)  90 

Pantages — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col); 

Remedy  for  Riches  (RKO)  150 

Paramount — You’re  the  One  (Para’t),  plus 

Dinah  Shore  on  stage  125 

State — Come  Live  With  Me  (M-G-M) ; Land 

of  Liberty  (M-G-M)  100 


Anii-Ascap  Plaint 
Not  Yet  Complete 

Los  Angeles— As  yet  uncompleted  is  the 
bill  of  complaint  which  Albert  J.  Law,  as 
general  counsel  for  the  Pacific  Coast  Con- 
ference of  Independent  Theatre  Owners, 
announced  last  week  he  will  file  in  federal 
court  here  against  the  American  Society 
of  Composers,  Authors  and  Publishers 
seeking  to  kill  the  “dual  scoring”  charge 
which  exhibitors  now  pay  for  the  privilege 
of  screening  films  containing  Ascap  music. 

Spokesmen  for  Law  declare  the  attor- 
ney, a former  department  of  justice  dep- 
uty, has  uncovered  several  “interesting” 
new  angles  in  the  projected  anti-Ascap 
suit,  which  are  being  incorporated  in  the 
complaint.  No  specific  explanation  of  them 
is,  as  yet,  available,  however. 

The  fight  will  be  based  on  the  conten- 
tion that  it  is  unfair  for  showmen  to  be 
forced  to  pay  scoring  charges  to  distribu- 
tors on  films  in  which  there  is  Ascap 
music,  and  then  are  compelled  to  pay  an- 
other charge  direct  to  Ascap  to  screen  the 
production. 


Gibraltar  Names  Ward 
Manager  in  Santa  Fe 

Santa  Fe,  N.  M. — Tom  Ward,  formerly 
with  Gibraltar’s  theatres  in  Raton,  has 
been  named  city  manager  of  their  three 
theatres  here. 


B.  F.  SHEARER  COMPANY 

“Theatre  Equipment  Specialists” 

Heywood-Wakefield  Seats 

Wagner  Silhouette  Letters 

Motiograph  Projectors 

1964  So.  Vermont  RO.  1145 

LOS  ANGELES 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


35 


E A TTLE 


J^UBINOFF  arrived  this  week  with  his 
$100,000  fiddle  to  do  a concert  under 
the  auspices  of  a local  club.  Lots  of  free 
space  in  the  papers  and  good  tie-ups  but 
biz  was  lukewarm.  Along  comes  Alfred 
Lunt  and  Lynn  Fontanne  to  the  Met  ap- 
pearing in  “There  Shall  Be  No  Night” — 
just  a couple  of  small  newspaper  ads  arid 
a complete  sellout  for  the  entire  show- 
ings . . . Radio  station  KIRO  will  open  its 
new  spot  on  Vashion  Island  early  in  May. 
The  Federal  Communications  Commission 
recently  granted  increase  in  power  to  this 
station  jumping  from  10,000  to  50,000, 
making  it  the  most  powerful  in  the  north- 
west. 

Chang  Hung  Sang  and  Mon  Lei  Fong, 
Chinese  acrobats  appearing  at  the  Palo- 
mar,  have  only  been  in  this  country  three 
weeks.  Both  are  unable  to  speak  English. 
This  couple  decided  to  be  married  so  Jack 
Sampson,  publicity  ace  for  Sterling  The- 
atres, with  the  aid  of  an  interpreter , sold 
them  the  idea  of  a stage  wedding.  For 
the  first  time  on  any  Seattle  stage  a real 
Chinese  wedding  was  performed.  The 
Palomar  did  extra  biz,  the  audience  wit- 
nessed something  different,  and  the  happy 
couple  were  handsomely  repaid. 

Mike  Newman,  Columbia  publicity  de- 
mon, spent  a few  days  here  campaigning 
“This  Thing  Called  Love.”  Picture  opened 
at  the  Jensen- von  Herberg  Liberty  . . . 
Basil  Gray,  business  agent  of  the  Stage 
Employes  Union,  Local  15,  states  that  the 
Lunt-Fontanne  engagement  at  the  Met 
furnished  work  for  21  stage  employes  and 
also  40  other  theatre  workers  in  the  front 
of  the  house. 

Word  from  California  tells  that  Bob 
Gumm,  formerly  of  Cinema  Screen  Ser- 
vice of  this  town,  died  and  was  buried  in 
Fullerton  . . . Joseph  Monahan,  local  head 
of  the  American  Arbitration  Ass’n,  is  now 
settled  in  his  new  offices  in  the  Marion 
Bldg,  and  waiting  for  business. 

Jim  Hone,  executive  secretary  of  the 
Independent  Theatre  Owners  of  Wash- 
ington, Idaho  and  Alaska,  was  host  at 
a luncheon  honoring  H.  M.  Richey,  as- 
sistant to  W.  F.  Rodgers  of  Metro.  At  the 
table  were  Mike  Barovic  of  Tacoma;  Gene 
Groesbeck  of  Enumclaw;  Fred  Mercy  jr. 
of  Yakima;  Morry  Saffle  local  head  of 
Metro,  and  Paul  Westlund,  B.  F.  Shearer, 
L.  O.  Lukan,  Leroy  V.  Johnson,  and  J.  von 
Herberg  all  of  Seattle. 


Bill  Duggan  jr.,  local  Monogram  mana- 
ger, back  from  the  trip  through  Wash- 
ington . . . Barclay  Ardell,  manager  for 
Altec,  after  a business  trip  to  Salt  Lake 
and  Denver  has  enjoyed  a two  weeks  va- 
cation in  Los  Angeles  accompanied  by 
Mrs.  Ardell  . . . The  Northwest  Film  Club 
party  for  Valentine’s  day  featured  “vari- 
ous mistakes  in  double  billing”  . . . Eddie 
Lamb,  branch  manager  of  RKO,  over  to 
Bremerton  to  help  with  the  grand  opening 
of  “Convoy.”  The  theatre  was  “armed 
to  the  teeth”  and  business  was  a new 
record. 

Herb  Royster,  in  charge  of  theatre 
operation  for  Mrs.  Pulver  in  Lewiston,  Ida., 
here  for  a couple  of  days  representing  the 
Lions  Club,  of  which  he  is  president,  in 
Lewiston  . . . Peter  Higgins  back  from 
Los  Angeles  where  he  was  called  by  the 
death  of  his  father  . . . Harry  Davidson 
of  Port  Angeles  in  the  hospital  here  for 
an  operation  on  his  nose  caused  by  an 
injury  in  a baseball  game  years  ago  . . . 
Lynn  Peterson  over  from  Bremerton  and 
telling  his  newest  story  . . . Dorothy  Mercy 
and  Marian  Walton  off  to  Los  Angeles. 

Hal  McLeod  in  from  Portland  and  greet- 
ing old  friends  on  the  Row  . . . Concrete 


pRANK  H.  (RICK)  RICKETSON,  divi- 
sion manager  for  Fox  Intermountain 
Theatres,  was  re-elected  president  of  the 
Rocky  Mountain  Screen  Club  at  that  or- 
ganization’s annual  meeting  in  clubrooms 
at  the  Cosmopolitan  Hotel.  Other  offi- 
cers include  Joe  H.  Ashby,  first  vice-pres- 
ident; Robert  Hill,  second  vice-president; 
Henry  Friedel,  treasurer;  Ross  Bluck,  sec- 
retary, and  Albert  J.  Gould,  counsel.  Di- 
rectors include  the  officers  and  William 
Agren,  A.  P.  Archer,  Buzz  Briggs,  Duke 
Dunbar,  Jack  Langan,  J.  J.  Morgan,  Dr. 
John  Zarit  and  Robert  J.  Garland.  The 
executive  council  includes  Ricketson,  Ash- 
by, Hill,  Friedel,  Bluck,  R.  J.  Morrison 
and  Mickey  Gross.  The  club  hopes  to 
bring  at  least  one  world  premiere  to  Den- 
ver this  fall.  Ted  Halmi  and  John  Den- 
man were  named  to  care  for  the  public 
relations  angle,  with  their  first  activity 
being  the  starting  of  a monthly  bulletin 
for  members. 


George  Mitchell  of  National  Screen  Ser- 
vice is  handing  out  the  cigars.  It  was  a 
boy  who  has  been  named  Stephen  Gerald 
. . . Lois  Jones,  until  recently  with  the 
Paramount  gang  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  has 
joined  the  local  office  of  Metro  on  Se- 
attle’s Row  . . . L.  J . McGinley , branch 
manager  for  Universal  here,  and  Slats 
Wilson  of  the  Portland  exchange,  off  to 
a Chicago  convention  . . . B.  F.  Shearer 
announces  that  the  Tower  Theatre  Corp.’s 
new  house  in  Bremerton  is  coming  along 
ahead  of  schedule. 

Heaton  Randall,  manager  of  National 
Theatre  Supply,  out  by  plane  for  New 
York  to  attend  a meeting  of  national  man- 
agers . . . Joe  and  Dot  Cooper  celebrat- 
ing their  13th  wedding  anniversary  . . . 


John  Henry  Bock,  22,  booker  for  Gibral- 
tar Enterprises’  theatres,  died  in  a Den- 
ver hospital  as  a result  of  influenza  and 
complications.  Services  were  in  Denver. 

Dave  Cockrill,  manager  of  the  Denham, 
in  an  ad  in  the  papers,  offered  not  only 
to  refund  money  to  any  person  who  failed 
to  get  their  money’s  worth  out  of  seeing 
“Hard-Boiled  Canary,”  but  agreed  to  give 
them  passes  for  some  future  attraction. 

Connie  Rose,  salesman  for  Monogram,  is 
making  the  Colorado  territory  in  a new 
Oldsmobile  . . . Claude  Graves,  now  operat- 
ing the  Coronado  in  Albuquerque,  plans 
to  build  another  there,  to  seat  900,  and 
hopes  to  have  it  open  by  July. 


Last  Rites  in  Fullerton 
For  Robert  E . Gumm 

Fullerton,  Cal. — Services,  followed  by 
burial  at  the  Loma  Vista  Cemetery,  were 
held  here  for  Robert  E.  Gumm,  57,  for- 
mer operator  of  the  Brea  and  La  Habra 
theatres.  Gumm  was  Chicago  branch  man- 
ager for  National  Theatre  Supply  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  later  manager  of  the  NTS 
office  in  Indianapolis.  He  opened  the 
Cinema  Screen  Service  in  Seattle  in  1934, 
then  came  to  California  and  purchased 
the  Lomita,  Brea  and  La  Habra  theatres, 
which  he  sold  in  1940.  His  widow  and  a 
son,  Richard,  survive. 


work  has  been  completed  on  Jay  Twe’s 
new  theatre  in  North  Bend  and  he  is 
planning  on  opening  March  16  . . . Bill 
Evans  of  Centralia  in  town  for  a day  . . . 
Senior  and  Beryl  Mercy  back  to  Yakima  af- 
ter a vacation  trip  to  Hollywood  and  other 
California  spots  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs.  Will 
Hoffman,  brother-in-law  and  sister  of 
Kathryn  Brobeck,  here  from  Lewiston,  Ida. 
. . . M.  A.  Ellsworth,  who  has  been  at- 
tached to  the  Universal  office  here,  has 
returned  to  California  . . . Ted  Wilson  of 
Leavenworth  on  the  Row  for  the  first  time 
in  three  months  . . . Bob  Scott  of  the 
West  Coast  Candy  Co.  in  Portland  crack- 
ing up  a truck  but  escaping  injury. 


Charles  Klein  of  the  Black  Hills  Amuse- 
ment Co.,  Deadwood,  S.  D.,  is  receiving 
congratulations  on  the  birth  of  a baby 
daughter  to  Mrs.  Klein  at  St.  Lukes  Hos- 
pital Monday  . . . Robert  Hill,  Columbia 
exchange  manager,  is  recovering  from  a 
flu  attack. 

Ed  Mapel,  manager  of  the  Gem,  in  town 
a few  days,  then  back  to  the  coast  to  get 
Mrs.  Mapel,  who  is  recovering  in  a hos- 
pital from  the  effects  of  an  auto  acci- 
dent . . . For  the  first  time  in  years  the 
opening  policy  at  the  Kiva  has  been 
changed.  Instead  of  opening  at  10:30  the 
time  now  is  3 p.  m. 

J.  J.  Goodstein  will  reopen  the  Lincoln 
Park  Theatre  March  1.  The  house  was  so 
named  when  it  was  done  over  recently  be- 
cause of  its  proximity  to  the  Lincoln  Park 
housing  project,  which  will  shelter  more 
than  350  families. 

The  Coppel  Amusement  Co.  will  re- 
open the  Mora  Theatre  at  Mora,  N.  M. 
The  house  was  closed  a few  weeks  ago  be- 
cause of  a booth  fire.  Using  portable  equip- 
ment the  resident  manager  will  operate 
in  Mora,  Wagon  Mound  and  Pecos,  N.  M., 
a total  of  five  days  a week. 

John  Bertalero,  one  of  the  partners  in 
the  Black  Hills  Amusement  Co.,  Dead- 
wood,  S.  D.,  has  been  called  to  duty  in 
his  capacity  of  captain  in  the  National 
Guard,  and  he  will  leave  soon  for  maneuv- 
ers in  Louisiana. 

J.  T . Sheffield,  owner  of  the  Sheffield- 
Republic  exchanges,  was  in  town  a couple 
of  days  conferring  with  Gene  Gerbase, 
manager,  and  others  at  the  local  exchange. 
He  left  for  Hollywood  by  way  of  Salt  Lake 
City,  where  he  also  has  an  exchange. 


36 


BOXOFFICE  February  15,  1941 


(t  = — 

: "\J"  Conventionettes  : 

Chicago- — Delegate  who  traveled  farther 
than  anyone  to  attend  the  three-day  Uni- 
versal convention  at  the  Blackstone  was 
Harold  Dudoff,  manager  of  Universal  Pic- 
tures, India,  Ltd.,  Bombay.  Dudoff,  sport- 
ing a healthy  Indian  tan,  arrived  in  this 
country  February  4 after  traveling  30  days. 
Before  leaving  for  New  York  on  Tuesday, 
he  said  he  would  probably  remain  in  this 
country  two  or  three  months. 


First  of  the  contingent  to  leave  the  con- 
vention were  the  newsreel  boys,  Tom  Mead 
and  Joseph  O’Brien,  and  Comptroller  E. 
Walsh.  They  left  on  Sunday,  the  second 
day  of  the  convention. 


A.  J.  “Andy”  Sharick,  studio  sales  con- 
tact, and  F.  T.  Murray,  manager  of  branch 
operations,  got  up  beautiful  foyer  display 
of  the  new  Universal  product  which  caused 
much  favorable  comment.  Display  was  in 
large  reception  room  of  the  Grand  Ball- 
room where  all  meetings  were  held.  Sha- 
rick and  Murray  worked  on  display  al- 
most the  whole  night  preceding  the  initial 
meeting  on  Saturday  morning. 


One  placard  which  had  the  boys  talk- 
ing, simply  had  the  following  words: 
“Boys,  You’re  in  Business — N.  J.  Blum- 
berg.” 


Much  favorable  comment  heard  anent 
the  company’s  slogan:  “Universal  Pictures, 
the  Exhibitor’s  Insurance  Policy  for  1941- 
42.” 


Milton  Feld',  studio  executive,  was  un- 
able to  get  to  Chicago  until  the  second 
day  of  the  convention.  Joe  Pasternak  was 
unable  to  make  it  because  of  the  press  of 
duties  on  the  west  coast.  He  had  his  ad- 
dress put  on  transcription.  Delegates  heard 
talk  at  final  session. 


John  Joseph,  director  of  advertising 
and  publicity,  who  started  here  in  Chi- 
cago, spent  spare  time  visiting  old  cronies. 
One  person  he  saw  was  the  popular  Daily 
News  sports  editor  and  dramatic  critic, 
Lloyd  Lewis. 


A Quartet  Relight 
After  Remodeling 

Chicago — At  least  four  Chicago  theatres 
have  opened  within  the  last  couple  of 
weeks  after  extensive  remodeling  jobs. 
They  include  the  Oakley,  Ken,  Rockne,  and 
the  Lyric. 

The  Oakley,  a 1,000-seater,  had  a gala 
reopening  on  Tuesday,  about  $40,000  hav- 
ing been  spent  on  improvements.  Lester 
Retchin,  who  sold  the  Howard  to  B&K 
about  eight  months  ago,  is  now  operating 
it.  His  son,  Sheldon,  is  managing.  Young 
Retchin  was  formerly  with  Warner  Bros, 
in  San  Francisco  where  he  was  employed 
as  a booker  and  junior  salesman. 

The  Ken,  operated  by  Bennie  Banowitz 
and  John  Landis,  opened  on  Saturday. 
The  Rockne  until  recently  was  known  as 
the  Ambassador. 


New  Sound  at  Racine 

Racine,  Wis. — New  RCA  sound  and  pro- 
jectors are  being  installed  in  Warner’s 
State  Theatre  here.  The  house  seats  800. 


Regional  Follows 
"U"  Convention 


Chicago — Following  the  three-day  na- 
tional convention  of  Universal  here,  Febru- 
ary 8-10,  at  the  Blackstone,  the  first  of 
the  regional  meetings  was  held  at  the 
same  hotel  under  the  chairmanship  of 
William  J.  Heineman,  western  sales  man- 
ager, on  Wednesday.  Exchange  managers 
and  salesmen  in  the  districts  headed  by  E. 
T.  “Peck”  Gomersall,  who  headquarters 
in  Chicago,  and  J.  E.  Garrison,  who  head- 
quarters in  Kansas  City,  attended  the  in- 
itial regional  confab. 

Following  the  meeting  Heineman  was 
scheduled  to  leave  Thursday  morning  for 
New  York  and  then  planned  to  fly  to  Los 
Angeles  on  Sunday  night.  On  Monday 
night  he  plans  on  going  to  San  Francisco 
where  another  regional  embracing  branch 
managers  and  salesmen  from  the  six  key 
western  cities  is  scheduled  to  be  held 
Tuesday,  February  18,  at  the  St.  Francis 
Hotel. 

Heineman  told  Boxoffice  that  insofar  as 
he  knew  there  would  be  no  additions  made 
to  the  Universal  sales  force.  He  did  say 
that  one  or  two  replacements  might  be 
made  to  the  present  staff. 

Frank  J.  A.  McCarthy,  eastern  sales 
manager,  was  scheduled  to  hold  similar 
regional  meetings  in  Cleveland,  Philadel- 
phia and  New  Orleans.  He  left  Chicago  last 
Tuesday  afternoon  and  will  probably  wind 
up  the  regional  meetings  in  New  Orleans 
on  Tuesday. 

In  addition  to  Heineman  and  Gomersall, 
others  scheduled  to  attend  the  initial 
regional  meeting  at  the  Blackstone  last 
Wednesday,  included  the  following  branch 
managers:  M.  M.  “Manny”  Gottlieb,  Chi- 
cago; Frank  Mantzke,  Milwaukee;  L.  J. 
Miller,  Minneapolis;  Ed  Heiber,  Detroit  and 
H.  H.  Hull,  Indianapolis.  The  aforemen- 
tioned are  all  in  Gomersall’s  district. 

Salesmen  who  were  to  attend  included: 
Chicago — William  E.  Weinschenker,  T.  G. 
Meyers,  R.  W.  Funk,  M.  C.  Brodsky  and 
A1  Kent.  Detroit — Jack  Stewart,  Bert  G. 
Tighe  and  Jack  R.  Susami.  Indianapolis — 
William  H.  Sherman  and  Carl  F.  Mock. 
Milwaukee— E.  W.  Gavin,  R.  J.  Bassett 
and  D.  McFadzen.  Minneapolis — Harold  B. 
Johnson,  A.  L.  Zacherl,  M.  P.  Halloran, 
F.  E.  Abelson  and  R.  H.  Stahl. 

Exchange  managers  in  the  territory  su- 
pervised by  District  Manager  J.  E.  Garri- 
son who  attended  the  Wednesday  regional 
meeting  included:  Grover  Parsons,  Kan- 
sas City;  Harry  Hynes,  St.  Louis;  Lou 
Levy,  Des  Moines  and  Otto  Siegal,  Omaha. 


Will  Build  Theatre  Near 
Leonard  A . Wood  Camp 

Jefferson  City — The  secretary  of  state’s 
office  has  granted  a charter  of  incor- 
poration to  the  Commonwealth  Waynes- 
ville  Corp.  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.  The  com- 
pany plans  to  erect  and  operate  a new 
theatre  in  Waynesville,  Mo.,  adjacent  to 
the  General  Leonard  A.  Wood  army  camp 
in  central  Missouri. 

Incorporators  are  James  W.  Taylor, 
Byron  Spencer  and  M.  White,  all  of  Kan- 
sas City. 


At  the  Universal  Convention — 

The  Central  area  contingent  to  the  annual  product  parley  held  Monday  in 
the  Blackstone  at  Chicago.  Left  to  right,  Ed  Heiber,  Detroit;  L.  J.  Miller, 
Minneapolis;  E.  T.  Gomersall,  district  manager;  Frank  Mantzke,  Milwaukee; 
H.  H.  Hull,  Indianapolis,  and  M.  M.  Gottlieb,  Chicago.  At  the  top  is  a close- 
up  of  Hull,  newly  appointed  manager  of  the  Indianapolis  exchange. 

( Product  Detail  Elsewhere  in  This  Issue ) 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


C 


37 


Harry  Graham  Leads 
Equipment  Dealers 

Chicago — Harry  W.  Graham,  Graham 
Bros.,  Denver,  was  elected  executive  secre- 
tary of  the  Theatre  Equipment  Dealers 
Pi'otective  Ass’n  at  the  three-day  meeting 
held  at  the  Congress  here  February  8-10 
which  was  attended  by  some  25  dealers 
from  all  over  the  country.  No  other  of- 
ficers will  be  elected  by  the  group. 

Purpose  of  the  confab  was  “to  further 
improvement  in  services  to  the  theatre 
trade,  to  protect  dealer-members  against 
unethical  practices  that  are  liable  to  come 
up  during  the  expected  business  boom,  and 
to  generally  encourage  exhibitors  to  look 
for  quality  in  the  selection  of  equipment 
and  service.” 

In  addition  to  the  dealers,  some  25  thea- 
tre equipment  manufacturers  were  in  at- 
tendance. 

At  the  Sunday  session  a short  talk  was 
made  to  the  manufacturers  by  Graham  in 
which  he  outlined  the  intents  and  pur- 
poses of  the  dealer’s  association.  The 
manufacturers  approved  the  dealers’  plans 
and  agreed  to  cooperate  fully  with  all  sug- 
gestions made  by  dealers.  The  dealers,  in 
turn,  said  they  would  cooperate  both  with 
manufacturers  represented  at  the  meet- 
ing and  any  other  manufacturers  with 
whom  they  might  do  business. 

Graham  said  membership  in  the  asso- 
ciation is  open  to  all  “reliable  and  de- 
pendable” theatre  supply  houses.  A non- 
profit organization,  the  dealer’s  group  will 
have  very  nominal  dues,  according  to  Gra- 
ham. He  said  that  to  date  there  are  37 
members.  National  headquarters  of  TEDPA 
will  be  located  at  546  Lincoln  Street, 
Denver. 

The  organization  is  the  first  active  one 
to  be  formed  since  the  old  independent 
theatre  supply  group  disbanded  about 
three  years  ago. 

Dealers  attending  the  three-day  con- 
vention were,  in  addition  to  Graham:  Ken 
Douglass,  Capitol  Theatre  Supply,  Boston; 
Des  Moines  Theatre  Supply,  Des  Moines; 
Roy  Colvin,  Exhibitors’  Supply  Co.,  St. 


Louis;  Falls  City  Theatre  Equipment, 
Louisville;  John  P.  Filbert,  John  P.  Filbert 
Co.,  Los  Angeles;  Ger-Bar,  Inc.,  Indian- 
apolis; Joe  Goldberg,  Joe  Goldberg,  Inc., 
Chicago;  M.  O.  O'Neill,  Guercio  & Barthel, 
Chicago;  Joe  Hornstein,  Joe  Homstein 
Theatre  Supply,  New  York  City;  Louisiana 
M.  P.  Equipment,  New  Orleans;  George 
McArthur,  McArthur  Theatre  Equipment, 
Deiroit. 

Eldon  Peek,  Oklahoma  Theatre  Supply, 
Oklahoma  City;  Walter  G.  Preddey,  Wal- 
ter G.  Preddey  Theatre  Supply,  San  Fran- 
cisco; Miss  V.  Harwell,  Queen  Feature  Ser- 
vice, Birmingham;  Ben  Shearer  represent- 
ing the  B.  F.  Shearer  Co.,  Seattle,  San 
Francisco,  Los  Angeles  and  Portland;  Ray 
Smith,  Ray  Smith  Co.,  Milwaukee;  South- 
western Theatre  Equipment  Co.,  Houston; 
Stebbins  Theatre  Equipment,  Kansas  City, 
Mo.;  F.  A.  Van  Husan,  Western  Theatre 
Supply  Co.,  Omaha;  C.  B.  Paden,  Western 
Theatrical  Equipment,  San  Francisco. 

Manufacturers  represented  at  the  con- 
vention included  the  following:  E.  J.  Val- 
len,  Vallen,  Inc.,  Akron,  Ohio;  William  A. 
Gedris  and  Ed  Blanchard,  Ideal  Seating 
Co.,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.;  Harry  Strong, 
Strong  Electric  Corp.,  Toledo,  Ohio;  H. 
Thorwell  Matthews  and  Fred  Matthews, 
Motiograph,  Inc.,  Chicago;  J.  C.  Heck, 
president  and  C.  C.  Cooley,  sales  manager, 
Da-Lite  Screen  Co.,  Chicago;  Erwin  Wag- 
ner, Wagner  Sign  Service  Co.,  Chicago; 
J.  J.  Ansfield,  Adler  Silhouette  Letter  Co., 
Chicago;  Edw.  H.  Wolk,  Theatre  Equip- 
ment and  Parts,  Chicago;  Jake  Mitchell, 
LaVezzi  Machine  Works,  Chicago;  L.  W. 
Davee,  Century  Projector  Co.,  New  York, 
City,  N.  Y.;  Homer  B.  Snook,  RCA  Mfg. 
Co.,  Camden,  N.  J.;  L.  D.  Strong,  Essanay 
Mfg.  Co.,  Chicago. 

James  K.  Elderkin,  Forest  Mfg.  Co., 
Newark,  N.  J.;  Robert  L.  Smith,  Century 
Electric  Co.,  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  E.  A.  Williford, 
National  Carbon  Co.,  New  York  City;  C.  S. 
and  Mrs.  Ashcraft,  C.  S.  Ashcraft  Mfg.  Co., 
Long  Island  City,  N.  Y.;  Warner  S.  Victor, 
Projection  Optics  Co.,  Inc.,  Rochester,  N. 
Y.;  Lou  Goldberg,  Goldberg  Bros.,  Denver, 
Colo.;  M.  Golde,  Golde  Mfg.  Co.,  Chicago; 
T.  Karatz,  Air-Loc  Seat  Industries,  Inc., 
Minneapolis;  W.  C.  Stober,  General  Regis- 
ter Corp.,  Chicago;  A.  M.  Pollack,  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  and  A.  Siegal,  Ansell-Simplex  Ticket 
Co.,  Chicago. 


With  " Miss  Bishop”  Viewed — 

Lobbying  after  the  trade  showing  of  “Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop’’  at  the  Es- 
quire, February  6,  are,  left  to  right:  Howdee  Myers  of  the  publicity  de- 
partment of  radio  station  WGN,  William  Gargan,  male  lead  of  the  film; 
Doris  Arden  (Eleanor  Keen)  film  critic  of  the  Chicago  Daily  Times;  and 
Dick  Rowland,  producer  of  the  UA  release.  Rowland  left  for  Minneapolis 
for  another  trade  screening  following  the  one  in  Chicago. 


Hopeful  Fast  Time  Bill 
Will  F ail  in  Wisconsin 

Madison — Exhibitor  leaders  left  the 
hearing  on  the  Murray  bill  to  legalize  day- 
light savings  time  in  Wisconsin  before  the 
senate  state  and  local  government  com- 
mittee hopeful  that  the  measure  will  fail 
to  be  enacted. 

Leaders  of  the  medical  profession,  spon- 
sor of  the  measure,  met  united  opposition 
from  the  theatre  industry,  farmers’  spokes- 
man and  labor  in  general. 

The  trade  was  represented  in  opposition 
to  the  bill  by  Steven  J.  Thomas,  Racine, 
of  the  Wisconsin  Association  of  Stage  Em- 
ployes and  Projectionists,  who  said  day- 
light saving  probably  would  close  200  thea- 
tres in  Wisconsin;  Jack  Warner,  Milwau- 
kee, of  the  Theatrical  Stage  Employes 
Local  Union  No.  18,  and  W.  L.  Ainsworth, 
Fond  du  Lac,  president  of  the  ITPA  of 
Wisconsin. 

Ainsworth  outlined  the  history  of  day- 
light saving  legislation  and  how  its  adop- 
tion has  caused  confusion. 

Caused  Mixup  Before 

On  April  5,  1921,  daylight  saving  was 
voted  in  Milwaukee  despite  the  protest  of 
farmers  and  labor,  Ainsworth  related.  It 
went  into  effect  June  29,  1930  in  some  in- 
dustries in  Milwaukee,  he  said,  and  not  in 
others,  thereby  causing  a considerable 
mixup.  On  May  17,  1931,  Kenosha  can- 
celled daylight  saving  time  after  it  had 
been  in  effect  for  a month,  he  stated. 

Chief  proponent  of  the  bill  was  Dr. 
Ralph  P.  Sproule,  Milwaukee,  president  of 
the  State  Medical  Society  of  Wisconsin. 

Besides  theatre  owners,  those  indicating 
their  opposition  included  the  Wisconsin 
State  Federation  of  Labor,  the  Wisconsin 
Chiropractic  Ass’n,  the  Wisconsin  Farm- 
ers’ Equity  Union,  the  Wisconsin  Council 
of  Agriculture  and  the  Milwaukee  Garden- 
ers’ Ass’n. 

Speaking  for  the  State  Federation  of 
Labor,  which  he  said  has  a membership  of 
upward  of  200,000,  J.  F.  Friedrick,  Milwau- 
kee, recited  how  Milwaukee  had  voted  29,- 
890  to  23,133  in  favor  of  daylight  saving  in 
a referendum  in  April,  1921,  and  two  years 
later  had  voted  34,515  to  24,769  for  its  dis- 
continuance. 

The  Murray  bill  would  repeal  the  present 
state  law  which  requires  the  use  of  central 
standard  time  and  would  permit  munici- 
palities to  adopt  daylight  saving  at  their 
pleasure. 


Serlin  Spurns  5 Offers 
To  Film  Smash  Play 

Chicago — Oscar  Serlin,  producer  of  “Life 
With  Father,”  who  is  in  town  for  the  first 
anniversary  celebration  of  his  play  at  the 
Blackstone  Theatre,  told  Boxoffice  he  has 
refused  offers  from  five  film  companies  to 
picturize  his  play. 

Serlin  said  he  has  refused  to  sell  for  two 
reasons.  Firstly,  he  does  not  want  to  make 
any  screen  commitments  until  the  stage 
possibilities  of  the  play  have  been  ex- 
hausted not  only  in  metropolitan  centers 
but  in  outlying  cities  as  well.  Secondly, 
Serlin  would  want  complete  charge  and 
responsibility  for  the  screen  version. 


38 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


C IHI 1!  C A Cl  CO 


gOME  400  educators,  together  with  li- 
brarians and  parent-teachers  repre- 
sentatives, witnessed  a special  screening  of 
Metro’s  “Land  of  Liberty”  at  the  Cinema. 
Film  opened  Friday  at  the  Garrick  . . . 
Tom  Gorman  says  that  even  though  “Kitty 
Foyle”  business  warranted  it  being  held  for 
seventh  week  at  Palace,  it  was  decided  at 
last  minute  to  start  “Buck  Privates”  last 
Tuesday.  All  RKO  and  Universal  product 
was  being  “bottled  up”  in  Chicago  since 
those  two  companies  have  first  run  show- 
ing of  their  films  at  Palace.  Following 
“Buck  Privates,”  house  will  present  “Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Smith,”  “Back  Street”  and 
“Citizen  Kane.” 

Herb  Elisburg  reports  swell  business  at 
his  Studio  on  “Rebecca”  which  was  chosen 
best  picture  of  ’40  by  over  400  critics.  Film 
also  won  Boxqffice  Blue  Ribbon  award 
in  April  . . . Ben  Bernie,  heading  east  from 
Hollywood,  arrived  in  town  via  Santa  Fe 


— Chicago  and  North  Western  Photo 

Two  Stars  Meet — 

Guy  Kibbee  {right),  star  of  RKO’s 
new  picture,  “Scattergood  Baines,” 
and  John  Barbirollo,  conductor  of  the 
New  York  Philharmonic  orchestra, 
pose  for  a picture  following  their  ar- 
rival from  Los  Angeles  aboard  the 
same  train.  Kibbee  was  en  route  to 
Montpelier,  Vt.,  and  the  world  pre- 
miere there  of  “Scattergood  Baines.” 

Measles , Scarlet  Fever 
On  Rampage  in  Illinois 

Springfield,  III.— -Roland  R.  Cross,  state 
health  director,  reports  that  the  outbreak 
of  measles  in  various  parts  of  Illinois  is 
rapidly  reaching  epidemic  proportions.  In 
the  first  five  weeks  of  1941,  a total  of 
5,512  cases  were  reported. 

The  four  grade  schools  in  Vandalia, 
111.,  have  been  closed  by  health  authori- 
ties in  an  effort  to  stem  the  number  of 
scarlet  fever  cases  in  that  vicinity.  Public 
meetings  and  social  gatherings  of  all  kinds 
have  been  curtailed  and  theatre  attend- 
ance in  the  city  and  adjoining  communi- 
ties has  been  seriously  affected. 


Super  Chief,  Sunday  . . . Lieut.  Harry  M. 
Costello  of  censor  board  ill  at  home  for  two 
weeks  . . . Abe  Teitel  reports  booking  his 
double  horror  bill,  “Torso  Murder  Mystery” 
and  “Face  at  the  Window,”  into  the  War- 
ner Metropolitan,  February  27,  28  and 
March  1. 

S.  A.  Shirley  has  been  called  out  of  re- 
tirement from  the  west  coast  to  pinch-hit 
for  “Doc”  Banford,  Metro  branch  man- 
ager. “Doc”  is  convalescing  at  St.  Luke’s 
Hospital  . . . Gene  Krupa  may  go  to  Holly- 
wood soon  to  make  a full-lengther  for 
Paramount.  Krupa,  who  finished  big  week 
at  the  Chicago  on  Thursday,  recently  com- 
pleted a Paramount  Headliner  short  . . . 
Susanna  Foster  was  to  have  arrived  in 
town  last  Thursday  after  a two-day  visit 
in  Minneapolis.  In  Chicago  she  was  to  have 
made  guest  appearance  at  B&K  Chicago 
Theatre  at  sneak-preview  of  “Hard-Boiled 
Canary”  Thursday  night  as  well  as  star- 
ring on  WGN-Mutual  “In  Chicago  To- 
night” the  same  evening.  Fred  Bartow, 
Paramount  exploitation  man,  is  traveling 
with  the  starlet  in  this  territory.  Itinerary 
was  to  have  included  a visit  to  Peoria  on 
Friday  and  a trip  to  Milwaukee  on  Satur- 
day. Detroit  is  to  be  visited  on  Monday. 
Cliff  Lewis  is  handling  Miss  Foster’s  na- 
tion-wide tour. 

Frank  Behrens,  actor  on  CBS’s  “Right 
to  Happiness”  program,  left  Chicago  last 
Monday  for  RKO  screen  test  in  Hollywood. 
If  test  is  n.  g„  Frank  says  he’ll  go  to  New 
York  to  do  stage  work  . . . Shirley  Dean, 
who  recently  finished  a Sam  Coslow 
“Soundie”  for  Mills  Novelty  Panoram 
machines,  visited  Mills’  home  office  while 
here.  Shirley  was  featured  on  State-Lake 
stage  bill  . . . George  Beck,  with  RCA  here 
in  Chicago,  is  working  with  E.  J.  Dustin 
on  the  installation  of  special  “Fantasound” 
equipment  at  the  Apollo. 

Legit  Paragraph:  Talk  is  that  Lon 
Chaney  jr.  will  head  Chicago  stage  com- 
pany of  New  York  hit,  “Arsenic  and  Old 
Lace.”  Boris  Karloff  has  lead  on  Broad- 
way . . . “Pins  and  Needles,”  which  has  a 
$1  top  and  advertises  itself  as  the  “Hit 
Musical  at  Movie  Prices,”  goes  into  its 
ninth  week  at  the  Studebaker  . . . Everett 
Marshall,  star  of  “Blossom  Time”  at  the 
Grand  Opera  House,  was  to  have  starred 
on  BoxoFFicE-Joy  Candy  Shoppes’  “That’s 
Show  Business”  radio  show  on  Sunday. 

Cole  Porter  took  City  of  Los  Angeles  for 
west  coast  Thursday  evening  . . . Tom  Gor- 
man has  bandaged  finger.  Says  it’s  caused 
by  ingrown  hair  . . . Charley  Lindau,  sales 
manager  for  Capitol-Monogram,  married 
Dorothy  Peschel  of  Chicago  Daily  News 
amusement  advertising  department  last 
Saturday.  Couple  are  honeymooning  in 
California. 

What’s  this  about  Henri  Elman’s  dog 
kennels  on  west  side?  If  it’s  true,  Henri’s 
emulating  Irene  Castle  McLaughlin,  who 
has  become  famous  for  her  “Orphans  of 
the  Storm”  dog  shelter  on  the  swanky 
north  shore  . . . Mort  Singer  tells  us  “Ari- 
zona” did  bigger  three-day  business  at  his 
Orpheum,  Davenport,  la.,  than  house  has 
done  in  a year.  Phil  Dunas,  Columbia 
branch  manager  here,  tickled  pink  at  the 
news. 


— Photo-Ad 

His  Story  to  Warner — 

Hartzell  Spence,  author  of  “One  Foot 
in  Heaven,”  as  he  paused  in  Chicago 
en  route  to  New  York  after  confer- 
ences in  Hollywood  with  Warner  ex- 
ecutives on  the  filming  of  his  book.  A 
newspaper  man,  Spence  based  the  book 
on  the  life  of  his  father,  a Methodist 
minister. 


Fire  Levels  Milltown 

Milltown,  Ind.  — A fire  of  undeter- 
mined origin  destroyed  the  Milltown  The- 
atre. Efforts  of  the  town’s  volunteer  fire- 
men to  confine  the  blaze  proved  futile. 
The  building  was  owned  by  Luther  E. 
Flannagan. 


Get  General  Seats 

Chicago — New  General  seats  have  been 
installed  in  the  State,  Sterling,  111.,  and 
the  Star,  Fort  Branch,  Ind. 


TRADE  DIRECTORY 

A Handy  Guide  lor  the  Exhibitor 

CHICAGO 


SIGNS  - MARQUEES  AND 
MAINTENANCE 


White  Way  Electric  Sign  & Maintenance  Co. 
Tom  Flannery,  President 
315-17  W.  Walton  Street 
Phone  DELaware  9111 


THEATRICAL  PRINTING 


PRINTED 


THEATRICAL 
L PRINTING  ' 
\ OF  EVERY  ^ 
DESCRIPTION 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


39 


INDIANAPOLIS 


pjOWARD  P.  MURPHY,  manager  of  the 
Artcraft  Theatre  at  Franklin,  resigned 
to  join  with  U.  S.  Machine  Corp.  Fahnley 
Bridges  succeeds  him  at  the  Artcraft  . . . 
John  Peterson  of  the  Uptown  Theatre 
was  guest  of  honor  at  a birthday  party 
given  by  a group  of  his  pre-teen  age  pa- 
trons. They  presented  him  with  a cake 
baked  by  the  girls,  and  quite  a time  was 
had  by  all. 

Mrs.  W.  E.  Lynch  of  Danville,  III.,  an- 
nounced the  engagement  of  her  daughter 
to  J.  B.  Sconce,  operator  of  several  thea- 
tres in  Indiana.  The  wedding  date  is  set 
for  February  15. 

Morris  Horowitz,  who  recently  retired  as 
president  of  the  Fountain  Square  Theatre 
Co„  operators  of  a group  of  theatres  in 
Indianapolis,  sold  his  entire  interests  in 
the  corporation  to  Central  Indiana  Corp. 
. . . Kieth  Siegrist,  formerly  with  Para- 
mount Pictures  as  a booker,  joins  Theatri- 
cal Managers,  Inc.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Arthur  Manning  of  Bowling  Green,  Ky. 

Harry  Goldstein,  new  district  manager 
for  Paramount,  paid  his  first  visit  to  the 
local  exchange.  He  assumes  the  duties  of 
Allen  Usher  . . . The  State  Theatre  at 
Milltown,  Did.,  was  in  the  process  of  re- 
modeling when  it  was  badly  damaged  by 
fire. 

A bill  was  introduced  in  the  Indiana 


MILWAUKEE 

pOX’S  DOWNTOWN  houses  participated 
in  Dollar  Day  with  other  local  merch- 
ants by  offering  a 25  per  cent  discount 
coupon  in  newspaper  advertising.  Persons 
presenting  the  coupon  at  the  circuit’s  Wis- 
consin, Palace  and  Strand  theatres,  were 
allowed  10  cents  on  regular  admissions. 

Fox  is  offering  Turf  Night  at  its  Varsity 
on  Fridays  and  Saturdays  . . . Oliver  C. 
Trampe,  27,  manager  of  the  Rainbow,  has 
been  selected  by  a local  draft  board  to  fill 
its  February  quota. 

Herb  Graef,  formerly  assistant  manager 
for  Warner  in  Sheboygan,  has  been  named 
manager  of  the  Chilton  Theatre  at  Chil- 
ton succeeding  Elmer  Nitzke  ...  As  a 
Farm  and  Home  Week  attraction  in  Madi- 
son, Edward  J.  Benjii  featured  the  WLS 
Barn  Dance  at  his  Capitol  theatre  and  the 
flicker,  “Barnyard  Follies,”  in  which  Doro- 
thy Harrison,  Wisconsin’s  1940  Dairy 
Queen,  has  a role. 

Fox  has  reopened  its  Rialto  in  Marin- 
ette . . . Warner-Saxe  staged  Valentine 
parties  last  weekend  at  its  Garfield,  Na- 
tional, Milwaukee,  Uptown,  Egyptian, 
Savoy,  Modjeska,  Lake,  Parkway,  Juneau, 
Princess  and  Tivoli  theatres  with  five 
Valentines  free  to  every  boy  and  girl. 


Altec  Service  to  45 

St.  Louis — Altec  has  obtained  contracts 
to  service  45  St.  Louis  theatres.  Deals  were 
signed  with  Harry  Arthur  of  the  St.  Louis 
Amusement  Co.,  Fanchon  & Marco,  Ansell 
Brothers,  Sam  Schubert,  Bess  Schulter, 
John  Caporal,  Clarence  Turley,  and  Frank 
Sperce. 


state  legislature  to  impose  a sales  tax  of 
three  per  cent,  to  be  paid  by  the  consumer. 
Operators  would  be  faced  with  the  collec- 
tion of  the  sales  tax  in  addition  to  the 
Federal  Defense  Tax  already  in  effect  . . . 
Lloyd  W.  Littell,  clerk  for  AAA,  has  es- 
tablished his  office  at  307  Underwriters 
Building  . . . Lowell  Brewer,  manager  of  the 
Grove  Theatre,  Beech  Grove,  had  an  ac- 
cident while  ice  skating  and  had  to  have 
several  stitches  taken  over  his  eye. 

Visitors  to  Filmrow:  Ike  R.  Holycross, 
Paramount,  Anderson;  Abe  Kaufman, 
Fountain,  Terre  Haute;  Mrs.  Wm.  Luckett, 
Indiana,  Scottsburg;  Art  Clark,  Indiana, 
Bloomington;  E.  K.  Crouch,  Palace,  Fair- 
mount;  D.  D.  Lee,  Princess,  Cayuga;  Ben 
Van  Borrsum,  Savoy,  Terre  Haute;  Sam 
Neall,  Sipe,  Kokomo;  Bruce  Kixmiller, 
Colonial,  Bicknell;  H.  Lisle  Kreighbaum, 
Char-Bell,  Rochester;  Arthur  B.  Thomp- 
son, Ritz,  North  Vernon;  A.  H.  Borken- 
stein,  Wells,  Fort  Wayne;  Roy  Kalver, 
Adams,  Decatur;  Douglas  M.  Haney,  Al- 
bion, Albion;  Joe  C.  Schilling,  Auditorium, 
Connersville;  Joe  Finneran,  Elwood,  El- 
wood;  Roy  E.  Harrold,  Princess,  Rushville; 
J.  M.  Dixon,  Flora,  Flora;  Alex  Manta,  In- 
diana-Illinois  Theatres,  Chicago. 

Two  more  Indiana  exhibitors  are  vaca- 
tioning in  Florida,  as  Trueman  Rembusch 
of  Rembusch  Theatres,  Franklin,  Indiana, 
and  Percy  H.  Dickson,  Eagles  Theatre,  Wa- 
bash, journeyed  southward. 


TOHNNY  PERKINS,  popular  emcee  and 

more  recently  operator  of  a recreational 
resort  in  East  St.  Louis,  111.,  has  been  in 
St.  John’s  Hospital  for  a checkup  . . . 
Services  of  all  the  employes  of  the  Fox 
were  donated  for  the  free-admission 
Bundles-for-Britain  matinee  at  that  thea- 
tre last  Saturday. 

The  St.  Louis,  flagship  of  the  St.  Louis 
Amusement  Co.’s  fleet,  has  inaugurated  a 
policy  calling  for  a twice-a-week  change  of 
bills. 

Funeral  services  were  held  Wednesday 
for  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bona,  mother  of  Lester 
Bona,  Warner  salesman  . . . With  the  shut- 
tering of  the  Grand,  a local  burley,  it  is 
learned  a merger  was  effected  by  Jay 
Hornick  and  Dick  Zeisler,  for  the  Izzy 
Hirst  circuit,  with  Arthur  damage  of  the 
Wolverine’  Amusement  Co.,  which  has  a 
lease  on  the  Grand.  Hornick  and  Zeisler 
are  interested  in  the  Garrick,  other  local 
burley. 

Jack  Eckhardt  to  Lead 
Chicago  Bookers  Club 

Chicago — Jack  Eckhardt  of  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox was  elected  president  of  the  local 
Film  Bookers  Club  at  the  business  meeting 
preceding  the  third  annual  banquet  held  at 
Henrici’s  in  the  Merchandise  Mart,  Febru- 
ary 7.  Eckhardt,  the  son  of  the  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox branch  manager,  succeeds  Harry 
James,  United  Artists. 

Other  officers  elected  are:  Sam  Tray- 
nor,  Bailey  Enterprises,  Princeton,  111., 
vice-president:  Frank  Williams,  Warner 


"Philadelphia  Story" 
Chicago  Pace-Setter 


Chicago — Continuing  as  pace-setter  in 
the  loop  is  Metro’s  “The  Philadelphia 
Story,”  which  started  its  fourth  big  week 
at  the  United  Artists  Theatre  on  Lincoln’s 
birthday.  Establishing  what  is  believed  to 
be  a house  record  is  RKO’s  “Kitty  Foyle” 
which  will  have  concluded  seven  big  weeks 
at  the  Palace  on  the  18th. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  6: 


(Average  is  100) 

Apollo — Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (UA) 85 

This  will  be  last  feature  in  Apollo  for  per- 
haps a year.  “Fantasia”  opens  the  19th. 

Chicago — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col), 

plus  stage  show  125 

Garrick — Second  Chorus  (Para’t)  80 

Picture  was  shifted  here  for  second  loop 
week  after  fair  week  at  Chicago. 

Oriental — Lady  With  Red  Hair  (WB), 

plus  stage  show  110 

Stage  show  headed  by  Larry  Adler  accounted 
for  great  deal  of  business. 

Palace — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  Saint  in  Palm 

Springs  (RKO)  140 

Record-breaker  for  Palace.  Looks  like  seven 
weeks. 

Roosevelt — Flight  Command  (M-G-M)  130 

Started  off  very  good. 

State-Lake — Escape  to  Glory  (Col),  plus 

stage  show  115 

Sally  Rand  and  Jackie  Heller  bringing  in 
most  customers. 

United  Artists — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  ...  155 
Doing  a good  imitation  of  the  New  York 
run  of  the  picture. 


Stage  Attraction  Helps 
" That  Girl " Into  Lead 

Milwaukee — The  Riverside  show  with 
“Where  Did  You  Get  That  Girl?”  on  the 
screen  and  Lou  Holtz,  Lola  Lane  and  Ar- 
line  Judge  on  the  stage,  proved  the  week’s 
best  money  getter.  Runnerup  was  “Flight 
Command”  and  “Keeping  Company”  at 
Fox’s  Wisconsin. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  6: 

(Average  is  100) 

Palace — Go  West  (M-G-M);  Angels  Over 

Broadway  (Col)  ...125 

Riverside — Where  Did  You  Get  That  Girl? 

(Univ),  plus  Lou  Holtz,  Lola  Lane,  Arline 

Judge  on  stage  150 

Strand — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col);  Hudson’s 


Bay  (20  th -Fox)  HO 

Warner — The  Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (UA) ; No, 

No,  Nanette  (RKO)  130 

Wisconsin — Flight  Command  (M-G-M);  Keep- 
ing Company  (M-G-M)  135 


Competition  Does  Not  Mar 
Indianapolis  Grosses 

Indianapolis — Despite  stiff  competition 
from  Sonja  Henie’s  Ice  Revue,  business  was 
generally  excellent,  with  the  first  week  of 
“Gone  With  the  Wind”  getting  a terrific 
gross. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  8: 


(Average  is  100) 

Alamo — Under  Texas  Skies  (Rep) ; One 

Frightened  Night  (Univ)  80 

Circle — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  Remedy  for 

Riehes  (RKO),  2nd  wk 100 

Indiana — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  (RKO);  Saint 

in  Palm  Springs  (RKO)  110 

Loew’s — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M) 250 

Lyric — Meet  the  Missus  (Rep),  plus  Gray 

Gordon's  Orchestra  on  stage  95 


Bros.  Theatres,  secretary;  Jack  Wahl, 
Publix-Great  States  Theatres,  recording 
secretary;  Jack  Friedman,  Capitol-Mono- 
gram,  treasurer,  and  A1  Raymer,  Indiana- 
Illinois  Theatres,  sergeant-at-arms.  Rus- 
sell Hurt  of  the  Alger  circuit  was  chosen 
down-state  representative.  All  newly  elect- 
ed officers  were  installed  immediately  fol- 
lowing the  banquet. 


40 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


Individual  Demands  Inactivity  Marks  Response 
For  Lower  Rentals  Arbitration  Service 


Minneapolis — Acting  individually,  Twin 
City  independent  exhibitors  will  visit  local 
film  exchanges  to  demand  an  immediate 
reduction  in  film  rentals,  according  to  an- 
nouncement by  S.  G.  Lebedoff,  North- 
west Allied  leader. 

The  decision  to  make  individual  calls 
upon  the  exchanges  was  reached  at  a 
Northwest  Allied  meeting  when  speakers 
declared  that  the  exhibitors  are  faced  with 
“emergency  conditions”  which  threaten 
their  very  survival. 

“In  selling  current  contracts,  film  com- 
panies promised  Twin  City  exhibitors  tre- 
mendous prosperity  this  winter  and  rentals 
were  based  on  such  promised  prosperity,” 
declares  Lebedoff.  “Instead  of  such  pros- 
perity there  has  been  a steady  and  con- 
tinued decline  in  grosses  and  now  most 
exhibitors  are  unable  to  operate  their  the- 
atres profitably.  Bankruptcy  looms  in  a 
number  of  cases. 

“Northwest  Allied  doesn’t  feel  that  the 
exhibitors  alone  should  carry  present  bur- 
dens. It  contends  that  the  distributors 
also  must  bear  a share  of  the  load.  For 
the  industry’s  sake,  it  behooves  distribu- 
tors to  grant  relief  to  sorely  beset  exhibi- 
tors caught  in  the  web  of  declining  income 
and  rising  costs.” 


Exchange  Heads  in  Stand 
Against  Reduction  Demand 

Minneapolis — Film  exchange  heads  here 
are  refusing  to  recognize  Northwest  Allied’s 
contention  that  exhibitors  in  the  territory 
are  entitled  to  immediate  downward  re- 
adjustment of  their  film  contracts  because 
of  a shift  of  population  away  from  Min- 
nesota and  the  Dakotas  to  other  sections, 
due  to  greater  industrial  activity  else- 
where arising  from  the  government’s  de- 
fense program  and  the  sending  to  the 
south  and  west  of  conscripts,  volunteers 
and  National  Guardsmen. 

The  film  companies  are  evading  the 
issue,  it  is  charged  by  Fred  Strom,  North- 
west Allied  executive  secretary. 

However,  Ben  Blotcky  and  W.  H.  Work- 
man, Paramount  and  M-G-M  exchange 
managers,  respectively,  assert  there  is  no 
“problem.”  They  take  the  position  that 
the  situation  does  not  call  for  a general 
revision  of  film  prices.  If,  however,  any 
exhibitors  are  able  to  show  they  are  suf- 
fering hardships  from  current  develop- 
ments, the  branch  managers  explain  they 
are  willing  to  consider  the  cases  indi- 
vidually. 


See  Deluxer  Losing 

Minneapolis — Heavy  operating  losses 
are  believed  to  have  been  sustained  by 
the  independently  operated  4,000-seat 
Minnesota  the  past  two  weeks  with  its 
policy  of  big  and  expensive  stage  shows 
and  independent  films. 


Larsen  Into  Sabetha 

Webb  City,  Mo. — Larry  Larsen  of  this 
town  has  taken  over  the  Royal  Theatre 
at  Sabetha,  Kas. 


ft  = ==^ 

Decree  Counter  Bill 
Near  Introduction 

Minneapolis — Completion  of  the  anti- 
consent decree  bill,  which  Northwest 
Allied  will  sponsor  in  the  Minnesota 
state  legislature,  still  awaits  the  return 
to  Minneapolis  of  E.  L.  Peaslee,  North- 
west Allied  president,  and  Harold  Field, 
chairman  of  the  legislative  committee,  ac- 
cording to  Fred  Strom,  executive  secre- 
tary. They  are  expected  back  this 
month.  The  measure  would  knock  out 
the  groups-of-five  selling  plan  and  com- 
pel companies  to  sell  their  entire  sea- 
son's output  as  at  present.  It  also  would 
make  forced  selling  of  shorts  illegal. 

VI  JJ 

Nebraska  Film  Bills 
Come  Up  Feb.  20 

Lincoln — First  airing  of  Nebraska  film 
bills  in  the  legislature  since  their  intro- 
duction last  month  will  come  February  20, 
according  to  the  docket  of  lawmaking  ac- 
tivities posted  this  week. 

On  that  date,  Sen.  E.  M.  Neubauer’s 
double-barrelled  attack  on  the  industry, 
L.  B.  115  and  L.  B.  116 — putting  10  per 
cent  tax  on  theatre  tickets,  cigarets  and 
cosmetics,  and  assessing  an  annual  $1,000 
tax  on  distributors,  with  an  extra  $1  per 
reel  for  each  one  distributed  in  Nebraska 
— will  come  up  for  hearing. 

Time  for  discussion  of  Neubauer’s  other 
film  bill,  the  divorcement  measure  which 
demands  complete  separation  of  producer- 
distributor  and  exhibitor  relations,  has  not 
been  set  yet. 

Sol  J.  Francis,  Monogram  franchise 
holder  in  Omaha,  has  thus  far  been  the 
spearhead  of  the  Filmrow  opposition  to 
the  distributor  tax.  He  has  been  organiz- 
ing the  effort  against  the  bill  which 
would  toll  Omaha  exchangemen  about 
$17,000  annually. 

Sound  Surveyors  Find 
Theatres  Cooperative 

Kansas  City — Some  runs  already  have 
been  made  on  local  theatres,  in  the  survey 
of  representative  houses  planned  by  the 
Research  Council  of  the  Academy  of  Mo- 
tion Picture  Arts  and  Sciences.  Theatre 
operators  are  reported  lending  their  thea- 
tres readily  for  the  resarch  work,  and 
personnel  are  contributing  their  time  and 
help  for  the  necessary  operations  outside 
of  show  hours.  The  survey  work  is  being 
done  by  the  district  personnel  of  Altec  Ser- 
vice Corp.,  which  is  cooperating  in  other 
districts  as  well  as  the  Kansas  City  area 
in  the  program  of  the  Research  Council. 

The  objective  of  the  survey  is  to  dis- 
cover the  “intangible”  influences  of  various 
factors  on  the  quality  of  performance- 
sound  to  the  patron’s  ear. 


Minneapolis — Exhibitors  in  this  terri- 
tory certainly  are  taking  their  time  in 
seeking  arbitration.  Although  nearly  two 
weeks  have  elapsed  since  the  inaugura- 
tion of  arbitration  to  correct  alleged  trade 
inequities  and  since  the  arbitration  office 
has  been  opened,  not  one  complaint  has 
been  filed  yet  with  Sheldon  M.  Ostrott, 
in  charge,  he  says. 

There  have  been  many  claims  on  inde- 
pendent exhibitors’  part  during  recent 
years  anent  zoning  and  clearance  and 
inability  to  obtain  product  and  it  was  ex- 
pected that  there  would  be  a rush  to  seek 
relief  through  the  arbitration  setup  under 
the  consent  decree.  The  fact  that  ex- 
hibitors are  taking  their  time,  however, 
may  indicate  that  the  troubles  are  not  so 
serious  as  they  have  been  made  to  appear. 

Heads  of  the  Minnesota  and  the  Es- 
quire theatres  had  announced  their  in- 
tention to  go  before  the  arbitration  board 
in  a fight  to  compel  servicing  of  the 
houses  by  the  major  exchanges. 


Claims  Lack  of  Product 
Is  Closing  Esquire 

Minneapolis — Because  of  asserted  in- 
ability to  obtain  satisfactory  film  product, 
the  Esquire,  Bennie  Berger’s  loop  sure- 
seater,  will  go  dark  next  week  indefinitely. 
The  house  was  dark  a short  while  ago 
when  Irving  Gillman,  also  handicapped  by 
product  difficulties,  turned  it  back  to  Ber- 
ger. 

Berger  has  announced  his  intention  to 
go  before  the  arbitration  board  in  an  ef- 
fort to  compel  the  servicing  of  the  house 
by  major  exchanges. 


Kansas-Missouri  AAA 
Office  Functioning 

Kansas  City — The  motion  picture  arbi- 
tration tribunal  of  the  American  Arbitra- 
tion Association,  for  the  Kansas  City  dis- 
trict, was  set  up  and  ready  to  go,  February 
1.  Offices  at  807  Waltower  were  furnished, 
John  H.  Brink,  clerk,  was  at  his  desk,  his 
secretary  was  at  hers;  the  telephone,  Vic- 
tor 0812,  was  installed.  Up  to  February  11, 
however,  the  arbitrators  for  this  district 
had  not  been  announced  here;  no  com- 
plaints had  been  filed.  But  inquiries  had 
come  in  by  telephone,  on  the  decree;  with 
promises  that  the  callers  would  visit  the 
office  personally,  for  answers  to  questions. 
The  tribunal  here  serves  a territory  includ- 
ing the  western  half  of  Missouri  and  all 
the  state  of  Kansas. 

Daylight  Savings  Bill 
Will  Meet  Opposition 

Minneapolis — A bill  providing  for  day- 
light saving  throughout  the  summer  in  the 
state’s  three  largest  cities,  Minneapolis, 
St.  Paul  and  Duluth,  has  been  introduced 
in  the  legislature.  It  will  be  opposed  by 
exhibitors  as  a menace  to  the  theatre  busi- 
ness. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


MW 


41 


Good  Showing  Against 
Counter  Attractions 

Kansas  City — Pulling  against  counter- 
attractions  on  several  nights  that  had 
large  attendance,  first-run  theatres  made 
on  the  whole  above-average  showings  in 
receipts.  A spectacular  fashion  show,  plus 
Ted  Lewis  with  band  and  floor  show,  plus 
dancing,  drew  6,000  at  75  cents  to  the 
Municipal  Auditorium  one  night.  Yet 
“Gone  With  the  Wind”  at  the  Midland 
had  a big  second  week  for  its  return  en- 
gagement, people  being  turned  away  at 
matinees,  two  days  being  bigger  than  cor- 
responding days  of  the  first  engagement  a 
year  ago.  The  second  week  of  “The  Santa 
Fe  Trail”  at  the  Orpheum  also  did  well; 
and  W.  C.  Fields  in  “The  Bank  Dick”  put 
the  Tower  ahead  of  average. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  8: 


(Average  is  100) 

Esquire — Buck  Privates  (Univ)  110 

Midland — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M), 

2nd  wk 190 

Newman — Victory  (Para’t)  90 

Orpheum — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN);  She  Couldn’t 

Say  No  (FN),  2nd  wk 105 

Tower — The  Bank  Dick  (Univ),  plus 

stage  show  120 

Uptown — Buck  Privates  (Univ)  100 


Good  Product  Weather 
Push  Up  Omaha  Takes 

Omaha — First-run  exhibitors  reported  an 
upward  curve  in  boxoffice  takes,  due  to 
good  product  and  good  weather.  Mild,  clear 
winter  has  been  a factor  in  helping  grosses 
generally. 

“Philadelphia  Story”  was  the  town’s  best 
in  a single-feature  policy  at  the  Omaha. 
“This  Thing  Called  Love,”  dualled  with 
“Escape  to  Glory,”  was  so  successful  at 
the  Brandeis  the  bill  was  held  a second 
week.  The  fact  that  the  Brandeis  bill  was 


fyjRS.  AVIS  RUTHERFORD,  who  has 
been  Capitol  boss  Bob  Livingston’s 
secretary,  office  manager,  and  chief  cash- 
ier for  many  years,  came  within  an  ace 
of  going  out  of  circulation  last  week.  She 
was  accidentally  overcome  by  gas  in  her 
apartment,  and  was  found  on  the  floor 
unconscious. 

Eugene  Shanahan,  manager  of  the  Ne- 
braska, has  gone  and  done  it.  The  girl 
who  was  Evelyn  Hanson  is  now  Mrs. 
Shanahan  . . . Bill  Messmer,  announcer 
on  the  J.  H.  Cooper -Lincoln  Theatres 
Corp.  radio  show,  is  taking  Mary  Jayne 
Inglis,  of  Cambridge,  la.,  to  wife  on 
February  23. 

Sherman-was-right  Dept.:  Second  Lt. 
Roger  Emrich,  former  doorman  at  the 
Varsity,  was  ordered  to  Camp  Murray, 
Wash.,  February  12,  so  married  Doris 
Picking,  February  9,  so  he  could  take  her 
along  . . . The  Widows  & Orphans  Pro- 
tective Ass’n  met  this  week — Sol  Francis, 
Sol  Yeager  and  Alvin  Hendricks  taking 
Mrs.  Barney  Oldfield  to  dinner. 

Bill  Scholl,  campaigning  for  “Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Smith,”  painted  some  signs  on  Lin- 


given  a “banned”  rating  in  the  local 
Catholic  paper  apparently  failed  to  hurt 
business. 

“Hudson’s  Bay”  and  “Night  at  Earl  Car- 
roll’s,” at  the  Orpheum,  suffered  from  the 
competition. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  8: 


(Average  is  100) 

Brandeis — This  Thing  Called  Dove  (Col); 

Escape  to  Glory  (Col)  150 

Omaha — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  150 

Orpheum — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox);  A Night 
at  Earl  Carroll’s  (Para’t)  110 


"Mr.  & Mrs . Smith " on  Dual 
Des  Moines'  Strongest 

Des  Moines — “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith”  gave 
the  Orpheum  one  of  the  best  Sundays  it 
ever  had  without  a stage  show,  and  out- 
grossed  “Kitty  Foyle,”  one  of  the  top  box- 
office  attractions  of  the  season.  Tri-States 
Theatres  Corp.  jerked  Wanger’s  “The  Long 
Voyage  Home”  after  four  languishing  days 
at  the  Paramount  and  out-Foxed  adversity 
with  a double  20th-Century  return  bill  of 
“Jesse  James”  and  “Alexander’s  Ragtime 
Band.” 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  11: 


(Average  is  100) 

Des  Moines — Come  Live  With  Me  (M-G-M); 

Captain  Caution  (UA)  80 

Orpheum — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  (RKO)  ; Case 

of  the  Black  Parrot  (FN)  140 

Paramount — The  Long  Voyage  Home  (UA) ; 

Dancing  on  a Dime  (Para’t)  50 


"Flight  Command"  Plus  a 
Stage  Show  Minny’s  Top 

Minneapolis — The  Orpheum,  with  Kitty 
Carlisle,  Ben  Blue,  Rufe  Davis  and  others 
on  the  stage  and  “Flight  Command”  the 
screen  attraction,  did  the  business  of 
the  town  this  week.  However,  “Santa  Fe 
Trail”  also  gave  a fine  boxoffice  account 
of  itself  and  “Philadelphia  Story,”  in  its 


coin’s  sidewalks,  unaware  he  was  break- 
ing the  city  ordinances  in  doing  it.  Cops 
called  Howard  Federer  on  it.  He  prompt- 
ly threw  full  blame  for  the  affair  on 
“some  out-of-town  guy  who  came  in  and 
did  it  without  sanction  of  the  theatre.” 
Then,  right  in  earshot  of  Bill,  he  started 
describing  the  culprit.  Bill  left  town  so 
fast  a pajama  leg  was  waving  unpacked 
from  his  suitcase.  Now,  he’ll  be  glad  to 
know,  it  was  all  a gag,  and  the  police 
NEVER  were  looking  for  him. 

Bob  Huffman  and  Eugene  Shanahan 
were  in  court  defending  themselves  against 
lottery  charges  for  operation  of  the  week- 
ly quiz  giveaway,  “Abner  Askit’s  Basket.” 

Gabe  S.  Yorke,  the  Will  Hays  gent,  is 
convinced  this  is  a lucky  country.  He  had 
been  around  Hollywood  for  years  and  at 
times  recently  was  hard  pressed  for  con- 
nections in  his  line.  He  came  to  Lincoln 
when  Sam  Golduryn  shut  down  to  stage 
the  premiere  for  “Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop,” 
changed  jobs  at  the  end  of  it  without 
missing  a day,  and  has  had  seven  jobs 
offered  him  on  the  coast  during  his  two 
months  in  the  midwest. 


Film  Selling  Campaign 
Details  Developing 

Minneapolis — Details  of  the  Northwest 
Allied  spring  selling  campaign  to  revive 
the  boxoffice  in  this  territory  will  be 
ready  within  the  next  fortnight,  accord- 
ing to  Cliff  Gill,  head  of  the  Welworth 
circuit  advertising  and  exploitation  de- 
partment, who  is  working  out  the  drive  of 
which  he  is  the  author.  Collaborating  with 
him  on  the  proposition  is  his  employer, 
E.  R.  Ruben,  Welworth  circuit  owner,  and 
Fred  Strom,  Northwest  Allied  executive 
secretary. 

The  idea  back  of  the  campaign  will  be 
{-o  sell  the  public  on  the  idea  that  motion 
pictures  today  are  better  than  ever  in 
quality  and  it  is  proposed  to  exhibit  a 
succession  of  the  best  films  available  in 
every  theatre.  All  theatres  and  circuits 
in  the  territory,  along  with  the  film  ex- 
changes, will  be  asked  to  cooperate. 


third  week,  continued  to  click,  too.  Anita 
Louise  and  Jackie  Heller  headed  the  Min- 
nesota stage  show. 

(Average  is  100) 

Aster — Romance  of  Rio  Grande  (20th-Fox); 


Saint  in  Palm  Springs  (RKO) 90 

Century — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M).  3d  wk.  .100 

Esquire — You’ll  Find  Out  (RKO),  2nd  run 80 

Gopher — Escape  to  Glory  (Col) 90 

Minnesota — Bowery  Boy  (Rep),  stage  show....  80 
Orpheum — Flight  Command  (M-G-M),  stage 

show 125 

State — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN)  100 

World — Long  Voyage  Home  (UA) 90 


Lincoln  Accords  Crown 
To  " Philadelphia  Story” 

Lincoln — “Philadelphia  Story”  mopped 
up  on  the  available  money  here  in  the 
week  just  past.  Weather  was  okay,  just 
nippy  enough  to  favor  going  out  of  the 
house  for  entertainment,  but  demanding 
that  the  entertainment  be  indoors. 
“Honeymoon  for  Three”  was  a weakie,  and 
“Foreign  Correspondent”  was  in  second 
place  on  coin. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  February  7: 


(Average  is  100) 

Colonial — Secret  Valley  (20th-Fox);  Gaucho 
Serenade  (Rep)  split  with  Fargo  Kid  (RKO) 

and  Flying  Deuces  (RKO)  105 

Lincoln — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M) 160 

Nebraska — Slightly  Tempted  (Univ);  Here 

Comes  the  Navy  (WB) 105 

Stuart— Honeymoon  for  Three  (WB) 90 

Variety — Face  Behind  the  Mask  (Col);  Bowery 
Boy  (Rep)  split  with  Case  of  the  Black 
Parrot  (FN)  and  Meet  the  Missus  (Rep)....  100 
Varsity — Foreign  Correspondent  (UA) 130 


Business  Reports  Grow 
Brighter  in  Territory 

Kansas  City — Reports  of  business  from 
areas  of  the  Kansas  City  territory  hit  hard 
by  weather,  were  enough  better  to  talk 
about.  Side  roads  in  many  districts  still 
are  rough,  some  still  look  impassable,  keep- 
ing farmers  in.  But  a few  days  of  sunshine 
have  done  much  to  promote  both  traffic 
and  spirits.  The  prospects  for  crops,  be- 
cause of  greatly  increased  moisture,  are 
called  good,  and  the  year  is  looked  to  bring 
good  business,  irrespective  of  any  effect  of 
defense  activities.  Communities  that  have 
no  immediate  connection  with  army  or  sup- 
ply programs,  are  promised  a little  more 
active  flow  of  money  from  the  regular 
causes. 


42 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February- 15,  1941 


Aclive  Social  Season 
For  Twin  Ciiy  Tent 

Minneapolis — An  all-out  Twin  City  Va- 
riety Club  social  season  got  under  way 
this  week  with  a Valentine  party  in  the 
clubrooms.  One  of  its  features  was  in- 
struction in  the  rhumba. 

The  next  big  event  on  the  calendar  is 
an  “Old  Rush  Daze  of  ’49,”  scheduled  for 
the  Grand  Ball  and  Francis  I rooms  at 
the  Hotel  Nicollet  Saturday  night,  March 
15.  A “hot  old  time”  is  promised.  Net 
proceeds  will  go  to  the  club’s  charity 
project,  the  Milk  Fund. 

Saturday  night,  May  10,  has  been  set 
for  the  second  annual  ball  and  supper 
dance.  The  place,  of  course,  will  be  the 
Nicollet  Hotel.  Chief  Barker  Ben  Blotcky 
promises  that  every  effort  will  be  made 
for  an  even  more  elaborate  and  enter- 
taining affair  than  last  year. 

Luncheons  Monthly 

In  the  meantime  there’ll  be  “Kings  for 
a Day”  luncheons  in  the  clubrooms  once 
a month  and  Saturday  night  open  houses, 
with  stage  celebrities  in  town  the  club’s 
guests  at  these  latter  affairs.  “Hy”  Chap- 
man and  LeRoy  J.  Miller,  Columbia  and 
Universal  branch  managers,  respectively, 
will  be  the  kings  for  the  first  of  these, 
at  12:15  p.  m.,  Monday,  February  17. 
Anita  Louise  and  Jackie  Heller,  among 
others,  were  guests  at  last  Saturday  night’s 
open  house  and  it’s  hoped  to  have  the 
Merry-Macs  and  Bert  Wheeler  this  Sat- 
urday. 

Although  the  club’s  membership  drive 
has  just  started,  eight  new  members  al- 
ready have  been  enrolled.  They  include 
Harold  Kaplan,  St.  Louis  Park  theatre 
co-owner;  Gordon  Wilcox  and  Verne  Sess- 
ler  of  Paramount;  Jules  Steele,  St.  Paul 
Pioneer  Press  film  editor;  Ben  Edelman 
and  Shayel  Hochman,  U.  S.  Air  Condition- 
ing Co.;  Dick  Stahl  and  Pat  Halloran  of 
Universal,  and  Roy  Wyland  of  the  Amer- 
ican Rug  Co. 


Friday  Night  Parties 
Launched  by  Variety 

Kansas  City — The  first  of  the  Friday 
night  “Get  Together”  parties  will  be  held 
at  the  Variety  Club  quarters  here  Friday, 
February  21.  Kings  and  Queens  for  the 
evening  are  C.  A.  and  Lila  Schultz,  O.  K. 
and  Inez  Mason  and  Robert  F.  and  Helen 
Withers. 

A buffet  dinner  will  be  served  at  7:00 
p.  m.  Cost  for  the  evening’s  entertain- 
ment is  65  cents  per  person.  Tickets  may 
be  obtained  from  the  hosts.  It  is  open 
to  members  and  their  wives,  or  sweet- 
hearts. 

The  social  schedule  will  be  maintained 
through  the  year,  a different  group  of 
Kings  and  Queens  officiating  each  Friday 
night. 


Start  by  Allender 

Northome,  Minn. — Leo  Allender  has 
started  work  on  a new  theatre  here.  It 
will  replace  his  showhouse  which  was 
destroyed  by  fire. 


]yjR.  AND  MRS.  FRANK  W.  NELSON  (he 
is  maintenance  engineer,  H.  J.  Grif- 
fith Theatres,  Inc.)  are  to  take  a honey- 
moon trip  southwestward;  to  include  a 
week  at  Hotel  El  Rancho,  Gallup,  N.  M. 
This  stay  at  the  world-famous  hotel  is 
the  wedding  gift  of  H.  J.  Griffith.  The 
bride,  as  Hazel  Kirkbride,  had  been  secre- 
tary to  Griffith  for  some  time  to  Decem- 
ber 1,  when  she  became  secretary  to  Jack 
Gregory,  credit  manager  at  the  Kansas 
City  district  office  of  Altec.  She  will  re- 
sume her  work  at  Altec  after  the  honey- 
moon trip.  They  were  married  January  31. 

On  the  Row — E.  P.  Michaels,  Braymer, 
Mo.;  D.  A.  Gifford,  Louis,  St.  Joseph,  Mo.; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Louis  Griefe,  Windsor,  Wind- 
sor, Mo.;  Floyd  Hill,  Drexel,  Drexel,  Kas.; 
Ross  McKay,  Mrs.  McKay  and  son,  all  of 
whom  help  operate  their  several  theatres 
in  Kansas  and  Missouri;  Boh  Gorham,  Lib- 
erty, Horton,  Kas.;  M.  B.  Presley,  Globe, 
Savannah,  Mo.;  A.  N.  Brown,  Roxy,  New 
Franklin,  Mo.;  George  Nescher,  Rio,  Val- 
ley Falls,  Kas.;  C.  S.  Laird,  Madison,  Madi- 
son, Kas.;  Ralph  Lamed,  Paramount,  La 
Crosse,  Kas.;  Bill  Forrest,  Rex,  Joplin, 
Mo.;  A.  J.  Simmons,  Plaza,  Burlington, 
Kas.,  on  vacation,  going  to  California; 
Frank  Anderson,  Family,  Kirksville,  Mo.; 
Ken  Winkelmeyer,  Casino,  Boonville,  Mo.; 
F.  B.  Baker,  Ritz,  Ashland,  Kas. 

Tom  Edwards,  Ozark,  Eldon,  Mo.,  drove 
up  in  a new  Packard  . . . Chet  Borg,  War- 
ner booker,  is  reported  recovering  very 
satisfactorily  from  a serious  operation  . . . 
Doc  Hatcher  and  Paul  Rienke,  Fox-Mid- 
west managers  respectively  for  the  Madrid 
and  the  Vista,  have  exchanged  theatres. 

G.  C.  Parsons,  branch  manager,  and  J. 
E.  Garrison,  district  manager,  went  to  the 


EQUIPMENT  AND  SUPPLIES 


Peterson  "Freezem"  Mfg.  & Sales  Co. 

Blowers,  washers,  spray  nozzels,  office  and 
home  units. 

Special  Offer — Priced  to  Sell. 

Why  Pay  More? 

G.  A.  Peterson 

Victor  4075  322  Southwest  Blvd. 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 


A.  A.  Electric  Machinery  Co. 

Ernest  Amoneno,  Mgr. 

1117  Cherry  St.  Phone:  Victor  8796 


Holmes  Projector  Sales  Co. 

Projectors  and  Sound  for  the  Largest  and  Small- 
est Theatre.  John  A.  Muchmore  and  R.  H.  Patt. 
1820  Wyandotte  St.  Kansas  City,  Mo.  HA.  7472 


Missouri  Theatre  Supply  Co. 

Distributors  for 

RCA,  Brenkert,  U.  S.  Air,  Heywood-Wakefield 
115  West  18th  St.  708  West  Grand  Ave. 

GR.  2864  Oklahoma  City, 

Kansas  City,  Mo.  Okla. 


Universal  convention  in  Chicago  ...  It  is 
the  Avenue  Theatre  now,  formerly  the  Gar- 
rett, West  Plains,  Mo.,  Dean  W.  Davis, 
owner,  reopening  with  popular  prices.  Wil- 
liam Castner  manager. 

Improvements  in  the  Ellinwood,  Ellin- 
wood,  Kas.,  include  leather-cushioned  seats 
and  aisle  lights  ...  It  was  guessed  that 
M.  B.  Baker,  Ritz,  Ashland,  Kas.,  whom 
people  on  the  Row  were  glad  to  see  again, 
hadn’t  been  in  for  two  years. 

Standings  in  the  Bill  Scully  drive  at  the 
Universal  office  here  were  on  last  report 
Kleins-Kellys-Kanes,  giving  the  three 
leaders  . . . Jerry  Zigmond,  manager  of 
the  Newman,  with  Mrs.  Zigmond  and  their 
small  daughter,  Jerry  Sue,  are  vacationing 
at  Miami  Beach. 

John  Eifert,  house  manager  at  the  New- 
man, in  charge  while  Manager  Zigmond  is 
taking  a vacation,  became  a father  Febru- 
ary 11;  a girl,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eifert’s  first 
child— who  was  named  Patricia  Louise. 

Names  have  been  selected  for  two  boys 
born  into  film  industry  families  recently: 
The  son  of  Irwin  W.  Tucker,  manager  of 
the  H.  J.  Griffith  Fayette  at  Fayette,  Mo., 
was  named  Irwin  William  Tucker  jr.  Mel- 
vin Neal  is  the  name  of  Gene  Snitz,  Co- 
lumbia booker’s  son. 

Jean  Fiske,  secretary  to  W.  O.  William- 
son jr.,  Warner  branch  manager  here, 
will  be  absent  for  a few  weeks,  having  suf- 
fered a broken  ankle  . . . Irving  Zussman, 
president  of  Metro  Premium  Co.,  spent  a 
weekend  in  Kansas  City,  with  Herschel 
Kaufman,  local  manager. 


Stebbins  Theatre  Equipment  Co. 

1804  Wyandotte  St. 

C.  H.  Badger,  Mgr.  Phone:  GRand  0134 

Southwest  Theatre  Equipment  Co.,  Indp't 
Wichita,  Kas. 

C.  D Peck,  Mgr.  Phone  2-2153 

EXHIBITOR  ASSOCIATIONS 

K.  M.  T.  A. 

221  W.  18th  St. — Harrison  4825 
R.  R.  Biechele,  Pres.  Fred  Meyn,  Sec.-Treas. 

SCREEN  PUBLICITY 

Alexander  Film  Company 

Motion  Picture  Advertising 
E.  L.  Harris,  Dist.  Mgr.,  Mo.,  Kan.,  Neb.,  Iowa 
239  East  72nd  Terrace 

Phone:  Hlland  2694 

FILM  LABORATORIES 

MISSOURI  FILM  LABORATORIES 

Charles  O.  Siebenthaler 
110  W.  18th  GR  0708 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Complete  Advertising  Trailer  Service 


TRADE  DIRECTORY 

—A  HANDY  GUIDE  FOR  THE  EXHIBITOR 

KANSAS  CITY  TERRITORY 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


43 


MINNEAPOLIS 


\X7 ALTER  WINCHELL  Department:  Cliff 

V Gill,  Welworth  circuit  publicity  and 
exploitation  head,  will  have  another  kid 
to  read  the  funnies  to  in  the  not  too  dis- 
tant future.  Late  next  summer  is  our 
guess  . . . That  was  considerable  of  an 
impromptu  floor  show  staged  at  the  Twin 
City  Variety  Club  last  Saturday  night  by 
Lowell  Kaplan  and  Gilbert  Nathanson. 
Very  clever,  these  young  men.  Any  time 
these  boys  decide  to  quit  their  present  oc- 
cupations in  show  biz  a future  undoubted- 
ly awaits  them  on  the  burlesque  stage. 
Speaking  of  Lowell  Kaplan,  he  and  Char- 
lie Rubenstein,  as  co-chairmen  of  the 
Variety  Club’s  entertainment  committee, 
were  the  envy  of  all  the  other  male  mem- 
bers— having  the  beautiful  Anita  Louise 
in  tow.  Miss  Louise,  Jackie  Heller,  Rufe 
Davis  and  some  of  the  other  performers 
appearing  at  Minneapolis  theatres  were 
the  club’s  guests  at  an  open  house  that 
Saturday  night. 

The  RKO  bunch  is  in  Chicago  this  week 
attending  a sales  meeting  . . . Morrie 
Abrams,  popular  arid  efficient  exploiteer, 
long  with  M-G-M,  on  a special  Welworth 
circuit  assignment  currently  . . . Hale 
Kavanaugh  back  on  the  publicity  fob  at 
the  Minnesota  Theatre  where  he  occu- 
pied the  same  post  during  the  previous 
26  weeks  operations  under  Gordon  Greene 
...  At  a special  Valentine  party  at  the 
Twin  City  Variety  Club  this  Friday,  mem- 
bers learned  the  rhumba. 

Merry-Macs,  from  the  films,  into  the 
Minnesota  the  ensuing  week  and  Bert 
Wheeler,  the  screen  star,  at  the  Orpheum 
with  Earl  Carroll’s  “Vanities.”  Merry- 
Macs  hail  from  Minneapolis  . . . Plenty 
of  the  Filmrow  gang  in  evidence  at  the 
Golden  Gloves  boxing  tournament  at  the 
Auditorium,  including  that  red-hot  fistic 
fan,  Harry  Dryer,  independent  exhibitor, 
who  is  bacheloring  it  during  his  wife’s 
absence  in  Florida;  Billy  Elson,  etc.  . . . 
Abe  Kaplan,  popular  independent  circuit 
owner,  back  at  his  apartment  in  the  Oak 
Grove  following  recovery  from  a minor 
operation  ...  A demand  for  $5,000  for 
the  week  is  said  to  have  had  both  Or- 
pheum and  Minnesota  theatres  balking 
on  a Pat  O’Brien  personal  appearance  en- 
gagement. 

Out-of-town  exhibitors  visiting  Filmrow 
included  Walt  Lower,  Moose  Lake,  Minn.; 


LET'S  GO  TO  THE 
PENGUIN  ROOM- NICEST 
PLACE  IN  TOWN 


Carl  Sather,  Annandale,  Minn.;  Leo  Al- 
lender,  Northome,  Minn.;  “Doc”  Reynolds, 
Princeton,  Minn.;  Jack  Heywood,  New 
Richmond,  Wis.;  Don  Buckley,  Redwood 
Falls,  Minn.,  and  Harry  Knoulton,  Els- 
worth,  Wis.  . . . Bill  Grant,  Warner  city 
salesman,  leads  the  local  office  and  is  in 
fifth  place  in  the  district  in  the  Sears 
sales  drive  . . . Florence  Oppheim,  Na- 
tional Screen  secretary,  vacationing  in 
and  about  the  Twin  Cities  . . . W.  H. 
Workman,  M-G-M  branch  manager,  visit- 
ed Duluth  accounts. 

Bill  Grant  over  the  flu  and  back  on 
his  Warner  city  salesman  job  . . . R.  C. 
LiBeau,  formerly  Paramount  district  man- 
ager in  this  territory,  brought  his  suc- 
cessor, Allen  Usher,  here  to  turn  the 
office  over  to  him  . . . Charlie  Jackson, 
Warner  salesman,  in  an  auto  collision 
with  a milk  truck.  His  new  and  beauti- 
ful car  was  almost  completely  demolished, 
but  he  escaped  injury  . . . Air  travel  is 
great  for  branch  managers.  Art  Ander- 
son, Warner  branch  manager,  flew  the 
entire  900  miles  to  Bismarck,  N.  D.,  and 
back  to  contact  an  exhibitor  in  one  day. 
The  entire  trip  consumed  only  seven  and 
a half  hours. 

Allan  Cummings,  home-office  head  of 
M-G-M  exchange  operations,  a visitor  . . . 
Fire  next  door  to  Warner  exchange  scared 
employes  . . . Universal  here  screen  “Buck 
Privates”  for  the  Andrews  Sisters,  appear- 
ing  at  the  Orpheum,  and  they  gave  their 
approval  to  the  picture  in  which  they  play 
prominent  parts  . . . L.  E.  Goldhammer, 
RKO  district  manager,  visited  the  Omaha 
branch  . . . Arch  Zacherl,  Universal  sales- 
man, sufficiently  recovered  from  a heart 
attack  to  leave  the  hospital  and  go  home. 

Bill  Soper  of  Universal  finally  has 
learned  to  obey  traffic  rules  after  receiv- 
ing tags  on  three  successive  days  . . . 
W.  C.  Gehring,  20th-Fox  division  mana- 
ger, a visitor  ...  Ed  Ballew,  United  Art- 
ists exploiteer,  here  in  connection  with 
the  invitation  screening  of  “Cheers  for 
Miss  Bishop,”  which  also  brought  its  pro- 
ducer, Richard  A.  Rowland,  to  Minne- 
apolis. A beautiful  story  magnificently 
done,  was  the  verdict  of  those  who  saw 
it.  There  are  tears,  laughs  and  romance 
in  this  life-story  of  a school  teacher  and 
every  woman  and  most  of  the  men  will 
enjoy  it.  Martha  Scott  turns  in  a mas- 
terly performance  in  the  title  role. 

Lowell  Kaplan,  Welworth  circuit  booker, 
downed  by  old  man  flu  for  a few  days 
. . . 20 th-Fox  held  an  invitation  screen- 
ing of  “Western  Union”  and  everybody 
present  gave  the  film  their  approval  . . . 
Alex  Quam,  Twin  City  Variety  Club  as- 
sistant steward,  has  gone  to  Louisiana 
with  the  Minnesota  National  Guards  . . . 
J.  D.  Gowthorpe  of  Paramount’s  theatres 
in  town  . . . Earl  Tetting,  publicity  man, 
handling  the  Minnesota  Theatre  mana- 
gerial post  since  Livingston  Lanning’s  de- 
parture. 

Welworth  circuit’s  “Big  Six”  campaign 
got  away  to  a flying  start  with  almost 
all  houses  flashing  full  page  ads,  espe- 
cially designed  window  cards  and  a whole 
pack  of  exploitation.  Business  is  reported 


DD  Roared ; Alter  All 
She  Had  to  Tell  'Em 

Des  Moines — Three  weeks  ago  Des 
Moines  PTA  club  women  gathered  in 
solemn  conclave  at  the  Fox  screening 
room  to  fire  questions  at  and  hear  an- 
swers from  H.  M.  Richey,  assistant  to 
Bill  Rodgers,  general  sales  manager  for 
Metro. 

Wind  blew,  snow  fell,  ice  froze  . . . 
and  Mr.  Richey  stood  the  club  women  up. 

Last  Monday  Richey  finally  arrived.  He 
would  be  glad  to  face  the  women  Tues- 
day night. 

Tuesday  morning  dawned  fair.  The  sun 
was  shining,  the  breeze  was  gentle  and 
telephone  wires  were  humming  as  the 
women  arranged  another  solemn  con- 
clave for  that  evening. 

Then  another  wire  hummed — with 
orders  for  Mr.  Richey. 

Tuesday  afternoon  Mr.  Richey  whizzed 
— out  of  town  by  plane. 

DD  roared  . . . She  had  to  tell  'em 
they'd  been  stood  up  again. 

V 

as  responding  nicely  . . . Efforts  are 
being  made  to  confirm  a report  that  Man- 
ny Goodman,  valance  and  banner  man, 
has  been  transferred  from  this  territory 
to  the  Cleveland  district  . . . While  most 
of  the  boys  were  buying  heart-shaped 
candy  boxes  for  their  sweeties,  Mickey 
Coen,  the  M-G-M  salesman,  was  observed 
shopping  for  dolls  . . . Bess  Crane,  the 
Welworth  secretary,  sunning  in  Florida. 

Scene  at  the  620  Club:  Harry  Katz,  the 
burlesque  impresario,  and  Jackie  Heller, 
the  stage  personality  from  the  Minnesota 
Theatre,  looking  at  the  “soundies”  a dime 
a subject  and  sipping  soft  drinks  . . . 
Our  choice  for  the  title  of  White  Collar 
Girl  in  the  local  show  business  is  Dorothy 
Crane,  Welworth  lass  . . . Willard  Green- 
leaf,  assistant  to  Art  Ableson  in  the  Devil’s 
Lake,  N.  D.,  theatres,  in  Rochester,  Minn., 
for  a Mayo  checkup.  Harold  Bartlett, 
Art’s  man  in  Lang  don,  N.  D.,  in  Fargo 
for  clinical  treatments,  too,  with  Ralph 
Watson  pinch-hitting  for  him  at  the  Roxy. 

Look-alikes:  Helen  Hillman,  the  “Kitty 
Foyle”  of  the  Harry  Dickerman  circuit 
offices,  and  that  young  lady  who  sells 
pumpernickle  and  pastrami  in  a bakery  at 
Hennepin  off  Seventh  Street.  Also  the 
Altec  wizard,  Maxwell,  and  the  rotund 
bartender  at  the  Stockholm  cafe. 


Grainger  Talks  Product 
With  Minn . Amusement 

Minneapolis — James  R.  Grainger,  Re- 
public president,  spent  two  days  here  this 
week  with  Gilbert  Nathanson,  local  branch 
manager.  A conference  was  held  with  the 
Minnesota  Amusement  Co.  relative  to  a 
product  deal. 


Adapts  “Washington  Melodrama" 

Hollywood — Marion  Parsonnet  will 
adapt  “Washington  Melodrama”  for  Met- 
tro  from  a story  by  L.  Du  Rocher  Mac- 
pherson.  S.  Sylvan  Simon  will  direct  for 
Producer  Edgar  Selwyn. 


44 


BOXOFFICE  February  15,  1941 


des  rnmmrn 


They  Hear  About  Product  Sales — 

The  midwestern  delegation  of  managers  to  the  Universal  sales  convention  at 
the  Blackstone  Hotel  in  Chicago.  Left  to  right:  O.  A.  Siegel,  Omaha;  Lou 
Levy,  Des  Moines;  G.  C.  Parsons,  Kansas  City;  Harry  Hynes,  St.  Louis,  and 
J.  E.  Garrison,  district  manager.  Also  present,  but  not  pictured  here,  was  L. 
J.  Miller  of  the  Minneapolis  exchange. 

(U  Product  Announcement  on  Page  15  in  This  Issue) 


pONDERING  over  a good  lead  for  this 
column,  we  decided  that  Paramount’s 
cockroaches  were  about  the  most  fun  at 
the  moment  . . . you’ve  probably  all  met 
up  with  one  of  them  in  the  hallway,  the 
screening  room  or  at  the  drinking  fountain 
. . . they’re  friendly  little  guys,  always  in- 
terested enough  to  stop  and  give  a gal  the 
once  over  on  her  way  through  the  first 
door  to  the  right. 

Iowa  Film  boys  are  sporting  a bevy  of 
new  Chevie  trucks  . . . watching  the  “Thief 
of  Bagdad”  the  other  eve,  we  had  to  keep 
apologizing  to  ourselves  for  thinking  “with 
the  light  brown  hair”  everytime  someone 
in  the  pic  said  “Genie.”  DD  telephoned 
Sunday  and  swapped  us  five  ivords  with 
Harry  Gottlieb  for  a few  with  & Co.  . . . 
DD  wanted  to  tell  & Co.  that  Suzanna  Fos- 
ter would  be  late  getting  in  DM  and  we’d 
not  be  able  to  have  dinner  with  her,  which 
we  hadn’t  known  anything  about  anyhow. 

Before  the  show  Monday,  we  dined  with 
Suzanna,  Dolly  Loehr,  Cliff  Lewis,  Bill 
Lansburg,  a Spanish  teacher  whose  name 
we  cannot  spell,  and  a Miss  Peacock  (fine 
company  for  “The  Hardboiled  Canary”) 
...  We  listened  to  the  sassy  Suzanna  for  a 
while  and  then  abandoned  her  to  that 
adequate  duo,  Lansburg  & Clayton  while 
we  opened  our  mouth  and  stuck  our  foot 
into  it  with  the  Senorita  . . . We  never 
dreamed  that  she  who  was  living  off  the 
fat  of  the  Land  of  Liberty  (you’re  wel- 
come, Gabe)  wouldn’t  relish  our  glowing 
account  of  Mexico’s  inferiority.  We  even 
got  to  the  awful  point  of  pitying  the  poor 
Indians  (who  are  too  numerous  in  Mexico 
to  vanish  like  the  accommodating  Ameri- 
can species)  before  we  noticed  she  didn’t 
like  it. 

Cliff  Lewis  and  Bill  Lansburg  have  a trip 
to  South  America  up  their  sleeves  . . . Box- 
office  & Co.  tried  to  horn  in  as  a couple 
of  interpreters  (they’ve  had  two  Spanish 
lessons)  but  Lewis  and  Lansburg  say  you 
can’t  horn  in  on  a couple  of  horner-inners 
. . . Anyhow,  Bill’s  pledged  to  fetch  us  back 
one  of  those  little  wooden  barrels  of  brandy 
which  we  didn’t  have  enough  money  left  to 
buy  when  we  got  back  to  Monterrey  (Box- 
office  didn’t  know  & Co.  was  practically 
broke  and  embarrassed  him  no  end  by  or- 
dering one  of  those  little  barrels  which  he 
would  have  had  to  pay  for  with  the  dough 
needed  for  our  last  three  tankfuls  of  gaso- 
lina) . 

A man  named  Tyler  showed  a color  film, 
“Iowa,  the  Hawkeye  State,”  to  an  enthusi- 
astic audience  at  the  Fort  Des  Moines, 
Monday,  February  10  . . . It’s  a conserva- 
tion pic  and  available  to  organizations  in- 
terested, we  understand.  Lou  Patz  objects 
to  the  base  canard  that  the  roll  is  called 
at  National  Screen  every  morning  . . . Does 
he  want  us  to  think  they  haven’t  even  got 
a permanent  roll  yet?  Slater  O’Hare,  Man- 
fre’s  zone  three  peddler,  came  back  from 
Rochester  with  a new  diet  which  is  guar- 
anteed to  subdue  untamed  ulcers. 

Mildred  Begley,  Julia  Brooks,  Ann  Rose 
and  George  Campbell  (mascot)  did  the 
Paramount  Polka  at  Wakonda  for  the 
amazed  Beta  Sigma  Phis  . . . Ruth  Slater 
of  Chariton,  Iowa,  is  the  new  Paramount 
booking  steno  replacing  Lois  Slater,  her 
sister  . . . Lois  sent  to  Seattle,  Wash.,  and 


is  working  for  Metro  there.  New  product 
was  discussed  at  the  Para’t  sales  meet  last 
Saturday  with  Smith,  the  new  western  di- 
vision sales  manager  replacing  C.  M.  Rea- 
gan . . . Ralph  LiBeau  attended  from  Kay- 
cee  . . . Ray  Copeland  was  back  for  a short 
visit  last  week. 

“Car  of  scenery  ...  60  people  . . . seven 
changes  . . . revolving  stage  . . . Frisco 
fair”  . . . That’s  just  Emil  Franke  mumbl- 
ing about  the  stage  show  he  has  coming 
up  at  the  Orpheum  ...  He  says  it’ll  feature 
a top-notch  count,  on  the  stage  and  at  the 
boxoffice.  Harry  Holdsberg’s  trying  astrol- 
ogy at  the  Des  Moines.  Frank  Atherton 
Clark,  who’s  been  doing  film  page  copy 
for  & Co.  at  the  R&T,  has  shuffled  off  to 
the  R&T  syndicate  department,  so  Sterling 
Bemis  will  share  the  chore  now. 

Mebbe  Bernie  Evens  won’t  like  all  the 
things  this  Sunday’s  Register  magazine 
section  tells  about  Lord  Nelson  and  Lady 
Hamilton,  but  if  he  looks  back  in  his  files, 
he’ll  find  he  was  asked  for  a yarn  . . . 
When  it  didn’t  show,  the  R&T  staff  checked 
up  on  the  romance  being  portrayed  by 
Olivier  and  Leigh  and  found  a lot  of  go- 
ings-on the  Hays  office  wouldn’t  have 
liked. 

The  man  with  feet  out  on  the  aisle,  el- 
bow on  knee,  chin  on  hand  and  pencilled 
frown  on  a high  forehead  at  the  Susanna 
Foster  personal  appearance  was  A.  Gran- 
dioso  Stolte  . . . Art  apparently  was  gob- 
bling in  the  vocalizing  just  like  the  Cana- 
dian muskies  gobble  his  red-eye  wigglers. 
Louis  Hellbom  blew  into  town  Monday, 
dropped  off  a few  stills  on  the  cut-rate 
“GWTW,”  and  blew  out  for  Fort  Dodge 
. . . Lou  admits  he’s  stacking  up  big  mile- 
age totals  these  days,  but  says  it’ll  be  a lot 
more  fun  when  the  grass  gets  green  and 
the  ice  gets  gone. 

Ralph  Hayden  wore  his  mittens  to  the 
Golden  Gloves  tournament  . . . Neil  Adair 
and  the  missus  spent  the  weekend  kicking 
up  their  heels  in  Minneapolis  . . . Bob 
Newman  was  home  with  an  attack  of  ap- 
pendicitis . . . Jean  and  Dot  Post  went  to 
Omaha  to  see  Sonja  Heinie  . . . Everybody 
( and  us)  is  waiting  with  bated  breath  to 
see  Captain  Marvel  out-super  Superman 
. . . Rud  Moran  has  dressed  Republic  up 
with  new  Venetian  blinds  and  a new 
janitor. 


Clifford  Nolte  gave  his  g.  f.  a diamond 
. . . Now  he’ll  probably  be  able  to  stall  off 
the  fatal  moment  for  a year  or  so  more. 
Can  anybody  figure  out  how  Grace  Simons 
keeps  that  little  black  hat  with  the  long 
red  feather  cocked  atop  her  head?  Emil 
Franke  says  he’ll  give  “Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith”  board’n  room  from  now  on  . . . 
And  he  can  afford  to.  The  Claytons  were 
supposed  to  meet  the  Frankes  at  the  Kirk- 
wood smorgasbord  last  Sunday  . . . The 
Frankes  forgot  all  about  it  ...  P.  S.  So 
did  the  Claytons! 

Joe  Fieldman’s  wife,  Mildred,  will  spend 
about  five  more  weeks  in  the  hospital  with 
that  broken  shoulder. 


In  Style  and  Comfort 

That's  the  thought  that  ts  always  upper 
most  in  the  minds  of  those  who  attend 
you  at  Hotel  Fonlenelle.  In  keeping  with 
this  policy,  the  management  is  constantly 
adding  new  features  for  your  comfort 
end  convenience.  The  Amber  Room  Cof- 
fee Shop,  the  King  Cole  Room,  and  the 
Black  Mirror- Bombay  Room  invite  you. 

BOTE  l 


FONT! NELLI 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


45 


Wage  Campaign  for 
"Decent  Movies" 


Omaha — Exhibitors  in  Nebraska  and 
western  Iowa  are  wondering  what  effect, 
if  any,  will  come  from  a “decent  movies” 
campaign  now  being  waged  by  The  True 
Voice,  Omaha  weekly  Catholic  newspaper. 

Omaha’s  Catholic  population  is  about 
50,000  persons,  over  one-fifth  of  the  city’s 
total  population.  In  addition,  many  com- 
munities in  Nebraska  and  western  Iowa 
are  heavily  Catholic  and  the  newspaper 
has  some  circulation  among  those  com- 
munities. 

For  some  years  the  publication  has  car- 
ried a weekly  rating  of  the  first-run  prod- 
uct being  exhibited  in  Omaha.  They  are 
divided  in  four  classifications:  Class  A, 
unobjectionable  for  general  patronage; 
Class  A-2,  unobjectionable  for  adults; 
Class  B,  objectionable  in  part;  Class  C, 
condemned. 

During  the  last  year  the  newspaper  has 
been  running,  in  addition  to  the  ratings, 
the  total  list  of  films  classified  by  the 
Legion  of  Decency.  The  latest  is  an  edi- 
torial printed  this  last  week  by  the  news- 
paper under  the  heading,  “Decent  Movies.” 
The  editorial  says: 

The  producers  of  pictures  in  this  country  seem 
to  be  impervious  to  the  demands  made  by  de- 
cent people  that  decent  pictures  be  produced 
and  presented  for  their  patronage. 

Scanning  the  bills  in  Omaha’s  leading  down- 


^■HERE’S  a ready  market  for  a budding 
author  along  Filmrow.  The  gals  there 
want  Ralph  Green’s  biography.  They’re 
contending  that  a volume  on  the  Dodge 
Adonis  from  Fort  Dodge  would  classify  as 
tops  in  the  literary  field. 


Kate  McKee  from  Osceola  hustled  in, 
picked  up  her  film,  and  hustled  right  out 
again. 


The  bookers  got  a look  at  the  McGregor 
scenery  we  hear  so  much  about  last  week. 
Ed  Nordhus  was  miles  from  home  and 
miles  from  his  Strand  Theatre  at  Mc- 
Gregor, but  he’d  steered  a true  course  to 
the  High  Street  houses  of  chance.  (Round 
and  round  the  movie  reel  goes;  whether  it’s 
a hit,  nobody  knows) . 


Happy  Henry,  the  always  good-natured 
Rehfield  from  Bloomfield,  spread  cheer 
among  the  exchanges,  too.  And  he  ordered 
a little  screen  cheer  for  his  Iowa  Theatre 
patrons,  also.  Bob  Malek  of  the  Grand  and 
Iowa  at  Independence  and  the  Uptown  at 
Gladbrook,  was  around. 


Due  back  Thursday  with  a face  of  many 
colors  (if  we  can  believe  chamber  of  com- 
merce reports  of  southern  sunburn)  was 
Joe  Kinsky,  Tri-States  district  manager  in 
Davenport,  Rock  Island  and  Moline.  Joe 
does  business  with  California,  but  when  he 
got  two  weeks  to  himself,  he  up  and  hiked 
off  to  Florida. 


town  theatres  last  weekend,  it  is  more  shock- 
ing than  amazing  that  not  one  picture  is  listed 
by  the  Legion  of  Decency  as  unobjectionable  for 
general  patronage!  A holdover  is  in  Class  C 
(condemned). 

These  columns  have  before  and  again  affirm 
the  belief  that  Catholics  want  decent  movies  and 
that  if  producers  won’t  give  Catholics  decent 
pictures  to  which  a father  and  mother  can  take 
their  children,  then  these  Catholic  mothers  and 
fathers  will  have  to  seek  other  forms  of  recre- 
ation and  entertainment. 

Hollywood  learned  a lesson  some  few  years 
ago  regarding  promiscuous  pictures.  As  a re- 
sult of  the  Legion  of  Decency  it  became  quite 
evident  that  pictures  should  be  cleaned  up.  They 
were.  Distasteful  plots  and  scenes  were  abhorred 
by  the  producers  because  they  saw  in  their  con- 
tinued production  ,of  filth  and  dirt  a certain 
diminution-  in  revenue.  Apparently  these  pro- 
ducers are  beginning  to  forget  the  warning  given 
by  the  inauguration  of  the  Legion  of  Decency. 
That  must  be  ~ why  Omaha  downtown- - theatre 
managers  had  on  their  bill  during  the  last  week- 
end shows  which  were  classified  only  as  A-2 
or  B or  C class. 

If  the  producers  of  pictures  had  heeded  the 
warning  of  the  Legion  of  Decency,  no  Class  A-2 
or  Class  B or  Class  C pictures  would  now  be 
available  for  the  local  purveyors  of  pictures. 

If  these  local  purveyors  have  to  run  Class  A-2 
and  Class  B,  to  say  nothing  of  Class  C pictures, 
then  the  Catholics  of  this  community  will  have 
to  boycott  theatres.  That  seems  the  only  logical 
way  to  bring  the  matter  to  the  attention  of  the 
local  dealers. 

The  pastor  who  went  from  room  to  room  in 
his  school  last  week  denouncing  the  film  shown 
at  one  of  the  downtown  theatres  is  to  be  highly 
commended.  What  one  pastor  has  done  others 
will  do  to  insure  the  decency  of  the  entertain- 
ment the  children  of  their  schools  seek. 

May  we  urge  parents  and  teachers  to  scan 
carefully  the  “movie  lists’’  as  presented  in  “The 
True  Voice”  each  week  and  patronize  only  those 
theatres  which  give  to  their  patrons  decent  pic- 
tures. The  judges  of  the  Legion  of  Decency  are 
no  prudes — neither  are  we — but  those  things  which 
our  Divine  Saviour  and  His  holy  church  regard 
as  sacred  and  holy  cannot  be  made  light  of  just 
for  a laugh  and  for  the  insurance  of  . substan- 
tial return  on  the  investments  of  those  who  have 
mocked  Christ  and  the  teachings  of  His  Church. 


Lillian  Rittenmeyer  spent  Friday  after- 
noon at  the  Casino  Theatre  in  DM  in  a 
booking  conference  with  Paramount’s 
James  Foley. 


Sure,  and  if  to  Mike  it  really  was  that 
Pat  told  all  those  stories  you’ve  heard, 
then  last  week  it  must  have  been,  for  the 
Roth  was  in  from  Anita. 


Ray  Walters,  formerly  of  the  Washing- 
ton in  Davenport,  is  reported  opening  a 
house  in  Grand  River,  la. 


You  wouldn’t  believe  (and  rightfully) 
that  Grand  River  reminded  us  of  Ed  Ma- 
son’s power  boat  story,  so  we  won’t  tell  you 
it  did.  We’ve  been  dying  to  tell  you  that 
the  sage  from  Osage  claims  to  be  the  only 
living  boatician  who  ever  tied  up  auto 
traffic  with  a motor  boat.  He  did  it  by 
staging  such  a hair-raising  exhibition  on 
the  Des  Moines  river  here  that  cars  lined 
up  for  blocks  on  both  sides  of  the  Locust, 
Walnut  and  Grand  avenue  bridges  while 
drivers  ogled. 


Ralph  Olson  paddled  the  yarn  our  direc- 
tion, but  he  didn’t  tell  us  that  Ed’s  reported 
to  have  bought  the  boat  from  Joe  Lilly. 
In  fact,  it  has  been  said  that  Ed  almost 
took  the  boat  back — or  vice  versa  . . . 
Yeah,  Joe’s  one  of  the  Lilly  brothers — 
undertakers. 


G>  MI  A H A 

Q.LADYS  ANDRESS,  who  runs  the  thea- 
tre at  Ponca,  Neb.,  had  a birthday 
during  January  and  celebrated  by  taking  a 
trip  to  California.  Her  husband,  Roy  An- 
dress, also  had  a birthday  during  January 
and  accompanied  her  on  the  trip  to  Cali- 
fornia. At  least  that’s  the  story  Harold 
Neumann  gave  us!  . . . Bill  Wink,  Warner 
booker,  has  a birthday  this  week  which  he 
plans  to  celebrate  by  jumping  into  the 
lead  in  the  current  Warner  drive. 

A.  P.  Sorenson  is  getting  along  swell  with 
the  new  Vogue  at  Beresford,  S.  D„  accord- 
ing to  our  scouts  . . . Leo  Doty,  United 
Artists  office  manager,  is  celebrating  a 
wedding  anniversary  . . . Charles  Lee,  ex- 
hibitor at  Parker,  S.  D.,  is  quite  a hunter, 
especially  during  the  pheasant  season  . . . 
It’s  a birthday  soon  for  Regina  Molseed, 
RKO  booker,  and  for  Bill  Miskell,  Or- 
pheum  manager. 

A bouquet  to  J.  Erie  Kirk,  owner  of  the 
North  Star  here  in  Omaha.  A youngster  in 
North  Omaha  liked  the  pictures  but  be- 
cause of  a cast  on  his  leg  had  trouble 
getting  into  a theatre  seat.  Exhibitor  Kirk 
had  a special  last-row  seat  fixed  up  for  the 
lad,  who  is  brought  to  the  theatre  before 
regular  opening  time.  He  sees  the  show  in 
comparative  comfort  . . . Thanks  to  Jake 
Rachman  of  the  World-Herald  for  this 
story. 

Ed  Delaney,  exhibitor  at  Marcus,  la.,  has 
the  flu  but  it  didn’t  keep  him  from  being 
mighty  proud  of  the  fact  his  daughter  is 
growing  like  a weed.  Delaney  will  be  voted 
a member  of  the  self -admiration  society 
formed  by  B.  A.  Tomte  of  Paramount, 
Charlie  Lieb  of  Metro  and  Boxoffice  . . . 
More  birthdays:  Harold  Martin  of  War- 
ners and  Joe  Rosenberg  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  Noffsinger,  Madison,  Neb.,  were  on 
Davenport  street  this  week. 

Ralph  Green,  exhibitor  from  Minne- 
apolis, Minn.,  has  purchased  the  Park 
Theatre  at  Sioux  City,  la.,  from  Odes  A.  B. 
Hilton,  according  to  reports  here.  Green 
also  has  houses  in  Iowa  and  Wisconsin  . . . 
E.  C.  Lund,  Glud  Theatre  at  Viborg,  S.  D„ 
has  had  the  flu  but  is  feeling  better  now, 
thank  you  . . . It’s  a second  wedding  anni- 
versary for  Bill  Ruthhart,  Metro  booker, 
and  a third  w.  a.  for  Jack  Kolbo,  now 
manager  of  a Tri-States  house  in  Daven- 
port, la.,  and  former  manager  of  the 
Omaha  here. 

“Shack”  Shackleford,  Colmnbia  peddler, 
has  been  getting  the  rib  this  week,  mostly 
from  Private  Joe  Smith  of  RKO  about  a 
fancy  haircut.  Look  who’s  talking  about 
fancy  haircuts,  a man  who  soon  will  be 
wearing  his  strictly  military  . . . Olin 
Fosse,  Community,  Ridgeway,  la.,  has  a 
birthday  this  week,  near  the  60  mark  . . . 
Byron  Pulis,  arbitration  board  secretary, 
reports  “no  complaints”  filed  yet.  The 
board  has  been  in  operation  two  weeks 
now. 

Sid  McArdle,  United  Artiste  booker, 
plans  to  build  a home  this  summer  and  he 
thinks  he’ll  have  another  announcement 
ready  about  June  . . . Mons  Thompson,  ex- 
hibitor at  St.  Paul,  Neb.,  chopped  one  of 
his  fingers  while  chopping  wood. 


A W,  SHUCKS! 

From  the  Tall  Corn— By  KEN  and  RENE  CLAYTON 


46 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


Outlook  Encourages 
Kansas,  Missouri 

Kansas  City — A somewhat  better  year  is 
expected  by  exhibitors  in  western  Missouri 
and  Kansas  although  the  picture  at  this 
date  looks  a little  spotted. 

Crop  conditions  in  Kansas  are  the  best 
they  have  been  in  ten  years,  with  plenty  of 
moisture.  They  are  not  so  good  in  west- 
ern Missouri.  Some  localities  were  haul- 
ing water  up  until  a few  weeks  ago,  which 
means  the  subsoil  is  pretty  well  dried  out. 

The  defense  program  is  expected  to  help 
business  generally  to  some  extent,  and  to 
that  extent  will  be  reflected  at  the  box- 
offices  of  most  theatres.  However,  direct 
effect  will  be  felt  principally  by  theatres 
in  towns  like  Wichita  where  aviation  is 
booming  and  employing  large  numbers; 
Junction  City,  Kas.,  near  Ft.  Riley,  where 
thousands  of  workmen  now  are  employed; 
Kansas  City,  which  expects  a bomber  plant 
and  a small  arms  factory,  which  will  put 
some  15,000  to  20,000  back  to  work;  near 
Rolla,  Mo.,  where  there  will  be  an  army 
camp. 

More  Seats  Offset  Hopes 

One  factor  is  that  already  in  those 
spots,  or  near  them,  new  theatres  are  be- 
ing planned  or  already  are  built.  One  of 
the  boxoffice  deterrents  of  the  past  few 
years  has  been  too  many  theatres  and  the 
ease  with  which  new  capital  for  more  seats 
can  be  secured  is  demonstrated  by  the 
rapidity  with  which  new  theatres  are  got- 
ten under  way  the  moment  business  picks 
up  in  a locality.  There  is  little  doubt, 
therefore,  but  that  part  of  the  beneficial 
effect  from  spurting  payrolls  in  localities 
directly  benefiting  from  the  defense  pro- 
gram will  be  offset  by  too  many  seats. 

In  other  towns  and  cities,  exhibitors  do 
not  expect  much  benefit  this  year  from  de- 
fense spending.  As  a matter  of  fact,  they 
say  it  may  hurt  business  some.  For  in- 
stance, Frank  Weary,  who  operates  the 
Farris  and  Vogue  at  Richmond,  Mo.,  near 
Kansas  City,  points  out  some  of  the  young 
men  will  go  in  the  draft;  some  of  the 
town’s  workmen  already  have  been  at- 
tracted to  Kansas  City  and  elsewhere  by 
work  on  defense  projects.  Tom  Edwards, 
Ozark,  Eldon,  Mo.,  notes  the  same  drift. 

Circuit  executives,  not  inclined  to  go  on 
record  by  name,  still  are  for  the  most  part, 
optimistic  about  1941.  General  business, 
they  feel,  can  hardly  help  reacting  favor- 
ably to  defense  spending,  even  in  so  agri- 
cultural an  area  as  this.  They  definitely 
are  counting  on  more  business. 

Sentiment  with  respect  to  the  decree  is 
mixed.  Circuit  operators  are  inclined  to 
believe  it  will  help — in  that  it  should  mean 
better  pictures,  fewer  pictures.  Indepen- 
dents don’t  like  the  decree  and  doubt  it  will 
be  of  any  benefit.  Fewer  pictures,  in  the 
minds  of  some,  will  reduce  the  number  of 
triple  and  double  bills,  which  should  help. 
Benefit,  if  such  there  is,  in  better  pictures, 
under  the  decree,  will  be  somewhat  offset 
by  increased  prices,  exhibitors  believe. 


Nebraska  Is  Dependent 
Upon  Crop  Situation 

Lincoln — Showmen  in  Nebraska  expect 
1941,  as  usual,  to  be  dependent,  not  on 


Recreational  Committee 
Formed  in  Kansas  City 


Kansas  City — A committee  representing 
the  various  types  of  commercial  recrea- 
tion and  entertainment  has  been  organ- 
ized in  Kansas  City,  with  Glenn  H.  Park, 
city  recreational  director,  chairman,  for 
“service  to  service  men;”  specifically,  to 
assist  the  Kansas  City  Women  Volunteers, 
Inc.,  for  National  Defense  in  providing  in- 
formation to  visiting  soldiers  and  sailors 
as  to  “approved”  places  of  entertainment. 

The  women’s  organization,  of  which  Mrs. 
Morton  T.  Jones  is  head,  operates  the  in- 
formation booths  at  the  Union  Station  and 
elsewhere,  to  help  service  men.  The  film 
industry  is  represented  on  the  committee 
by  E.  C.  Rhoden,  division  manager,  Fox 
Midwest  Theatres,  Inc.,  for  exhibitors,  and 
Arthur  Cole,  Paramount  office  manager, 
for  distributors. 

Lists  of  commercial  dance  halls,  skating 
rinks,  bowling  alleys,  and  the  like  pre- 
sented to  the  visitors,  are  to  contain  no 
names  of  establishments  that  do  not  have 
approval  of  local  welfare  officials.  It  is 
understood,  however,  that  no  film  theatre 
in  Kansas  City  is  excluded  from  such  ap- 
proval. 


Ken  Clayton  a Judge  in 
Still  Photography  Show 

Des  Moines — Ken  Clayton,  roto,  maga- 
zine and  motion  picture  editor  of  the  Des 
Moines  Register  and  Tribune,  is  one  of 
five  newspapermen  outside  the  Los  An- 
geles-Hollywood  area  to  be  chosen  among 
judges  of  the  first  Hollywood  Still  Photog- 
raphy Show. 


the  money  being  spent  nationally  for  de- 
fense, but  on  the  bounty  of  rainfall.  This 
is  an  agricultural  state,  and  that’s  the 
source  of  income.  A Boxoffice  check  finds 
showmen  of  the  opinion  that  the  1940 
take  and  net,  approximates  that  of  1939. 
At  this  time,  there  is  no  reason  to  expect 
it  to  be  greater  in  1941. 

R.  W.  Huffman,  city  manager  for  the 
Lincoln  Theatres  Corp.  <J.  H.  Cooper- 
Paramount),  said  it  was  his  finding  that 
1940  produced  higher  individual  grosses  on 
some  big  pictures,  but  the  “B’s”  failed  to 
measure  up  to  the  1939  takes.  Result 
brought  the  books  to  a level. 

Howard  Federer,  general  manager  of  Ne- 
braska Theatres,  Inc.,  an  ally  of  the  L.  L. 
Dent-Westland  Theatres  of  Colorado  and 
Oklahoma,  found  his  product  position  bet- 
tered a great  deal  in  1940  and  the  tone  of 
his  “A”  house  operations  was  improved. 
Like  Huffman,  he  found  the  load  of  toting 
“B”  house  operation  heavier. 

It  was  an  echo  when  R.  R.  “Bob”  Living- 
ston, whose  Capitol  is  independent  and  the 
major  subsequent,  was  quizzed.  He  had  an 
excellent  year  in  1940  and  did  alright  in 
1939. 

The  only  real  worry  apparent  on  the 
scene  right  now  is  not  so  much  the  out- 
put of  Hollywood  to  insure  grosses,  but  the 
prospect  of  a one  cent  tax  on  all  tickets 
sold,  regardless  of  price.  Sen.  E.  M.  Neu- 
bauer  of  Orleans,  Neb.,  who  tried  a pre- 
vious industry  tax  sock  two  years  ago,  has 
announced  he’ll  submit  such  a bill  in  the 
present  session. 


Plus-Minus  Altitude 
In  the  Twin  Cities 

Minneapolis — The  show  must  and  will 
go  on — decree  or  no  decree.  That’s  the 
feeling  of  the  film  trade  generally  here  re- 
garding 1941. 

Theatres  will  continue  to  operate  and 
show  pictures  much  the  same  as  ever  and 
the  public  will  come  or  stay  away,  just  at 
present,  in  the  opinion  of  even  those  inde- 
pendent exhibitors  who  are  bitterly  op- 
posed to  the  decree.  At  the  same  time, 
there’s  a considerable  difference  of  opin- 
ion as  to  the  new  year’s  boxoffice  prospects. 

Distributors  expect  a banner  year.  With 
improvement  in  weather,  which  has  been 
an  extremely  adverse  boxoffice  factor  the 
past  two  months,  with  heavy  gains  in  farm 
income,  with  benefits  gradually  trickling 
to  these  parts  from  the  government’s  de- 
fense spending  and  with  the  improving 
quality  of  product,  as  evidenced  by  present 
and  impending  releases,  theatres  can’t 
miss,  they  insist. 

Smile  on  Defense  Spending 

These  exchange  heads  aver  more  and 
more  direct  defense  spending  benefits  will 
accrue  to  the  numerous  industries  in  this 
territory,  although  they  concede  these  in- 
dustries are  not  so  numerous  and  large 
as  those  in  many  other  sections.  Moreover, 
they  point  out,  the  defense  spending  will 
increase  purchasing  power  substantially 
throughout  the  nation  and  that  this  will 
mean  a greater  demand  and  higher  prices 
for  farm  products,  improving  agricultural 
conditions  still  further  and  thus  aiding  this 
territory  particularly.  As  far  as  farm  in- 
come is  concerned,  it  showed  substantial 
gains  last  year  over  the  preceding  year,  as 
a result  of  good  crops  in  many  districts 
and  heavy  government  payments,  it  is 
pointed  out. 

Many  larger  circuit  operators  feel  the 
same  way  about  the  outlook  as  the  ex- 
change heads,  but,  on  the  other  hand,  most 
of  the  independent  exhibitor  leaders,  par- 
ticularly those  high  up  in  Northwest  Al- 
lied councils,  are  pessimistic  over  the  out- 
look. 

Independents  Gloomy 

These  leaders  declare  many  potential 
customers  of  their  theatres  are  moving 
away  from  this  territory  to  other  indus- 
trial sections  where,  because  of  increased 
employment  due  to  greater  government  de- 
fense spending,  there  are  greater  oppor- 
tunities. Moreover,  they  point  out,  mili- 
tary training  also  is  taking  away  many  of 
their  customers  to  camps  and  encamp- 
ments in  the  south  and  far  west. 

This  territory  has  received  compara- 
tively little  benefit  and  no  considerable 
benefit  is  in  prospect  from  the  defense  and 
military  programs,  it  is  asserted. 

Moreover,  the  feeling  among  these  in- 
dependent exhibitor  leaders  is  that  ever- 
increasing  opposition,  including  bowling, 
the  radio,  night  sport  and  other  attrac- 
tions, night  clubs,  taverns,  etc.,  has  taken 
away  many  of  their  customers  and  will 
continue  to  take  even  more  and  that  they 
will  not  be  able  to  win  back  these  lost 
patrons.  Thus,  they  are  gloomy  and  blue 
in  the  face  of  “growing  tax  burdens  and 
increasing  film  and  other  costs  and  de- 
clining grosses.” 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


47 


(l  ■ ■ - ft 

Anti-Music  Tax  Bill 
Backed  by  Allied 


Bill  in  Iowa  Would 
Tax  Distributors 


Des  Moines — Asked  three  weeks  ago 
whether  the  film  industry  was  involved  in 
any  legislation  pending  at  the  Iowa  state- 
house,  Art  Stolte,  sage  Tri-State  district 
manager,  commented: 

“No,  not  yet.  They  tackle  everything  else 
and  when  they  run  out  of  other  things 
they’ll  start  on  films.” 

This  week  Art’s  prophesy  proved  correct. 
A bill  introduced  in  the  Iowa  house  Tues- 
day proposed  an  annual  $1,000  license  fee 
on  every  Iowa  distributor  of  motion  pic- 
ture film  and  a $1  special  tax  on  every 
reel  of  motion  picture  film  shown  in  Iowa. 

Proceeds  of  the  new  taxes,  except  for  a 
small  amount  for  administration  costs  of 
the  law,  would  go  to  the  old-age  pension 
fund. 

Offered  by  two  Republicans,  Harvey 
Long  of  Clinton  and  Elmer  E.  Cooper  of 
Corning,  the  bill  would  give  the  state  tax 
commission  jurisdiction  over  motion  pic- 
ture distributors  and  movie  houses. 

Distributors  would  be  required  to  pay 
both  the  $1,000  annual  distributors  license 
or  permit  fee  and  the  $1  a reel  tax  on  all 
motion  picture  film  brought  into  the  state 
for  showing.  The  $1  a reel  tax  would  be 
levied  on  all  types  of  film,  including  news- 
reels. 

Exhibitors  would  not  be  taxed,  but  they 
would  be  prohibited  from  buying  or  leas- 
ing, showing  or  exhibiting  any  film  ac- 
quired in  any  manner  from  an  unlicensed 
distributor,  or  any  film  on  which  the  spe- 
cial $1  tax  had  not  been  paid.  The  $1  a 
reel  tax  would  be  levied  on  the  film  only 
once. 

(t  — ' "ft 

: A Case  of  J'ining  'Em  : 

^ - - =>> 

Lincoln — Most  surprising  ad  to  hit  the 
papers  locally  in  many  a moon  is  that 
concocted  for  the  Varsity  this  week  on 
“Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith” — the  idea  coming 
from  RKO’s  publicist  Bill  Scholl,  and  sec- 
onded by  Howard  Federer,  general  mana- 
ger. 

Recognizing  the  whopper  drawing  abil- 
ity of  “Gone  With  the  Wind”  at  the  op- 
position Stuart  across  the  street,  this  is 
the  way  the  ad  copy  ran: 

“Believe  it  or  not,  we  are  taking  this 
space  advising  you  to  see  ‘Gone  With  the 
Wind,’  now  playing  a competitive  thea- 
tre. We  feel  that  this  picture  is  a tribute 
to  the  ' entire  motion  picture  industry  and 
was  undoubtedly  one  of  the  greatest  pic- 
tures ever  made.  HOWEVER,  we’re  shout- 
ing about  our  show,  too — a pieture  we’re 
proud  to  present,  which  Redbook  maga- 
zine calls  the  most  explosive  and  hilarious 
comedy  of  1941,  ‘Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith’.” 

That  makes  of  “Gone  With  the  Wind” 
a great  leveler.  The  opposition  here,  the 
L.  L.  Dent  allied  Nebraska  Theatres,  Inc., 
which  sponsored  the  ad,  has  been  fight- 
ing tooth  and  nail  with  the  J.  H.  Cooper- 
Paramount  theatres  for  five  years.  This 
is  the  first  time  they’ve  written  into  the 
records  on  either  side  anything  which 
amounts  to  a bow  at  the  waist. 


Minneapolis  — Northwest  Allied  will 
back  a bill  now  in  the  state  legislature 
designed  to  knock  Ascap  and  its  music 
tax  out  of  the  state. 

The  measure  prohibits  copyright  own- 
ers from  combining  in  any  manner  to  is- 
sue licenses  for  the  public  performance 
for  profit  of  their  compositions.  It  also 
would  tax  gross  receipts  of  all  sales  and 
require  registration  of  performance 
rights  and  schedule  of  license  prices  with 
the  secretary  of  state. 

^ J 

Homecoming  Reception 
For  Susanna  Foster 

Minneapolis — Susanna  Foster,  a young 
local  girl  who  has  made  good  in  the 
films,  staged  a two-day  triumphant  re- 
turn to  her  home  town  where  friends  and 
admirers  gave  her  a warm  welcome.  To- 
gether with  Dolly  Loehr,  14-year-old  pian- 
ist, who  also  is  featured  in  Paramount’s 
“Hard-Boiled  Canary,”  she  appeared  in 
person  at  the  Orpheum  Tuesday  and  Wed- 
nesday. The  personal  appearance  engage- 
ment was  designed  to  plug  that  film. 

Bill  Lansburg,  Paramount  exploiteer, 
came  up  from  Kansas  City  to  handle  the 
Foster  and  Loehr  engagement.  He  grab- 
bed off  considerable  newspaper  space  and 
arranged  a number  of  effective  tieups  for 
the  pair. 


Foster  and  Loehr  P.  A. 

At  Kaycee  Newman 

Kansas  City — Many  adults,  as  well  as 
youngsters  took  advantage  of  the  oppor- 
tunity to  see,  and  hear,  Susanna  Foster 
and  Dolly  Loehr  in  their  personal  appear- 
ance at  the  Newman  Friday  and  Saturday, 
February  7 and  8.  Miss  Foster  sang,  ac- 
companied by  Miss  Loehr,  and  the  latter 
played,  in  a 30-minute  interpolated  pro- 
gram Friday  evening  at  9.  Saturday 
morning,  they  autographed  pictures  which 
had  been  distributed,  with  announcements 
of  the  occasion,  to  high  schools  and  junior 
colleges  previously.  A committee  of  Junior 
College  girls  met  the  artists  at  the  Union 
Station.  They  went  from  Kansas  City  to 
Omaha,  thence  to  Des  Moines;  their  itiner- 
ary including  Minneapolis  and  Chicago. 
The  personal  appearance  series  started  in 
Salt  Lake  City,  including  Denver  on  the 
way  to  Kansas  City. 


Banquet  Jennie  Smeby 

Minneapolis — Members  of  the  Univer- 
sal staff  gave  a banquet  for  Jennie  Smeby, 
veteran  contract  clerk,  and  presented  her 
with  a suit  case.  She  has  resigned  to 
move  to  California.  Esther  Singer  re- 
places her. 


Lyons  to  Des  Moines 

Minneapolis — Harold  Lyons,  20th-Fox 
salesman  here,  has  been  transferred  to 
the  Des  Moines  exchange.  His  successor 
here  hasn’t  been  named  yet. 


Rowland  Sees  Selling 
Efforts  Rewarded 

Minneapolis — Happy  days  are  ahead  for 
the  film  industry,  in  the  opinion  of  Rich- 
ard A.  Rowland,  producer  who  visited 
Minneapolis  in  connection  with  the  in- 
vitational screening  of  “Cheers  for  Miss 
Bishop,”  his  newest  production.  Produc- 
ers’ super-efforts  to  improve  their  product 
and  exhibitors’  harder  and  more  effective 
work  in  selling  the  “better”  pictures  will 
bring  larger  returns  all  along  the  line,  he 
believes. 

There  already  are  fruits  borne  from  the 
producers’  concentration  upon  the  domes- 
tic market  and  might-and-main  striving 
to  raise  their  products’  quality,  according 
to  Rowland.  Current  and  impending  re- 
leases set  a new  aggregate  high  for  Holly- 
wood, he  feels.  Moreover,  he  is  confident 
there’ll  be  no  let-down  and  that  the 
consent  decree  also  will  be  an  influence 
making  for  a higher  quality  average. 

“In  this  connection,”  he  said,  “I  want 
to  commend  Eddie  Ruben’s  constructive 
proposal  to  Northwest  Allied  to  unite  all 
branches  of  the  industry  in  a campaign 
to  sell  the  public  the  idea  that  Hollywood 
now  is  turning  out  the  best  pictures  in  the 
industry’s  history  and  then  proving  the 
fact.  Good  films,  effectively  sold  to  the 
public,  will  never  fail  at  the  boxoffice. 
Motion  pictures  still  provide  the  utmost 
in  entertainment  for  the  least  money  and 
will  continue  to  do  so.” 

Good  stories  are  the  mainstay  of  worth- 
while film  productions  and  the  most  es- 
sential ingredients  for  a first-rate  picture, 
in  Rowland’s  opinion.  And  Hollywood  pro- 
ducers now  appreciate  this  and  are  de- 
voting the  utmost  attention  to  the  story 
side,  he  asserts. 


Shifts  by  Pioneer  Trail 
Parkinson's  Resignation 

Des  Moines — Resignation  of  Marion 
Parkinson,  manager  of  the  Spencer  Thea- 
tre at  Spencer,  la.,  to  go  into  business  for 
himself,  last  week  touched  off  a series  of 
managerial  changes  in  the  Pioneer  circuit. 

Shuffled  into  the  Spencer  job  by  the 
deal  was  the  Perry  Scotchman,  Gordon 
McKinnon,  while  Cliff  Lindblad  left  the 
Iowa  at  Atlantic  to  take  over  McKinnon’s 
post  at  the  Perry. 

Art  Farrell  was  transferred  from  the 
Rapids  at  Rock  Rapids  to  the  Iowa  in  At- 
lantic and  Lee  Beckley,  who  has  been 
calling  the  turns  in  the  Frazier  Theatre  at 
Spencer  now  is  guiding  the  Rapids. 

Max  Facter,  head  man  at  the  Pioneer 
circuit  offices  in  Des  Moines,  is  expected 
to  announce  the  Frazier  setup  soon. 


"Bishop"  Is  Screened 

Kansas  City — A screening  of  “Cheers  for 
Miss  Bishop”  was  held  Monday  at  the 
Vogue  to  an  invited  audience  of  teachers 
and  club  women.  A luncheon,  attended 
by  Richard  A.  Rowland,  producer,  and 
local  theatre  executives,  followed  the 
screening. 


48 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


Use  Arbitration  Office  to 
Feel  Way  on  Decree 


Several  Bills  Hold 
Trade  Significance 


Harrisburg — Former  Governor  Earle’s 
“emergency  tax  program”  has  been  re- 
introduced in  the  House  by  Edwin  Winner 
as  the  first  step  toward  carrying  into  ef- 
fect the  financial  program  of  Gov.  Arthur 
H.  James.  Submitted  were  eight  measures 
which  would  raise  $184,575,500. 

The  Pennsylvania  general  assembly  is 
considering  James’  budget  recommenda- 
tions of  $542,208,797. 

Emergency  program  provides  a tax  of 
2 cents  a pack  on  cigarets,  an  extra  tax 
of  1 cent  a gallon  on  gasoline,  a 4-mill 
personal  property  tax,  a 6 per  cent  cor- 
porate net  income  tax,  a tax  on  bank  and 
trust  company  stocks,  a 10  per  cent  tax 
on  liquor  and  a tax  on  the  gross  receipts 
of  transportation  companies  and  utilities. 
The  Earle  program  has  stood  since  its 
enactment  in  1937.  Originally  there  was  a 
state  admission  tax  on  amusements,  but 
this  tax  was  discontinued  several  years 
ago. 

Sunday  Sports  Bill  Introduced 
Bills  to  license  Sunday  bowling  and  bas- 
ketball, provided  the  voters  of  a commun- 
ity approve  by  referendum,  were  intro- 
duced by  Representatives  John  J.  Baker, 
Thomas  J.  Heatherington  and  Louis  Leon- 
ard, of  Allegheny  County. 

Senate  "Hot"  on  Games 
State  Senator  John  J.  Haluska  of  Cam- 
bria County  has  introduced  no  less  than 
six  measures  of  interest  to  the  motion 
picture  industry.  These  bills  include: 

S-ll:  Which  would  license  and  tax  pin- 
ball, hi-score  and  other  games;  Referred  to 
the  committee  on  finance. 

S-14:  Which  would  legalize  Bingo  and 
establish  license  fees;  Referred  to  the 
committee  on  finance. 

S-16:  This  measure  provides  for  a li- 
cense tax  on  all  coin  operated  music 
boxes;  Referred  to  the  committee  on  fi- 
nance. 

S-18:  Under  terms  of  this  bill  theatre 
Bank  Nights  would  be  legalized  and  15 
per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  prize  would 
be  payed  as  a tax  within  seven  days  there- 
after to  the  county  treasurer;  annual  fees 
which  each  theatre  would  pay  for  Bank 
Night  permit  would  be  based  on  popula- 
tion: Less  than  3,000,  $600;  3,000  to 

10,000,  $1,200;  10,000  and  more,  $1,600; 
Referred  to  the  committee  on  finance. 
S-20:  This  bill  would  license  and  tax  all 

(t  -A 

Vote  Down  Bill  to 
Legalize  Bingo 

Detroit — The  Buckley-Walsh  Bill  to 
legalize  Bingo  for  churches  and  veteran 
and  fraternal  organizations  has  been 
voted  down  by  the  house  judiciary  com- 
mittee at  Lansing. 

Rep.  Nelson  A.  Miles,  committee  chair- 
man, said  that  members  considered  the 
matter  one  to  be  handled  by  local  con- 
trol. 

^ —» 


r,  a 

1TO  Defense  Tax 
Questionnaire 

Columbus — To  present  facts  and  figures 
in  connection  with  the  federal  defense 
tax,  the  ITO  of  Ohio  is  asking  exhibitors 
to  submit  information  on  each  theatre 
as  to  admission  price  charges  prior  to 
July  1,  1940,  and  those  charged  today. 

Vfc  - V 

slot  machines;  Referred  to  the  committee 
on  finance. 

S-96:  This  Haluska  bill  would  legalize 
horse  racing  together  with  wagering  on 
such  races  and  would  establish  a com- 
mission and  license  fees;  Referred  to  the 
committee  on  judiciary  general. 

“Dogs"  in  the  House 

H-118:  Representative  Powers  has  in- 
troduced a house  bill  which  would  legal- 
ize dog  racing;  Referred  to  the  committee 
on  law  and  order. 

H-22:  This  is  the  “plumbers’  bill”  in- 
troduced by  Representative  Bretherick 
which  would  require  all  public  toilets  and 
urinals  to  be  either  self-flushing  or  flushed 
by  foot  instead  of  by  hand;  Referred  to 
the  public  health  and  sanitation  committee. 

H-79:  Representative  Reuben  E.  Cohen’s 
bill  would  prohibit  the  recording  of  any 
broadcast  without  the  consent  of  the 
broadcaster  and  would  prohibit  the  sale 
of  such  recordings;  Referred  to  the  com- 
mittee on  judiciary  special. 


Four  Bills  Vital  to 
The  Trade  in  Ohio 

Columbus— There  are  four  bills  before 
the  state  legislature  affecting  the  indus- 
try generally  and  exhibitors  of  Ohio  spe- 
cifically. They  are: 

H.  B.  125:  This  measure  was  introduced 
at  the  request  of  the  Independent  Theatre 
Owners  of  Ohio  with  an  eye  to  future  pro- 
tection. It  provides  for  extension  of  the 
scope  of  the  Department  of  Workshops  and 
Factories,  so  as  to  give  it  jurisdiction  over 
theatres  showing  “television  pictures.” 

H.  B.  240:  This  measure  would  eliminate 
newsreel  censorship. 

H.  B.  246:  This  measure,  similar  to  the 
federal  wage  and  hour  act,  imposes  a mini- 
mum of  30  cents  an  hour,  with  time  and  a 
half  for  all  hours  in  excess  of  eight  per  day 
or  40  per  week,  for  the  next  five  years, 
after  which  the  hourly  rate  jumps  to  40 
cents. 

Commenting  upon  this  bill,  P.  J.  Wood, 
ITO  secretary,  says:  “If  it  passes,  every 
employer,  including  operators  of  theatres, 
would  become  subject  to  the  new  act  re- 
gardless of  the  intrastate  character  of  his 
business  or  his  present  status  under  the 
federal  setup.  Its  enactment  will  certainly 
add  to  the  opera' ing  cost  of  each  and  every 
theatre  in  the  state.” 

H.  B.  271:  This  measure  would  make  it 
a felony  to  possess  obscene  magazines, 
literature  and  motion  picture  films. 


By  H.  F.  REVES 

Detroit — Detroit  exhibitors  have  been 
visiting  the  new  arbitration  office  here  in 
increasing  numbers  for  the  past  week,  but 
up  to  the  time  of  writing,  no  formal  com- 
plaint for  arbitration  had  been  filed. 

Active  interest  was  shown  by  careful 
questions  asked  by  a number  of  exhibitors, 
and  putting  of  hypothetical  problems  that 
indicated  a careful  consideration  before  re- 
sorting to  this  new  procedure. 

One  important  conclusion  drawn  from 
questions  presented  by  filmites  contacting 
the  office,  is  that  a detailed  study  of  the 
consent  decree  would  answer  a number  of 
questions  for  them.  A number  of  filmites, 
for  instance,  have  evidently  not  under- 
stood the  scope  and  limitations  of  subjects 
for  arbitration  as  established  by  the  decree 
and  have  brought  up  subjects  not  properly 
in  its  field. 

One  circuit  was  known  to  be  studying  a 
local  situation  with  a view  toward  present- 
ing action  for  arbitration. 

Paramount  Has  Special 
Two-Branch  Meeting 

Pittsburgh  — David  Kimelman,  Para- 
mount branch  manager,  and  members  of 
the  local  exchange  staff,  enjoyed  a busy 
day  Tuesday  when  they  served  as  hosts 
to  visiting  Paramount  representatives  from 
the  Cincinnati  office.  Louis  Phillips,  home 
office  legal  representative,  was  present  to 
unravel  the  consent  decree  for  the  benefit 
of  the  members  of  the  two  company 
branches.  Attorney  Lee,  another  Para- 
mount special  representative,  also  was 
present,  and  the  session  was  an  all-day  af- 
fair. 

From  Cincinnati  were  Joe  Oulahan, 
manager,  Mark  Cummings,  Bob  Clark,  Bill 
Meier,  Tom  Day,  Jim  Doyle,  Jack  Rod- 
man,  Ross  Spencer,  Lucielle  Leisendecker, 
Lillian  Montague,  Mary  Hess  and  Aeolian 
Green. 

AAA  Sets  Up  Commodious 
Quarters  in  Cincinnati 

Cincinnati — Commodious  offices,  recep- 
tion rooms  and  tribunal  for  the  conven- 
ience of  distributors  and  exhibitors,  are 
provided  in  suite  910  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce Bldg,  here  by  the  American  Arbi- 
tration Ass’n  for  the  Cincinnati  arbitra- 
tion board.  It  is  under  the  direction  of 
Lorenz  L.  Lemper,  tribunal  clerk. 


Appoints  Swiger 

Cleveland — Herbert  Scheftel,  president 
of  the  Newsreel  Theatre  Co.,  announces 
the  appointment  of  Holden  Swiger  as  resi- 
dent manager  in  Cleveland.  The  com- 
pany last  week  opened  its  new  488-seat 
Telenews  here. 


Bill  Bowers  at  Vic 

Wheeling,  W.  Va. — Bill  Bowers  is  now 
in  charge  at  the  Vic. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


ME 


49 


CLEVELAND 


Variety  Committees 
Are  Named  for  '41 

Columbus — Virgil  Jackson,  chief  barker 
of  the  Variety  Club,  Tent  2,  has  named 
the  following  committees  to  serve  during 
1941: 

National  convention — Ben  Almond,  Lou 
Holleb,  Charlie  John,  Leo  Yassenoff; 
membership — C.  Harry  Schreiber,  chair- 
man: Johnny  Murphy,  Jack  Needham, 
Max  Stearn,  George  Anagnost;  house — 
A1  Redman,  chairman;  Russ  Bovim,  Bill 
Cunningham,  Charlie  John  and  H.  A. 
Vance;  card  room — Harrold  Eckert,  chair- 
man; Lawrence  Burns,  Johnny  Murphy, 
Max  Stearn  and  Harry  Young. 

Finance — J.  F.  Luft;  welfare  and  char- 
ity— P.  J.  Wood  and  Jake  Luft;  constitu- 
tion and  by-laws — Jim  Hale,  Bill  Pullin 
sr.,  P.  J.  Wood;  publicity — Johnny  Bar- 
croft,  Bill  Cunningham,  Harrold  Eckert, 
Freddie  Oestreicher;  mobile  unit — Lou 
Holleb,  Lloyd  Goad;  news — Freddie  Oest- 
reicher; celebrities — Harrold  Eckert,  Mel 
Frank,  Freddie  Oestreicher;  golf — Lee 
Hofheimer,  Dr.  Louis  Mark,  H.  A.  Vance; 
skating — George  Anagnost. 

Activities — Jim  Hale,  chairman;  Ben 
Almond,  vice-chairman;  Lloyd  Goad,  treas- 
urer; George  Anagnost,  Russ  Bovim,  Dr. 
Don  Bowers,  Jim  Hendel,  Jeffrey  Goldsol, 
Lou  Holleb,  Johnny  Murphy,  Bob  Nelson, 
Bill  Ortman,  A1  Redman,  C.  Harry 
Schreiber,  A1  Sugarman  and  Leo  Yas- 
senoff. 


" Liberty " Campaign  Wins 
Award  for  E . L.  Merkley 

Lansing,  Mich. — E.  L.  Merkley,  Gladmer 
Theatre,  has  been  awarded  an  Honor 
Roll  Button  by  M-G-M  for  his  campaign 
on  “Land  of  Liberty,”  industry-sponsored 
feature  which  the  company  is  releasing. 

Highlights  of  Merkley’s  campaign  in- 
cluded a special  screening  for  the  governor 
of  Michigan  and  his  administrative  board. 
A letter  from  the  governor  endorsing  the 
film  was  obtained  and  published  in  the 
dailies.  A proclamation  was  made  by  the 
mayor  of  Lansing.  An  invitation  to  both 
bodies  of  the  legislature  was  read  from 
each  floor. 

Fifty  newly  naturalized  citizens  were 
escorted  to  the  theatre  by  Legion  mem- 
bers on  opening  night  and  were  addressed 
by  one  of  the  city’s  leading  judges.  A 
radio  contest  on  the  subject:  “What  the 
Land  of  Liberty  Means  to  Me,”  was  con- 
ducted. The  Chamber  of  Commerce  co- 
operated fully  and  notices  were  sent  to  all 
boy  scouts  and  similar  organizations.  Local 
libraries  used  window  cards  and  arranged 
historical  book  displays. 


The  De  Luxe  Beechwold 
Opened  in  Columbus 

Columbus — The  newest  and  most  de  luxe 
theatre  in  Ohio’s  capital  city  opened  Fri- 
day— the  Beechwold.  Milton  Yassenoff  is 
house  manager  for  Louis  J.  Wiethe  of  Cin- 
cinnati. 


BOB  BLAIR,  former  Paramount  camera- 
man, is  now  a member  of  the  Telenews 
theatre  as  resident  news  cameraman. 
He  will  cover  everything  of  local  interest 
which  is  to  be  regularly  incorporated  in 
the  Telenews  program  . . . Milt  Mooney 
has  a new  booker  in  his  Co-operative 
Theatres  of  Ohio  office.  The  new  booker 
is  his  son,  Tom,  who  is  interrupting  his 
course  at  Notre  Dame  to  get  a little 
practical  education. 

James  R.  Grainger,  president  of  Repub- 
lic Pictures,  stopped  over  last  Thursday  to 
visit  with  Nat  Lefton  and  the  local  Repub- 
lic boys  on  his  way  to  the  coast  . . . George 
Fetig  of  Cincinnati,  booking  the  Marion 
and  Fremont  theatres  for  Midhio,  was  on 
Filmrow  . . . Also  visiting  the  booking  spots 
during  the  week  were  Nat  Charnas  of  To- 
ledo; the  J.  A.  Beidlers  sr.  mid  jr.  also  of 
Toledo,  and  one  of  the  Ortt  Brothers  of 
Newcomer  stoum. 

Leonard  Mishkind,  Republic  head  booker, 
officially  goes  out  of  circulation  with  an- 
nouncement of  his  engagement  to  Miss 
Cecile  Schneider  of  this  city.  They  were 
“at  home”  Sunday,  February  16  . . . An- 
other engagement  of  interest  to  film  folks 
announced  last  Sunday  was  that  of  Miss 
Mary  Campbell  of  the  Associated  Circuit, 
to  James  Wise  of  Cleveland.  And  Alvern 
Dietrich,  also  of  Associated,  became  Mrs. 
Warren  Fowler  last  week.  This  is  the  third 
item  of  matrimonial  news  affecting  the 
Associated  Circuit  personnel  reported  with- 
in a week. 

Joe  Lissauer,  who  went  to  Florida  for  a 
vacation,  came  home  to  recuperate  from 
the  flu  which  occupied  most  of  his  vaca- 
tion time  . . . Jack  Southe,  artist  for  the 
Warner  theatres,  is  at  Polyclinic  Hospital 
recovering  from  an  operation  . . . Miss  Eva 
Urdang,  secretary  to  M.  B.  Horwitz,  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  Washington  circuit,  is 
resting  comfortably  at  Mt.  Sinai  Hospital 
after  an  appendectomy  . . . Harry  A.  Flinn 
of  the  Berea  Theatre,  Berea,  and  Mrs. 
Flinn  left  last  Monday  to  spend  a month 
at  Fort  Lauderdale  in  Florida. 


Schwartz  Rejoins  Warner 
At  Helm  of  Ohio,  Canton 

Cleveland — Richard  Wright,  Warner  as- 
sistant zone  manager,  announces  that  Ben 
Schwartz,  formerly  with  the  Warner  the- 
atre organization,  has  rejoined  the  cir- 
cuit and  has  been  appointed  manager  of 
the  Ohio  at  Canton. 

He  succeeds  Bill  Harwell  in  Canton, 
Harwell  having  been  promoted  to  the 
position  of  city  manager  in  Mansfield,  a 
position  left  open  because  of  the  resigna- 
tion of  William  Dworski. 


Dworski  to  Lorain 

Cleveland — William  Dworski  has  been 
transferred  from  city  manager  for  Warner 
in  Mansfield  to  manager  of  the  Palace, 
Lorain.  He  succeeds  Louis  Lamm,  who  is 
now  at  the  helm  of  the  Capitol  here. 


Hold  Over  "Story" 

Cleveland  — “Philadelphia  Story”  will 
stay  a second  week  at  Loew’s  State, 
Charles  Raymond,  Loew’s  district  man- 
ager, announces. 


Joe  Shagrin  reportedly  plans  to  build  a 
new  house  in  North  Canton,  duplicating  in 
style  his  Foster  Theatre  of  Youngstown 
. . . Another  rumor  has  it  that  Loew’s 
might  open  the  Ohio  on  Euclid  Ave.,  ad- 
joining its  State  Theatre,  as  a newsreel 
house. 

“ Back  Street”  was  screened  here  last 
week  to  an  enthusiastic  group  of  exhibitors 
. . . Cleveland  newspaper  critics,  W.  Ward 
Marsh,  Plain  Dealer;  Arthur  Spaeth,  News, 
and  Jack  Warfel,  Press,  are  back  from 
Miami  where  they  were  guests  of  Universal 
at  the  premiere  of  “Back  Street.” 

Joe  Kauffman,  Universal  branch  man- 
ager, is  reported  to  be  making  rapid  strides 
back  to  health  following  a serious  two- 
month  illness  . . . Frank  Belles,  Republic 
special  sales  representative,  was  a flu  vic- 
tim last  week  but  is  reported  on  the  mend 
. . . F.  Arthur  Simon  of  Lake  Shore  Sales 
Company  staged  two  cooking  school  mati- 
nees— at  the  Bedford  Theatre,  Bedford, 
and  at  the  Euclid  Theatre,  Cleveland.  The 
matinees  are  sponsored  by  the  Electrical 
League  of  Cleveland,  giving  away  an  elec- 
tric stove  at  each  matinee,  as  well  as 
baskets  of  food. 

Arnold  Nathanson  of  the  Warner  thea- 
tre publicity  department,  who  was  married 
February  2,  spent  his  honeymoon  in  New 
York  . . . “GWTW,”  at  popular  prices,  was 
held  a second  week  at  the  Stillman  fol- 
lowing two  weeks  at  the  State  making  a 
total  of  four  consecutive  weeks  on  the  Main 
Stem  . . . “This  Thing  Called  Love”  was 
held  for  three  weeks  . . . Everett  Stein- 
buck,  manager  of  Loew’s  State  on  leave 
of  absence,  writes  from  Fort  Lauderdale, 
Fla.,  that  he  is  busy  arranging  to  convert 
a house  he  owns,  into  aji  apartment  . . . 
Milt  Harris,  formerly  in  charge  of  pub- 
licity for  the  Loew  Theatres  here,  handled 
the  “Back  Street”  premiere  publicity  cam- 
paign for  Universal  in  Miami  . . . Robert 
Yodice,  assistant  manager  at  Loew’s  State, 
is  searching  for  a name  for  his  new  daugh- 
ter who  arrived  last  week. 

Brandt  and  Levines 
To  Operate  Lake 

Cleveland — Harry  Brandt  and  Louis 
and  Marty  Levine  of  New  York  have 
formed  a theatre  company  to  operate  the 
Lake  here  which  they  have  leased  from 
Warner.  The  house  was  to  have  opened 
Saturday  on  a dual  bill  policy  featuring 
foreign  product.  Prices  are  scaled  from 
33  to  55  cents. 

In  the  east,  Brandt  operates  a circuit 
bearing  his  name  and  also  is  president 
of  the  ITOA  of  New  York. 


Son  to  Pearlsteins 

Cleveland — A son,  named  Gerald,  was 
born  last  week  to  the  Manny  Pearlsteins. 
He  is  publicity  director  for  Warner  The- 
atres in  the  Cleveland  zone. 


50 


BOXOFFICE  ;;  February  15,  1941 


fr  = 

On  and  On  Goes 
"GWTW" 

Cleveland — There  seems  to  be  no  limit 
to  the  number  of  people  in  this  territory 
who  want  to  see  “GWTW."  The  picture 
has  just  completed  its  third  week  down- 
town at  popular  prices  and  now  is  in 
its  fourth  week,  with  no  abatement  in  at- 
tendance. 

“GWTW''  played  two  big  weeks  at 
Loew's  State.  It  moved  down  to  the  Still- 
man where  it  doubled  average  grosses  in 
its  first  move-over  week.  At  $1.10  top, 
“GWTW"  last  year  played  a record  en- 
gagement of  10  weeks  at  the  Stillman. 

VS-  ■ J 

Warner  Men  in  Canton 
Area  Hold  Meeting 

Canton,  Ohio — 'Warner  executives  and 
house  managers  of  the  Canton  area  at- 
tended a regional  meeting  at  Hotel  Belden 
here  at  which  the  outlook  for  the  spring 
and  summer  was  discussed  along  with  ex- 
ploitation of  future  bookings  and  other 
trade  problems. 

Attending  were  Nat  Wolf,  in  charge  of 
the  Cleveland  zone  office;  Dick  Wright, 
Saul  Bragin  and  E.  C.  Pearlstein,  all  of 
Cleveland;  Frank  Savage,  manager  of  the 
Warner,  Youngstown;  John  La  Due,  man- 
ager of  the  Strand,  Akron;  Irving  Solo- 
mon, manager  of  the  Lincoln,  Massillon, 
and  Bill  Harwell,  manager  of  the  Ohio 
here. 


PRACTICALLY  every  exchange  on  Film- 
row  was  represented  at  the  opening  of 
Carl  Roh’s  new  theatre  in  Cynthiana,  Ky., 
which  was  a gala  occasion.  Following  a 
parade  by  the  town  band,  speeches  were 
delivered  by  the  Hon.  Judge  McSwinford 
and  every  member  of  the  theatre  family, 
including  the  ushers  and  “French”  Pat- 
terson, projectionist  and  engineer.  Com- 
pletely equipped  by  Midwest  Theatre  Sup- 
ply, the  new  theatre  is  modern  in  all  re- 
spects. A buffet  luncheon  and  refresh- 
ments were  served. 

The  opening  of  Archie  Clemons’  newest 
house  at  Nitro,  W.  Va.,  also  promises  to 
he  a “super”  social  event,  outdoing  even 
his  grand  opening  at  Smithers.  Word  that 
Ethel  Clemons  will  supervise  the  buffet 
spread,  guarantees  it  will  he  tops  in  epi- 
curean feasts  . . . M.  W.  Murphy,  pioneer 
operator,  is  reported  negotiating  for  a 1,200 
seat  theatre  in  War,  W.  Va.  . . . Max  Matz, 
Colonial  and  Ryland  theatres,  Bluefield, 
W.  Va.,  is  vacationing  in  Florida  . . . Ferd 
Midelberg  of  Logan,  Ohio,  was  in  town  . . . 
Willis  Vance  has  equipped  his  Eden  with 
new  projectors  and  sound  . . . Pete  Lang’s 
theatre  at  Whitesville,  W.  Va.,  has  new 
lamps  and  projectors  and  sound. 

“Pop”  Wessel  reports  the  Queen  City 
Variety  Club's  special  drive  for  the  wel- 
fare fund  will  soon  be  inaugurated  . . . 
Columbia’s  “Penny  Serenade”  is  booked  for 
the  RKO  Albee  . . . 20th-Fox’s  Irene  Sagel 
is  vacationing  in  Florida.  She  will  trip  to 
Cuba  via  the  homeward  trek  . . . Peter 


Rosian,  Universal,  spent  the  weekend  in 
Chicago  at  a meeting  of  company  execu- 
tives. 

Saul  Renick,  publicist  on  “ Back  Street,” 
spent  two  weeks  in  Cincy  prior  to  his  de- 
parture for  Atlanta,  Ga.,  for  further  pro- 
motion work  . . . Alec  Booth  of  the  Strand, 
Kenova,  W.  Va.,  also  conducts  an  active 
coast  business,  and  spends  much  time 
planing  between  Cincy,  Chicago  and  Cleve- 
land . . . Gene  Custer  and  his  son,  Jack, 
spent  the  weekend  in  Cincy  . . . Charley 
Cassinelli,  Mullins,  W.  Va.,  is  reported  on 
the  sick  list. 

L.  E.  Rogers,  Welsh,  W.  Va.,  is  welcom- 
ing a new  daughter-in-law,  his  son  having 
recently  married  a popular  belle  of  Mc- 
Dowell county  . . . The  local  RKO  force  is 
out  in  front  in  the  Ned  Depinet  drive, 
recently  inaugurated,  announces  Wilbur 
Heatherington  ...  Ed  Novak,  Midwest 
Theatre  Supply,  left  this  week  to  join 
Uncle  Sam’s  army  at  Shelby,  Miss.  He 
was  the  honored  guest  at  a farewell  party 
given  by  the  office  force,  and  was  pre- 
sented with  a handsome  traveling  bag.  The 
office  also  officially  “adopted”  Ed,  and 
each  week  of  his  absence  he  will  receive  a 
remembrance  from  the  force. 

Kay  Harris,  who  appears  on  WSAI  in 
the  “ Pogue’s  Home  of  the  Air”  program, 
will  receive  a screen  test  for  the  new 
“Tillie  the  Toiler”  series  to  be  filmed  by 
Columbia.  The  test  is  on  the  recommen- 
dation of  Allan  Moritz,  Cincinnati  Co- 
lumbia manager. 


HOW  IS  YOUR  DEFENSE? 


/ 


Hundreds  of  exhibitors  who  are  concerned  about  increasing  their  attend- 
ance are  spending  all  kinds  of  money  which  cuts  deeply  into  their  profits. 
Here  is  a deal  that  a wide-awake  manager  can't  afford  to  pass  up: 

Maurice  Zell,  who  recently  came  from  California,  has  a for- 
mula that  will  increase  your  box  office  receipts.  Results 
will  be  definitely  better.  You  will  be  wondering  where  all 
the  people  are  coming  from,  who  are  crowding  into  your 
theatre,  its  amazing.  Besides,  you  are  not  to  invest  a 
single  penny.  If  you  will  send  for  me  there  won't  be  any 
obligations  on  your  part.  I feel  sure  that  it  will  be  the  beginning  of  a long 
and  mutually  pleasant  business  relationship.  I shall  be  glad  to  see  you 
in  your  office  at  your  convenience. 

Write  — Wire  or  Phone  Main  4700 
MAURICE  ZELL,  Hollenden  Hotel,  Cleveland,  Ohio 


BOXOFFICE  ;;  February  15,  1941 


51 


"GWTW"  Exceptional 
Draw  in  Cleveland 

Cleveland — “Gone  With  the  Wind”  is 
gone  in  name  only.  After  two  very  big 
weeks  at  Loew’s  State,  it  moved  over  to  the 
Stillman  for  a third  big  week  and  is  stay- 
ing on  for  a fourth  consecutive  week  play- 
ing at  the  same  theatre  where  last  year, 
at  $1.10  top,  it  held  forth  for  ten  weeks. 
It  doubled  the  average  Stillman  business 
last  week.  RKO  Palace  patrons  are  giving 
their  support  to  the  name  bands  and  out- 
standing stage  shows  that  are  following 
each  other  weekly.  Last  week  it  was  Cab 
Calloway  and  his  Cotton  Club  Revue  aug- 
mented by  the  Mills  Brothers,  that  filled 
the  house,  while  patrons  stayed  on  to  see 
“Escape  to  Glory”  as  the  secondary  attrac- 
tion. 

Exceeding  expectations  was  the  very  ex- 
cellent business  of  “The  Thief  of  Bagdad” 
at  Loew’s  State.  The  run  opened  with  an 
exceptionally  big  weekend,  and  held  to  a 
comfortable  business  during  the  week.  An- 
other hit  with  the  Cleveland  public  is  “This 
Thing  Called  Love.”  A big  opening  week 
at  the  Hippodrome  is  followed  by  an  even 
bigger  move-over  week  at  the  Allen  where 
it  stays  on  for  a third  week.  “High  Sierra” 
came  through  with  comfortable  but  not 
outstanding  business. 

Weather  was  average  winter  weather, 
with  snow  and  ice  part  of  the  time.  There 
was  no  unusual  competition. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  7: 


(Average  is  100) 

Allen — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col)... 190 

This  is  a move-over  from  the  Hippodrome 
for  a second  week  on  the  Avenue. 

Hippodrome — High  Sierra  (FN)  85 

Palace — Escape  to  Glory  (Col)  120 

Cab  Calloway  and  his  Cotton  Club  Revue 
was  the  main  drag. 

State — 'Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA)  95 

Stillman — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M) 200 


Fourth  week  downtown — Picture  played  two 
weeks  at  State  and  moved  over  to  Stillma.n 
where  it  is  being  held  for  a fourth  week. 


"This  Thing  Called  Love" 
Strong  Into  Third  Week 

Cincinnati — “This  Thing  Called  Love,” 
Columbia  feature,  walked  off  with  the  top 
grosses  in  Cincinnati  in  its  third  week, 
running  ten  per  cent  above  any  other  fea- 
ture, including  first  runs.  Cold  weather 
and  Bingo  receipt,  which  for  January  ex- 
ceeded preceding  months,  retarded  motion 
picture  business.  “Back  Street,”  Universal 
feature,  opened  at  the  Albee  with  out- 
standing business. 

Detail  for  week  ended  February  6: 

(Average  is  100) 

Albee — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  (RKO),  held  over.. 110 


Capitol — Arizona  (Col),  2nd  and  final  wk 90 

Grand — Honeymoon  for  Three  (WB),  held  over.  100 

Keith’s — Second  Chorus  (Para’t),  2nd  wk 80 

Lyric — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col),  3rd 

and  final  wk 120 

Palace — Victory  (Para’t)  60 

Shubert — Life  With  Henry  (Para’t),  plus 

stage  show  90 


Credit  Stage  Show  With 
Leadership  in  Detroit 

Detroit — Best  business  of  the  week,  on 
a comparative  basis,  went  to  the  Michigan 
where  “Folies  Bergere”  stage  show  drew 
heavily  on  masculine  attendance.  Amazing 


story  of  the  month  is  the  surprising  hold- 
over of  “Philadelphia  Story”  at  the  UA, 
which  is  heading  into  a fifth  week  cur- 
rently, but  “positively”  won’t  go  further. 

Weather  has  been  generally  favorable, 
with  marked  absence  of  snow  and  rain,  but 
fairly  cool.  Detroiters  are  still  recovering 
from  the  flu  epidemic,  and  are  not  “doing 
right”  by  theatre  boxoffices,  in  the  opin- 
ion of  exhibitors,  yet. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  6: 


(Average  is  100) 

Adams — Invisible  Woman  (Univ) ; Romance 

of  the  Rio  Grande  (20th-Fox) 90 

Cinema — Time  in  the  Sun  (SR);  Next  Time 

We  Love  (Univ),  revival  75 

Fox — Night  Train  (20th-Fox);  This  Thing 

Called  Love  (Col)  95 

Michigan — Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (UA),  plus 

“Folies  Bergere’’  on  stage  115 

Palms-State — South  of  Suez  (WB);  Here 

Comes  the  Navy  (WB)  95 

United  Artists — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M); 
Maisie  Was  a Lady  (M-G-M),  4th  wk 100 


"Wind"  Tops  Pittsburgh 
In  Winter's  Blackout 

Pittsburgh — Total  Winter  arrived  and 
the  first  month  of  1941  went  into  the 
records  as  “Black  January”  as  “Gone 
With  the  Wind”  remained  the  standout 
attraction.  The  sun  was  visible  only  17 
per  cent  of  the  time  during  the  month. 
Smoke,  fog,  clouds  and  smog  showed  with 
snow,  snow,  rain  and  snow.  Not  too  many 
people  ventured  forth  to  theatres,  al- 
though “Second  Chorus”  and  a snappy 
stage  show  at  the  Stanley  and  “This 
Thing  Called  Love,”  in  its  second  week 
at  the  Senator,  in  addition  to  “GWTW.” 
were  over  average  when  boxoffice  re- 
ceipts were  counted.  The  Columbia  com- 
edy was  held  over  at  the  Senator  and 
“GWTW”  was  moved  into  the  Warner. 
“The  Thief  of  Bagdad,”  in  its  third  down- 
town week,  made  a good  showing.  De- 
tails to  February  1: 


(Average  is  100) 

Barry — Murder  Over  New  York  (20th-Fox); 

Phantom  Submarine  (Col) 85 

Fulton — Dr.  Kildare’s  Crisis  (M-G-M) 80 

Penn — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-GM).  2nd  wk.  ..130 

Ritz — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA),  3rd  downtown 

wk 95 

Senator — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col),  2nd 

wk 115 

Stanley — Second  Chorus  (Para’t):  Streets  of 

Paris  stage  show  120 

Warner — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO);  Little 

Men  (RKO)  90 


E.  CARRELL  of  the  Falls  City  Theatre 
Equipment  Co.  has  returned  from  Chi- 
cago where  he  attended  the  first  con- 
vention of  the  Theatre  Equipment  Dealers 
Protective  Ass’n  held  at  the  Congress 
Hotel,  February  8,  9 and  10  . . . The  State, 
Milltown,  owned  and  operated  by  R.  L. 
Harned,  suffered  severe  damage  by  fire 
which  started  on  the  stage  and  worked 
through  the  whole  interior  of  the  building. 
Harned  states  repairs  will  begin  imme- 
diately. 

Critics  Boyd  Martin  of  the  Courier- 
Journal  and  A.  A.  Daugherty  of  the  Times 
in  Miami  for  the  world  premiere  of  “Bach 
Street.”  A special  campaign  for  the  Uni- 
versal picture  here  was  handled  by  L.  J. 
Alleman  . . . Dr.  W.  H.  Race  has  sold  his 
Pastime,  Butler,  Ky.,  to  local  interests 


Detroit  Party  for 
Lucille  and  Desi 

Detroit- — RKO  entertained  exhibitors, 
the  press  and  radio  celebrities  at  a recep- 
tion at  the  Statler  Hotel  for  Lucille  Ball, 
who  is  starred  in  “A  Girl,  a Guy,  and  a 
Gob,”  and  her  husband,  Desi  Amaz,  who 
is  here  for  two  weeks  of  personal  appear- 
ances at  the  Statler  Terrace  Room. 

Miss  Ball  said  she  knew  Boxoffice  by 
its  “bright  red  cover,”  and  that  she  read 
it  religiously.  Arnaz  said  he  always  read 
it  in  RKO  Vice-President  Joe  Nolan’s  of- 
fice . . . Jim  Sharkey,  another  RKO  vice- 
president,  calmly  officiated  as  host,  ably 
abetted  by  local  Office  Manager  Harry 
Levinson  and  Salesman  Milton  Cohen  . . . 
Charlie  Perry,  ex-chief  barker  of  Variety, 
and  Mrs.  Perry  (who  was  really  hungry), 
plus  Irving  Goldberg,  represented  ex- 
hibitors. 

Dick  Osgood  of  WXYZ  and  Jimmie 
Stevenson  were  among  the  radio-ites. 
Press  gallery  included  a cross-section  of 
Detroit’s  amusement  journalism:  Ed  Lap- 
ping, managing  editor;  Sunday  Editor 
Charles  Wagner  and  Film  Critic  Walter 
Stevenson  of  the  Detroit  Times.  From  the 
Free  Press — Frank  P.  Gill,  film  editor,  and 
his  wife,  and  the  “Town  Crier”  himself, 
Jack  Pickering;  and  from  the  News,  Her- 
schel  Hart,  radio  editor;  John  Finlayson, 
film  editor,  and  Verne  Minge,  cartoonist. 

Alice  Gorham,  Bill  Hendricks  and  Ralph 
Stitt  capably  represented  UDT. 


Reorganization  of  UDT 
Publicity  Department 

Detroit — Publicity  department  of  United 
Detroit  Theatres  has  been  reorganized 
with  Bill  Hendricks  placed  in  charge  of 
west  side  houses  under  the  supervisor, 
Joseph  Busic,  while  Cliff  Brown  has  been 
placed  in  charge  of  east  side  houses  under 
supervisor,  Asher  Shaw.  Downtown  houses 
will  be  handled  directly  by  Ralph  Stitt, 
head  of  the  department.  Alice  Gorham  will 
continue  to  handle  special  publicity. 


. . . Alterations  amounting  to  $1,000  will 
be  effected  on  the  Rialto  Theatre  build- 
ing . . . New  chairs,  lamps,  generator, 
screen  and  sound  have  been  installed  in 
the  Town  Hall,  Winchester,  Ky.  Also 
sound  in  the  Grand  at  Frankfort,  Ky.  Both 
are  owned  by  S.  D.  Lee. 

G.  W.  Honsberger  has  been  appointed 
manager  of  Westinghouse’s  Louisville  of- 
fice in  succession  to  T.  W.  Volls,  de- 
ceased . . . J.  H.  Meadows  has  recon- 
ditioned and  re-equipped  his  Strand  at 
Dawson  Springs,  Ky.  . . . The  new  Royal, 
Paintsville,  Ky.,  has  been  opened  by  Ken- 
neth Williams  . . . Film  salesmen  noted 
in  town  recently  included  Milton  Krueger, 
United  Artists;  Bob  “Sherlock  Holmes” 
Schrader,  Warner,  and  Tom  McCleaster, 
Fox. 


IILOIIUKVIMUUE 


52 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


P I!  T T S B V R G HI 


RECEIPTS  of  $1,000  were  “Gone  With  the 
Wind”  one  evening  last  week  when 
two  armed  bandits  held  up  two  employes 
at  the  Warner  Columbia,  Sharon,  and 
made  their  getaway  in  a waiting  auto. 
The  final  evening  showing  of  “GWTW” 
had  just  been  started  when  the  bandits 
approached  the  boxoffice  as  Andrew  Gor- 
zo,  assistant  manager,  and  Paul  Yolkie, 
doorman,  gathered  the  money  to  take 
from  the  ticket  office  to  the  manager’s 
office.  Pat  Notaro,  manager,  and  T.  Ford- 
ham,  Warner  circuit’s  northern  area  dis- 
trict manager,  witnessed  the  holdup  . . . 
Speer  Marousis  was  around  the  other  day 
and  reported  that  his  Regent,  New  Castle, 
was  entered  one  night  recently  and  around 
$70  was  stolen,  together  with  considerable 
property  damage.  Two  men  have  been 
placed  under  arrest  and  have  confessed 
the  crime.  Marousis  stated  that  around 
$150  was  recently  taken  from  the  cashier 
of  the  Penn,  New  Castle,  by  an  armed 
bandit. 

Thomas  A.  Gilbert,  who  has  sold  his  New 
Oakland  to  the  Warner  circuit,  was  around 
Filmrow  the  other  day  “clearing  the  books” 
. . . Harry  Kalmine  was  in  New  York  last 
week  whipping  up  some  stage  shows  for 
the  Stanley  . . . Fred  J.  Herrington, 
AMPTO  secretary,  reports  satisfaction  on 
legislative  matters.  He  spent  several  days 
in  Harrisburg  last  week  looking  over  the 
situation  . . . Helen  Hoerle  has  been  here 
exploiting  “Fantasia,”  which  opens  in  the 
Fulton  early  in  March. 

“The  movies,”  writes  Florence  Fisher 
Parry  in  the  Press,  “more  now  than  at  any 
time  in  their  existence,  are  the  friends 
and  aides  of  democracy,  and  are  assisting 
the  United  States  in  its  defense  program, 
with  all  their  mighty  resources.” 

The  John  Perrys  of  Belle  Vernon  are 
vacationing  in  Miami  . . . Vern  Scott,  cir- 
cuit exhibitor,  is  a 16mm  camera  fan  and 
has  exposed  a lot  of  film  in  pursuit  of 
his  hobby.  He  is  especially  proud  of  his 
natural  color  reels  . . . Al  Weiss  of  Mc- 
Keesport finally  tore  himself  away  from 
his  Weiss  Big  5 basketball  team  and  is 
vacationing  in  Florida  . . . Warner’s  South 
Hills  Harris  is  introducing  a new  game 
called  Quest:  How  Smart  Are  You?,  in- 
vented and  patented  by  Peter  Carmine 
Abate  of  Wilmerding. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sam  Fineberg  were  host 
and  hostess  at  last  Friday’s  family  night 
party  at  the  Variety  Club  ...  Joe  Hiller 
was  King  at  the  February  10  dinner  . . . 
Mrs.  Peter  Dana  and  Mrs.  John  J.  Ma- 
loney were  hostesses  at  the  ladies  lunch- 
eon February  11  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  S. 
England  were  scheduled  as  leaders  for  the 
February  14  family  night  party,  and  the 
February  21  date  will  find  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
M.  A.  Rosenberg  in  charge  . . . Pete  Dana 
will  be  King  at  the  February  17  dinner 
and  Herb  Greenblatt  has  the  February  24 
date. 

Earle  W.  Sweigert,  newly -appointed 
Paramount  district  manager,  covering 
Pittsburgh,  Philadelphia  and  Washington, 
was  welcomed  here  on  his  first  official 
visit  by  Dave  Kimelman,  branch  mana- 
ger. Also  here  to  greet  Sweigert  was 
Harry  Goldstein,  former  local  manager, 


who  drops  this  city’s  branch  from  his  sup- 
ervision as  he  assumes  additional  author- 
ity in  his  new  district  which  has  added 
Detroit. 

Walt  Thomas,  former  assistant  manager 
at  the  State,  Wilkinsburg,  has  returned 
across  the  street  to  the  Rowland  as  as- 
sistant to  Dick  Brown.  At  one  time  he 
was  doorman  there.  He  succeeds  Harold 
Banks,  who  has  entered  military  service. 

Oldtime  friends  cheered  Richard  A. 
Rowland  when  he  arrived  to  screen  his 
latest  production,  “Cheers  for  Miss 
Bishop,”  at  the  uptown  Rialto.  Rowland’s 
return  was  a grand  occasioii  and  his  pic- 
ture, which  is  being  distributed  by  United 
Artists,  was  applauded  for  its  fine  merit. 
He  has  signed  with  UA  to  produce  three 
more.  First  in  preparation  is  “Those 
Amazing  People,”  Dick’s  new  title  for 
“Battle  of  Britain.” 

The  new  Shadyside  will  be  ready  for 
opening  any  day  now.  It’s  a beauty,  too 
. . . New  engineer  here  for  RCA  service 
is  Dan  Ferguson  . . . Ray  Allison,  circuit 
operator,  was  confined  to  his  home  in 
Cresson  for  over  a week  by  the  flu  . . . 
The  “UA-Kelly”  drive  extends  to  April  19, 
announce  colorful  banners  in  the  local  UA 
office  . . . Frank  Carver,  local  American 
Seating  Co.  representative  for  many  years, 
is  dead. 

Martin  Terner  of  American  Theatrical 
Valance  Co.  has  joined  Mrs.  Terner  in 
Miami  . . . Fred  A.  Beedle,  AMPTO’s  presi- 
dent, is  interested  in  Senate  bill  No.  18, 
which  would  license  theatre  games  at 
very  high  fees  and  which,  additionally, 
would  give  the  state  a 15  per  cent  cut  on 
all  “ awards ” . . . A.  L.  Pindat,  Republic’s 
special  representative,  has  completed  his 
work  here  and  goes  next  to  the  Washing- 
ton branch. 


Adapting  Programs 
To  the  Audience 


Detroit — Adapting  the  features  to  the 
audience  by  having  a different  program 
matinees  and  evenings,  looks  like  the 
major  new  trend  in  Detroit  show  business. 

With  one  of  the  largest  downtown  houses 
seriously  flirting  with  the  idea,  a different 
adaptation  is  being  started  out  at  the 
Varsity  by  Grant  Hawkins,  UDT  manager. 

The  Varsity  has  Saturday  matinees  with 
a heavy  attendance  of  youngsters.  Instead 
of  picking  a feature  intended  primarily  for 
youngsters  and  using  it  on  the  entire  week- 
end change,  thereby  discouraging  a cer- 
tain amount  of  adult  patronage,  Hawkins 
is  dropping  the  heavier  of  the  two  features 
on  his  dual  bill  and  substituting  with  a 
western  for  the  youngsters,  plus  some  ex- 
tra cartoons,  for  the  matinee  show  only, 
thereby  catering  to  both  types  of  taste. 

The  Fox  is  trying  out  the  idea  this  week, 
running  “Back  Street”  alone  in  the  eve- 
nings, plus  some  added  shorts,  while 
“Youth  Will  Be  Served”  is  added  for  the 
matinee  trade. 

The  idea  of  the  Fox  showing  is  appar- 
ently based  upon  the  theory  that  the 
matinee  patronage  is  more  interested  in 
quantity  for  a given  admission,  while  the 
night  patrons  will  be  choosier  in  going  to 
a theatre  and  insist  a bit  more  on  picture 
quality. 


Paves  " Fantasia's " Way 

Pittsburgh — Walter  Wall  of  RCA’s  home 
office  will  be  in  charge  of  the  installa- 
tion of  special  sound  reproducing  equip- 
ment at  the  Fulton  for  the  engagement 
of  Walt  Disney’s  “Fantasia.” 


Releases  That  Count . . . Available  NOW 


DEVIL  BAT 
SECRET  EVIDENCE 
MARKED  MEN 
I TAKE  THIS  OATH 
MISBEHAVING  HUSBANDS 
CAUGHT  IN  THE  ACT 
HOLD  THAT  WOMAN 


SURE-FIRE  WESTERNS 

BILLY  THE  KID 
With  BOB  STEELE 

FRONTIER  MARSHAL 
With  TIM  McCOY 

LONE  RIDER 
With  GEO.  HOUSTON 


Exchanges  Everywhere 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


53 


Contends  "Service" 
Passes  Justified 

Detroit — Passes  admitting  any  number 
of  persons  at  five  cents  apiece  have  been 
distributed  over  the  near-downtown  area 
by  the  Town  Theatre,  operated  by  the  Bin- 
der circuit.  Described  as  an  “Adult’s  Get 
Acquainted  Courtesy  Pass,”  they  are  found 
in  merchants’  stores  nearby,  with  the 
merchants  giving  them  out  as  goodwill 
gestures  to  customers. 

The  passes  are  “good  for  one  or  more 
persons,”  and  for  “any  time”  until  expira- 
tion date,  at  a service  charge  of  five  cents 
per  person.  One  edition  of  the  passes  ex- 
pires February  15,  and  the  house  is  slated 
to  go  into  regular  vaudeville  on  a split 
week  policy  February  21  at  20  cents  ad- 
mission. Present  admission  is  15  cents. 

Jack  Broder,  who  recently  acquired  the 
house,  has  been  the  objective  of  several  at- 
tacks by  other  exhibitors  on  charges  of 
lowering  prices  by  this  and  other  means. 
Broder  said  that  he  found  the  public  reluc- 
tant to  enter  the  Town,  which  has  an  old- 
standing  reputation  as  a society  house,  and 
adopted  the  low-priced  pass  idea  strictly  to 
introduce  the  new  policy  to  the  public. 
Broder  contends  that  he  has  not  used  the 
special  forms  of  passes  under  attack  ex- 
cept where  competitive  or  other  conditions 
demanded,  citing  the  Time  Theatre  as  one 
place  where  he  had  not  adopted  such  a 
pass  policy. 

Explaining  his  reduction  of  prices  at  the 
Seville,  which  he  also  took  over  three 
weeks  ago,  from  20  to  10  cents  for  four 
days  a week,  Broder  cited  the  difficulty  of 
getting  product  within  a reasonable  run- 
ning time  for  this  house  as  an  important 
reason  for  lowering  prices. 

Further,  he  said:  “In  my  opinion,  10 
cents,  except  for  weekends,  is  sufficient 
for  that  neighborhood.  The  residents  may 
be  classed  among  the  poorest  in  Detroit 
and  cannot  afford  more. 

“I’d  like  to  operate  at  30  cents,  but  I 
can’t  under  the  conditions.  For  years  this 
theatre  has  lost  money,  in  my  opinion,  and 
I’d  be  a poor  business  man  to  carry  on 
the  same  policy. 

“The  house  has  to  wait  eight  to  ten 
weeks  after  the  key  theatre,  my  nearest 
competitor,  to  get  a print  of  a popular 
picture  for  a weekend  booking.” 


Roxy  in  Martinsburg 
Under  Blatt  Banner 

Martinsburg,  Pa. — The  Roxy  has  re- 
opened under  the  banner  of  the  Blatt 
Bros.  David  Madden,  formerly  connected 
with  the  circuit  at  East  Brady,  is  house 
manager,  and  William  Blatt,  supervisor. 
The  300-seat  house  was  acquired  under  a 
long-term  lease  from  John  Helleberg. 


Detroit  Variety  to  Hold 
First  Meeting  of  1941 

Detroit — Variety  Club  will  hold  its  first 
general  membership  meeting  of  1941  on 
February  17.  The  event  will  be  held  in  the 
clubrooms  in  the  Book  Cadillac  Hotel,  and 
will  launch  a program  for  the  year. 


ID)  IE  T R CO  I If 

Q.EORGE  L.  SCHUYLER  has  joined  the 
sales  development  staff  of  Jam  Handy 
. . . Wade  Allen,  Fine  Arts  manager,  was 
confined  to  his  home  by  illness  . . . Bill 
Carlson  pinch  hit  as  emcee,  ringmaster, 
and  general  factotum  at  Variety,  Satur- 
day . . . Father  David  J.  Duncan  has  re- 
signed as  chaplain  of  Variety  because  of 
his  transfer  to  Birmingham  . . . John 
Howard,  Paramount  manager,  was  hit  by 
a puck  during  one  of  the  Red  Wings’ 
(hockey)  games.  Six  stitches  were  taken 
in  a nasty  cut  just  over  his  left  eye. 

Jack  Bell  of  United  Billposters,  recover- 
ing from  a bad  cold,  is  off  for  a month  in 
Florida  . . . Monogram's  new  offering, 
“Pride  of  the  Bowery,”  is  not  about  Frank 
Barbaro  . . . Richard  Rowland,  producer  of 
UA's  “Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop,”  had  a per- 
sonally-conducted preview  for  exhibitors 
Tuesday  at  Wade  Allen’s  Fine  Arts  . . . 
David  M.  Idzal,  managing  director  of  the 
Fox,  is  back  from  New  York  where  he 
made  arrangements  for  stage  shows. 

Ray  Schreiber,  president  of  Midwest 
Theatres,  off  for  a couple  of  weeks  to  visit 
his  family  at  Tucson,  Ariz.  . . . Girls  of  the 
“Folies  Bergere”  show  at  the  Michigan 
were  guest  artists  on  the  WXYZ  “Mile  O’ 
Dimes”  broadcast  . . . Saul  Sloan  is  in- 
corporating his  new  Mercury  Theatre  Co. 

. . . Irving  Belinsky,  Morris  Fishman  and 
Sonia  Mellon  are  incorporating  the  Claw- 
son Amusement  Co. 

Earl  Hudson,  UDT  president,  ivas  long 
associated  with  Richard  Rowland  as  pro- 
duction chief  at  FN,  Rowland  disclosed 
when  he  was  here  for  the  preview  of  UA’s 
“Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop”  . . . Irene  Fair- 
bairn  is  visiting  her  husband’s  family  here 
while  he’s  taking  a year  in  the  army;  he’s 
Murray  M.  Fairbairn,  Detroit  artist,  now 
of  Disney  studios.  He  did  the  centaurette 
heads  in  “Fantasia.” 

Jacob  Schreiber,  retired  theatre  mag- 
nate, has  changed  his  address  to  Cocoa- 
nut  Lane,  Palm  Island,  at  Miami  Beach 
. . . Jackson  S.  Hurford  sr.  and  wife  are 
leaving  for  a ten-day  Florida  jaunt  . . . 
Arthur  Robinson  is  starting  his  new  blue 
orchid  dishes  in  Fred  De  Lodder’s  Aloma 
. . . Albert  W.  Heuser,  manager  of  the 
Aloma,  manages  to  be  one  of  happiest 
managers — always  that  bright  laugh  for  a 
caller  . . . Sympathy  to  Ralph  Raskin  of 
Robinson  Premiums  on  the  death  of  his 
day-old  son  . . . Walter  Aller,  manager  of 
the  Del-The,  finally  manages  to  do  his 
business  by  telephone. 

Nat  Haase  is  opening  his  own  office  on 
the  seventh  floor  of  the  Film  Exchange 
Building,  to  represent  Quality  Premiums. 
Lillian  Ambrozy  remains  temporarily  in 
charge  of  the  Metro  Premium  office  which 
Haase  vacates  . . . Les  Gruber,  new  Variety 
member,  recovered  from  a case  of  flu  . . . 
Max  M.  Barewin,  who  was  with  Price 
Theatre  Premiums  for  seven  years  in  Kan- 
sas City  and  St.  Louis,  is  managing  the 
local  office,  replacing  Leonard  Soskin. 


Book  Sammy  Kaye 

Columbus — After  the  successful  engage- 
ment of  Ted  Weems’  Orchestra,  Loew’s 
Broad  has  booked  in  Sammy  Kaye  for  the 
week  of  the  28th. 


Metro  Executives 
Come  to  Detroit 

Detroit — Top  M-G-M  executives  were 
in  town  over  the  weekend  for  the  formal 
transfer  of  the  Detroit  exchange  territory 
under  the  new  divisional  setup. 

William  F.  Rodgers,  general  sales  man- 
ager, headed  the  delegation,  accompanied 
by  “Ted”  O’Shea,  new  central  division 
manager,  whose  responsibility  includes 
Detroit;  J.  J.  Maloney,  new  district  man- 
ager for  Detroit,  and  Jack  Flynn,  who  re- 
linquishes the  city  as  his  district  head- 
quarters in  favor  of  Chicago. 

Together  with  Frank  J.  Downey,  local 
M-G-M  branch  manager,  and  practically 
the  entire  local  sales  force,  the  executives 
visited  with  many  members  of  the  indus- 
try at  Variety  Club  on  Saturday  night  and 
at  individual  meetings  over  the  weekend. 
They  had  lunch  on  Saturday  with  Earl 
Hudson  and  Ed  F.  Hyman  of  United  De- 
troit Theatres,  and  on  Monday  with  E.  C. 
Beatty  and  J.  Oliver  Brooks  of  the  Butter- 
field circuit. 

Harry  Alberth  Wins  $250 
In  Manos  Circuit  Drive 

Pittsburgh — Harry  Alberth,  manager  of 
the  Manos,  Hollidaysburg,  for  winning  the 
recent  Manos  circuit  managers’  drive,  re- 
ceived a prize  of  $250.  Runners-up  were 
Dick  McCool  of  Latrobe  and  George  Kerr, 
Homer  City.  Twelve  managers  and  assist- 
ants received  bonuses,  Bernard  Buchheit, 
Manos  circuit’s  district  manager,  stated. 


Wrist  Watches  for  Two 

Pittsburgh — Bert  M.  Stearn,  UA  district 
manager,  has  awarded  wrist  watches  to 
Dick  McCool,  Latrobe,  and  Joe  Bugala, 
Ellwood  City,  winners  in  a special  Manos 
circuit  exploitation  campaign  covering 
“Foreign  Correspondent”  and  “The  Thief 
of  Bagdad.” 

Laverne  Crisswell  Heads 
Pittsburgh  Local  754 

Pittsburgh — Annual  election  of  Local 
754  (Theatrical  Crafts  Federal  Credit 
Union)  resulted  in  naming  of  the  follow- 
ing officers:  Laverne  Crisswell,  president; 
William  Humphrey,  vice-president;  Charles 
Bengel,  treasurer;  and  these  members  of 
the  board  of  directors,  Lou  Indo,  Wil- 
liam Thompson,  Charles  Kennedy,  Earl 
Lohr,  Art  Williams  and  William  Wat- 
terson. 


Police  Stumped 

Sharon,  Pa. — Police  as  yet  have  failed  to 
uncover  any  clues  as  to  the  identity  or 
whereabouts  of  two  armed  men  who  held 
up  the  Columbia  Theatre  and  escaped  with 
$1,000. 


Probe  Safe-Cracking 

Uhrichsville,  Ohio — Police  are  probing 
a safe-cracking  job  at  the  State  where 
weekend  receipts,  estimated  at  between 
$400  and  $500,  were  taken  when  a safe  was 
drilled  open  by  someone  who  forced  en- 
trance to  the  building. 


54 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


Hearl  Attack  Fatal 
To  Heitisheimer 

Cincinnati — Andrew  Hettisheimer,  pio- 
neer independent  and  for  61  years  con- 
nected with  theatrical  enterprises,  died 
suddenly  at  Christ  Hospital  following  a 
heart  attack  at  the  age  of  73. 

He  began  his  career  as  an  usher  at 
Heuck’s  Theatre,  later  becoming  treas- 
urer. At  one  time  he  also  was  treasurer 
and  manager  of  Pike’s  Opera  House,  a 
Cincinnati  landmark.  Before  the  advent 
of  motion  pictures,  Hettisheimer  was  treas- 
urer of  Keith’s  and  later  managed  the 
Orpheum  where  he  inaugurated  the  “sky 
roof.”  He  also  served  variously  as  assist- 
ant supervisor  of  the  Strand,  Walnut, 
Keith’s,  Family  and  Gift’s  theatres  under 
Ike  Libson  until  1918.  He  managed  Dr. 
Kolb’s  Norwood  Theatre  for  five  years, 
the  position  he  occupied  at  the  time  of 
his  death. 

He  pioneered  the  industry  in  Cincinnati 
as  operator  of  the  old  American,  now  the 
Strand,  and  at  one  time  served  as  treas- 
urer for  the  Cincinnati  baseball  club. 

As  vice-president  of  the  OMPTA,  he 
was  a member  of  the  arbitration  and  ex- 
amining boards  of  projectionists,  and  he 
was  also  a leader  of  the  Cincinnati  In- 
dependent Exhibitors. 

Services  were  conducted  at  the  Church 
of  the  Nativity,  with  the  following  serv- 
ing as  honorary  pallbearers:  J.  J.  Grady, 
20th-Fox;  Stanley  Jacques,  RKO;  Wess 
Huss,  Associated  Theatres;  J.  J.  Oulahan, 
Paramount;  E.  M.  Booth,  M-G-M;  Jake 
Gelman,  Midwest  Theatre  Supply;  and 
Ralph  Kinsler,  Charley  Weigel,  Harry 
Wessel,  Harold  Bernstein,  Dr.  Kolb  and 
Mayor  Roudebush  of  Norwood. 

He  leaves  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  and  two 
sons  and  two  daughters. 

Fred  Witter  Dies  After 
A Lingering  Illness 

Canton,  Ohio — Fred  W.  Witter,  71,  for 
a time  manager  of  the  old  Lyceum,  now 
the  State,  died  at  his  home  here  after  a 
lingering  illness.  He  had  long  been  promi- 
nent in  theatrical  circles  here  and  for  years 
was  a member  of  the  famous  Grand  Army 
band  which  toured  the  United  States.  His 
wife  and  two  daughters  survive.  Services 
and  burial  were  locally. 


Lester  E,  Matt 

Detroit — Lester  E.  Matt,  a pioneer  up- 
state exhibitor,  is  dead.  He  withdrew  from 
the  industry  a few  months  ago,  selling  his 
Strand,  State,  Della  and  Roxy  at  Flint  to 
the  Butterfield  circuit  in  order  to  return 
to  the  real  estate  business.  His  wife,  after 
whom  the  Della  was  named,  survives.  In- 
terment was  at  Sandusky,  Ohio,  which 
was  his  home  town. 


George  W.  Dawson  Dead 

Pittsburgh — George  W.  Dawson,  66,  lo- 
cal newsreel  cameraman  for  many  years, 
died  last  Saturday  in  Oakland,  Cal.,  where 
he  was  visiting  his  son,  George  W.  Daw- 
son jr.  The  body  was  returned  here  for 
burial. 


New  Equipment  Sales 
Lively  in  Cleveland 

Cleveland — L.  H.  Walters,  manager  of 
the  local  office  of  National  Theatre  Sup- 
ply Co.,  reports  a lively  interest  in  new 
equipment  installations  in  this  territory. 
NTS  has  just  completed  installation  of 
booth  equipment  at  the  Liberty  Theatre, 
Cleveland.  The  work  included  a new  sound 
system,  stands  and  magazines,  new  lenses 
and  screen. 

The  Majestic,  Lima,  a George  Titzler 
house,  has  new  sound,  projectors,  stands 
and  magazines.  The  Lyric,  Lima,  also  a 
Titzler  house,  has  a new  pair  of  lenses 
and  a screen. 

For  the  new  house  now  under  construc- 
tion in  Ellet,  a suburb  of  Akron,  recently 
leased  for  20  years  by  Louis  Isreal  of 
Cleveland,  NTS  will  provide  booth  equip- 
ment. This  new  house  will  have  750  seats, 
and  will  be  completed  in  the  spring. 

Hyman  Assumes  Parat 
Post  Around  March  1 

Detroit — E.  F.  Hyman,  film  buyer  and 
assistant  to  the  president  at  United  Detroit 
offices,  will  leave  about  March  1 to  be- 
come assistant  to  Sam  Dembow  and  Leon- 
ard Goldenson,  top  Paramount  Theatres 
executives,  in  the  home  office.  For  15 
years  with  the  Mark  Strand  Theatres  and 
for  eight  as  general  manager  of  the  Cen- 
tury circuit,  Hyman  is  well  known  in  the 
New  York  territory. 

He  is  succeeded  by  Jack  Keegan,  who 
comes  here  after  being  with  Warner 
Theatres  in  Milwaukee  for  15  years. 


135,000  Pay  to  See 
"GWTW"  in  Akron 

Akron — When  “Gone  With  the  Wind” 
closed  its  recent  two-week  engagement  at 
Loew’s  here,  it  had  played  to  at  least  135,- 
000  paid  admissions  in  a total  of  five  weeks 
on  the  screen  of  the  local  house. 

That  probably  is  15,000  more  persons 
that  were  expected  to  see  the  “anniver- 
sary” release  of  the  three  hour  and  45- 
minute  spectacle  in  Akron.  For  having 
played  to  85,000  persons  on  its  three-week 
visit  a year  ago,  it  was  not  expected  to 
last  more  than  a week.  On  several  days  of 
the  first  week  of  its  return,  it  drew  more 
patrons  than  a year  ago. 

Ease  Money  Restrictions 
On  Canadian  Visitors 

Detroit — Detroit  theatres  which  have 
been  seriously  affected  by  money  restric- 
tions placed  on  Canadians  visiting  this 
town,  will  secure  a little  relief  in  new 
regulations  by  the  Canadian  foreign  ex- 
change control  board. 

Under  the  new  regulations,  any  Cana- 
dians visiting  this  country  may  take  up  to 
$5  in  Canadian  currency  along  under  a 
48-hour  social  visit  permit. 


Break  Into  Foster 

Youngstown — Cracksmen  broke  into  the 
Foster  Theatre  during  the  night  and 
smashed  the  combination  on  the  safe,  es- 
caping with  an  undetermined  amount  of 
money. 


Packard  Executives 
At  Sneak  Preview 

Detroit — Sneak  previewed  last  Thurs- 
day at  the  Vogue  was  Paramount’s  “Reach- 
ing for  the  Sun,”  which  has  for  a back- 
ground Detroit  and  its  vast  automobile  in- 
dustry. Some  200  top  executives  of  the 
Packard  Motor  Co.  attended. 

The  Packard  plant  (called  Crane  in  the 
film)  is  the  scene  of  most  of  the  action 
of  the  film  which  was  originally  titled 
“F.  O.  B.,  Detroit.”  Audience  reaction  at 
the  preview — which  drew  an  SRO  crowd 
to  this  1,800-seater — indicated  that,  even 
apart  from  local  interest,  the  treatment 
will  make  it  a strong  film  for  both  femin- 
ine and  child  patrons. 

Alec  Moss,  Paramount  director  of  ex- 
ploitation, came  on  for  the  occasion  to 
assist  Manager  John  Howard.  Among  film 
notables  attending  were  Earl  Hudson,  Ed 
Hyman,  Ralph  Stitt,  Asher  Shaw,  Alice 
Gorham  and  William  Hendricks,  all  of 
United  Detroit  Theatres. — H.  F. 


Seek  Scientific  Approach 
To  Assessment  Problem 

Detroit— More  scientific  assessment  of 
Detroit  theatres  for  local  real  estate  tax 
purposes  will  be  the  objective  of  a re- 
organization of  the  Detroit  assessment 
system  proposed  by  the  board  of  assessors 
in  a report  to  the  city  council. 

Basis  of  the  report  is  a proposal  to  de- 
velop special  assessors  and  assistants  who 
would  be  skilled  in  handling  one  of  the 
four  main  types  of  property  in  which  thea- 
tre buildings  bulk  more  prominently  than 
those  of  any  other  single  industry.  Classes 
as  proposed  are:  (1)  Land;  (2)  Industrial, 
public  utility,  hotels  and  large  apart- 
ments, theatres,  and  large  mercantile 
buildings;  (3)  Residences,  stores  and  mis- 
cellaneous; (4)  Personal  property. 


Ashland  May  Be  Without 
Theatre  After  March  1 

Ashland,  Ohio — It  looks  like  Ashland 
will  be  without  a theatre  after  March  1. 

Its  only  showplace,  occupying  a portion 
of  the  Old  Opera  House,  has  been  ordered 
to  close  by  that  time  unless  it  makes  ex- 
tensive repairs  deemed  necessary  by  the 
state  industrial  commission.  Schine  op- 
erates the  city-owned  theatre. 

Voters  recently  approved  a bond  issue 
for  the  construction  of  a new  theatre 
building,  but  a common  pleas  court  ruling 
prevented  the  city  from  constructing  a 
building  to  house  a privately  operated  the- 
atre. 


R.  Go  Carey  Will  Open 
One  in  Beach  Bottom 

Pittsburgh — R.  G.  Carey,  formerly  with 
the  Alpine  circuit,  will  open  a new  theatre 
at  Beach  Bottom,  W.  Va.  Seating  capacity 
will  be  350.  The  exhibitor  resides  in  Steu- 
benville, Ohio,  where  he  operates  the 
Carey  Decorating  Co. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


55 


" The  Hard  Boiled  Canary " 
Bows  at  Traverse  City 

Detroit — Michigan  was  the  scene  Sun- 
day of  a world  premiere  for  the  third  time 
in  recent  history  of  premieres.  Occasion 
was  the  opening  of  Paramount’s  “The 
Hard  Boiled  Canary,”  which  played  at  the 
Butterfield  circuit’s  Lyric  at  Traverse  City, 
about  300  miles  northwest  of  Detroit. 

The  picture  is  largely  based  on  a story 
of  Interlochen  Music  Camp,  near  Traverse 
City,  and  was  tentatively  called  “Inter- 
lochen,”  then  “Magic  in  Music,”  on  earlier 
production  schedules. 

Susanna  Foster,  who  sings  in  the  pic- 
ture, is  making  a personal  appearance  tour 
that  will  bring  her  to  Detroit,  February 
14-17,  for  several  days. 

Another  Paramount  sneak  preview  was 
held  at  the  Michigan  here  Saturday  night 
when  “Virginia”  was  booked  in  for  a mid- 
night show. 


(<  ==ft 

Elmer  a Victim 
Of  " Gestapo " 

Detroit — The  American  Legion's  lamed 
cry  of  “Where's  Elmer1.''  went  up  for  an 
apparent  victim  of  the  "Gestapo"  at 
UDT's  Annex  Theatre  during  the  showing 
of  “Pastor  Hall." 

Manager  Cassius  Smith  had  a favorite 
dummy,  nicknamed  Elmer,  which  for 
years  he  used  for  front  and  lobby  dis- 
plays on  sensational  pictures,  usually 
mysteries.  Pressed  into  service  for  “Pas- 
tor Hall,"  he  just  disappeared  from  in 
front  of  the  house. 

iv  ■ - = V 

"Too  Many  Class  'B' 
Films,"  Paper  Holds 


Joe  Goetz  Heads  Bookers 
Club  lor  Sixth  Term 

Cincinnati — Joe  Goetz,  assistant  divi- 
sional director  of  RKO  Midwest  Theatres, 
was  unanimously  elected  Chief  Booker 
(president)  of  the  Cincinnati  Filmrow 
Bookers’  Club,  at  the  recent  annual  elec- 
tion. Goetz  succeeds  himself  for  the  sixth 
consecutive  term,  having  headed  the  club 
since  he  organized  it  in  1935. 

Jimmy  Brunnetti,  Warner  head  booker, 
was  elected  assistant  chief  booker  (secre- 
tary-treasurer) . 

The  election  followed  the  recent  celebra- 
tion staged  by  Tony  Sauer,  superintendent 
of  the  Cincinnati  Workhouse,  who  is  an 
honorary  member  of  the  organization.  Fol- 
lowing the  dinner  at  which  Sauer  was 
host,  members  and  guests  toured  the  re- 
cently constructed  theatre  erected  at  the 
Cincinnati  Workhouse  and  designed  and 
built  by  Sauer. 


Religious  Films  Getting 
Big  Play  in  Auto  City 

Detroit — Early  survey  of  religious  films 
being  distributed  here  shows  unusually 
heavy  demand  this  year,  according  to 
Charles  A.  Garner,  veteran  distributor. 

Garner  is  now  handling  “Passion  Play,” 
“King  of  Kings,”  “March  to  the  Alter,” 
“Ave  Maria,”  “Glory  of  Faith,”  and 
“Miracle  of  Faith.” 

16MM  Film  Distributors 
Ranks  Grow  in  Pitt 

Pittsburgh — Several  new  narrow  gauge 
film  distributors  have  opened  for  business 
here.  This  brings  the  number  to  over  ten 
such  16mm  libraries  in  Pittsburgh,  in  ad- 
dition to  such  distributors  as  department 
stores  and  “your  local  drug  store.” 

Transfers  New  Oakland 
To  the  Warner  Circuit 

Pittsburgh — Thomas  A.  Gilbert  has 
transferred  the  New  Oakland  in  the 
Schenley  district  to  the  Warner  circuit. 
The  transfer  gives  Warners  three  theatres 
in  this  area. 


Williams  Opens  New  Royal 

PaintsviLle,  Ky. — The  new  Royal,  a 
570-seater,  was  opened  here  recently  by 
Kenneth  Williams.  Cost  of  the  project, 
including  equipment,  was  $36,000.  Pro- 
grams are  changed  four  times  weekly. 


1 


t (Enclosed  find  my  first  contribu- 
tion to  your  ‘Exhibitor  Has  His 
Say.'  I read  your  magazine  from 
cover  to  cover  every  Monday 
mom  and  am  only  glad  to  con- 
tribute to  your  new  department 
and  will  eagerly  await  the  first 
publication." 

— R.  A.  MOORE. 
State  Theatre, 
Clarence,  la. 


Pittsburgh — There  are  too  many  Class 
B films,  The  Pittsburgh  Catholic  report- 
ed in  a front  page  editorial  January  25. 
The  article  pointed  out  that  “Gone  With 
the  Wind,”  now  in  release  here,  is  in  this 
Legion  of  Decency  classification  and  there- 
fore “should  be  avoided  by  Catholics  who 
have  pledged  themselves  against  witnessing 
or  supporting  films  harmful  to  morality.” 

“Incredible  as  it  may  seem,”  the  official 
organ  of  the  Diocese  of  Pittsburgh  reports, 
“Loew’s  Penn  offers  a special  low  admis- 
sion price  for  children — actually  striving  to 
lure  those  of  immature  minds  into  the  in- 
fluence of  a film  which  the  Legion  of  De- 
cency considers  unfit  for  adults. 

“The  Bishops  of  the  United  States  a few 
months  ago  warned  their  people  to  be  on 
guard  against  the  increasing  number  of 
films  ‘which  disregard  the  moral  law  and 
subvert  the  foundations  of  Christian  so- 
ciety.’ ” Several  other  of  the  Class  B pic- 
tures are  now  being  shown  in  the  Pitts- 
burgh district,  including  “The  Letter,” 
“Leopard  Men  of  Africa,”  “Too  Many 
Girls,”  “Seven  Sinners,”  “Before  I Hang,” 
“The  Baker’s  Wife”  and  others. 

An  editorial  page  article  of  the  same 
issue,  captioned  “Movie  Watchfulness,”  re- 
grets the  practice  of  combining  an  A-l 
(unobjectionable)  picture  with  one  of  a 
lower  classification,  as  a double  bill. 

“Where  this  is  done,  it  simply  means 
that  those  theatres  do  not  want  children’s 
patronage.” 


O W IL I 


Detroit — A1  Grasgrin,  holding  the  sea- 
son high  score  of  616  in  the  Film  Bowling 
League,  rolled  610  for  second  high  last 
week.  Other  top  scorers:  Jack  Sturm,  202; 
Barney  Adair,  216;  Clark  Baker,  202;  Max 
Englander,  200,  and  William  Szypulski, 
200.  Cooperative  Theatres  rolled  up  a new 
second  high  for  teams,  hitting  916.  Team 
standings: 


Team — 

Won 

Lost 

United  Artists  

........  IX 

28 

Cooperative 

...  45 

31 

Republic 

42 

34 

Film  Drug: 

41 

35 

Film  Truck 

26 

40 

Amusement  Supply  

32 

44 

Monogram  

46 

20th  Century-Fox  

30 

46 

O.  A . Kihchels  Modernize 
Princess  at  Jeannette 

Jeannette,  Pa. — Princess  here  has  been 
modernized  with  new  equipments,  fixtures 
and  complete  new  decorations.  The  O.  A. 
Kihchels  had  recently  remodeled  the 
building  and  front  and  had  installed  new 
rest  rooms.  Decorating  was  the  work  of 
William  Naidenoff. 

Joseph  Gray  Renovating 
House  in  Spangler , Pa. 

Spangler,  Pa. — Gray  here  is  being  reno- 
vated and  improved  for  the  veteran  Joseph 
Gray.  New  front  and  marquee  have  been 
installed,  and  the  lobby  is  being  modern- 
ized with  new  chrome  frames  and  mirror 
glass.  Auditorium  and  stage  are  being  new- 
ly draped  and  painted  under  the  direction 
of  Billy  ZeVan. 


Local  B-12  Installs 

Pittsburgh — Filmrow  Employes  Union, 
Local  B-12,  staged  its  annual  installation 
party  recently  at  the  Yacht  Club.  Ted 
Tolley,  president,  presented  a traveling  bag 
to  L.  J.  Katz,  retiring  business  agent.  Katz 
remains  as  the  local’s  supervisor.  Approxi- 
mately 125  attended  the  party.  Alfie  Kuhn 
of  Vitagraph  and  Sarah  Kells  of  RKO 
were  in  charge  of  arrangements. 


Change  at  Jerome,  Pa. 

Jerome,  Pa. — The  Jerome  here  has  been 
acquired  by  Charles  Szewczyk,  owner  and 
operator  of  two  theatres  at  Boswell.  Jer- 
ome, now  being  remodeled,  was  formerly 
operated  by  James  DiMauro,  who  continues 
in  exhibition  at  Vintondale. 


Build  in  Norwalk 

Norwalk,  Ohio — The  Norwalk  Theatre 
Corp.,  a link  in  the  Schine  circuit,  is 
building  an  1,100-seat  theatre  here,  to 
be  known  as  the  New.  RCA  sound  is  being 
installed. 


"Bugles"  for  Lipman 

Hollywood — William  R.  Lipman  is 
scripting  “The  Bugles  Blow  at  Night”  for 
Producer  Frederick  Stephani  at  Metro. 


56 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


Bank  Night  Collection 
Suit  Facing  Yamins 

Boston — Nathan  Yamins,  former  Na- 
tional and  local  Allied  States  Association 
president,  has  been  sued  for  a total  of 
$10,650  here  in  a Bank  Night  collection 
action.  Roy  E.  Heffner,  assignee  of  Af- 
filiated Enterprises,  Inc.,  brought  the  ac- 
tion against  Yamins  in  superior  court, 
Taunton,  seeking  to  collect  $5,500  alleged 
delinquent  royalties  from  the  Strand,  and 
$5,150  from  the  Park  both  in  Fall  River. 

George  S.  Ryan,  representing  Heffner  in 
the  litigations,  also  brought  an  action 
against  Jack  Saranga,  operator  of  the 
Royal  in  Fall  River,  suing  the  exhibitor  in 
Suffolk  superior  court  in  Boston  for 
$2,560. 

The  Holyoke  Theatre,  Inc.,  Frederick  E. 
Lieberman  operating  concern  controlling 
the  Holyoke  in  Holyoke,  was  sued  for 
$1,755  in  Bank  Night  action  filed  here  last 
week. 

Ryan  also  brought  a collection  suit  for 
Heffner  against  the  Leominster  Allied 
Theatre  Corp.,  Peter  Latchis  concern 
operating  the  Plymouth  in  Leominster. 
The  writ  was  for  $1,440. 


Greenway  Moves  to  Helm 
Of  Hartford  Palace 

Boston — Frederick  Randolph  Greenway 
III,  manager  of  Loew’s  State  in  Boston, 
for  the  past  three  and  a half  years,  has 
been  transferred  to  Hartford  where  he 
has  taken  over  the  management  of  the 
Palace  in  the  Connecticut  city.  Green- 
way came  to  Boston  from  Baltimore  June 
23,  1937,  succeeding  Stanley  Gosnell,  re- 
signed. 

Ed  McBride,  manager  of  Loew’s  State  in 
Providence,  takes  over  the  managerial  as- 
signment at  the  Hub  show  place.  Jack 
Simons  has  been  transferred  from  the  Pal- 
ace in  Hartford  to  the  State  in  Providence. 


Jack  A.  Simons  Succeeds 
McBride  in  Providence 

Hartford — Jack  A.  Simons,  manager  of 
the  local  Loew’s  Poli,  has  been  named 
managing  director  of  the  Loew’s  State  in 
Providence,  succeeding  Eddie  McBride. 

Louis  A.  Cohen,  manager  of  the  Loew’s 
Poli  Palace,  Hartford,  has  been  named 
manager  of  the  Loew’s  Poli,  replacing  Si- 
mons. It  is  expected  here  that  Fred  Green- 
way of  the  Loew’s  State  in  Boston  will 
handle  the  Palace. 

(<  ft 

Exhibitors  Secure 
Complaint  Forms 

Boston — A number  of  exhibitors  se- 
cured forms  last  week  from  local  arbitra- 
tion headquarters  in  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  Building  preparatory  to  filing 
complaints  with  the  tribunal.  Indications 
are  that  the  first  hearings  may  begin 
Monday. 

>) 


(,  ■ ' ' ft 

But  He  Gets 
Out  Fast 

Boston — Local  film  interests  thought 
that  something  was  up  last  week  when 
Assistant  Attorney-General  Thurman  Ar- 
nold paid  a surprise  visit  to  Boston,  but 
the  fact  was  that  no  one  was  more  sur- 
prised than  Arnold.  Leaving  New  York  at 
midnight,  he  climbed  into  a berth  on 
what  he  thought  was  a train  for  Wash- 
ington. It  turned  out  to  be  one  for  Boston, 
as  Arnold  discovered  when  he  awoke  in 
the  South  Station.  He  later  took  an  Ameri- 
can airliner  for  the  capital  after  re- 
peatedly making  sure  of  its  destination. 

^ =D 

Booth  Bill  Again 
Makes  Appearance 

New  Haven— The  perennially  defeated 
two-men-in-a-booth  bill  has  again  made 
its  appearance  in  the  current  session  of 
the  legislature  among  a crop  of  late  bills 
filed.  The  bill,  S.  B.  775,  filed  for  the 
judiciary  committee,  by  Senator  Malkan, 
reads: 

“While  operating  a moving  picture  ma- 
chine, every  operator  shall  devote  his  en- 
tire time  and  attention  to  that  work.  He 
shall  not  leave  the  operating  side  of  a 
motor-driven  machine  at  any  time  nor  en- 
gage in  unnecessary  conversation  with 
anyone,  nor  in  any  other  work  in  the  mo- 
tion picture  booth  while  operating  a mov- 
ing picture  machine.”  The  provisions  of 
this  bill  are  not  to  apply  to  projectors 
“using  cellulose  acetate  films  only  of  not 
more  than  100  feet  in  length  nor  one  inch 
in  width  and  not  requiring  more  than  500 
watts,  except  when  such  films  are  used 
in  regular  places  of  exhibition  charging 
admission,  not  including  churches,  lodge 
rooms,  clubs.”  Cellulose  acetate  films  of 
1,000  feet,  one  and  one-quarter  inches 
wide,  using  only  inclosed  incandescent 
lamp  are  also  excepted. 

Senator  Coles,  author  of  last  session’s 
Bingo  bills,  has  filed  S.  B.  703,  which  will 
also  come  up  before  the  judiciary  commit- 
tee. It  reads:  “Provided  that  when  the 
municipality  (Sec.  155e  of  the  1939  Re- 
vision of  the  General  Statues)  shall  have 
voted  favorably  two  successive  years  upon 
the  question  of  permitting  the  playing  of 
Bingo,  playing  of  such  game  shall  be  per- 
mitted indefinitely  thereafter,  without 
further  petition  or  action  of  the  govern- 
ing body”  until  such  time  as  it  may  be 
forbidden  upon  similar  written  petition  of 
5 per  cent  or  more  of  the  electors,  where- 
upon the  game  shall  be  prohibited  after 
the  September  15  next  following  such  a 
negative  vote.  Under  the  present  law, 
churches  and  organizations  may  only  play 
Bingo  if  petition  is  annually  circulated 
and  aldermen  or  other  governors  of  the 
municipality  vote  favorably. 

S.  B.  201  provides  for  the  licensing  of 
copyright  societies  in  the  state  and  pay- 
ment of  a franchise  tax  equivalent  to  25 
per  cent  of  their  entire  gross  receipts  an- 
nually. Any  person,  except  the  composer, 
acting  as  an  investigator  in  the  state, 


Court  Tussle  Over 
Letter  From  Arnold 

Boston — Thurman  Arnold,  U.  S.  assist- 
ant attorney  general  who  did  a Corrigan 
here  last  week  when  he  found  out  the  next 
morning  that  he  had  mistaken  a Boston 
for  a Washington  sleeper,  has  come  up  in 
the  prevailing  Waldo  Theatre  Corp.  vs. 
Joseph  Dondis  et  al.,  anti-trust  suit  being 
heard 'before  a master  here. 

Arnold’s  name  arose  when  George  S. 
Ryan,  plaintiff’s  attorney  sought  to  intro- 
duce as  an  exhibit  a letter  from  the  gov- 
ernment attorney,  dated  July  28,  1938,  to 
Gabriel  L.  Hess,  general  attorney  for  the 
MPPDA. 

John  Caskey,  20th-Fox  attorney,  ob- 
jected to  the  letter  as  immaterial,  in- 
competent and  irrelevant,  averring  that 
“certainly  Mr.  Arnold’s  statements  are  not 
evidence.  Mr.  Arnold  is  simply  a lawyer 
representing  a client.” 

“Well,  thus  far,”  said  Edward  F.  Mc- 
Clennen,  presenting  Paramount  interest,  “I 
think  if  it  is  admitted,  it  should  be  limited 
to  being  admitted  as  against  Mr.  Arnold.” 
Francis  Freeman,  U.  S.  district  court  ap- 
pointee as  master,  excluded  the  letter. 
Ryan  asked  to  have  his  objection  noted. 

“If  Mr.  Arnold  were  here  and  under 
oath  he  could  not  testify  as  to  the  state- 
ments contained  in  the  document,”  Caskey 
said  later.  Caskey,  stating  that  he  had 
no  doubt  that  20th-Fox  received  a copy  of 
the  letter  in  question,  added  that,  “at  the 
time,  Mr.  Arnold  was  counsel  for  the  U.  S. 
government  and  he  made  a number  of 
charges  both  in  petitions  filed  and  in  court 
and  in  his  speeches,  none  of  which  he  has 
substantiated  by  the  testimony  of  many 
witnesses.” 

The  master  later  reversed  his  ruling  and 
admitted  the  Arnold  letter  as  to  Fox,  with 
the  plaintiff’s  attorney  asking  to  have  his 
objection  noted  as  to  the  limitations. 


will  be  required  to  be  licensed,  and  50 
per  cent  of  the  license  fees  so  collected 
are  to  be  distributed  to  the  towns  in 
the  state.  A $500  fine  for  violation  is 
recommended. 

Female  entertainers  and  musicians  are 
excepted  from  the  provisions  of  Sec.  1605c 
of  the  1935  supplement  in  S.  B.  502.  The 
statute  provides  that  minors  and  women 
shall  not  be  employed  in  public  restau- 
rants, cafes  and  dining  rooms  between  the 
hours  of  10  p.  m.  and  6 a.  m.,  or  for  more 
than  nine  hours  daily  or  52  hours  weekly. 
This  has  been  a sore  spot  with  road- 
houses, taverns,  cafes,  etc.,  who  wish  to 
employ  women  singers  and  musicians. 

A new  tax  commission  of  five  members 
appointed  by  the  governor  would  be  cre- 
ated under  S.  B.  843,  to  investigate  taxes 
in  the  state,  draw  up  legislation  for  enact- 
ment of  new  taxes  with  a view  to  reduc- 
ing the  load  of  taxation  on  real  estate 
if  possible.  The  commission  “may  or  may 
not  hold  public  hearings”  and  may  com- 
pel examination  of  books  and  records  if 
necessary. 


Rob  Lyric  in  Hartford 

Hartford — Safe  robbers  took  $500  from 
the  Warner  Lyric  recently. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


NE 


57 


"Kitty  Foyle  ” Spurts  in 
Fifth  Providence  Week 


Providence  — “Kitty  Foyle”  showed  a 
jump  in  business  in  its  fifth  week  at  the 
Albee  and,  going  into  a sixth  week  equals 
the  long-run  record  of  “Snow  White.” 
Business  good  at  other  houses  though  King 
Winter  still  reigning  with  plenty  of  snow 
to  hamper  auto  trade. 


(Average  is  100) 

Albee — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  Saint  in  Palm 

Springs  (RKO),  5th  wk 120 

Carlton — High  Sierra  (FN);  Case  of  the 

Black  Parrot  (FN),  2nd  wk 110 

Fays — Wyoming  Wildcat  (Rep),  plus  stage 

show  70 

Majestic — Honeymoon  for  Three  (WB) ; Ro- 
mance of  the  Rio  Grande  (WB) 115 

Metropolitan — Villain  Still  Pursued  Her  (RKO), 

plus  stageshow  (3  days  only) 100 

State — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M),  return 

engagement,  2nd  wk 120 

Strand — You’re  the  One  (Para’t);  Behind 

the  News  (Rep)  110 


Holdovers  Potent  Draw 
For  Boston  First  Runs 

Boston — Holdovers  took  good  money  in 
Boston  last  week  with  “GWTW”  holding  up 
well  during  the  third  week  of  its  repeat- 
run  at  Loew’s  Orpheum,  while  “Kitty 
Foyle”  hit  a couple  of  SRO  performances 
at  Keith’s  Memorial  and  went  into  a record 
sixth  week.  Snow  fall  was  slight,  but  there 
was  slushy  going  under  foot.  The  Sports- 
man’s Show  at  the  Mechanic’s  Building 
was  a strong  counter  draw. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  6: 

(Average  is  100) 

Fenway — Behind  the  News  (Rep);  Honeymoon 


for  Three  (WB)  75 

Keith’s  Memorial — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  The 

Saint  in  Palm  Springs  (RKO),  5th  wk 75 

Loew’s  Orpheum — GWTW  (M-G-M),  repeat, 

3rd  wk 70 

Loew’s  State — Flight  Command  (M-G-M); 

Keeping  Company  (M-G-M)  115 

Metropolitan — High  Sierra  (FN) ; Father’s 

Son  (WB)  100 

Paramount — Behind  the  News  (Rep);  Honey- 
moon for  Three  (WB)  80 


' Philadelphia  Story'  Earns 
Holdover  in  New  Haven 

New  Haven — On  the  seventh  day  of  the 
Loew-Poli  run,  “The  Philadelphia  Story,” 
dualled  with  “Saint  in  Palm  Springs,”  was 
still  holding  out  200  lobby  standees  for  the 
break  in  the  show.  Total  take  was  ex- 
cellent, and  the  dual  moves  to  the  College 
for  a second  week.  The  sellout  “Ice  Fol- 
lies of  1941”  at  the  Arena  cut  into  mid- 
week business  plenty.  “GWTW”  held  up 
for  a nice  little  third  week  at  the  College. 

Detail  for  the  week  ended  February  6: 


(Average  is  100) 

College — GWTW  (M-G-M).  3rd  wk 120 

Loew-Poli — The  Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M); 

Saint  in  Palm  Springs  (RKO) 165 

Paramount — Give  Us  Wings  (Univ) ; Little 

Men  (RKO)  125 

Roger  Sherman — High  Sierra  (FN);  Six  Les- 
sons from  Madame  Lazonga  (Univ) 110 


Defense  Chairman 

Hartford— Walter  B.  Lloyd,  manager  of 
the  Allyn,  has  been  named  chairman  of 
the  Hartford  chapter  of  the  “National  De- 
fense Week.”  Walter,  by  the  way,  is  a 
first  lieutenant  in  the  army  reserves,  and 
may  be  called  up  any  minute  now. 


Industrial  Picture 
Growing  Brighter 

Hartford — Continued  increase  in  indus- 
trial and  general  business  activity  through- 
out Connecticut  in  December,  is  reported 
by  managers  of  field  offices  of  the  unem- 
ployment compensation  division.  The  ef- 
fects of  the  national  defense  program  have 
been  felt  in  all  areas  to  some  extent,  but 
particularly  in  the  heavy  industrial  and 
textile  centers. 

Areas  reporting  increasing  activity  are: 
Bridgeport,  Danbury,  Stamford,  New 
Haven,  Waterbury,  Middletown,  Meriden, 
Hartford,  New  Britain,  Bristol,  Torrington, 
New  London,  Norwich,  Danielson  and  Wil- 
limantic.  A slight  drop  in  industrial  ac- 
tivity was  noted  in  Norwalk  due  to  the 
seasonal  slack  in  the  needle  trades  and  in 
Ansonia. 

Severe  shortages  of  skilled  workers  in 
the  machinist  and  metal  trades  continued 
while  the  shortage  beginning  to  develop  a 
month  ago  in  textile  operatives  accelerated 
considerably.  Employes  in  the  textile 
trades  are  said  to  be  considering  the  in- 
auguration of  a plan  to  train  workers. 


Loew  Publicists , Managers, 
Map  " Our  Night " Bally 

Boston — Joint  Boston  and  Providence 
publicity  meeting  held  here  under  the  su- 
pervision of  Charles  E.  Kurtzman,  Loew’s 
divisional  manager,  brought  together 
Manager  Frederick  R.  Greenway  of  the 
State  in  Boston,  Manager  Howard  Burk- 
hardt  of  the  Orpheum  in  Boston,  Man- 
ager Edward  McBride  of  the  State  in 
Providence,  Joseph  A.  DiPesa  and  A1 
Longo  of  the  local  Loew’s  publicity  office, 
and  George  Scner,  UA  exploiteer. 

Numerous  publicity  hookups  were  pro- 
posed for  “So  Ends  Our  Night.” 

Herman  Forging  Ahead  in 
Monogram  Sales  Drive 

Boston — Setting  a stiff  pace  in  Boston’s 
attempt  to  win  the  annual  Monogram  sales 
drive  for  the  third  year  in  a row,  A1  Her- 
man, new  local  district  manager,  has  set 
“Dead  Man’s  Shoes”  for  a first-run  local 
engagement  at  the  RKO  Boston  this  week. 
“Daredevils  of  the  Air”  and  “Sign  of  the 
Wolf”  follow  for  band-box  openings  in 
March. 

Herman  and  his  staff  have  also  placed 
“Hoosier  Schoolboy”  at  the  Metropolitan 
in  Providence  on  March  7 and  the  State 
in  Hartford  on  March  22. 


New  Sound  for  Marlboro 

Marlboro,  Mass. — The  1,071 -seat  Marl- 
boro, an  M&P  house,  will  get  new  RCA 
sound. 


=h 

' Kitty  Foyle''  Topples 
Holdover  Record 

Boston — "Kitty  Foyle/'  after  playing  to 
an  SRO  house  on  Sunday,  was  last  week 
held  for  a sixth  consecutive  week  at 
Keith's  Memorial.  Companion  feature 
continued  to  be  "The  Saint  in  Palm 
Springs."  The  holdover  toppled  the  pre- 
vious house  record  which  was  set  up 
when  “Top  Hat"  continued  for  five 
weeks.  Business  last  week  was  better 
than  some  of  the  earlier  stanzas  of 
“Kitty  Foyle." 

- >J 

Independents  Will 
Elect  on  March  4 

Boston — The  annual  meeting  and  elec- 
tion of  the  Independent  Exhibitors,  Inc., 
was  tentatively  set  for  March  4 at  the 
regular  monthly  business  confab  of  the 
organization  here  Tuesday. 

Indications  are  that  Frank  Lydon,  presi- 
dent, and  practically  the  entire  slate  of 
officers  will  be  installed. 


Independent  Exhibitors' 
Roster  Shows  Growth 

Boston — A marked  increase  in  Indepen- 
dent Exhibitors,  Inc.  membership  during 
the  past  year  under  a drive  supervised  by 
Arthur  K.  Howard,  business  manager,  has 
resulted  in  the  New  England  territory. 

Roster  of  the  local  Allied  States  Associa- 
tion unit  was  increased  during  1940  to  the 
extent  of  34  new  members.  This  is  exclu- 
sive of  Connecticut  which  also  experienced 
a sizeable  membership  increase.  Massa- 
chusetts furnished  the  majority  of  addi- 
tional New  England  independents,  while 
Rhode  Island  was  second. 


Hub  First-Run  Picture 
Knots  Availabilities 

Boston — Local  bookers  and  exhibitors 
working  their  availabilities  from  Boston 
first-runs  were  further  confused  this  week 
when  Columbia  sold  away  from  Loew’s, 
Inc.,  to  the  M&P  Theatres  Corp.,  spotting 
“Lone  Wolf  Keeps  a Date”  at  the  Para- 
mount and  Fenway,  two  local  first-runs. 
Several  M-G-M  pictures  played  the  twin 
houses  previously.  Holdovers,  “GWTW,” 
three  weeks  at  the  Orpheum  and  “Kitty 
Foyle”  six  weeks  at  Keith’s  Memorial,  have 
not  clarified  the  picture. 


Narrow  Gauge  Reels  Into 
Fifth  Week  at  Fine  Arts 

Boston — Showing  the  potentialities  of 
16mm  specialties,  George  Kraska  has  held 
“Here  Is  Ireland”  for  a fifth  consecutive 
week  at  the  Fine  Arts  in  Boston.  The  pic- 
ture, an  all-color  travelogue  both  dubbed 
and  duped,  is  being  screened  at  the  house 
by  especially  installed  equipment. 


58 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


Millet!  Puts  on  Winter 
Carnival  in  Bridgton 

Boston — How  a theatreman  may  put  on 
a winter  carnival  has  been  illustrated,  and 
practically,  by  C.  F.  Millett,  operator  of 
the  State  in  Bridgton.  The  former  Para- 
mount executive,  now  an  independent  in 
Maine,  was  general  chairman  in  charge  last 
week  of  the  second  annual  winter  sports 
carnival  at  Bridgton,  a probable  perennial 
that  Millett  originated  in  the  resort  town 
last  year. 

A Maine  inter-scholastic  winter  sports 
meet  was  one  of  the  major  events.  Millett 
also  promoted  a speed  skating  champion- 
ship under  the  sponsorship  of  the  New 
England  Skating  Association,  Inc.  A New 
England  sled-dog  club  race,  with  over  30 
entries,  was  another  winter  touch.  Nothing 
less  than  a “Cavalcade  of  America”  exhibi- 
tion put  on  by  40  costumed  skaters  on  ice 
in  which  was  depicted  the  growth  and  ad- 
vance of  American  civilization,  rounded 
out  the  affair. 

Millett  tied  in  over  100  different  busi- 
ness concerns,  from  E.  I.  DuPont  and  Com- 
pany to  the  corner  grocer.  The  Bridgton 
Chamber  of  Commerce  and  other  local  or- 
ganizations supported  the  affair.  Millett, 
however,  reserved  one  function  for  him- 
self. It  was  the  presentation  speech  made 
at  the  coronation  ball  to  the  carnival 
“Queen  of  1941.” 


j^LICE  ERICSON,  WB’s  Strand  cashier, 
has  returned  to  work  after  being  out 
with  the  grippe  ...  In  New  Haven  last 
Monday  were  Charlie  Repass,  Crown,  and 
Mickey  Daly,  Hartford  Daly  and  Plain- 
field,  Plainfield  . . . Donald  Bullard  has 
been  filling  in  at  the  WB’s  Central  in  West 
Hartford  for  Robert  Dawson,  usher,  who  is 
on  the  sick  list  . . . Cecila  Svobowitz, 
cashier  at  the  Palace  in  Torrington,  is 
slated  to  walk  down  the  aisle  to  the  tune 
of  “Here  Comes  the  Bride”  on  February  22 
. . . Charlie  Williams,  porter  at  WB’s 
Strand,  has  recovered  from  the  flu  . . . 
Jerry  Goldberg,  Loew’s  Poli  usher,  had  a 
birthday  last  Tuesday  . . ! Elihu  Brooks, 
usher,  Loew’s  Poli,  had  a bad  cold  . . . 
Martin  Kelleher,  manager  of  the  State  St. 
Princess,  tripped  to  New  Haven  . . . Bev- 
erly Roberts,  film  star,  visited  friends  in 
Torrington. 

Schulmans’  Rivoli,  Hartford,  had  an  all- 
Swedish  program,  consisting  of  “Larsson’s 
Second  Marriage”  and  ‘‘Province  of  Hael- 
singland,"  last  Tuesday  . . . Stepin  Fetchit 
appeared  at  the  Stamford  Palace  . . . Ri- 
alto, Stamford,  has  started  a household 
ensemble  giveaway  deal  . . . Vincent  Calano 
is  a new  usher  at  the  Loew’s  Poli  Palace, 
Hartford,  succeeding  Gerald  J . Antaya,  re- 
signed . . . William  Woods  is  the  new  as- 
sistant at  the  Capitol,  Ansonia,  replacing 
Wm.  Shuran  . . . Prices  have  been  upped 
slightly  at  the  State,  W aterbury , with  50 
cents  top  for  weekends  . . . In  Hew  Haven 
was  Morris  Keppner,  manager  of  the  Glas- 
tonbury, Glastonbury  . . . Harris  Brothers’ 
State  now  has  new  booking  offices  in  the 


J^ALPH  SNIDER  is  south  with  the  yacht 
he  purchased  recently  from  J.  Don 
Alexander  . . . Leonard  Goldstein,  Para- 
mount executive,  was  in  recently  to  confer 
with  Martin  J.  Mullin  and  Sam  Pinanski  of 
the  M&P  Theatres  Corp. 

Ed  McBride  and  Vaughn  K.  R.  O'Neill, 
manager  and  treasurer  respectively  of 
Loew’s  State  in  Providence,  were  in  Thurs- 
day to  testify  in  a damage  suit  brought  in 
superior  court  here.  The  judge  decreed 
that  the  operating  concern  was  blameless. 

Roy  E.  Heffner,  Bank  Night  assignee 
in  New  England,  returned  to  Boston  after 
a two-month  combined  hunting  and  busi- 
ness trip  in  Texas,  Oklahoma  and  points 
east  . . . Harry  Asher,  head  of  Producers’ 
Releasing  Corp.,  gave  “Caught  in  the  Act” 
a bandbox  opening  here  this  week  at  the 
RKO  Boston.  Asher  has  set  “Secret  Evi- 
dence” for  a local  first-run  at  the  same 
house,  beginning  February  27. 

Norman  Glassman,  local  exhibitor,  is 
mourning  the  death  of  his  father  . . . Viola 
Berlin,  manager  of  the  Exeter  Street  in 
Boston,  has  been  hypoing  business  at  the 
Back  Bay  house  via  the  penny  postcard 
route,  mailing  weekly  programs  with  brief 
critiques  of  each  feature  . . . Edward  A. 
Cuddy,  M&P  divisional  manager,  has  put 
a continuous  show  policy  into  the  Strand 
in  Uphams  Corner  in  suburban  Dorchester. 


RKO  building  in  New  York’s  Radio  City 
. . . Jack  Sanson,  manager  of  the  State  in 
Manchester,  was  on  the  sick  list  with  a 
bad  cold. 

Loew’s  Poli  Palace  jottings — Tommy 
Dunfey,  house  usher,  has  been  upped  to 
relief  doorman  . . . Angie  Caraddo  has  suc- 
ceeded Helen  Coveil  as  cashier  . . . Jimmy 
Stevans,  house  usher,  draws  in  his  spare 
time  ...  In  Hartford  last  Friday  were 
Harry  F.  Shaw,  Loew’s  Poli  divisional 
manager,  and  Lou  A.  Brown,  the  circuit’s 
publicist  . . . Walter  B.  Lloyd,  manager  of 
the  M&P’s  Allyn,  reports  that  “Virginia” 
is  due  at  that  theatre  soon. 

Bernard  W.  Levy,  manager  of  Proven 
Pictures,  was  in  Boston  . . . Jay  Pinckney 
has  replaced  Albert  Cook  as  doorman  at 
the  WB’s  Capitol  . . . Exterior  and  in- 
terior of  the  E.  M.  Loew’s  have  been  re- 
painted . . . Children’s  prices  at  the  Strand, 
Plainville,  have  been  slightly  increased 
. . . The  Connecticut  theatrical  fraternity 
had  luncheon  at  New  Haven’s  Hotel  Taft 
last  Thursday  afternoon  with  Harry  F. 
Shaw  of  the  Loew’s  Poli  Theatre  to  meet 
Albert  Lewin,  who  co-produced  “So  Ends 
Our  Night.” 


18  Years  With  Metro 

Hollywood — Robert  Z.  Leonard,  asso- 
ciated with  Metro  for  17  years,  has  been 
given  a new  producer-director  contract. 
His  next  production  assignment  will  be 
“Two  Women.” 


Frank  Lydon,  operator  of  the  Hamilton 
in  Dorchester,  has  put  a new  dish  deal  into 
the  house  on  Mondays  and  Tuesdays,  set- 
ting the  giveaway  to  begin  next  week  . . . 
Harry  Rose,  manager  of  the  Globe  in 
Bridgeport,  has  been  hospitalized  . . . Marie 
Nessikian  Markarian,  who  resigned  from 
the  Loew’s  State  staff  last  year  following 
marriage,  has  been  subbing  at  Loew’s  Or- 
pheum  to  cover  during  illnesses  there. 

Mrs.  Leonard  Kraska,  wife  of  the  Fine 
Arts  manager,  and  the  new  Kraska  heir 
went  home  Sunday  from  the  Fiske  House 
in  Cambridge  . . . Ben  Domingo,  city  thea- 
tre manager  for  RKO,  has  signed  Ben 
Bernie  for  a personal  appearance  at  the 
RKO  Boston  for  four  days,  beginning 
February  20  . . . Because  of  the  success  of 
a recent  stage  show  built  on  NBC  talent, 
the  local  RKO  house  may  go  for  another 
so-called  radio  show. 

Katharine  Hepburn  and  Van  Heflin  are 
in  town,  appearing  in  “The  Philadelphia 
Story”  at  the  Colonial  . . . Dorothy  Gish 
and  Louis  Calhern  are  still  in  Boston  with 
“Life  With  Father”  . . . Harvey  Eisenberg, 
assistant  manager  at  the  Fenway,  did  an 
Errol  Flynn  at  the  Sportsmen’s  Show  the 
other  night,  trying  his  hand  at  archery, 
trap  shooting,  marksmanship,  and  finally 
indoor  golfing. 

Joe  Marquis,  manager  of  the  Capitol  in 
Allston,  has  assigned  two  theatre  employes 
to  handle  the  garage  rented  opposite  so  as 
to  provide  free  indoor  parking  for  patrons. 
Accommodating  225  automobiles,  the  in- 
door facilities  are  being  operated  in  con- 
junction with  two  large  outdoor  lots. 

Jack  Saef,  manager  of  the  Shawmut  in 
Roxbury,  took  up  a voluntary  contribution 
for  the  Boston  Community  Fund  last  week 
when  youngsters  jamming  the  house  to 
participate  in  Saef’s  30-minute  quiz  pro- 
gram donated  pennies  and  nickels  . . . 
Phillip  A.  Lavine,  divisional  manager  for 
the  Ralph  Snider  circuit,  took  a personal 
interest  in  the  recent  turn  of  Cuban  af- 
fairs, being  a friend  of  President  Batista 
and  a frequent  visitor  at  the  Cuban  capital 
during  his  regular  Caribbean  cruises. 

Paul  Barron  and  John  Pavone,  Univer- 
sal district  managers  from  Boston  and 
New  Haven,  respectively , attended  the  mid- 
winter Universal  sales  convention  at  the 
Blackstone  in  Chicago  recently  . . . Harry 
Browning,  M&P  Theatres  Corp.  advertis- 
ing manager  ivho  leans  more  to  sailboats 
than  to  skis,  has  taken  up  card  tricks  so 
as  to  keep  in  trim  . . . Chromium  and 
leather  form  the  motif  of  the  newly  reno- 
vated and  fluorescent -lighted  lobby  of  the 
Strand  in  Portland. 

Marjory  Adams,  Helen  Eager,  Eleanor 
Hughes,  Peggy  Doyle,  Prunella  Hall,  and 
Joan  Hutchins,  local  film  critics,  returned 
from  previewing  “Back  Street”  in  Miami 
. . . Jack  Granara,  RKO  publicity  head, 
made  numerous  tieups  here  with  such  con- 
cerns as  Canadian  Pacific  and  I.  J.  Fox  to 
exploit  “Hudson’s  Bay.”  Granara  also  tied 
in  extensively  with  the  Boston  Sports- 
men’s Show. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


59 


.M  IE  W 1IHII  A V IE  M. 


QOLOR  CALLS:  Sal  Popolizio,  20th-Fox 
assistant  booker,  called  in  the  draft, 
has  been  temporarily  deferred  because  of 
a defect  in  his  teeth  ■ . . Bob  Schaefer, 
son  of  Lou  Schaefer,  Paramount  manager, 
has  enlisted  in  Company  C of  the  102nd 
Infantry,  National  Guard  . . . Ditto  Jack 
O’Connell,  for  the  past  several  years  as- 
sistant manager  of  the  Roger  Sherman  . . . 
And  the  Roger  Sherman's  chief  usher, 
Stanley  Wilchinski  ...  No  new  appoint- 
ments yet  announced  for  these.  Billy 
Nutile,  shipper  at  the  Paramount  ex- 
change, will  also  be  inducted  for  National 
Guard  duty  at  Fort  Blanding  in  Florida, 
February  24,  and  Jimmy  Mahan  steps  up 
to  his  job  . . . Robert,  son  of  Adolph  John- 
son, has  enlisted  in  the  air  service  . . . 
John  Lavella,  doorman  at  the  Middlesex, 
writes  from  camp  he  misses  Ernie  . . . 
The  district  wishes  all  the  boys  good  luck 
and  a speedy  return. 

More  than  80  friends  turned  out 
for  the  Morris  Joseph  farewell  luncheon 
at  Ceriani’s  . . . George  H.  Wilkinson  jr. 
presented  the  gift  of  portable  typewriter 
and  deep-sea  tackle  . . . Harry  Shaw, 
m.  c.,  congratulated  the  “Dean”  on  now 
being  in  the  retired  “capitalist”  class,  arid 
extended  the  best  wishes  of  the  group 
. . . John  Pavone,  new  Universal  mana- 
ger, spoke  . . . Joseph  thanked  and  took 
leave  of  film  and  other  friends  whom  he 
has  known  over  a period  of  26  years,  and 
who  felt  sincere  admiration  of  his  record 
and  regret  at  his  illness  . . . Jack  O’Con- 
nell, Roger  Sherman  assistant,  confined 
to  his  home  with  the  grippe  . . . Al  Schu- 
man  of  the  Black  Rock,  Bridgeport,  and 
Joe  Walsh  of  the  Colojiial,  Southington, 
are  recuperating  from  severe  colds. 

Earl  Wright,  20th-Fox  salesman,  has 
sinus-itis  as  an  unwelcome  souvenir  of  the 
grippe  . . . Mrs.  Sam  Germaine,  wife  of 
20th-Fox  booker,  is  a flu  patient  . . . 
Ernest  Dorau,  manager  of  Middletown 
houses,  just  emerged  after  beating  the  flu 
. . . While  Aaron  Fishman  was  down  with 
the  grippe,  Jack  Fishman  was  at  home 
nursing  a sprained  ligament,  and  the  Phil 
Saslaus  were  pulling  their  daughter,  Nao- 
mi, through  a combination  attack  of  bron- 
chitis and  appendicitis  . . . Whew!  . . . 
Ruth  Curry,  Loew-Poli,  Bridgeport,  cash- 
ier, is  back  with  her  smile  after  a week 
of  the  flu  . . . Also  Jeanette  Carroll,  cash- 
ier, Paramount,  New  Haven  . . . William 
Rogers  of  the  same  Bridgeport  house  is 
taking  his  turn  with  the  germ  . . . W.  R. 
Carr  has  returned  to  his  Warner  exchange 
audit  here  after  being  called  to  New  York 
because  of  the  illness  of  his  wife. 

George  LeWitt,  who  recently  bought  his 
100-seat  Strand,  Plainville  building,  has 
put  in  a new  tile  floor  and  is  contemplat- 
ing air-conditioning  and  changes  on  lobby 
and  interior  . . . Joe  Walsh  is  consider- 
ing some  remodeling  at  the  100-seat 
Colonial,  Southington  . . . Webster,  Hart- 
ford, and  Rialto,  Hartford,  had  receipts 
taken  from  safes  on  successive  early  morn- 
ing robberies.  The  week  before  the  Lyric, 
Hartford,  was  a similar  victim  . . . Warner 
has  raised  admissions  at  the  State,  Wat- 
erbury,  Sundays  from  the  former  33-44 
cents  to  35-50  cents,  including  tax  . . . 
Capitol,  Hew  Britain,  is  holding  “GWTW” 


a second  week;  then  it  goes  into  Sunday 
only  performances  at  regular  30-40  cents 
plus  tax  . . . Roadshow  of  “Tobacco  Road” 
at  50-$1.00  matinee  and  $1.00-$1.50  eve- 
ning, is  also  scheduled  for  March  17,  18 
and  19.  This  Warner  house  has  been 
closed  for  many  years. 

Travel  Notes:  Washington’s  Birthday 
will  be  the  signal  for  an  exodus  to  Miami 
Beach  for  Jack  Fishman,  Fishman  Thea- 
tres general  manager,  and  family  . . . Also 
Mrs.  Roger  Mahan,  wife  of  the  Warner 
exchange  manager,  and  son  Roger  jr. 
Both  parties  will  go  by  train  . . . Henry 
Needles,  Warner  Hartford  district  mana- 
ger, just  back  from  a tour  of  the  south 
by  car  and  boat  . . . Dan  Finn  of  the 
Warner  theatre  department  hasn’t  made 
plans  yet  for  his  annual  spring  trip  south 
. . . I.  Levine  of  Inter-State  Film  Co. 
spent  a few  days  in  New  York  . . . Ben 
Simon  had  a reunion  with  his  family  in 
Philadelphia,  the  home  town  . . . Sam 
Rosen  of  Rosen  Film  Delivery  and  daugh- 
ter, Mimi,  are  back  from  Miami  Beach 
. . . William  Hutchins,  National  Theatre 
Supply  manager,  attended  the  national 
convention  in  New  York  . . . Mrs.  Rose 
Fishman  and  Mrs.  Dave  Cherman  of  the 
Fishman  chain  are  sojourning  in  Florida 
. . . George  Scher,  United  Artists  ex- 
ploitation representative,  spent  a week 
here  on  "So  Ends  Our  Night”  and  is  now 
working  on  “Roadshow”  at  the  Majestic, 
Bridgeport. 

Harry  Rose,  manager  of  the  Globe, 
Bridgeport,  spent  a week  in  Atlantic  City 
with  Mrs.  Rose  to  complete  his  recupera- 
tion from  a recent  stay  in  the  hospital  . . . 
Billy  Sirica  of  the  Lido,  Waterbury,  en- 
trained for  Miami  leaving  Fred  Quan- 


Visitors — 

On  the  left.  Acting  Manager  Tony 
Massella  of  the  Globe  Theatre  at 
Bridgeport  welcomes  Louise  Campbell, 
who  appears  in  his  current  screen  at- 
traction, “Bowery  Boy,”  and  her  hus- 
band, Horace  MacMahon,  screen 
player  who  hails  from  Norwalk. 


trano  in  charge.  The  Quantranos  and 
baby  will  take  their  Miami  vacation  when 
Sirica  returns  . . . Joseph  Faith,  operator 
in  Unionville,  Collinsville  and  Terryville, 
was  in  New  York  for  three  days  . . . Nick 
Marlemes  of  the  Roxy,  New  Britain,  for- 
merly a Floridian,  has  decided  to  extend 
his  sun-basking  there  until  late  this  month 
. . . Al  Poulton,  associated  with  Adolph 
Johnson,  returned  from  28  days  of  shiv- 
ering in  the  sunny  south,  is  selling 
“Honey”  in  Boston  . . . M.  Melincoff,  War- 
ner theatre  district  manager,  Boston, 
takes  a train  February  21  for  Miami. 

Bob  Russell’s  corner  display  on  “West- 
ern Union”  is  a replica  in  miniature  of 
one  of  the  sets  . . . Russell-Rubin  tieup 
with  Western  Union  locally  resulted  in  the 
company  delivering  telegrams  with  picture 
copy  to  leading  business  heads  in  town, 
and  distribution  of  500  heralds  . . . On 
“This  Thing  Called  Love,”  the  Loew-Poli 
team  distributed  5,000  imprinted  envel- 
opes containing  candy  hearts.  Also  bought 
out  100  copies  of  January  8 Daily  News 
which  carried  three  scenes  from  the  pic- 
ture with  copy,  and  imprinted  them  “At 
Loew’s-Poli  Now,”  for  distribution  in  bar- 
ber shops  and  other  spots.  And  arranged 
a heart  centerpiece  with  copy  in  a cen- 
tral Valentine  window  . . . John  Hesse 
tied  in  with  Kresge’s  for  an  attractive 
window  book  display  on  “Back  Street.” 
Premiere  here  was  handled  as  “world  pre- 
miere,” with  which  it  coincided. 

Jack  Simons  planted  a drawing  of  Kath- 
arine Hepburn  by  a local  artist  in  the 
Hartford  Times  on  “Philadelphia  Story” 

. . . Loew’s  coveted  Dollar  Club  award  has 
been  given  Bob  Russell  and  Nat  Rubin  for 
the  Boys’  Club  tieup  on  “Flight  Command” 
which  brought  in  $300  extra  money,  and 
the  duo  is  expecting  another  award  on 
“Go  West.”  On  “So  Ends  Our  Night,”  ex- 
ploitation led  off  with  the  Taft  press 
luncheon  and  radio  interview  of  Albert 
Lewin  . . . Russell  sent  a circular  letter 
to  a select  “class”  list  of  400  . . . Ten 
young  couples  about  to  be  married  will  be 
invited  to  see  the  picture’s  “magnificent 
romance”  . . . Following  the  policy  of 
lightening  the  picture,  Jake,  who  has  done 
every  kind  of  theatre  street  ballyhoo,  will 
be  on  the  Green  and  around  town  with 
a limp  female  dummy  whose  head  will  rest 
on  his  shoulder  while  a placard  an- 
nounces “So  Ends  Our  Night.” 

Signs  of  the  times:  January  Connecti- 
cut tax  receipts  exceeded  January,  1940, 
by  $607,337.  Of  this  increase  $1,132  was 
in  amusement  tax;  $10,727  in  cigarette 
tax;  $5,140  in  unincorporated  business,  and 
$3,300  in  corporation  tax.  McMann’s 
State,  New  Britain,  has  a new  policy  of 
four  changes  a week,  with  Sunday  a single 
day  engagement  . . . Rivoli,  Hartford,  con- 
tinues occasional  double  feature  Swedish 
programs  . . . “This  Thing  Called  Love” 
is  in  its  fourth  week  at  E.  M.  Loew’s,  Hart- 
ford, and  may  stay  a fifth.  Local  Warner 
office  is  in  first  place  in  its  division  in 
the  “20th  Years  With  Sears”  drive  . . . 
Those  Ned  Depinet  drive  badges  are 
weighing  down  the  RKO  staff  . . . Barney 
Pitkin  wears  ties  to  match  . . . Lou  Schae- 
fer is  starring  on  the  Lyons  bowling  team. 


60 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


"Blacklisted"  Films 
Facing  No  Threat 

Boston — John  Spencer,  Boston  city  cen- 
sor, told  this  publication  last  week  that  he 
doesn’t  plan  any  “specific  action”  against 
the  films  he  put  on  a special  Hub  black- 
list several  days  ago.  Theatre  managers  at 
the  time,  were  ordered  to  report  to  Spen- 
cer’s office  proposed  local  playings  of  any 
of  the  pictures  on  the  list.  No  reports  had 
been  received  up  to  the  time  of  the  conver- 
sation, Spencer  declared. 

Spencer’s  letter  didn’t  indicate  what  ac- 
tion, if  any,  he  would  take,  beyond  specify- 
ing that  the  licensing  commission  might 
request  a special  screening  before  any 
openings  of  the  films  involved. 

Asked  if  he  planned  any  outright  bans, 
Mayor  Maurice  Tobin’s  brother-in-law  re- 
plied, “I  haven’t  the  vaguest  idea.” 


Maine  Legislators  Turn 
Eye  on  Pari-Mutuels 

Augusta,  Me. — A bill  to  repeal  pari- 
mutuel betting  in  Maine  was  introduced 
in  the  legislature  January  30  by  Rep.  Lee 
C.  Good,  (R)  of  Monticello.  Good,  in  pre- 
senting the  bill,  asserted  that  “pari-mu- 
tuels are  degrading”  to  sports. 

On  the  same  day  a bill,  prepared  by  Sen. 
Joseph  E.  Harvey  <R)  of  Saco,  asked  that 
the  state’s  share  in  commissions  from  pari- 
mutuel betting  on  harness  racing  in  Maine 
be  jumped  from  3x/2  to  15  per  cent. 

Maximum  commissions  allowed  under 
the  present  law  are  10  per  cent  of  pari- 
mutuel pools.  Harvey’s  bill  would  increase 
that  to  25  per  cent,  the  15  per  cent  for  the 
state  included.  The  remainder  would  be 
available  to  fairs  and  associations  sponsor- 
ing racing  as  compared  with  6V2  per  cent 
they  now  retain. 

The  bill,  according  to  Senator  Harvey, 
was  necessary  because  the  revenue  of  $40,- 
000  provided  by  legalizing  pari-mutuels  in 
1939  was  inadequate. 


Legalization  of  Beano  Is 
Sought  in  New  Hampshire 

Boston — A bill  to  legalize  Beano  in 
New  Hampshire,  with  one-half  the  profit 
going  to  the  state,  has  been  introduced  in 
legislative  action  there.  Theatremen  might 
be  more  interested  inasmuch  as  the  mea- 
sure would  also  allow  Bingo,  if  Bank  Night 
had  not  been  cleared  of  anti-lottery 
charges  there  some  years  ago  in  the  first 
such  case  in  the  country. 


State  of  Massachusetts 
Gets  Gaming  Equipment 

North  Adams,  Mass. — Forfeiture  to  the 
commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  of  al- 
leged gaming  equipment,  seized  by  state 
police  last  June  at  the  local  E.  M.  Loew’s 
Mohawk,  has  been  ordered  by  Judge  Wil- 
liam A.  Burns  in  the  superior  court  at 
Pittsfield,  Mass. 


pLENTY  of  snow  around  and  grippe 
still  continuing  in  Little  Rhody  but  busi- 
ness holding  up  well  at  all  houses  and 
holdovers  becoming  a regular  thing  in 
Providence. 

Hank  Howard,  Universal  publicist,  was 
in  town  doing  promotion  on  “Buck  Pri- 
vates’’ for  RKO-Albee  . . . Al  Clarke,  man- 
ager of  Majestic,  is  getting  some  good  co- 
operation from  Western  Union  locally  in  a 
campaign  to  put  across  film  of  that  title 
at  his  house  shortly  . . . Manager  Cronin 
of  Associated  Theatres’  Empire  also  going 
in  for  some  extra  advertising  these  days, 
using  multi-color  oversize  window  cards. 

Something  of  a case  of  love’s  labor  lost 
was  exploitation  given  “Buck  Privates” 
when  “Kitty  Foyle”  was  held  over  for  a 
sixth  week  at  RKO-Albee,  February  5. 
Last  Saturday  morning  preview  of  “BP” 
was  staged  at  theatre  with  entire  6th  Army 
Corps  staff  as  invited  guests,  coming  to 
theatre  in  convoy  of  army  trucks,  joining 
there  officers  of  the  selective  service  board, 
office  force  and  registrants  called  to  the 
colors  in  the  state.  From  the  lobby  came 
a 15 -minute  broadcast  over  WEAN.  The 
big  campaign  was  worked  out  by  Manager 
George  French,  Hank  Howard  and  Bill 
Morton,  only  to  have  the  film's  opening  set 
back  a week. 

State  Manager  Fred  Newcomb  of  Strand 
has  been  dismissed  from  R.  I.  Hospital  and 
is  now  recuperating  at  his  home  . . . Three 
of  RKO-Albee’s  staff,  members  of  the  Na- 
tional Guard,  are  due  to  go  into  military 
service  in  mid-February  and  fellow  work- 
ers and  Manager  George  French  are  plan- 
ning a farewell  party  in  their  honor. 

Manager  Edward  H.  McBride  of  Loew’s 
State  left  February  11  to  take  over  the 
managerial  post  at  Loew’s  State  in  Bos- 
ton. McBride  will  be  succeeded  here 
by  Jack  Simons,  formerly  at  Loew’s,  Hart- 
ford, Conn. 

One  of  last  stunts  maneuvered  by  Mc- 
Bride before  his  promotion  to  the  larger 
Hub  house  was  bringing  Albert  Lewin,  pro- 
ducer of  “So  Ends  Our  Night,”  opening  at 
the  State,  Thursday — to  Providence  to  lec- 
ture at  Brown  University  before  student 
members  of  the  university  dramatic  or- 
ganization, and  teachers  of  Providence 
public  schools.  McBride  also  engineered  a 

(•  ' ft 

Probably  Called 
Him  a Dog 

Bridgeport,  Conn. — Possibly  the  scanty 
attire  of  ’’The  Thief  of  Bagdad”  dis- 
couraged police  from  trying  to  pin  any- 
thing on  him,  but  while  that  worthy  was 
cavorting  before  Manager  Michael  Car- 
roll  and  assorted  customers  on  the  screen 
of  the  American,  his  modern  counterpart, 
armed  with  functional  crowbar  instead  of 
flying  carpet,  entered  the  office  and 
helped  himself  to  two  of  Carroll's  sum- 
mer suits,  a sport  coat,  two  pairs  of 
trousers,  a pair  of  overshoes,  half  a dozen 
neckties  and  $28  in  cash.  A few  days 
later  it  rained,  and  Carroll  discovered  his 
umbrella  was  also  among  the  loot. 

^ - >) 


radio  interview  with  Lewin  over  station 
WEAN. 

Ralph  E.  Snider,  circuit  owner  identi- 
fied with  Associated  Theatres  here,  back 
last  week  from  a month’s  stay  in  Florida 
. . . Stirling  Hayden,  who  turns  in  a nice 
job  in  “Virginia,”  will  make  a p.  a.  at  sev- 
eral Rhode  Island  houses  plugging  that 
film.  Manager  Eddie  Reed  of  Strand  will 
play  host.  Other  stops  are  scheduled  at 
Woonsocket,  Pawtucket  and  Newport. 

When  the  rest  of  the  first-run  man- 
agers were  bemoaning  the  drenching 
downpour  that  soaked  Providence  and  hit 
grosses  last  Friday,  Al  Clarke,  manager  of 
the  Majestic,  watched  the  lineup  at  his 
boxoffice  and  decided  that  there’s  some- 
thing to  “Advertising  Pays.”  Clarke  sold 
“Western  Union”  as  few  films  have  ever 
been  sold  at  the  Majestic,  explaining  the 
good  business  done,  despite  rain,  on  open- 
ing day  and  throughout  the  week.  His 
campaign  included  1,000  W.  U.  telegrams 
sent  to  a selected  list  of  citizens,  windows 
in  W.  U.  office,  bus  terminals,  drug  stores 
and  other  downtown  spots;  book  tieups 
and  windows  standees  throughout  city; 
bumper  strips  on  100  taxis;  six  giant  tele- 
grams spotted  in  vacant  stores.  Newspapers 
ran  interview  and  cut  of  local  “singing 
messenger  boy”  as  additional  plug  for  film. 

Testimonial  dinner  to  J.  Alden  Dooley, 
recently  named  a member  of  Rhode  Island 
Bar  Association,  held  at  Biltmore  Hotel 
Tuesday  night  saw  District  Manager 
George  Cronin,  and  Managers  Charlie  Nel- 
son of  Park,  Albert  Colagiovanni  of  Bijou, 
and  Matt  Reilley  of  Palace  in  attendance. 
Young  Dooley  is  the  son  of  Judge  Dooley, 
president  of  Associated  Theatres,  Inc. 

When  school  officials  of  Warren  re- 
cently sent  youngsters  home  from  classes 
because  of  grippe  threats,  Manager  Lon 
Vail  of  the  Lyric  showed  cooperation  by 
barring  children  of  school  age  from  thea- 
tre during  continuance  of  epidemic.  Ac- 
tion was  voluntary  and  won  him  commen- 
dation from  town’s  health  officials. 

A “Valentine’s  Day”  followup  idea  sug- 
gested by  Loew’s  State,  through  circulars 
affixed  to  back-issue  film  magazines 
passed  out  to  customers,  suggests:  “Ladies 
take  him  to  a Sweetheart’s  Show,  Satur- 
day night,  February  15.  You  buy  the 
tickets!  You  pay  . . . you  do  anyway! 
C’mon  girls,  treat  the  old  man.  Take  the 
boy  friend  to  see  the  picture  for  all  sweet- 
hearts ‘So  Ends  Our  Night’.” 


Site  to  Goldsteins 

Springfield,  Mass. — Samuel  and  Nathan 
E.  Goldstein  of  Western  Massachusetts 
Theatres,  Inc.,  have  purchased  the  prop- 
erty at  the  corner  of  State  and  Dwight 
Streets  here,  formerly  occupied  by  the 
Washburn  Funeral  Home,  and  will  erect 
a business  block  containing  stores  and  of- 
fices on  the  site  which  is  directly  across 
from  the  Arcade,  one  of  the  circuit’s 
houses.  Purchase  price  was  not  revealed. 


Cigarette  Causes  Fire 

Hartford — The  fire  last  Sunday  evening 
on  the  top  of  the  local  Palace  marquee 
was  reported  caused  by  a cigarette. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


61 


ft  'ft 

: SPRINGFIELD  : 

VS  J 

QJ.EORGE  W.  COLEMAN,  Arcade  man- 
ager, and  his  assistant,  Hy  Nozak,  have 
inaugurated  a program,  “High  School  Quiz 
Program,”  over  Station  WSPR  every  Mon- 
day evening  . . . Mrs.  Olive  J.  Simms, 
cashier,  E.  M.  Loew’s  Court  Square,  will 
be  leaving  Springfield  permanently  for 
Quebec,  Canada  . . . Andrew  A.  Sette,  man- 
ager of  the  WB’s  Capitol,  was  in  New 
Haven  on  business  . . . Frank  de  Carlo  is 
the  new  Loew’s  Poli  usher,  succeeding 
William  Tice,  who  has  been  upped  to  as- 
sistant chief  of  service,  replacing  B.  Wil- 
liams, resigned. 

Local  86,  IATSE,  held  a meeting  last 
Monday  with  Louie  Williamson,  Bijou  pro- 
jectionist and  union  president,  presiding 
. . . Arthur  Bernard,  formerly  assistant 
manager  at  the  Strand,  Holyoke,  has 
joined  the  marines  . . . Ruth  Weed,  candy 
girl  at  the  F&M’s  Art,  was  ill  at  home  . . . 
Joe  Anstead,  manager  of  the  Loew’s  Poli 
Elm  Street,  Worcester,  is  back  on  the  job 
after  undergoing  a minor  arm  operation 
. . . Dr.  Lawrence  A.  Averill  has  been  re- 
elected president  of  the  Worcester  Motion 
Picture  Reviewing  Council  . . . John  Halls- 
worth,  Palace,  Lawrerice,  is  recovering 
from  injuries  received  in  an  automobile 
accident  . . . Katharine  Hoar,  Loew’s-Poli 
chief  candy  girl,  and  Eddie  Conroy,  night 
superintendent  at  that  theatre,  are  re- 
ported contemplating  marriage  in  the  near 
future  . . . Jack  Marvin  is  a new  usher  at 
the  Broadway . 

The  first  500  kids  at  last  Saturday’s 
matinee  at  the  Garden  were  given  free 
stamp  albums  and  presidential  stamps  . . . 
Tommy  Penner  is  the  new  usher  at  the 
GB’s  Paramount,  succeeding  Joseph  J. 
Josephus,  who  has  joined  the  service  staff 
of  the  WB’s  Capitol  as  doorman,  replacing 
Clement  C.  Thieler,  resigned  . . . Marcella 
Gagne  is  the  new  GB’s  Paramount  cashier, 
succeeding  Grace  Prescott,  who  has  left 
for  other  fields  . . . Interior  and  exterior 
of  the  Strand,  Clinton,  have  been  redeco- 
rated . . . Elmer  Daniels,  manager  of  the 
M&P’s  Capitol,  Worcester,  played  host  re- 
cently to  250  newsboys  . . . Eleanor  Price 
is  the  new  candy  girl  at  the  Paramount, 
North  Adams  . . . Joe  Egan,  assistant  engi- 
neer at  the  GB’s  Paramount,  who  has  been 
recuperating  following  an  operation,  is  ex- 
pected back  on  the  job  by  March  1. 

Henry  Smith,  son  of  Edward,  GB's  Para- 
mount manager,  left  with  an  air  corps 
contingent  for  Birmingham,  Ala.  . . . James 
J.  Bloom,  chief  of  service  at  the  GB’s 
Paramount,  attended  the  Joe  Louis-Red 
Burman  fight  in  New  York  . . . Arthur 
Arakelian  has  succeeded  Jimmy  Hoey  as 
student  assistant  at  the  Loew’s  Poli  Elm 
Street,  Worcester  . . . Nathan  Yamins, 
prominent  Fall  River  exhibitor,  has  been 
re-elected  trustee  of  the  Union  Hospital  . . . 
In  Springfield  was  Don  Chambers,  New 
England  publicist  for  Paramount  . . . En- 
gagement of  Helen  Noring,  Warner,  Law- 
rence, and  Leonard  J.  O’Loughlin,  also  of 
that  theatre,  was  recently  announced. 

Victor  Thomas  has  succeeded  his  brother, 
George,  as  a member  of  the  service  staff 
at  the  Paramount,  North  Adams  . . . Phil 
Jasen,  publicist  for  the  Plymouth,  Wor- 
cester, has  resigned  to  become  WTAG’s 
promotion  manager. 


Stirling  Hayden  on  P.  A. 
Tour  in  New  England 


Boston — Stirling  Hayden,  young  Yan- 
kee sailor-of-fortune  turned  film  actor,  re- 
turned for  the  first  time  since  becoming 
famous,  Wednesday,  February  12,  and 
started  a personal  appearance  tour  that  is 
taking  him  through  New  England. 

Hayden,  who  made  his  screen  debut  with 
Madeleine  Carroll  and  Fred  MacMurray  in 
“Virginia,”  was  scheduled  to  stop  at  Hart- 
ford, Worcester,  Providence,  Pawtucket, 
Woonsocket,  R.  I.,  and  Newport.  He  will 
reach  Boston,  Saturday,  February  15,  to 
be  feted  at  a press  cocktail  party  on  Tea 
Wharf.  Saturday  evening  he  will  be  given 
a gala  party  by  old  sailing  comrades  at 
Gloucester,  his  home  port. 

Hayden’s  trip  will  continue  Monday 
when  he  proceeds  to  Portland,  Me.,  with 
stops  at  Lowell  and  Haverhill,  Mass.  His 
schedule  in  the  Maine  city  includes  a per- 
sonal appearance  at  the  local  opening  of 
“Virginia,”  an  evening  party  given  him  by 
the  Motion  Picture  Council  and  an  Adver- 
tising Club  luncheon  at  which  he  will  be 
guest  of  honor. 


Anthem-Playing  Mandate 
Deleated  in  Massachusetts 

Boston — Local  film  interests,  for  prac- 
tical reasons,  successfully  opposed  a bill 
that  would  make  it  mandatory  that 
Massachusetts  theatres  play  “The  Star- 
Spangled  Banner”  after  each  performance. 
Speaking  against  the  bill,  Joseph  Brennan 
of  the  MPTOA  told  of  the  confusion  and 
disturbances  resulting  in  houses  of  a New 
York  circuit  which  took  the  step  volun- 
tarily. The  previous  practice  here  of  play- 
ing the  national  anthem  between  per- 
formances resulted  in  similar  disorders. 

Also  up  for  legislative  consideration  last 
week  was  a measure  that  would  make  it  a 
misdemeanor  to  sell  standing  room  in  Bos- 
ton motion  picture  houses.  The  industry 
took  the  stand  that  no  revision  of  the 
present  status  was  necessary  and  that  the 
proposed  measure  cast  aspersions  on  the 
present  able  supervision  directed  by  the 
officers  of  the  fire,  building  and  police 
commissioners. 


Transfer  Ben  Cohen  to 
Durban , South  Africa 

New  Haven — Ben  Cohen,  former  mana- 
ger of  the  College  here  and  for  the  past 
few  years  supervisor  of  Loew’s  theatres  in 
Calcutta,  India,  has  been  transferred  to 
Loew’s  1,000-seat  theatre  in  Durban,  South 
Africa.  Before  sailing,  Ben  and  Mrs. 
Cohen  are  visiting  in  New  York  and  New 
Haven. 


ft  ft 

Special  Shows  for 
Defense  Workers 

Hartford — The  local  M&P's  Allyn  now 
has  a "Defense  Workers'  Morning  Show” 
Saturdays  only.  Doors  are  opened  at 
9:15,  with  the  show  starting  at  9:30.  Prices 
are  28  cents  for  adults,  and  a dime  for 
children. 

ft  !) 


(< 

: BRIDGEPORT  : 

V—  ■ V 

jyjANAGER  HARRY  ROSE  of  Loew’s 
Globe  is  back  from  Atlantic  City 
where  he  has  been  convalescing  from  his 
recent  illness  at  his  mother’s  home  . . . 
Jack  Sidney  jr„  assistant  manager  at  the 
Loew’s  Poli,  has  composed  a new  song  . . . 
Manager  Michael  Carroll  of  the  American 
is  displaying  a new  wrist  watch,  a wedding 
anniversary  present  from  his  wife. 

Manager  Edward  Madden  of  the  Lyric 
received  a telegram  informing  him  that 
his  sister  had  just  made  him  an  uncle.  He 
slipped  a bill  to  his  assistant,  Fred  Perry, 
with  orders  to  buy  a layette.  Perry,  the 
father  of  six  children,  had  to  ask  Madden 
what  a layette  was  . . . William.  Garrity  is 
a new  usher  at  the  Strand  succeeding  Ray- 
mond Faulkner.  Faulkner  has  entered  the 
booth  at  the  Hippodrome  as  an  apprentice 
projectionist. 

Under  a new  policy  at  the  Strand,  Plain- 
ville,  all  children  must  have  tickets.  Up  to 
12  the  admission  is  a dime;  12  to  14  is  15 
cents  and  all  others  must  pay  adult  prices 
. . . Louise  Campbell  and  her  husband, 
Horace  MacMahon,  were  the  guests  of  As- 
sistant Manager  Anthony  Massella  of  the 
Globe  to  see  Miss  Campbell’s  latest  picture, 
“Bowery  Boy”  . . . Mary  Bacik  is  back  at 
the  Loew’s  Poli  after  being  hospitalized 
...  In  New  Haven  for  a dinner  were  Mor- 
ris Jacobson,  general  manager  of  the 
Strand  Amusement  Co.;  Charles  Levine, 
president  of  the  company,  and  Murray 
Kaufmann,  manager  of  the  circuit’s  Rialto. 

William  Dougherty,  assistant  manager 
at  the  Strand- Palace,  is  flashing  a new  set 
of  store  teeth  . . . Edward  Madden  has  pre- 
sented his  wife  with  a pair  of  fox  furs  . . . 
Fred  Heilman,  Barnum  manager,  is  back 
after  an  illness.  Also  recovered  is  Lou 
Anger,  owner  of  the  theatre  . . . “The 
Philadelphia  Story”  stayed  three  weeks  at 
the  Avon,  Stamford  and  two  weeks  here. 

Manager  Manny  Kugell  of  the  Warner 
and  is  wife  were  in  New  York  to  see 
“Panama  Hattie”  . . . Harry  F.  Shaw, 
Loew’s  New  England  division  manager,  and 
his  wife,  are  planning  a trip  to  Panama  in 
March  . . . Matt  Saunders  and  Otto  Es- 
posito of  the  Loew’s  Poli  were  in  New 
Haven  to  meet  David  Loew  and  Albert 
Lewin  . . . William  Neilson  is  back  on  the 
door  at  the  Hippodrome. 

The  Klein  Memorial  did  capacity  busi- 
ness at  $3.30  for  “The  Man  Who  Came  to 
Dinner,”  but  the  second  attempt  at  a road 
show,  “Ladies  in  Retirement”  resulted  in 
two  s?nall  houses  . . . Milt  Milcowitz  of 
the  Bershire  Film  Co.,  reports  his  firm  is 
now  negotiating  with  New  England  fairs  to 
show  old-time  pictures  next  fall  . , . Rich- 
ard Knight  of  the  Playhouse,  New  Canaan, 
gave  away  a cocker  spaniel  as  a plug  for 
“The  Biscuit  Eater.” 

The  State,  New  Britain,  has  switched  to 
four  changes  a week  . . . The  Capitol, 
Meridan,  is  giving  Junior  “G”  Man  badges 
to  boys  and  girls  at  Saturday  matinees 
. . . Mrs.  Ida  Shaw  was  in  New  Haven  for 
several  days  to  visit  her  son,  Harry  F. 
Shaw  . . . William  Pine  of  the  Playhouse, 
Darien,  is  exhibiting  paintings  in  his  lobby. 


62 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


ft  = 

: NEW  BRITAIN  : 

* ■ ' =!) 

J^ICK  KOUNARIS,  co-owner  of  the  Roxy, 
returned  last  Monday  after  a month’s 
vacation  in  St.  Petersburg  . . . Expected 
back  in  town  within  a few  weeks  is  Nick 
Marlames,  the  other  owner  of  the  Roxy, 
who  is  currently  vacationing  in  that  Flori- 
da city  . . . I.  J.  Hoffman  and  B.  E.  Hoff- 
man, Warner  New  Haven  executives,  visit- 
ed Joe  Bornstein,  WB’s  Embassy,  and 
Randy  Mailer,  WB’s  Strand. 

Peter  Perakos,  Palace  owner,  was  in 
New  Haven  on  business  . . . Helen  Tar- 
zaskos,  cashier  at  WB's  Strand,  has  re- 
signed to  work  in  a local  factory  . . . 
Phil  Demas,  Roxy  manager,  brought  in 
“ The  Day  the  Bookies  Wept,”  starring 
the  late  Joe  Penner  . . . Revival  of  War- 
ner’s “ Here  Comes  the  Navy”  did  good 
business  at  the  WB’s  Strand. 

John  S.  P.  Glackin,  manager  of  the 
Arch  Street,  has  been  ill  . . . Nan  Fannier, 
cashier  at  the  State,  on  the  sick  list  with 
the  grippe  . . . Randy  Mailer,  WB’s 
Strand  manager,  has  recovered  from  an 
attack  of  the  flu  . . . The  play  “Tobacco 
Road,”  is  due  at  the  local  WB’s  Capitol 
in  March,  reports  Joe  Bornstein. 

Lina  Pruchniciki  has  joined  the  Strand 
cashiers’  staff  . . . Front  of  the  WB's  Em- 
bassy has  been  remodeled  . . . New  car- 
pets have  been  laid  at  the  WB’s  Strand. 


" Flight  Command"  Opens 
With  Navy  Cooperation 

Boston — Frederick  R.  Greenway,  man- 
ager of  Loew’s  State  in  Boston,  wouldn’t 
take  anything  less  than  a Rear  Admiral 
and  a mass  flying  of  Navy  planes  to  give 
“Flight  Command”  its  Hub  unveiling. 
Rear  Admiral  John  T.  Nelson,  together 
with  Lt.  Commander  C.  A.  Collins  and  a 
score  of  other  navy  officers,  were  present 
in  the  Loew’s  State  lobby  opening  night 
for  a special  broadcast. 

For  lights,  Greenway  promoted  the  Navy 
into  setting  up  two  huge  floods  opposite 
the  theatre,  and  for  pre-publicity,  the 
Loew’s  State  manager  had  navy  squad- 
rons canvassing  the  skies  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  de  luxe  house. 


"Fantasia”  Boston  Run 
Sold  Out  in  Advance 

Boston — “Fantasia,”  which  opened  an 
extended  roadshow  engagement  here  two 
weeks  ago,  is  sold  out  well  in  advance.  An 
added  boost  was  given  the  Majestic  run 
last  week  when  Jack  Goldstein,  special 
publicist  attached  to  the  roadshow,  got 
quotes  from  local  educators  to  the  effect 
that  the  film  is  acceptable  to  children. 

Servicing  Connecticut 
From  New  Haven  Office 

New  Haven — National  Screen  Acces- 
sories, previously  shipped  from  New  York, 
will  now  be  distributed  through  New 
Haven  for  the  Connecticut  territory,  it  is 
announced  by  company  officials. 


Yale  Drama  Students 
Hear  Albert  Lewin 


New  Haven — In  a radio  interview  from 
the  Hotel  Taft  and  a subsequent  talk  to 
students  of  the  Yale  University  depart- 
ment of  drama,  Albert  Lewin,  producer 
with  David  L.  Loew  of  “So  Ends  Our 
Night,”  new  United  Artists  release,  out- 
lined the  functions  of  a producer  and  the 
growth  of  a picture  from  purchase  of 
script  to  distribution  of  finished  product. 

Lewin  and  Professor  Allardyce  Nicoll, 
chairman  of  the  Yale  drama  department, 
were  invited  to  meet  representatives  of 
the  press  from  New  Haven,  Hartford  and 
Bridgeport,  and  Loew-Poli  and  United  Art- 
ists officials  and  theatre  managers  at  a 
special  luncheon  at  the  Taft  prior  to  the 
opening  of  the  picture  here  on  February 
13. 

From  the  Fourth  Estate 

Attending  were  Harry  F.  Shaw,  Loew- 
Poli  division  manager;  Lou  Brown,  pub- 
licity chief;  Lou  Wechsler,  United  Artists 
manager;  Myer  Beck,  eastern  representa- 
tive for  Russell  Birdwell;  George  Scher, 
UA  exploitation  representative;  Herbert 
Sedgewick  of  Associated  Press;  Julia  Farn- 
ham  Nicoll,  in  charge  of  dramatics  for  all 
Bridgeport  public  schools;  Delaney  Jones, 
Bridgeport  Post  Telegram;  Mabel  Sher- 
wood, Bridgeport  Life;  Nancy  Hendrick, 
Bridgeport  Times-Star ; Julian  Tuthill, 
Hartford  Times;  M.  Oakley  Christoph, 
Hartford  Courant;  Jane  O’Rourke,  Echo; 
James  Milne,  WELI  manager;  Robert  E. 
Russell,  manager  of  the  Loew-Poli,  New 
Haven,  and  Nat  Rubin,  assistant;  Matt 
Saunders  of  the  Loew-Poli,  Bridgeport, 
and  Otto  Esposito,  assistant;  Elliot  Kronish 
of  the  division  office;  Jack  Simons,  who 
wound  up  his  managership  of  the  Loew- 
Poli,  Hartford,  and  was  Providence-bound; 
Lou  Cohen,  who  replaces  Simons  at  the 
Loew-Poli;  Joseph  Samartano,  Loew-Poli, 
Meriden  manager;  William  Borden,  vice- 
chairman,  Yale  Daily  News;  and  William 
White,  business  manager. 

Introduced  by  Professor  Nicoll  as  a 
“former  professor  of  English  who  saw  the 
error  of  his  ways  and  is  now  a success 
in  Hollywood,”  Lewin  spoke  to  a keenly 
interested  group  on  the  steps  in  the  pro- 
duction of  “So  Ends  Our  Night.”  At  the 
close  of  his  talk,  scores  of  questions  re- 
vealed the  students’  great  curiosity  about 
Hollywood  methods. 

Asked  if  abolition  of  block  booking 
would  lead  to  increase  in  independent 
producers,  Lewin  said  he  “unquestionably” 
thought  so.  The  block-of-five  method  of 
selling  under  the  consent  decree,  he  term- 
ed “an  improvement.”  About  Technicolor 
he  expressed  the  opinion  that  it  would  not 
“save  a bad  picture,”  but  that  “it  would 
add  to  a good  picture.”  He  defined  en- 
tertainment as  “anything  which  touches 
an  audience  emotionally.” 


Storrs  May  Get  Theatre 

Storrs,  Conn. — This  town,  home  of  the 
University  of  Connecticut,  will  have  a the- 
atre in  the  near  future,  if  plans  reported- 
ly now  under  way  go  through. 


ft  ft 

: NEW  HAMPSHIRE  : 

vy jj 

“QONE  WITH  THE  WIND”  was  held  over 
for  three  extra  days  at  the  Strand  in 
Manchester  . . . Viola  Gordon  Munro,  a 
former  Broadway  stage  actress  and  wife 
of  the  general  representative  of  the  Schu- 
bert theatre  chain  in  Boston,  gave  a talk 
before  the  Somersworth  Women’s  Club, 
February  4. 

The  State  Racing  Commission  has  an- 
nounced that  the  Neiv  Hampshire  Jockey 
Club’s  request  for  60  days  of  pari-mutuel 
horse  racing  at  Rockingham  Park  in 
Salem  this  year  has  been  approved.  This 
is  the  same  period  authorized  last  season. 

Theatre  traffic  will  probably  be  affected 
in  Rochester  by  a recommendation  placed 
before  the  city  council  by  the  chamber  of 
commerce,  which  requests  the  installation 
of  traffic  lights  at  the  street  crossing  di- 
rectly opposite  the  Scenic  Theatre.  At 
present,  the  traffic  is  handled  by  a police- 
man. 

Lloyd  Bridgham,  manager  of  the  Broad- 
way in  Dover,  was  a member  of  the  com- 
mittee which  staged  a testimonial  banquet 
in  that  city  for  textile  executives. 

The  Scenic  in  Pittsfield  was  the  scene  of 
the  crowning  of  Pittsfield’s  winter  carni- 
val queen  . . . More  than  500  persons 
braved  below-zero  weather  to  attend  a 
show  in  the  Barton,  Vt.,  municipal  audi- 
torium, staged  by  Orleans  County 
merchants  in  appreciation  of  patronage 
during  the  past  year. 


Honor  Roll  Button  Won  by 
Rosenthal's  Campaign 

New  York — M-G-M  has  awarded  an 
Honor  Roll  Button  to  Morris  Rosenthal  of 
Loew’s  Majestic,  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  for  his 
outstanding  campaign  on  “Land  of  Lib- 
erty,” industry-sponsored  feature  which 
the  company  is  releasing. 

Highlights  of  Rosenthal’s  campaign: 
Special  screening  for  heads  of  civic,  social 
and  educational  organizations.  Through 
Chamber  of  Commerce  cooperation  posters 
were  placed  in  every  local  factory.  Ap- 
proval of  the  film  by  the  superintendent  of 
the  board  of  education  was  posted  on  every 
school  bulletin  board.  All  teachers  made 
class  announcements.  Stills  and  cards  were 
planted  in  all  libraries.  Cards  were  used 
in  all  buses.  Restaurants  were  supplied 
with  menus.  Newspapers  cooperated  with 
front  page  news  stories  and  laudatory 
editorials. 


Gordon  & Lockwood  Move 
On  Skowhegan  Strand 

Boston — The  Strand  in  Skowhegan,  Me., 
is  definitely  in  line  to  be  taken  over  by 
the  Louis  Gordon  and  Arthur  Lockwood 
circuit.  Only  legal  technicalities  remained 
at  press  time  as  a bar  to  Gordon  & Lock- 
wood  acquisition  of  the  theatre  of  the  late 
Joseph  Dondis.  Operation  of  the  house 
will  parallel  that  of  the  State  in  Calais, 
taken  over  a few  days  ago  from  Charles 
Staples. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


63 


Vkli  IVeek  UJe  Meet 


JACK  SIMONS 

INTRODUCING  a man  who  really  needs 

no  introduction  in  this  territory,  Jack 
Simons,  with  the  glad  news  that  Jack  has 
been  promoted  to  the  managership  of 
Loew’s  State,  Providence,  after  disting- 
uished service  for  more  than  six  years  at 
the  helm  of  the  Loew-Poli,  Hartford.  How 
he  got  to  be  so  good?  Well — 

Some  44  years  ago  Jack  was  born  in 
Detroit,  into  the  very  midst  of  a talented 
family.  Several  aunts  were  musicians  and 
performers;  his  sister,  Ray  Linker,  was  to 
appear  in  the  “Zeigfeld  Pollies;”  and  his 
brother,  Charles,  was  a violinist  of  prom- 
ise who  was  later  to  become  known  on 
the  concert  stage.  Before  his  school  days 
started,  the  family  moved  to  Pittsburgh. 
Here  Jack  attended  both  public  and  high 
school,  and  evidenced  an  amazing  amount 
of  ability  and  ambition — though  what 
would  become  of  him  the  Simons  didn’t 
know.  For  one  day  it  was  medicine  he 
chose  for  a career,  then  journalism,  and 
all  the  time  the  theatre  was  subtly  and 
increasingly  attracting  him,  too. 

While  in  high  school,  Jack  was  one  of 
the  handsome  young  ushers  at  the  old 
Nixon  in  Pittsburgh,  and  was  showing 
promise  of  advancement.  Always  casting 
about  for  better  opportunities,  however, 
Simons  landed  a job  with  the  old  Pitts- 
burgh Leader,  then  owned  by  Alexander 
P.  Moore,  whose  fame  was  two-fold — as 
husband  of  Lillian  Russell  and  later  as 
ambassador  to  Spain.  Simons  soon  proved 
he  had  a facile  pen  and  knew  his  public. 
He  not  only  did  ghost-writing  for  Lillian 
and  other  feature  writing,  but  developed 
one  of  the  first  syndicated  features.  His 
daily  four-line  poem  followed  by  terse  re- 
marks on  current  news  caught  on  easily 
and  became  a front-page  box.  When  Moore 
went  to  Spain  as  ambassador,  Simons  was 
offered  an  opportunity  to  go  along,  but 
refused,  believing  his  best  interests  lay 
ahead  in  the  field  in  which  he  was  already 
making  strides. 

But  he  was  destined  to  be  interrupted, 
and  it  was  the  World  War  which  dictated 
the  next  move.  Simons  joined  the  army, 
went  abroad,  and  fought  in  several  major 
engagements,  with  the  result  that  he  was 
forced  to  spend  almost  a year  recuperating 
in  a hospital.  He  was  still  in  his  early 
twenties  when  he  emerged  and  landed  a 
berth  as  publicity  man  for  the  Harris 
Amusement  Co.  in  Pittsburgh.  Later  he 
tackled  both  the  publicity  angle  and  the 
managership  of  the  East  End.  From  that 
time  on,  the  lure  of  the  theatre  held. 
About  18  years  ago  he  joined  Loew’s  as 
manager  of  the  Aldine  in  Pittsburgh  be- 
fore the  de  luxe  Penn  had  been  built. 

About  that  time  he  began  to  be  aware 
of  Ethel,  who  had  lived  across  the  street 
from  him  all  the  time.  No  movie  ro- 
mance could  have  been  more  rapid  nor 
had  a happier  ending.  Just  17  years  ago 
they  were  married,  in  spite  of  the  fact 
Jack  had  just  finished  saying  for  the 
thousandth  time  that  he  was  a confirmed 
bachelor. 

His  duties  included  a great  deal  of  the- 


atre relief  work,  and  on  one  of  his  travels 
he  renewed  acquaintance  with  Harry 
Shaw,  whom  he  had  already  met  many 
years  before.  Shaw  was  then  manager  of 
the  State  in  Syracuse,  and  Simons  recalls 
being  amazed  at  the  popularity  he  had 
attained  in  the  city.  “He  could  have 
been  mayor,”  Jack  assures  us.  The  two 
struck  up  a friendship  then,  but  never 
dreamed  that  not  very  long  after  they 
would  be  working  in  the  same  division 
with  Harry  as  boss.  “It’s  six  and  a half 
years  that  I’ve  been  working  under  Harry 
Shaw  now,”  Simons  said  on  the  eve  of  his 
transfer  to  Providence,  “and  leaving  him 
is  the  only  sad  note  in  the  good  news. 
He  is  a man  for  whom  I have  the  high- 
est esteem — a brilliant  and  capable  exec- 
utive, who  knows  how  to  make  friends  and 
how  to  keep  them.  It  has  been  a genuine 
pleasure  to  be  associated  with  him.” 

Simons  has  enjoyed  Hartford  as  “my 
most  pleasant  stay  in  any  city.”  He  feels 
the  level  of  appreciation  of  Hartford  au- 
diences is  high,  and  their  support  of  good 
product  is  gratifying. 

Ten-year-old  Eleanor,  the  Simons’  only 
child,  will  also  be  conquering  new  audi- 
ences in  Providence.  A talented  musician, 
she  has  already  given  several  recitals. 
Simons’  own  hobby  of  25  years  standing 
is  magic.  He  knew  Thurston  and  Houdini 
personally  and  never  tires  of  probing  and 
trying  to  emulate  their  skill.  In  Provi- 
dence his  tricks  will  be  practically  new. 


^ NEW  QUIZ  type  radio  program  is  be- 
ing aired  over  WCSH  by  the  State 
Theatre,  authors  of  the  popular  “Recess 
Time”  juvenile  program.  The  new  program 
“Quest-On-Air”  was  broadcast  for  the  first 
time  Monday  evening,  February  3,  from 
7:30  to  8 o’clock,  and  features  Dean  Quest 
as  master  of  ceremonies.  A merchant  is 
sponsoring. 

“Welcome  Home”  week  was  celebrated  by 
district  M&P  exhibitors  recently  honor- 
ing the  return  of  A.  J.  Moreau,  district 
M&P  manager,  to  his  desk  after  a pro- 
longed absence  due  to  illness  . . . Another 
victim  of  “grippe” — Billy  Romaiioff,  chief- 
of-service  at  the  State  . . . The  Portland 
Theatre  launched  two  new  giveaway  at- 
tractions this  week:  Cooking  utensils  and 
a cut  glass  set. 

Mrs.  Harry  Botwick  and  daughter, 
Lennye  returned  from  a visit  to  New  Haven 
. . . The  MPMO  Local  458  held  its  annual 
banquet  at  the  Columbia  Hotel  . . . The 
Portland  Motion  Picture  Council  launched 
a series  of  radio  programs.  The  programs 
are  carrying  a “Better  Pictures”  theme  and 
will  be  aired  every  two  weeks  for  an  in- 
definite time. 


Marshall  Megs  "Texas" 

Hollywood — George  Marshall  will  di- 
rect “Texas,”  a Samuel  Bischoff  produc- 
tion for  Columbia  starring  William  Holden. 


Shed  Removal  Order  May 
Spur  Building  Plan 

Wethersfield,  Conn. — A spur  to  plans 
of  the  Webster  Co.,  Hartford  theatre  firm, 
to  start  construction  on  a proposed  thea- 
tre here,  may  be  the  result  of  a court  order 
to  remove  two  tool  sheds  from  the  theatre 
site  within  two  weeks  unless  building  is 
started  within  that  time.  Permit  for  the 
building  was  issued  in  October,  1939. 

Construction  has  not  yet  started,  ex- 
plained Joseph  Schulman,  an  official  of 
the  Webster  Company,  because  new  plans 
were  being  drawn  and  a new  permit  was 
to  be  sought  with  the  intent  of  building 
this  spring. 


A New  1,000-Seater  for 
Cape  Elizabeth , Me. 

Portland — A new  1,000-seater  will  be 
constructed  in  Cape  Elizabeth,  Me.,  to  re- 
place the  Cape,  Leon  P.  Gorman,  opera- 
tor of  both  the  Cape  and  Cameo  theatres 
there,  announces.  It  will  be  located  across 
the  street  from  the  present  theatre.  Plans 
have  been  drawn  and  the  site  purchased, 
and  construction  is  expected  to  start  soon. 


Salesmens  Club  Ball 
To  Be  Held  April  20 

Boston — The  annual  spring  ball  of  the 
Boston  Motion  Picture  Salesmen’s  Club 
will  be  held  April  20  this  year  at  the 
Cocoanut  Grove  with  Harold  Goldman  of 
Producers’  Releasing  Corp.,  fraternity 
president,  in  general  charge. 


Mrs . Ralph  L.  Ripley 

Boston — Mrs.  Ralph  L.  Ripley,  64,  wife 
of  the  manager  of  the  Codman  Square  in 
Dorchester,  died  here  last  week.  A native 
of  Quebec,  she  had  lived  in  Boston  for  the 
past  50  years.  Burial  was  at  North 
Chelmsford.  Besides  her  husband,  she  left 
two  sons  and  three  daughters. 


To  New  York  Boat  Show 

Springfield,  Mass. — Charlie  Lane,  engi- 
neer for  Western  Electric  and  prize  boat- 
man in  western  Massachusetts,  attended 
the  motor  boat  show  in  New  York  recently. 
He  was  accompanied  by  F.  R.  Burr,  mana- 
ger of  the  Burr  Theatre,  Ludlow,  and  Peter 
Rush,  projectionist. 

(t  ft 

Radio  Music  Feud 
Cripples  Tieups 

Boston — The  Ascap-radio  feud  has  re- 
sulted in  the  closing,  temporarily  at 
least,  of  one  of  the  local  theatre  publicists 
most  lucrative  exploitation  avenues. 
Music  tieups  with  films,  including  the 
usual  windows  littered  with  title  pages, 
etc.,  used  to  be  as  close  to  the  Boston  ad- 
vertising man  as  his  telephone.  That  was 
when  the  music  contact  man  was  on  the 
job.  The  radio-music  dispute,  however, 
has  resulted  in  the  dismissal  of  most  of 
the  former  local  music  contact  men. 

^ ■ J 


64 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


Trade  Organizes  Aid 
For  Greek  Relief 

Dallas — Organizing  to  solicit  funds 
within  the  industry  for  Greek  War  Relief, 
a meeting  was  scheduled  to  be  held  here 
Monday  among  distributor  and  exhibitor 
leaders. 

R.  J.  O’Donnell  of  Interstate  is  chairman 
of  the  Oklahoma  City  and  Dallas  districts. 
As  co-chairman,  Louis  Charninsky,  Elm 
Street  showman,  will  head  the  theatre 
group  and  H.  Biersdorf,  20th-Fox  branch 
manager  here,  will  be  in  charge  of  the  ex- 
change division. 

All  exhibitors  in  Texas  will  be  solicited 
by  salesmen  from  the  various  distributing 
companies,  it  was  said.  Adolph  Zukor  is 
national  chairman  for  the  amusement  in- 
dustry. Gradwell  Sears  of  Warner  Bros,  is 
chairman  of  the  exchange  group  nationally 
and  John  H.  Harris,  national  chief  barker 
of  Variety,  is  chairman  of  the  nation-wide 
exhibitor  drive  for  Greek  relief  funds. 


Lightman  Heads  Greek 
War  Relief  Division 

Memphis — M.  A.  Lightman,  head  of  the 
Malco  Theatres  here,  heads  the  sectional 
theatre  division  in  a current  campaign  on 
behalf  of  the  Greek  War  Relief  Fund. 

Lightman  appointed  Ed  Sapinsley  of 
Malco  as  city  chairman.  Adolph  Zukor  is 
national  general  theatre  chairman. 

Through  mediums  other  than  theatres 
the  Memphis  committee  already  has  raised 
$12,000. 


Joe  Cooper  Gives  $500 
For  Greek  War  Relief 

Oklahoma  City — Announcing  that  the 
Greek  war  relief  fund  here  had  been 
boosted  to  $8,600  by  a $500  donation  from 
Joe  Cooper,  head  of  Standard  Theatres, 
John  Sinopoulo,  former  theatre  man  here 
and  fund  leader,  began  further  plans  for 
boosting  the  local  relief  chest  with  the 
help  of  the  theatre  industry  here. 

Ample  publicity  for  the  Samuel  Gold- 
wyn  network  broadcast  was  secured  in 
Oklahoma  City  through  Sinopoulo’s  and 
Cooper’s  activities. 


Theatres  Plan  to  Collect 
Scrap  Iron  for  Britain 

Oklahoma  City — Plans  are  being  made 
for  half  a dozen  or  more  theatres  to  ac- 
cept scrap  iron  as  admission  tickets  in  the 
iron-for-Britain  movement  being  ener- 
gized by  Louis  J.  Horwitz  here.  Trucks 
are  to  be  placed  in  front  of  theatres  to 
receive  the  iron. 


Scully  to  Miami 

New  York — William  A.  Scully,  Univer- 
sal general  sales  manager,  left  here  over 
the  weekend  for  Miami  on  a combined 
business  and  vacation  trip.  While  in  the 
south,  he  expects  to  close  new  deals  with 
the  Sparks  and  with  the  Wometco  circuits. 


Role  for  Ann  Miller 

Hollywood — Columbia  has  signed  Ann 
Miller,  dancing  star,  for  a role  in  “Show 
Business.” 


B&B  Amusement  Co.  Buys 
Savannah  Theatre  Block 


Charlotte — Ellis  Blumenthal,  president 
of  the  B&B  Amusement  Co.,  advises 
through  his  general  manager,  C.  A.  Mat- 
thews, that  he  has  purchased  the  entire 
business  block  in  which  the  Star  Theatre 
is  located  in  Savannah,  Ga. 

Blumenthal  has  had  the  Star  under 
lease  for  some  time.  Matthews  advises 
that  the  purchase  price  was  in  excess  of 
$60,000. 

Rowland  to  Dallas  for 
'Miss  Bishop'  Showing 

Dallas — Richard  A.  Rowland,  one  of  the 
industry’s  production  pioneers,  arrives 
Monday  for  a trade  screening  of  his  first 
for  United  Artists,  “Cheers  for  Miss  Bish- 
op.” The  screening  starts  at  9 o’clock  in 
the  Tower  Theatre  on  Elm  Street.  A good 
attendance  of  exhibitors  and  press  repre- 
sentatives is  expected.  The  producer  will 
be  a guest  of  Variety  the  same  day. 


Worth  Leuthstrom  Wins 
R&R  Publicity  Job 

Dallas — Worth  Leuthstrom,  R&R  booker, 
has  been  assigned  to  the  theatre  division 
as  advertising  and  publicity  head  for  the 
circuit’s  five  Oak  Cliff  houses  under  Man- 
ager Lloyd  Pullen.  Worth  displayed  con- 
siderable talent  for  his  new  job  while  edit- 
ing Tips,  the  circuit’s  publicity  organ.  His 
booking  post  will  be  filled  by  Adrian  Up- 
church, who  comes  here  from  Little  Rock. 


Holloway  Commissioned 

Newton,  N.  C.— I.  C.  Holloway  of  the 
State  Theatre  has  been  made  a captain  of 
Catawba  County  Home  Guard,  according 
to  announcement  made  in  Raleigh.  Hol- 
loway, before  leasing  Gus  Mitchell’s  State, 
was  city  manager  for  Wilby-Kincey  at 
Lexington. 


Guinn  Goodrich  Joins  Forces 

Knoxville,  Tenn. — Guinn  B.  Goodrich, 
manager  of  the  Gem  Theatre  and  a first 
lieutenant  in  the  R.  O.  T.  C.,  was  ordered 
to  report  February  11  at  Fort  Benning. 


Jim  Frew  Universal 
New  Orleans  Head 

New  Orleans  — Jim  Frew  has  been 
named  manager  of  the  local  Universal 
branch  to  succeed  W.  M.  Richardson,  who 
was  announced  last  week  as  manager  of 
the  Atlanta  branch  on  the  resignation  of 
John  T.  Ezell. 


Works  Out  Booking  Plans 
For  Special  Occasions 

Dallas — O.  K.  Bourgeois  of  Astor  Pic- 
tures here,  whose  new  work  sheet  includes 
33  films,  has  worked  out  booking  plans  for 
showings  to  fit  any  special  purpose  a thea- 
tre might  have.  For  instance,  he  booked 
William  S.  Hart  in  “Tumbleweeds”  into 
the  Parkway,  Fort  Worth,  on  February  7, 
for  showing  to  the  T.  C.  U.  faculty  and 
student  body  which  is  making  a study  of 
motion  pictures.  Bourgeois  will  soon  screen 
one  of  his  pictures  for  Gov.  Lee  O’Daniel 
in  one  of  the  downtown  theatres  of  Austin. 


Clemmons  Will  Build  Two 
Negro  Houses  in  Houston 

Dallas — Two  new  Negro  theatres  will  be 
built  in  Houston  soon  by  Tom  R.  Clem- 
mons of  Beaumont  he  said  while  in  Dallas 
this  week  in  connection  with  product  for 
those  situations  and  with  bookings  for  his 
white  trade  Royal  in  Orange. 

One  of  the  Houston  houses  is  under  con- 
struction now  to  be  ready  by  April  15,  and 
the  second  will  be  under  way  in  a short 
time.  The  properties,  exclusive  of  equip- 
ment, will  amount  to  investments  of  about 
$30,000  each,  Clemmons  said. 


Trade  Attends  Opening 

Wilson,  N.  C. — Several  exchange  mana- 
gers, salesmen,  and  exhibitors  attended  the 
opening  of  Worth  Stewart’s  new  Drake 
Theatre  here  this  week.  The  house  is 
named  for  Stewart’s  father-in-law  who 
operated  a theatre  in  Wilson  25  years  ago. 


At  the  Universal  Convention — 

In  the  Blackstone  Hotel  in  Chicago  where  the  company’s  product  plans 
(published  on  page  15  in  this  issue)  and  sales  policies  were  outlined  to  the 
field  force.  Left  to  right  are:  James  Hobbs,  Oklahoma  City;  E.  S.  Olsmith, 
Dallas;  J.  A.  Prichard,  Charlotte;  F.  J.  A.  McCarthy , eastern  sales  manager; 
W.  M.  Richardson,  Atlanta;  H.  D.  Graham,  district  manager,  and  H.  I. 
Mansfield,  Memphis. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


s 


65 


— Photo  by  Wilson 

At  the  Atlanta  Banquet — 

A scene  at  the  annual  banquet  of  the  Atlanta  Variety  Club  when  a check  for 
$1,000  was  presented  to  the  Martha  Berry  school  for  furtherance  of  that  hu- 
manitarian institution.  Miss  Deanna  Durbin , left,  was  guest  of  honor.  Others 
in  that  photo  are,  seated:  William  K.  Jenkins,  chief  barker  of  the  Atlanta 
club,  and  Dean  Raimundo  de  Ovies,  club  chaplain  and  chief  speaker  at  the 
banquet.  Standing  are,  same  order:  Bob  Hawk,  radio  personality ; Allan  Jones, 
screen  and  concert  singing  star;  Miss  Inez  Henry,  representative  of  Miss 
Martha  Berry,  and  R.  J.  O’Donnell,  former  chief  barker  of  the  Dallas  Variety 
club,  and  first  assistant  chief  barker  of  the  Variety  Clubs  of  America. 


Dallas  Music  Clubs  Tie 
On  " Sonata " Booking 

Dallas — In  cooperation  with  Dallas 
music  clubs,  in  observance  of  Paderewski’s 
anniversary  celebration,  Interstate  has 
booked  “Moonlight  Sonata,”  starring  the 
pianist,  for  showing  in  its  Melrose  Theatre 
February  20. 


Add  300  Seats 

New  Orleans — The  Bijou  Amusement 
Company  of  Nashville  has  started  the  in- 
stallation of  an  additional  300  seats  in  its 
Ritz  Theatre  here. 


Deanna  Durbin  Guesi 
Ai  Variety  Luncheon 


Dallas — More  than  500  persons  attended 
the  first  Ladies  Day  Luncheon  given  by 
the  Variety  Club  of  Texas  Monday  noon  in 
the  Grand  Ballroom  of  the  Adolphus  Hotel 
at  which  Deanna  Durbin  was  guest  of 
honor. 

The  Grand  Ballroom  was  decorated  as 
an  ocean-going  ship  deck  representing  the 
S.  S.  Variety  on  its  charitable  voyages. 

Chief  Barker  Paul  Short  turned  the 
meeting  over  to  R.  J.  O’Donnell,  who 
introduced  a number  of  visitors  including 
Mrs.  James  Durbin,  Deanna’s  mother; 
Judge  Sarah  T.  Hughes,  principal  speaker; 
M.  J.  Hamilburg,  the  star’s  manager; 
George  Thomas,  of  the  Universal  publicity 
department;  Mrs.  Dora  Foster  of  Freeman 
Memorial  Clinic,  Variety’s  chief  charity 
objective;  Julius  Gordon,  of  Beaumont, 
chairman  of  the  board  of  Jefferson  Amuse- 
ment Co.;  C.  B.  Akers,  of  Griffith  Amuse- 
ment Co.,  Oklahoma  City,  and  others. 

Welcoming  committee  for  Miss  Durbin 
at  the  station  were  Chief  Barker  Short, 
R.  J.  O’Donnell;  Jake  Lutzer  on  behalf  of 
Universal  for  Branch  Manager  E.  S. 
Olsmith  who  was  in  Chicago;  Frank  Starz, 
and  Ray  Beall,  P.  K.  Johnston  and  J.  O. 
Cherry  of  Interstate  Rader. 

A dinner  party  was  also  held  in  the 
Universal  starlet’s  honor. 


A Star's  Course — 

A visit  to  Hope  Cottage  for  foundling  babies,  which  is  under  the  protectorate 
wing  of  the  Variety  Club  of  Texas,  was  included  on  the  list  of  activities  in 
which  Deanna  Durbin  participated  on  her  visit  to  Dallas.  Miss  Durbin  was 
the  guest  of  honor  at  the  first  annual  Ladies  Day  Luncheon  of  the  Variety 
Club.  In  the  upper  photo  are  the  star  and  R.  J.  O’Donnell,  first  assistant 
national  Chief  Barker  of  Variety,  at  the  luncheon.  Below,  at  the  home,  left  to 
right  are  Paul  Short,  Chief  Barker;  Mrs.  Glen  Carson,  executive  secretary  of 
the  cottage;  Deanna  Durbin  and  Dr.  Ramsey  Moore  of  the  medical  staff. 


66 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


"Wind"  Unrivalled  in 
Dallas  First  Runs 

Dallas — “Gone  With  the  Wind”  took 
the  lion’s  share  on  Elm  Street  for  the  week 
during  fair  weather,  showing  three  a day. 
Lines  formed  for  a block  morning  and 
night.  The  in-between  show  at  4:15,  how- 
ever, was  run  with  a few  vacant  seats, 
with  the  other  two  steady  at  capacity.  A 
second  holdover  week  followed  in  the  same 
theatre.  The  Capitol  continues  its  double 
bill  on  the  weekend  to  stay  above  average. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  8: 


(Average  is  100) 

Capitol — L.i’1  Abner  (RKO)  80 

Played  three  days  starting  Wednesday. 

Capitol — Arkansas  Judge  (Rep);  Behind  the 

News  (Rep)  120 

Started  Saturday  running  through  Monday. 

Majestic — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox)  90 

Palace— Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M) 285 

Rialto — Keeping  Company  (M-G-M)  100 

Played  three  days  starting  Tuesday. 

Rialto — South  of  Suez  (WB)  90 

Played  four  days  starting  Friday. 

Tower — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN),  2nd  wk 100 


"GWTW"  Stays  in  the  Fore 
In  Third  N.  O.  Week 

New  Orleans — Opening  a three  week 
return  engagement  at  Loew’s  State, 
“GWTW”  has  broken  all  house  records  in 
New  Orleans  with  a 50  cent  top  and  bids 
fair  to  continue  its  triumphal  march.  Sec- 
ond in  drawing  power  is  “Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith”  at  the  Orpheum  which  jammed  Vic 
Meyers  playhouse  with  a crowd  of  satis- 
fied patrons  and  divided  honors  with  the 
Saenger,  presenting  “Second  Chorus.” 

“Dreaming  Out  Loud”  had  its  first  run 
at  the  Liberty  and  brought  many  out  St. 
Charles  street  way.  The  flu  has  subsided 
and  defense  work  resumed. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  8: 


(Average  is  100) 

Center — The  Bank  Dick  (Univ)  100 

Liberty — Dreaming-  Out  I.oud  (RKO)  100 

Loew’s— GWTW  (M-G-M),  3rd  wk 200 

Orpheum — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  (RKO)  175 

Saenger — Second  Chorus  (Para’t)  175 


Above-Average  Week 
Is  Enjoyed  in  O.  C. 

Oklahoma  City — No  competition  from 
outside  interests,  good  pictures  and  balmy 
weather,  gave  all  local  boxoffices  a com- 
fortable feeling  here.  “Virginia”  led  the 
parade  at  the  Criterion  with  a second  week 
on  “Foreign  Correspondent”  at  the  State 
proving  satisfactory. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  8. 


(Average  is  100) 

Criterion — Virginia  (Para’t)  145 

Liberty — Dulcy  (M-G-M);  Rookie  Cop  (RKO).. 105 

Midwest — Honeymoon  for  Three  (WB) 125 

State — Foreign  Correspondent  (UA),  2nd  wk..l35 

Tower — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  125 


following  week’s  run  at  downtown  Criterion 


Crescent  Moves  Three 

Columbia,  Tenn. — A1  Shortley,  city  man- 
ager for  Crescent  Amusement  Co.,  Nash- 
ville, has  announced  the  transfer  of  R.  L. 
Tunks  from  management  of  the  local  Lyric 
to  that  of  the  Roxy  at  Murfreesboro. 
Homer  Pearson,  former  assistant  manager, 
is  now  manager  of  the  Lyric,  and  Ed 
Graham,  of  the  Lyric  house  staff,  is  as- 
sistant manager.  Tunks  succeeded  Joe 
Wiley  at  the  Roxy. 


m if  a m i 

gIG  EXCITEMENT  out  at  the  Max 
Fleischer  Studios  these  days  all  centers 
around  the  starting  of  actual  production 
on  the  big  cartoon  studios’  next  full  length 
feature  opus  to  be  entitled  “Mr.  Bug  Goes 
to  Town.”  It  is  a yam  about  one  particu- 
lar bug  and  his  fellow  insects.  We’re  go- 
ing to  be  let  in  for  a very  surprising  bug’s- 
eye  view  of  ourselves  and  our  fellowmen, 
we  understand,  as  the  result  of  this  feature 
on  which  some  700  artists  and  technicians 
will  spend  the  better  part  of  1941. 

At  Coral  Gables  casting  is  in  progress 
at  the  Colonnade  Studios  for  the  adaption 
of  ‘‘Lost  Atlantis”  which  Korda  and 
Reviere  will  be  shooting  by  the  middle  of 
the  month. 

As  the  autograph  fans  catch  their 
breaths  following  the  personal  appearance 
of  Stirling  Hayden  last  week  at  initial 
showing  of  “Virginia”  concurrently  at  the 
Beach  and  the  Paramount,  comes  the  an- 
nouncement that  Carolyn  Lee  has  re- 
cuperated from  that  attack  of  bronchitis 
which  kept  her  in  a Washington  hospital 
for  two  weeks  and  will  bow  from  the 
Olympia  stage  February  20  when  “Vir- 
ginia” opens  there. 

Subtle  but  effective  psychology,  used  by 
cashiers  at  Herman  Polies’  Harlem,  lies  in 
the  fact  that  patrons  are  always  given  one 
or  more  nickles  with  their  change.  Those 
nickels  in  hand  have  a bigger  bolstering 
up  effect  on  candy  sales  than  you’d  believe 
until  you  try  it,  Polies  declares. 

Employes  of  the  Sparks  theatres  in 
Hollywood  are  making  big  plans  for  a gala 
evening  to  be  celebrated  soon  at  the  new 
Spotlite  club  . . . Paul  Robinson  played 
“Philadelphia  Story”  four  days  at  his 
Florida. 


Jorgenson-Interstate 
Hearing  to  Feb.  20 

Dallas — Defense  motions  in  the  H.  N. 
Jorgenson  of  the  East  Grand  Theatre  vs. 
Interstate  circuit  damage  suit,  scheduled 
to  be  heard  Monday  in  federal  court  by 
Judge  W.  H.  Atwell,  were  passed  and  es- 
pecially set  for  February  20. 

Interstate’s  motion  is  to  have  the  jury 
verdict,  which  awarded  Jorgenson  $4,500, 
set  aside  on  grounds  that  the  award  was 
not  in  line  with  evidence  presented  and 
asks  Judge  Atwell  to  instruct  the  jury  to 
render  in  favor  of  the  circuit.  In  event 
this  motion  is  denied,  Interstate  will  then 
ask  for  a new  trial.  The  case  is  based  on 
the  25  cent  price  restrictions  in  vogue  here 
several  years  ago.  All  other  cases  involving 
this  issue  have  been  disposed  of  by  settle- 
ment or  trial. 

Wilby-Kincey  Lease  House 
From  Herman  Schubert 

Knoxville,  Tenn. — The  State  Theatre, 
1505  Washington  Avenue,  has  been  leased 
from  Herman  Schubert  and  is  now  being 
operated  by  Wilby-Kincey,  which  also  con- 
trols the  Tennessee,  Riviera,  Strand,  Bijou, 
and  Park.  Joe  Alexander  of  Elizabethton, 
has  been  made  manager  of  the  State, 
which  has  reopened  after  redecoration  of 
the  interior  and  installation  of  new  pro- 
jection equipment.  Re-runs  of  leading 
films  are  shown  with  four  changes  of  pro- 
gram a week. 


Privilege  to  Patrons 

Chattanooga,  Tenn.  — Commissioner  E. 
R.  Betterton  has  granted  the  parking  of 
automobiles  in  the  center  of  Broad  Street 
between  6 p.  m.  and  midnight  for  the  ben- 
efit of  theatre  patrons  on  this  street. 


If  Winter  Comes 

Can  Spring  be  far  away? 

NOW  is  the  time  to  think  about 
your  COOLING  requirements  for  1941 

For  Complete,  New  and  Improved 

WASHED  AIR  SYSTEMS 

••See 

NATIONAL  THEATRE  SUPPLY  COMPANY 

Dallas,  Atlanta,  New  Orleans,  Memphis,  Charlotte  and  Oklahoma  City 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


67 


OKLA.  CITY 

gOB  BUSCH  pulled  the  strings  on  open- 
ing of  the  new  Uptown  last  week  with 
films  of  the  opening  being  taken  as  first- 
nighters  arrived.  They  will  be  shown  on 
the  screen  this  week.  The  new  suburban 
house,  located  just  outside  the  business 
section,  and  under  lease  to  “Chuck”  Faris, 
has  one  of  the  most  attractive  auditoriums 
in  the  city.  It  seats  650.  Two  changes  a 
week  on  second  runs  has  been  set  as  the 
policy. 

Don’t  let  anybody  tell  you  Pete  Crown, 
who  has  theatres  in  Pampa  and  Borger, 
Tex.,  doesn’t  Jc?iow  how  to  play  dominos. 
Your  correspondent  was  given  an  effective 
lesson  last  week  . . . Congratulations  to 
Sam  Caporal  on  his  new  Bison  Theatre 
and  particularly  on  filling  up  all  those 
store  spaces  in  the  same  building  almost 
as  quickly  as  the  house  was  completed. 
Incidentally  Caporal  has  installed  a lot  of 
new  furnishings  on  his  Yale  front  in- 
cluding new  tile,  decorations  and  fluor- 
escent lighting. 

No  new  theatres  now  under  construction, 
but  several  in  the  “planning”  stage  . . . 
Watch  for  possible  reopening  of  Standard’s 
Victoria  and  building  of  another  new  sub- 
urban house  by  Standard;  for  a possible 
second  house  by  T.  B.  Noble  jr„  of  the 
State  Theatre;  for  an  effort  by  George 
Laham  of  Blackwell  and  two  or  three  more 
which  are  merely  being  planned  as  “may- 
bes.” 

AFL  pickets  are  still  pacing  the  sidewalk 
in  front  of  the  State  because  of  the  the- 
atre’s use  of  a non-union  firm  for  art 


| The  Times  Are 

I CRITICAL 

I Once  in  a While 

A Customer's  Taste  is  CRITICAL 
Every  Time  She  Steps  in  the 
Lobby  to  buy  a Box  of  Com. 

I YOU  DON'T  HAVE  TO  WORRY 
\ WHEN  YOU  USE 

i SUPERB 

| SOUTH  AMERICAN  CORN 

} and 

| FLAV  O NUT  SEASONING 

I Exclusive  With 

• POPPERS  SUPPLY  CO. 

RUBE  MELCHER 

j GR.  0672  1717  Wyandotte  St. 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

\ Prices  Are  Going  Up! 
>_ ^ _ 


New  Neighborhoods — 

Two  new  houses  just  opened  in  Okla- 
homa City.  At  the  top  is  Sam  Cap- 
oral’s  Bison,  his  third  suburban  unit, 
located  on  northeast  23 rd  St.  Below 
is  Chuck  Faris’  new  Uptown,  a neigh- 
borhood near  12 th  St.  and  Hudson. 


work  . . . The  former  Mrs.  Dick  Talbot  is 
now  learning  the  ropes  as  a Standard 
cashier,  your  correspondent  having  eyed 
her  understudying  at  the  Liberty  the  other 
day. 

Compliments  from  every  direction  are 
pouring  in  on  L.  C.  Griffith  and  the  Va- 
riety Club  for  their  new  health  center 
which  is  a sizeable  contribution  to  the 
welfare  activity  of  the  city  . . . Talk  of  the 
town  is  WKY’s  “Smarty  Party”  show 
wherein  listeners  phone  in  questions  for  a 
board  of  experts  to  answer;  if  the  boys, 
with  their  library,  can’t  answer  in  two 
minutes,  the  listener  gets  two  tickets  to 
the  State  as  a prize.  Costs  the  State  noth- 
ing but  the  tickets  and  is  very  good  pub- 
licity, says  Bob  Pfotenhauer. 

"After  Mein  Kamp!"  to 
Franconi,  Blumenthal 

Dallas — “After  Mein  Kampf”  will  soon 
be  distributed  to  Texas  exhibitors  by  Ed 
Blumenthal  and  John  Franconi  out  of 
their  Monogram  exchange  here.  Prints 
will  arrive  early  next  week  and  screenings 
for  the  trade  will  follow  immediately.  The 
Hitler  film  will  be  sold  on  a special  con- 
tract and  exhibition  will  be  on  a roadshow 
basis  only,  it  was  said. 

Labor  Issue  Is  Swiftly 
Settled  by  Exchange 

Dallas — A difference  arising  between 
the  Film  Exchange  Employes  Union  and 
Universal  was  amicably  settled  last  week 
when  a shipper  working  at  the  exchange 
under  permit  from  the  union  was  replaced 
by  a union  member  on  the  union’s  request. 


New  Tulsa  to  Bow 

Tulsa — The  new  Tulsa  on  Third  and 
Main  will  be  formally  opened  Wednesday 
evening  by  Griffith-Southwestern  The- 
atres, Inc.  A banquet,  an  invitational  af- 
fair, will  be  held  at  the  Hotel  Tulsa  pre- 
ceding the  opening. 


^AiTOH  IE 

■yiSITORS  to  San  Antonio’s  Theatrerow 

last  week  included  Jimmy  Allard,  Inter- 
state city  manager  of  Vernon,  Tex.;  Jack 
Karmi,  Roadshow  Pictures,  Dallas,  and 
Alton  Josef,  Los  Angeles  . . . The  Prince 
has  adopted  a new  policy  of  changing  pro- 
grams three  times  a week  . . . Miss  Joan 
Crapps  has  returned  to  the  Harlandale  as 
candy  vendor  . . . Ace  Querner,  one-time 
Hollywood  cowboy  actor,  is  now  a deputy 
under  Sheriff  Owen  W.  Kilday. 

Jack  Ford,  chief  of  service  at  the  State, 
spent  the  weekend  in  Castorville.  It  was 
rumored  that  he  recently  tied  the  nuptial 
knot  . . . The  current  Azteca  Film  release 
playing  the  National  recently  was  tagged 
“ Mala  Yerba”  . . . Seen  at  the  Golden 
Gloves  tourney:  Billy  Johnston,  Eddie  Col- 
lins, Henry  Bergman,  and  V.  D.  Welker, 
all  of  Interstate  here. 

Christopher  Morley’s  “Kathleen”  is  be- 
ing filmed  by  the  picture  production  class 
at  Jefferson  Senior  High  School  under  the 
direction  of  Miss  Simena  Wolf,  motion  pic- 
ture production  instructor. 

“Hudson’s  Bay”  (20 th-Fox)  owled  at  the 
Majestic  Saturday  while  “Six  Lessons  from 
Madame  Lazonga”  (Unix.)  dittoed  at  the 
Texas  along  with  added  specialty  acts  and 
vaudeville  hi  spots  on  the  stage  . . . Tom- 
my Whales,  who  ramrods  the  Cascade  up 
in  Boerne,  was  a showshopper  at  Barron’s 
Independent  Film  Exchange  as  was  a Mr. 
Lennie  who  is  opening  a theatre  in  La- 
vernia  soon.  Lennie  has  taken  over  a store 
and  has  added  the  necessary  changes  to 
make  it  a showhouse. 

Raymond  “Wimpy”  McKay,  the  Ma- 
jestic sound  man,  has  received  his  draft 
papers,  so  it  may  not  be  long  now  . . . 
“GWTW”  is  slated  for  a return  engage- 
ment at  the  Majestic,  March  1,  for  a 
week’s  run  . . . Phil  Spitalny  and  his  All- 
Girl  Orchestra  has  been  booked  for  a per- 
sonal appearance  at  the  Majestic  Easter 
Week  . . . Kate  Smith,  the  radio  songstress, 
is  scheduled  for  a p.  a.  in  Santone  the  first 
Friday  in  March. 

Robert  “Bob”  Hawk,  the  radio  emcee, 
plans  to  do  a personal  with  his  quiz  show, 
“Take  It  or  Leave  It,”  at  one  of  the  down- 
town theatres  in  the  near  future  . . . 
“Hell’s  Angels”  ( Astor ) is  continuing  to 
break  house  records  in  the  territory  . . . 
Among  the  show  people  who  took  part  in 
the  Texas  Open  Golf  Tourney  last  week 
were  Benno  Kusenburger,  local  projection- 
ist; Ed  F.  Brady,  sr.,  San  Benito  theatre- 
man,  and  Jack  Jackson,  Dallas. 

A request  of  the  Elmer  Horne  Film  Co., 
Dallas,  to  sign  a contract  with  the  city  of 
San  Antonio  for  exhibiting  films  at  the 
playgrounds  during  the  summer  has  been 
rejected  by  the  recreation  board. 

A.  B.  Johnston  is  building  a theatre  in 
South  San  Antonio  to  seat  around  600.  It 
will  mark  South  San’s  first  flicker  house. 
Name  will  be  selected  by  a contest  in 
which  the  winner  will  receive  a cash  prize 
of  $10  . . . Maria  Conesa’s  latest  starring 
Mexican  talkie,  “Madre  A La  Fuerza”  was 
unreeled  at  El  Nacional  last  week. 


68 


BOXOFFICE  February  15,  1941 


jyjISS  BONNIE  LONG  has  resigned  as 
executive  secretary  of  the  Variety 
Club  of  Texas  and  the  guess  is  her  next 
assignment  will  be  operating  her  own  the- 
atre before  long  in  some  of  the  smaller 
situations.  Miss  Long,  for  many  previous 
years,  was  secretary  of  the  Dallas  film 
board  of  trade  until  the  curtain  fell  on 
that  organization.  She  rendered  addition- 
al service  to  the  industry  in  Texas  by 
getting  out  the  Texas  Theatre  Almanac 
each  year. 

H.  S.  Usry  of  the  Majestic  at  Decatur, 
has  been  taking  some  advanced  Masonic 
work  and,  we  understand,  has  been  pro- 
gressing with  honors  . . . D.  A.  Dickson, 
owner  of  the  Haskell  Theatre  here,  dropped 
in  to  renew  his  subscription  to  Boxoffice. 

A.  W.  (Jack)  Lilly  was  here  the  other 
day  from  Greenville  on  a visit  long  over- 
due. He  said  his  theatre  office  is  tem- 
porarily in  the  Washington  Hotel  in 
Greenville.  New  furnishings  and  fixtures 
are  replacing  those  damaged  by  fire  in  his 
office  at  the  Rialto. 

Herschel  Crawford,  owner  of  the  Palace 
at  Slaton,  put  in  a couple  of  days  over 
booking  counters  here  advancing  play- 
dates  for  about  a 30  day  period  . . . Chester 
Morris  reportedly  will  arrive  in  Texas  soon 
to  look  after  oil  interests.  He  is  said  to 
have  investments  in  the  East  Texas  pools. 

Robert  Foster,  of  Interstate’s  general 
office,  has  departed  for  New  London, 
Conn.,  where  he  joins  the  U.  S.  Navy  as 
Ensign,  junior  grade.  He  is  an  Annapolis 
graduate.  Replacing  Foster  is  Lynn  Har- 
ris, who  has  been  in  the  circuit’s  short 
subjects  department.  In  turn  Miss  Lola 
Cheaney,  former  Warner  contract  player, 
succeeds  Harris. 

D.  C.  Carraway  of  the  Cliftex  at  Clifton 
has  been  a recent  commuter  to  Dallas  be- 
cause Mrs.  Carraway  has  been  here  sev- 
eral weeks  under  medical  treatment.  Her 
condition  is  much  improved  and  she  will 
return  to  her  home  shortly. 

Mrs.  Wallace  Rucker,  who  has  a part 
with  her  husband  in  operating  the  Rock 
Theatre  in  Round  Rock,  was  here  this 
week  with  her  son,  Wallace,  jr.,  on  a visit 
to  friends.  The  Ruckers  are  former  Dal- 
lasites  of  long  standing.  Wallace  having 
been  connected  with  exchanges  here  for 
many  years,  his  last  post  being  as  man- 
ager of  GB. 

R.  C.  (Bob)  Mcllheran  of  the  Gem  at 
Wichita  Falls  arrived  Tuesday  for  a two 
day  session  with  exchange  bookers.  He 
has  an  Interstate  affiliation  but  does  a 
large  part  in  setting  in  Gem  dates. 

Invitations  were  received  along  the  Row 
here  for  the  opening  Wednesday,  Febru- 
ary 19,  in  Tulsa  of  the  new  Tulsa  Theatre, 
latest  operation  of  Griffith  Southwestern 
Theatres,  Inc.  Highlight  will  be  a ban- 
quet in  the  Hotel  Tulsa,  preceding  the 
dedication  of  the  theatre.  L.  A.  Chatham 
active  in  arrangements  for  the  big  open- 
ing. 

Howard  Baskin,  who  is  drifting  into  the 
roadshow  game  after  booking  experiences 
on  the  Row  for  several  years,  has  been  in 


west  Texas  following  through  on  a group 
of  playdates  . . . E.  S.  Olsmith,  TJniversal’s 
branch  manager,  was  in  Chicago  over  the 
weekend  attending  the  company’s  ad- 
vanced annual  sales  convention. 

G.  A.  Cole,  New  Braunfels  exhibitor,  was 
married  in  Dallas,  Saturday  night,  to  a 
teacher  in  the  New  Braunfels  high  school. 
They  will  live  in  New  Braunfels  where  Cole 
is  in  the  midst  of  plans  of  rebuilding  his 
theatre  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  the 
first  of  the  year  . . . Henry  Rogers  jr.  of 
Sweetwater,  assistant  manager  of  Robb  & 
Rowley  theatres  there,  was  a visitor  in  the 
circuit’s  home  office  on  Filmrow  . . . Ray- 
mond and  Mrs.  Thompson  of  the  Mecca 
at  Jacksboro  were  on  the  Row  Wednesday 
for  a quick  booking  trip.  They  are  among 
Harwood  Street’s  regular  visitors. 

P.  J.  Poag,  R&R’s  city  manager  in  Del 
Rio,  and  incidentally  a partner,  has  re- 
covered after  an  operation  and  is  now  back 
on  the  job  . . . R.  O.  Gross,  owner  and 
operator  of  the  Joy  at  Roscoe,  and  Mrs. 
Gross  were  on  the  Row  Wednesday  for  a 
short  visit  . . . Miss  Lillian  Walker,  owner 
of  theatres  in  Durant,  Okla.  and  Sherman, 
Tex.,  was  here  on  a booking  trip  . . . Al 
Mortensen,  co-owner  of  Southwestern 
Theatre  Equipment  Co.,  Houston,  was  up 
Tuesday  on  business. 

L.  B.  Brown  of  Gatesville  was  in  book- 
ing for  his  Regal  and  Ritz  theatres  . . . 
Among  out-of-town  exhibitors  and  their 
wives  at  the  first  annual  ladies’  day  Va- 
riety luncheon  Monday  at  the  Adolphus, 
were  Rubin  and  Mrs.  Frels  of  Victoria,  and 

B.  R.  and  Mrs.  McLendon  of  Atlanta  . . . 

C.  V.  and  Mrs.  Carter  of  Comanche  who 
operate  the  Majestic  there,  were  on  the 
Row,  Monday. 

The  Stewart  brothers,  John  N.  of  Kauf- 


man, and  M.  D.  of  DeLeon,  were  here 
Monday.  Ditto  Carl  Milentz  of  Daisetta, 
busily  booking  for  several  houses;  C.  W. 
Niece  of  the  Crystal  at  Hubbard,  and  W. 
S.  “Bill”  Hurst  of  the  Plaza,  Denton  . . . 
Pete  Blackshear  was  in  town  Wednesday 
before  reopening  his  rebuilt  Queen  in 
Aspermont  . . . Uncle  Sam  reached  into 
the  Republic  exchange,  taking  two  into 
camp.  Doyle  Baker,  shipper , is  the  first  to 
go.  He  is  replaced  by  Edgar  Lederman, 
moved  up  from  ad  sales.  Billy  Ledbetter 
comes  in  as  ad  salesman.  The  second 
draftee  is  Clarence  Walker,  colored  porter. 

Mitchell  Lewis,  booking  his  three  col- 
ored theatres  in  Houston,  and  Emile 
George,  with  two  colored  shows  in  Port 
Arthur,  were  on  the  Row  at  the  same  time 
and  business  took  a spurt  for  distributors 
handling  that  type  of  entertainment. 


Fort  Worth  Houses  Are 
Reviving  Old  Features 

Fort  Worth,  Tex. — A number  of  old 
films  are  being  revived  locally  and  with 
good  results,  exhibitors  say.  “Things  to 
Come”  played  the  Palace  recently,  while 
the  Parkway  brought  back  “The  Gay  Des- 
perado” and  “Bringing  Up  Baby”  last 
week. 


Austin  Businessmen  Plan 
Drive-In  Near  Houston 

Austin,  Tex. — A group  of  local  business- 
men are  planning  to  build  a $27,500  drive- 
in  in  a suburb  of  Houston,  according  to  a 
reliable  source.  The  outdoor  theatre  is 
expected  to  accommodate  nearly  1,000 
automobiles  with  individual  loudspeakers. 


HEW  SOUND 
AT  LOW  COST 


1.  Complete  Unit  Matched 
Sound  System. 

2.  Superb  Quality  reproduc- 
tion of  all  wide  range  re- 
cordings. 

3.  Smooth  and  trouble-proof 
operation. 

4.  High  Power  output  for  any 
size  theatre. 


New  Master  Model  Sound  Head 


Trade  in  Your  Old  Sound,  and  Save  Money 

HERBER  BROTHERS 

“Fair  Treatment  and  Adequate  Service  Always” 

408  S.  HARWOOD  DALLAS,  TEXAS 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


S 


69 


ft 

Concerning  the  Joels 

- ■ - ■ >j 


By  A.  JULES  BENEDIC 

Jacksonville — With  nearly  two  score 
years  of  exhibition  to  his  credit,  L.  D.  Joel 
of  this  lively  Florida  metropolis  views  life 
calmly,  taking  things  as  they  come  and  go 
at  the  Casino  Theatre  on  Bay  street.  Mr. 
Joel  says  he  read  with  interest  of  that 
Kirbyville,  Tex.,  exhibitor,  and  of  those 
other  old-timers  up  in  the  Carolinas.  Ac- 
knowledged as  the  oldest  exhibitor  in  point 
of  service  in  Florida,  Mr.  Joel  wonders  if 
he  may  not  exceed  or  at  least  tie  his  ex- 
hibitor-brethren over  the  South. 

Mr.  Joel  told  this  interviewer  he  has  two 
great  ambitions  in  life. 

The  first:  that  he  can  live  to  75,  so  that 
he  can  celebrate  his  golden  anniversary  in 
what  he  terms  “this  great  game.” 

Credit  Good  for  a Short  Reel? 

The  second : that  he  can  live  long 
enough  to  be  able  to  get  a $2  comedy 
shipped  to  the  Casino  without  a COD,  if 
his  check  should  fail  to  arrive  before  ship- 
ment. 

“Maybe  I can  realize  the  first,”  said  this 
veteran  of  the  celluloids,  “but  I fear  great- 
ly I’ll  never  taste  victory  on  the  second.” 

Photographed  in  front  of  the  Casino 
Theatre  along  with  his  son,  Morton,  Mr. 
Joel  reminisced  over  the  years. 

“I  suppose  I’m  the  oldest  in  the  State,” 
he  began,  “if  not  the  entire  Southland.  I 
started  36  years  ago — in  1905 — at  the 
Nickelodeon,  on  Bridge  St.,  now  Broad. 


The  Joels — 

Caught  by  the  Boxoffice  roving 
photographer  in  front  of  the  Casino 
at  Jacksonville  are  L.  D.  Joel  (left) 
and  his  son  Morton,  known  better  in 
the  trade  at  “Mutt.”  The  accompany- 
ing article  deals  rather  in  detail  with 
the  Joels. 


Then  I built  the  Airdome  at  Ashley  and 
Broad  streets. 

“Then  I opened  the  Globe  Theatre  here. 
By  this  time,  the  virus  was  in  my  blood,  so 
I went  to  Atlanta,  where  I bought  and  op- 
erated a string  of  colored  houses,  in  part- 
nership with  Mr.  Bailey.  I also  had  the 
Grand  in  Chattanooga.  In  Atlanta  I had 
the  Central,  the  81,  Dixie,  Famous  and 


the  Joel  and  Bailey,  known  familiarly  as 
the  J.  and  B. 

“Shortly  thereafter  I returned  to  Jack- 
sonville, where  I ran  the  Prince  Theatre 
and  also  took  over  the  old  Phoenix  on  Bay 
street.  Subsequently,  the  Phoenix  was  re- 
named the  Liberty.  Then  came  the  Pas- 
time Theatre  in  Jacksonville,  which  I later 
called  the  Casino,  my  present  show,  which 
I have  operated  continuously  for  twenty- 
five  years.  In  my  time  I have  also  had  the 
Auditorium  in  Lakeland  and  the  Garing  in 
Greenville,  S.  C.” 

Easier  the  First  50  Years 

Besides  the  son  associated  with  him  at 
the  Casino  Theatre,  Mr.  Joel  has  another 
son,  a lawyer.  His  son-in-law,  L.  A.  Stein 
of  Jacksonville,  is  head  of  Stein  Interests, 
a circuit  of  20  theatres  in  small  towns 


— William  Dunn  Photo 

Heads  Consolidated — 

Collyar  Phillips,  who  has  been  named 
manager  of  the  Atlanta  office  of  Con- 
solidated National  Film  Exchange, 
Inc.,  a combination  of  Million  Dollar 
Productions  and  Dixie  National  Pic- 
tures. Phillips  formerly  was  with 
20 th-Fox  in  Dallas. 


over  South  Georgia  and  middle  Florida. 
L.  A.  Stein’s  brother,  Ben  Stein,  formerly 
operated  a theatre  at  Valdosta,  Ga.,  and  is 
at  present  an  attorney  here. 

“I  expect  to  celebrate  my  61st  birthday 
March  14,”  resumed  the  veteran,  and  will 
retire  on  my  75th,  if  attained,  even  though 
folks  say  this  game  is  easier  after  the  first 
50  years. 

“I  have  discovered,  after  my  36  years  in 
this  business,  that  I know  less  about  the 
industry  than  when  I started.  Yes,  I’ve 
had  my  share  of  interesting  and  unusual 
experiences. 

“I  remember  a noble  experiment  many 
years  ago  at  a house  which  I was  operat- 
ing. On  Monday  night  I gave  away  a set 
of  dishes.  On  Tuesday  night,  a box  of 
groceries.  On  Wednesday  night  some  lucky 
lady  got  a dress.  On  Thursday  night  a 


Sneak  Previews  Gaining 
Hold  in  Neighborhoods 


Dallas — Popularity  of  sneak  previews  in 
Elm  Street  first  run  houses  is  now  spread- 
ing to  the  neighborhoods.  For  Valentine’s 
Day  a sneaker  was  booked  for  the  Majes- 
tic and  also  in  four  neighborhood  houses. 
The  Village  and  Lakewood  were  to  play 
the  same  film  and  others  unknown  were 
set  in  the  Melrose  and  Varsity. 


Newcomer  Welcomed — 

Stirling  Hayden,  who  appears  in  Par- 
amount’s “Virginia,”  is  greeted  by 
H.  H.  Everett,  circuit  head  of  Everett 
Enterprises,  Inc.,  at  the  exhibitor 
luncheon  held  recently  at  the  Hotel 
Charlotte  in  Charlotte,  N.  C. 


gentleman  received  a fine  suit  of  clothes. 
On  Friday  night  I gave  away  $15  in  gold 
(which  was  negotiable  in  those  days),  and 
on  Saturday  night  I gave  away  something 
or  other  as  a special  valuable  prize. 

Proud  of  Jail-less  Record 

“As  a result  of  all  this  crazy  ballyhoo. 
I made  from  $300  to  $500  every  week  and, 
thus  encouraged,  I spent  $10  for  a coat  of 
paint  for  the  lobby.  This  act,  I found, 
completely  ruined  the  fine  business  I had 
built  up,  as  folks  didn’t  feel  at  home  in 
swanky  surroundings. 

“I  have  tried  every  plan  and  have  done 
everything  known  in  this  game,  and  by  a 
streak  of  fortune,  I have  somehow  kept 
out  of  jail. 

“For  the  last  15  years,  I have  been  as- 
sociated in  business  with  Ray  Yockey,  and 
am  glad  to  say  publicly  he’s  the  finest 
man  I’ve  ever  met.  His  counsel  and  as- 
sistance have  been  invaluable  to  me,  and 
together  I believe  we  have  made  a success 
of  our  business. 

“I  can  still  say,  ‘this  is  a great  game  if 
you  don’t  weaken,’  and  hope  to  stay  with 
it  for  many  years  to  come.” 


Learn  About  Decree 

Charlotte,  N.  C. — Manager  Joe  Brecheen 
and  the  RKO  sales  force  met  with  William 
Zimmerman,  of  the  home  office  legal  de- 
partment, to  discuss  the  consent  decree. 


70 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


£TLYDE  WOOTEN,  who  has  been  going 
great  guns  recently  at  the  local  Broad- 
way Theatre  with  one  of  the  best  of  T.  D. 
Kemp  jr.’s  flesh  flashes,  conducted  a novel 
contest  during  the  appearance  of  Pifi 
D’Orsay  and  Lee  Dixon,  supported  by  Fifi’s 
ensemble.  The  letter  contest,  “Why  I 
would  like  a date  with  a movie  star” — the 
prize  for  the  “gal”  was  a real  honest  to 
goodness  date  with  Lee  and  the  boy  win- 
ner a date  with  Pifi. 

Harry  Epting,  of  the  engineering  de- 
partment of  national  Theatre  Supply 
Company  with  headquarters  in  Atlanta,  is 
spending  some  time  in  the  Carolinas  on 
business  . . . Eddie  Carroll  announces  that 
Independent  Theatre  Supply  has  contracts 
to  place  new  chairs  in  the  Oasis  at  Wilson, 
N.  C.  for  Mrs.  Jane  Paradis;  Grand  in 
Greer,  S.  C.,  for  Bill  Drace  and  Opera 
House  in  Weldon,  N.  C„  for  E.  W.  Batch- 
elor. 

Ben  Ralston  of  Sound  Engineering  Serv- 
ice Corp.  is  on  an  extended  trip  through- 
out the  two  states  . . . Mrs.  S.  S.  Stevenson, 
wife  of  S.  S.  Stevenson  of  Henderson,  N.  C„ 
who  has  been  quite  ill  for  some  time,  is 
improving. 

A.  C.  Bromberg  announces  a Republic 
sales  meeting  to  be  held  in  Atlanta  on 
March  3 and  4 . . . The  Try  on  Theatre  has 
the  world’s  premiere  of  Monogram’s  Tex 
Ritter’s  ‘‘Riding  the  Cherokee  Trail,”  with 
the  local  Tennessee  Ramblers  underlined 
for  February  24. 

John  Robinson  of  the  New  Theatre  in 
Old  Fort,  N.  C.,  who  announced  that  he 
would  go  into  war  defense  service  and  turn 
over  the  operation  of  his  theatre  to  W.  A. 
Ashley,  has  reconsidered  and  will  continue 
to  operate  the  theatre  . . . Wilby-Kincey’s 
new  Palmetto  Theatre,  seating  850,  located 
at  East  Main  and  North  Liberty  Streets  in 
Spartanburg,  S.  C.,  will  open  early  in 
April.  This  is  the  fourth  Wilby-Kincey 
house  for  Spartanburg. 

Al  Miller,  who  operates  the  Rivoli  and 
Grand  in  Lincolnton,  N.  C.,  advises  that 
his  new  Century  Theatre,  now  in  the 
course  of  construction,  will  seat  750.  No 
opening  date  is  yet  set. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ernest  Stellings  are  the 
parents  of  a baby  girl,  named  Sandra  Ann. 
Both  mother  and  baby  are  doing  fine. 
Ernest  is  booking  manager  for  Everett 
Enterprises. 

Mrs.  Lester  Sipe  has  entered  a hospital 
in  Miami,  Fla.  She  has  been  ill  for  some 
time  and  was  accompanied  by  Mr.  Sipe, 
who  will  join  a local  fishing  party  at  Fort 
Lauderdale,  Fla.,  if  Mrs.  Sipe’s  condition 
is  improved.  Sipe  has  been  in  the  exhibi- 
tion business  in  the  Carolinas  for  many 
years. 

Tom  Bailey,  eastern  Carolina  salesman 
for  Metro,  is  confined  to  his  home  with 
flu  . . . Ira  Smith,  who  operates  the  Breeze 
Theatre  in  Beaufort,  S.  C„  announces  the 
construction  of  a new  theatre  which  will 
seat  250.  Work  already  has  started. 

Tom  Little,  well  known  exhibitor  in  the 
Carolinas,  paid  a visit  to  Raleigh.  His 
business  associates,  J.  Francis  White  jr. 


of  Asheboro,  N.  C.,  Sam  Craver  and  Frank 
Beddingfield  of  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  and  H.  V. 
Wynn  of  Greenville,  S.  C.,  are  puzzled  at 
this  unusual  urge  on  Tom’s  part  inasmuch 
as  he  hasn’t  been  beyond  the  boundary  of 
Mecklenburg  County  for  the  past  year. 
Was  it  politics  or  his  Wake  Theatre  inter- 
ests there? 

Mrs.  Margaret  Brown,  secretary  to  Man- 
ager Benn  Rosenwald  at  Metro,  is  ill  with 
pneumonia  . . . “Back  Street,”  Universal’s 
revival  of  an  oldie,  must  have  what  it  takes 
to  get  them  up  to  the  boxoffice,  judging 
from  the  “raves”  being  carried  daily  in 
both  Charlotte  papers.  Tom  Fesperman  of 
the  News  and  Dick  Pitts  of  the  Observer 
were  both  guests  at  the  premiere  in  Miami. 

Announcement  is  made  of  the  marriage 
of  Miss  Miriam  Matheson  to  William  Wil- 
son Sharpe.  Mrs.  Sharpe  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Southeastern  Construction 
Company.  Sharpe  is  a salesman  for  Par- 
amount. 

C.  A.  Harper  jr.  announces  that  his  Ann 
Theatre  in  Estill,  S.  C„  has  been  reopened 
after  having  been  closed  for  a time  . . . 
National  Theatre  Supply  has  completed 
the  installation  of  booth  equipment  and 
screen  in  the  St.  Pauls  Theatre,  St.  Pauls, 
N.  C.  The  theatre  is  owned  by  E.  G. 
Pophal. 

Max  Bryant  of  Bryant  Theatre  Supply 
Co.  is  ill  with  flu  at  his  home  in  Rock 
Hill,  S.  C.  . . . Bryant  Supply  C®.  an- 
nounces the  sale  of  lamp  houses  to  Tom 
Fleming  of  the  Sylva  Theatre  in  York, 
S.  C.  . . . Hugh  Anderson,  representative 
of  the  National  Carbon  Co.,  with  head- 
quarters in  Atlanta,  Ga.,  visited  with  his 
local  dealers  during  the  week. 

Harold  Flavin,  who  supplies  several  ma- 
jor distributors  with  advertising  accessor- 
ies, was  in  conference  this  week  with  John 
Mangham,  president  of  Monogram  South- 
ern, who  came  in  from  Atlanta  . . . Wil- 
liam B.  Brenner,  executive  from  the  New 
York  office  of  National  Screen  Service  and 
Advertising  Accessories,  Inc.,  visited  the  lo- 
cal branch,  conferring  with  Manager  Bob 
Simril  and  the  sales  staff. 

M.  L.  Stevens,  eastern  salesman  for 
Monogram-Southern,  is  seriously  ill  in  the 
King  Cotton  Hotel  in  Greensboro,  N.  C.  . . . 
John  Bachman,  manager  of  the  local  War- 
ner office,  attended  the  North  Carolina 
legislative  session  during  the  past  week — 
awaiting  his  chance  to  get  the  attention 
of  our  busy  exhibitor  senator,  Roy  Rowe, 
of  Burgaw,  N.  C.  Result  was  a contract 
for  Johnny. 

John  Mangham,  president  of  Monogram- 
Southern,  held  a sales  meeting  with  his 
Charlotte  force,  which  is  managed  by  Jack 
Lamont.  Mangham  stated  that  sales  plans 
and  product  for  the  new  season  were  dis- 
cussed— with  considerable  attention  given 
to  the  consent  decree.  He  will  fly  from 


The  Queen  Feature  Service,  Inc. 

Quality  Theatre  Equipment  & Supplies 

19152 Vs  Morris  Ave.  Phone  3-8665 

BIRMINGHAM,  ALA. 


Charlotte  to  New  Orleans  and  then  to 
Memphis. 

Alice  Montague,  Universal  biller,  was 
married  to  John  “Red”  Polk  recently.  John 
is  connected  with  the  Union  Storage  and 
Warehouse  Co.  Mrs.  Polk  will  continue 
with  Universal  after  a short  honeymoon. 
. . . Ray  Erwin,  Metro  salesman  for  South 
Carolina,  and  western  North  Carolina,  is 
back  in  the  fold  after  an  attack  of  flu. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morris  Nuger,  who  operate 
the  Grand  in  Charlotte,  were  weekend 
guests  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sam  Reevin,  who 
have  the  Lyric  in  Sumter,  S.  C.  Reevin 
has  just  completed  the  reseating  of  the 
Lyric.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reevin  will  attend 
the  Zionist  Convention  at  the  Hotel  Char- 
lotte this  week. 

“Rosy”  Rosenblatt  of  Theatrical  Engi- 
neering has  secured  a sound  service  con- 
tract with  P.  C.  Osteen  jr.  for  his  Carolina 
Theatre  in  Anderson,  S.  C.  . . . C.  G. 
Lawing  has  closed  his  Badin  in  Badin, 
N.  C.  He  will  continue  to  operate  the  Nor- 
wood Theatre  in  Norwood,  N.  C.,  and  the 
Roxie  in  Albemarle,  N.  C.  . . . Ralph  Mc- 
Coy, southeastern  district  manager  for 
Warner,  spent  the  weekend  with  Manager 
Johnny  Backman. 

It  looked  like  a convention  on  the  Row 
this  week — visitors  were:  Mrs.  H.  T.  Green, 
Hollywood  Theatre,  Manning,  S.  C.;  S. 
(Staff)  G.  Rogers,  Chatham,  Pittsboro, 
(Continued  on  page  72-C) 


Like  a Flash 


of  Lightning — 

KOZONO 

purifies  the  air  in  your  theatre 
and  absolutely  ELIMINATES 
ALL  ODORS  ..  . 

Lightning  purifies  the  air  outdoors 
after  an  electrical  storm  by  the  gen- 
eration of  Ozone.  KOZONO  oper- 
ates on  exactly  the  same  principle 
to  purify  your  theatre  air  indoors. 
KOZONO  ELIMINATES  all  odors  — 
DESTROYS  BACTERIA  AND  REVI- 
TALIZES THE  ATMOSPHERE.  Costs 
only  a few  cents  a day  to  operate 
— an  investment  that  NO  theatre 
can  afford  to  be  without.  WRITE 
FOR  COMPLETE  DETAILS,  AND 
LIST  OF  USERS. 

THE  KOZONO  COMPANY 

Dept.  B,  123  W.  Trade  Street 
CHARLOTTE,  N.  C. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


71 


ft  s\ 

Concerning  Florida. 

^ ■ ■ —jj 


By  A.  JULES  BENEDIC 

Tampa — As  we  trip  into  Tampa  for  a tus- 
sle with  local  cinematic  caliphs,  folks  are 
wearing  overcoats  on  this,  the  coldest  day 
of  the  year  so  far.  It’s  just  one  of  those 
things,  so  to  speak,  a temporary  touch  of 
the  cold  weather,  but  not  so  cold  as  Kan- 
sas City,  for  example,  which  the  paper 
says  registers  14  above,  while  we  down 
here  shiver  in  the  early  forties.  Trotting  to 
the  Tampa,  the  city’s  largest  theatre,  ace 
house  on  the  Sparks  circuit,  we  induce  Vin- 
cent Wade,  manager,  and  Bert  Stephens, 
assistant,  to  pose  for  a photograph.  This 
was  on  Sunday,  and  a few  hours  later  both 
were  held  up,  tied  and  robbed,  the  bandits 
departing  with  some  $3,200  receipts.  A 
clever  stunt,  with  the  bandit  pair  planning 
the  thing  in  advance.  One  of  them  posed 
as  a patron  who  had  earlier  lost  a card- 
case,  and  so  gained  entrance  to  the  office. 

Telling  the  story  to  officers,  Stephens 
said  one  of  the  men  entered  the  office, 
held  him  up,  while  the  other  bound  and 
gagged  Manager  Wade.  Telephone  wires 
were  then  cut;  the  assistant  forced  to 
open  the  safe,  then  the  second  executive 
was  bound  and  gagged.  The  money  was 
placed  in  paper  bags. 

Pre-View  of  Pirates'  Visitation 

The  robbery  was  pulled  a day  in  advance 
of  the  local  Pirate  Festival,  a Gasparilla 
event  that  draws  thousands  to  this  lively 
resort  city.  “Pirates”  invaded  the  city  Mon- 
day, while  the  Sunday  theatre  event  was  in 
the  nature  of  a preview,  so  to  speak.  A 
close  check  showed  that  neither  the  thin 
man,  nor  the  fat  man,  as  identified  by 
their  victims,  were  members  of  the  local 
Gasparilla  Krewe,  a carnival  organization 
patterned  along  the  lines  of  those  which 
make  merry  in  New  Orleans  during  the 
Mardi  Gras  season. 

We  ease  to  Ybor  (pronounced  E-bor), 
that  delightful  Cuban  adjunct  to  Tampa, 
celebrated  for  cigars,  cuisine  and  dark-eyed 
senoritas,  our  mission  partly  to  interview 
E.  N.  Creek  and  George  Stonaris,  exhibi- 
tors de  la  cinema.  Partly,  too,  to  have  one 
of  those  tables  de  hote  at  Cafe  Columbia. 
This  column  may  have  prated,  in  the  past, 
of  delectable  dishes  at  The  Original  in  San 
Antonio;  at  Antonie’s  in  New  Orleans,  at 
Yashimini’s  in  Piedras  Negras,  or  at  the 
Ruby  Foo  joints  in  New  York  and  Boston, 
respectively,  but  for  genuine  Latin-Ameri- 
can  seven-course  repasts,  the  Columbia  is 
four  deuces  in  a wild  deck.  Not  to  take 
away  credit,  at  that,  from  Los  Novedades 
and  other  Cuban  restaurants  in  this  bit  of 
Havana;  it’s  the  general  atmosphere  and 
old-world  cooking  that  woos  so  many 
tourists. 

It’s  a cold,  bleak  Domingo,  but  that  does 
not  deter  these  dark-orbed  Cuban-Ameri- 
cans  from  attendance  at  their  favorite 
cinema,  and  all  the  shows — the  Broadway, 
Ritz,  Casino,  Royal,  are  well  attended.  We 
consult  with  Mr.  Creek  at  his  Ritz  Thea- 
tre office;  Mr.  Stonaris  is  caught  on  the 
fly,  so  to  speak,  on  his  way  to  the  Broad- 
way. 

Gore  at  the  Helm  of  Five 

Back  in  Tampa,  we  renew  acquaintance 
with  B.  E.  Gore,  irrepressible  Tampan  who 


never  said  quit  in  his  life,  and  find  B.  E. 
at  the  helm  of  the  State,  offering  first-run 
Warner,  as  well  as  at  the  Rialto,  a subse- 
quent run  house.  In  addition,  Mr.  Gore  will 
open  his  new  Howard,  a suburban,  approxi- 
mately February  23,  while  his  Northtown, 
also  in  the  suburbs,  is  expected  to  open 
60  days  after.  These  houses,  with  an  in- 
terest in  the  Broadway  at  Ybor  City,  give 
this  exhibitor  a quintet  of  operations  in 
the  Tampa  metropolitan  area. 

We  ramble  to  the  Rex,  for  a confab  with 
Mr.  Livingston,  then  find  that  Manager 
Laird  of  Republic,  the  solo  exchange  in 
Florida,  is  away  on  business,  so  we  photo- 
graph the  office  force  instead,  including 
Office  Manager  J.  E.  Thrift. 

Tripping  to  Tarpon  Springs,  we  ramble 
’round  a bit  with  Charles  H.  Richelieu, 
who  erected  in  this  competitive  spot  a 


theatre  patterned  after  an  arcade,  enjoy- 
ing fair  business.  Mr.  Richelieu  has  an 
idea,  which  he  bounced  at  us,  to  the  ef- 
fect that  all  talking  pictures  should  have 
silent  interludes.  He  promised  to  enlarge 
on  his  theory  and  pound  out  a story  of  his 
own,  so  here’s  hoping  ...  St.  Pete  is  an- 
other port  of  call,  where  we  renew  ac- 
quaintance with  the  Boardman  brothers  at 
The  Playhouse  and  find  Bob  Boardman 
recovering  nicely  after  an  illness  of  some 
four  months’  duration. 

Readers  Aghast  at  Auburn  Trade 

Of  late  our  readers  may  have  wondered 
why  there  was  no  references  to  the  hybrid 
Auburn,  a more  or  less  animated  gasoline 
wagon  which  since  last  April  rolled  or  was 
pushed  over  most  of  a score  of  states.  The 
Auburn  is  now  no  more,  at  least  under 
instant  auspices,  having  been  traded  in  on 
a reissue  model  of  Plymouth,  a car  some 
years  younger,  not  a ’41,  to  be  sure,  but 
propelled  under  its  own  power,  at  least  to 
date. 

News  of  the  daring  trade,  accomplished 
in  Jacksonville,  was  received  with  mingled 
feeling  when  transmitted  to  two  exchange 
centers.  Pauline  Griffith,  at  Charlotte,  re- 
ported these  interviews: 

From  Sam  Perry,  proprietor  of  the  Hol- 
lywood Grill,  a Filmrow  hangout: 

“The  trade  comes  as  a distinct  blow  to 
my  organization.  Every  time  the  Auburn 
was  parked  in  front  of  my  joint,  folks 
came  from  miles  around,  to  see  why  it  ran 
at  all.  We  will  feel  keenly  the  loss  in  busi- 
ness.” 

Repair  men’s  organizations  of  both  North 
and  South  Carolina  passed  resolutions  of 
regret  after  being  apprised  on  the  new 
deal.  Particularly  was  consternation  rife  in 
South  Carolina,  where  the  motorized 
monstrosity  passed  its  declining  weeks.  In 
the  welding  personnel,  particularly,  there 
were  numerous  cancellations  of  Florida 
trips. 


Everett  Refuses  to  Comment 
Heck  Everett,  head  of  the  theatre  circuit 
bearing  his  name,  said  he  was  too  busy 
barking  on  the  Variety  club  to  mess  with 
the  incident,  while  Roy  Springer,  MPA 
salesman  with  headquarters  at  Thomas- 
ville,  could  not  be  located  for  comment. 

“We  have  enough  to  cope  within  the 
local  flu  situation,”  said  Larry  Waters, 
caliph  at  Cinema  Charlotte,  “without  any 
new  worries.  At  any  rate,  I will  take  what- 
ever stand  is  opposite  to  that  of  Sam 
Perry,  who  was  never  right  in  his  life.” 


Concerning  People — 

The  roving  Boxoffice  camera  in 
the  hands  of  Roving  Reporter  A.  Jules 
Benedic  catches  these  trade  figures  in 
Jacksonville.  At  the  top,  Mrs.  M.  C. 
Moore  on  a shopping  tour.  She  is  the 
wife  of  the  rajah  of  the  Riverside  in 
Jacksonville,  who  also  is  the  perennial 
president  of  the  Southeastern  Theatre 
Owners  Ass’n.  Center : Guy  Kenimer, 
left,  city  and  division  manager  for  the 
Sparks  circuit,  and  Robert  Heekin, 
the  Florida’s  co-pilot.  At  the  bottom, 
combination  businessing  and  pleasur- 
ing are,  left  to  right,  RCA’s  W.  L. 
Jones,  service  manager;  Ed  Auger, 
goodwill  ambassador,  and  Homer  B. 
Snook,  general  sales  manager  of  RCA 
Photophone. 


72 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


JJ  I.  “BUDDY”  MANSFIELD,  Universal’s 
branch  manager,  is  back  at  his  desk 
after  several  days  in  Chicago,  where  the 
national  sales  convention  was  held  . . . 
M.  B.  Hasty  of  the  Joy  at  Dardanelle,  Ark., 
made  his  regular  monthly  booking  trip  . . . 
Dwight  Blissard  of  the  Okolona  at  Oko- 
lona,  Miss.,  was  elected  president  of  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce  there. 

John  Mohrstadt  of  the  Missouri  at  Hayti, 
Mo.,  a recent  visitor  . . . Nathan  Flexer  of 
the  Waverly  at  Waverly,  Tenn.,  made  a 
flying  trip  to  Memphis  last  week.  Some 
of  his  projection  equipment  needed  repair- 
ing so  he  brought  the  defective  parts  with 
him.  He  was  home  the  same  day  to  start 
the  show. 

Tallulah  Bankhead  played  at  the  Ellis 
Auditorium  Saturday  with  a matinee  and 
evening  performance  of  “Little  Foxes,”  to 
capacity  crowds  . . . Sid  Metcalf  of  the 
Petit  Jean  at  Morrillton,  Ark.,  was  a most 
unusual  filmrow  visitor  this  past  week  . . . 
M.  Stephens  of  the  Stephens  at  Sherman, 
Miss.,  is  off  to  Rockford,  111.,  for  a two 
week  vacation.  Mrs.  Stephens  is  manag- 
ing the  theatre  during  his  absence. 

"Pop”  Stockard,  who  formerly  was 
checking  supervisor  for  Warner,  was  on 
the  Row  this  past  week,  with  the  aid  of 
crutches.  Pop  slipped  several  weeks  ago 
and  sprained  his  leg,  and  he  was  en  route 
to  Hot  Springs  for  treatment. 

Carl  Christian,  who  owns  and  operates 
a chain  of  theatres  in  Ark.,  spent  a couple 
of  days  on  the  Row,  advancing  his  book- 
ings . . . John  Mangham,  president  of 
Monogram  Southern  exchanges,  spent  sev- 
eral days  in  Memphis  with  his  local  man- 
ager, Bill  Osborne  . . . John  Staples  of  the 
Franklin,  Piggott,  Ark.,  another  visitor. 

Harry  Martin,  film  critic  on  the  Com- 
mercial Appeal,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bob 
Johnson,  he  the  critic  on  the  Press  Scim- 
itar, are  back  in  Memphis  after  a week 
in  Miami  for  the  vjorld  premiere  of  “ Back 
Street”  . . . Heck  Everett,  who  is  well 
known  in  the  Memphis  theatre  circles, 
spent  a short  time  on  the  Row  last  week 
seeing  old  friends.  He  was  en  route  to 
Charlotte  after  a visit  in  Dallas. 

An  infrequent  visitor  this  week  was  Ray 
Morrow,  R & R’s  partner  in  Malvern,  Ark. 

. . . L.  R.  Allen,  Commonwealth  circuit 
booker,  in  Kansas  City  together  with  K.  K. 
King,  of  Searcy,  Ark.,  spent  a couple  of 
days  on  the  Row  . . . A1  Wilson  of  the  Bay 
at  Red  Bay,  Ala.,  is  up  and  about  again 
after  several  days  siege  with  the  flu  . . . 
Burris  Smith  of  the  Imperial,  Pocahontas, 
Ark.,  was  in  for  the  first  time  in  several 
weeks. 


Book  "Devil  Bat" 

Dallas-- Interstate  circuit  has  signed 
PRC’s  “The  Devil  Bat”  for  four  of  its  de- 
luxe houses:  the  Majestic,  Dallas;  Worth, 
Ft.  Worth;  Majestic,  San  Antonio;  Or- 
pheum,  Waco.  “Devil  Bat”  is  booked  for 
a midnight  spook  show  in  conjunction  with 
a stage  presentation,  at  the  aforemen- 
tioned theatres. 


(t >1 

Discuss  Blue  Ribbon 
Films  in  Dallas 

Dallas  — Discussions  on  BOXOFFICE 
Blue  Ribbon  Award  pictures  were  held 
Monday  at  the  Melrose  Hotel  during  a 
meeting  of  the  Dallas  Motion  Picture 
Council.  Mrs.  Clarence  Echols  presided. 

A report  on  the  Blue  Ribbon  Award  of 
the  National  Screen  Council,  sponsored 
by  this  trade  paper,  and  given  to  the 
best  family  picture  of  the  month,  was 
read  by  Miss  Mary  Ryburn.  It  included 
the  January  selection,  “Philadelphia 
Story." 

Mrs.  J.  Howard  Payne,  wife  of  the 
Dallas  Postmaster,  talked  on  “Documen- 
tary Films."  Another  talk  was  made  on 
“Gain  in  Popularity  of  Westerns." 

^ 0 


— Boutet-Lyons  Photos 

Hugh,  Both  of  Them,  Well-Wished — 

A scene  at  a dinner  in  Dallas  to  honor  Hugh  Owen,  new  Paramount  district 
manager,  and  Hugh  Braly,  returned  to  his  west  coast  district  by  the  same 
company.  The  top  picture  is  of  Owen,  a belated  shot  that  trails  by  a couple 
of  weeks  the  reproduction  of  Braly’s  likeness.  In  the  bottom  photo,  left  to 
right,  at  the  head  table  are  Mrs.  C.  L.  Dees;  C.  L.  Dees,  Oklahoma  City  man- 
ager; Mrs.  L.  W.  McClintock;  L.  W.  McClintock,  Dallas  manager;  Mrs.  Hugh 
and  Hugh  Braly;  Toastmaster  C.  H.  (Buck)  Weaver,  Dallas  sales  manager; 
Hugh  Owen;  Miss  Rosemary  Sullivan;  Bill  Bugie,  Memphis  manager,  and 
Mrs.  Weaver.  In  the  left  foreground  is  Lloyd  Henrich,  chief  accountant  for 
the  Dallas  area;  in  the  right  foreground,  Jim  Ryan,  east  Texas  salesman.  All 
the  titles  belong  to  Paramount,  of  course. 


Columbia  Drive 

Dallas — Columbia  Pictures  is  next  in 
line  for  a nationwide  drive,  according  to 
Branch  Manager  J.  B.  Underwood.  It  is 
called  “Exhibitors  Good  Will  Drive”  and 
is  booked  for  March  1 through  April  30. 


Third  Week  for  "GWTW" 

Nashville,  Tenn.— “GWTW”  has  played 
to  capacity  audiences  at  Loew’s  for  two 
weeks  and  is  now  in  its  third.  The  original 
run  was  for  seven  weeks.  “Virginia”  is 
having  a full-house  run  at  the  Paramount. 


Redecorate  at  Harriman,  Tenn. 

Harriman,  Tenn. — The  Webbo  Theatre 
has  recently  undergone  remodeling,  getting 
a new  marquee  and  redecorated  interior. 


RSTOR  PICTURES 

Harwood  and  Jackson  Streets 
DALLAS,  TEXAS 


BUFFALO  COOLING  EQUIPMENT 

1026  SANTA  FE  BLDG.  BUFFALO  ENGINEERING  CO.,  INC.  DALLAS,  TEXAS 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


72-A 


A Y 1IL  A M T A 

]y[RS.  THELMA  JOHNSON,  who  some 
time  ago  was  connected  with  United 
Artists,  will  take  over  duties  as  secretary 
to  John  Mangham  and  P.  H.  Savin,  Mono- 
gram Southern  Exchanges,  this  week  . . . 
Bill  Nix,  of  the  Jam-Handy  Organization 
of  Detroit,  was  a visitor  for  several  days. 

Miss  Mary  Baker,  20th  Fox,  will  resign 
to  be  married  to  a young  man  in  Knoxville, 
Tenn.,  on  February  22. 

Mrs.  Bernice  Wadsworth  has  resigned 
as  secretary  for  Monogram  Southern  Ex- 
change to  accept  a similar  post  with  Ben- 
ton Bros.  Express  . . . Kay  and  Claude 
Norton  (she  is  boxoffice  clerk  for  Warner) 
have  moved  into  their  new  home  at  Hape- 
ville,  Ga. 

Among  visitors:  Frank  Dowler  and  son, 
Dixie  Operating  Co.,  Chattanooga,  Tenn.; 
J.  E.  Duncan,  Playhouse,  Carrollton,  Ga.; 
Paul  Kelly,  Loma,  Lawrenceville,  Ga.;  Mrs. 
Violet  Edwards,  Royal,  Monticello,  Ga.; 
Ernest  Ingram,  Ashland,  Ashland,  Ala.; 
A.  H.  Dainwood,  Marengo,  Demopolis,  Ala.; 
and  T.  E.  Watson,  Strand,  Montevallo,  Ala. 
Lester  Neely  jr.  also  on  the  Row  booking 
for  the  Neely  Theatres,  Marion,  Ala. 

John  Jenkins,  Consolidated  National 
Film  Exchange,  will  leave  for  Chicago  this 
weekend,  where  he  will  meet  Ted  Toddy 
to  select  a location  for  a new  office  there 
. . . J.  U.  McCormick,  Amity  Exchange,  is 
traveling  Tennessee  and  Howard  Wallace, 
Sack  Amusement  Co.,  is  covering  the  Car- 
olinas. 

Thelma  Rowden,  Affiliated  Producers, 
lost  her  brother  . . : John  Mangham,  Mon- 
ogram Southern  Exchanges,  is  on  a tour  of 
his  offices  this  week. 

Winston  W.  Sharp  has  been  named  man- 
ager of  the  Techwood  Theatre,  replacing 
Doug  Avey,  who  has  been  called  to  the 
colors  . . . Mayor  T.  K.  Jones,  Ritz,  Dade- 
ville,  Ala.,  brings  the  news  that  his  cashier, 
Miss  Sara  Parrish,  was  married  to  his 
head  usher,  Mack  Millican,  January  25. 

Theatrical  Printing  Company  has  in- 
stalled the  very  latest  in  offset  equipment 
a?id  is  the  only  printer  in  the  Southeast 
offering  heralds  and  programs  printed  by 
this  new  process. 


Warner  Sales  Meet 

Atlanta — Norman  H.  Moray,  Vitaphone 
sales  manager,  was  in  town  Monday  and 
Tuesday  for  a sales  meeting  with  Atlanta 
salesmen,  branch  manager  and  district 
manager. 


C.  A.  Harper  Sr.  Beaten,  Robbed 

Estill,  S.  C. — C.  A.  Harper  sr.,  father 
of  C.  A.  jr.,  who  operates  the  Ann  Theatre 
here,  was  found  in  his  car  on  the  main 
street.  He  had  been  badly  beaten  and 
robbed. 


Safecrackers  Rob  Royal 

Atlanta — Bailey’s  Royal  Theatre,  232 
Auburn  Avenue,  lost  $150  to  safecrackers. 


Managers  Victimized 
In  $3,200  Robbery 


Tampa — Pictured  above  in  order  are  Bert 
Stephens,  assistant,  and  Vincent  Wade, 
manager  of  the  Tampa  Theatre  here,  ace 
house  of  the  Sparks  circuit.  They  were 
held  up  in  a daring  Sunday  night  robbery, 
bound  and  gagged,  while  two  bandits  es- 
caped with  more  than  $3,200  in  cash,  re- 
ceipts from  several  Tampa  houses. 

Boxoffice’s  roving  reporter  snapped 
the  picture  about  six  hours  before  the  rob- 
bery, not  realizing  that  the  two  men  so 
soon  would  be  in  the  public  eye.  Later 
Stephens  and  Wade  were  the  subjects  of 
front  page  publicity;  local  newscameras 
snapping  them  from  several  angles  in 
showing  how  the  robbery  was  accom- 
plished. 


JHE  DRIVE-IN  on  the  lake  front  has  re- 
opened with  two  shows  nightly  ...  A 
farewell  party  was  staged  at  a downtown 
hotel  in  honor  of  S.  W.  M.  Richardson, 
local  manager  of  Universal,  who  has  been 
transferred  to  Atlanta  . . . Shirley  Krebs, 
the  “voice”  of  Minnie  Mouse,  was  in  the 
city  last  week  while  en  route  to  Dallas  to 
meet  her  husband,  Connie  Krebs  of  RKO. 

Richard  A.  Rowland,  UA  producer,  was 
here  for  the  private  screening  of  his 
“Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop”  . . . Accompanied 
by  her  mother,  Deanna  Durbin,  en  route 
from  Miami  to  Hollywood,  spent  several 
days  here  shopping. 

Inasmuch  as  the  groundhog  failed  to 
show  last  week,  W.  A.  Hodges,  local  man- 
ager for  National  Theatre  Supply,  was  tell- 
ing Fred  Goodrow  of  Atlantic  Films  that 
he  had  seen  a dozen  robins  in  his  back 
yard!  . . . Visitors  were  exceedingly  scarce 
the  past  week. 


Bijou  Amusement  Co. 
Remodels  Carolina  Duo 

Nashville,  Tenn. — The  Bijou  Amuse- 
ment Co.  has  let  contract  for  complete  re- 
modeling jobs  on  the  Capitol  Theatre  at 
Columbia,  S.  C„  and  the  Eagle  Theatre, 
Asheville,  N.  C. 


pRANCISCO  and  his  midnight  Spook 

Frolic  dualed  with  “The  Ape”  (Mono- 
gram) February  10  at  the  Paramount  . . . 
Carole  B.  Heliums,  daughter  of  Capitol 
Manager  Bill  Heliums,  celebrating  her 
third  birthday  . . . Bobby  Robbins  of  the 
same  theatre  is  back  on  the  job  after 
being  laid  low  by  the  flu  . . . State  Man- 
ager Earl  Podolnick  sporting  a new  pair  of 
cowboy  boots. 

Kenneth  Francis,  the  State  usher,  asks 
what  do  you  do  in  a case  like  this:  He  gets 
his  B.  A.  from  the  University  of  Texas  on 
June  9,  then  on  July  1 he  goes  into  the 
Army  for  a year’s  service  . . . Joseph’s 
Drive-In  on  the  Dallas  Highway  doubled 
up  a first-run  film,  “Torpedo  Raider” 
(Monogram) , and  “Cavalcade  of  Texas.” 

“The  Man  Who  Came  to  Dinner”  will 
play  a one-night  stand  at  the  Paramount 
February  21  . . . John  Mason  Brown,  New 
York  drama  critic,  will  lecture  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Curtain  Club  at  the  Var- 
sity, February  21  . . . Petitions  signed  by 
U.  of  T.  students  are  seeking  to  put  a 
local  band,  Bobby  Hammack  and  his  or- 
chestra, on  the  NBC  Fitch  Bandwagon  . . . 
An  item  in  Boxoffice  about  Irwin  Waite 
recently  brought  him  more  than  twoscore 
letters  of  congratulation. 


Wil-kin  Installations 

Charlotte — Wil-Kin  Theatre  Supply  an- 
nounces recent  equipment  installations  in 
the  following  Carolina  theatres:  Palace, 
Thomasville,  N.  C„  operated  by  John 
Prevo;  Raeford,  Raeford,  N.  C„  J.  B.  Mc- 
Intyre; Ambassador,  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  North 
Carolina  Theatres,  Inc.;  Carolina,  Golds- 
boro, N.  C.,  North  Carolina  Theatres,  Inc.; 
Rex,  Sumter,  S.  C.,  Palmetto  Theatres, 
Inc.;  Bailey,  Wilmington,  N.  C„  North 
Carolina  Theatres,  Inc.;  Carolina,  Kins- 
ton, N C.,  A.  B.  Huff;  Colonial,  Florence, 
S.  C„  Florence  Theatres  Co.;  Capitol, 
Raleigh,  N.  C.,  North  Carolina  Theatres, 
Inc.;  Reliance,  Orangeburg,  S.  C„  J.  I. 
Sims;  Drake,  Wilson,  N.  C„  Worth  Stew- 
art, and  Carolina,  Burlington,  N.  C.,  North 
Carolina  Theatres,  Inc. 


College  Theatre  Draws 

Rock  Hill,  S.  C.  — Winthrop  College, 
with  a new  modem  auditorium,  is  present- 
ing attractions  that  are  drawing  large 
audiences  from  near-by  towns.  On  Feb- 
ruary 7 Helen  Jepson,  Metropolitan  so- 
prano, appeared  to  capacity  business.  She 
was  followed  by  the  San  Carlo  Opera  Com- 
pany. Underlined  for  March  4 is  Tallulah 
Bankhead  in  “The  Little  Foxes.” 


Monogram  Transfers 

Atlanta — Harold  M.  Cohen  has  been 
appointed  branch  manager  of  Monogram 
Southern  Exchanges  in  New  Orleans.  J. 
Harry  Spann,  formerly  manager  in  New 
Orleans,  has  been  transferred  to  Atlanta. 


Charles  Hopper  Wed 

Humboldt,  Tenn.  — Charles  Hopper,  of 
the  Rex  Theatre,  was  recently  married  to 
Miss  Emma  Louise  James. 


72-B 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


HOUSTON 

LOEW’S  STATE  held  over  “Gone  With 

the  Wind”  for  the  third  week  with  at- 
tendance bolstered  by  the  crowd  drawn  to 
town  to  see  the  Fat  Stock  Show.  Recent 
change  has  Leroy  Roye  replacing  Felix 
Fabian,  as  chief  of  service. 

Suburban  Interstate  houses,  finding 
stage  acts  to  be  what  they  need,  have  con- 
tinued using  them  at  the  Saturday  Popeye 
Clubs. 

Miss  Ruby  Patton,  Bluebonnet  cashier, 
recently  announced  that  she  has  been  mar- 
ried to  Zelmon  Tyree  of  Baytown,  Texas, 
since  January  25  . . . Next  Music  Hall  at- 
traction is  “The  Man  Who  Came  to  Din- 
ner” on  February  19  . . . Johnny,  the 
Phillip  Morris  boy,  made  an  appearance 
with  the  “Sing  for  Dough”  stage  act  at 
the  Met  on  February  7. 


New  LOOO-Seater  Gets 
Under  Way  in  Roanoke 

Roanoke,  Ala. — T.  A.  McDougald,  man- 
ager of  the  Ritz  Theatre,  reports  construc- 
tion has  started  on  a new  house,  to  be 
owned  and  operated  by  Martin  Theatres  of 
Columbus,  Ga. 

The  new  theatre  will  seat  1,000  and  will 
be  named  the  Bama.  It  is  expected  to 
open  in  May. 


No  Pine  Bluff  Fire 

Pine  Bluff,  Ark. — William  G.  Clark, 
manager  of  the  Alamo  here,  refutes  a re- 
port carried  in  the  preceding  issue  of  a 
booth  fire  in  his  theatre,  with  the  declara- 
tion that  there  has  been  nothing  of  the 
sort  in  the  “12  year  history  of  the  theatre.” 


Paramount  Conference 

Charlotte,  N.  C. — Austin  C.  Keough, 
vice  president  and  chief  counsel  of  Para- 
mount Pictures,  and  John  F.  Kirby,  south- 
eastern district  manager,  conferred  with 
local  manager  Scott  Lett  and  the  selling 
organization  regarding  the  consent  decree. 


Remodel  Ritz  at  Bruceton 

Bruceton,  Tenn.  — A new  front  and 
ticket  office  for  the  Ritz  Theatre  and  re- 
modeling and  redecoration  of  the  interior 
has  been  completed.  The  front  is  of  struc- 
tural glass. 


A.  B.  McCoy  Convalescing 

Conway,  S.  C. — A.  B.  McCoy  of  the  Car- 
olina Theatre,  who  has  been  confined  for 
some  time  by  illness,  was  able  to  be  in 
his  office  for  a short  time  during  the  past 
week. 


Paradis  Enters  Hospital 

Wilson,  N.  C. — Jane  Gregson  Paradis, 
owner  of  the  Oasis,  has  entered  a hospital 
for  observation. 


"Heaven  Can  Wait"  for  Miller 

Hollywood — Seton  I.  Miller  is  adapt- 
ing “Heaven  Can  Wait”  for  Columbia  from 
a play  by  Harry  Segal.  Everett  Riskin 
will  produce. 


Side  Shots  on  a Premiere— 


(Continued  from  page  71) 

N.  C.;  W.  P.  Benner,  Wm.  Penn  Theatre, 
Carthage,  N.  C.  and  the  Village  Theatre, 
Hemp,  N.  C.;  Mrs.  Runa  E.  Curtis,  Curtis, 
Liberty,  N.  C.;  W.  H.  Smith,  Pal,  Fairfax, 
S.  C.;  C.  M.  Bowden,  Palace,  New  Bern,  N. 
C.;  Ira  Smith,  Breeze,  Beaufort,  S.  C.; 

O.  A.  Hill,  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Theatre,  Ware 
Shoals,  S.  C.;  John  A.  Murrary,  Calhoun, 
St.  Matthews,  S.  C.;  F.  C.  Hanks,  Avon, 
Lenoir,  N.  C.;  W.  S.  Walker,  Gem,  Sum- 
merton,  S.  C.;  George  Ward,  Colonial, 
Chesnee,  S.  C.;  John  O.  Robinson,  New, 
Old  Fort,  N.  C.;  A.  B.  Huff,  Carolina,  Para- 
mount and  Oasis  theatres,  Kinston,  N.  C. 

H.  E.  Wessinger,  Carolina,  Lexington, 
S.  C.;  E.  L.  Hearne,  Alameda  Theatre,  Al- 
bemarle, N.  C.;  Vern  and  Fin  Davis,  Mi- 
mosa and  Alva  theatres,  Morganton,  N.  C.; 
W.  D.  VanDerburgh,  Pageland,  Pageland, 
S.  C.;  Jeff  Wilson,  Biscoe,  Biscoe,  N.  C.; 
Dan  Holt,  Troy,  Troy,  N.  C.;  N.  W.  Land, 
Gilmont,  Mt.  Gilead,  N.  C.;  G.  L.  Faw, 
Dixie,  Troy,  N.  C.;  B.  B.  Horton  of  the 
Rialto  in  Greer  S.  C„  the  Red  Springs  in 
Red  Springs,  N.  C.,  the  State  in  Inman, 
S.  C.,  and  the  State  in  Concord,  N.  C.; 
J.  W.  Wactor  and  T.  M.  Ulmer  of  the  Holly 
in  Holly  Hill,  S.  C„  and  the  Calhoun  The- 
atre in  St.  Matthews,  S.  C. 

E.  L.  Carroll,  Roxie,  Bessemer  City,  N. 
C.;  J.  W.  Griffin,  Romina  and  Pastime 
theatres  in  Forest  City,  N.  C.;  R.  D.  Mc- 
Gowan, Nash  Theatre,  Spring  Hope,  N.  C.; 

P.  J.  Caudell,  Blair  Theatre,  Marshville, 
N.  C.,  and  Wanoca  Theatre,  Wallace,  N.  C.; 
J.  M.  Sellers,  Blacksburg  Theatre,  Blacks- 
burg, S.  C.;  George  D.  Carpenter  of  the 
Colonial,  Valdese,  N.  C.,  Patovi,  Madison, 
N.  C.,  Main,  Granite  Falls,  N.  C.,  and  C.  R. 
Andrews,  Lyric,  Bishopville,  S.  C. 


Adapts  “Babes  on  Broadway" 

Hollywood — Fred  Finklehoffe  is  adapt- 
ing “Babes  on  Broadway,”  forthcoming 
Metro  musical. 


"Mary  Dugan"  Makes 
Debut  in  Memphis 

Memphis — The  world  premiere  of  Metro’s 
“The  Trial  of  Mary  Dugan”  was  held  here 
Thursday  at  Loew’s  Palace.  The  first  pre- 
miere in  Memphis  theatrical  history,  it 
was  sponsored  by  the  Press  Scimitar  as  a 
benefit  for  Greek  war  relief.  Tickets  sold 
for  $1. 

Augmenting  the  film  program  was  a 
stage  show  featuring  Ray  Kinney’s  or- 
chestra and  the  Five  Aloha  Maids  from  the 
Hotel  Claridge,  and  Blue  Baron  and  his 
band,  here  for  an  engagement  at  the  Hotel 
Peabody. 

Probe  Cash  Prize  Fraud 
Charge  in  Springfield 

Springfield,  Tenn. — Judge  Dancey  Fort 
has  ordered  the  Robertson  county  grand 
jury  to  investigate  the  recent  Bank  Night 
fraud  at  the  local  Capitol  Theatre,  owned 
by  the  Crescent  Amusement  Co.,  of  Nash- 
ville. 

Two  people  are  waiting  trial  on  charges 
of  winning  a $600  prize  by  substituting 
bogus  tickets,  but  there  has  been  official 
criticism  of  the  theatre  management  and 
charges  of  negligence  on  their  part.  Bank 
Night  at  the  Capitol  has  been  postponed 
until  the  matter  is  completely  cleared.  The 
charges  of  negligence  have  been  denied  by 
the  manager  of  the  theatre. 


Lee  Sells  to  Evans 

Memphis — W.  R.  Lee,  who  for  the  past 
couple  of  years  has  operated  the  Lee  at 
Mt.  View,  Ark.,  and  the  Gem  at  Heber 
Springs,  advised  that  effective  February 
15,  he  was  selling  his  house  in  Mt.  View 
to  M.  H.  Evans.  Lee  will  continue  to  op- 
erate Heber  Springs.  Evans  is  a brother 
of  the  exhibitor  in  Mt.  Pine,  Ark. 


The  camera  apparently  was  awed  by  the  magnitude  of  the  doings  at  the 
premiere  in  Miami  of  Universal’s  “Back  Street”  and  managed  to  wangle  only 
a couple  of  shots — but  good  ones.  Above  are  Deanna  Durbin,  who  did  a per- 
sonal appearance  at  the  Lincoln,  and  Robert  Stevenson,  director  of  the  film. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


72-C 


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MT314  Public  Address  Amplifiers 

MT315  Public  Address  Systems 

MT316  Radio  Tubes 

MT317  Record  Reproducers 

MT318  Sound  Equipment,  Complete 

MT319  Sound  Heads 

MT320  Sound  Service,  Contract 

MT321  Speakers 


The  MODERN  THEATRE 

Room  334  — 332  S.  Michigan  Ave. 

Chicago.  111.  2-15-41 

Please  obtain  for  me  free  descriptive  literature  on  the  following 
items.  (List  Key  Numbers  Below). 


Remarks: 


Name  

Theatre  

City  State 


• PROJECTION 

I 


I 

a 

I 

I 

i 

I 

I 


I 


i 

■ 


MT240  Booth  Doors  and  Ports 
MT241  Carbon  Savers 
MT242  Carbon  Waste  Cans 
MT243  Change-Over  Devices 
MT244  Condensing  Lenses 
MT245  Dowsers 
MT246  Film  Cabinets 
MT247  Film  Cement 
MT248  Film  Handling  Devices 
MT249  Film  Preservatives 
MT250  Film  Reels 
MT251  Film  Rewinders 
MT252  Fire  Shutters,  Projection 
MT253  Intermittent  Movements 
MT254  Motion  Picture  Screens 
MT255  Motor  Brushes 
MT256  Motor-Generators 
MT257  Portable  Sound  Projectors 
MT258  Projection  Arc  Lamps 
MT259  Projection  Lenses 
MT260  Projection  Slides 
MT261  Projector  Carbons 
MT282  Projector  Parts 
MT263  Projector  Pedestals 
MT264  Rectifiers,  Bulb  Type 
MT265  Rectifiers,  Copper-Oxide 
MT266  Rectifiers,  Copper-Sulphide 
MT267  Reel-End  Signals 
MT268  Reflector  Equipment 
MT269  Rewind  Tables 


STAGE  EQUIPMENT 


MT330  Costumes 

MT331  Curtain  Controls 

MT332  Curtain  Tracks 

MT333  Stage  and  Effect  Lighting 

MT334  Stage  Hardware 

MT335  Stage  Rigging 

MT336  Stage  Scenery 


STRUCTURE 


MT340  Architectural  Service 

MT341  Facing  Materials,  Exterior 

MT342  Flashed  Opal  Glass 

MT343  Flooring  Materials 

MT344  Glass  Blocks 

MT345  Insulation  Materials 

MT346  Metal  Trim  and  Mouldings 

MT347  Pipe  Hangers  and  Brackets 

MT348  Plate  Glass 

MT349  Steel  and  Iron  Roofing 

MT350  Steel  and  Iron  Sheet  Metal 

MT351  Structural  Glass 

MT352  Theatre  Fronts,  Porcelain 

MT353  Theatre  Fronts,  Structural  Glass 

MT354  Wood  Veneers 


72-D 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


WAR  TIME  CANADA  IS  CAUTIOUS 
BUT  CONSERVATIVELY  CHEERFUL 


Defense  Programs  Are 
Scattering  Money; 

Tax  Belts  Tight 

Toronto — The  stage  of  war  develop- 
ments has  been  reached  in  the  Dominion 
where  theatre  operators,  generally,  are  in 
a position  to  know  definitely  how  the  con- 
flict is  affecting  the  amusement  business, 
both  in  public  attitude  and  internal  man- 
agement. The  trend  has  been  gradually 
upward  in  boxoffice  figures,  without  any 
move  toward  an  advance  of  prices  and 
despite  the  withdrawal  from  civilian  cir- 
culation of  many  thousands  of  men 
through  voluntary  enlistment  and  con- 
scription, the  number  of  which  cannot  be 
stated  for  military  reasons. 

It  can  be  said,  however,  that  there  are 
127  camps,  barracks  and  training  centers 
where  the  army  has  its  own  entertain- 
ment facilities  and,  in  addition,  a Cana- 
dian corps  has  already  proceeded  over- 
seas. In  spite  of  these  losses,  theatre 
patronage  has  increased  until,  in  the  case 
of  Toronto  at  least,  a maximum  attend- 
ance was  attained  at  New  Year’s  Eve  shows 
and  on  New  Year’s  Day.  The  comment  of 
managers  is  that  no  substantial  post-holi- 
day reaction  is  evident,  compared  with 
past  years. 

Wives,  mothers  and  sweethearts  who 
have  their  men  in  the  army  are  seeking 
escape  from  emotions  in  the  stories  of  the 
screen  and,  frankly,  some  of  them  have 
money  for  this  safety-valve  through  gov- 
ernment allowances  for  dependents  of  sol- 
diers which  they  did  not  have  several 
years  ago  when  civil  employment  was  not 
in  full  swing. 

Theatres  are  not  making  proportionate- 
ly as  much  profit  with  the  increase  of 
business  in  this  war  situation  because  of 
the  tightening  of  the  tax  belt.  There  is 
a growing  list  of  varied  imposts  for  war 
finance  purposes — increased  levies  on  in- 
come, more  charges  and  restrictions  on 
imports  and  assessments  on  foreign  ex- 
change. The  provincial  governments  are 
standing  pat  on  amusement  taxes,  how- 
ever, in  recognition  of  the  fact  that  the 
Federal  authorities  need  the  money  for 
prosecution  of  the  war.  At  the  same 
time,  theatres  are  doing  extensive  volun- 
tary work  in  aid  of  the  war  effort  on  a 
cooperative  basis,  internal  differences  be- 
ing put  aside.  Theatres  are  not  suffering 
in  a boxoffice  sense,  but  they  are  justi- 
fying their  existence  and  are  demonstrat- 
ing the  practical  value  of  amusements  in 
war  time. 


See  Saskatchewan  Grosses 
Holding  Current  Good  Pace 

Regina,  Sask. — Theatremen  in  Saskat- 
chewan, and  in  Regina  in  particular,  are  of 
the  opinion  theatre  business  during  1941 
will  remain  as  is,  which  is  pretty  good,  due 
mainly  to  the  war. 

Managers  are  quick  to  point  out  that, 
(Continued  on  page  76) 


(r  - 

Winnipeg  Reflects 
Wartime  Activity 

Winnipeg — The  consensus  here  is  that 
increased  payrolls,  due  to  military  activ- 
ity, are  bound  to  reflect  in  increased  at- 
tendance at  theatres  with  a correspond- 
ing rise  in  grosses.  In  fact,  this  condi- 
tion has  prevailed  since  the  outbreak  of 
war  and  is  expected  to  continue. 

Agricultural  Alberta 
Population  Drop  Hits 

Calgary — Steady  drain  upon  the  male 
population  of  the  Canadian  prairies  for 
air,  naval  and  army  services  began  to  be 
strongly  felt  in  1940.  Although  the  farm- 
ing industry  was  exempt  from  such  serv- 
ice, still  many  young  men  from  the  farms 
volunteered.  Small  towns  centered  upon 
farming  communities  were  not  so  exempt 
so  that  the  loss  of  male  patrons  has  been 
severely  felt  by  the  small  exhibitors  in  the 
west.  These  suffer  a loss  of  regular  pa- 
trons, a loss  that  cannot  be  recovered  until 
the  conclusion  of  the  war,  it  is  felt  here. 

The  same  situation  applies  to  all  larger 
cities  where  little  military  activity  is  tak- 
ing place.  Thus  in  Edmonton,  capital 
city  of  Alberta,  mercantile  and  theatrical 
business  has  been  lowered  in  a year  of 
general  business  recovery. 

A different  picture  is  reported  where 
military  establishments  are  centered.  In 
Calgary,  which  boasts  a population  equal 
to  Edmonton,  mercantile  business  for  the 
last  six  months  of  1940  surpassed  10  year 
records.  Even  during  the  usual  Christmas 
shopping  weeks  when  boxoffice  receipts 
weaken,  Calgary  theatres  reported  good 
business.  This  was  due  to  the  many  air- 
ports and  military  barracks  erected  in  this 
prairie  city.  Airmen  from  New  Zealand, 
Australia,  Eastern  Canada  and  local  points, 
numbering  thousands,  are  now  in  train- 
ing and,  as  one  batch  completes  its  course, 
a new  group  of  students  arrive. 

The  same  situation  is  reported  from 
smaller  centers  where  military  training 
camps  are  established.  From  Lethbridge, 
Red  Deer,  Penhold,  Camrose,  High  River, 
Grand  Prairie  and  Macleod,  exhibitors  are 
revelling  in  fat  boxoffice  receipts. 

No  Sharp  Increase 
Noted  in  Edmonton 

Edmonton,  Alta— Wartime  theatre  bus- 
iness here  has  not  increased  greatly  since 
its  first  sharp  drop  after  the  outbreak  of 
war,  managers  of  its  11  houses  find. 

Differing  from  many  other  Canadian 
cities,  which  have  had  a large  increase 
of  population  through  the  establishment 
of  military,  naval  and  air  training  bases, 
Edmonton  has  lost  considerable  of  her 
population  because  of  the  war. 


Employment  Increase, 
Product  Quality 
Prove  Boosts 


Montreal  — War  conditions  are  not 
necessarily  detrimental  to  the  picture  busi- 
ness, if,  as  is  the  case  with  Canada,  the 
country  is  at  war  but  is  not  suffering  from 
bombing  or  invasion.  In  1940  business 
grew  appreciably  better  in  the  second  half 
of  the  year  as  more  money  circulated,  due 
to  the  unemployed  being  absorbed  into  war 
industries. 

First  runs  benefited  more  than  the  sec- 
ond run  or  neighborhood  houses,  owing  to 
the  high  quality  of  many  of  the  pictures 
shown  and  the  consequent  rush  to  see 
them.  Neighborhood  theatres  felt  the  loss 
of  the  patronage  of  the  thousands  of  young 
men  who  are  now  in  the  army.  On  the 
whole  the  conditions  existing  in  the  clos- 
ing months  of  1940  are  expected  to  prevail 
in  1941,  according  to  views  expressed.  Some 
views  follow: 

Stresses  Product 

George  Rotsky,  managing  director,  Con- 
solidated Theatres,  Ltd.:  “We  did  tremen- 
dous business  at  New  Year’s  and  the  out- 
look seems  very  good.  There  is  more  money 
around,  and  the  product  is  impressive.  Al- 
though a great  deal  depends  on  the  prod- 
uct, the  future  for  the  first  run  theatres 
looks  bright.” 

William  Lester,  assistant  managing  di- 
rector, United  Amusement  Corp.,  control- 
ling the  largest  chain  of  Montreal  thea- 
tres: “I  expect  1941  to  be  very  similar  to 
1940.  That  depends  on  world  conditions. 
Nobody  can  look  ahead  more  than  a few 
weeks.  In  any  case,  we  only  hold  the 
money  a short  time  before  it  is  taken  away 
in  taxes.  For  the  past  12  years  we  have 
been  paying  in  taxes  28  to  30  per  cent.  I 
think  the  saturation  point  in  that  respect 
has  been  reached,  however.” 

A.  Lawand,  assistant  manager,  Confed- 
eration Amusements,  Ltd.:  “I  feel  sure  1941 
will  be  as  good  as  1940.  There  is  more 
money  around,  and  if  something  like  ad- 
ditional taxation  upsets  business,  the  extra 
money  circulating  will  balance  matters.” 

Melvin  Cohen,  manager  of  the  Empire, 
northend  independent:  “Although  there  is 
considerably  more  money  circulating,  I do 
not  expect  business  in  neighborhood  thea- 
tres to  be  much  ahead  of  1940. 

“I  feel  that  the  first  run  theatres  stand 
to  benefit  more  than  the  neighborhood 
houses.” 

L.  C.  Pearson,  sales  manager,  Dominion 
Sound  Equipments,  Ltd.:  “From  conversa- 
tions I have  had  with  theatre  people  I 
think  that  business  will  be  good  in  1941. 
As  indicated  by  boxoffice  returns,  business 
was  very  much  better  in  the  last  few 
months  of  1940  and  I see  no  reason  why  it 
should  not  carry  on.  There  is  certainly 
more  money  being  spent  and  managers 
seem  more  optimistic.” 

During  the  current  year  Canadian  exhib- 
itors should  enjoy  at  least  as  good  volume 
as  in  1940,  with  the  prospect  of  increases. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


K 


73 


TORONTO 


£ARLY  in  the  war,  Albert  E.  Glazer  flew 
from  Toronto  to  Camp  Borden  with  a 
print  of  “The  Lion  Has  Wings”  for  the 
screening  of  the  picture  before  the  youth- 
ful war  pilots,  many  of  whom  he  met. 
He  is  now  Flying  Officer  Glazer  of  the 
Signals  Division  of  the  RCAF  at  Camp 
Borden,  largely  because  of  that  first  in- 
sight into  Canada’s  air  training.  Son  of 
Sam  Glazer,  general  manager  of  United 
Artists  Corp.,  Ltd.,  he  is  22  years  of  age, 
a graduate  of  the  University  of  Toronto, 
has  had  experience  as  a newscameraman 
and,  before  his  enlistment,  was  manager 
of  the  Strand  at  Tillsonburg,  Ont. 

Sam  Sternberg,  executive  of  the  B&F 
Theatres,  operating  16  houses  in  Toronto, 
has  announced  th"t  all  employes  of  the 
circuit  have  pledged  themselves  to  make 
regular  purchases  of  war  savings  stamps 
starting  with  the  current  financial  drive 
of  the  Dominion  government.  The  stamps 
are  also  on  sale  in  the  boxoffice  of  all 
theatres  . . . Patricia  Bailey,  protege  dan- 
cer and  singer  of  Jack  Arthur,  district 
manager  of  Famous  Players,  in  stage  pres- 
entations, had  an  all-expense  flying  jaunt 
to  Hollywood  this  week  for  the  purpose 
of  appearing  as  a Canadian  guest  star 
with  Al  Pearce  and  His  Gang  on  February 
14  over  the  airwaves  and  is  scheduled  to 
do  the  rounds  of  the  studios. 

W.  A.  Summerville  jr.,  manager  of  the 
Prince  of  Wales  in  East  Toronto,  has  been 
elected  president  of  the  Danforth  Busi- 
ness Men’s  Ass’n,  a lively  community  or- 
ganization. He  is  the  son  of  W.  A.  Sum- 
merville, member  of  the  Ontario  legisla- 
ture for  years  and  owner  of  local  thea- 
tres . . . Harlon  Buettner,  designer  of  sets 
for  “Three  Smart  Girls,”  “The  Great 
Ziegfeld”  and  other  pictures,  is  now  one 
of  three  American  pilots  of  the  Royal 
Canadian  Air  Force  at  the  Malton,  Ont., 
air  base.  He  was  already  a commercial 
pilot  before  he  joined  the  Canadian  air 
arm,  having  flown  several  U.  S.  aircraft 
to  the  Dominion. 

W.  R.  Ostrom,  district  manager  at  To- 
ronto of  the  Northern  Electric  Co.,  Ltd., 
the  Canadian  counterpart  of  Western  Elec- 
tric, has  been  elected  a director  of  Do- 
minion Sound  Equipments,  Lt.,  in  succes- 
sion to  J.  D.  Hathaway , resigned  . . . 
Charlie  Mavety,  head  of  the  film  delivery 
service  in  Ontario  and  prominent  member 
of  the  Canadian  Picture  Pioneers,  is  pro- 
moting his  Circle  M dude  ranch  at  Klein- 
berg,  Ont.,  as  a winter  resort  for  skiing 
and  sleighing  parties  . . . The  Hon.  J. 
Earl  Lawson  of  the  Canadian  Picture  Pio- 
neers, Toronto,  delivered  a rousing  speech 
at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Brantford, 
Ont.,  board  of  trade  in  which  he  empha- 
sized the  maintenance  of  the  British  Em- 
pire and  its  greater  future. 

Film  men  of  the  Ontario  district  recent- 
ly elected  to  membership  in  the  Canadian 
Picture  Pioneers  include  three  employes 
of  Loew’s,  London,  Ont. — Alex  McLeish, 
Russell  Courtney  and  H.  J.  Allister.  A 
prominent  film  executive  who  has  quali- 
fied for  the  veterans’  circle  by  reason  of 
25  years  service  with  the  industry  is  Alf 
Perry,  general  manager  of  Empire-Uni- 
versal Films,  while  other  new  Pioneers  in- 


clude Pete  Bardessano,  exhibitor  of  Tim- 
mins, and  Fred  W.  Reid  of  20th  Century- 
Fox  film  exchange,  Toronto  . . . W.  J. 
Risewick  of  Film  Laboratories  of  Canada, 
Ltd.,  is  the  president  for  the  current 
year  of  the  Canadian  Kennel  Club  . . . 
Wolfe  Cohen,  district  manager  of  War- 
ner Bros.,  is  celebrating  because  “The  Let- 
ter” broke  all  Toronto  records  for  a War- 
ner feature  with  its  grosses  for  the  two- 
week  run  at  the  Uptown. 

Connie  Boswell,  who  has  been  signed 
by  Paramount  for  “Kiss  the  Boys  Good- 
bye,” is  a sister  of  Mrs.  Paul  Jones  of  To- 
ronto . . . An  interesting  downtown  race 
developed  in  Toronto  between  Manager 
Jules  Bernstein  of  Loew’s  and  Manager 
Tom  Daley  of  the  Imperial.  At  the  for- 
mer, the  attraction  has  been  “Gone  With 
the  Wind”  in  its  popular-price  holdover 
engagement  while  the  Imperial  has  already 
had  three  weeks  of  “ This  Thing  Called 
Love.” 

Harry  Garalick,  manager  of  the  Para- 
dise in  the  Toronto  West  End,  pulled  a 
classic  when  he  was  robbed  as  he  returned 
home  after  a night’s  performances,  by 
exclaiming,  “When  it  gets  that  hot,  I 
don’t  want  money,  so  I gave  it  to  them.” 
No  arrests  have  been  made  of  any  of  the 
three  gunmen  who  secured  $111,  of  which 
$76  was  the  night’s  take,  although  the 
stolen  automobile  which  was  used  for  the 
crime  has  been  recovered  ...  Ed  Lamou- 
reux,  manager  of  the  Empire,  Windsor, 
fooled  two  bandits  who  held  him  up  at 
the  theatre  by  hiding  $95  in  his  pocket, 
although  they  did  get  $67.  One  thug  was 
arrested  a few  hours  later  but  his  com- 
panion escaped  after  a thrilling  chase. 


pROM  far  up  in  the  Northern  Quebec 

mining  country  a couple  of  exhibitors 
found  their  way  to  the  Regal  (M-G-M) 
distributing  office  on  “Little  Film  Row,” 
Craig  Street.  They  were  J.  St.  Pierre  of 
Lasarre,  Que.,  and  John  Dyzak,  of  the  Pal- 
ace, Val  d’Or  and  the  Palace,  Cadillac. 
More  frequent  visitors  who  dropped  in 
were  George  Gray,  Wonderland,  Magog; 
Albert  Bey,  Cinema,  Thetford  Mines; 
Georges  Champagne,  Roxy  and  Auditor- 
ium, Shawinigan  Falls,  and  T.  Trow,  Im- 
perial, Three  Rivers. 

Canadian  newsreels  will  again  assist  the 
country  in  calling  attention  to  the  new 
War  Savings  campaign.  Associated  Screen 
News  produced  a special  story  picture  un- 
der the  direction  of  J.  W.  Campbell,  news- 
reel editor,  for  distribution  to  the  cinemas 
of  the  nation.  Roy  Tash  and  Arnold 
Hague,  newsreel  crew,  also  covered  the 
special  program  staged  in  Toronto  to  mark 
launching  of  the  drive. 

Montreal  branch  of  the  National  Film 
Society  has  formed  a junior  section  de- 
signed especially  for  the  interest  and  edu- 
cation of  children  from  eight  to  15  years 
of  age,  who  are  not  admitted  to  motion 
picture  theatres  in  Quebec  province,  except 
on  special  and  rare  occasions,  owing  to 
the  existence  of  a ban  imposed  by  the  pro- 


Propose  Amendments 
On  Theatres  Act 

Toronto— Official  announcement  has 
been  made  by  Chairman  O.  J.  Silverthorne 
of  the  Ontario  censor  board  that  amend- 
ments to  the  Theatres  and  Cinematog- 
raphs Act  will  come  before  the  Ontario 
legislature  to  require  any  child  under  seven 
years  of  age  to  be  accompanied  by  an  adult 
guardian  or  a person  of  high  school  age 
when  attending  any  matinee  at  a theatre 
in  Ontario  and  also  to  provide  for  the  con- 
stant attendance  of  a matron  at  every 
matinee  performance,  this  attendant  to  be 
in  uniform. 

The  amendments  are  the  outcome  of  the 
public  inquiry  into  the  near-tragedy  at  the 
Doric,  Toronto,  when  30  juveniles  were 
seriously  affected  by  coal  gas  fumes  dur- 
ing a Saturday  matinee  and  action  has 
been  taken  against  Sam  Lester,  proprietor 
of  the  theatre  for  many  years,  by  the 
theatres  branch  of  the  government  by  or- 
dering the  house  to  remain  closed  for 
Saturday  and  holiday  matinees  until  fur- 
ther notice,  the  Doric  to  continue  to  be 
open  for  night  shows  only. 

“The  department  is  not  yet  satisfied 
that  the  owner  has  a proper  staff  with 
which  to  take  care  of  children  at  mati- 
nees,” Chairman  Silverthorne  announced. 
“To  give  him  ample  opportunity  to  study 
the  system  employed  in  other  theatres  and 
to  train  his  own  staff,  he  will  be  required 
to  remain  closed  for  matinees  until  the 
department  is  satisfied  that  the  safety  of 
children  in  this  theatre  is  thoroughly 
vouched  for.” 


vincial  government  12  years  ago  follow- 
ing the  Laurier  Palace  fire  in  which  78 
youngsters  lost  their  lives.  A special  com- 
mittee has  been  formed  to  select  and 
arrange  the  film  programs  for  the  chil- 
dren. Performances  will  be  given  on  four 
Wednesday  afternoons,  beginning  in 
March,  with  two  others  during  the  Easter 
holidays,  and  another  on  an  undecided 
date  later. 

Pat  Pare,  one  of  Canada’s  best  women 
skiers,  was  selected  to  give  lesso?is  in  the 
winter  sport  to  Fredric  March  during  his 
recent  holiday  in  the  Laurentians,  when 
he  was  accompanied  by  his  wife,  Florence 
Eldridge. 

Larry  Stephens,  manager  of  the  Snow- 
don, called  his  staff  together  to  discuss 
the  War  Savings  campaign.  Every  em- 
ploye agreed  to  participate  and  to  devote 
part  of  his  salary  to  the  purchase  of 
war  savings  certificates,  deductions  be- 
ing made  on  the  payroll. 

Many  parts  of  Caiiada  offer  excellent 
facilities  for  the  training  of  ski  troops 
and  also  for  excellent  snow  pictures  at 
this  season.  Bob  Martin,  Associated  Screen 
News  cameraman,  took  advantage  of  the 
ski  maneuvers  near  Huntsville,  Ont.,  tc 
obtain  several  excellent  shots. 


MONTREAL 


74 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


War  Savings  Campaign 
Film  Unit  Is  Active 

Toronto — The  Toronto  motion  picture 
committee  of  the  war  savings  campaign, 
which  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  drive 
for  the  raising  of  funds  for  the  govern- 
ment’s war  effort,  comprises  Paul  Nathan - 
son,  vice-president  of  Empire-Universal 
Films,  Ltd.;  Morris  Stein  of  Famous  Play- 
ers; Herb  Allen,  representing  Columbia 
Pictures  and  the  Allen  chain;  Harry  Alex- 
ander and  N.  A.  Taylor,  president  and  vice- 
president  of  the  Independent  Theatres 
Ass’n  of  Ontario,  and  H.  C.  D.  Main,  gen- 
eral supervisor  of  Hanson  Theatres  Corp. 

Representing  the  film  industry  in  the 
general  publicity  work  for  the  Toronto  dis- 
trict are  Paul  Nathanson  and  Mr.  Main, 
who  have  reported  details  of  theatre  co- 
operation to  the  War  Services  Committee 
of  the  Canadian  Picture  Pioneers.  One  re- 
sult has  been  the  sending  out  of  a circu- 
lar letter  to  every  exhibitor  in  Canada  to 
urge  full  cooperation  in  the  sale  of  war 
savings  certificates  at  every  theatre,  be- 
fore the  close  of  the  drive  at  the  end  of 
February. 

Speakers  have  been  appearing  on  the 
stage  of  every  theatre  in  the  Toronto  dis- 
trict every  Tuesday  and  Friday;  selling 
booths  in  charge  of  Boy  Scouts  have  been 
placed  in  lobbies;  display  material  has  been 
put  up  and  newspaper  advertising  has  in- 
cluded boosts  for  the  war  savings  drive, 
while  theatre  fronts  have  been  decorated 
with  flags  and  bunting.  The  Toronto  cam- 
paign committee  seeks  200,000  subscribers 
for  pledges  to  invest  in  one  or  more  war 
savings  certificates  each  month  for  the 
remainder  of  the  war. 


Stars'  Gilts  Will  Be 
Auctioned  for  Charity 

Toronto— -The  final  decision  has  been 
reached  that  the  souvenir  gifts  from  nu- 
merous Hollywood  stars,  which  had  been 
sent  to  Toronto  for  the  Win  the  War  Cam- 
paign last  summer  for  the  raising  of  funds 
in  support  of  the  war  effort,  will  be  of- 
fered to  the  public  in  connection  with  the 
drive  of  the  Federated  War  Charities 
which  will  be  staged  in  March  through 
the  holding  of  auctions  in  the  II  theatres 
of  North  Toronto. 

There  are  approximately  60  gifts,  in- 
cluding articles  of  considerable  interest  to 
film  fans  such  as  a pair  of  skates  and  boots 
used  by  Sonja  Henie  in  a recent  feature, 
hats  and  purses  worn  by  stars  in  current 
attractions  and  many  personal  articles 
from  private  wardrobes.  Arrangements 
have  been  made  for  window  displays  of  the 
mementoes.  The  gifts  are  stored  in  the 
Eglinton  Theatre  under  the  watchful  eye 
of  Manager  Bob  Eves  in  the  meantime. 


Delmar  Fox  to  Manage 
Fincher  Creek  House 

Pincher  Creek,  B.  C. — The  Opera  House 
here,  recently  acquired  by  Mrs.  Tillie  Fox, 
who  also  operates  the  Granada  at  Grand 
Forks,  will  be  managed  by  Delmar  Fox, 
son  of  the  owner. 

Mrs.  Fox  will  continue  to  operate  the 
Granada. 


(r  ■ ■ =====  1 1 ft 

Curb  on  Carnivals 
Is  Spreading 

Toronto — The  movement  started  by  the 
municipal  council  of  Sault  Ste.  Marie, 
Ont.,  to  prohibit  local  engagements  of  car- 
nivals and  other  traveling  shows  for  the 
duration  of  the  war  has  been  taken  up  by 
the  council  of  Smiths  Falls  in  eastern  On- 
tario. The  decision  was  reached  to  issue 
no  more  licenses  or  permits  for  carnivals 
"thus  keeping  in  the  municipality  the 
money  which  would  otherwise  be  re- 
moved from  the  community.'' 

The  council  of  Smiths  Falls  requested 
the  cooperation  of  surrounding  munici- 
palities in  the  ban  so  that  carnival  com- 
panies could  not  pitch  their  tents  just 
outside  the  town  limits.  Applications  from 
charity  organizations  for  a carnival  en- 
gagement from  which  they  are  supposed 
to  receive  a percentage  of  the  take  will 
not  be  entertained  by  the  town.  Places  in 
other  parts  of  Ontario  are  considering  a 
similar  move. 

V 

Projectionist  Training 
Scheme  Riles  Labor 

Ottawa — Tom  Moore  of  Ottawa,  presi- 
dent of  the  Dominion  Trades  and  Labor- 
Congress,  has  issued  a call  to  all  organized 
labor  organizations  to  unite  against  the 
Ontario  government  in  the  carrying  out  of 
the  plan  for  the  Projectionists’  Training 
School  under  direct  Provincial  auspices. 
This  school,  which  has  a limit  of  30  candi- 
dates, was  opened  in  January  for  a 12 
months’  course  in  projection  theory  and 
practice,  the  tuition  being  $100. 


VAWCOCJVIER 

pRANK  SHEPHERD  of  Biggar,  Sask.,  has 
taken  over  the  managership  of  the 
Star,  Armstrong,  B.  C.  . . . Work  is  rapid- 
ly progressing  on  William  Clayton’s  new 
theatre  at  Port  Haney  . . . The  Dunbar, 
previously  owned  by  J.  H.  Boothe,  has  been 
taken  over  by  Odeon  Theatres,  Ltd.  . . . 
Ted  Bobier  has  signed  a lease  for  the  South 
Wells  Theatre  at  South  Wells,  B.  C.  This 
means  that  Ted  is  relinquishing  his  con- 
nections with  Westminster  Theatres,  Ltd. 

A theatrical  ball  and  banquet  for  the 
Red  Cross  will  be  held  under  auspices  of 
the  B.  C.  Projectionist’s  Society  on  Sun- 
day, February  23,  in  the  Commodore 
Cabaret.  A feature  of  the  evening  will  be 
the  use  of  special  lighting  and  sound  ef- 
fects loaned  for  the  occasion  by  different 
theatres.  The  Projectionist’s  Society  has 
donated  a silver  tea  service,  valued  at  $250, 
as  a prize  the  night  of  the  entertainment. 
Plans  are  also  under  way  to  bring  a Holly- 
wood celebrity  to  the  function. 

The  film  exchange  table  tennis  team  was 
triumphant  in  its  match  with  the  C.  P.  R„ 
winning  18  to  6.  The  boys  had  a real 
good  time,  complimenting  the  C.  P.  R.  on 
their  sportsmanship.  Refreshments  were 
served  after  the  games  . . . N.  D.  H.  Evans, 
Empire  Universal  auditor,  in  Vancouver  on 
his  regular  western  visit  . . . The  Vogue 
Theatre,  Vancouver’s  newest  first  run, 
plans  to  open  on  or  about  April  1. 


A Healthy  Building 
Pace  in  Ontario 

Toronto — Theatre  construction  activity 
in  Ontario  is  moving  forward  at  a healthy 
pace  in  line  with  accelerated  activity  in 
other  fields  due  to  the  war,  a cursory 
survey  by  Boxoffice  indicates. 

After  a delay  of  almost  a month,  the 
Madison  at  Bloor  and  Bathurst  streets 
here  has  received  its  new  front  in  its  re- 
construction by  Midtown  Theatres,  Ltd., 
which  acquired  the  theatre  on  a 10-year 
lease  from  the  estate  of  John  C.  Brady, 
operations  having  been  held  up  because 
of  inability  to  secure  materials.  The  new 
company  is  headed  by  N.  A.  Taylor  of  the 
Independent  Theatres  Ass’n  of  Ontario. 

A second  new  theatre  is  announced  for 
Kingston,  Ont.,  which  is  booming  because 
of  military  training  and  munitions  orders. 
Announcement  has  been  made  that  the 
Fallon  property  on  Princess  Street  has 
been  purchased  by  Odeon  Theatres  and 
that  plans  have  been  made  for  the  con- 
struction of  a house  to  seat  1,000.  H.  G. 
Duerr  of  Toronto  acted  for  Odeon  in  the 
transaction.  Previously,  Biltmore  Thea- 
tres, Ltd.,  Toronto,  had  announced  the 
purchase  of  a site  in  Kingston  for  the 
erection  of  a theatre  to  accommodate  750 
which  is  to  be  similar  to  the  Biltmore 
and  which  was  opened  in  Oshawa,  Ont., 
some  months  ago. 

Famous  Players  has  scheduled  the  op- 
ening of  its  new  Park  in  Welland,  Ont., 
for  May,  the  seating  accommodation  for 
this  house  being  800.  The  circuit  already 
operates  the  Capitol  in  Welland  and  there 
is  also  the  Community,  an  independent 
house  owned  by  Abe  Polakoff  and  man- 
aged by  Joe  Paul. 

Dominion  Motors,  Ltd.,  occupying  the 
site  in  Port  Arthur,  Ont.,  owned  by  Fa- 
mous Players,  has  been  notified  to  vacate 
the  present  premises  on  March  31  so  that 
the  building  of  a new  theatre  can  be 
started.  The  circuit  also  plans  to  erect 
a new  house  in  Fort  William,  the  sister 
city  to  Port  Arthur.  Five  circuit  houses 
in  Vancouver,  B.  C.,  are  also  to  be  mod- 
ernized under  a reconstruction  program 
for  the  coast  city. 

Robert  Hambleton,  owner  of  theatres 
in  Simcoe,  Tillsonburg  and  Delhi  in  west- 
ern Ontario,  has  secured  a site  at  Nor- 
wich on  which  he  is  arranging  to  erect 
a new  theatre.  There  has  never  been  a 
theatre  at  Norwich. 


Nathanson's  Option  on 
F-P  Common  Extended 

Toronto — For  the  second  time,  the  op- 
tion held  by  President  N.  L.  Nathanson  for 
the  purchase  of  11,000  common  shares  of 
Famous  Players  Canadian  Corp.  at  $16 
per  share  before  July,  1940,  has  been  ex- 
tended and  the  time  limit  has  now  been 
fixed  at  April  30,  1941.  Under  the  terms 
of  the  contract  between  Nathanson  and 
the  company,  a block  of  11,000  shares  was 
available  for  purchase  by  him  for  each  of 
five  years  at  prices  which  ranged  from 
$12  to  $16  and  it  is  understood  that  the 
present  allotment  is  the  last  to  be  taken 
up  by  the  president. 


BOXOFFICE  :;  February  15,  1941 


75 


jyjAIN  STREET  houses,  usually  pursuing 
their  pedestrian  pace  of  second  and 
third  runs,  this  week  kicked  up  their  heels 
with  record  breaking  holdovers.  At  the 
Starland,  Grand  National’s  “Mein  Kampf,” 
was  held  over  for  a second  week,  setting 
a holdover  mark  for  the  first  time  in  the 
history  of  the  house.  At  Garnet  Wright’s 
Bijou,  the  British  comedy  hit,  “It’s  in  the 
Air,”  playing  its  first  Main  Street  run,  has 
gone  into  its  third  week,  which  is  some- 
thing of  a record-breaking  precedent  at 
this  house.  “Gone  With  the  Wind”  is 
packing  Harold  Bishop’s  Capitol  on  its  re- 
turn run  here. 

A nice  boost  for  showmen  was  the  public 
appearance  in  the  daily  press  of  favorable 
comments  made  towards  them  at  the  an- 
nual meeting  of  the  Manitoba  branch  of 
the  Lord’s  Day  Alliance.  This  organization 
expressed  appreciation  of  the  attitude  of 
theatre  executives  throughout  Canada  in 
keeping  their  show  closed  on  Sundays  . . . 
Syl  Gunn  arranged  a private  showing  for 
commanding  officers  of  this  military  dis- 
trict of  his  coming  attraction,  “ Flight  Com- 
mand.” Syl  sent  out  clever  invitations 
along  the  line  of  regular  army  order  sheets, 
which  were  sure  to  catch  the  eye  of  the 
army  officials.  He  intends  to  follow  this  up 
with  letters  which  will  bring  the  show  to 
the  attention  of  the  men  in  the  ranks. 

Kurt  McComb,  head  usher  at  the  Metro- 
politan, did  some  good  work  arranging  for 
music  store  tieups  for  the  current  showing 
of  “No,  No,  Nanette”  . . . The  drive  for 
War  Savings  stamps  in  the  Winnipeg  film 
exchange  is  being  conducted  by  Abe  Levy 
of  Regal  and  Richard  Miles  of  Western 
Theatres,  Ltd.  . . . Mescho  Triller  of  United 
Theatres,  Ltd.,  is  redecorating  his  houses 
. . . “One  Night  in  Paris”  opens  its  initial 
western  engagement  soon  at  the  Tivoli  . . . 
E.  A.  Zorn,  district  manager  for  Famous 
Players,  has  returned  from  a trip  through 
the  eastern  division  . . . John  A.  Fiddes  is 
recovering  from  an  illness  . . . Irwin  Triller 
of  the  Transcona  Theatre,  who  has  been 
confined  to  the  hospital,  has  recovered  . . . 
Sim  Rost,  Garrick  manager,  has  left  the 
hospital  and  is  recovering  at  home  . . . 
Hugh  Brown,  Classic,  St.  James,  is  head- 
ing the  skating  group  at  Sherburne  . . . 
Visitors  to  the  city  included  P.  W.  Mahon 
of  Prince  Albert  and  George  Bailey  of  the 
Lux  at  Humbolt. 

When  trainees  at  Portage  were  confined 
to  barracks  due  to  illness,  Charlie  Taylor’s 
Playhouse  suffered  at  the  boxoffice  . . . 
New  houses  are  to  go  up  for  Famous  Play- 
ers at  Fort  William  and  Port  Arthur.  It 
is  understood  that  construction  on  a house 
now  going  up  at  Port  Arthur  has  been  ser- 
iously handicapped  owing  to  the  shortage 
of  labor  available  due  to  the  demands  of 
war  industry.  Electricians  are  as  rare  as 
hens’  teeth  and  putting  up  a new  house  has 
become  a major  undertaking. 


Reception  for  Huston 

Montreal — Mayor  Conboy  of  Toronto 
announced  that  Walter  Huston,  Canadian 
film  and  stage  star,  will  be  welcomed  at 
Toronto  City  Hall  and  given  a civic  re- 
ception on  February  15. 


Sask.  Grosses  Hold 
Current  Good  Pace 

(Continued  from  page  73) 
since  the  war  got  under  way,  their  busi- 
ness has  picked  up.  This  is  most  notice- 
able in  the  larger  centers  of  the  province, 
most  of  which  have  been  chosen  as  train- 
ing centers  for  army  and  air  force  men.  All 
the  cities  of  Saskatchewan  and  even  some 
of  the  small  towns  are  playing  host  to 
hundreds  of  members  of  Canada’s  armed 
forces,  and,  even  though  most  of  the 
recreation  rooms  for  the  troops  have  their 
own  picture  shows,  most  of  the  boys  pre- 
fer feminine  company  when  they  go  to 
films;  hence  the  town’s  picture  houses  are 
getting  plenty  of  business  from  the  men 
who,  in  nearly  every  case,  buy  two  tickets. 

Another  factor  in  the  improved  situa- 
tion during  the  past  few  months  has  been 
the  increased  number  of  men  being  em- 
ployed on  construction  work,  preparing  the 
training  centers  for  the  army  and  air  force. 
Thousands  have  been  taken  off  the  relief 
rolls  throughout  Saskatchewan  and  thea- 
tres have  been  sharing  in  the  distribution 
of  their  good-sized  pay  checks.  With  even 
more  construction  work  to  be  done  and 
with  plans  going  ahead  for  increased 
armament  manufacture  in  western  Canada 
during  1941,  theatremen  should  continue 
to  benefit  from  civilian  business  during 
1941. 


OTTAWA 

J^AY  TUBMAN,  manager  of  the  Ottawa 
Capitol,  who  is  one  of  the  committee 
chairmen  for  the  War  Stamp  Saving  Cam- 
paign of  the  Dominion  government,  or- 
ganized a stage  show  at  the  theatre  Sun- 
day evening,  February  9.  Between  enter- 
tainment features,  the  guest  speaker  was 
Hon.  Colin  Gibson,  minister  of  national 
revenue  in  the  Canadian  cabinet  . . . For 
the  first  time  in  many  weeks  during  which 
he  has  featured  several  Canadian  pre- 
mieres, Manager  Lloyd  Mills  turned  to  a 
double-bill  program  for  the  past  two  weeks 
but  has  announced  that  the  single-feature 
policy  will  be  resumed  without  further 
delay. 

Donat  Paquin,  owner  of  the  Francais 
and  Victoria  in  Ottawa  and  the  Laurier 
in  Hull,  figured  in  the  real  estate  market 
the  other  day  when  he  sold  an  important 
property  on  Besserer  Street  . . . John 
Grierson  of  London,  England,  has  decided 
to  stay  on  the  job  as  Dominion  film  com- 
missioner although  he  had  announced  his 
resignation  effective  this  month  and  will 
continue  indefinitely  in  his  Ottawa  office, 
according  to  Hon.  J.  A.  McKinnon,  chair- 
man of  the  National  Film  Board.  Grierson 
had  declared  the  production  of  Canadian 
shorts  should  be  handled  by  Canadians. 

“Gone  With  the  Wind”  was  held  for  a 
second  week  at  the  Regent  at  50  cents 
top  with  performances  continuous  from 
11:30  a.  m.  Included  in  the  program  was 
the  special  Warner  short,  “Xmas  Under 
Fire,”  dealing  with  life  in  England  under 
the  Nazi  air  raids  . . . Manager  Henry 
Marshall  of  the  Rideau,  Ottawa,  reports 
continued  success  with  his  all-French 


JTS  MEMBERSHIP  campaign  postponed 

over  the  Christmas  season  so  that  it 
could  start  another  drive  to  get  enough 
members  to  operate  without  a loss,  the 
National  Film  Society,  Regina  branch, 
seems  doomed  to  failure  for  this  season. 
Though  a definite  announcement  to  that 
effect  is  not  expected  for  a few  days,  mem- 
bers of  the  executive  are  inclined  to  think 
plans  should  be  dropped  owing  to  the  late- 
ness of  the  season  and  the  number  of  ex- 
ecutive members  who  have  left  town,  some 
to  the  armed  forces,  others  to  other  posi- 
tions. 

Les  Pugsley,  manager  of  the  Orpheum, 
Moose  Jaw,  reports  terrific  business  on 
“Mein  Kampf,”  British  picture  based  on 
Hitler  and  Germany,  which  had  its  first 
showing  in  the  Saskatchewan- Alberta  ter- 
ritory at  his  house  . . . Dave  Weyling, 
southern  Saskatchewan  operator,  was  a 
recent  Regina  business  visitor.  He  reported 
good  business  in  the  south  despite  bad 
road  conditions. 

Crash  of  a mail  and  passenger-carrying 
Trans-Canada  Airliner  in  Ontario  on 
February  6,  in  which  the  nine  passengers 
and  crew  of  three  were  killed,  is  thought  to 
have  been  responsible  for  the  non-arrival 
of  the  weekend  newsreel  for  the  Capitol, 
Regina,  believed  to  have  been  on  the  west- 
bound plane  . . . Saskatchewan  theatres  are 
doing  their  bit  toward  drawing  the  atten- 
tion of  the  people  to  the  current  War  Sav- 
ings campaign  by  carrying  a special  story 
in  short  feature  form  turned  out  by  Asso- 
ciated Screen  News. 

Business  men  of  Star  City,  Sask.,  com- 
bine to  sponsor  two  shows  each  Saturday 
in  the  Roxy  and  admit  all  district  people 
free  . . . Larry  Graburn,  manager  of  the 
Capitol,  Regina,  off  work  for  a few  days 
with  the  flu  . . . Peter  Kosh,  doorman  at 
the  Rex,  Regina,  back  on  the  job  after  an 
appendectomy . 

Surprise  entertainments  on  Tuesday 
nights  are  being  used  to  pack  people  into 
the  Roxy  at  Watrous.  On  recent  nights  the 
theatre  has  staged  a pie-eating  contest  and 
a photo  night.  Generous  cash  prizes  are 
given  away  . . . Amusement  tax  in  Moose 
Jaw,  Sask.,  for  1940  totaled  $9,873,  as 
compared  to  $8,847  in  1939. 

About  4,000  school  children  from  grades 
five  to  nine  were  guests  of  the  Hudson’s 
Bay  Co.  store  during  the  showing  of  “Hud- 
sop’s  Bay”  at  the  Capitol  in  Saskatoon. 
The  store  received  hundreds  of  letters  from 
the  children  telling  how  much  they  en- 
joyed the  picture  and  teachers  agreed  that 
it  was  the  best  educational  film  ever 
brought  to  Saskatoon. 


film  programs  which  are  being  presented 
on  Wednesdays  only  practically  every 
week. 

Famous  Players  has  sold  its  site  in  the 
central  business  section  of  Ottawa  to  the 
F.  W.  Woolworth  Co.  for  the  erection  of 
an  enlarged  5 and  10  cent  store,  the  chain 
having  decided  to  drop  its  plan  for  the 
erection  of  a new  theatre  in  the  Canadian 
capital.  The  reported  price  for  the  site 
and  two  adjacent  store  buildings  was  $100,- 
000. 


76 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


Practical  Ideas  by  Practical  Showmen 
On  Merchandising  the  Motion  Picture 


SELLING  SEATS 


(t  - ft 

Red  Heads  Occasion 
Special  Sale 


Contest  on  "Blackout"  'Wind'  Campaign  Wins 
Ties  In  Newspaper  F or  Ed  Fitzpatrick 


Gloversville,  N.  Y. — Both  a timely  con- 
test and  an  unusual  display  featured  Man- 
ager Lou  S.  Hart’s  campaign  for  “Black- 
out” at  Schine’s  Hippodrome  Theatre  here. 

The  contest,  in  which  the  newspaper 
cooperated  with  a generous  story,  offered 
a cash  prize  of  $5  and  several  prizes  of 
passes  for  the  most  accurate  definition 
of  words  that  the  war  has  made  com- 
monplace on  the  front  pages  of  our  dailies. 

The  announcing  paragraph  (a  bow  to 
the  newspaper)  read:  “Through  the  wires 
of  the  Associated  Press,  which  every  morn- 
ing provides  readers  with  ‘on-the-spot’ 
news  of  foreign  happenings,  some  stories 
built  around  a new  lexicon  of  words. 
‘Blitzkrieg,’  ‘Blackout,’  ‘Bottleneck.’  Can 
you  define  them?” 

Then  followed  a list  of  the  prizes  and 
the  words,  herewith: 

“Gestapo,  Blenheim,  Incendiary,  A.R.P. 
Patrol,  Communique,  Luftwaffe,  Priorities, 
Jamming,  Lebensraum,  Neutrality  Patrol, 
Caproni,  R.C.A.F.,  Evzone,  Torpedo  Fleet.” 

The  list  was  to  be  filled  in,  the  entries 
sent  to  the  theatre  before  opening  night. 
A local  educator  served  as  judge. 


The  display  consisted  of  painting  on  a 
temporarily  vacant  store  window  a scene 
similar  to  that  depicted  on  the  24-sheet. 
Stills  flanked  top  and  bottom  of  the  win- 
dow. Also  the  windows  of  a four-story 
building  were  whitewashed  leaving  only 
the  outline  of  a single  letter  on  each  win- 
dow. The  letters,  each  the  size  of  the 
window  itself  spelled  out  on  the  top  floor, 
“Smash  Hit”;  on  the  floor  below,  “Black- 
out” and  on  the  second  floor  “Hipp  Soon.” 


Wide-Spread  Magazine 
Ads  lor  "Citizen  Kane" 

New  York — “Citizen  Kane”  will  be  na- 
tionally advertised  through  newspapers 
and  magazines  by  RKO,  it  is  announced 
by  S.  Barret  McCormick,  director  of  ad- 
vertising and  publicity. 

The  release  of  the  show  set  for  the 
end  of  February  will  be  ushered  in  with 
full-page,  two-color  advertisements  in  the 
big-circulation  weekly  magazines  with  dis- 
tribution that  will  reach  an  estimated 
50,000,000  readers.  Large  space,  two-color 
newspaper  copy  also  has  been  scheduled 
for  a number  of  key  cities. 


Contest  for  "Philadelphia  Story" 

Springfield,  III. — The  Orpheum  here, 
in  cooperation  with  a local  newspaper, 
conducted  a contest  to  determine  the 
outstanding  “Springfield  story,”  told  in  25 
words  or  less,  in  connection  with  the  show- 
ing of  “The  Philadelphia  Story.” 


Waterbury,  Conn. — His  outstanding 
campaign  for  the  popular-price  engage- 
ment of  “Gone  With  the  Wind”  makes 
Ed  Fitzpatrick,  manager  of  the  Poli,  in 
this  city,  the  first  Loew  exhibitor  to  win 
a second  citation  on  M-G-M’s  Exploita- 
tion Honor  Roll.  Fitzpatrick  recently  won 
a Gold  Button  for  his  campaign  for 
“Strike  Up  the  Band.” 

Highlights  of  the  “Gone  With  the  Wind” 
campaign  follow: 

Mayor  Scully  issued  a proclamation  de- 
claring a “Gone  With  the  Wind”  week 
in  Waterbury.  With  the  cooperation  of 
the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  bargain  days 
for  shoppers  were  set  during  the  run,  with 
bus  companies  putting  special  schedules 
in  effect  to  accommodate  late  crowds. 

The  Junior  League  distributed  special 
invitations,  reading:  “Miss  Scarlett  O’Hara 
requests  the  pleasure  of  your  presence  at 
Loew’s,  etc.”  Those  holding  numbers  cor- 
responding to  those  posted  in  front  of  the 
boxoffice  received  guest  tickets. 

A young  man  from  a nearby  town  was 
planted  in  front  of  the  theatre  with  cot 
and  blankets,  etc.,  and  newspapers  played 
it  up,  stating  that  the  young  man  wanted 
to  be  certain  he’d  be  the  first  in  line  to 
see  the  film. 

A large  cake  was  secured  from  a lead- 
ing bakery  and  placed  on  display  in  the 
lobby.  It  carried  the  copy:  “First  Anni- 
versary Premiere  of  ‘GWTW.’  ” Sidewalks 
were  stencilled : “ ‘GWTW’  is  coming — 


Inside  and  Out — 

To  the  side,  a store  window  display 
obtained  by  Walter  Henshell,  mana- 
ger, and  Forrest  Thompson,  publicity 
director  of  the  Palace,  Dallas,  Texas, 
in  a tieup  for  “Thief  of  Bagdad.”  Be- 
low is  the  sound  truck  used  for  one 
week  in  advance  at  all  grade  schools 
at  recess  times.  The  truck  at  present 
is  doing  similar  duty  for  the  Holly- 
wood Theatre  in  Fort  Worth. 


Springfield,  111. — It  cost  some  400  com- 
plimentary passes  (admittedly  more  than 
foreseen)  but  it  was  a great  publicity 
stunt.  Red-headed  women  from  16  to  60 
were  invited  to  register  at  a booth  placed 
near  the  city  square  to  receive  tickets 
to  see  "Lady  With  Red  Hair"  at  the  Roxy. 
Several  stores  cooperated  with  special 
discounts  on  purchases  made  by  the 
flame-tressed  girls. 

VS-  JJ 

Nothing  cut  but  the  price.”  A local  radio 
station  used  a contest  asking  listeners 
to  send  in  letters  of  fifty  words  or  less 
on  the  subject:  “Why  I Want  to  see 
‘GWTW.’  ” 

A special  six-foot  pass  was  made,  car- 
ried through  the  streets  and  presented  to 
the  Mayor.  A large  book  was  built  for 
lobby  display  with  a pretty  young  lady, 
wearing  a “GWTW”  gown  loaned  by  a 
leading  store,  stepping  from  its  pages. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  15,  1941 


77 


SELLING  SEATS 


N U (G  Cl  IE  T § 

REMINDER  cards  mailed  to  3,000  poten- 
tial patrons,  in  the  form  of  a personal 
message  from  the  star,  were  used  by  Jack 
Randall  of  the  College  in  Winnipeg  to 
create  interest  in  a showing  of  “Mr.  Smith 
Goes  to  Washington.”  The  cashier  further 
phoned  all  the  Smiths  advising  them  of 
the  showing. 

• 

Five  days  in  advance,  Jack  Campbell 
of  the  Booth  in  Independence,  Kas.,  handed 
to  outgoing  patrons  500  small  cards  with 
small  birthday  type  candles  attached. 
Cards  read:  “Save  this  candle  to  light 
your  way  home  after  you  see  Boris  Karloff 
in  ‘The  Ape’  (theatre  and  play  date) .” 

• 

On  the  inside  of  a portable  phonograph 
lid  was  painted  the  message:  “Just  one 
of  the  many  hit  times  in  ‘Tin  Pan  Alley’ 
with  (cast  names  and  theatre)  now  show- 
ing.” Manager  Barnes  Perdue  of  the  Ritz 
in  Chillicothe,  Mo.,  then  had  a boy  carry 
the  phonograph  to  every  corner  of  the 
business  district,  sit  down  on  the  curb, 
wind  it  and  play  two  or  three  times  from 
the  picture. 

• 

In  a tieup  with  a local  shade  company, 
E.  R.  Erickson,  manager  of  the  Rhodes 
Theatre  in  Chicago,  obtained  a sample 
Venetian  blind  in  a frame  for  a lobby 
display.  The  slats  were  lettered  on  one 
side;  “Shhhh — Whatever  you  do,  don’t 
peek!”  Alongside  an  arrow  pointed  to 
string  as  a cue  to  pull  the  string.  Other 
side  of  slate  read:  “See  Bette  Davis  in 
her  top  performance  ‘The  Letter’  (play- 
date  and  catchlines) .” 

• 

On  opening  day  of  “Escape”  at  the  Ar- 
cade in  Springfield,  Mass.,  George  W. 
Coleman,  manager,  had  a fellow  dressed  in 
a prison  convict  getup  chained  to  the 
theatre’s  boxoffice,  with  a card  next  to 
the  fellow  reading:  “I  tried  to  escape  to 
see  ‘Escape’.” 


Patrons  Lead  Band 

Springfield,  Mass. — Patrons  who  had 
the  urge  to  lead  an  orchestra  were  invited 
to  lead  Sammy  Kaye’s  orchestra  when  the 
latter  came  to  town  for  a three-day  en- 
gagement at  the  Paramount.  In  a fea- 
ture called  “So  You  Want  to  Lead  a 
Band,”  Kaye  called  patrons  out  of  the 
audience,  handed  them  a baton  and  in- 
vited them  to  conduct  his  musicians.  Each 
contestant  received  an  autographed  baton 
from  the  orchestra  leader. 


An  Oriental  Lobby 

Rochester,  N.  Y. — An  attractive  lobby 
display  was  arranged  by  Lester  Pollock 
for  “The  Thief  of  Bagdad,”  when  it  played 
Loew’s.  With  one  of  the  usherettes  as  a 
slave  girl,  the  display  included  Oriental 
rugs,  Oriental  lamps,  hand-carved  screen, 
tables,  Persian  smoking  pipe,  miniature 
elephants  and  statues.  It  was  tie-up  with 
local  Oriental  rug  store. 


Ginger  Rogers  Doubles 
Contest  lor  "Kitty" 


Denver — A Ginger  Rogers  double  con- 
test featured  the  campaign  arranged  by 
Manager  Mickey  Gross  of  the  Orpheum 
for  “Kitty  Foyle.” 

The  contest,  open  to  all  “white  collar” 
girls,  was  sponsored  by  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain News  and  the  Denver  Post.  A board, 
consisting  of  prominent  individuals, 
judged  the  contest  with  appropriate 
prizes  awarded  the  winners. 

The  News  and  Post  ran  a picture  of  the 
winners  as  a news  item.  Other  features 
included  the  distribution  of  5,000  special- 
ly printed  “Kitty  Foyle”  blotters  to  all 
offices  in  the  downtown  district  and  win- 
dow display  tie-ins  with  the  local  book 
stores  featuring  stills  from  the  film  and 
the  popular  dollar  edition  of  the  Christo- 
pher Morley  best-seller. 


Theatre  Candy  Case 
Into  a Confectionery 

Cotulla,  Tex. — Installing  a candy  case 
in  his  lobby  in  December,  Milton  DuBose 
of  the  Majestic,  found  his  customers  so  re- 
sponsive that  he  rented  a building  next 
door  and  installed  a soda  fountain,  line  of 
tobacco  and  ice  cream  cabinet,  putting  a 
girl  in  charge. 

At  a school  matinee  on  opening  day  Du- 
Bose had  the  youngsters  suggest  names  for 
the  new  business,  offering  a cash  prize  for 
the  one  selected  by  popular  vote  of  the 
juvenile  audience.  “Sugar  Bowl”  was  the 
name  that  emerged,  with  a ready-made 
trade  from  the  children  who  feel  a real 
interest  in  the  business. 


No. 

rjl  I THE  A — 1 
* A INSURANCE” 

"FRIGHT- 

COMPANY'S 

F 

AIN 

T 

C 

H E C 

K 

THE  PERSON  named 
below  is  entitled  to  return  again  to  the  Fox 
Granada  Theatre  in  Inglewood  if  sufficient 
evidence  is  presented  to  management  proving 
he  or  she  fainted  during  the  showing  of  "The 
Torso  Murder  Mystery”  and  "Face  At  the 
Window,”  Wed.  or  Thurs.,  January  8 or  9. 

Name 

Address-- 

A— 1 ” 

FRIGHT  - INSURANCE" 

COMPANY 

115  North  Market  St.  Inglewood,  Calii. 

Were  in  Demand — 

Five  thousand  of  the  above-pictured 
cards  were  distributed  by  Dave  Mar- 
tin, manager  of  the  Fox  Granada  at 
Inglewood,  Calif.,  and  his  assistant, 
Bill  Erickson,  in  advertising  a double 
horror  show.  Business  was  above  nor- 
mal. 


(<  = =Ss 

: Into  the  Papers  : 

^ 0 

J ^ PAGE  photo  of  Diana  Lewis  in  skat- 
ing costume,  with  mention  of  her  new 
film,  “Go  West,”  planted  in  the  Sunday 
magazine  section  of  the  Columbus  Citizen 
by  Fred  Ostreicher,  publicist. 


A full  page  of  action  stills  from  “Com- 
rade X,”  depicting  Hedy  Lamarr  in  the 
hair-pulling  sequence  landed  in  the  Sun- 
day roto  section  of  the  Washington  Post 
as  part  of  Publicist  Dan  Terrell’s  advance 
exploitation. 


A special  series  of  stills,  showing  the 
progressive  stages  from  girlhood  to  age 
as  depicted  by  Martha  Scott  in  “Cheers 
for  Miss  Bishop”  was  planted  in  a six- 
column,  10-inch  space  in  the  Detroit  Eve- 
ning Times.  The  stills,  along  with  a guid- 
ing article,  have  been  sent  to  all  UA 
exploiteers. 


A full  page  of  scenes  from  “That  Hamil- 
ton Woman,”  forthcoming  Korda  produc- 
tion, were  planted  in  the  roto-gravure  sec- 
tion of  the  Atlanta  Constitution. 


A contest  awarding  prizes  to  boys  wear- 
ing the  most  authentic  “North  West 
Mounted  Police”  outfits  cracked  the  front 
page  of  the  Charleston  Daily  Mail  for 
R.  E.  England,  manager  of  the  Virginian 
at  Charleston,  W.  Va. 


Birthday  List 

Garnett,  Kas. — As  a goodwill  builder, 
Hank  Doering,  who  operates  the  Peoples 
Theatre  here,  some  time  ago  passed  out 
slips  on  which  patrons  wrote  their  name 
and  birth  date.  He  now  has  a list  of  about 
4,000,  and  each  day  the  girl  spends  an 
hour  writing  18  to  20  of  them  a letter 
and  enclosing  a pass  for  use  on  their 
birthday  anniversary  two  or  three  days 
later. 


Milking  Contest 

New  York — Three  prize-winning  cows 
played  the  leading  roles  in  an  old-fash- 
ioned milking  contest  on  the  stage  of  the 
suburban  Alden  Theatre  here.  Members 
of  the  audience  who  had  experience  in  the 
art  of  milking  were  invited  to  participate 
for  cash  prizes.  The  contest  was  in  con- 
junction with  the  showing  of  “Little  Men.” 


Indians  in  Front  of  Theatre 

Wausau,  Wis. — John  Matis,  manager  of 
the  Wausau,  promoted  a premiere  show- 
ing in  connection  with  “Arizona.”  Mayor 
August  C.  Polster  of  Wausau  welcomed 
Chief  Big  Thunder  and  other  Indians  at- 
tending the  show  in  front  of  the  theatre 
for  a gala  affair. 


Two  serializations  suitable  for  the  news- 
papers on  the  forthcoming  “Come  Live 
With  Me”  are  available  in  mat  form  at 
the  M-G-M  exchange.  One  is  a six  chap- 
ter, two  column  19%  inch  serialization; 
the  other  three  chapters,  4 column  14 
inches. 


78 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


Opinions  on  the  Current  Short  Subjects 


SHORTS  REVIEWS 


One-Tenth  of  Our  Nation 

American  Film  Center  26  Mins. 

(Documentary) 

This  documentary  pictorially  and  vocally 
takes  up  the  plight  of  the  American 
Negro,  how  he  is  overworked,  underfed, 
medically  neglected  and  generally  left  to 
his  resources  which  have  resulted  in  the 
pitiful  conditions  found  throughout  the 
south.  It  has  a straightforward  argument 
and  the  scenes  bear  it  out.  The  film  is 
propaganda  which  pleads  for  an  equal  op- 
portunity for  Negroes — they  comprise  one- 
tenth  of  the  nation’s  inhabitants — in  the 
democratic  tradition.  Negotiations  are  in 
progress  for  distribution  in  various  terri- 
tories. Recommended  for  houses  with  seri- 
ous, thinking  audiences. 


A Village  in  India 

Paramount  11  Mins. 

(Fascinating  Journeys) 

Tasteful  Travelogue.  In  the  brief  time 
span  allotted  to  this  short  an  intimate 
glimpse  of  native  village  life  in  India  is 
achieved.  Done  in  Technicolor  the  foot- 
age deals  with  fundamentals,  religion,  the 
caste  system,  crafts  and  customs.  These 
are  quite  the  best  in  travel  series  these 
days. 


Wild  Oysters 

Paramount  (Animated  Antics)  11  Mins. 

Entertaining  Novelty.  What  this  subject 
needs  is  color.  It  offers  animated  figures, 
a cat,  dog  and  mice  activated  in  the  pup- 
pet technique  a la  George  Pal.  The  oysters 
make  things  generally  hot  for  the  mice 
but  eventually  are  foiled.  Kitchen  back- 
ground is  real.  It  is  a smart  novelty. 


Unusual  Occupations , LO-3 

Paramount  (In  Cinecolor)  10  Mins. 

Good.  The  material  in  this  effort  ranges 
from  a mechanical  elephant  in  Miami  to 
an  Indian  who  achieves  some  startling 
things  with  soap  bubbles.  Also,  there  is 
the  mayor  of  Salt  Lake  City  who  drives 
racing  cars,  a Hollywood  girl  who  makes 
interesting  dolls,  and  a mattress  “break- 
er inner.” 


Spotlight  on  Indo-China 

20 th-Fox  (Magic  Carpet)  9 Mins. 

Timely.  This  is  just  a motley  collec- 
tion of  scenes  showing  Indo-Chinese  na- 
tives dancing,  fishing,  planting  rice  and 
pursuing  sundry  work-a-day  activities,  plus 
a few  shots  of  the  Burma  Road,  Angkor 
Vat  and  much  palaver  by  Lowell  Thomas, 
whose  narrative  is  better  than  the  photo- 
graphic material. 


The  Temperamental  Lion 

20  th-Fox  7 Mins. 

(Technicolor  Terry-Toon) 
Entertaining.  A loud-mouthed  lion,  cap- 
tured and  brought  to  a zoo,  in  place  of 
Hollywood,  complains  at  length  and  final- 
ly settles  accounts  with  his  captor.  Gags 
are  a bit  silly  but  should  provoke  laughter. 


Sky  Raiders 

Universal  (Serial)  1st  Episode,  19  Mins. 

There  are  numerous  exploitation  possi- 
bilities which  should  be  utilized  by  the 
exhibitor  when  he  plays  this  serial.  It  is 
the  usual  melange  of  exciting  situations 
suitably  topped  off  when  each  chapter 
concludes  with  an  increasingly  narrower 
escape  by  the  hero  from  the  hands  of  a 
gang  of  international  spies  who  are  out  to 
get  the  plans  for  a new  airplane.  It  should 
click.  Featured  are  Donald  Woods,  Billy 
Halop,  Eduardo  Ciannelli. 


Fair  Today 

Universal  (Color  Cartoon)  6%  Mins. 

Entertaining.  The  gag  man  had  a field 
day  translating  the  bucolic  diversions  at 
a country  fair  to  cartoon  burlesque.  Gen- 
erally, it  should  prove  relaxing. 


A Helping  Paw 

Columbia  (Color  Rhapsody)  7 Mins. 

Fairly  clever  stuff.  Cartoon  action  con- 
cerns a fellow  who  gets  himself  involved 
with  a masseur,  a trick  dog  and  a pair  of 
eyeglasses  that  make  him  see  everything 
double.  Eventually,  the  dog  gets  the  glasses 
and  is  quite  pleased  by  the  effect. 


Waiting  for  Baby 

Paramount  (Robert  Benchley)  11  Mins. 

Very  Good.  Robert  Benchley  parodies 
the  plight  of  the  expectant  father.  His 
approach  to  a subject  that  has  been  the 
butt  of  humorous  endeavor  since  the  first 
time  it  happened  is  none  the  less  funny — 
the  laughs  come  easy  and  often. 


Training  Police  Horses 

20 th-Fox  (Newsreel  Adventure)  10  Mins. 

Good.  The  gradual  steps  in  breaking 
mounts  for  the  New  York  City  police  force, 
in  the  Brooklyn  pampas,  should  prove  en- 
lightening and  entertaining  to  all  audi- 
ences. The  reel’s  footage  manages  inter- 
esting moments  with  touching  bits  for  ani- 
mal lovers. 


Mississippi  Swing 

20 th-Fox  7 Mins. 

(Technicolor  Terry-Toon) 
Diverting.  This  cartoon  takeoff  on 
showboats  and  darkies  having  a high  old 
musical  time  has  a few  smart  comic  mo- 
ments. A good  deal  of  animated  detail 
with  varying  degrees  of  humor,  makes 
up  for  what  is  lacking.  Generally  it  is 
tuneful  and  full  of  action. 


ME, 


RELAX 


Some  folks  may  enjoy  carrying  around 
in  their  own  heads  all  the  worries  of  the 
world.  Not  so,  smart  showmen.  Worries 
that  can  be  delegated,  they  delegate — to 
people  willing  and  able  to  take  respon- 
sibility. To  keep  projection  room  equip- 


ment in  the  pink  of  condition,  they  know 
they  need  engineers,  so  they  take  Altec 
service — sound  service  and  booth  parts 
service.  Take  this  time-tested  way  to  re- 
lax: save  all  your  energies  for  the  prime 
job  of  showmanship.  Change  to  Altec. 


^ALTEC 

250  West  5 7th  Street,  New  York  City 


CHANGE  TO  ALTEC  SERVICE  • A CHANGE  FOR  THE  BETTER 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


79 


Date  at  side  of  column  is  week  ending.  Number  in  square  is  national  release  date.  Production  number  is  at  right. 
Running  time,  as  furnished  by  home  office  of  distributor,  follows  title.  As  local  conditions,  such  as  censorship, 
subject  this  to  change,  checkup  with  local  exchanges  is  recommended.  R — is  review  date.  PG — is  Picture  Guide 
•age  number.  Symbol  O indicates  BOXOFFICE  Blue  Ribbon  Award  Winner.  Symbol  © indicates  color  photography. 


f 


[so]  Weetern  168 

Billy  the  Kid  in 

Texas  (55) 

Bob  Steels 

|ll1  Western  154 

Riders  of  Black 

Mountain  (59) 

Tim  McCoy 

[l3|  Com.  Mys.  105 

Devil  Bat  (69) 

Bela  Lugosi 

[2o|  Com.  Drama  104 

Misbehaving  Hus- 

bands (66) 

Ralph  Byrd 

R — Dec.  14 

P-R-C 

[5]  Drama  WB502 
Ivnute  Rockne,  All 
American  (98) 

Pat  O’Brien 

R— Oct.  12 

fX2]  Comedy  FN559 
Father  Is  a Prince 

(56) 

Grant  Mitchell 

R — Nov.  9 

gjj]  Hist.  Dr.  WB611 

Dispatch  from  Reu- 

ters (90) 

Kdw.  G.  Robinson 

R — Sept.  28 

pie]  Com.  Dr.  FN661 

l ugboat  Annie 

Sails  Again  (77) 

Marjorie  Rambeau 

Alan  Hale 

R — Oct.  26 

[~2~|  Comedy  FN570 

Always  a Bride  (60) 

Rosemary  Lane 

R — Nov.  30 

m Drama  FN562 

East  of  the  River 

(73)  R — Nov.  2 

John  Garfield 

Brenda  Marshall 

g§|  Drama  WB513 

South  of  Suez  (87) 

George  Brent 

Geraldine  Fitzgerald 

R — Dec.  21 

^3)  Drama  FN552 

Letter,  The  (97) 

Bette  Davis 

Herbert  Marshall 

R— Nov.  28 

[30|  Drama  WB512 

Lady  With  Red 

Hair  (81) 

Miriam  Hopkins 

R — Nov.  16 

[~7~|  Comedy  FN571 

She  Couldn’t  Say  No 

(63) 

Roger  Pryor 

R — Dec.  28 

||ij  Reissue 

Here  Comes  the 

Navy  (86) 

James  Cagney 

Pat  O’Brien 

WARNER-F.  N. 

ra  Melodrama  5046 
Fugitive,  The  (76) 

R — July  6 

gr]  Mus.  Com.  6001 
Spring  Parade  (89) 
Deanna  Durbin 

R — Oct.  5 

|~4~|  Drama  6010 

Diamond  Frontier 

(71) 

Victor  McLaglen 

R— Oct.  5 

[H|  Melodrama  6017 
A Little  Bit  of 
Heaven  (8  6) 

Gloria  Jean 

R — Oct.  19 

|l8]  Western  5062 
Law  and  Order  (67) 
Johnny  M.  Brown 

R— Dec.  14 

8 8 s 

ft<!  a 

■f  E | j t 

1 

° Q ® >■ 

0 -«  w _ o 

S®  gz 

Ml”  » I 

01 

|T|  Comedy  5036 

I'm  Nobody’s  Sweet- 

heart Now  (63) 
R— Aug.  10 

m Melodrama  5052 

Devil’s  Pipeline  (66) 

R — Nov.  30 

|~8l  Comedy  5021 

Sandy  Gets  Her  Man 

(66)  R — Nov.  16 

[§1  Western  5063 

Pony  Post  (59) 

R— Dec.  14 

[To]  Drama  5015 

One  Nigrht  in  the 

Tropics  (82) 

Allan  Jones 

Nancy  Kelly 

R — Nov.  9 

|vv|  Comedy  5023 

Meet  the  Wildcat 

(65)  R — Nov.  2 

|22|  Drama  R5048 

Next  Time  We  Love 

(87) 

[29I  Comedy  5010 

Bank  Dick,  The  (72) 

W.  C.  Fields 

Una  Merkel 

R — Dec.  7 

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Trail  of  the  Vigil- 

antes (75) 

Franchot  Tone 

R — Dec.  14 

[2q|  Drama  5025 

Give  Us  Wings  (62) 

Little  Tough  Guys 

Wallace  Ford 

R — Nov.  16 

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Black  Out  (80) 

Conrad  Veldt 

Valerie  Hobson 

R— Nov.  23 

UNITED  ARTISTS 

||ij  Drama  101 

Brigham  Young — 
Frontiersman 
(113)  R — Aug.  31 
Tyrone  Power 

Linda  Darnell 

f~4~|  Act.  Drama  108 
Gay  Caballero, 

The  (57) 

Cesar  Romero 

R — Sept.  28 

(ii|  Mus.  Com.  118 
©Down  Argentine 
Way  (88) 

Don  Ameche 

R — Oct.  12 

[51  Drama  114' 

Night  Train  (93) 
Margaret  Lockwood 
Rex  Harrison 

R— Nov.  2 

|2sj  Comedy  111 

The  Great  Profile 

(71) 

John  Barrymore 

R — Aug.  24 

[T|  Melodrama,  117 
Mark  of  Zorro  (93) 

Tyrone  Power 

Linda  Darnell 

R — Nov.  9 

gfl)  Drama  102 

Street  of  Memories 
(70)  R— July  6 

Lynne  Roberts 

Guy  Kibbee 

g Comedy  119 

Youth  Will  Be 

Served  (66) 

Jane  Withers 

R — Sept.  28 

[20]  Drama  120 

ytTin  Pan  Alley 

(94)  R — Nov.  30 

Alice  Faye 

Jack  Oakie 

Betty  Grable 

|~6~|  Drama  1X8 

Charter  Pilot  (70) 

Lynn  Bari 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R — Nov.  30 

[u|  Mystery  121 

Murder  Over  New 

York  (66) 

Sidney  Toler 

R — Nov.  30 

Eo|  Comedy  122 

Jennie  (77) 

William  Henry 

Dorris  Bowden 

R — Dec.  7 

20TH-F0X 

^j*^Brama  103 

I’m  Still  Alive  (72) 
Kent  Taylor 

R — Sept.  21 

|T|  Weetern  181 

Wagon  Train  (69) 

Tim  Holt 

Ray  Whitley 

R — Oct.  12 

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Tim  Holt 

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Too  Many  Girls  (85) 
Lucille  Ball 

Frances  Langford 

R — Oct.  12 

[l6j  Comedy  111 

.Mexican  Spitfire 

Out  West  (76) 

Lupe  Velez 

R — Oct.  12 

[gsj  Mus.  Com.  108 
You’ll  Find  Out 

(97) 

Kay  Kyser 

Helen  Parrish 

R— Nov.  23 

jiij]  Drama  113 

Remedy  for  Riches 

Jean  Hersholt 

(68)  R — Nov.  23 

[e]  Western  182 

Fargo  Kid,  The  (63) 

Tim  Holt 

R— Nov.  2 

|2<jj  Drama  114 

No,  No,  Nanette 

(96) 

Anna  Neagle 

Richard  Carlson 

R— Jan.  11 — PG-8 

RKO  RADIO 

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(67)  R — Oct.  19 

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The  Border  legion 

(58) 

Roy  Rogers 

R— Nov.  30 

[7]  Comedy  008 

Barnyard  Follies 

(68)  R — Nov.  30 

Mary  Lee 

Rufe  Davis 

|20|  Drama  009 

Behind  the  News 

(76) 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R— Dec.  21 

REPUBlie 

|27j  Melodrama  4003 

Rangers  of  Fortune 

(80) 

Fred  MacMurray 
Patricia  Morlson 

R — Sept.  14 

[4]  Melodrama  4004 
Quarterback  (74) 
Wayne  Morris 

Lillian  Cornell 

R — Oct.  B 

|jj|  Drama  4005 

Cherokee  Strip  (86) 
Florence  Rice 
Richard  Dlx 

R — Oct.  ( 

[is]  Drama  4006 

Moon  O ver  Burma 

(76) 

Dorothy  Lsmour 

R — Oct.  19 

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Arise  My  Love  (113) 

Claudette  Colbert 

Ray  Milland 

R — Oct.  19 

[l5|  Western  4060 
Three  Men  From 

Texas  (70) 

William  Boyd 

R— Sept.  14 

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Mounted  Police 
(126)  R — Oct.  26 

Madeleine  Carroll 

PARAMOUNT 

[30j  Melodrama.  4001 

The  Ape  (62) 

Boris  Karloff 

R — Oct.  26 

[~7~1  Act.  Drama  4082 

Drums  of  the  Desert 

Ralph  Byrd 

R — Oct.  19 

|~7~|  Western  RB-2 

Trailin’  Douhle 
Trouble  (58) 
Corrigan-Terhune- 
Klng  R — Oct.  19 

[Ti  Com.  Dr.  4010 
Ol’  Swimmln’  Hole 
(76)  R — Oct.  26 

M.  Jones 

T.  Moran 

jJJ]  Western  4051 

Take  Me  Back  to 

Oklahoma  (64) 

Tex  Ritter 

R— Nov.  30 

[is]  Mystery  4012 

Phantom  of  China- 

town (62) 

Keye  Luke 

R— Nov.  30 

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ffij  Comedy  103 

Strike  Up  the  Band 

(120) 

R — Sept.  21 

Jg7|  Mystery  106 

Sky  Murder  (72) 

R — -Sept.  28 

[7]  Comedy  106 

Dulcy  (73) 

Ann  Sothern 
lan  Hunter 

R — Oct.  S 

[il|  Drama  107 

Third  Finger,  Left 

Hand  ( 98 ) 
Douglas-Loy 

R — Oct.  19 

[26)  Comedy  100 

Hullabaloo  (77) 

Frank  Morgan 

Billie  Burke 

R — Nov.  2 

|71  Drama  108 

Escape  (104) 

Norma  Shearer 

Robert  Taylor 

R — Nov.  9 

|T|  Musical  110 

©Bittersweet  (92) 

Jeanette  MacDonald 

Nelson  Eddy 

R — Nov.  23 

ID  Drama  111 

Gallant  Sons  (79) 

Jackie  Cooper 

Bonita  Granville 

R — Nov.  16 

g Comedy  112 

Little  Nellie  Kelly 

(100) 

Judy  Garland 

George  Murphy 

R — Nov.  23 

g Drama  115 

Dr.  Kildare's  Crisis 

(76) 

Lew  Ayres 

Lionel  Barrymore 

R — Dec.  7 

[e]  Comedy  114 

Go  West  (82) 

Marx  Bros. 

R — Dec.  21 

[l5]  Drama  113 

Comrade  X (89) 

Clark  Gable 

Hedy  Lamarr 

R — Dec.  14 

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(59)  R — Oct.  26 

|30)  Drama  1006 

Angels  Over  Broad- 

Way  (80)  R-Oct  12 

(3^  Western  2209 

Prairie  Schooners 
(68)  R— Nov.  16 

Bill  Elliott 

|T|  Com.  Dr'ma  2018 

So  You  Won’t  Talk 

(69)  R— Oct.  6 

Joe  E.  Brown 

[i7|  Drama  2030 

Nobody’s  Children 

(65) 

Edith  Fellows 

R — Feb.  1 — PG-18 

p4]  Drama  3038 

Girls  Under  21  (64) 

R— Nov.  30 

[gi|  Western  2202 
West  of  Abilene  (67) 

R — Aug.  3 

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Beyond  the  Sacra- 

mento (68) 

Bill  Elliott 

[23]  Mystery  2021 

Lone  Wolf  Keeps  a 

Date  (63)  R-Nov.  30 

|28]  Drama  2012 

Escape  to  Glory  (74) 

R — Nov.  30 

|3p|  Mystery  2024 

Ellery  Queen,  Mas- 

ter Detective  (69) 
Ralph  Bellamy 

Margaret  Lindsay 

R — Nov.  30 

[~6]  Weetern  2208 

Thundering  Fron- 

tier (57) 

Charles  Starrett 

R — Sept.  21 

fa]  Drama  2081 

Great  Plane  Rob- 

bery (63) 

Jack  Holt 

R — Dec.  14 

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P-R-C 

[27]  Western  159 

Billy  the  Kid'*  Qua 

Justice  (63) 

Bob  Steele 

[ip]  Western  163 

Lone  Rider  Rides  On 

(64) 

George  Houston 

[j7]  Comedy  107 

Caught  in  the  Act 

(62) 

Henry  Armetta 

[24]  Western  160 

Billy  the  Kid’s 

Range  War  ( . . ) 

Bob  Steele 

|3i|  Mystery  106 

Secret  Evidence  (65) 

Marjorie  Reynolds 

Chas.  Quigley 

R — Feb.  8 — PG-22 

[2§|  Western  164 

Lone  Rider  Crosses 

the  Rio  ( . . ) 

George  Houston 

|~7~|  Western  155 

Outlaws  of  the  Rio 

Grande  ( . . ) 

Tim  McCoy 

[22]  Western  161 

Billy  the  Kid  Trails 

West  (..) 

Bob  Steele 

[29]  Drama 

The  Fugitives  ( . . ) 

WARNER-F.  N. 

H§]  Adv.  Dr.  FN5S1 

Santa  Fe  Trail  (110) 
Errol  Flynn 

Olivia  DeHavtlland 
R— Dec.  21 

[T|  M’drama  WB603 

Four  Mothers  (86) 
The  Lane  Sisters 
Jeffrey  Lynn 

R — Dec.  14 

[JJj  M’drama  FN572 

Case  of  the  Black 

Parrot  (60) 

Wm.  Lundlgan 

Marls  Wrlxon 

R — Feb.  1 — PG-1 9 

[jg]  Com.  Dr.  WB510 

Honeymoon  for 

Three  (76) 

George  Brent 

Ann  Sheridan 

[25]  Drama  FN556 

High  Sierra  (100) 

Humphrey  Bogart 

Ida  Luplno 

R — Jan.  25— PG-16 

[Y]  Drama  WB520 

Father’s  Son  (57) 

John  Litel 

Frieda  Inescort 

[ g]  Drama 

Flight  From  Destiny 

(74) 

Thomas  Mitchell 

R— Jan.  4— PG-4 

HD  Comedy 

The  Great  Mr.  No- 

body (71) 

Eddie  Albert 

Joan  Leslie 

[22I  Com.  Drama 

Strawberry  Blonde 

(97) 

James  Cagney 

Olivia  de  Havllland 

[Y]  Mys.  Drama 

Shadows  on  the 

Stairs  ( . . ) 

Frieda  Inescort 

Paul  Cavanagh 

[~8~]  Mys.  Drama 

Footsteps  in  the 

Dark  ( . . ) 

Errol  Flynn 

Brenda  Marshall 

[15]  Comedy 

Here  Comes  Happi- 

ness ( . . ) 

Mildred  Coles 

Edward  Norris 

[22]  Drama 

The  Sea  Wolf  ( . . ) 

Edw.  G.  Robinson 

Ida  Lupino 

John  Garfield 

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[27]  Mys.  Com.  5018 

Invisible  Woman 
(72) 

John  Barrymore 
Virginia  Bruce 

R — Jan  4 — PG-1 

|~3~]  Com.  Drama  5030 

Where  Did  You  Get 
That  Girl  (65) 

R — Dec.  28 

|~3]  Adv.  Drama  5053 

Lucky  Devils  (62) 

(io]  Western  5064 

Boss  of  BulUon  City 

(59) 

[io]  Drama  5027 

San  Francisco  Docks 
(66)  R — Dec.  7 

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Buck  Privates  (8  4) 

Andrews  Sisters 

Abbott  & Costello 

R— Feb.  8— PG-22 

[~7~|  Drama 

Back  Street  (89) 

Margaret  Sullavan 

Charles  Boyer 

R — Feb.  8 — PG-21 

[ii]  Comedy 

Meet  the  Chump 

(60) 

Hugh  Herbert 

R — Feb.  15 — PG-28 

[21]  Mus.  Comedy 

Nice  Girl  ( . . ) 

Deanna  Durbin 

Franchot  Tone 

^8]  Drama  5040 

Dark  Streets  of 

Cairo  ( . . ) 

Sigrid  Gurie 

Barbara  O’Neil 

R — Dec.  7 

|~7~|  Comedy 

Mr.  Dynamite  ( . . ) 

Lloyd  Nolan 

Irene  Hervey 

[14]  Comedy 

Model  Wife  ( . . ) 

Joan  Blondell 

Dick  Powell 

[21]  Drama 

Double  Date  ( . . ) 

Peggy  Moran 

Edmund  Lowe 

UNITED  ARTISTS 

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[Ip]  Melodrama 

Son  of  Monte  Crist  o 

(102) 

Louis  Hayward 

Joan  Bennett 

R — Dec.  7 

[24]  Comedy 

Road  Show  (87) 

Adolphe  Menjou 
Carol  Lendls 

R — Feb.  15 — PG-25 

[14]  Drama 

So  Ends  Our  Night 

(121)  Fredric  March 

Margaret  Sullavan 

R — Feb.  1 — PG-20 

20TH-F0X 

[27]  Drama  123 

©Chad  Hanna  (88) 
Henry  Fonda 

Dorothy  L&mour 

R — Dec.  14 

|~g~|  Drama  115 

Hudson’s  Bay  (95) 
Paul  Muni 

Virginia  Field 

R — Dec.  28 

[jo]  Melodrama  124 
Michael  Shayne,  Pri- 
vate Detective 

(77) 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R — Dec.  28 

[j7|  Act.  Drama  125 
Romance  of  the  Rio 
Grande  (73) 

Cesar  Romero 

R — Jan.  11 — PG-6 

[24]  Drama  128 

Tall,  Dark  and 

Handsome  (78) 
Cesar  Romero 

R— Jan.  25 — PG-14 

pn]  Drama  127 

Girl  in  the  News 

(77) 

Margaret  Lockwood 
R— Jan.  4 — PG-1 

[~7~|  Comedy  129 

Ride,  KeUy,  Ride 

(89) 

Eugene  Pallette 

R — Feb.  15 — PG-25 

[14]  Com.  Drama  130 

Golden  Hoofs  ( . . ) 

Jane  Withers 

(Buddy)  Rogers 

[2x|  Drama  126 

©Western  Union 

(98) 

Robert  Young 

R — -Feb.  8 — PG-2  4 

|28|  Mystery 

Murder  Among 

Friends  ( . . ) 

John  Hubbard 

Marjorie  Weaver 

|~7~|  Drama 

Tobacco  Road  ( . . ) 

Charlie  Grapewln 

Marjorie  Rambeau 

[14]  Drama 

Sleepers  West  ( . . ) 

Lloyd  Nolan 

Lynn  Bari 

[2i|  Drama 

The  Outlaw  ( . .) 

Walter  Huston 

Thomas  Mitchell 

g Mystery 

Dead  Men  Tell  ( . . ) 

Sidney  Toler 

Jean  Rogers 

RKO  RADIO 

[g7|  Drama  112 

Kitty  Foyle  (108) 
Ginger  Rogers 
Herbert  Marshall 

R — Dec.  21 

[~a~]  Drama  1®1 

Convoy  (78) 

Clive  Brook 

Judy  Campbell 

R — Jan.  18 — PG-11 

fjo|  Drama  110 

Little  Men  (84) 

Kay  Francis 

Jack  Oakle 

R — Dec.  7 

[j7]  Musical  115 

Let’s  Make  Music 
(84) 

Bob  Crosby 

R — Dec.  14 

^4]  Mystery  116 

Saint  In  Palm 

Springs  (66) 

George  Sanders 

R — Jan.  4 — PG-3 

[gt]  Comedy  117 

Mr.  and  Mrs. 

Smith  (96) 

Carole  Lombard 

R — Jan.  23 — PG-13 

|~7~]  Western  183 

Along  the  Rio 

Grande  (64) 

Tim  Holt 

R— Feb.  1— PG-20 

[14]  Drama  121 

Play  Girl  (77) 

Kay  Francis 

James  Ellison 

R — Dec.  14 

[21]  Com.  Drama  123 
Scattergood  Baines 

(69) 

Guy  Kibbee 

R — Feb.  15— PG-27 

[28]  Drama  118 

Citizen  Kane  ( . . ) 

Orson  Welles 

I14]  Comedy  120 

A Girl,  a Guy  and  a 

Gob  ( . . ) 

George  Murphy 

Lucille  Ball 

[21]  Musical  119 

Footlight  Fever  ( . . ) 

Alan  Mowbray 

Donald  McBride 

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Bowery  Boy  (71) 
Dennis  O’Keefe 
Louise  Campbell 

R— Jan.  4 — PG-2 

[jf|  Western  074 

Wyoming  Wildcat 

(56) 

Don  "Red”  Barry 
Julie  Duncan 

R — Jan.  11 — PG-8 

[14]  Western  054 

Robin  Hood  of  the 
Pecos  (59) 

Roy  Rogers 

R— Jan.  18— PG-10 

I24]  Western  044 

lUding  on  a Rain- 
bow (79) 

Gene  Autry 

R — Feb.  1 — PG-19 

[2§]  Comedy  010 

Arkansas  Judge 

(72) 

Weaver  Bros. 

R — Jan.  25 — PG-14 

[3x]  Comedy  020 

Petticoat  Politics 

(67) 

Higgins  Family 

[14]  Western  075 

Phantom  Cowboy 

(56) 

Don  “Red”  Barry 

[xe]  Western  065 

Prairie  Pioneers 

(•  .) 

Three  Mesquiteers 

[~3~]  Drama 

Citadel  of  Crime 
( ) 

John  Wayne 

Frances  Dee 

[ip]  Action  Drama 

Great  Train  Robbery 

(.  .) 

Bob  Steele 

Claire  Carleton 

[17]  Western 

Back  in  the  Saddle 

(•  •) 

Gene  Autry 

Smiley  Burnette 

[27]  Drama 

Mr.  District  At- 

torney ( . . ) 

Dennis  O’Keefe 

PARAMOUNT 

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Second  Chorus  (88) 
Fred  Astaire 

Paulette  Goddard 

R — Dec.  7 

[jo|  Western  4051 
Doomed  Caravan 

(62) 

William  Boyd 

RuBsell  Hayden 

R — Jan.  18 — PG-9 

; [17]  Drama  4015 

Victory  (79) 

Fredrlc  March 

Betty  Field 

R — Dec.  21 

[24I  Comedy  4016 

Aldrich  Family  In 

Life  With  Henry 

(82) 

R — Jan.  25 — PG-16 

p7~|  Mus.  Com.  4017 
You're  the  One  (81) 

Bonnie  Baker 

Orrin  Tucker 

R— Feb.  8 — PG-21 

[44]  Mystery  4018 

Mad  Doctor,  The 
(90) 

Basil  Rathbone 

R — Feb.  15 — PG-26 

|2x]  Drama  4019 

©Virginia  (109) 
Madeleine  Carroll 
Fred  MacMurray 

R — Jan.  18— PG-12 

[2§|  Western  4052 
In  Old  Colorado 
(•  .) 

William  Boyd 

[~7~|  Comedy  4020 

Hard  Boiled  Canary 

(79) 

Allan  Jones 

Susanna  Foster 

[21]  Comedy 

Lady  Eve  (97) 
Barbara  Stanwyck 

Henry  Fonda 

CO 

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gji]  Drama  4003 
Her  First  Romance 

(77)  R— Dec.  28 

[29]  Western  4052 

Rolling  Horae  to 

Texas  (63) 

R — Feb.  1 — PG-17 

|~6~|  Western  RB-4 
I'm!!  of  the  Silver 
Spurs  (60) 

Range  Busters 

[fij]  Mystery 

Dead  Man’s  Shoes 

(..) 

Wilfrid  Lawson 

Leslie  Banks 

[20]  Melodrama  4014 

You’re  Out  of  Luck 

(62) 

Frankie  Darro 

R — Jan.  18 — PG-11 

|~6~|  Western  4053 
Kidin’  the  Cherokee 

Trail  ( . . ) 

Tex  Ritter 

[19]  Air  Drama 

Air  Devils  ( . . ) 

Leo  Gorcey 

Bobby  Jordan 

]28]  Drama 

Sign  of  the  Wolf 

(.  .) 

Grace  Bradley 

M-Q-M 

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O jf  U ® C 

•3.P  _ 4 
® “ c £ 1 

Rn  ® c 0 1 

[y|  Drama  117 

Flight  Command 

(114) 

Robert  Taylor 

Walter  Pld*eon 

R — Dec.  21 

QO 

2 ►» 

^ ffl  U5 

< 3 6 

£ . k 

a * p 1 

Q.i 

O ®S^!g 

ml 

[j7]  Drama  119 

Philadelphia  Story 

(112) 

Katharine  Hepburn 

Cary  Grant 

[24]  Comedy  121 

Wild  Man  of  Borneo 

(78)  R-Feb.  8-PG-24 

[24]  Historical 

Land  of  Liberty  (98) 

R — Jan.  25 — PG-15 

N 

N 

^ t- 

* p 

s & 

2 ® 2 fc 

Eg  c | 

S3  A& 

p7~[  Comedy  123 

Blonde  Inspiration 

(72) 

John  Shelton 

Virginia  Grey 

[jg]  Drama  125 

Trial  of  Mary  Dngan 

(90) 

Robert  Young 

R — Feb.  15 — PG-28 

[21]  Comedy  126 

Andy  Hardy’s  Pri- 

vate Secretary 
(.  .) 

Mickey  Rooney 

[28]  Com.  Drama 
Free  and  Easy  ( . . ) 

Ruth  Hussey 

Robert  Cummings 

[~7~|  Drama 

Rage  in  Heaven  ( . . ) 

Robert  Montgomery 

Ingrid  Bergman 

|X4]  Drama  124 

The  Bad  Man  ( . . ) 
Wallace  Beery 

Lionel  Barrymore 

[21]  Musical 

Ziegfeld  Girl  ( . . ) 
Judy  Garland 

James  Stewart 

Hedy  Lamarr 

^ © 

Wi 

g £ £ H 

£ d< 

© § £ 
rooisfl  -2  'c 

COLUMBIA 



Outd’r  Dt.  8101 
Arizona  (128) 

Jean  Arthur 

R— Nov.  IS 
g Western  Mil 
Wildcat  of  Tu»oon 
(57)  BUI  Elliott 

8 

5 oJ  © 

i 

o .a  • 

n w © c c ° 

^ ® 

O > d O 

i— 12  J ® § 1 

[9]  Western  2204 
Pinto  Kid  (81) 
Charles  Starrett 

R — Feb.  8 — PG-2  3 

[J|]  Mys.  Dr.  2029 
Face  Behind  the 
Mask  (69) 

Peter  Lorre 

R — Feb.  15 — PG-26 

[~3~|  Melodrama  2028 

The  Devil  Com- 

mands ( . . ) 

Borks  Karloff 

g|]  Western  2212 

Across  the  Sierra 

(58) 

Bill  Elliott 

[is]  Drama 

Adam  Had  Four 

Sons  ( . . ) 

Warner  Baxter 

Ingrid  Bergman 

[20]  Dram* 

Meet  Boston  Blackie 

(■•) 

Chester  Morris 

Rochelle  Hudson 

Ht]  Comedy 

Blondle  Goes  Latin 

(•  •) 

[27)  Western  2205 
Outlaws  of  the  Pan- 

handle (69) 

Charles  Starrett 

[28]  Drama 

Missing  Ten  Days 

]~6~[  Mystery 

Lone  Wolf  Takes  a 

Chance  ( . . ) 

[13]  Com.  Drama 
Penny  Serenade  ( . . ) 

Cary  Grant 

Irene  Dunne 

^4]  Mys.  Drama 
Ellery  Queen’s  Pent- 
house Mystery 

I.  .) 

DEC. 

28 

I JAN. 

11 

JAN. 

18 

JAN. 

25 

FEB. 

1 

FEB. 

8 

FEB. 

15 

FEB. 

22 

MAR. 

1 

MAR. 

8 

MAR. 

15 

MAR. 

22 

MAR. 

9Q 

Numeral  is  production  number.  Running  time  follows  title.  First  date  Is  Na- 
tional release,  second  the  date  of  review  in  BOXOFFICE;  both  1940  unless 
otherwise  specified.  The  symbol  between  the  dates  is  rating  from  the  BOX- 
OFFICE  review:  44  Very  good,  + Good,  ± Fair,  zjz  Mediocre,  — Poor,  = Very 
Poor,  y Indicates  short  of  the  week.  © Indicates  color  photography. 


SHORTS  CHART 


Prod. 

No. 


Title 


Rel.  Rat- 

Date  ing  Rev’d 


Columbia 


2425. 

2424. 

2423. 

1438. 


ALL-STAR  COMEDIES 
.Blondes  and  Blunders  (16). 11-29 
• Bundle  of  Bliss,  A (18).. 11-  1 

.Cold  Turkey  (16) 10-18 

.Fireman  Save  My  Choo- 

Choo  (18)  8-9 

2628..  Fresh  as  a Freshman  (..).  1-29 
2426.  .His  Ex  Marks  the  Spot 

(18)  12-13 

2421.  .Pleased  to  Mitt  You  (18)..  9-  6 
1421.  .Skinny  the  Moocher  (I6V2)  9-  8 

2422..  5pook  Speaks,  The  (18)...  9-20 
9437.  .Trouble  Finds  Andy 

Clyde  (18)  7-28 

2627.  .Watchman  Takes  a Wife, 

The  (16)  1-10 

CINESCOPES 

2975.  .Feathers  (Cosmocolor) 

(■•)  

2972.  .Floating  Elephants  (8) 

2971 
2972. 


± 12-  7 


+ 8-31 


+ 10-19 


± 1-25 


. . 1-31 
. . .10-  4 

.Hobby  Lobby  (11) 8-30 

.Industrial  Green  Island 


9-20 


• Timid  Pup.  The  (8) 

• Way  of  All  Pests  (7) 2-28 

12-  6 


10-19 

9-21 


(10)  

2973  . Nice  Work  If  You 

Can  Do  It  (9)  11-8  -f  11-23 

2975.  .©Ocean  Trails  (..) 1-31  

2974.  .Unusual  Crafts  (9) ..12-25  ± 1-25 

COLOR  RHAPSODIES 
(In  Technicolor) 

2505..  A Helping  Paw  (7) 1-7  

2502..  ©Mr.  Elephant  Goes  to 

Town  (7V2)  

2503..  Mad  Hatter,  The  (7) 11-  3 

2501.  .Tangled  Television  (7%)..  8-30 
1512 
2506 

2504..  Wise  Owl  (7) 

COLUMBIA  TOURS 
2556.  .Beautiful  British  Colum- 
bia (10i/2)  12-20  + 1-25 

2557..  From  Singapore  to  Hong 

Kong  (De  La  Varre  Prod.) 


.10-  4 

+ 

8-  1 ± 


10-19 

8-31 


12-  7 


(10)  

. 1-10 

2551 . 

.Historic  Virginia  (Andre  de 

la  Varre  Productions) 

(10)  

. 8-16 

2554 . 

.Islands  of  the  West 

Indies  (10)  

.10-25 

44 

11-23 

2553 . 

.Old  and  New  Arizona 

(Special)  (9)  

. 9-27 

2552. 

• Savoy  In  the  Alps  (la 

Varre  Productions)  (10) 

. 9-13 

44 

10-23 

2555. 

• Sojourn  In  Havana 

(LaVarre  Prod.)  (9)  . . . 

.11-25 

12-  7 

COMMUNITY  SING 

2651. 

■ No.  1.  . (Jolly  Tunes — D. 

Baker  (10)  

.10-  2 

2652.  .No.  2. . (Popular  Songs — D. 

Baker  (10)  

.11-  8 

+ 

11-23 

2653. 

.No.  3.  .(Melodies  That  Pin 

ger — D.  Baker)  (10)... 

.12-13 

2654 . 

• No.  4 (Gay  Tunes)  (10)  . . 

. 1-  1 

2655. 

No.  5 (10) 

. 2-  7 

Fun  with  Songs — L.  White. 

FABLES  CARTOONS 

2751 . 

• Farmer  Tom  Thumb  (6). 

. 9-27 

4- 

10-19 

2755. 

. It  Happened  to  Crusoe  ( . . 

) 3-14 

2752 . 

.Mouse  Meets  Lion  (6)... 

.10-25 

— 

12-  7 

2753. 

• Paunch  ’n’  Judy  (644)  . . . 

.12-13 

1-25 

1 755 . 

.Pooch  Parade  (6) 

. 7-19 

2754. 

• Streamlined  Donkey  (6).. 

. 1-17 

8-31 

10-19 


Prod. 

No. 


2803 
1809 
2802 

2804 
2801 

2805 


2404 
2403 

2401 
1408 

2402 

2405 


1906 


2901 

2902 


290S 


Title 


Rel.  Rat- 
Date  ing  Rev’d 


Prod. 

No. 


Title 


Rel.  Rat- 
Date  ing  Rev’d 


(40)  11-21  

SPORT  REELS 

.Ali  the  Giant  Killer  (10y2)  12-27  zp  1-25 
.Canvas  Capers  (11) 7-19  .... 

• Hunting  Wild  Deer  (9)...  11-22  rz  12-  7 

■ Ice  Capers  (..) 1-24  .... 

.Master  of  Cue  With  Willie 

Hoppe  (9)  10-4  + 10-19 

• Splits,  Spares  and  Strikes 

(••)  2-21 

THREE  STOOGES  COMEDIES 

• Boobs  in  Arms  (18) 12-27  ± 1-18 

.Cuckoo  Cavaliers  (17) ....  11-15  ± 12-  7 

• From  Nurse  to  Worse  (16)  8-23  4-  8-31 

.How  High  Is  Up  (16) 7-16  = 8-3 

-No  Census,  No  Feeling  (16)  10-  4 .... 

. So  Long  Mr.  Chumps  ( . . ) . 2-  7 .... 

WASHINGTON  PARADE 
Series  2 

.No.  6 (Our  Nat’l  Defense) 

(10)  8-30  

Series  8 

■ No.  1 (The  Mint)  (10) 10-25  

.No.  2 (U.  S.  Military  Acad- 
emy) (Special)  (10) 12-13  ± 1-18 

• No.  3 (U.  S.  Naval  Acad- 

emy) (Special)  (10) ....  1-  3 -)-  1-25 


HEADLINER 

A0-  3.. Johnny  Messner  and 

Orch.  (11)  12-13 

A0-  2.. Listen  to  Larry  (10) 10-25 

A0-  1 . . yMoments  of  Charm  of 

1941  (10)  9-13 

A9-10. . Pinky  Tomlin  and  Orch. 

(ID  

MADCAP  MODELS 
(In  Technicolor) 

J0-1.. Western  Daze  (9) 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS 
Released  Twice  Weekly. 
PARAGRAPHICS 


± 12-21 
+ 10-26 

44  10-  6 


7-18  + 8-31 


1-17  4+  1-18 


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 


CRIME  DOESN’T  PAY 

P-  5.  .Buyers  Beware  (20) 8-17 

P-201.. OEyes  of  the  Navy  (20).  10-26 

P-  6 . Soak  the  Old  (20) 8-24 

P-815.. Think  First  (21) 9-9 

P-202.. OYou,  the  People  (21) 11-30 

FITZPATRICK  TRAVELTALKS 
(In  Technicolor) 

T-214.  .Beautiful  Ball  (9) 11-23 

T-211.  Capitol  City,  The — Wash- 
ington, D.  O.  (9) 9-7 

T-212.  .Cavalcade  Of  San  Fran- 
cisco (9)  9-28 

T-213.  . Old  New  Mexico  (10) 10-26 

T-215.  .Old  New  Orleans  (9) 12-21 

MINIATURES 

Great  Meddler,  The  (11) 

Happiest  Man  on  Earth  (11)  . . . 

M-231.. Rodeo  Dough  (10)  (Sepia)  10-  9 
M-G-M  CARTOONS 
(New  Series) 
(Technicolor) 

W-  90.  Bookworm  Turns,  The 


44 


9-  7 
10-26 
9-28 

1-18 


V0-  3.  . y Breezy  Little  Bears  (11) . 

.12-27 

44 

1-18 

V0-  1.. Nature’s  Nursery  (10).... 
V9-10.  .Paramount  Pictorial 

.10-11 

10-26 

No.  2 (11).... 

. 9-  9 

-4- 

8-24 

V0-  2.  .Seeing  Is  Believing  (11)..  11-22 
POPEYE  CARTOONS 
E9-10.  . Doing  Impossikible  Stunts 

4- 

12-  7 

<7)  

. 8-  2 

4- 

8-17 

E0-  4 . .Eugene,  the  Jeep  (7) . . . . 

.12-13 

-4- 

12-  7 

E9-  9.  Fightin*  Pals  (8) 

E8-ll..It’s  the  Natural  Thing  to 

. 7-12 

44 

8-17 

Do  (7)  

. 7-28 

8-26 

E0-  2.  .My  Pop,  My  Pop  (7) 

E0-  1 . . Popeye  Meets  William 

10-18 

10-26 

Tell  (7)  

. 9-2® 

44 

10-  5 

EO-5.  .Problem  Pappy  (7) 

1-10 

-4- 

1-18 

E9-12 . . Puttin’  on  the  Act  (7)... 
E9-11.  .Wimmln’  Hadn’t  Oughta 

8-30 

4- 

8-24 

Drive  (7)  

. 8-18 

4- 

8-24 

E0-  3.. With  Poopdeck  Pappy  (7) 

11-15 

o 

12-  7 

± 12-14 


9-  7 


POPULAR  SCIENCE 
(In  CInecolor) 

J0-1 . . (11)  9-6 

JO-2..  (10)  11-  1 

JO-3.  .(10)  1-  3 

GRANTLAND  RICE  SPORT- 
LIGHTS 


9-28 

11-  9 
1-18 

2-  8 
2-  8 

12- 14 


(8)  . . . 

. . 7-20 

4- 

8-31 

W-  94. 

. Gallopin’ 

Gals  (8) . 

. .10-26 

11-  9 

W-  93. 

■ Homeless 

Flea.  The 

(8). 

. .10-12 

+4 

12-  7 

W-241 . 

• Lonesome 

Stranger 

(9).. 

. .11-23 

44 

12-  7 

W-  92. 

.Papa  Gets 

the  Bird 

(8)  . 

.9-7 

9-28 

W-  91. 

.Romeo  in 

Rhythm 

(8).  . 

. 8-10 

•± 

9-  7 

R0-  6. 
R0-  1. 
R0-  5. 
R0-  4. 
R0-  3. 
R9-13. 
R0-  2. 


B9-  9 
B9-11 
B9-10 

B9-  8 

B9-12 . 


NEW  YORK  PARADE 

2951..  New  York  Parade  (10)...  1-24  4-  2-8 

PHANTASIES  CARTOONS 
2705.  .Little  Theatre,  The  (..)..  2-  7 .... 

1706..  News  Oddities  (6) 7-19  .... 

1756..  Peep  In  the  Deep,  A (6%)  8-23 

2701..  5.hool  Boy  Dreams  (5)...  9-24 
2705.  .There’s  Music  in  Your 

Hair  ( . .)  3-28  .... 

2704..  Tom  Thumb’s  Brother 

(..)  1-17  

2703.  .Wallflower,  The  (..) 11-29  

QUIZ  REELS 

2601.  .Take  It  or  Leave  It  (9%)  12-  5 o 12-7 

2602 . . Take  It  or  Leave  It 

No.  2 (11)  12-25  zf  1-25 

2603..  Take  It  or  Leave  It  No.  3 

(••)  2-7 

2604.  .Junior  I.  Q.  Parade  (..)..  3-  7 .... 

SCREEN  SNAPSHOTS 

I860  . No.  10  (9) S-10  ± 8-31 

Jack  Oakie. 

2851..  No.  1 (10) 9-6  

Ken  Murray. 

2852..  No.  2 (9) 10-18 

Don  Wilson. 

2853..  No.  3 (9) 11-22 

Ken  Murray. 

2854..  No.  4 (9) 12-27  

Ken  Murray. 

2855.  .No.  5 (9) 2-2  z£  1-25 

Bob  Hope. 

SPECIAL  (HAPPY-HOUR) 

2441.  .Puss  in  Boots  (reissue) 


o 11-23 

± 12-  7 M0-  1 


M-G-M  NEWS  OF  THE  DAY 
Released  Twice  Weekly 
OUR  GANG  COMEDIES 
C-29.3.  .Coin’  Flshln’  (10)  ... 

C-291..Good  Bad  Bovs  (11) 9-  7 

0-294.  .Kiddie  Kure  (11) 11-23 

C-292.  .Waldo’s  Last  Stand  (11).  . 10-  5 
PASSING  parade 

(New  Series) 

K-281 . .American  Spoken  Here 

(Sepia)  (10)  11-30 

K-126.  .Baron  and  the  Rose,  The 

(11)  9-  7 

K-128.  .Dreams  (10)  11-16 

K-127.  .Utopia  of  Death  (10) 10-12 

PETE  SMITH  SPECIALTIES 
S-I13.  .Football  Thrills  of  1939  (10)  9-21 

S-112.  .Please  Answer  (9) 8-24 

S-261.  • QQuicker’n  a Wink 

(Sepia)  (9)  10-12 

S-263QSea  for  Yourself  (10) 12-21 

S-262.  .Wedding  Bills  (10) 11-30 

Paramount 

ANIMATED  ANTICS 
HO-4.. Bring  Himself  Back  Alive 

(7)  12-20 

HO-1.. Dandy  Lion,  The  (7) 9-20 

H0-3.. Mommy  Loves  Puppy  (7).  11-29 
HO-2.. Sneak,  Snoop  * Snitch  (7)  10-25 
BENCHLEY  COMEDIES 
SO-  1.. Trouble  With  Husbands 

(11)  11-  8 

COLOR  CLASSICS 
(In  Technicolor) 

C9-5.  .Snubbed  by  a Snob  (7)... 

C9-6.  .Yon  Can’t  Shoe  a Horse- 
fly (71  

FASCINATING  JOURNEYS 
(Technicolor) 

O River  Thames — Yester- 
day (10)  11-  8 

M0-  2.  .Sacred  Ganges,  The  (11)..  12-27 
FLEISCHER  CARTOONS 

FF0-1 . .Raggedy  Ann  (19) 12-20 

GABBY  CARTOONS 

GO-  2.  .Constable,  The  (7) 11-15 

GO-  l..Klng  for  a Day  (7) 10-18 


± 12-  7 


44  12-  7 


Republic 


MEET  THE  STARS 
028-1..  No.  1 (10) 12-24 


9-28 

12-14 

11-  9 

9-28 
9-  7 

12-  7 
1-18 

12-  7 


- 12-21 
±10-5 
+ 12-  7 
± 11-23 


44  12-  7 


7- 19  -4  8-31 

8- 23  -4  8-24 


44  11-23 

-4  1-18 

44  12-21 

-4  11-23 

-4  10-26 


04.109. 

04.114 
04,113 
04,112 

04.115 

04.110 
04.108 

04.116 

04.111 

13.403 

13.401 

13.402 

03.704. 

13,703 

13.701 

13.404 

13.702 

03.112. 

03.113. 

13.101 

13.102 

13.103 


10-  5 
12-  7 
12-21 


• Acrobatic  Aces  (10) 2-  7 + 1-18 

.Diving  Demons  (10) 9-  6 44  10-  5 

.Feminine  Fitness  (10)....  1-1©  -f-  12-21 

.Marine  Roundup  (10) 12-  6 + 12-  7 

.Motorcycle  Stunting  (10).  11-  8 -4  11-23 

Sink  or  Swim  (10) 7-12  .... 

• Sporting  Everglades,  The 

(10)  10-  4 44  11-9 

STONE  AGE  CARTOONS 
. Fulla  Bluff  Man,  The  (7).  8-  9 ± 8 24 

• Pedagogical  Institution  (7)  9-13  .... 

.Springtime  In  the  Rock- 

age  (7)  8-30  

.Way  Back  When  a Razz- 

berr.v  Was  a Fruit  (7) . . 7-26  + 8-17 

.Way  Back  When  Women 

Had  Their  Weigh  (7) . . . 9-27  

UNUSUAL  OCCUPATIONS 
(In  Color) 


TES 

1,9-6. 

• No.  6 

(ID 

8-  2 

44 

8-17 

.10-26 

± 

11-  9 

LO-1. 

• No.  1 

(11) 

9-  7 

4- 

10-  5 

. 9-  7 

4- 

9-  7 

L0-2 . 

• No.  2 

(11) 

11-29 

4- 

12-  7 

.11-23 

4- 

12-28 

L0-3. 

■ No.  3 

(11) 

-4  12-28 


RKO  Radio 

DISNEY  CARTOONS 
(In  Technicolor) 

.Big  Hearted  Pluto  (..)...  1-24 
.Donald’s  Vacation  (8)...  8-9  4+ 

• Fire  Chief  (8)  11-22  44 

■ Goofy’s  Glider  (8) 11-1  + 

.Mr.  Mouse  Takes  a Trip 

(8)  10-11  -4 

• Pantry  Pirate  (8) 12-27  -4 

. Pluto’s  Dream  House  (8).  8-30  -)- 

.Put-Put  Trouble  (7) 7-19  .... 

.Timber  (8)  1-10  .... 

.Window  Cleaners  (8) 9-20  44  10-26 

EDGAR  KENNEDY  COMEDIES 
.Drafted  in  the  Depot  (19).  12-20 
.Sunk  by  the  Census  (18).  9-  6 ± 

• Trailer  Tragedy  (17)....  10-18  + 

LEON  ERROL  COMEDIES 
.Bested  by  a Beard  (20)...  7-26 

• Fired  Man,  The  (20) 1-10  + 

.He  Asked  for  It  (18) 9-27 

.Mad  About  Moonshine  (19)  2-21 

• Tattle  Talevlslon  (19) 11-29 

MARCH  OF  TIME 

■ No.  12  (17) 8-2  + 

Spoils  of  Conquest. 

• ONo.  13  (20) 8-24  44  8-31 

Gateways  to  Panama. 

■ No.  1 (19) 9-13  44  9-21 

On  Foreign  Newfronts. 

.No.  2 (18) 10-  4 -4  10-19 

Britain’s  R.  A.  F. 

■ No.  3 (19) 10-25  ± 10-26 

Mexico,  Good  Neighbor’s 
Dilemma. 


8-10 

12-  7 

12-14 

11-23 
2-  8 
9-21 


9-21 
11-  9 


2-  8 
9-21 


8-10 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


83 


SHORTS  CHART 


(<  ==^ 

WHAT'S  IN  THE  NEWSREELS  : 

— 


TUESDAY,  FEBRUARY  4 
Movietone  News,  No.  43 

President’s  birthday  ball;  Lloyd’s  of  London 
functions  underground;  English  women  work  in 
heavy  industries;  Pan-American  Airways  trains 
Army  air  navigators;  giant  bomber  in  work  on 
coast;  Millrose  games;  Australian  stallion  ar- 
rives; skating;  Miami  golf. 

News  of  the  Day,  No.  241 
Lloyd’s  of  London  operates  underground;  south 
hails  peanut  queen;  boat  freed  from  ice  near  New 
York;  marines  promote  mascot;  table  tennis; 
Australian  horse  arrives;  Millrose  games. 

Paramount  News,  No.  46 
Relief  ship  sails;  radio  commentator  returns 
from  Europe;  train  wreck  in  south;  Porto  Rico 
defenses  rushed;  war  and  navy  department  work- 
ers under  surveillance;  FBI  listens  to  foreign 
broadcasts;  Dies  shows  material  sent  through 
mails;  racing  on  coast;  table  tennis;  sportsmen’s 
show  in  Boston. 

RKO  Path©  News,  No.  46 
President’s  birthday  ball;  radio  commentator 
returns  from  London;  train  wreck  in  south;  ready 
largest  bomber  on  coast;  table  tennis;  ice  car- 
nival in  St.  Paul;  south  honors  peanut  queen; 
promote  marines’  mascot;  Millrose  games;  racing 
on  coast. 

Universal  Newsreel,  No.  951 

President’s  birthday  ball;  troop  train  wrecked 
in  south;  marines  promote  mascot;  ice  carnival 
in  St.  Paul;  Millrose  games;  table  tennis;  horse 


racing  on  ice  in  New  Hampshire;  golf  in  Flori- 
da; racing  on  coast. 

THURSDAY,  FEBRUARY  6 
Movietone  News,  No.  44 

Fall  of  Bardia;  Willkie  in  England;  renovate 
old  locomotives  for  defense  service;  student  pilots 
at  Kelly  Field;  fashions  in  hats;  Silver  Skates; 
outboard  motorboat  racing  in  Seattle. 

News  of  the  Day,  No.  242 
Fall  of  Bardia;  Willkie  in  England;  autogiro 
plane  trial;  Silver  Skates;  outboard  motorboat 
racing  in  Seattle. 

Paramount  News,  No.  47 
Outboard  motorboat  racing  in  Seattle;  Batista 
and  Cuban  Army;  midshipmen  graduate  in  An- 
napolis; conquest  of  Libya  by  British;  Willkie 
in  London. 

RKO  Pathe  News,  No.  47 
Batista  nips  Cuban  revolt;  British  make  flour 
from  potatoes;  army  in  artillery  practice;  Aus- 
tralian cavalry  in  maneuvers;  Layden  named  pro 
grid  czar;  alligator  farm  and  leather  fashions; 
demonstrate  new  autogiro;  midget  auto  races; 
Willkie  in  London. 

Universal  Newsreel,  No.  952 
Batista  takes  over  Cuban  Army;  American  Le- 
gion mission  off  for  London;  test  new  autogiro; 
Willkie  in  England;  Valentine  fashions;  show 
new  gadgets  made  from  plastics;  Penguin  sail- 
boat races;  Silver  Skates;  circus  performers  in 
benefit  show;  outboard  motorboat  races  in  Seattle. 


Prod. 

No.  Title 

Rel. 

Date 

Rat- 

ing 

Rev’d 

13, 104  . No.  4 (19) 

.11-22 

+ 

12-  7 

Arms  and  the  men. 

13, 105.. No.  5 (19) 

12-20 

+ 

12-28 

Labor  and  Defense. 

13,106.  .No.  6 (21)  . . 

4+ 

1-25 

Uncle  Sam — Non-Belligerent. 

PATHE  INFORMATION 

PLEASE 

04.213  .No.  13  til) 

. 8-  ft 

4- 

8-10 

14. 201. No.  1 (11) 

9-21 

14,202.. No.  2 (10) 

10-  4 

+ 

10-26 

14. 203.. No.  3 (10) 

+ 

11-23 

14.204  . No.  4 (11) 

.11-29 

14, 205.. No.  5 (11) 

+ 

2-  8 

PATHE  NEWS 

(Released  Twice  Weekly) 

PATHE  SPORTSCOPE 

14,302.  .Kentucky  Royalty  (9)... 

. 9-27 

+ 

10-26 

14,301.  Quail  Quest  (9) 

. 8-30 

+ 

9-21 

14,305.  .Snow  Eagles  (9) 

.12-20 

2-  8 

14, 304..  Snow  Fun  (9) 

.11-22 

-H- 

12-14 

14,303 ..  Sportsman’s  Partner  (9). 

.10-25 

4- 

11-23 

04,313.  .Trouble  Shooter  (9) 

. 8-  2 

+ 

9-21 

PICTURE  PEOPLE 

14.401. No.  1 (10) 

. 9-13 

9-21 

14.402.. No.  2 (9) 

.10-11 

10-26 

14,403  . No.  3 (10) 

.11-  8 

+ 

11-23 

14,404  . No.  4 (10) 

.12-  6 

+ 

12-14 

14, 405.. No.  5 (10) 

. 1-  3 

± 

2-  8 

RAY  WHITLEY  WESTERNS 

(New  Series) 

13,501..  Bar  Buckaroos  (16) 

.11-  8 

o 

11-23 

13,502.  .Prairie  Schooners  (13)... 

. 1-31 

REELISMS 

(New  Series) 

04,61.3.  .Hats  (9)  

. 8-16 

04,611 . .streamlined  (9)  

8-10 

Prod. 

No. 


Title 


Rel.  Rat- 
Date  ing  Rev’d 


20  th  Century-Fox 

ADVENTURES  OF  A NEWS  CAMERAMAN 

1201 . . y Midget  Motor  Mania 

(10)  11-  8 4+  10-19 

1202 ..  Training- Police  Horses  (11)  1-17  .... 

BELIEVE  IT  OR  NOT— RIPLEY 

1601.  .Acquitted  by  the  Sea  (10)  9-27  44  10-19 

ED  THORGERSEN — SPORTS 
1303 . .Bowling  for  Strike*  (10).. 12-20  + 10-19 

1302..  Lure  of  the  Tront  (9) 10-11  -f  !*-  7 

1304..  The  Rodeo  Comes  to  Town 

(10)  1-3  

1301 . .©Vacation  Time  In  Florida 

(8)  8-10  ± 8-17 

FATHER  HUBBARD’S  ALASKAN 

ADVENTURES 

1101.  Eskimo  Trails  (10) 8-2  + 8-17 

1103..  1.le  of  Mystery  (10) 10-25  

FOX  MOVIETONE  NEWS 
Released  Twice  Weekly 
LEW  LEHR  AND  HIS  DRIBBLE  PUSS 
PARADE 

1401 . .Grnnters  and  Groaners  (8).  8-30  4-  8-17 

1402.  .Tale  of  Butch  the  Parrot, 

The  ( . . ) 2-28  

LOWELL  THOMAS  MAGIC  CARPET 

1102.  .©Florida,  Land  of  Flowers 

(9)  9-13  ± 8-17 

1104  . Old  Dominion  State  (10).  11-22  + 12-  7 

1105.  .Spotlight  on  Indo  China 

(10)  12-20  

TERRY-TOONS 

1551..  ©Billy  Mouse’s  Akwakade 

(7)  8-9  ip  8-17 

1501 . . Club  Life  In  the  Stone 

Age  (7)  8-23  


1503. 

1553. 

1554. 

0517. 

1552. 

1504. 
1557 . 

1555 . 

1505. 

1556. 

1502. 

1506. 


5241 

5246. 

5243 
5245. 
5242 . 

5244 


, Happy  Haunting  Grounds 

(7)  10-18 

.©How  Wet  Was  My  Ocean 


(7) 


.10-  4 


.©Landing  of  the  Pilgrims 

(7)  11-  1 

.Love  in  a Cottage  (7) ....  7-28 
.©Lucky  Duck,  The  (7) . . 9-  6 

Magic  Pencil,  The  (7) 11-15 

©Mississippi  Swing  (7) . . . 2-  7 

©Plane  Goofy  (7) 11-29 

.Snow  Man,  The  (7) 12-13 

©Temperamental  Lion,  The 

(7)  12-27 

Touchdown  Demons  (7)...  9-20 
What  a Little  Sneeze  Will 

Do  (7)  1-10 


o 10-19 

-4-  12-  7 


4-  12  7 
± 12-7 


± 10-19 


Universal 


LANTZ  CARTUNES 
(Technicolor) 

.Crazyhouse  (7%)  9-23 

• Fair  Today  (6%)  2-24 

.Knock-Knock  (7)  11-25 

.Mouse  Trappers  (6%) 1-27 

• O Recruiting  Daze  (6)....  10-28 

• Syncopated  Sioux  (6%)... 12-31 

GOING  PLACES  WITH 
GRAHAM  McNAMEE 


12-  7 
2-  8 

11-  9 


4365. 

.No.  80 

(9%) 

5351. 

• No.  81 

(9) 

9-23  - 

9-21 

5352 . 

• No.  82 

(9) 

10-14 

5353. 

■ No.  83 

(9) 

11-11 

5354 . 

• No.  84 

(9) 

12-23 

5355 . 

.No.  85 

(9) 

1-20 

5356. 

■ No.  86 

(9) 

2-17  -+■ 

00 

5357 . 

• No.  87 

(9) 

5358 . 

.No.  88 

(9) 

3-31 

5110. 

4385 . 

5371. 

5372. 

5373. 

5374. 

5375. 

5376. 

5377. 

5378. 

5226. 


5225. 


5221 

5223. 


4233. 


4110. 

5224. 


5223 . 
4232. 


+ 

+ 


SPECIAL  TWO  KEELERS 

.Swing  With  Bing  (19)....  9-  4 
STRANGER  THAN  FICTION 

• No.  80  (9) 8-  5 

■ No.  81  (9) 9-16 

• No.  82  (9) 10-  7 

• NO.  83  (8) 11-  4 

No.  84  (9) 12-  2 

• No.  85  (9) 1-6 

■ No.  86  (9) 2-  3 

• No.  87  (9) 3-10 

• No.  88  (9) 3-24 

TWO  REEL  MUSICALS 

Bagdad  Daddy  (17) 2-19 

Gertrude  Neisen,  Ambassadorettes, 
Fuzzy  Knight,  Johnson  Bros. 

Beat  Me,  Daddy,  Eight  to 

the  Bar  (17) 1-22 

The  Fashionaires  and  Cath- 
lyn  Miller. 

.Class  in  Swing  (17) 9-11 

• Congamanla  (17)  10-16 

Jose  Cansino  Dancers, 

Eddie  Durant  & Orch. 

. I Dream  of  Jeanie  With  the 
Light  Brown  Hair  (17)  . 8-28 

March  of  Freedom  (21)...  9-  6 

.Tickled  Pinky  (18)  12-25 

Pinky  Tomlin,  Martha  Til- 
ton and  the  Pickard  Family. 

.Torrid  Tempos  (18) 11-27 

.Varsity  Vanities  (17 Vi)...  8-  7 
Six  Hits  and  a Miss, 

Martha  Tilton. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWS 
Released  Twice  Weekly 


± 8-8 


7-27 

9-21 


2-  8 


± 2-8 


± 12-  7 


9-21 


12-  7 
8-  3 


Prod.  Rel.  Rat- 

^°. Title Date  ing  Rev’d 


Vitaphone 

BROADWAY  BREVITIES 


6202..  Alice  in  Movieland  (20)...  11-16  ± 12-  7 

6204..  Dog  in  the  Orchard  (20).  1-25  -f-  1-18 

6202  Ed  Sullivan’s  Hollywood 

(20)  11-16 

6201..  Just  a Cute  Kid  (20) 10-  5 

6203.  .Love’s  Intrigue  (20) 12-28  .... 

4008..  Ride,  Cowboy,  Ride  (20)..  9-9  .... 

6205..  Take  the  Air  (20) 2-22  

5110.. Voung  America  Flies  (20).  8-3  .... 

THE  COLOR  PARADE 
(New  Series) 

5410..  Famous  Movie  Dogs  (10)..  7-27  -(-  8-17 

5410..  Movie  Dog  Stars  (10)....  8-17  

5409.  .Valley,  The  (8)  7-20  + 7-6 

ELSA  MAXWELL’S  BLUE  RIBBON 
COMEDIES 

6102..  Lady  and  the  Lug  (20)...  3-22  

6101..  Riding  Into  Society  (19)..  9-  7 ± 8-31 

HOLLYWOOD  NOVELTY 

6305..  Boar  Hunt,  The  (10) 1-15  .... 

6301.  .Football  Thrills  (10) 9-28  + 8-31 

6304 ..  History  Repeats  Itself  (10)  1-18  .... 

6303.  .Mexican  Jumping  Beans 

(10)  12-7  -f  12-7 

6302  . Shark  Hunting  (10) 11-9  

LOONEY  TUNES  CARTOONS 
6601.  .Calling  Dr.  Porky  (7) 9-21  

6607.  .Haunted  Mouse,  The  (7)..  2-15  .... 

6608.  .Joe  Glow,  the  Firefly  (7)..  3-8  .... 

5616.  Patient  Porky  (7) 8-24  44  8-24 

6609.  .Porky’s  Bear  Facts  (7)...  3-29 

6604 ..  Porky’s  Hired  Hand  (7).. 11-30  o 12-28 

6606.  .Porky’s  Snooze  Reel  (7) . . . 1-11  .... 

6602 ..  Prehistoric  Porky  (7) 10-12  -f  10-26 

6603.  .Sour  Puss  (7) 11-  2 .... 

6605..  Timid  Toreador  (7) 12-21  .... 

MELODY  MASTERS 

6506..  Cliff  Edwards  and  His  Buek- 

aroos  (10)  3-8  .... 

6503.  .Jan  Garber  & Orch.  (10)..  2-1  .... 

6502 . . Joe  Relchman  & Orch. 

(10)  10-26  

6501..  Matty  Malneck  & Band 

(10)  9-14  44  8-24 

6504 . . Skinnay  Ennis  & Orch  (10)  1-  4 -f-  12-28 

5510..  Woody  Herman  & Orch. 

(10)  7-27  

MERRIE  MELODIES 
(In  Technicolor) 

6706.  .Bedtime  for  Sniffles  (7)  . 11-23  

6713..  Cat’s  Tale,  The  (7) 3-1  

6712.  .Crackpot  Quail,  The  (7)...  2-15  .... 

5323..  Egg  Collector  (7) 7-20  

6709.  Elmer’s  Pet  Rabbit  (7) . . . . 1-  4 o 12-28 

6710.  .Fighting  69th%,  The  (7)..  1-18  4f  1-18 

5.325..  Ghost  Wanted  (7) 8-10  

6104  . Good  Night  Elmer  (7) 10-26  

6715..  Goofy  Groceries  (7) 3-29  

6703.  Holiday  Highlight  (7) 10-12  + 119 

6701..  Malibu  Beach  Party  (7)..  9-14  ± 9-7 

6707..  0.  Fox  and  Hounds  (7)  . 12-  7 

6708..  5.op,  Look  and  Listen 

(7)  12-21  ± 12-28 

6711.  Sniffles  Bells  the  Cat  (7) . . 2-  1 

6702.  Stagefright  (7)  9-28  -f  11-  9 

6714.  .Tortoise  Beats  the  Hare 

(7)  3-15  

6705..  Wacky  Wild  Life  (7) 11-  9 + 12-14 

5.324..  Wild  Hare,  A (7) 7-27  

SPECIAL 


yThey  Spent  Christmas  Under 


Fire  (10%)  44  2-8 

SPORTS  PARADE 
(Color) 

6404.  .California  Thoroughbreds 

(10)  1-11  ± 12-28 

6403.  .Diary  of  a Racing  Pigeon 

(10)  11-30  + 12-  7 

6402..  Dogs  You  Seldom  See  (10).  11-  2 -4  8-31 

6405..  Fight,  Fish,  Fight  (10)...  3-1  

6401.  . Fly  Fishing  (10) 9-21  rp  10-26 

TECHNICOLOR 

6001..  Flag  of  Humanity  (20)... 10-19  -4  10-26 

6002..  March  on  Marines  (20)... 12-14  4+  12-28 

6003..  Meet  the  Fleet  (20) 2-8  -f  1-18 

5008.  .Service  With  the  Colors 

(20)  8-31  

VITAPHONE  VARIETIES 
5706  . All  Girl  Revue  (10) 6-22  


Serials 


COLUMBIA 

1120  ..Green  Archer,  The 10-25  4:  11-  9 

15  Chapters.  Victor  Jory, 

2120  ..White  Eagle  1-31  .... 

15  Chapters.  Buck  Jones. 

REPUBLIC 

081  . . King  of  the  Royal 

Mounted  9-20  44  8-24 

12  Chapters.  Allan  Lane. 

082  . . Mysterious  Doctor  Satan  12-13  -4  11-23 

15  Chapters.  Robert  Wilcox. 
UNIVERSAL 

5781  ..Green  Hornet  Strikes 

Again  12-24  -f  11-  9 

15  Chapters.  Warren  Hull. 

5681  . .Junior  G-Men  9-1  -4  8-3 

12  Chapters.  Dead  End 
Kids,  Little  Tough  Guys. 

5881  . . Sky  Raiders  4-8  

12  Chapters. 


84 


BOXOFFICE  : : 


February  15,  1941 


The  Industry’s  Market  Place  for  Purchase 
or  Sale  of  Equipment,  Theatres,  Service 


CLERRinG  HOUSE 


• Classified  Ads  10c  Per  Word,  Payable  in  Advance. 


Minimum  $1.00.  Display  Rates  on  Request.  • 


GENERAL  EQUIPMENT 

SPLENDID  BUYS — Peerless  low  intens- 
ity lamps,  Morelite  low  intensity  lamps, 
Mazda  lamps  with  regulators,  Simplex, 
Powers  6-B  rebuilt  mechanisms,  sound  re- 
producers, amplifiers,  generators,  seat 
cushions.  WESTERN  THEATRE  SUP- 
PLY, Omaha,  Neb. 


TREMENDOUS  SAVINGS.  Rear  shut- 
ters, heavy  duty  Powers  gates,  replace- 
ment parts,  lamphouses,  and  thousands  of 
other  items.  Write  us.  STAR  CINEMA 
SUPPLY  CO.,  440  W.  45th  St.,  New  York 
City. 


FOR  SALE  — Practically  everything 
needed  for  the  interior  furnishing  of  mo- 
tion picture  theatre;  boxoffice,  ornaments, 
mirrors,  seats,  etc.  TAYLOR  AMUSE- 
MENT CO.,  Taylor,  Texas. 


NEW  EQUIPMENT 

750  WATT  16mm  PROJECTORS,  $49.50; 
Electresteem  boxoffice  radiators,  $29.50; 
public  address  systems,  complete,  $39.50; 
private  telephones,  pair,  $4.95;  Jensen 
tweeters,  $14.95.  Theatres  completely 
equipped  cheap.  S.O.S.,  636  Eleventh  Ave., 
New  York. 


FEBRUARY  SPECIAL.  $797.50  buys  2 
all-new  complete  projectors,  rear  shutters, 
double-bearing  intermittents,  deluxe  bases, 
2,000-foot  magazines,  when  bought  with 
any  model  DUO  SOUNDMASTER  complete 
sound  system.  It’s  top  quality  at  lowest 
price  in  history.  THE  BALLANTYNE  CO., 
222  No.  16th  St.,  Omaha,  Neb. 


USED  EQUIPMENT 

PAIR  MOTIOGRAPH  DE  LUXE  mech- 
anisms, new  rear  shutters,  perfect  shape, 
$300.00  pair.  Six  Powers  mechanisms,  per- 
fect shape,  $50.00  each  in  pairs  or  $45.00 
each  if  you  take  six.  GRAHAM  BROS., 
546  Lincoln  St.,  Denver,  Colo. 


POWERS  PROJECTORS,  $39.50;  Sim- 
plex intermittents,  $6.95;  optical  systems, 
$4.95;  lenses,  $2.95;  soundheads,  ampli- 
fiers, $9.95;  arcs,  rectifiers,  $24.50;  sound 
projectors,  $59.50.  S.O.S.  CINEMA  SUP- 
PLY CORP.,  NEW  YORK. 


300  USED  CHAIRS.  Paneled  backs  and 
padded  seats;  good  condition.  Reasonable 
price.  C.  H.  Penikoff,  175  W.  Madison, 
Chicago. 


3,000  USED  THEATRE  CHAIRS.  All 
types,  all  prices.  Stanley  Theatre  Supply 
Co.,  1235  S.  Wabash  Ave.,  Chicago. 


EQUIPMENT  WANTED 

WANTED  TO  BUY.  Used  Ventilating 
Equipment.  Blower  with  capacity  of  20,000 
CFM  or  larger.  Hand  operated  clutch 
pulley.  Give  complete  details  in  first  let- 
ter. C.  J.  Doty,  Dallas  City,  Illinois. 


AIR  CONDITIONING 

BUY  DIRECT  from  factory.  Save  mid- 
dleman’s profit.  Blowers,  Airwashers,  Vari- 
able Speed  Pulleys,  Air  Deflectors.  CONDI- 
TIONAIRE,  145  Walton  St.,  Atlanta,  Ga. 


AIR  CONDITIONING  PLANS  and  spec- 
ifications made  to  order  for  your  theatre 
from  architects’  building  plans  or  dimen- 
sioned sketches.  A complete,  unbiased 
analysis  of  your  requirements.  My  rea- 
sonable engineering  fee  may  save  you  mis- 
takes and  money.  Gordon  H.  Simmons, 
926  N.  Cass  St.,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 


THEATRE  TICKETS 

UNEXCELLED  QUALITY— 50  rolls  stock 
tickets,  $12.50;  20  rolls,  $5.80.  Special 
printed  roll  or  machine  tickets,  100,000, 
$14.90;  50,000,  $9.40;  20,000,  $6.10.  Ship- 
ping charges  paid  to  1,000  miles.  Cash 
with  order.  Kansas  City  Ticket  Co.,  Dept. 
B,  1717  Wyandotte  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


FILMS  FOR  SALE 

NEW  SPRING  CATALOG  35mm  Road- 
show Attractions  for  outright  sale.  At 
prices  you  can  afford  to  pay.  Used  and 
new  prints.  On  sex,  gangster,  westerns, 
horror  pictures,  serials,  cartoons,  musical 
comedies,  and  short  subjects  of  every  de- 
scription. Our  attractions  are  high  in  ex- 
ploitation values.  Over  400  pictures  of  all 
sizes  to  choose  from.  We  have  any  type  of 
picture  you  want.  Educational  and  spe- 
cial productions.  Money  back  guarantee. 
Write  today  for  our  big  free  catalogue. 
BUSSA  FILM  EXCHANGE,  Friendship, 
Ohio. 


SEAT  RECOVERING 

ARTIFICIAL  LEATHER  MOLESKIN— 
81c  per  yd.;  Sateen,  60c  yd.  Six  seats 
from  two  yards.  Samples  on  request. 
Commercialeather,  116  Merrimac  St.,  Bos- 
ton. 


THEATRE  CONSTRUCTION 

THEATRE  ARCHITECTS.  30  years  ex- 
perience. Associated  in  every  state.  30- 
35%  savings.  R.  Levine  Co.,  1235  So. 
Wabash  Ave.,  Chicago,  111. 


THEATRE  GAMES 

BINGO  CARDS 

$2.00  per  thousand.  Lots  of  ten  thou- 
sand or  over — 25%  discount.  Cash  with 
order.  Die  cut  numbered  1 to  100  or  1 to 
75.  S.  Klous,  c/o  Boxoffice,  9 Rockefeller 
Plaza,  New  York  City. 


BINGO 

CARDS 

Rock  Bottom  Prices 

Box  No. 

. 1276 

BOXOFFICE 

MAGAZINE 

4804  E.  Ninth  St. 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

29 


THEATRES  WANTED 

WANTED:  Theatre  in  town  between 
1,500  and  2,200  population  with  Catholic 
Church.  B-1335,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th 
St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

PAY  GOOD  PRICE  for  small  town  the- 
atre. Buy  anywhere.  Delma  Crow,  Box  66, 
Imperial,  Nebraska. 

SMALL  TOWN  THEATRE  showing 
profit.  B-1339,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St., 
Kansas  City,  Mo. 


THEATRES  FOR  SALE 

FOR  SALE — Small  town  theatre  or 
building  complete.  350  seats,  washed  air 
cooled.  Population,  1.000.  Substantial 
down  payment;  terms.  Strand  Theatre, 
Perry,  Mo. 

THEATRE  FOR  SALE  — Operating. 
Owen  Wilson,  1609  V2  Boonville,  Spring- 
field,  Mo. 


LEASE — Theatre  Kansas  town.  1,800, 
operating  full  time.  Low  rental.  B-1341, 
Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City, 
Mo. 


HELP  WANTED 

OPERATORS  AND  MANAGERS.  Movie 
Circuits.  ROSHON,  Grand  Theatre  Bldg., 
Atlanta,  Ga. 


COMBINATION  Operator  - Sign  Man 
wanted.  Must  be  good.  Powers  machines. 
Write  Air  Mail.  Texas  Theatre,  Mineral 
Wells,  Texas. 

SALESMAN.  New  Animated  Film  Ads. 
Must  book  own  theatres.  No  salary  or 
drawing  account  but  33V3%  commission 
on  popular  priced  deal.  If  experienced 
and  bondable,  write  B-1342,  Boxoffice, 
4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


POSITIONS  WANTED 

PROJECTIONIST.  General  mainte- 
nance. 16  years  Motiograph,  RCA,  Sim- 
plex. Anywhere  U.  S.  A.;  37,  married. 
References.  Reasonable.  B-1340,  Box- 
office,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


BUSINESS  OPPORTUNITIES 

DOUBLE  PARKING  DRIVE-IN  THEA- 
TRES. 30%  more  efficient.  Build  under 
improved  patent.  Exclusive  territorial  fran- 
chises for  sale.  Cash  and  royalty  basis. 
Louis  Josserand,  Republic  Bldg.,  Houston, 
Texas. 

OPERATE  MOVIE  CIRCUIT  in  your 
neighboring  towns.  Will  rent  16  millimeter 
Victor  machine  and  film  program.  Only 
$17.50  a week.  Mertz,  Virginia,  Illinois. 


PRINTING 

BUMPER  STRIPS.  Processed  two  colors, 
ALL  RELEASES  and  Special  Programs, 
6 x 50  inches,  complete  with  metal  fasten- 
ers, 50— $3.00,  100— $5.00.  50%  on  C.O.D. 

Progress  Show  Print,  Bedford,  Indiana. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  15,  1941 


• Address  copy  to  BOXOFFICE,  4804  E.  Ninth  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 
Forms  close  Monday  noon  preceding  publication  date. 


. . . A Real  Woman’s  Picture 


INGRID 


WARNER 


Based  upon 
"LEGACY" 
the  best-selling 
novel  by 
Charles  Bonner 


BERGMAN  BAXTER 

dam  ad  our  ousj 

SUSAN  FAY  HELEN  RICHARD  JOHNNY  ROBERT 

HAYWARD  • WR  AY-WESTLEY-  DENNING  • DOWNS  • SHAW 

Screen  play  by  William  Hurlbut,  Michael  Blankfort  pL  'J  / 

A Robert  Sherwood  Production  * D irected  by  GREGORY  RATOFF 


H|| 


-u&  zm&aam 


Spread  the  News  Across  America ! 

The  results  are  in! 

Amazing  news  from  the  first  13  engagements! 

(Boston,  2 theatres — Buffalo,  Cleveland,  Bridgeport,  New  Haven,  Pittsburgh,  Washington,  Worcester,  Hartford, 

St.  Louis,  Tulsa,  Oklahoma  City ) 

They  all  played  it  previously! 

And  they’re  now  doing  181%  of  normal  biz! 

With  only  3 performances  daily! 

And  HOLDING  OVER  in  the  entire  13  spots! 

And  in  the  first  10  small  town  situations! 

Each  one  has  played  it  before! 

It’s  topping  the  big  towns,  doing  220%  of  normal! 

That’s  positively  sensational! 

As  predicted  in  nationwide  surveys! 

Thousands  wait  for  it!  Thousands  will  see  it  again! 

Put  “Gone  With  The  Wind”  on  your  marquee! 

It’s  magic! 


PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

ASSOCIATED 

PUBLICATIONS 

BEN  SHLYEN 

Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor -in-Chief 

William  G.  Formby, 
Editor;  Jesse  Shlyen, 
Managing  Editor ; 
Louis  Rydell,  Adver- 
tising Manager;  Mor- 
ris SCHLOZMAN,  BUSi- 
nes  s Manager;  J. 
Harry  Toler,  Editor 
Modern  Theatre  Sec- 
tion; A.  J.  Stocker, 
Eastern  Represent- 
ative; Ivan  Spear, 
Western  Manager. 

Editorial  Offices : 9 

ROCKEFELLER  PLAZA,  NEW 

york  city;  Publication 
Offices : 4804  east  9th 
ST.,  KANSAS  CITY,  MO.,' 
Hollywood : 6404  Hol- 
lywood blvd.;  Chi- 
cago: 332  south  Mich- 
igan BLVD. 

FEBRUARY  1,  1941 

Vol.  38  No.  11 


Script  for  a Happy  Ending 


THIS  MAY  interest  you,  or  it  may  bore  you. 
Either  way,  blame  it  on  Pete  Harrison. 

He  was  writing  recently  about  Nelson  A. 
Rockefeller,  coordinator  of  commercial  and 
cultural  relations  among  the  American  repub- 
lics, who  told  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of 
the  State  of  New  York  the  Axis  powers  are 
employing  Hollywood  films  to  discredit  democ- 
racy of  all  brands  and  the  American  brand 
more  particularly.  To  illustrate  "the  decay  of 
democracy,"  Rockefeller  pointed  out  "Mr. 
Smith  Goes  to  Washington"  is  being  used  in 
South  America  above  all  others. 

His  foundation  laid,  Pete  thereafter  harkened 
to  his  original  deploring  of  that  film,  wonder- 
ing how  other  people  in  other  lands  will  view 
this  country  "when  they  are  made  to  believe 
that  the  United  States  senate,  the  entire  con- 
gress for  that  matter,  is  controlled  by  crooked 
politicians?"  Then  Harrison  referred  to  our 
defense  of  the  picture  and  our  criticism  of  him 
for  criticizing,  a right  whicn  was  not  then,  nor 
is  now,  challenged. 

In  the  normal  course  of  events,  this  foray 
into  another  year  returned  us  to  the  first 
comment.  Frequently  unhappy  is  this  business 
of  re-reading  what  once  rolled,  or  dripped, 
from  an  earlier  typewriter.  But  this  time,  and 
if  we  may  be  permitted  the  illusion,  it  was  not 
at  all  bad.  Pertinent,  anyway.  Most  pertinent. 

We  remarked  we  had  been  trying  to  figure 
out  why  Pete  was  excited  to  a point  where  he 
had  called  upon  Allied  to  pick  out  the  nice 
and  honest  Mr.  Smith  as  a catapult  from 
which  to  launch  renewed  attempts  at  enact- 
ment of  the  Neely  bill.  Little  being  immune 
from  Hollywood  story  ingenuity,  why  should 
senatorial  immunity  go  untouched?  we  had 
asked.  Why  gloss  over  crookedness  if  it  should 
be  lodged  in  high  places  like  the  senate,  and 
we  point  out  we  said  "should  be  lodged" 
and  not  "is  lodged."  It  seemed,  then  and 
today,  that  such  very  rarified  atmosphere  was 
all  the  more  urgent  reason  not  to  indulge  in 
the  glossing. 

Short  View  and  Long 

MOREOVER,  the  effect  abroad,  it  was  ar- 
gued, was  not  as  catastrophic  as  Harri- 
son feared  it  for  every  nation  has  its  political 
foibles  and  all  nations  are  suspect  in  the 
functioning  of  some  phase  of  their  political 
parties. 

"Viewpoints  such  as  this  are  shortsighted," 
wrote  your  watchdog,  "and  potentially  even 
more  serious  since  they  evidence  a from- 
within-the-industry  desire  to  further  muffle  a 


method  of  expression  which  requires  more,  not 
less,  freedom.  Presumably  the  country  may 
laugh  at  stock  jokes  about  senators  and  con- 
gressmen, but  Hollywood  may  not  touch  them. 
'Mr.  Smith'  actually  is  one  of  the  finest  ex- 
pressions of  faith  in  country  that  the  studios 
have  launched  . . . Capra's  method  of  obtain- 
ing results  merely  varies  from  the  rest.  By 
pounding  away  at  the  evils  of  which  any  in- 
dividual allegedly  alert  must  be  aware,  he 
forcefully  drives  home  the  good. 

"Country  and  code  come  out  victorious  and 
the  populace  is  amused." 

It  was  a couple  of  days  later  when  Capra 
himself  defined  his  theme:  "It  is  that  American 
democracy  is  indestructible,  no  matter  to  what 
buffeting  it  may  be  exposed.  Plenty  of  people 
are  going  to  call  it  an  unpatriotic  picture.  They 
will  pretend  to  believe  that  the  buffetings  are 
the  theme.  Those  are  the  people  who  are 
attacked  in  the  picture.  They  will  scream  in 
futile  self-defense." 

Having  once  accepted  this  neat  capsule,  we 
do  so  again  and  now.  The  Axis  powers  now 
apparently  are  reaping  a harvest  with  "Mr. 
Smith"  in  South  America.  Regrettable,  of 
course.  So  terribly  damaging?  We  do  not 
think  so. 

Home  Comes  First 

WE  DO  NOT  think  so  because  there  is  more 
here  than  pours  out  of  the  bottle.  There 
is  the  imperative  neea  to  protect  what  we 
have  while  we  have  it  and  that's  a job  on 
which  this  industry,  as  far  as  it  can  go,  must 
not  turn  its  back,  or  should.  Our  weaknesses 
and  our  indecisions  always  make  capital  for 
the  Axis  powers,  but  the  first  responsibility 
certainly  is  a reforging  of  the  links  at  home,  not 
such  surface  concerns  as  the  reactions  of  the 
dictators.  They  will  lead  to  the  chin  anyway. 
On  fanciful  counts  when  they  can  no  longer 
find  real  counts. 

What  has  all  this  to  do  with  making,  sell- 
ing and  exhibiting  motion  pictures?  It  does 
seem  remote  at  first  flush,  but  is  it?  This  is 
merely  another  of  a long  series  of  arguments 
and  reiterations  for  a freer  screen,  for  a more 
fluid  and  thus  a less  hamstrung  medium,  for 
an  industry  that  will  develop  the  courage  to 
stand  by  its  rights  without  retreating. 

Along  this  way  runs  the  road  to  a full-blown 
maturity  and  to  that  broader  hori- 
zon where  this  industry  and  all  in 
it  might  hope  to  find  their  perma- 
nent moorings. 


1C 


FOUR  MAJORS  HOP  THE  HURDLE, 
LAUNCH  '41 -’4 2 SHORTS  SALES 


Peace  for  Circuits  See  Clearance  Under 
Looming  Sans  Trial  F ranchises  Shifting 


Delaying  on  Features, 
Offering  Is  Mainly 
Standard  Series 


New  York — Four  of  the  majors  now 
have  their  sales  forces  selling  shorts  de- 
signed for  1941-42  release,  according  to  a 
checkup  made  by  Boxoffice.  These  are 
Paramount,  Warner,  20th-Fox  and  RKO. 

M-G-M,  Universal  and  Columbia  are 
holding  off  for  the  time  being,  it  is  stated, 
but  the  indication  is  some  companies  may 
begin  selling  before  the  summer  rolls 
around.  One  in  particular  is  M-G-M,  but 
this  is  not  definite  as  yet. 

United  Artists  has  no  shorts  on  its  cur- 
rent or  contemplated  program. 

Those  companies  now  selling  new  sea- 
son’s shorts  are  offering  series  which  are 
standard  on  the  program.  In  some  cases 
allowances  are  made  for  subjects  which 
may  be  announced  later  on  when  conven- 
tions are  held. 

Two  Reasons  for  Move 

Two  reasons  are  given  for  the  move  now 
under  way.  One  is  that  with  the  bulk,  if 
not  all,  of  accounts  sold  for  the  present 
season,  salesmen  with  nothing  on  their 
hands  are  making  use  of  their  time  by 
selling  in  advance  of  the  season. 

Another  reason  is  that  there  are  no  re- 
strictions on  selling  shorts  under  the  de- 
cree and  four  of  “The  Big  Five”  are  taking 
advantage  of  this  fact.  However,  features 
must  be  trade  shown  in  advance  of  sales. 

Under  the  decree  shorts  cannot  be 
coupled  with  features  or  forced  upon  ex- 
hibitors. In  this  respect,  the  four  com- 
panies involved  are  now  feeling  out  cus- 
tomers on  the  brevities,  in  some  cases  mak- 
ing sales,  but  all  in  the  endeavor  of  learn- 
ing how  exhibitors  will  react  to  shorts  as 
independently  sold  attractions  for  the 
forthcoming  season. 

"Never  Stop  Selling" 

“The  truth  of  the  matter  is  that  we 
never  stop  selling  shorts,”  is  the  way  Abe 
Montague,  Columbia’s  general  sales  man- 
ager, sizes  up  the  situation. 

In  answer  to  a direct  question,  he  de- 
clared the  company  is  presently  mulling 
over  its  lineup  for  1941-42,  but  empha- 
sized, “You  can’t  pin  us  down  to  anything 
when  it  comes  to  selling.  If  a buyer  wants 
any  of  our  shorts  we’ll  sell  them  to  him  at 
any  time.” 

Montague  took  occasion  to  minimize  the 
importance  that  would  appear  to  attach 
to  getting  sales  on  the  one  and  two  reel- 
ers  started  well  in  advance  of  the  season 
for  which  they  are  intended.  He  gave  as 
his  opinion  the  purported  practice  of  film 
buyers  in  “allowing  for”  proportionate 
short  subject  playing  time  with  each  fea- 
ture contract  as  vitiating  the  necessity  for 
advance  or  extra  sales  effort  in  this  direc- 
tion. 


Washington  — Negotiations  are  under 
way  for  out-of-court  settlement  of  two  of 
the  three  pending  government  anti-trust 
actions  against  independent  circuits,  reli- 
able sources  inform  Boxoffice.  Hopes  are 
held  in  government  quarters  that,  as  soon 
as  the  two  suits  are  disposed  of  without 
benefit  of  trial,  the  third  will  follow  in 
due  time. 

The  two  circuits  which  are  trying  to 
avoid  trials  are  Schine  and  Griffith,  the 
former  operating  in  a number  of  eastern 
states  with  headquarters  at  Gloversville, 
N.  Y.,  and  the  latter  operating  in  the 
southwest. 

Several  conferences  have  been  held  be- 
tween Willard  S.  McKay,  counsel  for 
Schine,  and  department  of  justice  repre- 
sentatives here.  Progress  is  reported,  but 
holding  up  any  finalization  is  a disagree- 
ment on  expansion.  The  government  wants 
J.  Myer  and  Louis  W.  Schine  to  completely 
discontinue  adding  theatres  while  these 
men  refuse  to  budge  from  their  present 
program,  which  is  to  acquire  where  a spot 
looks  suitable  to  its  operations. 

Compromise  Expected 

However,  as  in  the  case  of  the  big  suit, 
a compromise  is  expected  to  be  effected 
which  will  not  altogether  curtail  expan- 
sion, but  somewhat  limit  activities  on  ad- 
ditional units.  Any  settlement  will  take 
the  form  of  a decree  as  in  the  case  of 
“The  Big  Five,”  FWC  and  B&K. 

The  talks  between  department  repre- 
sentatives and  counsel  for  Griffith  have 
not  reached  stages  where  a formula  for 
settlement  can  be  worked  out.  It  is  un- 
derstood the  government  does  not  view  the 
acquisition  of  the  Long  circuit  by  Griffith 
Brothers  some  time  ago  favorable. 

In  some  government  quarters,  the  con- 
tinued acquisitions  by  these  two  circuits 
— Schine  and  Griffith — are  regarded  as  a 
(Continued  on  page  31) 

Cc  ft 

Top  Hits  of  the  Week 

As  culled  from  first  run  reports  in 
the  sectional  editions  of  Boxoffice. 
Average  is  100  per  cent. 

Gone  With  the  Wind — 


Cleveland  270 

New  Haven  190 

Kitty  Foyle — 

Cleveland  200 

Chicago  (4th  wk»  175 

Arizona — 

New  Orleans  200 

Flight  Command — 

Indianapolis  (dual)  195 

Philadelphia  Story — 

Minneapolis 175 

^ = ■ ■ J 


New  York — Clearance  under  existing 
franchises  is  subject  to  revision  if  an  arbi- 
tration award  finds  it  unreasonable,  20th 
Century-Fox’s  sales  force  is  being  advised 
via  a handbook  on  the  decree  prepared  by 
Felix  A.  Jenkins,  general  counsel.  Such 
franchise  amendments  are  possible  now 
under  the  clearance  provisions  of  the  con- 
sent which  went  into  effect  November  20, 
the  day  on  which  it  was  signed  by  Federal 
Judge  Henry  W.  Goddard  and  lawyers 
representing  the  “Big  Five.” 

Thus,  potentially  and  perhaps  theoretic- 
ally, franchises  no  matter  to  whom  sold  by 
Paramount,  Loew’s,  Warner,  20th-Fox  and 
RKO  are  viewed  as  susceptible  to  changes 
if  local  arbitration  tribunals  so  hold  and 
if,  in  the  event  of  appeal,  the  appeals 
board  in  New  York  upholds  the  local  rul- 
ings. The  possible  implications  where  in- 
dependent may  be  pitted  against  circuit 
theatre  thereby  seem  to  be  clear. 

Caution  Against  Guesswork 

The  handbook  reputedly  was  scanned 
and  checked  over  by  a battery  of  10  law- 
yers before  released  to  the  20th-Fox  sales 
force.  It  is  a lengthy  document  which,  in 
simple  and  trade  terms  easily  understand- 
able, is  designed  to  aid  salesmen  in  cur- 
rent and  future  operations  under  the  de- 
cree. But  with  it  goes  a final  word  of 
caution  not  to  indulge  in  guesswork  but 
to  call  New  York  headquarters,  if  required, 
for  final  interpretations. 

It  is  pointed  out  the  decree  does  not 
stipulate  in  what  cities  trade  showings  are 
to  be  held,  although  Jenkins  says  “prob- 
ably” it  will  be  exchange  centers  and  that 
two  or  more  showings  may  be  required  in 
the  event  all  exhibitors  wishing  to  attend 
cannot  be  accommodated  at  one  time. 

On  Features  and  Shorts 

While  shorts,  newsreels,  trailers,  serials, 
reissues  and  westerns  and  foreigns  must  be 
sold  apart  from  the  regular  feature  pro- 
gram, the  handbook  avers  such  negotia- 
tions may  be  conducted  during  the  same 
sales  solicitation  and  adds  this  warning, 
“A  salesman  cannot  directly  or  indirectly 
refuse  to  license  features  because  the  ex- 
hibitor refuses  to  license  the  short  sub- 
jects, newsreels  or  other  types  of  product 
described  in  this  section.”  But  where  an 
exhibitor  claims  he  was  forced  to  take 
shorts  and  others  in  this  class,  he  goes  to 
arbitration  if  he  so  elects.  This,  too,  ap- 
plies to  those  instances  where  the  exhibitor 
claims  an  offer  to  buy  regular  features  is 
conditioned  upon  purchase  of  shorts. 

Emphasizing  not  more  than  five  pictures 
can  be  offered  in  a single  group  “nor  can 
you  negotiate  with  an  exhibitor  on  the 
basis  of  including  more  than  five  features 
in  a single  license  agreement,”  the  hand- 
book makes  it  clear  there  is  no  provision 

(Continued  on  page  31) 


4 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


A FOUR  STAR  CAST! 


MADELEINE  CARROLL 

Fresh  from  her  great  box  office  triumph 
in  “North  West  Mounted  Police!” 


FRED  MacMURRAY 

Star  of  “Honeymoon  in  Bali” 
in  his  greatest  role! 


EDWARD  H.  GRIFFITH 


The  man  who  made 
Honeymoon  in  Bali” 
creates  his  greatest 
entertainment! 


STIRLING  HAYDEN 

The  year's  most  important 
star  discovery ! 


CAROLYN  LEE 

The  “Honeymoon  in  Bali”  baby 
scores  a sensational  success  ! 


• . . and  an  all-star  supporting  cast  headed  by 
popular  Helen  Broderick  and  beautiful  Marie  Wilson! 


Simultaneous  release  throughout 


• That  tin) 
terrific  little  star 
"Honeymoon  in  Bali.' 
CAROLYN  LEE... back  in 
even  greater  smash  role! 


the  United  States  on 


Washington’s  Birthday 

PARAMOUNT'S 


LADIES'  HOME  JOURNAL 

Full -page,  four- color 
advertisement  read 
by  8,866,993  people! 


Su«Pl,cl,aU’ 


JViili"* 


g»Uop>*'®  ,tQ 
. *»  th.»  “ ,h 

,*  -a ,h* 


itvl  R«6*' 


4 brod£riC 
arolvN  ^ 


havoEN  ■ 
riE  W'us0N. 


iTlRU^O 


c«i,nTV* 
,a  * 0"*” 


• Huge  advertising  campaign 
scheduled  to  reach  every  movie-goer 
in  the  nation.  National  magazine 
advertisements  in  full  colorl  Coast 
to  coast  newspaper  campaign! 
Everyone  who  can  read  will  thrill 
to  the  news:  “VIRGINIA"  is  the 
season's  greatest  entertainment! 


Paramount  presents 


MADELEINE 


FRED 


//vrecHf//coiOR! 


CARROLL  • MacMURRAY 

Stirling  Hayden  • Helen  Broderick  • Marie  Wilson 

0<||<n|w||  I pp  Screen  Play  by  Virginia  Van  Upp  • Based  on  a Story  by  Edward  H.  Griffith 
udlUlyll  LCC  and  Virginia  Van  Upp  • Produced  and  Directed  by  EDWARD  H.  GRIFFITH 


RADIO-TELEVISION  ON  A SCREEN 

15  BY  20  FEET  CALLED  EPOCHAL 

0 — ^ 


$66,000,000  in  5 Cent  Pieces 

New  York — Gross  intake  for  juke  boxes  for  the  1939-40  season  is  estimated  in  un- 
official quarters  at  $66,000,000.  It  is  stated  there  are  approximately  250,000  of  the 
nickel  music  machines  throughout  the  country. 

The  source  which  mentions  the  figures  also  says  each  user  must  pay  Ascap  $250 
a year  for  the  privilege  of  reproducing  the  music. 

Some  of  AT&T  subsidiaries  are  understood  sponsoring  this  type  of  entertainment 
under  a plan  which  calls  for  a nickel  for  a particular  number  and  an  extra  five  cent 
piece  to  dedicate  it  to  someone  over  the  loud  speaker  connection  with  the  telephone 
central  office. 

V5  - - U 

Ascap-Broadcasting  Struggle 
Opens  Market  Wide  on  Rumor 


Perfection  May  Be  Far 
Off,  but  Will  Come, 
Reporter  Asserts 

By  LEONARD  WEISBERG 

New  York — Take  equal  parts  of  a tele- 
vision picture  projected  on  a 15  by  20  foot 
screen,  sight  plus  sound  of  your  favorite 
radio  program  and  good,  old  showman’s 
imagination  and  you’ve  got  something  of 
history-making  proportions. 

That’s  exactly  the  way  this  reporter  felt 
and  still  feels  after  sitting  in  on  a series 
of  demonstrations  by  leading  organiza- 
tions engaged  in  the  new  art.  The  newest 
developments  in  their  respective  lines  were 
shown  to  members  of  the  FCC,  the  Na- 
tional Television  System  Committee  and 
the  press  as  sort  of  a prelude  to  the  hear- 
ings that  got  under  way  Monday  in  Wash- 
ington at  which  the  FCC  considered  the 
granting  of  authorization  to  commercialize 
the  medium. 

Four  Put  on  Shows 

Du  Mont,  RCA,  Bell  Telephone  and  CBS 
put  on  the  shows.  Previously,  but  not  for 
the  benefit  of  the  FCC,  Scophony  showed 
large  screen  reception.  Perhaps  the  best 
overall  impression  gained  from  these  per- 
formances is  that  no  matter  how  many 
obstacles,  technical  or  economic,  must  be 
overcome  no  one  is  going  to  entirely  cut 
off  television’s  surge  to  go  places;  it  just 
can’t  be  stopped.  True,  it  may  be  a 
matter  of  some  years  before  television  is 
enjoyed  on  a level  comparable  to  radio 
or  films,  but  when  it  does  it  stands  an  ex- 
cellent chance  of  offering  the  masses 
something  no  existing  entertainment 
medium  can  match. 

Clarity  Achieved 

That  statement  will  stand  up  under 
fire  of  the  most  rabid  belittler  once  the 
impact  of  a sensational  screen-size  demon- 
stration is  considered.  In  spite  of  a 
dreary,  sun-less  day  the  audience  saw 
scenes  picked  up  at  Camp  Upton,  68  miles 
away  on  Long  Island.  Although  the 
quality  of  brightness  was  not  all  that 
could  be  hoped  for,  everything  the  mobile 
camera  scanned  was  picked  up  with 
clarity.  The  pickup  was  achieved  over  a 
relay  system  that  “bounced”  the  pictures 
through  the  ether.  And  just  for  a “clinch- 
er,” RCA  shot  another  image  of  the  an- 
nouncer in  New  York  out  to  one  of  the 
relay  stations  and  brought  it  back  to  the 
theatre  screen,  thus  completing  a 102-mile 
circuit. 

The  theatre  demonstration  included  a 
studio-produced  play  which  showed  im- 
mense flexibility  in  that  it  fused  live  talent 
with  film  clips,  a ballet,  a performance  by 
Jean  Dickenson  of  the  Metropolitan,  a 
comedy  act  by  A1  Trahan  and  news.  Each 
of  the  sequences  was  received  with  ap- 
plause. 

Prior  to  the  theatre  show,  RCA  exhibited 
its  newest  home  model  receiver.  The 
screen,  largest  the  company  has  developed 
to  date,  measures  13%  by  18  inches,  with 


New  York — Among  many  potential  out- 
comes in  the  Ascap-radio  controversy  con- 
ceived by  observers  are  (1)  the  networks 
are  given  from  three  to  six  months  to  hold 
out,  (2)  they  are  not  “getting  excited” 
because  they  may  promise  the  public  tele- 
vision within  a limited  period  and  thereby 
distract  attention  from  the  music  situa- 
tion, (3)  the  foremost  publishers  might 
offer  theatres  a series  of  “bouncing-ball” 
slides  with  popular  songs  built  around  a 
“Hear  Your  Favorite  Songs  at  Your  Neigh- 
borhood Theatre”  campaign,  and  (4)  be- 
lief affiliated  and  independent  radio  sta- 
tions may  band  together  to  form  another 
national  network  sympathetic  to  Ascap. 

These  would  appear  to  be  the  more  sub- 
stantial of  straws  in  the  wind,  which  are 
plentiful  for  the  asking  along  Tin  Pan 


projection  of  441  lines,  30  frame  pictures. 
Almost  an  hour’s  entertainment  gave  no 
noticeable  eye  strain  to  this  reporter,  who 
inquired  of  others  and  received  the  same 
reply.  Brightness  of  the  images,  includ- 
ing scenes  from  Camp  Upton,  was  com- 
parable to  the  best  home  “movie”  sets. 
The  new  receiver  is  equipped  with  a re- 
tractable translucent  screen,  which  slides 
down  into  the  cabinet  when  the  set  is  not 
in  use.  Here,  as  never  before,  the  romance 
of  television  became  apparent. 

To  this  observer,  the  Aldrich  Family 
radio  program  has  always  been  a favorite. 
And  here  was  the  Aldrich  Family  again, 
complete  to  Ezra  Stone  and  other  members 
of  the  cast,  performing  one  of  their  amus- 
ing stories.  But  this  time  we  were  look- 
ing at  Henry  Aldrich  and  the  others,  too, 
and  the  effect  was  galvanizing.  That’s  be- 
cause television  permits  you  to  muse  over 
the  pain  you  see  in  Henry’s  face  as  he 
goes  into  one  of  his  extremely  funny 
tantrums. 

The  demonstration  put  on  by  Du  Mont 
was  more  of  a technical  nature,  designed 
to  show  the  practicability  of  employing 
625-line  definition  at  15  frames  per  sec- 
ond so  as  to  vitiate  obsolescence  of  home 
receiving  sets,  especially  as  it  bears  on  that 
population  residing  in  rural  areas. 

The  Bell  exhibition  was  over  coaxial 


Alley.  It’s  largely  a matter  of  must  about 
everyone  making  the  Ascap -network  tiff 
his  own  personal  affair.  But  when  it 
comes  to  getting  an  informant  to  qualify 
his  observation  the  informant  usually  be- 
comes just  another  “guess  artist.” 

The  four  interpretations  outlined  above, 
however,  have  answers.  The  answers  be- 
long to  the  observers,  not  Boxoffice,  and 
are  passed  along  that  way.  Here  it  is  for 
number  one:  The  national  advertisers  will 
go  just  so  far,  no  more  than  six  months, 
in  taking  less  than  they  are  entitled  to 
from  the  networks  for  the  expensive  shows 
they  sponsor.  Surveys  reputedly  even  now 
show  there  is  only  a small  percentage  of 
the  public  listening  to  the  programs  as 
compared  to  before  January  1 because  the 
(Continued  on  page  40) 


cable,  which,  in  layman’s  language,  is 
nothing  more  than  a “pipe  line”  between 
the  point  of  transmission  and  reception. 
This  consisted  of  a few  shorts  and  test 
patterns  transmitted  from  an  adjoining 
studio  over  a line  in  Philadelphia  and  back 
again,  a complete  distance  of  about  200 
miles.  Its  sponsors  believe  the  system  will 
naturally  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  sound 
broadcasting,  and  thus  would  require  net- 
works for  interconnecting  television  sta- 
tions employing  wire  line  technique. 

The  first  wide  use  of  natural  color  in 
television  was  the  object  of  the  CBS 
demonstration,  which  was  a repeat  per- 
formance for  the  benefit  of  the  FCC  of- 
ficials but  was  seen  by  this  department 
recently  and  was  reviewed  in  detail  in 
the  January  18  issue  of  Boxoffice. 

The  system  demonstrated  by  Scophony  is 
intended  to  interest  theatre  owners.  It 
was  shown  on  a nine  by  12  foot  screen 
and  employs  new  principles  that  make 
for  ease  of  operation.  However,  the  sys- 
tem was  not  shown  to  best  advantage  due 
to  the  facr  that  new  equipment  was  not 
available.  The  equipment  used  did  not 
present  the  light  intensity  necessary  for 
theatre  use,  neither  did  it  permit  more 
than  two  persons  to  get  into  the  camera 
range  comfortably.  The  system  utilizes 
rear  projection. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


11 


HELD  OVER  FOR 
A SECOND  WEEK! 

Biggest  Sunday  business  in 
the  history  of  the  house ! 

Beating  everything  in  sight 
—bigger  than  “The  Rains 
Came”,  “Drums  Along  The 
Mohawk”,  “Jesse  James”! 

Builds  and  bounds  and 
grows  in  the  face  of  a 
raging  blizzard! 

wonder— when  the  N.  Y.  Daily  News  says 
Beg,  borrow  or  steal— but  don’t  miss  it!” 


HlAs. — 


As  Viewed  by  Red  Kann 


Published  Every  Saturday  by 


Associated  Publications 

Editorial  Offices:  9 Rockefeller  Plaza,  New 
York  City.  Louis  Rydell,  Advertising  Man- 
ager. Wm.  Ornstein,  Eastern  Editor.  Tele- 
phone Columbus  5-6370.  5-6371,  5-6372.  Cable 
address:  "BOXOFFICE,  New  York." 

Western  Offices:  6404  Hollywood  Blvd.,  Hol- 
wood,  Calif.  Ivan  Spear,  Manager,  Tele- 
phone Gladstone  1186. 

Publication  Offices:  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kan- 
sas City,  Mo.  Morris  Schlozman,  Business 
Manager.  Telephone  Chestnut  7777. 

Other  Associated  Publications:  BOXOFFICE 
BAROMETER,  BOXOFFICE  RECORDS, 
BOXOFFICE  PICTURE  GUIDE,  published 
annually;  THE  MODERN  THEATRE,  pub- 
lished monthly  as  a section  of  BOXOFFICE. 

ALBANY — 21-23  Walter  Ave.,  M.  Berrigan. 
ATLANTA — 183  Walton  St.,  Helen  Hardy. 
JAckson  5331. 

BOSTON — 14  Piedmont  St.,  Brad  Angier, 
Liberty  9305. 

BUFFALO — Buffalo  Theatre,  G.  C.  Maurer. 
CHARLOTTE — 216  W.  4th,  Pauline  Griffith. 
CHICAGO — 332  S.  Michigan  Blvd.,  Hal 
Tate.  Wabash  4575. 

CINCINNATI — 127  Tremont  St.,  Ft.  Thomas, 
Ky„  Clara  Hyde.  Highland  1657. 
CLEVELAND— 12805  Cedar  Road,  Cleveland 
Heights,  Elsie  Loeb.  Fairmount  0046. 
DALLAS — 408  S.  Harwood,  V.  W.  Crisp, 
Southwestern  editor.  Telephone  7-3553. 
DENVER — 319  S.  Clarkson  St.,  J.  A.  Rose. 

Telephone  Spruce  0318. 

DES  MOINES — The  Colonade,  Rene  Clayton. 
DETROIT — 424  Book  Bldg.,  H.  F.  Reves. 

Telephone  Cadillac  9085. 

HOLLYWOOD — 6404  Hollywood  Bvd.,  Ivan 
Spear,  Western  editor.  GLadstone  1186. 
INDIANAPOLIS— 42  West  11th  St.,  Kol- 
man  Hirschman. 

KANSAS  CITY— 4804  East  Ninth  St.,  Jesse 
Shlyen,  Midwest  editor.  CHestnut  7777. 
LITTLE  ROCK— P.  O.  Box  253,  Lynn  Hub- 
bard. 3-0156. 

MEMPHIS — -399  So.  2nd  St.,  Carolyne  Miller. 
MILWAUKEE — 210  East  Michigan  St.,  H. 

C.  Brunner.  Kilbourn  6670-J. 
MINNEAPOLIS — Essex  Bldg.,  Maurice  Wolff. 
NEW  HAVEN — 42  Church  St.,  Suite  915, 
Gertrude  Pearson.  6-4149. 

NEW  ORLEANS — 1136  Behrman  Ave.,  J.  W. 
Leigh. 

NEW  YORK  CITY — 9 Rockefeller  Plaza, 
William  Ornstein,  Eastern  editor. 
OKLAHOMA  CITY — Box  4547.  E.  W.  Fair. 
OMAHA — 5640  Woolworth.  Monte  Davis. 
PHILADELPHIA — 426  Pine  St.,  Joseph 
Shaltz.  WALnut  0860. 

PITTSBURGH — 1701  Blvd.  of  the  Allies,  R. 

F.  Klingensmith.  ATlantic  4858. 
PORTLAND,  ORE. — 925  N.  W.  19th  St., 
Harold  Donner.  Broadway  0136. 

ST.  LOUIS — 5149  Rosa  Ave.,  David  F.  Bar- 
rett. Flanders  3727. 

SALT  LAKE  CITY — 167  South  State  St., 
Viola  B.  Hutton.  WAsatch  165. 

SAN  FRANCISCO— 1095  Market  St.,  A1 
Scott.  Market  6580. 

SEATTLE — 2418  Second  Ave.,  Joe  Cooper. 
Seneca  2460. 

WASHINGTON — 1426  G St.,  Earle  A.  Dyer. 

IN  CANADA 

CALGARY — The  Albertan,  Wm.  Campbell. 
HAMILTON — 20  Holton,  N„  Hugh  Millar. 
LONDON — 97  Adelaide  St.,  S.,  John  Gore. 
MONTREAL — 4330  Wilson  Ave.,  N.  D.  G„ 
Roy  Carmichael.  Walnut  5519. 

REGINA — The  Leader-Post.  Bruce  Peacock. 
ST.  JOHN— 161  Princess  St.  D.  Fetherston. 
TORONTO — 242  Millwood.  Milton  Galbraith. 
VANCOUVER— 615  Hastings.,  C.  P.  Rutty. 
VICTORIA — 434  Quebec  St.,  Tom  Merriman. 
WINNIPEG — 709  Selkirk  Ave.,  Ben  Lepkin. 


NO  DOUBT  and  pretty  quickly,  too, 
"Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop"  will  get 
itself  known  as  "the  female  Mr.  Chips." 
This,  because  in  pattern  both  films  are 
largely  alike.  If,  by  some  mathemat- 
ical deduction,  it  would  follow  then 
that  "Bishop"  will  do  the  kind  of  busi- 
ness "Chips"  did,  the  satisfaction  ought 
to  be  general  and  complete. 

In  fact,  we  hold  to  the  firm  idea 
something  of  the  sort  will  happen.  For 
"Miss  Bishop"  is  a tender  and  charm- 
ing story  of  a prairie  school  teacher 
who  finds  love  twice  and  twice  loses  it, 
thereafter  to  devote  the  rest  of  a long 
and  fruitful  life  to  the  molding  of 
young  men's  and  young  women's  char- 
acters in  their  formulative  years.  The 
film  develops  an  enormous  tugging  at 
the  heartstrings  which  that  reminds 
that  any  attraction  with  this  very  defi- 
nite quality  manages  to  do  extremely 
well  by  itself. 

Once  again,  Martha  Scott,  by  ability 
demonstrated  a favorite  of  this  de- 
partment's, attempts  and  succeeds 
beautifully  in  a difficult  and  exacting 
role.  It  is  a decided  compliment  to 
her  performance  that  she  dwarfs  such 
excellent  support  in  large  and  small 
roles  as  is  provided  by  William  Gar- 
gan,  Edmund  Gwenn,  Sidney  Black- 
mer,  Mary  Anderson,  an  attractive 
newcomer,  and  Rosemary  De  Camp  in 
a notable  reading  of  the  Constitution. 
Tay  Garnett,  too,  might  well  be  proud 
of  this  directional  job. 

These  are  the  cheers  for  "Miss 
Bishop."  The  parallel  tale,  however, 
calls  for  cheers  for  Richard  A.  Row- 
land whose  comeback  this  attraction 
represents.  He  is  the  Dick  Rowland 
who  ran  the  production  end  of  the 
original  First  National  which  oldsters 
will  remember  for  its  "Black  Oxen,"  its 
"Flaming  Youth"  and  a long  and  for- 
midable array  of  smash  hits  which  had 
Adolph  Zukor,  in  those  days,  indulg- 
ing in  much  worry  over  Famous  Play- 
ers-Lasky. 

Rowland  was  a good  producing  gen- 
eralissimo then,  and  now  he  proves 
he  still  knows  how.  But  between  then 
and  now  and  interspersed  is  a long  se- 
ries of  ups  and  downs,  mostly  downs, 
in  a highly  dramatic  and  real  life  ef- 
fort to  get  inside  the  active  circle  once 
more.  There  is  an  eight-year  tale  be- 
hind Rowland's  return  engagement.  It 
involves  kicks  in  the  face  and  also  in 
the  pants,  a race  against  death  as 
focalized  in  one  of  his  financial  back- 
ers and  the  completion  of  the  picture 


three  days  before  the  money  man 
found  his  worldly  troubles  at  an  end. 

This  proves  all  of  the  drama  is  not 
captured  on  the  celluloid,  that  this 
topsy-turvy  business  sometimes  makes 
sense  and  that,  definitely  in  the  sense 
column,  is  the  re-entry  of  Rowland  into 
the  columns  of  picture  makers.  Those 
who  know  something  of  this  story  be- 
hind the  story  today  are  making  up  the 
cheer  squad.  Firstly  for  Rowland. 
Secondly,  for  Miss  Bishop. 

Mailbag 

WRITES  E.  L.  Stein,  who  runs  the 
Out-Wickenburg-Way  Theatre, 
Wickenburg,  Ariz.: 

Your  editorial  in  the  January  11  issue  of 
BOXOFFICE  merits  compliments.  Especially 
the  last  short  paragraph: 

["If  the  public  gets  a big  admission's 
worth,  the  climax  of  this  tale  will  write 
itself.  It  will  need  no  embroidery  rolling 
out  of  this  typewriter.''] 

For  the  past  three  months  exhibitors  have 
been  given  very  little  but  "quickies"  to 
show  to  the  public.  Result?  The  public  has 
begun  to  wander  away  from  this  industry's 
product  as  "its  best  entertainment."  What  to 
do?  The  theatres  of  the  country  must  have 
bigger  and  better  pictures  immediately  to 
re-attract  the  public. 

The  statement  of  Nicholas  Schenck  that 
"there  is  nothing  wrong  with  this  industry 
that  good  pictures  won't  cure"  was  never 
more  true  than  today.  But  some  "cure"  must 
be  applied  or  there  won't  be  any  industry  to 
work  on. 

Thanks  to  Stein  for  the  roses.  Word 
to  Stein  about  his  worries: 

It  couldn't  possibly  be  as  appalling 
as  he  feels.  There  will  be  an  indus- 
try to  work  on,  down  curve  and  up 
curve  as  circumstances  may  occasion. 
If  it  will  help  any,  he  might  be  inter- 
ested in  learning  what  the  indications 
are: 

Good  attractions  and  plenty  of  them 
are  on  the  way.  A lot  of  best  feet 
are  being  put  forward — now  that  sell- 
ing under  the  decree  is  getting  closer. 
For  one  thing,  the  distributors  appear 
to  be  in  a frame  of  mind  of  sweeten- 
ing, if  not  softening,  theatre  reaction 
to  their  wares.  This  is  designed  to  help 
current  merchandise  and  to  develop  a 
more  brotherly  sentiment  for  and  on 
behalf  of  the  impending  blocks  of  five. 
The  advantage,  for  the  time  being,  ap- 
pears heading  in  the  direction  of  the 
exhibitor. 

These  are  the  indications,  the  sign- 
posts. Remember,  please,  not  to  hold 
us  to  account  if  the  directionals  prove 
faulty. 


14 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


AAA  CLERKS  DRAWN  FROM  MANY 
FIELDS  AND  SOME  PROFESSIONS 


— Joyce- Nones 

This  Is  What  Eleven  Look  Like — 

All  of  the  men  in  these  photos  attended  “school”  early  in  the  week  to  become 
acquainted  with  the  decree  under  which  they  will  function  as  clerks  of  the 
arbitration  tribunals.  Their  names  and  their  offices:  Upper  shot,  left  to  right 
and  seated  are  William  A.  Livingston,  Pittsburgh;  Charles  Q.  Blomquist,  New 
Orleans,  and  Harold  B.  Barton,  Washington,  while  standing  are  Charles  S. 
Wall,  New  York,  and  Oliver  F.  Bishop,  New  Orleans. 

The  lower  panel  includes  these,  seated  and  moving  from  left  to  right:  Henry 
de  la  Morandiere,  Boston;  Lorenz  L.  Lemper,  Cincinnati,  and  Joseph  C. 
Wright,  Charlotte.  Standing,  also  from  left  to  right,  are  Jack  W.  Harmon, 
Memphis;  Luke  H.  Lyman,  Cleveland,  and  Edward  W.  Spitznagel,  Buffalo. 


The  31  Tribunals  Now 
Open  Throughout 
The  Country 

The  31  clerks  of  the  arbitration  tribu- 
nals are  now  functioning  throughout  the 
nation,  the  promise  of  the  AAA  that  the 
system  will  be  functioning  by  February  1 
thereby  having  been  met  on  the  dot. 

These  men  have  been  drawn  from  many 
business  fields  and  a sprinkling  of  the  pro- 
fessions, as  their  biographies  on  these  and 
other  pages  reveal: 

Albany — Robert  Elliott,  a graduate  of 
the  High  School  of  Commerce,  New  York, 
took  a special  course  at  the  pay  officers’ 
school  and  a war  training  course  at  the 
U.  S.  Naval  Training  Academy,  Annapolis. 
He  is  married,  a life-long  resident  of  New 
York  City,  a member  of  Amity  Lodge  No. 
323,  A.  F.  & A.  M„  and  was  an  ensign  in 
the  supply  corps  with  the  first  salvage  di- 
vision of  the  navy  during  the  last  war.  His 
business  background,  25  years  with  the 
Merritt-Chapman  and  Scott  Corp.,  en- 
gaged in  marine  salvage,  heavy  lighterage 
and  construction.  From  July  to  December 
of  last  year,  he  was  attached  to  the  New 
York  office  of  the  AAA.  His  office  is  lo- 
cated in  the  Standard  Building. 

Atlanta — Detlef  H.  Hansen  jr.,  has  been 
a resident  of  this  city  and  state  for  38 
years.  He  is  married.  Business  back- 
ground includes  a manager-cashier  post 
with  a Wall  Street  brokerage  house  for 
14  years;  for  over  five  years,  he  was  an 
employment  supervisor  of  the  department 
of  welfare.  New  York  City.  Education  in- 
cludes two  years  at  Columbia  University, 
two  at  Cooper  Union,  one  at  Mechanics 
Institute  and  two  at  New  York  University 
where  he  studied  business  organization  and 
administration,  bookkeeping  and  account- 
ing and  architectural  design.  His  office 
is  located  in  the  Mortgage  Guarantee 
Building. 

Boston — Henry  de  la  Morandiere  is  a 
native  of  New  York.  He  is  married,  has 
one  child  and  was  educated  at  Oxford,  the 
University  of  Paris  and  Pratt  Institute, 
Brooklyn.  His  business  background  traces 
to  England  and  France;  he  was  also  a 
salesman  with  B.  Altman  and  Co.  at  White 
Plains,  N.  Y.  His  office  is  with  the  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce. 

Buffalo — Edward  William  Spitznagel  is 
a life-long  resident  of  this  city.  He  is 
married,  has  a grown  daughter  and  for  27 
years  was  credit  manager  of  Jacob  Dold 
Packing  Co.,  meat  packers.  His  office  is 
with  the  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

Charlotte — Joseph  C.  Wright  has  lived 
in  Charlotte  and  North  Carolina  for  13 
years.  He  was  a member  of  the  graduate 
class  of  1926  of  The  Citadel,  the  military 
college  of  South  Carolina  and  is  a bache- 


lor of  science  in  business  administration 
as  well  as  a senior  cadet  officer.  Wright  is 
married,  belongs  to  the  Walhalla  Lodge, 
No.  66  of  the  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  a member 
of  the  Charlotte  junior  chamber  of  com- 
merce. Business  backgi-ound  includes  five 
years  with  the  Penn  Mutual  Life  Insurance 
Co.,  seven  years  prior  to  that  with  H.  V. 
Johnson  and  Son,  coal  dealers;  member- 
ship on  the  school  board  of  the  city  of 
Charlotte  and  16  months  with  Burroughs 
Adding  Machine  Co.  His  office  is  located 
in  the  Liberty  Life  Building. 

Cincinnati — Lorenz  L.  Lemper  is  a life- 
long resident  of  this  city  and  got  his  LLB. 
here.  A bachelor,  he  is  a member  of  Cin- 
cinnati Council  No.  373,  Knights  of  Co- 


lumbus, the  Hamilton  County  Republican 
Club  and  the  3rd  Ward  Republican  Club. 
Lemper  was  formerly  secretary  of  the  mu- 
nicipal civil  service  commission  and  a prac- 
tising lawyer  for  the  past  25  years.  His 
office  is  with  the  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

Cleveland — Luke  H.  Lyman  has  been  liv- 
ing here  over  six  years,  but  34  years  in 
Ohio.  He  is  married  and  has  a baby  daugh- 
ter. He  is  a Mason  and  a member  of  the 
Goodale  Lodge,  Columbus  and  was  a Kappa 
Sigma  at  college.  He  practiced  law  for  two 
years  after  four  years  of  undergraduate 
courses  in  the  commerce  college  of  Ohio 
State  University  where  he  graduated  in 
’29.  Graduating  from  law  college  there  in 
’32,  he  passed  the  Ohio  bar  the  same  year. 


16 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


INCLUDE  CREDIT  MEN,  LAWYERS, 
EDUCATORS  AND  ONE  EX-FARMER 


And  Here  Are  Seventeen  More — 


The  west  and  the  far  west  predominate  in  these  photographs.  Here’s  the  key: 
Upper  row,  left  to  right  and  standing  are  Charles  Chambers,  San  Francisco; 
Walter  Elliott,  Los  Angeles;  Detlef  H.  Hansen,  Atlanta;  J.  B.  Milton,  Denver, 
and  Joseph  J.  Monahan,  Seattle.  Same  upper  tier,  left  to  right,  but  seated: 
Lloyd  W.  Littell,  Indianapolis;  J.  P.  Nelson,  Portland;  Irving  Yackness,  De- 
troit, and  J.  H.  Brink,  Kansas  City. 

The  lower  panel  shows  these  men,  standing  and  proceeding  from  left  to 
right:  Richard  Romang,  Oklahoma  City;  G.  Roy  Backman,  Salt  Lake;  Shel- 
don Osroot,  Minneapolis,  and  J.  L.  Loell,  Milwaukee.  Seated,  in  the  same 
order,  are:  Byron  Pulis,  Omaha;  C.  W.  Hudson,  St.  Louis;  C.  C.  Williams, 
Dallas,  and  Bruce  Wilson,  Des  Moines. 


He  was  a law  clerk  for  Florence  E.  Allen, 
judge  of  the  U.  S.  circuit  court  of  appeals 
for  the  sixth  circuit  from  1934,  until  as- 
suming his  AAA  post.  His  office  is  located 
in  the  Standard  Building. 

Dallas — Charles  Calvin  Williams.  A 
born  Texan,  he  has  lived  in  Dallas  for  six 
months.  He  is  married,  has  one  son,  is 
a Mason,  has  been  active  in  civic  work 
through  the  chambers  of  commerce  and 
was  assistant  manager  of  the  South  Texas 
Chamber  of  Commerce  during  1935-36. 
Williams  is  a graduate  of  East  Texas  State 
Teachers’  College;  was  president  of  his 
graduating  class,  attended  two  sessions 
of  the  national  school  for  chamber  of  com- 
merce and  trade  organizations  at  Evans- 


ton, 111.,  spent  four  years  teaching  English 
in  the  Philippines  and  has  traveled  ex- 
tensively in  the  Orient  and  Europe.  His 
office  is  located  in  the  Fidelity  Building. 

Denver — John  B.  Milton  has  lived  in 
Denver  for  32  years.  He  is  married,  has 
two  adult  children  and  is  a Mason.  He 
has  an  A.B.  degree,  ’06,  from  Washington 
and  Jefferson.  Business  background  is  in 
general  real  estate.  His  office  is  located 
with  the  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

Des  Movies — R.  Bruce  Wilson  is  married 
and  a relative  of  John  Wilson,  one  of  the 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence; a Mason.  Educated  in  high  school, 
he  has  spent  about  10  years  in  municipal 


Into  the  Field  After 
"School"  Sessions 
Held  in  East 

and  county  government  as  a bookkeeper. 
His  office  is  located  in  the  Walnut  Build- 
ing. 

Detroit — I.  H.  Yackness  is  a bachelor  and 
a member  of  several  college  fraternities. 
He  was  educated  at  Wayne  University 
where  he  specialized  in  personal  adminis- 
tration and  attended  the  Detroit  Insti- 
tute of  Technology  and  Sociology.  He 
has  an  LLB  from  the  Detroit  College  of 
Law  and  was  on  the  debating  squad  of 
the  Detroit  College  of  Law  during  ’36-37. 
His  general  background  includes  research 
in  the  Wayne  county  juvenile  court,  a law 
clerkship  with  Cook,  Smith,  Jacobs  and 
Beake,  Detroit;  and  a post  with  the  bureau 
of  social  aid  of  the  Michigan  Welfare 
Commission.  His  office  is  located  in  the 
Penobscot  Building. 

Indianapolis — Lloyd  W.  Littell  has  lived 
in  the  state  37  years  and  in  this  city  five. 
He  is  single  and  was  educated  at  Indiana 
University  where  he  earned  his  bachelor  of 
science  degree  in  commerce  and  finance  in 
’28  and  currently  is  in  his  senior  year  in 
the  night  classes  of  the  Indiana  Law 
School.  He  is  a Mason,  a fraternity  man 
and  a member  of  the  International  Ass’n 
of  Public  Employment  Services.  His  busi- 
ness background  includes  the  post  of  of- 
fice and  department  manager  in  the  place- 
ment offices  of  the  Indiana  state  employ- 
ment services  here.  He  was  once  a drafts- 
man and  stone  cutter  as  well  as  traveling 
representative  of  the  Bloomington  Lime- 
stone Co.,  Bloomington.  His  office  is  located 
in  the  Underwriters  Building. 

Kansas  City — John  H.  Brink  has  lived  in 
this  city  and  the  state  for  29  years.  He 
is  married,  studied  at  high  school,  a 
business  college  and  the  Kansas  City 
School  of  Law.  Business  background  in- 
cludes a clerkship  with  the  Santa  Fe  rail- 
road, the  Kansas  City  Structural  Steel 
Company,  Libby,  McNeil  and  Libby,  and 
a chief  clerkship  with  the  Great  Lakes  Pipe 
Line  Co.  His  office  is  located  in  the 
Waltower  Building. 

Los  Angeles — William  H.  Elliot  is  a 
New  Yorker  who  has  resided  in  California 
for  22  years.  He  is  unmarried.  Business 
experience  includes  the  building  material, 
steamship  and  banking  fields.  Elliot  has 
been  with  the  AAA  for  six  years.  His  of- 
fice is  located  in  the  Van  Nuys  Building. 

Memphis — Jack  W.  Harmon  has  been 
living  here  for  nine  years.  He  is  married, 
has  no  children  and  was  educated  at  Uni- 
versity of  Mississippi  where  he  graduated 
in  ’32  as  a bachelor  of  science  and  com- 
merce and  has  an  LLB  degree.  He  quali- 

( Continued  on  page  36) 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


17 


EVIDENCE  STILL  ACCUMULATING 
TO  PROVE  THAT  741  WILL  BEST  '40 


Territorial  Round-Up 
Continues  to  Show 
Optimistic  View 

This  edition  continues  Boxoffice’s 
’round-the-country  analysis  of  business 
conditions  and  latter  day  reactions  to  the 
decree  and  what  it  may  hold  in  store. 

On  business  prospects:  Encouragement 
and  general  anticipation  the  year  will  be  a 
good  one,  certainly  far  better  than  its  pred- 
ecessor. 

On  the  decree:  Virtually  a nation-wide 
question  mark. 

And  now  the  detail: 


Cr 


New  Haven 

vs  v 

New  Haven — They’re  uncertain  about 
the  future  here. 

Consensus  of  available  exhibitor  opin- 
ion reflects  dislike  and  distrust  of  the 
decree  and  uncertainties  about  business  as 
a consequence.  Independent  exhibitors  are 
on  the  qui  vine  awaiting  announcements 
of  selling  policies  and  are  not  at  all  cheery 
about  the  buying  outlook.  They  predict 
confusion. 

At  the  same  time,  general  rising  busi- 
ness indices  in  the  territory  lead  them  to 
believe  business  should  improve,  although 
showmen  are  disappointed  their  grosses 
have  not  kept  pace  with  the  improvement 
in  retail  trades. 

Impending  arbitration  arouses  no  en- 
thusiasm. The  belief  largely  is  that  the 
time  lost  under  the  rules  of  procedure  is 
too  great  for  effective  relief. 

r?  = = ' 'ft 


Salt  Lake  City 

vS  ■ . . . JJ 

Salt  Lake  City  — Uncertainty  over 
operation  under  the  decree  prevails  here. 
Cross-sectionally.  what  follows  is  the  ex- 
hibitor reaction: 

“We  don’t  know  how  it’s  going  to  work 
out.  It  would  be  only  a wild  guess  to  make 
one.  We  expect  bigger  and  better  pictures 
and  we  also  expect  to  have  to  pay  more 
for  them.” 

An  approach,  in  terms  of  general  busi- 
ness indices,  however,  is  a much  more 
clear-cut  and  optimistic  story.  Deposits  in 
nine  local  bank  and  trust  companies 
reached  an  all-time  high  at  the  close  of 
the  year  and  bank  loans  showed  almost  a 
15  per  cent  increase  over  the  same  period 
a year  earlier.  Local  postal  receipts,  more- 
over, were  the  largest  in  the  city’s  history 
last  year. 

Real  estate  sales  last  year  represented  a 
new  high,  according  to  the  real  estate 


(< 

Predicts  Appreciable  Increase 

New  York — John  J.  O'Connor,  vice-president  and  general  manager  of  the  RKO 
circuit,  sizing  up  the  theatre  situation,  currently  and  in  the  future: 

"Our  opinion  of  the  1941  outlook  for  theatre  attendance  is  that  from  a business 
improvement  standpoint  patronage  should  certainly  jump  considerably  over  1940 
figures. 

"The  national  government's  ’on  order'  plans  for  defense  are  coming  out  of  the 
tool  stage.  With  the  necessary  implements  available  for  production  purposes,  the 
billions  of  dollars  appropriated  will  slowly  be  distributed  in  every  corner  of  the 
country.  And,  as  employment  rises  and  the  government's  spending  increases  week 
by  week  this  industry,  supplying  as  it  does  the  great  outlet  for  recreation  for  the 
masses,  should  also  find  its  attendance  jumping. 

"It  would  also  be  very  helpful  to  business  if  producers  would  stay  away  from  war 
subjects  and  heavy,  dismal  dramas  and  keep  new  production  on  the  lighter  side  by 
giving  us  more  comedies  and  musicals  as  an  offset  to  the  disturbing  influences  con- 
tained in  newspapers  and  radio  broadcasts.” 

V 


board.  Department  store  sales  reached  a 
10-year  peak  by  mid-November. 

At  Las  Vegas,  announced  construction 
projects  total  more  than  $6,300,000,  pres- 
aging the  biggest  business  year  that  area 
has  yet  experienced. 

Ct  ' = ft 

Dallas 

* ■ -4 

Dallas — The  outlook  for  Texas  appears 
rosy,  according  to  a Boxoffice  survey. 
There  is  a minimum  amount  of  uncertain- 
ty expressed  which  is  far  outshadowed  by 
a greater  confidence  that  the  industry  will 
weather  its  ills. 

Karl  Hoblitzelle  recently  expressed  his 
views  on  the  decree  in  Boxoffice.  He  made 
a plea  for  unity  and  at  the  time  voiced  the 
opinion  all  effort  should  be  made  to  ad- 
judicate differences  before  rushing  to 
arbitration.  He  favors  a harnessing  of  the 
industry’s  manpower  “for  the  betterment 
of  the  entertainment  and  services  offered 
the  American  people,  as  well  as  the  better- 
ment of  our  public  relations  and  our  own 
internal  affairs;  we  must  continue  our  ef- 
forts to  dignify  our  business.” 

Holger  Jorgenson,  an  exhibitor  here 
antedating  the  first  World  War  and  a 
neighborhood  operator  now,  does  not  look 
for  any  marked  changes.  He  thinks  the 
product  looks  good,  but  urges  exhibitors, 
however,  to  work  for  a basic  availability 

0 ft 

Sees  Income  Increase 
Reflected  in  Grosses 

New  York — Thinks  Joseph  Bernhard, 
general  manager  of  the  Warner  Bros. 
Circuit  Management  Corp.  about  1941: 

"With  the  reduction  of  the  relief  rolls 
and  increased  employment  on  the  de- 
fense program,  the  rise  in  national  in- 
come should  be  reflected  in  motion  pic- 
ture theatres. 

“With  more  people  going  oftener  to 
the  movies,  boxoffice  results  should  be 
definitely  better  this  year.” 

VS  ■ V 


so  that  when  he  buys  pictures  he  will  know 
then  when  he  is  going  to  get  them. 
Jorgenson  looks  for  no  boom  conditions  in 
normal  situations.  He  sees  nothing  that 
should  cause  alarm  except  to  what  height 
the  defense  taxes  will  mount.  As  far  as 
the  decree  and  operations  under  it  are 
concerned,  he  believes  anything  in  it  that 
is  not  right  will  soon  be  made  right. 

In  the  smaller  situations,  Mart  Cole,  cir- 
cuit operator  of  Rosenberg,  is  in  doubt  on 
the  decree.  “We  don’t  know — we  have  to 
try  it  and  it  may  help  or  may  hinder.  I 
can’t  see  how  it  will  benefit  the  indepen- 
dent theatres,  but  we  have  got  to  try  to 
make  it  work,”  he  said. 

He  expects  a good  year.  He  feels  that, 
while  defense  towns  are  getting  the  money, 
that  there  is  more  general  spending  all  over 
south  Texas  now  which  he  believes  will 
continue.  Flu  cut  grosses  way  down  in  his 
towns,  but  he  regards  that  as  only  tem- 
porary. Grosses  in  theatres  depend  large- 
ly on  the  headlines,  Cole  believes.  When  the 
war  is  going  as  they  want  it  people  are 
in  the  frame  of  mind  to  go  to  the  theatre 
but,  when  it  goes  wrong  they  stay  at  home, 
he  observes. 

“There  has  to  be  a top  in  the  raising  of 
film  rental  and  taxes.  We  have  to  have 
taxes  and  especially  the  defense  taxes,  but 
we  don’t  have  a chance  to  raise  admis- 
sions,” he  thinks. 

Cc  - ft 

San  Antonio 

yfe  V 

San  Antonio — Local  theatremen  are  opti- 
mistic over  1941.  The  national  defense 
program  is  expected  to  boost  receipts  in 
this  area  since  thousands  of  new  recruits 
will  be  hungry  for  flesh  shows  as  well  as 
films  and  Interstate  will  supply  their  en- 
tertainment at  both  downtown  and  near 
army  post  theatres.  The  estimated  mili- 
tary population  of  the  Alamo  City,  for  in- 
stance, was  placed  at  30,000  at  the  turn  of 
the  year. 

Jean  Wildenstein,  manager  of  the  Mu- 
nicipal Auditorium,  predicts  that  “1941 
will  be  the  most  prosperous  year  San  An- 
tonio has  ever  had.” 


18 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


NIVERSAL  WILL  DELIVER  FOR  1940-41 


ABBOTT  & COSTELLO 


BRIAN  AHERNE 


ANDREWS  SISTERS 


ARLEN  & DEVINE 


EDWARD  ARNOLD 


LIONEL  ATWILL 


ROBERT  BENCHLEY 


CHARLES  BOYER 


WALTER  BRENNAN 


HELEN  BRODERICK 


BRUCE  CABOT 


MARLENE  DIETRICH 


DEANNA  DURBIN 


KAY  FRANCIS 


HUGH  HERBERT 


DICK  POWELL 


ROBERT  PRESTON 


CHARLES  RUGGLES 


S.  Z.  SAKALL 


ROBERT  STACK 


MARGARET  SULLAVAN 


FRANCHOT  TONE 


RUDY  VALLEE 


LORETTA  YOUNG 


ROLAND  YOUNG 


JOAN  BLONDELL 


IRENE  DUNNE 


BABY  SANDY 


THE  TOTAL  NUMBER  OF  PICTURES  PROGRAMMED! 


UNIVERSAL  HAS  ADDED  TO  THOSE  PICTURES  YET 
TO  BE  RELEASED  STAR  AND  PRODUCTION  VALUE 
ENOUGH  TO  TRIPLE  THEIR  TICKET-SELLING  POWER! 


January  31st  Release 

BUCK  PRIVATES 

starring  Abbott  and  Costello  with  Lee  Bowman,  Alan  Curtis  and  The  Andrews  Sisters. 

Directed  by  Arthur  Lubin.  Associate  producer,  Alex  Gottlieb. 

February  7th  Release 

BACK  STREET 

by  Fannie  Hurst,  starring  Charles  Boyer  and  Margaret  Sullavan,  with  Richard  Carlson,  Frank  McHugh,  Tim  Holt. 

Directed  by  Robert  Stevenson.  Produced  by  Bruce  Manning. 

February  14th  Release 

MEET  THE  CHUMP 

starring  Hugh  Herbert,  with  Jeanne  Kelly,  Lewis  Howard,  Anne  Nagel.  Directed  by  Edward  Cline. 

Associate  producer,  Ken  Goldsmith. 

February  21st  Release 

NICE  GIRL? 

starring  Deanna  Durbin,  with  Franchot  Tone,  Walter  Brennan,  Robert  Stack,  Robert  Benchley,  Helen  Broderick. 

Directed  by  William  A.  Seiter.  A Joe  Pasternak  production. 

March  7th  Release 

MR.  DYNAMITE  <TST 

with  Lloyd  Nolan,  Irene  Hervey,  J.  Carroll  Naish,  Frank  Gaby, 
Ann  Gillis,  Robert  Armstrong.  Directed  by  Jack  Rawlins. 
Associate  producer,  Marshall  Grant. 

March  14th  Release 

MODEL  WIFE 

starring  Joan  Blondell,  Dick  Powell,  with  Charlie  Ruggles,  Lee  Bowman,  Ruth  Donnelly. 

Produced  and  directed  by  Leigh  Jason. 

March  21st  Release 

DOUBLE  DATE 

March  28th  Release 

FRANK  LLOYD  PRODUCTIONS,  Inc.,  presents 

LADY  FROM  CHEYENNE 

starring  Loretta  Young  with  Robert  Preston,  Edward  Arnold,  Gladys  George,  Frank  Craven,  Jessie  Ralph. 

Produced  and  directed  by  Frank  Lloyd.  Associate  producer,  Jack  Skirball. 

April  4th  Release 

MUTINY  IN  THE  ARCTIC 

starring  Richard  Arlen  and  Andy  Devine. 


February  28th  Release 

DARK  STREETS  of  CAIRO 

with  Sigrid  Gurie,  Ralph  Boyd,  Eddie  Quillan,  Katherine 
DeMille,  George  Zucco.  Directed  by  Leslie  Kardos.  Associate 
producer,  Joseph  G.  Sanford. 


April  4th  Release 

HORROR  ISLAND 


Ap  ril  4th  Release 

MAN  MADE  MONSTER 

starring  Lionel  Atwill  and  Lon  Chaney,  Jr.,  with  Frank  Albertson, 
Anne  Nagel,  Samuel  S.  Hinds.  Directed  by  George  Waggner. 


April  11th  Release 

THE  FLAME  OF  NEW  ORLEANS 

starring  Marlene  Dietrich,  with  Bruce  Cabot,  Mischa  Auer,  Roland  Young,  Andy  Devine. 

Directed  by  Rene  Clair.  A Joe  Pasternak  production. 

April  1 8th  Release 
SKY  RAIDERS -A  Sena,  12  Episodes 

with  Donald  Woods,  Billie  Halop,  Robert  Armstrong,  Kathryn  Adams,  Eduardo  Ciannelli,  Bill  Cody,  Jr., 
William  Desmond.  Directed  by  Ford  Beebe  and  Ray  Taylor. 

Associate  Producer,  Henry  MacRae. 

April  25th  Release 

THE  MAN  WHO  LOST  HIMSELF 

starring  Brian  Aherne  and  Kay  Francis,  with  Henry  Stephenson,  S.  Z.  Sakall,  Nils  Asther. 
Directed  by  Edward  Ludwig.  Produced  by  Lawrence  W.  Fox,  Jr. 

May  2nd  Release 

BUTCH  MINDS  THE  BABY 

A Mayfair  production.  Story  by  Damon  Runyon. 


May  23rd  Release 

TOO  MANY  BLONDES 

starring  Rudy  Vallee 

May  30th  Release 

OH,  CHARLIE 

starring  Bud  Abbott  and  Lou  Costello.  Directed  by  Arthur  Lubin. 

June  6th  Release 

MEN  of  the  TIMBERLANDS 

starring  Richard  Arlen  and  Andy  Devine. 

June  13th  Release 

TIGHT  SHOES 

A Mayfair  production.  Story  by  Damon  Runyon. 


.AND  THE  GREATEST  EXHIBITOR  NEWS  ANNOUNCED  THIS  SEASON! 


June  20th  Release  June  27th  Release 

NORTH  of  the  KLONDIKE  HIT  THE  ROAD 

starring  The  Dead  End  Kids  and  The  Little  Tough  Guys. 

July  4th  Release 

FRANK  LLOYD  PRODUCTIONS,  INC.,  presents 

I,  JAMES  LEWIS  (Tz:r 

Produced  and  directed  by  Frank  Lloyd.  Associate  producer.  Jack  Skirball. 

July  llth  Release  July  18th  Release 

CRACKED  NUTS  SANDY  STEPS  OUT 

starring  Baby  Sandy 

July  25th  Release 

FIFTEEN  FATHOMS  DEEP  <TST 

starring  Richard  Arlen  and  Andy  Devine. 

August  1st  Release 

RAIDERS  of  the  DESERT 


August  15th  Release 

UNFINISHED  BUSINESS 

starring  Irene  Dunne  and  Robert  Montgomery.  A Gregory  la  Cava  production. 

August  22nd  Release 

A DANGEROUS  GAME 

starring  Richard  Arlen  and  Andy  Devine  with  Jeanne  Kelly.  Directed  by  John  Rawlins. 

Associate  producer,  Ben  Pivar. 

August  29th  Release 

A FRANK  LLOYD  PRODUCTION 


UNIVERSAL  FOR  1941-42 

MINTED  IN  U.S.A, 

i 


Opinions  on  Current  Productions , and 
[xploitips  for  Selling  to  the  Public 


FEATURE  REVIEWS 


So  Ends  Our  Night  F Drama 

United  Artists  ( ) 118  Minutes  Rel.  Feb.  14,  '41 

When  judged  solely  for  its  artistry,  overlength  is  the  only 
possible  criticism  which  might  be  made  of  the  first  offering 
from  Producers  David  Loew  and  Albert  Lewin.  Viewed  as 
entertainment  with  a popular  appeal,  however,  a different 
story  must  be  told.  The  screen  play  was  adapted  from  ^ 
Erich  Maria  Remarque's  novel,  "Flotsam,"  to  the  text  and 
atmosphere  of  which  it  adheres,  being  a slowly-unfolded 
account  of  German  refugees,  their  sufferings  and  tortuous 
wanderings  over  the  face  of  Europe.  Resultantlv,  the  theme 
is  monotonous  part  of  the  time,  sombre  and  depressing  all 
of  the  time.  The  feature  will  probablv  require  intensive 
selling  before  it  can  be  widely  dovetailed  into  current  tastes 
in  film  fare.  Even  its  anti-Nazi  note,  which  will  undoubtedly 
strike  a sympathetic  chord,  may  be  too  late  to  be  a great 
asset.  While  Fredrm  March,  Margaret  Sullavan  and  Frances 
Dee  occupy  the  toplines,  the  brunt  of  the  acting  chore  falls 
on  Glenn  Ford,  who  ably  handles  the  task.  Miss  Dee  has 
deplorably  little  to  do,  but  does  it  well.  The  supporting  cast 
is  large,  possesses  numerous  well-established  names  and 
is  generally  excellent.  John  Cromwell  s direction  does 
everything  possible  to  elevate  and  speed  the  picture. 

Fredric  March,  Margaret  Sullavan,  Frances  Dee,  Glenn  Ford, 
Anna  Sten,  Erich  von  Stroheim,  Allan  Brett,  Joseph  Cawthorn. 

EXPLOITIPS:  If  the  marquee  permits,  Fredric  March, 

Margaret  Sullavan,  Frances  Dee  and  Glenn  Ford  are  all 
entitled  to  mention  thereon.  Hail  Ford  as  a new  star  dis- 
covery. The  name  of  Erich  Maria  Remarque,  who  authored 
“All  Quiet  on  the  Western  Front,"  is  also  exploitable 
through  library  and  bookstore  tieups.  Stage  a debate,  either 
by  letter  through  a newspaper,  or  orally  on  the  stage,  on 
the  question  of  whether  or  not  the  U.  S.  should  admit  any 
and  all  foreign  refugees. 

CATCHLINES:  The  Saga  of  a Homeless  People  . Driven 
From  Comfort  and  Security  by  a Ruthless  War  They  Did 
Not  Make. 

Here  at  Last  Is  the  Film  You've  Been  Waiting  to  See  . . 
Based  Upon  Erich  Maria  Remarque's  Powerful  Novel, 
"Flotsam." 


Along  the  Rio  Grande  F Western 

RKO  Radio  (183)  GG  Minutes  Rel.  Feb.  7,  '41 

Youthful  Tim  Holt  stakes  out  a new  claim  on  his  enviable 
and  rapidly  growing  reputation  as  one  of  the  up-and-com- 
ing new  western  stars  in  this,  the  fourth  picture  featuring 
his  six-gun  and  saddle  heroics.  He  again  demonstrates 
that  few,  if  any,  of  the  sagebrush  supermen  can  surpass 
him  in  acting  ability.  Other  assets  include  a story  with 
more  meat  than  the  average  outdoor  scrint,  although 
motivation  pretty  much  follows  established  routine;  a good 
supporting  cast;  a few  diverting  musical  sequences;  and 
able  direction.  It  rates,  in  toto,  as  prime  western  fare. 

Holt  is  a cowhand  who,  with  the  inevitable  two  buddies, 
undertakes  to  run  to  earth  the  villain  who  has  been  terroriz- 
ing the  community  and  who  has  murdered  his  kindly  em- 
ployer. To  accomplish  their  ends,  they  ioin  the  gang  and 
work  from  within — successfully,  of  course.  Directed  by 
Edward  Killy. 

Tim  Holt,  Ray  Whitley,  Betty  Jane  Rhodes,  Emmett  Lynn, 
Robert  Fiske,  Hal  Taliaferro,  Carl  Stockdale. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Tim  Holt  is  the  name  to  sell  in  this  one. 

Erect  a blownup  figure  of  him  in  the  lobby  or  above  the 
marquee,  in  western  costume  and  with  a gun  in  his  hand. 
Launch  a Tim  Holt  Fan  Club  for  juvenile  sagebrush  fans, 
giving  out  inexpensive  membership  buttons  and  other  para- 
phernalia. Make  over  the  lobby  in  the  usual  western  style, 
and  play  range  ballad  recordings  over  the  lobby  p.a. 
system.  You  might  also  tie  in  with  spot  announcements  on 
hillbilly  and  western  radio  shows.  For  Saturday  matinees, 
hold  a “rifle  shoot"  with  BB  guns  on  a vacant  lot,  awarding 
a Tim  Holt  trophy  to  the  winner,  or  stage  a juvenile  rodeo 
on  the  stage  as  an  added  matinee  attraction.  .rom 

CATCHLINES:  Unfair  to  Organized  Outlaws  . . . That's  lew- 
Tim  Holt  . . . When  His  Guns  Blaze  Into  Action  to  Clean 
Up  the  Border. 

Your  Newest  Western  Hero  . . . Tim  Holt  . . . Rides  Into 
Action  Again  in  the  Rugged,  Roaring  West. 


20 


BOXOFFICE 


Come  Live  With  Me 


F 


Romantic 
Comedy 

M-G-M  (122)  85  Minutes  Rel.  Jan.  31,  '41 

Charming  romantic  comedy,  into  which  has  been  woven 
sufficient  whimsical  and  idyllic  strains  to  set  it  apart  from 
the  trend  toward  the  screwball  and  slapstick  approach  which 
ape  has  characterized  so  many  recent  humorous  offerings,  this 
cape  has  much  to  assure  a wide  general  audience  appeal  and 
should  be  a breadwinner  at  the  boxoffice.  It  is  clean, 
wholesome  fun  from  start  to  finish  and  considerable  of  a 
triumph  for  Clarence  Brown,  who  produced,  directed  and, 
it  is  reported,  had  a sizeable  finger  in  the  preparation  of 
the  script.  James  Stewart  and  Hedy  Lamarr  are  co-starred, 
the  former  in  the  tvpe  of  role  which  fits  him  best  and 
which  has  crystallized  his  marquee  magnetism.  Pulchritudin- 
ous Miss  Lamarr  continues  to  show  marked  improvement 
in  her  Thespic  abilities.  An  Austrian  refugee,  she  faces 
deportation  unless  she  marries  an  American  citizen  within 
the  week.  She  isn't  too  anxious  to  stay,  but  Playboy  Ian 
Hunter,  himself  married  but  interested  in  her,  persuades  her 
to  seek  a husband.  It  turns  cut  to  be  Stewart,  a penniless 
writer,  who  accedes  to  her  proposal  as  a business  sug- 
gestion, gradually  falls  in  love  with  her  and  wins  her 
away  from  Hunter. 

James  Stewart,  Hedy  Lamarr,  Ian  Hunter,  Verree  Teasdale, 
Donald  Meek,  Barton  MacLane,  Edward  Ashley,  Ann  Codee. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Co-starred  for  the  first  time,  James  Stewart 
and  Hedy  Lamarr  rate  concentrated  effort  via  exploitation, 
advertising  and  the  marquee.  Title  might  be  used  in  a 
promotional  tieup  with  hotels,  apartment  houses,  the  rental 
section  in  newspaper  classified  ads,  and  in  other  ways. 
Use  the  “refugee"  angle  to  stage  a special  “Refugee  Bene- 
fit" performance,  turning  the  proceeds  over  to  a worthwhile 
charity  agency.  Give  supporting  credits  to  Ian  Hunter 
and  Verree  Teasdale. 

CATCHLINES:  She  Used  Her  Marriage  Certificate  as  a 
Passport  . . . Then  Surprised  Herself  by  Falling  in  Love 
With  Her  Husband. 

Gay,  Gorgeous  Hedy  Lamarr  . . . Teamed  for  the  First 
Time  With  James  Stewart  ...  In  One  of  the  Brightest  New 
Comedies  of  the  Year. 


r Fin  

■A  O' 

Rolling  Home  to  Texas  F 

Monogram  (4052)  G3  Minutes  Rel.  Dec.  29,  40 

Producer  Edward  Finney  apparently  had  some  difficulty 
in  deciding  what  he  was  trying  to  produce — a filmusical,  a 
western  or  a broad,  burlesque  on  the  latter.  The  result  is 
he  has  a little  of  each  but  not  enough  of  any  one  to  make 
much  of  a picture.  It  is  probably  the  worst  Tex  Ritter  sage- 
brusher  to  date,  and  there  have  been  17  preceding  it.  Be- 
cause of  its  many  motivating  elements  and  an  unsuccessful 
effort  to  avoid  formula,  the  story  is  extremely  improbable, 
even  for  an  action  melodrama.  Dialogue  is  strained  and 
jerky  and  direction  by  A1  Herman  does  nothing  to  mitigate. 
In  fact,  even  the  title  doesn't  fit,  inasmuch  as  the  story  has 
nothing  to  do  with  Texas  or  rolling  home.  Rather,  it  con- 
cerns a prison  in  Arizona  from  which  convicts  are  helped  to 
escape  by  an  organized  gang  which  makes  a business  of 
framing  and  killing  them  to  collect  rewards.  Rugged  Ritter 
comes  to  the  rescue  and  saves  the  warden's  job  by  exposing 
the  dastardly  plot  and  capturing  the  perpetrators. 

Tex  Ritter,  Cal  Shrum,  Slim  Andrews.  Virginia  Carpenter, 
Eddie  Dean,  Jack  Rutherford,  Minta  Durfee. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Tex  Ritter  is  the  principal  source  of  interest 
here.  Prepare  a large  cutout  of  the  cowboy  star  in  a two- 
fisted,  shootin'  pose  for  the  theatre  front.  Worthy  of  extra 
plugs  are  Cal  Shrum  and  his  Rhythm  Rangers,  cowboy 
band  which  has  made  a number  of  recordings  and  is  well 
known  to  addicts  of  hillbilly  music.  Ritter  himself  can  be 
tied  into  displays  of  records  and  sheet  music  with  local 
music  stores.  Make  over  the  lobby  in  the  usual  western 
style  and  be  sure  to  hold  a Saturday  matinee  meeting  of 

your  juvenile  “Tex  Ritter"  Fan  Club  on  the  day  the  film 
amn  1 

£-opens. 

CATCHLINES:  One  Against  a Gang  ...  But  Tex  Ritter 
Swings  His  Fists  . . . With  the  Law  on  His  Side. 

There's  Action  . . . There's  Mirth  . . . There's  Music  . . . 
and  There's  Tex  Ritter  in  This  Exciting  New  Western. 


February  1,  1941 


17 


An  Interpretative  Analysis  of  Opinions  Deduced 
From  the  language  of  Lay  and  Trade  Press  Reviews 


REVIEW  DIGEST 

AND  PICTURE  GUIDE  INDEX 


16  - Aldrich  Family  In  Life  With 

Henry  (Pam)  + 

20  Alone  the  Hlo  Grande  (RKO)  + 

Always  a Bride  (FN.) + 

Angels  Over  Broadway  (Col).-  ± 

Ape,  The  (Mono) + 

Argentine  Nights  (Dnlv) ± 

Arise,  My  Love  (Para) + 

Ariiona  (Col)  + 

H.. Arkansas  Judge  (Rep)  ± 


Bank  Dick,  The  (Dnlv) 

Barnyard  Follies  (Rep) 

Before  I Hang  (Col) 

Behind  the  News  (Rep) 
Beyond  the  Sacramento  (Col) 
Billy  the  Kid  in  Terns  (PRC) 

Bitter  Sweet  (M-G-M) 

Blackout  (DA)  

Blondle  Plays  Cupid  (Col) 

Boom  Town  (M-G-M) 

Border  Legion  (Rep)  . . 

Boss  of  Bullion  City  (Dnlv)  . . . 

..Bowery  Boy  (Rep) 

Bride  Wore  Crutches  (20th-Fox> 
Brigham  Young — Frontlers- 


+ + + + + 


± ± 9+  4- 

+ »+ 

1+  1- 

+ + + »2+ 

+ + + 7+ 

+ + ± 7+  3- 

+ + + >2+ 

+ ± ± 8+  3- 

± 1+  1- 

± ± 6+6— 


+ + + + + + + 


i the  I 


=P  + 
± + 


ailing  All  Husbands  (WB) 
ase  of  the  Bluck  Parrot  (FX) 

'had  Hanna  (20th-Fox) 

humbrr  of  Horrors  (Mono), 
'harlle  Chan  at  the  Wax 

hnrler  Pilot  (20th-Fo.x) 

Iherokee  Strip  (Para) 

Christmas  in  July  (Pam) 

Jity  for  Conquest  (WB) 

olorado  (Rep)  

'ome  Live  With  Me  (M-G-M) 

omrade  X (M-G-M) 

•onvoy  (RKO)  


Dance,  Girl,  Dance  (RKO) ....+  + ± + ± ± + + 9+J- 

Dnncing  on  a Dime  (Para) ....  ± + ± + + + 7+  4- 

Dark  Streets  of  Cairo  (Dnlv).  - ± + ± + 4+3- 

Devil  Bat.  The  (PRC) = ±1+3— 

DevU’s  Pipeline  (Dnlv) ^ ± — ± + + ± ± 7+0— 

Diamond  Frontier  (Dnlv) ip  ± — ± + + - =p  6+7— 

Dispatch  From  Reuter's  (WB)  + ++44  + 444444  + 15+ 

Dr.  Kildare's  Crisis  (M-G-M) ..+  + + + + + + 7+ 

Dr.  Kildare  Goes  Home 

(M-G-M)  + + + + + + + 8+ 

Doomed  Caravan  (Para) + + + + + + 10+ 

Down  Argentine  Way  (20-Fox)  + + + + + + + + 13+ 

Dreaming  Out  Loud  (RKO) ...  ± + — ± + + ± 6+5— 

Drums  of  the  Desert  (Mono)..  ± ^ + + ± + ^7+4- 

Dulcy  (M-G-M)  + ± + + + + + + »+  *- 

E 

Karl  of  Puddlestone  (Rep)....  ± ± ± + ± ± + 7+6- 

East  of  the  River  (FN) ± ± ± ± +±0+5— 

Ellery  Queen,  Master  Detec- 
tive (Col)  + ± ^ + ± ± + ± »+6_ 

The  plus  and  minus  signs  indicate  the  degree  of  favor  or  disfavor  of 
the  review.  Where  our  compiler  is  unable  lo  form  any  opinion  from 
the  review  the  sign  "o"  is  used.  Blank  spaces  indicate  no  review. 
This  department  serves  also  as  an  Alphabetical  Index  to  feature  re- 
leases. Listings  cover  reviews  appearing  by  the  Saturday  preceding 


Fantasia  (Disney)  

Fargo  Kid  (RKO)  

Father’s  Son  (WB)  

Father  Is  a Prince  (FN).. 
Fight  for  Life,  The  (Col). 
Five  Little  Peppers  In 

Trouble  (Col)  

Flight  Command  (M-G-M) 

. Flight  From  Destiny 

Four  Mothers  ( WB) 

Four  Sons  (20th-Fox) 

Friendly  Neighbors  (Rep) . 
Frontier  Vengeance  (Dnlv) 
Fugitive  From  Justice  (WI 
Fugitive  From  a Prison  Can 
(Col)  


B). 


it!! ; 


44  44  44  44  44  + 44  44  1H- 


44  44  44  44 


± + + 44  + +10+1- 

+ 44  44  + + + i°+ 


- ± ± 0+  o 


Gallant  Sons  (M-G-M) 

Gay  Caballero,  The  (20th-Fox) 

Girl  From  Havann  (Rep) 

..Girl  In  the  News  <20tli-Fox) . . 

Girls  Dnder  21  (Col) 

Give  Ds  Wings  (Dnlv) 

Glamour  for  Sale  (Col) 

Go  West  (M-G-M) 

Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M) 
Great  Commnndment  (20-Fox) 

Great  Dictator,  The  (DA) 

Great  Plane  Robbery  (Col).... 
Great  Profile,  The  (20th-Fox) 

H 

Haunter)  Honeymoon  (M-G-M) 

Her  First  Romance  (Mono) 

Here  Comes  the  Navy  (WB) . . . 

..High  Sierra  (FN) 

Hired  Wife  (Dnlv)  

Hit  Parade  of  1941  (Rep) 

Hold  That  Woman  (PRC)  . . . 
..Honeymoon  for  Three  (WB) . 

Howards  of  Virginia  (Col) 

Hudson’s  Bay  (20tli-Fox) .... 
Hullabaloo  (M-G-M)  


I 

I Wont  a Divorce  (Para). 

I’m  Nobody's  Sweetheart 

Now  (Dnlv)  

I'm  Still  Alive  (RKO) 

. Invisible  Woman,  The  (Dnlv)  . 


Kilty  Fo 
Knute  l(n 
(WB) 


Laddie  (RKO)  

Lady  With  Red  Hair  (WB) . 
Land  of  Liberty  (M-G-M).. 

Law  und  Order  (Dnlv) 

leather  Pushers,  The  (Dnlv) 


44  44  44  io+ 


44  44  + 44  + 

+ + + ± 

+ ± + + + 


44  ± ± 44  44 

44  + 44  44  44 

+ ± ± 44  + 


44  44  44  44  44  44  44 


+ ± 


+ + + 12+ 


+ 44  + 44  44 

+ + + + + + ± + »+« 

^±  + + ±^  + ±8+5 

+ + + + + + + ±12+1 

+ + + + + <H- 

- ± - + + ± + ’+4 

+ + ± + ± + + ±0+3 

+ + + + + + + + 14+ 

+ + + + + + + +10+ 


+ ± + + + 

+ ± + 

± + + 

+ ± ± + 


dale  of  this  issue.  It  will  be  brought  up  to  date  from  week  to  week. 
The  meaning  of  the  various  signs  and  their  combinations  is  as  follows: 
+ Very  Good;  + Good;  ± Fair;  ^ Mediocre:  — Poor;  = Very  Poor 

(Numeral  preceding  title  Is  Picture  Guide  Review  pnge  number). 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


25 


UnD  VflTTR  rflNVFWTFMrF  Indexed  on  the  adjoining  two  pages  are  the  pictures 
UXl  X U UiL  vUll  V £ill  l£ili  U£i  reviewed  in  the  new  style  started  January  4.  The  num- 
ber preceding  title  is  your  key  to  the  Picture  Guide  pages,  the  new  reviews  being  added  each  week.  Addi- 
tionally, a Quarterly  Index,  arranged  alphabetically  by  companies,  will  be  published  for  Picture  Guide  use. 


Nobody's  Children  F 

Columbia  ( ) 65  Minutes  Rel.  Oct.  17,  '40 

Popularity  of  a coast  radio  program  designed  to  get 
homes  for  orphans  is  responsible  for  this  maudlin  tale  of  a 
brother  and  sister,  the  latter  a cripple,  who  experience  heart- 
aches when  separated  and  great  joy  when  eventually  they 
come  to  live  together  under  the  same  roof  of  adoption.  It 
is  an  item  for  the  sentimental  segment  of  the  audience,  the 
group  that  is  touched  emotionally  by  the  poignant  situation. 
And  the  exhibitor,  with  the  aforementioned  in  mind  and 
with  his  chart  of  past  performances  before  him,  should  take 
them  into  consideration  it  and  when  he  plays  it.  Best  bet 
for  the  picture  will  probably  be  women.  Edith  Fellows  and 
Billy  Lee  carry  the  burden  of  the  story, 

Edith  Follows,  Billy  Lee,  Georgia  Caine,  Lois  Wilson, 
Walter  White  jr..  Ben  Taggart,  Mary  Currier. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Edith  Fellows  has  probably  carved  a place 
for  herself  in  the  film-going  esteem  of  the  general  run  of 
audiences  and  should  continue  to  measure  up  with  this 
offering.  Tieups  are  indicated  with  the  local  Mutual  Broad- 
casting outlet,  teen  age  styles  and  coiffures,  parties  for 
orphans,  milk  dealers,  an  adopt-a-child  campaign,  women's 
clubs.  The  radio  program  goes  out  over  34  stations, 
emanating  from  Los  Angeles. 

CATCHLINES:  Their  Small  Hearts  Ache  Just  to  Call  Some- 
one "Mother"  and  "Dad." 


Case  of  the  Black  Parrot  F 

First  National  (572)  60  Minutes  Rel.  Jan.  11,  '41 

What  might  have  been  a good  idea  at  a Hollyv/ood 
story  conference,  certainly  falls  short  in  the  delivery.  "The 
Case  of  the  Black  Parrot"  is  merely  a case  of  cut  and  dried 
hokum,  corny  humor,  trite  lines,  ineffective  mystery  and  a 
hodge-podge  of  stock  situations,  all  handled  in  routine  fash- 
ion and  topped  off  with  a climax  that  gives  itself  away 
many  hundred  feet  before  it  should.  The  "Black  Parrot”  is 
revealed  as  a slick  fellow  who  is  in  the  blackmail,  murder 
and  stolen  antique  business.  The  case  struggles  along 
bravely  with  a weak  story.  Noel  Smith  directed. 

William  Lundigan,  Maris  Wrixon.  Eddie  Foy  jr.,  Luli  Deste. 

Paul  Cavanaugh. 

EXPLOITIPS:  William  Lundigan  manages  to  make  the  best 
of  a mediocre  role.  He  is  the  up  and  coming  player  in  this 
film.  Get  a crime  detection  equipment  display  from  the 
police.  Paste  a tab  on  the  back  pages  of  detective  pulp 
fiction  magazines  in  cooperation  with  a newsdealer.  Get  up 
a "guest  of  honor"  screening  for  the  detective  force  ace. 
Get  a stuffed  bird,  spray  it  with  black  paint,  and  place  in 
the  right  spot,  appropriately  captioned. 

CATCHLINES:  Who  Will  Be  the  Black  Parrot’s  Next  Victim 

• • Do  You  Dare  Match  Your  Wits  With  a Master  Killer. 


Larceny  Street  F 

Film  Alliance  (SR)  65  Minutes  Rel.  

Here  is  an  English  variation  of  the  husband-wife  style  of 
crime  detection  brought  into  vogue  by  the  "Thin  Man" 
cycle.  Jack  Buchanan  produced.  He  has  the  leading  role. 
Generally  the  plot  manages  to  provoke  laughter  and  the 
criminal  pursuit  provides  sufficient  thrill  business.  Story- 
wise.  it  leans  heavily  on  dialect — Anglo-Italian  vintage. 
Buchanan  and  his  wife.  Elsie  Randolph,  track  down  a gang 
of  insurance  company  defrauders  and  jewel  thieves  in  Dub- 
lin by  getting  into  the  good  graces  of  a barber  shop  pro- 
prietor who,  as  a sideline,  commits  murder  and  disposes  of 
bodies,  Tim  Whelan  directed. 

Jack  Buchanan,  Elsie  Randolph,  Arthur  Margetson. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Where  Jack  Buchanan  has  a reputation,  plug 
him  in  advertising  copy  and  on  the  marquee.  Elsewhere, 
circulate  publicity  telling  of  his  theatrical  career  in  musical 
comedy  and  the  like.  A tieup  with  toy  train  dealers  is  in- 
dicated. For  clue  display  get  some  facial  clay  shaped  into  a 
likeness  of  a man’s  face,  a toy  locomotive  and  an  assort- 
ment of  cheap  jewelry  The  barber  shop  angle  is  in- 
teresting. 

CATCHLINES:  Meet  the  King  of  the  Smash  and  Grab 
Racket  . . An  Underworld  Dealer  in  "Hot  Ice"  and  Sudden 

Death. 


Aidin'  on  a Rainbow  F 

Republic  ( ) 79  Minutes  Rel.  Jan.  28.  '41 

The  extra  money  and  effort  that  went  into  this  western 
to  take  it  out  of  the  routine  category  has  paid  off  dividends 
entertainment-wise.  That  is,  if  your  action  customers  expect 
action  in  a western,  they  must  sit  through  no  less  than 
eight  song  numbers  and  long  stretches  of  footage  aboard 
a river  showboat.  The  story  gets  very  cluttered  up  be- 
tween too  much  solo  vocalizing,  showboat  entertainment 
and  making  room  for  very  talented  little  Mary  Lee.  But 
that  doesn't  make  for  action  any  more  than  does  Gene 
Autry  s efforts  as  a confidant  in  getting  her  to  reveal  where 
her  lather,  innocently  involved,  has  hidden  a cache  of 
stolen  cash.  Lew  Landers  directed. 

Gene  Autry.  Smiley  Burnette.  Mary  Lee,  Carol  Adams. 

EXPLOITIPS:  You  would  not  be  misrepresenting  this  film 
and  you  might  be  giving  it  a new  twist  by  selling  it  as  a 
super  musical  western.  For  one  thing,  western  fans  who  like 
Autry  for  his  singing  as  well  as  his  shootin’  should  certainly 
know  about  all  the  songs  in  here.  Then  there  should  be 
a new  motif  in  the  front,  if  only  to  maintain  the  new  atmos- 
phere presented. 

CATCHLINES:  Bringing  Law  and  Order  With  Fist  and 
Bullet. 

Death  in  His  Trigger  Finger  . . Dynamite  in  His  Fists. 


Marked  Men  F 


Producers  Releasing  Corp.  67  Minutes  Rel.  

"Marked  Men"  is  a leeble  remake  of  that  old  melodra- 
matic worthy  which  has  run  the  gamut  of  treatment  on  the 
screen  trom  a novel  story  idea  to  something  in  a hack 
writer's  filing  case.  For  the  record,  the  story  deals  with  an 
innocent  who  is  forced  to  break  jail  with  a gang  of  plug 
uglies  just  because  he  happens  to  be  there.  He  makes  his 
way  to  Arizona.  En  route  he  befriends  a police  dog.  They 
work  themselves  into  the  good  graces  of  a doctor  and  his 
daughter.  Eventually  he  is  apprehended  and,  in  the  last 
two  reels,  catches  the  jailbreakers. 


Warren  Hull,  Isabel  Jewell,  John  Dilson,  Paul  Bryan 


EXPLOITIPS:  The  police  dog  angle  is  important.  Work  up 
a dog  show  which  features  prizes  to  the  best  looking  police 
dog,  or  awards  to  the  cleverest  mongrel.  This  should  par- 
ticularly attract  youngsters.  Get  up  a display  of  the  cactus 
found  in  Arizona,  and  its  various  food  derivaties.  Get  a 
sandwich  man  to  parade  the  main  drag  with  signs  calling 
attention  to  "Is  It  Fair  That  Ex-Convicts  Should  Always  Wear 
the  Brand  of  Marked  Men?" 

CATCHLINES:  Six  Fugitives  for  Freedom  . Four  Die  on 
a Desert  . , One  Is  Captured  and  the  Other  Finds  Freedom 

and  Happiness 


Cavalcade  of  Faith  F D„cm, 

Jeffrey  Film  Corp.  (SR)  65  Minutes  Rel.  

Not  in  any  sense  of  the  word  is  this  Catholic  subject  en- 
tertainment in  the  accepted  sense  for  average  theatre  con- 
sumption. It  is  a compilation,  and  not  a very  good  one, 
of  scenes  taken  at  various  church  functions  in  Rome,  for  the 
most  part,  and  at  Eucharistic  Congresses  in  Chicago.  Buenos 
Aires  and  other  cities.  While  the  foreword  purports  to  es- 
tablish the  film  as  a recording  of  milestones  in  the  ascension 
of  Christendom  this  is  not  borne  out  in  the  footage,  which  is 
heavily  repetitious,  laboriously  jointed  and  below  par  photo- 
graphically. Most  interesting  sequences  are  close  range 
shots  of  the  induction  of  the  late  Pope  Pius  XI  and  many  ac- 
tivities he  engaged  in,  as  well  as  similar  footage  of  Pope 
Pius  XII.  Background  dialogue  is  handled  by  Basil  Ruysdael. 

EXPLOITIPS:  The  local  Catholic  laity  would  seem  to  be  a 
pre-sold  audience  for  this  subject,  merely  lor  the  asking.  In 
other  words,  contact  the  bishop  of  your  diocese  well  in  ad- 
vance of  booking  so  that  he  may  inform  the  community 
of  the  playdate  Obviously,  the  film  should  be  especially 
attractive  to  children.  It  may  be  desirable  to  arrange  with 
the  Sunday  school  for  a contest  on  any  subject  allied  with 
the  picture. 


18 


February  1,  1941 


19 


BOXOFFICE 


REVIEW  DIGEST 


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Let's  Make  Music  (RKO). 


. Li’l  Abner  <RKO)  

Little  Bit  of  Heaven  (Unlv) . . 

Little  Men  (RKO)  

Little  Nellie  Kelly  (M-G-M)  . . 
Lone  Rider  Rides  On  (PRC) . 


Lone  Wolf  Keeps  a Date  (Col) 


Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para)... 
Lucky  Devils  (Univ) 


M 


Mad  Doctor,  The  (Para) 

5.  .Maisie  Was  a Lady  (M-G-M)  . . 

Margie  (Unlv)  

Mark  of  Zorro,  The  (20th-Fox) 

18.  .Marked  Men  (PRC) 

Meet  the  Missus  (Rep) 

Meet  the  Wildcat  (Unlv) 

Melody  and  Moonlight  (Rep)  . . 

Melody  Ranch  (Rep) 

Men  Against  the  Sky  (RKO) . . 
Mexican  Spitfire  Out  West 

(RKO)  

Michael  Shayne,  Private 

Detective  (20th-Fox)  

Misbehaving  Husbands  (PRC). 

Moon  Over  Burma  (Para) 

Mortal  Storm,  The  (M-G-M).. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  (RKO).. 
Mummy’s  Hand,  The  (Univ).. 
Murder  Over  New  York 

(20th-Fox)  


13 


N 


Night  Train  (20th-Fox) 

18.  .Nobody’s  Children  (Col)  . . . 


No  Time  for  Comedy  (FN) . . 
North  West  3Iounted  Police 
(Para)  


Oklahoma  Renegades  (Rep)... 
Or  Swimmin’  Hole  (Mono) .... 

On  the  Spot  (Mono) 

One  Million  B.  C.  (UA) 

One  Night  in  the  Tropics 

(Univ)  

Outlaws  of  the  Panhandle  (Col) 


Passport  to  Alcatraz  (Col)  .... 

Pastor  Hall  (UA) 

Phantom  of  Chinatown  (Mono) 
Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  . . 

Pinto  Kid  (Col)  

Play  Girl  (RKO)  

Pony  Post  (Univ)  

Prairie  Law  (RKO) 

Prairie  Schooners  (Col) 

15.  Pride  of  the  Bowery  (Mono).. 
Public  Deb  No.  1 (20th -Fox) . . 


Q 

Quarterback,  The  (Para) 

Queen  of  the  Yukon  (Mono) . . . 


Ragtime  Cowboy  Joe  (Univ) . . 
Rangers  of  Fortune  (Para) .... 
Remedy  for  Riches  (RKO) .... 
Rhythm  on  the  River  (Para).. 
Ride,  Tenderfoot,  Ride  (Rep) . 

19.. Ridin’  on  a Rainbow  (Rep).... 

Road  Show  (UA)  

10.  .Robin  Hood  of  the  Pecos  (Rep) 

17..  Rolling  Home  to  Texas  (Mono) 
5.  .Romance  of  the  Rio  Grande 

(20th-Fox)  


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Saf  ari  ( Para ) 

3.  .Saint  in  Palm  Springs  (RKO)  . 
Sandy  Gets  Her  Man  (Unlv)... 

Sandy  Is  a Lady  (Univ) 

San  Francisco  Docks  (Univ)... 

Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN) 

Sea  Hawk,  The  (WB) 

Second  Chorus  (Para) 

Seven  Sinners  (Univ) 

She  Couldn’t  Say  No  (FN) 

12 . . Six  Lessons  From  Madame 

La  Zonga  (Univ)  

Sky  Murder  (M-G-M) 

Slightly  Tempted  (Univ) 

20.  .So  Ends  Our  Night  (UA) 

So  You  Won’t  Talk  (Col) 

Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (UA).... 

South  of  Suez  (WB) 

Spring  Parade  (Univ) 

Street  of  Memories  (20th-Fox) . 
Strike  Up  the  Band  (M-G-M). 


+ 

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44 

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Take  Me  Back  to  Okla.  (Mono) 
.Tall,  Dark  and  Handsome 

(20th-Fox)  

Texas  Rangers  Ride  Again 

(Para)  

Texas  Terrors  (Rep) 

That  Gang  of  Mine  (Mono).... 
They  Knew  What  They  Wanted 

(RKO)  

Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA) 

Third  Finger,  Left  Hand 

(M-G-M)  

This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col). 
Three  Men  From  Texas  (Para) 
Thundering  FVontler  (Col) .... 

Tin  Pan  Alley  (20th-Fox) 

Too  Many  Girls  (RKO) 

Torpedo  Raider  (Mono) 

Trail  Blazers  (Rep) 

Trail  of  the  Silver  Spurs  (Mono) 
Trail  of  the  Vigilantes  (Univ) . 
Trailin’  Double  Trouble  (Mono) 

Triple  Justice  (RKO) 

Tugboat  Annie  Sails  Again 
(WB)  


U 


12 


Under  Texas  Skies  (Rep) . 
Up  in  the  Air  (Mono) 

V 

Victory  (Para)  

Villain  Still  Pursued  Her, 

The  (RKO)  

.Virginia  (Para)  


w 


Wagon  Train  (RKO)  

Wagons  Westward  (Rep) 

West  of  Pinto  Basin  (Mono) . . 

Westerner,  The  (UA) 

Where  Did  You  Get  That  Girl 

(Univ)  

Who  Is  Guilty?  (Mono) 

Who  Killed  Aunt  Maggie? 

(Rep)  

Wild  Horse  Range  (Mono) .... 

World  in  Flames  (Para) 

Wyoming  (M-G-M)  .... 

8..  Wyoming  Wildcat  (Rep) 

Y 

Yesterday’s  Heroes  (20th-Fox) 


You'll  Find  Out  (RKO) 

You're  the  One  (Para) 

Young  Bill  Hickok  (Rep) 
Young  People  (20th-Fox) 
.You’re  Out  of  Luck  )Mono)  . 
Youth  Will  Be  Served 

(20th -Fox)  

Yukon  Flight  (Mono) 


44 


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26 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


With  Two  m the  TEN  BEST  for  1940 


ere  Is  Alfred  Hitchcock's  FIRST  for  1941! 


Jean  Arthur  in  ' The  Devil  and 
Miss  Jones,"  with  Robert  Cum- 
mings, Charles  Coburn,  Edtnund 
Gwen,  Spring  Byington  and 
many  others.  Directed  by  Sam 
Wood,  director  of  "Kitty  Foyle" 
and  "Mr.  Chips.”  Produced  by 
Frank  Ross-Norman  Krasna, 
Inc.  Screen  Play  by  Norman 


See  Clearance  Under 
Franchises  Shifting 

(Continued  from  page  4) 
requiring  a distributor  to  include  as  many 
as  five  in  a group.  “Features  may  be  of- 
fered singly  or  in  groups  of  two,  three,  four 
or  five.  So  long  as  the  number  ...  is  five 
or  less,  the  matter  is  entirely  one  of  nego- 
tiation with  the  exhibitor.  You  can  insist 
that  the  exhibitor  must  take  all  or  none 
of  that  particular  group  or  you  can  re- 
duce the  number  which  were  originally 
offered  as  a group,”  go  the  instructions. 

The  analysis  thereafter  goes  into  careful 
detail  to  explain  how  blocks  of  five  are  to 
be  sold.  For  instance: 

“If  more  than  five  trade  shown  features 
are  available,  you  may  substitute  features 
from  one  group  and  place  it  in  another. 
Likewise,  you  may  offer  one  exhibitor  a 
group  containing  five  particular  features 
and  offer  his  competitor  a group  of  five  in 
which  only  three,  for  example,  of  the  fea- 
tures offered  the  first  exhibitor  are  in- 
cluded. The  vital  thing  is  that  not  more 
than  five  features  may  be  the  subject  of 
any  one  offer  or  negotiation,  and  that  in 
all  negotiations  in  which  the  question  of  a 
substitution  of  features  is  involved,  no 
basis  be  given  for  a claim  that,  in  fact, 
you  were  offering  more  than  five  features 
in  a single  group. 

On  Price 

“In  negotiating  with  an  exhibitor  as  to 
price,  there  is  no  requirement  that  a sepa- 
rate price  be  placed  on  each  individual 
picture  in  a group.  They  may  be  priced  in- 
dividually, or  a flat  price  may  be  fixed  for 
the  group  as  a whole  and  negotiations  con- 
ducted on  that  basis. 

“The  decree  expressly  recognizes  that  a 
distributor’s  salesman  may  license  or  offer 
for  license  more  than  one  group  of  features 
at  the  same  visit,  provided,  however,  that 
the  licensing  of  one  group  may  not  be  con- 
ditioned upon  the  licensing  of  another 
group  or  feature.  In  other  words,  you  can- 
not force  the  exhibitor  to  take  one  group 
or  feature  in  order  to  secure  a license  for 
another  group. 

“In  any  negotiation,  however,  which  in- 
volves more  than  one  group  of  features, 
the  utmost  caution  should  be  used  so  as 
to  avoid  any  claim  that  in  fact  you  were 
offering  more  than  five  features  at  the 
same  time. 

May  Choose  Customer 

“Where  competitive  situations  exist  it  is 
not  necessary  for  a distributor  to  offer  a 
group  of  features  to  each  of  the  competing 
exhibitors.  You  may  freely  choose  the  ex- 
hibitor to  which  you  wish  to  make  the  first 
offer  and,  if  satisfactory  terms  are  ar- 
rived at,  you  may  license  the  features  with- 
out attempting  to  license  the  competing 
exhibitor. 

‘Where  competitive  situations  exist  it  is 
recognized  that  difficult  questions  may 
arise  when  a distributor  has  more  than  one 
group  of  features  available  for  licensing. 
In  all  such  situations  you  must  be  certain 
that  the  negotiations  in  question  relate 
only  to  individual  groups  and  that  the  li- 
censing of  one  is  not  tied  up  with  the 
licensing  of  another. 

“Where  an  exhibitor  has  entered  into  a 
license  agreement  and  claims  that  he  was 


Kent  and  His  Decree  Credo 

New  York — In  a ioreward  to  the  handbook  on  the  decree  prepared  by  Felix  A. 
Jenkins,  general  counsel,  for  20th-Fox  sales  force,  Sidney  R.  Kent,  president,  states: 

"We  intend  that  this  company  shall  live  up  to  both  the  letter  and  spirit  of  the 
decree. 

"A  system  of  arbitration  has  been  set  up  which  will  be  honestly  and  impartially 
administered.  It  is  our  hope  that  our  company  will  be  in  only  those  arbitration  pro- 
ceedings in  which  a fundamental  and  honest  difference  of  opinion  is  involved.  We 
have  no  business  in  any  other  kind  of  dispute. 

"We  think  you  men  in  the  field  can  straighten  out  most  local  problems  on  a 
man  to  man  basis  and  we  expect  you  to  continue  to  deserve  the  respect  of  ex- 
hibitors.” 


forced  to  take  the  particular  group  of  fea- 
tures involved  in  order  to  secure  another 
group  of  features  which  he  desired,  he  may 
arbitrate  the  matter. 

“Where  an  exhibitor  does  not  enter  into 
a license  agreement,  but  claims  that  more 
than  five  features  were  offered  as  a part 
of  a single  group  or  that  the  licensing  of 
one  group  of  features  was  conditioned  upon 
the  licensing  by  him  of  another  group,  he 
may  arbitrate  the  matter.” 

Circuit  buys  for  the  entire  country,  or 
any  portion  of  it,  may  continue  to  be 
centralized  in  New  York  as  in  the  past,  ac- 
cording to  Jenkins,  but  the  contracts  must 
be  individually  applied  to  the  territory  in 
which  the  theatres  function.  “This  means,” 
he  states,  “that  if  an  exhibitor  has  thea- 
tres which  are  located  in  the  Chicago  ex- 
change district  and  others  located  in  the 
Indianapolis  exchange  district,  the  license 
for  the  theatres  in  the  Chicago  district 
cannot  be  made  applicable  to  and  cannot 
include  the  theatres  in  the  Indianapolis 
district.  There  is  nothing,  however,  that 
prohibits  either  the  distributor  or  the  ex- 
hibitor from  negotiating  with  respect  to 
both  groups  of  theatres  at  the  same  time 
and  the  same  place.”  And,  of  course,  one 
deal  cannot  be  conditioned  upon  any  other 
deal  involving  a different  area. 

Perhaps  open  to  future  controversy  is 
that  portion  of  the  handbook  which  gives 
20th-Fox’s  interpretation  of  an  indepen- 
dent buying  through  combines.  In  discuss- 
ing Sec.  X of  the  decree,  which  deals  with 


C.  E.  Williams  Dead — 

Funeral  services  were  held  in  Omaha 
Wednesday  for  Charles  E.  Williams, 
long  president  of  MPTO  of  Nebraska 
and  Iowa.  He  died  Sunday  evening,  fol- 
lowing a paralytic  stroke,  at  72. 


■ - >) 

refusal  to  license  an  independent  exhibitor 
on  the  run  requested  by  him,  Jenkins  holds 
such  an  exhibitor  is  not  entitled  to  arbi- 
trate under  this  section  unless  he  can 
show  he  is  an  independent.  What  Jenkins 
views  as  an  independent  follows  in  his  own 
language: 

“This  means  that  he  must  be  wholly  in- 
dependent of  any  circuit  or  buying  com- 
bination of  more  than  five  theatres.  If  the 
exhibitor  in  question  operates,  or  is  in- 
terested in  any  way  whatsoever  in  the 
operation  of  more  than  five  theatres,  or  if 
the  features  for  his  theatre  are  licensed 
by,  or  through,  a buying  combine,  co- 
operative or  agent  which  acts  for  more 
than  five  theatres,  he  is  entitled  to  none 
of  the  advantages  set  forth  in  this  section.” 


Peace  for  Chains  May 
Be  Reached  Sans  Trial 

(Continued  from  page  4) 
slap  in  the  face  because  of  the  pending 
suits.  Yet,  nothing  can  be  done  about  it 
unless  the  suit  is  tried  or  an  agreement 
on  expansion  reached  in  the  form  of  de- 
crees. 

Tony  Sudekum  of  the  Crescent  circuit 
in  Nashville  has  been  holding  out  and  has 
not  approached  the  government  on  any 
kind  of  a deal. 

Boxoffice,  some  months  ago,  intimated 
that  the  department  of  justice  would 
entertain  settlement  negotiations  on  the 
three  pending  suits.  Likewise,  the  same 
idea  has  been  talked  about  for  “The  Little 
Three,”  which  declined  to  become  parties 
to  an  all-industry  decree  in  the  big  suit. 

In  addition  to  the  big  suit,  “The  Big 
Five”  have  been  eliminated  as  defendants 
in  the  Griffith  and  Crescent  actions  and, 
while  a similar  stand  was  expected  in  the 
Schine  suit,  it  is  believed  no  move  has 
been  made  because  of  the  possibility  a 
favorable  outcome  of  pending  negotiations, 
which  would  automatically  take  care  of  the 
distributor  defendants. 


Small  Will  Make  Five 
This  Year  for  U A List 

Hollywood — Hitting  back  at  published 
reports  stressing  a “strike”  among  UA  pro- 
ducers, but  without  recognizing  the  fact 
such  stories  had  been  published,  is  word 
from  Edward  Small  he  will  make  five  this 
year. 

Two  of  the  quintet  he  plans  to  deliver  to 
UA  for  distribution  this  year.  The  others 
presumably  will  be  sold  next  season.  “The 
Corsican  Brothers”  already  had  been  listed, 
but  new  are  “My  Official  Wife,”  “Sabo- 
tage,” “She  Was  a Working  Girl”  and  an- 
other so  far  untitled. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


31 


DAVID  L.  LOEW  • ALBERT  LEWI 


present 


starring 


RBUC  HUB  • HIW  SI  I, HU' 


with 


GLENN  FORD* ANNA  STEN  ^ ERICH  von 


Directed  by  John  Cromwell  • Screenplay  by  Talbot  Jennings  j 

Released  thro  UNITED  ARTISTS 


fytiedsuc  Mga,cU 

star  of  "A  Star  is  Born", 
as  Steiner 


Ma>iGXiAet  Sullcutan 

star  of  "The  Mortal  Storm", 
as  Ruth 


fynjOrtceA  2>ee 

star  of  "Wells  Fargo", 
as  Marie 

Qlenn  fyosid 

the  screen’s  newest  romantic 
discovery,  as  Kern 

Anna  Sten 

glamorous  actress  in  her 
greatest  screen  role! 

Crouch  oan  Stroheim 

the  man  you  love  to  hate, 
as  Brenner 


Support  Gov't  on  Decree, 
Despite  Its  "Flaws” 


Washington — Section  III  of  the  New 
York  consent  decree  will  be  an  adequate 
solution  for  the  problem  of  blind  selling, 
but  other  provisions  of  the  decree  have 
serious  drawbacks,  in  the  view  of  Allied. 

Nevertheless,  it  was  decided  at  the  an- 
nual meeting  of  the  Allied  directorate  this 
week,  the  association  will  go  along  with  the 
government  in  its  effort  to  bring  about  a 
new  order  in  the  industry. 

Officers  Re-Elected 

At  the  annual  election,  all  1940  officers 
were  re-elected  and  Arthur  K.  Howard  was 
named  recording  secretary,  to  fill  a va- 
cancy. Col.  H.  A.  Cole  was  re-elected  presi- 
dent; Abram  F.  Myers,  chairman  of  the 
board  and  general  counsel;  Martin  G. 
Smith,  treasurer;  Herman  A.  Blum,  fi- 
nancial secretary,  and  Charles  H.  Olive, 
secretary. 

The  executive  committee,  with  one  ex- 
ception, also  was  renamed,  the  only  change 
being  the  substitution  of  Roy  E.  Harrold 
for  W.  A.  Steffes,  for  whom,  “in  considera- 
tion of  his  long  and  faithful  service  to  the 
association,”  a new  position  of  honorary 
national  councillor  was  created.  Other 
members  of  the  committee  are  Colonel 
Cole,  Nathan  Yamins,  Sidney  E.  Samuel- 
son,  Martin  G.  Smith,  Jack  Kirsch  and 
M.  A.  Rosenberg,  with  Myers  an  ex  officio 
member. 

Although  the  directors  considered  a 
number  of  subjects,  the  consent  decree  was 


Hub  Film  Curb  Strict 

Boston — John  G.  Spencer,  chief  of  the 
licensing  board,  has  ordered  exhibitors 
here  to  notify  him  in  writing,  within  four 
days  before  the  showing,  of  plans  to  ex- 
hibit any  in  the  list  of  34  pictures  he  at- 
tached to  the  order.  All  were  foreign- 
made  or  states  rights  films.  Included, 
however,  was  the  reissue  of  “The  Private 
Life  of  Henry  VIII.” 


New  Nebraska  Bills 

Lincoln — Senator  Neubauer  is  back  this 
year  with  two  industry  tax  bills.  One,  a 
duplicate  of  his  1939  try,  would  impose  a 
license  fee  of  $1,000  annually  and  a tax 
of  $1  per  reel  upon  distributors.  The  other 
would  levy  ten  per  cent  against  admissions. 


New  England  Flu  Wanes 

Portland,  Me. — Numerous  schools  in  the 
New  England  states  that  were  closed  in 
the  wave  of  flu  and  grippe  epidemics  are 
reopening.  Children  were  barred  from  the- 
atres in  some  localities. 


Walker  Is  Renamed 

Washington — Frank  C.  Walker  has  been 
re-appointed  by  President  Roosevelt  as 
postmaster  general. 


the  most  important  matter  to  come  up  and 
was,  in  fact,  the  only  subject  on  which  any 
statement  was  issued  publicly. 

Pointing  out  that  Allied’s  main  objectives 
in  the  past  have  been  the  abolishment  of 
compulsory  block  booking  and  blind  sell- 
ing and  the  right  of  the  independent  ex- 
hibitor freely  to  contract  for  pictures  on 
appropriate  runs  and  on  “fair  and  non- 
discriminatory  terms,”  the  committee  on 
policy,  in  a lengthy  report,  analyzed  the 
decree  from  these  angles. 

“Admittedly  Section  III,  providing  for 
trade  showings,  is  a remedy  for  blind  sell- 
ing,” it  was  declared  in  that  report. 

“Heretofore,  Allied  has  contended  for  the 
identification  of  pictures,  synopses  instead 
of  trade  showings,  so  that  pictures  could 
be  sold  in  advance  and  in  such  quantities 
as  the  parties  might  agree  upon.  Some 
exhibitors  are  concerned  about  Section  III 
because  of  its  close  relation  to  the  provision 
for  selling  in  groups  of  five.  But  putting 
out  of  mind  differences  as  to  the  most  ac- 
ceptable method  of  accomplishing  the  de- 
sired end,  it  must  be  conceded  that  the 
consent  decree  ends  blind  selling. 

“Section  IV,  providing  for  the  selling  of 
pictures  in  groups  of  not  more  than  five 
each,  makes  selling  somewhat  more  elastic 
than  it  now  is,  but  it  does  not  abolish  com- 
pulsory block  booking. 

“Under  the  new  system  weak  pictures 
can  still  be  forced  with  the  strong.  Selling 


Product  Problem  First 

Minneapolis — Bennie  Berger,  independ- 
ent, has  announced  he  will  complain  to  the 
local  arbitration  board  of  inability  to  ob- 
tain suitable  product  for  his  Esquire  here 
and  World  in  St.  Paul.  Irving  Gillman, 
owner  of  the  Gayety,  says  he  will  ask 
relief  for  his  house  on  the  same  plea. 


Two  Suits  Postponed 

Detroit — The  suit  of  Midwest  (Raymond 
Schreiber)  against  Co-Operative  Theatres 
of  Michigan  has  been  postponed  to  Mon- 
day. Another  suit,  in  which  Jacob  Schreib- 
er, uncle  of  Raymond,  is  seeking  to  regain 
possession  of  Midwest  houses,  has  been 
delayed  to  March  18. 


To  Talk  on  Decree 

Chicago — Felix  A.  Jenkins,  general  coun- 
sel for  20th-Fox,  is  due  here  February  7 
for  a two-day  session  with  the  local  sales 
setup  to  outline  company  operation  under 
the  consent  decree. 


Boston  Allied  Meet  Set 

Boston — The  annual  convention  of  the 
local  Allied  unit  has  been  set  for  Feb- 
ruary 11  by  Frank  Lydon,  president. 


at  frequent  intervals  instead  of  on  an 
annual  basis  casts  an  undue  burden  on  the 
exhibitors  and  increases  the  opportunities 
of  the  distributors  to  play  one  exhibitor 
against  another  and  to  impose  harsh  terms. 
Unless  the  distributors  are  scrupulously 
fair  in  selling  under  the  new  system,  the 
hardships  will  outweigh  the  benefits. 

“Section  IV  contains  a forthright  decla- 
ration that  no  exhibitor  shall  be  required 
to  license  short  subjects,  re-issues,  west- 
erns or  foreigns  as  a condition  to  the  right 
to  license  desired  groups  of  features.  This 
should  be  effective  to  eradicate  a serious 
evil.  We  recognize,  however,  that  so  long 
as  distributor  representatives  have  several 
classes  of  products  to  sell  the  exhibitors 
at  the  same  time  there  will  be  a tempta- 
tion to  condition  the  sale  of  desired  prod- 
uct upon  the  acceptance  of  unwanted  prod- 
uct. This  can  be  overcome  and  the  pro- 
vision can  be  made  effective  if  the  dis- 
tributors insist  upon  good  faith  observance 
by  their  sales  forces  and  exhibitors  are 
alert  to  make  a record  of  all  infractions 
which  will  stand  the  test  of  an  arbitration 
proceeding.” 

Believe  "Divorce"  Essential 

The  committee  paid  particular  attention 
to  those  provisions  of  the  decree  touching 
upon  the  right  to  buy,  but  expressed  the 
view  that  the  abuses  long  complained  of 
can  be  eliminated  only  by  the  divorce  of 
exhibition  from  other  branches  of  the  in- 
dustry, holding  that  the  decree  provision 
postponing  action  on  that  point  for  three 
years  is  the  “most  disappointing”  feature 
of  the  decree. 

“Section  VI  should  be  effective  to  pre- 
vent exclusive  selling,”  it  was  stated.  “The 
language  is  nicely  balanced  to  insure  a run 
to  all  worthy  exhibitors  without  lending 
encouragement  to  shooting  galleries  and 
fly-by-nights.  We  feel  that  the  clause  pro- 
tecting the  distributor’s  total  film  revenue 
in  the  area  should  not  be  interpreted  to 
cover  threats  of  withdrawal  of  patronage 
made  by  circuits  to  perpetuate  their  local 
monopolies. 

Praise  for  Arbitration 

“Section  VIII,  providing  for  the  arbitra- 
tion of  complaints  of  unreasonable  clear- 
ance, is  in  good  form  and  should  be  ef- 
fective except  for  the  provisions  protecting 
clearance  granted  in  certain  franchises. 

“Section  X,  relating  to  discrimination  in 
the  granting  of  a run,  imposes  so  many 
conditions  to  the  right  to  arbitrate  there- 
under as  to  be  of  little  practical  value. 
However,  for  those  who  can  qualify  under 
its  provisions,  the  section  holds  out  the 
prospect  of  relief  from  the  most  serious 
abuse  that  has  been  practiced  by  the  Big 
Eight. 

“For  a number  of  years  Allied  has  con- 
tended that  the  only  effective  remedy  for 
the  abuses  attempted  to  be  dealt  with  in 
the  foregoing  paragraphs  was  the  separa- 
tion of  production  and  distribution  from 
exhibition.  Section  XI,  postponing  the  is- 
sue of  theatre  divorcement  for  three  years, 
is  the  weakest  and  most  disappointing  fea- 
ture of  the  decree.  It  is  doubtful  whether, 
under  its  provisions,  the  government  can 
control  acquisitions  to  any  extent  during 
the  test  period.  However,  in  view  of  the 
outstanding  importance  of  this  subject, 
acquisitions  or  new  developments  by  any 
of  the  consenting  distributors  which  indi- 
cate a general  policy  of  expansion,  such  as 
would  violate  the  decree,  should  be  prompt- 
ly reported  to  national  Allied.” 


Flashes  From  the  News  Front 


34 


BOXOFFICE  ; ; February  1,  1941 


These  honest  portrayals  of  life  in  our  Armed 
I Service  are  of  great  value  to  the  country  in  these 
times  of  national  preparedness. 

WARNER  BROS. 

are  to  be  congratulated  for  the  patriotic  service 
they  perform  in  producing  films  of  this  type.” 

Walter  H.  Sitz 


“An  recruiting  officers  are  enjoined  to  cooperate  fully 
with  managers  of  theatres  which  have  this  picture 

On  exhibition.  Headquarters,  U.  S.  Marine  Corps,  Wash. 

W.  E.  Burke,  By  Direction 

with  DENNIS  M ORGAN -JOHN  LITEL  and  The  MARINES 


sgi 

tu 

jp 


m.  ms  is  me  campaign 
of  the  Hollywood, 
East  Orange,  N.  J. 

There  are  dozens  more  like  it! 


..EASY  TO  EXPLOIT  AND 
PROFITABLE  TO  PLAY 


''The  results  obtained  from  the 
showing  of  this  picture  thor- 
oughly convinces  me  that 
Warners’  patriotic  subjects 
(and  this  one  in  particular) 
can  get  extra  business  when 
properly  exploited." 


R.  W.  Hill,  District  Manager 


By  COL.  FRANK  KNOX 

Secretary  of  the  Navy: 

"I  am  advised  by  Capt.  Jules 
James  of  the  Navy  Depart- 
ment that  'March  on.  Marines' 
is  an  excellent  picture.  I am 
sure  that  a wide  distribution 
of  it  will  be  very  useful." 


Arbilration  Boards 
Ready  for  Operation 

(Continued  from  page  17) 

fied  for  law  practice  in  Tennessee  and 
Mississippi  in  ’39  and  ’40.  He  is  a Sigma 
Chi  and  Delta  Sigma  Pi  man.  For  three 
years  he  was  identified  with  the  Wesson 
Oil  Snowdrift  Sales  Co.  and  with  the  city 
of  Memphis  for  three  years  as  treasurer, 
bookkeeper  and  as  superintendent  and  act- 
ing clerk  of  the  juvenile  court.  His  office 
is  located  in  the  Shrine  Building. 

Milwaukee — John  L.  Loell  is  new  to  this 
city,  having  resided  here  for  only  six 
months.  He  is  married  and  a member  of 
the  University  of  Michigan  club.  He 
studied  at  Michigan  where  he  played  foot- 
ball and  baseball.  A lawyer,  Loell  has  had 
experience  in  banking,  his  chosen  pro- 
fession, and  in  the  field  of  industrial 
relations.  His  office  is  located  in  the 
Loyalty  Building. 

Minneapolis — Sheldon  M.  Ostroot  has 
lived  in  this  city  and  state  for  17  years. 
He  is  married,  has  a young  daughter,  is 
a member  of  the  Minneapolis  Vocational 
Guidance  Ass’n,  the  Civic  Service  Club  and 
Minneapolis  L’s  Men’s  Club.  He  holds  a 
B.A.  from  University  of  Minnesota  where 
he  majored  in  socio-psychology.  The  last 
four  years  he  was  an  interviewer  and 
placement  officer  in  the  Minneapolis  of- 
fice of  the  division  of  employment  and 
security  and  has  been  assistant  educational 
director  of  the  Minneapolis  YMCA  and 
boys’  work  secretary  of  the  YMCA  at 
Lima,  O.  His  office  is  located  in  the  Mc- 
Knight  Building. 

New  Haven — Oliver  Frederick  Bishop  has 
lived  here  for  38  years.  He  is  married,  has 
two  daughters  and  graduated  from  the 
Sheffield  Scientific  School  in  ’09  and  the 
Yale  School  of  Forestry  in  ’ll.  For  three 
years,  Bishop  was  attached  to  the  U.  S. 
forest  service,  to  the  Philippine  bureau  of 
forestry  for  four  years  and  for  10  years 
was  with  the  Holland  American  Planta- 
tions Co.,  an  affiliate  of  U.  S.  Rubber,  sta- 
tioned at  Sumatra,  Dutch  West  Indies.  His 
office  is  located  in  the  Second  National 
Life  Building. 

New  Orleans — Charles  Quentin  Blom- 
quist  has  been  living  here  for  15  years.  He 
is  married  and  carries  the  degree  of  bache- 
lor of  science  in  business  from  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota,  ’24.  For  several  years, 
Blomquist  was  claims  supervisor  in  the  ac- 
cident and  health  department  of  the  Union 
Indemnity  Co.  here.  Prior  to  that  he  was 
for  eight  years  office  manager  and  ac- 
countant for  the  Orleans  Ice  Manufactur- 
ing Co.  and  for  three  years  was  a farmer, 
raising  strawberries  chiefly.  His  office  is 
located  in  the  Barrone  Building. 

New  York — Charles  S.  Wall  lives  in 
Jackson  Heights  and  for  32  years  has 
been  a resident  of  New  York  and  environs. 
He  is  a widower  and  has  three  adult  chil- 
dren. In  ’06  he  received  his  t.t.b  at  the 
Kent  College  of  Law,  Chicago.  Former  busi- 
ness affiliations  include  Armour  & Co.,  Chi- 
cago; National  City  Bank  and  National 
City  Co.,  New  York.  He  was  also  in  the 
brokerage  business  here  and  is  a lawyer. 


Dwight  and  Pride  Explain 
Decree  at  Circuit  Meet 

Los  Angeles — Richard  Everett  Dwight 
and  Fred  Pride  of  Dwight,  Harris,  Koegel 
& Caskey,  attorneys  for  20th-Fox,  will  ex- 
plain all  phases  of  the  decree  to  National 
Theatres  divisional  managers  at  their  an- 
nual meeting  slated  to  get  under  way  at 
the  Ambassador  the  week  of  February  10. 

These  attorneys  assisted  Felix  A.  Jenk- 
ins in  the  preparation  of  a handbook  for 
20th-Fox  sales  forces  and  are  understood 
to  be  working  on  a similar  book  for  Na- 
tional Theatres  men.  William  T.  Powers 
and  Aubrey  Schenck  of  the  circuit’s  home 
office  staff  have  prepared  a tentative  draft 
of  an  analysis  of  the  text,  but  this  is  be- 
ing polished  up  by  Dwight  and  Pride. 


Spyros  in  Milwaukee 

Milwaukee — Spyros  Skouras,  president, 
and  Harry  Cox,  treasurer  of  National 
Theatres,  were  here  during  the  week  for 
business  conferences. 


His  office  is  located  in  the  U.  S.  Rubber 
Building,  Radio  City. 

Oklahoma  City — Richard  Edward  Ro- 
mang  is  a native  Oklahoman,  has  lived  in 
Oklahoma  City  four  years,  is  married,  is 
a member  of  Phi  Alpha  Delta,  legal  fra- 
ternity, and  of  the  Oklahoma  State  Bar 
Ass’n.  He  got  his  B.A.  at  the  University 
of  Chicago  in  ’34,  his  LLB  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Oklahoma  in  ’36,  won  an  or- 
atorical contest  at  Oklahoma,  is  a member 
of  the  literary  society  of  that  school, 
played  violin  for  two  years  in  its  orchestra 
and  is  active  in  YMCA  work.  Romang  has 
engaged  in  law  for  the  past  five  years. 
His  office  is  located  in  the  Commercial 
Exchange  Building. 

Omaha — Byron  Evers  Pulis  has  lived  in 
this  city  and  state  for  22  years.  He  is  a 
bachelor,  is  interested  in  the  theatre, 
graduated  from  Omaha  Technical  High 
School  where  he  took  a business  course. 
For  11  years  was  assistant  to  the  Omaha 
traveling  passenger  agent  of  the  Canadian 
Pacific  road.  His  office  is  located  in 
Woodmen  of  the  World  Building. 

Philadelphia — William  Elliot  is  a resi- 
dent of  New  Jersey.  He  gives  as  his  busi- 
ness background  a sales  managership  with 
Packard  motors  and  cites  his  association 
with  the  trade  relations  department  of  the 
AAA.  His  office  is  located  at  1420  Wal- 
nut St. 

Pittsburgh — William  Alexander  Living- 
ston has  lived  in  Pennsylvania  40  years 
and  in  Pittsburgh  15.  He  is  married  and 
childless,  a member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge 
No.  657  at  Avalon,  Pa.,  and  a high  school 
graduate  who  later  enrolled  in  evening 
classes  at  the  University  of  Pittsburgh.  He 
was  formerly  employed  as  an  examiner  for 
the  Globe  and  Republic  Fire  Insurance  Co. 
and  for  the  past  six  years  by  the  Home 
Owners  Loan  Corp.,  as  a field  representa- 
tive. His  office  is  located  in  the  Invest- 
ment Building. 

Portland,  Ore. — J.  P,  Nelson  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  city  and  state  for  22  years. 
He  is  married  and  has  two  adult  children. 
He  attended  the  Warren  High  School, 
Warren,  Minn,  and  took  a business  course 
at  the  North  Star  College  in  that  same 
town.  A member  of  the  Retail  Credit 
Ass’n,  Nelson  was  assistant  cashier  of 


Clerks  Drawn  From 
Many  Trade  Fields 

the  Northern  State  Bank,  Grand  Forks, 
N.  D.  in  T7-18;  manager  of  the  note  de- 
partment, Northwestern  National  Bank, 
Portland,  from  T8  to  ’27;  assistant  credit 
manager,  Meier  and  Frank  Co.,  Portland, 
from  ’27  to  ’34  and  credit  manager  of  the 
Charles  F.  Berg,  Inc.,  here  from  ’34  to 
'40.  His  office  is  located  in  the  Pittock 
Building. 

Salt  Lake  City — G.  Roy  Backman  has 
lived  in  this  city  and  state  for  27  years. 
He  is  married  and  has  a son  10  months  old. 
Backman  studied  for  three  years  at  the 
University  of  Utah  and  is  a member  of  the 
Sigma  Chi  fraternity.  Business  back- 
ground includes  the  post  of  purchasing 
agent  of  the  soil  conservation  service  of 
the  department  of  agriculture,  secretary 
to  Mayor  John  M.  Wallace  of  Salt  Lake 
and  assistant  secretary  of  the  Utah 
Centennial  Commission.  His  office  is 
located  in  the  Continental  Bank  Building. 

Sail  Francisco — Charles  Chambers  was 
a field  administrator  under  the  NRA  cotton 
garment  code  and  an  automobile  sales 
manager  in  ’29.  For  six  years  he  has 
been  with  the  AAA.  His  office  is  located 
in  the  Mills  Tower  Building. 

Seattle — Joe  James  Monahan  has  lived 
in  Washington  for  40  years,  in  Seattle  15. 
He  is  married  and  has  two  children.  He 
attended  Oregon  State  College  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Seattle  Association  of  Credit 
Men  until  ’39  and  served  on  its  board  for 
two  years.  Business  background  includes 
the  post  of  credit  manager  of  the  Crescent 
Manufacturing  Co.,  food  products  concern. 
Monahan  is  the  inventor  of  Mapleine,  a 
syrup  which  he  says  is  shipped  around 
the  world.  His  office  is  located  in  the 
Marion  Building. 

St.  Louis — Charles  Walter  Hudson  has 
lived  in  this  city  and  state  for  65  years. 
He  is  married  and  has  one  grown  child. 
He  belongs  to  the  Missouri  Athletic  Ass’n, 
studied  in  high  school  and  took  two  years 
of  commercial  law.  Hudson  was  with  the 
Hoyt  Metal  Co.  and  National  Lead  from 
’01  and  was  sales  manager  of  the  mixed 
metal  department.  His  office  is  located 
in  the  Cotton  Belt  Building. 

Washington — Harold  Bullard  Barton  was 
born  in  Worcester,  Mass.,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  early  vocation.  Later,  he  studied 
at  Harvard  and  undertook  graduate  work 
in  social  economics  at  Clark  University  and 
in  education  and  economics  at  Stanford 
University.  He  was  a teacher  in  history  and 
economics  and,  at  one  time,  taught  at  St. 
John’s  College,  Shanghai.  While  in  gov- 
ernment service,  he  was  trade  commis- 
sioner to  the  Caucasus  and  was  attached 
to  the  embassy  in  London  where  he  did 
research  for  the  commercial  attache  there. 
In  business,  he  was  identified  with  Ford 
in  Paris,  a mining  concern  in  Paris,  was 
district  manager  in  Chicago  and  Boston 
for  Vitaglass  Corp.  in  advertising  with  J. 
Walter  Thompson  Co.  and  branch  manager 
for  that  company  at  Sao  Paulo,  Brazil.  At 
one  time,  he  was  British  manager  for 
Simplicity  Patterns,  Ltd.  His  office  is  in 
the  Dendrike  Bldg. 


36 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


FOUR  OUT  OF  TEN  WINS! 


The  record  speaks  for  itself!  There  can  be  no  question  as  to  which  company 
won  the  Quigley  Short  Subject  Annual  Exhibitor  Vote.  The  results  appeared 
on  Page  21  of  Motion  Picture  Herald,  issue  of  Jan.  11,  1941,  as  follows: 


M-G-M  4 

Next  Company  3 
Next  Company  1 
Next  Company  1 
Next  Company  1 


Leadership  means  doing  the  unusual  first! 
Here’s  M-G-M’s  newest  idea: 

Tapping  an  unexplored  field, 

Short  story  masterpieces  at  last 
On  the  screen  — the  first  is 
“THE  HAPPIEST  MAN  ON  EARTH” 

One  of  M-G-M’s  most  important  steps 
In  years  of  short  subject  leadership. 

• 

Get  ready  for  PETE  SMITH’S  "PENNY  TO  THE  RESCUE,"  another  Prudence  Penny  cookery 
comedy  in  Technicolor.  It’s  swell.  Also  CAREY  WILSON’S  "MORE  ABOUT  NOSTRADAMUS," 
a sequel  to  the  prediction  short  that  fascinated  the  nation. 


Watch  for  this 
great  short  subject! 

"THE 

HAPPIEST  MAN 
ON  EARTH" 

featuring 
PAUL  KELLY 
VICTOR  KILLIAN 

The  O.  Henry  Memorial 
Award-Winning  Short  Story 


What  the  Studios  Are  Doing 


Studios  Near  Winter 
Production  Record 

Hollywood — A picture-a-day  tempo  is 
indicated  for  a new  winter  production 
record  as  31  features  are  scheduled  to  go 
before  the  cameras  during  February.  Look- 
ing further  ahead,  11  have  been  set  for 
March  starting,  with  four  already  pointing 
to  an  April  sendoff.  Paramount  and  War- 
ner are  starting  six  each  this  month;  Uni- 
veral,  four;  Metro  and  RKO,  three  each; 
20th-Fox,  Columbia,  Republic,  Monogram, 
two  each;  UA,  one. 

Academy  Award  Selections 
Entering  Home  Stretch 

Approximately  4,000  creative  artists  have 
begun  voting  for  the  candidates  for  Acad- 
emy of  Motion  Picture  Arts  and  Sciences 
awards.  The  banquet  for  distribution  of  the 
“Oscars”  will  be  held  February  27  at  the 
Biltmore  Bowl. 

Employment  Fails  to  Keep 
Pace  With  Production 

Despite  the  fact  that  production  is  soar- 
ing toward  a winter  record,  a drop  of 
$14,317  in  weekly  payrolls  for  December  as 
compared  with  November  is  announced  by 
the  state  labor  department.  While  studios 
employed  12,391,  only  37  less  than  in  No- 
vember, the  average  weekly  salary  of 
$43.87  was  $1.03  below  the  preceding 
month.  Central  Casting  disclosed  extra 
players  wound  up  1940  with  $594,905  less 
than  at  the  end  of  1939. 


"Jane  Eyre"  Is  Next 
Selznick  UA  Release 

The  first  of  three  pictures  David  O.  Selz- 
nick will  produce  for  United  Artists  re- 
lease will  be  “Jane  Eyre,”  from  the  novel 
by  Charlotte  Bronte.  The  producer  is  ask- 
ing fans  to  write  their  choice  of  Vivien 
Leigh,  Joan  Fontaine  or  Katharine  Hep- 
burn in  the  title  role.  The  first  two  are 
Selznick  pactees. 

Miscellany 

“The  Red  Pony,”  by  John  Steinbeck,  will 
be  the  first  independent  feature  to  be  made 
by  the  unit  headed  by  William  Hawks  and 
Lewis  Milestone  for  20th-Fox  release.  The 
duo  will  do  “My  Life  With  Caroline,”  star- 
ring Ronald  Colman,  for  RKO  Radio  re- 
lease . . . Newly  designed  and  perfected 
film  laboratory  equipment  was  described 
and  demonstrated  at  a meeting  of  the 
western  section  of  the  Society  of  Motion 
Picture  Engineers  . . . Carolyn  Lee’s  first 
under  her  new  long-term  Paramount  pact 
will  be  the  starring  role  in  “You  Go  Your 
Way,”  by  Katharine  Brush.  Edward  H. 
Griffith  will  produce  and  direct  . . . War- 
ner has  lifted  its  suspension  on  Wayne 
Morris  and  pegged  him  for  the  topline  role 
in  “Parachute  Jumpers.”  The  star  was 
suspended  when  he  turned  down  a prof- 
fered role  in  “Knockout”  . . . The  trade’s 
official  spokesmen  are  looking  the  other 
way  when  RKO-Hearst  battle  comment  is 
sought. 


Universal  in  Lead  Bandwagon 
On  Marketing  New  Output 


New  York — Universal  will  lead  the 
bandwagon  in  next  season’s  selling  and 
begin  marketing  its  1941-42  features  and 
shorts  shortly  after  a three-day  mid-sea- 
son  meeting  at  the  Blackstone,  Chicago, 
February  8-10  of  all  branch,  district  and 
division  managers. 

Matthew  Fox,  vice-president,  has  been 
in  town  all  week  from  the  coast  going  over 
plans  with  Nate  J.  Blumberg,  president, 
who  returned  a week  ago  after  an  exten- 
sive stay  on  the  coast,  and  William  A. 
Scully,  general  sales  manager. 

The  number  of  features  and  shorts  for 
the  new  season  has  not  been  completed. 
The  various  groups  of  pictures  proposed 
are  now  being  studied  as  well  as  the  pos- 
sibility of  a new  series  of  shorts. 

The  Windy  City  sessions  will  take  up 
the  balance  of  the  current  season’s  out- 
put, in  addition  to  new  product  to  be  an- 
nounced before  the  men  depart  for  their 
headquarters. 

Universal  is  not  a signatory  to  the  de- 
cree and  may  begin  selling  its  new  product 
without  screenings  as  soon  as  it  desires. 
Because  of  plans  by  “The  Big  Five”  to 
begin  trade  showings  as  early  as  July  on 
next  season’s  schedule,  Universal  will  be 
taking  the  leadoff  when  it  begins  to  swing 
into  action  after  the  Chicago  palavers. 

Directors  met  Tuesday  at  the  home  of- 
fice for  a regular  meeting  at  which  time 


the  contemplated  program  was  reported  to 
have  been  presented  by  Blumberg  and  Fox. 
J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  chairman  of  the  board, 
also  has  been  on  the  coast  looking  over 
material  for  next  season. 

Scully,  who  will  preside  at  the  Chicago 
meetings,  states  he  does  not  plan  any 
changes  in  personnel. 

Two  New  “U"  Buildings; 

One  Being  Altered 

New  York — New  exchanges  are  being 
built  for  Universal  in  Cincinnati  and  In- 
dianapolis and  alterations  have  been  com- 
pleted at  the  Cleveland  branch.  The  new 
Cincinnati  building  will  be  ready  for  oc- 
cupancy March  1,  and  the  Indianapolis 
quarters  April  1. 

Variety  Club  Convention 
Set  lor  May  15-16-17 

Pittsburgh — The  national  convention  of 
the  Variety  Club  will  be  held  May  15-16-17 
at  the  Traymore  Hotel  in  Atlantic  City, 
according  to  John  L.  Harris,  president. 
Dates  previously  were  announced  as  April 
17-18-19. 

Committees  are  being  appointed  and 
work  is  starting  immediately  from  the 
Traymore  headquarters. 


Equipment  Dealers 
To  Name  Officers 

Chicago — The  roster  of  officers  will  be 
elected  at  the  second  annual  convention  of 
Theatre  Equipment  Dealers  Ass’n,  slated 
for  the  Congress  Hotel,  February  8-10. 

Harry  Graham  of  Denver  will  be  acting 
chairman. 

All  equipment  manufacturers  will  be  rep- 
resented, although  no  displays  are  being 
permitted.  The  main  purpose  of  the  three- 
day  meeting  is  to  cooperate  with  President 
Roosevelt’s  rearmament  program. 

Among  dealers  who  have  made  known 
their  plans  to  attend  are  Ken  Douglass  of 
Capitol  Theatre  Supply,  Boston;  Des 

Moines  Theatre  Supply,  Des  Moines;  Roy 
Colvin  of  Exhibitors  Supply  Co.,  St.  Louis; 
Falls  City  Theatre  Equipment,  Louisville, 
Ky.;  John  P.  Filbert  of  the  company  of  the 
same  name  in  Los  Angeles;  Ger-Bar,  Inc., 
Indianapolis;  Joe  Goldberg  of  the  same 
name  in  Chicago;  Harry  Graham,  Graham 
Bros.,  Denver;  M.  O.  O’Neill,  Guercio  & 
Barthel,  Chicago;  Joe  Hornstein,  Joe 

Hornstein  Theatre  Supply,  New  York  City; 

Louisiana  M.  P.  Equipment,  New  Orleans; 
George  McArthur,  McArthur  Theatre 
Equipment,  Detroit. 

Also  Eldon  Peek,  Oklahoma  Theatre 
Supply,  Oklahoma  City,  Okla.;  Walter  G. 
Preddey,  Walter  G.  Preddey  Theatre  Sup- 
plies, San  Francisco;  Miss  V.  Harwell, 
Queen  Feature  Service,  Birmingham,  Ala.; 
O.  J.  Hazen,  Service  Theatre  Supply,  Salt 
Lake  City;  Ben  Shearer,  representing  his 
own  offices  in  Seattle,  San  Francisco,  Los 
Angeles  and  Portland;  Ray  Smith,  Ray 
Smith  Co.,  Milwaukee;  Southwestern 
Theatre  Equipment  Co.,  Houston;  Stebbins 
Theatre  Equipment,  Kansas  City,  Mo.; 
Superior  M.  P.  Co.,  Pittsburgh;  George 
Breneman,  United  Projector  & Film  Corp., 
Buffalo;  F.  A.  Van  Husan,  Western  Theat- 
re Supply  Co.,  Omaha;  C.  B.  Paden, 
Western  Theatrical  Equipment,  San  Fran- 
cisco. 


REVIEW 


FLASHES 


BUCK  PRIVATES  (Univ)— Timeliness  is  this 
feature's  greatest  asset.  As  the  first  of  an 
impending  large  number  of  pictures  deal- 
ing with  the  draft  and  other  phases  of  na- 
tional defense,  it  will  doubtlessly  strike  a 
popular  chord  and  register  revenue  scores 
of  husky  proportions.  During  the  film's 
comic  and  musical  moments,  it  is  very  good 
entertainment,  thanks  to  Abbott  and  Cos- 
tello and  the  Andrews  Sisters.  When  the 
story  veers  toward  the  dramatic  and  super 
patriotic,  however,  it  loses  ground.  Alex 
Gottlieb  produced;  Arthur  Lubin  directed. 

YOU'RE  THE  ONE  (Para't)— Fans  who  have 
dumped  carloads  of  nickels  into  the  juke 
boxes  to  hear  wee  Bonnie  Baker  and  Orrin 
Tucker's  orchestra  should  be  more  than 
satisfied  with  their  first  film  appearance. 
It's  a nonsensical  musical  giving  Bonnie 
plenty  of  opportunity  to  display  her  talents. 
Gene  Markey  produced;  Ralph  Murphy  di- 
rected. 


38 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


“You  are  to  be  congratulated  upon  the  excellent 
coverage  of  product  as  evidenced  by  Boxoffice 
Barometer.  This  is  one  of  the  most  complete  arid 
helpful  arrangements  we  have  ever  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  using  and  we  hope  you  will  keep  up  the 
good  work  each  succeeding  year.” 

—CHARLES  ROTH 
Valley  Enterprises,  Inc. 
Harrisburg,  Va. 


Not  only  does  BAROMETER  do  a thorough  job  of  coverage 
on  product  for  the  past  year,  but  also  on  the  physical  phase 
of  the  theatre — inside  and  out.  Besides  there's  a very  good 
look  into  what's  coming  for  the  year  ahead. 


OUT  THIS  MONTH 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


39 


Ascap-BMI  Battle 
Opens  Rumor  Mart 

(Continued  from  page  11) 


Paramount  Fetes  Balaban  in  Chicago — 

Directly  above,  Barney  Balaban  (center),  president  of  Paramount  and  its 
theatre  subsidiary,  with  Adolph  Zukor,  chairman  of  the  board,  and  E.  V. 
Richards,  head  of  the  Saenger  Amusement  circuit,  in  New  Orleans.  Top 
left,  Balaban  makes  a stab  at  expressing  his  appreciation  via  the  micro- 
phone. Top  right.  Brother  John  Balaban,  of  B&K,  and  Y.  Frank  Freeman, 
Paramount  vice-president  in  charge  of  production.  The  party  was  given  by 
Paramount  theatre  partners  as  a testimonial  to  Balaban  on  his  fifth  anni- 
versary as  president  of  Paramount. 


popular  tunes  are  not  sung  or  played.  The 
advertisers  will  force  the  networks  to  make 
peace  with  Ascap  or  withdraw  or  decline 
to  renew  their  contracts. 

For  number  two  it  goes  like  this:  The 
networks  are  “not  excited”  because  they 
know  the  peak  of  perfection  in  radio 
broadcasting  has  been  reached.  With  NBC, 
through  RCA,  and  CBS,  through  Columbia 
Phonograph,  directly  interested  in  the 
production  and  sale  of  television  receivers, 
the  new  medium  will  get  going  with  such 
a blast  that  the  public  may  be  promised 
a variety  of  programs — although  coverage 
will  be  limited — and  combination  television 
and  radio  receivers  at  “moderate”  prices. 
This  could  not  fail  to  excite  the  public,  at 
least  long  enough  to  temporarily  distract 
their  attention  from  Ascap-less  radio  pro- 
grams, and  thus  give  the  networks  even 
more  time  to  offer  resistance  to  Ascap.  The 
promise  of  television,  however  limited, 
would,  of  course,  be  sincere. 

Theatres  May  Plug  Songs 

The  number  three  answer  is  said  to  have 
come  under  consideration  of  a few  music 
publishers  and  points  to  this:  The  one- 
time popular  “bouncing-ball”  slide  which 
invited  audiences  to  participate  in  com- 
munity singing  would  be  revived.  A group 
of  the  bigger  music  publishers  would  offer 
the  slides  either  gratis  or  for  a small  fee. 
They  would  be  the  most  popular  Ascap 
tunes  of  the  day  and  would  be  nothing 
more  or  less  than  an  out-an-out  plug  for 
the  songs  that  have  been  depopularized 
through  lack  of  radio  presentation.  The 
idea  would  be  launched  with  a national 
advertising  campaign  built  around  a slogan 
like:  “Hear  Your  Favorite  Songs  at  Your 
Neighborhood  Theatre.” 

Long  a dream  and  now  closer  than  ever 
to  realization  is  that  of  another  national 
network  made  up  of  affiliated  and  inde- 
pendent stations.  This  is  the  gist  of  num- 
ber four.  It  stems  from  the  long  opposed 
exclusive  contract  arrangement  NBC  and 
CBS  has  had  with  many  stations  which 
pipe  in  to  the  major  programs  whenever 
they  are  so  called  upon.  If  such  a new 
chain  were  formed  it  would  tie  up  with 
Ascap,  a situation  held  to  be  desirable  but 
denied  the  smaller  stations  in  the  past. 
The  reason  such  a network  is  not  at  the 
moment  under  formation  is  that  it  is 
feared  CBS  and  NBC  might  “any  day” 
capitulate  and  come  to  terms  with  Ascap 
and  leave  the  new  network  “out  on  a 
limb.” 

Calls  National  Theatre 
Supply  Meet  lor  Feb . 9 

New  York — Walter  E.  Green,  president, 
has  called  the  annual  meeting  of  Na- 
tional Theatre  Supply  branch  managers, 
officers  and  general  sales  promotion  per- 
sonnel for  February  9-14  at  the  Belmont 
Plaza  here.  Manufacturers  of  various 
products  distributed  by  National  will  be 
represented  at  the  five-day  session  during 
which  Green  will  act  as  chairman  and 
Oscar  S.  Oldknow,  vice-president,  will  be 
vice-chairman. 


"U"-Pathe  Lab  Two-Year 
Contract  Is  Ratilied 

New  York — Universal’s  board  on  Tues- 
day ratified  a two-year  deal  with  Pathe 
Laboratories  whereby  approximately  120,- 
000,000  feet  of  film  will  be  developed  an- 
nually by  that  laboratory,  starting  Febru- 
ary 1,  1941.  The  distributor’s  newsreel 
will  be  printed  by  H.  E.  R.  Laboratories  in 
the  east  under  a sub-contract  with  Pathe. 

Printing  of  I he  newsreel  held  up  the 
deal  for  a while  since  Pathe  could  not 
handle  it  in  New  York,  its  laboratory  being 
in  Bound  Brook.  N.  J.  Sub-letting  of  the 
contract  ironed  this  out. 

Up  to  now  Consolidated  Film  Labora- 


tories has  been  handling  all  of  Universal’s 
developing  in  the  east  and  west.  There  are 
no  options  attached  to  the  deal. 

Negotiations  were  handled  on  the  coast 
by  Nate  J.  Blumberg,  president;  Matthew 
Fox,  vice-president,  and  Adolph  Schimel, 
home  office  counsel  for  Universal,  with 
Robert  Benjamin  and  others  for  Pathe. 
Benjamin  is  eastern  counsel  for  the  com- 
pany and  a partner  of  Phillips  & Nizer. 


Travis  to  Pathe  Board 
New  York — C.  Merwin  Travis,  who  has 
been  vice-president  of  Pathe  Laboratories 
in  California,  has  been  elected  a director  of 
Pathe  Laboratories,  N.  J. 


40 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


N.  Y.  Area  Theatres 
Cut  by  11  in  1940 

New  York — With  a new  total  of  1,208 
theatres  seating  1,346,594  in  the  Greater 
New  York  area  for  1940,  the  number  marks 
a drop  in  11  houses  and  a total  of  2,711 
seats,  according  to  the  New  York  Film 
Board  annual  survey.  New  York  City  saw 
the  elimination  of  10  houses  while  north- 
ern New  Jersey  showed  one  less  than  last 
‘year.  The  comparative  years  show  2,101 
less  seats  in  New  York  for  1940  and  610  for 
New  Jersey  area. 

The  number  of  theatres  open  in  this  ex- 
change area  was  1,068  seating  1,234,260 
at  the  close  of  last  year.  This  compares 
with  1,072  houses  seating  1,240,304  in  1939. 
The  latest  report  shows  140  closed  houses, 
seating  112,334,  as  compared  with  125 
theatres  and  103,579  seats  for  1939. 

There  are  currently  listed  759  circuit 
theatres  with  997,365  seats,  as  compared 
to  1939  when  the  figures  were  771  houses 
and  1,023,016  seats.  This  is  broken  down 
to  131  affiliated  houses  in  New  York  state 
seating  265,267,  compared  with  129  seat- 
ing 262,958  in  1939;  66  affiliated  theatres 
in  New  Jersey  seating  117,492,  compared 
with  66  seating  118,062  seats  in  1939;  434 
unaffiliated  houses  in  New  York  seating 
488,588,  compared  with  450  houses  seat- 
ing 519,112  in  1939;  128  unaffiliated  thea- 
tres in  New  Jersey,  126,018  seats,  compared 
with  126  seating  122,884  seats  in  1939. 

Independent  theatres  at  the  close  of 
1940  totaled  449  with  349,229  seats  as  com- 
pared with  426  and  320,867  seats  in  1939. 
This  is  broken  down  to  314  houses  seat- 
ing 239,595  in  New  York  state,  compared 
with  290  and  209,279  seats  in  1939;  and 
for  New  Jersey,  135  theatres  seating  109,- 
634  seats,  compared  with  136  houses  and 
111,588  seats  in  1939. 

Total  sound  houses  in  1940  were  1,192 
against  1,179  the  previous  year.  Total  silent 
houses  showed  a drop  of  two.  The  total 
number  of  closed  houses  in  1940  was  140, 
or  15  more  than  in  1939,  of  which  124 
were  sound  and  16  silent  as  compared  to 
107  sound  and  18  silent  in  1939. 

Gulkas  & Rosenzweig 
May  Get  Bronx  Units 

New  York — Negotiations  are  under  way 
by  Gulkas  & Rosenzweig  to  take  over 
operation  of  the  Beach  and  Yorke  in  the 
Bronx.  The  Cocalis  circuit,  current  opera- 
tors, is  reported  selling  its  interest.  The 
circuit  and  G & R are  partners  in  the 
Alpine,  Bronx.  G & R also  have  the  Melba 
and  Craft  in  the  Bronx,  in  addition  to  a 
number  of  other  theatres  in  Brooklyn  and 
Long  Island. 

Sale  of  the  two  Bronx  houses  will  mark 
the  windup  of  operations  in  New  York  for 
the  Cocalis  circuit,  which  will  continue  to 
operate  in  New  Jersey  under  J.  J. 
Thompson. 

William  A.  Scully,  general  sales  man- 
ager for  Universal,  is  an  executor  of  the 
Cocalis  estate.  He  passes  on  all  deals. 


Hartley  Prod.  Offices 

New  York — Hartley  Productions,  a 16 
mm  firm,  have  opened  new  offices  and 
studios  on  W.  47th  Street. 


— Joyce-Nones 

Albany , His  Bailiwick — 

This  is  Robert  Elliot,  thus  far  an  un- 
familiar face  in  the  industry.  He  is 
the  clerk  of  the  AAA  arbitration 
tribunal  for  the  Albany  area.  Mon- 
day morning  finds  him,  like  his  30 
confreres  around  the  nation,  open  and 
ready  for  business. 


To  Chicago  for  20th-F ox 
Talk  on  Decree  Policy 

Chicago — Felix  A.  Jenkins,  general  coun- 
sel for  20th-Fox,  is  due  here  February  7 
for  a two-day  session  with  local  sales  force 
and  personnel  to  explain  the  operations 
under  the  decree. 

Prior  to  his  arrival,  he  is  due  to  have 
visited  the  Los  Angeles,  San  Francisco, 
Portland,  Seattle,  Salt  Lake  City,  Denver, 
Omaha  and  Des  Moines,  Minneapolis  and 
Milwaukee  branches  on  similar  missions. 

From  here  he  will  embrace  midwestern, 
southern,  Atlantic  and  other  branches  in 
the  east  and  north  east.  He  started  on 
the  tour  January  27  following  a week’s 
conference  at  the  studio  with  Sidney  R. 
Kent,  president;  Fred  Pride  of  Dwight, 
Harris,  Koegel  & Caskey,  counsel  for  Chase 
National  Bank. 

Although  20th-Fox  is  affiliated  with  Na- 
tional Theatres,  Jenkins  will  not  discuss 
theatre  operations  under  the  decree,  at- 
torneys for  the  circuit  having  prepared  a 
simplified  analysis  for  the  purpose.  These 
lawyers  were  William  T.  Powers  and  Aubrey 
Schenck. 

The  20th-Fox  counsel  recently  com- 
pleted a 34-page  handbook  which  is  being 
made  available  to  every  salesman,  booker, 
branch  and  district  manager,  in  addition 
to  divisional  heads.  Each  provision  of  the 
decree  is  published  with  an  interpretative 
appendage  by  Jenkins. 

National  Theatres  division  heads  most 
likely  will  learn  first  hand  the  way  the 
decree  affects  them  at  the  February  10-12 
annual  meeting  slated  for  the  coast  in 
Los  Angeles. 


Ricketson  in  East 

New  York — Rick  Ricketson  of  Denver 
was  in  town  the  latter  part  of  the  week  for 
National  Theatres  conferences  at  the  home 
office. 


Recognize  Exhibitor 
Music  Row  Status 

Washington — The  stake  of  the  exhibi- 
tor in  the  music  controversy  between  the 
American  Society  of  Composers,  Authors 
and  Publishers,  and  Broadcast  Music,  Inc., 
is  recognized  in  a consent  decree  which 
the  latter  has  signed  with  the  department 
of  justice  in  a specific  provision  that  BMI 
agrees  never  to  engage  in  an  all-or-none 
policy  in  licensing  its  music. 

This  means,  it  was  explained  by  the  de- 
partment in  announcing  acceptance  of  the 
decree,  that  exhibitors  and  other  com- 
mercial users  of  BMI  music  “will  be  able 
to  obtain  the  right  to  perform  any  BMI 
compositions  desired  without  being  com- 
pelled to  accept  and  take  the  entire  BMI 
catalogue.” 

As  a result  of  the  agreement,  BMI,  the 
National  Broadcasting  Co.  and  the  Colum- 
bia Broadcasting  System  will  be  dropped 
from  the  four-party  criminal  suit  which 
the  department  last  month  announced  it 
was  about  to  initiate  in  Milwaukee. 

Awaits  Similar  Ascap  Rein 

However,  the  decree  will  not  become  ef- 
fective until  similar  restraints  have  been 
imposed  upon  Ascap,  by  way  of  either 
decree  or  litigation.  Negotiations  with 
Ascap  for  a consent  decree  were  abruptly 
halted  last  month.  At  the  same  time,  the 
department  announced  intention  to  pro- 
ceed promptly  with  criminal  proceedings 
against  Ascap. 

Under  the  agreement,  BMI  is  not  to  dis- 
criminate in  either  price  or  terms  among 
the  users  of  copyrighted  music,  and  all 
BMI  compositions  will  be  offered  for  per- 
formance to  all  users  of  the  same  class  on 
equal  terms  and  conditions.  Music  will  be 
licensed  on  a pay-when-you-play  basis,  on 
either  a per-piece  or  per-program  schedule. 

In  a statement  announcing  the  con- 
summation of  the  agreement,  Neville  Mil- 
ler, president  of  the  National  Association 
of  Broadcasters,  explained  that  it  provides 
merely  for  the  practices  which  BMI 
planned  originally  to  adopt  and  pointed  out 
that  the  decree  specifically  stipulates  that 
it  does  not  constitute  an  admission  or  find- 
ing of  any  violation  of  law  on  the  part  of 
the  organization. 

Extend  Collections  for 
Paralysis  Campaign 

New  York — Collections  in  theatres  for 
the  National  Infantile  Paralysis  Drive, 
which  was  scheduled  to  end  Thursday, 
were  being  extended  to  Sunday  night. 

At  all  theatres  where  cash  is  being  given 
away  on  games,  winners  were  asked  to 
donate  part  of  the  awards.  In  addition, 
persons  admitted  on  passes  were  asked  to 
contribute  at  least  one  dime. 

Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  chairman,  expects 
the  current  campaign  to  be  the  most  suc- 
cessful ever  held.  Every  employe  in  every 
company  has  been  asked  to  lend  full 
support. 


David  Whalen  Resigns 

New  York — David  B.  Whalen  has  re- 
signed from  the  advertising  department  at 
Republic. 


BOXOFFICE  : ; February  1,  1941 


E 


41 


Loew  Also  Switches 
Aces  to  the  Front 

New  York — On  February  6 Loew’s  will 
emulate  the  RKO  circuit  by  switching  the 
order  of  presentation  of  double  features  so 
that  the  “top”  picture  hits  the  screen  at  9 
p.  m.,  instead  of  at  10:30. 

That  Loew’s  has  long  been  considering 
such  a move  was  exclusively  indicated  by 
Boxoffice  on  October  5,  when  it  reported 
the  circuit  “is  known  to  be  conducting  a 
careful  checkup  of  the  experiment  being 
conducted  by  RKO  at  the  86th  Street.” 

On  September  26  RKO  tried  the  idea  at 
the  86th  Street,  after  John  J.  O’Connor, 
circuit  head,  considered  the  feasibility  of 
attracting  more  night  patronage  if  audi- 
ences could  see  the  main  feature  at  9 p.  m., 
thus  vitiating  the  necessity  of  waiting  un- 
til about  10:50  and  getting  out  well  after 
midnight. 

Since  that  time  RKO  has  extended  the 
idea  to  nine  houses  in  the  metropolitan 
area,  but  is  still  engaged  in  jockeying  the 
starting  time  between  9 p.  m.  and  9:30 
p.  m.  Once  a clear  cut  appraisal  is 
reached  the  circuit  will  “gradually  add 
more”  houses,  according  to  a spokesman. 
However,  he  points  out  RKO’s  units  in- 
variably run  their  shows  later  than  Loew’s, 
the  difference  being  about  20  minutes.  For 
this  reason  the  circuit  is  more  inclined  to  a 
9:30  p.  m.  starting  time  for  the  main  fea- 
ture than  at  9 p.  m. 

The  Loew  changeover  will  affect  35 
houses,  and  is  designed,  according  to  Oscar 
A.  Doob,  to  “answer  the  complaints  of 
single-feature  fans.”  They  may  have  a 
leisurely  dinner,  reach  the  theatre  about 
nine,  see  the  main  feature  and  be  home  at 
a reasonable  hour.  An  extensive  advertis- 
ing campaign  will  use  the  slogan  “The  9 
o’clock  Plan.” 

These  are  the  houses  where  the  switch 
will  take  place:  Inwood,  Dyckman,  Olympia, 
72nd  Street,  Commodore,  Avenue  B.  and 
Canal  in  Manhattan:  Gates,  Bedford, 
Melba,  Century,  Warwick,  Brevoort,  Bay 
Ridge,  Boro  Park,  Oriental  and  Premier  in 
Brooklyn:  Burnside,  Elsmere,  Victory,  Bos- 
ton Road,  Post  Road,  Burland  and  Ameri- 
can in  the  Bronx;  Prospect,  Hillside,  Wil- 
lard and  Woodside  in  Queens,  and  Em- 
bassy, North  Bergen,  N.  J.;  Proctor’s,  New 
Rochelle:  Coliseum,  Pelham;  Castle  Hill, 
Keith’s,  Flushing. 


RKO  Tests  Switching  of 
Duals  at  81st  Street 

New  York — The  RKO  circuit  has  added 
the  81st  Street  in  Manhattan  to  the  list  of 
units  experimenting  with  switching  the  or- 
der of  presentation  of  double  features  so 
that  the  last  complete  show  has  the  main 
attraction  going  on  at  9 p.  m. 


Warner  Club  Readies  12th 
Annual  Ball  for  March  8 

New  York — Warner’s  12th  annual  ban- 
quet and  ball,  sponsored  by  the  organi- 
zation’s club,  will  be  held  March  8 at  the 
Waldorf.  Talent  for  the  affair  is  now 
being  lined  up. 


— Metropolitan  Photos 

Author,  Actor,  Critic — 

Maybe  that  explains  the  slightly 
quizzical  look  on  Robert  Benchley’s 
face.  Anyway,  the  news  is  he’s  back 
from  the  coast  and  next  will  be  seen, 
and  no  doubt  heard,  in  “ The  Reluctant 
Dragon,”  Disney  feature  cartoon  for 
RKO  release. 

New  York,  Virginia  Have 
Six  in  Construction 

New  York — Detail  on  theatre  projects 
advanced  in  New  York  and  Virginia  dur- 
ing the  last  quarter  of  1940  follow: 

New  York 

Albany — Construction  will  start  this 
spring  on  a 700-seat  Warner  house  on 
Delaware  Avenue. 

Cohoes — Work  is  under  way  on  the  1,- 
000-seat  Fabian  theatre,  scheduled  to  open 
this  spring. 

Great  Neck — Construction  has  started 
on  a 1,200-seat  house  by  Bowler  Realty 
Corp. 

New  York — The  new  Art  in  Greenwich 
Village,  seating  600,  opened  a few  weeks 
ago. 

Loew’s  has  opened  the  2,000-seat  Ameri- 
can in  the  Parkchester  development. 

Virginia 

Newport  News — Abe  Lichtman  plans  a 
new  theatre. 

Norfolk — The  Levine  circuit  is  complet- 
ing the  new  Rosna. 

Suffolk — The  third  Pitts-Roth  house 
here  is  expected  to  be  completed  early  this 
spring. 

Start  in  Three  Months 
On  Bolognino  House 

New  York — Construction  will  start  in 
three  months  on  the  new  600-seat  house, 
tentatively  called  the  Mercury,  at  Eighth 
Avenue  and  19th  Street.  Laurence  Bolog- 
nino, operating  head  of  the  independent 
circuit,  stated  that,  while  no  plans  are 
set  for  additional  units,  he  will  consider 
any  which  have  possibilities. 


Rebuilt  and  Renamed 

Albany — The  Diana,  Harrisville,  badly 
damaged  by  fire  last  year,  has  been  re- 
built and  re-equipped.  It  is  now  called  the 
Royal.  Teddy  Berkley  is  the  operator. 


Sees  Readjustment 
As  Earnings  Boost 

New  York — Readjustment  by  the  indus- 
try to  conditions  abroad  as  well  as  those 
developing  as  a result  of  the  decree  indi- 
cate “the  moving  picture  business  is  mov- 
ing ahead  to  much  better  earnings  this 
year,”  states  the  Wall  Street  Journal,  au- 
thoritative financial  newspaper. 

“The  industry  as  a whole  is  probably  in 
the  strongest  cash  position  in  its  history,”' 
the  publication  adds,  “well  prepared  to 
weather  any  further  business  vicissitudes.” 
It  also  states  considerable  progress  has 
been  made  in  cutting  expenses  and  a smal- 
ler number  of  high  priced  films  will  be 
made  this  year. 

“The  provisions  of  the  recent  consent 
decree  reached  with  the  department  of  jus- 
tice, modifying  the  industry’s  selling 
policies  are  not  expected  to  have  a serious 
adverse  effect  on  business  or  costs.” 

Special  notice  is  taken  of  Paramount’s 
new  position.  The  paper  states  the  com- 
pany is  expected  to  show  around  $2.60  a 
share  or  more  ($2.85  also  has  been  re- 
ported) on  the  common  for  1940.  “Earn- 
ings so  far  in  January  are  running  much 
ahead  of  a year  ago  with  the  prospects 
good  that  the  company  will  show  the  best 
first  quarter  earnings  it  has  had  in  many 
years.”  Cash  position  is  cited  at  around 
$12,000,000  for  the  parent  company  with 
an  additional  $10,000,000  in  the  treasuries 
of  non-consolidated  subsidiaries. 

National  Theatres  has  already  declared 
a $700,000  dividend  to  20th-Fox,  which 
holds  48  per  cent  of  the  circuit’s  stock. 
Results  of  the  last  quarter  “will  be  a good 
deal  better”  because  of  this  dividend,  the 
publication  states.  The  first  quarter  of 
the  new  year  should  show  continued  im- 
provement with  indications  the  company 
will  be  well  in  the  black  for  the  first  half 
of  the  year. 


Sussman  Adds  Academy 
In  Wappinger  Falls 

New  York — Herman  Sussman  has  added 
the  Academy,  Wappinger  Falls,  to  his 
string  of  country  towns  upstate.  He  took 
the  house  from  R.  Marasco.  M.  Kaufman 
has  finally  given  up  the  Sunshine,  Man- 
hattan, after  months  of  trying  to  make  it 
pay  and  without  success.  Joachim  Tisch- 
ler  and  Fred  Stein  have  acquired  the  Cos- 
tello from  Edmund  London.  Seisser  and 
Krasner  are  partners  in  Entertaining 
Playhouse,  Inc.,  which  recently  relighted 
the  Bobby,  Brooklyn. 


Smith  & Sloane  Boost 
Jersey  String  to  12 

New  York — Bringing  their  New  Jersey 
total  to  12,  Smith  & Sloane  of  St.  Cloud 
Amusement  Co.,  have  acquired  William 
Stein’s  four,  the  Palace,  Flemington; 
Strand,  Lambertsville ; Gem,  Frenchtown, 
and  Strand,  Hackettstown. 

Charles  Blum,  formerly  booker  and  su- 
pervising manager  for  the  Stein  group,  has 
joined  the  Temple,  Union  City,  in  a like 
capacity. 


42 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


BROADWAY 


— Metropolitan  Photos 


It's  Ginger  Rogers , All  Three  Times — 

Seeing  as  how  it  was  her  cocktail  party — RKO,  the  host;  the  Waldorf's  Star- 
light Roof,  the  place — this  becomes  an  assorted  album  of  Miss  R.  in  various 
smiling  poses.  Above,  she  smiles  with  George  J.  Schaefer.  In  the  middle,  she 
smiles  with  M.  J.  Poller,  head  of  RKO’s  playdate  department;  Andy  Smith, 
general  sales  manager;  Herb  MacIntyre,  west  coast  district  manager,  and  A.  A. 
Schubart,  manager  of  exchange  operations.  Below,  she  smiles  with,  and  for, 
some  of  RKO’s  directors,  including  Thomas  P.  Durell,  Frederick  L.  Ehrman  and 
John  Whitaker. 


JT’S  REASSURING  to  know  that  the  in- 
dustry need  not  fear  a dearth  of  show- 
manship talent.  There’s  gobs  of  it  close  by, 
and  a healthy  slice  was  dished  up  for  the 
benefit  of  a few  tables  of  RKO  executives 
and  trade  press  representatives  when  the 
Dexter  Fellows  Tent  of  the  Circus  Saints 
and  Sinners  Club  of  America  inducted 
Christopher  Morley  as  a member  at  a 
luncheon  at  the  Astor.  RKO  and  the  trade 
press  were  in  on  the  bombastic  proceedings 
by  way  of  the  fact  Morley  is  the  author  of 
“Kitty  Foyle,”  which  fact  gave  the  club’s 
ringmasters  a corking  opportunity  to  roast 
him  ...  all  in  fun.  But  fun  as  the  Saints 
and  Sinners  know  it  is  something  you  just 
can’t  get  unless  you  belong  to  the  same 
golf  club  with  License  Commissioner  Paul 
Moss.  Anyway,  the  unique  luncheon,  at- 
tended by  numerous  critics,  columnists  and 
radio  commentators  proved  a formidable 
buildup,  publicity-wise,  for  the  film,  be- 
cause those  CSS  luncheons  make  news  . . . 
Gillespie  Evans,  Paramount  radio  contact 
working  with  Alec  Moss,  is  mourning  the 
loss  of  his  father  in  Los  Angeles  . . . Carl 
Fishman,  Jerry  Sager  and  Morty  Tauber  of 
Loew’s  home  office  publicity  are  down  with 
bad  colds  . . . Ben  Serkowich,  Capitol  press 
agent,  has  gone  to  Florida  to  recuperate 
after  a serious  attack  of  influenza  . . . Ar- 
thur Herschman  of  Loew’s  is  at  home  after 
two  months  at  the  French  Hospital. 

Morris  Kutinsky  and  his  wife,  Hinda, 
leave  Monday  for  an  indefinite  stay  at 
Miami  Beach  . . . Jack  Kirsch  has  been 
hearing  so  much  about  “Land  of  Liberty” 
that  he  paid  his  own  way  into  the  Criterion 
Thursday  afternoon  to  see  what  it  was  all 
about  . . . Eddie  Golden,  independent  pro- 
ducer for  Monogram,  is  still  around  town, 
mapping  plans  for  his  two  features  . . . 
Charles  Stern,  U A district  manager,  was 
in  New  England  during  the  week  . . . Louis 
Hyman,  general  manager  for  Sol  Lesser 
and  Ernst  Lubitsch,  arrives  from  the  coast 
Monday  with  a print  of  “That  Uncertain 
Feeling”  . . . Louis  Weinzimmer  and  Harry 
Egert  are  back  from  three  weeks  in  Miami. 
Shortly  after  Egert  reached  town  he  took 
a trip  to  Buffalo  on  behalf  of  National 
Screen’s  accessory  division  . . . George 
Dembow  still  basking  under  the  Miami  sun, 
what  there  is  of  it  . . . Pete  Wood  and 
Martin  Smith  of  Ohio  were  in  town 
Thursday  lunching  with  Bill  Rodgers  of 
M-G-M  . . . Wilma  Freeman  of  the  War- 
ner publicity  department  is  recuperating 
from  effects  of  a broken  foot. 

Harry  Moskowitz  celebrated  another 
birthday  the  same  day  with  President 
Roosevelt  . . . Detective  Johnny  Leffler, 
well  known  in  exhibition  circles,  has  been 
down  with  the  flu  the  past  week  . . . G.  A. 
Durlam,  writer  and  director  of  eight  two- 
reel  subjects  on  American  history,  will  sell 
them  through  Producers  Releasing  . . . 
Charles  Penser  has  joined  Bernie  Mills’ 
Equity  Film  Exchange  in  the  local  area  . . . 
Joseph  M.  Schenck  is  in  from  the  coast, 
having  made  half  the  trip  by  plane  and 
the  balance  by  train  . . . A1  Wilkie  has 
gone  to  Miami  for  his  vacation,  which 
means  fishing  and  looking  over  the  high 
spots  . . . Richard  A.  Rowland  attended  the 
Washington  premiere  of  “Cheers  for  Miss 
Bishop”  . . . J.  J.  Milstein  has  been  battling 
the  flu  all  week. 

John  J.  O’Connor  has  expanded  the  buy- 


ing and  booking  offices  for  the  RKO  cir- 
cuit on  the  llth  floor  of  the  RKO  Build- 
ing. Fred  Meyers  and  Max  Fellerman  now 
are  in  one  office  with  the  other  bookers 
combined  in  one  adjoining  office  . . . 
E.  C.  Grainger  returned  recently  from  a 
trip  to  Feiber  & Shea  houses  in  Ohio, 
Pennsylvania  and  upstate  New  York  . . . 
Eugene  Picker  has  been  forced  to  delay 
his  coast  vacation  and  plans.  He  now 
intends  to  leave  late  in  February  by  train 
and  return  by  boat,  which  is  a reversal  of 
the  original  schedule  . . . Max  A.  Cohen  de- 
parted Wednesday  for  Miami  and  a two  to 
three-week  vacation  . . . Joseph  Bern- 
hard  says  he  spent  most  of  his  coast  trip 
in  his  hotel  confined  to  bed  with  the  flu 
. . . Harry  Gold  has  been  trying  to  fight 
off  a bad  cold  and  was  holding  up  pretty 
well  . . . Uncle  Lou  Weinberg,  circuit  con- 
tact for  Columbia,  is  going  to  Miami  Feb- 


ruary 7 with  the  missus. 

Bob  Benjamin  will  head  for  the  coast 
February  13  to  spend  three  weeks  on  PRC 
and  Monogram  business  . . . Abe  Blumstein 
is  a grandpop  for  the  first  time.  His  son, 
Edgar,  became  the  father  of  a seven-pound 
girl,  Lynn  Rita,  on  January  23,  at  Beth 
David  Hospital.  Bernice  Blumstein  and 
daughter  are  doing  well  . . . Milt  Hossfeld 
of  National  Theatres  is  now  vacationing 
on  the  coast  in  advance  of  the  annual  cir- 
cuit’s convention  slated  to  begin  February 
10  . . . Bill  Corum,  sports  writer,  bought 
Grad  Sears  his  lunch  the  other  after- 
noon at  Toots  Shor’s.  Sears,  incidentally, 
says  his  plans  for  a coast  trip  are  un- 
certain at  this  time  . . . Harold  Rinzler 
is  back  from  Miami  where  he  has  been 
spending  a vacation.  His  father,  Sam,  is 
waiting  until  his  partner,  Louis  Frisch, 
(Continued  on  page  44-E) 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


43 


A Sweet  "U”  Profit;  Miami  Is  Set  for 

Net  of  $2,390,772  'Back  Street' Bow 


New  York — Further  evidencing  its  up- 
ward profit  climb,  Universal  and  sub- 
sidiaries report  consolidated  net  profit  of 
$2,390,772  for  53  weeks  ended  November 
2,  or  an  increase  of  107  per  cent  over  con- 
solidated net  income  of  $1,153,321  for 
previous  fiscal  year.  J.  Cheever  Cowdin, 
chairman  of  the  board,  so  advises  the 
company’s  stockholders. 

Completing  its  first  full  year  under  war- 
time conditions  affecting  many  foreign 
markets,  the  company  did  a gross  in  the 
period  covered  of  $27,677,627  which  Cowdin 
points  out  is  16  per  cent  greater  than  the 
$23,878,868  reported  for  the  preceding 
fiscal  year  and  a four  year  gain  of  $10.- 
269,373. 

Consolidated  current  working  assets, 
other  cash  and  accounts  receivable,  in- 
cluding restricted  British  sterling,  totaled 
to  $12,953,683  on  November  2 while  cur- 
rent liabilities  were  $4,241,774,  or  a ratio 
of  3.05  to  one.  Net  working  capital  of 
$6,823,563  compares  with  $5,512,194  the 
year  before.  Since  the  beginning  of  last 
year,  the  company  retired  7,261  shares  of 
first  preferred  at  an  average  price  of 
$118.03  per  share,  including  4,591  shares 
purchased  in  response  to  a request  last 
month  for  tenders.  This  leaves  10,739  of 
this  class  of  preferred  outstanding. 

Taxes  totaled  $1,210,648,  or  $267,490 
greater  than  in  the  1939  period,  and  were 
equivalent  to  about  50  cents  on  each  dol- 
lar of  net  profit,  according  to  Cowdin  who 
adds  the  tax  figure  for  last  year  was  97 
per  cent  larger  than  taxes  in  the  1938 
fiscal  year.  Although  the  new  excess 
profits  tax  did  not  apply  last  year,  it  will 
this  year  and  thereby  add  a substantial 
amount  to  tax  payments,  he  further  ob- 
serves. “Your  company  desires  to  pay  its 
full  share  of  taxes,  but  believes  better 
profits  brought  about  by  skilled  manage- 
ment should  not  be  penalized  by  taxation 
aimed  at  war  profits,”  he  told  stockholders. 

British  revenue  in  the  period  covered 
was  1,306,187  British  pounds  as  against 
859,084  British  pounds  in  the  1939  fiscal 
year  and  621,476  British  pounds  in  the 
1938  fiscal  year  and  600,032  in  the  1937 
period.  Thus,  a substantial  gain  is  re- 
flected in  that  direction. 

The  domestic  market,  which  always  in- 
cludes Canada,  brought  a gross  of  $18,- 
073,055,  or  an  increase  of  $2,602,535  over 
the  preceding  period.  Cowdin  re-empha- 
sizes an  earlier  statement  in  declaring  all 
effort  is  being  directed  toward  making 
Universal  self-sufficient  in  the  home 
market  and  hopes  “that  this  may  be  ac- 
complished this  year.” 


Home  Office  Executives 
To  Universal  Convention 

New  York — Home  office  executives  to 
attend  Universal’s  convention  at  the  Black- 
stone  February  8-10  will  include  J.  Cheever 
Cowdin,  chairman  of  the  board;  Nate  J. 
Blumberg,  president;  William  A.  Scully, 
vice-president  and  general  sales  manager; 
Frank  J.  A.  McCarthy,  eastern  sales  man- 
ager; William  J.  Heineman,  western  sales 
manager;  Bernard  B.  Kreisler,  short  subject 
sales  manager;  James  J.  Jordan,  F.  T. 
Murray,  Andrew  J.  Sharick,  Morris  Alin 
and  Hank  Linet.  From  the  studio  will  be 
Cliff  Work,  vice-president  and  general 
manager;  Matthew  Fox,  vice-president; 
Joe  Pasternak,  Milton  H.  Feld,  Dan  Kelley 
and  John  E.  Joseph,  director  of  advertis- 
ing and  publicity. 

These  district  managers  will  be  there; 
Jules  Lapidus,  New  York;  Dave  Miller, 
Cleveland;  Harry  D.  Graham,  Atlanta;  J. 
E.  Garrison,  Kansas  City;  A.  J.  O’Keefe, 
Los  Angeles,  and  E.  T.  Gomersall,  Chicago. 

Branch  managers  will  embrace  Dave 
Levy,  New  York;  Paul  Baron,  Boston;  John 
V.  Pavone,  New  Haven;  George  E.  Sch- 
wartz, Philadelphia;  Max  Cohen,  Wash- 
ington; J.  R.  Kauffman,  Cleveland;  Peter 
Rosian,  Albany;  John  J.  Scully,  Buffalo; 
J.  J.  Spandau,  Albany;  Pete  Dana,  Pitts- 
burgh; John  Ezell,  Atlanta;  J.  A.  Prichard, 
Charlotte;  H.  I.  Mansfield,  Memphis;  W. 
M.  “Snake”  Richardson,  New  Orleans;  Ed 
S.  Olsmith,  Dallas;  James  Hobbs,  Okla- 
homa City. 

Also  C.  J.  Feldman,  Los  Angeles;  Jack 
Langan,  Denver;  R.  O.  Wilson,  Portland; 
C.  R.  Wade,  Salt  Lake  City;  Barney  Rose, 
San  Francisco;  L.  J.  McGinley,  Seattle; 
Grover  Parsons,  Kansas  City;  Harry 
Hynes,  St.  Louis;  Lou  Levy,  Des  Moines; 
Otto  Siegel,  Omaha;  M.  M.  Gottlieb,  Chi- 
cago; Ed  Heiber,  Detroit;  H.  H.  Hull, 
Indianapolis;  Frank  Mantzke,  Milwaukee; 
L.  J.  Miller,  Minneapolis,  and  Gordon 
Craddock,  special  representative. 


Leon  Fromkess  Gets  Top 
Post  in  PRC's  Setup 

New  York — Leon  Fromkess,  formerly 
treasurer  of  Monogram,  has  been  elected 
vice-president  in  charge  of  home  office 
and  foreign  operations  for  Producers  Re- 
leasing Corp.  He  also  has  a financial  in- 
terest in  PRC. 


Miami — Film  critics  and  columnists 
representing  daily  newspapers  and  syndi- 
cates in  34  cities,  plus  a contingent  of  Uni- 
versal home  office  executives  and  trade- 
paper  men  arrived  here  Saturday  for  the 
world  premiere  on  Tuesday  of  “Back 
Street”  at  the  Lincoln  and  Cameo  theatres 
over  on  the  Beach.  Most  of  them  will  re- 
main five  days,  comfortably  ensconced  at 
the  Miami  Biltmore  with  beach  cabanas 
available  at  the  Roney  Plaza  and  an  as- 
sorted program  of  events  to  keep  them 
occupied.  In  fact,  the  whole  caravan 
stands  up  well  alongside  of  any  assembled 
by  any  other  producing  company  at  any 
other  time,  near  and  far. 

And,  of  course,  the  place  is  Miami;  the 
time,  February. 

The  Universal  group  includes  Charles 
D.  Prutzman,  vice-president  and  general 
counsel;  S.  Machnovitch,  treasurer;  Peyton 
Gibson,  secretary;  J.  H.  Seidelman,  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  foreign  sales;  John 
Joseph,  director  of  advertising  and  pub- 
licity, and  Lou  Pollock,  eastern  advertising 
and  publicity  manager  who  represented  the 
vanguard  in  order  to  check  on  the  planned 
arrangements. 

To  attend,  also,  will  be  Bruce  Manning, 
producer  of  the  film,  and  Robert  Steven- 
son, its  director;  Anna  Lee,  who  is  Mrs. 
Stevenson;  and  Felix  Jackson,  who  wrote 
the  script  with  Manning.  Deanna  Durbin, 
accompanied  by  her  mother  and  Mitchell 
Hamilburg,  her  business  manager,  arrives 
Monday  after  attending  the  President’s 
Birthday  Ball  in  Washington. 

New  York  sent  the  biggest  newspaper 
group.  It  embraces  William  Boehnel, 
World-Telegram;  Cecilia  Ager,  PM;  Ken- 
neth McCaleb,  Sunday  Mirror;  Rose  Pels- 
wick.  Journal- American;  Eileen  Creelman, 
Sun,  and  Selig  Adler,  Daily  Mirror.  The 
trade  paper  representation,  a goodly  one, 
includes  Don  Mersereau,  Film  Daily;  Chick 
Lewis,  Showman’s  Trade  Review;  Sam 
Shain,  Motion  Picture  Daily;  Jay  Emanuel, 
The  Exhibitor  who  plans  to  stay  for  sev- 
eral weeks;  Pete  Harrison,  Harrison’s  Re- 
ports; Mo  Wax,  Film  Bulletin;  Arthur  Un- 
gar,  Daily  Variety;  Lionel  Toll,  The  Inde- 
pendent; Herb  Stein,  Hollywood  Reporter, 
and  Red  Kann,  Boxoffice. 

The  premiere  here  is  designed  to  catch 
the  annual  winter  concentration  of  im- 
portant exhibitors.  They  are  here  from  all 
over  the  nation,  as  usual. 

David  Rose  Seeks  Story 
To  Star  Luise  Rainer 

New  York — David  E.  Rose,  managing 
director  for  Paramount  in  England,  is  look- 
ing for  a story  to  star  Luise  Rainer,  he 
stated  prior  to  his  sailing  on  the  Excam- 
bion  over  the  weekend.  He  has  had  several 
talks  with  the  former  M-G-M  star  and  is 
interested  in  signing  her  up  provided  suit- 
able material  can  be  obtained. 

Two  pictures  will  go  into  work  shortly 
after  his  arrival  in  London,  the  first  de- 
pending on  stars  available.  Robert  Morley 
is  anxious  to  appear  in  “Hatter’s  Castle” 
and  negotiations  are  under  way  to  have 
him  play  a featured  role,  says  Rose. 


(t  = 

it 

Call  It  a 

Success  Story 

New  York— 

-Universal’s  progress 

is  graphically  illustrated  in  the  following  chart. 

culled  from  the  financial  report  for  the  53  weeks  ended  November  2, 

1940: 

Year  Ended 

Gross  Income 

Net  Income 

Net  Profit 

Oct.  31,  1936 

$17,408,254 

$1,631,295  (Loss) 

$1,835,419  (Loss) 

Oct.  30,  1937 

18,150.876 

1,030,489  (Loss) 

1,084,999  (Loss) 

Oct.  29,  1938 

20,190,117 

391,461  (Loss) 

591,178  (Loss) 

Oct.  28,  1939 

23,878,868 

1,628,733 

1,153,321 

Nov.  2,  1940 

k 

27,677,627 

2,954,467 

2,390,772 

>J 

44 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


Skouras,  Goldwyn  Map 
A Benefit  Air  Show 


Dissatisfied  Over  Films 
And  Lend-Lease  Bill 


New  York — A mammoth  air  show  to 
build  a fund  for  Greek  war  relief,  under- 
taken by  Spyros  P.  Skouras  and  Samuel 
Goldwyn,  promises  to  be  one  of  the  most 
novel  ever  presented  along  these  lines. 

Under  supervision  of  Mort  Blumenstock, 
eastern  advertising  and  publicity  director 
for  Warner,  a 90-minute  broadcast  will  go 
out  from  Hollywood  over  NBC  and  Mutual 
the  evening  of  February  8.  Tieups  have 
been  made  with  about  60  department  stores 
all  over  the  country.  Local  announcers  will 
tell  listeners  they  can  contribute  to  the 
fund  by  calling  these  department  stores  in 
their  cities  with  their  fund  pledges.  If  the 
listener  wishes  to  contribute  immediately, 
he  can  call  the  department  store  and  a 
messenger  will  be  dispatched  to  pick  up 
the  money. 

A flock  of  top  flight  Hollywood  stars  will 
participate  in  the  air  show,  including  Bette 
Davis,  Spencer  Tracy,  Paul  Muni,  Clark 
Gable,  Charles  Laughton,  Madeleine  Car- 
roll,  Groucho  Marx,  “Rochester,”  Burns 
and  Allen,  Fanny  Brice,  Alice  Faye,  Carole 
Lombard,  Myrna  Loy,  Mary  Martin,  and 
the  entire  “Hardy  Family.”  Jack  Benny 
and  Bob  Hope  will  be  co-masters  of  cere- 
monies. 

Assisting  Blumenstock  are  Harry  Mais- 
lish  of  KFWB,  Ed  Schreiber  from  the  War- 
ner home  office  publicity  staff  and  A1 
Simon,  promotion  manager  of  station  WHN 
here. 


Broadcast  Series  Feb.  23  by 
"Free  Company"  of  Talent 

A “Free  Company”  of  writers,  play- 
wrights and  actors  will  launch  a nation- 
wide campaign  to  “remind  the  American 
people  of  what  they  have  and  believe  in” 
with  a 13-week  series  of  half-hour  broad- 
casts over  100  stations  of  CBS  starting 
February  23.  Burgess  Meredith  is  chair- 
man of  the  Hollywood  group  that  will  fur- 
nish the  majority  of  talent  for  dramatiz- 
ing the  series;  Robert  E.  Sherwood  is  chair- 
man of  the  writers’  group,  and  William 
Lewis,  CBS  vice-president,  chairman  for 
the  radio  group.  CBS  is  making  the  time 
for  the  broadcasts  available  gratis. 

Among  writers  and  playwrights  who  will 
contribute  scripts  are  Maxwell  Anderson, 
James  Boyd,  Orson  Welles,  Paul  Green, 
Archibald  MacLeish,  Ernest  Hemingway, 
George  M.  Cohan,  Sherwood,  Marc  Con- 
nelly, and  Stephen  Vincent  Benet.  None 
will  receive  remuneration. 

The  first  dramatizations  in  the  series 
will  be  devoted  to  the  eight  basic  liberties 
in  the  Bill  of  Rights,  with  the  remainder 
presenting  the  “general  theme  of  liberty 
as  it  flows  from  these  basic  rights.” 


Jack  Simons  to  Helm 
Of  State  in  Boston 

Hartford — Jack  Simons,  manager  of  the 
Poli,  has  transferred  to  a similar  post  at 
the  circuit’s  State  in  Boston,  replacing 
Fred  Greenway,  who  has  taken  over  at 
the  Palace  here.  Greenway  replaces  Lou 
Cohen,  who  has  been  switched  to  the  Poli. 


New  York — Major  foreign  executives 
are  represented  by  informed  sources  as 
“dissatisfied”  with  the  government’s  lend- 
lease  bill  in  that  it  allows  for  payment  to 
American  manufacturers  of  100  cents  on 
the  dollar  for  goods  ordered  by  England 
but  ignores  the  fact  that  distributors’  prod- 

Russian  Claims  Third 
Dimension  Eliect  Device 

New  York — Soviet  science  claims  a new 
stereoscopic  projector  which  its  inventor 
says  adds  a third  dimension,  according  to 
an  Associated  Press  dispatch  from  Moscow. 

Smyon  Ivanoff,  the  inventor,  showed 
seven  experimental  shorts.  One  of  them, 
in  color,  was  a fancy  dress  ball  which  he 
said  “combined  all  the  most  modern  de- 
velopments of  the  cinema-motion,  sound, 
color  and  depth.”  He  declared  the  essen- 
tial of  his  development  was  a six-ton  per- 
spective grill,  or  transparent  screen  of  30,- 
000  closely  spaced  wires  having  a total 
length  of  almost  100  miles.  This  grill  is 
placed  in  front  of  the  usual  theatre  screen. 

The  A.  P.  reports  double  films,  photo- 
graphed from  slightly  different  angles, 
were  shown  and,  with  the  aid  of  two  mir- 
rors, reflected  back  through  the  grill  to 
the  audience,  providing  a separate  image 
for  each  eye. 


Succumbs  to  Stroke 

Detroit — Suffering  a stroke  while  on  a 
business  trip,  Henry  S.  Koppin,  64,  died 
while  in  Toledo,  Ohio.  He  built  and 
operated  a string  of  26  theatres  in  this 
area. 


ucts  are  subject  to  an  exchange  restriction 
embodied  in  the  film  agreement  that  runs 
to  October  25. 

It  is  not  considered  as  even  remote  that 
the  foreign  heads  will  ask  Washington  to 
consider  the  film  situation  in  recognition 
of  the  fact  that  H.  R.  1776  covers  nothing 
but  materials  to  be  sent  to  England  for 
pursual  of  its  war  aims.  However,  for- 
eign sales  managers  still  feel  they  have 
been  ignored  over  something  England  very 
much  wants  although  films  are  not  as  “es- 
sential" as  planes,  guns  and  munitions.  In 
this  connection,  one  spokesman  declares 
films  are  the  only  major  “commodity”  be- 
ing imported  by  Great  Britain,  so  import- 
ant are  they  to  the  country’s  morale. 

This  is  the  way  a reliable  informant 
avers  the  foreign  managers  feel  about  the 
situation : 

“The  lease-lend  bill  provides  that  the 
government  pay  American  manufacturers 
for  war  goods  ordered  by  England  for 
which  it  has  no  funds.  If  England  wants 
1,000  planes  and  says  it  cannot  pay  for 
them,  the  government  will  foot  the  bill. 
In  effect,  it  is  the  same  as  if  the  govern- 
ment agreed  to  loan  England  the  money, 
sent  the  money  over  there  and  England 
sent  the  money  back  to  pay  for  the  1,000 
planes. 

“No  matter  how  you  cut  it  up,  it  still 
means  England  is  paying  100  cents  on  the 
dollar  for  those  1,000  planes.  Yet  we  are 
being  asked  to  send  over  film,  but  instead 
of  being  paid  for  it  in  full  we  are  asked  to 
take  only  part  payment.  In  fact,  the  film 
agreement  allows  a maximum  of  $12,900,- 
000  to  be  withdrawn  for  all  companies, 
even  though  all  companies  might  have 
double  that  amount  due  them  in  rentals.” 


RCA  Photophone  Promotes  These  Two — 

M.  J.  (“Mike”)  Yahr  (left)  has  been  moved  up  the  line  and  is  now  Photophone 
product  engineer  at  the  company’s  Indianapolis  plant.  He  was  former  com- 
mercial eiigineer  at  Camden,  N.  J.  Carl  Johnson,  after  11  years  with  RCA, 
takes  over  Yahr’s  old  position. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


N 


44-A 


Broad  way  First  Runs  Kept  Broadcast  Observes 
Strong  by  Good  Product  TradeEniry 


New  York — Competition  strong,  weather 
far  from  fair,  but  business  just  dandy  is 
the  Broadway  picture  in  a nutshell.  It 
sounds  like  a paradox,  but  that’s  where 
Nicholas  M.  Schenck’s  line  about  “there’s 
nothing  wrong  with  this  business  that  a 
good  picture,”  etc.,  comes  in. 

Anyway,  and  paradoxically,  it’s  a pair 
from  Schenck’s  firm  that  is  leading  the 
parade  in  more  than  one  respect.  Take 
“The  Philadelphia  Story”  for  example.  Not 
only  did  it  hit  a handsome  $83,000  for  its 
fifth  week  at  the  Music  Hall,  but  the 
first  four  days  of  that  week  were  better 
than  the  first  four  days  of  the  fourth 
week.  Currently  in  its  sixth  week,  the 
film  may  go  a seventh. 

Over  at  the  Capitol,  where  “Gone  With 
the  Wind”  is  in  its  second  week  of  its 
anniversary  repeat  performance  the  first 
four  days  exceeded  the  original  engage- 
ment by  15,204  admissions,  this  despite 
the  fact  that  the  current  scale  is  approxi- 
mately one-half  less  than  last  year.  The 
first  week  wound  up  at  a very  profitable 
$53,000. 

The  Roxy  has  extended  “Tall,  Dark  and 
Handsome”  for  a second  and  final  week 
for  the  very  good  reason  the  first — which 
was  to  be  final — clicked  off  a grand  $50,- 
000.  Also  well  up  in  the  money  column  is 
“High  Sierra,”  which  the  Strand  is  hold- 
ing after  a swell  $38,000  for  opening  week. 
Excellent  staying  power  is  being  shown  by 
“Kitty  Foyle”  at  the  Rivoli,  which  is  no 
less  true  of  the  two  roadshows,  “Fantasia” 
and  “The  Great  Dictator.” 


(Average  is  100) 

Astor — The  Great  Dictator  (UA) 

16tli  roadshow  wk 100 

Broadway — Fantasia  (Disney) 

11th  roadshow  -wk 130 

Capitol — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M) 125 

Criterion — A Night  at  Earl  Carroll's  (Para’t)..  90 

Globe — Night  Train  (20th-Fox),  5th  wk 110 

Paramount — Second  Chorus  (Para't) 

2nd  wk.,  plus  stage  show  110 

Radio  City  Music  Hall — The  Philadelphia  Story 

(M-G-M)  5th  wk.,  plus  stage  show 135 

Rialto — Pride  of  the  Bowery  (Mono) 100 

Rivoli — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO)  3rd  wk 100 

Roxy — Tall,  Dark  and  Handsome  (20th-Fox), 

plus  stage  show 120 

Strand — High  Sierra  (FN),  plus  stage  show 

and  Quentin  Reynolds 130 


"Maisie"  Plus  Stage  Show 
Washington  Pace  Setter 

Washington — Business  pulse  returns  to 
normal  as  F.  D.  R.  digs  in.  “Maisie  Was 
a Lady”  at  the  Capitol  with  Will  Brad- 
ley’s orchestra  on  the  stage  getting  the 
nod.  “Mounties”  ride  through  for  a sec- 
ond week  at  the  Earle,  with  “Neighbor” 
at  the  Metropolitan  still  in  favor  on  the 
moveover.  “Kitty  Foyle”  doing  outstand- 
ing fourth  week  at  RKO  Keith’s,  and 
"Gone”  at  the  Palace  is  far  from  it  with 
capacity  biz. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  30: 


( Average  is  100) 

Capitol — Maisie  Was  a Lady  (M-G-M);  Will 

Bradley  orch.  on  stage 140 

Columbia — Comrade  X (M-G-M);  moveover 

from  Palace  100 

Earle — North  West  Mounted  Police  (Para’t), 

stage  show  125 

Kefth’s — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO),  4th  week 100 

Metropolitan — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t) 100 

Palace — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M) 135 


In  Step — 

Are  Latin  American  golfers  and  their 
host,  Jack  L.  Warner,  at  the  latter’s 
club  in  Los  Angeles.  Left  to  right  are 
Eduardo  Blasi,  runner  up  in  the  Ar- 
gentine national  open;  Martin  Pose, 
Argentina  national  open  golf  cham- 
pion; and  the  Warner  vice-president 
hi  charge  of  production.  Co-host  with 
Jack  Warner  was  S.  Charles  Einfeld, 
the  Warner  vice-president  in  charge  of 
advertising  and  exploitation. 


" Wind " Comes  Back  for 
Philadelphia  Top  Rung 

Philadelphia — Lines  almost  a block  long 
at  the  Stanley  greeted  the  return  of  “Gone 
With  the  Wind,”  in  a week  that  saw  busi- 
ness booming  all  over  downtown.  “Kitty 
Foyle,”  winding  up  the  second  week  of  its 
second  run  at  the  Keith’s,  was  held  over 
for  a third  week,  the  first  time  in  three 
years  that  the  Keith’s  had  a three  weeks’ 
run.  Last  time  was  with  “Snow  White.” 
“Philadelphia  Story”  was  still  pulling  them 
in  at  the  Boyd  for  a second  week. 

Detail  for  the  week: 

(Average  is  100) 

Aldine — Hoad  Show  (UA)  70 

Arcadia — North  West  Mounted  Police  (Para’t), 

2nd  run,  2nd  wk 110 

Boyd — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M),  2nd  wk.  ..150 
Set  for  a long  stay. 

Earle — Trail  of  the  Vigilantes  (Univ),  plus 
colored  stage  show  featuring  Erskine  Haw- 


kins’ orch 140 

Fox — Hu(l  on’s  Pay  (20th-Fox)  100 

Karlton — Comrade  X (M-G-M),  2nd  run 115 

Keith’s — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO),  2nd  run,  2nd  wk.  .105 
Stanley — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M) 105 


Stanton — Tall,  Dark  and  Handsome  (20th-Fox).  85 


Warner  Paying  96  lA  Cents 
Dividend  on  Preferred 

New  York— Meeting  Wednesday,  the 
Warner  board,  in  special  session,  voted  to 
resume  dividends  on  the  preferred  stock 
and  declared  a current  payment  of  96% 
cents  per  share.  This  is  payable  March  1 
to  stockholders  of  record  as  of  February  14. 


New  York — The  AAA  dedicated  its  des- 
ignation as  official  arbitrators  to  the  in- 
dustry in  a 15-minute  broadcast  over  the 
Mutual  Broadcasting  System  network  Sat- 
urday evening  featuring  C.  V.  Whitney, 
president:  Paul  Felix  Warburg,  chairman 
of  the  administrative  committee,  and  Pro- 
fessor Wesley  Sturges,  member  of  the 
committee.  It  was  the  same  day  that  the 
AAA’s  31  film  tribunals  opened  for  the  ar- 
bitration of  exhibitor  grievances. 

A Pattern  for  Others 

It  was  this  event  that  served  as  a 
springboard  for  the  broadcast,  which  was 
general  in  character  but  which  was  over- 
toned with  the  AAA’s  entrance  in  the  film 
field  as  an  example  of  what  the  associa- 
tion might,  or  could  do,  for  other  indus- 
tries. It  was  Warburg  who  spoke  on  and 
reviewed  events  leading  up  to  the  selec- 
tion of  the  AAA  as  arbitrators  as  an  out- 
come of  the  government  suit.  He  held 
out  the  “hope”  the  AAA’s  work  in  the  film 
field  may  form  a pattern  by  which  other 
industries,  possibly  involved  in  anti-trust 
litigation,  might  benefit. 

Whitney  dwelt  on  arbitration  as  a chan- 
nel through  which  industries  engaged  in 
national  defense  have  been  able  to  clear 
up  their  difficulties  and  thus  prevent  bot- 
tlenecks in  vital  production.  Sturges  out- 
lined other  phases  of  arbitration  that  the 
AAA  comes  in  contact  with,  notably  its 
tort  tribunals. 

The  AAA  was  given  the  time  on  the 
network  gratis,  the  broadcast  coming  un- 
der the  broadcasting  company’s  designa- 
tion of  “special  feature.” 


Promotions  and  Shifts 
Announced  by  Loew's 

New  York — The  following  promotions 
and  transfers  around  Loew’s  metropolitan 
circuit  have  been  affected: 

Sigmund  Schwartz,  assistant  at  the 
State,  becomes  manager  of  the  Premier, 
Brooklyn.  Nat  Slater,  assistant  at  the 
83rd  Street,  replaces  him.  Schwartz,  it 
seems,  is  the  26th  man  who  has  graduated 
from  the  State,  which  is  something  of  a 
personal  tribute  to  A1  Rosen,  the  mentor 
of  that  house  and  one  whom  the  “boys” 
cherish  working  with.  Unless  there  is  a 
sudden  switch  of  plans,  the  graduating 
class  of  26  will  honor  Rosen  on  the  oc- 
casion of  his  eighth  anniversary  as  man- 
ager with  a dinner  on  February  3. 

Joe  Beck,  manager  of  the  Avenue  B, 
moves  to  the  Canal,  replacing  Walter 
Mock,  who  becomes  assistant  at  the  46th 
Street. 

Stanley  Marks,  Bedford  manager,  is 
transferred  to  the  Avenue  B. 

William  Woolfolk,  relief  manager,  is  as- 
signed to  the  Bedford. 

Joseph  Citron,  assistant  at  the  Oriental, 
moves  to  the  83rd  Street,  replacing  Slater. 

Harold  Zeltner,  assistant  at  the  46th 
Street,  transfers  to  the  Oriental. 


44-B 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


Commentators  Sign  for  Short — 

Columbia  gathers  a whole  flock  of  well-known  commentators  to  co-star  in 
“What’s  the  Shooting  For,”  first  of  an  “International  Forum”  series  of  one- 
reelers  which  William  Rowland  will  produce.  Round-table  discussions  of  events 
of  the  times  are  to  be  held.  First  are  those  above : William  L.  Shirer,  long 
CBS  commentator  in  Berlin;  Linton  Wells,  war  correspondent;  Dorothy  Thomp- 
son and  Wythe  Williams,  who  regularly  broadcasts  over  Mutual.  Columbia  esti- 
mates they  have  a combined  listening  audience  ranging  between  60.000,000  and 
80,000,000  weekly. 


Predicts  Regulation 
If  the  Decree  Fails 

New  York — “It  is  urged  that  rigid  stat- 
utory regulation  will  follow  if  the  decree 
fails  to  work  satisfactorily,”  observes  an 
MPTOA  bulletin,  the  while  predicting  “it 
will  merely  demonstrate  once  again  the 
utter  futility  of  trying  to  solve  our  com- 
mercial and  economic  difficulties  by  drag- 
ging them  through  the  courts.” 

The  bulletin,  over  the  signature  of  Ed 
L.  Kuykendall,  president,  expresses  “doubt 
if  it  is  constructive  cooperation  to  see  how 
many  complaints  and  grievances  can  be 
stirred  up  for  arbitration,”  but  proposes 
“to  watch  closely  developments  under  the 
decree  and  take  advantage  of  any  practical 
benefits  (if  any)  that  can  be  secured  for 
exhibitors  through  its  provisions.” 

The  greater  portion  of  the  bulletin  is 
devoted  to  a recent  statement  by  the  de- 
partment of  justice  that  it  would  set  up 
a special  unit  under  Robert  L.  Wright  to 
handle  matters  arising  in  connection  with 
operation  of  the  decree.  A preface  by 
Kuykendall  to  reproduction  of  the  justice 
department’s  statement  goes  like  this: 

Burden  on  Distributors 

“No  exhibitor  cooperation  or  participa- 
tion is  required  by  the  consent  decree.  The 
restrictions  on  licensing  motion  pictures 
are  imposed  entirely  upon  the  distributors 
who  submitted  to  it  and  will  be  carried 
out  by  them  whether  we  like  it  or  not. 
You  are  offered  a restricted  privilege  of 
submitting  certain  types  of  complaints  to 
the  arbitration  system  established  by  the 
decree  and  placed  under  the  terms  of  the 
decree  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the  Ameri- 
can Arbitration  Association,  but  you  are 
not  required  to  submit  any  such  com- 
plaints. 

“In  some  quarters  it  is  being  urged  that 
as  many  complaints  as  possible  be  filed 
for  arbitration  to  ‘cooperate  in  giving  the 
consent  decree  a fair  trial.’  This  is  a 
strange  sort  of  cooperation  for  exhibitors 
to  offer.  If  the  complaint  is  genuine  and 
cannot  be  settled  by  negotiation,  the  ex- 
hibitor then  must  decide  for  himself 
whether  it  should  be  submitted  to  arbitra- 
tion under  the  decree,  with  full  knowledge 
of  the  costs  and  uncertainties  involved.” 

Urges  Vigilance  on  Taxes 

Taking  the  position  that  film  entertain- 
ment “today  is  not  a luxury  and  most 
certainly  should  not  be  taxed  as  such,” 
Kuykendall  urges  concerted  action  among 
organized  exhibitors  to  combat  the  threat 
of  a “number  of  states”  to  impose  taxes 
in  addition  to  the  federal  levy  for  “added 
tax  revenue — not  for  national  defense.” 

He  observes  that  if  legislators  “really 
understood  the  theatre  situation  and  the 
tax  burden  now  carried  they  would  not 
try  to  impose  special  taxes  on  admissions 
at  three  to  four  times  the  highest  rate 
considered  for  a retail  sales  tax  on  any 
other  business.  Once  the  legislature  real- 
izes the  disastrous  consequences  of  such 
unfair  taxation  on  the  local  theatres,  on 
the  working  people  who  patronize  the  mo- 
tion picture  theatres,  on  the  building  of 
new  theatres  and  the  modernizing  of  the 
older  theatres  in  their  own  state,  they  will 
realize  the  unfairness  of  excessive  and  dis- 
criminatory taxes  on  theatres.” 


Para't  lo  Deliver 
All  on  Schedule 

New  York — Paramount  will  deliver  all 
of  the  current  season’s  product  as  sched- 
uled and  will  have  three  groups  of  five 
ready  when  the  new  selling  season  starts, 
Neil  F.  Agnew,  general  sales  manager, 
stated  on  his  return  from  Chicago  where 
he  attended  a three-day  meeting  of  district 
and  division  managers. 

The  first  block  will  be  ready  for  trade 
showing  early  in  the  summer.  In  making 
the  announcement,  Agnew  stressed  the 
fact  there  will  be  no  withdrawals  from  the 
company’s  spring  and  summer  schedule  to 
be  delivered  under  the  1940-41  contracts. 

“I  Wanted  Wings”  will  be  released  in 
the  spring  on  a plan  which  calls  for 
special  handling. 


Three  Electrical  Suits 

Wilmington,  Del. — Three  suits  asking 
for  declaratory  decrees  adjudging  radio, 
conduit,  and  cable  patents  invalid,  were 
filed  in  the  U.  S.  District  Court  here  by 
the  Crosley  Radio  Corp.,  the  Emerson 
Radio  and  Phonograph  Corp.,  and  the 
Triangle  Conduit  & Cable  Co.  of  New  York. 


Crotona.  30  Years 

New  York  — A seven-day  celebration, 
which  got  under  way  Thursday,  marks  the 
30th  anniversary  for  Skouras’  Crotona, 
Bronx.  Special  vaudeville  attractions  have 
been  booked  for  the  entire  week. 


Delays  "Lillie  Three" 
Dismissal  Motion 

New  York — Federal  Judge  Henry  W. 
Goddard  has  postponed  to  February  17  the 
plea  of  Columbia,  UA,  and  Universal  to 
dismiss  that  part  of  the  amended  com- 
plaint by  the  department  of  justice  against 
them  that  contains  references  to  the  five 
producer-exhibitors.  The  “Little  Three” 
want  every  allegation  referring  to  theatre 
ownership  and  all  charges  relative  to  that 
ownership  dropped  from  the  complaint. 

Argument  was  supposed  to  be  held  Janu- 
ary 30,  but  went  over  due  to  inability  of 
attorneys  to  be  in  court  as  they  are  tied 
up  on  relative  matters. 

Columbia  will  also  ask  an  outright  dis- 
missal of  the  action  claiming  it  violates 
the  14th  amendment  to  the  Constitution 
in  that  it  seeks  to  force  a consent  decree 
on  the  “Little  Three”  because  of  the  neces- 
sily  of  holding  the  original  decree  made 
with  the  “Big  Five.” 


"Pepe  Le  Moko"  Replaces 
" Bakers  Wile”  at  World 

New  York — The  World,  intimate  house 
on  49th  Street  operated  by  Gilbert  Joseph- 
son,  will  bring  in  on  March  3 the  French 
“Pepe  le  Moko,”  original  version  from 
which  “Algiers”  was  produced.  It  will  re- 
place “The  Baker’s  Wife,”  which  will  have 
completed  a 53-week  run.  The  latter  opens 
the  next  day  over  the  entire  Loew’s  metro- 
politan circuit. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


44-C 


Chicago  Allied  Own 
Arbitration  Counsel 

New  York — While  other  exhibitor  or- 
ganizations are  prepared  to  have  an  at- 
torney represent  their  members  at  arbi- 
tration hearings,  Allied’s  unit  in  Chicago 
will  not  follow  this  plan,  according  to  Jack 
Kirsch,  president.  His  explanation  is  that 
the  hearings  are  not  supposed  to  involve 
legal  questions,  but  anyone  who  wants  the 
benefit  of  an  attorney  to  present  his  case 
will  do  so  on  his  own. 

In  town  for  a few  days  after  the  national 
Allied  board  met  in  Washington,  Kirsch 
attended  the  Louis-Burman  fight  Friday 
night  and  then  left  for  the  Windy  City. 
He  stated  the  unit’s  annual  convention  will 
be  held  in  March  but  there  will  be  no  elec- 
tions. His  term  as  president  is  for  three 
years  and  has  two  more  to  go. 

After  a week  in  Chicago  finishing  up 
some  business,  Kirsch  plans  to  leave  for 
Miami  to  join  his  family  vacationing  there. 


Sales  Staff  Promotions 
Likely  Fox  Development 

New  York — Several  promotions  within 
the  20th-Fox  sales  forces  in  the  field  are 
contemplated  in  the  new  operating  setup 
under  the  decree,  it  is  learned  with  the 
return  from  the  coast  of  Herman  Wobber, 
general  sales  manager. 

Reports  are  current  that  a number  of 
changes  will  be  made  in  the  mideast  area, 
but  Wobber  and  his  associates  decline  to 
comment  until  further  home  office  con- 
ferences are  held  and  definite  changes  de- 
cided upon. 

No  switch  in  the  production  number  for 
next  season  is  contemplated  with  the  regu- 
lar 44  features  slated  to  be  made  in  Hol- 
lywood, four  in  England  and  52  shorts. 


Filmarte  Will  Cater  to 
The  " Discriminating " 

New  York — “Truly  a center  for  the 
discriminating  audience”  is  the  manage- 
ment credo  behind  the  reopened  Filmarte 
now  on  the  local  scene  again  under  the 
aegis  of  Joseph  Plunkett,  Mrs.  Reda  Kovacs 
and  L.  David  Weiss.  The  opening  attrac- 
tion is  “Hatred,”  a French  import. 

In  addition  to  the  policy  of  “only  the 
finest  French  films  available,”  the  idea  is 
to  run  lectures,  concerts  of  recorded  music 
and  special  Saturday  morning  perform- 
ances of  new  “as  well  as  old  films”  with  an 
eye  on  student  attendance  and  all  at 
moderate  prices. 


A Trailer- Ambulance  for 
Britain  by  MPTO  Unit 

Baltimore — The  MPTO  of  Maryland  is 
donating  a trailer-ambulance  to  Great 
Britain,  Frank  A.  Hornig,  president,  an- 
nounces following  approval  by  the  board  of 
governors  of  a proposal  to  that  effect  by 
Arthur  B.  Price.  It  will  be  named  for  Mary- 
land’s Governor  O’Conor. 


REVIEW 


FLASHES 


WESTERN  UNION  (20th-Fox)— Clear  all 
wires — here's  a Hash  of  action  entertain- 
ment which  should  be  a "must''  on  page 
one  of  everybody's  motion  picture  theatre 
budget.  It  relates  the  stringing  of  the 
first  transcontinental  telegraph  line,  around 
which  hazardous  undertaking  is  spun  such 
a yarn  of  hardship,  adventure  and  ro- 
mance as  to  make  the  film  one  of  the 
all-time  “superest"  of  the  super-westerns. 
As  a piece  of  red-blooded,  he-man  show- 
manship, it  is  close  to  perfection.  Harry 
Joe  Brown  produced;  Fritz  Lang  directed. 
Additional  Review  Flashes  appear  on 
page  38. 


" Virginia " and  " Liberty " 
Get  High  Tone  Sendoffs 

New  York — The  Paramount  and  Crit- 
erion on  Broadway  went  considerably — and 
profitably — out  of  their  way  in  launching 
the  premieres  of  “Virginia”  and  “Land  of 
Liberty,”  respectively. 

Behind  a beautifully  handled  advance 
campaign,  the  Paramount  brought  “Vir- 
ginia” into  the  house  Tuesday  evening 
under  the  aura  of  a gala  benefit  in  behalf 
of  the  Maple  Leaf  Fund,  national  Canadian 
organization  for  British  war  relief.  Plenty 
of  names,  kleig  lights,  loudspeakers,  lavish 
decorations  and  police  gave  the  opening 
a festive  sendoff.  A special  stage  show 
brought  together,  in  addition  to  Glenn 
Miller  and  his  band,  Raymond  Massey  as 
master  of  ceremonies,  Raoul  Jovin,  Metro- 
politan Opera  tenor;  Anton  Dolin,  premier 
danseur  of  the  Ballet  Theatre;  Dean 
Murphy,  mimic,  and  other  singing  and 
comedy  acts.  Madeleine  Carroll,  feminine 
lead  in  the  film,  spoke  to  the  audience 
via  telephone  from  Hollywood.  The  Can- 
adian Minister  to  the  United  States.  Lor- 
ing  Christie,  and  the  British  consul  here, 
Godfrey  Haggard,  were  among  the  dis- 
tinguished guests. 

No  less  ostentatious  was  the  event  signal- 
izing the  opening  of  “Land  of  Liberty”  at 
the  Criterion  Thursday  forenoon.  Direct 
descendants  of  George  Washington,  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  Alexander  Hamilton  and 
other  famous  Americans  who  were  repre- 
sented in  the  film,  took  part  in  a tape-cut- 
ting ceremony  in  front  of  the  house.  Mess- 
more  Kendall  acted  as  chairman. 

Screen  Publicists,  Majors 
Continue  NLRB  Session 

New  York  — Three  hearings  before 
NLRB  trial  examiner,  Dan  Baker,  between 
the  Screen  Publicists  Guild  and  representa- 
tives of  major  home  offices  were  con- 
cluded Saturday  and  are  expected  to  re- 
sume next  week.  The  sessions  were  devoted 
entirely  to  evidence  put  in  by  the  SPG  on 
the  question  of  whether  free  lance  artists 
are  to  be  considered  home  office  employes 
in  the  same  category  as  SPG  members  in 
the  latter’s  demands  for  recognition  as 
sole  collective  bargaining  agency  for  a 
claimed  majority  of  home  office  publicists. 


Reserves  Decision 
In  RCA  Action 

New  York — Court  news  of  the  week 
slowed  up  considerably  with  the  most  im- 
portant development  being  a reserved  de- 
cision by  Supreme  Court  Justice  Philip 
McCook  in  a plea  by  RCA,  Westinghouse 
Electric  and  Manufacturing  Co.,  and  Gen- 
eral Electric  to  dismiss  a $270,000,000 
stockholder  suit  against  them.  The  plain- 
tiffs, some  17  in  number,  also  applied  to 
examine  the  president  of  the  three  cor- 
porations before  trial  in  a cross-motion. 
The  suit  which  charges  waste  and  mis- 
management alleges  $240,000,000  was  lost 
by  RCA  through  the  purchase  of  worth- 
less patents  from  the  other  corporate  de- 
fendants by  handing  over  600,000  shares 
of  common  worth  $40  a share  and  a loss 
of  $10,000,000  through  investments  in  RKO. 

To  Examine  Isidore  Ostrer 

Isidore  Ostrer  and  Mary  Larkin  both  of 
GB  Pictures  Corp.  of  America  were  ordered 
to  appear  for  an  examination  before  trial 
in  the  supreme  court  Feb.  10  in  connec- 
tion with  two  suits  each  for  $100,000 
against  GB  and  Ostrer  by  Film  Alliance 
of  the  U.  S.  The  plaintiff  claims  GB 
breached  an  agreement  to  give  it  ex- 
clusive U.  S.  distribution  rights  to  “Things 
Are  Looking  Up,”  starring  Vivien  Leigh. 

On  February  3 Universal,  Universal 
Films  Exchanges,  Big-U-Film  Corp.,  and 
the  Roxy  applied  to  the  supreme  court 
to  preclude  Producers  Laboratories  from 
giving  evidence  at  the  trial  of  its  suit 
against  them  for  failure  to  comply  with 
a supreme  court  order  and  serve  a bill  of 
particulars.  The  suit  seeks  an  injunction, 
accounting  of  profits,  and  damages,  claim- 
ing “Hired  Wife”  was  having  its  title  in- 
fringed by  Universal’s  “A  Hired  Wife.” 

Agent  Sues  Joan  Crawford 

Lee  Morrison,  agent,  filed  a $25,000 
supreme  court  suit  against  Joan  Crawford, 
claiming  breach  of  an  agreement  made  in 
November,  1939  whereby  the  actress  agreed 
to  appear  in  the  lead  of  a play,  entitled 
“Death  of  a Rose.”  Morrison’s  financial 
backers  withdrew  when  Miss  Crawford  did, 
he  says. 

Judge  John  Foster  Symes  in  the  federal 
court  dismissed  after  trial  Milton  Herbert 
Gropper’s  suit  against  Warner.  Gropper 
claimed  the  plagiarism  in  “Alcatraz”  of 
his  play  “Ex-Racketeer,”  which  was  sub- 
mitted to  the  studio  and  rejected.  An  in- 
junction, accounting  of  profits  and  dam- 
ages was  sought. 

Examination  of  Jacob  Wilk  of  Warner 
is  under  way  in  the  federal  court  in  con- 
nection with  Katherine  Moog’s  $75,000 
libel  action  against  the  company.  She 
claims  she  was  libeled  in  “Confessions  of 
a Nazi  Spy.” 

Paramount  Pep  Club  Will 
Celebrate  Valentine  Day 

New  York — The  Paramount  Pep  Club 
will  celebrate  Valentine’s  Day  with  a buf- 
fet supper,  stage  show  and  dance  at  the 
Capitol  Hotel,  February  14.  An  original 
musical  revue,  titled  “The  Goofers  Go  to 
Town,”  will  be  the  attraction.  The  book  is 
by  Sue  Brust  and  Jesse  Goodman,  with 
music  by  Knox  Haddow. 


44-D 


BOXOFFICE  ;:  February  1,  1941 


(Continued  from  page  43) 
returns  from  the  southern  resort  before  he 
packs  his  bags  and  golf  sticks. 

Charles  Sonin,  M-G-M  and  Loew  pur- 
chasing head,  is  in  Miami  looking  for 
sunshine  . . . Eddie  Rugoff  of  Rugoff  & 
Becker  is  back  from  those  shores  with  a 
swell  tan  . . . Matty  Fox  has  put  on  quite 
a bit  a weight  since  his  last  trip  east  . . . 
Neil  F.  Agnew  was  in  Toronto  during  the 
week  setting  up  Del  Goodman  as  Para- 
mount’s new  district  manager  succeeding 
M.  A.  Milligan  . . . Arthur  W.  Kelly  went 
to  Sail  Francisco  from  the  UA  studio  meet- 
ing and  then  headed  for  New  York  . . . 
Lana  Turner  was  in  Washington  for  the 
President’s  Birthday  Ball.  From  the 
Capitol  she  came  oil  to  New  York,  ac- 
companied by  her  mother  . . . Bernie  Kreis- 
ler,  Universal  short  subject  sales  manager, 
had  planned  to  go  to  the  coast,  but  the  trip 
is  off.  Instead  he  will  go  to  Chicago  for 
the  mid-season  sales  meeting  which  opens 
at  the  Blackstone,  February  8. 

Harold  Eskin,  who  operates  seven  theat- 
res in  New  England,  Pennsylvania  and  New 
Jersey,  is  back  from  a Miami  siesta  . . . 
Jimmy  Binkov,  retired  New  Jersey  ex- 
hibitor, has  finally  gone  to  Miami  Beach 
where  he  contemplates  building  an  ef- 
ficiency apartment  house  ...  Ed  Raftery 
spent  a few  days  in  Kansas  City,  then 
went  to  Oklahoma  City  and  on  Sunday 
was  back  in  Kaycee  on  UA  legal  matters 
. . . Orson  Welles,  George  J.  Schaefer, 
Ned  E.  Depinet,  A.  W.  Smith  jr.,  Bob 
Mochrie  and  other  home  office  RKO  ex- 
ecutives held  an  ultra  private  screening  of 
“Citizen  Kane”  at  the  “A”  Music  Hall 
screening  room.  A page  boy  outside  the 
entrance  prevented  outsiders  from  even 
knocking  on  the  door  . . . Harry  Gittelson 
of  RKO  is  due  back  next  week  with  Leo 
Devaney,  RKO  Drive  leader,  from  a tour 
of  the  country. 

Eddie  Dowdin,  of  the  Loew’s  New  York 
exploitation  staff,  visited  Buffalo  to  dis- 
cuss forthcoming  attractions  and  their 
campaign  with  Charles  Taylor  of  the  Shea 
circuit  . . . Charlie  Kurtzman,  northeastern 
division  manager  for  Loew  theatres,  was  a 
visitor  . . . Vincent  McFaul  of  the  Shea 
circuit,  Buffalo,  did  some  conferring  with 
Joe  Vogel  during  the  week  . . . Glenn  Ford 
who,  according  to  reports,  does  things  in 
“So  Ends  Our  Night,”  Dave  Loew’s  first 
in  association  with  Al  Lewin,  is  in  New 
York.  Came  up  from  Florida  ...  It  took 
Gus  Eyssell  and  that  recent  Ampa  lunch 
for  W.  G.  Van  Schmus  to  make  official 
what  was  generally  known  anyway.  That 
Fred  Lynch  is  the  Music’s  Hall  publicity 
director  . . . Phil  Engel,  up  in  New  England 
on  exploitation  assignments  from  Warner. 
For  “High  Sierra.” 

Sidney  Edelstein  and  Roger  Lewis,  both 
members  of  the  Warner  home  office  pub- 
licity department,  are  now  at  Fort  Dix, 
It’s  the  draft,  mates  . . . Bob  Goldfarb, 
accessory  sales  manager  of  UA,  and 
Madeleine  Jacobs  are  engaged.  The  wed- 
ding is  on  the  calendar  for  June  . . . 
Toni  Spitzer,  who  has  been  handling  gen- 
eral press  stuff  for  “Fantasia”  at  the 
Broadway,  is  now  in  Chicago  whipping  up 
the  advance  campaign  for  the  opening 


there.  Robert  Baral,  meanwhile,  holds 
forth  at  the  Broadway  . . . Pauline  Kelen  of 
the  Walter  Reade  office  is  back  at  her 
desk.  She  was  out  for  10  days.  Flu  . . . 
Lester  Cowan  is  in  town  conferring  with 
Gilbert  Miller,  “legit”  producer,  on 
“Ladies  in  Retirement”  which  they  will 
produce  jointly  for  Columbia  . . . Bob 
Young  came  east  to  broadcast  on  Friday’s 
Kate  Smith  hour  which  was  on  behalf  of 
“Western  Union”  in  which  he  co-stars 
with  Dean  Jagger  and  Randy  Scott. 

Bill  Perlberg,  associate  producer  at  20th- 
Fox,  is  here  to  take  a gander  at  “Charley’s 
Aunt”  which  that  company  will  make. 
Jack  Benny,  slated  to  star  in  it,  came 
along.  He’s  looking  too  . . . Gabriel  Pascal, 
producer  for  UA  in  London,  is  slated  to 
arrive  from  England  Monday  or  Tuesday 


send 


CHRISTMAS  GREETINGS 

and  all  good  wishes 
for  your  happiness, 
and  peace  in  1941. 

New  Address  — while  it  lasts 
Beverly,  14,  Eastville  Avenue, 
Temple  Fortune,  N.W.n 
(by  courtesy  of  Matthew  Raymond  1 


The  (" Blitz')  Lite— 

Just  in  from  London  is  this  Christmas 
card  of  Mervyn  McPherson  of  M-G-M's 
London  organization.  His  home 
bombed,  McPherson  as  of  the  time 
and  along  with  other  members  of  the 
staff  was  living  60  feet  below  street 
level,  cheerfully  taking  it. 


via  Clipper  from  Bermuda.  He  has  with 
him  a print  of  “Major  Barbara,”  George 
Bernard  Shaw  play  in  which  Wendy  Hiller 
— remember  “Pygmalion”?  — stars.  And 
also  Robert  Morley  and  Rex  Harrison — 
he’s  one  of  the  leads  in  “Night  Train” 
. . . Plans  are  progressing  neatly  for  the 
Press  Photographers’  ball  at  the  Astor  Feb- 
ruary 14.  A long  list  of  notables  has 
pledged  attendance.  S.  Barret  McCormick, 
who  always  goes,  says  he  wouldn’t  miss 
any  of  these  parties.  Thinks  they  are 
among  the  best  of  the  year. 

Ginger  Rogers  arrived  here  on  the  24th 
for  a brief  vacation  and  a visit  with  her 
cousin,  the  former  Phyllis  Fraser,  now 
Mrs.  Bennett  Cerf  . . . Jean  Hersholt  de- 
scribed his  experience  with  the  Dionne 
Quintuplets  at  the  International  Song 
Festival  “Let’s  Sing  for  China,”  at  New 


York’s  Town  Hall  Friday,  January  24. 
The  Festival  was  for  the  benefit  of  Chinese 
medical  relief. 

Haskell  Masters,  newly  appointed  west- 
ern sales  head  for  UA,  got  as  far  as  Omaha 
on  his  trip  west  and  then  returned  to 
New  York.  He  says  he  will  move  his 
family  from  Toronto  the  middle  of  Febru- 
ary . . . Herman  Wobber  was  grounded  in 
Chicago  on  his  return  by  plane  from  the 
coast  after  studio  conferences  . . . Bill 
Sussman  returned  from  a month’s  vaca- 
tion in  Miami  and  was  bedded  for  sev- 
eral days  before  reporting  to  his  office  . . . 
Eddie  Hyman,  formerly  with  Century  and 
Prudential  circuits,  is  now  with  the  United 
Detroit  circuit  . . . Arthur  Gottlieb  of 
DuArt  Labs  has  been  ill  for  a couple  of 
days,  the  flu  having  caught  up  with  him 
. . . Wallace  Beery  and  his  adopted 
daughter,  Carol  Ann,  have  been  in  town 
vacationing  . . . Harry  Michalson,  head 
of  RKO  short  subject  sales,  got  back 
Wednesday  from  a brief  tour. 

Ned  E.  Depinet  has  given  Sam  Kaplan, 
RKO  home  office  projectionist  and  recent 
father,  a baby  carriage  to  celebrate  the 
event  . . . Incidentally,  Depinet  met  up 
with  Former  Senator  James  A.  Reed  the 
other  day  and  went  over  St.  Louis  in  1935 
. . . Charles  C.  Moskowitz  last  week  cele- 
brated his  28th  year  with  Loew’s  . . . 
William  Kunzmann  of  National  Carbon, 
with  headquarters  in  Cleveland,  was  in 
town  the  other  day  on  one  of  his  peri- 
odic visits  . . . The  first  15  salesmen  who 
won  honors  in  the  recent  National  Screen 
drive  tendered  to  Herman  Robbins  will 
receive  gold  rings  with  their  initials  en- 
graved on  them. 

Benito  Del  Villar,  sales  head  in  Chile, 
Peru  and  Bolivia  for  Paramount,  has  been 
in  town  for  a couple  of  weeks  and  planned 
to  sail  January  31  for  Ancon,  Panama,  to 
attend  the  South  American  convention  to 
be  held  in  that  city  February  6-9  . . . 
John  W.  Hicks  was  in  Mexico  City  and 
Cuba  prior  to  sailing  for  Panama  and  the 
convention  . . . Helen  Cohen  of  the  20th- 
Fox  home  office  purchasing  department 
and  Sol  Krieg  of  the  publicity  depart- 
ment took  the  step  and  are  honeymoon- 
ing at  Atlantic  City  . . . Elmer  Sichel  of 
the  20 th-Fox  office  in  Albany  is  due  back 
at  the  exchange  Monday  after  a vacation 
in  Miami. 

Arthur  Jarratt  of  GB,  who  is  in  this 
country  from  London  on  a government 
mission,  has  gone  to  Hollywood  for  two 
weeks.  On  his  return  to  New  York,  he 
will  spend  three  days  here,  then  fly  home 
. . . George  J.  Schaefer,  Richard  C.  Pat- 
terson and  Merlin  H.  Aylesworth  in  an 
earnest  huddle  in  front  of  the  RKO  Bldg. 

. . . G.  L.  Carrington,  vice-president  and 
general  manager  of  Altec,  has  returned 
from  the  coast  where  he  spent  a month 
. . . Phil  Reisman  is  vacationing  in  Palm 
Beach.  From  there,  he  flies  to  the  coast 
. . . Monroe  Greenthal  is  in  Hollywood 
again,  this  time  conferring  not  only  with 
UA  producers  and  their  publicity  repre- 
sentatives but  with  Murray  Silverstone 
and  Arthur  W.  Kelly  who  are  there  . . . 
Bert  Stearn,  UA’s  midwestern  district 
manager,  has  been  around  town. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


44-E 


^*HE  widely  publicized  sneak  preview  in 
conjunction  with  the  showing  of  “Kitty 
Foyle”  at  Keith’s,  which  turned  out  to  be 
"Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith,”  beckoned  the  critics 
and  circuit  heads  from  the  local  scene, 
Baltimore,  Richmond  and  Norfolk.  The 
doubleheader  caused  a sellout  and  the  fans 
ignored  the  SRO  well  in  advance  of  show 
time  to  get  a look-see.  Incidentally,  “Kitty 
Foyle”  carried  over  for  a fifth  week,  break- 
ing all  attendance  records  . . . Preston 
Foster  and  Carolyn  Lee,  in  town  for  the 
President’s  Birthday  Ball,  were  on  deck  to 
personally  usher  in  their  latest,  “Virginia,” 
which  had  its  world  premiere  at  the  Earle, 
simultaneously  with  other  key  cities  . . . 
Sen.  Walter  F.  George,  accompanied  by 
Carter  Barron,  Loew’s  eastern  division 
manager,  presented  a complete  print  of 
“GWTW”  to  R.  D.  Conner,  chief  archivist 
of  the  Archives  of  the  United  States  . . . 
Producer  Richard  A.  Rowland  held  a 
screening  of  his  first  United  Artists  re- 
lease, “Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop,”  at  the 
Circle. 

Ted  Spraker  of  Saltville  is  readying  for 
his  annual  jaunt  to  the  sand  dunes  . . . 
Earl  S.  Horne  of  the  Virginian,  Radford, 
is  the  proud  daddy  of  a girl  . . . Jim 
Goebel  of  Bristol  is  favoring  a siege  of 
sinus  . . . J.  Conklin  of  the  State,  Rad- 
ford, is  sporting  a new  gas  buggy  . . . 
Spud  Query  of  the  Lincoln  Theatre  Corp. 
is  concentrating  on  a “strep"  throat  in- 
fection . . . The  Bonny  Blue,  of  Bonny 
Blue,  Va.,  has  been  taken  over  by  Laning- 
ham  & Stewart  . . . Charlie  Moore  of 
Fries,  Va.,  is  sponsoring  a girls  basketball 
team  . . . Ellison  Loth  of  W aynesboro  has 
sounded  the  “all  clear”  signal  with  regard 
to  his  child’s  recent  illness  . . . W.  S. 
“Buck”  Wilder  of  the  Wilder  circuit  in 
Norfolk  and  Portsmouth  has  purchased 
property  in  Portsmouth  for  a de  luxe 
1,200  seater. 

Clarke  Davis  of  the  Lichtman  circuit 
feted  the  bookers  with  a cocktail  party  at 
his  home  . . . Harry  Brown,  Monogram 
branch  manager,  advises  of  the  launching 
of  the  “Lucky  Seven  Drive”  to  be  held  from 
February  2 to  April  11,  in  which  the  local 
exchange  will  be  pitted  against  Philly  and 
Pittsburgh.  Harry’s  plan  for  a Miami  bake 
has  met  its  fate,  and  he  must  wait  for  a 
future  date  . . . Harry  Crull  was  a flu 
victim  for  a short  spell  . . . The  MPTO  of 
Virginia  will  hold  its  annual  two-day 
convention  at  the  Shoreham,  February  2-3, 
with  a dinner  dance  highlighting  festivities 
on  the  evening  of  the  third  . . . Sam 
Galanty,  Columbia  district  manager,  is 
perusing  travelogues  of  the  southland  . . . 
The  board  of  directors  of  Allied  met  in 
Washington  on  January  27-28,  with  dis- 
cussions of  the  decree  and  the  method  of 
selling  pictures  on  the  agenda. 

Charlie  Olive  of  Allied  observed  a birth- 
day on  January  28,  and  February  1 marked 
the  natal  day  of  G.  E.  Maddrix  of  the 
Arcade,  Crisfield  . . . Variety  Club’s  revised 
roster  is  in  press  and  will  be  mailed  shortly; 
the  recently  mailed  by-laws,  however,  con- 
tain various  amendments  regarding  new 
members  . . . Title  to  property  306-310  H 
Street,  N.W.,  on  which  the  new  Paramount 
exchange  will  be  erected  has  been  cleared 
and  demolition  of  buildings  is  under  way 


. . . Joe  Kushner,  Columbia  head  booker, 
has  been  confined  to  his  home  with  illness, 
the  second  attack  in  a short  space  of  time 
. . . Max  Cohen,  Universal  branch  man- 
ager, was  a flu  victim  and  forced  to  re- 
main at  home  . . . The  Monogram  ex- 
change is  sparkling  following  a face  lift- 
ing . . . Henry  Ajello,  Metro  assistant 
shipper,  is  the  proud  daddy  of  a girl  . . . 
“Syd"  Rosenthal,  formerly  of  the  20 th-Fox 
staff,  has  joined  the  Metro  force  . . . 
Betty  Topf  is  back  after  wrestling  with 
demon  flu. 

Felix  Jenkins,  20th-Fox  general  coun- 
sel, is  on  the  expected  list  at  the  local 
exchange  . . . Lou  Lichenstein,  auditor,  has 
completed  his  check  . . . Sara  Young  is 
back  at  her  ole  stand  following  a rare 
absence  due  to  this  winter’s  plague  . . . 
Likewise  Grayson  Mills  . . . “Pat”  Taylor, 
however,  remains  on  the  sick  list  . . . Re- 
ports from  Will  Rogers  Memorial  have 
Helen  Inglee  and  Miriam  Hirsch  doing 
excellently  . . . The  girls  in  the  office  and 
the  wives  of  the  managers  have  organized 
a Warner  Women’s  Bowling  Club,  with 
membership  confined  to  this  group  only 
. . . Charlotte  Duncan  Birge,  secretary  to 
Warner’s  publicity  chief,  Frank  La  Falce, 
subscribes  to  the  ole  adage  that  when  it 
rains  it  pours.  Her  recovery  from  illness 
was  comforting.  However,  her  joy  was 
short-lived  when  her  husband  was  as- 
signed on  a war  department  mission  to 
Trinidad,  South  America,  for  a one  or  two 
year  stay. 

Fred  Thomas,  manager  of  the  Earle,  was 
cojispicuous  by  his  absence  due  to  illness, 
especially  during  the  year’s  crowning  event, 
the  President’s  Birthday  Ball,  and  his 
yearly  midnight  show  . . . Rick  LaFalce  of 
the  publicity  staff  carried  on  despite  a 
sore  throat  . . . The  Hollywood  entourage 
for  the  President’s  natal  celebration  finally 
included  the  following:  Deanna  Durbin, 
Lana  Turner,  George  Raft,  Wayne  Morris, 
Maureen  O'Hara,  Wallace  Beery,  Charlotte 
Greenwood,  Stirling  Hayden,  Kay  Aldridge, 
Preston  Foster,  Al  Ritz,  Clifton  Fadiman, 
Tommy  Harmon,  Alice  Marble,  Jean  Her- 
sholt  and  Red  Skelton. 

(,  -ft 

: New  Corporations  : 

<5  — j 

Dover,  Del. — Articles  of  incorporation 
have  been  filed  here  by  the  following  the- 
atre and  film  concerns: 

Labor  Pictures,  Inc.,  to  deal  in  motion 
pictures  with  a capital  of  1,000  shares  no 
par  value. 

Minoco  Productions,  Inc.,  to  deal  in  mo- 
tion pictures  with  a capital  of  1,000  shares 
no  par. 

Theatre  Owners,  Inc.,  to  deal  in  real 
and  personal  property  listing  no  capital 
stock. 

R.  F.  Lewis,  L.  H.  Herman,  and  Walter 
Lenz  of  Wilmington  were  the  incorpora- 
tors for  Minoco  and  Theatre  Owners,  Inc., 
and  H.  Albert  Young,  Ethel  J.  Stephan,  and 
Mildred  L.  Geisbert  of  Wilmington  for 
Labor  Pictures. 


o 

Philadelphia  Theatres 
Get  a Tax  Cut 

Philadelphia — Substantial  cuts  in  as- 
sessments on  several  center-city  thea- 
tres are  announced  by  the  board  of  re- 
vision of  taxes.  Among  the  reductions  are 
Aldine,  from  $593,500  to  $549,000;  Boyd, 
$656,600  to  $573,800;  and  Karlton,  from 
$1,003,000  to  $980,000. 

- — ■ >) 


Election  in  Spring 
For  N . Y/s  Allied  Unit 

New  York — Following  a statewide  cam- 
paign, the  proposed  Allied  unit  for  New 
York  will  meet  this  spring  to  elect  offi- 
cers. As  reported,  operators  representing 
from  40  to  50  theatres  reputedly  are 
pledged  on  behalf  of  the  new  emit.  Max 
Cohen,  former  regional  vice-president  of 
Allied  of  New  York,  issued  the  call. 


"yARIETY  held  its  third  anniversary 

dance  at  the  Belvedere  Saturday  night. 
Many  notables  of  the  industry  attended 
from  Washington,  Philadelphia  and  New 
York.  Money  raised  will  be  used  for  an- 
other “iron  lung”  to  be  given  the  city  . . . 
Bill  Hicks  has  opened  his  new  Mayfair 
. . . Baltimore  exhibitors  were  invited 
to  United  Artists’  screening  of  “Cheers  for 
Miss  Bishop”  at  the  Circle  Theatre,  Wash- 
ington, last  Tuesday. 

A gala  time  was  had  by  all  who  at- 
tended the  Jewish  War  Veterans  annual 
cabaret  dance  at  the  Lord  Baltimore  last 
Sunday  night.  Among  those  from  the  film 
colony  there  were:  Harry  and  Al  Vogel- 
stein,  Baltimore  Poster  Co.;  Dave  Kaiser, 
Maryland  Display,  who  is  commander  of 
the  Post  and  acted  as  master  of  cere- 
monies; Sam  Soltz,  Howard;  Harry  Silver, 
Overlea;  Lou  Cohen,  Essex;  Bill  Hicks, 
Mayfair  and  Hampden;  Bernie  Seaman, 
Hippodrome;  Frank  Hornig  jr.,  Horn; 
Buddy  Silverberg,  Park;  Milton  Caplon, 
Linden;  Eddie  Perotka;  Sam  Taber,  Uni- 
versal salesman;  Maurice  Oletski,  Repub- 
lic salesman,  and  Frank  Hahn,  Horlacher 
Delivery  Service.  Entertainment  was  fur- 
nished by  I.  M.  Rappaport  of  the  Hippo- 
drome. 

Edward  Kimple  jr.  of  Rome  Theatres 
has  returned  after  weekending  in  New 
York  and  visiting  a motor  boat  show  there 
. . . Along  with  Deanna  Durbin,  George 
Raft  and  Wayne  Morris  attended  the 
President’s  Birthday  Ball  at  the  Fifth 
Regiment  Armory  . . . J.  Harry  Gruver, 
Glen,  has  returned  to  work  after  being 
confined  to  his  home  for  a week  by  ill- 
ness . . . William  K.  Saxton,  Loew’s  city 
manager,  is  receiving  visitors  now  at  Sinai 
Hospital. 

H.  Ted  Routson,  Hippodrome,  was  chair- 
man of  the  entertainment  committee  of 
the  Baltimore  Press  Clubs  first  “Night  in 
Hollywood”  party  held  January  18. 


44-F 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


Probe  Government's 
Outlay  for  Films 

Washington — An  intensive  investigation 
of  the  government’s  expenditures  for  mo- 
tion picture  production  has  been  under- 
taken by  the  Bureau  of  the  Budget,  it 
was  disclosed  in  testimony  before  the 
House  Appropriations  Committee  on  the 
independent  offices  appropriation  bill. 

The  bureau  is  sending  a questionnaire 
to  the  heads  of  all  departments,  independ- 
ent commissions  and  agencies,  asking  for 
detailed  information  on  motion  picture  ex- 
penditures for  the  current  fiscal  year.  The 
questionnaire  will  call  for  both  the  costs 
of  any  production  or  circulation  of  films 
which  may  be  undertaken  and  information 
as  to  the  number  of  persons  employed  and 
total  salary  payments. 

The  first  census  of  its  kind  ever  under- 
taken, the  survey  was  initiated  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  the  committee,  which  pointed 
out  to  bureau  officials  that  information 
regarding  the  publicity  expenditures  of  the 
government  agencies  has  been  impossible 
to  secure  heretofore. 

It  has  frequently  been  charged  in 
Congress  that  the  various  New  Deal  agen- 
cies have  spent  large  sums  for  motion 
picture  production  and  distribution  which 
have  never  been  revealed  in  detail,  and 
that  films  have  been  used  as  a means  of 
propaganda  to  whip  up  public  sentiment 
for  New  Deal  activities. 

Sam  Baker  Opens  Eighth: 
Mainstree  in  Flushing 

New  York — Sam  Baker  opened  his 
eighth  theatre  Wednesday  night  when  the 
Mainstree,  Flushing,  L,  I.,  a 600-seater, 
debuted. 

Joe  Rosenzweig  and  M.  Meyer  have 
started  remodeling  the  Empress  in  Wash- 
ington Heights  and  Hugh  Kent  has  in- 
stalled new  chairs  at  the  Clinton,  Clinton, 
N,  J.  Julius  Charnow  and  Abe  Ratner  have 
installed  new  Erpi  Mirrophonic  at  the  Peo- 
ple’s Cinema,  Brooklyn.  Eisenberg  & Cohen 
have  installed  new  Brenkert  Senarc  lamp- 
houses  at  the  Star,  Rheinbeck,  N.  Y.,  and 
Harry  Kridel  has  installed  the  first  pair 
of  Brenkert  80  projectors  at  the  Mayfair, 
Newark.  All  equipment  was  furnished  by 
Joe  Hornstein. 

Mills  and  Cooper  Form 
Equity  Film  Exchange 

Albany  — Equity  Film  Exchanges,  Inc., 
has  been  formed  to  conduct  a motion 
picture  business,  with  headquarters  in  New 
York.  Incorporators  are:  Bernard  H. 
Mills  and  Philip  Cooper,  723  Seventh  Ave.; 
Attorney  Irving  B.  J.  Levine,  505  Fifth 
Ave.  Filmrow  gossip  is  that  Mills  and  Jack 
Berkson,  who  operated  the  Republic  fran- 
chises in  Albany  and  Buffalo  for  sometime, 
may  open  exchanges  in  both  these  cities. 
They  have  maintained  offices  at  the  New 
York  address  since  severing  their  connec- 
tions with  Republic.  Mills  and  Berkson 
are  releasing  independent  product,  in- 
cluding former  Grand  National  pictures. 
Cooper  was  cashier  when  Mills  had  the 
local  Republic  franchise.  Mills  still  has  a 
residence  here. 


B U IF  IF  A III  CD 


^HOSE  two  inseparable  Marions,  Gueth 

and  Walsh,  of  MPTO  and  Lafayette 
Theatre,  respectively,  are  leaving  on  a 
two-week  cruise  of  Panama  waters.  This 
may  be  called  an  act  of  solidifying  Pan- 
American  relations,  for  who  could  possibly 
find  fault  with  two  such  charming  ladies 
. . . Also  taking  to  the  south  are  Dot  and 
George  Gammel  of  the  local  circuit  . . . 
We  hear  that  A.  C.  Hayman  of  the  Laf- 
ayette is  enjoying  his  vacation  . . . Gene 
Gorman,  junior  executive  at  Dipson’s  20th 
Century,  is  Alabama-bound,  but  not  for  a 
vacation.  He  is  to  report  to  Uncle  Sam  for 
defense  training.  His  successor  is  Donald 
Baecher,  former  right  hand  to  Bob  Dame 
at  Shea’s  Niagara.  Before  that  Don  was 
at  the  Kenmore  under  Carl  Rindcen,  so 
Don  is  well  fitted  for  his  new  position  . . . 
Walt  Leffler  of  the  Bellevue  in  Niagara 
Falls  has  been  made  manager  of  that 
theatre,  with  Bob  Murphy,  former  Shea 
booker,  acting  as  city  manager  for  the 
Falls  branch  of  the  Shea  circuit. 

Continuing  in  its  benevolence,  the  local 
tent  of  Variety  will  hold  a St.  Patrick’s 
Party  in  the  club  rooms  to  buy  an  “iron 
lung’’  to  aid  victims  of  infantile  paralysis. 
The  main  charity  of  the  organization, 

Para't  Latin-American 
Convention  on  Feb.  6 

New  York — Paramount  opens  its  first 
all  Latin-American  convention  in  Panama, 
February  6,  when  Austin  C.  Keough,  vice- 
president  and  general  counsel,  will  be  the 
guest  of  honor.  He  and  John  W.  Hicks, 
general  foreign  sales  manager,  are  en  route 
to  the  convention  city  now.  The  latter  re- 
turns to  New  York  immediately  thereafter. 

Attending  will  be  Arthur  L.  Pratchett, 
general  manager  for  Central  America; 
John  B.  Nathan,  in  charge  in  the  Argen- 
tine: Benito  del  Villar,  who  handles  Chile, 
Peru  and  Bolivia;  S.  E.  Pierpoint,  Brazil; 
Robert  L.  Graham,  Mexico;  J.  D.  Rapo- 
port,  Cuba;  Henry  Gordon,  Central  Ameri- 
can manager;  Juan  Oliver,  Uruguay;  J.  P. 
Donohue,  Puerto  Rico;  Alvaro  Reyes,  Co- 
lombia; Mrs.  T.  Andrews,  Guatemala; 
Pedro  Germano,  Sao  Paulo;  Lazarus  Con- 
stantine, Trinidad,  and  Larry  O’Toole,  as- 
sistant Central  American  manager. 


Rites  for  I.  H.  Silver 

New  York — Funeral  services  were  held 
over  the  weekend  for  I.  H.  Silver,  80,  who 
died  Thursday  morning  at  Flushing  Hos- 
pital. He  leaves  a widow,  four  daughters 
and  a son,  Milton,  who  is  advertising  and 
publicity  head  for  National  Screen  Service. 


Working  Toward  Lineup 

New  York — Bernard  H.  Mills,  former 
Republic  franchise  holder  who  recently 
formed  Equity  Film  Exchanges  to  operate 
in  the  metropolitan  area,  informs  Box- 
office  he  has  lined  up  no  product  yet,  but 
is  working  on  several  deals. 


Randforce  Renews  Altec 

New  York — Altec  has  renewed  its  ser- 
vice agreement  with  Randforce  circuit, 
operating  50  Brooklyn  houses. 


“The  Heart,”  again  has  capable  Elmer 
Lux  of  RKO  at  the  helm  . . . During  the 
Lenten  season,  cooking  schools  will  be  con- 
ducted in  the  various  Shea  community 
theatres  ...  Mat  Konczakowski  is  reopen- 
ing his  Marlowe  this  month  after  complete 
and  extensive  alterations  . . . The  Apollo, 
formerly  the  Liberty,  will  be  reopened 
shortly  . . . Vincent  R.  McFaul  of  Shea 
Theatres  is  in  the  Big  City  on  business  . . . 
George  C.  Maurer  of  the  Buffalo  Theatre 
and  vice-president  of  the  Shea  service  em- 
ployes’ Benevolent  Ass’n  was  appointed  by 
unanimous  vote  to  head  the  board  of 
stewards  of  the  clubrooms  . . . Ralph  Maw, 
M-G-M  branch  manager,  attended  the  tes- 
timonial dinner  honoring  the  Ralph  Pielows 
in  Albany  recently  . . . “Gone  With  the 
Wind”  is  still  going  strong  at  Shea’s  Great 
Lakes,  according  to  Manager  George  A. 
Mason,  as  is  “Ecstasy”  at  Dewey  Michael’s 
Mercury.  The  latter  is  in  its  seventh  rec- 
ord-breaking week. 

E.  K.  O’Shea  was  emcee  at  a testimonial 
dinner  to  W.  E.  Martin  Monday  night  at 
the  Variety  Club.  The  dinner  was  tendered 
to  honor  Martin’s  years  of  service  in  the 
organization.  Many  prominent  members 
of  Filmrow  were  in  attendance.  Besides 
being  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  or- 
ganization, Martin  is  Sunday  and  dramatic 
editor  of  the  Courier-Express  . . . Bill 
Brett  jr.,  ex-assistant  manager  of  Shea’s 
Elmwood  under  Bob  Demming,  is  now  as- 
sistant to  Bob  Dame  at  Shea’s  Niagara. 
Bill  is  the  son  of  Bill  Brett,  house  man- 
ager of  Shea’s  Buffalo.  Speaking  of  the 
Buffalo,  Bill  tells  us  that  his  theatre  and 
the  Courier-Express  are  holding  auditions 
for  girl  instrumentalists  to  appear  on  the 
stage  of  the  Buffalo  with  Phil  Spitalny 
and  his  all-girl  orchestra.  There  will  be 
$110  distributed  among  the  first  three 
winners  . . . Bob  Dame  is  still  continuing 
his  amateur  contests  at  the  Niagara.  In 
addition  to  his  managerial  duties,  he  is 
starting  another  class  in  first  aid  for  the 
Red  Cross.  Ushers  from  the  various  Shea 
houses  will  be  his  pupils. 

Noted  on  the  ever-increasing  ailing  list 
this  past  week  are:  Ed  Frank,  chief  en- 
gineer for  Shea’s;  Clayton  Weston,  Shea 
engineer;  Emil  Rothfus,  manager  of  Basil’s 
Victoria;  Al  Crato,  Lafayette  operator,  and 
Freddie  Koester,  junior  executive  of  the 
Lafayette.  Gwen  McDonald,  also  of  the 
Lafayette,  is  just  developing  the  sniffles 
. . . Nick  Alico  of  the  Shea  pit  band  won’t 
drive  without  lights  any  more.  It  seems 
there  is  a law  against  it  ..  . Has  any 
theatre  executive  two  more  charming 
daughters  than  Spence  Balser,  booker  for 
the  Basil  Theatres.  The  parties  in  ques- 
tion, Bernice  and  Beatrice  . . . Ward 
Thompson,  “ex”  of  the  Shea  staff,  is  now 
employed  at  the  Twentieth  Century  as  a 
relief  doorman  ...  In  the  alleys:  The 
Buffalo  Ojie  team  won  three  Friday  night 
with  the  aid  of  George  Thompson,  who  is 
back  after  a recent  illness.  George  Rosing, 
Roosevelt  manager,  and  his  team  are  way 
out  in  front  in  the  league  standings.  Chuck 
McKeman  and  his  Buffalo  Two  boys  are 
on  their  tail.  Shea’s  Hippodrome  is  the 
third  place  team.  Mart  Murret  and  boys 
of  the  Kenmore  are  coming  along  nicely 
and  expect  to  take  fourth  place  within  a 
few  weeks. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


44-G 


NEW  $500  life  insurance  policies  have 
been  taken  out  for  all  of  the  105  mem- 
bers of  Motion  Picture  Associates,  Presi- 
dent William  C.  Karrer,  Republic,  an- 
nounces. The  new  arrangement  is  in  ad- 
dition to  the  $500  policies  subscribed  for 
several  months  ago  . . . The  organization 
is  making  requests  to  all  branch  managers 
to  choose  from  its  unemployed  members 
when  making  additions  to  sales  staffs, 
which  will  be  necessitated  by  the  new 
buying  methods  under  the  consent  decree 
. . . An  entertainment  committee  is  plan- 
ning some  shindig  or  other.  The  members: 
Bill  Doyle,  Universal;  Herman  Rubin, 
Paramount;  Bill  Heenan,  Peerless;  Jack 
Engel,  RKO;  Saul  Krugman,  UA,  and  Sam 
Rosen,  Monogram. 

United  Artists  held  an  exhibitor  showing 
of  “Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop’’  at  the  Up- 
town . . . Carman  Juliana,  Horlacher 
driver,  was  killed  in  an  accident  during 
the  snowstorm  last  week  . . . New  offices 
for  the  arbitration  board  under  the  con- 
sent decree  are  being  set  up  at  1420  Wal- 
nut St.  ..  . Variety  Club  and  Showmen’s 
Club  vied  with  each  other  in  giving  Cecil 
Felt,  Affiliated,  the  biggest  send-off  for 
his  trip  into  the  army  . . . Friends  of  Marty 
Hirsch,  Century,  report  he  is  due  to  leave 
for  Washington  for  an  army  post. 

John  Schaeffer  and  Jack  Weiss  want  to 
emphasize  that  the  recent  fire  at  their  new 
poster  exchange  didn’t  call  a halt  to  busi- 
ness . . . Inside  dope  from  the  Detroit  auto 
industry  is  to  the  effect  that  Sam  Palan, 
Monogram,  and  Frank  Hammerman,  Re- 
public, will  soon  blossom  out  in  new  cars 
. . . Maxwell  Gillis,  Republic’s  lively  ex- 
change head,  presented  his  blonde  secre- 
tary, Vivian  Baylinson,  with  an  “academy 
award”  for  her  skill  in  handling  sensitive 
exhibitors  . . . George  Benedict,  Columbia 
clerk,  doubles  as  advertising  manager  of 
the  Lantern,  University  of  Pennsylvania 
evening  school  magazine. 

Mike  Lessy  is  reported  leaving  for  a 
Florida  trip  . . . Ann  Bubeck,  Paramounter , 
is  back  at  her  desk  after  a round  with  the 
grippe  . . . Nancy  Fraser,  Paramount’s 
Betty  Boop  girl,  has  her  heart  strings  tied 
around  half  the  world.  She  has  a sister 
under  the  bombs  in  England  and  a boy 
friend  stationed  at  the  army  post  in  Hawaii 
. . . Edgar  Moss,  20 th-Fox,  threw  a party 
for  exhibitors  at  his  gilt-edged,  diamond- 
studded  new  mansion  in  Bala-Cynwyd  . . . 
Esther  Diamond,  his  dark-haired  secre- 
tary, is  planning  a vacation  beginning 
February  14,  decorating  Florida  sands  . . . 
Jack  Bergin,  Fox  booker,  went  to  Scranton 
on  a business  trip. 

Among  out-of-towners  that  braved  the 
slush  for  a visit  to  Philly  last  week  were 
Tommy  Thomas,  Thomas  Theatre,  Taylor; 
Eddie  Jones,  Magazzu  circuit;  Elias  Coury, 
Capitol,  Summit  Hill;  Vic  Austin,  Grand, 
East  Stroudsburg;  Bill  Bayher,  Park,  Le- 
highton;  Jimmy  Dukas,  Grand,  Edwards- 
ville;  Stanley  Peters,  Ritz,  St.  Clair;  George 
Reister,  Capitol,  Shamokin,  and  Harry 
Waxman,  Atlantic  City  circuit. 


Equip  With  Photophone 

Philadelphia — The  Diamond,  Warner 
house,  is  being  re-equipped  with  RCA  Pho- 
tophone sound.  The  house  seats  927. 


Succeeds  Sweigert — 

Ulrik  Smith,  former  salesman  for 
Paramount  in  Philadelphia,  succeeds 
to  the  managership  of  that  office  now 
that  Earle  Sweigert  has  been  made 
district  manager  of  a newly-created 
area  embracing  that  city,  Washing- 
ington  and  Pittsburgh. 

Philly  Barkers  Fete 
David  'Skip'  Weshner 

Philadelphia — A spinet  piano  was  the 
surprise  gift  David  “Skip”  Weshner  re- 
ceived at  a testimonial  banquet  tendered 
him  by  the  Variety  Club.  Several  friends 
had  heard  him  say  he  was  planning  to  buy 
a spinet,  and  the  club  beat  him  to  it. 

Weshner,  who  has  left  the  Warner  or- 
ganization for  an  exploitation  post  with 
United  Artists,  was  lauded  for  his  services 
to  the  industry  by  half  a dozen  speakers. 
Powers  Gouraud  was  master  of  cere- 
monies. 

On  the  dais  were  Jay  Emanuel,  toast- 
master; Harry  Goldberg,  Arthur  and 
Emanuel  Silverstone,  Louis  Krouse,  Nat 
Levy,  Morris  Wolf,  Ted  Schlanger,  Joseph 
Bernhard,  Dr.  Leon  Levy,  George  Skouras, 
Earle  Sweigert,  Eddie  Peskay,  Sam  Stiefel 
and  Everett  Callow. 

The  club  announced  appointment  of  new 
committees  as  follows: 

Motion  pictures:  Ted  Schlanger,  Bob 
Lynch  and  George  Schwartz.  Cards:  Ben 
Fertel,  Maxwell  Gillis  and  Leo  Posel.  En- 
tertainment: Harry  Biben,  Stan  Lee  Broza, 
Oscar  Neufeld  and  Lawrence  Shubert. 
Rules  and  resolutions : A1  Cohen  and  Harry 
Ball.  Convention:  Earle  Sweigert,  Frank 
Elliott,  George  F.  Weilland,  Frank  Gra- 
vatt,  Emanuel  Munzer,  Mort  Lewis,  Jay 
Emanuel,  Ben  Fertel,  Meyer  Adelman,  Sam 
Stiefel  and  Jack  Greenberg.  Charity: 
Charles  Goldfine,  Martin  B.  Ellis,  Harry 
Weiner,  Meyer  Adelman  and  Irwin  Char- 
lap.  Welfare:  Sid  Samuelson,  Melvin  Fox, 
Elmer  Wilschke.  House:  Henry  Friedman, 
Oscar  Neufeld,  Bill  McAvoy,  Leo  Beresin 
and  Dave  Supowitz.  Luncheon:  A1  Davis, 
Sam  Gross,  Jack  Kraker  and  Jack  Green- 
berg. 


Exhibitors  Line  Up  to 
Aid  Defense  Program 

Philadelphia  — Cooperation  of  the  in- 
dustry with  the  government’s  defense  pro- 
gram will  aid  distributors  and  exhibitors  to 
continue  to  keep  control  of  their  screens, 
Harry  Brandt  told  200  exhibitors  at  a 
meeting  in  the  Broadwood  Hotel. 

The  meeting  was  called  by  the  local  sec- 
tion of  the  theatre  division  of  the  motion 
picture  industry  committee  cooperating  for 
national  defense.  Jay  Emanuel,  local 
chairman,  presided. 

Brandt  pointed  out  that  the  alternative 
to  industry  cooperation  would  be  direct 
government  control.  He  urged  all  exhibi- 
tors to  sign  pledges  of  service  in  the  de- 
fense program. 

Lowell  Millet  is  the  probable  choice  of 
President  Roosevelt  as  co-ordinator  for 
the  theatre  division,  Brandt  reported.  His 
function  will  be  to  help  the  industry 
formulate  policy  on  problems  arising  out  of 
the  defense  program,  such  as  the  sugges- 
tion of  reduced  admissions  for  enlisted 
men.  Exhibitors  would  be  asked  to  refer 
to  the  co-ordinator  and  his  associates  in 
the  industry  all  requests  from  organizations 
to  use  their  stages  or  screens  for  “cam- 
paigns” and  propaganda  of  various  sorts, 
to  make  sure  exhibitors  do  not  unwittingly 
support  unpatriotic  bodies. 

Brandt  pointed  out  that  producers  al- 
ready have  enlisted  in  the  defense  program 
by  making  patriotic  shorts,  and  urged  ex- 
hibitors to  play  as  many  as  possible. 

William  Crockett  of  Virginia  MPTOA 
reported  exhibitors  in  his  territory  are 
getting  behind  the  program  enthusiastic- 
ally. 

N,  Y.  Motion  Picture  Tax 
Nets  More  Than  Estimate 

Albany — The  motion  picture  tax,  col- 
lected on  a per  thousand  foot  basis  for  the 
examination  and  licensing  of  films,  netted 
the  state  $9,635.50  more  than  the  esti- 
mated $300,000  for  fiscal  year  1939-40. 
Gov.  Herbert  H.  Lehman  reported  this  in 
his  annual  budget  message,  which  called 
for  a nine  million  dollar  cut  in  appropria- 
tions during  1941-42  and  a $21,000,000  re- 
duction in  the  personal  income  tax  pay- 
able in  April,  1942.  The  latter  will  be 
for  the  tax  year  starting  January  1,  1941. 
Governor  Lehman  did  not  change  the  film 
tax  estimate  (by  the  Education  Depart- 
ment whose  motion  picture  division  han- 
dles the  licensing)  of  $300,000  for  1940-41, 
and  for  1941-42. 

Total  appropriations  for  the  next  year, 
in  the  Governor’s  budget,  are  approxi- 
mately $385,100,000,  which  is  an  actual  re- 
duction of  about  $5,000,000.  He  scaled 
down  the  estimated  revenue  on  the  stock 
transfer  tax  in  1940-41  to  $14,000,000,  com- 
pared to  $19,181,000  in  1939-40.  The 
governor  fixed  the  1941-42  estimate  from 
this  source  at  $16,000,000.  He  informed 
the  legislature  he  did  not  expect  an  in- 
crease in  revenue  from  betting  through  the 
pari-mutuel  machines  this  spring.  Lehman 
estimated  the  yield  from  July  1,  1940  up 
to  June  30,  1941,  would  be  $5,500,000. 

Governor  Lehman  emphasized  that  while 
revenue  has  been  rising,  due  to  improved 
business  conditions,  the  war  situation 
makes  predictions  uncertain. 


44-H 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


The  MODERN  THEATRE 

MECHANICAL  MAINTENANCE  SECTION  ot  KOXOFME 


resents 


SEATING  SERVICE 


Issue  ot  FELlltl  ARV  1, 1941 


★ 


Y 


Should  I 


AirConditi 


Mr.  Don'tle:  "How  can  you  affort 
it?  Save  your  moncv  !” 


Mr.  Don'tle:  "No.  But  it  would  be 
a terrible  job  to  air  condition  this 
place  at  a reasonable  cost.” 


Mr.  Don'tle:  "Perhaps.  But  who  is 
the  right  one  lor  \ou  to  turn  to?” 


Mr.  Do-odle:  "But  you  can't  let 
competitors  take  your  business.” 


Mr.  Don'tle:  "But  doesn't  Carrier 
do  only  the  big  jobs?” 

Mr.  Do-odle:  "You're  nuts!  Car- 
rier’s big  jobs  showed  them  how  to 
air  condition  places  like  yours. 


Mr.  Do-odle:  “Scram.  I'm  going 
to  send  for  Carrier,  then  I know 
I'll  have  the  best.” 


Mr.  Do-odle:  "Yes.  But  certain!) 
the  right  outfit  could  do  it.” 


Mr.  Do-odle:  "There  is  nobody 
better  than  Carrier.” 


Mr.  Do-odle:  "Carrier  has  done 
hundreds  of  jobs  for  leading  thea- 
tres all  over  the  country.  Take 
the  case  of  . . . 


Palace  Theatre 
in  Youngstown,  Ohio 


'Mv  choice  of  Carrier  equipment,’ 
wrote  Manager  E.  O.  Prinsen,  ’was 
based  on  . . . the  advice  of  the 
finest  engineers,  men  who  do  noth- 
ing but  supervise  such  equipment 
for  large  theatre  circuits.  W ithout 
exception  these  engineers  recom- 
mended Carrier.  I could  wri  te  a book 
about  the  economical  operation, 
and  generally  splendid  results.’  ” 


Air  Conditioning's 
First  Name 


— — ■ 

l M.i'lMl  t.illlfiilUlI'iV  llrfUill 

“ Wcathrr  M 'dm  to  Ihr  World ” 

Syracuse,  New  York 

(In  Canada,  30  Bloor  fit.  West,  Toronto,  Ontario) 

Gentlemen:  Without  obligation,  send  me 
complete  information  on  Carrier  Air 
Conditioning  for  Theatres. 


.nmnt'HS 

itrt 


For  Profits . . . Replace  your  old  Sound  System  with 


RCA  PHOTOPHONE  MAGIC  VOICE  OF  THE  SCREEN 


Gone  are  thebloomers ofyesteryear!  Themodern  girl 
has  found  it  pays  to  play  in  streamlined  togs — just  as 
you  will  find  it  pays  to  use  streamlined  RCA  Photo- 
phone Magic  V oice  of  the  Screen  to  reproduce  modern 
movie  sound.  For  good  sound  means  good  box-office! 

But  don’t  take  our  word  for  it!  Ask  the  movie 
makers  in  Hollywood  how  important  sound  is  to  the 
box-office  value  of  any  picture.  Ask  your  patrons, 
too.  You’ll  find  it’s  plenty  important!  That’s  why 
we  say:  You’ll  boost  your  business  when  you  match 


Hollywood’s  modern  sound  with  equipment  that 
will  properly  reproduce  it  in  your  theatre. 

And  that  equipment  is  the  RCA  Photophone 
Magic  Voice  of  the  Screen.  Styled  and  priced  for 
any  and  all  size  theatres,  it’s  the  box- 
office  tonic  you’ve  been  looking  for! 


Trademark  "Victor”  Reg.  United  States  Patent 
Office  by  RCA  Manufacturing  Company,  Inc. 

Better  sound  means  better  box-office 
. . . RCA  Tubes  mean  better  sound. 


VICTOR  and 
BLUEBIRD  RECORDS 


The  music  you  want 
when  you  want  it 


THEATRE  EQUIPMENT 

Complete  Sound  Systems  . . . Screens  . . . Theatre  Record  Players  . . . Projectors  . . . Sound  Reinforcing  Equipment  . . . 
Inter-Communication  Systems  . . . Hearing  Aids  . . . Service  and  Maintenance.  See  your  RCA  Photophone  Represen- 
tatives or  affiliated  theatre  supply  dealers.  Photophone  Division,  RCA  Manufacturing  Company,  Inc.,  Camden,  N.  J> 
In  Canada,  RCA  Victor  Company,  Ltd.,  Montreal  • A Service  of  the  Radio  Corporation  of  America. 


FEATHER  FOAM  FRONT ! Get  acquainted  with  that 
name— because  you’ll  hear  a lot  about  it  from  now  on. 
It’s  American’s  latest  contribution  to  theatre  seat  comfort. 
Once  and  for  all  it  takes  the  pressure  off  the  popliteal!  No  more 
complaints  from  patrons  about  hard  seat  edges  that  put  legs 
to  sleep!  Instead  praise  and  profits  because  you  have  the 
most  comfortable  theatre  seats  in  the  world  today! 


Wu  be 


IS  OFF 


POPLITEAL— 

According  to  Webster’s,  the  Popliteal 
is  the  “back  part  of  the  leg  behind 
the  knee  joint.”  It  is  very  sensitive 
because  aiteries,  veins,  and  nerves 
are  close  to  the  skin  surface.  Pres- 
sure on  the  Popliteal  causes  legs  to 
“go  to  sleep,”  is  responsible  for 
nervousness  and  restlessness. 


HERE’S  THE  LATEST 
IN  THEATRE  SEAT 

COMFORT 

A revolutionary 
new-type  theatre  seat 
of  exquisite  comfort- 
exclusive  with 


American  Seating 


And  the  remarkable  thing  is  that  Feather  Foam  Front  seats 
cost  you  no  more!  This  great  advance  in  theatre  seat  design 
is  now  a regular  feature  of  the  American  Bodiform,  Commo- 
dore, Zephyr  and  Zenith  theatre  chairs. 


See  these  new  chairs  before  you  buy.  Brilliant  new 
color  schemes  . . . streamlined  designs  . . . and  Feather 
Foam  Front  seats! 


S'-;, 

wz. 


GRAND  RAPIDS,  MICHIGAN 


Pioneers  and  pacemakers  in  theatre,  auditorium,  school, 
church,  stadium  and  transportation  seating 

Branch  Offices  and  Distributors  in  Principal  Cities 


Issue  o t FEBRUARY  1,  1941 


MECHANICAL  MAINTENANCE  SECTION  of  BOXOFFICfi 

(Title  registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 

J.  HARRY  TOLER,  Managing  Editor  Vol.  VIII.  - No.  2 


Topics: 

Further  Emphasis  on  Relaxation  Fea- 


tures Modern  Seating  Service 50 

-K 

Gentlemen,  Be  Seated! — In  Some 

of  Your  Own  Chairs 53 

by  Ansel  M.  Moore 

* 


Detroit’s  New  Parkside — A 3-Unit 


Recreation  Center  54 

+ 

Mr.  Popkin’s  Revenge — Or  the  Worm 

Kicks  Back — But  Hard 59 

by  F.  Louis  Friedman 

* 


Carpeting  is  a Keynote  in  the  Modern 

Theatre  Plan  for  House  Appeal. ...64 
by  Helen  Kent 

■¥ 

Case  History  and  Notes  on  a New 

England  Modernizing  Project 68 

+ 

Defects  in  Motion  Picture  Projection 


and  Their  Correction 70 

by  Irl  Gordon 

+ 

Where  Curtain  Controls  and  Tracks 

Come  From 74 

* 

Seating  Plays  an  Important  Role  in 

the  Decorative  Scheme 76 

by  Willard  H.  Bond,  Jr. 


Several  Ways  to  Promote  Theatre  Clean- 
liness in  Stormy  Weather 78 

by  Milton  A.  Lesser 

* 

If  This  Makes  You  Uncomfortable  Just 

Think  of  Your  Patrons 80 

by  Gordon  H.  Simmons 


Published  by  Associated  Publications  every  fourth 
Saturday,  14  times  yearly,  as  a section  of  BOX- 
OFFICE  and  included  in  all  Sectional  Editions  of 
the  AP  group,  including  the  annual  BOXOFFICE 
BAROMETER.  Contents  copyrighted,  1941;  repro- 
duction rights  reserved.  All  editorial  or  general 
business  correspondence  relating  to  The  MODERN 
THEATRE  section  should  be  addressed  to  Pub- 
lisher’s Representative,  Harrison  Toler  Company, 
332  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  Chicago,  111.,  or  Eastern 
Representative:  A.  J.  Stocker,  9 Rockefeller  Plaza, 
New  York. 


Underseating  of  Small  Theatres  Is 
a Serious  Mistake 

We  often  hear  of  over-seating  as  a problem  of  press- 
ing concern  to  theatre  management,  but  the  complaint 
is  usually  centered  on  the  existence  of  too  many  seats 
to  fill  in  a given  locality.  The  competitive  situation,  so 
to  speak. 

Seldom  is  heard  any  serious  complaints  about  over- 
seating of  theatres  individually.  Capacity  sufficient 
to  take  care  of  a surge  of  extra  patronage  whether  it 
comes  unexpectedly  or  otherwise  is  something  every 
theatre  builder  should  plan  to  provide.  And  the  time 
to  do  it  economically  is  before  the  concrete  is  poured. 

"My  greatest  trouble  with  theatre  owner  clients  to- 
day," says  an  architectural  associate  of  ours,  "is  to  get 
them  to  see  the  wisdom  of  providing  enough  seats  (and 
without  crowding)  to  make  their  investment  profitable. 
Too  many  of  them  want  to  hold  their  capacities  to  400 
when  the  situation  really  calls  for  many  more." 

The  task  of  making  a theatre  of  less  than  500  seating 
capacity  pay  dividends  at  prevailing  admission  prices 
and  under  current  costs  of  operation  must  be  obvious 
to  every  experienced  theatre  operator. 

The  feast  or  famine  factor  is  always  to  be  reckoned 
with,  especially  in  small  town  and  suburban  locations. 
Turnaways  on  weekends  and  holidays  are  disheart- 
ening. 

Will  theatre  builders  never  learn  to  give  their  busi- 
nesses a chance  to  grow?  Under-capacity  is  easy  to 
assume  but  hard  and  expensive  to  cor- 
rect. An  extra  row  or  two  of  seats  won't 
long  remain  empty  in  a theatre  that's 
really  modern  in  all  respects. 


Further  emphasis  on 
features  Modern  Seating 


|| 

m3  Y UNRELENTING  persistence  in  re- 
search and  fabrication  for  utmost  comfort 
value  in  each  succeeding  new  model  they 
introduce,  the  public  seating  industry  en 
masse  has  steadily  contrived  a higher 
standard  in  theatre  seating  efficiency  each 
year  during  the  past  decade. 

In  reviewing  the  accomplishments  each 
year  we  find  it  increasingly  difficult  to 
forecast  the  ultimate  in  theatre  seating 
provision  for  comfort  and  the  eye  appeal 
that  keeps  steadily  apace  with  it.  Each 
year  brings  many  new  and  unexpected 
contributions  to  the  comfort  of  moving 
picture  patrons. 

Other  industries  have  shown  remarkable 
interest  in  relieving  the  many  mechanical 
problems  confronting  modern  theatre  oper- 
ation. They  too  have  researched  and  con- 
trived for  improvement  in  the  house  ap- 
peal characteristics  of  the  products  they 

Tlie  new  Royal  Theatre  in  Detroit  has  an  out- 
standing: installation  of  2,406  comfortable  and 
beautifully  designed  theatre  chairs.  The  lately 
introduced  “Cameo”  chair  was  selected  and  it  adds 
its  bit  both  decoratively  and  efficiently.  The 


manufacture.  But  the  theatre  seating  in- 
dustry stands  out  by  a wide  margin  on 
one  important  particular,  i.  e.: 

Good  Merchandising 

Seating  manufacturers  have  not  only  as- 
siduously applied  themselves  to  the  design 
and  production  of  better  merchandise,  they 
have  seen  to  it  that  the  theatre  industry  is 
fully  aware  of  all  their  developments  in 
the  direction  of  greater  comfort  for  mov- 
ing picture  patrons,  plus  such  other  im- 
portant considerations  as  attractiveness, 
lasting  efficiency,  and  all-round  quality 
of  product.  The  theatre  seating  industry 
cannot  be  accused  of  laxity  in  the  mer- 
chandising of  its  commodity — seating  ser- 
vice. 

It  is  because  of  this  fine  follow-up  to 
the  fabrication  of  an  ever-better  product, 
that  theatre  owners  are  today  more  fami- 
liar with  quality  and  use  value  charac- 
teristics in  theatre  seating  than  they  ever 
were  before.  Despite  the  fact  that  com- 
petition among  theatre  seating  manufac- 
turers is  quite  keen,  a condition  which 
ordinarily  might  create  a general  cheap- 


particular model  (inset)  in  this  instance  features 
pillow-spring  type  const  ruction  and  steel  edge 
top  finish.  Its  arms  are  of  a new  plastic  material 
which  resists  scratching  and  end  standards  are 
of  cast  iron  with  aisle-light  louvres  inset.  The 
upholstering  material  for  this  installation  is  a 
high  grade,  higli-pile  turquoise  colored  mohair  to 
complement  the  theatre’s  stunning  decorative 
scheme.  (Photo  courtesy  Hey  wood- Wakefield  Com- 
pany). 


RELAXATION 

Service 


ening  of  product,  there  is  at  present  no 
evidence  of  any  tendency  to  cheapness  in 
the  construction  of  seating  for  theatres. 
In  fact  the  trend  to  quality  was  never 
more  apparent  than  now. 

It  would  be  manifestly  unfair,  however, 
to  permit  the  seating  people  to  take  all 
the  credit  for  a condition  that  augurs  so 
well  for  the  future  brightness  of  the  mov- 
ing picture  business.  Theatre  owners, 
their  architects  and  others  mutually  in- 
volved in  the  building  and  equipment  im- 
provement cycle  must  surely  be  given  a 
substantial  share  of  the  credit  for  remark- 
able accomplishment.  Their  ever-widen- 
ing appreciation  and  understanding  of 
what  seating  comfort  means  to  the  box- 
office  has  made  them  highly  receptive  to 
the  sound  reasoning  of  the  sponsors  of 
better  seating  for  all  classes  and  sizes  of 
theatres. 

Comfort  Conquers  All 

Most  experienced  theatre  owners  now 
realize  that  without  means  of  relaxation 
provided  in  their  places  of  business  the 
difficulties  of  entertaining  the  public  are 
multiplied.  They  know,  perhaps  from 
weekly  experiences  and  boxoffice  records, 
that  of  all  pictures  they  are  permitted  to 
play,  there  are  comparatively  few  with 
such  intense  entertainment  value  that  they 
will  compensate  for  physical  discomfiture, 
inconvenience  or  other  common  distrac- 
tions during  their  presentation. 

They  realize  quite  as  well  too,  that  the 
former  dyed-in-the-wool  movie  fan,  to 
whom  nothing  mattered  but  what  is  on  the 


Cover  Plate 

The  essence  of  comfort  and  relaxation 
is  expressed  in  our  photomontage  of 
modern  theatre  seating  in  actual  situa- 
tions. Each  of  the  eight  angles  presents 
the  case  for  patron  appeal  in  a forth- 
right manner.  Each  extends  an  invita- 
tion to  relaxation  and  enjoyment  of  en- 
tertainment. The  theatre  patron  who  is 
accorded  this  added  advantage  in  his 
moving  picture  diversion  is  the  satis- 
fied customer  who  will  return  again  and 
again  for  more  of  the  same.  Beauty  too 
is  a magnetic  characteristic  of  modern 
seating  as  shown  in  these  pointed  views. 
Each  depicts  the  sleek  lines  and  con- 
tour of  functional  design  and  all  are 
products  of  the  comfort-creator’s  art  in 
posture  correctness , upholstering  snug- 
ness and  beauty  of  finish.  The  specific 
attributes  of  such  modern  theatre  chair 
installations  as  those  shown  on  the 
cover  are  outlined  in  this,  our  issue  de- 
voted to  the  natural  science  of  “Public 
Seating.” 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


screen,  is  well  on  the  way  to  extinction, 
and  that  the  demand  for  physical  relaxa- 
tion has  become  common  to  all  except  a 
relatively  few  patrons.  Even  this  minor- 
ity can  be  quite  easily  made  comfort-con- 
scious, to  the  detriment  of  the  neighboring 
competitor  who  still  feels  that  comfortable 
seating  service  is  only  a minor  considera- 
tion of  a ticket  sale. 

Theatre  men  who  have  reseated  their 
houses  properly  in  the  face  of  competition 
from  those  favored  with  the  privileges  of 
picture  priorities,  but  whose  theatres  are 
allowed  to  deteriorate  because  of  such  spe- 
cial protection  and  privilege,  have  found 
comfortable  seating  an  ace-in-the-hole,  be- 
cause of  its  definite  appeal  to  the  major- 
ity of  patrons  who  now  seek  relaxation. 
An  easy  chair  makes  a man  or  woman 
much  less  critical  in  regard  to  the  pro- 
gram. 

To  illustrate  the  point  of  this  article, 
that,  the  seating  industry  has  done,  and  is 

The  Columbia  Theatre  in  Longview,  Wash.,  illus- 
trates how  well  beauty  and  comfort  are  being  com- 
bined. Its  installation  of  858  “Crusader”  model 
chairs  is  modern  to  the  minute  in  both  public 
seating  efficiency  and  attractiveness  of  design. 
The  “Crusader”  (inset)  is  of  the  full-upholstered 
type  with  a seat  feature  known  as  spring-to-edge. 
This  model  also  has  the  new  seat  bucket  con- 
struction and  indirect  compensating  hinges  for 
smooth  operation,  as  well  as  self-raising  seat 
mechanisms.  On  the  aesthetic  side,  the  Columbia 
installation  is  upholstered  in  orange  mohair  at 
back  and  leather  for  seats,  with  standards  in 
sand  color  trimmed  with  red.  (Photo  courtesy 
Irwin  Seating  Company). 

still  doing,  much  to  re-establish  and  then 
stabilize  the  movie-going  habit,  we  pre- 
sent herewith  a few  pictorial  examples  of 
seating  and  reseating  projects  recently 
completed.  Each  of  the  seating  manufac- 
turers represented,  submitted  at  our  re- 
quest, a picture  of  a current  theatre  seat- 
ing project,  together  with  a close-up  view 
of  the  chair  model  installed.  We  repro- 
duce them  here,  with  brief  descriptions  to 
emphasize  the  fact  that  more  than  ever 

BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


before,  Relaxation  Features  Modern  Thea- 
tre Seating  Service. 

Yet,  in  contriving  for  ever  greater  com- 
fort in  theatre  seating,  the  secondary  fac- 
tors of  greater  eye  appeal,  decorative  har- 
mony and  general  quality  of  construction 
have  not  been  slighted,  as  will  be  noted 
from  the  examples  illustrated,  which  indi- 
cate a range  of  prices  as  well  as  require- 
ments. Practically  all  theatre  seats,  ex- 
cept the  very  cheapest  ones  being  offered 
today  have  one  or  more  pronounced  com- 
fort characteristics.  Logically  in  the 
higher-priced  brackets  these  characteris- 
tics become  more  pronounced.  As  always 


Charm  and  comfort  in  a modernized  theatre,  the 
Majestic  in  West  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  are 
heightened  by  its  new  seating  installation.  The 
“Challenger”  model,  a streamlined  exponent  of 
relaxation  and  patron  comfort,  was  chosen  for  its 
many  construction  features  as  well  as  economy 
since  it  is  in  a moderate  price  range  of  seats.  The 
Majestic’s  model  (inset)  lias  streamlined  stand- 
ards in  Spanish  orange  with  buff  trim,  with  full 
upholstered  back  and  spring-edged  seats  in  orange 
corduroy  of  a new  specially  processed  type  that 
is  moisture  resistent.  (Photo  courtesy  Ideal  Seat- 
ing Company). 


the  selling  price  affects  quality  on  all 
points. 

Numerous  Innovations 
The  latest  model  chairs  offer  certain 
innovations  in  design  and  construction 
that  should  be  noted  here.  Such  for  in- 
stance, as  improved  spring  and  hinge  con- 
struction; rubber  cushioning;  pillowy  soft- 
ness in  seat  upholstery  due  to  new  dis- 
coveries in  upholstery  technique;  plastic 
arm  rests  and  many  other  functional  re- 
finements— all  with  a well-studied  design 
for  greater  comfort,  convenience  of  access 
with  unusual  attractiveness  to  the  eye. 

Both  full  and  partially  self-raising  seats 
continue  in  popularity.  Double  width  (love 
seats)  settees  and  special  roomy  lounging 
chairs  for  loges  are  now  in  vogue.  Steel 
pan  construction  for  theatre  seats  and 
backs  which  are  molded  for  posture  cor- 
rectness form  the  basis  of  body-caressing 
upholstery  while  artistically  designed  end 

I a r m m ■.  • m r . 


standards  in  pleasing  harmonious  color 
schemes  suggest  comfort  even  before  the 
patron  is  seated. 

Other  innovations  include  colorful  new 
upholstery  fabrics  in  mohairs,  corduroys 
and  leatherettes;  special  life-time  enamel 
finishes  for  metal  parts,  and  as  previous- 
ly mentioned  the  foam  rubber  cushion 
which  either  alone  or  cleverly  combined 
with  steel  springs  of  various  improved 
types  provides  all  that  can  be  called  for 
in  theatre  seating  comfort. 

The  Delivery  Situation 
While  the  National  Defense  Program  re- 
quirements on  American  industry  have 
not  as  yet  seriously  affected  the  manu- 


Detroit’s  new  Parkside  Theatre  promotes  comfort 
and  relaxation  as  highlights  of  its  recreational 
policy.  For  this  purpose,  862  single  chairs  and  14 
love  seats  in  the  new  “Commodore”  model  spring 
back  style  were  selected  by  its  owners,  Erving 
and  Sidney  Moss,  and  Architects  Bennett  & 
Straight,  to  serve  as  real  comfort  facilities  for 
the  patrons.  The  exact  model  (inset)  has  all  the 
posture  and  ease  qualities  available  today  and  for 
beauty  it  is  entirely  harmonious  and  complemen- 
tary to  the  auditorium  decorative  scheme.  Red 
aisle  standards  with  cream  colored  trim  are  used 
with  clover  red  mohair  backs  and  ivory  leather- 
ette seats.  (Photo  courtesy  American  Seating 
Company). 


matical  in  view  of  present  conditions;  but 
all  indications  lean  well  toward  the  prob- 
ability that  theatre  seating  costs  are  lower 
now  than  they  will  be  in  many  years  to 
come. 

Meanwhile  the  theatre  seating  industry 
remains  entirely  at  your  service. 


facture  and  delivery  of  theatre  seating,  it 
is  anticipated  that  some  interference  is 
to  be  expected  soon,  especially  in  a pos- 
sible shortage  of  steel  and  certain  uphol- 
stery fabrics. 

But  certain  of  the  manufacturers  have 
already  protected  themselves  well  against 
such  events  by  laying  in  huge  supplies  of 
such  materials  that  may  be  affected  by 
defense  measures.  One  such  concern  ad- 
vises furthermore  that  they  are  standard- 
izing or  grouping  their  lines  of  seating,  so 
that  with  a quick  interchangeability  of 
stock  seats,  backs  and  standards,  they  can 
accommodate  theatre  trade  with  delivery 
of  the  finest  in  modern  theatre  seating  on 
even  shorter  notice  than  has  been  possible 
heretofore. 

The  price  situation  is  seriously  proble- 


The  Loop  Theatre  in  Mobile,  Alabama,  a new 
Saenger  house,  has  all  the  elements  of  comfort 
and  beauty  highly  exemplified  by  its  seating  in- 
stallation. An  insert  panel  chair  was  selected 
(inset),  having  all-steel  welded  construction  and 
a metal  rim  on  the  back  for  the  protection  of  up- 
holstery material.  The  seat  cushion  is  of  stand- 
ard 20-coil  construction  giving  extra  comfort  with- 
out additional  cost.  To  harmonize  with  and  com- 
plement the  color  scheme  used  in  the  Loop’s  audi- 
torium, the  chairs  are  upholstered  and  enameled 
in  delicate  shades  of  coral  and  peach,  thus  making 
the  installation  by  Wil-Kin  Theatre  Supply  Co., 
decoratively  beautiful  as  well  as  extremely  re- 
laxing. (Photo  courtesy  International  Seat  Corp.) 


Special  Advantages  of 

Rubber  Seat  Toppings 

Among  the  remarkable  advantages  of 
the  new  development  of  foam  rubber  seat 
topping  for  theatre  chair  upholstery,  the 
following  are  pointed  out  by  manufac- 
turers of  the  material,  seating  companies 
and  buyers  of  new  theatre  seats  as  well: 

The  material  provides  the  most  com- 
fortable seat  cushioning  ever  developed. 
It  can’t  pack  down,  can’t  bulge  or  lose 
its  shape.  It  actually  outlasts  the  ordi- 
nary spring  unit,  and  it  is  absolutely 
dustless,  proved  germ  and  moth  proof. 

Upholstery  covers  last  longer  over  its 
smooth,  flexible  surface.  It  puts  greatest 
strength  at  the  most  vulnerable  point  for 
seat  wear.  Furthermore,  the  material  ac- 
tually improves  acoustics  since  it  is  a 
known  sound  insulator.  Any  customer 
survey  will  indicate  the  value  placed  on 
good  seating.  This  new  development  is 
one  way  to  assure  seating  comfort. 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


Gentlemen,  Be  Med ! . . . 
in  some  of  your  own  chairs 


j^S  A SHAMEFUL,  sordid  and  shabby 
suggestion  that  shouldn’t  be  allowed  to 
happen  even  to  a dolt,  much  less  to  a 
moving  picture  patron;  but  because  we’ve 
been  ordered  to  do  it,  Gentlemen,  we’re 
going  to  ask  some  of  you  to  swallow  your 
own  medicine,  or  to  put  it  even  less  mildly, 
to  stew  in  your  own  juice. 

Gentlemen  Be  Seated!  Not  here  and  now 
perhaps;  nor  in  that  softly  padded  swivel 
chair  behind  your  desk;  nor  at  home  be- 
side your  favorite  book  rack;  but  right 
down  there  in  your  theatre,  in  one  of  those 
tiny  torture  chambers,  you  choose  to  tell 
us  are  as  comfortable  as  the  day  you 
bought  them  at  $4.98  installed  some  13 
years  ago!  Don’t  rush  it,  please.  The 
place  is  empty  and  you  can  take  your  pick 
— something  your  poor  patrons  can’t  al- 
ways do. 

Test  Your  Temper 

Now,  Gentlemen  Be  Seated!  . . . and  sit 
right  there  for  the  time  it  takes  to  dis- 
sipate one  of  your  dual  feature  dissipations. 
No!  No!  Don’t  get  up  now!  You  haven’t 
even  got  the  feel  of  it  yet  and  you  can’t 
duck  the  issue  that  way.  Sit  there  a short 
while  and  you’ll  soon  begin  to  wiggle  and 
squirm;  the  first  shift  is  due  any  minute 
now,  and  while  we’re  waiting  for  it,  let  us 
(meaning  your  tormenter)  squeeze  through 
in  front  of  you  just  to  remind  you  what  32 
inches  back-to-back  really  means  to  We 
the  People.  Aggravating,  isn’t  it?  Scarcely 
satisfying,  eh,  what? 

Be  careful  now  Gentlemen.  Don’t  com- 
mit yourselves!  Remember,  too,  you’re  a 
patron,  and  good  patrons  can  take  it; 
anyhow  that’s  what  you  think.  And 
Gentmans,  these  are  your  very  own  little 
comfort-makers.  They’ve  been  good 
enough  for  you  for  over  13  years  now,  and 
after  all  there’s  such  a thing  as  sentiment 
in  association.  But  the  helluvit  is,  me 
hearties,  this  is  perhaps  the  longest  you 
ever  sat  in  one  of  your  theatre’s  seats  for 
lo,  these  many  years. 

No  sirs,  you  can’t  get  up  now.  This  is 
only  the  first  reel.  You  ain’t  felt  nothin’ 
yet.  Wait  till  your  bones  start  creaking 
in  earnest  and  your  backache  begins  to 
bear  down.  Squirm  some  more.  Make 
yourself  comfortable  with  curvature  of  the 
spine.  Enjoy  the  sensations  you  have  so 
unselfishly  showered  on  us  patrons  in  the 
past. 

Honestly  men,  we  can’t  go  on  with  this. 
Its  heart-rending,  cruel  and  beyond  our 
conception  of  what  you’ve  got  coming  to 
you.  We  conclude  the  fiendish  perform- 
ance forthwith  and  take  up  the  accus- 
tomed position  of  a polite  theatre  man- 
ager at  the  exit  door,  there  to  ask  you 
blithely  on  your  way  out,  “Gentlemen, 
how’d  you  like  the  show?” 


by  ANSEL  M.  MOORE 


We  apologize  for  your  acrimony,  after 
such  an  experience.  Of  course  it  couldn’t 
have  happened  to  you — unless  you  are  in 
the  habit  of  changing  places  with  your 
patrons.  We  likewise  beg  your  pardon  for 
bringing  the  subject  so  sharply  home  to 
you,  in  case  the  shoe  is  one  that  fits  you. 

Doing  Unto  Others 

But  seriously  now  and  without  further 
similes  or  beating  around  the  bush  about 
it;  don’t  you  think  we’ve  preached  a pretty 
good  sermon  on  the  evil  effects  of  “doing 
unto  our  patrons  that  which  we  would  not 
like  them  to  do  unto  us” — all  the  while 
expecting  them  to  continue  to  do  business 
with  us? 

By  the  very  nature  of  seating;  the  fact 
that  it  was  created  in  the  beginning  by 
our  ingenious  forebears  for  one  purpose, 
solely  to  provide  comfort,  and  from  the 
very  fact  that  comfort  of  body  is  directly 
connected  and  contributory  to  ease  of 
mind,  it  is  the  one  condition  of  service 
that  cannot  be  trifled  with  in  the  theatre. 
It  is  one  phase  of  theatre  operation  on 
which  you  may  easily  fool  yourself;  but 
fooling  the  public,  that’s  something  else. 

When  the  average  theatre  owner  goes 
shopping  for  theatre  chairs  he  has  usually 
but  one  all-consuming  objective  in  mind. 
He  wants  a piece  of  furniture  that  will 
look  good  for  a long  time.  Next  he  de- 
sires a chair  that  is  comfortable  in  the 
extreme  and  one  that  will  stay  comfort- 
able for  keeps.  He’ll  demand  quality  con- 
struction, noiseless  operation  and  all  the 
use  values  and  advantages  he’s  read  about 
in  sales  literature  and  seen  demonstrated 
in  the  display  rooms.  He  knows  about 
what  he  wants. 

But  here’s  what  usually  happens  to  him 
if  he  doesn’t  stick  closely  to  his  buying 
guns:  The  siren  call  of  the  short-price 
proposal  throws  him  off  guard.  A seem- 
ing chance  to  save  from  a few  cents  to  a 
dollar  or  more  per  seat  changes  his  buying 
mood  from  one  of  sound  business  logic  to 
mere  speculation.  Under  such  a spell  of  a 
bargain  offer  he  goes  all  out  for  good 
looks;  and  the  guts  of  the  proposal — what 


the  product  is  made  of  and  how  it’s  put 
together — doesn’t  matter.  His  object  is 
forgotten. 

Lest  You  Forget 

Let’s  remind  ourselves  emphatically, 
Gentlemen,  that  aside  from  the  combined 
projection  and  sound  system,  theatre  seat- 
ing represents,  as  it  should,  the  largest 
financial  investment  in  the  outfitting  of  a 
theatre  plant.  The  size  of  the  investment 
makes  it  imperatively  necessary  to  look 
into  the  future  and  try  to  avoid  the  neces- 
sity of  reseating  too  soon. 

It  is  the  most  important  equipment  pro- 
vision in  the  plant  for  another  important 
reason,  that  the  theatre  chair  is  one  of 
the  few  articles  of  theatre  furniture  with 
which  the  customers  make  personal  and 
prolonged  contact.  The  comfort  of  the 
patrons  cannot  therefore  be  trifled  with 
for  the  sake  of  saving  a few  cents  per  seat 
or  even  a dollar  or  so. 

In  closing  may  we  admonish  you  again 
regarding  the  long  life  and  comfort-giving 
characteristics  of  the  chairs  you  are  going 
to  buy.  All  chairs  appear  comfortable  to 
the  eye  at  first  glance,  and  to  the  body 
when  you  sit  quickly  and  promptly  arise. 
They’re  all  beautiful  to  behold — but  as 
with  other  gorgeous  creatures  and  crea- 
tions, beauty  in  theatre  seats  can  be  only 
of  dermal  depth. 

Your  problem.  Gentlemen,  is  how  long 
they’ll  stay  both  good  to  look  at  and 
comfy.  It’s  the  hidden  virtues  that  de- 
termine the  value  in  public  seating — not 
the  shorter  selling  price. 

Gentlemen,  if  you’re  still  with  us,  you 
may  now  arise! 


Creating  a mood  for  relaxation  is  as 
much  a part  of  entertainment  as  is  the 
provision  of  comedy,  tragedy  or  melodrama 
on  the  screen.  This  is  accomplished  by 
the  addition  of  comfort  and  convenience 
to  your  exploitation  points. 


Patrons  who  are  comfortable  are  much 
less  critical  of  the  entertainment  provided 
for  their  enjoyment.  This  is  a prime  moti- 
vation for  the  reseating  of  many  theatres. 


Give  Us  Fresh  Air! 

In  the  forthcoming  (March  First)  issue  Ansel  Moore  will  make  another 
heroic  plea  for  the  physical  welfare  of  the  patrons  and  the  benefit  of  the  box- 
office  with  some  pertinent  hints  to  theatre  men  on  what  to  do  about  air  condi- 
tioning and  how  it  appeals  to  "We,  the  People."  Air  Conditioning,  incidentally 
is  the  theme  subject  for  next  issue  of  The  Modern  Theatre  section.  So  look 
forward  to  something  special — The  Editor. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


53 


Detroit’s  new 
a 3-Unit  Recreation  Center 


A 

1®.  MOST  logical  combination  of  rec- 
reation attractions  that  heralds  a basically 
new  trend  in  theatre  planning  is  embodied 
in  one  of  Detroit’s  newest  neighborhood 
theatres — the  Parkside. 

First  of  the  additional  crowd  attractions 
is  a cocktail  lounge,  including  a bar  and 
grill,  which  is  designed  as  a neighborhood 
center  of  good  cheer.  More  radical  in 
planning,  however,  is  the  inclusion  of  the 
third  unit,  in  addition  to  the  theatre  and 
cocktail  lounge — a large,  modern  bowling 
alley. 

In  the  past,  exhibitors  have  looked  upon 
bowling  as  a potential  major  rival  to  their 
own  enterprises.  In  many  cases,  they 
have  been  bowling  fans  themselves,  of 
course,  and  a few  have  also  bought  or  built 
bowling  alleys.  But  they  were  generally 
always  individual  enterprises,  most  prob- 
ably in  “opposition”  to  somebody  else’s 
theatre  business. 

However,  in  this  new  Detroit  house,  the 
ownei’s  have  gone  deliberately  into  the  op- 
position field,  and  made  the  alley  an  in- 
tegral part  of  the  theatre  structure  itself 
— actually  taking  up  half  again  as  much 
space  as  the  theatre  auditorium.  With  the 
alleys  right  in  the  building  project,  the 
patrons  of  bowling  are  brought  to  the 
theatre  building  as  often  as  they  play — 
and  traffic  is  increased  to  the  spot;  which 
is  a fundamental  objective  of  modern 
showmanship  in  theatre  planning. 

Mutual  Benefits 

But  the  alleys  contribute  to  the  theatre 
even  more  directly  than  as  just  traffic- 
builders.  Bowlers  playing  their  games  early 
can  go  to  the  theatre  afterward  to  see  the 
show,  while  late  bowlers  can  see  the  early 


• • 


show.  Again,  wives  of  bowlers  need  no 
longer  be  “alley  widows,”  but  can  put  in 
their  time  seeing  their  favorite  pictures, 
while  “friend  husbands”  who  don’t  care  so 
much  for  pictures,  are  enjoying  themselves 
next  door,  making  strikes  and  spares  and 
“railroads.”  Families  can  well  divide  their 
patronage  as  their  individual  inclinations 
dictate.  In  any  case,  the  theatre  receives 
additional  patronage,  because  the  non- 
bowling wife  who  will  go  to  a show  while 
her  husband  is  out  skittling,  for  instance, 
will  find  it  much  more  convenient  to  ac- 
company him  in  the  family  car  to  the 
same  spot,  than  to  go  out  by  herself  to 
some  more  distant  theatre. 

The  Parkside  bar  serves  as  a neighbor- 
hood gathering-place,  as  well  as  a spot  for 
the  after-the-show  lunch.  Meals  are 
served  there,  as  well  as  liquid  refreshments, 
and  the  spot  has  made  an  important 
specialty  of  noon-day  lunches,  so  that  busi- 
ness men  and  women  of  the  community  are 
inclined  to  gather  there  from  stores  and 
offices  all  over  the  neighborhood.  This 
brings  still  more  people — who  are  well  able 
to  spend  money  for  frequent  show-attend- 
ance for  themselves  and  families — to  the 
house,  to  notice  what  is  playing  there 
daily  from  marquee  and  front  signs  and 
banners. 

Such  is  the  background  of  the  strong 
“triple-threat”  construction  which  makes 
this  new  house  unique,  probably,  among 
American  theatres.  The  success  of  the 
idea  is  evidenced  by  the  boxoffice  records 
of  the  house  in  the  few  months  since  its 
opening. 

Site  Suitability 

The  Parkside  is  located  in  a thickly- 
settled  east-side  district  of  Detroit,  and  is 


PARKSIDE . . . 


nearly  a mile  from  the  next  nearest  thea- 
tre. Nearby  are  better  working-class 
homes,  built  about  15  years  ago,  worth 
about  $4,000-$6,000  in  a largely  home-own- 
ing section,  and  renting  at  about  $40-$65 
for  single  homes,  with  prices  mostly  in  the 
lower  brackets.  Vacant  lots  are  few,  and 
the  number  of  potential  patrons  is  great, 
although  the  average  number  of  children 
is  not  large  in  this  section. 

Across  the  street  is  the  new  Federal 
Housing  Project,  Parkside  Homes,  to  house 
perhaps  1,000  families  when  completed. 
The  last  addition  is  now  under  construc- 
tion, with  the  balance  occupied.  The  thea- 
tre name  was  selected  to  tie  in  with  that 
of  the  Housing  Project,  and  it  is  essential- 
ly a community  enterprise.  Here  on  an 
old  circus-lot,  is  the  largest  closely- 
localized  addition  to  Detroit  homes  in  many 
years.  Older  theatres  took  care  of  the 
original  residents  quite  adequately,  par- 
ticularly when  one  large  new  house  was 
opened  on  Harper  Avenue  a year  ago.  But 
this  sudden  increase  of  local  residents 
through  the  Federal  project  made  the  con- 
struction of  the  new  theatre  and  its  allied 
units  worth  immediate  consideration. 

Community  Interest 

Practicing  modern  showmanship,  the 
management  of  the  house  has  used  every 
means  of  stimulating  the  sense  of  com- 
munity interest  in  the  house.  The  man- 
ager was  selected  from  one  of  the  nearest 
theatres,  as  one  who  knew  his  people,  and 
who  was  a sort  of  honorary  official  of  the 
Project  Community  Association,  composed 
of  residents  in  the  Federal  homes.  Special 
parties  and  adequate  exploitation  have 
helped  to  knit  this  tie  closer. 

The  Parkside  was  designed  by  Archi- 
tects Bennett  and  Straight  of  Dearborn, 
Michigan,  who  have  created  many  of  the 
more  modern  Detroit  theatres.  It  was 
erected  by  the  Moss  Brothers — Erving  and 
Sydney — who,  as  the  Moss  Investment 
Company,  operate  the  house.  The  struc- 
ture is  unusual  in  that  it  was  actually  built 
by  the  exhibitors,  who  are  themselves  also 
in  the  building  field.  A number  of  spe- 


The Parkside  Theatre  front  expansively  proclaims 
the  dominance  of  motion  picture  entertainment  by 
the  brilliant  display  of  color,  light  and  promo- 
tional advertising.  However,  the  Parkside  project 
is  a “triple-threat”  for  entertainment  seekers,  pro- 
viding also  an  inviting  bar  and  grill  and  a bowling 
hall  which  exercise  a tremendous  draw  and  which 
may  be  noted  in  the  view  at  right.  (Photo  cour- 
tesy Long  Sign  Company). 


cial  features  of  the  house,  particularly  in 
detail  work,  such  as  artistic  treatment  and 
decoration,  were  designed  or  suggested  by 
the  brothers  Moss. 

The  building  is  260  by  100  feet  in  di- 
mensions, fronting  the  full  length  of  one 
block  on  East  Warren  Avenue,  with  the 
back  of  the  theatre  on  Dickerson  Avenue, 
while  the  side  of  the  bowling  alley  runs 
100  feet  on  Gray  Avenue. 

Effective  Contrast 

The  structure  is  faced  with  enameled 
metal  in  contrasting  colors  on  the  thea- 
tre side,  while  the  bowling  alley  portion 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


A bowling-  hall  of  the  latest  and  most  improved  type  is  a part  of 
the  Parkside  project,  denoting:  a trend  which  will  bring  the  two 
popular  competing  types  of  entertainment  under  one  management 
for  greater  profit  to  both.  The  finest  alleys  and  equipment  were 
installed  and  a feature  is  the  provision  of  regulation  theatre-type 
chairs  for  spectators.  (Photo  courtesy  American  Seating  Company). 


and  cocktail  lounge  are  finished  in  face 
brick,  marking  a distinct  break  in  style  be- 
tween the  two  sections.  Enameled  metal 
trim  in  contrasting  colors  is  used  on  the 
brick  part,  to  tie  in  with  the  general  deco- 
rative scheme. 

Basic  colors  of  the  theatre  front  are 
bronze,  maroon  and  buff,  repeated  in  the 
trim  on  the  rest  of  the  building.  The  up- 
per portion  of  the  theatre  front,  rising 
above  the  marquee  and  finished  in  a panel 
effect,  has  color  striping  between  each  ver- 
tical panel,  with  concealed  colored  neon 
tubing  to  give  a fountain-like  lighting  ef- 
fect. Additional  relatively  low-powered 
floodlights  hidden  in  the  marquee  are  used 
to  dramatize  the  front. 

The  whole  architectural  style  is  genuine- 
ly modern  with  the  color  scheme  in  some- 
what restrained  tones  on  the  glittering  en- 
amel as  the  basic  exterior  motif.  The  more 
conventional  brickwork  of  the  bowling  al- 
ley portion  is  given  a strongly  modern  tone 
by  almost  continuous  glass-brick  windows 
set  essentially  in  sets  of  three — two  glass- 
brick  portions  with  one  of  louvred  glass 
between,  which  contains  a portion  that 
may  be  controlled  for  ventilation. 


Brilliant  Display 

The  marquee  is  triangular  in  shape, 
with  three  rows  of  interchangeable  letter- 
ing on  each  of  the  two  exterior  faces. 
Colored  neon  tubing  is  used  for  the  border 
lighting  on  the  marquee,  while  a flat 
portion  along  the  wall  carries  out  the  de- 
sign of  the  center  angle  to  balance. 

Rising  to  60  feet  above  the  sidewalk, 
the  sign  at  the  end  of  an  extended  wall- 
border  of  the  marquee,  is  V-shaped,  with 
the  name  of  the  theatre  on  the  two  sides 
facing  Warren  Avenue.  Projecting  entirely 
over  the  sidewalk,  the  marquee  and  sign 
are  visible  for  over  a mile  in  each  direction 
along  this  important  east  - and  - west 
thoroughfare.  The  sign  is  suspended  from 
an  angle-positioned  support  of  the  false 

Floor  plans  by  Bennett  & Straight,  architects  of 
Dearborn,  Michigan,  for  the  Parkside  Theatre  and 
Bowling  Alley  project  show  the  adequacy  with 
which  the  owners  tackled  the  public  entertainment 
problem.  The  theatre,  the  bar  room  and  the 
bowling  hall  each  exerts  a tremendous  draw  on 
the  diversion-seeking  public  and  with  the  three 
under  one  roof  and  one  management  a new  formula 
for  success  has  been  achieved. 


front  of  enameled  metal  erected  over  the 
theatre  portion. 

The  lobby  rises  to  full  two-story  height. 
Modern  murals  in  an  abstract  style  serve 
as  unique  decoration.  Concealed  colored 
lighting  is  used  to  enhance  an  unusually 
attractive  entrance  to  the  house — thus 
serving  the  purpose  of  good  appearance  in 
salesmanship,  by  inviting  the  prospective 
patrons  to  enter  when  they  view  the  lobby 
from  the  outside,  and  in  turn  making  the 
final  effect  a pleasing  one  as  they  leave 
the  house. 

The  theatre  seats  1,000  patrons.  Its  floor 
is  elevated  on  a “bowled”  plan,  according 
to  the  architects,  so  that  the  curve  of  ele- 
vation gradually  flattens  out  from  the  back 
of  the  house  to  a line  which  is  practically 
level  at  the  stage.  This  allows  every  row 
of  seats  to  have  five  inches  of  clearance 
over  the  row  in  front,  providing  adequate 
screen  vision  for  patrons. 

Further  attention  to  good  view  of  the 
screen  resulted  in  the  installation  of  seats 
in  a staggered  arrangement.  This  made 
necessary  the  installation  of  many  of  the 

(Continued  on  following  page) 


Detroit's  New  PARKSIDE— 
A Three-Unit  Recreation 
Center 


(Continued  from  preceding  page) 


wide  double  chairs,  known  as  “love  seats,” 
in  order  to  even  up  the  rows  under  the 
staggered  arrangement.  They  are  placed 
at  about  every  fifth  row,  as  indicated  in 
the  picture  of  the  seating  arrangement. 

The  stage  is  15  feet  deep,  adequately  de- 
signed for  stage  presentations  of  average 
size.  The  screen  is  normally  set  back  about 
10  feet  from  the  proscenium  arch.  As  de- 
signed, the  house  is  not  at  present  provided 
with  fly-loft  or  dressing  rooms. 

The  auditorium  is  lined  with  cinder 
block,  decorated  in  contrasting  colors. 
Each  block  is  of  a slightly  different  tone 
from  adjacent  blocks  with  occasional 
darker  blocks  to  provide  interest.  Large 
murals,  similar  in  design  to  those  in  the 
lobby,  are  painted  on  each  sidewall  near 
the  stage. 

Special  equipment  includes  100  seats 
provided  with  earphones  for  the  hard-of- 
hearing — a modern  convenience  that  has 
become  increasingly  important  in  neigh- 
borhood theatres,  since  exhibitors  now 
know  that  some  four  per  cent  of  the  popu- 
lation may  be  considered  in  this  unfortu- 
nate class. 

Comfort  Stressed 

Air  conditioning  of  the  direct-fired  type 
was  installed,  for  complete  year-round 
operation.  Separate  air-conditioning  units 
w 're  provided  for  the  other  two  parts  of 
t^e  building,  in  order  that  they  may  be 
controlled  separately.  The  theatre,  for  in- 
stance, can  usually  be  kept  at  a higher 
temperature  than  that  required  for  the 
more  active  bowlers. 

The  bowling  hall  contains  20  regulation 
alleys,  with  about  125  spectator  seats.  An 
unusual  feature  here  is  the  provision  of 


The  Parkside  auditorium  seats  1,000  patrons  and 
is  a model  of  comfort,  convenience  and  eye  ap- 
peal. I.oungrey  seats,  luxurious  carpeting:,  proper 
air  conditioning-  and  distinguished  decoration  are 
highlights.  (Photo  courtesy  American  Seating 
Company). 

theatre-type  chairs  of  the  same  design  as 
those  used  in  the  auditorium,  instead  of 
the  familiar  hard  benches.  This  con- 
venience, almost  unique  in  bowling  alleys, 
has  already  brought  the  place  much  favor- 
able comment  from  bowlers  and  spectators 
who  like  this  unusual  degree  of  comfort. 

Acoustic  Considerations 
A special  acoustical  treatment  was  used 
extensively  on  the  walls  and  ceiling  of  the 
bowling  alley  to  drastically  reduce  noise, 
so  that  no  interference  with  the  operation 
of  the  theatre  will  ever  occur.  Acoustical 
treatment  was  used  only  in  a very  limited 
quantity  in  the  theatre  auditorium — only 
over  the  wall  behind  the  standee  rail — but 
it  was  used  throughout  the  alleys  to  pro- 
vide the  greatest  possible  absorption  ca- 
pacity. Additional  noise-deadening  is  pro- 
vided by  an  eight-foot  air  court  between 
the  bowling  hall  and  theatre  proper.  The 
ceiling  of  the  bar  room  is  also  treated  ac- 
coustically  to  reduce  noise.  This  room, 


IDENTIFICATION 
(Parkside  Theatre) 

AIR  CONDITIONING:  McLouth  Air  Conditioning 
Corp. 

ARCHITECTS:  Bennett  & Straight. 

BOWLING  EQUIPMENT:  Brunswick-Balke-Col- 
lender  Co. 

CARPETS:  Bigelow-Sanford  Carpet  Co. 

COOLING:  American  Refrigerating  Co. 
DRAPERIES:  Mork-Green  Studios. 

ELECTRICAL  WORK:  Jackson  Electric  Co. 
FRONT:  "Namelstone”  Company. 

LIGHTING  FIXTURES:  Michigan  Chandelier  Co. 
PAINTING:  Anthony  Eugenio. 

PROJECTION:  Brenkert  Light  Projection  Co. 
SEATING:  American  Seating  Co. 

SIGN  & MARQUEE:  Long  Sign  Co. 

SIGN  LETTERS:  Adler  Silhouette  Letter  Co. 
SOUND  EQUIPMENT:  RCA  Mfg.  Co.,  Inc. 

Additional  particulars  on  the  project  may  be  se- 
cured upon  request  to  The  Modern  Theatre  In- 
formation Bureau. 


which  seats  about  200,  is  lighted  from  con- 
cealed cove  lighting  sources. 

Separate  entrances  for  the  cocktail 
lounge  and  bowling  alley  are  provided, 
leading  from  a common  lobby.  A check- 
room and  rest  rooms  as  well  as  locker 
rooms  are  reached  from  this  lobby.  The 
alley-bar  lobby  entrance  has  its  own  mar- 
quee, semi-circular  in  design,  and  distinct 
in  treatment  from  the  theatre  marquee. 

The  bowling  alley  portion  of  the  build- 
ing is  designed  to  bear  the  weight  of  an 
additional  floor,  and  ultimate  plans  call 
for  its  construction,  with  space  for  an  ad- 
ditional 20  alleys. 

The  entire  building  is  estimated  to  have 
cost  about  $300,000.  The  relative  size  of 
each  of  the  three  main  units  is  well  shown 
in  their  floor  dimensions,  including  service 
and  accessory  rooms:  Bowling  alley,  12,900 
square  feet;  cocktail  lounge,  1,500  square 
feet;  theatre,  8,670  square  feet;  a total  of 
23,070  square  feet. 


Centrifugal  Refriger- 
ation Booklet  Released 

A new  booklet  entitled  “20  Years  Centri- 
fugal Refrigeration”  has  just  been  re- 
leased by  Carrier  Corporation  for  the  use 
of  air  conditioning  and  refrigerating  engi- 
neers and  architects. 

The  booklet  is  a 44-pager  in  which  the 
centrifugal  machine  is  described  in  de- 
tail. Beginning  in  1918,  when  Dr.  Willis 
H.  Carrier  started  experimental  work  on 
the  centrifugal  principle  of  compression 
for  mechanical  refrigeration,  the  history 
of  the  machine  is  carried  through  the  fol- 
lowing years.  The  first  installation  in 
1922,  still  in  operation,  is  followed  with 
performance  records  of  hundreds  of  in- 
stallations. 

All  parts  of  the  machine,  each  contribut- 
ing to  its  life  and  economic  service,  are 
shown  by  simple  perspective  drawings  ac- 
companied by  direct  non-technical  de- 
scriptions of  the  parts  and  the  functions 
they  perform.  The  refrigerating  cycle 
with  Carrene  2 is  shown  in  a four-color 
diagrammatic  drawing. 

The  center  spread  of  the  booklet  is  a 
cutaway  brush  drawing  which  shows  in- 
teriors of  compressor,  cooler  and  condenser 
as  if  parts  of  casings  or  shells  had  been 
removed.  A chapter  on  performance  com- 
pares the  cycle  efficiencies  of  refriger- 
ants as  well  as  mechanical  efficiencies  of 
refrigerating  systems. 

Many  installations,  described  and  illus- 
trated, show  the  application  range  of  the 
centrifugal  refrigerating  machine.  The 
ever  growing  number  of  installations  since 
the  first  machine  in  1922  is  depicted  by 
the  rapidly  rising  tonnage  curve. 


Competition  with  other  theatres  dwin- 
dles when  your  house  is  modern,  comfort- 
able and  attractive  in  appearance.  Such  a 
place  can  even  compete  with  the  charms 
of  home  and  fireside — and  that’s  real  com- 
petition. 


When  new  seats  are  installed,  exploit 
their  comfortability  and  beauty  to  the  cus- 
tomers. Promote  this  item  of  equipment 
which  has  been  provided  for  their  greater 
enjoyment  and  they’ll  react  in  the  most 
approved  manner. 


5G 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


ONLY  THROUGH 
THIS  MEDIUM 


CAN  YOU  REPRODUCE 


COLORED  PICTURES 
SATISFACTORILY 


The  Simplex  High  projects  the  snow- 
white  light  characteristic  of  the  high  inten- 
sity arc  which  is  so  necessary  to  the  projec- 
tion of  colored  pictures. 

This  low  cost,  high  intensity,  direct  current  pro- 
jection arc  of  intermediate  capacity  has  been  de- 
signed especially  for  theatres  of  up  to  800  seats  and 
using  screens  as  large  as  18  feet  in  width,  heretofore 
restricted  to  the  use  of  low  intensity  lamps,  with  their 
dim  yellow  light,  because  the  operating,  if  not  the 
original  cost  of  the  earlier  high  intensities  has  been 
prohibitive. 

Although  the  Simplex  High  projects  twice  as 
much  light  as  the  low  intensity,  the  over-all  operating 
costs  are  only  slightly  higher. 


Distributed  by 

NATIONAL  THEATRE 

*Color  Photographs  by  lames  T.  Strong 


SUPPLY  CO. 

"There's  a Branch  Near  You" 


FOUR-TUBE  RECTIFIER 
FOR  HIGH  INTENSITY 
PROJECTION  ARCS 

The  most  efficient,  low-priced 
means  of  converting  three-phase 
alternating  current  to  direct 
current  for  use  as  a power  sup- 
ply to  the  Magnarc  lamp.  This 
rectifier  is  built  in  two  capa- 
cities, adjustable 45  to  50  amperes 
and  45  to  65  amperes. 


COPPER  OXIDE 
RECTIFIER 

A full  metallic,  heavy  duty 
equipment  which  has  been  de- 
signed for  converting  three-phase 
alternating  current  to  direct  cur- 
rent as  a power  supply  for  Mag- 
narc high  intensity  projection  arc 
lamps. 

Maintenance  or  attention  is 
unnecessary.  There  are  no  mov- 
ing parts  nor  physical  changes  in 
the  rectifying  process,  since  recti- 
fication is  simply  by  molecular 
action. 


SIX-TUBE  HEAVY  DUTY 
RECTIFIER 

has  been  designed  as  a com- 
panion to  the  Magnarc  lamp, 
wherever  the  lamp  is  to  be  used 
at  high  currents. 

This  rectifier  employs  six  15- 
ampere  Tungar-type  tubes,  con- 
nected for  full  wave  rectification 
on  three-phase  current  which  re- 
sults in  an  overlapping  in  im- 
pulses sufficient  to  produce  an  ex- 
ceptionally smooth  output  current. 


INTERMEDIATE  CAPACITY 
HIGH  INTENSITY 
FOUR-TUBE  RECTI  FIER 

has  been  designed  for  use 
as  a direct  current  power  supply 
for  the  Simplex  High  Intensity 
Projection  Lamp.  This  coordinated 
rectifier  equipment  has  the  built- 
in  volt-amperage  characteristics 
necessary  to  maintain  the  perfect 
power  balance  required  by  this 
new  type  arc. 


Distributed  by 


NATIONAL  THEATRE  SUPPLY  COMPANY 

" There’s  a Branch  Near  You" 


Mr.  Popkin’s  Revenge... or 
the  worm  kicks  back-  hut  hard 


had  loved  the  movies  fox’  more  than  thirty 
years,  ever  since  he  and  his  three  younger 
brothers  had  seen  their  first  pictui’e  at 
the  old  tin-front  Doric  in  Chicago.  He 
still  l-emembered  that  one  nickel  had  taken 
all  four  of  them  in,  by  special  arrange- 
ment with  the  theatre  owner  and  the 
Popkin  boys’  mother,  and  he  liked  to  look 
back  upon  those  days  of  “The  Perils  of 
Pauline,”  “The  Clutching  Hand”  and  “The 
Keystone  Cops”  as  among  the  happiest 
in  his  life. 

Now,  at  thirty-eight,  still  a confirmed 
movie-goer,  he  went  three  times  a week 
to  the  one  lone  theatre  in  the  little  town 
of  Zinopolis  where  he  lived.  Mr.  Popkin 
paid  a quarter  now — or  twenty-eight  cents, 
with  tax — and  he  had  long  ago  forgotten 
his  allegiance  to  Broncho  Billy  Anderson 
in  favor  of  Gene  Autry  and  Smiley  Bur- 
nette. He  still  liked  to  immerse  himself 
in  the  exploits  of  his  favoi’ites  and  forget 
the  world  outside,  but  he  had  noticed  of 
late  that  at  the  Zinopolis  Rocksy  it  was 
becoming  increasingly  difficult  to  enjoy 
the  pictures  as  he  used  to. 

A Plot  Is  Hatched 

“Maybe  it’s  something  wrong  with  me,” 
Popkin  told  his  wife.  “Maybe  it’s  my 
eyes.”  But  his  work  in  his  cigar  and  sta- 
tionery store  gave  him  no  trouble;  he 
could  still  spot  a moocher  or  a lead  nickel 
as  fast  as  ever,  and  it  was  just  as  easy 
as  always  to  read  aces  back  to  back  in 
the  poker  sessions  with  the  boys  on 
Sunday. 

“That  Rocksy,  now,”  Popkin  told  Takasch 
the  butcher,  “is  it  the  pictures  getting 
worse,  or  is  it  something  else?  I just 
ain’t  enjoying  them  like  I used  to.  What 
do  you  think,  Herman?” 

“I  don’t  know,”  said  Takasch.  “I  don’t 
go  to  the  Rocksy  now  for  two  year.” 

The  next  day  Mr.  Popkin  went  over  to 
Tony  Molinari’s  Elite  Barber  Shop  for  his 
periodic  hair  cut.  “You  go  to  the  Rocksy 
this  week  Tony?”  Popkin  asked  the  bar- 
ber. “They  got  a new  Gene  Autry  there 
that’s  supposed  to  be  a hummer.” 

“Me,  I no  go.  I like-a  better  the  Rivoli, 
over  by  Starkville.  How  you  want  the 
hair  comb,  wet  or  dry?” 

“I’ll  take  it  dry,”  said  Popkin,  and  re- 
lapsed into  thoughtful  silence  in  the  bar- 
ber chair. 

That  Friday  Mr.  Popkin  put  his  wife  in 
his  Plymouth  and  drove  ten  miles  into 
Starkville.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Popkin  went  into 
the  Rivoli  at  eight  o’clock  and  came  out 
at  eleven-thirty,  and  when  the  two  of 
them  got  into  the  Plymouth  again,  Mr. 
Popkin  had  his  answer. 

Episode  No.  2 

Early  the  next  morning  Nicholas  Pop- 
kin, smiling  broadly,  visited  in  quick  suc- 


by  F.  LOUIS  FRIEDMAN* 


cession  the  butcher  shop  of  Herman 
Takasch,  the  tonsorial  parlor  of  Tony 
Molinari  and  the  tailoring  establishment 
of  Sam  Kopitsky.  To  each  of  his  friends 
he  presented  the  same  conspiratorial  plan, 
and  when  he  left  them,  after  fifteen  min- 
utes of  whispered  conversation,  they  had 
laughingly,  and  with  much  hilarity,  prom- 
ised to  do  what  he  asked  them. 

“It’s  just  a joke,  of  course,”  Mr.  Popkin 
explained  to  his  three  friends.  “But  it’s 
the  only  way  I can  think  of  to  make  that 
Gus  Malvina  see  his  Rocksy  like  I see  it.” 

“Sure,  sure,  we  help,”  Takasch,  Kopitsky 
and  Molinari  all  said.  “That  fellow  Mal- 
vina, it’s  ’bout  time  he  wake  up.” 

Episode  No.  3 

The  Rocksy’s  Mr.  Malvina  had  lived  in 
Zinopolis  for  fifteen  years.  Up  until  a 
few  years  ago  he  had  always  made  a 
comfortable  living  out  of  the  place;  he 
managed  the  house  himself,  and  he  rather 
fancied  his  ability  to  squeeze  the  last 
penny  of  concessions  out  of  the  film  sales- 
men. Once  in  a while  you  could  find  a 
letter  from  him  in  “The  Exhibitor  Has 
His  Say”  column  of  his  favorite  trade 
paper.  The  letters  were  all  the  same. 
“Metro  pictures?  Teri’ible.  Warner’s? 
Awful.  Fox?  No  good.  These  producers 
don’t  know  how  to  make  pictures  any 
more.  A small  exhibitor  just  can’t  make 
money  nowadays.” 

When  Malvina  wasn’t  thumbing  idly 
through  the  trade  papers  in  his  little  office 
next  to  the  projection  room,  he  could  be 
found  in  Nicholas  Popkin’s  tobacco  and 
stationery  stoi’e  on  Main  Street  or  visit- 
ing with  some  of  his  other  acquaintances 
in  Zinopolis.  So  when  Mr.  Popkin  left  his 
three  friends  that  Saturday  morning  and 
went  back  to  his  store,  he  knew  that 
sometime  that  day  Gus  Malvina  would  be 
around.  Mr.  Popkin  was  prepared  for  him. 

Popkin  was  down  behind  the  counter 
checking  up  some  stock  when  he  heard 
the  squeak  of  the  door  as  it  opened.  Mr. 
Popkin  straightened  up  and  looked  at 
Gus  Malvina. 

“H’ya,  Gus,”  Popkin  smiled.  “How’s  the 
Rocksy?” 

“How  should  it  be?”  said  Malvina,  sour- 
ly. “Gimme  pack  o’  Luckies.”  He  threw 
some  change  on  the  counter. 

Mr.  Popkin  didn’t  move.  He  just  stood 
still,  smiling  at  Malvina.  “Pack  o’  Luckies, 
eh,  Gus?” 

“I  got  ’em,  Gus.  Here  you  are.”  Mr. 
Popkin  took  down  a package  of  Lucky 
Strikes  from  the  shelf,  picked  up  a razor 
blade,  slit  the  package  neatly  down  the 

♦Advertising:  Manager  National  Theatre  Sup- 
ply Company. 


While  the  characters  and  incidents  de- 
picted in  this  somewhat  pathetic  epic 
are  entirely  fictional,  any  resemblance 
to  actual  or  living  persons  should  come 
as  no  great  surprise  to  the  reader.  It 
could  be! 


sides  and  threw  the  paper  wrapping  away. 
Then  he  tossed  the  twenty  loose  cigarettes 
out  on  the  coxmter. 

“Hey,  wootsa  idea!”  Malvina  spluttered. 
“You  crazy?  What  kinda  monkey  business 
you  call  that?  If  that’s  your  idea  of  a 
joke  . . .” 

“Now,  now,  take  it  easy,  Gus.  You  asked 
for  cigarettes,  didn’t  you?  What  do  you 
need  the  wrapping  for?  It’s  the  cigar- 
ettes you  want,  isn’t  it?  What  do  you 
care  if  they’re  fixed  up  pretty?  Go  ahead, 
pick  ’em  up.” 

“I  want  my  money’s  worth,  that’s  what,” 
Malvina  yelled.  “I  want  my  cigarettes  in 
a package.  I don’t  have  to  buy  from  you 
— I can  go  some  place  else!”  He  swept 
up  his  money  from  the  counter  and  stalked 
out. 

Mr.  Popkin  smiled  to  himself  as  he 
watched  Malvina  leave.  “Well,  that’s 
round  one,”  Popkin  said.  “Just  wait  ’til 
he  gets  the  rest  of  it.” 

Episode  No.  4 

Never  had  Mr.  Malvina  had  such  a day. 
It  wasn’t  enough  that  he  couldn’t  get  his 
cigarettes  decently  wrapped  as  he  always 
got  them;  it  seemed  that  the  other  stores 
had  suddenly  gone  crazy,  too.  Never  be- 
fore had  Tony  Molinari  treated  him  as  he 
had  today  when  he  had  gone  in  to  have 
his  hair  cut.  All  had  gone  well  enough 
until  Tony  had  suddenly  whipped  off  the 
long  cloth  that  covered  Mr.  Malvina  and 
said,  “Okay,  Mist’  Malvin,’  finished.  Glad 
to  see  you.” 

Malvina  looked  at  himself  in  the  mirror. 
He  turned  to  Tony:  “Finished?  Whaddya 
mean,  finished.  You  ain’t  combed  it.” 

“Oh  you  no  need  it  comb,”  Tony  said, 
smiling.  “What  for  you  need  it  comb? 
I tell-a  you  what,  you  go  comb  de  hair 
youi’self,  heh?  What  for  you  need-a  the 
extra  trimmings?” 

“You  comb  my  hair  or  you  don’t  get 
paid.” 

“Okay,  I don’  get  paid.  I no  worry.” 

“You’ll  go  broke  if  you  treat  all  your 
customers  this  way,”  Malvina  shouted. 
“I’m  through.  I’ll  never  come  in  here 
again.” 

Mr.  Malvina  stormed  out  of  the  barber 
shop  and  Tony  Molinari  went  back  and 
phoned  his  friend  Mr.  Popkin.  They 
talked  for  a few  minutes,  and  when  Tony 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


59 


hung  up  the  receiver,  he  was  chuckling 
to  himself. 

But  it  wasn’t  until  the  next  day,  at  the 
Sunday  afternoon  poker  session,  that  the 
full  report  of  Gus  Malvina’s  tribulations 
reached  Mr.  Popkin.  Herman  Takasch, 
the  butcher,  had  refused  to  wrap  the 
porterhouse  steak  that  Malvina  had  or- 
dered, claiming  that  Malvina  had  asked 
for  a steak  and  had  got  a steak,  and  that 
having  it  wrapped  wasn’t  necessary.  “I 
tell  dat  faller,  dat  Gaus  Malvina,”  said 
Herman,  “you  cook  paper,  or  you  cook 
steak?  Paper  is  trimmings.  Not  neces- 
sary.” 

Mr.  Malvina  hadn’t  taken  the  steak. 

Yet  it  was  in  Sam  Kopitsky’s  tailor  shop 
that  Mr.  Popkin’s  plan  had  reached  its 
final  flowering.  Into  the  shop  came  Gus 
Malvina,  very  dark  and  red  in  the  face  and 
demanded  the  topcoat  he  had  ordered. 
“And  don’t  tell  me  you’re  not  going  to 
wrap  it,  either,”  Malvina  rasped  out.  “I’ve 
had  enough  of  that  today,  already.” 

“Wrep  op  the  coat?”  said  Sam.  “Sure, 
I’ll  gonna  wrep  op  the  coat.  But  first 
you’ll  gonna  try  it  on,  please.  For  the 
fit.” 

“Okay,  okay,”  grunted  Malvina.  “But 
hurry  it  up.  I gotta  get  back  to  the 
Rocksy.  Got  work  to  do.” 

So  Kopitsky  gently  took  off  its  hanger 
the  very  new  topcoat  Malvina  had  ordered 
and  holding  it  by  the  collar,  helped  Mal- 
vina into  it.  “There  you  are,”  Kopitsky 
said.  “Look  by  the  mirror.” 

Malvina  stepped  forward  for  a closer 
look  into  the  three-sided  mirror,  smoothed 
the  front  of  the  coat  down  and  then,  put- 
ting his  hands  in  the  side  pockets,  looked 
at  himself  again.  Then  he  tried  to  button 
the  coat.  There  were  no  buttons. 

Malvina  was  so  mad  he  couldn’t  talk. 
All  he  could  do  was  point.  He  kept  stab- 
bing at  the  front  of  the  coat  with  his 
finger,  trying  to  show  the  tailor  what 
was  wrong.  Finally,  he  managed  to  splut- 
ter, “the  buttons — where’s  them  buttons? 
How’m  I gonna  wear ” 

“Bottons?”  asked  Kopitsky  innocently, 
“you  want  bottons,  too?” 

“Yes,  I want  buttons.  What  kinda  dope 
you  think  I am,  going  ’round  in  a coat 
with  no  buttons.  Sam,  are  you  nuts?” 

“Oh  no,  Mr.  Malvina,  I know  what  I do. 
You  ordered  one  topcoat,  I make  you  one 
topcoat.  You’ll  gonna  be  warm  even  with- 
out bottons.  Of  course,  I’m  figuring  all 
you’re  interested  in  is  keeping  plain  warm. 
Yes,  or  no,  Mr.  Malvina?” 

Episode  No.  5 

After  the  Sunday  afternoon  poker  game, 
Mr.  Popkin  and  his  three  friends  saun- 
tered by  the  Rocksy.  The  cashier  behind 
the  ticket  window  was  reading  a maga- 
zine. Gus  Malvina  standing  near  the  box- 
office  eyed  the  four  men  gloomily,  but 
said  nothing. 

Popkin  turned  to  his  friends.  “Shall  we 
tell  him?”  he  asked.  Takasch,  Kopitsky 
and  Molinari  all  nodded  their  heads.  “Sure, 
sure,  tell  him,”  Kopitsky  said.  “Tell  him 
so  he’ll  don’t  think  we’re  so  crazy.” 

“You  don’t  have  to  tell  me  nothing,” 
Malvina  said.  “I’m  off  you  guys  for  life.” 

“Oh,  no,  you’re  not,”  said  Mr.  Popkin. 
“We’re  really  doing  you  a favor.  Now 
listen.  You  didn’t  like  it  when  I gave  you 


cigarettes  loose  like  I did,  did  you?  No. 
And  you  didn’t  like  it  when  Herman  hand- 
ed you  that  steak  without  wrapping  it? 
No.  And  when  Tony  cut  your  hair  with- 
out combing  it,  you  didn’t  like  that  either, 
did  you?  And  you  sure  didn’t  like  it  when 
Sam  gave  you  your  coat  without  buttons, 
did  you?  No.  Well,  Gus,  you’re  just  as 
bad  as  we  were  trying  to  be.  Maybe  not 
quite  so  bad  because  we  were  kinda  put- 
ting it  on  thick  so’s  you  could  see  the 
point ” 

“Whaddya  mean,  me?”  Malvina  coun- 
tered. What  did  I ever  do  like  that — ” 

“Wait  a minute;  wait  a minute!  You 
run  a theatre,  don’t  you?  You  ask  money 
for  it,  don’t  you?  So  what  do  we  get? 
Sure  we  get  pictures,”  Mr.  Popkin  said 
reasonably,  “but  how  do  we  get  pictures? 
I admit  I didn’t  realize  what  was  wrong 
until  I went  over  to  the  Rivoli.  I thought 
all  pictures  had  to  be  fuzzy  and  gray- 
looking like  yours.  And  the  surroundings! 
The  pictures  ain’t  everything.  Look  at 
your  place,  worn-out,  dingy-looking,  run 
down  . . . why  you  just  give  your  cus- 
tomers the — the — the  skeleton,  the  bare 
skeleton,  that’s  what.  So  we — me  and 
Sam  and  Herman  and  Tony  thought  we’d 


llQt)  EPORTING  many  important  tech- 
Jll\V  nical  contributions  to  the  motion 
picture  sound  recording  and  re- 
producing fields  from  the  RCA  Research 
Laboratories  during  the  past  year,  Edward 
C.  Cahill,  Division  Manager,  recently  re- 
viewed 1940’s  progress  and  took  a look  into 
the  future..  He  revealed  that  his  com- 
pany’s sound  reproducer  sales  during  1940 
were  considerably  ahead  of  1939’s  total. 

“This  has  been  a year  of  unusual  pro- 
gress in  the  technical  field,”  he  said.  “It 
has  seen  the  introduction  of  the  revolu- 
tionary new  Fantasound  as  the  first  prac- 
tical solution  of  the  problem  presented  by 
the  unnatural  concentration  of  motion 
picture  sound  behind  the  screen. 

“Further,  1940  witnessed  the  develop- 
ment of  Panoramic  Sound,  to  provide  more 
realistic  sound  reproduction  for  theatres  of 
every  size  and  description  at  a moderate 
cost,  and  utilizing  all  presently-installed 
equipment.  Establishment  of  film  stand- 
ards by  the  Academy  of  Motion  Picture 
Arts  and  Sciences  must  precede  its  general 
release  to  the  industry. 

“Then  there  was  the  introduction  of  the 
new  magic  screen  during  the  year,  pro- 
viding exhibitors  with  an  entirely  new  type 
of  low-cost  screen — new  in  light  reflecting 
characteristics,  and  in  sound  transmitting 
properties.  Among  other  forward  steps 
during  the  year  were  the  introduction  of 
new  low-cost,  highly-efficient  reproduc- 
ing system  for  small  theatres,  and  the 
new  record  player  mechanism  especially 
designed  to  operate  with  modern  theatre 
sound  systems. 

“Also  introduced  in  1940  was  a radically 
new,  portable  recording  equipment  packed 
in  suit-case  size  carrying  cases.  Used  in 
recording  “The  Ramparts  We  Watch” 
and  numerous  newsreel  sequences,  the  sys- 
tem was  hailed  as  one  of  the  most  import- 
ant contributions  to  the  recording  art  in 
recent  years.  In  addition,  certain  refine- 


try  the  same  on  you — we’d  leave  out  the 
trimmings  and  see  how  you  liked  it.  Now 
you  know  . . . Whew!  That  was  a long 
speech!” 

The  Outcome 

“That’s  right,  that’s  right,  Gus,”  said 
the  ether  three  conspirators.  “We  just 
wanted  to  show  you.” 

“Aw,  you  fellows  are  crazy.  Besides,  I 
can’t  afford  to  fix  this  place  over.  The 
business  just  ain’t  there.” 

“Okay,  okay,”  said  Nicholas  Popkin,  “but 
remember,  Gus,  it’s  the  trimmings  that 
count.  We  don’t  HAVE  to  come  here. 
Right,  boys?” 

“Right,”  said  Takasch. 

“Right,”  said  Molinari. 

“Right,”  said  Kopitsky. 

“Well,  we’ll  be  seeing  you,”  said  Pop- 
kin. “Now  how  about  visiting  a good 
theatre?  How  about  the  Rivoli,  boys? 
What  do  you  say?” 

“Okay,”  said  Takasch  and  Molinari  and 
Kopitsky. 

“Wrap  it  up,  boys,”  Popkin  said,  and 
all  four  men  walked  away. 

Gus  Malvina  watched  them  thought- 
fully. “I  wonder  . . .”  he  said  to  him- 
self. “Are  they  crazy,  or  am  I?” 


ments  in  studio  recording  apparatus  were 
introduced  in  1940.” 

Mr.  Cahill  continued,  “thanks  to  gener- 
ally improved  business  conditions  and  an 
apparent  understanding  on  the  part  of 
thousands  of  exhibitors  of  the  need  for 
modernizing  their  houses,  the  outlook  for 
1941  continues  favorable. 

“It  is  notable  that  during  the  latter  half 
of  1940  an  unusually  large  portion  of  re- 
ducer sales  were  to  operators  of  new 
houses,  either  building  or  planned,”  he 
said.  “The  industry  is  continuing  to  ex- 
pand its  outlets  in  virtually  every  section 
of  the  country.” 


Plan  Well  lor  Safety 

in  Stage  Equipment 

Too  frequently,  plans  for  the  mechanical 
elements  of  a stage  are  subjected  to  de- 
mands for  economy,  because  the  workings 
of  the  stage  are  too  little  understood,  or 
the  safety  element  is  not  taken  seriously. 

When  properly  planned,  an  efficient 
stage  can  be  installed  with  genuine  long- 
time economy  and  complete  safety.  Pro- 
per planning,  however,  requires  complete 
knowledge  of  the  stress,  strain  and  load 
to  be  handled  on  all  stage  devices.  There 
are  danger  points  which  must  have  com- 
plete analysis  and  understanding. 

It  is  unquestionably  false  economy  to 
specify  such  material  as  head  blocks,  loft 
blocks,  floor  blocks,  cable  and  so  forth  of 
a weight  and  quality  less  than  is  abso- 
lutely needed  to  handle  the  maximum 
load.  Permanent  safety  in  operation  and 
low  maintenance  costs  can  be  provided  for 
with  equipment  that  will  stand  up  for 
many  years. 


Decoratively,  the  theatre  chair  is  perhaps 
the  largest  item  in  an  auditorium  scheme. 
As  such  it  should  be  a thing  of  beauty  and 
harmony  with  all  other  elements  therein. 


REPORTS  PROGRESS ; PREDICTS  GOOD  BUSINESS 


GO 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


w 

f 

r 


JL  0 make  your  box  office  pay  . . . you  need 
Class  and  Comfort  in  your  theatre  chairs. 
And  that's  where  Heywood’s  new  Cameo 
really  shines.  This  swanky  seat  gives  you 
plenty  of  class  . . . oodles  of  real,  spring- 
edge  comfort.  You’ll  like  the  Cameo  . . . 
like  the  way  it  adds  color,  sparkle  and  glamour 
to  your  theatre  interior.  Your  patrons  will 
like  it  too.  They’ll  enjoy  its  fireside  comfort 
and  return  to  your  box  office  for  more! 

May  we  furnish  details? 


»♦♦.»»  •••  tf*  •-»-»  ••••»•••  ••  *, 

••••  jjh  ••••  •••  •••  ••• 

• Um  Uh  ••••  ••  ••••  •»»* 

j ««•*  »•*••••••  ••••,*  222!  •••• 

••••  ••••  MM  MM  ••••  ,*«•  ««t 


THEATRE  SEATING  1MVIS 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


61 


Advisory  Board 

The  PLANNING  INSTITUTE  Is  conduct- 
ed in  collaboration  with  the  following  thea- 
tre architects,  structural  designers  and  en- 
gineers, who  have  agreed  to  act  as  technical 
advisers  to  the  Institute  and  editorial  text 
contributors  to  THE  MODERN  THEATRE 
from  their  respective  localities. 

Charles  N.  Agree, 

Detroit,  Michigan. 

Clifford  A.  Bait'll, 

Los  Angeles,  Calif. 

Bruce  F.  Barnes, 

St.  I.ouis,  Mo. 

Arnold  E.  Basclirn  Si  Assoc., 

Fresno,  Calif. 

Myles  E.  Belongia, 

Shoretvood,  Wis. 

Boy  A.  Benjamin, 

Jacksonville,  Fla. 

Bennett  & Straight, 

Dearborn,  Mieli. 

T.  H.  Buell  & Co., 

Denver,  Colo. 

Corgan  & Moore, 

Dallas,  Tex. 

Michael  J.  DeAngclis 
Rochester,  N.  V. 

J.  W.  DeYoung, 

Portland,  Ore. 

George  A.  Eliding, 

Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Erwin  G.  Fredrick, 

Chicago,  111. 

Win.  I.  llohauser,  Inc., 

New  York,  N.  Y. 

Donn  Bougen, 

Wisconsin  Bapids,  Wis. 

Houston  & Smith, 

Dallas,  Tex. 

Clarence  Kivett, 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Kaplan  Si  Sprudnniin, 

Toronto,  Out.,  Canada 
S.  Charles  Lee, 
l.os  Angeles,  Calif. 

Edward  Paul  l.ewin, 

Chicago,  Bl. 

Liebenlierg  & Knplau, 

Minneapolis,  Minn. 

MacKie  & Kanirutli, 

Houston,  Tex. 

Mnrr  & Holman, 

Nashville,  Tenn. 

Pereira  & Pereira, 

Chicago,  HI. 

Pettigrew  & Worley, 

Dallas,  Tex. 

Vincent  G.  Raney, 

San  Francisco,  Calif. 

C.  W.  & Geo.  L.  Bapp,  Inc., 

Chicago,  III. 

Victor  A.  Bigaumont, 

Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

Spillman  & Spillman, 

San  Antonio,  Tex. 

Erie  G.  Stillwell,  Inc., 

Hendersonville,  N.  C. 

David  Supowilz, 

Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Wetlierell  & Harrison, 

Des  Moines,  la. 

NOTE:  The  Institute  does  not  undertake 
the  practical  functions  of  an  architect  or 
designer.  Its  service  is  intended  merely 
to  place  our  readers  in  touch  with  reliable 
local  sources  of  preliminary  information 
and  advice  on  theatre  planning  and  struc- 
tural problems.  Inquiries  pertaining  to 
Architectural  Service  will  be  relayed  to  the 
nearest  member  of  the  advisory  board. 


AIR  CONDITIONING  NEEDS  MEN  WITH  TRAINING 


|||~~]  VERY  technical  industry  in  this 
;jh  country,  including  air  conditioning, 
needs  men  who  have  been  “properly 
trained,”  Dr.  Willis  H.  Carrier,  chairman 
of  the  board  of  Carrier  Corporation,  told 
members  of  the  New  York  Section  of  the 
American  Physical  Society  at  a recent 
meeting  at  Syracuse  University. 

Contending  that  there  are  plenty  of 
openings  for  the  right  men,  Dr.  Carrier 
explained  that  by  proper  training  he  meant 
men  who  have  been  educated  “rather  than 
merely  superficially  informed  as  we  find 
the  great  majority  of  students  coming  to 
us  today.” 

“We  need  men  who  are  able  to  advance 
the  boundaries  of  human  knowledge  and 
accomplishment,”  he  maintained.  “If  it 
had  not  been  for  old  Steele’s  natural  phil- 
osophy, which  I found  around  the  house 
when  a boy,  together  with  a natural  curi- 
osity which  led  to  my  reading  and  study- 
ing all  by  myself,  thus  acquiring  my 
grounding  in  physics,  it  is  quite  possible 
that  I would  not  have  developed  air  con- 
ditioning.” 

He  pointed  out  that  the  so-called  “best 
students”  often  fail,  where  those  con- 
sidered their  scholastic  inferiors  succeed. 

“We  want  men  with  elastic  minds,  men 
who  are  not  ‘mentally  muscle-bound’,”  said 
Dr.  Carrier.  “We  need  men  who  have  a 
conception  of  the  broad  generalities,  or 
the  philosophy  of  physical  science  rather 
than  the  narrow  technicians. 


“This  does  not  mean  that  the  individual 
should  not,  in  addition,  have  been  trained 
in  precision,  in  thoroughness  and  in  re- 
spect for  the  truth,”  he  added.  “The  latter 
is  a part  of  all  sound  education  and  while 
it  must  not  be  ignored,  it  must  not  be  over- 
emphasized to  the  exclusion  of  a true  per- 
ception and  appreciation  of  the  broader 
philosophy  of  the  science.” 

Contending  that  undergraduate  work  in 
engineering  should  never  be  specialized, 
Dr.  Carrier  contended  that  emphasis 
should  be  placed  on  training  to  develop 
independent  thinking  and  good  work 
habits,  rather  than  toward  amassing  fac- 
tual knowledge. 

“This  is  equally  true  of  the  training  for 
an  engineer  who  is  later  to  follow  air  con- 
ditioning,” he  said.  “He  needs,  however,  a 
thorough  grounding  in  the  mechanics  of 
fluids,  in  thermodynamics  and  heat  trans- 
fer. 

“The  air  conditioning  engineer  also  must 
know  something  about  sound.  For  air 
conditioning  to  be  acceptable,  it  must  be 
quiet.  This  problem  of  noise  is  particu- 
larly acute  in  broadcasting  and  movie 
studios,  as  well  as  in  theatres.” 


Hospitality  is  a potent  quality  in  enter- 
tainment provision.  Practice  it  as  you  do 
in  your  home  and  you’ll  find  your  paying 
guests  returning  more  often. 


Lewin  Designs  Another 

Modern  for  Rockford 

The  Auburn  district  in  Rockford,  Illi- 
nois, is  now  the  only  important  business 
sector  in  the  city  without  a motion  pic- 
ture theatre.  But  ground  was  recently 
broken  for  the  erection  of  the  New  Au- 
burn Theatre  in  this  district  on  Auburn 
Street  just  east  of  North  Main  for  the 
Auburn  Amusement  Company,  of  which 
Willard  N.  Van  Matre  is  president. 

Edward  Paul  Lewin,  a member  of  The 
Modern  Theatre  Planning  Institute,  who 
also  designed  and  built  the  Times  Thea- 
tre in  Rockford  in  1938,  is  architect  for 
the  new  house.  The  Auburn  and  Times 
theatres  are  the  only  new  houses  that 
have  been  constructed  in  Rockford  in  the 
last  decade. 

The  new  house  will  be  completely  air 
conditioned  and  will  contain  many  new 
developments  in  theatre  construction  and 
design,  of  which  the  main  feature  will  be  a 
circular  crystal  railed  stairway  from  the 
main  foyer  to  the  lounge  rooms  in  the 
basement. 

The  complete  case  history  of  this  pro- 
ject with  further  descriptive  sketches  of 
the  design  will  be  presented  in  one  of  the 
forthcoming  issues  of  The  Modern  Thea- 
tre section.  Completion  is  set  for  Sep- 
tember, 1,  1941. 


Spring  cleaning  time  will  soon  be  upon 
us.  This  is  the  time  when  changes  of  ap- 
pearance, installation  of  new  equipment 
and  general  refurbishing  are  most  timely. 


A view  showing  how  the  circular  crystal  stairway 
immediately  off  the  fountain  lounge  in  the  new 
Auburn  Theatre  will  appear  after  completion  this 
Fall. 


62 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


fl  GOOD 
IT 

PATfions 


Just  as  you  would  offer  your  friends 
the  most  comfortable  chairs  at  your 
hearth,  you  should  make  even  more 
sure  of  the  comfort  of  your  patrons.  They 
expect  it.  They  pay  for  it.  You  must 
provide  it  ...  or  it  is  natural  for  them  to 
seek  it  elsewhere. 


The  comfort  of  Ideal  Seating  is  your 
best  insurance  against  such  loss  of  pat- 
ronage. 

Write  for  literature.  There's  an  Ideal 
Chair  to  fit  every  budget  . . . "built  to 
excel,  not  just  to  compete." 

IDEAL  SEATING  COMPANY 

GRAND  RAPIDS,  MICHIGAN 

— EXPORT  OFFICE  — 


330  W.  42nd  St.,  New  York  City 
Attention:  I.  E.  Robin 


Carpet  is  a Keynote  in  tin;  Modern  Theatre 

Plan  for  House  Appeal 


T 

1 HERE  is  one  item  of  modern  theatre 
furnishing  which  perhaps  covers  more  ter- 
ritory both  literally  and  figuratively,  than 
any  other-carpet.  Yet,  so  often  this 
very  important  functional  material  is 
passed  over  lightly  and  given  too  little  con- 
sideration by  theatre  owners  or  builders  of 
new  houses.  Unfortunately,  beautiful  car- 
pet is  just  taken  for  granted.  No  doubt 
this  may  be  attributed  to  the  fact  that  we 
all  place  so  much  trust  in  the  carpet  manu- 
facturers, and  of  course  this  trust  is  well- 
founded. 

However,  the  carpet  people  certainly 
consider  us,  their  customers.  The  Ameri- 
can rug  and  carpet  industry  is  a vener- 
able and  trustworthy  element  of  the 
American  scene.  Reliability  has  been  built 
up  over  years  of  service — and  latterly  over 
years  of  service  specifically  to  the  theatre 
industry.  Theatre  people  are  able  to  judge 
quality  in  carpet  trustingly  by  no  other 
scale  than  the  list  of  prices,  knowing  full 
well  that  a real  money’s-worth  will  be 
received  no  matter  what  the  purchase 
price. 

The  carpet-maker’s  advice  may  be  taken 
quite  safely  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the 
purchase  and  installation  of  his  product. 
He  knows  best  and  his  advice  has  been 
found  to  be  impartial  and  unbiased.  The 
manufacturer  wants  to  see  the  most  prac- 
tical product  of  his  art  placed  in  a posi- 
tion of  trust  at  all  times,  yet  if  the  purse- 
strings are  not  too  elastic,  he  will  advise 
accordingly  and  explain  differences  in  the 
price  scale  in  a forthright  manner. 

Basis  for  Decoration 

Too,  the  carpet  manufacturer  has  be- 
come a competent  decorative  and  color 
counsellor.  Since  carpet  is  now  regarded 
as  a basic  element  of  the  decorative 
scheme,  it  is  only  natural  that  the  carpet- 
maker’s  advice  in  this  direction  would  be 
most  reliable  and  studied.  Staffs  of  art- 
ists are  maintained  by  the  leading  mills 
and  their  representatives  for  this  purpose 
and  their  counsel  is  highly  valuable  to  all 
purchasers  of  theatre  carpet. 

But  we  take  all  these  things  for  granted. 
We  let  the  carpet  people  think  out  our 
problems  for  us  and  then  we  don’t  even 


A DEPARTMENT  FOR  THE  DISCUSSION  OF 
PROVISIONS  FOR  HOUSE  APPEAL  UNDERFOOT 


by  HELEN  KENT 


give  them  a second  thought.  Perhaps  we 
should,  since  undoubtedly  the  carpet 
weavers  welcome  cooperation — even  criti- 
cism— on  the  part  of  those  they  serve  so 
splendidly. 

In  the  first  place,  carpet  has  been  con- 
sidered a necessity  in  the  theatre  only 
since  the  introduction  of  sound  in  motion 
picture  entertainment.  Prior  to  that  time 
it  was  looked  upon  by  most  theatre  men 
merely  as  a luxury  for  the  lavish  metro- 
politan houses  and  only  occasionally  was 
this  beautiful  decorative  medium  used  in 
smaller  theatres.  Then  it  was  used  only 
for  foyer  decoration  and  very  seldom  in 
auditoriums,  except  for  occasional  aisle 
runners. 

For  this  reason,  grades  of  carpeting  de- 
signed for  homes  or  hotels  were  loosely 
adapted  to  theatre  use  and  often  they  were 
neither  particularly  applicable  nor  long- 
wearing  enough  to  be  of  much  service 
either  decoratively  or  otherwise.  In  the 
“movie  palaces,”  as  they  were  known,  it 
was  almost  a custom  to  have  carpet  de- 
signed and  woven  especially  for  the  pur- 
pose. The  stock  theatre  carpet  pattern 
was  quite  an  unknown  quantity. 

Acoustic  Necessity 

However,  with  the  coming  of  sound  it 
was  an  acoustic  necessity  to  carpet  the 
aisles  of  auditoriums  in  even  the  most  un- 
pretentious houses.  The  scraping  of  feet 
on  hard  concrete  or  wood  floors  was  a 
tremendous  detriment  to  proper  sound  re- 
ception and  carpeting  soon  became  one  of 
the  leading  elements  in  the  improvement 
of  sound  conditions. 

Hundreds  of  mistakes  were  made  in  these 
early  days.  Because  of  the  added  expense 
of  procuring  sound  equipment,  only  the 
smallest  appropriations  were  set  aside  for 
acoustic  considerations  and  of  these  car- 
pet was  probably  slighted  to  the  greatest 
extent.  Some  of  the  cheapest  and  most 
impractical  installations  of  this  once-lux- 
ury  furnishing  were  made  hurriedly  and 
without  regard  to  decorative  appropriate- 
ness or  anything  else. 

Fortunately  these  hurried  and  inappro- 
priate installations  did  not  last  long  be- 
cause they  were  not  made  for  the  heavy 


PRELUDE 

This  article  inaugurates  a new  round 
table  medium  for  the  discussion  of  thea- 
tre floor  coverings.  The  department  will 
be  conducted  by  Miss  Kent  in  collabora- 
tion with  the  design  and  production 
staffs  of  a number  of  leading  carpet 
mills  whose  products  and  patterns  are 
already  familiar  to  theatre  trade.  Intro- 
ducing the  subject  with  a general  re- 
sume of  conditions  leading  up  to  the 
present  status  of  carpet  as  a basic  ele- 
ment of  the  modern  theatre  plan,  suc- 
ceeding articles  in  the  series  will  deal 
more  concretely  with  current  develop- 
ments and  trends  in  all  phases  of  floor 
covering  for  all  classes  of  theatres,  in- 
cluding reviews  of  current  pattern  and 
product  development,  decorative  effects, 
maintenance  factors  and  other  details. 
— The  Editor. 


traffic  service  to  be  found  in  first  class 
theatres.  But  many  disappointments  were 
felt  among  the  theatre  fraternity  which  by 
this  time  was  bewildered  by  a great  many 
other  things  as  well. 

Even  the  carpet  mills  were  caught  un- 
aware when  this  sudden  great  influx  of 
theatre  floor  covering  business  came  their 
way.  They  had  plenty  of  carpet  on  hand 
in  all  grades  and  colors,  but  they  found 
that  their  cheaper  grades  were  the  ones 
which  appealed  to  a majority  of  their  thea- 
tre purchasers  and  it  was  with  some  re- 
luctance that  they  saw  these  installed  in 
such  heavily  trafficked  areas. 

Design  for  Theatres 

A second  puzzler  was  that  of  the  “thea- 
tre pattern.”  There  was  no  such  thing  as 
a stock  theatre  design  for  carpeting  and 
the  designs  on  hand  were  highly  inappro- 
priate and  much  too  colorless  for  this  new 
use.  It  was  imperative  that  the  mills  be- 
stir themselves  immediately  to  satisfy  this 
new  demand,  both  as  to  finer  quality  and 
more  dramatic  design  interest. 

So  the  carpet  weavers  set  to  work  and 
began  turning  out  carpeting  of  a type  with 
especial  appeal  to  theatre  buyers — and 
theatre  patrons.  For  this  purpose,  they 
studied  the  situation  and  discussed  it  with 
theatre  - owners,  managers,  architects, 
decorators  and  maintenance  men — to 
learn  the  outsiders’  angles  on  their  busi- 
ness. It  was  of  great  help  to  them 
to  have  the  cooperation  and  design  as- 
sistance of  the  ones  for  whom  they  were 
working. 

Thus  was  born  the  stock  theatre  pat- 
tern. From  such  a small  beginning  came 
the  beautifully  appropriate  and  highly  ef- 


INFORMATION 

Headers  who  desire  speeial  information  or  ad- 
vice on  the  selection  or  application  of  theatre 
carpets  are  invited  to  communicate  with  Helen 
Kent  in  care  of  The  Modern  Theatre  section,  332 
S.  Michigan  Ave.,  Chicago,  111.,  accompanying  such 
inquiry  with  postage  for  reply.  All  problems  will 
be  given  prompt  and  helpful  attention. 


64 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


ficient  floor  covering  which  today  is  taken 
for  granted  as  the  most  logical  material  for 
the  purpose  to  be  used  throughout  the 
theatre.  Today  in  small  houses  as  well  as 
large  ones,  in  just  plain  “picture  shows” 
as  well  as  “Music  Halls,”  carpet  is  one  item 
of  furnishing  which  is  of  practically  stable 
quality  and  beauty. 

No  longer  is  it  necessary  for  theatre 
owners  seeking  novelty  or  innovation  to 
have  carpet  patterns  designed  especially 
for  their  exclusive  use.  That  is  still  done 
and  is  not  to  be  discouraged  in  many  cases, 
but  it  is  a custom  which  the  carpet  manu- 
facturers have  made  quite  unnecessary  in 
most  instances  because  they  now  provide 
such  an  unlimited  scope  of  patterns,  col- 
ors and  styles  that  are  primarily  suitable 
for  theatre  use.  Almost  any  taste  can  be 
satisfied  from  stock  these  days. 

The  Quality  Scale 

Stock  patterns  for  theatres  does  not 
necessarily  refer  to  a single  scale  of  qual- 
ity or  prices  either.  The  gamut  of  qual- 
ity and  cost  is  as  flexible  as  ever.  There 
are  still  cheap  grades  and  expensive  lux- 
ury grades,  with  all  the  intermediates 
available  as  well.  But  there  is  a norm 
in  theatre  carpeting — a number  of  grades 
which  have  been  found  most  serviceable 
for  this  use — and  in  this  type  one  will  find 
practically  anything  desired  in  the  way  of 
style  and  color  selection. 

The  popularity  of  carpet  as  the  most 
practical  floor  covering  for  theatres  is  no 
accident.  It  is  the  result  of  the  carpet 
weavers’  striving  to  be  of  the  greatest  ser- 
vice. Remember  this  in  purchasing  new 
floor  coverings  and  the  consideration  will 
be  well  worth-while.  Consider  the  advice 
of  the  carpet  man;  “he  knows  whereof  he 
speaks,”  as  in  further  articles  on  the  sub- 
ject we  will  undertake  to  confirm. 


“Just  like  CRESTWOOD . . 


The  next  time  someone  tells  you  his  carpet  is 
“just  like  crestwood,”  remember  this: 

No  other  carpet  can  be  just  like  crestwood 
for  the  same  reasons  no  other  automobile  can 


The  Popliteal  Rates 

Exhibitor  Attention 

A part  of  the  anatomy,  upon  which  a 
great  deal  of  patron  comfort  depends,  is 
being  brought  to  the  attention  of  theatre 
people  by  American  Seating  Company 
whose  research  department  seems  to  have 
uncovered  the  very  definite  bearing  this 
part  of  the  body  has  on  relaxation  and 
comfort  for  the  seated  patron.  This  un- 
familiar anatomical  portion  of  the  human 
frame-work  is  termed  the  “popliteal,”  de- 
scribed by  Webster’s  as  the  “back  part  of 
the  leg  behind  the  knee  joint.” 

Because  arteries,  veins  and  nerves  are 
close  to  the  skin  surface  at  this  point,  the 
popliteal  is  very  sensitive.  Pressure  on 
this  part  of  the  body  causes  legs  to  “go  to 
sleep”  and  is  responsible  for  nervousness 
and  restlessness.  A new  seating  develop- 
ment by  the  company  is  said  to  take  pres- 
sure off  this  nerve  center. 

Incorporating  a new  front-edge  con- 
struction in  all  except  its  lower-priced 
models  of  theatre  chairs,  American  Seat- 
ing Company  has  announced  a “feather 
foam  front”  as  its  latest  comfortizing  de- 
velopment. The  new  seat  edge  is  extra 
soft  and  pillowy,  having  no  hard  steel 
wires  and  no  rolled  or  packed  stuff- 
ing across  the  front.  It  fits  the  under 
side  of  the  knee-joint  and  supports  it  amp- 
ly, but  without  pressure  of  any  kind.  Thus, 
the  popliteal,  which  really  deserves  atten- 
tion despite  its  unfamiliar  technical  name, 
is  caressed  in  another  new  move  to  bring 
more  comfort  to  the  theatre-going  public. 


be  just  like  Cadillac  or  no  other  piano  just 
like  Steinway. 

There  is  only  one  crestwood  and  it  is  made 
only  by  Alexander  Smith. 

ALEXANDER  SMITH 

CRESTWOOD 

CARPET 

ALEXANDER  SMITH  & SONS,  295  FIFTH  AVENUE,  NEW 


■ 


YORK 


BOXOFFICE  : ; February  1,  1941 


65 


LITERATURE 


EXCLUSIVE  WITH  WAGNER 


The  following  concerns  have  recently 
filed  copies  of  interesting  descriptive  liter- 
ature with  The  Modern  Theatre  Informa- 
tion Bureau.  Readers  who  may  wish  copies 
of  such  literature  may  obtain  them 
promptly  by  addressing  The  Modem  Thea- 
tre, 332  S.  Michigan  Avenue,  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois. 


Multi -Size  Slotted  Silhouette  Letters 

Patents  Upheld  By  Highest  Courts 


AND  NOW— 


NEW  and  SENSATIONAL 

The  Wagner  Transparency  Frame  — 
Holds  24"x24"  National  Screen  Acces- 
sories transparencies.  Serviced  by  Na- 
tional Screen  Acessories,  Inc. 

Adds  COLOR  and  LIFE 

To  Your  Attraction  Board 


WAGNER  SIGN  SERVICE,  Inc. 


218  S.  Hoyne  Ave. 
CHICAGO 


”06  E.  Hancock  A a e. 
DETROIT 


123  W.  64th  St. 
NEW  YORK 


6 Britain  St. 
TORONTO 


Out  This  Month — 

BOXOffICt  feasiametesi 

for  1941 


TWO  REASONS  WHY  VALLEN  LEADS 


Rear-Fold  Feature 


When  dependable  equip- 
ment is  available  to  all 
and  really  costs  less,  why 
take  chances? 


•Ir.  Control  Curtain 
Speed  125  fpm.  with 
Pillow  Action 


VALLEN,  INC.,  *■«-, «... 


Carrier  Corporation,  of  Syracuse,  New 
York,  submits  a most  interesting  44-page 
brochure  entitled  “20  Years  Centrifugal 
Refrigeration,”  in  which  the  subject  is 
covered  understandably  in  all  its  phases. 
Many  illustrations,  drawings  and  graphs 
add  interest  to  the  presentation. 

J.  R.  Clancy,  Inc.,  of  Syracuse,  New 
York,  presents  its  Catalog  No.  44  on  stage 
construction,  equipment  and  theatrical 
hardware.  The  48-page  booklet  is  pro- 
fusely illustrated  with  both  actual  installa- 
tion photos  and  individual  pieces  of  equip- 
ment in  pictures  and  diagrams.  Prices 
also  are  given  in  this  catalog. 

Ex-Cell  Products  Corp.,  of  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois, files  a copy  of  its  folder  on  modern 
sand  urns.  Several  models  are  pictured 
in  color  and  described.  Advantages  of  the 
products  are  outlined  and  prices  are  given. 

S.  C.  Lawlor  Company,  of  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois, submits  a folder  covering  Lawlor 
Floor  Maintenance  Equipment.  Scrubbing, 
waxing  and  polishing  machines  are  de- 
scribed and  pictured  and  general  specifica- 
tions are  covered  in  this  pamphlet.  Mop- 
ping tanks  and  mop  wringers  also  are 
given  attention. 

The  Polaroid  Corporation,  of  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  presents  its  Survey  No.  1 
on  the  remarkable  new  scientific  discovery, 
Polaroid.  The  new  light  controlling  me- 
dium is  delineated  in  a manner  that  is 
understandable  to  the  layman  and  its  ad- 
vantages in  many  uses  are  outlined — with 
one  of  essential  application  to  the  motion 
picture  industry. 

Universal  Building  Products  Corp.,  of 
Dallas,  Texas,  submits  several  pieces  of 
literature  on  various  metal  products,  in- 
cluding mirror  frames,  poster  and  display 
frames,  and  entrance  doors  and  store 
fronts  of  extruded  aluminum  and  bronze. 
All  of  the  products  bear  the  trade  name 
“Sealuxe”  and  the  informative  literature 
covers  their  uses  and  advantages  most 
comprehensively. 

Yale  & Towne  Manufacturing  Co.,  of 
Stamford,  Connecticut,  presents  an  at- 
tractively designed  little  booklet  entitled 
“Loxology,”  in  which  is  given  a history  of 
lock  security  and  of  the  Yale  & Towne 
Company  as  well.  Many  attractive  illus- 
trations and  drawings  of  lock  mechanism 
make  this  booklet  interesting  and  useful. 

Notice:  Manufacturers  of  all  products 
adapted  to  theatre  modernization  or 
maintenance  are  invited  to  file  latest  copies 
of  their  catalogues  or  descriptive  literature 
with  The  Modern  Theatre  Information 
Bureau. — The  Editor. 


66 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


i c it  Lj 


he  simplicity  of  construction,  installation  and 
maintenance  of  International  chairs  has  made  them 
the  leader  in  auditorium  seating. 


INTERNATIONAL  SEAT  CORPORATION 

UNION  CITY,  INDIANA 


"Spneacfiru^  Conajprit  to 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


67 


m in  i o 


BEFORE 


INTERESTING  CASE  HISTORIES  ON 
CURRENT  MODERN  THEATRE  PROJECTS 


Case  History  and  Notes  on  a New  England 

Modernizing  Project 


D 

EFORE  and  after  (modernization) 
views  of  the  Majestic  Theatre  in  West 
Springfield,  Massachusetts,  are  quite  in- 
spiring. They  bring  to  mind  the  many 
style  changes  this  industry  has  witnessed 
within  the  past  decade  or  so.  An  entire 
atmosphere  was  changed  in  this  instance, 
which  is  typical  of  the  many  remodeling 
projects  that  have  taken  place  recently 
and  that  are  under  consideration  even  at 
the  present  time. 

The  Majestic  Theatre  operated  by  A1 
Gould  of  the  Majestic  Amusement  Corpo- 
ration, was  an  example  of  the  many  small 
grind  shops  which  do  nothing  much  for 
the  industry  nor  for  their  owners  either. 
Such  houses  are  not  encouraging  to  thea- 
tre business  and  the  entire  industry  is  in- 
fluenced by  the  fact  that  too  many  of 
these  places  still  dot  the  countryside.  More 
and  more  they  are  being  changed  into 
modem  theatres  with  a purpose  to  enter- 
tain, but  the  process  is  yet  too  slow  for  the 
good  of  all  concerned. 

Primarily,  one  will  note  from  the  views 
of  the  Majestic  Theatre  before  its  recent 
renovation  a general  air  of  gloom  and 
drabness  which  seemed  to  radiate  to  all 
parts  of  the  house.  Gloom  was  never  a 
colleague  of  amusement  and  it  is  strange 
that  the  two  should  ever  have  met  and 
resided  together  so  long  as  in  the  case  of 
too  many  of  our  older  motion  picture 
theatres. 


Lack  of  Style  and  Beauty 
Secondly,  there  was  not  one  iota  of  style 
in  the  old  Majestic.  From  front  to  rear, 
not  a single  element  of  beauty,  novelty  or 
good  taste  was  evident.  It  was  exactly 
like  any  other  cheaply-put-together  small 
movie,  which  makes  one  wonder  at  the 
infinite  patience  of  picture  patrons  after 
all. 

We  are  so  condemning  the  little  old  Ma- 
jestic Theatre  in  New  England  merely  to 
cite  it  as  an  example  of  what  has  been  so 
general  throughout  the  theatre  field.  This 
one  has  now  lost  its  dreariness  and 
emerges  as  an  invitingly  beautiful  show- 
place;  but  there  are  still  thousands  of  its 
ilk  which  have  not.  They  and  their  owners 
are  the  ones  which  deserve  the  pointed 
finger. 

The  new  Majestic  is  a completely  func- 
tional contrast  to  the  old  in  every  respect. 
The  new  is  bright  and  smiling  throughout, 
exuding  hospitality  and  charm,  whereas 
the  old  made  one  want  to  frown  and  hold 
one’s  breath  to  avoid  the  coldness  of  at- 
mosphere which  permeated  every  nook  and 
cranny. 

Colonial,  Modern  Version 
As  to  style,  the  new  house  has  it  in  all 
particulars.  Wisely  suiting  the  architec- 
tural and  decorative  motif  to  the  New  Eng- 
land locale  and  interests  of  its  residents,  a 
Colonial  treatment  was  selected  for  ap- 
plication in  a modernized  version  to  this 
old  house.  The  building  required  little 


BEFORE  and  AFTER  TAKING 


The  cure  for  the  ills  of  the  old  Majestic  Thea- 
tre in  New  England  was  a complete  renovation 
tonic.  The  panel  of  views  at  left  shows  the  gener- 
ally dilapidated  condition  of  the  old  house  in 
which  not  one  whit  of  invitation  to  patrons  could 
be  discerned.  The  panel  of  views  at  the  right, 
arranged  in  the  same  order  for  cross  reference, 
depicts  what  could  be  and  was  done  to  put  the 
several  departments  of  this  house  back  on  the 
profit  side  of  the  ledger.  The  comparison  is 
interesting.  Economy  and  quality  combined  to 
effect  the  complete  recovery  of  this  theatre.  (All 
photos  courtesy  Capitol  Theatre  Supply  Company, 
Boston,  Mass.) 


Dingy  is  the  word  for  the  original  foyer  (left)  of 
the  Majestic  Theatre  in  West  Springfield.  Charm- 
ing best  describes  the  new  foyer  (right),  wherein 
the  Colonial  motif  provides  a light  and  airy  at- 
mosphere. Note  of  irony:  The  display  of  dishes 
in  the  “before’*  view  is  no  longer  necessary  in 
this  house  which  has  returned  to  the  business  of 
entertainment. 


* • X.  •• 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


AFTER 


'SR*  KISS -|>8A»T0M 


jpBiiW 


IDENTIFICATION 
(Majestic  Theatre) 

AIR  CONDITIONING:  Worthington  Pump  & Ma- 
chinery Corp. 

CARPET:  Alexander  Smith  & Sons  Carpet  Co. 

CURTAIN  CONTROLS:  Vallen,  Inc. 

DRAPERIES:  Capitol  Theatre  Supply  Co. 

GENERAL  CONTRACTORS:  Capitol  Theatre  Sup- 
ply Co. 

GENERATORS:  J.  E.  Robin,  Inc. 

MARQUEE:  University  Sign  Co. 

PROJECTION:  Motiograph,  Inc. 

PROJECTION  LAMPS:  C.  S.  Ashcraft  Mfg.  Co. 

SCREEN:  Da-Lite  Screen  Co.,  Inc. 

SEATS:  Ideal  Seating  Co. 

SIGN  LETTERS:  Wagner  Sign  Service,  Inc. 

SOUND:  RCA  Mfg.  Co.,  Inc. 

STRUCTURAL  GLASS:  Libbey-Owens-Ford  Glass 
Co. 

Additional  particulars  on  the  project  may  be  se- 
cured upon  request  to  The  Modern  Theatre  In- 
formation Bureau. 


structural  change  except  for  cleaning  the 
two-story  brick  facade  and  refurbishing 
the  fronts  of  two  shops  at  either  side  of 
the  theatre  entrance. 

Structural  glass  in  cadet  blue  was  then 
applied  to  the  entranceway  to  add  a 
gleamingly  reflective  touch  and  more  color. 
Display  frames  in  Colonial  styling  also 
were  installed  at  either  side  of  the  en- 
trance. The  familiar  pillar  and  capital  motif 
distinguishes  them  and  adds  beauty  to  the 
front. 

A new  marquee  further  graces  the  Ma- 
jestic. Where  formerly  a poorly  lighted 
and  unimpressive  small  box  affair  served, 
now  a broad  three-sided  canopy  extends 
completely  across  the  front  of  the  building, 
above  the  theatre  entrance  and  also  over 
the  shops.  It  is  brilliantly  lighted  and  dis- 
play space  with  clearly  legible  silhouette 
letters  makes  the  whole  ensemble  a potent 
advertising  medium. 

The  lobby  with  boxoffice  to  one  side  is 
now  beautifully  treated  in  the  Colonial 
manner.  Its  lightness  and  cheeriness  con- 
trast notably  with  the  dreariness  of  the  for- 
mer lobby.  White  enamelled  woodwork 
and  pastel-tinted  panelling,  a character- 
istic of  this  most  applicable  style  of  interior 
decoration,  lends  a particularly  pleasant 
note  to  the  hospitality  of  this  first-to-be- 
seen  part  of  the  house. 

Inspired  Traditional 

Conventional  and  traditional  describes 
the  foyer  of  the  renewed  Majestic.  Here 
a white  enamelled  wood  panelled  wainscot 
and  other  woodwork  carry  out  the  tradi- 
tional, while  conventional  floral  patterned 
carpet  and  wall  paper,  which  might  be  an 
exact  replica  from  an  old  Colonial  man- 


sion, give  a charm  which  cannot  be  over- 
estimated. Colonial-inspired  lighting  fix- 
tures and  mirrors  enhance  the  scene  fur- 
ther. A charming  ladies’  lounge  may  be 
glimpsed  in  the  background. 

How  utterly  different  is  this  foyer  from 
the  one  which  it  supersedes.  Dingy  and 
drab  were  the  words  for  the  old  Majestic’s 
reception  room  with  its  inappropriate  lace 
curtains  and  a closed  entrance  to  the 
ladies’  lounge,  which  no  doubt  was  hardly 
a pretty  sight  either.  An  ironic  note  is  the 
display  of  “etched  gold”  dishes,  a give- 
away which  could  be  and  was  banished 
when  the  owners  of  the  house  went  back 
into  the  entertainment  business. 

The  auditorium  is  a picture  of  new- 
found beauty  and  relaxing  comfort  for  pa- 
trons. Here  the  charm  of  good  taste  in 
decoration  and  functionality  combine  to 
make  a perfect  setting  for  entertainment 
consumption.  The  barn-like  contours  of 
the  old  house  have  been  obliterated  by 
clever  manipulation  of  lines  and  decora- 
tive effects  to  make  a smart,  yet  not  pre- 
tentious, scene  for  modern  moving  picture 
presentation. 

Economy  Plus  Quality 

Economy  also  was  an  important  element 
in  the  Majestic’s  renovation.  And  it  may 
be  seen  that  not  a great  deal  of  money 
need  necessarily  be  expended  to  gain  an 
effect  of  refined  charm  and  inviting  at- 
mosphere. The  entire  project  bespeaks 
quality,  however,  and  this  rather  than  any 
other  aspect  keeps  the  new  Majestic  in  the 
smart  class  of  theatres — the  money-mak- 
ing class.  All  of  its  new  equipment  and 
furnishings  are  of  the  finest  quality,  which 

(Continued  on  page  73) 


THEATRE  PLANNING  GUIDE 


Through  the  coopera- 
tion of  our  affiliated 
architects,  leading  manufacturers,  their  engineers,  designers,  dealers,  contractors 
and  others,  a majority  of  whom  are  active  members  of  The  Modern  Theatre 
Planning  Institute,  we  are  prepared  to  assist  the  theatre-owner  in  selection  and 
application  of  all  commodities  and  services  needed  in  remodeling  and  moderniz- 
ing by  placing  him  in  touch  with  dependable  sources  of  supply.  As  sponsor  of  the 
Institute,  we  strive  to  impartially  relay  each  inquiry  only  to  sources  of  reliable 
information.  However,  we  do  not  guarantee  all  statements  or  claims  made  in 
connection  with  products  offered. 


MAIL  THIS  FORM  FOR  FREE  INFORMATION 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  Planning  Institute,  2-1-41 

Room  334 — 332  S.  Michigan  Ave. 

Chicago,  111. 

Gentlemen:  Without  cost  or  obligation  please  arrange  to  have  data  supplied  to  us 
covering  the  following  subjects: 


□ Acoustics 

□ Air  Conditioning 

□ Amplifiers 

□ Architectural  Service 

□ Carpets 

□ Cleaning  Equipment 

□ Complete  Remodeling 


□ Decorating 

□ Heating  Equipment 

□ Lighting  Fixtures 

□ Lounge  Furniture 

□ Plumbing  Fixtures 

□ Projectors 

□ Projection  Lamps 


□ Screens 

□ Seating 

□ Signs  and  Marquees 

□ Sound  Equipment 

□ Theatre  Fronts 

□ Ticket  Machines 

□ Other  Subjects 


Theatre  Seating  Capacity 

Address  

City  State. 


Signed 


(Owner-Manager) 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


69 


CINE'  CLINIC 


PRACTICAL  DISCUSSIONS  ON  MODERN 
PROJECTION  AND  SOUND  PRACTICES 


Defects  in  Motion  Picture  Projection 

and  Their  Correction 


ONTROL  of  the  flicker  evil  has  had 
much  attention  from  the  industry.  Flicker 
caused  by  shutters,  light  fluctuation,  and 
uneven  photography  has  been  investigated, 
and  progress  has  been  made  on  the  elimi- 
nation of  each.  But  today  there  still  ex- 
ists an  evil  which  has  been  with  us  since 
the  first  release  print.  It  is  the  evil  of 
oily  film,  which  is  becoming  more  and 
more  noticeable  through  the  adoption  of 
more  brilliant  light-sources  and  high-key 
photography. 

It  is  essential  to  good  projection  that 
the  film  be  clean,  since  every  defect  is 
highly  magnified,  and  any  deviation  from 
perfect  cleanliness  is  detrimental.  Perhaps 
the  most  commonly  recognized  indication 
of  oily  film  is  the  traveling  “frame-line  ef- 
fect,” so  noticeable  with  the  high-key 
prints.  A lighter  area,  the  width  of  a 
frame  line,  starts  from  the  bottom  of  the 
screen,  and  travels  slowly  to  the  top.  This 
is  surrounded  by  a darker  flickering  area 
superimposed  over  the  entire  picture. 

All  oil  patterns  are  not  of  such  a well 
defined  shape.  They  vary  from  frame  to 
frame  and  depend  in  extent  upon  the 
amount  of  oil  on  the  film  at  that  moment. 
The  pattern  changes  from  one  rewinding 
to  another.  It  always  shows  on  the  screen 
as  a crawling,  spotty  effect  which  may 
move  from  bottom  to  top  as  the  “frame- 
line  effect,”  or  horizontally  as  a dancing 
effect.  It  may  even  appear  as  a waver- 
ing mass  of  flicker.  If  the  film  is  light 
or  toned,  the  effect  is  very  pronounced, 
due  to  the  contrast  between  the  oil  spots 
and  unaffected  areas. 

If  oil  is  present  on  the  film  in  a thick 
layer  the  image  becomes  blurred,  causing 
an  out-of-focus  effect.  This  type  of  oily 
film  shows  a strong  tendency  to  buckle 
under  heating.  The  alternate  sharpness 
and  blur  of  the  image,  combined  with 
“mass  flicker  effect,”  are  very  tiring  to  the 
eyes,  and  with  the  long  show  times  of 
double-feature  bills,  running  from  three 
hours  upward,  sets  up  a condition  dis- 
cussed by  Snell,  namely,  “Anything  caus- 
ing difficult  seeing  will  result  in  eye- 
strain.” 

The  combined  action  of  all  the  various 
types  of  flicker  caused  by  oil  spots,  con- 
stantly changing  position  over  a period  of 
hours,  most  certainly  must  affect  the  eyes 
of  the  theatre  patron  and  mar  his  enjoy- 


by  IRL  GORDON* 


ment.  Almost  all  films,  after  the  first  and 
second  runs,  have  some  oil  on  their  surface. 

Various  kinds  of  oil  are  used  for  lubri- 
cating motion  picture  projectors.  Some  are 
thin  and  fairly  transparent;  others  are  of 
a heavy,  sticky  automobile  type  used  under 
the  mistaken  impression  that  they  will 
cling  to  the  bearings  longer.  When  any  oil 
is  on  the  film,  dirt,  dust,  and  bits  of  grit 
are  picked  up  and  lodge  along  the  path 
of  the  film  in  the  projector,  or  cling  to 
the  rotary  stabilizer  drum  of  the  sound- 
head  thus  constituting  a prolific  cause  of 
scratches.  If  the  emulsion  with  all  this 
dirt,  which  acts  as  an  abrasive,  happens 
to  “skid”  while  rewinding,  fine  scratches 
occur  which  soon  fill  up  with  dirt  and 
show  on  the  screen  as  a form  of  “rain.” 

Once  oil  is  on  the  print,  it  is  a difficult 
job  to  remove  it  without  proper  cleaning 
machines.  The  mere  wiping  of  the  film 
with  a rag  moistened  with  cleaning  fluid 
will  not  do  much  good,  since  in  a very 
short  time  the  rag  becomes  so  dirty  it 
merely  smears  the  accumulated  dirt  over 
a larger  area.  Very  few  theatres  have  in- 
stalled cleaning  machines. 

Film  images  may  be  classified  broadly 
into  four  groups  accordingly  as  they  show 
oil  spots,  as  follows: 

(1)  The  first  and  worst  is  probably  the 
toned  print,  and  the  most  seriously  af- 
fected of  this  type  is  the  brown  toned 
film.  Indeed  if  a liberal  dose  of  oil  is 
present,  the  result  is  so  very  annoying  that 
it  will  detract  from  the  dramatic  value  of 
the  story  in  spite  of  concentration  on  the 
part  of  the  observer.  We  have  had  many 
complaints  of  “something  wrong  with  the 
picture,”  when  showing  this  type  of  print. 
“Frame-line  effect”  and  “mass  movement 
of  oil”  stand  out  very  clearly. 

(2)  The  next  is  the  print  in  the  light  or 
high-key,  containing  very  light  scenes, 
outdoor  western  shots,  and  scenes  in  which 
there  are  great  areas  of  low  density. 
“Frame-line”  and  “mass”  effects  predomi- 
nate. Dirt  and  scratches  show  plainly. 
Cartoons  are  included  in  this  group. 

(3)  Color-film  comes  next.  With  some 
scenes,  the  oil  causes  a fuzzy  appearance; 
on  the  lighter  scenes  “frame-line”  and 

♦Forum  Theatre,  Akron,  Ohio.  Reprinted  from 
the  Journal  of  the  Society  of  Motion  Picture  Engi- 
neers, issue  of  June,  1940. 


“mass”  effects  are  very  annoying.  In  only 
a few  instances,  however,  does  the  oil  ap- 
pear to  change  the  color  values.  How- 
ever, with  the  trend  to  lighter  color  prints 
the  oil  evil  is  becoming  more  troublesome, 
because  on  the  dark  prints  of  the  past  the 
oil  spots  did  not  show  up  so  plainly  as 
explained  below. 

(4)  Probably  the  least  affected  are  very 
dark  prints,  in  which  even  the  highlights 
are  grayed  considerably.  These  are  called 
“low-key”  prints.  Oil  on  this  type  shows 
only  as  a mass  effect  in  the  lighter  portions 
of  the  scene,  causing  a wavering  effect. 
The  tendency  for  the  emulsion  to  become 
scratched  seems  greater,  which  may  be 
accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  the  emul- 
sion appears  to  be  softer  when  much  oil 
is  present.  If  oil  happens  to  be  present  in 
considerable  quantity  the  image  seems  to 
change  color.  Dense  prints  are  difficult  to 
project  in  any  event,  and  the  addition  of 
oil  and  dirt  further  reduces  the  brilliancy 
of  the  screen  image.  Some  tendency  to 
buckle  has  been  experienced  with  oily  dark 
prints,  though  this  can  not  be  stated  as 
the  general  rule. 

Oil  gets  on  film  in  various  ways.  A new 
print  will  begin  to  show  signs  of  oil  along 
the  left  side  within  a short  time.  With  the 
new  print,  poor  waxing  or  treatment  be- 
fore showing  is  one  reason  why  the  print 
is  often  “directly  oiled.”  A new  print  as 
received  from  the  exchange  has  been  either 
waxed  or  treated.  The  first  time  through 
the  projector  everything  is  fine.  After 
three  or  four  showings,  however,  trouble 
very  often  starts.  Usually  during  the  eve- 
ning show  on  the  opening  day  the  print 
begins  to  stick.  Late-model  projectors 
have  means  for  tension  release,  but  ten- 
sion has  to  be  so  loose  that  the  screen 
image  will  jump,  and  rather  than  face  a 
bill  from  the  exchange  for  strained  perfo- 
rations or  have  a jumpy  picture,  the  ten- 
sion is  eased  up  a little  and  oil  is  poured 
on  the  perforation  track,  which  in  suc- 
cessive runs  spreads  over  increasingly  large 
sections  of  the  film.  Quite  a number  of 
first-run  projectionists  have  felt  obliged 
to  resort  to  this  oiling  practice  at  some 
time  or  other.  As  to  the  relative  merits 
of  the  various  film  treatments  with  respect 
to  preventing  oil  spotting  I have  no  reli- 
able data,  but  do  know  that  sticking  occurs 
with  all  of  them  on  occasion. 

The  most  common  path  of  access  to  the 
film  is  through  contact  of  the  film  with 
oil  in  the  projector  mechanism,  particu- 
larly near  bearings  or  intermittents,  and  in 
sound-heads.  Worn  bearings,  leaks  at  the 
intermittent  and  over-oiling  cause  oil  to 
be  smeared  over  the  interior  of  projector 
and  sound-heads,  often  causing  pools  of 
oil  to  be  formed.  Gears  throw  off  oil  which 
drains  and  seeps  through  crevices,  often 


Have  You  a Problem? 

Conductors  of  the  CINE'  CT.INIC  will  be 
glad  to  answer  questions  relating:  to  problems 
of  projection  and  sound  operation  and  prac- 
tices through  these  columns.  State  your  prob- 
lem clearly,  detailing:  symptoms  of  trouble. 
Answers  to  questions  of  general  interest  will 
be  published  in  a later  issue,  identified  by  in- 
quirer’s initials  only.  Should  you  desire  pri- 
vate information  or  advice,  enclose  stamp  for 
reply.  Address  The  MODERN  THEATRE, 
Room  334,  332  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  Chicago,  III. 


70 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


NAME  IN  LIGHTS 


Nipper,  the  venerable  Victor  Dog,  has  at  last 
achieved  that  goal  of  all  great  entertainers — his 
name  and  picture  in  lights  on  New  York's  Great 
White  Way.  It  took  the  revolutionary  cartoon- 
movie  “Fantasia”  to  put  this  most  famous  trade- 
mark into  Times  Square’s  aura  of  lights.  It  is 
located  on  the  Palace  Theatre  building  and  oc- 
cupies three  floors. 


running  down  the  magazines,  to  drop  either 
in  a pan  or  directly  upon  the  floor  under 
the  lower  magazine  causing  an  oily  area 
which  collects  dirt  and  dust.  In  threading, 
the  leaders  are  dropped  on  the  floor, 


gathering  this  oil  and  dirt.  The  first  two 
hundred  feet  of  a film  are  always  oily  and 
dirty,  tending  to  make  change-overs 
noticeable.  The  oil  is  carried  by  the  back 
of  the  film,  sticks  to  the  rotary  stabilizer 
drum  in  the  sound-head,  and  is  distribut- 
ed over  additional  areas.  As  a result  of 
rewinding,  the  oil  and  dirt  are  spread 
along  the  film  until  finally  they  are  pres- 
ent from  end  to  end  of  the  reel. 

The  complete  abolishment  of  the  oil  evil 
will  be  a difficult  task.  It  requires  careful 
study  and  cooperation  by  all  concerned: 
everyone  from  producer  to  projectionist, 
including  equipment  manufacturers.  Such 
evils  lower  entertainment  values  and,  in 
the  last  analysis,  detract  from  boxoffice 
income;  hence  everyone  connected  with 
the  industry  is  affected.  People  tire  of  at- 
tending theatres  where  the  screen  fare  is 
marred  by  flicker  and  the  sound  repro- 
duction punctuated  by  pops,  cracks,  and 
unevenness  caused  by  oil  and  accumulated 
dirt.  With  each  new  advance  toward  a 
brighter  screen  image,  the  defect  becomes 
more  visible,  and  the  time  to  effect  eradi- 
cation of  it  is  right  now. 

The  theatre  can  do  its  part  by  providing 
the  necessary  rags,  cleaning  materials,  and 
working  conditions  (some  projection  rooms 
boast  as  much  as  one  rag  a month) . Above 
all,  theatre  managements  should  insist 
that  exchanges  supply  cleaned  prints.  Pro- 
jectors should  be  kept  in  good  repair  and  a 
fair  amount  of  supervision  exercised  by  the 
theatre  managers  to  see  that  the  projec- 
tion room  is  kept  clean.  Reports  of  film 
conditions  should  be  kept  and  action  taken 
when  necessary,  instead  of  merely  filing 
the  report  against  the  time  when  the  ex- 

( Continued  on  page  73) 


LONG  LIFE 
HIGH  FIDELITY 


y/S/TRON 


7 STANDARD  SINCE  1925 

Get  spare  photocells  for 
every  projector.  Order 
from  your  supply  dealer! 

G-M  LABORATORIES^  INC. 

1731  Belmont  • Chicago 


SMOOTH  . . . EFFORTLESS  PERFORMANCE 

’iransVerteH 

delivers  that  constancy  of  cur- 
rent . . . free  from  strain  or  wear 
and  tear,  because  it  is  built  to 
win  a marathon  of  long  years  of 
service. 

muci  UPD'TVrD  rT  /ia  12695  elmwood  avenue 

A I1L  X1LA1  A iilili  LLCiv  A HIv  Cleveland,  ohio,  u.s.a. 

Exclusive  Manufacturers  of  the  Transverter 


Ask  your  nearest  dealer  . . . 
National  Theatre  Supply  Co.  in  the  U.  S.  A. 
or  General  Theatre  Supply  Co.  in  Canada 
. . . about  the  Hertner  Transverter. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


71 


... I 


Case  History  and  Notes  on 
a New  England  Mod- 
ernizing Project 

■ (Continued  from  page  69) 


of  course  is  obvious  to  all  who  see  the  new 
Majestic. 

Decoratively,  the  auditorium  carries  fur- 
ther Colonial  devices  in  its  wall  panelling, 
lighting  fixtures  and  proscenium  treat- 
ment. The  walls  are  covered  with  a soft 
acoustical  material  over  which  damask  in 
a rust  and  gold  tassel  pattern  was  placed. 
This,  and  the  fluted  pilasters  covered  by 
biege  leatherette,  is  an  adaptation  of  the 
traditional  Colonial  wall  treatment. 

The  Majestic  Theatre  owners  also  may 
point  with  pride  to  their  installation  of 
the  first  fluorescent  carpeting  to  be  used 
in  New  England.  It  is  of  the  same  pattern 
as  that  used  in  the  foyer,  but  even  greater 
beauty  is  brought  out  by  the  “black  light- 
ing” process.  The  full-upholstered  comfort 
chairs  upholstered  in  tangerine  and  fin- 
ished in  grey  add  another  decorative  as 
well  as  atmospheric  touch. 

Beautiful  draperies  and  stage  curtains 
on  noiseless  automatic  tracks  and  control 
equipment  were  designed  and  made  es- 
pecially for  this  installation.  They  repeat 
the  predominating  rust  and  gold  tones  of 
the  decorative  scheme  and  are  gracefully 
swagged  with  cords  and  tassels.  This  drap- 
ery treatment  is  also  used  at  the  rear  of 
the  auditorium  to  add  interest  to  the  deco- 
ration. 

Equipment  Completely  New 

Throughout  the  Majestic  entirely  new 
equipment  and  furnishings  were  installed. 
An  air  conditioning  plant  of  the  latest 
type  provides  year-round  comfort  tempera- 
tures through  modern  air  diffusers  in  the 
ceiling  of  both  auditorium  and  lobby 
where  they  were  combined  with  the  light- 
ing fixtures. 

In  the  projection  room,  the  finest  and 
latest  model  projection  and  sound  equip- 
ment and  accessories  were  installed  for  the 
most  satisfying  type  of  moving  picture  pre- 
sentation, which  is  all  that  could  be  coun- 
tenanced in  so  fine  a theatre.  A new  screen 
also  was  one  of  the  necessities  provided. 

This  forward-looking  modernization  pro- 
ject is  an  ideal  subject  for  consideration 
and  study  by  those  thousands  of  owners 
of  theatres  where  boxoffice  troubles  con- 
tinue to  beset  them  in  spite  of  temporary 
expedients.  It  was  an  economical  project 
in  every  respect  but  one  in  which  quality 
is  the  by-word,  and  for  this  reason  greater 
profit  and  longer  profit-making  life  is 
destined  to  be  its  lot. 


Defects  in  Motion  Picture 
Projection  and  Their 
Correction 

(Continued  from  page  71) 


change  might  complain  about  film  dam- 
age. The  cooperation  of  the  projectionist 
should  be  sought  and  encouraged,  to  get 
the  best  possible  screen  image  and  sound 
quality  at  all  times.  I wonder  how  many 
exhibitors,  if  they  were  in  the  automo- 
bile business,  would  drive  a mud-spattered 


car  before  potential  customers,  yet  they 
permit  parading  of  oil-soaked  films  before 
their  regular  customers  expecting  them  to 
like  the  show  and  come  back  for  more. 

The  manufacturers  of  motion  picture 
projectors  should  investigate  ways  of  elimi- 
nating oil  seepage,  even  going  so  far  as 
to  make  something  foolproof  if  necessary. 
Grease-packed  bearings,  roller  or  ball 
bearings,  or  better  sealing  of  existing  bear- 
ings might  be  considered.  Due  to  the  ex- 
cessive projection  angles,  much  over-oil- 
ing takes  place  when  it  is  attempted  to 
keep  oil  in  the  top  parts  of  the  bearings. 
Sound-heads  should  be  drilled  to  drain  any 
oil  that  might  collect,  and  some  simple  oil- 
catch,  flexible  enough  to  fit  the  older  pro- 
jectors, should  be  made  available.  Some 
of  the  existing  oil-pans  and  drains  will  not 
fit  older  sound  equipment  now  in  use.  By 
using  a lighter  color  for  the  projectors  the 
oil  and  dirt  would  show  up,  and  through 
pride  the  projectionist  would  be  led  to 
keep  his  equipment  cleaner.  The  black 
now  used  does  not  show  the  oil  and  dirt 
plainly  and  tends  to  cause  neglect. 

Exchanges  should  seek  better  green  film 
treatment  and  should  clean  prints  after 
each  booking;  also  schedules  should  be 
worked  out  to  stop  the  circuiting  of  prints 
from  theatre  to  theatre  with  no  inspec- 
tion or  cleaning.  Sufficient  additional 
prints  should  be  issued  if  bookings  are 
heavy.  In  one  instance  a print  started  in 
a first-run  house  and  was  passed  on 
through  seven  houses  before  it  went  back 
to  the  exchange.  This  was  regular  prac- 
tice. It  was  weeks  before  the  print  reached 
the  exchange.  Further  study  should  be 
given  the  treatment  of  toned  prints,  and 
probably  some  work  done  on  an  oil  repel- 
lent to  coat  all  films.  Crabtree  and  Ives 
in  1927  suggested  that  toned  prints  be 
treated  with  a solution  that  would  fill  up 
the  pores  in  the  surface  of  the  toned  film 
and  thus  repel  the  oil  to  a great  extent.  So 
far  as  my  memory  goes,  I have  never  re- 
ceived a print  treated  in  this  manner. 

If  oil  were  of  a brilliant  color,  it  would 
be  so  noticeable  that  it  would  not  be  long 
before  steps  would  be  taken  to  deal  with 
the  situation;  but  since  it  is  semi-trans- 
parent, its  effects  are  not  fully  realized.  It 
will  take  extensive  education  and  vigilance 
to  cope  with  the  evil.  Film  goes  into  all 
kinds  of  projection  rooms,  some  dirty,  oth- 
ers clean,  but  by  the  use  of  reports,  educa- 
tion, and  vigilance,  it  may  soon  become  ap- 
parent who  are  the  worst  offenders  so  that 


Best  Automatic  Slide  Projectors 

Extensively  used 
in  theatre  projec- 
tion booths,  thea- 
tre lobbies,  and 
on  rooftops  with 
outdoor  screens. 
The  500  -watt 
model  accommo- 
dates ten  stan- 
dard size  (3^4  "x 
4")  or  smaller 
slides,  the  1000 
and  1500  watt 
models  handle 
twelve.  Powered  by  heavy  duty  motors. 

Come  ready  for  use  completely  equipped  (ex- 
cept lamp  bulb)  with  an  easily  focused  mirror 
(which  obtains  maximum  efficiency  from  the 
lamp  source),  approved  cord  and  control  switch, 
and  any  focus  objective  lens  from  6"  up  to  36". 

“Best”  Hand  Operated  Slide  Projectors  also 
come  in  three  sizes.  See  them  at  your  dealers 
or  write  direct  for  literature. 

DCCT  nClIIPCC  pn  10516  Western  Ave. 

DtOl  UtVIbtO  liU.  CLEVELAND,  OHIO 


steps  can  be  taken  to  eliminate  the  source. 
Only  then  will  the  projectionists  in  the 
smaller  theatres  be  able  to  give  the  pa- 
trons excellent  projection  equal  to  that  in 
the  first-run  houses. 


It’s  not  one  bit  too  early  to  start  con- 
sidering your  summer  air  conditioning 
problems.  As  a matter  of  fact,  year- 
round  air  conditioning  is  the  logical  sub- 
ject for  consideration. 


LOW  FIRST  COST 

AND  LONG  LIVED  ECONOMY 

bTABILARC 


Motor  Generators 


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able Uniform  Power  Supply 


The  most  complete  line  of  motor  generators 
on  the  market. 

35-42-60-80  VOLT  MULTIPLE  TYPE 

AUTOMATIC  DEVICES  CO. 

1035  Linden  St.  Allentown,  Pa. 

Export  Office:  220  W.  42nd  St.,  N.  Y.  C. 

Also  Manufacturers  of  Allentown  Steel 
Curtain  Tracks  and  Curtain  Machines. 


EXTR* 


OF 
PER 


OVER 
y EAR 


From  This  Handsome 

ADVAN  C E 
AC  E 

Popcorn  Machine 

The  good  profit  you 
make  with  a Popcorn 
Machine  is  really  vel- 
vet. It’s  the  easiest 
profit  you  make  — and 
the  best.  Pacts  and  fig- 
ures show  that  exhibi- 
tors sell  2c  worth  of 
popcorn  to  every  paid 
admission.  And  make  70c 
on  every  dollar ! 

It  is  easy  to  buy  and 
pay  for  a Machine — it’s 
easy  to  operate  one, 
too.  Why  not  own  one? 

See  Your  Supply  House 
or  Write  for  Catalog. 


A 


DVANCE  M 

6334  St.  Louis  Ave. 


FG.  CO. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


73 


Where  Curtain  Controls  and 
Tracks  Come  From 


T 

i HOUSANDS  of  theatre  owners  and 
managers,  their  architects  and  others  con- 
cerned with  the  selection  and  purchase 
of  theatre  equipment,  building  materials 
and  furnishings  may  not  believe  them- 
selves to  be  vitally  interested  in  the  origin 
of  such  products.  But  it  is  safe  to  pro- 
pose that  greater  familiarity  with  sources 
of  supply,  methods  of  manufacture,  plant 
facilities  and  policies  of  factory  manage- 
ment, would  make  purchasing  a more 
pleasant  and  profitable  task. 

Although  many  manufacturers  invite 
and  encourage  their  patrons  and  prospects 
to  visit  the  factory  and  see  how  this  or 
that  is  made,  it  is  practically  impossible 
for  most  theatre  owners  or  their  agents 
to  accept  such  invitations  unless  the  fac- 
tory happens  to  be  close  at  hand. 

To  substantially  effect  the  very  worthy 
purpose  of  the  more  intimate  personal 
plant  inspection  tours,  we  undertake  serial- 
ly starting  with  this  issue  of  The  Modern 
Theatre  section  to  conduct  our  readers 
through  a number  of  factories,  whose 
names  and  products  are  seen  frequently 
in  print. 

Reversing  alphabetical  order,  we  start 
the  series  of  Pictorial  Plant  Inspection 
Tours  with  a visit  to  Vallen,  Inc.,  at  Ak- 
ron, Ohio,  presenting  in  prelude  a few 
remarks  regarding  the  product  and  the 
man  behind  it. 

The  Beginning 

Back  in  1915  a young  man  just  out 
of  Buchtel  College  set  himself  up  in  the 
general  electrical  contracting  business. 
His  capital  then  consisted  of  a small  and 
borrowed  “stake,”  a rented  sub-basement 
on  Canal  Street  and  the  capacity  for 
hard  work  over  long  hours,  day  in  and 
day  out.  Akron,  Ohio,  was  at  that  time 
experiencing  its  “mushroom”  growth. 
From  small  jobs  the  young  man  of  this 
narrative  went  rapidly  to  larger  scale  un- 
dertakings. First,  a country  club;  then  a 
hospital;  several  mansions  soon  followed. 

Monte  Winters,  ever  a good  showman, 
was  busy  with  his  newly  built  Strand 
Theatre  which  was  soon  to  become  the 
latest  and  best  in  movie  houses  of  that 
era.  He  stood  and  looked  at  his  new  and 
unadorned  white  picture  screen  and 
couldn’t  stand  it!  He  called  over  the 
electrical  contractor  and  told  him,  “I 
want  curtains  in  front  of  that  screen 
which  will  open  and  close  when  a switch 
is  pushed  in  the  booth.  Can  you  fix  it?” 


PLANT  LIFE 

(Viewed  from  top  downward) 

(1)  A corner  of  the  clean,  well-lighted  modernly 
equipped  plant,  where  the  tooling  of  Vallen  prod- 
ucts is  started;  all  but  the  best  of  raw  materials 
having  first  been  rejected. 

(2)  Parts  are  carefully  machined  by  skilled  work- 
men in  broad  daylight  on  modern  machinery,  most 
of  which  was  especially  designed  for  the  milling 
of  Vallen  products. 

(3)  Here  is  shown  the  process  of  assembly  of  the 
precision-built  Val-switch — the  inventor’s  own 
brainchild  for  the  assurance  of  positive,  fool-proof 
curtain  control  operation. 

(4)  The  crucial  period  of  rigid  inspection  takes 
place  in  this  spacious,  well-kept  room  where  Vallen 
contrivances  are  subjected  to  exacting  tests  de- 
manded by  the  man  who  gave  them  his  name. 

(5)  And  further  inspection  occurs  here,  where 
Vallen  tracks  reach  their  final  examination  which 
is  made  during  assembly  for  shipment. 


Earl  Vallen  did  and  thereby  laid  the 
foundation  for  Vallen,  Incorporated,  a 
firm  which  now  is  known  the  world  over 
for  its  stage  curtain  tracks  and  electric 
controls. 

Then  came  the  first  World  War  to 
temporarily  disrupt  the  proceedings;  but 
when  Vallen  returned  to  his  business  af- 
ter eighteen  months  in  the  A.E.F.,  he  dis- 
covered that  two  more  theatres  under  con- 
struction had  contracted  for  electrical  cur- 
tain operators  and  it  had  been  stipulated 
that  he  should  do  the  work.  Then  Val- 
len’s  creative  career  began  in  earnest. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  then  Vallen 
Electrical  Company  had  developed  the  first 
wooden  curtain  track  which  quickly  out- 
moded all  previous  curtain  carriers,  par- 
ticularly the  taut-wire  type  of  apparatus. 

Created  a Standard 

Then  followed  the  demand  for  a satis- 
factory unit  to  operate  curtains  around 
curved  prosceniums.  Vallen  got  busy  and 
soon  developed  a unit  which  brought  ma- 
terialization to  architects’  designs.  First 
of  the  new  units  was  installed  for  Billy 
James,  the  oldtime  Columbus,  Ohio,  opera- 
tor. Job  followed  job.  By  this  time  Val- 
len’s  equipment  had  created  a standard  in 
curtain  operation  which  became  quite  as 
inseparable  from  the  theatre  as  pictures 
and  play  dates. 

The  time  had  arrived  when  concentra- 
tion on  noiseless  curtain  tracks  and  con- 


74 


trols  was  indicated.  Now  franchised  as 
Vallen,  Incorporated,  the  firm  built  a new 
factory  of  its  own  in  1926.  Some  of  the 
men  still  working  for  Vallen  have  been 
with  him  steadily  for  almost  twenty  years. 
They  are  part  of  a relatively  small  or- 
ganization of  skilled  workers  and  have 
seen  improvement  follow  improvement. 
They  know  every  detail  of  their  specialized 
trades  and  build  equipment  to  application, 
thus  achieving  the  best  possible  installa- 
tion for  the  user’s  need.  Today  they  ship 
curtain  tracks  of  all-steel  and  fully  auto- 
matic curtain  controls  to  all  points  of  the 
world,  confident  that  they  will  perform  ef- 
ficiently for  years  to  come.  They  know 
that  distance  is  no  detriment  to  the  use 
of  their  products  because  they,  to  quote  Mr. 
Vallen,  “have  built  units  not  intended  for 
‘peddling’  but  for  purchase  on  purely  mani- 
fest merits.” 

Visitors,  always  welcome  at  Vallen’s 
plant  in  Akron,  instantly  observe  the  ef- 
ficient and  workmanlike  atmosphere  which 
prevails.  They  note  the  well-kept  and 
busy  machine  shop,  testing  loft  and  equip- 
ment, modern  steel  storage  bins  and  as- 
sembly benches.  A portion  of  the  factory 
is  devoted  to  experimental  study  of  the 
company’s  products  with  a constant  eye  to 
improvement  of  existing  mechanisms  and 
development  of  new  ones. 

A Mechanical  Mecca 

The  oldest  and  largest  concern  of  its 
kind,  Vallen  now  supplies  many  unusual 
equipment  requirements  in  addition  to  the 
manufacture  of  their  regular  line  of  cur- 
tain operating  equipment.  The  market  is 
no  longer  the  theatre  alone;  churches, 
schools,  auditoriums,  hotels,  hospitals  and 
advertising  promotions  bring  their  special 
operating  problem  needs  to  Vallen.  For 
instance,  if  you  saw  the  hit  show  “Higher 
and  Higher,”  the  five  sixty-foot  curtains, 
used  so  effectively  to  disguise  scene-shift- 
ing without  necessity  of  lowering  the  front 


drop,  were  operated  by  special  Vallen  units 
built  with  special  types  of  mechanical 
movements. 

Earl  Vallen,  president  of  Vallen,  Inc., 
is  now  50  years  old.  He  is  married  and  has 
two  sons,  15  and  17,  in  prep  school.  He  is 
the  inventive  type  of  business  executive, 
meticulously  critical  regarding  the  quality 
and  use  values  of  products  bearing  his 
name.  He  is  practical  mechanically  and 
thoroughly  at  home  in  his  factory  where  he 
may  often  be  found  helping  to  set  up  a 
milling  machine  or  turning  out  special 
parts  which  he  may  first  have  developed 
and  drawn.  He  dictates  his  letters  “on  the 
run,”  travels  all  over  the  country  for  his 
firm,  frequently  by  air.  His  hobbies  are 
fishing  and  gardening.  With  his  family 
he  resides  on  Sand  Run  Road  in  suburban 
Akron,  Ohio. 


Upholstery  Cleaning  a 

Smart  Consideration 

Theatre  chair  upholstery  soiled  by  per- 
spiration, dust  and  dirt  from  long  use 
should  appear  as  a “must”  on  the  clean- 
ing schedule  of  every  operator.  Too,  peri- 
odic cleaning  of  upholstery  will  return 
handsome  dividends  in  extra  years  of  ser- 
vice for  the  expenditure  of  a slight  bit  of 
time  and  effort. 

Thorough  cleaning  is  simplicity  itself 
when  proper  materials  and  procedure  are 
employed.  Needless  to  say,  different  ma- 
terials require  different  cleaning  methods. 
Selection  of  method  should  not  be  left  to 
chance.  A surface  improperly  cleaned 
may  be  damaged.  Instructions  for  clean- 
ing upholstery,  removal  of  spots  and  stains 
and  care  of  wood  and  metal  finishes  can 
best  be  secured  from  the  manufacturer  or 
supplier  of  the  chairs. 


r/ 


V, 


ALL  DRESSED  UP 


and  some  place  to  go 


How  do  you  feel  when 
you  put  on  a brand  new 
suit?  You  feel  swell  . . . 
and  ready  to  go  places! 

That’s  how  it  is  with  a 
dressed-up  theatre.  New 
projection  and  new  sound 
inspire  greater  showman- 
ship in  any  exhibitor,  and 
greater  showmanship 
means  many  more  tickets 
sold  in  1941. 

Let  us  show  you  how 
to  get  “dressed  up”  with 
Simplex. 


urrinim 

THEATRE  SUPPLY  COMPANY 


use 

DAYTON  SAFETY  LADDERS 


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A year  around 
4-star  safety  ladder 


Not  only  does  the  modern  theatre  attraction  board  now  proclaim  the  names  of  pictures  and  stars  in 
legible  silhouette  letters,  but  a recent  development,  the  Wagner  Transparency  Frame,  also  makes 
possible  the  use  of  colored  photographic  illustrations  on  the  marquee  in  the  manner  above  shown. 
Made  to  contain  24  by  24  inch  National  Screen  Accessories  transparencies,  the  new  frame  is  of  the 
same  construction  and  slotting  and  is  applied  in  the  same  manner  as  the  changeable  silhouette 
letters  with  which  it  is  used,  thus  providing  colored,  illuminated  illustrations  which  add  further 
interest  and  life  to  the  theatre’s  attraction  board.  (Photo  courtesy  Wagner  Sign  Service,  Inc.) 


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For  those  speedy 
jobs  — the  Dayton 
Safety  Ladder.  The 
broad,  firm  plat- 
form of  the  Day- 
ton  Safety  Ladder  gives 
confidence  and  assur- 
ance of  safety.  No  ex- 
tra men  necessary  to 
steady  the  Dayton. 
Made  of  tested  airplane 
spruce,  with  standard 
non-skid  safety  shoes  at 
no  extra  cost. 

Catalogue  address 

4e 


Safety  Ladder 


123  THIRD  STREET, 
CINCINNATI,  OHIO 


/Id.  £cufe  Standuuf,  on  the.  rf-too*. 


BOXOFFICE  ; : February  1,  1941 


75 


ECOIUTING 


THE  ARTISTIC  SIDE  OF  ARCHITECTURE 
AS  APPLIED  TO  THEATRE  DECORATIOH 


Nisi  linn  Plays  an  Important  Hole  in  the 


DISCUSSION  of 
the  part  which  seat- 
ing plays  in  theatre 
decoration  may  start 
appropriately  with  the 
purpose  for  which 
theatres  exist.  While 
this  statement  has  a 
somewhat  pedantic  fla- 
vor, it  is  good  sense 
to  remember  that  dis- 
regard of  the  obvious 
is  one  of  human  na- 
ture’s more  prevalent  faults. 

Theatres  exist  in  order  that  entertain- 
ment may  be  made  completely  enjoyable; 
and  this  can  come  about  only  through  the 
existence  in  the  minds  of  patrons  of  the 
receptive  mood  and  its  companion,  an 
alert  imagination.  This  mood  ought  not 
to  be  taken  for  granted.  “Let’s  go  to  the 
movie”  has  received  its  impetus  from  a 
long  list  of  reasons,  including  family  quar- 
rels and  a desire  to  get  in  out  of  the  rain. 

Once  in  the  theatre,  moods  and  imagina- 
tions are  largely  in  the  hands  of  that  tell- 
ing trio,  form,  line,  and  color;  and  they 
can  be  a tyrannical  trio  as  well  as  gentle 
sedatives. 

Fostering  Functionalism 

How  to  further  the  receptive  mood 
through  form,  line  and  color  brings  us 
to  functionalism,  the  current  name  for  an 
age-old  truth,  the  rediscovery  of  which 
has  brought  the  usual  host  of  camp-fol- 
lowers, counterfeits  and  exploiteers.  Too 
often  weird  groupings  of  geometrical  ab- 
stractions, huge  glowering  masses  of 
masonry  or  raw  color,  a total  lack  of  orna- 
ment and  refinement,  have  been  timidly 
accepted  as  functional  design  rather  than 
the  shriveling  accusation  of  being  old 
fashioned. 

But  in  esthetics  as  well  as  economics 
there  has  never  been  a worthwhile  substi- 
tute for  clear  thinking.  Functionalism  is 
the  result  of  clear  thinking  and  function- 
alism is  synonymous  with  beauty.  If  this 
sounds  paradoxical,  consider  that  Michel- 
angelo said  of  beauty,  “It  is  the  purgation 
of  superfluities,”  and  Emerson  wrote,  “We 
ascribe  beauty  to  that  which  is  simple; 
which  has  no  superfluous  parts;  which 
exactly  answers  its  end;  which  stands  re- 
lated to  all  things.  It  is  the  most  endur- 
ing quality  and  the  most  ascending 
quality.” 

Every  great  work  of  art,  whether  it  be 


by  WILLARD  H.  BOND,  Jr.* 

a painting,  a bit  of  sculpture,  or  an  archi- 
tectural masterpiece  is  built  around  one 
central  theme;  one  dominant  idea.  In  a 
painting  it  may  be  the  beauty  of  winter 
sunlight  falling  upon  melting  snow.  In 
architecture  it  may  be  the  carefree  simple 
life  expressed  in  the  rambling  woodland 
lodge;  or  the  precise  regularity  and  orde 
red  safety  of  banking  that  is  translated 
into  the  adequate  columns  of  a chaste  and 
classical  facade. 

Whatever  the  theme,  each  component 
detail,  however  casual  it  may  appear  to  be 
calls  attention  to  or  emphasizes  this  domi- 
nating idea.  To  the  extent  that  it  strays, 
so  will  the  work  of  art  lose  its  purpose. 

The  receptive  mood  therefore  seems  the 
logical  theme  around  which  to  create  the 
individual  theatre,  and  the  problem  should 
be  approached  as  an  esthetic  obligation. 

First  Impressions 

Welcome,  directional  facility,  relaxation, 
and  rest  are  qualities  contributing  to  the 
receptive  mood  and  should  be  suggested  as 
early  as  possible,  for  first  impressions  are 
vital.  Provocative  and  startlingly  inter- 
ruptive  motives  ought  to  be  avoided.  Mild 
interruptives,  however,  may  contribute  to  a 
needed  sense  of  movement  by  stimulating 
the  eye  to  desire  the  restoration  of  the 
interrupted  motive.  And  in  the  desire 
for  innovation  and  novelty,  it  is  wisdom  to 
remember  that  nothing  is  as  tiresome  as 
yesterday’s  gewgaws. 

Within  the  auditorium  simplicity  is  even 
more  important.  There  the  imagination 
performs  its  miracles,  and  immediate 
things  recede  to  temporary  oblivion.  One 


Two  years  at  Lafayette  College;  two  more 
years  at  Beaux-Arts  Institute  of  Design  (Archi- 
tecture). Then  to  business  in  New  York  City  as 
show  window  trimmer,  show  card  writer  and 
photographer.  Later  to  architecture  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  draftsman,  designer  and  delineator. 
Another  branch  of  art  beckoned  and  he  be- 
came art  director  for  an  advertising  agency 
in  New  York  City  followed  by  a period  of  free 
lancing  which  produced  13  oil  paintings  for  the 
front  cover  of  the  magazine  “Arts  and  Decora- 
tion” during  1930,  ’31  and  '32.  Today  and  since 
1932,  Industrial  Designer  and  Artist  for  American 
Seating  Co.,  in  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  . . . The  fore- 
going chronology  of  training  and  experience,  we 
believe,  qualifies  Willard  H.  Bond,  Jr.  to  write 
with  authority  on  the  subject  of  decorating  as 
applied  to  theatre  seating.  The  subject  will  re- 
ceive further  attention  herein  by  this  author  from 
time  to  time.— The  Editor. 


day  we  roll  indolently  on  the  south  sea 
swell;  another  we  stagger  through  a des- 
ert waste,  sharing  the  thirst  of  the  foreign 
legion;  while  in  the  evenings  we  have  all 
kinds  of  money  to  spend  in  the  most  fabu- 
lous of  night  clubs.  In  these  circumstances 
should  our  actual  surroundings  take  a 
definite  decorative  pattern  and  bring  us 
back  to  an  abortive  realization  of  today; 
or  should  a luminous  untouchable  beauty 
seek  to  prolong  the  gifts  of  imagination 
and  allow  a gentle  transition  back  to  ma- 
terial surroundings?  This  is  an  import- 
ant question  for  it  has  been  said  truly 
that  the  imagination  and  senses  cannot  be 
gratified  at  the  same  time. 

Within  this  tranquil  atmosphere  rests 
the  last  opportunity  to  develop  the  recep- 
tive mood,  but  it  is  also  the  best  oppor- 
tunity. The  smartest  functional  planning 
and  decorative  treatment  can  be  more  than 
wasted  by  imperfect  seating. 

Comfort  Axiomatic 

It  is  probably  an  axiom  of  the  seating 
industry  that  the  most  desirable  virtue  of 
a theatre  chair  is  comfort.  Comfort,  then, 
is  its  central  theme;  and  the  designers 
problem  is  to  make  the  chair  look  com- 
fortable. 

The  modern  theatre  chair  is  dis- 
tinguished by  unified  appearance  rather 
than  the  assembled  effect  of  a collection 
of  parts.  It  is  designed  as  a complete  unit. 
There  is  no  abrupt  transition  from  back  to 
standard.  Back  and  seat  outlines  flow 
naturally  to  fit  the  form  of  the  body,  with 
no  angles  to  hinder  free  circulation.  End 
standards  are  no  longer  regarded  as  grand 
and  vertical  opportunities  for  the  exercise 
of  cast  iron  sculpture,  but  are  treated  as 
integral  parts  of  a unified  design.  Orna- 
mentation and  decoration  beautify  only  so 
far  as  they  emphasize  the  central  theme, 
comfort.  When  decoration  goes  beyond  this 
point,  it  becomes  clever  or  tricky  and  be- 
trays a lack  of  confidence  in  the  funda- 
mental design.  These  tricky  or  clever  de- 
signs may  appeal  occasionally  in  the  lower 
taste  brackets;  but  the  general  average  of 
public  taste  is  high.  For  the  great  works 
of  art  are  great  because  they  have  had 
universal  appeal. 

The  cumulative  effect  of  a modern  seat- 
ing installation  is  that  of  an  invitation  to 
comfort,  an  invitation  to  share  the  re- 
ceptive mood. 

Use  Value  of  Color 

There  remains  the  great  common  de- 
nominator, color,  with  which  to  unify  the 
entire  theatre:  color  and  light  which  bring 
life  to  form.  The  distinction  between  color 
and  light  need  not  be  drawn,  for  color  is, 
after  all,  sunlight  taken  apart  and  labeled. 
And  when  we  rearrange  these  parts  to 
emphasize  some  particular  purpose,  we 
must  be  sure  not  to  leave  one  out  and 
unbalance  the  collection.  Disregard  of 
the  truth  behind  this  statement  is  quite 
often  responsible  for  the  restless  reaction 
so  frequently  expressed  in  the  words,  “Yes, 
it’s  beautiful  I guess,  but  there’s  some- 
thing about  it  I don’t  quite  like.” 

Color  need  not  be  dull  to  give  gentle  and 
subdued  effects.  Some  of  the  softest  and 
“grayest”  paintings  are  composed  with  pure 
and  brilliant  colors,  not  mixed,  but  placed 
judiciously.  Brilliancy  of  constituent 
colors  gives  life  to  the  color  composition. 
This  is  particularly  true  in  the  auditorium 
where  softening  lighting  effects  reduce 
brilliant  harmonies  to  that  ineffable  qual- 
ity of  restrained  but  pulsating  life,  im- 


7G 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


possible  of  attainment  through  a faint- 
hearted color  approach. 

Seating  need  not  be  dark  and  funereal. 
The  receptive  mood  is  not  a gloomy  one ; it 
is  buoyant,  happy,  expectant,  hopeful.  And 
theatre  chairs  need  to  be  seen  to  be  ap- 
preciated. They  present  a decorative  op- 
portunity for  harmonious  contrast,  that 
necessary  foil  to  balance  the  color  scheme. 

Thoughtful  study  spent  in  building  up 
the  patrons  expectation  is  wasted  if  at 
the  last  moment  he  finds  his  chair 
shrouded  in  the  mantel  of  precedent. 
Shall  he  be  left  with  a let-down?  Re- 
member, his  chair  is  the  last  chance.  Give 
him  a lift  with  a light-hearted  color. 


INDIAN  SUMMERS 


East  is  East,  and  West  is  West,  as  Kip- 
ling once  wrote — but  when  they  want  air 
conditioning  in  Madras,  India,  they  recog- 
nize no  barriers! 

In  Charleston,  S.  C.,  several  days  ago, 
Frederick  A.  Bailey,  Jr.,  local  air  condi- 
tioning engineer,  received  by  air  mail  a re- 
quest for  an  estimate  on  air  conditioning  a 
theatre  in  Madras,  described  as  the  “city’s 
up-to-date  and  luxurious  talkie  house.” 

It  asked  for  complete  details  and  speci- 
fications, with  lowest  possible  quotation, 
terms  and  time  of  delivery  for  air  condi- 
tioning a theatre  84  by  60  feet,  and  30  feet 
high,  with  a capacity  of  900  persons. 

“The  outside  temperature  is  100  degrees 
Fahrenheit  and  the  temperature  of  water, 
90  degrees  Fahrenheit,”  the  letter  further 
explained. 

Mr.  Bailey,  who  is  the  Charleston  dis- 
tributor for  Carrier  air  conditioning,  turned 
the  letter  over  to  company  headquarters, 
where  in  turn  it  was  referred  to  the  com- 
pany’s distributors  in  Bombay,  India. 

Recently,  Mr.  Bailey  wrote  an  article  on 
air  conditioning  and  believes  a copy  of  the 
magazine  may  have  reached  far-off  India, 
accounting  for  the  unusual  request. 


Advisory  Service 

Since  modern  thea- 
tre decorating  is  a 
specialized  art  requir- 
ing counsel,  creative 
talent  and  planning 
ability  which  are  not 
usually  available  at  all 
points  of  the  country, 

Mr.  Hanns  R.  Teichert, 
nationally  known  thea- 
tre decorating  special- 
ist of  Chicago,  was  re- 
tained to  serve  our 
readers  in  an  advisory  capacity.  He  will 
be  glad  to  correspond  with  any  who  may 
wish  information  and  advice  on  decorat- 
ing procedure.  All  such  inquiries  will  be 
given  prompt  attention.  Address  your  in- 
quiry to  The  Modern  Theatre,  332  S. 
Michigan  Avenue,  Chicago,  III.  It  will  be 
immediately  referred  to  Mr.  Teichert  for 
analysis  and  advice,  without  obligation. 
Please  include  postage  for  reply. — Editor. 


Plate  Glass ; Mirrors 

in  Modern  Decoration 

Areas  of  plate  glass  are  being  constantly 
increased  in  present  day  architectural  de- 
sign— to  draw  more  light  into  rooms  and 
to  add  to  exterior  beauty.  The  widespread 
use  of  structural  glass  in  theatre  construc- 
tion is  an  example.  This  opaque  varia- 
tion of  polished  plate  glass,  beautifully 
colored,  sturdy  and  strong  is  ideal  for  thea- 
tre fronts,  restroom  and  toilet  walls,  cor- 
ridors and  lobbies. 

But  great  as  the  use  of  polished  plate 
glass  in  building  has  become  in  recent 
years,  its  astonishing  increase  in  import- 
ance in  interior  decoration  has  been  even 
greater.  Today  it  is  one  of  the  decorator’s 


most  valuable  and  versatile  tools,  lending 
its  beauty,  transparency  and  utility  for 
scores  of  fascinating  and  modern  purposes. 
The  use  of  plate  glass  mirrors  is  an  ex- 
ample. 

Mirrors,  originally  employed  only  as 
looking  glasses  for  utilitarian  purposes,  are 
now  decorative  and  ornamental  media  of 
the  highest  importance.  Mirror  paneling 
of  walls  and  furnishings  has  become  highly 
successful.  Framed  and  unframed  mirrors 
of  all  types  and  colors  now  bring  gayety 
and  light  into  modern  theatres.  Mirrors  are 
used  for  dressing  tables  and  tops,  for  orna- 
mental screens  and  doors  and  for  numer- 
ous other  novel  purposes.  Because  only 
plate  glass  can  give  perfect,  undistorted 
reflection,  most  mirrors  are  being  fabri- 
cated from  this  material. 


with  Nii-Wood  Your  Theatre! 


MORE  pulling  power  for  audiences — more 
economy  and  benefits  for  YOU ! That’s 
the  reason  why  Nu-Wood  Kolor-Fast  isgetting 
a big  hand  in  theatres  from  coast  to  coast. 
Nu-Wood  Kolor-Fast  goes  onto  your  walls  and 
ceilings  quickly  and  easily — provides  lasting 
charm  and  minimum  maintenance.  Nu-Wood 
colors,  you  see,  are  Jadeproof  . . . with  beauty 
that  stays  put.  Today,  among  all  interior 


finishes  of  its  kind,  Nu-Wood  gives  you  the 
most  in  style  and  beauty. 

But  that’s  not  the  half  of  it!  Nu-Wood  cures 
“sour”  sound  because  of  its  high  acoustical 
efficiency.  It  adds  greater  comfort  to  your 
theatre  by  providing  efficient  insulation  — an 
especially  big  advantage  in  the  air-conditioned 
theatre.  Nu-Wood  provides  the  low-cost  way 
to  lasting  beauty  and  comfort.  Learn  all  about 
the  new  Nu-Wood  Kolor-Fast— mail  the  coupon! 


WOOD  CONVERSION  COMPANY 
Dept.  134-2-1,  First  National  Bank  Bldg. 

St.  Paul,  Minn. 

Gentlemen:  I want  to  know  more  about  the  new  Nu-VVood 
Kolor-Fast  for  □ New  construction  □ Remodeling. 

Without  obligation,  please  send  me  complete  facts. 


Name 


Address 

City • • .State 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


77 


SANITATION 


EMPHASIZING  THE  ESSENTIALS  OF  HOUSE 
HYGIENE  IN  THEATRE  MAINTENANCE 


Several  Ways  to  Promote  Theatre  Cleanli- 
ness in  Stormy  Weather 


T 

JT  HE  WINTER  up-swing  in  attendance 
annually  brings  to  the  fore  certain  theatre 
cleanliness  problems  not  met  with,  at  least 
not  to  the  same  degree,  during  any  other 
season  of  the  year.  As  long  as  the  winter 
weather  remains  dry  and  crisp,  the  routine 
methods  for  maintaining  the  theatre’s 
cleanliness  are  quite  sufficient.  However, 
the  advent  of  rain  or  snow  throws  an  im- 
mediate extra  burden  on  the  maintenance 
staff  and  requires  extra  effort  to  keep  the 
theatre  neat  and  clean  despite  the  dele- 
terious effects  of  the  wet  and  dirt  tracked 
in  by  the  patrons. 

Practical  Precautions 

Obviously,  one  way  to  ease  this  strain 
is  to  have  the  necessary  cleaning  and 
maintenance  supplies  readily  available. 
These  include  such  items  as  mops,  pails 
equipped  with  suitable  wringers,  plenty  of 
soap  and  water,  and  clean  dry  wiping  rags. 
In  addition,  adequate  supplies  for  the 
washrooms  and  rest  rooms,  such  as  towels, 
soap,  and  roll  paper  must  also  be  ready  for 
use,  inasmuch  as  these  rooms  have  a 
higher  influx  of  patrons  during  cold, 
stormy  weather. 

At  the  first  sign  of  inclement  weather, 
the  floor  mats,  which  should  have  been 
thoroughly  washed  with  soap  and  warm 
water,  and  well  dried  before  storage,  ought 
to  be  laid  out  in  the  foyer;  and  if  it  is 
uncarpeted,  in  the  lobby  as  well.  How- 
ever, if  the  weather  is  especially  bad  and 
attendance  is  especially  high,  a clean,  solid 
rubber  runner  mat  may  be  needed  to  pro- 
tect the  carpeting.  Even  if  the  storm  does 
not  materialize,  it  is  far  better  not  to  take 
any  chances  than  to  be  caught  napping — 
to  the  detriment  of  the  expensive  floor 
coverings  in  the  other  parts  of  the  theatre. 
During  wet  weather,  these  mats,  whether 
of  the  jointed,  open  design,  or  solid,  cor- 
rugated type,  should  be  washed  and  then 
wiped  dry  with  a well-wrung  mop.  When 
things  get  especially  bad,  it  will  be  neces- 
sary to  lift  up  sections  of  these  mats,  par- 
ticularly the  open  type,  to  clean  the  floor 
underneath. 

Floor  Maintenance 

Stone  or  composition  floorings  of  thea- 
tres are  certainly  liable  to  show  up  the 
dirt,  and  since  they  do  not  absorb  mois- 
ture, are  prone  to  become  thoroughly  wet 
and  muddied.  Unless  particular  care  is 
taken  to  wash  up  and  wipe  up  these  ac- 


hy MILTON  A.  LESSER* 


cumulations,  not  only  will  the  appearance 
of  the  floor  suffer,  but  it  also  often  be- 
comes dangerously  slippery.  Foyer  floors 
are  affected  most  in  this  respect,  with  the 
floors  of  the  lobby  and  the  washrooms, 
next  in  order  of  importance.  If  these  ac- 
cumulations are  permitted  to  dry  before 
previous  cleaning,  not  only  do  the  dirt 
blobs  make  an  ugly  appearance  that  is 
hardly  an  appeal  to  patronage,  but  they 
also  make  it  a more  difficult  task  to  pro- 
perly wash  the  floors  afterward.  Of  course 
the  mere  fact  that  dirt  is  tracked  from 
the  foyer  and  lobby  to  other  parts  of  the 
theatre,  where  cleaning  is  even  more  dif- 
ficult, does  not  help  matters  either. 

In  some  well  managed  theatres,  it  is  a 
fixed  policy  to  have  an  extra  maintenance 
man  on  duty  during  especially  bad  weather. 
It  is  his  particular  job  to  see  to  it  that 
stone,  concrete,  tile,  linoleum  or  compo- 
sition floors  are  as  clean  and  dry  as  pos- 
sible, with  particular  emphasis  on  the 
foyer  and  lobby  floors,  where  bright  light- 
ing is  most  likely  to  reflect  dirt.  It  should 
also  be  his  duty  to  see  that  the  cigarette 
receivers  at  the  doors,  particularly  those 
near  the  ticket-taker  are  clean  and  regu- 
larly cleared  of  discarded  cigars  and  ciga- 
rettes. It  is  also  important  that  cigarette 
butts  which  have  fallen  to  the  wet  floor  be 
picked  up  as  soon  as  possible.  A wet 
cigarette  disintegrates  rapidly,  and  when 
it  has  fallen  apart,  makes  a very  messy 
looking  spot. 

Reassures  Patrons 

People  do  not  resent  the  sight  of  a clean- 
up man,  provided  he  is  neat  and  not  too 
conspicuous,  anywhere  nearly  as  much  as 
they  resent  dirt  and  grime  in  a place 
where  they  have  come  to  expect  immacu- 
late soap-and-water  cleanliness.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  most  theatre  patrons  have 
rather  come  to  expect  to  see  someone 
about,  armed  either  with  a dust-pan  and 
brush,  or  in  stormy  weather,  with  a pail 
and  mop.  Consciously  or  not,  it  gives  peo- 
ple a feeling  that  things  are  being  cared 
for  and  that  their  comfort  and  safety  is 
being  considered. 

At  least  once  every  three  or  four  hours 
during  the  business  day,  the  floors  should 
be  given  a thorough  soap  and  water  clean- 
ing followed  by  a rinse  and  a quick  drying. 

♦Cleanliness  Bureau,  New  York  City. 


It  is  usually  best  to  do  only  a small  sec- 
tion of  the  floor  at  a time,  not  so  much 
to  prevent  freezing  which  is  not  likely  to 
occur  in  a heated  lobby,  as  to  avoid  incon- 
veniencing patrons  who  may  be  entering 
or  leaving  the  theatre.  If  feasible,  it  might 
be  well  to  rope  off  the  section  being 
washed,  so  that  people  will  be  guided 
away  from  that  area.  A “Please  Use  Other 
Door”  sign  will  also  help  toward  doing  a 
more  thorough  and  speedy  cleaning  job 
without  undue  interruption. 

In  the  legitimate  theatre  or  in  the  two- 
or  three-a-day  motion  picture  houses 
where  seats  are  reserved  for  each  perform- 
ance there  is  a special  need  for  this  more 
thorough,  during-the-show  cleaning  be- 
cause people  congregate  in  the  foyers  and 
lobbies.  Here,  however,  there  is  no  par- 
ticular difficulty  inasmuch  as  the  time  be- 
tween intermissions  can  be  devoted  to  the 
cleaning  task  and  there  is  no  interference 
due  to  the  traffic  of  patrons.  The  prob- 
lem of  timing  is  a bit  more  difficult  in  the 
continuous-performance  theatre,  but  even 
here  the  problem  is  not  at  all  insurmount- 
able. The  six  o’clock,  dinner  hour  attend- 
ance lag  is  probably  the  best  time  for  the 
business  day  quick,  but  thorough  floor 
washing.  Such  a cleaning  heightens  the 
theatre’s  attractiveness  for  those  who  come 
for  the  evening  shows,  and  so  is  a defi- 
nite good  business  practice  during  winter 
months. 

Carpet  Protection 

Theatre  rugs  and  carpets  should  not 
present  any  great  stormy  weather  cleanli- 
ness worries,  if  the  moisture  and  dirt  prob- 
lem has  been  taken  care  of  adequately. 
This  of  course  can  be  accomplished  by  pro- 
per cleaning  of  the  outer  foyer  and  lobby, 
before  people  enter  the  theatre  proper. 
Naturally,  a certain  amount  of  dirt  and 
moisture  will  be  carried  in  on  the  shoes 
and  clothing.  Carpets,  however,  are  fair- 
ly absorbent,  but  the  immediate  cleaning 
problem  from  blobs  of  dirt  or  scattered 
bits  of  paper  or  the  like  can  be  taken  care 
of  by  the  use  of  a stiff  small  long-handled 
brush  and  dust  pan.  It  is  generally  con- 
sidered inadvisable  to  try  to  clean  rugs 
and  carpets  more  thoroughly  during  the 
day  and  evening  performances,  but  rather 
to  allow  them  to  dry  overnight,  so  that  ef- 
ficient vacuum  cleaning  can  lift  dried  dust 
and  dirt  off  and  out  of  these  floor  cover- 
ings. Since  they  get  the  brunt  of  foot- 
steps, carpets  on  stairs  and  stair  landings 
should  receive  particular  attention. 

Of  course,  carpets  will  require  more  fre- 
quent soap  shampooing  during  the  winter 
season,  because  wet  dirt  usually  penetrates 
further  and  clings  longer  than  does  dry 
dust.  The  more  walked-on  portions  will 
necessarily  require  more  attention  from 
the  soap  and  water  shampoos.  Unless 
there  is  thorough  and  adequate  ventilation 
to  insure  complete  drying  it  is  probably 
best  to  clean  only  a small  carpet  area  at  a 
time.  The  best  period  for  cleaning  rugs, 
without  having  to  remove  them  is,  ob- 
viously, just  after  closing  since  this  per- 
mits a longer  drying  time. 

Washroom  Attention 

Special  attention  should  also  be  given  to 
washroom  and  rest  room  cleanliness  dur- 
ing stormy  winter  weather.  The  sudden 
transition  from  the  cold  outside  air  into 
the  theatre’s  warm  atmosphere,  particu- 
larly with  those  who  come  a distance,  often 
makes  it  a functional  necessity  to  visit  the 
rest  room.  In  addition,  what  with  larger 
attendance,  the  handling  of  rubbers, 


78 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


SANI-DRI  — “More  Than  A Drying  Service” 

Keeps  washrooms  cleaner  — provides  a constantly  dependable 
drying  service  — - reduces  washroom  maintenance  costs  — and 

ELIMINATES  A DANGEROUS  FIRE  HAZARD 
Illustrated  literature  sent  on  request 
Dependable  Since  1897 

THE  CHICAGO  HARDWARE  FOUNDRY  CO. 

Sani-Dri  Division  241  Box  St.  North  Chicago,  111. 

Producers  of^Sani”  Food  and  Drink  Equipment 


galoshes  and  wet  clothes  and  umbrellas, 
people  find  it  more  than  ordinarily  neces- 
sary to  use  the  other  facilities  of  the  wash- 
rooms. Of  course,  this  heavier  traffic 
brings  more  than  usual  dirt  into  these 
places.  This,  coupled  with  abnormal  use 
of  washbasins,  and  therefore  more  splash- 
ings  and  drippings  from  them,  makes  for 
dirtier  and  more  sloshy  floors  and  fixtures. 
Unless  cleaned  up  regularly,  these  factors 
unquestionably  mean  that  dirt  and  water 
will  be  tracked  into  the  adjacent  rest 
rooms  and  smoking  rooms.  This  does  not 
take  into  consideration  the  bad  impression 
a dirty  washroom  leaves  with  cleanliness- 
minded  patrons.  This  can  occur  only  if 
there  has  been  a let-down  in  washroom 
cleanliness  standards. 

During  the  stormy  weather  washroom 
influx,  it  is  usually  necessary  to  fill  the 
paper  towel-racks  more  often  and  to  empty 
the  used  towel  receptacle  more  frequently. 
If  cloth  roller  towel  equipment  is  used, 
the  rolls  will  undoubtedly  have  to  be  re- 
placed with  clean  ones  at  closer  intervals. 
Soap  dispensers  will  need  to  be  refilled  and 
cleaned  more  often.  The  same  increased 
frequency  will  have  to  be  employed  if  the 
floors  are  to  be  clean  and  free  of  litter. 

Responsibility 

In  most  large  theatres,  the  responsibil- 
ity for  maintaining  the  cleanliness  stand- 
ards of  the  washrooms  rests  with  the  at- 
tendants assigned  to  them.  Where  a thea- 
tre is  too  small  to  warrant  this  extra  help, 
the  management  will  find  it  profitable  to 
see  to  it  that  the  regular  maintenance 
man  is  prepared  to  meet  these  winter 
emergencies  and  so  insure  washroom 
cleanliness. 

Although,  in  the  telling,  these  stormy 
weather  suggestions  may  appear  to  be  a 
bit  complicated,  actual  application  of  them 
will  soon  show  that  they  can  be  easily  ap- 
plied without  any  marked  strain  on  the 
regular  cleaning  routine.  Properly  ap- 
plied, such  use  of  the  basic  principles  of 
soap-and-water  cleanliness  will  not  only 
heighten  the  appearance  and  attractive- 
ness of  the  theatre,  but  also  will  tend  to 
raise  the  comfort,  health  and  safety  stand- 
ards during  the  stormy  winter  season.  It 
is  still  good  business  to  use  cleanliness  as 
sales  appeal — no  matter  what  the  season. 


Exposition  Plans  on 

A,  C . Show  Progress 

Plans  for  the  Pacific  Heating  & Air  Con- 
ditioning Exposition  are  progressing  rapid- 
ly, according  to  a recent  report  from  the 
Exposition  Management.  Scheduled  for 
Exposition  Auditorium,  San  Francisco, 
June  16-20,  this  will  be  the  largest  event 
of  its  kind  ever  held  on  the  Coast,  and  is 
already  attracting  the  interest  of  pro- 
fessional and  selling  organizations. 

Up  to  January  1st  70  leading  manufac- 
turers had  engaged  more  than  50  per  cent 
of  the  exhibit  space  in  the  main  auditor- 
ium, and  the  remaining  spaces  are  under 
active  consideration. 

This  Exposition  will  present  a summary 
of  the  latest  available  equipment  for  heat- 
ing, ventilating  and  air  conditioning.  It 
will  be  of  particular  interest  to  theatre 
owners,  builders,  contractors,  engineers  and 
operating  men,  industrial  and  commercial 
building  owners  and  operators,  home  own- 
ers, architects,  designers,  dealers  and  dis- 
tributors. 

Included  among  the  exhibits  will  be  in- 
teresting displays  of  air  conditioning 


equipment,  boilers  and  furnaces,  fans  and 
blowers,  control  apparatus,  registers  and 
grilles,  pumps,  oil  burners,  insulation  ma- 
terial, piping,  unit  heaters,  steam  traps, 
steam  specialties,  radiators,  etc. 

The  American  Society  of  Heating  & 


Ventilating  Engineers,  who  are  sponsoring 
the  event,  will  hold  its  annual  summer 
meeting  during  the  same  week.  Also 
meeting  at  this  time  will  be  the  Heating, 
Piping  & Air  Conditioning  Contractors  Na- 
tional Association. 


You  Can  Prove 
That  This  Way  Does 
Make  More  Money! 


In  dollar  and  cents,  how 
much  will  it  mean  to  you 
to  cut  one-half  off  your  house  cleaning  and  replacement  costs? 
Many  do  that,  cut  one-half  off,  with  specialized  Super  Theatre 
Cleaners.  On  their  floors  and  carpets.  And  ordinary  tools 
clean  screen,  lamp  house,  drapes,  curtains,  box  fronts,  deco- 
rations, upholstered  furniture,  everything.  Each  job 
alone  is  much  too  much  for  any  ordinary,  cleaner.  The 
Super  does  them  all,  and  easily. 

Plus  valuable  exclusive  features;  Super  Floor- 
Lite  permits  really  good  cleaning  with  no 
house  lites,  saves  juice;  Super  Screen  Brush, 
any  house  man  cleans  your  screen; 
Super  Hi-Up  Tube  for  high  places.  Try 
an  outfit  5 days  free — 
all  risk  ours.  Decide 
then,  not  before.  Ask 
your  jobber  or  write 


• Ruggedly  durable,  highly  powered,  yet  lightly 
portable.  Maximum  dividends  on  investment,  mini- 
mum costs  on  operating.  Used  daily  by  thousands 
who  keep  the  nice  money  their  Supers  save  them. 

THE  NATIONAL  SUPER  SERVICE  CO., 


1941  N.  13th,  Toledo,  Ohio 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


79 


lilt  C01DITI0IIII! 


DEVOTED  TO  A BETTER  UNDERSTANDING 
OF  TEMPERATURE  CONTROL  IN  THEATRES 

If  This  Makes  YOU  Uncomfortable  Just 

Think  of  Your  Patrons 


w 

■ 1 HEN  I read  my 
article  in  the  January 
4th  issue  of  this  maga- 
zine, I liked  it.  Even  I 
could  understand  what 
it  said  when  the  editor 
got  through  with  it.  It 
sounded  like  “plain 
talk”  to  me  and  per- 
haps it  will  do  some 
good.  So  here’s  some 
more  of  the  same  line. 

“The  time  has 
come,”  the  Walrus  said  (and  I’m  the  Wal- 
rus) “to  talk  of  other  things  than  ships 
and  sealing  wax  and  cabbages  and  kings.” 
And  the  good  Lord  knows  that  you  are  the 
Carpenters  who  shed  briny  tears  over  the 
few  little  two-bit  oysters  who  don't  come  to 
see  your  bally  show.  Exhibitor  after  ex- 
hibitor says  to  me,  “Simmons,  show  me  how 
to  fill  up  those  empty  seats  and  I’ll  be 
glad  to  become  air  conditioned.” 

Call  the  Doctor 

Now  it  would  take  a better  engineer  than 
I am  to  air  condition  such  a sure-shot  gam- 
bler. He’s  so  hot  and  bothered  about 
poor  business,  the  poor  guy,  that  he  can’t 
think  about  much  else.  I could  air  condi- 
tion his  theatre  but  when  any  person  runs 
such  a high  temperature,  he  needs  a Doc- 
tor of  Medicine,  not  one  of  Mechanics. 

I would  like  to  make  myself  think  that 
all  this  talk  about  poor  theatre  business  is 
only  a stall.  But  I am  sure  it  isn’t.  If 
you  can’t  get  me  into  your  houses  on  a 
pass  more  often  than  a dozen  times  a 
year,  at  least  I know  why,  even  if  you  don’t. 
And  exhibitors  tell  me  that  the  trend  of 
the  public  is  away  from  the  theatres! 
Wouldn’t  you  like  to  stop  it?  I don’t  know 
all  of  the  answers,  of  course.  But  all  of 
the  trouble  can’t  be  due  to  lack  of  air  con- 
ditioning. 

Methinks  most  of  the  trouble  is  due  to  a 
“lack”  of  several  things,  including  air  con- 
ditioning. And  the  particular  lack  that 
you  can  supply,  is  the  use  of  your  own 
God-given  powers  of  practical  perception. 

Maybe  I have  talked  to  exhibitors  who 
were  dumb  on  the  subject  of  air  condition- 
ing; but  what  of  it?  They  were  not  dumb 
about  anything  else  that  I could  notice, 
and  many  of  them  made  me  feel  that  I 
was  Listening  to  an  intellectual  superior. 


by  GORDON  H.  SIMMONS* 


But  what  I want  to  know  is:  Are  you 
fellows  showmen?  Or  do  you  just  rent  some 
films  that  come  in  a can  and  run  them 
through  your  machines  and  let  it  go  at  that 
with  a few  cheap  dishes  thrown  in  on  the 
side? 

Did  you  ever  undertake  to  “air  condi- 
tion” your  thoughts  and  thus  get  some 
fresh  atmosphere  into  that  stuffy  think- 
tank?  If  your  business  doesn’t  suit  you, 
then  its  time  to  radically  change  your 
thoughts  about  it.  And  it  wouldn’t  do  you 
a bit  of  harm. 

Just  as  long  as  you  maintain  a death 
grapple  with  “things”  as  such,  instead  of 
ideas  for  improvement,  just  so  long  will 
you  enjoy  poor  business.  And  just  as  long 
as  you  go  to  the  dime  store  for  nickel 
ideas,  just  so  long  will  you  continue  to  do 
a dime  and  nickel  business. 

Cases  of  Inertia 

Now  in  the  science  of  mechanics  we 
encounter  “inertia.”  Mechanically  stated, 
“Things  at  rest  tend  to  remain  at  rest, 
and  things  in  motion  tend  to  remain  in 
motion  and  move  with  uniform  velocity  in 
a straight  line.”  I learned  that  one  in  the 
little  old  red  school  house,  many  years  ago. 

But  the  mental  inertia  of  people,  both 
in  and  out  of  theatre  industry,  is  simply 
appalling.  Sometimes  I have  deliberately 
made  a person  mad  in  order  to  gain  his 
undivided  attention.  So  I may  as  well 
attempt  to  make  all  of  you  mad  because 
if  I do,  out  of  it  will  surely  grow  a con- 
structive result.  Anyhow  I’ve  nothing  to 
lose. 

I’m  in  the  family  you  know,  so  I’m  a 
privileged  character.  But  I’ll  get  an  un- 
holy joy  out  of  it  if  I can  start  a family 
fight.  A fight  means  action,  and  that’s 
what  I’m  after. 

How  many  of  you  study  your  business 
as  intensely  as  I do  mine?  How  many  of 
you  offer  to  the  air  conditioning  industry 
constructive  suggestions?  How  many  of  you 
view  your  competition  across  the  street 
with  jaundiced  eye  instead  of  collaborating 
on  ways  and  means  to  get  the  crowd  out? 
Fellows,  most  of  you  don’t  even  know  the 
meaning  of  cooperation  and  collaboration. 
Some  of  you  are  merely  cutting  throats — 
mostly  your  own! 

♦Air  Conditioning  Engineer,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 


I should  know,  if  anybody  does,  what’s 
your  mainspring  of  action.  You  are  think- 
ing in  terms  of  “boxoffice”  all  the  time. 
That  “boxoffice”  is  a barrier  between  you 
and  your  public  because  you  make  it  one. 
I doubt  if  any  of  you  have  air  conditioned 
your  house  TO  MAKE  THE  PATRONS 
COMFORTABLE.  You  did  it  simply  be- 
cause you  consider  it  “good  boxoffice,”  and 
because  your  competitor  had  beat  you  to 
the  draw. 

Well,  there’s  no  “boxoffice”  between  you 
and  me  and  simply  because  there  isn’t,  I’ll 
get  under  your  skin  and  onto  your  hides. 
If  ten  people  read  me  for  every  one  that 
writes,  then  dam  near  17,000  of  you  do 
because  I have  gotten  that  proportion  of 
letters.  And  if  I can  get  17,000  people  on 
their  ear  all  at  once,  that’s  some  achieve- 
ment! 

Cut  Out  Cussing 

Just  get  ’em  hot  enough  and  somebody 
will  get  orders  for  air  conditioning  even  in 
the  winter  time,  which  is  the  time  to  do  it, 
by  the  way,  as  I’ve  often  yelled  at  you  here- 
tofore. 

But  if  your  lackadaisical  interest  in  real 
air  conditioning  is  any  criterion,  then 
stagnant  interest  in  other  matters  pertain- 
ing to  your  business  is  likely  to  prevail. 
You  can’t  “cuss”  the  public  back  into  your 
houses  so  why  don’t  you  cut  it  out? 

Nor  can  I cuss  air  conditioning  into  your 
houses  so  I’ll  cut  that  out  too.  Anyhow  it 
was  you  theatre  men  who  taught  me  how 
to  cuss.  I was  a perfect  little  cherub  be- 
fore I met  some  of  you. 

I can  get  downright  onery  in  these  pages, 
as  I am  trying  to  do  right  now,  and  I’m 
going  to  get  tough  with  the  next  theatre 
owner  I meet  who  slaps  me  on  the  back 
and  says,  “Simmons,  that  sure  was  a warm 
article  you  wrote  last  month.  That’s  right 
boy,  give  ’em  hell!”  I always  seem  to  be 
talking  about  two  other  fellows;  never 
about  the  guy  who  lauds  me  and  then  lets 
it  go  at  that. 

Sure,  I’m  an  agitator.  A fifth  columnist 
trying  to  overthrow  air  conditioning  prac- 
tice as  it  is  being  malpracticed  in  many 
of  your  theatres.  And  it  smells  to  me  as 
tho’  there  are  many  other  practices  that 
should  be  overthrown.  Of  the  firms  who 
try  to  sell  you,  only  a few  of  them  are  in 
my  social  register.  Many  of  the  firms 
you  patronize  are  not  and  will  not  be 
patronized  by  me. 

There  are  many  other  members  of  the 
air  conditioning  aristocracy,  whom  I like 
and  with  good  reason,  because  they  give 
you  fellows  your  moneys’  worth.  But 
space  and  editorial  policy  does  not  per- 
mit the  compilation  of  a trade  directory 
here.  It  is  hoped  that  sooner  or  later, 
more  of  them  will  join  in  our  effort  to 


Are  You  Confused? 

The  subject  of  Air  Conditioning  explained  in 
common,  non-teclinical  every-day  terms  be- 
comes less  baffling  to  the  man  who  wants  to 
buy  equipment.  If  you  are  confused  regard- 
ing the  application  of  air  conditioning  to 
your  theatre,  write  a letter  to  Gordon  H. 
Simmons,  926  N.  Cass  Avenue,  Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin,  outlining  your  conditions,  seating 
capacity,  room  dimension,  present  equipment, 
etc.  Give  him  the  facts.  ENCLOSE  POSTAGE 
for  reply  and  he’ll  be  glad  to  analyze  your 
layout  and  give  you  unbiased  recommenda- 
tions on  your  requirements. 


80 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


Q&A  Ccinei 


Problems  presented  herein  are  bona  tide  and  are  not  imaginary  concoctions  tor  the  purpose  of  mis- 
representing reader  interest.  Original  signed  letters  are  on  file  for  examination,  subject  to  the  ap- 
proval of  correspondents. 


Comes  an  interesting  letter  from  a new 
confidant  of  mine  out  in  Oregon.  Its  the 
frank  and  friendly  sort  of  message  that 
makes  me  feel  good. 

The  Letter:  “Your  articles  in  The  Mod- 
ern Theatre  are  always  a source  of  interest 
and  information  Someday,  the  good  Lord 
willing,  we  hope  to  arrive  at  that  place  in 
the  scheme  of  things,  when  we  can  afford 
to  air  condition  this  theatre. 

“Fortunately,  our  climate  here  is  such 
that,  while  air  conditioning  would  be  de- 
sirable, it  is  not  vitally  essential.  Even  so, 
it  is  an  improvement  we  are  eventually 
counting  upon,  to  make  our  theatre  com- 
plete in  every  detail,  and  when  that  time 
comes,  it  is  our  hope  that  we  can  employ 


educate  you  by  becoming  regular  advertis- 
ers in  this  journal. 

But  remember,  these  pages  are  open  to 
any  advertiser,  and  my  endorsement  does 
not  necessarily  go  with  every  paid  ad.  But 
it  is  free  to  all  those  who  merit  it.  If 
you  make  a practice  of  buying  from  firms 
whose  names  in  air  conditioning  circles 
rate  with  Tiffany’s  on  silverware,  you 
will  have  less  grief  and  my  blessing. 

An  Accusing  Finger 

With  only  one  theatre  out  of  every  six 
really  air  conditioned,  the  theatre  industry 
has  a 1-o-n-g  way  to  go  before  really  tast- 
ing the  benefits  of  it.  I don’t  doubt  but 
that  some  of  you  do  have  equipment  in- 
stalled that  could  be  made  into  a real  sys- 
tem by  the  use  of  proper  controls.  With- 
out them  you  have  no  system.  It  takes 
controls  to  systematize  the  equipment. 

Controls  are  no  different  in  their  func- 
tion than  a carburetor  on  your  automo- 
bile, which  proportions  the  gas  to  the  air 
and  delivers  a proper  volume  of  both  under 
variable  speed  conditions. 

In  like  manner,  you  have  to  proportion 
the  fresh  air  to  recirculated  air  while  vary- 
ing the  volume  of  total  air  to  the  needs  of 
the  varying  crowds  in  your  house.  And 
also  while  doing  this,  maintain  a decent 
temperature  and  humidity. 

If  you  think  you  can  do  all  this  by  pur- 
chasing a $15.00  thermostat,  or  some  other 
improvised  gadget  you’ve  got  another  guess 
coming. 

Because  I’ve  been  designing  “systems”  of 
air  conditioning  and  other  systems  for  dif- 
ferent purposes,  I get  awfully  agitated 
when  I view  a procedure  that  has  no  sys- 
tem in  it.  I’ve  never  tried  to  devise  a sys- 
tem for  getting  a crowd  into  a movie  thea- 
tre but  nobody  had  better  shove  dough 
under  my  nose  and  dare  me  to  try.  I 
might  fool  him  badly  even  if  at  the  mo- 
ment I hadn’t  the  slightest  idea  what  I 
would  do.  All  I know  is  that  there  is  a 
right  idea,  and  that  a smart  man  can  find 
it.  So  get  busy  scratching  your  own  heads. 
I’ve  scratched  mine  over  your  problems 
’ti-1  its  sore.  All  right!  Call  me  a sorehead. 
I don’t  care. 


your  services  to  insure  the  finest  installa- 
tion possible. 

“Fishing  is  good  out  here  and  from  the 
articles  I have  read  over  your  signature, 
that  is  a very  decided  inducement  in  get- 
ting you  away  from  your  home  city. 

“I  note  in  your  article  in  Modern  Thea- 
tre of  December  7,  an  air  distribution  out- 
let, which  same,  I would  appreciate  know- 
ing more  about.  Have  been  looking  for 
something  of  this  type  for  sometime,  and 
this  looks  as  though  it  might  fill  our 
present  needs  very  nicely.  Any  dope  you 
can  give  me  will  be  greatly  appreciated. 
Thanks  in  advance — M.  R.  H.” 

My  Answer:  “Upon  receipt  of  your  letter 
of  December  12,  it  would  take  very  little 
inducement  for  me  to  throw  a couple  of 
those  grilles  in  the  rear  of  my  Zephyr  and 
drive  them  out  to  you. 

“Talking  to  me  about  fish  and  salu- 
brious climate  while  I am  slipping  and  slid- 
ing around  in  this  snow  and  ice.  It  ain’t 
fair.  I have  heard  quite  a lot  about  Ore- 
gon’s climate  and  I am  going  to  sample  it 
some  day  which  I hope  will  be  soon. 

“So  when  you  finally  get  ready  to  air 
condition,  let  me  know  and  I’ll  come  out — 
no  foolin’. 

“In  regard  to  the  air  distribution  outlets 
I use  in  my  practice,  I invariably  specify 
the  type  you  inquire  about.  But  these 
grilles  are  perfectly  useless  unless  the  total 
C.  F.  M.  of  air  to  be  handled  is  known  as 
well  as  the  length,  width,  height  of  the 
auditorium  as  well  as  the  proposed  loca- 
tion of  the  grilles. 

“If  you  care  to  send  this  information 
to  me,  I will  personally  see  that  the  proper 
grilles  are  selected.  The  interior  core  or 
‘lattice  work’  must  be  arranged  just  so 
for  each  individual  job.  And  they  cost 

approx.  $ per  sq.  ft.  depending  upon 

the  finish  selected. 

“I  will  say  that  on  one  job  only,  out  of 
the  many  handled,  I made  a dog-fall.  I 
eliminated  absolutely  all  breeze  and  drafts 
which  was  what  I deliberately  tried  to  do, 
but  when  the  job  started  up  (it  being  an 
air-washer  job) , some  slight  air  motion  in 
the  face  of  the  customers  was  wanted  by 
the  theatre  owner,  and  he  blamed  me  for 
doing  the  job  too  well. 

“If  you  sent  my  usual  fee  in  the  form  of 
a postage  stamp,  my  wife  must  have 
swiped  it  out  of  the  letter.  My  pocket 
change  goes  the  same  way.— G.  H.  S.” 


Sometimes  my  correspondents  take  occa- 
sion to  recommend  me  to  others  outside  of 
theatre  business.  The  following  letter  for 
example,  which  comes  from  the  far  reaches 
of  Northern  Canada. 

The  Letter:  “Mr of  the  

Theatre,  at , Manitoba,  has  ad- 

vised me  of  your  facilities  for  air-condi- 
tioning. If  you  have  any  printed  literature 
in  connection  with  your  work,  I should  be 
glad  to  receive  a copy  of  the  same. 

“Our  institution  covers  a floor  space 


(all  on  one  floor)  of  approximately  12,000 
square  feet.  Last  winter  we  air-conditioned 
the  whole  premises  under  the  supervision 

of  the Electric  Company.  All 

ducts  and  interior  equipment  for  summer 
cooling  are  now  installed,  and  the  only 
part  of  the  equipment  which  is  incom- 
plete is  the  compressors  for  cooling.  We 
are  told  that  it  will  cost  us  approximately 
$4,000  extra,  in  addition  to  $6,500  which 
we  have  already  spent,  to  complete  our 
cooling  process. 

“At  the  time  of  the  installation  it  was 
considered  advisable  to  hold  off  the  air 
cooling  until  the  spring  of  1941,  and  we 
are  advised  that  compressors  can  be  in- 
stalled within  a period  of  ten  days  without 
disturbing  any  of  our  ducts  which  are  now 
installed. 

“Mr expressed  to  me  that 

you  have  a system  which  would  appear  to 
be  somewhat  cheaper  than  the  one  re- 
ferred to  above,  for  cooling  purposes.  I 
should  be  very  glad  to  hear  about  this  in 
case  the  information  is  correct.  Should 
you  care  to  write  me  at  any  time,  just 
address  your  letter  in  care  of  this  insti- 
tution.— D.  F.  F.,  President.” 

My  Reply:  “Referring  to  your  letter  to 
me  of  the  8th,  in  which  you  mentioned 

Mr of  the  Theatre  at 

, and  suggested  that  you  would 

like  to  save  some  money  while  cooling 
your  building,  I must  advise  that  I wrote 
you  promptly  but  have  not  to  date  had  the 
pleasure  of  hearing  from  you. 

“Am  perfectly  willing  to  give  a little 
engineering  advice  when  I have  sufficient 
information  to  go  on,  but  as  previously 
written  you  I would  need  to  know  the 
maximum  number  of  students  in  the  build- 
ing at  any  one  time. 

“It  is  true  that  I now  get  a sizeable  dis- 
count on  compressors  and  therefore  could 
save  you  money  after  the  proper  size  was 
selected,  since  I only  make  a 10  per  cent 
engineering  charge  which  includes  the 
specification  of  needed  equipment. 

“But  I fail  to  understand  why  it  seems 
impossible  to  get  a well  drilled  in  Canada. 
We  do  it  in  Wisconsin  right  along,  the 
water  is  amply  cold  for  a superb  result,  and 
the  operating  costs  are  a fraction  of  the 
cost  of  running  a compressor.  I can  only 
make  suggestions  to  you,  but  if  you  wish  to 
save  some  money  you  should  look  into  this 
possibility. 

“At  any  rate  I would  be  pleased  to  hear 
from  you  if  you  care  to  write.  I have 
engineered  several  theatre  jobs  in  Canada 
and  because  I am  rated  by  the  manufac- 
turers, I am  familiar  with  proper  prices  for 
proper  equipment. — G.  H.  S.” 


Army  Photographic 

Laboratory  Organized 

The  Research  Council  of  the  Academy 
of  Motion  Picture  Arts  and  Sciences  an- 
nounced last  month  the  organization  of  a 
Signal  Corps  Photographic  Laboratory  or- 
ganization for  the  Army,  and  the  commis- 
sioning of  ten  officers  in  the  Signal  Corps 
Reserve. 

These  officers  have  been  commissioned 
as  part  of  the  War  Department’s  plans  for 
utilizing  the  facilities  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry  in  time  of  national  emer- 
gency and  has  been  handled  under  the 
cooperative  program  carried  on  by  the  Re- 
search Council  for  the  War  Department. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


81 


©IT'S  GOOD  BOX-OFFICE 

to  seat  patronage  on  securely  an- 
chored seats! 

SUPREME  EXPANSION  BOLTS 

should  be  specified  for  new  seating 
and  repairs. 

Offered  by  all  better  theatre  supply 
dealers 

The  Chicago  Expansion  Bolt  Co. 
134  S.  Clinton  St.  Chicago,  111. 


ADLER  "THIRD  DIMENSION” 
SILHOUETTE  LETTERS  and 
"Remova-Panel”  FRAMES 

8"  to  24"  Interchangeable  — Also  6"  Letters 

ADLER  SILHOUETTE  LETTER  CO. 

2909  S.  Indiana  Ave.  Chicago 


Lounge  Furniture 

SPECIALISTS  in  SMART  MODERN  or 
PERIOD  FURNITURE  for  THEATRE 
LOBBIES  and  LOUNGES. 

DAVIDSON  LTD. 

420  N.  Orleans  St.  Chicago 


GENERAL  CHAIRS 


. l.j.  l.i.l.ajl 


SOLD  EVERYWHERE 
BY  DEALERS  SQUARE 


IRWIN  SEATING 

famous  for  its 

“NECK  TO  KNEE"  COMFORT 

AND  SNAPPY  APPEARANCE 

IRWIN  SEATING  COMPANY 

Grand  Rapids,  Mich. 

Distributed  by  National  Theatre  Supply  Co. 


YOURS  AT 
UNBELIEVABLY 
LOW  COST 

“LIGHTMASTER” 

SIMPLIFIED 
HIGH  INTENSITY 
PROJECTION 
LAMPS 

The  BALLANTYNE 
COMPANY 

Omaha,  Nebr. 


HOW  TO  cool  and  ventilate  your  theatre  ecoaotaically: 

Install  REYNOLDS  BLOWERS 

Quiet  • Vibrationless 

12  fixe*.  1.500  to  30.000  cfm.  $22  50  up.  including  variable 
tp«ed  drive,  belt*  and  motor  pulley*.  Fafnir  ball  bearings 
lei  in  solid  rubber  pillow  block*.  Write  for  free  literature. 

REYNOLDS  MANUFACTURING  CO. 

412  Prospect  Ave.,  N.  E.  • Grand  Rapids,  Michigan 


Better  Popcorn 
for 

Bigger  Profits 

MANLEY,  Inc.  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


IN  ANSWERING  THESE  ADS 
PLEASE  TELL  'EM  WHERE 
YOU  SAW  IT 


MODERN  THEATRE  LIGHTING 


It  will  pay  you  to  modernize  now, 
with  new  up  to  the  minute  lighting 
fixtures.  Sidewall,  ceiling  and  exit 
fixtures  designed  for  beauty  and  soft 
colored  effects.  Special  fixtures  made 
to  order.  Write  for  descriptive  litera- 
ture. 

MODERN  THEATRE  SUPPLY  CO. 

320  Douglas  St.,  N.  W. 

Grand  Rapids Michigan 


EXHIBITORSI-without  ACOUSTICON  ™se 

20,000,000  DEAFENED  ARE  NOT  WAITING 

AT  YOUR  BOX  OFFICES.  WRITE  FOR  BOOKLET  413. 
ACOUSTICON  580  FIFTH  AVENUE  — NEW  YORK  CITY 


A Page 

Acousticon  Company  82 

Adler  Silhouette  Letter  Co.  82 

Advance  Mfg.  Co .73 

American  Seating  Co 48 

Automatic  Devices  Co 73 

B 

Ballantyne  Company  82 

Best  Devices  Co 73 

C 

Carrier  Corporation Second  Cover 

Chicago  Expansion  Bolt  Co 82 

Chicago  Hardware  Foundry  Co 79 

D 

Davidson,  Ltd 82 

Dayton  Safety  Ladder  Co.  75 

G 

General  Seating  Co 82 

G-M  Laboratories,  Inc 71 


INDEX 

OF  ADVERTISING  IN  THE  MODERN 
THEATRE  SECTION 


H 

Hertner  Electric  Co 71 

Heywood-Wakefield  Co .61 

I 

Ideal  Seating  Co.  63 

International  Projector  Corp  . Fourth  Cover 

International  Seat  Corp 67 

Irwin  Seating  Co 82 

M 

Manley,  Inc 82 

Modern  Theatre  Supply  Co 82 


N 

National  Carbon  Co.,  Inc Third  Cover 

National  Super  Service  Co 79 

National  Theatre  Supply  Co 57,  58  & 75 

R 

RCA  Mfg.  Co.,  Inc 47 

Reynolds  Mfg.  Co 82 

S 

Smith,  Alex.,  & Sons  Carpet  Co 65 

Strong  Electric  Corp 72 

U 

Union  Carbide  & Carbon  Corp..  Third  Cover 


V 

Vallen,  Inc 66 

W 

Wagner  Sign  Service,  Inc 66 

Wood  Conversion  Co 77 


82 


The  MODERN  THEATRE  SECTION 


The  New  "One  Kilowatt"  Arcs 
use  "National,"  "Suprex"  and 
"Orotip"  Carbons 


LET'S  LOOK  AT 
THE  RECORD 


• The  new  "One  Kilowatt”  arcs  have  estab- 
lished a record  in  performance.  That’s  why 
hundreds  of  new  installations  have  been  made 
in  the  smaller  theatres  in  every  section  of  the 
country.  The  remarkable  improvement  in  pro- 
jection offered  by  these  new  high  intensity  arcs 
is  just  what  smaller  theatres  have  needed  for 
years.  Low  initial  and  operating  costs  have  been 
a great  factor  in  their  universal  acceptance. 

If  you  are  not  now  using  modern  high  intensity 
projection  in  your  theatre  ask  your  dealer  for  a 
demonstration.  Note  the  improvement  in  black 
and  white  projection  and  how  natural  and  pleas- 
ing the  color  features  appear  on  the  screen.  Your 
patrons  too  will  notice  this  difference. 


The  words  “National,”  “Suprex”  and  “Orotip”  are  trade-marks 
of  National  Carbon  Company,  Inc. 


This  is  our  sixtieth  year  of  continuous 
service  in  the  field  of  carbon  arc  light- 
ing. Remarkable  progress  has  been 
made  in  carbons  and  carbon  arc  equip- 
ment. Many  industries  and  the  general 
public  have  profited  by  these  accom- 
plishments. Greater  achievements  are 
assured  by  the  most  modern  research 
and  manufacturing  facilities. 


1881-1941 


CARBON  SALES  DIVISION,  CLEVELAND,  OHIO 

NATIONAL  CARBON  COMPANY,  INC  . General  Offices: 

Unit  of  Union  Carbide  and  Carbon  Corporation  30  East  42nd  Street,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

USE  Branch  Sales  Offices: 

New  York  - Pittsburgh  - Chicago  - St.  Louis  - San  Francisco 


9 


★ ★★★ 


DESIGNED  AND  CONSTRUCTED  TO  MEET 
TODAY’S  NEEDS  AND  TOMORROW’S  REQUIREMENTS 


hen  Hollywood  standardizes 
on  any  of  the  proposed  forms  of 

Control  Track  Recordings 

we  will  be  ready  with,  and  make 
available,  the  necessary  additional 
equipment,  enabling  theatre 
owners  to  give  their  patrons  all 
the  advantages  of  any  changes 
or  improvements  that  may  be 

recommended. 


MANUFACTURED  BY 

INTERNATIONAL  PROJECTOR 
CORPORATION 


88-96  GOLD  STREET.  NEW  YORK  N.Y.  SERVICE 


SUPPLEMENTS 


QUALITY 


DISTRIBUTED  BY 

NATIONAL  THEATRE  SUPPLY 
COMPANY 

BRANCHES  IN  PRINCIPAL  CITIES 


■ 


■ ■ 

INEWS  AND  VIEWS  OF  THE  PRODUCTION  CENTER 


(Hollywood  Office — Suite  219  at  6404  Hollywood  Blvd.;  Ivan  Spear,  Western  Manager) 


Neutral  Audience  for 
Hearst-Welles  Battle 

A stalemate  has  apparently  descended 
upon  Hollywood’s  policy  battle  of  the  cen- 
tury, which  finds  that  old  warrior.  Pub- 
lisher William  Randolph  Hearst,  in  one 
corner,  and  Fledgling  Orson  Welles,  RKO 
Radio’s  producer-director-writer-a  c t o r — 
and  currently  Number  One  headache — in 
the  other. 

The  stake,  as  the  industry  well  knows 
by  now,  is  the  issue  as  to  whether  or  not 
Welles’  four-way  brain-child,  “Citizen 
Kane,”  will  or  will  not  be  released  in  its 
present  form.  The  seconds  of  both  con- 
testants are  marking  time,  with  their  eyes 
glued  on  the  east,  whence,  they  say,  the 
next  move  must  come.  In  other  words,  the 
buck  is  still  rather  firmly  entrenched  in 
the  lap  of  George  Schaefer,  president  of 
RKO  Radio. 

Schaefer  Must  Decide 

In  what  appears  to-  be  an  effort  to  ex- 
pedite settlement  of  the  issue,  one  way  or 
the  other,  Welles  and  his  general  represen- 
tative, Herbert  Drake,  have  pulled  out  for 
the  east  to  confer  with  Schaefer  and  to 
work  out  plans  for  the  film’s  world  pre- 
miere should  Schaefer  give  its  release  the 
go-ahead  signal. 

Spokesmen  for  Welles  are  far  from  re- 
ticent in  summing  up  their — and  osten- 
sibly his — views  on  the  situation.  Among 
sundry  other  points,  they  emphasize  that: 

An  advertising  campaign  for  “Citizen 
Kane”  is  going  ahead  apace,  with  full-page 
advertisements,  announcing  the  pending 
release  of  the  picture,  to  break  in  several 
national  magazines — possibly  in  some  of 
Mr.  Hearst’s — during  the  week  of  Febru- 
ary 20. 

At  the  same  time,  they  also  aver,  an 
extensive  newspaper  advertising  campaign 
will  be  launched  in  connection  with  the 
film.  They  take  the  attitude  that  their 
position  is  that  of  people  who  have  made  a 
motion  picture,  based  on  the  life  of  no  one 
individual,  and  are  going  ahead  to  adver- 
tise and  show  it. 

Would  Counter-Sue 

Welles’  attaches  report  further  that  they 
do  not  think  any  of  the  lawsuits  at  which 
Mr.  Hearst’s  spokesmen  have  hinted  as  a 
possible  part  of  his  suppression  manifesto 
will  ever  be  filed.  If  they  are,  the  Welles 
representatives  declare,  a counter-suit  will 
immediately  name  Mr.  Hearst  as  defend- 
ant, charging  him  with  interference  with 
contractual  arrangements.  Underneath 
their  ostensibly  brace  and  secure  front, 


however,  can  be  detected  a very  definite 
note  of  whistling  in  the  dark. 

When  pinned  down,  they  admit  they  are 
entirely  at  a loss  as  concerns  what  is  hap- 
pening in  New  York,  and  virtually  confess 
they  are  entertaining  some  qualms  as  to 
what  might  be  the  ultimate  results  of  the 
pressure  the  publisher  is  in  a position  to 
bring  upon  eastern  executives  of  RKO 
Radio,  and  upon  diverse  other  influential 
personages  who  figure  prominently  in  the 
company’s  financial  structure.  Further, 
they  say,  they  have  heard  rumblings  of 
comparable  pressure  that  is  being,  or  might 
be,  brought  upon  the  larger  circuits,  to 
hamper  normal  bookings  of  the  feature  if, 
when,  and  as  it  is  released  in  its  present 
form. 

While  local  RKO  Radio  officials  are 
ostensibly  lined  up  to  present  a solid  front 
along  with  the  Welles  contingent,  studio 
publicity  men  show  a marked  aversion  to 
discussing  the  situation,  limiting  their  ob- 
servations to  the  aforementioned  stalemate 
and  reiterating  the  next  move  must  come 
from  New  York.  Their  non-communicative- 
ness is  surpassed  only  by  that  of  the  local 
Hearst  camp,  which  has  absolutely  noth- 
ing to  say  on  the  matter. 

Hands  Off  Policy 

The  Welles  office  has  compiled  a rather 
complete  dossier  of  press  comment  on  Mr. 
Hearst’s  demands — which  is  surprisingly 
small.  Many  newspapers,  wire  services  and 
other  media  which  normally  cover  Holly- 
wood activities  quite  thoroughly  failed  to 
touch  upon  the  embroglio,  while  those  re- 
ports which  did  find  their  way  into  print 
were  chiefly  reportorial,  although  the 
Welles  crowd  is  prone  to  read  reactions 
favoring  Welles’  position  into  them. 

Aside  from  the  Gower  Street  studio, 
where  Welles  headquarters,  Hollywood  is 
continuing  its  hands-off  policy,  taking  the 
attitude  that  it  is  a strictly  private  fight 
and  that  the  less  other  companies  and  in- 
dividuals have  to  do  with  it  the  better  for 
all  concerned.  True,  here  is  considerable 
unofficial  discussion,  with  the  consensus  of 
opinion  being  that  Mr.  Hearst  is  holding 
most  of  the  trumps,  despite  the  brave  at- 
titude which  Welles,  through  his  repre- 
sentatives, is  doing  his  best  to  maintain. 

"Red  Pony " Will  Be  First 
Hawks-Milestone  lor  Fox 

First  independent  feature  to  be  made  by 
the  unit  headed  by  William  Hawks  and 
Lewis  Milestone  for  20th  Century-Fox  re- 
lease will  be  John  Steinbeck’s  “The  Red 
Pony.”  The  Hawks-Milestone  setup  with 
the  studio  also  includes  the  services  of 
Charles  Boyer,  Irene  Dunne  and  Ronald 
Colman,  one  of  whom  will  star. 


Signal  Corps  Unit  Is 
Sought  by  Council 

Another  far-reaching  step  toward  solidi- 
fying Hollywood’s  participation  in  the  na- 
tional defense  program  has  been  taken  by 
the  Academy  Research  Council,  which  has 
posted  notices  in  the  studios  calling  for 
volunteers  among  picture-making  person- 
nel to  enlist  in  a Signal  Corps  photographic 
unit  now  being  formed.  Prospective  en- 
listees are  informed  they  will  not  be  re- 
quired for  active  duty  at  this  time,  but  will 
be  called  into  service  only  in  the  event  the 
U.  S.  army  becomes  completely  mobilized. 
Those  joining  the  unit  will  serve,  in  emer- 
gency, in  the  branch  for  which  their  studio 
work  has  best  qualified  them.  Required 
are  experienced  men  in  such  divisions  as: 

Animation  and  title  supervisors,  camera 
repair  supervisors,  cameramen,  chemists, 
clerks,  cooks,  editors,  sound  men,  elec- 
tricians, laboratory  equipment  engineers, 
laboratory  supervisors,  machinists,  mix- 
ers, maintenance  men,  boom  operators  and 
recording  machine  operators.  Darryl  F. 
Zanuck,  chairman  of  the  Research  Council, 
and  Major  Nathan  Levinson  are  in  charge 
of  recruiting. 

Charity  Front  Active 

On  the  charity  front,  preparations  are 
going  ahead  on  the  Greek  War  Relief  Fund 
broadcast,  scheduled  for  February  8 at 
Grauman’s  Chinese  Theatre.  The  motion 
picture  permanent  charities  committee, 
headed  by  Samuel  Goldwyn,  is  cooperat- 
ing with  a similar  radio  charities  group  in 
staging  the  affair,  which  will  be  tied  into 
a gigantic  three-way  hookup  with  London, 
and  Athens  also  participating.  Louis  K. 
Sidney  of  M-G-M  is  producing  the  show, 
with  George  Watters,  of  Fox  West  Coast, 
handling  the  advertising.  Set  to  appear  are 
Bob  Hope,  Jack  Benny,  Frank  Morgan, 
Clark  Gable  and  Carole  Lombard,  Shirley 
Temple,  the  “Hardy  Family,”  Charles 
Laughton,  Ronald  Colman,  Fanny  Brice, 
Tony  Martin,  Alice  Faye,  Mary  Martin, 
Robert  Taylor  and  Barbara  Stanwyck, 
Merle  Oberon,  Myrna  Loy,  Groucho  Marx, 
Madeleine  Carroll  and  Robert  Young.  Brit- 
ish War  Relief  and  Assistance  League 
leaders  have  pledged  support  and  coopera- 
tion. 

The  annual  Bing  Crosby  Golf  Tourna- 
ment, held  at  Rancho  Santa  Fe  recently, 
netted  more  than  $5,000  for  a crippled  chil- 
dren’s hospital.  The  entire  proceeds  were 
donated  to  the  charity  by  Crosby,  who  also 
bore  the  expenses  of  staging  the  affair. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


85 


Piclure-a-Day  Tempo 
Pointed  by  Schedules 

Present  schedules  indicate  that,  on  an 
average,  at  least  one  picture  a day  will  go 
before  the  cameras  this  month,  a tempo 
that  bids  fair  to  push  productional  activi- 
ties up  to  new  records  for  the  winter  sea- 
son. A total  of  31  features  already  has 
been  announced  for  February  starts,  with 
11  on  schedule  for  March  and  four  already 
set  to  go  before  the  cameras  during  April. 

Gunning  six  each  this  month.  Para- 
mount and  Warner  are  sharing  the  top 
rung  of  the  ladder.  The  former  lists  “Pio- 
neer Woman,”  “The  Night  of  January 
16,”  “Little  Miss  Muffet,”  “College  Mys- 
tery,” “Hold  Back  the  Dawn”  and  “Aloma 
of  the  South  Seas.”  The  latter  has 
“Mother’s  Boys,”  “Sergeant  York,”  “Bad 
Men  of  Missouri,”  “Highway  99,”  “The 
Gentle  People”  and  “Flight  Patrol.” 

Holding  down  second  place  is  Universal, 
which  will  gun  “Double  Date,”  “Unfinished 
Business,”  “The  Black  Cat”  and  “Oh, 
Charlie.”  Three  each  will  be  started  by 
M-G-M  and  RKO  Radio.  Metro  lists  “Lady 
Be  Good,”  “Dr.  Jekyll  and  Mr.  Hyde”  and 
“Get  a Horse.”  RKO  Radio  will  gun  “Tom, 
Dick  and  Harry,”  “Before  the  Fact”  and 
“My  Life  With  Caroline.” 

Columbia  has  “Texas”  and  “Her  First 
Beau,”  Republic  plans  “Rookies  on  Parade” 
and  “Lady  of  New  Orleans.”  Twentieth 
Century-Fox  lists  “The  Great  American 
Broadcast”  and  “Miami.”  Monogram  will 
roll  “Trail  of  the  Yukon”  and  “Million- 
Dollar  Mystery.”  For  United  Artists,  Rich- 
ard A.  Rowland  plans  an  early  start  on 
“The  Battle  of  Britain.” 

Paramount  holds  the  lead  in  plans  for 
March,  during  which  month  it  will  start 
“Nothing  But  the  Truth,”  “Dildo  Cay,” 
“Henry  and  Dizzy,”  “Two  Bad  Angels”  and 
"Buy  Me  That  Town.”  “Man  Hunt”  and 
“A  Yank  in  the  RAF”  are  on  20th  Century- 
Fox’s  schedule,  with  Republic  to  roll  “Pud- 
din’  Head”  and  an  untitled  musical.  Alex- 
ander Korda  will  gun  “The  Jungle  Book” 
for  United  Artists.  Universal  has  “Ama- 


The  Warner  Club  will  hold  its  seventh 
annual  party  at  the  Biltmore  Bowl,  Febru- 
ary 15,  with  Steve  Trilling  in  charge  of  the 
entertainment  committee.  About  1,200  are 
expected  to  attend. 

* 

Director  Leslie  Goodwins  of  RKO  Radio 
is  recovering  in  Las  Vegas  from  an  influ- 
enza attack  which  sent  him  to  the  hos- 
pital . . . Lester  Cowan  has  planed  to  New 
York  to  confer  with  Gilbert  Miller  on  plans 
for  filming  “Ladies  in  Retirement.”  They 
will  co-produce  for  Columbia. 

* 

Douglas  Yates,  of  the  Republic  produc- 
tion staff,  has  returned  from  a four-week 
stay  in  New  York  . . . William  Boyd  and 
his  wife,  Grace  Bradley,  are  planning  a 
New  York  vacation,  leaving  next  week 


teur  Angel”  and  M-G-M  will  launch  “Get 
a Horse.” 

The  four  April  starters  are  Hal  Roach’s 
“Niagara  Falls,”  RKO  Radio’s  “True  to 
Form”  and  “Water  Gypsies,”  and  Repub- 
lic’s “Alibi  at  Midnight.” 


Production  Pace  Not 
Profitable  for  Workers 

The  high  tempo  of  picture-making  to  the 
contrary,  the  month  of  December  1940, 
definitely  was  not  ear-marked  as  one  of 
prosperity  for  the  great  mass  of  studio 
workers. 

On  the  one  hand,  the  California  labor 
statistics  department  revealed  a drop  of 
$14,317  in  weekly  payrolls  during  the 
month  as  compared  to  November,  the 
tabulation  covering  technicians,  backlot 
and  office  workers  and  all  others  excluding 
the  talent  and  executive  divisions.  Studios 
employed  12,391  persons,  only  37  less  than 
in  November,  but  paid  them  an  average 
weekly  salary  of  $43.87.  $1.03  less  than  in 
the  preceding  month. 

On  the  other  hand.  Central  Casting  re- 
ported both  placements  and  wages  of  extra 
players  also  dropped  in  December  from 
November,  and  disclosed  that  extras  wound 
up  the  year  with  $594,905  less  than  they 
did  in  1939.  Total  placements  for  De- 
cember were  17,381,  while  those  for  No- 
vember were  16,974.  Daily  wage  dropped 
from  $11.06  to  $10.82.  Total  1940  earnings 
were  $2,529,766,  compared  to  $3,124,671 
for  1939.  The  year  ended  with  a decline  of 
66,090  placements  from  the  1939  total. 

Director  Frank  McDonald  has  left  the 
Republic  payroll  after  a year  and  a half 
with  the  studio,  during  which  he  piloted 
several  Gene  Autry  westerns.  His  last  as- 
signment was  “Arkansas  Judge,”  starring 
the  Weaver  Brothers  and  Elviry.  McDonald 
has  announced  no  future  plans. 

Warner  Sets  Wayne  Morris 
In  " Parachute  Jumpers" 

Warner  has  lifted  its  suspension  on 
Wayne  Morris,  placed  on  the  non-active 
list  when  he  turned  down  a proffered  role 
in  “Knockout.”  Morris  draws  the  topline 
in  “Parachute  Jumpers,”  story  by  U.  S. 
parachute  troops,  being  written  by  Barry 
Trivers. 


when  both  have  completed  film  assign- 
ments. 

★ 

Basil  Rathbone  has  accepted  an  invita- 
tion to  act  as  master  of  ceremonies  at  the 
annual  banquet  of  the  Los  Angeles  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce,  to  be  held  February  21  at 
the  Ambassador  Hotel  . . . Producer  Erich 
Pommer  of  RKO  Radio  is  the  recipient  of  a 
trophy  given  him  by  Dr.  Frederic  M. 
Thrasher,  director  of  motion  picture  study 
at  New  York  University,  the  award  being 
inscribed:  “In  recognition  of  the  fine  art 
of  blending  commerce  and  artistry  in  the 
making  of  films.”  Pommer’s  “They  Knew 
What  They  Wanted”  was  a major  factor 
in  his  winning  the  award,  the  producer 
was  informed. 


Academy  Ballots  in 
Hands  of  Voters 

Preparations  for  the  13th  annual  Awards 
banquet  sponsored  by  the  Academy  of  Mo- 
tion Picture  Arts  and  Sciences  have  swung 
into  high  gear  with  the  distribution  of 
nominations  ballots  to  approximately  4,000 
creative  artists — actors,  writers,  directors, 
producers  and  Academy  members — who 
have  begun  voting  for  their  candidates  for 
best  achievements  in  acting,  writing,  di- 
rection and  production. 

Simultaneously  Walter  F.  Wanger,  Acad- 
emy president,  announced  the  banquet  will 
be  held  on  the  night  of  February  27  at  the 
Biltmore  Bowl.  Mervyn  LeRoy  will  serve 
again  as  chairman  of  the  dinner  commit- 
tee, the  post  he  has  held  for  the  past  two 
years. 

Nominations  End  Feb.  5 

Voting  on  nominations  will  end  at  mid- 
night, February  5,  ballots  being  mailed  to 
an  auditing  firm  which  will  do  the  count- 
ing. Nominees  will  be  made  public  Febru- 
ary 10. 

Senior  members  of  the  Screen  Actors 
Guild  will  select  the  following  candidates 
for  Thespic  awards: 

Five  actresses  for  “best  actress,”  five 
actors  for  “best  actor,”  five  actors  for  “best 
supporting  male  performance”  and  five  ac- 
tresses for  “best  supporting  female  per- 
formance.” 

Screen  Directors  Guild  will  nominate  five 
outstanding  directorial  achievements. 

Screen  Writers  Guild  will  name  five 
achievements  in  three  writing  classifica- 
tions— “best  original  screenplay,”  “best 
original  story,”  and  “best  screenplay  de- 
veloped from  another  writer’s  story,  play, 
novel  or  idea.” 

While  actors,  writers  and  directors  will 
do  the  nominating  in  their  respective  fields 
of  endeavor,  they,  as  well  as  producers, 
Academy  members  and  technicians,  will 
vote  for  the  nomination  of  the  ten  best 
productions  of  the  year. 

12.000  to  Participate 

Approximately  12,000  individuals  will 
participate  in  the  final  ballot,  including 
junior  members  of  the  SAG,  who  will  vote 
on  acting  honors  and  best  production.  Bal- 
lots for  the  final  vote  will  be  issued  Febru- 
ary 13. 

Awards  Rules  Committee  is  headed  by 
Wanger,  and  comprises  John  Aalberg,  Ed- 
ward Arnold,  Charles  Brackett,  Frank 
Capra,  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  Paul  Harvey, 
Henry  Hathaway,  Talbot  Jennings,  Wal- 
ter Kingsford,  Rod  LaRocque,  Grover 
Laube,  Mervyn  LeRoy,  Ernst  Lubitsch, 
Richard  Macaulay,  Noel  Madison,  E.  J. 
Mannix,  Jane  Murfin,  Lloyd  Nolan,  Jack 
Otterson,  Frank  Partos,  Joe  Pasternak, 
Robert  Riskin,  Allan  Scott,  Lesley  Selan- 
der,  David  O.  Selznick,  George  Stevens, 
Dorothy  Tree,  Jack  L.  Warner,  Lyle  Whee- 
ler, Ray  Wilkinson,  Sam  Wood  and  Darryl 
F.  Zanuck. 


Carolyn  Lee  Role 

First  assignment  at  Paramount  for  Caro- 
lyn Lee,  five-year-old  actress,  under  terms 
of  her  new  long-term  contract  will  be  the 
starring  role  in  “You  Go  Your  Way,”  a 
story  by  Katharine  Brush,  which  Edward 
H.  Griffith  will  produce  and  direct. 


<2: 


inem 


atki 


86 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


WITH  THE  return  of  David  O.  Selz- 
nick  to  the  active  production  front 
at  a time  when  the  conducting  of 
polls  and  the  tossing  about  of  sundry 
awards  and  accolades  seems  to  be  the  most 
popular  sport  for  the  industry  and  its  ev- 
tra-curricular  attaches,  attention  auto- 
matically focuses  upon  the  impressive 
number  of  kudos  which  has  accrued  to  the 
producer  of  “Gone  With  the  Wind’’  and 
“Rebecca”  in  the  past  two  years. 

In  the  forthcoming  annual  Boxoffice 
Barometer,  “GWTW”  is  given  a special 
Merit  Award,  and  set  aside  from  the  regu- 
lar section  in  that  issue  devoted  to  re- 
porting the  grosses  established  by  fea- 
tures during  the  past  year,  because  it 
chalked  up  such  an  outstanding  revenue 
record  in  its  advanced-price  roadshow  en- 
gagements. It  established  a precedental 
361  per  cent  of  normal  business  at  the 
boxoffice,  Barometer  figures  revealed. 
This  achievement,  consequently,  was  con- 
sidered significant  enough  to  warrant  in- 
dividualized treatment  in  the  annual  vol- 
ume. “GWTW”  was  given  similar  rating 
and  handling  in  the  1939-40  edition  of 
Boxoffice  Records,  which  made  its  ap- 
pearance some  months  ago. 

“Rebecca”  won  the  coveted  Boxoffice 
Blue  Ribbon  Award  for  April,  1940,  when 
the  National  Screen  Council  voted  it  the 
best  feature  released  in  that  month. 

Further  recent  recognition  came  through 
the  Film  Daily’s  annual  critics’  poll,  in 
which  546  reviewers  participated,  and 
which  voted  “Rebecca”  first  in  a list  of 
the  “ten  best.”  Canadian  critics  voting  in 
an  exhibitor  poll  named  “GWTW”  first 
and  “Rebecca”  second  in  the  year’s  out- 
standing films. 

Other  “Rebecca”  honors  include: 

Best  picture,  National  Board  of  Review; 
best,  North  American  Newspaper  Alliance, 


even  though  he  has  been  inactive  for  many 
months. 

Add  charter  members  of  the  They-Can- 
Dish-lt-Out-But-They-Can’t-Take-lt  Club 
(W.  R.  Hearst,  president) : 

Jimmy  Fidler,  who  easily  qualifies  be- 
cause of  his  $250,000  lawsuit  against  a local 
tradepaper,  alleging  libel. 

At  least  50  per  cent  of  the  preview  an- 
nouncements which  reach  film  reviewers  are 
Western  Union  telegrams. 

Invitations  to  the  debut  of  Fox's  “Western 
Union,"  however,  were  printed  and  were  de- 
livered by  Uncle  Sam's  mails.  In  order  to  ad- 
here to  Hollywood's  propensity  toward  the 
paradoxical,  they  should  have  come  through 
Postal  Telegraph. 

The  Academy  of  Motion  Picture  Arts 
and  Sciences  is  reportedly  seeking  an  ac- 
count to  sponsor  a coast-to-coast  broad- 
cast of  the  annual  Oscar  dinner,  asking  a 
modest  $25,000  for  the  tieup.  To  date  there 
are  no  takers — which  is  easily  understand- 
able. Attending  the  annual  function  and 
sitting  for  hours  to  listen  to  prepared  ex- 
temporaneous speeches  by  recipients  of  the 
statuettes  is,  in  itself,  a boring  enough 
ordeal.  It  is  hard  to  conceive  of  anything 
less  entertaining  as  radio  material. 

Perry  Lieber  reports  that  six  emergency 
fire  cabinets,  each  containing  an  all-pur- 
pose gas  mask,  and  various  other  equip- 
ment, have  been  installed  on  the  RKO 
Radio  lot.  The  all-purpose  gas  masks 
should  have  no  trouble  in  justifying  their 
cost.  They  can  always  double  in  brass  at  a 
Cliff  Reid  preview  . . . And  Orson  Welles 
might  find  them  useful  when  Louella  Par- 
sons next  visits  the  lot — if  ever. 


in  a poll  conducted  among  screen  artists 
by  Harold  Heffernan;  best,  San  Antonio 
Evening  News  critic;  second  best,  that 
newspaper’s  readers;  best,  St.  Louis  Post- 
Dispatch  readers;  second  best,  foreign  cor- 
respondents representing  the  world  press; 
among  Louella  Parsons’  “ten  best;”  first, 
Philadelphia  Record;  first,  Detroit  Free 
Press;  fifth,  Showmen’s  Trade  Review. 

The  “GWTW”  record: 

Second  place,  National  Board  of  Review 
poll;  year’s  outstanding  production,  Show- 
men’s Trade  Review;  Photoplay  Maga- 
zine’s gold  medal  for  best  picture  of  the 
year;  1939  Academy  of  Motion  Picture  Arts 
and  Sciences  award  for  best  production  of 
the  year. 

Additionally,  Selznick  was  voted  the  Irv- 
ing Thalberg  Memorial  Award  for  the  most 
consistent  high  quality  of  production  in 
1939,  and  has  won  three  previous  Box- 
office  Blue  Ribbon  Awards,  in  1934,  1935 
and  1936. 

The  above  represent  just  a partial  list 
of  the  honors  which  have  been  heaped 
upon  DOS  and  which  have  contributed  to 
keeping  him  in  the  limelight  as  Holly- 
wood’s most  important  production  figure, 


Whimsy,  Whoops,  Whinnies 


Members  of  Hollywood’s  reviewing  bat- 
talions were  afforded  plenty  of  time  to 
brush  up  on  their  bowling,  parcheesi  and 
sundry  other  extra-curricular  activities  by 
a preview  week  which  witnessed  a meager 
three  features  finding  their  way  to  the 
critical  screen.  Of  the  trio,  Metro’s  “Come 
Live  With  Me”  was  an  unanimous  best. 

It  classifies  as  a charming  romantic 
comedy,  clean  and  wholesome  fun  from 
start  to  finish;  considerable  of  a triumph, 
too,  for  Clarence  Brown,  who  not  only 
produced  and  directed  but  also,  it  is  re^ 
ported,  had  a sizeable  finger  in  the  prepa- 
ration of  the  script,  credited  to  Patter- 
son McNutt,  from  an  original  story  by 
Virginia  Van  Upp.  Brown  and  the  writers 
wove  sufficient  whimsical  and  idyllic  pat- 
terns into  it  to  distinguish  it  from  the 
screwball-slapstick  trend  characterizing  so 
many  recent  humorous  offerings.  There 
is  much  in  the  offering  to  assure  wide- 
spread audience  appeal  and  to  make  it  a 
boxoffice  breadwinner.  Co-starred  for  the 
first  time  are  James  Stewart  and  Hedy 
Lamarr;  the  former  in  the  kind  of  role 
best-suited  to  him  and  in  which  he  has 
become  a marquee  name.  The  beauteous 
Miss  Lamarr,  it  might  be  mentioned,  con- 


tinues to  display  marked  improvement  as 
an  actress.  Supporting  players,  includ- 
ing Ian  Hunter,  Donald  Meek  and  Verree 
Teasdale,  are  likewise  very  good. 

* * * 

To  keep  the  boys  and  gals  from  con- 
sidering life  a total  loss,  however,  Uni- 
versal tossed  an  “army  dinner,”  complete 
with  the  proverbial  beans,  as  an  adjunct 
to  its  showing  of  “Buck  Privates,”  the 
greatest  asset  of  which  is  its  timeliness. 
The  forerunner  of  an  expected  avalanche 
of  films  dealing  with  the  draft  and  other 
phases  of  the  national  defense  program, 
it  is  certain  to  strike  a popular  note  and 
register  accordingly  on  the  revenue  side. 
Assigned  the  task  of  concocting  a yarn 
about  life  in  Uncle  Sam’s  newly  recruited 
army,  Arthur  T.  Horman  fulfilled  the  task 
with  tongue  in  cheek,  successfully  keep- 
ing the  motivation  within  the  established 
limits  of  musical  comedy  most  of  the 
time.  Consequently  the  production — Alex 
Gottlieb’s  first  as  an  associate  producer 
— is  topflight  entertainment  during  its 
comic  and  musical  moments,  which,  for- 
tunately, predominate.  To  be  credited  for 
substantial  contributions  along  this  line 
are  Abbott  and  Costello,  the  funsters,  and 


the  Andrews  Sisters,  singing  trio.  Only 
when  the  vehicle  veers  toward  dramatic, 
super-patriotic  and  romantic  interludes 
does  it  lose  ground;  and  that  is  attribut- 
able chiefly  to  weak  performances  by  the 
remaining  members  of  the  cast.  In  his 
initial  “A”  assignment,  Arthur  Lubin 
turned  in  a directorial  job  of  high  calibre. 
John  Grant  supplied  special  material  for 

Abbott  and  Costello. 

* * * 

Limping  in  for  show  money  came  Mono- 
gram’s newest  Tex  Ritter  opus,  “Rolling 
Home  to  Texas.”  It  is  probably  the  worst 
Ritter  western  made  to  date,  and  there 
have  been  no  less  than  seventeen  pre- 
ceding it.  Apparently  Edward  Finney,  who 
produced  it,  had  some  difficulty  in  de- 
ciding just  exactly  what  he  was  aiming  at 
— a filmusical,  a sagebrusher  or  a broad 
burlesque  on  the  latter.  As  a result  he 
emerged  with  a little  of  each,  but  not 
enough  of  any  one  ingredient  to  make 
much  of  a picture.  Robert  Emmett’s  script 
is  extremely  improbable,  even  for  an 
action  melodrama,  because  of  its  many 
motivating  elements  and  its  unsuccessful 
effort  to  avoid  formula;  and  A1  Herman’s 
direction  doesn’t  help  matters. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


87 


Hollywood — 

— Personnelities 


Barnstormers 

Freelance 

ROSEMARY  LANE  has  returned  from  a six- 
week  p.  a.  tour  to  go  into  RKO  Radio’s  “Hang:  Out 
the  Moon.” 

Paramount 

SUSANNA  FOSTER  and  DOLLY  LOEHR  will 
check  out  February  2 on  a month’s  p.  a.  tour 
plugging  “The  Hard-Boiled  Canary.”  They  open 
in  San  Francisco. 

Richard  A.  Rowland 

WILLIAM  GARGAN  pulls  out  for  a tour  of 
eastern  and  midwestern  key  cities  in  connection 
with  showings  of  “Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop.”  Pro- 
ducer Rowland  will  accompany  him. 


Blurbers 

Columbia 

ERLE  HAMPTON,  advance  man  for  Bill  Elliott’s 
p.  a.  tour,  has  returned  to  the  studio  after  three 
weeks  on  the  road  in  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  Arkan- 
sas and  Oklahoma. 

Metro 

RILL  PEIRCE  JR.  joins  publicity  staff.  He  was 
formerly  studio  publicity  director  for  Monogram 
and  had  been  freelancing  for  the  past  several 
months. 

Producers  Association 

JOCK  LAWRENCE,  public  relations  director, 
went  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  to  direct  the  indus- 
try's participation  in  President  Roosevelt’s  birth- 
day party  January  30. 


Brielies 

Warner  Bros. 

“Lions  for  Sale”  has  gone  before  the  cameras 
on  location  at  Gay’s  Lion  Farm.  Owen  Crump  will 
do  the  narration. 


Cletters 

Metro 

NAT  W.  FINSTON  scoring  "Blonde  Inspiration.” 
CONSTANTIN  BAKALEINIKOFF  is  scoring  "Dark 
River,”  a short  subject,  and  SCOTT  BRADLEY 
is  scoring  “Prospecting  Bear,”  a cartoon. 

HERBERT  STOTHART  doing  score  for  “Blos- 
soms in  the  Dust.” 

Paramount 

LEO  SHUKIN  composing  music  for  "The  Lady 
Eve."  SIGMUND  KRUMGOLD  will  score. 

IRVING  TALBOT  and  JOHN  LEIPOLD  scoring 
“Border  Vigilantes.” 


Loanouts 

Columbia 

MARTHA  O’DRISCOLL  borrowed  from  Para- 
mount for  a role  in  “Her  First  Beau.” 

Universal 

PRESTON  FOSTER  borrowed  from  Paramount 
for  a top  spot  in  “Unfinished  Business,”  the  Greg- 
ory LaCava  production  starring  Irene  Dunne. 


Meggers 

Columbia 

CHARLES  VIDOR  pinch-hitting  for  JAMES 
WHALE  as  pilot  of  “They  Dare  Not  Love.”  Whale 
is  out  with  flu. 

Paramount 

ARTHUR  ROSSEN  directing  second  unit  on 
“Caught  in  the  Draft.” 

A.  M.  BOTSFORI)  to  produce  “Aloma  of  the 
South  Seas,”  Technicolor  film  to  star  Dorothy 
Lamour  and  Jon  Hall.  No  director  has  been  set. 
Cameras  will  roli  this  month. 

20th  Century-Fox 

FRED  KOHLMAR  to  produce  “The  Straight 
Left,”  a musical  with  a prizefighting  background, 
which  will  team  Alice  Faye  and  John  Payne.  Win- 
ston Miller  and  Russell  Rouse  are  scripting  from 
their  own  original. 

MILTON  SPERLING  to  produce  “Blind  Man’s 
House,”  a new  novel  by  Hugh  Walpole. 

Universal 

JOE  PASTERNAK  to  produce  “Hilo  Hattie,” 
musical  based  on  the  life  of  the  Hawaiian  hula 


dancer  who  has  been  appearing  at  the  Royal 
Hawaiian  Hotel  in  Honolulu  for  a number  of 
years. 

Warner  Bros. 

WILLIAM  McGANN  to  pilot  “Highway  99,” 
starring  Jane  Wyman. 

Options 

Columbia 

PATTI  McCARTY'  given  stock  contract.  She 
was  Dorothy  Lamour’s  secretary  for  seven  months. 

Metro 

GAIL  PATRICK  draws  second  feminine  lead 
in  “Love  Crazy,”  the  William  Powell-Myrna  Loy 
co-starrer. 

Paramount 

ROD  CAMERON,  leading  man,  held  for  another 
term. 

CLARENCE  KOLB  joins  cast  of  “The  Pioneer 
Woman.” 

ANNE  SHIRLEY  signed  to  star  in  “Little  Miss 
Muffet,”  which  Harold  Wilson  will  produce. 

RKO  Radio 

ANNA  LEE,  English  actress,  signed  to  play  op- 
posite Ronald  Colman  in  “My  Life  With  Caro- 
ine,”  which  William  Hawks  will  produce  and 
Lewis  Milestone  will  direct. 

IRVING  REIS,  director,  held  for  another  term. 
He  has  just  competed  “Footlight  Fever.” 

KENT  TAYLOR  held  for  another  year. 

20th  Century-Fox 

ROBERT  CONWAY,  featured  player,  held  for 
another  term.  He  goes  next  into  “The  Cowboy  and 
the  Blonde.” 

JEAN  GABIN,  French  actor,  given  term  con- 
tract. 

Universal 

BEATRICE  ROBERTS  given  term  acting  ticket. 

Warner  Bros. 

DORIS  LLOYD  given  a character  role  in 
“Winged  Victory.” 

THOMAS  MITCHELL  draws  a topline  in  “The 
Gentle  People.” 

DICKIE  MOORE  joins  cast  of  “Sergeant  York.” 

JOHN  QUALEN  draws  character  role  in  “The 
Gentle  People.” 

JOAN  LESLIE,  featured  player,  boosted  to 
stardom  and  given  the  feminine  lead  opposite 
Gary  Cooper  in  “Sergeant  York.” 

Scripters 

Columbia 

HARRY  EDWARDS  and  EL  WOOD  ULLMAN  to 

a two-reel  hillbilly  comedy  to  star  Cliff  Edwards. 
Hugh  McCollum  and  Del  Lord  will  produce,  with 
the  latter  directing. 

Paramount 

FRANK  BUTLER  to  “Aloma  of  the  South  Seas.” 
It  will  be  filmed  in  Technicolor. 

MALCOLM  STUART  BOYLAN  to  “Two  Bad 
Angels,”  for  Producer  Sol  C.  Siegel. 

Republic 

ISABEL  DAWN  to  an  untitled  John  Wayne 
starrer. 

OLIVER  DRAKE  and  BETTY  BURBRIDGE  to 

two  untitled  “Three  Mesquiteers”  westerns. 

Stephens-Lang 

PETER  MILNE  to  an  untitled  “Dr.  Christian” 
feature  to  star  Jean  Hersholt.  RKO  Radio  will 
release. 

20th  Century-Fox 

RALPH  DIETRICH  to  “ Nazi  Ace  in  the  U.  S.,” 
which  he  and  Walter  Morosco  will  co-produce. 
Nancy  Kelly  will  star. 

Warner  Bros. 

BARRY  TRIVERS  to  “Parachute  Jumpers.” 
Wayne  Morris  will  top  the  cast. 

NORMAN  REILLY  RAINE  to  “The  Man  They 
Couldn’t  Kill.” 

ROBERT  BUCKNER  teamed  with  FRANK 
WEAD  on  “Dive  Bomber.” 

Story  Buys 

Alexander  Korda 

“The  Forbidden  City,”  dealing  with  Nazi-occu- 
pied Paris,  by  Ben  Hecht,  who  will  script. 

Paramount 

“Among  the  Living,”  by  Lester  Cole  and  Brian 
Marlowe.  Cole  has  been  borrowed  from  Warner 
to  script  for  Producer  Sol  C.  Siegel. 


Republic 

“How  to  Die  Young,”  story  of  automobile  lac- 
ing, by  Robert  Andrews. 

Warner  Bros. 

“The  Widow  of  Devil’s  Island,”  by  Nieliol 
Smith. 


Technically 

Metro 

H.  L.  HOGUE  named  technical  director  on 
court  scenes  in  “A  Woman's  Face.” 

RAY  JUNE  to  lens  “Lady  Be  Good.” 

RICHARD  DUCE  named  unit  art  director  on 
“Come  Back,  Miss  Pipps,”  an  Our  Gang  one- 
reeler. 

BERT  SPURLIN  set  as  production  assistant  on 
“Roosty.” 

Paramount 

LEO  TOVER  to  lens  “Hold  Back  the  Dawn.” 

EARL  HEDRICK  designing  sets  for  “The  Pio- 
neer Woman.” 

BOB  USHER  designing  sets  for  “Hold  Back  the 
Dawn.” 

CHICO  ALONSO  named  assistant  director  on 
“Hod  Back  the  Dawn.” 

PAUL  WEATHERWAX  to  edit  “Kiss  the  Boys 
Goodbye.” 

SID  STREET  named  assistant  production  man- 
ager on  “Skylark”  and  “The  Pioneer  Woman.” 

JOE  YOUNGERMAN  named  assistant  director 
on  “The  Pioneer  Woman.” 

CHARLES  WOOLSTENHUME  set  as  assistant 
production  manager  on  “Hold  Back  the  Dawn.” 

WILLIAM  MELLOR  to  lens  “The  Pioneer 
Woman.” 

ROLAND  ANDERSON  named  art  director  on 
“Skylark.” 

Pictures  Corp.  of  America 

JOHN  ALTON  lensing  “Power  Dive.”  FARRELL 
REDD  has  been  named  film  editor  on  the  Para- 
mount release. 

RKO  Radio 

WILLIAM  DORFMAN  named  assistant  direc- 
tor on  “Hang  Out  the  Moon.” 

JAMES  ANDERSON  assisting  Director  Frank 
Woodruff  on  “Repent  at  Leisure.” 

DEWEY  STARKEY  set  as  assistant  to  Director 
Alfred  Hitchcock  on  “Before  the  Fact.” 

20th  Century-Fox 

OTTO  BROWER,  second  unit  director  on 
“Miami,”  heads  for  Florida  to  pick  up  back- 
ground material. 

Warner  Bros. 

HUGH  RETICKER  set  as  art  director  on 
"Strange  Alibi.” 


Republic  Signs  Arthur 
As  Assoc . Producer 

George  Arthur  has  been  signed  at  Re- 
public as  an  associate  producer.  No  as- 
signment has  been  given  him  as  yet  and 
Arthur  is  reading  scripts  in  search  of  pos- 
sible material.  Arthur  terminated  a 12- 
year  association  at  Paramount  recently, 
during  which  time  he  functioned  as  a 
writer  and  producer. 


Clurman  to  Term  Pact 
On  20th-Fox  Stall 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  has  signed  Har- 
old Clurman,  founder  of  the  Group  The- 
atre in  New  York,  to  a term  ticket  as 
an  associate  producer.  Under  the  deal 
Clurman  draws  no  immediate  assignment 
but  will  survey  production  procedure  and 
line  up  story  material.  He  was  at  one 
time  an  advisor  to  Producer  Walter  Wan- 
ger  but  has  been  connected  principally 
with  the  legitimate  stage. 


A Story  to  Paramount 

Paramount  has  purchased  the  screen 
rights  to  “Dangerous  Holiday,”  story 
by  Sidney  Shelton  and  Ben  Roberts.  The 
spy  melodrama  will  be  produced  by  Sol  C. 
Siegel,  with  Albert  Dekker,  Patricia  Mori- 
son  and  Robert  Preston  topping  the  cast. 


88 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


"Jane  Eyre"  Is  Initial 
Selznick  UA  Release 

Just  a month  after  incorporation  of  his 
new  company,  David  O.  Selznick  Produc- 
tions, was  announced,  Selznick  has  dis- 
closed the  first  of  three  pictures  which  he 
will  produce  for  United  Artists  release  will 
be  “Jane  Eyre,”  from  the  novel  by  Char- 
lotte Bronte.  The  producer  is  issuing  invi- 
tations to  those  who  have  read  the  novel 
to  write  and  offer  their  suggestions  as  to 
whether  Vivien  Leigh,  Joan  Fontaine  or 
Katharine  Hepburn  should  have  the  title 
role,  his  choice  of  actress  to  be  influenced 
by  the  opinions  forwarded  to  him.  Both 
Miss  Leigh  and  Miss  Fontaine  are  under 
contract  to  Selznick. 

Other  Activity 

Cameras  will  begin  turning  within  a few 
days  on  ‘“My  Life  With  Caroline,”  co-star- 
ring Ronald  Colman  and  Anna  Lee,  which 
William  Hawks’  United  Productions  is 
making  for  release  through  RKO  Radio. 
Lewis  Milestone  is  the  director. 

Upon  completion  of  “Broadway  Limited,” 
now  near  the  finish  line,  the  Hal  Roach 
studios  will  shut  down  temporarily,  to  re- 
open in  April  when  Roach  signals  a start 
on  “Niagara  Falls,”  a comedy,  for  United 
Artists  release. 

The  Frank  Ross-Norman  Krasna  inde- 
pendent production  unit  is  preparing  the 
tentatively-titled  “Googer  Plays  the  Field” 
as  its  next  film-making  venture,  upon 
which  it  wil  embark  when  "The  Devil  and 
Miss  Jones,”  being  made  for  RKO  Radio, 
is  completed.  Krasna  has  returned  from 
Sun  Valley,  where  he  worked  out  a rough 
draft  of  the  script  of  the  new  film. 


Westerns  Exclusively 
Will  Be  New  Policy 

The  film  colony’s  first  and,  to  date, 
only  theatre  screening  western  films 
exclusively,  got  off  to  a flying  start 
when  the  Hitching  Post  opened  January 
24  amid  gala  ceremonies,  including  a cow- 
boy-and-Injun  parade  along  Hollywood 
Blvd. 

Leading  the  parade  astride  his  white 
horse  was  Monogram’s  sagebrush  star,  Tex 
Ritter.  The  “Range  Busters”  were  repre- 
sented by  Johnny  King,  who  rode  in  a 
stagecoach  filled  with  beauties  from  the 
Earl  Carroll  Theatre.  Chief  Iron  Eyes, 
Jack  Hoxie  and  other  western  film  players 
were  also  in  the  procession.  Gene  Autry 
and  Smiley  Burnette,  originally  scheduled 
to  appear,  were  withdrawn  at  the  last 
minute  by  Republic  when  studio  executives 
changed  their  minds  about  allowing  them 
to  participate. 

Manager  Russell  Desmond  of  the  Hitch- 
ing Post  reports  exceptional  business  is 
being  registered  with  the  opening  pro- 
gram— Gene  Autry  in  “Melody  Ranch”  and 
Roy  Rogers  in  “Robin  Hood  of  the  Pecos.” 
The  house  was  previously  known  as  the 
Tele-View  Revival  Theatre,  and  is  operated 
by  the  Tele-View  Corp. 

The  Hitching  Post  has  set  a deal  with 
Monogram  whereby  it  will  book  all  of  the 
films  in  the  Tex  Ritter  and  “Range  Bus- 
ters” series  for  1940-41. 


Korda  Buys  Hecht  Yarn 

“The  Forbidden  City,”  an  original  by 
Ben  Hecht  dealing  with  Nazi-occupied 
Paris,  has  been  purchased  by  Alexander 
Korda. 


Greenihal  on  Coast 
For  UA  Confabs 

Joining  other  United  Artists  executives 
already  in  Hollywood  for  conferences  on 
UA’s  productional  future  and  other  topics, 
Monroe  Greenthal,  publicity-advertising 
director,  has  arrived  from  the  east.  His 
colleagues  here  include  Murray  Silverstone, 
UA’s  head;  Arthur  W.  Kelly,  sales  chief; 
and  Charles  Schwartz,  UA  counsel.  The 
delegation  is  expected  to  remain  for  two 
weeks  or  more,  discussing  production  plans 
with  UA  units  including  Hal  Roach,  David 
O.  Selznick,  Alexander  Korda,  Edward 
Small  and  others. 

Twentieth  Century-Fox’s  production 
conferences  officially  ended  with  the  de- 
parture of  Sidney  R.  Kent,  president,  and 
Herman  Wobber,  distribution  chieftain. 
They  followed  Charles  E.  McCarthy,  ad- 
vertising-publicity director,  who  was  the 
first  to  return  east.  Also  going  to  New  York 
was  Francis  L.  Harley,  managing  director 
of  20th  Century-Fox  in  London,  who  spent 
a few  days  here  to  give  Darryl  F.  Zanuck 
and  other  studio  officials  a first-hand  re- 
port on  conditions  abroad.  Felix  Jenkins 
and  Fred  Pride,  company  attorneys  who 
sat  in  on  the  huddles  here,  left  for  San 
Francisco  to  begin  a tour  of  all  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox exchanges  explaining  terms  of  the 
consent  decree. 

Matty  Fox,  Cliff  Work’s  production  as- 
sistant at  Universal,  left  for  a two-week 
stay  in  the  east,  during  which  he  will  at- 
tend the  world  premiere  of  “Back  Street” 
in  Miami,  Florida,  February  4.  The  bal- 
ance of  his  time  will  be  devoted  to  confer- 
ences with  homeoffice  executives. 

Wanger  to  Washington 

Y.  Frank  Freeman,  Paramount  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  studio  operations, 
has  returned  from  Chicago,  where  he  at- 
tended the  testimonial  dinner  given  for 
President  Barney  Balaban,  and  which  was 
followed  by  a conclave  of  homeoffice  sales 
executives  and  district  managers.  Freeman 
was  accompanied  westward  by  Edwin  L. 
Weisl,  member  of  the  company’s  board  of 
directors,  who  will  spend  a few  days  at 
the  studio  surveying  the  scene. 

William  F.  Rodgers,  distribution  chief- 
tain for  M-G-M,  left  for  New  York  after 
two  weeks  at  the  studio  discussing  the  con- 
sent decree  and  possible  changes  in  sales 
policy  on  short  subjects. 

Walter  F.  Wanger  planed  out  for  Wash- 
ington, D.  C„  to  keep  a long  standing  din- 
ner engagement  with  President  Franklin 
D.  Roosevelt.  Wanger  attaches  here  as- 
serted Wanger  would  probably  continue  on 
to  New  York  for  a stay  of  a day  or  two 
before  returning  to  the  coast. 

O.  Henry  Briggs,  new  president  of  Pro- 
ducers Releasing  Corp.,  is  expected  in  from 
New  York  to  embark  on  a series  of  produc- 
tion conferences  with  George  R.  Batcheller 
jr.,  recently  named  supervisor  of  PRC’s 
picture-making  activities. 


Collaborate  on  "Ladies" 

Reginald  Denham  and  Garrett  Fort 
are  collaborating  on  the  script  of  “Ladies 
in  Retirement,”  which  will  be  co-produced 
for  Columbia  by  Gilbert  Miller  and  Lester 
Cowan. 


"Back  Street"  Dominates 
Current  Premiere  Scene 

With  activity  on  the  premiere  front 
otherwise  at  a standstill,  Universal’s  pro- 
jected debut  of  “Back  Street”  in  Miami, 
February  4,  is  drawing  the  lion’s  share  of 
attention.  Matty  Fox,  production  aide  to 
Cliff  Work  at  the  studio,  heads  the  Holly- 
wood contingent  which  will  attend  the 
premiere,  with  Deanna  Durbin,  Producer 
Bruce  Manning,  Scenarist  Felix  Jackson 
and  Director  Robert  Stevenson  in  the 
party.  Universal  is  bringing  newspaper 
critics  and  correspondents  to  the  Florida 
city  for  the  event. 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  held  the  world 
premiere  of  “Western  Union”  in  New  York, 
January  31,  with  Robert  Young,  one  of  its 
stars,  appearing  in  person  following  a 
guest-shot  on  the  Kate  Smith  airshow.  An 
additional  $80,000  has  been  ear-marked  for 
the  advertising  budget,  with  Western 
Union  cooperating  to  the  extent  of  a $100,- 
000  outlay. 

Noted  stage  and  screen  names  formed 
the  committee  handling  the  January  28 
premiere  of  Paramount’s  “Virginia”  at  the 
Paramount  Theatre  in  New  York.  Proceeds 
from  the  opening  went  to  the  Maple  Leaf 
Fund,  Canadian  organization  raising  funds 
for  British  war  relief.  Committee  included 
Mary  Pickford,  Gertrude  Lawrence,  Diane 
Barrymore,  Maurice  Evans,  Constance  Col- 
lier and  others.  Attending  from  Hollywood 
were  Stirling  Hayden  and  Carolyn  Lee, 
featured  in  the  cast. 

A midwest  premiere  of  Monogram’s  “Her 
First  Romance”  was  staged  January  23  in 
Waterloo,  Iowa,  where  Barney  Rosenthal 
of  the  Iowa  Theatre  scheduled  the  event  to 
honor  W.  Ray  Johnston,  Monogram  presi- 
dent. Waterloo  is  Johnston’s  birthplace. 

SMPE  Demonstrates  New 
Laboratory  Equipment 

Newly  designed  and  perfected  film 
laboratory  equipment  was  described  and 
demonstrated  at  a meeting  of  the  Pacific 
Coast  Section  of  the  Society  of  Motion  Pic- 
ture Engineers  on  the  RCA  Manufacturing 
Co.’s  scoring  stage.  Michael  Leshing,  20th 
Century-Fox  laboratory  chief,  described  a 
new  waterproof  tape  splicer.  J.  H.  Van 
Leuven  discussed  the  new  Fonda  develop- 
ing machine.  G.  R.  Crane  of  Erpi  displayed 
the  integrating  sphere  densitometer.  A U. 
S.  government  film,  “Power  and  the  Land,” 
also  was  shown. 

Uniform  Lens  Calibration 
Academy  Council  Goal 

Major  studios  have  been  requested  by 
Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  chairman  of  the  Acad- 
emy Research  Council,  to  approve  adoption 
of  a standard  method  of  lens  calibration, 
the  lack  of  which,  Zanuck  asserts,  lowers 
picture  quality  and  necessitates  many  re- 
takes, increasing  production  costs.  Zanuck's 
recommendation  came  after  a study  of 
lens  calibration  had  been  completed  by 
the  Research  Council’s  basic  optical  com- 
mittee. 


Pilots  "Highway  99" 

“Highway  99,”  Jane  Wyman  starrer, 
will  be  directed  for  Warner  by  William 
McGann. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


89 


"Thing  Called  Love" 
Is  Greatest  Draw 


San  Francisco — Continuous  rain  coupled 
with  continued  runs  made  for  a dull  week 
at  the  first  run  boxoffices.  Five  of  the 
seven  first  run  theatres  were  playing  hold- 
overs, some  in  their  third  and  fourth  weeks. 
“This  Thing  Called  Love”  was  the  topper 
along  Market  Street  keeping  up  the  fine 
draw  it  proved  in  its  first  week.  The  Gol- 
den Gate,  with  Earl  Carroll’s  Vanities  on 
the  stage  and  "Play  Girl”  on  the  screen 
had  an  excellent  week.  All  others  were  be- 
low average. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  22: 


(Average  is  100) 

Fox — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  ; Romance  of  Rio 

Grande  (20th-Fox),  2nd  wk 90 

Golden  Gate — Play  Girl  (RKO),  plus  Earl 

Carroll’s  Vanities  on  stage  160 

Orpheum — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col);  Ellery... 

Queen,  Master  Detective  (Col),  2nd  wk 170 

Paramount — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t);  Mur- 
der Over  New  York  (20th-Fox),  2nd  wk 90 

St.  Francis — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN);  March  on 

Marines  (Rep)  75 

United  Artists — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA),  4th  wk. . 85 
Warfield — Victory  (Para’t);  Case  of  the 

Black  Parrott  (FN)  90 


Third  Week's  Stanza  tor 
" Neighbor " Forte  in  L.  A. 

Los  Angeles — No  startling  records  were 
hung  up  in  local  first-run  houses,  most  of 
which  reported  only  an  average  week.  A 
bright  spot  was  the  remarkable  showing 
turned  in  by  “Love  Thy  Neighbor”  in  its 
third  week  at  the  Paramount,  polling  par 
business  with  “Texas  Rangers  Ride  Again” 
and  a stage  show  in  support.  “Kitty  Foyle” 
and  “Ellery  Queen,  Master  Detective” 
managed  to  garner  a normal  second  week 
at  the  RKO  Hillstreet  and  Pantages. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  22: 


(Average  is  100) 

Chinese — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox);  Gallant 

Sons  (M-G-M)  100 

Downtown — Honeymoon  for  Three  (WB) ; 

Here  Comes  the  Navy  (WB)  100 

Four  Star — Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop  (UA) 90 

Hillstreet — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO) ; Ellery  Queen, 

Master  Detective  (Col),  2nd  wk 100 

Hollywood — Honeymoon  for  Three  (WB)  ; 

Here  Comes  the  Navy  (WB)  100 

Pantages — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO) ; Ellery  Queen, 

Master  Detective  (Col),  2nd  wk 100 

Paramount — Eove  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t),  3rd 
wk. ; Texas  Rangers  Ride  Again  (Para't), 

plus  stage  show  100 

State — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox);  Gallant 

Sons  (M-G-M)  110 


Grade  Fields  Outranks 
Seattle's  Offerings 

Seattle — Folks  in  this  town  will  pay  real 
money  for  real  attractions.  Gracie  Fields, 
appearing  at  the  Music  Hall  doing  a “one 
night  stand”  garnered  $7,500  plus  a thous- 
and dollar  donation  for  her  evening’s  work. 
The  English  gal  gave  a tremendous  one- 
woman  show.  Her  appearance  was  for 
funds  to  aid  Britain.  All  other  theatres 
with  regular  attractions  did  only  fair  busi- 
ness this  week  with  nothing  outstanding 
in  the  way  of  grosses. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  25: 


(Average  is  100) 

Blue  Mouse — Second  Chorus  (Para't);  Night 

Train  (20th-Fox),  2nd  wk 90 

Fifth  Avenue — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M); 
Michael  Shayne,  Private  Detective  (20th- 

Fox),  2nd  wk 100 

Liberty — Ellery  Queen,  Master  Detective  (Col); 

Girls  Under  21  (Col)  90 

Metropolitan — The  Baker’s  Wife  (SR)  80 


Music  Box — Eove  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t); 

Jennie  (20th-Fox),  3rd  wk 100 

Orpheum — Honeymoon  for  Three  (WB);  Texas 

Rangers  Ride  Again  (Para’t)  90 

Palomar — Friendy  Neighbors  (Rep),  plus  Major 

Bowes'  Amateurs  on  stage  110 

Paramount — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox);  The 

Saint  in  Palm  Springs  (RKO)  120 


Above  Average  Grosses 
Enjoyed  in  Salt  Lake 

Salt  Lake  City — Alternate  sunshine  and 
snow  flurries  here  with  continued  brisk 
temperatures  may  have  done  their  share 
in  abetting  the  good  attendance  at  local 
theatres.  “Comrade  X”  continues  strong 
into  the  third  week  at  the  Studio;  "Knute 
Rockne — All-American”  was  held  over  at 
the  Victory,  and  “Land  of  Liberty”  is  a 
big  drawing  card  at  the  Capitol,  as  well  as 
some  attractive  second  run  presentations. 

Detail  for  week  ended  January  23: 


(Average  is  100) 

Capitol — Land  of  Liberty  (M-G-M);  Gallant 

Sons  (M-G-M)  115 

Studio — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  115 

Utah — Foreign  Correspondent  (UA);  Keeping 

Company  (M-G-M)  110 

Victory— Knute  Rockne — All-American  (WB); 
Bury  Me  Not  on  the  Lone  Prairie  (Univ) . . . . 115 


''Arizona''  Ahead  in  a 
Strong  Denver  Lineup 

Denver — "Arizona”  at  the  Denver  was  a 
close  winner  in  top  money  for  the  week, 
winning  over  “Flight  Command”  and 
"Keeping  Company”  at  the  Orpheum. 
Business  was  above  average  at  all  first  run 
houses,  with  the  National  Western  Stock 
Show  contributing. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  22: 


(Average  is  100) 

Aladdin — This  Thing  Caleld  Love  (Col),  after 

a wk.  at  the  Denver  130 

Broadway — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  I’m  Still  Alive 

(RKO),  after  a wk.  at  the  Orpheum 140 

Denham — Second  Chorus  (Para’t)  105 

Denver- — Arizona  (Col)  135 

Orpheum — Flight  Command  (M-G-M);  Keeping 

Company  (M-G-M)  125 

Paramount — Invisible  Woman  (Univ)  ; Behind 

the  News  (Rep)  130 

Rialto — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN).  after  a wk.  at 
each  the  Denver  and  Aladdin;  Her  First 
Romance  (Mono)  130 


Vinicoff  Signs  With  AGV A 
For  Long  Beach  Strand 

Long  Beach,  Cal. — The  Strand  Theatre, 
film  and  vaudeville  house  owned  and  oper- 
ated by  Harry  Vinicoff,  has  signed  a union 
contract  with  the  American  Guild  of  Va- 
riety Artists. 

Deal  was  set  with  Vinicoff  by  C.  J. 
Hyans,  AGVA  representative,  and  estab- 
lishes the  Strand  as  a Class  B theatre, 
with  players  in  acts  booked  there  to  be 
paid  a minimum  of  $8.50  daily. 


Third  Son  to  von  Herberg 

Seattle — Gene  Dennis,  famed  psychic 
who  writes  for  a local  daily  and  who  in 
private  life  is  the  wife  of  J.  von  Herberg 
of  the  Jensen-von  Herberg  theatres,  be- 
came mother  to  a third  son  January  28. 
The  youngster  weighed  in  at  8 pounds  13 
ounces. 

(<  a 

Seattle  Board  Set 
For  Marion  Bldg . 

Seattle — The  address  of  Joe  J.  Monahan, 
named  last  week  by  the  American  Arbi- 
tration Ass'n  as  clerk  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture arbitration  board  here,  has  been 
designated  as  the  Marion  Building. 


Many  Registrants  for 
Final  PCCITO  Meet 

Los  Angeles — Among  the  some  100  in- 
dependent member  showmen  who  attended 
the  fourth  and  final  one  in  a series  of 
meetings  of  the  Pacific  Coast  Conference 
of  Independent  Theatre  Owners  held 
January  20  at  the  Elks  Club  in  Los  Angeles, 
were  the  following: 

R.  Kuhn  sr.,  Kuhn  jr„  Milton  Odem, 
Avery  Combs,  George  Gould,  Messrs. 
Woods,  Claver,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dickonson, 
Messrs.  McElroy,  Gessler,  Mattecheck,  Bob 
Mattecheck,  Phelps,  McKevitt,  Poorman, 
Stover,  Francis. 

Mrs.  Rose  Poole,  George  Roy,  C.  H. 
Smith,  Ray  Grombacher,  Ed  Niemann, 
Gordon  Niemann,  William  Graeper,  Mrs. 
Paulson,  Mr.  Geller,  Mr.  Hanzlik,  Mr. 
Cockerline,  Jessie  Jones,  Joe  Gamble,  Carl 
Lowe,  Mr.  St.  Johns,  Ed  Boyer,  Mr.  Ran- 
dolph, J.  L.  Barber,  Phil  Carlin,  Joe  So- 
rodka,  K.  A.  Spears,  Mrs.  Edwards. 

Messrs.  Durkee,  Bradt,  B.  J.  Callahan, 
Norman  Goodin,  W.  H.  Hibbert,  A.  West 
Johnson,  Art  Kolstad,  Leverette,  Mrs.  Jes- 
sie Monroe,  J.  D.  Meyers,  Bob  Poole, 
Messrs.  Bruen,  Berman,  Lukan,  Ripley, 
White,  George  Hunt,  Jim  Hone,  Albert 
Law,  Levin,  Harvey,  Mrs.  Avery  Combs, 
Mrs.  Bob  White,  Mrs.  Gwynn,  Miss  Gwynn, 
Mrs.  Hale. 


SALT  LAKE 

“J^AND  OF  LIBERTY”  is  showing  at  the 
Capitol  Theatre  currently.  Proceeds  of 
the  Salt  Lake  showing  will  be  used  for  war 
emergency  welfare  work  . . . Recent  visi- 
tors to  New  York  were  Manager  Chet  Price 
of  the  Victory  Theatre  and  Harry  David, 
general  manager  of  Intermountain  Thea- 
tres, Inc. 

RKO  sneak-previewed,  “Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith’’  at  Joe  Lawrence’s  Rialto  . . . G.  J. 
Malifronte,  home  office  auditor,  is  at  the 
local  Universal  exchange  for  a few  weeks 
. . . Lon  T.  Fidler,  Monogram  district  man- 
ager who  has  been  ill  for  some  time,  is 
recovering  nicely  and  will  be  in  California 
for  a few  weeks. 

Metro  Manager  Sam  Gardner  is  sched- 
uled for  an  extended  trip  into  Montana 
and  Idaho  . . . Con  Murphy,  former  thea- 
treman  here,  is  a visitor  from  Butte  for  a 
few  days  . . . Clifton  Pierce,  former  ex- 
hibitor who  died  last  week  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, was  well  known  here. 

Lark  Lind,  M-G-M  salesman,  is  the 
father  of  a baby  girl  . . . Jack  Swanson, 
shipper  at  Columbia,  recently  became  the 
father  of  a boy. 

Employes  of  the  local  Sheffield  Repub- 
lic exchange  are  spending  some  bonus 
checks  . . . Art  W.  Baron,  salesman  for 
Republic,  is  in  Idaho  currently,  and  Man- 
ager G.  S.  Pinnel  is  in  outstate  Utah. 

Susanna  Foster,  young  soprano  who  ap- 
peared in  “The  Great  Victor  Herbert,”  will 
make  a personal  appearance  here  on  a 
benefit  program  for  Utah’s  national 
guardsmen  February  5.  Harry  David  is  in 
charge  of  the  affair  . . . Paramount 
Branch  Manager  F.  H.  Smith  is  working 
in  Idaho. 


90 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


" Land  of  Liberty " Opens 
In  Two  L . A,  Theatres 

Los  Angeles — “Land  of  Liberty,”  the 
patriotic  feature  sponsored  by  the  MPPDA, 
opened  its  first  local  booking,  day-date, 
at  Grauman’s  Chinese  and  Loew’s  State 
theatres,  January  29.  It  is  on  a dual  bill 
with  “Come  Live  With  Me,”  co-starring 
James  Stewart  and  Hedy  Lamarr. 

Ben  Levin  Opens  New 
San  Francisco  Avenue 

San  Francisco — The  Avenue,  styled  the 
city’s  “newest,  ultra-modern  theatre,”  op- 
pened  January  30.  The  house,  under  the 
general  management  of  Ben  Levin,  was 
ravaged  by  fire  in  November  and  was  com- 
pletely rebuilt.  It  is  a subsequent  run  and 
has  three  changes  a week. 


IT  WAS  NICE  to  see  the  sun  again  this 

week.  Rain  fell  during  33  days  out  of 
the  last  40  and  it  was  getting  mighty  mo- 
notonous. The  theatres  took  a beating. 

Roy  Disney  in  town  to  make  arrange- 
ments for  the  booking  of  “Fantasia.”  No 
theatre  has  been  chosen  as  yet  to  receive 
the  installation  required  for  the  showing 
of  the  film  . . . Barbara  Hill  is  assisting 
in  the  contract  and  bookkeeping  depart- 
ments at  Warner  . . . George  Stamm  is 
getting  the  old  Casino  in  Antioch  ready 
for  a spring  opening  . . . The  Egyptian 
is  first  running  “Mad  Men  of  Europe”  . . . 
Kevin  Wallace  has  replaced  Ada  Hanafin 
as  the  drama  critic  on  the  San  Francisco 
Examiner.  Miss  Hanafin  leaves  the  news- 
paper after  11  years  in  the  critic’s  chair. 

Lois  Moran,  once  known  as  the  Holly- 
wood bombshell,  is  about  ready  to  come 
out  of  her  voluntary  retirement.  Miss 
Moran,  now  Mrs.  Clarence  M.  Young,  has 
resided  in  this  city  since  leaving  Holly- 
wood four  years  ago.  She  does  not  plan 
to  re-enter  the  entertainment  world  in 
either  the  screen  or  stage  fields  even 
though  she  left  both  while  at  the  top 
of  the  ladder.  Some  time  this  year  Lois 
Moran  will  make  her  grand  opera  debut! 

The  war  raging  on  all  fronts  across  the 
Atlantic  has  not  prevented  the  Clay,  San 
Francisco’s  foreign  product  theatre,  from 
securing  a full  schedule  of  film  for  the 
new  season.  Following  “ Here  Is  Ireland,” 
which  closes  a five-week  run  this  week,  the 
theatre  will  present  “Queen  of  La  Scala.” 
Six  other  foreign  films  have  been  an- 
nounced to  follow  . . . Nina  Bissell,  Expo- 
sition glamour  girl,  “Miss  Pacific  Coast,” 
and  native  of  this  city,  will  make  her 
screen  debut  in  M-G-M’s  “Ziegfeld  Girl” 
. . . Jimmy  Myers,  Republic  salesman,  is 
hospitalized  for  an  operation. 

The  old  Lincoln,  opened  and  closed  many 
times,  has  shuttered  for  keeps.  A modern 
bowling  palace  opened  this  week  where 
the  theatre  used  to  stand  ...  Ed  Beck  has 
left  his  desk  at  M-G-M  to  go  to  Portland 
for  three  weeks  as  personal  representative 
of  George  Hickey.  E.  A1  Lake  is  up  from 
Hollywood  to  hold  down  Ed’s  chair  . . . 
Jimmy  Faden,  Fox  shipper,  on  the  sick  list 


]yj  J.  E.  MCCARTHY,  Monogram  sales- 
man, pulled  out  for  the  Bakersfield 
territory  . . . George  Hickey,  M-G-M  west- 
ern district  manager,  off  to  San  Francisco 
on  a business  jaunt  . . . Sam  Nathanson, 
general  sales  manager  for  Producers  Re- 
leasing Corp.,  has  been  in  Kansas  City  for 
the  past  few  days. 

National  Screen  Service  has  added  Ralph 
Moore  and  Hubert  Hendricks  to  its  ship- 
ping crew  ...  In  from  the  New  York  of- 
fice for  business  conferences  with  local 
M-G-M  officials  are  Allan  F.  Cummings 
and  Bill  Brenner  . . . Murray  Fisher,  Pro- 
ducers Releasing  Corp.  office  manager, 
took  the  day  off — stomach  trouble. 

E.  C.  Shriver,  Altec  Service  district  man- 
ager, and  S.  M.  Pariseau,  local  branch 


. . . Ben  Stephenson  is  managing  the  Met- 
ropolitan . . . Bob  Lippert  saw  his  first 
prize  fight  this  week  and  the  boys  on  the 
Row  know  the  contest  blow  by  blow! 

The  Harvey  circuit  headquarters  on  Gol- 
den Gate  Avenue  have  been  remodeled, 
with  the  company’s  girls  being  bunched 
in  the  glass-enclosed  front  office,  and  Sid 
Klein,  circuit  booker,  being  given  a new 
office. 

The  Chinese  New  Year’s  celebrations 
gave  a boost  to  all  Chinatown  bars  and 
clubs  and  to  the  Grandview,  the  smart 
little  theatre  showing  Chinese  and  Amer- 
ican films  . . . Sid  Weisbaum  and  Sid 
Martenstein  are  touring  the  Valley  for 
Republic  . . . The  office  staff  at  Colum- 
bia gave  Barbara  Cohen  a farewell  party 
this  week  and  sent  her  off  with  a beauti- 
ful fluorescent  desk  lamp  set  . . . The 
Ballet  Russe  de  Monte  Carlo  makes  its 
annual  call  to  this  city  next  week. 

Wanted:  One  station  wagon.  Since 

Henry  Wisnia  moved  down  the  Peninsula 
there  are  enough  bookers  commuting  to 
make  a Booker’s  Special  coming  and  go- 
ing each  day.  The  boys  are  toying  with 
the  idea  of  buying  a station  wagon  to  take 
them  back  and  forth  . . . Dan  Noonan  has 
sold  his  Turlock  in  Turlock  to  Golden 
State  . . . “Ma”  Hables  is  operating  the 
theatre  in  King  City  while  her  son,  Ike, 
the  house’s  owner,  goes  off  to  Canada  for 
military  reasons  . . . Charles  Schlaifer 
is  taking  a short  vacation  from  his  duties 
at  the  United  Artists  . . . The  Plumas,  in 
Portola,  lost  a print  of  “Dancing  on  a 
Dime”  in  the  Western  Pacific  train  crack- 
up. 

Arthur  W.  Kelly  visited  the  UA  exchange 
in  connection  with  the  “Arthur  W.  Kelly” 
Drive.  Stephen  Pallos  accompanied  . . . 
Mrs.  Skidmore,  sister  of  Joe  Kane,  Re- 
public booker,  suffered  a broken  leg  while 
ice  skating  . . . Dick  Crosby,  Embassy  house 
manager,  is  agitating  for  a golf  tourna- 
ment among  local  theatre  employes  . . . 
Booking  on  the  Row:  Dan  Noonan,  Tur- 
lock, Turlock;  H.  Muraki,  Mission,  Sac- 
ramento; Jack  Ryan,  Vallejo;  and  Jimmy 
Lima,  Tower,  Roseville. 


manager,  are  in  from  San  Francisco  . . . 
Booking:  Dave  Rector,  Ebell,  Long  Beach; 
George  Harter,  operator  of  the  Arlin  and 
Avalon  theatres. 

Mildred  Landreau,  secretary  to  George 
Hickey  of  M-G-M,  has  returned  to  work 
after  a vacation  in  Washington  . . . Murray 
Fisher,  office  manager  here  for  Producers 
Releasing  Corp.,  reports  Ollie  Wog  has  been 
shifted  from  Portland  to  Seattle  as  branch 
manager,  replacing  Joe  Morrick.  The  Port- 
land job  is  still  open,  as  far  as  Fisher 
knows. 

The  question  of  whether  the  IATSE’s 
Class  B locals  want  to  remain  in  that  divi- 
sion or  be  classified  in  the  A brackets,  on  a 
par  with  the  projectionists  and  studio 
locals,  was  discussed  at  a meeting  of  Local 
B-61.  A referendum  vote  on  the  subject 
will  be  taken  under  the  guidance  of  Bill 
Ring,  president  of  the  local. 

Herb  MacIntyre,  western  district  man- 
ager for  RKO  Radio,  in  New  York  attend- 
ing a company  sales  meeting  . . . Mrs. 
Jerome  Safron,  wife  of  Columbia’s  west- 
ern district  chief,  is  convalescing  at  the 
Good  Samaritan  Hospital  following  an  ap- 
pendectomy . . . Henry  MacKaig,  United 
Artists  salesman,  in  from  Bishop — last  stop 
on  his  trip  through  the  northern  territory. 

George  Alderman,  secretary-treasurer  of 
Constance  Bennett,  Inc.,  and  Harry  Tay- 
lor, vice-president  and  sales  manager,  left 
for  Chicago  to  begin  an  extensive  tour 
through  the  east,  which  they  figure  will 
keep  them  on  the  road  for  three  or  four 
months. 

Here  on  business  is  D.  T.  Gomersall,  Uni- 
versal division  manager  headquartering  in 
Chicago  . . . On  one  of  his  rare  visits,  Al 
Hanson,  operator  of  the  Vogue  Theatre  in 
South  Gate,  came  in  to  do  some  booking 
. . . Also  booking  was  Ronald  Vincent  of 
Laguna  Beach. 

Two  newcomers  have  been  added  to  the 
personnel  of  the  Constance  Bennett  Cos- 
metics Co.  Harry  Tardy,  a well-known 
figure  along  Filmrow,  has  been  appointed 
office  manager  here,  while  Les  Taylor  has 
been  named  district  manager  for  South- 
ern California  . . . Arthur  Greenfield,  Uni- 
versal booker,  has  been  transferred  to  San 
Francisco.  He  is  replaced  here  by  Tommy 
Dunphy. 

George  Carrington,  vice-president  of 
Altec  Service,  is  in  from  New  York  for 
busmess  conferences  with  local  Altec  of- 
ficials . . . Eugene  Francis,  one  of  the 
“ East  Side  Kids”  in  the  Monogram  series, 
dropped  in  to  visit  acquaintances  along  the 
Row  . . . Booking  visitors  included  Joe 
Sloate  of  the  Maynard;  Harvey  Levinson, 
operator  of  the  Cozy;  Tommy  Huntington, 
Seville  Theatre,  Chula  Vista. 


B.  F.  SHEARER  COMPANY 

“Theatre  Equipment  Specialists” 

Heywood-Wakefield  Seats 

Wagner  Silhouette  Letters 

Motiograph  Projectors 

1964  So.  Vermont  RO.  1145 

LOS  ANGELES 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


91 


^ HE  A T T 1L  IE 

J^KO’s  Eddie  Lamb  “sneak”  previewed 
“Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith”  last  week.  Af- 
fair, held  at  the  Fifth  Avenue  Theatre, 
was  preceded  by  loads  of  publicity.  Drama 
critics  from  various  cities  were  invited 
along  with  their  wives.  Seen  among  the 
gang  were  Wafford  Conrad  of  the  Spokane 
Chronicle;  Ros  McTavish,  Vancouver,  B. 
C.;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hal  Nelson,  Tacoma 
Times;  Len  Higgins,  Tacoma  Tribune; 
Ralph  Daly,  News-Herald,  Vancouver,  B. 
C.  . . . This  town  went  overboard  for  the 
personal  appearance  of  Gracie  Fields,  the 
British  songstress  and  comedienne.  They’re 
still  talking  about  her  number,  “The  Big- 
gest Aspidestra  in  the  World.”  Gracie  will 
be  back  in  a few  days  to  make  a “free” 
personal  appearance  at  all  three  of  the 
Birthday  Balls  being  held  in  town  for  the 
President’s  infantile  paralysis  cause. 

Special  memorial  services  were  held  here 
last  iveek  for  Anna  Pavlova  by  Ivan  Novi- 
koff,  local  ballet  master.  Jean  Y azvinsky , 
director  general  of  the  Ballet  Russe  Monte 
Carlo,  flew  in  from  Vancouver,  B.  C.,  for 
the  ceremony,  which  was  attended  by  many 
artists  and  local  citizens  . . . Word  from 
Hollywood  tells  of  the  death  of  Sam  Braf- 
ford,  recently  chief  of  police  at  the  Metro 
studios.  What  makes  this  a local  item  is, 
that  for  17  years  Sam  was  on  the  Seattle 
police  force  and  was  once  given  a medal 
by  the  merchants  of  Yesler  Way  for  stop- 
ping a team  of  run-a-way  horses  at  the 
risk  of  his  life.  He  was  an  uncle  to  Buster 
Keaton  . . . Bob  Crosby,  brother  of  Bing, 
hopped  a plane  from  here  this  week  for 
Hollywood  where  he  will  make  a new  pic- 
ture, “Sis  Hopkins”  . . . During  evening 
previews  on  the  Row,  a “nasty”  man  has 
been  breaking  into  cars  and  getting  away 
with  a lot  of  fine  things.  Pete  Higgins 
lost  a radio,  W.  B.  McDonald  of  Olympia 
lost  luggage  and  booking  sheets,  while  Tony 
Silvaggio  lost  two  pair  of  ice  skates  and 
bowling  shoes.  Good  news  boys.  The  police 
have  got  the  fellow  and  all  of  your  prop- 
erty is  safe.  Don’t  say  we  didn’t  tell  you. 

Frank  Jenkins  of  the  Jensen-von  Her- 
berg  house  in  Renton  has  gone  to  Cali- 
fornia for  a couple  of  weeks.  Bob  Shearer 
of  the  Ballard  Roxy  is  looking  after  things 
while  Frank  is  gone.  Reason  for  the  trip 
is  that  Frank’s  father  died  a short  time 
ago  and  he  could  not  get  away  at  that 
time,  so  he  is  taking  this  opportunity  to 
go  home  and  get  family  matters  settled 
. . . We  have  been  informed  of  the  follow- 
ing changes  in  the  Paramount  organiza- 
tion. Charles  Reagan  moves  from  western 
district  manager  to  assistant  to  Neil  F. 
Agnew;  George  Smith  moves  into  Reagan’s 
spot,  while  Hugh  Braley  is  in  Smith’s 
berth.  This  is  for  the  coast  territory  only. 
Denver  and  Salt  Lake  will  have  a D.M. 
of  their  own  . . . B.  F.  Shearer  announces 
he  has  purchased  the  Smith  Theatre  Sup- 
ply in  Spokane  and  has  placed  E.  H.  Bech- 
tel in  as  manager. 

Bill  Forman,  general  manager  of  Ster- 
ling Theatres,  out  by  plane  for  Los  An- 
geles. At  San  Francisco,  he  will  be  met  by 
Jimmie  O’Neal  who  will  be  able  to  chin- 
wag with  Bill  for  about  15  minutes  . . . 
Roy  Peacock  is  east  of  the  mountains  on 
company  business  . . . Vic  Gauntlett  back 
at  his  desk  after  the  fight  with  the  flu  . . . 


John  Pollock,  traveling  in  advance  of  Al- 
fred Lunt  and  Lynn  Fontanne,  in  town  ac- 
companied by  Mrs.  Pollock  . . . Expected 
this  week  are  Jimmy  Grainger,  head  of  Re- 
public Pictures,  and  Frank  Soule  of  the 
west  coast  offices  . . . Art  Kallen,  Univer- 
sal booker,  back  at  his  desk  after  the  flu 
siege  . . . Art  Huot  and  Art  Gollofon  back 
from  a very  successful  fishing  trip  . . . Ben 
Fish,  western  division  head  for  United  Ar- 
tists, out  for  Portland  accompanied  by  Pete 
Higgins,  local  manager  . . . Al  Rosenberg 
back  from  a California  vacation  and  rest 
. . . Hal  and  Ethel  Daigler  se?iding  greet- 
ings from  Arizona  where  they  are  spend- 
ing some  time  at  a resort  . . . Frank  New- 
man, president  of  Evergreen  Theatres,  out 
to  Bellingharji  for  a looksee. 

Carl  Walker,  district  manager  for  War- 
ner Theatres,  in  from  Hollywood  and 
spending  some  time  in  Aberdeen  and  Ho- 
quiam.  He  will  drop  in  on  Seattle  before 
returning  home  . . . Henry  Davidson  of 
Port  Angeles  on  the  Row  after  spending 
some  time  in  the  hospital.  Likewise 
Mickey  De  Leo  of  Port  Townsend  . . . Mrs. 
Martin  Brown  back  to  Yakima  after  her 
long  visit  here  . . . Joe  and  Mrs.  Kendall 
of  Ellenburg  here  for  the  preview  of  “Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Smith.”  They  were  the  guests 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred  Mercy  jr.  . . . Bill 
Shartin  back  at  his  desk,  but  standing, 
after  his  operation  . . . Al  O’Keefe,  divi- 
sion manager  for  Universal,  writes  he  is 
enjoying  a vacation  in  Death  Valley  . . . 
Haskell  Masters,  new  district  manager  for 
United  Artists,  is  expected  soon  on  his  first 
visit  from  the  east. 


ID)  IE  N V IE  R 

T S.  ABROSE,  recently  branch  manager 

for  United  Artists  in  Milwaukee,  has 
been  appointed  district  manager  for  them, 
and  headquartering  in  Denver,  will  have 
charge  of  the  territories  of  Denver,  Salt 
Lake  City  and  Omaha. 

John  P.  Bryne,  recently  branch  man- 
ager for  M-G-M  in  Boston,  and  who  start- 
ed in  the  film  business  16  years  ago  in 
Denver  as  a salesman  for  the  same  com- 
pany, has  been  named  district  manager 
and  will  have  Denver,  Omaha,  Salt  Lake 
City  and  Des  Moines  in  his  territory.  He 
will  headquarter  in  Denver. 

A bill  introduced  in  the  Colorado  legis- 
lature would  provide  an  excise  tax  on 
theatres — the  annual  tax  to  be  equal  to 
one  admission  for  every  seat  in  the  house. 
The  bill  still  is  in  committee  . . . The 
members  of  the  Colorado  state  legislature 
received  their  usual  season  passes,  good 
for  all  the  theatres  in  Denver,  for  the 
length  of  the  session. 

Reports  reaching  Denver  say  that  Harry 
Marcus,  formerly  owner  of  the  Allied  ex- 
change in  Denver,  died  at  his  home  in 
Philadelphia  . . . Joe  Hammer,  booker  for 
JCR  sanitarium,  died  in  Deliver  January 
10. 

Fire  in  the  booth  of  the  Mara  Theatre, 
Mara,  N.  M.,  owned  by  Albert  Coppell,  re- 
sulted in  the  closing  of  the  house  for 
a few  weeks  . . . New  sound  has  been 
installed  in  both  the  Egyptian  and  Rex 
theatres,  Denver,  both  Civic  houses.  A 


PORTLAND  begins  to  derive  some  bene- 
fits from  the  defense  program.  A re- 
cent announcement  revealed  the  allocation 
of  57  million  dollars  for  the  construction 
of  31  ships  in  Portland  harbors.  A ship- 
yard boom  will  no  doubt  make  a tremen- 
dous improvement  in  theatre  grosses. 

The  1th  Infantry,  long  stationed  at  Van- 
couver Barracks,  will  leave  that  post  to 
make  way  for  a regiment  of  engineers. 
The  change  is  not  expected  to  affect  Van- 
couver theatre  business  as  the  engineers 
carry  practically  the  same  enrollment  as 
the  1th  infantry. 

The  town  of  Mossy  Rock,  Washington, 
is  soon  to  be  represented  with  a theatre. 
G.  Ghosen  is  building  a new  350-seat  house 
to  be  called  the  “G”  Theatre.  Ghosen  is 
making  his  initial  entry  into  the  show 
business  with  the  G Theatre,  but  is  well 
known  around  Mossy  Rock,  where  he  op- 
erates the  general  store. 

Ralph  Wood,  long  an  exponent  of  16 mm 
films,  announced  the  booking  of  his  fea- 
ture-length color  pictures  of  the  Portland 
Rose  Festival  to  be  shown  to  Henry  Ford 
and  also  to  the  New  York  Chamber  of 
Commerce.  Arthur  B.  Carlson,  of  the  Port- 
land C.  of  C„  will  transport  the  pictures 
in  the  interest  of  Oregon  publicity. 

Talk  has  been  started  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a Luncheon  Club  for  Filmrowites. 
The  idea  is  sponsored  by  Banjo  Miller  and 
Lou  Amacher.  The  plan  is  for  a meeting 
once  each  week  for  a get-together  with 
no  business  discussed  except  under  penalty. 
For  further  information  see  either  Miller 
or  Amacher. 

Filmrow  visitors  were  varied  the  past 
week  with  Ben  Fish  and  Pete  Higgins  of 
the  UA  sales  force;  Bill  McKevitt,  New- 
port; Mrs.  L.  A.  Moore,  booking  for  Gol- 
dendale,  Hermiston,  Athena  and  Arling- 
ton; Harry  Percy,  Mr.  Harrington,  of 
Aratskanie  and  White  Salmon,  were  about 
the  Row  on  one  business  or  another. 

The  Liberty  and  Kelso  theatres  in  Kelso 
are  shining  under  the  finishing  touches 
recently  added  to  them  by  Basil  Bashor 
and  Bill  Ripley. 

The  Portland  city  council  met  last  week 
with  the  idea  of  considering  ways  and 
means  of  controlling  stage  shows.  Some 
one  felt  the  stage  should  be  censored  in 
the  same  way  as  the  films,  but  it  was  de- 
cided to  allow  the  individual  theatre  man- 
ager to  make  his  own  deletions. 


new  front  also  has  been  put  up  at  the 
Civic  Oriental. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Berriie  Hynes  have  gone 
to  New  York  City  for  a two-week  vacation. 
He  is  manager  of  the  Denver  Theatre  . . . 
Charlene  Davis,  daughter  of  Dave  Davis, 
district  manager  for  Atlas  Theatres,  was 
elected  head  girl  at  Smiley  Junior  High 
School,  Denver. 

A consent  decree  meeting,  presided  over 
by  Felix  Jenkins,  head  of  the  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox legal  department,  will  be  held 
in  the  exchange  here  February  3 . . . Mrs. 
Ed  Mapel  was  seriously  hurt  in  Los  Angeles 
when  her  car  overturned. 


92 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


Lead  Still  "Kitty's" 
After  Four  Weeks 

Chicago — Despite  cold,  sloppy  weather, 
boxoffice  receipts  in  the  Loop  held  up  the 
week  ending  January  23,  with  “Kitty 
Foyle”  continuing  its  smashing  pace  in  its 
fourth  week  at  the  RKO  Palace. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  23: 


(Average  is  100) 

Apollo — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t) 85 

A terrific  grosser,  wound  up  at  the  Apollo 
on  Tuesday,  having  completed  a big  loop 
run  of  three  weeks  and  five  days.  “Comrade 
X”  shifted  to  the  Apollo  on  Wednesday  from 
United  Artists. 

Chicago — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN)  125 

Second  week.  New  stage  show  bolstering 
receipts. 

Garrick — Dr.  Kildare’s  Crisis  (M-G-M)  100 

Oriental — Hullabaloo  (M-G-M)  115 

Stage  show  headed  by  Rosemary  Lane  helped 
bring  in  the  customers. 

Palace — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  Saint  in  Palm 

Springs  (RKO)  175 

Biggest  thing  Palace  has  seen  in  ages.  The 
Loop’s  pace-setter.  Looks  like  five  or  six 
weeks. 

Roosevelt — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox)  95 

Finished  week  on  Tuesday,  same  company's 
“Hudson’s  Bay’’  going  in  on  Wednesday. 

State  Lake — Phantom  Submarine  (Col)  130 

All-star  stage  show  headed  by  Lou  Holtz 
helped  zoom  business  at  this  house. 

Studio — After  Mein  Kampf  (SR)  85 

Second  week  did  about  half  as  well  as  first 
week’s  business. 

United  Artists — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  75 


Picture  was  shifted  to  the  Apollo  on  Wednes- 
day after  successful  run  of  two  weeks,  five 
days.  “The  Philadelphia  Story’’  opened  very 
big  on  Wednesday. 

Stage  Show  Effective 
Bolster  in  Milwaukee 

Milwaukee — Week’s  leading  grosser  was 
the  Folies  Bergere  of  1941  at  the  Riverside 
Theatre  together  with  the  film  “Glamour 
for  Sale.”  Cold  and  snowy  weather  cut 
into  takes  at  other  first  runs. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  23: 


(Average  is  100) 

Palace — Aiizona  (Col);  Youth  Will  !3e 

Served  (20th-Fox)  110 

Riverside — Glamour  for  Sale  (Col),  plus  Folies 

Bergere  of  1941  on  stage  200 

Strand — Love  Thy  Neighbor  (Para't); 

Victory  (Para't)  100 

Warner — Honeymoon  for  Three  (AVB);  Hast  of 

the  River  (FN)  125 

Wisconsin — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox);  Tall, 

Dark  and  Handsome  (20th -Fox)  115 


" Flight  Command " Soars 
Highest  in  Indianapolis 

Indianapolis  — Metro’s  “Flight  Com- 
mand” paired  with  “Lone  Wolf  Keeps  a 
Date”  at  Loew’s  led  the  first  runs  far  and 
away,  with  a take  that  nearly  doubled  the 
average.  The  balance  of  the  show  houses 


ran  but  poor  seconds  with  grosses  in  all 
instances,  somewhat  below  average. 

(Average  is  100) 

Alamo — Riders  of  Black  Mountain  (PRC)  ; 

Chamber  of  Horrors  (Mono)  70 

Circle— Victory  (Para't);  Life  With  Henry 

(Para't)  ' g0 

Indiana — Second  Chorus  (Para’t);  Texas 

Bangers  Bide  Again  (Para’t)  90 

Loew’s — Flight  Command  (M-G-M);  Lone  Wolf 

Keeps  a Date  (Col)  195 

Lyric — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox),  plus  Johnny 
Burke  and  other  acts  on  stage  95 


Revive  Curfew 

Granite  City,  III. — Mayor  M.  E.  Kirk- 
patrick has  ordered  that  beginning  on 
February  1 city  police  must  begin  enforc- 
ing a quarter-century  old  9 p.  m.  curfew 
ordinance.  Children  of  the  city  must  be 
off  the  streets  by  9 p.  m.  Warning  whis- 
tles will  be  blown  at  8:45  o’clock  nightly. 
Parents  of  violators  are  subject  to  a $1 
fine. 


Cooperate  in  Kenosha 
With  Paralysis  Drive 

Kenosha,  Wis. — Theatre  managers  Fran- 
cis Schlax  at  the  Kenosha,  Elroy  Luedtke 
at  the  Orpheum  and  William  Exton  at 
the  Roosevelt  cooperated  in  the  local  drive 
conducted  by  the  National  Foundation  for 
Infantile  Paralysis  by  featuring  special 
lobby  displays  to  help  collect  funds  for 
the  affair. 

Miss  Laurinda  Webb  was  in  charge  of 
the  appeal  drive  at  the  Kenosha,  while 
the  Orpheum  and  Roosevelt  had  coin  col- 
lection boxes  in  their  lobbies.  The  Keno- 
sha also  sold  tickets  to  the  Crippled  Chil- 
dren’s ball  at  the  Elks  Club  on  January 
31  and  at  the  Eagles  Club  on  February  1. 
The  same  tickets  were  also  good  for  ad- 
mission to  the  Kenosha  Theatre  if  they 
were  not  used  for  the  dances. 


Stars  at  Benefit 

St.  Louis  — Constance  Bennett  was 
scheduled  to  be  one  of  the  speakers  at 
the  Aid  to  Britain  mass  meeting  to  be 
held  at  the  Municipal  Auditorium  the 
evening  of  Friday,  January  31.  Douglas 
Fairbanks  jr.,  who  is  president  of  the  Los 
Angeles  chapter  of  the  national  organ- 
ization, has  also  signified  his  intention  to 
be  present  at  the  mass  meeting,  accord- 
ing to  George  W.  Gardner,  secretary  of 
the  St.  Louis  chapter. 


Pirtle  Remodels  in  Jerseyville 

St.  Louis — S.  E.  Pirtle,  Jerseyville  the- 
atre owner,  plans  alterations  and  improve- 
ments to  a two-story  store  building  there. 


Variety  in  St.  Louis 
Will  Aid  Polio  Assn 

St.  Louis — A five-year  program  to  raise 
a total  of  $250  000  through  special  enter- 
tainments and  benefit  shows  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a building  for  the  Midwest  Polio 
Association  has  been  decided  upon  by  the 
St.  Louis  Tent  of  the  Variety  Club,  of 
which  Harry  C.  Arthur  jr.,  Fanchon  & 
Marco  executive,  is  chief  barker. 

The  Variety  Club  has  adopted  the  Mid- 
west Polio  Association  as  its  sole  charity. 
The  association  is  composed  of  those  in 
Greater  St.  Louis  who  have  been  or  are 
afflicted  with  infantile  paralysis. 

Louis  K.  Ansell,  head  of  the  Ansell  Bros, 
circuit;  Clarence  D.  Hill,  manager  for  Co- 
lumbia Pictures,  and  Fred  H.  Wehrenberg, 
head  of  the  Wehrenberg  circuit  and  presi- 
dent of  the  Motion  Picture  Theatre  Own- 
ers of  St.  Louis,  Eastern  Missouri  and 
Southern  Illinois,  were  appointed  by  Pres- 
ident Arthur  to  formulate  plans  with  the 
Midwest  Polio  Association  officers  for  the 
five-year  program. 

During  this  period  the  net  proceeds  of 
all  benefits  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Variety  Club  will  be  used  to  establish 
the  proposed  building.  It  will  include  a 
swimming  pool,  a work  shop  and  other 
rehabilitation  facilities. 

The  first  show  under  the  program  will 
be  a midnight  performance  at  Fanchon  & 
Marco’s  Fox  Theatre,  March  29. 


Winners  All — 

In  the  upper  photo  are  the  top  money  takers  in  the  M-G-M  national  exploi- 
tation contest.  Left  to  right:  Jack  Albertson,  Indiana  Harbor,  Ind.,  $500; 
Chick  Tompkins,  Whiting,  Ind.,  $100;  J.  E.  Flynn,  Metro  district  manager, 
Chicago;  Rex  Williams,  Elkhart,  Ind.,  $750,  and  Roy  Hanson,  Goshen,  Ind., 
$2,500.  The  $25.00  winners  in  the  lower  photo,  are  left  to  right:  Harry  Brown, 
Vogue;  Joseph  Koppel,  New  Ritz,  Berwyn;  Ted  Morris,  Devon;  J.  E.  Flynn, 
district  manager,  Chicago;  Edivard  Bertrand,  Buckingham;  Oscar  A.  Brot- 
man,  Avaloe;  John  Naughton,  Vic  Theatres,  Chicago;  Roy  Zermain,  400 
Theatres,  Chicago. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


c 


93 


They're  From  the  Home  Team — 

Some  of  the  hosts  in  the  Chicago  home  team  when  Paramount  theatre 
partners  hosted  Barney  Balaban  to  celebrate  his  fifth  year  as  president  of 
the  film  and  theatre  company.  Left  to  right  here,  all  of  B&K  circuit  in 
Chicago  except  one  otherwise  designated:  Nate  Platt,  district  manager  and 
production  chief;  William  K.  Hollander,  advertising  chief;  Dave  Waller- 
stein,  district  manager;  Max  Schosberg,  Paramount  home  office;  Maurice 
L.  Leonard,  legal  head;  Walter  Immerman,  general  manager,  and  Abe  Kauf- 
man, booking  chief. 

Greek  Forces  Benefited  hy 
Testimonial  to  Balaban 


By  HAL  TATE 

Chicago — Probably  no  happier  man  ex- 
isted in  the  motion  picture  business  the 
night  of  January  23  than  Barney  Balaban, 
president  of  Paramount  Pictures.  His  the- 
atre associates,  in  paying  him  tribute  at 
the  Drake  Hotel  here  on  his  fifth  anni- 
versary as  president  of  the  theatre  com- 
pany, gave  him  two  gifts  that  he  will  long 
remember.  One  was  a check  for  a fully 
equipped  ambulance  which  will  shortly 
see  service  for  the  Greek  Army;  the  other 
was  an  engraved  silver  plaque  mounted  on 
glass  commemorating  the  gift  of  the  am- 
bulance, and  the  Barney  Balaban  cele- 
bration. 

Making  the  presentations  was  E.  V. 
Richards,  head  of  the  Paramount-Rich- 
ards  theatres.  The  plaque  read  as  fol- 
lows: “To  Barney  Balaban  From  Your 
Theatre  Associates:  In  sincere  appreci- 
ation of  your  exemplary  character,  your 
fine  human  qualities,  and  in  commemora- 
tion of  the  fifth  anniversary  of  your  presi- 
dency of  Paramount  Pictures,  we  present 
this  day  to  the  American  Red  Cross  in 
your  name  an  ambulance,  a messenger  of 
mercy  to  the  valiant  people  of  Greece 
who  are  fighting  for  the  right  to  live  at 
peace  with  their  neighbors,  for  democracy, 
for  humanity.” 

Medallions  to  Winners 

Balaban  personally  congratulated  the  55 
winners  of  the  Barney  Balaban  drive. 
They  were  introduced  by  his  brother,  John 
Balaban,  who  presented  each  winner  with 
a special  victory  medallion.  Each  winner 
also  received  cash  awards. 

Preceding  the  actual  banquet  was  an 
informal  luncheon  held  in  the  Grand  Ball- 
room of  the  Drake  Hotel.  It  was  here 
that  many  Paramount  people  saw  for  the 
first  time  a new  entertainment  medium 


which  may  revolutionize  the  entire  motion 
picture  industry.  It  was  television.  Bala- 
ban and  Katz  held  a special  exhibit  of 
their  new  television  station,  W9XBX  at  the 
Drake.  The  exhibit,  which  was  under  the 
direction  of  Bill  Eddy,  director  of  the 
station,  amazed  the  onlookers  who  ex- 
pressed great  surprise  at  the  clarity  of  the 
pictures. 

Botsford  Toastmaster 

The  entire  day  was  given  over  to  pay- 
ing tribute  to  Barney  Balaban.  From  the 
United  States  and  Canada  nearly  400 
executives  of  Paramount  and  its  theatre 
managers,  together  with  the  winners  of 
the  Barney  Balaban  drive,  joined  in  pay- 
ing tribute  to  Balaban. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  banquet,  Thurs- 
day evening,  A.  H.  Blank,  chairman  of  the 


^INE  P.  M.  “Sneak  Previews”  were 
staged  here  last  week  by  the  Warner 
and  Palace  theatres  on  Wednesday  and 
Thursday  nights,  respectively  . . . Harry 
Perlewitz,  Milwaukee,  business  manager  of 
the  I TP  A of  Wisconsin;  William  L.  Ains- 
worth, Fond  du  Lac,  president  of  the  as- 
sociation, and  A.  C.  Berkholtz,  West  Bend, 
the  organization’s  treasurer,  journeyed  to 
Washington  to  attend  the  Allied  board 
meeting. 

Ray  Smith  Co.,  theatre  supplies,  ob- 
served the  formal  opening  of  its  new  of- 
fices here  at  710  W.  State  St.  A repre- 
sentative group  of  exhibitors  from  around 
the  state  attended. 

Charlie  Koehler,  operator  of  Astor  Pic- 


Barney  Balaban  celebration  committee, 
gave  the  signal  for  the  participants  to 
take  their  places.  As  they  took  their  seats, 
a burst  of  music  from  the  stage  heralded 
“To  the  Stars  and  Stripes,”  a stirring  pro- 
logue of  blended  choral  voices  and  march- 
ing feet  that  reached  its  climax  in  the  liv- 
ing American  flag  at  the  opposite  end  of 
the  banquet  hall. 

At  the  dinners’  conclusion,  A.  M.  Bots- 
ford, associate  producer  for  Paramount, 
who  acted  as  toastmaster  for  the  ban- 
quet, introduced  Balaban’s  best  friends, 
who  had  come  to  felicitate  the  Paramount 
president. 

The  dramatic  high-point  of  the  evening 
came  when  E.  V.  Richards  presented  Bala- 
ban with  the  plaque  and  check  for  the 
ambulance.  Balaban,  in  accepting  the 
gifts,  said  that  nothing  could  have  made 
him  prouder  or  happier,  and  that  there 
was  no  cause  more  worthy  than  this  am- 
bulance for  a people  doing  their  utmost 
against  great  odds. 

Besides  Blank,  Richards,  John  Balaban 
and  Botsford,  addresses  were  made  by  Y. 
Frank  Freeman,  Stanton  Griffis,  Adolph 
Zukor,  Neil  Agnew,  Hugo  Sonnenschein, 
noted  Chicago  attorney,  and  Leo  Spitz, 
Chicago  attorney,  former  president  of 
RKO  Radio  pictures,  and  one  of  Balaban’s 
closest  friends. 

Entertainment  by  Platt 

The  evening’s  entertainment,  which 
had  been  arranged  by  Nate  Platt,  stage 
production  manager  for  Balaban  & Katz, 
started  off  with  a community  songfest 
entitled  “Love  Thy  Neighbor,”  and  pulled 
no  punches  in  its  ribbing.  The  Paramount 
Studio’s  contribution  to  the  evening’s 
festivities  was  a special  studio  newsreel 
with  Jack  Benny  as  chief  “Balaban-terer.” 
Other  stars  participating  in  satirical  bits 
were:  Bob  Hope,  Mary  Martin,  Bing  Cros- 
by, Lynne  Overman,  Claudette  Colbert, 
Madeleine  Carroll,  Fred  MacMurray,  Henry 
Fonda,  Don  Ameche,  Rochester,  Oscar  Le- 
vant and  Allan  Jones. 

Making  a personal  appearance  at  the 
banquet  were  two  new  Paramount  stars, 
Constance  Moore  and  Stirling  Haydon. 
From  Chicago’s  leading  show  places,  top 
name  stars  appeared  at  the  banquet. 
These  included  Lou  Holtz,  Jane  Froman, 
Bert  Lahr,  Lola  Lane,  the  Nicholas  Bros., 
and  Tommy  Bartlett. 


tures  exchange  here,  observed  his  birth- 
day last  week.  Charlie,  who  has  been  in 
the  business  for  32  years,  maintains  he’s 
“the  oldest  film  peddler  in  point  of  ser- 
vice in  this  neck  of  the  woods.” 

George  D:  Skinner,  New  York,  head 
of  the  public  relations  department  of 
Broadcast  Music,  Inc.,  was  in  town  mak- 
ing speeches  in  response  to  talks  by 
Robert  A.  Hess,  Wisconsin  counsel  for 
Ascap. 

Warner’s  Venetian  in  Racine  is  install- 
ing new  earphones  for  the  hard-of-hear- 
ing . . . The  Fox  in  Stevens  Point,  which 
last  September  announced  it  was  going 
to  give  single  feature  programs  a trial, 
is  back  playing  the  duals. 


94 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


Barney  Balahan  Dinner  Notes 


^ =====  ■==== 

Chicago — Jimmy  Savage  of  the  B&K 
publicity  department  got  up  some  very 
clever  sayings  to  tie  in  with  the  decorative 
motif  in  the  Grand  Ballroom  of  the  Drake 
Hotel,  which  was  as  much  American  as 
it  was  Balaban.  The  sayings  were  on  pla- 
cards between  flags,  and  read:  “It’s  a 
Great  Country  . . 

Where  bottoms  up  means  “Here’s  How” 
instead  of  “here  lies.” 

Where  you  stand  up  at  a bar  and  call 
for  a shot  . . . not  behind  bars,  waiting 
for  one. 

Where  you  run  to  a cellar  for  a bottle 
. . . not  from  a battle. 

Where  Goldwyn  kills  the  King's  Kng- 
lish,  not  Goering  trying  to  kill  the  Eng- 
lish King. 

Where  you  can  hiss  Hitler  and  still  live 
for  the  feature  picture. 

Where  the  blackout  means  you’ve  only- 
blown  a fuse  . . . and  not  your  top. 


Part  of  the  decorations  at  the  luncheon 
preceding  the  dinner  were  huge  ice  carved 
figures  of  the  American  Eagle. 


B&K  prize  winners  divided  up  a $2,000 
slice.  First  prizes  to  winning  managers 
was  $100  and  one  week’s  vacation;  win- 
ning assistant  managers  received  $25  and 
one  week’s  vacation.  Special  awards  varied 
from  $25  down  to  $10. 


All  guests  at  the  dinner  received  an 
envelope  containing  a badge,  a special 
guest  card  and  a special  book  of  guest 
admissions.  The  guest  card  was  good  at 
all  B&K  theatres,  while  the  booklet  en- 
titled bearer  to  principal  places  of  interest 
in  Chicago. 


The  Chicago  committee  deserves  spe- 
cial plaudits  for  the  perfect  time  accord- 
ed the  guests.  Chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee was  A.  H.  Blank,  with  John  J.  Friedl, 
E.  J.  Hudson  and  John  Balaban  commit- 
tee members. 


Chicago  Herald-Americmi  got  out  spe- 
cial 4-page  edition  on  the  occasion.  Con- 
tained news  stories,  pictures  and  reprint 
of  recently  published  story  in  the  Ameri- 
can called  “Mr.  Barney  of  the  Balabans.” 
Following  items  are  reprinted  from  the 
“Balabanter”  column  in  the  special  edi- 
tion. 

“You  may  make  your  own  com- 
ments, but  Mr.  Adolph  Zukor,  gen- 
tleman farmer  of  Nyack,  N.  Y.,  couldn’t 
show  a profit  on  his  farm  until  he 
made  barn-grown  fertilizer  his  chief 
crop.” 


Bill  Hollander,  B&K’s  ad  head,  just  can’t 
get  mad  at  adverse  criticisms  from  local 
scribes.  Bill  used  to  tear  films  apart  on 
the  editor’s  desk  at  the  Daily  News.  Mr. 
Barney  brought  him  over  to  B&K  for  self- 
protection. 


Winning  drives  is  old  stuff  to  Carl  Her- 
mann of  the  Strand  in  Carlisle,  Pa.  Carl 
has  been  under  the  wire  in  every  drive 
conducted  by  the  Comerford  organiza- 
tion for  16  years. 


“Chesty”  Price,  Salt  Lake’s  youngster, 
can  afford  to  be  as  cocky  as  his  nickname. 


Given  the  “problem  child”  of  his  circuit, 
he  converted  the  Victory  Theatre  into  a 
$3,000  profit  house  in  five  weeks.  He  will 
next  attempt  to  balance  the  national 
budget. 


The  Horatio  Alger  influence,  it  seems, 
is  more  discernible  in  theatre  operation 
than  in  any  other  comparative  business. 
A survey  of  the  drive  winners  reveals  a 
huge  percentage  of  managers  who  start- 
ed as  ushers.  Among  the  most  success- 
ful is  Everett  Olsen  of  the  Orpheum  in 
Minot,  N.  D.  Everett  used  to  patrol  the 
lanes  at  the  Lyric  in  Duluth. 


Earl  J.  Hudson,  Detroit’s  “Mister  Big,” 
is  more  than  proud  of  Grant  Hawkins, 
Varsity  Theatre  head  coach.  Grant  went 
into  the  drive  before  recovering  from  an 
appendectomy.  The  winning  patient 
claimed  the  hospital  took  less  out  of  him 
than  the  “big  push.” 


Bill  Miskell,  Tri-States  veteran,  was 
singled  out  by  your  Uncle  Sam’l  for  the 
lofty  job  of  “co-ordinator  for  all  amuse- 
ment activities  throughout  the  United 
States.”  Which  is  our  idea  of  classifi- 
cation A-l  in  the  defense  draft. 


Two  Martins,  Guy  and  “Scottie”  of 
South  Bend,  are  ready  to  meet  any  num- 
ber of  Coys  at  any  time.  The  unrelated 
pair  were  opponents  in  the  drive,  but  as 
tough  as  a pair  of  Notre  Dame  tackles 
when  Coys  are  a-lurkin’  in  the  woods. 


Harry  Sherman,  producer  of  the  “Hop- 
along  Cassidy”  westerns,  appeared  at  the 
sales  meeting  and  was  gently  twitted.  “We 
have  decided  to  abandon  westerns,”  Bar- 
ney Balaban  told  him.  “But  how  would 
you  like  to  do  ‘For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls’?” 
Sherman  didn’t  bat  an  eye.  “Mr.  Bala- 
ban,” he  answered,  “I’ll  do  THAT  one  for 
nothing!” 


Bob  Gillham  is  more  heroic-appearing 
than  many  of  the  screen  heroes  he  so 
ably  publicizes. 


Woody  Praught,  St.  Cloud,  Minn.,  Sil- 
ver lining,  came  up  with  a 128  per  cent 
increase  for  his  blue  ribbon. 


Bill  Eddy  has  televised  subjects  from 
diving  bells  to  stratoliners.  His  new  as- 
signment— in  charge  of  the  magic  mir- 
rors— will  be  the  “Comrade  X”  of  W9XBK. 


Bill  Holden,  B&K’s  flagship  Commo- 
dore, was  not  on  hand  to  receive  his  me- 
dallion as  Chicago  Theatre  winner.  Bill 
was  personally  handling  the  National 
Canners’  Ass’n  annual  theatre  party  that 
night. 


It  was  a return  trip  for  A.  G.  Pickett 
all  the  way  from  Orpheum  in  Phoenix, 
Ariz.  He  was  one  of  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  Paramount  100  Per  Cent  Club 
when  Sidney  R.  Kent  called  that  body  to 
a meeting  in  Chicago  several  years  ago. 


Wheeler  'Propaganda' 
Proposal  'Untenable' 

Janesville — Senator  Wheeler’s  proposal 
to  halt  alleged  propaganda  films  is  labeled 
“untenable”  in  an  editorial  appearing  in 
the  Gazette.  The  newspaper  says  that 
Senator  Wheeler’s  suggestion  “plops  the 
whole  Bill  of  Rights  squarely  into  the  lime- 
light.” 

The  editorial  continues:  “Who  is  going 
to  decide,  as  Senator  Wheeler  proposes, 
what  amounts  to  presenting  ‘both  sides’ 
equally?  Who  is  going  to  make  up  for 
what  the  motion  picture  industry  loses, 
by  offering  its  fans  something  they  don’t 
want?” 

According  to  the  editorial,  “it  is  public 
opinion  that  engenders  the  propaganda, 
however,  rather  than  the  opposite.  Show 
people  follow  public  demand,  they  do  not 
create  it.  Their  income  depends  upon 
the  popularity  of  their  themes,”  the  news- 
paper observes. 

The  editorial  concludes  as  follows: 
“Senator  Wheeler  must  know  that  movies 
and  radio  give  their  audiences  the  bill- 
of-fare  they  want,  insofar  as  capabilities 
and  subject  material  permit.  To  do  any- 
thing else  would  be  economic  suicide,  and 
for  the  government  to  insist  upon  anything 
else  would  be  to  choke  democracy  at  its 
very  fount.” 


View  Public  Service  Film 

St.  Louis — A motion  picture,  in  color, 
“People  Come  First,”  was  presented  by  the 
St.  Louis  Public  Service  Co.  at  a meet- 
ing of  the  Advertising  Club  of  St.  Louis, 
at  Hotel  Statler  at  noon  January  28.  Harry 
W.  Kiel,  thrice  mayor  of  St.  Louis  and 
now  chairman  of  the  board  of  the  street 
car  company,  made  an  introductory  talk. 


Assign  Reilly  Raine 

Hollywood — Norman  Reilly  Raine  is 
adapting  “The  Man  They  Couldn’t  Kill” 
for  Warner. 


TRADE  DIRECTORY 

A Handy  Guide  for  the  Exhibitor^~r- 

CHICAGO 


SIGNS  - MARQUEES  AND 
MAINTENANCE 


White  Way  Electric  Sign  61  Maintenance  Co. 
Tom  Flannery,  President 
315-17  W.  Walton  Street 
Phone  DELaware  9111 


THEATRICAL  PRINTING 


THEATRICAL 
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f OF  EVERY  ^ 
DESCRIPTION 

1225  SO.  WABASH  AVE. 

* CHICACO  • VIC  3456 


PRINTERS 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


95 


■yiSITORS:  Joe  Schilling,  Auditorium 

Theatre,  Connorsville;  Mrs.  Hilda  P. 
Long,  Orpheum,  Sheridan;  Jack  Van  Bors- 
sum.  Savoy,  Terre  Haute;  Harry  Van  Noy, 
Paramount,  Anderson;  Roy  E.  Harrold, 
Princess,  Rushville;  Art  Clark,  Indiana, 
Bloomington;  Mark  Gates,  Madrid,  Akron; 
E.  K.  Crouch,  Palace,  Fairmount;  Harold 
Reckley,  Chateau,  Greencastle;  Trueman 
Rembusch,  Syndicate  Theatres,  Franklin; 
Sam  W.  Neall,  Sipe,  Kokomo;  Nick  Paikos, 
Diana,  Tipton;  Ford  Tracey,  Vogue,  St. 
Matthews,  Ky.;  P.  H.  Dickson,  Eagles, 
Wabash. 

George  Settos  announces  the  closing  of 
the  Amuzu,  Oakland  City,  Ind.,  for  an 
indefinite  period.  This  house  was  recently 
acquired  from  Carl  Spillman  . . . Thelma 
Gayer,  stenographer  in  the  booking  de- 
partment of  20 tli  Century-Fox  here,  was 
married  to  Murray  Patterson.  She  will 
continue  her  work  . . . Jerry  Slutsky,  as- 
sistant booker  for  Universal,  has  been 
transferred  to  Des  Moines,  la.,  as  head 
booker.  Morris  Tobian  replaces  him  at 
the  bookers’  desk  here. 

RKO  held  its  screening  of  “Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith”  at  the  Circle  . . . Charles  F.  Kriegh- 
baum,  operator  of  the  Arc,  Lafayette, 
crashed  into  a Monon  train  at  a cross- 
ing in  that  city,  resulting  in  the  com- 
plete demolition  of  his  car.  He  and  his 
wife,  the  only  other  passenger  in  the  car, 
were  taken  to  the  hospital  immediately 
following  the  accident  for  an  examination, 
but  were  reported  not  seriously  injured. 
This  will  postpone  their  annual  trip  to 
Florida. 

Eugene  Cox  assumes  the  duties  of 
Thomas  W.  McKean  at  Warner’s  as  con- 
firmation clerk.  McKean  left  for  a year’s 
training  with  the  army  . . . Two  bookers 
are  expected  to  leave  early  in  February 
for  one  year’s  training  with  the  Army. 
Jack  Dowd  reports  to  Fort  Benjamin 
Harrison,  giving  up  his  job  on  the  Warner 
booking  staff.  Abe  Baker  of  Columbia's 
booking  staff,  had  expected  to  go  at  the 
same  time,  but  volunteers  in  his  district’s 
board  area  have  pushed  the  date  back  a 
couple  of  weeks.  Both  are  married.  The 
Variety  Club  gave  a party  at  which  they 
were  guests  in  the  organization's  club 
rooms. 

O.  E.  Reynolds  has  reopened  the  Pearl 
in  Hymera,  Ind.  . . . Orvin  Moore,  mana- 
ger of  the  Ohio  Theatre,  Indianapolis, 
was  laid  up  a few  days  with  an  attack 
of  flu. 


Equip  With  RCA 

Chicago — Elmer  Benesch  has  signed  with 
RCA  Photophone  for  new  booth  and  sound 
equipment  for  his  Lindy.  Also,  J.  A.  Mc- 
Carthy, who  is  modernizing  his  Loomis. 
New  RCA  sound  is  likewise  being  installed 
by  Edward  D.  Codo  in  the  theatre  he  is 
building  at  Joliet,  111.,  to  be  known  as 
the  Rio,  and  by  the  Great  States  circuit 
in  their  Majestic,  East  St.  Louis,  111. 

Stanley  Neskey  of  the  State-Harrison 
here  is  also  outfitting  his  house  with  RCA 
Photophone. 


Indiana  Showmen  Aiding 
Greek  Relief  Campaign 

Indianapolis — Contributions  for  the 
Greek  War  Relief  Ass’n  totaling  $441.00 
are  reported  by  Don  R.  Rossiter,  chairman 
of  the  committee  raising  the  funds. 

Contributors  are  as  follows:  Sam  Swi- 
tow,  Switow  Enterprises,  $100;  Pete  Mail- 
ers, Fort  Wayne,  $100;  P.  H.  Dickson, 
Eagles  Theatre,  Wabash,  $100;  Trueman 
Rembusch,  Artkraft  Theatre,  Franklin, 
$50;  Roy  E.  Harrold,  Princess,  Rushville, 
$25;  A.  H.  Borkenstein,  Wells  Theatre, 
Fort  Wayne,  $25;  A.  H.  Kaufman,  Terre 
Haute,  $15;  H.  L.  Krieghbaum,  Char-Bell 
Theatre,  Rochester,  $10;  A.  B.  Thompson, 
Ritz,  North  Vernon,  $10;  J.  B.  Stine,  Gar- 
field, Terre  Haute,  $5;  and  John  M.  Woy- 
tinek,  Gayble  Theatre,  North  Judson,  $1.00. 

Terre  Haute  theatre  owners  have  joined 
in  an  effort  to  accomplish  a fund  rais- 
ing program.  The  downtown  houses  will 
stage  midnight  shows  and  the  neighbor- 
hood theatres  will  have  special  matinees 
with  the  Greek  Relief  Fund  as  beneficiary. 
Participating  are  the  Fourth  Avenue 
Amusement  Co.,  Abe  Kaufman,  J.  B.  Stine, 
Mrs.  L.  J.  Murdock,  Alliance  Theatres  of 
Chicago,  and  Maurice  Reinking. 

Two  Army  Draftees  Are 
Given  Farewell  Party 

La  Crosse,  Wis. — The  La  Crosse  Thea- 
tres Co.  gave  a farewell  party  last  week 
for  two  of  its  employes  leaving  for  army 
service.  They  are  Emil  Mitley  of  the 
Rivoli  and  Ray  Bender  of  the  Strand. 
Two  other  employes — Lowell  Hanson  and 
Carl  H.  Eyler — have  already  enlisted. 

The  party  was  held  in  the  Rivoli  lobby 
and  the  company  presented  the  boys  with 
leather  goods.  Guests  included  Sam  Segal, 
Minneapolis;  Messrs,  and  Mmes.  William 
Freise,  C.  L.  Morrissey,  L.  V.  Markgraf, 
A1  Olson,  Lyle  Gilbert,  Phil  Dyer  and  Syl- 
vester Busche;  Mmes.  L.  B.  Kanard,  Lil- 
lian Zemlicka,  and  Mel  Olson,  Miss  Anita 
Cameron  and  Charles  Kramer,  Misses 
Jeannette  Wright,  Mildred  Fries,  Lucille 
Katchel,  Myrtle  and  Marie  Rosendahl  and 
Mary  Jane  Koppelberger,  Art  Frey,  Ray 
Larson,  Paul  Spettel,  Jim  McKillip,  Charles 
Larson,  David  Benrum,  Jack  Hall,  Frank 
Seiger,  Ray  Plamador,  William  Reichelt, 
John  Elstad,  Jerome  Roth,  Jerome  Spah, 
Ronald  Lindstrom,  Don  Hanson,  Art  Han- 
son, Frank  Pretasky  and  Norman  Tevis. 

La  Crosse  Theatres  Hold 
Greek  Relief  Benefit 

La  Crosse,  Wis. — A benefit  performance 
at  the  Wisconsin  Theatre,  participated  in 
by  radio  station  WKBH,  for  the  local 
Greek  Relief  Fund,  did  capacity  business  at 
a midnight  show  Tuesday,  January  14. 

The  show  was  arranged  by  Manager 
James  McKillip  with  the  assistance  of  the 
Greek  Relief  Committee  and  Raymond 
Plamadore  of  WKBH.  La  Crosse  Theatres 
Company  donated  the  use  of  the  house, 
the  station  provided  announcements  a 
week  in  advance  as  well  as  its  Barn  Dance 
unit  for  a stage  show,  and  the  stagehands 
of  Local  141  donated  their  services. 

The  benefit  closed  with  an  old-fashioned 
country  store  in  which  local  merchants 
gave  some  $100  in  prizes. 


ST.  1U0MU1IS 

Q LIVER  F.  LESSING  has  incorporated 
his  Variety  Pictures  exchange  under 
the  name  of  Variety  Pictures,  Inc.,  with 
$5,000  authorized  capital  stock.  The  in- 
corporators were  Lessing,  Peggy  Lessing 
and  George  R.  Williams.  Lessing,  formerly 
with  Judell  Pictures,  has  been  operating  as 
an  independent  at  3215  Olive  Street. 

“Truth  or  Consequences,”  one  of  the 
currently  popular  radio  quiz  shows,  opened 
a week’s  engagement  at  Fanchon  & 
Marco’s  Fox  Theatre,  January  24.  Theatre 
patrons  were  invited  to  participate  in  the 
show.  Cash  awards  were  given  to  winners. 

Funeral  services  were  held  here  Friday, 
January  24,  for  Pat  Garyn,  independent 
exchange  owner  of  Dallas,  Tex.,  and  one 
time  sales  head  of  the  National  Screen 
Service.  He  died  in  Dallas  on  January  22. 
His  former  executive  posts  included  con- 
nections with  M-G-M,  20th  Century-Fox 
and  March  of  Time.  He  is  survived  by  his 
wife  and  a sister,  Mrs.  Augusta  Garyn 
Wolff  of  St.  Louis. 

The  second  semester  of  the  St.  Louis 
School  of  the  Theatre  opens  this  week. 
New  courses  in  radio  writing,  makeup  and 
dancing  will  be  given.  A new  course  will 
present  a historical  revue  of  the  outstand- 
ing motion  pictures  since  1895.  It  will  be 
offered  for  15  consecutive  Thursday  eve- 
nings. 

Nat  Steinberg,  manager  for  Republic 
Pictures,  has  purchased  a new  residence 
in  Clayton,  a St.  Louis  suburb  . . . A.  B. 
Marcus’  “Continental  Revue”  with  a cast 
of  75  persons  opens  a stage  engagement  at 
Fanchon  & Marco’s  Fox  Theatre  on  Fri- 
day, January  31. 

Celess  Cason  of  the  local  Metro  ex- 
change chalked  up  another  birthday  on 
Monday. 


Stench  Bomb  Possession 
Brings  Suit  in  Kirkwood 

Kirkwood,  Mo. — Theodore  Lending,  pro- 
prietor of  the  Kirkwood  Theatre,  has  ap- 
plied for  warrants,  charging  possession  of 
stench  bombs,  against  Ernest  Brown,  37, 
and  Herman  Brawley,  27,  both  of  St.  Louis, 
who  were  arrested  outside  the  theatre  the 
night  of  January  17. 

Kirkwood  police  reported  that  after  the 
pair’s  arrest,  two  time  stench  bombs  were 
found  on  Brawley,  who  asserted  Brown  had 
promised  him  $10  to  place  them  in  the 
theatre. 

The  theatre  has  been  operating  with  a 
non-union  projectionist  since  September  1. 
Stench  bombs  have  been  dropped  there  on 
several  occasions  since  the  management  re- 
jected the  demands  of  Local  No.  146  of 
the  Operators  Union  that  it  employ  two 
union  projectionists. 


Edward  C.  Bergt 

St.  Louis — Funeral  services  were  held 
Friday,  January  24,  for  Edward  C.  Bergt, 
former  alderman  from  the  eighth  ward, 
and  one  time  motion  picture  theatre  own- 
er, who  died  January  22  at  his  home 
following  an  extended  illness.  He  was  65. 


96 


BOXOFFICE  ;:  February  1,  1941 


Northwest  Allied  Prepares 
Fair  Trade  Practice  Bill 


Minneapolis  — Counsel  for  Northwest 
Allied  States  are  now  preparing  a fair 
trade  practice  bill  to  nullify  important  con- 
sent decree  provisions  and  to  be  intro- 
duced in  the  present  Minnesota  state  legis- 
lature under  the  organization’s  sponsor- 
ship. 

The  decision  to  try  to  obtain  passage  of 
such  a measure  was  decided  upon  with  only 
four  dissenting  votes  at  the  organization’s 
convention  here.  Members  signed  pledges 
to  contribute  to  a fund  to  finance  the 
necessary  expense  and  to  cooperate  to  the 
fullest  extent  possible  with  the  legislative 
committee  handling  the  proposed  law. 

The  law  would  require  distributors  to 
offer  for  sale  to  exhibitors  their  entire 
season’s  product,  as  at  present,  with  a 
minimum  of  20  per  cent  cancellation  and 
the  right  to  eliminate  films  which  are  ob- 
jectionable for  moral,  religious  or  racial 
reasons.  Under  its  provisions,  too,  forced 
selling  of  shorts  would  be  illegal. 

Aimed  at  the  consent  decree  provision 
calling  for  sales  in  groups  of  five,  the  code 
incorporated  into  the  bill  would  not  be  op- 
posed by  distributors,  it  was  declared  dur- 
ing the  convention. 

Considerable  discussion  preceded  the 
convention’s  action  and  at  times  the  argu- 
ments became  heated. 

Field  Points  to  Opposition 

Harold  Field,  circuit  owner,  advised  the 
members  that  capable  counsel  had  advised 
his  committee  that  the  state  has  the 
power  to  enact  such  anti-consent  decree 
legislation  which  wouldn’t  infringe  on  fed- 
eral rights  and  the  constitutionality  of 
which  undoubtedly  could  be  upheld.  He 
warned  the  members  that  opposition  to  it 
may  come  from  PTA  groups,  the  Legion 
of  Decency  and  women’s  clubs  which  mis- 
takenly believe  that  the  consent  decree 
eliminates  block  booking.  He  said  that 
there  was  the  further  danger  that  state 
admission  tax  and  censorship  amendments 
might  be  tacked  onto  it. 

Bennie  Berger,  another  independent  cir- 
cuit owner  and  former  Northwest  Allied 
president,  urged  that  the  consent  decree  be 
given  a two-year  trial. 

“The  decree  is  the  result  of  four  years  of 
work  by  the  U.  S.  department  of  justice 
and  it  gives  the  independents  at  least  one- 
third  of  the  things  for  which  Allied  has 
been  fighting,”  asserted  Berger.  “The  least 
we  can  do  is  to  give  it  a trial. 

“Many  of  us  are  being  forced  out  of 
business  by  the  present  policies.  Buying 
in  groups  of  five  won’t  do  us  any  harm  and 
may  do  us  some  good.  We’ve  been  told  that 
the  producers-distributors  aren’t  against 
the  nullifying  law  so  the  chances  are  that, 
if  they  favor  it,  it  can’t  be  any  good  for 
us.” 

Fear  Film  Cost  Rise 

One  of  the  principal  arguments  in  favor 
of  getting  behind  the  nullifying  law  was 
that  the  consent  decree’s  new  buying  plan 
would  raise  film  costs. 

Ben  Friedman,  another  circuit  owner, 
said  he  had  favored  the  code  of  fair  trade 
practices  which  distributors  proposed  to 
Allied  States  and  which  had  been  rejected 


by  that  body,  but  he  was  opposed  to  the 
consent  decree. 

“The  important  things  for  which  we  have 
been  striving  and  which  we  would  have 
obtained  in  the  code  of  fair  trade  prac- 
tices are  missing  from  the  consent  de- 
cree,” asserted  Friedman.  “If  this  consent 
decree  becomes  effective,  exhibitors  will  be 
in  hot  water  constantly  when  it  comes  to 
buying.  Exhibitors  need  pictures  in  order 
to  operate  and  they’ll  find  it  necessary  to 
buy  every  group  of  every  company  without 
having  a cancellation  privilege.  That  will 
be  block  booking  with  a vengeance.  And 
our  film  costs  will  be  higher  than  ever.” 

S.  G.  Lebedoff,  Northwest  Allied  trea- 
surer and  executive  committee  member,  de- 
nounced the  consent  decree  bitterly. 

“After  the  department  of  justice  had 
accumulated  enough  evidence  during  three 
years’  investigation  to  send  many  pro- 
ducers to  prison  for  30  years,  the  indepen- 
dent exhibitors  were  sold  out,”  charged 
Lebedoff.  “This  decree  is  100  per  cent  for 
the  distributors  and  100  per  cent  against 
independent  exhibitors.  It  isn’t  good  for 
any  of  us.  Nobody  knows  who  is  respon- 
sible for  what’s  happened.  The  producers 
themselves  set  up  their  own  groups  of  five. 
That,  in  itself,  is  bad.  We  buy  at  whole- 
sale now.  Under  the  decree  we’ll  buy  at  re- 
tail. It  will  be  ruinous  for  all  of  us.” 

W.  R.  Frank,  still  another  large  circuit 
owner,  discussing  the  decree,  assailed  ex- 
hibitors’ cowardice. 

Cite  Affiliates  Action 

“The  film  business  is  built  on  fear,” 
said  Frank.  “Few  exhibitors  have  the  guts 
to  fight  distributors  when  the  latter  are 
in  the  wrong,  but  they’ll  run  to  the  ex- 
changes and  tattle  on  courageous  fellow- 
exhibitors.  The  very  nature  of  this  busi- 
ness lends  itself  to  coercion.  If  an  exhibi- 
tor has  guts  and  determination  he’d  be 
able  to  leave  out  groups,  although  in  the 
big  cities,  where  the  independents  must 
follow  the  affiliated  circuit  first-runs,  a 
different  problem  would  be  created.” 

Field  said  the  five-group  selling  system 
isn’t  new,  being  practiced  now  in  England 
where  “film  rental  runs  60  to  70  per  cent 
for  most  pictures  and  where  exhibitors  do 
not  battle  on  price,  but  for  playing  time.” 


Minneapolis — With  the  launching  of  ar- 
bitration under  consent  decree  provisions, 
indications  were  that  the  first  cases  in 
this  territory  would  involve  the  obtain- 
ing of  product. 

Bennie  Berger,  independent  circuit  own- 
er, has  announced  that  he’ll  complain  be- 
cause major  companies  are  refusing  to 
service  his  Esquire  Theatre  here  and  World 
in  St.  Paul. 

Irving  Gillman,  owner  of  the  Gayety 
here,  also  has  stated  that  he’ll  seek  relief 


Kansas  Independents 
To  Meet  in  March 

Abilene,  Kas. — The  next  meeting  of  the 
Kansas  Independent  Theatre  Owners  is 
scheduled  to  be  held  the  first  week  in 
March  at  Topeka,  according  to  Homer 
Strowig,  of  Abilene,  president. 

Serving  with  Strowig  as  officers  of  the 
newly  formed  association  are  Merle 
Swank,  Stockton,  vice-president;  Ralph 
Larned,  LaCrosse,  secretary;  Mrs.  Kate 
Blair,  Belleville,  treasurer.  Directors  are 
Ralph  Winship,  Phillipsburg;  Roy  Culley, 
Medicine  Lodge;  Warren  Weber,  St.  John, 
and  J.  E.  Pennington,  Topeka. 

^ J 

Among  the  arguments  against  the  consent 
decree  from  the  floor  were: 

Since  consent  decree  approval,  major  af- 
filiated circuits  have  rushed  in  to  com- 
plete long-term  film  deals  with  all  com- 
panies. So  apparently  these  chains,  receiv- 
ing the  best  legal  advice,  wish  to  avoid  buy- 
ing under  the  decree.  And  if  the  affiliated 
circuits  don’t  want  the  decree  provisions, 
or  wish  to  circumvent  them,  why  should 
the  independents  want  to  operate  under  it. 

Will  Bring  Bidding 

Decree  will  cause  competitive  bidding  up 
of  prices  for  product. 

If  a small-town  exhibitor  buys  the  first 
group  and  turns  down  the  second  under 
the  consent  decree,  and  the  second  is 
bought  by  his  competitor,  the  latter  will 
become  the  preferred  account.  Points  made 
in  the  decree’s  behalf  included: 

The  assertion  that  there’s  no  way  to  tell 
how  good  or  bad  the  decree  is  until  it  has 
been  tried. 

If  decree  provisions  prove  harmful  to 
independents  they  can  be  modified  or  the 
entire  instrument  tossed  out  after  two 
years. 

State  legislators  will  be  averse  to  nulli- 
fying a governmental  code  until  it  has 
been  tried  out  and  interested  parties  can 
prove  specifically  that  they’ve  been 
harmed. 

Civic  and  religious  groups  will  be  an- 
tagonized by  any  move  to  circumvent  the 
decree. 

If  distributors  want  to  charge  excessive 
prices  they’ll  do  it,  consent  decree  or  no 
consent  decree,  Berger  contended.  Fried- 
man made  the  point  that,  regardless  of  any 
attempt  to  nullify  the  decree,  the  exhibi- 
tors will  have  to  fight  a state  admission 
tax  and  censorship  proposals. 


for  his  house  which  is  encountering  diffi- 
culty in  securing  product. 

The  Middle-States  corporation,  operat- 
ing the  4,000-seat  Minnesota  Theatre  here 
with  a policy  of  stage  shows  and  first- 
run  pictures,  also  is  expected  to  lodge  a 
complaint  with  the  board  because  major 
product  is  unavailable  for  the  de  luxe 
house,  the  Minnesota  Amusement  Co.- 
Mort  Singer  pool  having  practically  all 
of  the  major  companies’  output  sewed  up 
for  downtown  Minneapolis. 


Arbitrators  May  Get  Product 
Problem  First  in  Minny 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


MW 


97 


Bill  Taxing  Distributors 


Northwest  Allied  Pledges 
Defense  Program  Support 


Is  Back  With  Neubauer 


Lincoln — When  Sen.  E.  M.  Neubauer  of 
Orleans,  Neb.,  left  the  legislative  halls  of 
the  legislature  here  at  the  conclusion  of 
the  session  in  1939,  two  trade  bills,  one 
pleading  divorcement  of  distributors  and 
exhibitors,  and  the  other,  asking  $1,000  a 
year  license  and  $1  a reel  tax  on  distribu- 
tors, authored  by  him,  had  been  killed 
in  committee. 

But,  he  didn’t  give  up. 

With  his  election  to  return  to  the  state 
capital  this  year,  his  coming  was  an- 
nounced to  the  industry  in  a warning  that 
he  intended  to  try  again.  So,  last  week, 
as  bills  were  being  hoppered  by  the  hands- 
full,  Neubauer  put  in  two. 

One  is  a duplicate  of  the  1939  try  to 
license  distributors,  which  says  each  shall 
pay  $1,000  each  year  to  the  railway  com- 
mission for  permission  to  operate  in  Ne- 
braska. Then  each  reel  of  film  used  to 
service  exhibitors  will  have  $1  assessed 


against  it  as  it  comes  into  Nebraska.  This 
would  amount  to  about  $15,000  being  levied 
annually  against  Filmrow  in  Omaha. 

The  new  bill  is  aimed  not  only  at  thea- 
tre boxoffices,  but  at  any  amusement  ticket 
window.  It  asks  one  cent  be  added  to 
each  10  cents  worth  of  ticket,  the  money 
to  go  to  the  state  treasurer  and  be  ear- 
marked for  relief.  Neubauer’s  idea  with 
this  bill  is  to  take  a cent  off  the  gas  tax, 
making  up  the  money  needed  in  the  treas- 
ury via  the  tickets.  Originally,  Neubauer’s 
idea  was  a 1-cent  tax  on  every  priced 
ticket,  but  this  bill,  as  sent  into  the  rec- 
ords, is  even  stiffen 

'Philadelphia  Story'  Is 
Competition  Beater 

Minneapolis — The  bulk  of  the  business 
this  week  was  done  by  "Philadelphia 
Story”  at  the  straight  film  State  and  the 
Sally  Rand  show,  the  latter  holding  forth 
at  the  Minnesota.  In  its  second  week,  hav- 
ing moved  over  from  the  State  to  the  Cen- 
tury, "Kitty  Foyle”  also  fared  well.  The 
Orpheum  had  a fine  stage  show,  but  re- 
turns were  very  disappointing. 

(Average  is  100) 

Aster — Dancing  on  a Dime  (Para’t);  Pier  13 


( 20th-Fox)  90 

Century — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO),  2nd  wk 95 

Esquire — San  Francisco  (M-G-M),  reissue 80 

Gopher — Texas  Rangers  Ride  Again  (Para’t)  ....  90 
Minnesota — Behind  the  News  (Rep),  plus 

Sally  Rand  on  stage  150 

Orpheum — Four  Mothers  (WB),  pus  Simone 

Simon  on  stage  90 

State — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  175 

World — Grai>es  of  Wrath  (20th-Fox),  reissue..  85 


Feeble  Stand  Against 
Weather  Adverseness 

Kansas  City — Pictures  with  little  punch 
faded  before  weather  with  plenty,  and  left 
first  run  boxoffices  quiet  during  the  week. 


At  the  Testimonial  to  Balaban — 

When  the  Paramount  theatre  partners  tossed  a testimonial  banquet  in 
Chicago  for  Barney  Balaban  to  celebrate  his  fifth  year  as  president  of 
Paramount,  many  midwesterners  attended.  At  the  top,  A.  H.  Blank,  head, 
of  the  Tri-State  Theatres,  Des  Moines,  addresses  the  gathering.  Below,  left 
to  right,  part  of  the  Minnesota  Amusement  contingent:  Max  Edelstein, 
Hibbing,  Minn.;  John  Branton,  Minneapolis;  Everett  Olsen,  Fargo,  N.  D.; 
Ralph  E.  Phillips,  Sioux  Falls,  S.  D.;  Woodrow  Praught,  St.  Cloud,  Minn., 
and  Louis  Deutsch,  Virginia,  Minn. 


Minneapolis — Northwest  Allied  members 
will  run  the  M-G-M  distributed  “Land  of 
Liberty”  in  their  theatres  and  government 
defense  trailers. 

At  the  convention  here  last  week  the 
body  went  on  record  to  advise  the  buying 
of  “Land  of  Liberty”  and  members  signed 
defense  pledge  cards,  agreeing  to  cooper- 
ate with  the  government  on  the  defense 
program. 


He  Adds  Minneapolis — 

Allen  Usher,  Paramount  district  man- 
ager, who  adds  Minneapolis  to  his 
Chicago  and  Milwaukee  territories  in 
the  realignment  of  Paramount  sales 
districts.  The  detail  on  Paramount 
shifts  was  reported  on  page  13  for 
January  25. 


"The  Son  of  Monte  Cristo”  teamed  with 
"The  Phantom  Submarine”  proved  sur- 
prisingly strong  at  90  per  cent,  but  Nick 
Lucas  held  "The  Mummy’s  Hand”  to  give 
the  Tower  110  for  tops.  “Kitty  Foyle”  did 


fair  in  its  third  week. 

(Average  is  100) 

Esquire — The  Invisible  Woman  (Univ)  80 

Midland — The  Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (UA)  ; 

Phantom  Submarine  (Col)  90 

Newman — Four  3Iothers  (WB)  70 

Orpheum — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  Saint  in  Palm 

Springs  (RKO),  3rd  wk.  holdover  75 

Tower — The  Mummy’s  Hand  (Univ),  plus 

Nick  Lucas  on  stage  110 

Uptown — The  Invisible  Woman  (Univ)  75 


Omaha's  Top  Money  Is 
Earned  by  " Arizona " 

Omaha — Bad  winter  weather  hit  local 
takes  generally  but  exhibitors  report  “satis- 
factory” business.  Brandeis  held  “Arizona” 
and  "Always  a Bride”  for  a second  stanza 
after  a swell  first  week  that  was  the  town’s 
top.  “Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop”  and  “Cap- 
tain Caution”  was  helped  at  the  Omaha 
by  appearance  here  of  stars  who  attended 
same  picture’s  premiere  in  Lincoln.  State 
combined  a second-run  picture  with  two 
first-runs. 

Detail  for  week  ended  January  25: 


(Average  is  100) 

Brandeis — Arizona  (Col);  Always  a Bride  (FN).160 
Omaha — Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop  (UA);  Cap- 

125 


tain  Caution  (UA) 


Orpheum — Four  Mothers  (WB) ; Hullabaloo 


(M-G-M) 


. 100 


State — Meet  the  Wildcat  (Univ);  Pier  13  (20th- 
Fox) ; Brigham  Young  (20th-Fox),  2nd  run..  100 


98 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


- — Photo  by  Cresswell 


Paramount  Manager — 

Ray  Copeland,  new  branch  manager  at 
Paramount,  Kansas  City,  takes  a mo- 
ment out  to  study  a knotty  problem. 
Copeland  formerly  managed  Para- 
mount at  Des  Moines.  He  changed 
spots  with  Joe  T.  Manfre. 


New  Commonwealth  Unit 
Set  for  Waynesville 

Kansas  City — The  Commonwealth  Thea- 
tres announce  a new  theatre  for  Waynes- 
ville, Mo.,  which  is  near  the  entrance  to 
the  new  Fort  Leonard  Wood,  and  about 
half  way  between  Rolla  and  Lebanon.  It 
will  be  air  conditioned,  have  1,000  to  1,200 
seats,  and  will  be  erected  by  Flett  Con- 
struction Co.,  which  has  recently  com- 
pleted the  Melba  for  the  Commonwealth 
at  Batesville,  Ark.  C.  A.  Schultz,  presi- 
dent of  Commonwealth,  said  the  new  thea- 
tre, to  be  named  the  Fort  Wood,  will  run 
stage  and  screen  shows,  on  a de  luxe  basis; 
and  will  be  in  operation  between  March  15 
and  April  1. 

The  government  establishment,  which  is 
expected  to  quarter  between  40,000  and 
50,000  soldiers,  is  now  being  built  and  is  to 
be  open  about  April  1. 


Competition  Ahead 

Minneapolis — Weekend  radio  show  op- 
position in  both  the  Minneapolis  and  St. 
Paul  municipal  auditoriums  is  ip  store  for 
exhibitors  this  weekend.  The  National 
Barn  Dance  goes  into  the  St.  Paul  audi- 
torium and  the  KSTP  Barn  Dance  moves 
from  the  St.  Paul  to  the  Minneapolis  audi- 
torium. 


"Know  Your  Money"  Shown  in  DM 

Des  Moines — Russell  Daniel,  United 
States  treasury  secret  service  agent  from 
Omaha,  presented  a two-subject  sound 
film,  “Making  Money”  and  “Know  Your 
Money,”  at  a meeting  of  the  Des  Moines 
Coin  Club  here  January  23. 


Richards  Buys  Out  Steeg 

Primghar,  Ia. — R.  J.  Richards,  formerly 
of  Yankton,  S.  D.,  has  purchased  the  Time 
Theatre  here  from  Joe  Steeg. 


IAi§AS  CITY, 


"^HY  does  it  always  rain,  or  snow,  or 
sleet  on  weekends?”  wails  an  ex- 
hibitor, and  is  echoed  by  every  other  ex- 
hibitor in  this  area.  It  is  a favorite  melan- 
choly observation  of  first  run  managers. 

L.  H.  Pettit,  owner  of  the  Avalon  at 
Ava,  Mo.,  has  opened  a new  house  at 
Gainesville,  Mo.  The  house,  remodeled 
from  a church  building,  is  being  managed 
by  Howard  Pettit,  L.  H.  Pettit’s  son  . . . 
E.  Van  Hyning  opened  his  new  Tauy  at 
Ottawa,  Kas.,  January  22. 

H.  J.  Griffith  Theatres,  Inc.,  is  reopen- 
ing the  Carlton  at  Manhattan,  Kas.,  dark 
since  last  spring.  Manhattan  isn’t  far 
from  Ft.  Riley  . . . Fire  January  12  did 
over  $1,000  damage  to  the  Ritz  at  Win- 
field, Kas.  Fire  started  in  the  projection 
room  . . . W.  W.  Leonard  has  remodeled 
and  reopened  the  Leonard,  formerly  the 
Mystic,  at  Cedar  Vale,  Kas. 

Depositions  in  the  suit  of  Frank  Cassil, 
Rialto  and  Uptown,  St.  Joseph,  Mo., 
against  Dubinskys  and  major  distributors, 
were  being  taken  last  week  for  plaintiffs, 
the  week  previous  for  defendants. 

Mary  Fitzpatrick  of  the  local  Metro  ex- 
change counted  another  birthday  on 
Wednesday.  Congratulations!  . . . Rube 
Finkelstein  went  to  Menorah  Hospital  last 
week  for  an  operation — painful,  but  not 
expected  to  be  serious  . . . Max  Barewin, 
here  seven  years  with  Price  Theatre  Pre- 
miums, has  gone  to  Detroit,  Mich.,  to 
have  charge  of  the  Price  premium  setup 
there.  The  office  here  will  be  closed, 


at  least  temporarily. 

Fox  Midwest  Theatres,  Inc.,  has  an- 
nounced plans  for  a new  1,500-seat  sub- 
urban house  in  Wichita  . . . H.  J.  Grif- 
fith Theatres,  Inc.,  reopened  the  Cozy  at 
Junction  City,  Kas.  New  sound  has  been 
installed,  along  with  a new  heating  plant. 

Glen  W.  Dickinson,  Dickinson,  Incor- 
porated, which  operates  theatres  at  Mission 
and  Olathe,  Kas.,  and  Macon,  Mo.,  is  ex- 
tensively remodeling  the  Ritz  and  Best 
theatres  in  Topeka.  New  seats  and  sound, 
refinishing  of  lobby,  foyer  and  auditorium, 
etc.,  at  the  Ritz,  and  complete  renovation 
of  the  Best  are  under  way.  H.  L.  Eldridge, 
formerly  of  Olathe  and  Mission,  is  mana- 
ger of  the  houses. 

L.  O.  Honig  of  Fox  Midwest  Theatres 
has  been  installed  as  president  of  the 
Broadway  Association  . . . Dan  James, 
head  of  Midwest  Theatres  of  Oklahoma 
City,  last  week  indicated  his  company  will 
spend  $45,000  remodeling  the  opera  house 
at  Junction  City,  Kas.,  into  a modern 
theatre. 

J.  E.  Pennington  of  the  Cozy  at  Topeka 
was  operating  the  machine  the  other  night 
when  fire  broke  out.  He  extinguished  the 
blaze  before  the  fire  department  arrived, 
and  patrons  didn’t  even  know  there  had 
been  a fire. 

Besides  the  houses  at  Junction  City,  the 
Camp  Funston-Ft.  Riley  area  will  have 
two  theatres  exactly  alike  built  by  the 
army.  Each  will  have  1,038  seats,  a big 
stage,  and  will  be  of  frame  construction. 


TRADE  DIRECTORY 

A HANDY  GUIDE  FOR  THE  EXHIBITOR 

KANSAS  CITY  TERRITORY 


EQUIPMENT  AND  SUPPLIES 

Peterson  “Freezem"  Mfg.  & Sales  Co. 

Blowers,  washers,  spray  nozzels,  office  and 
home  units. 

Special  Offer — Priced  to  Sell. 

Why  Pay  More? 

G.  A.  Peterson 

Victor  4075  322  Southwest  Blvd. 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

A.  A.  Electric  Machinery  Co. 

Ernest  Amoneno,  Mgr. 

1117  Cherry  St.  Phone:  Victor  8796 

Holmes  Projector  Sales  Co. 

Projectors  and  Sound  for  the  Largest  and  Small- 
est Theatre.  John  A.  Muchmore  and  R.  H.  Patt. 
1820  Wyandotte  St.  Kansas  City,  Mo.  HA.  7472 

Missouri  Theatre  Supply  Co. 

Distributors  for 

RCA,  Brenkert,  U.  S.  Air,  Heywood-Wakefield 
115  West  18th  St.  708  West  Grand  Ave. 

UK.  2864  Oklahoma  City, 

Cansas  City,  Mo.  Okla. 

Stebbins  Theatre  Equipment  Co. 

1804  Wyandotte  St. 

C.  H.  Badger,  Mgr.  Phone:  GRand  0134 

Southwest  Theatre  Equipment  Co.,  Indp't 
Wichita,  Kas. 

C.  D.  Peck,  Mgr.  Phone  2-2153 


EXHIBITOR  ASSOCIATIONS 

K.  M.  T.  A. 

221  W.  18th  St.  — Harrison  4825 
Frank  Cassil,  Pres.  Fred  Meyn,  Sec.-Treas. 

AIR  CONDITIONING 

National  Air  Conditioning  and 
Engineering  Corp. 

VI.  3535 

213  West  19th  St. — Kansas  City,  Mo. 
Manufacturing — Engineering — Installation 

SCREEN  PUBLICITY  ' 

Alexander  Film  Company 

Motion  Picture  Advertising 
E.  L.  Harris,,  Dist.  Mgr.,  Mo.,  Kan.,  Neb.,  Iowa 
239  East  72nd  Terrace 

Phone:  Hlland  2694 

FILM  LABORATORIES 

MISSOURI  FILM  LABORATORIES 

Charles  O.  Siebenthaler 
110  W.  18th  GR  0708 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Complete  Advertising  Trailer  Service 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


99 


Omaha  Attack  Fatal 
To  Charlie  Williams 

By  MONTE  DAVIS 

Omaha — Charles  E.  Williams  is  dead. 

President  of  the  MPTO  of  Nebraska  and 
Western  Iowa  for  two  decades  and  one  of 
the  best  known  independent  exhibitors  in 
the  business,  “Charlie”  died  in  an  Omaha 
hospital  where  he  had  spent  almost  a week 
following  an  attack  he  suffered  while  visit- 
ing Filmrow.  He  was  73  years  old  last 
October. 

Services  were  held  Wednesday  at  a local 
mortuary  and  his  body  returned  to  Shelby, 
la.,  his  “home  town.”  Pallbearers  were  Bob 
Ballantyne  of  Scott-Ballantyne  Co.;  Evert 
R.  Cummings,  Tri-States  Theatres  district 
manager;  Eugene  Blazer,  film  industry  at- 
torney; Sam  Epstein,  circuit  owner;  How- 
ard Brookings,  exhibitor  at  Avoca,  la.,  and 
Sherm  Fitch,  RKO  branch  manager  at 
Sioux  Falls,  S.  D. 

To  Omaha  in  1915 

Charlie  came  to  Omaha  in  1915  and 
bought  the  Park  Theatre,  a 250-seat  house 
on  the  edge  of  Omaha’s  main  business  sec- 
tion. Mrs.  Williams  did  most  of  the  man- 
aging of  the  Park  up  to  the  time  of  her 
death  in  the  spring  of  1940.  After  Mrs. 
Williams’  death.  Charlie  found  his  health 
couldn’t  stand  the  pace,  and  he  disposed 
of  his  theatre  last  fall. 

Charlie  had  spent  the  past  20  years 
fighting  the  small  independent  exhibitor’s 
fight.  He  spent  his  time  and  his  money  in 
the  interest  of  exhibitors,  and  nationally 
he  personified  the  independent  exhibitor. 

Williams  had  been  connected  with  the 
MPTO  of  Nebraska  and  Western  Iowa  for 
22  years,  starting  as  business  agent  in  1918. 
For  a dozen  years  he  served  on  the  execu- 
tive board  of  the  MPTOA  but  was  auto- 


matically suspended  from  the  board  when 
he  sold  his  theatre  six  months  ago. 

Charlie  was  particularly  friendly  to  the 
film  industry  press.  Whenever  the  Omaha 
representative  of  Boxoffice  needed  a good 
story,  it  could  always  be  found  at  Charlie 
Williams’  home  on  the  outskirts  of  Omaha. 
The  last  interview  Boxoffice  had  with 
Charlie  was  only  a few  months  ago.  Charlie 
had  his  feet  on  his  desk,  a cigar  in  his 
mouth,  his  hands  back  of  his  head  as  he 
reminisced  about  the  “old  days.” 

“There  have  been  a lot  of  changes  in  the 
film  industry  in  the  past  20  years,”  he  said 
at  that  time.  “There  will  probably  be  just 
as  many  in  the  next  20  years.”  The  Box- 
office  story  at  that  time  asked  the  ques- 
tion, “Will  there  be  another  Charlie  Wil- 
liams to  carry  the  banner  of  independent 
exhibitors  and  theatre  owners  during  the 
next  20  years?” 

Williams  is  the  man  who  tolled  the  death 
knell  of  the  Brookhart  bill  (grandfather 
of  the  Neely  Bill)  over  a dozen  years  ago. 
The  bill  was  rejected  by  a special  senate 
committee  after  Williams  appeared  before 
the  group.  He  talked  the  layman’s  langu- 
age and  explained  the  faults  of  the  bill  in 
simple  terms  as  compared  with  the  tech- 
nical phrases  of  “high  powered”  attorneys 
who  preceded  him.  C.  C.  Pettijohn  called 
Charlie  “Abraham  Lincoln”  after  that  and 
Charlie  was  “Abe”  to  Pettijohn  ever  after. 

Up  to  the  very  time  of  his  death,  Wil- 
liams urged  independent  exhibitors  to 
maintain  an  active  organization  for  the 
protection  of  their  own  interests.  He  argued 
that  such  an  organization  be  continued  in 
the  Omaha  distribution  territory.  At  that 
time  he  said: 

“Inasmuch  as  I have  severed  my  rela- 
tionships with  the  film  industry  by  selling 
my  theatre,  I believe  some  of  the  younger 
exhibitors  in  Nebraska  and  Iowa  should 
communicate  with  each  other  for  the  pur- 
pose of  establishing  a new  organization  or 
bolstering  the  present  group.  The  import- 
ant thing  is  to  have  an  organization  to 
protect  your  interests  and  to  promote  good- 
will among  exhibitors.” 


Welworih  Managers 
Outline  a Campaign 

Minneapolis — Managers  of  all  the  the- 
atres comprising  Eddie  Ruben’s  Welworth 
circuit  were  called  together  here  this  week 
to  make  plans  for  a “Big  Six”  campaign. 

The  idea  will  be  to  book  into  each  house 
consecutively  the  six  best  films  obtainable 
and  to  sell  the  public  the  bill  of  goods 
that  motion  pictures  today  are,  on  the 
average,  the  best  in  the  industry’s  history. 

“There  are  many  people  who  feel  that 
there  aren’t  any  good  pictures  any  more 
or  that  first-rate  films  are  few  and  far 
between,”  explained  President  Ruben. 
“That’s  entirely  wrong  and  we  must  prove 
it  to  the  public.” 

The  films  to  make  up  the  “Bix  Six” 
will,  of  course,  vary  in  the  different  situa- 
tions, but  will  include  such  offerings  as 
“Philadelphia  Story,”  “Kitty  Foyle,”  “Santa 
Fe  Trail,”  “Andy  Hardy’s  Private  Secre- 
tary,” “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith,”  “This  Thing 
Called  Love,”  etc. 

“This  probably  is  one  of  the  first  times 


in  the  industry’s  history  that  we  are  able 
to  give  the  public  six  outstanding  pictures 
in  a row,”  declared  Ruben.  “This  is  con- 
clusive evidence  that  films  are  improv- 
ing and  product  attaining  a quality  peak.” 

For  a gag  the  convention  was  called  “a 
meeting  in  Miami,”  with  decorations, 
luncheons,  etc.,  given  a tropical  flavor. 

0 = ft 

Ruben  Readying  a 
Drive  for  Patrons 

Minneapolis — Eddie  Ruben,  Welworth 
circuit  president,  and  his  staff  are  pre- 
paring a vast  campaign  plan  to  "bring 
back"  the  public  to  the  theatres. 

The  proposal  for  a "vast  drive/'  en- 
listing every  branch  of  the  industry,  was 
indorsed  at  the  Northwest  Allied  conven- 
tion. The  plan  will  be  made  public  with- 
in the  next  fortnight. 

The  independent  exhibitors  conceded 
that  lack  of  sufficient  patronage  is  their 
principal  trouble  and  they  expressed  de- 
termination to  win  their  patrons  away 
from  competing  forms  of  entertainment 
and  back  to  motion  pictures. 

V5  J 


F ears  a Precedent  in 
50  Per  Cent  Rentals 

Minneapolis — The  Northwest  Allied  res- 
olution putting  the  members  on  record  to 
reject  50  per  cent  pictures,  was  prompted 
by  reports  that  M-G-M  and  United  Art- 
ists are  demanding  such  terms  for  “Gone 
With  the  Wind”  and  “The  Great  Dicta- 
tor,” respectively. 

S.  G.  Lebedoff,  Northwest  Allied  execu- 
tive committee  member,  asserted  that  if 
exhibitors  permitted  a precedent  to  be 
established  in  these  cases,  50  per  cent  pic- 
tures would  become  common  and  inde- 
pendent exhibitors  would  be  “ruined.” 

He  argued  that  because  of  the  fact  that 
a precedent  has  been  established,  Twin 
City  exhibitors  haven’t  been  able  to  break 
M-G-M  down  yet  on  percentage  pictures, 
although  all  other  companies  sell  flat. 


Price  Boosts  for  “Specials" 

Seen  as  Deleterious 

Minneapolis — The  territory’s  independ- 
ents claim  that  when  admission  prices  are 
raised  for  such  special  pictures  as  “Boom 
Town”  and  “North  West  Mounted  Police” 
there  is  an  adverse  effect  on  the  box- 
office  subsequently. 

With  resumption  of  the  regular  admis- 
sion scale,  a let-down  occurs  in  patronage 
and  ensuing  offerings  suffer,  according  to 
the  independents’  contention.  The  im- 
pression is  created  that  the  pictures  ex- 
hibited at  the  regular  prices  are  below 
par,  it’s  declared. 

This  was  the  reason  given  for  the  adop- 
tion of  a resolution  at  the  Northwest  Al- 
lied convention  demanding  retention  on 
exhibitors’  part  of  “the  democratic  right 
to  maintain  and  set  admission  prices  on 
all  feature  pictures  until  such  a time  as 
we  believe  that  our  local  economic  con- 
ditions warrant  a change  in  admissions.” 

The  resolution’s  preamble  states  “other 
pictures  not  so  increased  in  admission 
price  are  considered  of  lesser  merit  by  our 
patrons  and  grosses  prior  to,  and  following 
the  run  of  such  increased  admission  prices, 
are  adversely  affected.” 


Independents  Cite  Patron 
Exodus  in  Reduction  Bid 

Minneapolis — Independents  in  the  ter- 
ritory are  citing  the  loss  of  prospective 
and  regular  patrons  as  the  result  of  en- 
listments in  the  army,  the  moving  of  Na- 
tional Guard  units  south  and  west  and 
conscription,  along  with  the  exodus  of 
mechanics,  etc.,  to  industrial  sections 
where  employment  opportunities  are  great- 
er. Actual  figures  have  been  supplied  to 
Northwest  Allied. 

Taking  cognizance  of  this  situation. 
Northwest  Allied  at  its  convention  here 
last  week  adopted  a resolution  demand- 
ing an  immediate  reduction  in  film  rentals 
of  “at  least  10  per  cent.” 


Change  at  Onawa 

Onawa,  Ia. — Roy  Lepovitz  of  Madrid,  la., 
has  acquired  the  Iowa  here  from  R.  A. 
Oliver. 


100 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


Blotcky  Appoints  New 
Variety  Committees 

Minneapolis — Chief  Barker  Ben  Blotcky 
of  the  Twin  City  Variety  club  has  ap- 
pointed his  committees  for  1941.  The  com- 
mittees and  their  personnel  for  Tent  No. 
12  follow,  with  the  chairman  listed  first 
in  each  instance: 

House — William  Elson,  “Hy”  Chapman, 
Maitland  Frosch  and  “Bruzz”  Rubel. 

Charity — Joe  Podoloff,  Harry  Dryer  and 
M.  Frank  McCormick. 

Publicity — Les  Rees,  Morris  Abrahams, 
Cedric  Adams,  Lowell  Kaplan,  Bob  Mur- 
phy, Earl  Pomeroy,  Merle  Potter  and  Jules 
Steele. 

Entertainment — Charles  Rubenstein  and 
Lowell  Kaplan,  A.  A.  Kaplan,  Ben  Mesh- 
besher,  “Bruzz”  Rubel,  Bill  Volk,  Sidney 
Volk  and  Charles  Weiner. 

Sports — Gilbert  Nathanson,  Fred  Able- 
son,  Don  Buckley,  Frank  Eisenberg,  Gor- 
don Greene,  Charlie  Jackson,  Paul  Mans, 
LeRoy  J.  Miller,  Joe  Numero  and  Sol  Toro- 
dor. 

Law — Sam  Halpern,  Joe  Finley,  A.  A. 
Kaplan,  Sam  Maslon  and  Eddie  Ruben. 

Shut-In — Harry  Dryer,  Bill  Frank,  Mait- 
land Frosch,  George  Granstrom,  Hiller 
Hoffman,  Lowell  Kaplan,  S.  Kaplan  and 
Max  Torodor. 

Finance — M.  Frank  McCormick  and  Ed- 
die Ruben,  Henry  Baker,  Ben  Berger,  Ben 
Friedman,  A.  A.  Kaplan,  Max  Torodor  and 
W.  H.  Workman. 

Membership — Maitland  Frosch,  Ben  Ber- 
ger, Sim  Heller,  LeRoy  J.  Miller  and  Gil- 
bert Nathanson. 

Atlantic  City — William  Elson,  Maitland 
Frosch,  A.  A.  Kaplan  and  Max  Torodor. 

Federal  Reserve  Bank 
Paints  Bright  Picture 

Minneapolis — While  Twin  City  inde- 
pendent exhibitors  have  been  complain- 
ing that  1940  was  one  of  their  worst  years 
ever,  the  Federal  Reserve  Bank  report 
here  shows  that  Northwest  business  vol- 
ume during  the  year  reached  its  highest 
level  since  1929  and  1930  and  that  the 
month  of  December  showed  the  heaviest 
activity  of  any  similar  month  in  11  years. 

The  exhibitors  believe  that  they  suf- 
fered, instead  of  gaining  along  with  other 
industrial  lines,  because  the  various  forms 
of  competing  entertainment,  including  the 
radio,  bowling,  night  sports,  taverns,  beer 
parlors,  night  clubs,  etc.,  took  many  cus- 
tomers away  from  them. 

In  its  report,  the  Federal  Reserve  Bank 
describes  the  agricultural  situation  as  be- 
ing “the  best  in  the  depression  decade 
as  1941  opened.”  Inasmuch  as  the  box- 
office  and  all  lines  of  business  in  the  ter- 
ritory are  dependent  on  agriculture’s  wel- 
fare for  their  well-being,  this  fact  is  be- 
lieved to  augur  favorably  for  the  current 
year. 


Abe  Frankie  Recuperating 

Des  Moines — Abe  R.  Frankie,  operator 
of  the  Casino  Theatre  here,  is  recuperat- 
ing at  his  home  after  a 10-week  illness.  He 
was  permitted  to  see  visitors  last  week  for 
the  first  time  during  the  siege. 


QHIEF  BARKER  BEN  BLOTCKY  of  the 
Twin  City  Variety  Club  bacheloring  it 
while  his  wife  continues  to  vacation  in 
Florida  . . . Harold  Field,  Welworth  cir- 
cuit president,  to  hibernate  for  six  weeks 
in  the  south  with  his  wife  after  visiting 
his  Iowa  theatres  . . . James  Zimmerman, 
RKO  home  office  legal  department  repre- 
sentative, explained  the  consent  decree  to 
the  staff  here.  Sherman  Fitch,  Sioux 
Falls,  S.  D.,  branch  manager,  and  Charles 
Snyder,  his  salesman  there,  came  to  listen 
in.  And  while  in  Minneapolis  Snyder 
caught  pneumonia  and  now  is  in  St.  Bar- 
nabas Hospital. 

Archie  Zacherl,  veteran  Universal  sales- 
man, suffering  from  heart  attack  . . . 
Charlie  Weiner’s  “Lilac  Domino,”  mu- 
sical with  Michael  Bartlett,  goes  into  the 
World  here  . . . Mother  of  Charlie  Ru- 
benstein,  independent  circuit  owner,  to 
Florida  on  a pleasure  jaunt  . . . Merle 
Potter,  Times-Tribune  film  editor  and 
columnist,  en  route  to  Hollywood  on  his 
annual  news  hunting  trip.  He’ll  go  via 
Miami  this  time  in  order  to  be  present 
at  the  “Back  Street”  premiere  in  the 
Florida  metropolis  . . . Bennie  Berger,  in- 
dependent circuit  owner,  i?i  Florida,  vaca- 
tioning with  his  pal,  W.  A.  Steffes,  there 
for  his  health. 

Abe  A.  Kaplan,  circuit  owner  and  stu- 
dent of  parliamentary  law,  was  stationed 
at  the  side  of  President  E.  L.  Peaslee  at 
the  Northwest  Allied  convention  to  wise 
up  the  latter  on  rules  of  order.  There 
was  plenty  of  admiration  expressed  over 
the  masterly  manner  in  which  Harold 
Field,  circuit  owner,  presented  the  case 
for  and  against  the  proposed  law  to  nullify 
consent  decree  provisions  and  his  hand- 
ling of  the  discussion  . . . R.  V.  Risch, 
veteran  Appleton,  Minn.,  exhibitor,  at- 
tending the  convention,  was  telling  every- 
body “there’s  nothing  like  the  show  busi- 
ness to  keep  one  young.”  Says  it  makes 
him  sick  if  he  has  to  miss  one  of  his 
own  shows.  Everybody  in  town  knows  him 
and  calls  him  by  name.  Has  seen  many 
boys  and  girls  grow  up  and  marry  and 
now,  at  his  showhouse,  entertains  their 
grown-up  children  . . . For  the  first  time 
they  had  a quartette  of  singers  at  the  con- 
vention. The  boys  came  up  from  North 
Dakota  just  to  entertain  the  exhibitors. 

Gordon  Greene,  Minnesota  Theatre  for- 
mer manager  and  present  trustee,  up  and 
around  again  after  a flu  attack  . . . Joe 
Podoloff,  20 th-Fox  branch  manager,  visited 
Fargo,  N.  D.,  accounts  ...  A city  sales- 
man for  one  of  the  major  film  companies, 
who  doesn’t  wish  his  name  used,  recom- 
mends bourbon  to  keep  the  flu  away  . . . 
“Hickey”  Goldhammer,  RKO  district  man- 
ager, to  New  York  for  a business  confer- 
ence . . . Gene  Meredith  at  Warner  Bros, 
happy  because  Lola  Lane,  on  her  visit  to 
the  exchange,  autographed  her  photo  for 
him. 

Republic  has  spotted  “Bowery  Boy”  into 
the  Minnesota  . . . M-G-M  now  in  third 
place  in  the  Film  Bowling  league  and 
leads  all  the  other  exchanges.  Gene  Mere- 
dith of  Warner  and  Tom  Blance  of  the 
Minnesota  Amusement  Co.,  crack  keglers, 
will  bowl  in  both  the  ABC  singles  and 
doubles  at  the  tournament  in  St.  Paul. 


Blance  ran  up  a 622  score  and  Meredith 
wound  up  with  608  last  week  . . . Max 
Kravets,  general  sales  manager  of  Ste- 
phens-Lang  productions,  visited  the  RKO 
exchange,  distributors  of  his  “Dr.  Chris- 
tian” series  and  other  pictures. 

Dick  Stahl,  Universal  booker,  driving  a 
brand  new  car.  Already  has  initiated  one 
of  the  fenders  . . . Wife  and  daughter  of 
Al  Stern,  RKO  office  manager,  down  with 
the  flu  ..  . Moe  Levy,  20 th-Fox  district 
manager,  making  a tour  of  the  Omaha  and 
Des  Moines  exchanges  . . . LeRoy  J.  Miller, 
Universal  branch  manager,  visited  south- 
ern Minnesota  accounts  . . . Bud  Rodberg 
an  addition  to  the  local  Warner  exchange. 
Was  transferred  here  from  Omaha. 

Out-of-town  exhibitors  visiting  Film- 
row  included  Everett  Dilley,  Northfield, 
Minn.;  Peter  Campbell,  Val  Halla,  N.  D.; 
John  Piller,  Valley  City,  N.  D.;  Ep.  Par- 
sons, Renville,  Minn.;  Charles  Vondra, 
Mahnomen,  Minn.;  Ernotte  Hiller,  Crooks- 
ton,  Minn.;  Pete  and  Mike  DeFae,  Mil- 
bank,  S.  D.,  and  Oliver  Roscoe,  Lake  Ben- 
ton, Minn.  . . . Bill  Grant,  Warner  city 
salesman,  back  from  a successful  two-week 
trip  to  South  Dakota  . . . Warner  Bros, 
mid-west  district,  including  Minneapolis, 
jumped  from  seventh  to  second  place  in 
the  Bill  Sears  drive.  Bill  Grant  is  first 
among  Minneapolis  salesmen. 

John  J.  Fried!,  Minnesota  Amusement 
Co.  president,  vacationing  in  Florida.  He 
attended  the  testimonial  banquet  for  Bar- 
ney Balaban  in  Chicago  along  with  C.  B. 
Stiff,  J.  A.  Branton,  C.  W.  Winchell,  C.  W. 
Perrine  and  Charles  Zinn  of  his  company 
. . . Phil  Dunas,  Columbia  district  mana- 
ger, in  town  . . . Norman  Pyle,  M-G-M 
exploiteer,  back  on  the  job  after  recovery 
from  brief  illness  . . . Flu  epidemic  final- 
ly has  hit  the  town  hard  and  is  hurting 
show  business  plenty  . . . Film  notables 
playing  personal  appearance  engagements 
here  this  week  included  Simone  Simon 
and  Isabel  Jewell.  Sally  Rand,  Minne- 
sota headliner,  also  has  played  in  a num- 
ber of  pictures. 

Eddie  Ruben  was  confined  to  his  home 
briefly  by  illness,  but  was  up  and  around 
again  in  time  to  be  present  at  his  con- 
vention of  house  managers  and  other  cir- 
cuit employes  at  the  Hotel  Nicollet  here 
this  week. 


V8t  annum 


twcvCtoft  KANSAS  CITY,  MO 


BOXOFFICE  February  1,  1941 


101 


^OU  LEVY  had  the  colossal  nerve  to  eat 
the  pheasant  Ed  Mason  sent  us  from 
Osage  while  we  were  toodling  around  Mex- 
ico, and  then  forget  all  about  us  and  our 
Mitzi  when  he  was  passing  out  the  Sandy 
dolls  . . . most  considerate,  Lou,  most  con- 
siderate. We’ll  forget  all  about  it,  though, 
if  you’ll  just  toss  our  way  any  old  Baby 
Sandy  who  got  her  glass  noggin  cracked 
and  you’d  have  to  throw  away  anyhow  . . . 
speaking  of  dolls,  Joan  Baxter  is  the  new 
one  in  at  Mel  Evidon’s  place  and  her  nog- 
gin is  not  cracked. 

Women,  it  seems,  will  be  worn  this  sea- 
son . . . which  is  our  way  of  saying  that 
Grace  Simons  has  been  conscripted  into 
Harry  Peter  Franz’s  chore  of  office  man- 
aging Lou  Patz’s  National  Screen  . . . and 
the  place  is  well  named — it’s  a shifting 
scene  . . . Filmrowers  are  whispering  that 
they  call  the  roll  up  there  every  morning 
to  find  out  who’s  missing  today.  We  wish 
to  publicly  clear  Bert  Thomas  of  the  das- 
tardly charge  that  he  furnished  us  with 
the  jig-saw  we  ran  a few  weeks  hence  . . . 
factiz,  Bert  is  the  extra  piece  which  didn’t 
fit  in  the  puzzle  at  all,  he  sez. 

Le  Hague  (Boxoffice  copy  reader,  for 
your  information)  has  done  it  again  . . . 
he  had  Harry  Hiersteiner’s  family  instead 
of  Harry’s  Family  (Theatre)  smoking 
marihuana  in  last  issue  ...  all  we  want 
to  do  is  square  ourselves  with  Harry  and 
family.  Here’s  another  chance  we’d  like 
to  take  to  square  ourselves  with  Filmrowers 
and  exhibitors  who  find  their  names  mis- 
spelled . . . tain’t  our  fault  very  often, 
really. 

Columnist  Stan  Mayer  says  he  wouldn’t 
do  a chore  like  that  for  anybody  but  us, 
and  that  he’d  like  to  see  how  easy  we’d 
find  peddling  film  . . . you’d  probably  be 


North  Central  Kansas — Pardon  me  dear 
readers,  does  any  one  mind  if  a little  old 
hick  town  exhibitor  gets  his  dander  up? 

When  I read  the  report  “Closer  Check- 
ing Is  in  Prospect”  in  the  January  18th  is- 
sue of  Boxoffice  I didn’t  know  whether  to 
laugh,  cry  or  swear.  I finally  decided  to  do 
none  of  these,  but  instead,  say  a word  or 
two  in  behalf  of  myself  and  other  ex- 
hibitors. 

I note  that  the  problem  is  a Minnesota 
one;  still,  I know  that  these  Kansas  ex- 
hibitors get  the  same  accusations  hurled 
at  them  by  “supreme  beings”  who  sit  back 
in  swivel  chairs  and  smugly  assure  them- 
selves that  they  have  a fairly  accurate  idea 
of  what  this  or  that  picture  will  gross  in 
this  or  that  town. 

Do  you  suppose  that  the  major  exchange 
mentioned  was  the  only  one  irked  when 
business  went  from  $260  on  Monday  to  $8 
on  Tuesday?  And  I know  how  the  guy  felt 
who  took  in  $25.00  on  New  Year’s  day  and 
evening.  He  beat  me  at  that;  I did  a 
dollar  more  than  that  on  New  Year’s  Eve 
and  night!  A town  20  miles  from  me 
“stood  ’em  up.”  It  seems  to  me  those  ex- 
hibitors are  the  guys  who  really  took  it  on 
the  chin.  Yes,  I believe  those  reports,  I’ve 
turned  in  worse  ones  than  that  and  I can 


surprised,  Stan  . . . we  can’t  deny,  you’ve 
got  a weigh  with  exhibs,  but  maybe  we’d 
have  a way  ourselves  . . . Jean  Post’s  new 
theme  song  is  “Tie  Me  to  Your  Apron 
Strings  Again”  . . . nevamind,  Jean,  the 
only  reason  we  don’t  tie  & Co.  to  our  apron 
strings  is  because  we  don’t  have  any  apron. 

Lou  Levy’s  lost  pretty  Loretta  Dieling 
...  we  couldn’t  get  these  two  reports 
verified,  so  we  offer  both  and  you  can 
take  your  choice:  Some  say  she’s  trans- 
ferred to  the  Washington,  D.  C.,  Uni- 
versal office,  and  others  say  she’s  received 
a civil  service  commission  . . . everybody 
agrees  that  she’s  in  the  District  of  Co- 
lumbia, at  least.  lone  of  Universal  was 
married  a few  weeks  ago.  Chuck  Elder’s 
folks  recently  returned  from  Guatemala 
. . . Chick  Friedman  is  rumored  as  hook- 
ing up  with  the  Metro  sales  force  in  Los 
Angeles,  lucky  Los  Angeles! 

S.  Barret  McCormick,  when  he  heard 
about  Hotelman  S.  F.  McGinn  furnishing 
Boxoffice  & Co.  with  napkins  to  match 
the  Hotel  Fort  Des  Moines  tablecloth 
Barret  presented  us,  commented  from 
New  York  as  follows:  “I  think  it  was 
pretty  nice  of  McGinn  to  equip  you  with 
napkins  to  go  with  the  checkered  table- 
cloth. Now,  if  he  just  follows  through 
and  gives  you  the  dining  room  furniture, 
rugs  and  proper  chinaware,  it  would 
prompt  me  some  day  to  snitch  a pillow- 
case for  you  in  the  hope  that  we  can 
build  it  up  into  a fully  equipped  bedroom. 
After  that  1 might  start  on  ice  cubes  and 
parlay  it  into  a modern,  streamlined 
kitchen.  Anything  you  want?  Just  ask 
me  ...  as  long  as  McGinn  follows 
through.” 

While  & Co.’s  doing  a “Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith”  review,  Boxoffice  could  be  writ- 


whip  the  guy  who  questions  them. 

I’ll  leave  names  and  titles  out  of  this 
but  here  are  a few  freakish  things  that 
have  happened  to  me:  One  big  picture  a 
couple  of  years  ago  grossed  $2.20  on  one 
Easter  matinee — that  night  it  grossed 
$50.10.  It  wasn’t  in  the  percentage 
bracket  so  it  was  nobody’s  business  but 
mine.  Had  it  been  a percenter  and  I’d 
have  turned  in  those  figures  to  the  ex- 
change they’d  have  blown  a fuse. 

On  another  super-super  I took  in  $26.00 
in  two  nights.  Get  those  eyebrows  down 
where  they  belong — I was  checked  both 
nights,  one  night  double  checked.  The 
supervisor  paid  a surprise  visit  on  the 
checker.  I expected  the  district  manager 
to  walk  in  any  minute  and  check  up  on 
the  lot  of  us.  Some  people  are  so  “after 
the  almighty  penny  (not  dollar)”  that  they 
don’t  even  trust  each  other.  So  they  tour 
the  country  in  a car  as  long  as  a well- 
rope  and  spend  $50.00  assuring  themselves 
of  collecting  $5.00  overage. 

Closer  checking?  I don’t  know  about  all 
territories  but  I’m  here  to  tell  you  there  is 
no  lead  in  the  trousers  of  these  blood- 
hound checkers  out  in  Kansas. 

Thanks  folks,  I feel  much  better. 

— Anonymity  Preferred. 


ing  some  more  of  this  column  if  there 
weren’t  so  confounded  many  confound- 
ing items  around  his  office  to  look  at  . . . 
A wire  for  instance:  “A  picture  layout 
from  20th  Century-Fox  is  in  the  mails  to 
you  crediting  the  photos  as  having  come 
from  the  production,  ‘The  Road  to  Rio.’ 
This  title  is  not  correct.  The  correct  title 
is  ‘That  Night  In  Rio.’  Thank  you  for 
making  the  change. — Milton  Howe.”  . . . 
And  over  on  the  other  end  of  the  desk  is 
a “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith”  reaction  card  on 
which  is  scrawled:  “Think  this  is  a slick 
comedy — Ken  Clayton  (per  his  unbiased 
secretary,  Wm.  Scholl.)” 

And  here’s  a penned  epistle:  “Dear  Ken: 
I’ve  just  signed  a contract  to  be  a steady 
addition  to  the  gang  of  ‘East  Side  Kids.’ 
I would  appreciate  any  kind  of  a break 
in  your  Sunday  Edition  as  1 know  every- 
body reads  it. — Bobby  Stone.”  . . . Which 
reminds  us  of  Boxoffice  & Co.’s  idea  that 
Franke  should  invite  all  the  Smiths  in 
town  to  the  “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith”  open- 
ing so  the  R&T  could  pick  off  a feature 
on  what  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  think  of 
“Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith”  . . . Everybody’s 
wondering  what  the  written  comment  of 
Wordsman  Joe  Smith  who  will  not  spare 
that  adjective  might  look  like  . . . But 
then,  anybody  knows  that  even  scholarly 
Joe  could  never  go  through  the  ortho- 
graphic contortions  necessitated  to  put 
his  linguistic  tangletongue  on  paper. 

Talk  about  fifth  columns  and  fraterniz- 
ing with  the  opposition!  . . . Bob  Snyder, 
who  spends  his  working  hours  managing 
E.  M.  Garbett’s  Varsity,  is  spending  his 
off  time  rooming  in  the  house  of  Kermit 
Bierkamp,  manager  of  the  Tromar  ball- 
room which  on  five  nights  a week  tries 
to  entice  patrons  from  the  Varsity  . . . 
The  room’s  fancy  enough  to  overlook  such 
a minor  offense,  though,  or  was  when 
we  saw  it,  housing  Bob’s  handsome  desk, 
but  not  handsome  Bob  . . . You  can  call 
on  him  at  1715  Forty-seventh,  folks. 

We  stopped  up  to  chat  with  Elmer  Til 
ton  at  Warners  and  found  him  looking  bet- 
ter than  he  has  for  a long  time  . . . Tilt 
talked  a long  time  about  what  changes 
are  likely  to  come  about  in  the  biz  with 
the  consent  decree  ...  he  told  us  about 
the  “Bread’n  Butter”  picture  they  used 
to  peddle  in  the  good  old  days  ...  if 
Jimmy  Winn  could  see  that  cute  little 
body  Tilt’s  got  fixed  up  for  his  head,  he’d 
lose  it  completely  and  mail  it  right  in  to 
the  DM  office.  The  sun-tanned  kid,  Art 
Anderson,  is  reported  happy  as  a lark  up 
in  Minneapolis. 

Everybody’s  so  used  to  having  Dallas 
Day  around,  and  they  miss  him  so  darn 
much  since  he  went  to  Rochester,  they 
decided  to  do  something  about  it  ...  so 
everybody  on  the  Row  in  addition  to  a 
lot  of  exhibitors  are  making  up  a pool 
to  help  Dallas  get  well  a little  faster. 

One  of  our  most  ardent  admirers,  Smitty, 
who  claimed  he  almost  took  the  veil  when 
we  married  & Co.,  is  reaffirming  our  firm 
belief  that  all  men  are  fickle  creatures 
. . . Smitty  blushingly  admits  that  he’s 
keepin’  company  with  widow  who’s  health 
is  delicate.  Chappy  was  one  year  old 
January  20  and  he  can  do  practically 
everything , according  to  Stan  Mayer  who’ll 
hardly  admit  that  the  dog  isn’t  as  good 
as  the  horse  who  lied  about  running  in 
the  Derby. 


fr 

Bloodhounds  With  Leadless  Pants 

— jj 


102 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


Hairy  Hermann  Resumes  _ |L  ]|[  M CC  €>  1L  W 
Warner  Selling  in  Iowa 


Des  Moines — With  Harry  Hermann  back 
covering  his  old  northwest  Iowa  territory 
for  Warner  Bros.,  the  sale  of  his  Fireman’s 
Hall  at  Hampton  to  Central  States  becomes 
official. 

Harry’s  return  to  the  Vitagraph  fold 
sends  Gilley  Wells  back  to  the  southeastern 
Iowa  district  where  Gilley  got  his  film- 
vending start  16  years  ago. 

Paul  Walsh,  who  has  been  keeping  the 
southeastern  customers  happy,  has  set- 
tled himself  at  the  booking  desk  again  and 
Paul  Weatherby,  who  has  been  gladhand- 
ing the  visiting  exhibitors  there,  continues 
to  greet  ’em  from  the  booking  desk  left 
vacant  across  the  street  at  RKO  by  Dallas 
Day’s  illness. 


To  Triple  Bills 

Des  Moines — A change  from  duals  to  a 
triple  feature  policy  on  weekend  changes 
has  been  announced  for  the  suburban 
State  Theatre  by  Manager  Haydon  Peter- 
son. The  triples  will  run  from  Thursday 
through  Sunday.  Single  features  will  be 
the  fare  from  Tuesday  through  Thursday. 


Farband  Shows  Film 

Des  Moines — Yiddish  motion  pictures 
were  shown  at  the  Jewish  Community  Cen- 
ter Monday  evening  in  a program  spon- 
sored by  the  Nachum  Sokolow  Farband 
organization.  Proceeds  went  to  the  aid  of 
European  refugees  in  Palestine. 


JJO  INDEEDY,  Ed,  Lou  Levy  didn’t  even 
mention  the  pheasant  you  sent  from 
Osage  which  was  already  down  his  gullet, 
until  that  woman  and  your  letter  arrived 
and  he  knew  he’d  get  found  out  . . . any- 
how, it  was  very  sporting  of  you  to  send  it 
down  and  we  hope  if  you  ever  again  hap- 
pen to  get  lucky  enough  to  hit  one,  you’ll 
remember  us  . . . forward  future  contribu- 
tions and  mail  to  Ken  at  the  R&T,  since 
Lou  threatens  to  charge  us  some  of  the 
overhead  if  we  don’t  quit  using  the  Uni- 
versal address. 


We  must  tell  you,  Ed,  how  pleased  we 
were  that  you  didn’t  call  us  jane,  and  the 
first  time  we’re  through  your  nice  town, 
we’ll  search  you  out  of  the  “little  hive  of 
industry”  or  bust  ...  On  the  way  home 
with  the  woman,  we  stopped  in  at  Dave 
Fidler’s  downtown  and  happened  to  show 
her  to  him  ...  he  was  all  eyes,  and  will 
never  rest  ’til  he  gets  one  just  like  her  . . . 
Dave’s  married,  you  know  . . . polygamy, 
we  calls  it. 


Iowa  has  its  own  sunkist  States  since  Joe 
Joe  Jacobson  returned  from  California 
with  a load  of  vitamins  direct  from  Old 
Sol  . . . He’s  still  traveling,  of  course— 
between  his  State  in  Davenport  and  his 
State  in  Dubuque. 


They’re  watching  the  westerns  in  Ona- 


J^AUGH  in  the  wrong  place:  Exhibitors 

from  all  over  Nebraska  are  reporting 
unexpected  laughs  in  two  pictures,  "Ari- 
zona” and  “Little  Men.”  Both  pictures 
have  thematic  music  in  the  Stephen  Fos- 
ter manner,  more  specifically,  “Jeannie 
With  the  Light  Brown  Hair.”  How  did 
Wesley  Ruggles  and  Gene  Towne-Graham 
Baker  know  the  Ascap-BMI  scrap  was  go- 
ing to  make  comedy  of  it? 

Busy  Guy:  Gabe  Yorke,  the  vet  Holly- 
wood press  agent,  is  now  hitting  the  by- 
ways and  big  towns  in  the  interest  of  the 
film  industry  and  the  film,  “Land  of 
Liberty,’’  and  said  this  week,  if  he  ever 
gets  a publicity  department  in  Hollywood 
again  (which  is  likely  considering  his 
brand  of  workmanship) , he’ll  always  think 
kindly  of  the  film  salesman.  Gabe  said 
he  never  felt  anything  but  happiness  about 
the  poor  guy  who  must  stand  in  a long 
line  getting  to  the  boxoffice,  but  starid- 
ing  in  a long  line  to  get  into  the  one 
bathroom  in  these  country  hostelries  is 
getting  him  down. 

Nice  Gesture:  Ted  Mendenhall,  the 
Paramounter,  called  Capt.  Barney  Old- 
field into  his  office  one  day  last  week  and 
handed  the  former  Boxoffice  man  a 
courtesy  membership  in  the  Variety  Club 
of  Omaha  for  the  “duration”  of  his  army 
hitch.  Oldfield  is  now  with  the  intelli- 
gence department  at  Omaha’s  corps  area 
headquarters  . . . And  N.  G.  No.  2,  Bob 
Huffman,  for  fear  an  audition  would  make 


wa  now  through  the  courtesy — and  busi- 
ness enterprise — of  Roy  Lepovitz,  who’s 
expanding  from  his  Madrid  headquarters. 


Joe  Gerbrach’s  fish  story  (he  landed  two 
sailfish  at  once,  as  you  read  last  week) 
isn’t  going  to  go  unheralded.  The  largest 
of  the  victims  is  being  mounted  and  will 
ogle  posterity  from  the  wall  of  the  Elks 
clubroom  in  Ames. 


Alice  Johnson’s  Bonaparte  Theatre  has 
been  purchased  by  R.  L.  McIntyre,  but 
Alice  isn’t  wasting  any  time  getting  back 
into  active  exhibiting.  She’s  now  remodel- 
ing a house  in  Memphis,  Mo.,  according  to 
latest  reports  along  the  Row. 


Lookit,  the  SS — but  that’s  just  Sam 
Shies  of  the  Moline  Orpheum  who  only 
hits  the  Row  once  in  every  weeks-’n’- 
weeks-’n’weeks. 


Four-minute  men  backstage  at  the  Or- 
pheum Theatre  earned  orchids  from  90 
exhibitors  and  20  newspaper  men  Monday 
night  when  they  repaired  the  inevitable 
“sneak  preview”  sound  breakdown  in  four 
minutes  so  that  “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith’s” 
guests  did  not  go  unentertained  . . . The 
exhibitors  at  the  preview  included  . . . aw, 
nuts  ...  if  you’re  the  guy  who  wasn’t,  just 
figure  all  the  rest  were. 


her  nervous,  signed  Mrs.  B.  O.  on  her 
husband’s  old  radio  program,  started  her 
off  with  a big  hand  without  audition, 
and  a vote  of  confidence  by  signing  the 
show  for  another  YEAR!  The  Oldfield 
name  has  been  on  the  air  steadily  since 
Jan.  16,  1938,  and  Huffman  is  the  man 
who  saw  it  there  first. 

Platform  to  Pictures : Jan  Savitt,  top- 
hatting  at  the  Turnpike  Casino,  January 
24,  indicated  MCA  is  routing  him  to  the 
west  coast  soon,  probably  to  appear  in 
a picture.  “After  all,”  says  Jan,  “if  they’ll 
settle  with  Artie  Shaw  as  an  actor,  any- 
thing can  happen.” 

He  Relaxes:  Dean  Pohlenz,  who  ran  the 
Sunday  Journal  and  Star’s  10  best  poll, 
finally  saw  the  film  picking  marathon 
ended  and  the  prizes  passed  out.  He  was 
all  but  sued,  refused,  had  a few  mistakes 
to  reckon  with,  and  had  the  general  merry 
time  which  goes  with  such  contests.  After 
the  seven  weeks  it  took  to  complete  the 
contest  and  judging,  he’s  applying  for  a 
week  off  to  dye  out  the  gray  in  his  hair. 

Theatre  Tidbits:  Harvey  Traylor  and 
Alvin  Hendricks  stand  in  the  lobbies  of 
their  theatres,  which  are  across  the  street 
from  each  other,  and  feel  bad  out  loud 
for  the  other's  business  . . . Boxoffice 
started  to  tell  a tale  of  a publicity  gag 
which  went  sour  in  Columbus,  Neb.,  to 
Henry  Salthun,  the  theatre  manager  there, 
and  Francis  Dishner,  of  the  Telegram, 
but  the  “Philadelphia  Story”  press  prevue 
in  Omaha  started  before  it  could  be 
snappered. 


in  Style  and  Comfort 


That's  the  thought  that  is  always  upper 
most  in  the  minds  of  those  who  attend 
you  at  Hotel  Fontenelle.  In  keeping  with 
this  policy,  the  management  is  constantly 
adding  new  features  for  your  comfort 
and  convenience.  The  Amber  Room  Cof- 
fee Shop,  the  King  Cole  Room,  and  the 
Black  Mirror- Bombay  Room  invite  yon. 

HOTEL 


FONTENELLE 


A W,  SHUCKS! 

From  the  Tall  Corn— By  KEN  and  RENE  CLAYTON 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


103 


O m A IHI  A 


In  a Dither  Over  Allied 
Snub  of  Divorce  Bill 


Minneapolis — Action  of  Northwest  Al- 
lied in  virtually  repudiating  theatre  di- 
vorcement legislation  at  its  convention 
has  tossed  a virtual  bombshell  into  trade 
circles  here. 

In  refusing  to  support  a bill  already  in- 
troduced in  the  state  legislature  calling  for 
theatre  divorcement,  members  apparently 
were  actuated  by  friendly  feelings  toward 
John  J.  Friedl,  president  of  the  Minnesota 
Amusement  Co.,  Paramount  affiliated  cir- 
cuit, at  which  the  proposed  measure  is 
aimed. 

The  rejected  resolution,  which  would 
have  put  the  organization  behind  the  bill, 
provoked  a spirited  debate  and  threatened 
for  a time  to  split  the  body  wide  open. 
But  its  proponents  apparently  accepted  de- 
feat gracefully. 

Such  of  the  organization’s  leaders  as 
President  E.  L.  Peaslee  and  Sol  Lebedoff, 
treasurer  and  executive  committee  mem- 
ber, strongly  opposed  the  the  resolution 
and  argued  forcibly  against  getting  the 
body  into  a theatre  divorcement  fight. 
They  and  other  members,  including  Bill 
Elson,  defended  and  praised  the  Minne- 
sota Amusement  Co.,  as  managed  by 
Friedl,  and,  talking  cold  turkey,  made  it 
plain  they  much  preferred  to  have  the  op- 
posing chain  theatres  run  by  Friedl  than 
in  the  hands  of  “some  independents.” 

Making  a hard  fight  to  obtain  indorse- 
ment for  the  bill,  Bennie  Berger,  indepen- 
dent circuit  owner,  assailed  the  Minnesota 
Amusement  Co.,  declared  the  principle  of 
producer  ownership  and  operation  of  thea- 
tres in  competition  with  non-affiliated  ex- 
hibitors is  “all  wrong”  and  pointed  out 
“the  organization  is  making  a complete 
turnabout  on  an  issue  to  which  indepen- 
dent leaders  have  been  definitely  com- 
mitted.” W.  J.  Frank,  also  the  owner  of  a 
large  independent  chain,  took  occasion  to 
express  the  opinion  that  the  Minnesota 
Amusement  Co.  is  far  from  being  “lily 
white.” 

Praise  for  Friedl 

Donald  Guttman,  general  manager  of  the 
Harry  Dickerman  circuit,  doubted  if  it 
would  be  advisable  for  the  body  to  go 
definitely  on  record  for  or  against  theatre 
divorcement  and  the  members,  instead  of 
voting  down  the  resolution,  as  it  was  indi- 
cated they  would  do,  followed  his  sugges- 
tion to  return  it  to  the  committee. 

President  Peaslee  paid  a tribute  to 
Friedl  in  urging  the  organization  to  hold 
aloof  from  theatre  divorcement. 

“I’d  much  rather  have  the  Minnesota 
Amusement  Co.  own  this  circuit  than  many 
independents  whom  I could  name,”  de- 
clared Peaslee.  “I  think  we’re  extremely 
fortunate  in  having  a man  like  Mr.  Friedl 
as  the  operator  of  our  principal  chain.  It 
would  be  ill-advised  to  have  a fight  in  the 
legislature  at  this  time  on  such  a contro- 
versial issue.” 

Bill  Elson  also  emphasized  how  fortunate 
the  territory’s  independent  exhibitors  are 
in  having  such  a “fair  and  considerate”  a 
person  as  Friedl  as  head  of  the  big  circuit. 

“If  we  get  mixed  up  in  a fight  over  this 
bill,  we’ll  have  dissension  in  our  organi- 


zation and  waste  a lot  of  time  and  money 
in  a losing  effort  to  get  the  measure 
passed,”  asserted  Elson.  “The  bill  looks  like 
a phoney  to  me.” 

Berger  wondered  if  he  was  the  only  in- 
dependent exhibitor  in  the  territory  “out 
of  step”  and  “going  backwards.” 

“Up  until  now  we’ve  all  been  clamoring 
for  theatre  divorcement  legislation,”  Ber- 
ger pointed  out.  “Now  suddenly  it  isn’t 
wanted.  You  really  don’t  know  what  the 
Minnesota  Amusement  Co.  setup  is.  Take 
my  situation.  Because  the  affiliated  cir- 
cuit has  all  the  product  sewed  up,  I don’t 
know  where  I’m  going  to  get  my  next  pic- 
ture for  the  Esquire  here  and  World  in  St. 
Paul.  If  that’s  the  sort  of  strong-arm 
opposition  that  you  want  it’s  all  right  with 
me.  I'll  get  rid  of  all  my  theatres  and  land 
a job  with  the  affiliated  chain  and  hand 
you  some  of  it.  This  isn’t  a matter  of  per- 
sonalities, but  of  policy.  I’ll  concede  that 
Mr.  Friedl  is  a fine  gentleman,  but  the 
principle  of  having  film  producers  operate 
theatres  in  opposition  to  you  is  all  wrong. 

“By  turning  down  this  resolution  you’re 
repudiating  the  stand  which  independents 
have  taken  for  years  against  producer 
ownership  and  control  of  theatres.  It  al- 
ways has  been  considered  fundamental 
among  independent  leaders  to  try  to  keep 
the  men  making  pictures  from  being  com- 
peting exhibitors.” 

Ben  Friedman,  another  independent  cir- 
cuit owner,  felt  that  Berger  could  gain  re- 
lief through  the  arbitration  board  rather 
than  divorcement  legislation. 

In  backing  up  Berger,  Frank  averred  that 
the  Minnesota  Amusement  Co.  is  far  from 
spotless. 

“The  Minnesota  Amusement  Co.  isn’t 
quite  so  virtuous  as  some  of  the  speakers 
would  have  you  believe,”  asserted  Frank. 
“Give  it  a foot  and  it’ll  take  a yard,  and 
it’s  doing  that  very  thing  all  the  time.  It 
has  every  advantage  over  independents 
and  it  isn’t  relinquishing  any  of  it.” 

Heart  Ailment  Is  Fatal 
To  Abe  W.  Riegelman 

Des  Moines  — Abe  W.  Riegelman,  20th 
Century-Fox  Film  Corp.  salesman  in 
southern  Iowa  for  14  years,  died  at  Iowa 
Lutheran  hospital  here  Monday  after  a 
brief  illness  of  a heart  ailment. 

Funeral  services  were  here  Wednesday 
morning.  Riegelman,  55,  had  been  brought 
to  Des  Moines  as  a baby  and  had  lived 
here  since  except  for  a five-year  interval. 

He  is  survived  by  a son,  Dr.  Ralph,  Des 
Moines;  a sister,  Rae  Riegelman,  Des 
Moines;  and  four  brothers,  Henry  and 
Charles  of  Des  Moines,  Dan  of  Sioux  City, 
la.,  and  Alfred  of  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


Promote  Two 

Minneapolis  — Vern  Smith,  assistant 
booker  at  M-G-M  here,  has  been  trans- 
ferred to  the  Kansas  City  branch  where 
he’ll  be  head  booker.  Mel  Turner  also  was 
promoted  from  cashier  to  the  booking  de- 
partment to  succeed  him. 


J7XHIBITORS  and  filmites  on  Filmrow 
agreed  this  week  they  have  lost  a real 
friend  and  associate  in  the  death  of 
Charlie  Williams.  People  along  Davenport 
street  who  knew  Charlie  for  10,  15  and 
even  25  years  told  many  stories  that 
showed  Charlie’s  kindness,  friendliness  and 
unselfishness.  One  exhibitor  put  the  whole 
thing  in  one  sentence,  “He  always  thought 
of  the  other  fellow  first.” 

Charlie’s  best  friend  on  Filmrow  was 
undoubtedly  Regina  Molseed,  RKO  booker, 
and  Charlie  once  told  Boxoffice  how  the 
two  became  acquainted.  Several  years  ago 
Regina  was  a steno  in  another  exchange, 
which  was  havmg  a sales  drive  with  all  em- 
ployes participating . Regina’s  first  call  was 
on  Charlie  and  he  helped  her  out  by  buying 
everything  in  the  book,  much  to  the  sur- 
prise of  Regina  and  her  boss  at  that  time, 
Harry  Lefholtz.  From  then  on,  they  were 
good  friends. 

The  Paramount  boys  went  to  Des  Moines 
to  attend  a sales  meeting  of  the  two  ex- 
changes. Making  the  trip  were  Ted  Men- 
denhall, Carl  Weeks,  Bill  Haarmann,  B.  A. 
Tomte.  Ike  Rubin,  the  football  fanatic,  was 
fighting  flu  germs  at  Grand  Island  and 
was  unable  to  get  home  or  to  Des  Moines. 
Tough  luck,  Ike  . . . Mrs.  Henry  Hower, 
wife  of  the  owner  of  the  State  and  Grand 
at  Worthington,  Minn.,  visited  here  with 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Van  Husan. 

L.  E.  Burkey,  Ritz,  Deshler,  Neb.,  is  very 
proud  of  his  two-year-old  daughter,  Bever- 
ly. He  is  also  a ping  pong  player  de  luxe 
and  knows  how  to  beat  Charlie  Lieb,  Metro 
peddler,  we’re  told.  Burkey’s  main  hobby 
is  to  beg,  borrow  or  steal  pencils  . . . J.  V. 
Frank,  Harvard,  Neb.,  and  Dick  Lysinger, 
Paramount,  Ansley,  Neb.,  and  Grand,  Ra- 
venna, Neb.,  had  birthdays  on  the  same 
day,  February  1.  Frank  is  nearing  the  half- 
century  mark  and  Dick  just  passed  the 
one -third-century  pole. 

William  Dalbey,  a former  president  of 
the  local  chapter  of  the  musicians’  union 
and  a musician  for  several  Omaha  thea- 
tres for  many  years,  died  at  his  home.  He 
was  70  years  old  . . . Walter  Hagedone,  Co- 
zad,  Neb.,  was  in  town  for  the  first  time 
in  months  . . . Harold  Dunn,  Jewel,  Valen- 
tine, Neb.,  gave  his  wife  a trip  to  the  west 
coast  for  a Christmas  present.  She’ll  stay 
several  weeks  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mel  Smith, 
Akron,  la.,  were  on  Davenport  Street  and 
reported  good  business. 

Sol  Yeager,  Monogram’s  gift  to  the  army, 
drove  through  a storm  to  get  back  to 
Omaha  and  was  thanking  his  lucky  stars 
he  got  home  all  right,  when  he  ran  into  a 
truck  on  his  way  home  from  downtown. 
The  entire  front  end  of  his  car  will  need 
replacing  . . . Slim  Fraser,  Havelock,  Neb., 
in  town  right  on  time  . . . Also  Mort  Trox- 
ell,  exhibitor  at  DeWitt,  Neb.,  and  that 
town’s  suburb,  Wilber,  Neb. 

Ray  Brown,  Harlan,  la.,  has  a birthday 
soon,  just  passing  the  half-century  mark. 
Art  Miller,  Atkinson,  Neb.,  will  celebrate 
his  18th  wedding  anniversary  on  the  same 
day  . . . The  Francis  family — Sol,  Mary 
and  Sophie  Volkert — are  glad  to  report 
their  mother  is  home  from  the  hospital 
and  feeling  much  better. 


104 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


"GWTW"  in  Cleveland 
Takes  National  Lead 

Cleveland — “GWTW”  in  its  first  week  at 
popular  prices  at  Loew’s  State  Theatre, 
has  outrun  all  other  popular  priced  pre- 
mieres at  Loew  houses  throughout  the 
country,  it  is  officially  reported  here.  Noth- 
ing daunted  by  its  original  take  of  $225,- 
000  in  ten  weeks  at  $1.10  top,  the  picture 
played  to  75,000  people  last  week  at  the 
State  and  added  slightly  over  $30,000  to 
the  boxoffice  count.  The  picture  opened 
cold,  but  within  three  days,  a block-long 
queue  formed  at  9 a.  m.  and  preceded  each 
of  the  four  daily  performances.  All  down- 
town houses  benefited  from  the  crowds 
around  the  State.  The  Palace  had  a big 
week  with  “Honeymoon  for  Three”  al- 
though the  main  attraction  was  the  Inter- 
national Casino  Revue  and  specialty  acts 
on  the  stage.  “Arizona”  brought  out  all  the 
western  fans.  “Kitty  Foyle”  doubled  the 
average  Allen  business  in  a moveover  after 
11  big  days  at  the  Hippodrome  while 
“Flight  Command”  at  the  Stillman  came 
through  25  per  cent  more  than  par  busi- 
ness. Weather  was  clear  and  there  was 


only  the  usual  outside  competition. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  24: 

(Average  is  100) 

Allen — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO)  200 

This  was  a moveover  after  11  very  big  days 
at  the  Hippodrome.  It  will  be  held  a third 
week. 

Hippodrome — Arizona  (Col)  125 

Palace — Honeymoon  for  Three  (WB)  135 

Stage  show  was  International  Casino  Revue 
with  a chorus  of  32,  and  added  specialty  acts. 

State— Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M)  270 

First  showing  at  popular  prices. 

Stillman — Flight  Command  (M-G-M)  125 

This  was  a moveover  from  the  State. 


Detroit  First  Run  Laurels 
Go  to  Kay  Kyser's  P,  A. 

Detroit — General  film  business  in  the 
Motor  City  moved  downward  this  past 
week,  affected  primarily  by  the  prevailing 
wet  weather  which  discouraged  show  go- 
ing on  most  nights,  and  hit  matinee  at- 
tendance just  about  as  severely.  Fear  of 
flu  conditions  was  a secondary  deterrent. 

Contrariwise,  however,  was  the  experi- 
ence at  the  Fox,  where  results  proved  the 
truth  of  the  observation  made  in  Boxoffice 
two  weeks  ago  by  Earl  Hudson,  president 
of  United  Detroit  Theatres,  that  patron- 
age is  responding  more  and  more  directly 
to  a good  attraction.  In  this  case,  with  a 
film  of  but  average  drawing  power,  Kay 
Kyser  and  his  band  in  person  drew  an 
estimated  140,000  people  in  the  week, 
breaking  all  records  of  the  past  ten  years 
for  any  Detroit  theatre. 

Unfortunate  experience  with  a revival 
of  two  horror  films  of  several  years  back 
at  the  Cinema  marked  the  nadir  of  the 
week  locally.  This  house  did  record  busi- 
ness not  long  ago  with  two  new  horror 
films,  and  the  moral  evidently  is  that  the 
public  in  this  town  likes  horror,  but  won’t 
go  for  repeats,  inasmuch  as  the  limited 
audience  has  probably  seen  these  old- 
timers  before. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  23: 

(Average  is  100) 

Adams — Arizona  (Col)  after  8 days  at  the 

Fox;  Ellery  Queen,  Master  Detective  (Col)..  90 
Cinema — Draeula  (Univ)  and  Frankenstein 

(Univ)  revival  60 

Fox — Trial  of  the  Vigilantes  (Univ);  with 


u ~ 

"GWTW"  Strong  as 
Ever  in  Cleveland 

Cleveland — The  local  run  of  “GWTW'' 
is  leading  the  Loew  circuit  all  over  the 
country,  local  officials  report.  At  least 
75,000  people  saw  the  picture  in  its  first 
week  at  popular  prices  at  Loew's  State. 
The  State  has  approximately  3.500  seats, 
so  it  appears  that  some  10.000  daily  ad- 
missions were  sold.  This  comes  close  to 
selling  out  completely  for  the  four  daily 
shows.  It  is  being  held  a second  week 
at  the  State  and  then  it  moves  to  the 
Stillman. 

“GWTW''  last  year  played  a ten-week 
engagement  at  Loew's  Stillman  at  $1.10 
top.  It  grossed  approximately  $225,000. 


V>  - - ^ 

Kay  Kyser’s  band,  the  stage  show  gets 

the  credit  260 

Michigan — Flight  Command  (M-G-M); 

Keeping  Company  (M-G-M) 100 

Palms-State — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN)  after  9 days 
at  the  Michigan;  and  East  of  the  River  (FN)  95 
United  Artists — Maisie  Was  a Early  (M-G-M); 

Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  100 


'Thief  of  Bagdad " Week's 
Leader  in  Pittsburgh 

Pittsburgh — “The  Thief  of  Bagdad”  at 
Loew’s  Penn  was  the  attraction  of  the  week 
here,  with  “Comrade  X”  in  the  Warner, 
after  nine  days  in  the  Penn,  turning  in 
a very  good  showing.  “Flight  Command” 
in  the  Ritz,  after  nine  days  in  the  Stanley, 
did  only  average  business.  Ted  Weems  and 
his  orchestra  helped  “South  of  Suez”  at  the 
Stanley.  Details  for  week  ending  Jan- 
uary 17: 


(Average  is  100) 

Barry — Girls  Under  21  (Col);  Barnyard 

Follies  (Rep)  HO 

Fulton — Hudson's  Bay  (20th-Fox),  2nd  wk 60 

Penn — The  Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA) 125 

Ritz — Flight  Command  (M-G-M),  2nd  d.  t.  wk. . .100 

Senator — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox) 90 

Stanley — South  of  Suez  (WB);  Ted  Weems 

stage  show  115 

Warner — Comrade  X (M-G-M),  2nd  d.  t.  wk. ..140 


Sneak  Preview  Added  to 
Cincinnati's  Strongest 

Cincinnati — RKO’s  sneak  preview,  pro- 
perly heralded  in  all  newspapers  as  added 


Londons  Open  New 
Detroit  Midtown 

Detroit — Opening  of  the  new  1,000-seat 
Midtown  by  Julius  D.  and  Milton  London 
— father  and  son — was  a bit  of  a civic 
event,  despite  the  absence  of  a trade 
screening. 

This  is  the  first  theatre  built  in  the 
two-mile  circle  since  the  Roxy  was  opened 
eight  years  ago,  and  its  construction  near 
the  center  of  what  newspapers  have  for 
months  been  campaigning  about  as  De- 
troit’s “blighted  area,”  gives  it  unusual 
significance.  Tribute  to  the  civic  enter- 
prise of  the  Londons  in  their  venture  was 
paid  by  Mayor  Edward  J.  Jeffries  in  a 
telegram  of  congratulation  at  the  opening. 

Milton  London  will  manage  the  house 
personally,  and  continue  to  control  the 
Arcade  as  well.  Ed  DeLorme  is  operator. 

Floral  tributes  were  received  from  many 
friends,  including:  W.  J.  Turnbull,  Na- 
tional Theatre  Supply;  Ed  Long,  Long 
Sign  Co.;  G.  E.  LeVeque,  Cinema  Service; 
Joe  Lenahan,  Mills  Mutual  Agency;  Frank 
Lorenzen,  theatrical  florist;  employes  of 
both  the  Booth  and  the  Arcade  theatres; 
M.  A.  Tork,  manager  of  the  Booth;  Ben 
Lefkowitz,  Auto  City  Candy  Co.;  William 
A.  London,  Associated  Theatres;  I.  J.  Lon- 
don, circuit  owner;  and  Bennett  and 
Straight,  theatrical  architects. 


to  “This  Thing  Called  Love,”  for  a final 
Tuesday  night  show,  brought  out  an  ex- 
cellent audience,  and  pleased  the  exhibi- 
tors and  critics,  all  of  whom  came  in  full 
force.  “This  Thing  Called  Love,”  topped 
grosses  at  the  Palace  and  held  over.  Busi- 
ness zoomed  slightly  but  the  holdovers 
suffered  and  the  stage  and  film  at  Shu- 
bert’s  fell  below  average. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  23: 


(Average  is  100) 

Albee — The  Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA),  held  over..  110 
Capitol — GWTW  (M-G-M),  4th  and  final  wk. . . 75 

Grand — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox)  100 

Keith’s — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO),  2nd  and  final  wk. . 85 
Lyric — Flight  Command  (M-G-M),  2nd  and 

final  week  85 

Palace — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col),  held.... 130 

Shubert — Invisible  Woman  (Univ),  plus 

stage  show  95 


They  Join  in  Balaban  Tribute — 


To  the  Drake  Hotel  in  Chicago  went  E.  J.  Hudson,  Frank  Upton,  Grant 
Hawkins  and  Clark  Field  of  Detroit  United  Theatres  to  help  host  Barney 
Balaban,  president  of  Paramount,  at  his  fifth  anniversary  banquet.  Left  to 
right,  foregrounded,  are  Upton,  Hawkins,  Field,  Harry  Lustgarten  (B&K 
circuit,  Chicago) , Harry  Kalcheim  (Paramount  home  office),  and  Hudson. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


ME 


105 


CLEVELAND 


pRITZ  VERMES  is  getting  ready  to  serve 
in  the  Army,  and  his  brother,  Ted,  is 
wearing  a worried  look  wondering  how 
he’s  going  to  look  after  both  the  Norwood 
and  Yale  theatres  . . . Bert  Schoonmaker 
has  leased  the  Lyric,  Delta.  Former  lessee 
was  Jack  Barck  of  Cleveland  . . . The 
Dixie,  Toledo,  closed  in  recent  months, 
has  been  reopened  by  Roger  Scherer,  who 
has  been  associated  with  the  Pete  Mailers 
circuit  in  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.  . . . Urban 
Anderson,  president  of  Midwest  Specialty 
Co.,  handling  distribution  of  Panoram,  re- 
ports four  Panoram  installations  were 
made  last  week — one  of  them  in  the  Al- 
hambra Bowling  Alley  operated  by  Martin 
Printz. 

J.  O.  Guthrie  of  New  London,  George 
Delis  of  the  Constant  circuit,  Joe  Trunk 
and  Joe  Shagrin  of  Youngstown  and  Max 
Federhar  of  Akron  were  among  the  Film- 
row  out-of-town  visitors  during  the  week 
. . . Maurice  Druker , pinch  hitting  for 
Everett  Steinbuck,  manager  of  Loew’s 
State,  is  getting  the  impression  that  Cleve- 
land is  a great  show  town  which  it  is 
judging  from  the  crowds  that  are  pouring 
into  the  State  to  see  “GWTW .” 

Charles  Raymond,  Loew  division  mana- 
ger, and  Mrs.  Raymond  are  both  speak- 
ing before  groups  in  behalf  of  aid  to 
Britain.  The  Raymonds  only  recently  re- 
turned from  London  where  for  six  years 
he  was  in  charge  of  Loew  theatres  . . . 
Harry  Henderson,  manager  of  the  Lorain 
Fulton,  has  a new  hobby — playing  with 
electric  trains  . . . Ray  Schmertz  of  the 
20th-Fox  exchange  became  an  uncle  last 
week  for  the  first  time  . . . The  Joe  Lis- 
sauers  of  the  W.  N.  Skirball  circuit  are 
in  Florida,  and  the  Skirballs  are  making 
arrangements  to  go  down  there  for  a 
couple  of  months. 

“Land  of  Liberty,"  which  premieres  in 
the  capital  of  each  state,  opened  at  Loew’s, 
Columbus,  on  January  24  . . . George  Hol- 
den, shipping  clerk  in  the  Cincinnati  PRC 
office,  steps  out  in  uniform  on  February  8 
If  you  have  any  high  class  art  work  to 
be  done  at  any  time,  see  Ed  Wise,  mana- 
ger of  the  Homestead  Theatre.  After  see- 
ing his  work  on  Chick  Taylor’s  shorts 
book,  he  should  be  swamped  with  orders. 

C.  C.  Deardourff,  M-G-M  exploiteer,  is 
out  in  the  territory  arranging  tieups  on 
“GWTW”  that  will  soon  be  breaking  at 
popular  prices  . . . Eddie  Miller  is  back 

0 " ^ 

List  of  Lawsuits 
Grows  in  Detroit 

Detroit — Detroit's  series  of  theatrical 
lawsuits  now  before  the  courts  have  an 
addition  in  progress  this  week  in  the  suit 
of  James  Cruze  Productions  against  L.  A. 
Young,  etc.,  when  Circuit  Judge  Theodore 
J.  Richter  issued  an  order  for  the  produc- 
tion of  certain  books  and  records  for  ex- 
amination. The  case,  in  reality  two  twin 
suits  for  approximately  $1,000,000  grow- 
out  of  the  Tiffany-Stahl  Productions,  has 
been  in  court  for  several  years. 

vi  — -0 


on  the  job  managing  the  Hippodrome  af- 
ter battling  the  flu  . . . For  straight  laughs, 
smart  dialogue  and  smooth  acting,  don’t 
miss  Carole  Lombard  and  Robert  Mont- 
gomery in  “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith,”  an  RKO 
product. 

Marie  Mack  of  Metro's  local  exchange 
observed  her  natal  day  on  Saturday. 

The  new  year  has  started  out  well  in- 
sofar as  the  film  population  is  concerned. 
So  far,  January  has  produced  two  new 
prospective  femme  stars  and  two  possible 
leading  men.  Marilyn  Gail  arrived  last 
Monday  night  to  make  a threesome  of  the 
family  of  Sanford  Leavitt  of  the  Washing- 
ton circuit;  Bob  Richardson,  RKO  booker, 
and  Mrs.  Richardson  welcomed  Gail  Louise 
on  Sunday  night;  Sunday  also  brought  a 
second  son  to  George  Bailey,  M-G-M  as- 
sistant cashier,  and  Mrs.  Bailey  and  earlier 
in  the  month  a son  was  born  to  the 
Leonard  Greenbergers  of  the  Moreland 
Theatre. 

Leo  Jones  of  Upper  Sa7idusky  has 
temporarily  closed  his  Carey  Theatre, 
Carey,  until  the  flu  epidemic  subsides  . . . 
Sam  Stecker  of  Associated  circuit  and  Mrs. 


ROBERT  FITZWATER  has  purchased  a 
site  160  x 100  feet  at  1625  Queen  City 
Avenue  on  which  he  will  erect  a brick  and 
concrete  theatre  with  terra  cotta  front. 
Besides  a seating  capacity  of  690  persons, 
there  will  be  a large  parking  lot  . . . The 
show  went  on  when  fire  attacked  the  Opera 
House,  Lexington,  Ky„  operated  by  Schine. 
The  loss  is  covered  by  insurance.  The  fire 
was  confined  to  the  dressing  rooms  and 
storage  rooms  in  the  rear  of  the  building. 
A rear  brick  wall  was  torn  loose  by  a blast. 
G.  Lewis  Hensler  is  manager  of  the  house. 

Ev  Bennett,  Palace,  Dayton,  was  con- 
fined to  the  hospital  by  ptomaine  poison- 
ing . . . Carl  Rohs  has  set  February  6 
for  the  opening  of  his  new  house  at 
Cynthiana,  Ky.  Other  new  building  activi- 
ties concern  Paul  Banker  and  Fred  Krimm, 
who  are  erecting  a new  house  in  N.  Dayton, 
Ohio  . . . Bob  Urling  labored,  with  good 
results,  to  save  his  Wayne,  Wayne,  W.  Va., 
from  destruction  by  fire,  which  carried 
away  all  adjoining  property.  Bob  stayed 
on  the  roof  with  a hose  fighting  the  fire. 
His  break  came  when  a wall  of  an  ad- 
jacent building  fell  away  from  the  theatre 
instead  of  upon  it. 

Tony  Sauer,  custodian  of  the  Work 
House,  was  to  throw  his  annual  party  to 
compliment  the  bookers  of  Filmrow,  Jan- 
uary 29.  A full  turnout  was  anticipated 
. . . Leonard  Cohen  had  been  added  to 
Metro’s  shipping  department.  Their  Clark 
Mellard  is  the  proud  father  of  a boy, 
named  Clark  Mellard  jr.  ...  Ed  Salzberg 
is  opening  his  new  theatre,  leased  from 
Dr.  B.  B.  Caldwell,  March  1.  The  house, 
named  the  Monroe,  was  erected  following 
the  destruction  by  fire  of  the  old  theatre. 
National  Theatre  Supply  has  furnished  all 
equipment  . . . Warner’s  Walter  McLay, 
shipper,  has  enlisted  with  the  air  corps. 


(t  1 ft 

First  Runs  Hold  Up 
Despite  Flu  Wave 

Cleveland — First  run  business  does 
not  appear  to  have  suffered  from  the  flu 
epidemic  that  is  widely  prevalent  in 
mild  form  in  this  territory,  but  suburban 
theatres  and  houses  in  the  small  towns 
seem  to  be  suffering  as  a consequence. 

Only  two  towns  are  reported  closed  on 
account  of  the  epidemic.  They  are 
Carey,  where  Leo  Jones  operates  the 
Carey,  and  the  LoNet  in  Wellington. 

W ■ - i) 

Stecker  are  now  in  Florida  . . . Frank 
Porozynski  of  the  New  Victory  and  Garfield 
theatres  has  postponed  his  trek  south  on 
account  of  the  illness  of  Mrs.  Porozynski. 

Jimmy  Circosta  of  the  Ohio,  Bellaire,  is 
celebrating  the  arrival  of  a grandson. 
Father  is  Circosta ’s  son  who  operates  the 
St.  Clairsville,  St.  Clairsville  . . . First 
theatre  fire  to  occur  here  in  many  years 
was  reported  last  Monday  night  at  the 
RKO  Palace.  It  was  of  unknown  origin 
and  was  discovered  under  the  stage.  Man- 
ager Kenneth  Means  refunded  money  to 
about  90  per  cent  of  the  customers.  Loss 
was  negligible. 


Universal’s  Frank  Schrieber  was  confined 
to  his  home  with  flu.  The  disease  is  on 
the  wane,  according  to  reports  from  the 
territory.  Houses  reopening  are  J.  L. 
Crist’s  at  W.  Melton  and  also  Nelson 
Muntz’s  Roxy  in  this  town.  The  ban  on 
children  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  has  been  lifted. 
Leesburg,  Ohio,  has  been  closed  . . . The 
Jefferson,  Jeffersonville,  Ohio,  formerly 
operated  by  Mrs.  Pearl  Sexton,  is  now 
being  operated  by  Ray  Holland  . . . Queen 
City  Variety  has  appointed  Joe  Oulahan 
chairman  of  their  new  charity  drive  com- 
mittee. A meeting  is  to  be  held  February 
3 to  discuss  ways  and  means  of  increasing 
the  charity  fund. 

George  “Red”  Holden,  manager  of  ac- 
cessories at  PRC,  a member  of  the  aviation 
reserve,  has  been  called  to  the  service  . . . 
PRC  is  inaugurating  their  “Lee  L.  Gold- 
berg Drive”  and  the  three  offices — Indian- 
apolis, Cincinnati  and  Cleveland — are  ex- 
pecting a hot  contest  for  first  place. 
Prizes  are  posted  . . . Nat  Kaplan  an- 
nounces the  release  of  PRC’s  “Secret  Evi- 
dence,” the  first  of  the  Lone  Rider  musical 
westerns,  and  the  advance  reports  on  the 
feature  are  very  good  . . . Joe  Goldberg 
is  now  representing  PRC  in  Kentucky  . . . 
National  Theatre  Supply  replaced  the  booth 
of  H.  J.  Hilling’s  Elm,  Ludlow,  Ohio. 

Archie  Clemons,  Black  Diamond  Theat- 
res, Montgomery,  W.  Va.,  will  open  a new 
theatre  at  Nitro,  W.  Va.,  February  10  . . . 
NTS  has  sold  complete  equipment  for 
Floyd  Williamson’s  Regal,  a colored  house 
at  Dayton,  Ohio  . . . Hugh  Gooding,  Na- 
tional Theatre  Supply  representative,  who 
recently  changed  his  headquarters  from 
Columbus  to  Cincinnati,  closed  Weaver 
Bros,  for  their  Plaza  Theatre,  Miamisburg, 
Ohio. 


106 


BOXOFFICE  ; : February  1,  1941 


ID)  E T R Cl  I!  ir 

CAM  GOLDBERG  is  revamping  the  sound 
and  projection  at  his  Savoy  . . . Rubin 
Miller,  who  recently  took  over  Art  Robin- 
son’s Odeon,  is  almost  a twin  for  Alex 
Zesser  of  the  Ritz  . . . Mrs.  Miller  runs  the 
boxoffice  at  the  Odeon  . . . Jack  Dickstein, 
former  franchise  holder  for  the  Gus  Sun 
office,  is  back  as  Detroit  manager,  succeed- 
ing John  W.  Todd,  who  has  gone  with 
Jacques  Cosmetic  Co.  Dickstein  added 
three  theatres  in  Detroit  and  Ohio  to  his 
books  last  week. 

Bill  Carlson  is  having  the  entire  bench 
of  recorders’  court  as  guests  at  Variety 
clubrooms  . . . Jack  Broder  is  incorporating 
the  Seville  Theatre  Corp.,  to  take  over  the 
house  from  James  Bukiwale  and  Severina 
Danswski  . . . Ted  Sandford  is  back  handl- 
ing booking  for  the  Musicians’  Booking 
and  Service  Bureau,  reports  Orville  Mum- 
ford,  manager  . . . J.  R.  Grainger,  Republic 
president,  in  town  briefly,  then  flying  to 
Buffalo  . . . The  Carthay  is  tentative  name 
of  Joseph  Miskinis’  new  one  at  Puritan  and 
Greenfield. 

Abraham  Sloan,  builder  of  the  Television 
Theatre,  has  a name  for  a new  one  at  an 
undisclosed  site— the  Variety  . . . Eddie 
Sligh  of  Chicago  and  Val  Campbell,  lately 
of  Miami,  are  joining  the  new  enlarged 
Betty  Bryden  Booking  Office  . . . Dave 
King’s  early  days  in  the  National  were  the 
subject  of  several  articles  in  “The  Old 
Timer’s”  column  in  the  Detroit  News  . . . 
Donald  S.  Munro,  84,  for  20  years  treasurer 
of  the  Temple,  is  dead  . . . Leon  Arozian  of 
Film  Drugs  reports  his  number  called  in 
the  draft  . . . Dick  Flemion  of  PRC  with 
a business-looking  pipe  . . . Nat  Haase, 
Metro  Premium  manager,  victim  of  a cold 
. . . Gene  Alexander,  Universal  booker,  back 
after  recovery  from  that  accident  near 
Lansing  . . . Ben  Zimner,  UA,  plugging 
strong  for  the  Arthur  W.  Kelly  booking 
drive,  closing  April  19. 

Frank  Stuart,  manager  for  the  Midwest 
circuit,  first  a victim  of  lumbago,  next 
came  back  to  injure  his  ankle  severely  up 
in  the  balcony  of  the  Colonial  . . . Art 
Knapp,  20 th-Fox  city  man,  overlooking  the 
new  roofing  being  put  on  the  exchange 
building  from  his  office  window  . . . Floyd 
Keiller,  Fox  salesman,  knows  how  to  make 
the  boys  produce  . . . Harry  Levinson,  RKO 
office  manager,  has  a cold  . . . W . R. 
Stebbins,  Film  Building  owner,  seriously 
ill,  his  son,  of  M-G-M,  reports. 

Lillian  Ambrozy,  Metro  Premium  secre- 
tary, enjoys  the  snow  scenes  from  her 
window  . . . Milton  Jacobson,  manager  of 
Sam  Mintz’s  Monroe  (and  brother  of  the 
famed  Eddie),  leaves  downtown  early  these 
quiet  evenings  . . . Ben  Wachnansky  of 
the  New  Bijou  and  Columbia  used  to  be 
an  “idea  man”  for  Paramount  . . . Jack 
Hurford,  manager  of  the  Fox,  found  that 
chicken  he  won  at  Variety  pretty  tough 
eating  till  he  found  that  Mrs.  (Janet) 
Hurford  had  read  the  cooking  instructions 
in  minutes  instead  of  hours. 

Ira  Kaplan,  partner  in  the  Cinema,  has 
been  honeymooning  in  Washington  and 
New  York  after  his  marriage  to  Gertrude 
Winer,  radio  actress  . . . Mac  Zipperman, 
Kaplan’s  partner,  proudly  introducing  his 
wife,  who  remained  in  New  York  until  he 
was  firmly  estalished  here. 


He  Gets  a District — 

Earle  W.  Sweigert,  long  Paramount’s 
Philadelphia  manager,  who  is  upped 
to  a newly  created  district  embracing 
Philadelphia,  Pittsburgh  and  Wash- 
ington. 


Broder  Expanding; 
Key  Spot  to  Daly 


Detroit — Expansion  of  the  Broder  cir- 
cuit was  disclosed  here  with  the  appoint- 
ment of  Joseph  Daly  as  general  manager 
of  the  organization.  Daly  is  temporarily 
directing  activities  from  the  Seville,  which 
Broder  has  taken  over  from  James 
Bukivale  and  Severina  Danswski.  This 
makes  four  houses  for  Broder. 

Daly,  a “young  veteran,”  comes  from 
the  Esquire  in  Grosse  Pointe,  which  will 
now  be  managed  for  Michael  J.  Chargot 
by  his  three  sons.  Daly  was  formerly 
Butterfield  manager  at  Jackson,  and  be- 
fore that  manager  of  the  Loop  here  for 
Associated  Theatres. 

Second  expansion  move  of  the  week  was 
acquisition  of  the  2,000-seat  Town,  inter- 
mittently operated  by  Sam  Carver,  for  the 
past  three  months,  and  reopening  of  this 
big  Woodward  Avenue  spot  as  a 15-cent 
house,  further  complicating  the  already 
confused  Woodward  Avenue  booking  situa- 
tion. The  Town,  incidently,  is  in  the  same 
block  as  Broder’s  allied  enterprise,  the 
Trianon  Ballroom. 


Lee  Goldberg's  Brother 
Joins  Him  as  Salesman 

Cleveland — Lee  Goldberg,  PRC  fran- 
chise owner,  announces  his  brother,  Joe  W. 
Goldberg,  has  rejoined  his  organization 
as  special  sales  representative  in  the  Cin- 
cinnati territory.  Joe  was  associated  with 
Lee  in  Big  Feature  Rights  exchanges  in 
Louisville  prior  to  his  entering  the  ad- 
vertising field. 


PENNSYLVANIA’S  primary  elections  this 
year  will  be  September  9 and  munici- 
pal elections  will  be  held  November  4 . . . 
Jeanette  MacDonald  was  ill  here  for  sev- 
eral days  last  week  and  her  reception  and 
recital  were  re-scheduled.  Her  new  con- 
cert date  at  Syria  Mosque  is  February  24 
. . . McKeesport  is  expected  to  increase 
jukebox  and  pinball  license  fees.  Duquesne, 
which  will  soon  celebrate  its  golden  jubi- 
lee, doubled  its  fees  on  these  items  this 
year  and  has  tripled  its  revenues.  Fees 
there  are  now  $50  for  pinball  games  and 
$20  for  music  boxes  . . . Raymond  Trubey, 
assistant  to  John  Walsh  at  the  Fulton,  is 
now  on  duty  at  Ashtabula,  Ohio,  with  the 
Shea  circuit,  and  his  position  has  been 
filled  by  Gordon  Kinsey,  formerly  Fulton’s 
chief  of  service. 

George  Wheeler,  former  local  film  man, 
was  on  Filmrow  the  other  day  from  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  where  he  books  for  a large 
circuit,  and  just  prior  to  his  visit  here  his 
brother  Sam,  20 th-Fox  branch  manager 
of  the  same  city,  was  in  town  . . . Vince 
Josack  isn’t  going  to  be  caught  napping 
when  the  golf  season  opens,  for  he  is  con- 
tinuing his  regular  “swing"  sessions  at 
the  Schenley  club  house  . . . Mark  Browar 
is  still  “selling  the  furniture”  and  expects 
to  depart  around  the  first  of  March  for 
Los  Angeles  where  he  will  reside  perma- 
nently . . . You  caiinot  really  appreciate 
Dave  Kimelman’s  happy  smiles  these  days 
unless  you’ve  seen  “Virginia." 

Funeral  services  for  Mrs.  Blanche  Sch- 
nitzer,  75,  were  held  here  last  Friday  at 
the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Charles 
Benjamin.  A resident  of  this  city  for  60 
years  and  prominently  identified  with 
charitable  and  philanthropic  work  here  for 
a long  period,  the  deceased  was  the  mother 
of  Joseph  I,  and  Abe  Schnitzer,  pioneers 
in  the  film  industry  here  who  now  own 
and  operate  the  Western  Costume  Co.  in 
Hollywood,  and  who  returned  here  for  the 
funeral.  Besides  her  two  sons  and  Mrs. 
Benjamin,  she  also  leaves  two  other 
daughters,  Mrs.  Cleve  Adams  of  Los 
Angeles  and  Mrs.  Abe  Lefkowitz  of  the 
north  side.  Mrs.  Schnitzer  died  January 
21  in  Los  Angeles  where  she  had  lived 
for  the  last  eight  years. 

Sam  Navari,  Universal  exhibitor,  has 
been  vacationing  in  Florida  . . . Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  J.  Maloney  were  in  charge  of 
the  January  24  family  night  party  at  the 
Variety  Club.  Ira  H.  Cohn,  recently  re- 
turned from  Florida,  and  his  20 th-Fox 
gang,  were  in  charge  of  the  Variety’s  Jan- 
uary 27  dinner  . . . The  mother  of  Angelo 
Marino,  Universal  exchange  shipper,  died 
last  week  . . . Sympathy  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Frank  Panoplos  on  the  death  of  the  Clair- 
ton  exhibitor’s  wife’s  sister,  Mrs.  Minnie 
B.  Williams  . . . Jim  Levine,  Walt  Disney 
representative,  was  here  last  week  in  con- 
nection with  “Fantasia,"  which  may  get 
an  early  exhibition  here  at  either  the 
Fulton  or  Warner. 


Leon  Fisher  Drafted 

Columbus — Leon  “Lee”  Fisher,  publicity 
director  of  the  Palace  Theatre  here,  has 
reported  for  a year’s  service  in  the  army. 
He  will  be  stationed  at  Camp  Shelby,  Miss. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


107 


LOUISVILLE 

*pHE  hat,  overcoat  and  wallet  of  Don  K. 

Smith,  Indianapolis  branch  manager  of 
National  Theatre  Supply,  were  found  in 
an  automobile  belonging  to  Smith  on  the 
Municipal  Bridge  Monday.  Smith  has  been 
missing,  and  it  is  believed  that  he  leaped 
into  the  Ohio  River.  His  body  has  not 
yet  been  found. 

Illness  has  taken  the  round  of  several 
exhibitors  in  this  territory.  James  Casenilli 
who  operates  at  Herman  has  been  ill  for 
several  days  with  influenza.  Miss  Imo- 
gene  Sanders,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Paul  Sanders  of  the  Alhambra  at  Camp- 
bellsville,  is  in  the  hospital  recovering  af- 
ter an  appendicitis  operation.  Sanders 
himself  has  been  confined  to  bed  for  sev- 
eral days  with  influenza.  Friends  of  A.  H. 
Robertson,  who  has  been  operating  the 
Majestic  at  Springfield,  will  be  glad  to 
know  that  he  is  on  the  mend  again,  hav- 
ing also  been  confined  for  several  weeks. 

Ruth  Mock,  daughter  of  Universal’s  Carl 
P.  Mock,  is  now  a member  of  the  Aldrich 
Family  broadcast  on  the  NBC  network 
every  Thursday.  This  is  her  first  big- 
time  radio  assignment  . . . Ira  B.  Dyer, 
who  recently  took  over  the  Ritz  at  Burks- 
ville,  Ky.,  from  Haskell  E.  Nivens,  has  sold 
his  newly  acquired  theatre  to  the  Mid- 
State  Theatre  Co. 

Earl  Booze  has  sold  his  Gay  Theatre 
at  Jellico,  Tenn.,  to  the  Cherokee  Amuse- 
ment Co.  of  Nashville.  The  contract  was 
closed  Wednesday  between  Booze  and  W. 
H.  Parrott  of  Lafayette,  president  of  the 
Cherokee  Co.  The  house  will  be  closed 
for  complete  renovation.  Booze  and  his 
family  are  leaving  for  Virginia  where  he 
will  be  connected  with  a chain  shoe  store 
company. 

B.  J.  Curry  has  sold  his  Strand  at 
Horse  Cave,  Ky.,  to  C.  M.  Caldwell,  opera- 
tor of  houses  at  Cave  City,  Scottsville  and 
Munfordville.  Curry  is  going  out  of  the 
territory. 


Retired  Exhibitor  Dies 

Mr.  Pleasant,  Pa. — J.  B.  Cox,  pioneer 
exhibitor,  died  here  last  week  at  the  age 
of  79.  Owner  and  manager  of  the  old  Cox 
Theatre  for  many  years,  he  had  retired 
from  exhibition  several  years  ago. 

-ft 

On  Its  Way  to 
The  Lawyers 

Louisville — A lawsuit  is  brewing  over 
an  argument  between  two  erstwhile 
friends  as  to  who  is  entitled  to  $100  won 
at  Louis  Steurle's  Broadway  Theatre.  The 
one  at  present  holding  the  money  con- 
tends she  paid  the  admission  for  her 
friend  and  the  ticket  stubs  that  brought 
the  prize  therefore  are  hers.  Her  friend 
counters  that  she  paid  her  own  way, 
only  letting  the  former  buy  the  tickets, 
who  proceeded  to  hold  the  stubs.  The 
case  is  due  for  police  court  if  not 
settled. 

Vfc=  J 


ft  ft 

Massillon  to  License 
Theatre  Stimulators 

Massillon,  Ohio — Licensing  of  Bank 
Nights,  Prosperity  Clubs  and  similar  pat- 
ronage stunts  at  local  theatres,  has  been 
approved  by  the  city  council.  The  ordi- 
nance sets  up  a $5  fee  for  each  drawing 
in  connection  with  the  stunts. 

Although  approved  a week  ago.  Mayor 
Harry  Lash  has  not  yet  affixed  his  signa- 
ture to  the  ordinance. 

vs-- — ■ ■■  V 

Several  Shea  Managers 
Moved  in  Ohio  and  Pa . 

New  York — Several  changes  in  mana- 
gers of  Shea  theatres  have  been  announced 
by  E.  C.  Grainger,  president  of  the  circuit, 
upon  his  return  from  a recent  trip  through 
Ohio  and  Pennsylvania. 

Affected  are  the  following:  Duke  Prince, 
manager  of  the  Ohio  and  Strand  in  Mari- 
etta, was  transferred  to  Zanesville,  Ohio, 
as  assistant  to  the  general  manager,  E.  J. 
Hiehle,  in  charge  of  three  houses.  Joe 
Scanlon,  pinch  hitting  in  Zanesville,  as- 
sumes Prince’s  post  in  Marietta. 

Raymond  C.  Trubey,  recently  pinch  hit- 
ting in  Pittsburgh,  has  been  transferred 
to  Ashtabula,  Ohio,  as  assistant  to  Dan 
Gilhula,  city  manager;  and  Gordon  Kear- 
sey,  chief  of  service  in  Pittsburgh,  has 
been  promoted  to  an  assistant  manager- 
ship there. 

Warner  Will  Operate 
New  Unit  in  Sharon 

Sharon,  Pa. — Louis  Shafran,  Sharon 
businessman,  announces  plans  for  the  con- 
struction of  a theatre  and  business  block 
in  the  east  side  to  cost  $90,000.  Contract 
has  been  awarded  to  Paul  Glenn,  local  con- 
tractor, who  will  start  work  on  the  pro- 
ject immediately. 

The  theatre,  to  be  equipped  and  oper- 
ated by  Warner  Bros.,  will  seat  938  per- 
sons. The  building  also  will  include  two 
large  storerooms  and  ten  office  suites. 
The  contract  calls  for  its  completion  on 
or  before  August  1. 

Manos  Remodeling  Project 
Under  Way  in  Uniontown 

Uniontown,  Pa,  — Work  started  two 
weeks  ago  on  the  extensive  remodeling 
of  the  business  property  here  which  is  be- 
ing converted  into  a large  de  luxe  theatre 
for  Michael  Manos  circuit.  Downtown  lo- 
cation is  considered  ideal  for  this  project. 
In  addition  to  modern  designs,  equip- 
ments and  fixtures,  the  new  theatre  will 
feature  a large  stage.  Seating  capacity 
will  be  more  than  1,000. 

Wm.  H.  Steffes.  Detroit 
Pioneer.  Dead  at  69 

Detroit — William  H.  Steffes,  one  of  De- 
troit’s pioneer  exhibitors,  is  dead  at  69. 
He  owned  and  operated  the  De  Luxe  Theat- 
re, one  of  the  earliest  among  the  larger 
theatres  on  Detroit’s  east  side,  up  until  the 
time  of  his  death.  His  widow  and  nine 
children  survive.  Interment  was  in  Mount 
Olivet  Cemetery. 


]^UKE  PRINCE,  manager  of  the  Ohio  and 
Strand  in  Marietta  for  the  past  two 
years,  Saturday  was  transferred  to  the 
Zanesville  as  supervisor  for  the  Imperial 
and  Quimby,  all  units  in  the  Shea  circuit. 
Joe  Scanlon  follows  Prince  in  Marietta, 
coming  from  Jamestown,  N.  Y.  Ted  Hoop- 
er is  Quimby  house  manager,  while  Wins- 
ton Drake  is  at  the  Imperial,  both  but  re- 
cently promoted. 

Bob  Pullin  of  the  Linden  is  vacationing 
in  Hollywood  . . . “GWTW”  is  current  at 
the  Ohio.  Original  booking  was  a year 
ago  at  the  Broad  . . . P.  W.  Wood  was 
in  W ashington  for  the  Allied  confab  . . . 
The  Gray  Gordon  orchestra  stage  review 
is  making  this  territory  ...  In  Cincinnati 
for  the  “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith”  preview  were 
Bill  Cunningham  of  the  Citizen  and  Harold 
Eckert  of  the  Journal,  who  were  in  the  C. 
Harry  Schreiber  party. 

Congratulations  to  Max  Stearn  on  the 
passing  of  another  milestone  . . . Gene 
Sheldon,  Columbuson,  is  appearing  cur- 
rently on  the  Broad  stage.  That  house, 
incidentally,  and  Manager  Joe  Sloan,  de- 
serves a pat  on  the  back  for  the  terrific 
campaign  on  “Land  of  Liberty.” 

Louis  Wiethe,  Cincinnati,  announces  that 
Milton  Yassenoff  will  manage  his  new 
Beechwold,  which  will  open  February  12. 
He  attended  the  University  of  Illinois,  and 
is  the  son  of  Leo  Yassenoff,  of  the  F&Y 
Theatre  Division. 

Make  a note:  If  a bill  is  introduced  in 
the  Ohio  legislature  to  remove  censorship 
from  newsreels,  it  will  pass!  Inside  story 
is  that  no  bill  of  such  a nature  will  be 
presented  without  a green  light  signal 
from  Governor  Bricker. 


Dock  Refused  Refund  on 
License  Fee  Payment 

Detroit — Annual  license  fees  paid  by 
theatre  operators  are  paid  “for  keeps,”  ac- 
cording to  the  city  council.  A request  for 
a refund — the  first  in  many  years,  if  not 
the  first  on  record — was  made  by  Claude 
A.  Dock,  builder  of  the  Dox  Theatre,  who 
recently  sold  his  house  to  Ambrose  J. 
Fitzgerald.  Dock  felt  entitled  to  a refund 
on  the  unexpired  portion  of  his  license 
payment,  and  asked  for  a prorata  refund 
accordingly. 

The  council  took  the  matter  up  with  the 
police  department,  and  concluded  with  the 
verdict  that  “there  is  no  provision  in  the 
ordinance  for  making  such  a refund.” 


Raymond  Greevey  Heads 
DuBois.  Pa..  Operators 

DuBois,  Pa. — Heading  the  new  official 
slate  of  the  DuBois  Local  No.  703  of  the 
IATSE  is  Raymond  M.  Greevey  of  Rey- 
noldsville,  Pa. 

Other  officers  recently  installed  include 
Joseph  L.  Beezar,  Punxsutawney,  vice- 
president;  James  J.  Bojalad,  DuBois,  secre- 
tary; Charles  Hamberger,  Ridgway,  treas- 
urer; Kenneth  Burtnett,  Brockway,  busi- 
ness agent. 


108 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


Film  Censorial  Powers 
Extended  in  Boston 


(r~  ''  ^ 

Morandiere  Clerk 
Ot  Boston  Board 

Boston  — The  American  Arbitration 
Ass'n  has  named  Henry  de  la  Moran- 
diere as  clerk  of  the  motion  picture  arbi- 
tration board  here.  His  address  is  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce. 

vl_.  = — =» 

Says  M&P  Schedules 
Went  to  All  Majors 

Boston — Continuing  testimony  in  the 
current  Waldo  Theatres  Corp.  vs.  the  late 
Joseph  Dondis,  et  al.,  anti-trust  suit,  A1 
Be  van,  M&P  Theatres  Corp.  assistant 
booker,  testified  that  it  was  not  the  cir- 
cuit’s practice  to  send  protection  sched- 
ules to  independent  distributors,  but  that 
the  chain  generally  sent  them  out  to  all 
major  companies. 

Still  concentrating  his  questioning  upon 
the  issue  of  protection  in  the  form  of  clear- 
ance, plaintiffs’  counsel,  George  S.  Ryan, 
referring  to  the  season  of  1930-31,  sought 
details  as  to  the  companies  receiving 
copies  of  the  protection  schedule.  The 
probing  elicited  the  information  that  as 
far  as  he  (Bevan)  recalled,  all  received 
the  schedules  and  that  conversations  perti- 
nent to  clearance  followed  with  the  recipi- 
ents of  the  schedules. 

Elaborating  somewhat  in  the  case  of 
Universal,  Bevan  answered  a query  as  to 
what  was  said  about  protection  being  given 
by  other  distributors,  with  “I  don’t  recall 
that  there  was  any  conversation  about 
what  we  get  from  other  people,  so  far  as 
Bill  Kelly  (branch  manager  for  Universal) 
was  concerned.  I know  I did  mention  it  to 
clinch  my  argument,  and  Bill  would  never 
agree  to  that,  because  we  didn’t  do  much 
business  with  them,  and  they  always  sold 
different  from  anybody  else  and  still  do.” 

Bevan  denied  that  citing  what  others 
accorded  in  the  way  of  protection  was  his 
most  effective  argument,  terming  it  “just 
one  of  the  arguments.” 

An  objection  by  John  Caskey,  one  of  the 
defense  battery,  to  the  question  “so  far  as 
protection  was  concerned,  have  you  found 
that  no  distributor  likes  to  give  more  pro- 
tection than  the  other  distributor  was  giv- 
ing” was  over-ruled  by  Francis  P.  Free- 
man, U.  S.  district  court  appointee,  as 
master,  and  was  accordingly  answered  by 
Bevan:  “It  has  been  my  experience  that 
none  of  them  like  to  give  you  much,  and 
they  try  to  settle  for  as  little  as  possible.” 


Metro  Sells  Dual  Bill 
To  Paramount  Outlet 

Boston — M-G-M  has  sold  two  features 
to  the  M&P  Theatres  Corp.  The  Para- 
mount-affiliated  circuit  has  spotted  the 
M-G-M  dual,  “Haunted  Honeymoon”  and 
“Go  West”  in  the  first  run  Paramount  and 
Fenway. 

Marty  Glazer,  advertising  manager  for 
the  two  houses,  gave  the  two  films  a con- 
centrated exploitation  campaign,  originat- 
ing the  catchline:  “Buck  Harpo!  Buck 
Chico!  and  Pass-the-Buck  Groucho!” 


Boston — Motion  picture  censorship  ac- 
tivity was  increased  in  the  City  of  Boston 
last  week  following  notices  sent  to  local 
theatre  managers  by  John  J.  Spencer,  chief 
of  the  Boston  licensing  board. 

Spencer  ordered  local  managers  planning 
to  show  any  of  the  34  motion  picture  fea- 
tures he  named  to  notify  him  in  writing 
not  less  than  four  days  before  the  pro- 
posed showing.  He  also  provided  that,  if  he 
so  declared  it,  the  manager  must  arrange 
for  a private  showing. 

The  move  came  so  unexpectedly  that 
local  theatre  organizations  were  not  aware 
of  it  until  informed  by  this  publication. 
They  started  investigations  at  once. 

The  present  scope  of  the  new  move  prin- 
cipally affects  but  a limited  number  of 
local  houses,  but  it  is  felt  that  if  it  is  al- 
lowed to  gather  a foothold,  its  power  will 
spread,  although  there  is  no  indication  in 
Spencer’s  notice  that  any  films  will  be 
banned. 

The  motion  picture  house  that  stands  to 
be  most  concerned  is  the  Fine  Arts,  a 
number  of  whose  foreign  importations  are 
on  Spencer’s  list.  Other  houses  that  may 
be  involved  include  such  spasmodic  road- 
show locations  as  the  Gayety,  Globe,  Bea- 
con, Stuart,  etc. 

Spencer  provides  in  his  notification, 
which  he  issued  under  the  provisions  of 
Chapter  494,  Section  1,  of  the  Acts  of  1908, 
and  Acts  in  amendment  thereto,  that: 

“No  picture  appearing  on  the  appended 
list  may  be  presented  in  Boston,  without 
the  permission  of  the  chief  of  the  licensing 
division,  or  assistant  chief,  licensing  divi- 
sion, which  can  be  obtained  only  after  the 
foregoing  regulations  are  compiled  with.” 

Regulations  alluded  to  are: 

“(1)  The  manager  of  any  theatre  where 
the  presentation  of  any  photoplay  which 
appears  on  the  appended  list  is  planned 
must,  not  less  than  four  days  before  the 
projected  showing,  notify  in  writing  the 
chief,  licensing  division,  Mayors  office,  Bos- 
ton, Mass.,  listing  the  title  of  the  film, 
any  previous  titles,  producer  and  number 
of  reels,  this  notification  to  be  in  addition 
to  the  regular  weekly  report. 

“(2)  The  manager  must,  if  so  ordered 
by  the  chief,  licensing  division,  arrange  for 
a private  screening  of  the  photoplay  in 
question  before  the  date  of  which  the 
photoplay  is  scheduled  for  release  at  his 
theatre.” 

See  LOD  Influence 

Spencer  added  that  managers  who  vio- 
late the  regulations  face  summary  suspen- 
sion or  revocation  of  their  theatre  licenses. 

The  list  of  motion  pictures  that  must  be 
given  special  O.  K.’s  for  Boston  showings 
in  the  future  seems  mainly  based  on  Le- 
gion of  Decency  listings,  although  the  li- 
censing division  would  not  confirm  that 
this  opinion  was  being  held  as  any  local 
criterion. 

A large  number  of  the  products  named 
have  already  played  Boston,  while  no  at- 
tempt has  been  made  to  bring  certain  of 
the  others,  particularly  the  nudist  reels, 
here. 


Films  designated  by  Spencer  are: 

“Adolph  Armstrong”  (Swedish)  Svensk 
Film  Industri — Scandinavian. 

Talking  Pictures 

“Amours  de  Toni”  (French) — Metropolis. 

“Assassin  of  Youth”— B.  C.  N. 

“Carnival  in  Flanders”  (French) — Tobis. 

“Children  of  the  Sun”— Public  Welfare 
Pictures  Corp. 

“Club  de  Femmes”  (French) — S-E-L-F 
Production — Mayer  Burstyn. 

“Damaged  Goods” — Grand  National. 

“Damaged  Lives”  (Reissue) — Welden 
Prod. 

“Daybreak”  (LeJour  Se  Leve)  French — 
Sigman  Production. 

“Ecstasy”  (Czech)— Eureka. 

“Elysia” — Bryan  Foy  Production. 

“Gambling  With  Souls” — Jay  Dee  Kay 
Prod.  Kendis. 

“Hotel  du  Nord”  (French)— Imperial 
Sedif. 

“Human  Beast”  (La  Bete  Humaine) 
French — Paris  Film-Hakimjuon  Films. 

“Indiscretions”  (Nouveau  Testament) 
French — Paramount  Tri  National. 

“Kiss  of  Fire”  <Le  Baiser  du  Feu)  French 
— Solar  Films  of  Paris-Lenauer  Interna- 
tional. 

“Living  Dangerously” — Gaumont  British. 

“L’Orage”  (French) — Andre  Daven-Tri 
National  Films,  Inc. 

“Lucrezia  Borgia”  (French) — La  Com- 
pagnie  Du  Cinema — Europena  Films  Corp. 

“Mad  Youth”— Willis  Kent-Real  Life 
Drama. 

“Merry  Wives”  (Czech) — A.  B.  Film- 
Loyd. 

“The  Pace  That  Kills”— Willis  Kent. 

“Pitfalls  of  Youth” — H.  E.  R.  Labora- 
tories, Inc. 

“Private  Life  of  Henry  VIII”  (Reissue) 
— London  Films. 

“The  Puritan”  (French) — Derby  Lenauer 
International  Films,  Inc. 

“Race  Suicide” — DeLuxe  Company. 

“Reefer  Madness”  (Tell  Your  Children) 
— G&H  Production-George  Hirliman. 

“Sinful  Daughters” — Del  Frazier-Bracher 
& Jones. 

“Slaves  in  Bondage”  (Jay  Dee  Kay 
Prod.) — Kendis. 

“Smashing  the  Vice  Racket” — Directed 
by  John  Melville. 

“Souls  in  Pawn” — Willis  Kent. 

“Time  in  the  Sun” — Eisenstein-Marie 
Seton. 

“Wages  of  Sin" — Willis  Kent. 

"Whirlpool” — Mayer  Burstyn. 

“With  a Smile”  (Avec  Le  Sourire) 
(French) — Malmar  Production. 

Legislature  Busy  With 
Organizational  Efforts 

Boston- — Organizational  efforts  are  still 
taking  up  most  of  the  time  of  (he  Massa- 
chusetts state  legislature.  Full-paced  action 
on  the  record  number  of  bills  introduced 
this  year  is  not  expected  to  get  under  way 
until  next  month,  at  which  time  a num- 
ber of  film  matters  will  come  up  at  this, 
the  first  biennial  session. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


NE 


113 


HARTFORD 


J^ENRY  NEEDLES.  Warner  district  man- 
ager, and  family  have  returned  to 
Hartford  after  a Miami  Beach  vacation 
. . . Mickey  Daly,  owner  of  the  local  Daly 
and  the  Plainfield,  Plainfield,  was  in  New 
Haven  on  business  . . . Charlie  Repass, 
Crown  manager,  at  home  with  a bad  cold 
. . . Elisse  Frank,  wife  of  Rudy,  State 
publicity  director,  was  on  the  sick  list 
with  the  flu  ...  In  town  to  see  Loew’s- 
Poli  Manager  Jack  A.  Simons  was  Elliot 
Kronish  of  Loew’s  New  Haven  offices  . . . 
Alhambra,  Torrington,  presented  the 
“Three  Stooges”  and  the  “Gems  of  1S41” 
on  its  stage  . . . Eddie  Boggs,  E.  M.  Loew’s 
chief  of  service,  had  a cold  . . . Ditto, 
Tommy  Mailer,  manager  of  the  WB’s 
Lenox  . . . Rudy  Frank  is  chairman  of  the 
entertainment  division  of  the  WTIC-Hart- 
ford  Courant  “Mile  o’  Dimes”  dance  . . . 
Joe  Powers,  Loew’s-Poli  night  watchman, 
had  a cold  . . . Frankie  Bradskiff  and 
Richard  D.  Harter,  WB’s  Central,  West 
Hartford,  service  staff  members,  had  the 
flu  . . . In  Hartford  last  Tuesday  after- 
noon was  Bob  “Red”  Rubin,  assistant 
manager  at  the  Loew’s-Poli  Bijou,  New 
Haven. 

Strand,  Norwich,  showed  Producers  Re- 
leasing Corp.’s  “Billy  the  Kid  Turns  Out- 
law” at  a special  kiddies’  matinee,  at 
which  time  “Junior  G-Men”  and  several 
comedies  were  also  shown.  All  youngsters 
in  attendance  were  given  a free  badge 

(,  ft 

Employment  Bounds, 

And  So  Do  Takes 

Boston — A continued  bettering  of  thea- 
tre grosses  is  held  by  local  film  men  to 
be  brought  about  by  the  rising  trend  of 
employment  here. 

In  Massachusetts,  figures  just  released 
by  the  state  department  of  labor  and  in- 
dustries show  that  in  December  the  num- 
ber of  persons  in  private  employ  rose 

2.7  per  cent  from  November,  while  the 
total  amount  of  their  payrolls  increased 

7.8  per  cent. 

Compared  with  December,  1939,  last 
month's  total  of  employed  persons  was 
up  seven  per  cent  and  payrolls  were  up 
15.9  per  cent.  Nevertheless,  based  on  the 
average  for  1925-26-27  as  100,  the  index 
for  the  number  of  employed  persons  last 
December  was  only  87.6  and  that  of 
payrolls,  91.2. 

VS  ■ ■ =U 

Massachusetts  Factory 
Employment  Hits  Top 

Springfield,  Mass. — Employment  in 
Massachusetts  factories  rose  in  Decem- 
ber to  its  highest  level  since  May,  1937, 
and  payrolls  to  the  highest  point  since 
1929,  the  state  department  of  labor  and 
industries  announces. 

The  department’s  statistics,  based  on  a 
survey  of  1,739  representative  manufac- 
turing firms  in  mid-December,  showed  an 
increase  of  7,872  employes,  or  2.7  per 
cent,  an  increase  of  $607,776  in  payrolls, 
or  8.7  per  cent  over  November. 


with  which  to  gain  admission  to  another 
special  matinee  to  see  “The  Gay  Cabal- 
lero” . . . Charlie  Barnett  and  his  orches- 
tra played  at  the  Lyric,  Bridgeport,  last 
Sunday  . . . Plaza,  Waterbury,  is  now 
offering  blue  orchid  dinnerware  to  pat- 
rons . . . Bernard  William  Levy,  manager 
of  the  local  Proven  Pictures  and  also  di- 
vision manager  of  the  Frederick  E.  Lieber- 
man  Theatres,  was  in  Boston  on  business 
. . . Manager  Jack  A.  Simons  of  the 
Loew's-Poli  obtained  a roto  break  on 
“Gone  With  the  Wind”  . . . George  E. 
Landers,  E.  M.  Loew’s  manager,  was  in 
the  Boston  film  district  . . . Mrs.  M.  Oak- 
ley Christoph,  film  columnist  for  the 
Hartford  Courant,  was  in  New  York  . . . 
Manager  Jack  A.  Simons  of  the  Loew’s- 
Poli  has  been  working  pretty  hard  lately 
on  stunts  for  new  pictures  at  that  theatre. 

Seymour  “Rosie”  Rosenberg  of  the 
Proven  Pictures  has  been  attending  the 
New  York  School  of  Foot  and  Finger- 
printing, New  York,  every  weekend  . . . 
A1  Cook.  WB’s  Strand  doorman,  has  re- 
signed to  work  at  Pratt  & Whitney’s  . . . 
Anna  Sannabro  is  the  new  relief  cashier 
at  the  Proven  Pictures  . . . Robert  Oates, 
former  Proven  Pictures  assistant  manager, 
is  now  working  at  Pratt  & Whitney’s  . . . 
Jack  A.  Simons,  manager  of  the  local 
Loew’s-Poli,  obtained  a co-op  ad  with 
Helen’s  Beauty  Shoppe  on  “Gone  With 
the  Wind”  . . . "Four  Mothers”  was  held 
over  for  a second  week  at  the  WB’s  Regal 
. . . Ditto,  “Gone  With  the  Wind”  at 
the  Loew’s-Poli  Palace  . . . Main  stem 
Daly  held  an  amateur  night  on  its  stage 
last  Thursday  . . . Girl’s  League  of  Wea- 
ver High  School,  Hartford,  presented  War- 
ner’s "Robin  Hood”  in  the  school’s  audi- 
torium . . . Mark  Larkin,  MPPDA,  was 
in  this  area  in  connection  with  “Land  of 
Liberty”  . . . I.  J.  Hoffman,  Warner  zone 
manager,  and  B.  E.  Hoffman,  Warner  as- 
sistant zone  manager,  ill  . . . Robert  Ham- 
ilyon  of  the  Palace,  Norwich,  had  a nice 
campaign  for  “North  West  Mounted  Po- 
lice.” 

Barney  Dobrans,  manager  of  the  Crown, 
New  London,  was  in  Boston  . . . Frankie 
Ramsey,  assistant  manager  at  the  WB's 
Strand,  reports  that  rumors  linking  him 
to  marriage  plans  in  the  near  future 
“aren’t  true”  . . . Newspaper  carrier  boys 
viewed  Republic’s  “Behind  the  News”  as 
guests  of  Manager  Harry  Rose,  Loew’s- 
Globe,  Bridgeport  . . . Artie  Shaw’s  or- 
chestra is  reportedly  due  at  the  State  soon 
. . . Construction  on  new  dressing  rooms 
at  the  State  is  nearly  completed  . . . Hugh 
Campbell,  manager  of  the  WB's  Central 
in  West  Hartford,  reports  business  has  been 
pretty  good  of  late  . . . Manager  James 
F.  McCarthy  of  the  WB's  Strand  reports 
that  RKO’s  “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith”  is  due 
at  that  house  soon  . . . Wallace  J . Cooper, 
Loew’s-Poli  assistant  manager,  was  in  Wat- 
erbury recently  with  the  missus  . . . Hill- 
mer  D.  Robinson,  assistant  manager  at 
the  E.  M.  Loew’s,  reports  that  new  seats 
are  due  at  that  theatre  soon. 

George  Raft  broke  all  attendance  rec- 
ords at  the  State  . . . Seen  fox-trotting 
at  the  Hotel  Bond  the  other  night  was 
James  F.  McCarthy,  WB’s  Strand  mana- 


Successiul  Theatrical 
Ball  Held  in  Hartford 


Hartford — This  city’s  annual  theatrical 
ball  was  held  last  week  in  the  main  ball- 
room of  the  Hotel  Bond  under  the  spon- 
sorship of  Local  84,  IATSE.  Charlie  Obert 
was  chairman  of  the  affair. 

Hartford’s  managers  and  their  assist- 
ants and  wives  were  in  attendance  en 
masse.  Music  was  furnished  by  Sammy 
Kaplan  and  his  State  Theatre  orchestra. 
In  addition,  there  were  specialty  acts  fea- 
tured regularly  with  Glenn  Miller’s  band, 
and  a line  of  girls  who  also  served  as 
models  in  an  advance  showing  of  next 
season’s  furs. 

Local  merchants  subscribed  to  many 
pages  of  advertising  in  the  program,  and 
the  receipts,  it  was  stated,  “will  be  de- 
voted to  the  sick  benefit  fund  of  Local  84.” 

0 = ft 

But  His  Fears  Were 
Gone  When  He  Awoke 

Bridgeport,  Conn.  — Nate  Greenberg, 
manager  of  the  Park  City,  did  plenty  of 
private  grouching  in  the  early  hours  one 
morning  recently. 

Nate  felt  a touch  of  flu  coming  on  and 
left  the  theatre  early.  Reaching  his 
bachelor  apartment,  he  took  a hot  bath 
and  a hot  drink  and  climbed  into  bed. 
He  was  sleeping  soundly  and  sweating 
plenty  when  the  telephone  jangled.  It 
was  1 a.  m.  and  a patrolman,  trying 
doors,  had  found  the  theatre  unlocked, 
thanks  to  a thoughtless  usher.  So  Nate 
had  to  dress,  go  out  in  near  zero  cold, 
and  turn  the  key  in  the  lock. 

He  went  home  with  dire  thoughts  of 
being  lugged  off  to  a hospital  within  24 
hours,  but  surprisingly  when  he  awoke 
later  from  his  second  sleep,  the  flu 
symptoms  had  disappeared  entirely. 

* 

ger  . . . Maurice  Evans,  the  actor,  is  due 
at  the  Bushnell’s  Sunday  evening,  Febru- 
ary 2,  in  his  lecture  recital,  “Shakespeare 
in  the  News”  . . . WB’s  Regal  brought  back 
“Here  Comes  the  Navy”  for  the  second 
time  in  recent  months  . . . David  Sugar- 
man,  WB’s  Colonial  manager,  and  George 
E.  Landers,  manager  of  the  E.  M.  Loew’s, 
presented  the  first  ticket  to  the  Presi- 
dent’s Birthday  Ball  to  N.  B.  Bertolette, 
president  of  the  Hartford  chamber  of  com- 
merce. Presentation  hit  the  local  press  in 
the  form  of  story  and  photos  ...  Joe 
Dailey  is  the  new  projectionist  at  the 
M&P’s  Allyn.  He  succeeds  the  late  John 
R.  Baker  . . . Valerie  Rudek,  cashier, 
Loew’s-Poli  Palace,  has  left  for  New  York 
. . . Norman  Beckley,  WB’s  Regal  door- 
man, who  was  away  on  leave  of  absence, 
is  now  back  on  the  job. 

Hollis  Sweeney,  Loew’s-Poli  Palace, 
Hartford,  student  assistant,  will  leave  on 
February  17  for  National  Guard  service 
in  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  instead  of  February 
23,  as  previously  reported  . . . Irving  Freed- 
man is  the  new  chief  of  the  service  staff 
at  the  State,  Hartford,  succeeding  Jack 
Terrazzio,  who  has  left  for  other  fields. 


114 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


c,  ^ 

; SPRINGFIELD  : 

V1-—  jj 

J^ATHAN  E.  and  Samuel  Goldstein  and 
Harry  Smith  represented  Western  Mas- 
sachusetts Theatres  at  the  Balaban  dinner 
in  Chicago  . . . A1  Anders  of  the  Bijou 
reported  SRO  business  With  “This  Thing 
Called  Love”  . . . “Baker’s  Wife”  did  fine 
business  during  its  four-day  run  at  the 
Arcade  . . . Vincent  Shumley  is  a new 
usher  at  the  Broadway,  succeeding  Wil- 
liam Bowe,  resigned  . . . Johnny  Downs 
is  due  for  a three-day  engagement  at  the 
Court  Square  starting  February  6 . . . 
Jimmy  Hoey  has  been  named  student  as- 
sistant at  the  Loew’s-Poli  Elm  Street, 
Worcester,  replacing  Robert  Bergin,  who 
has  been  upped  to  assistant  manager  . . . 
Carroll  J.  Lawler,  manager  of  the  Lawler, 
Greenfield,  is  chairman  of  the  Franklin 
County  committee  for  the  President’s 
Birthday  Ball. 

Lou  Brown,  'publicity  chief  for  Loew’s- 
Poli  houses,  was  in  town  in  behalf  of 
“Gone  With  the  Wind’’  . . . Raymond 
Title,  manager  of  F&M’s  Art,  was  on  Bos- 
ton’s Filmrow  last  Friday  . . . John  Smail, 
Arcade  usher,  on  the  sick  list  with  the 
grippe  , . . Allan  Jones  is  due  in  for  a 
concert  at  Springfield  Auditorium  on 
February  5 . . . James  J.  Bloom  and  Gil- 
bert Bevan  of  the  GB’s  Paramount  are 
planning  a New  York  visit  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs. 
William  B.  Bouvier  are  expecting  a visit 
from  the  Stork  some  time  this  month. 
Mr.  B.  is  doorman  at  the  Broadway  . . . 
Charles  A.  McAndrews  is  a new  usher 
at  the  Loew’s-Poli  . . . Manager  George 
E.  Freeman  of  the  Loew’s-Poli  reported 
SRO  business  with  “Thief  of  Bagdad” 

. . . Local  theatres  cooperated  with  Spring- 
field  Greek  War  Relief  Fund  to  the  extent 
of  allowing  girls  to  collect  money  for  the 
cause  in  theatre  lobbies  . . . William  Cra- 
ven, F&M’s  Art  usher,  had  a bad  cold 
. . . Je?my  Bargiel,  office  clerk  at  the 
Western  Massachusetts  Theatres,  Inc.,  is 
now  back  on  the  job,  after  having  been 
sick  at  home  with  a cold. 

Herman  Rif  kin  circuit  doings:  In  town 
last  Monday  to  look  over  his  Springfield 
houses  was  Herman  Rifkin,  circuit  head 
. . . Rudy  Martin,  doorman  at  the  Forest 
Park  Phillips,  will  be  leaving  that  theatre 
in  a few  weeks  for  a singing  job  in  a 
Worcester  night  club  . . . Richard  Udler, 
Garden  doorman,  visited  friends  in  Bos- 
ton . . . Russell  Parker  has  joined  the 
ushers’  corps  at  the  Broadway  . . . Jack 
Marrow  is  a new  usher  at  the  Broadway, 
succeeding  Gordon  Macher,  resigned  . . . 
Hollywood  Doubles  show  is  due  at  the  E.  M. 
Loew’s  Court  Square  February  13  for  a 
three-day  run,  reports  Ernest  W.  Whitford 
. . . Emil  Morriseau,  chief  projectionist 
at  the  Court  Square,  is  driving  a new 
Dodge. 

Harry  Schaefer,  Arcade  projectionist, 
has  been  ill  . . . Raymond  Lynch,  Gar- 
den doorman,  has  resigned  . . . Charlie 
Harvey,  WB’s  Capitol  porter,  had  the 
grippe  . . . “Kitty  Foyle”  was  held  over 
for  five  extra  days  at  the  GB’s  Para- 
mount . . . Marcella  Gaggies  is  the  new 
full-time  cashier  at  the  GB’s  Paramount, 
succeeding  Mrs.  Grace  Prescott,  who  has 


Getting  Choice  Spots — 

Edward  M.  Haskins,  manager  of  the 
State  Theatre  at  Calais,  Me.,  out  ad- 
vertising in  his  territory  which  covers 
some  30  miles.  The  marker  behind 
which  Haskins  is  standing  indicates 
the  halfway  line  between  the  Equator 
and  the  North  Pole.  This  is  situated 
about  20  miles  from  Calais. 


resigned  to  await  a visit  from  the  Stork 
. . . Forest  Park  Phillips  observed  its 
first  anniversary  under  Rifkin  manage- 
ment . . . Madeleine  Cooper,  GB’s  Para- 
mount cashier,  and  u local  fellow,  are  to 
be  married  some  time  in  May  . . . Wil- 
liam Viau,  F&M’s  Art  doorman,  had  a 
cold  . . . Ted  Holt,  member  of  Loew’s- 
Poli,  New  Haven,  maintenance  depart- 
ment, is  in  tow?i  to  fix  seats  at  the  local 
Loew’s-Poli. 

Robert  “Bob”  Portle,  manager  of  the 
Loew’s-Poli  Plaza,  Worcester,  had  a press 
preview  for  “Land  of  Liberty”  . . . Neal 
Sullivan,  assistant  manager  at  the  Plaza, 
Fall  River,  has  resigned  . . . Eliot  Preble, 
assistant  manager  at  the  Strand,  New- 
buryport,  has  been  transferred  to  the  as- 
sistant managership  at  the  Warner  in 
Lynn.  Otis  Weed  of  the  Strand,  Newbury- 
port,  staff,  has  been  named  assistant 
manager  of  that  situation.  Chief  of  ser- 
vice at  the  Strand  is  now  George  Caron 
. . . Andrew  A.  Sette,  manager  of  the 
WB’s  Capitol,  Springfield,  was  in  New 
Haven  last  week  . . . “Minute-Man”  is 
the  new  nickname  for  Boyd  Taylor  Spar- 
row, assistant  manager  of  the  Loew’s-Poli, 
Springfield. 

(• ft 

One  Sitting  Wasn't 
Enough  for  Him 

Bridgeport,  Conn. — One  mother  doesn't 
think  so  much  oi  Morris  Rosenthal's 
publicity  campaign  for  “Land  of  Liberty" 
at  Loew's  Majestic.  She  complained 
that  she  had  to  sit  through  the  picture 
twice  because  her  son's  teacher  had 
ordered  him  to  write  an  essay  on  the 
film.  The  son  didn't  feel  he  could  do 
sufficient  justice  to  the  film  after  only 
one  sitting. 


(t 

^ 

e 

• 

BRIDGEPORT 

• 

• 

V' 

>j 

JOHN  BERNARD,  operator  at  the  Black 

Rock  Theatre,  is  expecting  an  addition 
to  his  family  in  the  spring.  He  now  has 
o::e  boy  and  is  hoping  for  a girl  . . . Ruth 
Saunders,  daughter  of  Manager  Matt  L. 
Saunders  of  Loew’s-Poli,  was  in  Wash- 
ington for  the  inauguration  . . . Congratu- 
lations to  A1  Domian,  Losw-Poli  assistant, 
cn  the  birth  of  a daughter. 

Mrs.  Al  M.  Schuman  braved  the  winter’s 
worst  ice  storm  to  go  to  New  Haven  for 
bookings.  After  completing  her  busmess 
she  could  not  get  a taxi  to  the  railroad 
staiio7i  and  had  to  sta7id  on  the  street 
corner  a half  hour  in  freezing  rain  wait- 
ing for  a trolley  car.  Mrs.  Schuman,  who 
runs  the  Black  Rock  here  with  her  hus- 
band, hails  from  Alabama.  She  suffered 
7io  ill  effects  a?id  says  it  takes  more  tha7i 
a Ya7ikee  sleet  storm  to  beat  her  down 
. . . Sympathy  to  Arthur  “Otto”  Esposito, 
popular  Loew’s-Poli  aide,  who  recently 
lost  his  )ather-i7i-law. 

Robert  Carney,  assistant  manager  at  the 
Majestic,  is  back  after  a battle  with  the 
flu  . . . Business  here  the  past  year  was 
the  best  in  16  years  and  is  continually 
on  the  rise  . . . “Gone  With  the  Wind” 
moved  from  the  Loew’s-Poli  to  the  Ma- 
jestic for  a second  week  and  the  Warner 
held  over  “North  West  Mounted  Police” 

. . Matt  Saunders’  son,  Robert,  has  re- 
covered from  a serious  illness  . . . Horace 
MacMahon  and  his  wife,  Louise  Campbell, 
were  in  Norwalk  to  see  the  actor’s  ailing 
aunt. 

Outlook  at  prese7it  time  mdicates  that 
suimner  theatre  oppositio7i  in  this  area, 
usually  best  in  the  state,  will  be  light  riext 
sum7ner.  Phil  Carr  says  he  is  defmitely 
out  of  Ridgefield,  Fra7ik  Gainit  does7i’t 
expect  to  retur7i  to  Milford  and  the  ow7i- 
ers  of  the  Guilford  Playhouse  are  trying 
to  miload  the  theatre  . . . Walter  Klavwi 
is  trymg  to  sell  the  city  the  idea  of  put- 
tmg  dramatic  stock  in  the  Klem  Memor- 
ial Auditorium  while  other  mterests  are 
reported  trymg  to  make  a deal  to  reope7i 
the  lo7ig-dark  Park. 

Morris  Jacobson,  general  manager  of 
the  Strand  Amusement  Co.,  looks  pretty 
happy  in  that  snappy  new  automobile  . . . 
Manager  Edward  Madden  of  the  Lyric  has 
a new  rug  in  his  office  . . . Ruth  Snelter, 
Park  City  cashier,  is  back  on  the  job  af- 
ter an  illness.  Lydia  Blaske  substituted 
. . . Catholic  church  pastors  are  campaign- 
ing against  Jacques,  Waterbury  burley 
house  . . . Seen  at  the  Tom  Murphy  tes- 
timonial dinner  were  Harry  Rose  of  the 
Globe,  Ed  Madden  of  the  Lyric,  Matt  L. 
Saunders  and  Otto  Esposito  of  the  Loew’s 
Poli,  Beatrice  Sullivan  of  the  Majestic  and 
Marguerite  O’Connor  and  Helen  Foley  of 
the  Lyric. 

William  Shura7i  has  resig7ied  as  as- 
sista7it  manager  of  the  Capitol,  A7iso7iia, 
a7id  has  beeri  succeeded  by  William  Woods. 
John  Shields,  house  ma7iager,  is  back  af- 
ter an  ilhiess  . . . Gordo7i  Be7inett  is  the 
7iew  manager  at  Jacques,  Waterbury. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


115 


M IE  W H A YEN 


it.  WAS  with  the  sincere  good  wishes  of 

the  entire  district  that  “Dean”  Morris 
Joseph  le.t  active  duty  with  Universal 
for  a well-deserved  vacation.  Last  May, 
Morris  celebrated  his  25th  anniversary  as 
exchange  manager  for  Universal  here  with 
a cocktail  party  at  the  “U”  offices,  which 
was  attended  by  over  100  exhibitors,  ex- 
change representatives  from  New  York, 
Boston  and  New  Haven,  and  many  other 
friends.  The  scroll  presented  to  Joseph 
on  that  occasion  said,  “We  know  of  no 
man  more  deserving  of  this  tribute  for  his 
untiring  efforts  and  energy  toward  the 
motion  picture  industry.  A quarter  of  a 
century  of  progress  well  spent.”  The  Jos- 
ephs will  take  up  permanent  residence 
in  Miami,  it  is  reported  . . . Sincere  good 
wishes  of  the  territory  also  go  to  John 
Pavone,  the  new  Universal  manager  here, 
whose  ability  and  geniality  are  well-known 
after  many  years  with  Warner  and  other 
offices  on  Meadow  Street. 

The  many  friends  of  the  Maxwell  Hoff- 
mans were  shocked  at  the  sudden  death 
of  their  nine-week-old  daughter,  Linda  . . . 
I.  J.  and  B.  E.  Hoffman  hack  at  their 
desks  after  a siege  of  the  grippe  . . . Flu 
list  includes  Earl  Wright  of  20  th-Fox, 
Frank  Mullen , Al  Davis  and  Ethel  Phil- 
lips of  Metro,  Jack  Brassil  of  the  Loew- 
Poli,  Tim  O’Toole,  Columbia  manager;  Ed- 
ward Ruff,  Paramount  manager;  Peter 
Perakos,  independent  circuit  operator; 
Speri  Perakos  of  the  Strand,  Thompson- 
ville;  Howard  Johnson,  Yale  senior  and 
son  of  Adolph  Johnson;  Thomas  Mailer, 
manager  of  the  Lenox,  Hartford;  Randy 
Mailer  of  the  Strand,  New  Britain,  and 
Jack  Sa7ison  of  the  State,  Manchester  . . . 
John  Pavone  of  Universal  is  “refluperat- 
ing” ; also  Francis  Clark  of  the  same  of- 
fice, Steve  Panora  of  New  Milford,  Dorcas 
and  Nancy  Jacccks  of  Branford,  and  Sid 
Swirsky,  Columbia  booker. 

Hy  Fine.  M&P  district  manager,  and 
Alexander  Hamilton,  manager  of  the  Em- 
press, Norwalk,  attended  the  Barney  Bala- 
ban  dinner  in  Chicago  . . . MPTO  secre- 
tary, Herman  Levy,  urges  large  Connec- 
ticut MPTO  representation  at  the  annual 
MPTOA  convention  in  April  . . . Barney 
Pitkin  back  at  the  RKO  helm  after  a 
Miami  vacation  with  Mrs.  Pitkin  . . . The 
Ben  Simons  (he  is  20th-Fox  manager)  will 


JOHN  S.  P.  GLACKIN,  manager  of  the 

Arch  Street,  is  driving  a new  Chevro- 
let sedan  . . . Nick  Marlames,  co-part- 
ner of  the  Roxy,  who  has  been  vacation- 
ing down  in  Florida  with  his  missus,  is 
expected  back  about  February  1 . . . 

Eddie  Starr  is  the  new  usher  at  the  WB’s 
Embassy,  succeeding  Angelo  Domecian, 
who  has  been  upped  to  doorman.  He  re- 
places Alex  Younkaskas,  who  resigned  to 
work  in  a local  factory. 

I.  J.  Hoffman,  Warner  executive,  was 
in  town  to  see  Randy  Mailer,  WB’s  Strand 
manager  . . . J.  Milo,  president  of  Roma 


break  up  their  vacation  into  a number  of 
short  motor  trips,  with  reports  back  to  the 
office  . . . Abe  Hodes,  student  booker  at 
the  Metro  office  here  for  the  past  year, 
has  been  transferred  to  Washington  and 
two  new  student  bookers  are  in  from 
New  York,  Constantine  Carpau  and  Vic- 
tor Wallace  . . . Visitors  on  the  Loew-Poli 
circuit  include  William  Jefferson  of  Ameri- 
can Display,  checking  on  the  theatres  for 
the  first  time  in  three  months,  Max 
Hershman  of  National  Screen  Service  and 
Mark  Larkin  of  the  Hays  office  . . . Sam 
Rosen  leaving  for  Florida  soon. 

Tom  Connors  made  his  first  visit  to 
the  New  Haven  Metro  exchange  in  three 
years  accompanied  by  Maurice  N.  Wolf, 
district  manager.  From  New  Haven  both 
were  Albany  bound  . . . P.  Dugan  of  the 
Warner  Theatre  department  bookkeeping 
ofjice  is  off  on  National  Guard  duty,  and 
has  been  replaced  by  Jack  Huizing  . . . 
Turnover  of  ushers  and  doormen  is  so  great 
these  days  that  the  boys  hardly  get  to 
kiiow  the  ?na7iagers  a7id  assista7its  a7id  vice 
versa.  The  7iew  boys  tried  to  show  07ie  of 
the  assista7its  to  a seat  . . . Bob  Russell 
estimates  receivmg  a pho7ie  call  of  mquiry 
every  half  minute  during  the  week  of 
”GWTW ” at  the  Poli.  Busmess  built  up 
all  week  to  a $15,000  take.  Russell  a7id 
Rubin  used  school  study  guides,  which  re- 
sulted in  large  group  student  atte7ida7ice, 
with  as  7na7iy  as  1,000  in  07ie  afternoon 
fro77i  Com7nercial  High.  Also  stills  of 
Vivie7i  Leigh  in  Ga77ible’s,  book  marks  in 
the  library,  etc.  Lobby  holdouts  of  two 
hours  were  the  rule  over  weeke7id  a7id 
begi7i7ii7ig  of  week.  Picture  7nay  stay  two 
weeks  more  at  the  College,  a7id  in  addi- 
tion is  bemg  held  a seco7id  week  at  the 
Majestic,  Bridgeport;  Elm  Street,  Worces- 
ter, a7id  Palace,  Hartford.  Palace,  Meri- 
den, opens  with  the  fihn  February  2. 

Jack  Brassil  secured  a page  of  co-op 
ads  in  the  Milford  News  on  "GWTW"  . . . 
Ed  Fitzpatrick  of  the  Poli,  Waterbury, 
put  out  a special  herald  on  the  picture,  but 
offset  the  cost  by  selling  the  back  page, 
litz  also  erected  a book  5x6  feet  in  his 
lobby,  with  a motor-moved  page  inside 
showing  stills  . . . Russell  Grant,  Poli, 
Hartford,  student  assistant,  sold  a two- 
column  co-op  ad  . . . Big  doings  on  the 
Poli  circuit  on  “Land  of  Liberty,”  too  . . . 


Fihn  Co.,  New  York,  was  a visitor  to 
Ma7iager  Phillip  Demas'  office  at  the  Roxy 

. . Pat  McMaho7i’s  State  played  Mo7io- 
gra77i’s  “Son  of  the  Navy.” 

Sick  List:  Mrs.  Phillip  Demas  managed 
the  Roxy  while  Mr.  D.  was  ill  with  the 
fiu  . . . WB’s  Embassy  service  staff  mem- 
bers who  have  had  the  grippe  are  War- 
ren Kingsbury  and  William  W.  Walsh 
. . . Randy  Mailer,  WB’s  Strand  mana- 
ger, also  had  the  flu,  while  Peter  Pera- 
kos, Palace  owner,  was  laid  up  with  the 
grippe. 


In  Bridgeport  Morris  Rosenthal  of  the 
Majestic  tied  up  with  the  schools,  the  “I 
Am  an  American”  Committee,  churches 
and  all  factories.  He  spread  the  slogan 
“150  years  of  United  States  history  in 
150  minutes.”  Lou  Brown  and  Sam  Bada- 
mo  securing  a proclamation  from  the  gov- 
ernor on  the  film.  Three  New  Haven 
screenings  took  in  the  mayor  and  his  staff, 
principals  of  high  schools  and  newspaper 
and  Yale  University  representatives.  Yale 
contest  has  been  arranged.  The  picture 
plays  here  with  “Laddie,”  when  “GWTW” 
finishes  . . . Bob  Portle  of  the  Plaza,  Wor- 
cester, secured  the  endorsement  of  Mayor 
Bennett  on  this  picture,  film  rental  of 
which  goes  to  war  relief  . . . Franklyn 
Ferguson,  who  has  brought  more  celebs  to 
his  neighborhood  Whitney  than  any  in 
these  parts,  has  arranged  with  the  New 
Haven  Bowl  of  Rice  Committee  to  stage 
a benefit  at  the  theatre,  with  Dr.  Hsia, 
in  this  country  on  a special  mission,  as 
speaker,  various  entertainers,  and  “Night 
Train,”  Benchley  and  other  shorts  on  the 
screen.  Admission  is  $1.00  over  the  house. 

“Ice  Follies  of  1941”  at  the  Are7ia  Feb- 
ruary 3 through  9,  with  65  stars  a7id  25 
acts,  had  a tremendous  adva7ice  sale  at 
$2.20  top  . . . Teaser  ads  07i  “Kitty  Foyle” 
received  good  7iotice  . . . George  Free- 
7na7i,  77ia7iager  of  the  Poli,  Sprmgfield, 
steered  the  WMAS  com7ne7itator  to  the 
feminine  a7igle  of  turba7is  a7id  such  in  a 
special  lb-mhiute  program  07i  “Thief  of 
Bagdad ” . . . Paramomit,  Metro  and  RKO 
offices  have  already  had  meetings  with 
home  office  representatives  07i  co7isent 
decree  procedure  mid  others  due  to  follow 
soon  . . . War7ier  Bros.  ope7ied  the  Capitol, 
New  Britain,  lo7ig  closed,  for  Suiiday  per- 
forma7ices  only.  The  house  was  last 
ope7ied  for  roadshow  of  “GWTW”  . . . 
Allied  Theatre  Owners  of  Co7i7iecticut  to 
7neet  February  4 at  luncheon  at  the  Hof- 
brau  . . . Adolph  Jolvison  has  sold  85- 
iveek  colorful  fruit  ove7iware  to  Ca7mon’s. 

Excitement  in  the  Rialto,  Windsor  Locks, 
when  a woman  patron  climbed  to  the  bal- 
cony, dropped  into  a seat  and  died  a few 
minutes  later  . . . Ted  Jacocks  jr„  vice- 
president  of  Connecticut  MPTO,  operator 
of  the  Branford,  and  only  theatre  repre- 
sentative in  the  state  legislature  this  year, 
is  making  a hit  in  Hartford,  report  says 
. . . Ben  Lourie  is  proud  possessor  of  a 
natty  two-tone  grey  Olds  sedan  . . . Jack 
Glackin  of  the  Arch  Street,  New  Britain, 
is  driving  a new  Chevrolet  . . . Last 
bowling  honors  went  to  Columbia  in  its 
match  against  20th-Fox,  but  sick  absences 
make  regular  bowling  matches  impossible 
now  . . . Ben  Simon  spending  some  time 
in  the  library  on  his  latest  crossword 
puzzle  mania  . . . Meadow  Streeters  were 
glad  to  see  Joseph  Davis,  former  operator 
in  Southington,  in  town  recently. 


Sense  a Threat 

East  Hartford,  Conn. — It  is  felt  that 
the  recreational  center  planned  here  about 
a half  mile  south  of  Silver  Lane  and  near 
the  aircraft  factories,  will  bite  deeply  into 
theatre  receipts. 


11G 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


B # S T CO  N 


At  the  Barney  Balaban  Banquet — 

A part  of  the  New  England  contingent  to  the  anniversary  testimonial  to 
Barney  Balaban,  president  of  Paramount,  in  the  Drake  Hotel,  Chicago. 
Left  to  right,  all  of  M&P  theatres  or  its  affiliates:  Wallace  Camp,  Albert 
Hamilton,  Harry  Browning,  H.  I.  Wasserman,  Nathan  E.  Goldstein,  Adolph 
Zukor  ( chairman  of  the  Paramount  board),  Sam  Goldstein  and  Wm.  E. 
Spragg. 


TOE  EHRLICH,  former  RKO  and  UA  pub- 
■'  licist,  now  managing  the  Gayety  in  Bos- 
ton for  E.  M.  Loew,  concentrated  heavily 
on  the  local  premiere  of  “After  Mein 
Kampf”  with  an  exploitation  lobby  and  a 
strong  newspaper  campaign  . . . Ben  Do- 
mingo, RKO  city  manager,  is  back  at  his 
Keith  Memorial  office  after  “Miami-ing” 
at  a temperature  of  76  degrees  . . .Joe 
Brennan,  executive  secretary  of  Allied 
Theatres  of  Massachusetts,  Inc.,  returned 
to  work  last  week  after  whipping  the  flu 
. . . Roy  E.  Heffner,  Bank  Night  assignee, 
moved  up  into  Oklahoma  last  week  after  a 
month  in  Texas.  He  is  expected  back  in 
Boston  next  month. 

William  S.  Roster,  seat  renovation  ex- 
pert, was  out  of  town  on  business  last  week 
. . . Mary  Doherty  of  Keith’s  Memorial  is 
back  following  the  flu  . . . Mona  Lightow- 
ler,  secretary  to  Harry  MacDonald,  local 
RKO  divisional  manager,  is  off  the  sick 
list  . . . Fred  Stone,  manager  for  E.  M. 
Loew  in  Portland,  and  Mrs.  Stone  are  look- 
ing over  perambulators  . . . John  Longo, 
theatre  contact  for  the  Buck  Printing  Co., 
was  injured  in  a recent  automobile  acci- 
dent . . . Hannah  Brand,  formerly  with 
Harry  Asher  and  now  with  E.  M.  Loew, 
was  a recent  grippe  victim,  but  is  now  back 
on  the  active  list. 

Harry  MacDonald,  RKO  divisional  man- 
ager, produced  a stage  show  built  around 
local  radio  personalities  for  the  floor- 
boards of  the  RKO  Boston  . . . Florence 
Turner,  assistant  to  Major  Patrick  F. 
Healey  of  the  Massachusetts  Department 
of  Public  Safety,  leaves  on  February  14 
for  a month’s  sojourn  in  Florida.  She 
plans  to  make  the  trip  by  boat  . . . E.  M. 
Loew  has  set  February  1 as  the  day  when 
he  will  transfer  his  circuit  headquarters 
from  216  Tremont  Street  to  the  fifth  floor 
of  the  Metropolitan  Building  at  260  Tre- 
mont Street. 

Marty  Glazer,  advertising  manager  for 
the  Paramount-Fenway , has  been  spotting 
a quantity  of  star  photos  in  the  windows 
of  the  Washington  Jewelry  Co.  The  catch- 
line, “Are  You  This  Type?”,  draws  plenty 
of  femme  interest  . . . Joseph  Brennan, 
head  of  the  theatre  division  of  the  Boston 
Community  Fund  campaign,  called  a 
“dutch-treat”  luncheon  of  fellow  commit- 
teemen this  week,  at  which  time  progress 
of  the  group  was  favorably  reviewed  . . . 
Borrah  Minnevitch  was  in  town  with  his 
“Harmonica  Rascals”  on  the  stage  of  the 
RKO  Boston  . . . Louis  Calhern  continues 
here  in  “Life  With  Father,”  which  is  set- 
ting up  new  local  boxoffice  records  . . . 
George  Givot  is  in  town  . . . Helen  Kane 
is  here. 

Arthur  K.  Howard,  Frank  Lydon  and 
Nathan  Yamins  were  in  Washington  for  an 
Allied  confab  . . . Maurice  Schwartz  of 
the  M&P  advertising  department  returned 
last  week  following  the  flu  . . . Grace  Sul- 
livan, secretary  to  Marcel  Mekelberg,  is 
also  back  following  sick  leave  . . . George 
Kraska,  operator  of  the  Fine  Arts,  was  in 
New  York  on  business  . . . Harry  Aaronson, 
manager  of  the  Rialto  in  Scollay  Square 
and  commander  of  the  theatrical  post  of 
the  American  Legion,  has  called  a special 
committee  meeting  to  further  plans  for  the 


Past  Commander’s  Night,  to  be  held  Febru- 
ary 3 at  the  Latin  Quarters. 

Burton  Jones,  roadshow  distributor , was 
in  from  Hollywood  . . . George  Swartz  of 
Northeastern  Film  flew  to  and  from  New 
York  on  business  . . . Harry  Botwick,  man- 
ager of  the  Strand  in  Portland,  is  getting 
a substantial  amount  of  air  publicity,  via 
a “Doctor  I.  Q.”  program,  broadcast  regu- 
larly from  the  Maine  house  . . . Jack  Saef, 
manager  of  the  Shawmut  in  Roxbury,  was 
recently  awarded  a safety  medal  by  pub- 
lic officials  for  his  theatre  tieins  slanted 
in  the  interest  of  same  . . . Leonard 
Kraska,  sending  out  post-card  invitations 
to  Murphys  to  attend  “Here  Is  Ireland”  at 
the  Fine  Arts,  discovered  that  there  are 
some  1,200  of  them  listed  in  the  telephone 
local.  The  postcards  entitled  recipients  to 
25  cent  discounts. 

Sam  Berg  called  a Cinema  Club  meeting 
at  which  the  forthcoming  March  16  din- 
ner-dance was  discussed  . . . George  De- 
Matteo,  son  of  Donato  of  the  Ambuter 
Film  Laboratories,  died  suddenly  last  week 
following  a brief  illness  . . . Peter  Levesque, 
manager  for  Max  and  Joseph  Levenson,  is 
now  covering  the  circuit  owners’  Fairlawn 
. . . Max  Michals,  manager  of  the  Globe, 
is  utilizing  the  house  organ  as  an  added  at- 
traction . . . Phillip  A.  Lavine,  divisional 
manager  for  Ralph  Snider,  is  working  out 
a number  of  new  feats  of  press  agentry  for 
the  chain  . . . Maurice  Corkery,  manager 
of  the  Central  Square  in  Cambridge,  has 
spotted  a “Kiddy  College  Quiz”  over 
WCOP,  Saturdays  at  1 p.  m.,  with  Sum- 
merfield’s,  local  furniture  store,  as  spon- 
sor. Juveniles  are  given  numbered  mem- 
bership cards,  and  Corkery  has  been  pro- 
moting prizes  from  various  merchants 
which  he  distributes  to  the  lucky  numbers. 

It’s  happy  birthday  for  these  in  the 
Boston  Metro  exchange:  Matthew  Dono- 
hue, on  the  21th;  Elizabeth  Foley,  on  the 
29th;  Henry  Myerson,  on  the  31st,  and 
Harry  Pearlswig,  on  February  1. 


For  "Heaven  Can  Wait" 

Hollywood — Seton  I.  Miller  has  been 
assigned  to  script  “Heaven  Can  Wait”  for 
Columbia. 


Moves  to  Legalize 
Games,  Bookies 

Concord,  N.  H. — Following  on  the  heels 
of  a state  lottery  proposal,  bills  calling  for 
the  legalization  of  Bingo  and  Beano  and 
horse  race  bookies  have  been  introduced 
in  the  legislature. 

The  Bingo  bill,  sponsored  by  Rep.  Ar- 
thur J.  Lacroix  of  Manchester,  is  officially 
known  as  House  Bill  No.  190,  and  has  been 
referred  to  the  ways  and  means  commit- 
tee. Under  its  terms,  the  governor  would 
be  authorized  to  appoint  a “commissioner 
of  games.”  The  state  treasury  would  reap 
one-half  the  profit  from  the  games  and 
the  other  half  would  go  to  the  communi- 
ties in  which  the  games  were  staged. 

The  other  new  measure  which  is  watched 
with  interest  by  the  theatre  men  is  the 
“bookie”  proposal  (House  Bill  No.  149), 
filed  by  Rep.  Napoleon  Dulac  of  Manches- 
ter and  also  referred  to  the  ways  and 
means  committee.  This  legislation,  if 
passed,  would  provide  for  the  licensing  of 
race  bookmakers  by  the  state  racing  com- 
mission at  an  annual  fee  of  not  more  than 
$1,000  on  condition  that  each  bookmaker 
furnish  a bond  up  to  $5,000. 


Set  187  Racing  Days  lor 
Three  Eastern  Tracks 

Boston  — New  England  theatre  owners 
are  not  cheering  the  fact  that  187  days 
of  horse  racing  have  been  arranged  here 
for  three  eastern  tracks. 

Narragansett  in  Rhode  Island  is  get- 
ting 67  days,  while  Suffolk  Downs  in  Bos- 
ton, and  Rockingham  in  New  Hampshire, 
have  been  allotted  60  days  apiece. 

Pari-mutuel  dog  racing  dates,  another 
headache  to  film  men,  have  yet  to  be  com- 
pleted. 


Assigned  "The  Uniform" 

Hollywood — Clarence  Brown  will  pro- 
duce and  direct  “The  Uniform,”  co-starring 
Clark  Gable  and  Hedy  Lamarr,  for  Metro. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


116-A 


Lydon  Sets  Meeting 
For  February  11 

Boston — Frank  Lydon,  president  of  In- 
dependent Exhibitors,  Inc.,  has  tentatively 
set  the  Allied  affiliate’s  annual  Boston 
meeting  for  February  11.  Lydon  is  ex- 
pected to  be  re-elected  president  at  this 
time,  when  the  election  of  officers  will 
come  up. 

A comprehensive  report  will  be  made, 
also,  of  the  results  of  the  Washington  con- 
ference held  last  week  by  Allied  heads,  at 
which  Lydon,  Arthur  K.  Howard  and 
Nathan  Yamins  represented  the  indepen- 
dent exhibitors. 

A Dinner-Dance  to 
Honor  Commanders 

Boston — Past  commanders  of  the  thea- 
trical post  of  the  American  Legion  will 
be  honored  February  3 with  a dinner- 
dance  at  the  Latin  Quarters  in  the  Boston 
film  district. 

Those  feted  will  include:  William  H.  Mc- 
Laughlin, Major  Patrick  F.  Healy,  Kenneth 
Forkey,  James  Sheeran,  Charles  Heath, 
Col.  Joseph  F.  Gohn,  Dr.  William  Basch 
and  William  J.  Cotty. 

There  will  be  a brief  moment  of  silence 
in  memory  of  the  late  Carl  Crawford,  for- 
merly Grand  National  manager  who  com- 
manded the  theatrical  post. 

Harry  P.  Smith  of  RKO,  junior  vice- 
commander of  the  post  and  a Cinema  Club 
officer,  is  chairman  in  charge  of  the 
February  3 affair.  Fellow  committeemen 
include  Harry  A.  Aaronson,  Alvin  Kenney, 
Harry  Browning,  Marcel  Mekelburg,  Dr. 
A.  Edward  Melincoff,  Samuel  Levine,  Wil- 
liam H.  McLaughlin,  Kenneth  Forkey,  Pat- 
rick Healey,  William  Cotty,  Joseph  Kan- 
tor,  William  L.  Berger,  Wilfred  Vallee,  C. 
F.  McGerigle,  James  Donovan,  Harry 
Rosenblatt,  William  N.  Lynde,  Robert 
Sternburg,  James  Sheeran,  and  Joe  Rubin. 

Film  district  workers  are  invited  to  at- 
tend as  guests  of  the  Legion.  Reservations 
may  be  made  and  tickets  secured  from 
Legionnaires. 


Promotion  for  Aronson 
To  Strand,  Westfield 

Springfield,  Mass. — Harry  Smith,  di- 
rector of  publicity  and  division  manager 
of  the  Western  Massachusetts  Theatres, 
Inc.,  announces  the  appointment  of  Mel- 
vin M.  Aronson,  chief  of  service  at  the 
local  Paramount,  to  assistant  manager  of 
the  Strand,  Westfield. 

James  J.  Bloom,  assistant  chief  of  the 
Paramount’s  service,  has  been  upped  to 
the  position  of  chief,  succeeding  Aronson. 
Robert  “Mousie”  Glazer,  house  usher,  is 
now  assistant  to  Bloom. 

Regional  Directors  of 
Allied  Will  Convene 

Boston — Frank  Lydon,  eastern  regional 
vice-president  of  Allied,  says  he  plans  to 
call  a meeting  of  regional  directors  some 
time  within  the  next  few  months.  He  has 
set  no  specific  date. 


rr  ' ' 

Grippe  on  Wane 
In  New  England 

Boston — The  number  ol  grippe  and  flu 
cases  throughout  New  England  de- 
creased last  week,  according  to  health 
officials  from  the  various  nearby  states. 
Numerous  schools  that  were  closed  as  a 
precautionary  measure,  have  been  and 
are  reopening. 


Concord,  N.  H. — Health  officials  report 
a general  decrease  in  influenza  and 
grippe  cases,  which,  at  the  height  of  the 
epidemic,  caused  the  closing  of  many 
schools  and  a ban  on  admission  of  chil- 
dren to  theatres  in  several  localities. 

IS-  ■ V 

Claim  Wheeler  Acts 
Like  a Diclalor 

Manchester,  N.  H.  — “Few  dictators 
would  adopt  a more  arbitrary  attitude  than 
he  displays  toward  the  movie  newsreels,” 
the  Manchester  Union  asserts  editorially  of 
Sen.  Burton  K.  Wheeler  in  connection  with 
the  Montanan’s  charge  that  the  industry 
is  presenting  news  vital  to  the  country  in  a 
partial  manner  designed  to  lead  America 
into  war. 

“The  only  thing  really  involved  is  the 
question  of  editorial  selection,  in  which  we 
think  newsreels  are  right,  and  Mr.  Whee- 
ler wrong,”  the  editorial  points  out.  “We 
can  think  of  many  issues,  not  now  ade- 
quately treated  by  the  newsreels,  which 
would  be  more  entitled  than  Mr.  Wheeler’s 
fulminations,  to  a claim  on  public  atten- 
tion. 

“What  this  hater  of  dictators  proposes 
is  a dictatorial  law  to  compel  newsreels  to 
abide  by  his  own  notion  of  more  impartial 
editorial  policies.  It  would  be  a short  step 
from  this,  if,  indeed,  any  step  were  re- 
quired, to  laws  abridging  freedom  of  the 
press  altogether  and  requiring  editors  of 
all  news  media  to  abide  by  dictatorial  no- 
tions of  proper  news  judgment. 

“As  for  the  charge  that  the  newsreels 
are  full  of  propaganda,  that  is  as  meaning- 
less as  99  per  cent  of  all  such  charges. 
‘Propaganda’  is  a term  that  has  lost  every 
shred  of  communicative  significance. 
Whatever  the  other  fellow  says  that  you 
don’t  agree  with,  is  propaganda.  It  follows 
that  everything  written  or  spoken  or  pub- 
lished or  displayed  is  propaganda,  from 
one  viewpoint  or  another. 

“The  easiest  way  out  of  the  muddle  is 
for  everybody  to  agree  to  this  definition. 
Certainly  the  newsreels  are  full  of  propa- 
ganda. Senator  Wheeler’s  outburst  is 
propaganda  against  the  newsreels.  This 
editorial  is  propaganda  against  the  senator, 
and  in  behalf  of  old-fashioned  American- 
ism, the  Constitution,  and  freedom  of  the 
press.” 


Discontinue  Midnighters 

Hartford — Midnight  shows  at  the 
Proven  Pictures  have  been  temporarily 
discontinued.  Bernard  William  Levy  is 
manager. 


"Wind"  Beats  Weather 
To  Lead  New  Haven 

New  Haven — “Gone  With  the  Wind”  at 
the  Loew-Poli  walked  away  with  most  of 
the  downtown  business,  although  opening 
day  and  weekend  weather  and  driving 
conditions  were  unfavorable  to  all  houses. 
Second  week  of  “Flight  Command”  at  the 
College  held  up  well.  Newspaper  strike 
and  suspension  of  all  dailies  for  day  and 
a half  may  have  affected  business. 

Detail  for  week  ended  January  23: 


(Average  is  100) 

College — Flight  Command  (M-G-M);  Street 

of  Memories  (20th-Fox)  2nd  wk 190 

Loew-Poli — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M) ....  190 
To  the  College  for  a second  week: 

Paramount — Victory  (Para);  Sandy  Gets 

Her  Man  (Univ)  8 days 100 

Roger  Sherman — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO); 

Here  Comes  the  Navy  (WB) 90 


Four  Weeks  for  "Kitty" 

At  Keith's  Memorial 

Boston — Ben  Domingo,  RKO  city  man- 
ager, has  put  “Kitty  Foyle”  into  a fourth 
week  at  Keith’s  Memorial.  The  co-feature, 
“Saint  in  Palm  Springs,”  is  also  here  for 
the  four  stanzas,  although  it  is  a common 
Domingo  booking  practice  to  substitute 
second  runs  during  a holdover  to  attract 
repeat  business. 

Charles  Kurtzman,  Loew’s  divisional 
manager,  held  the  repeat  booking  of  “Gone 
With  the  Wind”  for  a second  week  at  the 
State  and  Orpheum.  Repeat  business  has 
been  heavy  at  the  revival  of  the  Gable- 
Leigh  feature  with  “nothing  cut  but  the 
prices.”  The  film,  when  previously  played 
at  the  two  local  houses,  grossed  over  one 
half  a million  dollars  in  95  playing  days. 

Support  in  Boston  for 
Community  F und  Drive 

Boston — Local  theatres  and  exchanges 
are  coming  into  line  very  satisfactorily  in 
support  of  the  Greater  Boston  Community 
Fund’s  1941  campaign,  Joseph  Brennan, 
local  Motion  Picture  Operator’s  Ass’n  ex- 
ecutive secretary,  and  theatre  group  chair- 
man, told  this  publication. 

Other  local  film  men  serving  with  Bren- 
nan include:  Edward  A.  Cuddy,  Frank 
Lydon,  Harry  MacDonald,  A.  J.  Munro, 
Howard  Burkhardt,  Max  Finn,  A1  Somer- 
by,  George  Ramsdell,  Sam  Soule,  Frank 
McManus,  Maurice  Corkery,  Harry  Was- 
serman,  Edward  Cantor,  and  Hy  Fine. 

"Here  Is  Ireland"  Goes 
Great  in  Boston  Run 

Boston — A 16mm  feature,  the  first  ever 
to  play  a regular  motion  picture  house 
here,  has  held  at  the  Fine  Arts  for  three 
consecutive  weeks,  and  at  the  time  of  pub- 
lication grosses  were  still  pyramiding.  The 
release  is  “Here  Is  Ireland,”  an  all-color 
travelogue  duped  and  dubbed  with  sound. 

George  Kraska,  theatre  operator,  had 
special  equipment,  including  arcs,  installed 
at  the  Fine  Arts  for  the  run.  The  pic- 
ture was  put  in  strictly  as  an  experiment, 
and  has  caught  on  in  such  a robust  fash- 
ion that  Kraska  is  already  on  the  trail 
of  other  16mm  specialties. 


116-B 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


Hold  Next  Retreat  at 
Campion  Hall  April  4 

Boston — The  next  retreat  group  of  the 
Catholic  Motion  Picture  Guild  will  be  held 
April  4 at  Campion  Hall,  North  Andover. 
Membership  in  the  organization  has 
reached  a total  of  45  film  men,  according 
to  the  latest  report. 

Attendants  at  the  last  Campion  Hall 
retreat  included:  Max  Burlone,  Jerry  Cal- 
lahan, Ed  Carroll,  Dr.  J.  Carroll,  Herb 
Colley,  Maurice  Corkery,  Jerry  Crowley, 
Matt  Donohue,  Herb  Donovan,  Bill  Doyle, 
Tom  Duane,  Ed  Fallon,  Pat  Gill,  Chet 
Grenier,  Ralph  Gridley,  Major  P.  F. 
Healey,  Herb  Higgins,  Frank  Lydon,  Frank 
McManus,  Dr.  A1  Moloney,  Dan  Murphy, 
Bill  Murphy,  Matt  Moriarty,  Tom  O’Brien, 
Andrew  Platt,  Frank  Rahilly,  Joe  Rahilly, 
Bill  Sampey,  and  Frank  Wolf. 


A Committee  Studying 
Outdoor  Advertising 

Boston — Film  men  are  interested  in 
special  billboard  action  by  the  state  pub- 
lic works  commission,  which  is  studying 
proposed  changes  in  the  rules  and  regula- 
tions governing  outdoor  advertising  in  this 
state. 

John  E.  Dwyer,  former  supervisor  of  the 
division  of  outdoor  advertising,  appeared 
before  the  commission  last  week  to  offer 
suggestions  he  claimed  would  strengthen 
enforcement  of  the  billboard  law.  One  of 
the  changes  now  under  advisement  is  a 
measure  that  would  deprive  cities  and 
towns  of  the  right  to  restrict  the  erection 
of  billboards  in  public  areas. 


Harry  Rose  Qualifies 
For  " Dollar  Club" 

Bridgeport,  Conn. — Manager  Harry  Rose 
of  the  Globe  is  the  first  manager  in  the 
New  England  division  to  make  the  Loew 
‘‘Dollar  Club”  in  1941. 


Capitol  Reopened 

New  Britain,  Conn.— The  local  Capitol 
has  reopened  after  a period  of  inactivity. 
Present  plans  call  for  it  to  play  day  and 
date  with  either  the  Embassy  or  Strand. 
House  is  being  handled  by  Joseph  E. 
Bornstein,  who  is  also  manager  of  the 
Embassy. 


Home  With  the  Grippe 

Springfield,  Mass. — William  Powell,  di- 
vision manager  of  the  Herman  Rifkin 
theatres  here,  has  been  ill  at  home  with 
the  grippe.  Carl  A.  Jamroga,  manager  of 
the  Phillips,  has  been  filling  in. 


Cut  Flesh  One  Day 

Springfield,  Mass. — The  Court  Square 
is  now  sponsoring  vaudeville  three  days  a 
week,  instead  of  four.  Motion  pictures 
are  shown  at  this  E.  M.  Loew  house  the 
rest  of  the  week. 


Equipped  With  RCA 

Bristol,  Conn. — Joe  Faith’s  new  700- 
seater  here  is  being  equipped  with  RCA 
Photophone  sound. 


Lease  Metropolitan 
For  Run  of  Opera 

Boston — The  Metropolitan,  M&P  Thea- 
tres key  house,  has  been  leased  to  the 
Boston  Opera  Ass’n  for  12  performances 
of  the  Metropolitan  Opera  Co.  The  4,332- 
seat  theatre,  the  largest  in  New  England 
and  one  of  the  largest  in  the  country,  has 
never  before  filled  such  an  assignment. 

The  grand  opera  move  follows  pro- 
posed razing  of  the  Boston  Opera  House, 
put  on  the  discard  list  by  the  Schubert 
interests  and  placarded  with  a ‘‘for  sale 
and  to  rent”  sign.  The  structure  has  al- 
ways been  known  as  a “white  elephant.” 

The  Metropolitan  Theatre,  located  in 
the  downtown  district,  whereas  the  Opera 
House  is  a mile  uptown,  has  a larger  ca- 
pacity by  some  1,200  seats. 

H.  Wendell  Endicott,  president  of  the 
Boston  Opera  Ass’n,  which  brings  the 
Metropolitan  company  here  annually,  says 
that  this  year  a greater  bid  will  be  made 
for  general  public  patronage  and,  toward 
this  end,  the  public  will  be  offered  a “more 
attractive  scale  of  prices.” 

The  new  house  will  be  given  over  to 
Wagner,  Verdi,  Bizet,  etc.,  from  March  27 
to  April  5. 


Uphold  Labor's  Right 
To  Picket  Theatre 

Hartford — Labor’s  right  to  picket  the 
E.  M.  Loew’s  Theatre  here  was  upheld 
in  a decision  handed  down  last  week  by 
the  state  supreme  court. 

The  opinion  pointed  out  that  the  law 
passed  by  the  1939  General  Assembly  at 
Hartford  limiting  the  granting  of  injunc- 
tions by  courts,  prevented  the  issuance  of 
an  injunction  prohibiting  the  union  from 
picketing. 

Describing  the  new  labor  law,  the 
unanimous  opinion,  written  by  the  chief 
justice,  declared:  “The  act  does  not  deny 
to  courts  the  power  to  hear  and  deter- 
mine actions  seeking  injunctions  in  labor 
disputes,  but  only  limits  them  in  the  exer- 
cise of  that  power.” 

Joseph  X.  Friedman  represented  the 
theatre;  John  P.  Cooney,  John  P.  Cotter 
and  John  J.  Scanlan,  the  union. 


Sammy  Kaye  Three  Days 

Springfield,  Mass.— Sammy  Kaye  and 
his  orchestra  started  a three-day  engage- 
ment at  the  Paramount  Monday. 


Cc  - --  ■ ft 

Alderman  to  Bat 
For  Workingman 

Northampton,  Mass. — Francis  P.  O'Don- 
nell, local  alderman,  is  urging  Mayor  C. 

J.  O'Connor  to  increase  the  Sunday 
license  fee  for  the  Calvin  here  if  the 
theatre's  new  increase  in  Sunday  ad- 
missions is  not  dropped.  It  is  claimed 
that  increasing  prices  for  special  features 
is  a hardship  on  the  workingman  and  his 
family,  who,  O'Donnell  declared,  “go  to 
the  theatre  on  Sunday." 

VS  J 


Worcester  Film  Council 
Puts  7 on  Adult  List 

Worcester,  Mass. — The  Worcester  Bet- 
ter Films  Council,  of  which  Mrs.  Howard 
S.  Shepard  is  president,  has  announced 
its  “movie  digest”  as  follows: 

For  adults — “A  Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s,” 
“Victory,”  “Alias  the  Deacon,”  “Million- 
aires in  Prison,”  “Seven  Sinners,”  “Kitty 
Foyle,”  and  “Remedy  for  Riches.” 

For  young  people  (from  15  years  of  age) 
— “Gone  With  the  Wind,”  “Flight  Com- 
mand,” “Ellery  Queen,  Detective,”  “Pub- 
lic Deb.  No.  1,”  “The  Westerner,”  “Beau 
Geste”  and  “Down  Argentine  Way.” 

For  the  family  (from  eight  years  of  age) 
— “Land  of  Liberty”  and  “Abe  Lincoln 
in  Illinois.” 

Newspapermen  at  Special 
Preview  for  "Smiths" 

Boston — “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith”  was 
given  a special  preview  at  the  Keith’s  Me- 
morial with  newspapermen  present  from 
as  far  away  as  Montreal. 

Advertised  to  the  public  only  as  a so- 
called  “Sneak  Preview,”  with  no  names 
mentioned,  the  RKO  release  was  sand- 
wiched in  between  regular  showings  of 
“Kitty  Foyle”  for  audience  reaction. 

Ross  Cropper,  Jack  Granara  and  Harry 
Reiners  later  hosted  a party  of  some  81 
at  the  Cocoanut  Grove. 

Philip  W.  Marks  Leads 
Laurel  Cinema  Club 

Hartford — At  a recent  meeting  of  the 
Laurel  Cinema  Club,  the  following  offi- 
cers were  elected  for  the  coming  year: 
President,  Philip  W.  Marks;  vice-presi- 
dent, A.  A.  Jalbert;  secretary,  Kay  Sar- 
gent; treasurer.  Dr.  David  S.  Ginsburg. 


Two  Managers  Exchange 

Nashua,  N.  H. — An  exchange  of  posts 
between  the  Shea  manager  here  and  in 
Manchester  has  been  effected.  The 
change  places  E.  J.  Fahey,  formerly  in 
charge  of  the  State  and  Tremont  in 
Nashua,  over  four  houses  in  Manchester, 
and  moves  Fenton  Scribner  from  the  lat- 
ter city  to  the  helm  in  Nashua. 


Plans  Nearly  Ready 

East  Hartford,  Conn. — Plans  for  the 
new  East  Hartford  theatre,  which  is  be- 
ing backed  by  Peter  Perakos  and  Joe  Quitt- 
ner, are  said  to  be  nearing  completion. 


We  were  very  well  pleased  with 
the  many  inquiries  that  came  a3 
a result  of  our  classified  adver- 
tisement in  your  paper." 

— W.  N.  PETTIBONE, 
Hannibal,  Mo. 


Tufu  oj ihl  Mohonlfiduni 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


116-C 


■pHE  “FLU”  epidemic  which  has  raged 
throughout  Maine  for  the  past  month 
is  on  the  wane,  according  to  Dr.  Roscoe 

L.  Mitchell,  director  of  the  Maine  Bureau 
of  Health.  Only  18  new  cases  were  re- 
ported January  20,  compared  with  73  on 
January  13.  The  total  number  of  cases 
for  1641  to  January  22  was  3.069.  Dur- 
ing the  height  of  the  epidemic  schools  were 
closed  and  health  officials  publicly  warned 
the  public  against  congregating  at  public 
places.  Theatres  all  over  the  state  were 
affected,  many  of  them  seriously. 

The  epidemic  was  virtually  the  “straw 
that  broke  the  camel’s  back’’  to  the  Maine 
Civic  Theatre.  It  was  finally  closed  Jan- 
uary 18  after  the  presentation  of  two 
operettas  failed  to  bolster  boxoffice  grosses. 
Guy  Palmerton  opened  the  Civic  almost  a 
year  ago  and  has  operated  under  a popu- 
lar price  policy. 

“Gone  With  the  Wind”  is  scheduled  to 
make  its  return  engagement  at  the  Strand 
Theatre  January  30  . . . The  war  news  film 
“Christmas  Under  Fire”  <WB>  has  been 
added  to  the  Strand  Theatre’s  current  pro- 
gram. 

The  first  of  three  meetings  to  be  held 
in  1941  by  the  Portland  Motion  Picture 
Council  has  been  scheduled  for  the  early 
part  of  February,  according  to  Mrs.  Elsie 

M.  Files,  president. 


Buys  O.  Henry  Story 

Hollywood — “The  Gift  to  the  Magi,”  O. 
Henry  story,  has  been  purchased  by  20th- 
Fox.  Jo  Swerling  will  script. 


Lottery,  Luxury  Tax 
Bills  Up  in  Maine 

Portland,  Me. — During  the  four  weeks 
since  the  legislature  convened  at  Augusta 
numerous  bills  affecting  the  industry  have 
been  framed,  introduced  and  referred  to 
committees.  Chief  among  these  are  three 
luxury  tax  bills  and  one  state  lottery  bill. 
The  purpose  of  these  bills  is  to  raise 
funds  to  finance  old-age  assistance. 

The  first  luxury  tax  bill  called  for 
levies  on  soft  drinks,  tobacco,  cosmetics, 
jewelry,  candy  and  amusement  admissions. 
It  was  presented  to  the  house  January  14 
by  Rep.  E.  Sam  Farwell  <R>  of  Unity. 

Bearing  emergency  preambles  declaring 
there  was  an  “immediate  necessity”  for 
raising  more  revenue  to  pay  old-age  pen- 
sions, Rep.  Lee  C.  Good  iR>  of  Monti  - 
cello  on  January  15  presented  two  luxury 
bills.  One  called  for  an  excise  tax  of  one 
mill  on  each  cigarette  sold,  and  the  sec- 
ond a tax  of  one  cent  for  every  10  cents 
on  manufactured  tobacco  products  sold. 

Under  Good's  cigarette  tax  bill,  both  dis- 
tributor and  dealer  would  be  required  to 
be  licensed,  the  fee  for  distributors  set  at 
$25  and  that  for  dealers  $1.  The  state  tax 
assessor  would  administer  the  act. 

The  tobacco  products  tax  would  be  paid 
by  the  affixing  of  stamps  and  each  person 
engaged  in  the  business  would  be  required 
to  be  licensed,  wholesalers  bearing  the 
brunt  of  the  burden,  their  fee  being  set 
at  $25.  Retailers  would  pay  $2  for  each 
place  of  business  maintained. 

All  three  bills  are  to  become  effective 
when  and  if  passed. 

The  fourth  bill  bearing  on  the  trade  is 


7 — - " ft 

: NEW  HAMPSHIRE  : 

^ - V 

JJDWARD  J.  RAICHE,  45,  well  known 
Manchester  cornetist,  is  dead  after  an 
emergency  operation  for  a ruptured  ap- 
pendix. He  played  several  years  under 
Erno  Rapee  at  Roxy’s  in  New  York  and 
later  was  connected  with  the  National 
Broadcasting  Co. 

Ansel  Sanborn’s  Memorial  Hall  in  Wolfe- 
boro  showed  a silent  short  of  the  first 
sled  dog  race  held  in  the  Wolfeboro  sec- 
tion about  15  years  ago.  The  film  was  a 
good  “draw”  because  many  of  the  local 
folks  were  eager  to  see  themselves  again 
on  the  screen. 


one  which  provides  for  the  creation  of  a 
three-member  state  lottery  commission  “to 
establish  a state  lottery  or  state  lotteries 
for  the  benefit  of  the  state.”  The  bill  was 
introduced  January  15  by  Rep.  Charles  F. 
Dwinal  (R>  of  Camden. 

Commissioners  would  be  paid  $3,000  a 
year,  the  chairman,  $3,500,  and  would  be 
appointed  by  the  governor  subject  to  exec- 
utive council  approval. 

Fifty-five  per  cent  of  gross  proceeds 
received  from  these  state-controlled  lot- 
teries would  be  credited  to  the  general 
funds  of  the  state  “with  the  recommenda- 
tion that  it  be  applied  to  payment  of  old 
age  pensions.” 

Ten  per  cent  would  go  for  administra- 
tion cf  the  lottery  and  35  per  cent  for 
prizes. 

Under  the  bill,  any  persons  engaging  in 
pool  selling  except  by  commission  au- 
thority would  be  punishable  by  a fine  of 
not  more  than  $2,000  and  by  imprison- 
ment for  not  more  than  two  years. 


ANY  NEWS  TODAY? 

Planning  a new  theatre?  Remodeling?  Being  promoted?  Getting  married?  Got  a new  baby  (infant)?  Buy- 
ing new  equipment?  Been  elected  mayor?  Son  or  daughter  graduating?  Proud  of  a new  exploitation  stunt? 
Hired  a new  staff  member?  Solved  a knotty  problem? 

Then  Tell  It  To  BOXOFFICE 

BOXOFFICE, 

4804  E.  Ninth  St.. 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 


NAME 


THEATRE 


LOCATION 


116-D 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


Brisk  Building  Pace 
Maintained  in  Texas 

Dallas — Announcements  of  theatre  con- 
struction here  for  early  in  1941  indicate 
much  activity.  The  latest  is  a deluxer  at 
the  corner  of  Mockingbird  Lane  and 
Greenville  Avenue  where  W.  W.  Caruth 
jr.  plans  a large  shopping  center.  Inter- 
state Circuit  is  linked  with  this  project  as 
the  new  theatre  operator,  however  no  an- 
nouncement or  denial  has  been  made. 
Plans  have  been  drawn  for  a 1,250  seater, 
it  was  said.  The  location  is  over  a mile 
from  Interstate’s  Varsity  and  the  same 
distance  from  the  Arcadia,  controlled  by 
Lee  Hanley  and  Bob  Clemmons. 

Incidentally  the  Arcadia  has  been  all 
cleaned  up  from  its  recent  holiday  fire 
damage  and  a finer  streamlined  structure 
will  be  ready  by  March  15.  The  house 
seats  about  1,100. 

Robb  & Rowley  are  ready  to  build  a 
large  deluxer  in  Oak  Cliff  at  the  Stevens 
Park  section  and  L.  L.  Dunbar  has  an- 
nounced a new  house  for  his  lot  on  Edge- 
field  and  Clinton. 

Roy  Starling,  owner  of  the  Grove, 
opened  his  new  Urban  Theatre,  in  the 


Texans  Return  From  Prize 
Trip  to  Chicago  Fete 

San  Antonio — Chosen  as  one  of  the 
“Men  of  the  Year”  Manager  J.  T.  Floore 
of  the  Majestic  is  back  in  San  Antonio 
after  attending  the  testimonial  to  Barney 
Balaban  celebrating  his  fifth  year  as  presi- 
dent of  Paramount  Pictures. 

Other  prize  winners  who  made  the  jaunt 
were  E.  J.  Sullivan,  manager  of  the  Ma- 
jestic, Dallas;  A.  D.  Deason,  Wichita  Palls 
Theatre  manager,  and  Jack  King,  mana- 
ger, Arcadia,  Harlingen.  Heading  the 
party  of  prize  winners  on  the  tour  was 
Robert  J.  O’Donnell,  vice-president  and 
general  manager  of  Interstate  Theatres, 
and  Ray  B.  Willie,  his  assistant,  both 
from  Dallas. 


Urbandale  section  last  Thursday.  This 
house  seats  about  500. 

Last,  but  not  least,  are  two  neighbor- 
hood theatres  which  Underwood  & Ezell 
plan  to  erect  here  as  soon  as  plans  are 
completed  by  Corgan  & Moore,  archi- 
tects. The  work  is  only  a matter  of  a 
few  days  off,  according  to  Claude  Ezell. 
The  locations  are  at  Northwest  Highway 
near  the  Coit  Road  and  on  the  Ft.  Worth 
Pike  at  the  edge  of  Dallas’  city  limits. 


'Arizona'  Doubles  Par 
In  New  Orleans  Run 


New  Orleans — Grosses  this  week  as  a 
rule  exceeded  expectations  owing  to  gen- 
eral business  conditions  and  the  fact  the 
flu  is  subsiding.  In  the  downtown  houses 
and  the  neighborhoods  as  well  the  im- 
provement was  noticed.  The  United  Chain 
has  materially  increased  its  attendance  by 
the  giving  away  of  library  books  for  25 
cents  in  addition  to  the  admission  prices, 
in  addition  to  Bank  Night.  At  the  Orpheum 
“This  Thing  Called  Love”  pleased  and  drew 
heavily  during  the  evening  hours  and  has 
been  moved  over  to  the  Liberty  for  a con- 
tinued run,  being  supplanted  by  “Arizona” 
which  opened  with  a rush.  The  opening 
hour  has  been  set  to  10  in  the  morning  in- 


stead of  10:45  as  heretofore.  Loew’s, 

with  the  “Son  of  Monte  Cristo”  did  ex- 
traordinary business. 

(Average  is  100) 

Center— Where  Did  You  Get  That  Girl  (Univ) . . 95 

Globe — Mark  of  Zorro  (20th-Fox)  80 

Liberty — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col) 100 

Loew’s — Soil  of  Monte  Cristo  (UA)  150 

Saenger — Four  Mothers  (WB)  140 

Orpheum — Arizona  (Col)  200 

Tudor — Little  Nellie  Kelly  (M-G-M)  95 


Dallas  First  Runs  Show 
But  Routine  Record 

Dallas — Except  for  “Philadelphia  Story” 
which  played  10  days  at  the  Majestic  to 
gross  about  25  per  cent  over  normal  al- 
lowing a weekend  change  to  come  on  there, 
and  with  weather  conditions  favorable,  the 
week’s  run  was  some  above  normal  in  the 
A houses  but  below  in  one  of  the  B’s.  The 
Capitol  fell  off  to  below,  possibly  because 
the  weekend  booking  was  not  a double  as 
it  was  two  previous  weeks  when  doubles 
put  that  house  up  well. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  25: 


(Average  is  100) 

Capitol — Dark  Streets  of  Cairo  (Univ) 80 

Played  Wednesday,  Thursday  and  Friday. 

Capitol — Romance  of  the  Rio  Grande  (20th- 

Fox)  80 

Opened  slow  on  Saturday. 

Majestic — The  Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M) ...  .125 
Played  10  days  ending  Friday  in  favor  of 
“Santa  Fe  Trail,’’  but  it  held  over  at  the 
Tower. 

Palace — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA) 110 

Rialto — Escape  to  Glory  (Col)  100 

Played  three  days  ending  Thursday. 

Rialto — Maisie  Was  a Lady  (M-G-M) 125 


Opened  big  on  Saturday  to  play  through 
weekend. 

Tower — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col),  2nd  wk.  .100 


Holdover  Product  Proves 
Best  in  Oklahoma  City 

Oklahoma  City — It’s  good  picture  week 
so  it’s  holdover  week  and  good  grosses. 
Both  “GWTW”  and  “Kitty  Foyle”  con- 
tinued to  take  in  the  shekels  while  some 
pictures  in  a distinctly  different  class 
didn’t  ring  the  bell  so  loudly.  No  competi- 
tive factors  and  weather  good. 

(Average  is  100) 

Criterion — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M). 


2nd  wk 150 

Liberty — Gallant  Sons  (M-G-M);  Lucky 

Devils  (Univ)  90 

Midwest — Chad  Hanna  (20th -Fox)  110 

State — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO),  2nd  wk 140 

Tower — Third  Finger,  Left  Hand  (M-G-M) 95 


Scripts  Lupino  Starrer 

Hollywood — Heinz  Herald  is  adapting 
“The  Damned  Don’t  Cry,”  Ida  Lupino 
starrer  for  Warner. 


Southerners  Turn  Out  for  Balaban — 


At  the  Paramount  partners’  testimonial  dinner  in  Chicago  to  Barney  Bala- 
ban on  his  fifth  anniversary  as  president  of  Paramount.  At  the  top , R.  J. 
O’Donnell  (fourth  from  right),  general  manager  of  Interstate  Circuit,  with 
seven  of  his  contingent  that  included  Raymond  Willie,  E.  D.  Sullivan,  Ray 
Beall,  A.  U.  Deason,  Hugh  Owen,  Jack  King,  I.  Adelman,  John  Adams  and 
John  Floore.  Below,  left  to  right:  J.  H.  Harrison,  Wilby-Kincey  circuit,  At- 
lanta; Rollin  K.  Stonebrook,  Paramount  Miami  circuit,  and  George  C. 
Hoover,  also  of  the  Miami  Paramount  chain. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


s 


117 


Tourist  Trek  to  Florida 
Booming  Jacksonville 


By  A.  JULES  BENEDIC 

Jacksonville — Maybe  the  Brothers  War- 
ner had  some  other  reason  for  building 
the  St.  John’s  Theatre  here  besides  just  a 
plain  peeve  because  Sparks  didn’t  buy 
their  product.  Maybe  they  checked  up  on 
the  juicy  business  this  town  does  on  occa- 
sions. On  occasions  such  as  these,  for  ex- 
ample. 

On  Saturday  night  there  were  several 
“A”  pictures  playing  local  houses.  This 
reviewer  had  seen  them  all,  and  accord- 
ingly we  took  our  44  cents  down  where  we 
figured  the  hoi  polloi  would  be.  We  wait- 
ed patiently  in  line,  a condition  prevail- 
ing at  virtually  every  other  spot  where 
the  art  of  the  cinema  was  doing  its  cellu- 
lodic  damndest. 

When  at  long  last  we  entered  the  pala- 
tial pictorium,  we  sat  through  a dual  pro- 
grammer, two  ’’B's” — but  definitely;  not  a 
criticism,  to  be  sure,  for  the  audience  en- 
joyed them  thoroughly.  What  we’re  point- 
ing out  is  that  this  man’s  town  is  a Boom 
Town,  with  tourists  more  plentiful  than 
Ed  Kuykendall’s  latest  checkup  on  con- 
sent decree  objectors. 

Calmly  Sacking  the  Shekels 

A veritable  Valhalla  of  prosperity;  this 
Jax-town’s  a hummer  at  present,  with 
plenty  more  to  follow.  Gateway  to  even 
sunnier  surroundings,  Jacksonville  is  the 
first  and  last  chance  in  this  tourist  trek, 
which  conservative  estimates  place  at 
record-breaking  figures,  exceeding  even 
the  fabulous  land  boom  of  the  middle 
twenties.  Hotels  are  filled  and  rooms  are 
things  you  wait  for,  even  in  the  second- 
class  joints.  Anybody  with  money  is  spend- 
ing it,  freely;  those  who  haven’t  it,  figure 
they  can  starve  better  in  the  sunshine, 
anyway. 

Folks  down  here,  explaining  this  gold- 
rush,  calmly  shovel  in  the  shekels  and 
say  “It’s  a triple  impetus.”  They  refer,  one: 
to  the  tourists,  like  Florida  oranges,  plenti- 
ful and  easy  to  pluck;  two:  the  huge  de- 
fense spending;  three:  a bumper  citrus 
crop.  Eating  citrus  fruit  down  here  is  like 
making  love  to  a widow;  you  can’t  overdo 
it.  It  is  estimated  that  just  the  loose 
oranges  hereabouts  would  fill  every  va- 
cant theatre  chair  in  South  Bend,  Ind., 
the  country’s  most  badly  overseated  city. 

What  we  started  to  say  is  that  Sparks  is 
erecting  three  new  theatres  hereabouts; 
Warner  is  pushing  the  St.  John’s  to  com- 
pletion, and  wishing  it  was  already  open,  to 
catch  some  of  the  instant  influx  Warner 
and  Sparks,  in  addition,  are  erecting  other 
theatres  over  the  state,  as  chronicled  week- 
ly through  the  columns  of  this  useful 
compendium.  The  independents  have  also 
caught  the  spirit  of  the  thing,  but  a gen- 
eral review  of  state-wide  theatre  activi- 
ties will  have  to  await  our  sojourn  to 
Tampa,  where  Arthur  Bromberg’s  man- 
ager (adv’t.)  is  up  on  those  things. 

Flora  and  Fauna  in  Florida 

We  dislike  figures  as  well  as  our  dear 
readers,  but  the  recitation  of  a few  might 
not  be  amiss.  The  heaviest  movement. 


seemingly,  is  to  the  “gold  coast”  area, 
from  Palm  Beach  to  Miami.  Railroads  and 
airlines  are  running  extra  sections  to  ac- 
commodate the  influx.  Tourist  registra- 
tions are  the  heaviest  on  record,  except  at 
St.  Petersburg,  which  formerly  drew  heav- 
ily from  Canada.  Tampa  reports  winter 
visitors  up  10  per  cent;  retail  sales  and 
building  activities  soaring,  a condition  true 
in  other  centers  as  well. 

The  state  chamber  of  commerce  also  has 
to  have  its  inning,  so  here  it  is,  briefly: 

A total  of  3,100,000  tourists  will  spend 
$347,000,000,  more  hay  than  even  the 
record-breaking  1939-40  season. 

As  California  turns  positively  green,  the 
C.  of  C.  has  this  to  say  of  Florida,  which 
is  a peninsula  surrounded,  dear  readers, 
by  sunshine,  seas,  sirens  (of  the  beach 
type),  and,  for  the  most  part,  by  Sparks’ 
theatres : 

“The  strategic  location  of  the  state, 
pointing  like  an  extended  forefinger  to- 


By  A.  JULES  BENEDIC 
Augusta — This  street  called  Broad — so 
reminiscent  of  Canal  in  New  Orleans — will 
witness  in  a few 
weeks  the  first  anni- 
versary of  the  mag- 
nificent Miller  Thea- 
tre, on  Miller  Square, 
both  named  after 
the  man  who  con- 
ceived this  showplace 
of  the  south.  For  it 
was  on  Feb.  26,  1940, 
that  the  palatial  Mil- 
ler, a $600,000  struc- 
ture devoted  to  the 
art  of  the  cinema, 
benedic  opened  its  doors. 

This  theatre,  named  for  Frank  J.  Miller 
of  Augusta  Amusements  brought  about  a 
tremendous  quickening  of  trade  over  a 
block-long  business  area;  in  fact,  over  two 
blocks  or  more  in  what  was  labeled  a 
dead  section  of  town.  Other  businesses 
were  remodeled  to  fit  the  tone  imparted 
by  the  theatre — a modern  structure  with 
every  known  convenience.  To  name  the 
new  structure,  they  inaugurated  a contest, 
associates  relate,  and  out  of  600  entries, 
480  persons  said  the  name  Miller  would 
best  suffice.  Then  a grateful  citizenry,  as 
an  additional  gesture,  changed  the  name  of 
Herald  Square  to  Miller  Square,  to  con- 
form to  that  of  the  theatre.  Fitting  testi- 
monial to  Frank’s  years  of  civic  service  in 
Augusta ! 

"Tobacco  Road”  Premiere  Sought 
F.  J.  Miller  jr„  in  charge  of  publicity 
for  the  quintet  of  Miller  houses  here, 
spoke  interestingly  of  efforts  being  made 
toward  getting  the  world  premiere  of  “To- 
bacco Road,”  a forthcoming  20th-Fox  re- 
lease. If  the  plans  go  through,  the  Mil- 


ward  South  America  and  the  vital  Panama 
Canal,  has  resulted  in  a concentration  of 
military  and  naval  establishments  on 
which  huge  sums  are  being  spent,  thous- 
ands of  persons  employed  and  enormous 
quantities  of  materials  used.” 

Market,  Not  Fruit,  Is  Sour 

Construction,  says  this  modest  organiza- 
tion, totaled  $146,000,000  in  1940,  with 
“many  projects  incomplete  . . . and  others 
yet  to  be  started.” 

We  have  already  made  an  Indianian 
reference  to  the  citrus  crop,  which  will  ex- 
ceed a gross  take  of  $50,000,000,  the  figure 
of  last  year,  even  though  prices  are  not 
so  satisfactory  as  last  season’s.  Growers 
insist  it’s  the  market  and  not  their  fruit 
that’s  sour. 

Winding  up  our  peroration  on  the  flora 
and  fauna  of  Florida,  and  at  the  risk  of 
offending  our  peninsula  playmates,  we 
cannot  help  but  paraphrase  from  the  come- 
come-on  chatter  used  by  Southern  Cali- 
fornia, the  opposish: 

“To  those  seeking  employment,  it  is  well 
to  come  heeled  with  a little  cash,  to  avoid 
disappointments;  lacking  the  do-re-mi,  it 
is  well  to  stay  in  your  own  WPA  district. 
But  to  the  tourist  with  bulges  in  the  left 
rear  pants  section,  thrice  welcome,  little 


ler’s  1,780  seats  will  hardly  handle  ex- 
pected crowds,  as  it  is  planned  to  make 
the  showing  a state-wide,  or  even  national, 
event.  There  is  much  pro  and  con  talk 
anent  the  picture  itself,  which  brings 
about  desired  publicity.  Then,  too,  Frank 
Junior  says  similar  efforts  are  being  made 
with  reference  to  the  new  film,  ‘“Benja- 
min Blake,”  with  Tyrone  Power,  which  has 
a local  tiein  with  Edison  Marshall,  the 
author. 

Recently  the  Miller  interests  swung  Se- 
ward Fargo  into  the  Modjeska  as  house 
manager,  and  Allen  Gessner  into  the  Im- 
perial in  a like  capacity,  a swap  in  jobs. 
Jack  Johannsen  is  pilot  at  the  new  Miller. 

Clay  Constructs  at  Conyers 

Augusta  has  kept  pace  with  the  quick- 
ened pulse  of  southern  cities.  There  are 
seven  theatres  here,  with  an  eighth  to  fol- 
low. Augusta  Amusements,  which  has  a 
tiein  with  Lucas  and  Jenkins,  control  five; 
George  Wilby  and  Associates  have  the 
swanky  new  Drive-In,  with  Steve  Mander- 
son  as  pilot,  while  the  Starr  boys  have 
the  colored  house.  Eighth  in  the  Augusta 
setup  is  the  Westview,  with  H.  B.  Ram  of 
Aiken  and  the  Bogo  brothers  as  operators. 
The  Westview  was  to  have  opened  some 
months  ago,  but  experienced  construction 
difficulties.  The  owners  say  the  opening 
is  set  for  about  60  days  hence. 

As  we  clip  into  Conyers  for  conversation 
with  Clay — his  initials  being  J.  E. — we 
find  that  gentleman  constructing  the 
town’s  first  real  cinema.  The  new  struc- 
ture, seating  485,  directly  faces  the  new 
postoffice,  is  being  erected  of  stone,  and 
represents  an  investment  of  some  $16,000. 
Mr.  Clay  and  his  wife  also  conduct  the 
show  at  Milstead,  nearby. 

We  pull  into  Porterdale,  renewing  ac- 


man!” 

ft  - ft 

Marching  Through  Georgia 

(S  - ■-  - —>J 


118 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


quaintance  with  hail-fellow-well-met  E.  L. 
Butler  . . . Continuing  to  Covington,  we 
chat  with  Mrs.  M.  M.  Osman,  wife  of  our 
friend  who  joined  the  Majority  some  years 
back  . . . We  wangle  to  Warrenton  for  a 
chat  with  Mrs.  T.  B.  Story,  well  remem- 
bered from  her  former  connection  in 
Thomson.  (It  is  reported,  connection  and 
initials  lacking  at  the  moment,  that  Sales- 
man Seligman  of  Atlanta’s  Filmrow  will 
reopen  the  old  Ritz,  in  Decatur,  a colored 
house)  ...  At  Wrens  we  wing  a phone  call 
to  Violet  Edwards’  sister,  Louise.  Over  the 
instrument  which  any  school  kid  can  tell 
you  was  invented  by  Don  Ameche,  she  tells 
us  she  looks  just  like  Violet,  which  is  a 
break  for  both,  but  no  break  for  us,  as  we 
didn’t  have  time  for  a personal  visit.  How- 
ever, we  did  send  an  extremely  personal 
message  to  Violet,  to  the  effect  that  the 
Royal  at  Monticello  may  face  a suit  un- 
less it  falls  in  with  the  Boxoffice  family. 
(In  view  of  our  intended  visit  to  Violet, 
the  suit  may  be  avoided). 

These  Georgian  lady  exhibitors — what  a 
trial!  . . . There’s  Mrs.  T.  H.  Holland  of 
Madison  for  example.  Five  years  ago  she 
was  out  of  town  when  we  called.  History 
repeats.  Two  weeks  in  Florida  was  the 
message  we  got  over  the  telephone.  Not 
that  we  blame  her.  We’ll  spend  that  time 
and  more,  maybe,  in  the  Peninsula  State, 
to  which  the  whole  Nation  seemingly  is 
trekking  this  winter  . . . Maybe  our  cup  of 
joy  would  have  been  complete  had  we 
time  to  include  a call  upon  Mrs.  F.  L. 
Liggett  at  McRae. 

And  Into  Savannah 

We  sashay  into  Savannah.  We  engage 
Hudson  Edwards  in  conversation.  He  is, 
in  a manner  of  speaking,  L.  and  J.’s  Man 
Friday.  We  converse  concerning  Variety’s 
big  shindig  last  year  in  Dallas,  and  learn 
that  Hudson  still  is  preserving  his  cow- 
boy hat,  autographed  by  numerous  celeb- 
rities who  attended  that  terrific  Texas 
conclave  . . . Freddy  Weis,  of  the  122- 
year-old  Savannah  Theatre,  still  is  going 
strong.  Freddy  again  denied  the  rumor  he 
was  the  original  owner  here.  There  has 
been  at  least  one  other  setup  since  the 
opening  back  in  1818. 

Long  since  we’ve  entered  the  chicken 
dinner  belt.  Corn  pone  and  turnip  greens, 
pork  chops  and  succulent  yams,  form  the 
piece  des  resistance  of  Georgia  folk  here- 
abouts, with  chicken  and  the  State  dish, 
grits,  ever  present.  For  30  cents,  in  small 
joints  along  the  highway,  you  get  home- 
cooked  food  that  puts  to  shame  those  so- 
called  southern  tables  de  hote  for  which 
Broadway  gets  90  per  cent  of  a dollar. 
Folks  just  live  easily  and  well  hereabouts. 
For  instance: 

In  asking  directions  to  a Georgian 
Umphville,  you  get  explicit  instructions 
interspersed  with  numerous  yes,  suhs.  Up 
north,  in  contrast,  you  are  known  flip- 
pantly as  Mac;  the  single  variant  being 
Jack.:  “It’s  two  miles  further,  Mac,”  an 
annoyed  grease  monkey  replies  when  asked 
about  a northern  Umphville.  Down  here 
there  is  mentioned  every  intersection  along 
the  route;  your  windshield  is  wiped,  and 
you  are  told  little  Gertrude  has  been  kept 
home  from  school  on  account  of  the  snif- 
fles. Then  you  are  asked  if  you  know  the 
guy’s  uncle,  Silas  Blithers,  who  lives 
“somewhere  in  Texas.”  Opines  your  in- 
formant: “You  should  know  him,  being 

(Continued  on  page  124-B) 


Two  for  Gainesville 
Planned  by  Sparks 

Jacksonville — Following  a visit  of  E.  J. 
Sparks  and  Frank  Rogers  to  this  city,  an- 
nouncement was  made  that  the  Sparks  in- 
terests will  erect  two  new  houses  in  Gaines- 
ville. Sparks  and  Rogers  were  accompanied 
here  by  a full  crew  of  executives,  including 
Fred  Kent,  Architect  R.  A.  Benjamin,  B. 
B.  Garner  and  others. 

Conversation  with  Garner,  general 
manager  of  theatre  operations,  elicits  the 
information  that  the  circuit  has  just  com- 
pleted two  new  houses  and  one  drive-in, 
and  in  addition  has  embarked  upon  a pro- 
gram calling  for  ten  new  theatres  and  four 
additional  drive-ins. 

Three  New  Ones  Opened 

The  circuit  has  just  opened  a new  thea- 
tre at  Tallahassee,  the  state  capital,  and 
at  Orlando,  in  addition  to  the  new  drive- 
in  at  St.  Petersburg.  The  latter  operation 
is  declared  to  be  one  of  the  finest  of  its 
kind  in  the  country. 

Latest  compilation  shows  these  theatres 
either  under  construction  or  ready  to  start 
soon: 

Gainesville:  Two  new  houses. 

Fort  Lauderdale:  One  new  house. 

Fort  Lauderdale:  A drive-in. 

Lake  Wales:  A new  house. 

Jacksonville:  Three  new  suburbans,  in 
these  neighborhoods:  Pearl  street,  Popu- 
lar Point  and  King  street. 

Fort  Myers:  A new  house. 

Ocala:  A new  house. 

Sarasota:  A new  house. 

Daytona  Beach:  A drive-in. 

Tampa:  A drive-in. 

West  Palm  Beach:  A drive-in. 

R.  A.  Benjamin,  Jacksonville  architect, 
has  plans  for  all  the  houses  and  drive-ins. 

Think  Million  to  Be  Spent 

Garner  did  not  quote  figures,  but  this 


Making  Ready  for 
"Charter  Night" 

Charlotte — Representatives  from  many 
Tents,  including  John  H.  Harris,  national 
chief  barker,  of  Pittsburgh,  are  expected 
to  attend  the  “Charter  Night”  gathering 
of  the  local  Variety  Club  on  March  10, 
H.  H.  Everett,  local  chief  barker,  reports. 

The  Tent’s  clubrooms  in  the  Hotel  Char- 
lotte are  now  being  readied  for  the  gath- 
ering. 

Committees  for  the  affair  as  announced 
by  Everett,  follow:  General,  Ben  Rose- 
wald,  chairman;  assisted  by  Johnny  Bach- 
man, Jim  Prichard  and  Scott  Lett;  re- 
ception, H.  F.  Kincey;  speaker’s  table, 
Everett;  invitations,  J.  H.  Dillon;  program 
and  publicity,  A1  Burks;  reservations,  J. 
H.  Bockman;  public  address,  Howard 
Marx;  dinner,  Jay  Schrader;  seating,  Jack 
Lamont;  tickets,  Joe  Brecheen;  trans- 
portation, John  H.  Vickers;  entertain- 
ment, Roy  Smart. 


Butler  Adapts  “Aloma" 

Hollywood  — Frank  Butler  is  adapting 
“Aloma  of  the  South  Seas”  for  Paramount. 
The  film  will  be  treated  with  Technicolor. 


reviewer  estimates  that  $750,000  or  more  is 
involved  in  the  16  new  operations.  Other 
new  houses  doubtless  are  being  planned 
for  the  near  future,  what  with  Florida  fac- 
ing the  most  prosperous  year  of  its  ex- 
istence. In  the  final  analysis  a cool  million 
may  not  cover  contemplated  expansions  of 
the  circuit. 

Nineteen  hundred  and  forty-one  dished 
out  to  the  Peninsula  state  a three-tined 
measure  of  prosperity:  An  estimated  3,- 
000,000  tourists;  soldier  and  sailor  camps 
galore;  a bumper  citrus  crop. 


^miMiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiimmmmiiiiiiiimiiiiiiimmiimimiiiiiiiiimiiiiimiiiimiiimmimiiimi^ 

] MORE  and  MORE  - DAY  by  DAY  ( 

| EXHIBITORS  ARE  INSTALLING  | 

I 4 STAR  SOUND! 

“ TRADE  MARK  REG'D.  ZZ 

| There  Is  One  Near  You,  | 

| LISTEN!  — YOU'LL  BE  SURPRISED!  | 

= You  11  Want  One  NOW!  Terms? — Sure!  | 

1 NATIONAL  THEATRE  SDPPLY  CO.  1 

E ATLANTA  — DALLAS  — MEMPHIS  — NEW  ORLEANS  — CHARLOTTE  = 
E OKLAHOMA  CITY  | 

?7i  1 1 ii  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ii  1 1 1 1 e 1 1 1 1 1 1 ii  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ii  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 m i M 1 1 1 ii  1 1 in  1 1 1 1 1 1~ 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


119 


Wage-Hour  Measure 
Up  in  Arkansas 

Little  Rock — Rep.  John  L.  Sullivan, 
Little  Rock,  has  introduced  a bill  in  the 
house  providing  for  the  payment  of  at 
least  a weekly  pay  check  of  $16  to  all  Ar- 
kansas employes  of  firms  engaged  in  in- 
trastate business. 

The  measure,  sponsored  by  the  Arkan- 
sas State  Federation  of  Labor,  would  fix  a 
40-hour  week  for  intrastate  business  and, 
later,  a minimum  wage  schedule  of  40 
cents  per  hour.  Workers  in  agriculture, 
domestic  servants  in  private  homes,  and 
operators  of  switchboards  in  public  tele- 
phone exchanges  with  fewer  than  500  sta- 
tions, would  be  exempt. 

The  bill  also  provides  for  creation  in 
the  state  labor  department  of  a wage  and 
hour  division. 

Rep.  Edwin  Dunaway,  Pulaski  county, 
offered  another  labor  measure  which 
would  prohibit  courts  from  granting  tem- 
porary injunctions  in  labor  disputes  with- 
out a hearing. 


Independent  Film  Exch. 
Marks  35th  Anniversary 

San  Antonio — This  year  marks  the  an- 
niversary of  one  of  the  oldest  film  supply 
houses  in  the  country.  It  was  35  years  ago 
that  the  Independent  Film  Exchange  & 
Supply  Co.  was  established  in  the  Alamo 
City  by  the  late  Gaston  Phillippe.  Its 
present  manager  and  owner  is  R.  W.  Bar- 
ron who  has  been  with  the  trade  for  over 
a quarter  of  a century.  In  that  space  of 
time  the  exchange  has  been  located  on 
Houston  Street,  Soledad  Street,  Third 
Street  near  Broadway,  and  now  at  352  E. 
Csmmerce  St. 


Welcome  Westerner — 

Bill  Elliott,  Columbia  western  star,  is 
greeted  by  Commissioner  Perry  Calla- 
han of  Jackson,  Tenn.,  where  Elliott 
is  starting  his  personal  appearance 
tour  at  the  State  Theatre,  managed  by 
J.  R.  MacEachron.  The  western  star 
had  a highway  patrol  escort  from  out- 
side the  city,  was  interviewed  over 
WTJS,  met  city  officials  and  spoke 
before  the  Exchange  Club.  His  tour 
will  include  Tennessee,  Kentucky, 
Arkansas  and  Oklahoma. 


Open  Eighth  Unit 

Athens,  Tenn. — The  new  Athens,  eighth 
link  in  the  Manning  & Wink  circuit  which 
was  opened  here  recently,  is  being  man- 
aged by  Herbert  Hairrell,  who  is  also  in 
charge  of  the  local  Strand.  James  C.  San- 
ders is  the  projectionist,  and  Mrs.  Clyde 
Miller  the  cashier. 


Dallas  RKO  Exchange 
Set  to  Corral  Dales 

Dallas — Yip-ee  is  the  word  for  the  ex- 
ploitation front  in  place  at  the  RKO  ex- 
change commemorating  the  Ned  Depinet 
Drive  starting  January  25  and  going 
through  to  May  10.  Exhibitors  take  their 
places  in  chairs  in  front  of  the  round-up 
holes  and  give  dates  to  eager  bookers  on 
the  other  side.  This  display  covers  the 
full  length  of  the  booking  counter,  ex- 
tending up  to  the  ceiling.  The  stampeding 
steers  are  named  for  RKO  attractions  and 
each  is  branded  ND.  A good  likeness  of 
Depinet  on  a cowhorse  is  at  the  head  of 
the  parade.  At  the  left  is  Captain  Devaney, 
of  the  roundup  for  dates.  The  novel  dis- 
play is  credited  to  Sol  Sachs,  branch  man- 
ager here  and  to  Bud  “Daniel  Boone” 
Gray,  the  company’s  district  publicity 
representative. 

Pep  Meeting  Launches  Drive 

A pep  meeting  of  all  RKO  employes 
started  the  drive  moving  here  and  at- 
tending were  Leo  Devaney,  with  RKO  in 
Canada,  and  Harry  Gittleson,  of  New  York 
who  flew  in  from  the  west  coast  to  meet 
with  all  salesmen  and  accessory  men. 
Their  visit  here  was  simultaneous  with 
the  sneak  preview  at  the  Majestic  here 
of  “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith.”  A cocktail  party 
and  luncheon  was  given  for  newspaper 
men. 

Dallas  anticipates  first  place  now  in  the 
Depinet  Drive  especially  on  account  of 
Depinet’s  long  years  of  service  here  and 
the  fact  he  claims  to  be  from  Dallas. 

At  the  sneak  preview  showing  were 
representatives  from  Interstate,  R.  E. 
Griffith  Theatres,  Jefferson  Amusement 
Company,  Robb  & Rowley,  independent 
bookers,  local  independent  exhibitors  and 
the  following  out-of-town  showmen:  L.  C. 
Tidball,  M.  S.  White,  Harry  Fulgham,  L. 
Richker,  J.  F.  Hightower,  L.  B.  Lewis, 
Jack  Chavey,  Earl  Penix,  all  of  Ft.  Worth; 
John  Stiles,  Ennis;  John  Stewart,  Kauf- 
man; R.  T.  Hooks,  Mineola;  Will  Dor- 
bandt,  Athens;  H.  S.  Cole,  Bonham;  Hen- 
ry Sparks,  Cooper  and  others. 

Critics  at  the  preview  and  at  the  din- 
ner were  Mary  Louise  Walker,  of  the  San 
Antonio  News;  Paul  Hoculi,  of  the  Hous- 
ton Press;  Mildred  Stockard,  Houston 
Chronicle;  Jack  Gordon,  Ft.  Worth  Press; 
Ida  Belle  Hicks  and  Katherine  Howard,  of 
the  Ft.  Worth  Star -Telegram;  Eddie  Barr 
of  the  Dallas  Journal;  Jimmie  Lovell  of 
the  Times-Herald  and  John  Rosenfield  of 
the  News  here. 


Collecting  Garments  lor 
Distribution  in  Britain 

Dallas — Showmen  here  are  sponsoring 
a movement  to  send  trucks  about  the  city 
to  gather  winter  garments  for  the  British. 
A short  time  ago  $5,000  was  raised  by  local 
theatremen  who  put  on  dances  at  down- 
town hotels.  Success  of  that  idea  brought 
on  the  move  to  collect  clothes.  Interstate 
theatres  have  been  running  trailers  an- 
nouncing the  pickup  by  truck  and  asking 
the  public  to  help  Britain  and  the  United 
States. 


J 

Announcing  the  Opening 
of  a New  Display  and  Sales  Ollice 

in  D A L L A S at 

302  SO.  HARWOOD  STREET 

Phone  7-5491 

BOB  WARNER 

PRESENTING 

MANLEY  & BURCH 

NEW  and  USED  "SUPER" 

POPCORN  MACHINES 

We  Are  Right  in  the  Middle  of  Filmrow  — When  in  Dallas,  Make 
Our  Office  Your  Headquarters. 

^ 


120 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


See  Half  Billion  in 
Defense  Contracts 


Dallas — Texas  industry  will  have  been 
awarded  a total  of  a half  billion  dollars  in 
contracts  for  national  defense  within  the 
next  five  or  six  months,  according  to  the 
local  office  of  the  U.  S.  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce. Already,  Texas  firms  have  received 
$221,000,000  in  contract  awards  and  the 
survey  now  of  necessary  plans,  plants  and 
equipment  points  to  an  additional  $260,- 
000,000  in  awards. 

In  its  recent  survey  of  suitable  manu- 
facturing plants  to  turn  out  government 
defense  orders,  it  was  pointed  out  that  in 
one  city  alone  last  week  52  plants  were 
surveyed  and  approved. 

These  figures  included  in  the  C.  of  C. 
report  have  stepped  up  the  prevailing  op- 
timism among  showmen  for  a greater  year 
during  1941. 


A,  G.  Smith  Takes  Over 
For  NTSCo.  in  Dallas 

Dallas — A.  G.  “Smitty”  Smith,  long  in 
the  equipment  business,  has  been  named 
acting  manager  of  National  Theatre  Sup- 
ply Co.  here  succeeding  the  late  J.  I. 
Roberts  who  was  killed  in  an  automobile 
crash  on  the  Houston  highway  a few  days 
before.  Smith’s  appointment  was  made  by 
Oscar  S.  Oldknow,  district  manager  of  the 
company. 

Smith  was  an  employe  of  Southern 
Theatre  Equipment  Co.  here  during  the 
mid  era  of  silent  pictures.  He  was  pro- 
moted to  road  selling  and  his  record  earned 
a series  of  promotions  up  to  branch  man- 
ager of  National  in  Kansas  City.  Over  a 
year  ago  Smith  was  transferred  here  from 
the  New  Orleans  territory. 


War  Theatres  Keeping 
Pace  With  Activity 

Dallas — War  department  theatres  for 
Texas  are  keeping  pace  with  the  influx 
of  soldiers  and  the  opening  of  additional 
training  camps.  At  Brownwood,  where  a 
2,200-seat  tent  theatre  was  opened  a few 
weeks  ago,  it  is  reported  that  two  addi- 
tional similar  theatres  will  be  erected  at 
Camp  Bowie  there,  one  for  whites  and  the 
other  for  Negroes. 

A large  army  theatre  was  opened  in  El 
Paso  a few  days  ago,  it  was  said.  Addi- 
tional theatres  will  be  opened  in  Mineral 
Wells,  Abilene  and  El  Paso,  according  to 
the  report. 


Long  Circuit  Confirms 
Purchase  of  Three 

Dallas — News  was  confirmed  here  this 
week  that  the  J.  G.  Long  circuit  with 
headquarters  at  Bay  City  has  purchased 
the  Port,  Ora  and  Freeport  theatres  in 
Freeport,  Tex.,  from  M.  N.  Busse  and  the 
Milentz  interests.  Long  notified  exchanges 
of  the  transfer  effective  February  1. 


gOL  SACHS,  RKO  branch  manager,  left 
late  in  the  week  on  a plane  trip  to 
New  York  to  attend  a meeting  of  com- 
pany executives  there  . . . Miss  Mary  Ellen 
Davis  of  the  M-G-M  exchange,  who  will 
wed  the  middle  of  February,  was  honored 
last  Saturday  at  a shower  given  for  her 
by  friends. 

Al  Warner,  who  opened  up  his  new  pop- 
corn distributing  office  here  a few  days 
ago,  and  became  a flu  victim  at  the  same 
time,  is  back  on  the  Row  to  renew  active 
selling  work  . . . Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  Allied 
national  president,  left  Monday  for  Wash- 
ington with  the  nature  of  his  mission 
there  remaining  unannounced. 

Jack  Groves,  owner  of  the  Queen,  neigh- 
borhood theatre  in  Houston,  was  up  for 
a booking  trip  which  he  wound  up  in 
very  few  hours  ...  Will  Horwitz,  who 
operates  the  “Homefolks  Theatres”  in 
Houston  in  partnership  with  Interstate, 
is  on  a winter  vacation  in  Florida. 

Oskar  Korn,  owner  of  the  Lisbon  Thea- 
tre here,  is  about  ready  to  open  his  new 
Lindale  Theatre  in  northeast  Houston, 
according  to  information  received  on  Film- 
row.  The  house  will  seat  around  600  . . . 
C.  H.  Cox,  Crystal  and  Strand  at  Gilmer, 
was  here  Tuesday,  having  cut  his  weekly 
trips  recently  to  about  one  a month.  He 
said  he  was  just  up  from  a very  definite 
case  of  the  flu. 

J.  W.  Curley  and  his  son,  Steve,  of 
Bridgeport,  were  here  completing  February 
bookings.  Steve,  an  accountant,  has  shift- 
ed over  to  Mineral  Wells  on  one  of  the 
army  construction  jobs,  but  continued  to 
collaborate  on  bookings  in  the  National 
at  Bridgeport  . . . Julius  Gordon,  chair- 
man of  the  board  of  Jefferson  Amuse- 
ment Company  and  Clifford  Porter,  cir- 
cuit executive,  were  in  over  the  weekend 
as  visitors  to  the  company’s  booking  of- 


fices on  the  Row  here  in  charge  of  S.  L. 
Oakley. 

Al  Lever,  Interstate’s  city  manager  at 
Houston,  is  planning  to  organize  a Va- 
riety Club  of  Texas  branch  there  pro- 
vided, of  course,  the  idea  meets  approval 
of  the  national  organization. 

Alexander  Film  Co.  salesmen  are  back 
in  their  respective  territories  after  a sales 
meeting  here  conducted  by  J.  Don  Alex- 
ander, president,  and  Ken  Rice,  assistant 
sales  manager.  Attending  were  W.  L.  Tal- 
ley, C.  E.  Hoxworth,  J.  J.  DeVine,  Ruth 
Likens,  W.  G.  Kirkscoy,  Joe  B.  Froehling, 
C.  L.  Clark,  G.  C.  Berkley,  Lou  Schrader, 
L.  B.  Walker,  F.  D.  Hargis  and  O.  F. 
Luglan. 

Under  the  direction  of  Mrs.  Paul  Short, 
the  wives  of  men  in  show  business  here 
are  making  garments  for  the  British  . . . 
Dr.  W . H.  Frye  has  sold  the  Star  at  Forney 
to  Mrs.  Laura  Travis.  He  accompanied  the 
new  owner  to  the  Row  this  week,  assisting 
her  in  making  advance  bookings  and  mak- 
ing a number  of  introductions  at  the  regu- 
lar trading  places.  Mrs.  Travis  immediate- 
ly subscribed  to  Boxoffice  for  the  coming 
year.  Dr.  Frye  has  not  announced  future 
plans. 

C.  H.  Jones,  here  Wednesday  to  buy  and 
book  a few  pictures,  said  his  new  theatre 
in  Weatherford  would  be  ready  to  open 
within  the  next  eight  or  ten  days  . . . 
Hugh  Marsh,  R&R  partner  in  Muskogee, 
and  Sam  Stokes,  city  manager  in  Mc- 
Alester,  were  here  Wednesday. 

Mitchell  Lewis,  operator  of  three  col- 
ored theatres  in  Houston,  is  planning  a 
new  one  there  . . . Bob  Euler  has  returned 
here  as  booker  for  the  R.  N.  Smith  Thea- 
tres and  Tri-State  Theatres,  of  which  B. 
R.  McLendon  is  general  manager. 


A C C E S 

CARBONS 

TICKETS 

BELTS 

TUBES 

POWERS  MACHINE  PARTS 
SIMPLEX  MACHINE  PARTS 

SORIES 

PHOTO  CELLS 

THUMB  TACKS 

CCC  PROJECTION  LAMPS 

AMPLIFIERS 

■I  c SPEAKERS 

119  SOUND  HEADS 

RECTIFIERS 

LIGHT  FIXTURES 

RECTIFIER  TUBES 

EXCITER  LAMPS 

SPECIAL  PRINTED  TICKETS 

SHOWING  admission  prices,  tax,  name  of  theatre. 

town  and  conforming 
requirements. 

to  all  new  admission  tax 

Write 

Us  Today 

HERDER 

BROTHERS 

“Fair  Treatment  and  Adequate  Service  Always” 

408  S.  HARWOOD 

DALLAS,  TEXAS 

BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


S 


121 


J^LLAN  JONES  appears  in  Charlotte  at 
the  Armory-Auditorium  in  concert  on 
February  12  . . . Conrad  Krebs,  RKO  pub- 
licist in  Hollywood,  was  in  Charlotte  visit- 
ing his  various  friends  of  the  press.  He 
also  spent  considerable  time  at  the  local 
RKO  office  visiting  Manager  Joe  Bre- 
cheen  . . . H.  F.  Kincey  has  returned  from 
Chicago  where  he  attended  the  dinner  for 
Barney  Balaban  . . . Mrs.  Harry  K.  Lucas 
is  in  Presbyterian  Hospital  with  a severe 
attack  of  flu.  Mr.  Lucas  is  confined  at  the 
same  hospital  recuperating  from  a tonsil- 
lotomy. 

Because  she  developed  a sore  throat , the 
concert  by  Jeariette  MacDonald  scheduled 
in  Asheville  for  Tuesday  night  had  to  be 
postponed  until  March  4 . . . Ray  Corrigan , 
Monogram’s  cowboy  star  in  the  “Range 
Busters”  series,  is  being  booked  through- 
out the  territory  by  the  William  Morris 
Agency.  He  recently  made  appearances  in 
Kannapolis  and  Burlington  . . . Willie  Day, 
who  will  be  remembered  as  having  been 
connected  with  the  Hollywood  and  Lafay- 
ette theatres  in  Winston-Salem,  N.  C.,  is 
now  in  charge  of  the  Blumenthal  interests 
in  Savannah,  Ga.  . . . Coiisiderable  inter- 
est is  being  manifested  locally  in  the  an- 
nouncement that  the  local  Tryon  will  open 
a first  run  engagement  with  20 th  Century- 
Fox’s  “Night  Train.”  This  engagement  will 
start  on  Saturday,  February  15,  for  an  ex- 
tended run.  Manager  Matthews  is  now 
building  an  elaborate  lobby  and  outside 
display  for  the  engagement. 

A1  Burks,  exploiteer  for  Metro,  has  re- 
turned from  Winston-Salem,  N.  C.,  where 


KOZONO 

SPELLS 

ADDED  PROFITS 

FOR  YOU 


During  these  cold  winter  months, 
odors  are  more  noticeable  and 
likely  to  be  present  in  your  thea- 
tre. Avoid  letting  this  lower  your 
profits — install  a simple  KOZONO 
outfit  and  you  will  be  assured 
ALL  odors  will  be  ELIMINATED. 

Write  Today  for  Complete 
Details. 


THE  KOZONO  COMPANY 

123-B  Trade  Street 
Charlotte,  N.  Carolina 


he  screened  “Land  of  Liberty”  at  the  State 
for  the  State  American  Legion  Post  com- 
manders, the  40&8  state  commander,  Dave 
Hall  of  Belmont,  N.  C„  and  National  Com- 
mander M.  L.  Warren  of  Toledo,  Ohio  . . . 
Health  authorities  have  permitted  W.  H. 
Smith’s  Pal  in  Fairfax,  S.  C„  to  reopen. 
The  theatre  had  been  closed  on  account 
of  a flu  epidemic  . . . Bryant  Theatre  Sup- 
ply Co.  is  reseating  Charlie  Arrington’s 
Cameo  in  Rocky  Mt.,  N.  C.;  also  the  Watts 
in  Williamston,  N.  C.,  which  is  owned  by 
J.  W.  Watts.  Bryant  will  soon  reseat  the 
Graham,  Graham,  N.  C.,  and  the  new 
theatre  in  Elkin,  N.  C„  which  is  being 
erected  by  Louis  Mitchell,  who  also  oper- 
ates the  Lyric  in  Elkin.  Mitchell  expects  to 
open  his  new  theatre  about  March  15. 

Seen  on  the  Row  during  the  week:  Roy 
Rosser,  Temple  and  Sanlee  theatres,  San- 
ford, N.  C.;  also  Gem  and  Clinton  thea- 
tres, Clinton,  N.  C.;  Boyd  Horton,  State, 
Concord,  N.  C.;  State,  Inman,  S.  C.,  and 
Rialto,  Greer,  S.  C.;  R.  Glenn  Davis,  Rich- 
ard, Ahoskie,  N.  C„  and  Louisburg,  Louis- 
burg,  N.  C.;  T.  L.  Lassiter,  Star,  Star,  N. 
C.;  B.  G.  Reeves,  Parkway,  West  Jeffer- 
son, N.  C.,  and  Spartan,  Sparta,  N.  C.; 
George  D.  Carpenter  of  the  Colonial  Thea- 
tres, Inc.,  Valdese,  N.  C.;  J.  B.  Harvey, 
Carolina,  Clover,  S.  C.;  P.  C.  Osteen  fr., 
Carolina,  Anderson,  S.  C.;  R.  A.  Good- 
man, Oakboro,  Oakboro,  N.  C.;  H.  R.  Berry, 
Center  and  Temple,  Hartsville,  S.  C.;  Lyle 

M.  Wilson,  Peoples  and  Royal  theatres, 
Roanoke  Rapids,  N.  C.;  C.  H.  Arrington, 
Cameo,  Rocky  Mt.,  N.  C.,  and  Dick  Eason, 
Parr,  Lancaster,  S.  C. 

Rhea  W.  Ferguson,  formerly  of  the  local 
State  Theatre  and  National  Theatre  Sup- 
ply Co.,  has  accepted  a position  with  the 
advertising  department  of  the  American 
Tobacco  Co.  He  will  be  located  in  Mem- 
phis . . . Mrs.  Bill  Lake,  the  former  Ruby 
Henly  of  Paramount,  was  a visitor  accom- 
panied by  her  four-month-old  son.  Bill  jr. 
Mrs.  Lake  plans  to  visit  her  parents  who 
reside  in  Mt.  Gilead,  N.  C„  before  return- 
ing to  Memphis  where  her  husband  is  con- 
nected with  the  Monogram  office  . . . 
Practically  every  salesman  in  for  the 
weekend  reported  difficulty  encountered 
because  of  the  fog  that  has  spread  over  the 
Carolinas  for  the  past  week.  Many  of  the 
boys  experienced  difficulty  in  traveling  in 
the  daylight  and  said  it  was  utterly  im- 
possible to  travel  at  night. 

Carl  Bamford,  head  of  Publix- Bam  ford 
Theatres  in  Asheville,  N.  C.,  and  Canton, 

N.  C.,  is  in  Miami  for  a two-month  vaca- 
tion . . . Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  B.  Thompson  have 
closed  the  Alco  in  Graham,  N.  C.,  for  re- 
modeling. After  completion,  they  will  close 
their  Graham  in  Graham  for  a complete 
renovation.  Thompson,  a hunting  en- 
thusiast, has  had  such  bad  luck  lately 
that  he’s  become  disgusted  and  sold  his 
dogs  . . . Dean  House,  veteran  Warner 
salesman,  has  returned  from  a three-week 
sojourn  in  the  extreme  eastern  part  of 


The  Queen  Feature  Service,  Inc. 

Quality  Theatre  Equipment  & Supplies 
1912%  Morris  Are.  Phone  3-8665 

BIRMINGHAM,  ALA. 


Carolinas  Organize 
To  Aid  Government 

Charlotte — Exhibitors  in  the  two  Caro- 
linas are  organizing  themselves  as  a means 
of  rendering  a collective  service  to  the 
government  in  connection  with  the  de- 
fense program  or  any  other  future 
emergency. 

The  committee  in  charge  includes:  C.  H. 
Arrington,  Rocky  Mt.,  N.  C.;  C.  R.  Bam- 
ford, Asheville,  N.  C.;  Roy  Rowe,  Burgaw, 
N.  C.;  H.  R.  Berry,  Hartsville,  S.  C.;  Lyle 
M.  Wilson,  Roanoke  Rapids,  N.  C.;  George 
W.  Parr,  Lancaster,  S.  C.;  and  H.  H.  Ever- 
ett and  H.  F.  Kincey,  Charlotte. 

In  a recent  bulletin  addressed  to  each 
operator  in  the  two  states,  the  committee 
stated  in  part,  “It  is  contemplated  that 
the  theatres  will  be  able  to  render  ser- 
vice to  the  government  by  playing,  in 
cases  of  emergency,  terse  trailer-like  mes- 
sages of  such  copy  as  is  desirable  to  the 
government,  and  by  showing  some  short 
subjects — that  is,  subjects  up  to  three  or 
four  hundred  feet  in  length — disseminat- 
ing such  information  as  the  government 
thinks  will  be  of  public  service. 

“It  is  believed  that  this  close  coopera- 
tion with  the  government  will  enable  its 
officials  better  to  understand  the  limita- 
tions and  problems  of  the  theatres  and 
therefore  to  ask  things  of  the  theatres 
with  a better  understanding  of  that  which 
would  be  an  imposition.  It  is  the  inten- 
tion that  such  films  as  are  requested  to 
be  run  will  first  have  been  passed  by  a 
committee  of  theatre  owners  and,  of  course, 
that  they  will  be  non-political. 

“It  is  proposed  that  the  motion  picture 
theatres  cooperate  in  every  reasonable 
manner  with  all  other  branches  of  the 
industry  in  this  government  cooperation, 
to  the  end  that  the  service  rendered  will 
reflect  credit  upon  the  industry.  It  is  the 
belief  that  such  an  organization  will  have 
certain  value  in  protecting  the  theatres 
against  commercial  exploitation  and  from 
voluntary  pressure  groups.” 

The  committee  announces  that  to  date 
over  50  per  cent  of  the  exhibitors  can- 
vassed for  support  have  come  through. 


North  Carolina  and  reports  that  exhibitors 
in  that  vicinity  are  anticipating  greatly 
increased  business  due  to  defense  activi- 
ties. 

Two  of  Carl  Bamford’s  managers,  Frank 
LaBar  jr.  of  the  Imperial  in  Asheville,  N. 
C.,  and  A.  D.  Lanning  of  Canton,  N.  C„ 
won  trips  to  Chicago  for  the  Barney  Bala- 
ban dinner  . . . Each  week  we  hear  of  an- 
other exhibitor’s  hobby.  Fast-moving  Lyle 
M.  Wilson  of  Roanoke  Rapids,  N.  C.,  has  a 
penchant  for  Dobermans.  He  recently  ac- 
quired Jessy  v.  Huffmanheim  (16  months). 
She  will  be  entered  in  the  Baltimore  Dog 
Show,  January  31  to  February  1.  Jessy  has 
already  won  18  ribbons  and  numerous 
trophies. 

D.  F.  Killmer,  South  Carolina  salesman 
for  National  Theatre  Supply,  has  reported 
for  a year’s  military  service  at  Camp 
Stewart,  Hinesville,  Ga.  He  is  a first  lieu- 
tenant in  the  Officers  Reserve  for  the  coast 
artillery. 


122 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


OK  LA.  CITY 


c, 

Arkansas  Sales  Tax 


^ B.  NOBLE,  managing  director  of  the 
State,  was  in  town  over  the  week  on  an- 
other of  his  business  trips  . . . Sam  Capo- 
ral  expects  to  have  his  new  Bison  ready 
for  the  public  within  the  next  few  weeks. 
He  already  has  the  Yale  and  Mayflower 
going  nicely.  The  Bison  is  tapping  virgin 
territory  and  is  housed  in  a building  which 
also  has  eight  small  store  spaces.  Caporal 
owns  the  building. 

Dee  Fuller,  Circle  manager,  has  two 
pairs  of  classy  new  shoes  which  he  will 
gladly  show  anyone  on  request  . . . After 
a slight  delay,  the  good  old  Folly  was 
opened  to  the  public  once  again.  Standard 
remodeled  the  house  about  a year  ago.  It 
is  showing  “oomteenth”  run  films.  The 
Folly  is  best  remembered  as  the  home  of 
many  of  the  old  popular  serials. 

This  town  is  getting  so  many  new  thea- 
tres that  every  time  a contractor  moves  in 
to  start  work  on  a new  job  word  spreads 
around  the  neighborhood  that  a new  thea- 
tre is  being  constructed  on  the  spot  . . . 
Incidentally,  Paul  Townsend  has  the  Folly 
under  his  wing;  while  Paul  is  officially 
manager  of  the  Liberty  he  also  keeps  an 
eye  on  the  Warner  too  so  now  Paul  has 
three  houses  to  keep  watch  over.  Too, 
Paul’s  the  oldest  manager  in  point  of  ser- 
vice with  Standard’s  present  staff. 

Paul  Ketchum,  his  wife  and  baby  were 
recent  visitors  to  our  community.  Paul  will 
be  remembered  as  a Standard  manager 
and  later  with  the  Oklahoma  Theatre  Sup- 
ply here.  He’s  still  in  the  business  in  the 
east  somewhere. 

Bob  Gallman,  former  Pix  manager,  is 
busy  as  a bee  these  days  selling  burial 
lots  and  doing  very  nicely,  too  . . . And 
Hank  Bonelli,  who  formerly  handled  thea- 
tre advertising  for  KOCY,  is  writing  in- 
surance for  the  Penn  Mutual  now. 

We  understajid  that  Standard  will  re- 
open the  Victoria  very  soon  and  that  same 
outfit  is  making  plans  for  building  another 
suburban  house  here,  but  keeping  the 
when  and  where  part  of  it  a deep  dark 
secret. 

Josephine  Parks  of  the  local  Metro  ex- 
change added  a year  by  the  calendar  on 
Monday.  Congratulations! 

Gibson  Confers  With  Aides 
On  Variety  Golf  Meet 

Dallas — B.  C.  “Hoot”  Gibson,  United 
Artists  manager  and  chairman  of  Variety 
Club’s  annual  spring  golf  tournament  and 
Calcutta,  has  been  holding  meetings  with 
his  committee  spurring  activity  for  the 
big  event  which  takes  place  here  on  April 
5,  6 and  7. 

The  committee  is  composed  of  E.  B. 
Coleman,  Ted  deBor,  J.  H.  Elder,  Walter 
Penn,  Isadore  Segal,  Roy  Thrash,  Jim 
Webb,  Elmer  Zrenner,  C.  H.  “Buck”  Weav- 
er, Joe  Estes  and  Hugh  Owen.  Burt  King 
and  Duke  Evans  are  co-chairmen  of  both 
the  spring  and  fall  annual  tournaments. 


"Terror"  for  Warshawsky 

Hollywood  — “Terror  of  the  South 
Seas,”  Joseph  G.  Sanford  production  for 
Universal,  is  being  adapted  by  Sam  War- 
shawsky. 


Bill  Is  Submitted 

Little  Rock — A sales  tax  bill  is  being 
prepared  for  submission  to  the  general 
assembly.  The  two  per  cent  retail  sales 
tax  now  in  effect  would  continue,  but 
changes  in  the  system  of  collection  would 
be  made  in  an  effort  to  add  several  mil- 
lion dollars  to  the  state's  revenue  an- 
nually. Each  merchant  would  receive 
three  per  cent  of  the  tax  collected,  to  pay 
him  for  the  expense  of  collection. 

VI  J 

O.  C.  Variety  Club  Social 
Welfare  Building  Rises 

Oklahoma  City — Three  city  social  wel- 
fare agencies  will  move  into  new  quar- 
ters by  May  1,  unless  weather  delays  con- 
struction of  the  Variety  Club’s  Health 
Center,  being  erected  at  Hudson  Avenue 
and  Pottawatomie  Street. 

Present  schedules  call  for  the  comple- 
tion of  the  building  April  15,  says  L.  C. 
Griffith,  president  of  the  club.  The  club 
is  investing  $45,000  in  this  home  for 
Southtown  health  services. 

The  Oklahoma  County  Tuberculosis  and 
Health  Association,  the  dental  clinic  of 
the  Salvation  Army  and  the  Maternal 
Health  center  will  move  into  the  new 
building.  The  Tuberculosis  Association 
and  the  dental  clinic  are  Community  Fund 
agencies. 

Schott  Has  Franchise 
On  Standard  Pictures 

Dallas — R.  M.  Schott,  of  O.  K.  Pictures 
Co.,  said  he  has  recently  completed  nego- 
tiations for  a new  1940-41  franchise  on 
Standard  Pictures  which  will  be  released 
through  his  company  throughout  the  year 
as  they  are  completed. 


Record  Crowds  for  "GWTW" 

Houston — On  opening  day,  January  24, 
“Gone  With  the  Wind”  broke  its  own  spec- 
tacular record  and  played  to  900  persons 
more  than  in  1940.  Sunday  there  was  a 
double  line  for  two  hours  before  the  box- 
office  opened.  Last  time  “Gone  With  the 
Wind”  was  seen  by  more  than  125,000 
patrons. 


Equips  Rex  With  RCA 

Oilton,  Okla. — W.  H.  Martin  is  equip- 
ping his  Rex  here  with  RCA  sound.  Mar- 
tin operates  a number  of  other  Oklahoma 
situations. 


IIST0R  PICTURES 

Harwood  and  Jackson  Streets 
DALLAS,  TEXAS 


BILL  ELLIOTT,  western  star  who  is  mak- 
ing a personal  appearance  tour  in  this 
territory,  was  the  guest  and  principal 
speaker  at  a weekly  meeting  of  the  Lions 
Club  in  Jonesboro  . . . Tommy  Collins,  who 
formerly  managed  the  State  at  Stamps  and 
later  the  Crystal  at  Lewisville,  was  married 
recently  to  Miss  Evelyn  Short  of  Lewis- 
ville. He  is  now  managing  the  Ritz  at 
Linden,  Tex. 

Rogers  is  to  have  a new  theatre  some 
time  in  April,  according  to  an  announce- 
ment by  John  I.  Cooper,  owner  and  opera- 
tor, and  Walter  Talbott,  manager  of  the 
Victory  Theatre.  The  new  house  will  be  lo- 
cated in  the  Edwards  Building,  and  will 
seat  300.  Remodeling  of  the  building  will 
begin  at  once. 

Frank  Kennedy,  former  assistant  man- 
ager of  the  Melba  at  Batesville,  and  Jack 
Bomar,  former  assistant  manager  of  the 
Rialto  at  Searcy,  now  with  the  National 
Guard  stationed  in  Little  Rock,  spent  the 
weekend  visiting  friends  at  Batesville. 


Son  to  S.  L.  Julian 

Grand  Saline,  Tex. — S.  L.  Julian  of  the 
Grand  Theatre  here  became  the  father  of 
a 10-pound  boy  January  10. 


c 

You  Can  Put  Off  Your  Creditors;  ' 

You  Can  Wear  Last  Year's  Suit — ( 

But  you  CANT  PUT  \ 
MONEY  IN  THE  BANK  j 
Without  PROFITS  J 

Help  Yourself  to  Profits  by  ( 
Using 

SUPERB  < 
SOUTH  AMERICAH  CORN  J 

and  ( 

FLAV-0  NUT  SEASONING  ! 

Exclusive  With 

POPPERS  SUPPLY  CO.  J 

RUBE  MELCHER 

GR.  0G72  1717  Wyandotte  St.  i 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Prices  Are  Going  Up!  ( 


BUFFALO  COOLING  EQUIPMENT 

1026  santa  fe  bldg.  BUFFALO  ENGINEERING  CO.,  INC.  Dallas,  texas 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


123 


JN  ADDITION  to  Bank  Night,  the  United 
Chain  has  instituted  a Book  Night  in 
which  a 20  volume  Encyclopedia  set  is 
given  away  one  volume  at  a time  for  25 
cents  in  addition  to  one  regular  admission, 
ranging  from  21  to  25  cents. 

Miss  Cecelia  Kern,  assistant  manager  of 
the  Affiliated  Producers  Co.,  who  has  been 
suffering  from  a cold,  is  now  back  at  her 
desk  . . . Owing  to  increased  business  due 
to  the  number  of  new  houses  in  the  rural 
districts,  both  Mike  Heck  and  the  Flash 
Delivery  will  install  new  trucks  to  handle 
their  routes. 

Jeanette  MacDonald  will  give  a concert 
in  New  Orleans,  February  16  . . . The 
Folly  Theatre  on  the  West  Side  is  prepar- 
ing for  a midnight  show  . . . The  Atlantic 
Films  (Goodrow  and  Sliman)  are  now 
representatives  in  this  area  for  Producers 
Releasing  Corp. 

Visitors  to  the  Row:  Louisiana — J. 
Gaude,  Magic,  Port  Allen;  Eugene  Drake, 
Ponchatoula;  Mrs.  A.  G.  Barry,  Edgard, 
Edgard;  L.  J . Langlois,  Alamo,  Hew  Roads; 
A.  O.  Ott,  Kentwood;  Morris  Meltz,  Ar- 
cade, Ferriday;  Claude  Darce,  Opera 
House,  Morgan  City;  Vincent  Currier, 
Amite;  Manager  Gordon,  Westwego ; G. 
M.  Butterfield,  Lafayette;  Sidney  Haup, 
Donaldsonville.  Mississippi — Frank  Bishop, 
Varsity,  Ellisville;  C.  M.  Bailey,  Lumber- 
ton;  Stanley  Taylor,  Crosby;  Ed  Delaney, 
Magnolia;  F.  R.  Lawrence,  Laurel;  W.  L. 
Mosely,  Picayune;  Mrs.  H.  M.  Everett,  Mc- 
Gee; Bill  Baker,  Macon;  W.  A.  Tucker, 
Wisner;  E.  W.  Illings,  Ocean  Springs. 


THAT  HUNTING  CLUB: 

As  time  goes  by,  the  hunters,  tiring  of 
lugging  heavy  guns  are  beginning  to  talk 
of  fishing  when  they  can  tell  of  the  big 
ones  that  got  away  after  swallowing  hook, 
sinker,  line  and  part  of  the  pole — and  be- 
sides it  will  be  warmer.  The  Atlantic  Films 
are  fixing  up  their  roof  to  be  used  as  a 
reading,  lounging  and  swimming  pool  for 
the  use  of  the  members.  An  aquarium  will 
be  located  in  the  southeast  corner  where 
live  specimens  can  be  stored  and  speared 
when  the  owners  are  ready  for  a fish 
supper. 

The  only  objector  was  Bob  Kelly  (Co- 
lumbia) who  claimed  the  “fish  pond”  was 
too  small  to  hold  his  catch  for  a day. 

Max  H.  Braelton  (booker  for  Monogram) 
voiced  his  approval  of  the  layout  but  sug- 
gested that  leather  cushions  be  placed  on 
all  the  chairs  with  footstools  to  match  with 
a smoking  set  on  each  side  of  a chair  to 
save  effort.  He  also  suggested  that  Gov. 
Jones  be  asked  to  install  a fish  hatchery 
in  the  basement  of  the  exchange  that 
might  be  used  by  the  members  as  a swim- 
ing  pool.  The  treasurer  threw  cold  water 
on  the  idea  by  asking  who  would  exercise 
the  fish.  W.  A.  Hodges  of  the  National 
Theatre  Supply  Co.  suggested  that  instead 
of  fish  in  the  tanks  they  substitute  mud 
turtles  as  they  could  make  their  own  way 
up  and  down  the  street.  However  the  en- 
tire matter  was  held  in  abeyance  till  the 
arrival  of  Lou  Langlois  of  New  Roads,  who 
is  said  to  be  an  authority  on  the  subject. 

Honorary  members  elected  were : Charles 
Phillips,  Palace,  Jonesville,  La.;  Rene 
Brunet,  Imperial,  New  Orleans;  E.  M. 
Frankel,  Century,  Mobile;  Abe  Berenson, 


ft 

May  Act  Shortly  on 
Interstate  Motion 

Dallas — Judge  W.  H.  Atwell  is  expected 
to  act  within  a few  days  on  a motion  by 
Interstate  attorneys  to  have  the  jury  ver- 
dict in  the  Jorgenson  damage  case  set 
aside  in  favor  of  an  instructed  verdict  for 
the  circuit.  Jorgenson  was  awarded 
$4,500  in  his  suit  against  Interstate  on 
availability  and  restrictions  to  25  cent 
prices.  He  operates  the  local  East  Grand. 

**  J 

Indecent  Film  Charge 
Will  Be  Appealed 

Birmingham,  Ala. — W.  H.  Merritt,  man- 
ager of  the  Galax  Theatre,  has  announced 
his  intention  to  appeal  to  the  circuit  court 
the  verdict  of  Police  Judge  Oliver  Hall 
finding  him  guilty  of  showing  an  indecent 
film  and  of  displaying  vulgar  billboards  in 
advertising  the  film.  Attendant  upon  the 
verdict  was  a fine  of  $250  and  150-day  sus- 
pended jail  sentence. 

Judge  Hall,  in  announcing  his  decision, 
said  he  had  viewed  the  film  in  question, 
the  French-language  “French  Girls’  Club,” 
and  that  the  film  has  a “strongly  sugges- 
tive Lesbian  love  theme”  and  that  “it  does 
not  try  to  save  its  face  by  ending  with  a 
moral  lesson.” 

When  testimony  was  taken  in  the  case 
two  weeks  ago,  Sergeant  C.  N.  Kicker,  the 
police  censor,  testified  he  found  nothing 
morally  wrong  with  the  film. 

It  was  the  showing  of  this  film  which 
resulted  in  the  preferring  of  charges 
against  four  city  officials  for  contempt  of 
court  for  failure  to  obey  an  injunction  to 
prevent  their  seizure  of  the  film.  They 
were  tried  and  sentenced  to  48  hours  in 
jail.  Commissioner  of  Public  Safety  E.  L. 
Connor  served  his  term,  but  the  other 
three,  including  the  city  attorney,  chief 
of  police  and  assistant  chief  of  police  ap- 
pealed to  the  supreme  court,  which  stayed 
the  sentence. 

Brother  Joins  Chas . Rook 
In  Montgomery  Operation 

Montgomery,  Ala.  — Charles  T.  Rook, 
manager  of  the  Charles  Theatre,  an- 
nounces the  association  with  him  as  asso- 
ciate manager,  his  brother,  Albert  E.  Rook. 

For  the  past  20  years,  Albert  E.  Rook 
has  been  in  the  distribution  end  of  the 
motion  picture  business  and  was  with  Re- 
public Pictures  for  the  last  five. 


Borrow  John  Hubbard 

Hollywood — Columbia  has  borrowed 
John  Hubbard  from  Hal  Roach  for  a lead 
in  “A  Girl’s  Best  Friend  Is  Wall  Street.” 


Gretna.  Morris  Boos,  cashier  at  Colum- 
bia, was  elected  vice-president.  The  trea- 
surer still  is  hanging  onto  his  job  and  de- 
fies anyone  to  oust  him;  likewise  the  jani- 
tor. The  meeting  was  held  in  the  banquet 
room  of  the  Filmrow  restaurant.  Guest  of 
the  evening  was  Joy  Houck  of  the  Joy 
Shows  who  was  warmly  received. 


A Y 1IL  A N T A 

CTIRLING  HAYDEN  and  Carolyn  Lee, 

who  share  star  honors  with  Fred  Mac- 
Murray  and  Madeleine  Carroll  in  “Vir- 
ginia,” will  make  a personal  appearance  on 
the  Fox  stage,  February  5,  in  connection 
with  the  opening  of  the  Technicolor  film 
. . . The  DeSoto,  a Lam  house  in  Rome, 
Ga.,  has  been  completely  remodeled  . . . 
Oscar  Howell,  Capitol  City  Supply  Co.,  is 
in  Birmingham,  installing  new  equipment 
in  Waters’  theatres  . . . E.  E.  Whitaker, 
H.  P.  “Dusty”  Rhodes  and  Willis  J.  Davis 
left  this  weekend  for  north  Georgia  where 
they  will  visit  the  Lucas  & Jenkins  Thea- 
tres in  Athens  and  Elberton,  Ga. 

Visitors:  Mack  Jackson,  Strand,  Alexan- 
der City,  Ala.;  Hugh  Manning,  Gem,  Eto- 
wah, Tenn.;  Nat  Williams,  Rose,  Thomas- 
ville,  Ga.;  L.  J.  Duncan,  West  Point,  Ga.; 
O.  C.  Lam  arid  Howard  Schuessler,  Lam 
Amusement  Co.,  Rome,  Ga.;  Fred  Jabaley, 
Princess,  LaGrange,  Ga.;  Mrs.  M.  M.  Os- 
man, Strand,  Covington,  Ga.;  Clyde  Sis- 
son, Roxy,  Tallassee,  Ala.;  J.  H.  Thomp- 
son, Martin  & Thompson  Theatres,  Hawk- 
insville,  Ga.;  Hugh  and  E.  D.  Martin,  Mar- 
tin Theatres,  Columbus,  Ga.;  Rufus  Davis, 
Houston,  Dothan,  Ala.,  and  Oscar  Oldknow 
of  Los  Angeles  . . . Riley  Davis,  Theatrical 
Printing  Co.,  is  calling  on  exhibitors  in 
Alabama  and  Tennessee. 

Gus  King,  Capitol  City  Supply  Co.,  has 
left  for  the  New  Orleans,  Mississippi  and 
Memphis  territories  . . . Max  Braselton, 
formerly  with  Monogram  Southern  Ex- 
changes in  New  Orleans,  was  a visitor  . . . 
Fred  Weis  has  taken  over  Lucas  & Jenkins’ 
Arcadia  at  Savannah,  Ga.  Weis  also  oper- 
ates the  Savannah  there  and  the  Bibb, 
Macon  . . . Ike  Katz,  Producers  Releasing 
Corp.,  is  working  Tennessee. 

Charles  Rook  of  the  Charles  Theatre, 
Montgomery,  Ala.,  paid  the  Row  a visit  for 
the  first  time  since  he  opened  his  theatre 
several  months  ago  . . . Plans  are  pro- 
gressing for  the  Atlanta  Warner  Club’s 
Valentine  dance,  Friday  night,  February 
14,  at  the  Henry  Grady  Hotel  . . . Billy 
Beard,  the  minstrel  star  from  Atlanta,  is 
making  quite  a hit  in  this  territory  with 
his  unusual  act,  it  is  reported. 

Charlie  Touchon,  United  Artists  travel- 
ing auditor,  is  in  town  for  a few  weeks  . . . 
Marion  Watkins,  cashier  at  United  Artists 
for  several  years,  was  married  to  Hal  H. 
Macon  of  the  Georgia  and  State  theatres, 
Statesboro,  Ga.,  at  her  home  in  Atlanta, 
Saturday,  February  1.  Mrs.  Mamie  Smarr, 
formerly  clerk,  has  been  promoted  to 
cashier  . . . M.  E.  Wyman,  salesman  for 
Monogram  Southern  Exchanges,  became 
a flu  victim  last  week  when  he  was  taken 
ill  at  his  hotel  in  Birmingham.  “Hap” 
Barnes  and  Lynn  Dunn,  both  salesmen  for 
United  Artists,  were  also  taken  sick  with 
this  malady  while  out  in  their  respective 
territories. 

Jeff  Davis,  United  Artists  branch  man- 
ager, is  on  a business  trip  to  Miami  . . . 
Riley  Davis,  Theatrical  Printing  Co.,  and 
family  spent  the  weekend  in  Rome,  Ga.,  as 
the  guests  of  Mr.  arid  Mrs.  O.  C.  Lam  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howard  Schuessler  . . . Dave 
Prince  and  Hubert  Lyons  of  RKO  are  on  a 
business  trip  in  Miami. 


124 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


"Little  3"  Seek  Oil 
From  Crescent  Suit 

Nashville — A formal  motion  has  been 
filed  here  by  Columbia,  Universal  and 
United  Artists,  “Little  Three”  distributors 
not  party  to  the  federal  consent  decree, 
for  a summary  judgment  in  their  favor 
in  the  government’s  suit  against  them,  the 
Crescent  Amusement  Co.  and  affiliates. 

The  motion  for  such  dismissal  has  been 
taken  under  advisement  by  Federal  Judge 
Elmer  D.  Davies. 

Several  weeks  ago  the  suit  was  dis- 
missed as  it  involved  the  five  signatories 
to  the  decree,  Paramount,  Metro,  20th- 
Fox,  Warner  and  RKO  Radio. 

Fast  Pace  by  " Virginia " 

In  Southern  Test  Runs 

New  York — Paramount’s  “Virginia,”  co- 
starring  Madeleine  Carroll  and  Fred  Mac- 
Murray,  in  its  first  five  pre-release  en- 
gagements in  the  south,  has  rated  out- 
stand  receipts,  Neil  F.  Agnew,  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  distribution,  announces. 

In  its  first  three  days  at  the  Paramount 
in  Charlottesville,  the  Technicolor  film  took 
in  more  money  than  “North  West  Mounted 
Police”  did  in  seven  days.  At  the  Para- 
mount, Newport  News,  “Virginia,”  in  its 
first  three  days,  was  running  day  for  day 
20  per  cent  ahead  of  “NWMP.”  In  Lynch- 
burg at  the  Paramount,  business  the  first 
three  days  was  within  15  per  cent  of  the 
entire  seven  and  a half  days  receipts  ac- 
corded “NWMP”  which  included  New 
Year’s  Day  and  Eve  run.  At  the  Colonial 
in  Richmond,  “Virginia,”  based  on  weekly 
estimates,  will  run  ahead  of  “NWMP” 
which  played  at  advanced  admission  prices, 
and  will  beat  “Love  Thy  Neighbor,”  which 
had  a New  Year’s  Day  run,  by  15  per  cent. 
In  Norfolk  at  the  Norva,  “Virginia,”  judg- 
ing on  a three-day  performance,  will  beat 
“Love  Thy  Neighbor,”  which  had  a New 
Year’s  Eve  run  by  10  per  cent  and  will  be 
within  10  per  cent  of  the  receipts  of 
“NWMP”  which  played  at  advanced  ad- 
mission prices  and  had  a Thanksgiving 
Day  run. 

“Virginia”  will  be  released  nationally  on 
February  21. 

(r  = ft 

A Boycott  Follows 
Shift  of  Manager 

Milledgeville,  Ga. — Students  of  Georgia 
Military  College  and  Georgia  State  Col- 
lege for  Women  are  boycotting  the 
Campus  in  protest  to  the  transfer  of  Mrs. 

F.  D.  Adams,  manager,  and  spokesmen 
for  the  students  insist  they  will  refrain 
from  patronizing  the  Martin  circuit  house 
until  Mrs.  Adams  is  returned  to  the  post. 

M.  H.  Kress,  operations  manager  for 
Martin,  said  Mrs.  Adams  was  transferred 
under  an  established  policy  of  revolving 
managers  around  the  circuit.  Mrs.  Adams 
succeeded  her  husband  as  manager  of 
the  Campus  on  his  death  two  years  ago. 

^ 0 


ATTENTION,  Southbound  theatrefolk. 

Save  yourself  a lot  of  wandering  around 
Miami  and  Miami  Beach  looking  for  your 
particular  manager  friends  by  checking 
this  list  of  recent  shifts.  Rollin  K.  Stone- 
brook  and  Howard  Pettengill  lead  off  with 
Rollin  K.  coming  back  from  the  Beach  to 
the  Paramount,  following  the  discontinu- 
ance of  stage  shows  at  the  former,  and 
Howard  going  over  to  the  Beach  from  the 
circuit’s  name  house  on  Flagler  Street. 
Both  the  Beach  and  the  Paramount  are 
now  having  first  runs  of  the  Paramount 
Enterprises,  Inc.,  features  on  identical 
dates. 

Coming  in  from  Beaumont,  Tex.,  where 
he  was  associated  with  Paramount,  Erwin 
Waite  is  new  manager  at  the  Sheridan. 
He  is  remembered  in  this  area  as  the  man- 
ager who  opened  the  Community  on  Miami 
Beach,  the  first  theatre  west  of  Biscayne 
Bay. 

Another  new  face  in  the  local  mana- 
gerial lineup  is  that  of  Bert  Jackson,  for- 
merly with  Fox  in  Cleveland  and  the 
Schine  circuit.  He’s  now  managing  the 
new  Boulevard  while  Charlie  Whitaker 
shows  up  at  the  Dade  and  Ralph  McEntyre 
rates  a promotion  from  the  assistant’s 
post  at  the  Gables  to  that  of  manager  at 
the  Colony. 

Among  guests  from  this  area  flying  to 
Chicago  to  attend  the  Barney  Balaban 
testimonial  banquet  last  week  were  Para- 
mount’s city  manager,  George  Hoover,  and 
Stonebrook,  winner  of  the  local  Barney 
Balaban  drive  for  demonstrating  the  great- 
est showmanship  during  the  drive  period. 
Coming  on  from  Chicago  where  he  also 
attended  the  testimonial  banquet  is  James 
Harrison,  from  the  Wilby-Kincey  office 
in  Atlanta.  He  is  joining  his  wife  who  is 
spending  the  winter  on  Normandie  Isle. 

Leon  Netter,  vice-president  in  charge  of 
operations  for  Paramount,  returned  to 
Miami  last  week.  Down  from  Hartford, 
Conn.,  are  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Needles 
(Warner  Bros.)  . . . Down  from  Atlanta 
to  work  on  exploitation  for  “Virginia,”  to 
show  February  8-9  at  the  Paramount  and 
the  Beach,  is  James  F.  Thames.  Interest 
in  this  showing  will  be  heightened  by  the 
personal  appearances  of  Paramount’s  baby 
star,  Carolyn  Lee,  who  learned  to  walk 
right  here  in  Miami  under  the  admiring 
eyes  of  this  Boxoffice  representative;  and 
Stirling  Hayden,  young  salt  water  ad- 
venturer whose  previous  visits  to  Miami 
have  been  behind  the  wheels  of  several 
famous  sea  going  schooners. 

Out  at  the  Flagler  a two  weeks’  policy 
of  musical  stock  is  being  tried  out  wider 
the  direction  of  Ches  Davis  . . . Packing 
in  the  youngsters  at  the  opening  of  the 
new  Flash  Gordon  serial  at  the  Coral 
wasn’t  any  hard  job  when  word  got  around 
that  Buster  Crabbe,  here  to  head  the  cur- 
rent water  show  at  MacFadden-Deau- 
ville’s  pool,  was  to  make  a personal  ap- 
pearance. 

Queues  the  like  of  which  Miami  and 
Miami  Beach  have  not  seen  since  last 
spring  when  “Gone  With  the  Wind”  was 
seen  by  more  than  200,000  cash  customers 
are  forming  again  for  blocks  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  the  Colony  on  the  Beach  and  the 


Roxy  in  Miami.  At  the  request  of  Flagler 
Street  merchants  who  complained  that 
their  noon  shopping  was  being  curtailed 
by  the  waiting  line,  the  Roxy’s  first  per- 
formance has  been  advanced  from  12  to 
11:30  a.  m. 

The  Tom  Mannings  of  the  Coral  can 
take  it  as  a good  omen  that  their  son  and 
heir’s  birth  was  almost  day  and  date  with 
the  initial  Flash  Gordon  showing  ...  In 
the  organization  directing  the  current 
community  chest  enrollment,  circuit  heads 
are  majors  and  all  house  managers  are 
named  key  men. 

Two  celebrations,  marking  completion  of 
a decade  of  employment  with  Wometco 
Theatres,  have  been  celebrated  recently  at 
the  main  office.  Comptroller  Larry  John- 
ston played  host  to  the  first  of  these 
parties  while  Jack  Fink,  manager  of  the 
Capitol  during  the  entire  period,  and  pre- 
viously associated  with  Sidney  Meyer  when 
the  latter  was  with  Fox  in  Chicago  at  the 
old  Terminal,  hosted  the  second. 

Sam  Moscow,  Columbia  Pictures  South- 
eastern division  sales  manager,  is  here  re- 
cuperating from  a long  illness.  He  was 
among  guests  at  the  “So  Ends  Our  Night” 
premiere  . . . Louis  Pollock,  eastern  ad- 
vertising director  and  publicity  director 
for  Universal,  and  Milton  Crandall  are 
already  in  the  vicinity  and  deep  in  the 
business  of  exploitation  details  for  the 
“Back  Street”  premiere  at  the  Lincoln 
February  4,  the  most  expensive  premiere 
on  local  books  since  it  is  costing  Universal 
$30,000  to  provide  transportation  and 
maintenance  at  the  Miami  Biltmore  for  a 
week  for  150  newspaper  men  who  will  be 
the  company’s  guests  for  the  premiere  and 
a week’s  vacation.  Sonny  Shepherd  and 
Pollock  are  all  ready  with  the  answer  to 
the  assured  overflow  from  the  Lincoln: 
Supplementary  performances  at  the  Surf 
and  Cameo,  nearest  beach  houses  to  the 
Lincoln. 

Managers  aren’t  the  only  local  theatrical 
personages  to  indulge  in  the  good  old  foot- 
ball custom  of  shifting.  Dramatic  critics 
have  been  doing  “more  of  the  same”  with 
Eddie  Cohen,  long  time  critic  at  the  Miami 
Daily  News,  joining  the  staff  of  the  Miami 
Beach  Daily  Tropics;  with  Harold  Pearl, 
former  assistant  in  the  amusement  depart- 
ment of  the  New  York  Herald-American, 
taking  over  Eddie’s  old  desk;  and  Waldo 
Perez,  former  Herald  and  Tribune  critic, 
back  in  Miami  after  three  years  in  the 
cinema  capital. 

Marking  the  conclusion  of  the  organi- 
zation’s fiscal  year,  200  Wometco  employes 
of  a year  or  more  have  received  extra 
week’s  salary  . . . This  is  the  month  when 
both  Paramount  and  Wometco  have  their 
annual  credit  union  meetings  with  annual 
elections  of  officers  and  declarations  of 
annual  dividends. 

Newest  brother  duo  in  Wometco  ranks 
is  created  as  Dudley  Clark  goes  to  the 
Lyric  to  be  assistant  to  Karl  Keyser.  Bur- 
ton Clark,  Rosetta  manager,  is  the  brother. 
Another  new  assistant  manager  is  Lloyd 
Chambers,  promoted  to  that  post  at  the 
Tower  under  Ray  Toemmes,  after  filling 
service  posts  at  the  Mayfair  and  Plaza. 


BOXOFFICE  February  1,  1941 


124- A 


jyjEMPHIS  Filmrow  was  very  much  in 
the  spotlight  this  past  Friday  night 
when  ten  people  appeared  on  the  "It’s  A 
Hit”  radio  program  over  WMC  at  6:30. 
Two  teams  of  five  members  each,  the 
Filmrow  Bookers  and  the  Film  Distribu- 
tors matched  wits  on  questions  and  an- 
swers for  a 30-minute  program,  pitched 
them  by  Bill  Fielding,  master  of  cere- 
monies. The  bookers’  team  had  as  its 
captain,  Mark  Sheridan  of  20th-Fox,  and 
its  players  included  Ed  Williamson,  Vita- 
graph;  Leonard  Andrews  and  Frances  Mc- 
Intyre, Universal,  and  Frank  Heard  of 
Metro.  The  distributors  were  captained  by 
Walter  Parham  of  the  Royal,  Memphis, 
and  his  players  were  Bill  Lewis,  Mono- 
gram; Louise  Ryan,  Maurice  Gelders  and 
W.  G.  Milwain  of  NTS.  The  bookers  won 
three  to  one. 

A.  D.  Fielder  of  the  Rex  at  Lilbourne, 
Mo.,  has  installed  new  projection  equip- 
ment . . . H.  C.  Langford  of  the  Folly  at 
Marks,  Miss.,  is  out  again  after  being  con- 
fined to  his  home  for  quite  some  time 
with  the  flu. 

A Filmrow  visitor  was  J.  Foster  Bailey 
of  the  New  at  Coffeeville,  Miss.,  who  was 
busy  for  a couple  of  days  advancing  his 
bookings  . . . M.  A.  Lightman  of  Malco 
Theatres,  Inc.,  is  off  to  Chicago  for  a 
combination  business  and  pleasure  trip. 

W.  F.  Sonneman  of  Fayetteville  was  on 
the  Row  re-arranging  his  bookings  due  to 
the  additional  theatre  he  recently  opened 
in  the  town  . . . W.  A.  Rush  of  the  Hous- 
ton at  Houston,  Miss.,  whose  mother  has 
been  seriously  ill  in  the  Baptist  Hos- 
pital in  Memphis  for  many  weeks,  advised 
on  his  visit  this  past  week,  there  was  no 
apparent  change  in  her  condition. 

R.  J.  Mahan  is  now  managing  the  Tut- 
rovansum  Theatre  in  Tutwiler,  Miss.,  while 
Mrs.  E.  W.  Gibson  still  retains  the  own- 
ership of  same  . . . A.  L.  Coggins  of  the 
Baldwyn  at  Baldwyn,  Miss.,  is  recuperat- 
ing at  his  home  after  spending  several 
days  in  the  Gartly-Ramsey  Hospital  in 
Memphis. 

Exhibitors  on  the  Row:  W.  F.  Ruffin, 
Ruffin  Amusement  Co.,  Covington,  Tenn.; 
Earl  Vandiver,  Vandiver,  Kennett,  Mo.; 
Nathan  Flexer,  Waverly,  Waverly,  Tenn.; 

G.  H.  Goff,  Rustic,  Parsons,  Tenn.;  Gor- 
don Lee  Hutchins,  Corning,  Corning,  Ark.; 
W.  O.  Taylor,  Uptown,  Dresden,  Tenn.; 

H.  G.  Brewer,  Savoy,  Clarksdale,  Miss.; 
J.  R.  Stewart,  Shelby,  Shelby,  Miss.;  Roy 
Dillard,  Wardell,  Mo.;  Norman  Fair,  Fair, 
Somerville,  Tenn.;  Jack  Watson,  Palace, 
Tunica,  Miss.;  Miss  Louise  Mask,  Luez, 
Bolivar,  Tenn. 

G.  W.  Haynes  of  Strand  Enterprises, 
Inc.,  who  has  been  ill,  was  back  at  his 
office  for  a short  time  this  past  week  for 
the  first  time  in  many,  many  months, 
looking  fine  . . . Grady  Cook,  who  owns 
the  Joy  at  Pontotoc,  Miss.,  and  also  the 
newspaper  in  the  town,  has  just  purchased 
the  paper  in  Ackerman,  Miss.  . . . Lew  An- 
drews, office  manager  for  Malco  Thea- 
tres, is  back  at  his  desk  after  a week’s 
absence  due  to  an  attack  of  the  flu. 

R.  L.  Smallwood,  the  third,  arrived  Sun- 
day, January  19,  he  being  the  son  of  Bob 


and  Catherine  Smallwood  of  the  New  Al- 
bany Amusement  Co.  . . . Lyle  Richmond 
of  the  Missouri  at  Senath,  Mo.,  was  seen 
“Smiling’’  while  on  the  Row  this  past  week 
. . . Gordon  Lee  Hutchins  has  installed 
new  projection  equipment  in  his  State  at 
Corning,  Ark. 

Virginia  Verrill  and  her  husband,  James 
Breyley,  executive  with  the  Music  Cor- 
poration of  America,  were  recent  Mem- 
phis visitors  . . . W.  Clyde  Smith,  Malco’s 
city  manager  in  Hot  Springs,  advised  that 
Bill  Elliott,  Columbia’s  cowboy  star,  who 
was  making  a personal  appearance  at  the 
Central  Theatre,  took  time  off  and  visited 
the  Crippled  Children’s  Hospital. 

C.  N.  Eudy  of  the  Ackerman  at  Acker- 
man, Miss.,  is  back  on  the  job  after  a 
siege  with  flu  . . . Jess  Norman,  who  has 
owned  the  Best  in  Eiigland,  Ark.,  for  the 
past  20  years,  and  last  year  built  the  Star, 
has  been  forced  to  give  up  the  active  man- 
agement of  these  houses  due  to  ill  health. 
J.  A.  Poole,  who  was  formerly  connected 
with  the  theatres  in  Prescott,  Ark.,  for  the 
past  12  years,  will  do  the  booking  and 
buying  in  the  future. 

Elsie  Wagner  of  Film  Transit,  Inc.,  is 
very  happy  over  the  fact  that  she  has 
been  given  the  Merit  Safety  Award  by  the 
Safety  Council  in  Washington,  for  the 
safest  operation  during  1940  in  competi- 


from  Texas;  for  he  spent  six  months  in 
Gladewater.” 

We  swing  into  Swainsboro  for  a confab 
with  Bill  Karrh.  He’s  out  of  town,  so  we 
banter  a bit  with  C.  M.  Bridges,  general 
manager  of  the  Dixie  circuit.  Previously, 
we  called  upon  Woodrow  Wilson,  house 
manager  of  the  Dixie  at  Wrightsville.  Al- 
ways under  the  impression  Woodrow  Wil- 
son had  something  to  do  with  the  presi- 
dency, we  realize  that  of  late  we  simply 
haven’t  been  keeping  up  . . . We  stumble 
into  Statesboro,  and  find  our  old  friend, 
Hal  Macon,  getting  a new  marquee  and  a 
bride  almost  simultaneously.  The  marquee 
already  is  installed  and  Hal  possibly  will 
be  married  by  the  time  this  gets  into 
print.  The  young  lady  is  Marion  Watkins 
of  UA  exchange  in  Atlanta.  There’ll  be  a 
honeymoon  in  the  Crescent  City  ...  As 
we  kick  into  Kingsland,  we  find  Station 
Agent  J.  N.  Wells  with  a tri-tined  circuit 
of  theatres — that  town,  St.  Mary’s  and 
Woodbine,  possibly  the  one  that  twineth. 
He  runs  a bally  car  between  the  three 
towns  and  reports  business  somewhat  on 
the  upgrade,  especially  in  St.  Mary’s. 

Savannah  is  Mobile  and  Galveston  rolled 
into  one,  with  a touch  of  Charleston.  That 
combination  augurs  well  for  local  cuisine. 
Which  is  to  say  that  the  true  trencherman 
can  do  justice  to  Savannahian  fleshpots. 
Flowers  are  blooming  in  almost  semi-tropi- 
cal lavishness.  While  up  north  the  ther- 
mometer is  plummeting,  folks  hereabouts 
are  running  around  in  next  to  nothing, 
particularly  the  dear  ladies.  There’s  so 


tion  with  approximately  6,000  firms  . . . 
Bonnie  McCarley,  head  shipper  at  Fox,  is 
to  be  called  to  the  colors  early  in  Feb- 
ruary. Tommy  Smith,  formerly  with  Vita- 
graph,  is  now  assistant  shipper  at  Fox. 

O.  F.  Craig,  whose  theatre  in  New  Ark, 
Ark.,  was  destroyed  by  fire  recently,  has 
been  confined  to  his  home  with  the  flu. 
He  advises  as  soon  as  he  is  able,  work  will 
start  on  the  rebuilding  of  this  house. 

A.  F.  Decker  of  the  American  Desk  Mfg. 
Co.  was  called  to  Dallas  due  to  the  illness 
of  his  family  and  shortly  after  his  arrival 
there  was  stricken  with  the  flu,  and  has 
not  been  able  to  return  to  his  office.  Mr. 
Gregg,  of  the  home  office  in  Temple,  Tex., 
is  now  at  the  Memphis  office  carrying 
on  in  his  absence. 

Bob  Conway,  NSS,  advised  the  early  part 
of  February  two  more  of  his  boys  will  be 
serving  Uncle  Sam.  Claude  Bartley  and 
Robert  Rimer  are  scheduled  to  leave  for 
Ft.  Oglethorpe,  Ga.  . . . Curby  Smith,  lo- 
cal manager  of  the  Memphian,  left  Friday 
for  Fort  Riley,  Kas.,  for  a year’s  stay. 


Helps  Along  Dimes  Drive 

Kingsport,  Tenn.  — Jimmy  Pepper, 
manager  of  Kingsul  Theatres,  helped  the 
March-of-Dimes  campaign  along  locally 
by  giving  a free  ticket  to  each  school  stu- 
dent filling  a card  with  dimes. 


much  spring  in  the  air,  our  thoughts  turn 
to  things  automotive,  so  we  amble  over  to 
the  Americar  agency,  run  by  Jack  and 
Harry  Ramsey  with  another  partner.  The 
first  two  gentlemen  operate  the  Spring- 
field  Theatre  in  the  Georgia  town  of  that 
name  . . . We  slip  out  to  the  Star,  an  Ellis 
Blumenthal  operation  in  the  colored  sec- 
tion, and  diligently  digress  with  Manager 
W.  C.  Daye. 

“Go  immediately  to  Florida,”  is  the  gist 
of  an  urgent  dispatch  from  Kansas  City. 
Since  it  comes  from  the  countingroom, 
scene  of  so  many  Auburn  headaches,  it 
must  be  heeded. 

A genuinely  tough  assignment,  to  be  sure, 
but  like  a good  soldier,  we  are  hastening 
to  Miami  and  its  70-degree  salubriousness. 
The  order  comes  as  the  west  shivers  in 
sub-zero  blasts.  As  we  write  this,  a glance 
from  our  hotel  window  shows  a coatless 
populace  hurrying  hither  and  yon.  A sun- 
kissed  cutie  showing  sufficient  midriff  to 
write  thereon  the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence with  plenty  left  over,  trips  down  the 
sidewalk.  Incidentally,  we  just  remembered 
an  engagement  with  L.  D.  Joel  at  the 
Casino,  so  we’ll  have  to  be  hurrying  down 
the  street,  ending  this  spasm  . . . (These 
latter  paragraphs  are  being  written  in 
Jacksonville,  incidentally). 

Pretty  soon  we  expect  to  snap  a picture 
of  the  most  southernmost  theatre  in  the 
United  States.  That  Key  Westian  honor 
belongs  either  to  the  estimable  Senor  J. 
Bezanilla  or  his  honored  competitor,  the 
Senor  Juan  Carbonell. 


h “ ' - - -ft 

Marching  Through  Georgia 

^ - - — j 

(Continued  from  page  119) 


124-B 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


COMMUNITY  outgrows  seating  capacity 
of  theatre.  The  University  Theatre, 
built  some  five  years  ago  to  fit  the  popula- 
tion of  the  community  with  some  300  seats, 
is  to  be  remodeled  into  a class  “A”  neigh- 
borhood theatre  with  some  850  seats,  a 
parking  lot  and  the  many  other  conveni- 
ences that  go  with  an  up-to-date  theatre. 

A birthday  surprise  party  was  an  event 
of  interest  among  theatre  folks  the  past 
week  here  when  a number  of  trade  friends 
completely  surprised  Mrs.  A.  J.  Bohne 
with  a dinner  party  after  theatre  hours 
last  Wednesday.  Dancing  and  food  were 
the  main  events.  Attending  were  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Robert  Miller,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  W. 
Merchant,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clarence  Nelson, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cotton  Mullinix,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  L.  Sebesta,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  A.  Hud- 
son, and  many  more  friends  who  came  and 
left  before  their  names  could  be  registered. 

Marie  and  A1  Garrard  of  the  River  Oaks 
Theatre  are  spending  much  time  arrang- 
ing and  buying  new  furniture  for  their 
new  eight-room  home  being  built  in  the 
Bellaire  community. 

Visitors:  Henry  Swanson,  Motiograph 
dealer  of  Dallas;  Elmer  Zrenner  and  Burt 
King,  Dallas;  Horner  Alford,  Edward  Jack- 
son,  Tom  Powell,  James  Carroll  of  Goose 
Creek,  Tex. 

With  two  houses  regularly  using 
passes  to  get  plugs  and  publicity,  a third 
house  entered  the  field  for  a short  while. 
Prior  to  the  current  showing  of  “Gone 
With  the  Wind,”  Loew’s  State  ran  a series 
of  scenes  from  the  picture.  The  two  per- 
sons with  the  best  memories  of  each  scene 
received  $5.00.  The  ten  next  best  received 
two  tickets  each. 

Along  with  cash  and  merchandise, 
tickets  to  the  Kirby  are  given  away  on  the 
Royal  Crown  Musical  Quiz  program,  heard 
Monday,  Wednesday,  and  Friday  at  12:30 
p.  to.  on  station  KTRH.  Also  a regular  fea- 
ture, a list  of  20  names  appears  in  the 
columns  of  The  Citizen  (suburban  paper) 
each  week.  Those  whose  names  appear  can 
call  at  the  boxoffice  of  the  Heights  to  re- 
ceive two  passes  as  guests  of  the  paper. 

Although  receiving  no  personal  injuries, 
Jack  Hooks,  former  Interstate  man,  must 
buy  a new  car  as  a result  of  his  recent 
smashup  . . . Writing  from  Fort  Benning, 
Ga.,  Forrest  Shaefer,  on  leave  of  absence 
from  the  Kirby,  says  that  it  is  just  like  a 
vacation. 

“The  Baker’s  Wife”  played  to  only  bet- 
ter than  average  business  during  its  run 
at  the  Delman.  This  probably  proved  dis- 
appointing after  the  deliberation  and  con- 
ferences Interstate  had  in  deciding  whether 
Houston  would  get  it  at  all. 

The  Interstate  Suburban  Popeye  Clubs 
made  a special  bid  for  increased  attend- 
ance, Saturday,  January  25,  with  cartoon 
fun  day.  Each  house  presented  five  of  the 
year’s  outstanding  cartoons.  Seven  of  the 
houses  had  stage  presentations. 

W.  L.  Saunders,  who  knows  his  engine 
rooms,  has  just  finished  a job  at  the 
Metropolitan  and  has  the  Eastwood  for  a 
stopping  place  . . . The  new  manager  of 
the  River  Oaks,  Pat  Daley,  is  very  proud 


(,  ■ ft 

Flu  Petering  Out 
Over  Carolinas 

Charlotte — The  flu  epidemic  which  cov- 
ered the  Carolinas  the  past  two  weeks, 
has  reached  its  peak  and  is  definitely  on 
the  wane,  health  authorities  here  be- 
lieve. 

The  sickness  caused  many  theatres  to 
close  as  a precautionary  measure  and 
curtailed  church  services  and  other  pub- 
lic gatherings.  Theatres  cooperated  fully 
with  health  authorities  in  fighting  the 
malady  by  closing  or  restricting  attend- 
ance to  adults.  For  this  gesture,  volun- 
tary in  many  instances,  the  trade  was 
applauded  widely  in  the  press. 

^ J 

Services  lor  W.  P,  Garyn 
Are  Held  in  St  Louis 

Dallas — Funeral  services  for  W.  P.  “Pat” 
Garyn,  who  died  last  week  in  a local 
hospital,  were  held  in  St.  Louis  with  ser- 
vices in  the  Catholic  church  and  burial  in 
Calvary  Cemetery  there.  Wallace  Walthall, 
Frank  Starz,  and  Dickey  Foy  accompanied 
the  body  to  St.  Louis  along  with  Mrs. 
Garyn  and  a nephew,  Carl  Wolff,  the  three 
acting  as  pallbearers.  Other  pallbearers 
were  Herb  Washburn  and  Russell  Barr, 
branch  manager  and  cashier  of  National 
Screen  Service,  and  John  Quinn,  M-G-M 
branch  manager,  all  of  St.  Louis. 


Cooper  to  Remodel  Rogers 
Building  lor  300-Seater 

Rogers,  Ark. — John  I.  Cooper,  owner  of 
the  Victory  here  which  is  managed  by 
Walter  Talbutt,  will  remodel  a recently  ac- 
quired building  into  a 300-seat  theatre. 

Work  will  start  early  in  February  and 
is  expected  to  be  completed  the  first  part 
of  April. 


Invite  to  New  Interstate 
Theatre  in  Fort  Worth 

Dallas — Karl  Hoblitzelle  and  R.  J. 
O’Donnell  sent  out  invitations  to  the  trade 
this  week  to  the  opening  January  31,  of 
Interstate’s  newest  neighborhood  theatre, 
the  Bowie  in  Ft.  Worth,  located  on  Camp 
Bowie  Blvd. 


of  his  Lion’s  Club  pin  . . . George  Patillo 
(North  Main)  and  Maxine  Gunnels 
(Kirby)  went  to  Shangral  Inn  to  escape 
the  herd  and  found  the  herd  had  done  the 
same  thing. 

Mr.  Holmes,  Interstate  traveling  engi- 
neer, was  here  for  the  weekend  and  left 
Monday  night  for  El  Paso  . . . Mrs.  A1  Col- 
lins (Kirby  Art  Shop)  came  by  to  pick 
up  display  sheets  and  cheered  us  with  the 
news  that  A1  was  out  of  the  hospital  and 
would  probably  be  well  enough  to  lay  out 
his  own  displays  now  . . . Mr.  Dodge,  Up- 
town manager,  took  a day  off  to  go  to  Port 
Arthur  and  came  back  with  a new  Buick. 


piRE  destroyed  the  Cole  Theatre  and 
building  at  New  Braunfels  recently  at 
an  estimated  loss  of  $50,000.  Firefighters 
from  San  Antonio,  Seguin  and  New  Braun- 
fels were  called  to  extinguish  the  flames 
which  for  several  hours  threatened  the 
business  section  of  the  nearby  town.  The 
loss  was  partially  covered  by  insurance. 
G.  A.  Cole  operated  the  theatre. 

Title  of  last  week’s  Texas  stageshow 
was  “Forward  March,  Buck  Private  C.  C. 
Pill”  which  had  a military  air  since  the 
house  is  building  up  a steady  soldier  trade. 
New  scale  of  prices  is  now  10-20-30-40 
cents  . . . Hal  Norfleet  doing  a bang-up 
job  as  publicity  chairman  for  the  Presi- 
dent’s Ball.  Henry  Bergman,  manager  of 
the  Texas,  is  in  charge  of  the  entertain- 
ment committee.  Jack  O.  Mitchell  will 
emcee. 

Lee  E.  Orr,  Fox  Movietone  newsreel 
cameraman  and  his  assistant,  Tony  Tos- 
cano, were  in  the  city  filming  the  motor 
changing  races  at  Randolph  and  Kelly 
fields  . . . Sheila  Barrett,  star  of  screen, 
radio  and  stage,  made  a personal  ap- 
pearance at  the  San  Pedro  Playhouse  here 
as  a Town  Hall  guest  artist  . . . Clare 
Tree  Major  also  a recent  visitor  to  the 
city. 

The  regular  Wednesday  meeting  of  the 
Motion  Picture  and  Visual  Education  com- 
mittee of  the  San  Antonio  Council  of 
Parent-Teacher  Ass’ns  was  held  in  the  Jef- 
ferson Senior  School  Building  . . . “Nine 
Cent  Show”  for  colored  at  the  Cameo  the 
other  evening,  drew  one  of  the.  largest 
crowds  since  the  Negro  house  opened  last 
year.  Nine  reels  of  film  were  shown. 

Interstate’s  downtown  and  Drive-In 
theatres  are  taking  a series  of  spot  an- 
nouncements over  KABC  . . . “Hell’s  An- 
gels,” an  Astor  Picture  release,  played  a 
subsequent  run  at  the  Prince  . . . Current 
Azteca  Film  release  to  play  the  National 
last  week  was  “Charro  Negro”  . . . Para- 
mount’s “North  West  Mounted  Police”  was 
given  a second  showing  downtown  at  the 
Palace. 

The  newspaper  serialization  of  '‘Kitty 
Foyle,”  which  recently  ran  in  the  San  An- 
tonio Morning  Express,  served  as  a dandy 
advance  notice  for  the  screen  version 
which  was  unreeled  at  the  Majestic  last 
week  . . . United  Artists’  “Thief  of  Bag- 
dad” opened  to  better  than  average  busi- 
ness at  the  Aztec. 

Film  salesmen  recently  seen  hobnobbing 
around  the  Row  were  Ed  Laird,  UA,  Dallas; 
Truman  Hendrix,  20th-Fox,  and  Henry  G. 
Krumm,  Warners,  both  out  of  the  Dallas 
branch  office  . . . Nelson  Eddy  is  adver- 
tised for  a song  recital  at  the  Muny 
Auditorium  February  20. 


Two  Houses  Onto  Bijou 
Amusement  Co,  String 

Wilmington,  N.  C. — The  Bijou  Amuse- 
ment Company  of  Nashville  opened  the 
new  Ritz  Theatre  here  January  20.  The 
company  is  preparing  to  take  over  the 
Palace  Theatre  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  from 
Guy  Adams  on  March  1. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


124-C 


Search  Over  Arkansas 
For  ", Miss  Arkansas" 

Little  Rock — A state-wide  beauty  and 
talent  contest  to  find  “Miss  Arkansas”  will 
be  staged  by  Monogram  with  the  coopera- 
tion of  prominent  state  officials,  newspaper 
publishers  and  leading  circuit  and  inde- 
pendent theatres.  The  contest  will  run 
from  February  15  to  April  1,  with  the  win- 
ner being  awarded  the  feminine  leading 
role  opposite  Tex  Ritter  in  a new  musical 
western. 

Ritter,  who  has  launched  on  their  film 
careers  such  favorites  as  Rita  Hayworth, 
Joan  Woodbury,  Marjorie  Reynolds,  Louise 
Stanley,  “Jinx”  Falkenburg  and  Dorothy 
Fay,  will  be  one  of  the  judges  of  the  con- 
test, along  with  Monogram  President  W. 
Ray  Johnston  and  Edward  Finney,  pro- 
ducer of  the  Ritter  films.  According  to 
present  plans.  Gov.  Homer  Adkins  will 
head  the  committee  of  judges  of  the  pre- 
liminary contests  and  will  be  assisted  by 
the  mayor  of  each  city  where  contestants 
will  compete. 

The  winning  contestant  will  be  billed  as 
“Miss  Arkansas”  in  addition  to  her  own 
name,  and  will  embark  on  a personal  ap- 
pearance tour  in  conjunction  with  the 
film,  playing  important  circuits  and  inde- 
pendent houses  in  Arkansas. 

"Jules"  Williamson  Head 
Booker  lor  Paramount 

Charlotte  — J.  L.  “Jules”  Williamson 
has  been  named  head  booker  at  the  local 
Paramount  exchange,  according  to  Mana- 
ger Scott  Lett.  His  assistant  will  be  Har- 
old Jonasson.  Betty  Young  and  Emma 
Mingus  are  new  stenographers  in  the 
booking  department,  and  Bob  Fite  was 
recently  employed  as  a shipping  clerk. 

Rosenblatt  Interests  in 
SESCo  to  Ben  Ralston 

Charlotte — Sound  Engineering  Service 
Co.  is  now  solely  Ben  Ralston’s,  he  having 
recently  acquired  E.  A.  Rosenblatt’s  inter- 
est in  the  company.  Rosenblatt  has  formed 
a new  company,  Theatrical  Engineering 
with  headquarters  in  Brevard  Court. 

Recently  added  to  Ralston’s  engineering 
staff  was  Jones  C.  Tipton,  formerly  with 
Bell  and  Howell,  Chicago. 


Marquee  Jobs 

Charlotte — Recent  marquee  installa- 
tions reported  by  the  Charlotte  Sign  Co. 
include  those  for  the  Palace,  Thomasville, 
N.  C.;  Palace,  Augusta,  Ga.;  Carolina, 
Batesburg,  S.  C.,  and  the  State,  Kinston, 
N.  C. 


Opening  Soon 

North  Charleston,  S.  C. — It  is  under- 
stood the  new  theatre  being  built  here  by 
the  Legendre  circuit,  will  be  opened  with- 
in six  weeks.  To  be  known  as  the  Dixie, 
it  will  be  located  near  the  Charleston 
Navy  Yard. 


Story  for  Ida  Lupino 

Hollywood — “The  Damned  Don’t  Cry,” 
story  by  Harry  Hervey,  has  been  purchased 
by  Warner  as  an  Ida  Lupino  starrer. 


I? 


: BOWLING  : 

—» 

Memphis — Filmrow  has  two  full-fledged 
bowling  leagues  and  on  Thursday  night  at 
9:30  at  the  Health  Center  the  various 
teams  are  seen  “giving  their  all”  to  de- 
feat their  opponents.  Officers  in  the  Girls 
League  are  Evelyn  Hammond,  president; 
Frances  McIntyre,  secretary,  and  Frances 
Phillips,  treasurer.  Four  teams  comprise 
this  league:  Universal — with  Frances  Mc- 
Intyre, captain,  with  Ilene  Lindsay,  Mary 
Elinor  < Willie ) Williams,  Thelma  Shide 
and  Juanita  Johnson  completing  the  team. 
Metro:  with  Ophelia  Galding,  captain; 
Ethelene  Mayo,  Evelyn  Bowers,  Eva  Mai 
Butler  and  Mary  Bedford  comprise  this 
team.  Fox:  with  Ethel  Wolfe,  captain; 
team  mates  are  Evelyn  Hammond,  Amanda 
Johnson,  Alice  Grills  and  Margaret  Jones. 
Paramount’s  team  has  Frances  Phillips  as 
its  captain  and  Celia  Wells,  Mary  K. 
Lamed,  Lillian  Tucker  and  Glenna  Neel 
complete  the  team. 

In  the  Men’s  League  of  which  Mark 
Sheridan  is  president,  Arnold  Painter,  sec- 
retary, and  Bartie  Mallory,  treasurer,  there 
are  six  teams,  as  follows:  Fox,  whose 
captain  is  Mark  Sheridan,  has  Bob  Ash- 
more, Paul  Glisson,  Bill  Lewis,  and  Don 
Wahl  on  his  team.  Warner’s  team  is  cap- 
tained by  Ward  Carpenter,  with  Arnold 
Painter,  Ed  Williamson,  Joe  Ries  and  Ray 
Ferguson.  Paramount  has  Frank  Neel  as 
captain,  and  Fred  Curd,  Babe  Rounsaville, 
Jimmy  Smith  and  Dick  Browning  complete 
the  team.  Metro’s  team  is  composed  of 
Frank  Heard,  Tom  Kirk,  Bartie  Mallory, 
Hollis  Holmes  and  C.  H.  Williams,  with 
Bartie  Mallory,  captain.  National  Screen 
has  Bill  Bryant  as  captain  and  his  crew 
members  are  Mack  Jackson,  Jimmy  Andre, 
David  Stevens  and  Glenn  Woods;  Colum- 
bia has  booker,  Herman  Chrisman,  cap- 
tain, with  Tate  Baker,  Jerry  Kornegay, 
George  Simpson  and  Jimmy  Sultis  on  the 
team. 

The  final  results  of  the  first  night’s  en- 
counter ended  with  Universal  taking  the 
honor  in  the  Girls’  League  and  Warner’s 
claiming  the  laurels  in  the  Men’s  League. 


New  Sound  and  Chairs 

Meridian,  Miss. — The  new  Royal,  seat- 
ing 572,  has  new  RCA  sound  and  Ameri- 
can Desk  Mfg.  Co.  chairs.  A.  L.  Royal  and 
W.  A.  Prewitt,  the  owners,  operate  a chain. 


Ramblers  Return 

Charlotte — Charlotte’s  Tennessee  Ram- 
blers, radio  artists,  have  returned  from 
Hollywood  after  completing  a Tex  Ritter 
feature  for  Monogram.  Jack  Lamont,  with 
the  company  locally,  says  the  subject  will 
be  released  early  in  March. 


0 ■ 

DetleJ  Hansen  Heads 
The  Atlanta  Board 

Atlanta — Detlef  H.  Hansen  jr.  has  been 
named  by  the  American  Arbitration 
Ass'n  as  clerk  of  the  Atlanta  motion  pic- 
ture arbitration  tribunal.  His  address  is 
the  Mortgage  Guaranty  Bldg. 

- ■ ■ • >J 


Busch  Leaves  Standard  to 
Helm  New  Subsequent 

Oklahoma  City — Robert  “Bob”  Busch, 
one  of  the  Standard  Theatres’  managerial 
staff  since  1930,  has  resigned  to  become 
manager  of  the  new  Uptown  now  nearing 
completion  at  1212  North  Hudson  Avenue. 
The  Uptown  is  expected  to  open  about 
February  1. 

The  building  erected  for  it  by  R.  G. 
Siever  has  been  leased  for  theatre  opera- 
tions by  Charles  Ferris,  local  business  man. 
Busch  will  serve  as  resident  manager.  He 
has  been  manager  of  the  Midwest  Theatre 
recently  and  has  served  at  other  units  of 
the  Standard  chain. 

The  Uptown  will  have  a seating  capacity 
of  650.  It  will  be  air  conditioned  with 
ample  parking  facilities  and  double  seats 
scattered  throughout  the  house. 

The  house  will  be  subsequent  run  with 
a double  feature  policy.  RKO,  Columbia, 
UA  and  M-G-M  films  have  been  contracted 
for.  Admission  scale  will  be  15-20  cents. 


H.  P.  Autry  to  Helm  of 
State,  Florence,  S.  C. 

Charlotte — C.  A.  Matthews,  general 
manager  of  the  B&B  Theatres  Corp.,  an- 
nounces the  promotion  of  H.  P.  Autry 
from  the  Tryon  here  to  the  managership 
of  the  State  in  Florence,  S.  C.  Matthews 
also  reports  that  Barney  Hohinstein  is  be- 
ing transferred  from  the  Star,  Savannah, 
Ga.,  to  the  Lincoln  in  Florence. 


Five  Order  Photophone 

Miami — RCA  sound  has  been  ordered  for 
three  Sparks  houses — the  Florida  at  Ft. 
Myers  and  Ocala,  and  the  King  at  Jack- 
sonville. Orders  for  the  equipment  also 
have  been  placed  by  L.  B.  Warren  for  the 
600-seater  he  is  building  in  Oklahoma  City, 
Okla.,  and  by  J.  E.  Duncan  for  his  new 
600-seat  Georgia  at  Carrollton,  Ga. 


Opens  De  Luxe  Parr 

Lancaster,  S.  C. — George  W.  Parr  open- 
ed his  new  de  luxe  Parr  here  Tuesday. 
Dick  Eason,  formerly  with  the  Schine  and 
Hunter  Perry  circuits,  has  joined  Parr 
here  as  an  assistant. 


Miller  Building 

Lincolnton,  N.  C. — A.  E.  Miller,  who 
operates  the  Rivoli  and  Grand  locally,  is 
building  a new  house  here  to  be  known 
as  the  Century.  On  its  completion,  the 
Grand  will  be  closed. 


Fail  to  Crack  Safe 

Knoxville,  Tenn. — Robbers  hid  in  the 
Tennessee  Theatre  recently  and  after  the 
house  had  closed,  made  an  unsuccessful 
attempt  to  blow  open  the  office  safe.  Man- 
ager Eugene  Street,  who  made  the  dis- 
covery the  next  morning,  said  the  safe 
was  unopened. 


MacGowans  Adapt  "CountY  Fair" 

Hollywood — Dorrell  and  Stuart  Mc- 
Gowan are  adapting  “County  Fair,”  from 
their  own  original,  for  Paramount. 


124-D 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


Welfare  Council  List 
Of  Approved  Films 

Ottawa  — The  following  recommenda- 
tions are  included  in  the  official  list  for 
January  of  the  Canadian  Welfare  Council 
for  the  guidance  of  educational  authori- 
ties and  women’s  organizations  throughout 
the  country,  under  the  heading  “Motion 
Pictures  the  Entire  Family  Will  Like.” 
Names  and  addresses  of  the  eight  leading 
film  exchanges  in  the  Dominion  also  are 
given. 

The  list  comprises: 

“Sandy  Gets  Her  Man” — Baby  Sandy 
talks  a little  in  this  picture  which  adds 
to  her  cuteness.  The  plot  moves  at  a fair- 
ly fast  pace,  alternating  between  comedy, 
slapstick  and  thrills.  The  family,  partic- 
ularly juveniles. 

“Melody  Ranch” — Not  only  does  this 
give  the  western  fans  the  usual  action  they 
enjoy — fighting  and  shooting — but  it  pre- 
sents entertainment  for  those  to  whom 
“Westerns”  do  not  appeal.  The  family. 

“Bitter  Sweet” — No  expense  has  been 
spared  in  making  this  musical  romance. 
The  Technicolor  photography  adds  to  the 
beauty  of  the  settings  and  the  costumes 
are  lovely.  Jeanette  MacDonald  and  Nel- 
son Eddy  again  thrill  with  their  singing. 
Noel  Coward  wrote  the  play,  music  and 
lyrics.  The  family. 

“The  Son  of  Monte  Cristo” — Those  who 
saw  “The  Count  of  Monte  Cristo”  will  not 
find  this  picture  as  exciting  but  it  should 
have  general  appeal.  The  action  takes 
place  in  1865.  The  family. 

“Second  Chorus” — A pretty  good  comedy 
with  music.  There  is  an  excellent  cast  and 
swing  music  fans  should  like  Artie  Shaw 
and  his  band.  Fred  Astaire  has  a new 
dancing  partner  in  Paulette  Goddard.  The 
family. 

“The  Philadelphia  Story” — Very  good 
adult  entertainment.  The  plot  has  been 
adapted  from  the  play  by  Philip  Barry.  The 
dialogue  is  sparkling,  the  acting  brilliant, 
and  there  is  human  appeal,  comedy  and 
romance.  Adults  and  adolescents. 

“Flight  Command” — One  of  the  most 
thrilling  aviation  pictures  made  and  real- 
istic, too,  as  the  U.  S.  Navy  lent  its  co- 
operation. The  subject  matter  is  timely, 
for  it  shows  the  work  and  practice  ma- 
nouevres  done  by  the  Navy  in  line  with  the 
Defense  Program.  The  family. 

“Go  West” — The  Marx  Brothers  are  ex- 
tremely good  in  this  picture,  which  is  much 
better  than  their  last  two.  Harpo  gives 
us  some  lovely  bits  of  music  and  there 
are  lots  of  thrills  and  laughter.  The  family. 

“Convoy” — A good  melodrama  of  pres- 
ent-day naval  warfare,  produced  in  Eng- 
land. Since  the  picture  was  made  in  co- 
operation with  the  British  Admiralty,  the 
action  seems  realistic.  In  fact,  the  battle 
scenes  are  so  well  done  that  one  feels  as 
though  one  is  watching  the  actual  battle. 
The  family. 

“Sailors  Three” — A musical  farce,  star- 
ring Claude  Hulbert,  Michael  Wilding  and 
Tommy  Trinder.  A couple  of  catchy  songs 
add  zest  to  this  joyous  mixture,  which  is 
guaranteed  to  chase  the  blues  away.  The 
family. 

“Hudson’s  Bay” — This  picture  may  be 


disappointing  to  many  because  it  lacks  the 
excitement  that  one  would  expect  in  a 
story  depicting  the  formation  of  the  Hud- 
son’s Bay  Company.  The  family. 

“The  Invisible  Woman” — A pretty  good 
comedy  which  is  at  no  time  serious.  The 
trick  photography  is  handled  well.  The 
family. 

“Arms  and  the  Man — U.  S.  A.” — An  up- 
to-the-minute  survey  of  the  progress  of 
Uncle’s  Sam’s  first  peace-time  draft,  em- 
phasizing the  ready  response  of  American 
youth  to  the  call  to  duty  and  the  plans 
being  made  for  the  cooperation  of  indus- 
try as  a further  arm  of  defense.  The 
family. 

“Labor  and  Defense” — A stimulating  re- 
view of  Labor’s  fight  to  achieve  recogni- 
tion. The  challenge  which  faces  the  wage- 
earner  in  today’s  crisis  of  national  defense. 
The  family. 

“Goofy’s  Glider” — Goofy’s  attempts  to 
master  the  technique  of  gliding  provide 
laughs  aplenty  and  earn  for  himself  a 
promising  notch  in  Disney’s  cartoon  hall 
of  fame.  The  family. 


" Christmas  Under  Fire " 
Previewed  in  Toronto 

Toronto — A private  showing  of  “They 
Spent  Christmas  Under  Fire”  was  held 
here  before  a selected  audience  represent- 
ing the  Ontario  Provincial  Government, 
City  of  Toronto,  the  three  branches  of  the 
active  service,  news  syndicates,  local  news- 
papers, Canadian  magazines  and  radio  sta- 
tions. Wolfe  Cohen,  Canadian  district 
manager  for  Warner,  was  host. 

The  documentary  film,  with  commen- 
tary by  Quentin  Reynolds,  was  set  for  re- 
leasing throughout  Canada  on  Thursday, 
January  30. 


Host  School  Boys 

Winnipeg — As  part  of  an  extensive  cam- 
paign on  behalf  of  “Hudson’s  Bay”  put  on 
by  George  Frazer  of  20th-Fox,  Harold 
Bishop  and  Jack  Fitzgibbons  jr.  of  the 
Capitol,  a special  show  was  presented  for 
the  safety  patrol  boys  of  the  city  schools, 
in  cooperation  with  the  Winnipeg  Free 
Press. 


Public  Hearing  Over 
Accident  in  Theatre 

Toronto — A public  enquiry,  ordered  by 
Hon.  Gordon  Conant,  attorney-general  of 
Ontario,  into  the  accident  during  a Satur- 
day matinee  at  the  Doric,  Toronto  neigh- 
borhood house,  when  30  children  were 
overcome  by  coal  gas  fumes,  opened  at 
the  Ontario  Parliament  Buildings  on  Wed- 
nesday to  determine  the  cause  of  the  oc- 
currence, after  which  prosecution  will  be 
instituted  if  personal  negligence  on  the 
part  of  any  person  is  found,  it  is  an- 
nounced. 

Attorney-General  Conant  announced 
that  a public  investigation  had  been  con- 
sidered advisable  “in  order  to  determine 
whether  anybody  is  to  blame  for  what  took 
place  and  also  to  prevent  a recurrence  of 
such  an  incident  in  Ontario.”  Likewise,  O. 
J.  Silverthorne,  chairman  of  the  Ontario 
board  of  motion  picture  censors,  an- 
nounced that  a special  checkup  of  all  thea- 
tres in  the  Province  would  be  undertaken 
to  insure  that  buildings  were  properly 
fitted  and  that  managers  were  living  up 
to  the  regulations. 

Shortly  after  the  accident,  the  Doric  was 
ordered  closed,  regardless  of  the  inquiry, 
until  alterations  had  been  made  in  the 
theatre.  Orders  had  already  been  made  for 
the  construction  of  a fireproof  wall  in  the 
basement  and  two  more  fresh-air  ducts. 
Whether  or  not  any  other  changes  will  be 
required  depends  upon  the  outcome  of  the 
official  investigation. 

An  order  already  issued  to  Sam  Lester, 
proprietor  and  a veteran  exhibitor,  by  the 
Ontario  department  provides  for  the  pres- 
ence of  a janitor  at  all  performances  after 
the  theatre  is  reopened  and  for  the  con- 
stant attendance  of  other  employes  while 
patrons  are  in  the  building.  It  was  brought 
out  in  the  local  newspapers  that  the  pro- 
prietor was  temporarily  absent  when  the 
accident  occurred.  All  the  victims  have 
recovered  after  hospital  and  emergency 
treatment. 


Extend  Ian  Hunter 

Hollywood — Ian  Hunter  draws  a role  in 
“Dr.  Jekyll  and  Mr.  Hyde”  with  his  con- 
tract extension  at  Metro. 


In  Tribute  to  Balaban — 

The  Famous  Players-Canadian  circuit  executives  who  attended  the  banquet 
to  mark  Barney  Balaban’s  fifth  year  in  the  presidency  of  Paramount.  At 
the  Drake  Hotel  in  Chicago,  left  to  right:  N.  L.  Nathanson,  R.  W.  Bolstad, 
Ben  Geldsaler  mid  John  J.  Fitzgibbons. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


K 


125 


REPRESENTING  Famous  Players  Cana- 
dian Corp.  at  the  testimonial  dinner 
to  President  Barney  Balaban  of  Para- 
mount Pictures  at  the  Drake  Hotel  in  Chi- 
cago were  J.  J.  Fitzgibbons,  vice-president 
of  the  chain,  and  Ben  Geldsaler,  super- 
visor of  booking,  who  made  the  trip  from 
Toronto  for  the  occasion,  and  President 
N.  L.  Nathanson  who  traveled  to  Chicago 
from  Florida  where  he  is  spending  the  win- 
ter for  his  health. 

During  the  past  12  months,  12  men  in 
the  employ  of  Hanson  Theatres  Corp.  have 
temporarily  resigned  their  positions  in  or- 
der to  join  the  colors  for  active  service 
with  the  Canadian  armed  forces,  accord- 
ing to  H.  C.  D.  Main,  supervisor  of  the 
company  which  operates  theatres  in  var- 
ious cities  and  towns  of  Ontario.  Em- 
ployes already  in  uniform  were  formerly  on 
the  headoffice  staff  and  from  a number  of 
the  Hanson  theatres.  There  are  indications 
that  more  will  enlist  during  1941  with  the 
official  word  having  gone  out  that  Can- 
ada’s air,  land  and  sea  forces  will  be  great- 
ly augmented  in  preparation  for  the  big 
offensive. 

W.  J.  Burke,  manager  of  the  Brant, 
Brantford,  and  James  Simmons,  manager 
of  the  Palace,  London,  are  apparently  in- 
separable in  both  romance  and  illness.  Both 
become  benedicts  within  a few  days  of 
each  other  some  weeks  ago  and  now  both 
have  decided  to  be  on  the  sick  list — simul- 
taneously (not  the  fault  of  the  bride’s 
cooking) . 

Manager  Fred  Trebilcock  of  the  big  Up- 
town, Toronto,  has  provided  a special  war- 
time service  for  the  public  which  has  at- 
tracted considerable  attention  and  pub- 
licity. He  installed  a huge  letterbox  in  the 
lobby  in  which  letters  from  relatives  to 
soldiers  on  active  service  can  be  dropped, 
the  theatre  paying  for  the  postage.  Cana- 
dian warriors  in  any  part  of  the  world  can 


HIGH  pressure  drive  is  under  way  at 
present  in  Regina  to  sell  war  sav- 
ings stamps.  Publicity  men  for  the  drive 
include  H.  A.  Bercovich,  manager  of  the 
Rex,  and  Larry  Graburn,  manager  of  the 
Capitol. 

Boy  scouts  and  girl  guides  of  Swift  Cur- 
rent gathered  in  the  Lyric  on  a recent 
Sunday  for  a memorial  service  to  the  late 
Lord  Baden-Powell,  founder  of  the  Boy 
Scout  movement.  A similar  service  was 
held  at  the  Hi-Art  in  Weburn. 

The  Greek  War  Relief  Fund  of  Prince 
Albert  benefited  by  a draw  for  a silver 
tea  service.  The  draw  was  conducted  on 
the  stage  of  the  Strand. 

Three  thousand  children  of  grades  five, 
six,  seven  and  eight  of  Saskatoon  public 
and  separate  schools  were  guests  of  the 
Hudson’s  Bay  Company  at  the  Capitol  on 
two  mornings  during  the  showing  of  “Hud- 


thus  receive  letters  from  the  folks  back 
home  without  postal  cost. 

J.  P.  O’Loughlin,  general  manager  of 
20th  Century-Fox,  Ltd.,  traveled  to  Winni- 
peg, Man.,  for  the  premiere  of  “Hudson’s 
Bay,”  this  location  being  particularly  im- 
portant because  the  Canadian  headquar- 
ters of  the  historic  company  are  situated 
in  the  Manitoba  capital.  The  Toronto  first 
run  was  held  off  for  a week,  thus  enabling 
O'Loghlin  to  return  home  in  time  for  the 
event.  The  picture  has  played  the  Capitol 
in  Ottawa. 

Old-timers  in  Toronto  have  heard  with 
regret  that  Charlie  Berman,  one  of  the 
film  exchange  pioneers  of  this  city,  died  in 
Boston,  Mass.  The  late  Jake  Berman,  a 
brother,  was  also  a prominent  figure  in 
Toronto  film  circles  at  the  time  when  cans 
of  films  reposed  on  cupboard  shelves  in 
the  front  office  from  which  nickel  show 
proprietors  took  them  as  required.  Charlie 
Berman  headed  the  World  Film  Company 
which  occupied  ground  floor  office  space 
on  Yonge  Street  down  near  the  warehouses 
and  waterfront. 

Fredric  March,  Hollywood  star,  has  been 
vacationing  in  Canada,  engaging  in  winter 
sports  with  special  instructions  in  the  art 
of  skiing  of  which  he  has  become  a keen 
enthusiast.  March  has  been  stopping  at 
Mount  Tremblant  Lodge  at  Lac  Mercier  in 
the  Laurentians  . . . Finley  McRae,  ad- 
ministrator of  the  theatre  estate  of  the 
late  Harry  Brouse,  once  famous  showman, 
has  been  elected  president  of  the  Ottawa 
branch  of  the  Canadian  Red  Cross  Society 
. . . R.  E.  Maynard,  former  manager  of  the 
Cartier  in  Hull,  was  a visitor  at  the  head 
office  of  Famous  Players  Canadian  Corp. 

The  Strand,  Toronto,  ivas  the  scene  of  a 
repeat  performance  last  Sunday  night  of 
an  amateur  musical  show,  “Raisin’  a 
Racket,”  in  aid  of  the  British  War  Vic- 
tims’ Fund,  the  first  presentation  having 


son’s  Bay”  in  Saskatoon.  Premiere  Cana- 
dian showing  of  the  picture  was  at  Saska- 
toon, Regina,  Calgary,  Edmonton,  Winni- 
peg, Vancouver,  Victoria. 

Manager  Charlie  Bahrynowski,  of  the 
Met  Theatre,  Regina,  reports  a terrific 
business  with  the  double  bill,  “Little  Nellie 
Kelly,”  starring  Judy  Garland,  and  “Gal- 
lant Sons,”  with  Jackie  Cooper  and  Bo- 
nita Granville.  Booked  for  three  days,  the 
bill  proved  such  a natural  for  Charlie’s 
family  house  that  he  was  forced  to  play  it 
a week.  Something  unique  for  Regina  was 
the  lineup  outside  the  theatre  on  the  fifth 
day. 

A special  committee  has  been  appointed 
by  the  collegiate  board  of  Regina  to  in- 
vestigate a plan  for  the  co-ordination  of 
visual  education  in  all  Regina  schools. 

Otis  Bowes,  manager  of  the  Grand,  Re- 
gina, was  named  president  of  the  Grand, 
bantam  hockey  team. 


played  to  an  overflow  audience.  The  Strand 
is  a unit  of  20 th  Century  Theatres  . . . Im- 
mediately after  “Rebecca”  had  been  chosen 
the  1940  hit  in  a Canadian  poll,  Max 
Starkman  of  the  Allenby,  grabbed  it  for 
immediate  showmg  and  played  it  up  with 
special  exploitation. 

Toronto  reviewers  enjoyed  a special  trip 
across  the  border  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y„  for  a 
pre-release  screening  of  “Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith”  at  the  20th  Century  Theatre  un- 
der the  joint  supervision  of  Terry  Turner 
of  the  RKO  office  in  New  York  and  George 
H.  Degnon,  recently  appointed  exploitation 
man  for  the  Canadian  company  at  To- 
ronto. An  outside  member  of  the  party  was 
Will  McLaughlin,  veteran  reviewer  of  the 
Ottawa  Journal. 

M.  Axler  of  Toronto  made  a trip  to 
Brantford,  Ont.,  for  the  funeral  of  a cousin, 
David  Axler  of  that  city  who  died  while 
with  the  Royal  Canadian  Air  Force,  the 
deceased  being  accorded  full  military  hon- 
ors for  the  burial  service  . . . Manager 
Vern  Hudson  has  revived  vaudeville  at  the 
Avalon,  Ottawa,  in  conjunction  with  the 
double  film  bill. 

Lloyd  M.  Mills,  manager  of  the  Elgin, 
Ottawa,  organized  a special  patriotic 
stage  performance  for  troops  of  the  local 
garrison  under  the  auspices  of  the  Lions 
Club  of  which  he  is  a member.  Manager 
Ray  Tubman  of  the  Capitol,  a Famous 
Players’  unit,  supervised  a concert  last 
Sunday  night  by  the  band  of  the  Royal 
Canadian  Air  Force,  a collection  being 
taken  up  for  the  war  work  of  the  R.  C.  A. 
F.  Women’s  Auxiliary. 

Jack  Chisholm  returned  to  his  office  in 
the  Toronto  branch  of  the  Associated 
Screen  News,  Ltd.,  after  spending  consider- 
able time  in  the  production  of  war  films 
at  Montreal  and  Ottawa.  Frank  O’Byrne, 
Toronto  manager,  has  visited  Camp  Bor- 
den a number  of  times  in  connection  with 
the  making  of  military  pictures  and  the 
providing  of  entertainment  for  the  troops. 

Canadian  youths  are  seeing  the  last  of 
the  comic  books  because  of  the  wartime 
ban  by  the  government  on  the  importation 
of  this  type  of  magazine.  The  result  has 
been  that  the  kids  have  rushed  to  buy  up 
their  favorite  publications.  Another  re- 
sult was  achieved  by  Manager  Herb  Nelson 
of  the  Goldfields,  Timmons,  Ont.,  when  he 
secured  the  cooperation  of  book  stores  in 
placing  stickers  for  “Youth  Will  Be  Served” 
on  the  front  covers  of  the  periodicals. 

Grant  Garrette,  manager  of  the  Geneva, 
Orillia,  aroused  excitement  when  he  posted 
“Waiited”  signs  around  the  town  and  coun- 
tryside for  “Return  of  Frank  James”  at  a 
time  when  a couple  of  Nazi  war  prisoners 
had  escaped  from  custody  and  were  sup- 
posed to  be  somewhere  in  Central  Ontario. 


Music  Guild  Chartered 

Montreal — The  Composers  of  Canadian 
Music  Guild  has  received  a Dominion  char- 
ter. The  Guild  has  as  its  object  the  en- 
couragement of  the  composition  and  pres- 
entation of  Canadian  music. 


§!  A§iK  AYC1IHIIIE  W AM 


126 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


WINNIPEG 

JJFFORTS  of  the  film  industry  in  this 
center  to  contribute  in  some  measure 
to  Canada’s  war  effort,  continue  unabated. 
Besides  special  shows  that  have  been  held 
in  various  centers  by  the  Rothstein  Thea- 
tres; the  Recreation  Hall  at  Great  Falls 
contributed  an  additional  ten  cents  a seat 
for  each  patron  who  attended  the  showing 
of  “London  Can  Take  It;”  Bob  Hurwitz, 
Main  street  supervisor,  is  working  on  the 
new  drive  for  the  sale  of  war  savings 
stamps;  Grand  National  is  presenting  a 
special  dedication  program,  a percentage 
of  which  is  to  be  contributed  to  the  Lord 
Mayor’s  Fund.  The  sum  fund  received  a 
donation  of  $25  last  week  from  the  mu- 
sicians’ union. 

Don  Gauld  and  E.  A.  Retalick  are  en- 
joying great  success  with  sneak  previews 
at  the  Uptown  Theatre. 

The  latest  move  in  the  attempt  to  regu- 
late attendance  of  children  at  film  houses, 
is  a request  made  to  operators  this  week 
by  the  Manitoba  censor  board.  The  board 
has  asked  exhibitors  to  use  a standardized 
type  in  newspaper  ads  to  specify  whether 
their  films  are  adult  or  family.  This  type  is 
to  be  eight  point  for  one  column,  12  point 
for  two  columns  and  18  point  for  three 
columns.  Exhibitors  will  put  this  sugges- 
tion into  effect  immediately. 

Producers  Releasing  Corporation  an- 
nounce arrangements  completed  for  re- 
lease of  their  products  through  Grand  Na- 
tional in  Canada.  The  franchise  is  for  a 
period  of  years,  starting  with  the  1941 
product,  and  including  the  “Lone  Rider” 
series. 

Syl  Gunn  at  the  Metropolitan  and  Bill 
Novak  at  the  Gaiety  are  experimenting 
with  rearrangements  of  their  Saturday 
night  shows  to  accommodate  the  crowds. 
Currently  they  are  dropping  the  second 
feature  on  the  Saturday  night  bill  and  re- 
placing it  with  shorts  ...  At  the  Metro- 
politan, Gunn  has  introduced  a stage 
show  to  bolster  Thursday  nights,  which 
mark  the  end  of  the  show  week. 

E.  A.  Zorn,  Famous  Players  district  man- 
ager, is  back  on  the  job  after  his  recent 
illness  . . . Max  Heppner  of  the  Colonial 
is  in  Montreal  as  a representative  at  the 
Dominian  Hadassah  meeting  . . . Meyer 
Gorenstein  of  the  Star  at  Beausejour, 
Man.,  is  refurnishing  his  house  at  White- 
mouth  in  preparation  for  spring  opening. 

Jack  Pechet  of  Canadian  Screen  Pub- 
licity is  taking  larger  quarters  in  the  Har- 

(<  — - ft 

" Bitter  Sweet " Holds 
At  Toronto  House 

Toronto — Even  "Gone  With  the  Wind” 
had  to  be  held  back  at  Toronto  Loew's 
when  Manager  Jules  Bernstein  found  "Bit- 
ter Sweet"  so  sweet  with  the  fans.  "Wind" 
was  scheduled  to  open  its  popular-price 
engagement  January  23  and  display  an- 
nouncements already  were  being  run  for 
the  feature  when  it  was  found  necessary 
to  hold  "Bitter  Sweet"  for  a second  week 
— despite  the  mild  enthusiasm  of  local 
reviewers. 

—>) 


grave  Film  Exchange  building.  Pechet  re- 
cently produced  a number  of  short  sub- 
jects . . . Don  Swailes,  secretary-treasurer 
of  the  Winnipeg  Musicians  Association, 
local  190,  was  elected  president  of  the  Win- 
nipeg and  District  Trades  and  Labor  coun- 
cil. 

A.  Adelman  of  the  State,  is  making  ar- 
rangements to  increase  the  seating  ca- 
pacity of  his  house  . . . Leslie  Allen  of  the 
York  at  Vancouver,  B.  C.,  made  boxoffice 
history  at  his  house  with  “Laugh  It  Off” 
. . . Jack  Code  of  the  Famous  Players  ad- 
vertising department  is  recovering  from  a 
case  of  measles. 

Leslie  Curtis  has  been  promoted  by  a 
shift  in  the  Warner  office  here,  with 
Mickey  Kamerofsky  made  head  booker  . . . 
Bob  Cringan,  formerly  Fox  booker  at  Win- 
nipeg, has  been  promoted  to  the  Vancouver 
office  as  booker-salesman  . . . Harold 
Bishop  has  been  getting  in  some  advance 
licks  for  his  coming  showing  of  “Bitter 
Sweet.”  Recently  Bishop  arranged  for  an 
attractive  ad  in  the  Celebrity  series  pro- 
gram and  brought  his  attraction  to  the 
attention  of  some  3,000  people. 


jyjOTION  PICTURE  theatres  are  facing  a 
good  deal  of  amusement  competition, 
but  are  holding  their  own  in  spite  of  coun- 
ter attractions,  including  hockey.  In  the 
past  week  they  have  had  to  contend  with 
the  “Ice  Follies  of  1941”  at  the  Forum,  the 
“Original  Ballet  Russe”  at  His  Majesty’s, 
following  a violin  recital  by  Huberman,  the 
“Musical  Madcaps”  at  Chez  Maurice,  “The 
Maniac  Lover”  at  the  Norgate,  and  “Gol- 
den Boy”  at  the  YMCA  Little  Theatre. 

Fredric  March  and  his  wife,  Florence 
Eldridge,  who  have  been  skiing  in  the 
Laurentians,  passed  through  Montreal,  New 
York  bound  on  the  ski-plane  from  St. 
Jovite  . . . The  Alamo,  Chateauguay  Basin, 
Que.,  gave  a Saturday  and  Sunday  evening 
showing  of  “Gallant  Sons.”  Door  prizes 
were  given  and  the  proceeds  will  be  used 
for  the  formation  of  a hockey  club  and 
construction  and  maintenance  of  a skating 
rink  for  the  younger  residents. 

Mildred  Mitchell,  whom  Montrealers  re- 
call as  the  winsome  star  of  a stock  com- 
pany at  the  Orpheum  nearly  a genera- 
tion ago,  was  leading  lady  in  a perform- 
ance of  “Gaslight,”  melodrama  by  Patrick 
Hamilton,  given  in  Victoria  Hall  by  the 
Montreal  Repertory  theatre.  The  Orpheum, 
scene  of  Miss  Mitchell’s  former  triumphs, 
scored  a motion  picture  triumph  by  run- 
ning the  “The  Thief  of  Bagdad”  for  a 
fifth  week,  in  response  to  public  demand 
after  the  fourth  week  had  been  positively 
announced  as  “final.” 

Motion  picture  theatre  tickets  were 
prizes  in  Bingo  games  arranged  for  the 
youths  in  training  at  the  local  Wireless 
School  of  the  Royal  Canadian  Air  Force. 
Bingo  is  not  permitted  in  the  theatres,  but, 
apparently  there  is  no  objection  to  the  giv- 
ing of  theatre  tickets  as  prizes,  if  the 
game  can  be  played  elsewhere. 

Result  of  a deal  with  the  Grand  Na- 
tional Films,  Ltd.,  a new  distributing  com- 


0 = ■ 

: CALGARY  : 

vs  y 

Q W.  “GREG”  JANZER,  house  manager 
of  the  Grand,  was  married  recently  to 
Dorothy  Herbert  of  Lacombe.  The  cere- 
mony, attended  by  a number  of  industry 
friends,  was  performed  by  the  bride’s 
father,  the  Rev.  W.  E.  Herbert.  The  couple 
is  now  honeymooning  on  the  Pacific  coast. 

“Hudson’s  Bay”  proved  to  be  a natural 
here.  Week’s  engagement  closed  Wednes- 
day at  the  Capitol  after  one  of  the  ividest 
and  least  expensive  campaigns  of  the  past 
few  seasons.  The  Hudson’s  Bay  depart- 
ment store  heartily  cooperated  in  all  pub- 
licity. 

Snow  and  sub-zero  weather  in  the  prair- 
ies has  hit  boxoffices  this  past  week.  Roads 
are  still  open  in  the  country,  but  city  folk 
are  hugging  firesides  these  cold  nights 
and  keeping  close  to  radios.  The  cold  spell 
is  expected  to  lift  soon. 

Jean  Malcomson  of  the  Metro  exchange 
in  Calgary  had  a birthday  on  Wednesday. 


pany  to  be  known  as  Producers  Releasing 
Corp.  of  Canada  and  Newfoundland  has 
been  incorporated  to  distribute  current  and 
future  products  of  the  corporation.  There 
will  be  branches  in  Toronto,  Montreal, 
Winnipeg,  Calgary,  Vancouver  and  Saint 
John.  Playdates  for  seven  features  and 
eight  westerns  are  being  assigned. 

Succeeding  George  Heiber,  who  has  been 
promoted  to  manager  of  the  Saint  John 
district  exchange  of  United  Artists,  Sam 
Kunitzky,  formerly  a partner  in  Eastern 
Films,  independent  distributors,  has  been 
named  office  manager  of  United  Artists  at 
Saint  John  . . . Tuberculosis  dangers  are 
being  fought  with  educational  films,  shown 
under  the  joint  auspices  of  the  welfare 
association  and  the  City  of  Montreal  health 
department. 

Eight  Montreal  film  critics  were  guests 
of  RKO  at  the  opening  in  Boston  of  “Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Smith.”  The  Montrealers  over- 
came the  difficulties  attendant  on  visiting 
the  United  States  and  found  themselves 
housed  and  feted  and  sent  back  by  air- 
plane at  the  expense  of  the  studio. 

John  Baird,  inventor  of  television,  has 
been  demonstrating  in  London  his  new 
system  of  television  in  color.  Colors  of 
hair,  clothes  and  other  objects  were  faith- 
fully reproduced  on  a small  screen  in  the 
inventor’s  home.  According  to  Seto7i  Mar- 
grave, noted  critic,  who  saw  the  demon- 
stration, the  screen  is  part  of  a radio-tele- 
vision-gramophone  evolved  by  Baird  as  a 
de  luxe  model  for  home  use. 

Claire  Bayard  of  the  Metro  exchange  in 
Montreal  passed  a birthday  milestone  on 
Thursday. 


Conway  Megs  “Love  Crazy" 

Hollywood — Jack  Conway  will  direct 
“Love  Crazy,”  co-starring  William  Powell 
and  Myrna  Loy,  which  Pandro  Berman  will 
produce  for  Metro. 


MONTREAL 


BOXOFFICE  February  1,  1941 


127 


o — 1 1 

: VICTORIA  : 

Vj=  V 

40-MINUTE  sound  and  color  film  of 
British  Columbia’s  secondary  industries 
has  been  completed  by  the  Department  of 
Trade  and  Industry  of  the  provincial  gov- 
ernment in  conjunction  with  the  B.  C. 
Products  Bureau  of  the  Vancouver  Board 
of  Trade  . . . Alfred  Lunt  and  Lynn  Fon- 
tanne  will  appear  at  the  Royal  Victoria 
February  3 in  “There  Shall  Be  No  Night.” 
According  to  Cliff  Denham,  manager  of  the 
theatre,  advance  mail  order  sales  are  big. 

Gordon  Hilker  was  to  bring  Richard 
Crooks,  Metropolitan  Opera  star,  to  the 
Royal  Victoria  January  29  . . . Ian  Gibson, 
21  -year-old  local  youth,  received  a tre- 
mendous reception  at  the  Royal  Victoria  as 
a member  of  the  Ballet  Russe  de  Monte 
Carlo.  He  joined  the  company  in  Europe 
prior  to  the  outbreak  of  war  and  last  sum- 
mer made  a tour  of  South  America  and 
all  leading  cities  of  North  America.  Since 
leaving  here  last  season,  the  company  has 
traveled  20,000  miles. 

According  to  word  received  by  his  moth- 
er, Mrs.  Kathleen  Greene,  a resident  of 
this  city,  her  son,  Richard  Greene,  Eng- 
lish-born film  actor,  has  received  a com- 
mission after  serving  in  the  ranks  as  a pri- 
vate for  four  months  and  now  is  in  train- 
ing at  a military  college  in  the  south  of 
England  . . . Oscar  Hanson,  president  of 
Universal  Films,  Ltd.,  Toronto,  visited 
here,  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Hanson  and 
his  business  associate,  P.  L.  Nathanson. 
Hanson  is  looking  over  the  film  distribut- 
ing field  and  says  that  British-produced 
pictures  are  going  over  big  with  the  Cana- 
dian public. 


CBC  Asks  Jack  Arthur  to 
Direct  Music  for  Series 

Toronto — Jack  Arthur,  district  man- 
ager of  Famous  Players  Canadian  Corp., 
has  been  invited  by  the  Canadian  Broad- 
casting Corp.  to  arrange  and  direct  the 
music  for  the  12  feature  programs  in  the 
“Theatre  of  Freedom”  series  over  the  na- 
tional network  from  Toronto  during  the 
next  three  months  in  which  outstanding 
stars  of  the  screen  and  stage  will  make 
personal  appearances  before  audiences  in 
the  largest  CBC  concert  hall. 

The  first  artists  to  appear  in  Toronto 
are  Cedric  Hardwicke  and  Lady  Hard- 
wicke,  their  scheduled  engagement  being 
February  2,  for  the  program  of  which  Ar- 
thur has  arranged  the  musical  background 
and  organized  a special  orchestra.  As 
manager  of  the  Uptown  and  Imperial, 
chain  units  in  Toronto,  before  his  appoint- 
ment to  head  office,  and  by  reason  of  his 
many  years  as  director  of  music  for  Fam- 
ous Players,  Jack  Arthur  has  had  much 
experience  in  orchestration  and  in  the 
wielding  of  the  baton. 

Other  artists  who  have  donated  their 
services  for  the  series  include  Raymond 
Massey,  Walter  Huston,  Herbert  Marshall, 
Orson  Welles,  Douglas  Fairbanks,  Charles 
Laughton,  Elsa  Lanchester,  Anna  Neagle, 
George  Sanders  and  Paul  Muni. 


North  Bay  Press  Tieup 
Plugs  ", Escape " Run 


Toronto — One  of  the  finest  exploitation 
campaigns  for  a film  attraction  in  a long 
time  was  the  publicity  tieup  secured  by 
Manager  Jack  Nelson  of  the  Capitol,  a 
Famous  Players’  house  in  North  Bay,  Ont., 
for  “Escape.”  In  cooperation  with  local 
merchants,  the  North  Bay  Nugget  pub- 
lished a special  eight-page  section  devoted 
to  the  picture,  the  front  page  of  which 
was  a display  announcement  in  two  colors 
with  the  heading,  “Escape  the  Humdrum 
Ways  of  Living,”  followed  by  “Get  in  on 
this  January  Community  Event — North 
Bay  Stores  Will  Supply  Your  Every  Need” 
and  also  large  panels  announcing  the  en- 
gagement at  the  Capitol  and  a contest 
for  prizes  in  which  readers  were  invited 
to  write  a sentence  using  the  word  “Es- 
cape” to  encourage  the  sale  of  War  Sav- 
ings Stamps. 

The  newspaper  section  contained  no  less 
than  23  publicity  stories  on  the  picture  and 
six  stills  from  the  press  book,  along  with 
the  display  advertisements  of  26  business 
establishments  in  all  of  which  there  was 
a reference  to  “Escape.”  These  adver- 
tisements had  such  phrases  as  “You’ll 
Escape  Accidents,”  “Escape  Useless  Spend- 
ing and  “Escape  Enslavement,”  along  with 
references  to  the  theatre.  In  addition  the 
Capitol  had  its  own  three-column  adver- 
tisement. The  judges  for  the  slogan  com- 
petition were  Mayor  C.  R.  Harrison,  Chair- 
man F.  E.  Richens  of  the  City  War  Sav- 
ings Committee  and  Mrs.  D.  A.  Campbell, 
convener  of  the  Imperial  Order,  Daughters 
of  the  Empire. 


Trains  for  R.  C.  A.  F . 

Saint  John,  N.  B. — Ronald  Fielding, 
manager  of  the  Capitol  Theatre  of  Digby, 
N.  S.,  resigned  to  undergo  advanced  tech- 
nical training  in  Ontario  with  the  objec- 
tive of  entering  the  R.  C.  A.  F.  Fielding, 
who  when  he  passed  solo  test  flights  four 
years  ago,  was  Canada’s  youngest  airman, 
is  a son  of  A.  A.  Fielding,  general  man- 
ager of  the  Spencer  chain  of  theatres  in 
the  Maritimes. 

ft  ft 

: Testimonial  an  Ad  : 

v*  ■■  — j 

Winnipeg — A letter  from  a prominent 
clergyman  to  Manager  Gray  of  the  Star- 
land  Theatre,  commending  GN’s  “Mein 
Kampf,”  was  reproduced  in  full  in  extra 
large  newspaper  ads  publicizing  the  film. 

The  letter,  written  by  the  Rev.  J.  W. 
Clarke,  who  only  a week  ago  urged  mem- 
bers of  church  groups  to  be  on  the  look- 
out for  operators  who  tried  to  get  by  with 
Sunday  midnight  showings,  reads  as  fol- 
lows: 

“I  attended  the  preview  of  ‘Mein  Kampf’ 
and  was  greatly  impressed  with  its  his- 
torical exactness  and  with  the  striking 
manner  in  which  the  life  and  activities  of 
Hitler  have  been  dramatized. 

“This  should  be  a most  powerful  medium 
for  bringing  home  to  the  people  the 
strength  of  the  enemy,  also  the  demoraliz- 
ing nature  of  the  Nazi  philosophy  of  life. 

“I  trust  the  attendance  at  your  theatre 
will  transcend  expectations.” 


(,  

: VANCOUVER  : 

vs  ■ ■ >J 

^J*HE  BEACON  doing  standout  business 

with  the  personal  appearance  of  Roy 
Rogers.  He  was  accorded  a civic  wel- 
come, Mayor  Cornett  greeting  Rogers, 
“Trigger”  his  horse,  Cene  Haas  and  Spade 
Cooley,  his  henchmen  . . . R.  C.  McCartie 
announces  plans  have  been  completed  for 
a new  suburban  theatre  in  New  West- 
minster. Upon  completion,  he  will  close 
the  Metro  and  convert  it  into  stores  . . . 
Bob  Cringan  has  taken  over  the  late 
Eddie  Teel’s  position  at  Fox.  Bob  was  as- 
sistant booker  for  them  at  Winnipeg. 

Much  favorable  comment  is  heard  these 
days  over  Leon  Shelly’s  travelogue,  “Beau- 
tiful British  Columbia.’’  Now  in  its  second 
week  at  the  Orpheum,  Shelly  states  that 
it  is  already  being  shown  in  eastern  Can- 
ada and  the  United  States,  in  the  van- 
guard of  6,000  U.  S.  and  Canadian  theatres 
to  which  it  will  be  distributed  by  Columbia. 

A1  Towriss  in  town  on  his  way  back  to 
Princeton  after  a much  needed  rest.  He 
was  to  reopen  his  Capitol  on  January  30 

. . Johnny  Friberg  returning  to  Wells 
where  he  is  a partner  in  the  Sunset  . . . 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  O.  R.  Hanson  and  Paul  Nath- 
anson have  returned  to  Toronto  . . . Russ 
Simpson  of  Paramount  on  a business  trip. 

George  McEwan  is  back  in  Vancouver 
after  successfully  managing  Freddie  Wood 
on  his  trek  with  the  golfing  professionals 
. . . F.  G.  Stevens  putting  on  a very  ex- 
tensive advertising  campaign  for  the  first- 
run  showing  of  “Mein  Kampf”  at  the  Lux. 

War  Films  Occupy  ASN 
Throughout  Dominion 

Toronto — Frank  O’Byrne,  Toronto  man- 
ager of  the  Associated  Screen  News,  Ltd., 
reported  that  the  ASN  had  been  much 
occupied  with  the  production  of  war  and 
patriotic  films  in  many  parts  of  the  Do- 
minion for  the  National  Film  Board  and 
others,  this  form  of  war  work  represent- 
ing a large  proportion  of  the  current  pro- 
gram. Of  special  interest  was  the  premiere 
of  an  ASN  release,  “Peoples  of  Canada,” 
in  Chicago,  111.,  this  picture  depicting  the 
many  racial  characteristics  to  be  found  in 
this  country. 

Cameramen  had  been  taking  a large 
number  of  films  in  military  camps,  air 
stations  and  munition  factories  to  portray 
Canada’s  war  effort.  Associated  Screen 
News  has  been  finding  a ready  market  for 
topical  and  scenic  films  in  barracks,  thea- 
tres and  halls.  O’Byme  is  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  special  committee  which  is  re- 
sponsible for  providing  much  entertain- 
ment for  troops  in  training. 

No  Ontario  Election 
For  at  Least  a Year 

Toronto — Although  this  might  be  an 
election  year  for  Ontario  under  the  usual 
order  of  legislative  events,  Premier  M.  F. 
Hepburn  has  announced  that  provincial 
elections  at  this  time  would  be  an  un- 
necessary expenditure  of  money  which 
could  be  otherwise  used  for  the  war  ef- 
fort, and  that  the  Ontario  government 
will  carry  on  for  another  year. 


128 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


Practical  Ideas  by  Practical  Showmen 
On  Merchandising  the  Motion  Picture 


SELLII1G  SEATS 


Recognize  Kilburg's 
"Story"  Campaign 

Milwaukee  — M-G-M  has  awarded  an 
Honor  Roll  Button  to  Gene  Kilburg, 
Wisconsin  Theatre,  for  his  outstanding 
campaign  for  “The  Philadelphia  Story.” 

Highlights  follow: 

Thirty-five  thousand  full-page  an- 
nouncement heralds  distributed  by  Liberty 
magazine  carriers  one  week  in  advance. 
Day  before  opening,  50,000  heralds  gen- 
erally distributed.  Tie-up  with  Postal 
Telegraph  whereby  they  enclosed  5,000 
midget  facsimile  telegrams  in  messages. 
Postal  also  distributed  3,000  special  News 
Letters  plugging  the  film. 

Six-day  serialization  planted  in  Evening 
Post.  Twenty-five  two-color  40x60  her- 
alds posted  one  week  in  advance  in  down- 
town store  windows  and  at  street-car 
terminal  points.  Book  marks  distributed 
in  public  libraries.  Six  radio  spot  an- 
nouncements starting  four  days  in  ad- 
vance. Fashion  still  layout  planted  with 
leading  department  store  for  counter  ex- 
hibits and  lobby  displays. 


There's  Magic  in  Display — 

The  specially  constructed  front  that  helped  “Thief  of  Bagdad’’  do  gratifying- 
ly  big  business  at  the  Madison  Theatre  in  Peoria,  III.  The  display  is  the 
work  of  E.  G.  Fitzgibbon,  Great  States  publicist  in  Peoria. 


(r 


Si 

Gasoline  to  Bring  'em  In 


Bookstores  Will  Cooperate 

New  York — The  publishers  of  Prudence 
Penny’s  cook  book  call  attention  to  the 
willingness  of  bookstores  to  cooperate 
with  counter  and  window  displays  on  the 
Metro  short  featuring  the  writer,  “Penny 
to  the  Rescue.” 


vt- — 

Gloversville,  N.  Y. — Scoops,  the  Schine 
Theatre’s  exploitation  house  organ,  re- 
ports successful  seat  selling  with  the  fur- 
nishing of  free  gasoline  to  patrons  from 
the  rural  districts  when  the  latter  at- 
tend one  of  the  chain’s  theatres. 


—>) 

The  recommended  procedure:  A tieup 
is  made  first  with  the  gasoline  dealer, 
whereby  he  will  furnish  gratis  to  people 
properly  identifying  themselves  as  patrons 
of  the  theatre,  one,  two,  or  three  gallons 
of  gasoline,  depending  upon  the  distance 
they  traveled.  The  tieup  is  made  on  the 
strength  of  the  person  buying  additional 
gallons  or  becoming  regular  patrons  of 
that  particular  service  station. 

A short  trailer  calls  attention  to  the 
gas  offer  as  follows: 

“For  our  out-of-town  patrons!  Free 
gasoline  transportation.  Enough  to  bring 
you  to  this  theatre  and  home.  This  un- 
usual service  made  possible  by  (name  of 
cooperating  station).  No  inconvenience — 
just  present  your  auto  license  when  you 
buy  your  admission  ticket. 

“This  offer  good  only  Monday,  Tues- 
day, Wed7iesday,  Thursday  ever  week.” 

The  patron  is  given  a gasoline  ticket, 
properly  dated,  authorizing  a service  sta- 
tion to  give  that  particular  person  one, 
two,  or  three  gallons  of  gasoline,  de- 
pending upon  the  distance  traveled. 

The  purpose  of  the  plan  is  to  build  up 
rural  attendance  during  the  middle  of 
the  week. 


Circus  in  the  Lobby — 

The  lobby  display  for  “Chad  Hanna”  put  up  by  Manager  G.  I.  Hunter  in 
the  Illinois  Theatre  at  Jacksonville,  III.  The  miniature  ferris  wheel,  built 
to  scale  by  a local  firm  manufacturing  the  wheels,  is  operated  on  a small 
motor.  Dolls  dressed  to  represent  the  various  visitors  to  a circus  are  seated 
on  the  wheel  and  cards  listing  picture,  cast  and  playdate  came  into  view  as 
the  wheel  revolved. 


BINGO  CARDS 

Rock  Bottom  Prices 
Box  No.  1276 

BOXOFFICE  MAGAZINE 
4804  E.  Ninth  St.  Kansaf  City,  Mo. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


129 


SELLING  SEATS 


Effective  Merchandising — 

The  Lincoln  Theatre,  Marion,  Va„  played  “Dreaming  Out  Loud”  for  three 
days  and  broke  all  house  records.  One  of  the  major  contributing  factors  for 
the  SRO  business  was  the  front,  pictured  above,  decorated  in  country  store 
style. 


in  V Cl  Cl  IE  T S 

QN  pay  envelopes  he  provides  for  the 
Remington  Rand  Co.,  Ronald  Fades 
of  the  Capitol  at  Ilion,  N.  Y.,  imprinted 
the  following  copy:  “Don’t  forget  to  put 
aside  one  admission  price  out  of  your 
pay  envelope  so  that  you  may  enjoy  . . . 
Bette  Davis  in  “The  Letter”  (theatre  and 
playdate) . 

• 

Manager  A.  A.  Sette  of  the  Capitol  at 
Springfield,  Mass.,  sent  out  several  ser- 
vice staff  members  for  a few  days  before 
the  opening  date  of  “Santa  Fe  Trail”  on 
this  city’s  downtown  streets  to  say  to 
everyone  they  met:  “Iron  rails  to  Kansas 
. . . iron  nerve  from  there  on.”  When 
the  Springfield  citizens  looked  puzzled  at 
such  talk,  the  service  staffers  proceeded 
to  tell  the  prospective  customers  that 
“ ‘Santa  Fe  Trail’  is  coming  to  the  Capi- 
tol soon!” 

The  cashiers  and  usherettes  of  the  Up- 
town Theatre  in  San  Francisco  were 
dressed  in  red  wigs  by  Manager  Joe  Rich- 
ards a week  in  advance  of  “The  Lady 
With  Red  Hair.”  Banners  across  the  girls 
uniforms  announce  the  coming  picture. 

• 

The  10  young  men  working  at  the  Coli- 
seum Theatre  in  San  Francisco  wore  red 
Mountie  uniforms  a week  in  advance  of 
“North  West  Mounted  Police.”  Manager 
Irving  Levin  obtained  the  uniforms  di- 
rect from  the  studio. 

• 

A two-column  serialization  on  “High 
Sierra”  is  available  gratis  at  the  Warner 
exchange,  that  should  prove  acceptable 
to  the  daily  or  weekly  papers. 


Dates  Ahead — 

Valentine’s  Day,  Friday,  February  14: 
The  old  two-for-one  stunt  could  be  tried 
as  a sweetheart  night,  inviting  the  girls 
to  bring  their  sweetheart  along  gratis. 
Also  promote  candy  or  flowers  for  dis- 
tribution. 

Lincoln’s  and  Washington’s  Birthday, 
Wednesday,  February  12  and  Saturday, 
February  22:  Put  particular  stress  on  a 
kiddie  show,  especially  on  Washington’s 
Birthday  which  this  year  falls  on  a Satur- 
day. Several  cartoons  around  a single  fea- 
ture, advertised  as  the  birthday  show,  will 
make  a drawing  program. 

Cr  Si 

Creates  Furore  With 
" Beast  of  Berlin " 

Wichita,  Kas. — Bill  Huston,  manager 
of  the  Crawford,  started  something  when 
he  hung  up  banners  advertising  "Hitler — 
Beast  of  Berlin”  on  a recent  four-day  run. 
The  banners  were,  by  next  morning,  torn 
to  shreds,  and  Huston  started  writing  a 
story  for  one  of  the  newspapers.  He  in- 
cluded some  threatening  telephone  calls, 
just  to  make  it  good,  but  before  the  story 
was  done  he  actually  had  some!  The 
publicity  was  big,  and  there  was  a lot 
of  excitement.  A county  official  called 
about  the  damage  to  banners;  the  other 
newspaper  called  to  ask  why  its  com- 
petitor had  the  scoop;  first  run  opposition 
called  to  ask  how  the  Crawford  had  the 
picture  first  run,  why  hadn't  they?  It 
all  contributed  to  setting  a new  box- 
office  record  for  the  house.  Exhibitors 
from  surrounding  towns  came  in  to  see 
if  it  would  be  safe  to  play  the  picture. 

^ - V 


(,  ■ ■ - ft 

: For  Industrial  Towns  : 

^ - ■ — j 

Lockport,  N.  Y. — A medium  of  adver- 
tising ideal  for  industrial  towns  is  re- 
ported in  Scoops,  the  Schine  Theatres’ 
house  organ,  as  evolved  by  Seymour  Morris 
of  the  Palace  at  Lockport. 

Morris  sold  the  payroll  department  of 
a large  factory  in  the  town  on  the  idea 
of  furnishing  them  with  weekly  payroll 
envelopes.  On  the  back  of  the  payroll 
envelope  is  printed  the  weekly  program 
at  the  Palace  Theatre. 

The  cost  is  more  economical  than  a 
mailing  list  and  there  is  the  certainty  of 
reaching  a class  able  to  buy  entertainment. 

Working  Mens  Matinee 
Brings  a Proclamation 

West  Allis,  Wis. — J.  P.  Klauzer,  mana- 
ger of  Fox’s  Paradise  here,  promoted  a 
full  page  co-operative  newspaper  ad  and  a 
proclamation  from  Mayor  Delbert  Miller 
on  the  inauguration  of  his  daily  matinees 
for  night  shift  workers. 

Mayor  Miller’s  proclamation  declared 
that  “Whereas,  a survey  of  the  working 
hours  of  the  working  men  indicates  that 
a large  number  of  working  men  have  a 
great  portion  of  their  afternoons  off  dur- 
ing various  days  of  the  week,  and 

“Whereas,  the  same  survey  shows  that 
a number  of  these  same  working  men  are 
obliged  to  return  to  their  places  of  em- 
ployment in  the  evenings  during  a num- 
ber of  days  a week,  and 

“Whereas,  the  Paradise  Theatre  has 
undertaken  to  conduct  matinees  for  the 
benefit  of  patrons  whose  work  schedules 
do  not  permit  them  to  enjoy  movies  in 
the  evenings — 

“Therefore,  I,  Delbert  Miller,  mayor  of 
the  City  of  West  Allis,  do  hereby  pro- 
claim the  opening  of  the  seven-day  mati- 
nees as  the  “Working  Man’s  Matinee.” 

The  matinee  policy  is  the  first  of  its 
kind  for  West  Allis  and  the  theatre  in- 
vites them  to  “come  in  your  working 
clothes.”  Admission  prices  are  20  cents 
from  12  to  2 p.  m.  and  25  cents  from 
2 to  6 p.  m. 

Invites  National  Guard 
Unit  to  Free  Screening 

Mt.  Vernon,  Ind. — An  invitation  to  at- 
tend free  a special  showing  of  “Down 
Argentine  Way,”  extended  to  the  local  Na- 
tional Guard  battery,  in  the  name  of  three 
employes  now  members  of  the  battery, 
garnered  front  page  newspaper  space  and 
considerable  goodwill  for  Louis  Davis,  man- 
ager of  the  New  Vernon. 

The  special  preview  was  held  on  a 
Tuesday  evening  at  9:30,  and  was  exclu- 
sive for  the  battery’s  officers  and  men. 


Exhibitors  report  that  playing  the  horror 
product  in  duos,  rather  than  dividing  time 
between  films  of  different  type,  has 
brought  increased  business  since  it  at- 
tracts addicts  of  that  type  of  fare. 


130 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1?41 


GUESS  WHO’S  WHO  O 
AMOHG  THE  STARS  ■ 

Six  Weeks'  Contest  of  Skill:  72  Star  Portraits  to  Be 
Guessed  by  Your  Patrons  for  Prizes  or  Free  Tickets. 


The  Lenten  season  begins  February  26  and  comes  to  its  end  with  Easter  Sunday  on  April  13.  That's  the 
time  boxoffices  need  help,  and  patronage-stimulation  must  be  devised. 

Hundreds  of  our  exhibitor  customers  have  asked  Movie  Time  to  help  attract  patronage  by  working  out  a 
weekly  contest,  with  weekly  prizes,  for  a six-week  period  and  with  a series  of  grand  over-all  prizes  for  the 
winning  patrons  holding  the  highest  scores  over  the  entire  six-week  period. 

So  that  is  what  Movie  Time  has  done.  We  have  taken  72  pictures  of  popular  present  day  movie  stars 
and  leading  players  of  both  sexes — 36  male  and  36  female  personalities.  Each  week  Movie  Time  in  a half 
page  panel  will  print  12  portraits — six  women  and  six  men.  No  name  will  be  printed  under  any  picture  and 
a blank  line  will  be  provided  under  each  for  contestants  to  write  in  the  proper  name.  When  they  have  filled 
in  all  12  they  write  their  name  and  address  in  the  coupon  at  bottom  of  page  and  deposit  the  half  page  with 
coupon  attached  in  a voting  or  ballot  box  in  your  lobby. 

2 issues  will  be  shipped  to  customers  Tuesday,  February  18 

2 issues  will  be  shipped  Tuesday,  March  4 

2 issues  will  be  shipped  Tuesday,  March  18 

These  six  contest  issues  cover  the  Lenten  period  and  are  to  be  issued  in  your  town  February  21  and  28, 
March  7,  14,  21  and  28.  You  can  make  your  awards  for  the  seventh  week  grand  over-all  prizes  for  the  highest 
scores  in  the  six-week  period  on  Thursday,  April  13,  the  day  before  Good  Friday.  This  should  mean  busi- 
ness in  Holy  Week,  which  is  usually  one  of  record  low  patronage. 

We  are  ready  and  now  offer  these  six  issues  to  any  theatre  in  the  United  States  not  now  using  Movie 
Time  except  theatres  in  opposition  to  theatres  now  using  Movie  Time.  Despite  our  large  number  of  Movie  Time 
customers  there  are  thousands  of  places  where  theatres  can  have  the  benefit  of  this  contest.  As  we  say,  any 
present  non-customer  can  buy  just  these  six  issues  without  obligation  to  continue  with  Movie  Time.  We  think, 
however,  that  many  theatres  will  find  Movie  Time  so  beneficial  that  they  will  wish  to  continue  using  it  as 
their  regular  weekly  house  organ  newspaper. 

We  do  not  attempt  in  these  six  issues  to  write  the  terms  or  prizes  in  your  contest.  You  use  the  back 
page  [4]  for  all  promotion,  prize  and  publicity  announcements.  Write  your  own  contest  copy,  decide 
upon  your  own  prizes  or  awards,  work  out  your  own  details  of  the  tie-ins  you  will  make  with  your  merchants 
and  others  for  prizes  and  how  much  of  the  back  page  space  you  will  give  them  in  connection  with  your  pub- 
licity story  and  your  house  program.  DO  NOT  DELAY  PLACING  YOUR  ORDER  FOR  THIS  SERIES  OF  SIX 
ISSUES.  Orders  for  the  series  must  be  in  our  hands  at  Kansas  City  by  Saturday,  February  15,  1941,  at  the 
very  latest.  A master  sheet  with  correct  names  PRINTED  under  each  picture  will  be  sent  to  you  at  end  of 
each  week  to  post  in  your  lobby  after  your  announcement  of  prize  winners  is  ANNOUNCED  FROM  YOUR 
STAGE.  Morning  after  such  announcements  you  post  printed  list  in  your  lobby  . You  might  announce  an  extra 
cash  bonus  to  be  paid  each  prize  winner  who  is  in  your  theatre  when  the  announcement  of  prize  winners  is 
made. 

Present  customers  of  Movie  Time  may  wish  to  increase  their  weekly  orders  for  the  six  weeks  this  contest 
is  in  force  to  gain  wider  publicity  by  a heavier  distribution. 


Prices  for  Movie  Time  remain  the  same  as  al- 
way  and  are  given  here  again  for  the  benefit  of 
those  theatres  not  at  present  buying  Movie  Time. 


FIXED  PRICES  BASED  ON  QUANTITY 


1,000  to  5,000  per  week  to  a single  theatre $3.90  per  M. 

10.000  per  week  to  more  than  one  theatre 3.80  per  M. 

25.000  per  week  to  more  than  one  theatre 3.75  per  M. 

50.000  per  week  to  more  than  one  theatre 3.55  per  M. 

100,000  per  week  [and  over]  3.50  per  M. 


We  suggest  your  sending  your  order  immediately. 

Printing  Syndicate  Company 

9th  St.  and  Van  Brunt  Blvd. 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 


MOVIE  TIME 
9th  and  Van  Brunt, 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

□ Place  my  order 

□ Increase  my  present  weekly  order 

for copies  of  Movie  Time  for  each  week  of 

the  SIX  WEEKS  ’'GUESS  WHO'S  WHO  AMONG  THE 
STARS?"  picture  personality  contest,  shipping  as  indicated  to 

Name  of  Manager  or  Owner 

Name  of  Theatre 

Street  address  


City 


State 


Date  at  side  of  column  is  week  ending.  Number  in  square  is  national  release  date.  Production  number  is  at  right. 
Running  time,  as  furnished  by  home  office  of  distributor,  follows  title.  As  local  conditions,  such  as  censorship, 
subject  this  to  change,  checkup  with  local  exchanges  is  recommended.  R — is  review  date.  PG — is  Picture  Guide 
>age  number.  Symbol  O indicates  BOXOFFICE  Blue  Ribbon  Award  Winner.  Symbol  © indicates  color  photography. 


P-R-C 

|~8~]  Com.  Drama  1 

Hold  That  Woma 

(66) 

James  Dunn 

R— Nov.  30 

' O 

e a~ 

© no 

© «v« 

© CO 

X J -0 

e s 

• 

5 &o 

p 3a 

03  H 

t-  1 

K w O 

U 

® © 3 
| Sw-H 

3 'd  p & 

® ® 0) 

IffligJi 

WARNER-F.  N. 

[22|  M’drama  WB424 

Gambling  on  the 
High  seas  (66) 

Wayne  Morris 

Jane  Wyman 

R — Oct.  12 

[13]  Drama  FN467 

Man  Who  Talked 

Too  Much  (75) 

George  Brent 

R — July  6 

[13]  Drama  FN454 

QA11  This,  and 

Heaven  Too  (143) 

Bette  Davis 

Charles  Boyer 

R — June  22 

HU  Com.  with  Mu. 

WB407 

My  Love  Caine  Back 

(85)  R— July  6 

Olivia  de  Havilland 

Jeffrey  Lynn 

HU  Comedy  FN474 

Ladies  Must  Live 

(58) 

Rosemary  Lane 

Wayne  Morris 

R — July  27 

B~3]  Drama  FN460 

They  Drive  by  Night 

(95)  R— July  20 

George  Raft 

Ann  Sheridan 

HU  Ac.  Dram  WB414 

River’s  End  (69) 

Dennis  Morgan 

Elizabeth  Earl 

R — Aug.  24 

HU  Drama  WB417 

Money  and  the 

Woman  (67) 

Jeffrey  Lynn 

Brenda  Marshall 

R — Aug.  17 

HU  Act.  Dr.  WB412 

Flowing  Gold  (82) 

Pat  O’Brien 

John  Garfield 

Frances  Farmer 

R — Aug.  31 

HU  Drama  WB401 

Sea  Hawk,  The 

(126) 

Errol  Flynn 

Brenda  Marshall 

R — July  27 

HU  Com.  Dr.  WB519 

Calling  All  Hus- 

bands (64) 

R OO  A*  1 

UNIVERSAL 

2l]  Comedy  4031 

t Can’t  Give  Ton 
Anything  Bat 

Love  (61) 

Broderick  Crawford 
R— May  11 

|28]  Drama  5046 

The  Fugitive  (77) 
Ralph  Richardson 
Diana  Wynyard 

R— July  6 

[T|  Com.  Drama  4007 

[Private  Affairs  (74) 

Nancy  Kelly 

Roland  Young 

R — June  15 

ra  Melodrama  4057 

Black  Diamonds  (52) 

R— July  27 

H|]  Western  4064 

Son  of  Roaring  Dan 

(64)  R— Aug.  17 

Johnny  Mack  Brown 

HU  Com.  Dr.  4023 

You're  Not  So 

Tough  (72) 

R — June  1 

|U  Outd’r  Dr.  4000 

When  Daltons  Rode 

(81)  R— Aug.  3 

[2]  M’drama  4039 

South  to  Karanga 

(69) 

Charles  Bickford 

R — Aug.  3 

[T|  Comedy  4003 

Boys  From  Syracuse 

(72)  R— July  20 

Allan  Jones 

Martha  Raye 

fj]  Com.  Mus.  5013 

Argentine  Nights 

(73)  R— Sept.  7 

Ritz  Bros. 

Andrews  Sisters 

UNITED  ARTISTS 

Melodrama 

South  of  Pago  Pago 

(97) 

Victor  McLaglen 

Jon  Hall 

Francis  Farmer 

R— July  20 

[~9~|  Melodrama 

Captain  Caution 

(86)  R— Aug.  10 

Victor  Mature 

Louise  Platt 

HU  Drama 

Foreign  Correspon- 

dent (120) 

Joel  McCrea 

Laraine  Day 

R— Sept.  7 

HU  Action  Drama 

Kit  Carson  (97) 

Jon  Hall 

Lynn  Bari 

R— Sept.  7 

c* 

03 

ars 

fi  "3  ® to 

t-  S .Q 

Q W=:  . 

Qh  bO 

S a*  < 

iiIIk 

20TH-F0X 

|2i|  Mystery  048' 

Charlie  Chan's  Mur- 
der Cruise  (75) 
Sidney  Toler 

Marjorie  Weaver 

R — May  4 

||g]  Outd'r  Dr.  049 

Lucky  Cisco  Kid 
(68) 

Cesar  Romero 

Mary  Beth  Hughes 
R — June  1 

[~5~|  Com.  Drama  052 

Nailor’s  Lady  (66) 
Nancy  Kelly 

Jon  Hall 

R— July  6 

HU  Drama  046 

Manhattan  Heart- 
beat (71) 

V.  Gilmore 

R.  Sterling  R-June  8 

HU  Drama  060 

©Maryland  (91) 
Walter  Brennan 

Fay  Balnter 

Brenda  Joyce 

R— July  13 

[H]  Drama  101 

The  Man  I Married 

Joan  Bennett  (77) 

Francis  Lederer 

R— July  20 

[9]  Com.  Drama  104 

The  Girl  From  Ave- 

nue A (73) 

Jane  Withers 

Kent  Taylor 

R — Aug.  10 

HU  Melodrama  103 

©Return  of  Frank 

James  (92) 

Henry  Fonda 

Gene  Tierney 

R— Aug.  17 

HU  Drama  100 

Pier  13  (66) 

Lynn  Bari 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R— Aug.  17 

HU  Comedy  109 

Young  People  (79) 

Shirley  Temple 

Jack  Oakie 

R— July  20 

|~6~]  Melodrama  110 

Charlie  Chan  at  the 

Wax  Museum  (63) 

Sidney  Toler 

R — Aug.  3 

RKO  RADIO 

[21]  Com.  Drama  034 

Pop  Always  Pays 

(67) 

Leon  Errol 

R — June  22 

[28]  Drama  035 

Anne  of  Windy 
Poplars  (86) 

Anne  Shirley 

R — June  22 

|~5~)  Drama  036 

Dr.  Christian  Meets 
the  Women  (68) 
Jean  Hersholt 

R — June  29 

[12]  Com.  Drama  039 

Cross  Country 
Romance  (68) 

Gene  Raymond 
Wendy  Barrie 

R — June  29 

HU  Drama  029 

Tom  Brown’s  School 

Days  (82) 

James  Lydon 

Fred.  Bartholomew 
Cedric  Hardwlcke 

R — June  29 

HU  Western  085 

Stage  to  Chino  (59) 
G.O'Brien  R-Aug.  24 
HU  Com.  Drama  037 
Millionaires  in 

Prison  (63) 

L.  Tracy  R-June  29 

[2]  Drama  061 

©Queen  of  Destiny 
(95)  R-Nov.26,  ’38 

as  "60  Glorious 
Years” 

[~9~|  Melodrama  042 

One  Crowded  Night 

(68)  R — Aug.  3 

Billie  Seward 

William  Haade 

HU  Drama  041 

Stranger  on  the 

Third  Floor  (64) 

Peter  Lorre 

John  McGuire 

R — Sept.  7 

HU  Propaganda  171 

Ramparts  We  Watch 

(87)  R— July  27 

HU  Drama  043 

Wildcat  Bus  (63) 

F.  Wray  R-Aug.  24 

HU  Comedy  040 

Dance,  Girl,  Dance 

(89)  R — Aug.  31 

HU  Drama  038 

Lucky  Partners  (101) 

R.Colman  R-Aug.  24 

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[25]  Musical  Com.  908 
Grand  Ole  Opry  (67) 

R— July  6 

[27]  Western  955 

Carson  City  Kid  (57) 

R — July  6 

HU  Western  992 

One  Man’s  Law  (57) 
Don  "Red”  Barry 
Janet  Waldo 

R— July  13 

HU  Drama  903 

Three  Faces  West 
(81)  R — June  22 

John  Wayne 

SigTid  Gurle 

HU  Comedy  909 

Scatterbrain  (72) 
Judy  Canova 

R — July  13 

HU  Western  944 
Carolina  Moon  (65) 
G.  Autry  R — July  20 

[30]  Drama  904 

Girl  from  God’s  Co’n- 
try  (71)  R — Jul  27 
Chester  Morris 

HU  Western  956 

Ranger  and  the 
Lady  (59) 

R.  Rogers  R-July  27 

HU  Musical  910 

Sing,  Dance.  Plenty 
Hot  (72) 

Johnny  Downs 

Ruth  Terry 

R — Aug.  3 

HU  Western  071 

Tulsa  Kid  (57) 

Don  "Red”  Barry 

R — Aug.  3 

HU  Western  069 

Okla.  Renegades 

(57)  R — Sept.  14 

HU  Comedy  924 

Earl  of  Puddlestone 

(67)  R— Aug.  24 

|~6~|  Western  043 

Ride,  Tenderfoot, 

Ride  (65) 

Oene  Autry  M 

R — Aug.  31  , 

PARAMOUNT 

[2i|  Mys.  Com.  3938 
Ghost  Breakers  (85) 
Bob  Hope 

Paulette  Goddard 

R — June  15 

[28)  Drama  3939 

Queen  of  the  Mob 
(61)  R— June  29 
Ralph  Bellamy 
Blanche  Turka 

Jean  Cagney 

© «“• 

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HU  Western  3959 
Stagecoach  War 
(63)  R— July  6 

Bill  Boyd 

Russell  Hayden 

HU  Drama  3941 

©Untamed  (83) 

Ray  Milland 

Patricia  Morlson 

R — June  29 

[2]  Melodrama  3942 
Golden  Gloves  (69) 
Richard  Denning 
Jean  Cagney 

R — Aug.  3 

[~9~]  Melodrama  3943 
Mystery  Sea  Raider 
(78)  R— Aug.  10 
Henry  Wilcoxon 
Carole  Landis 

HU  Comery  3944 

Cornin’  Round  the 
Mountain  (63) 

Bob  Burns 

Una  Merkel 

R— Aug.  17 

HU  Com.  Drama  3945 
The  Great  McGinty 
(83) 

Brian  Donlevy 

Muriel  Angelus 

R— July  27 

[~6l  Mus.  Com.  4001 

Rhythm  on  the 

River  (94) 

Bing  Crosby 

R — Aug.  24 

MONOGRAM 

[ijj  Western  3960 

Wild  Horse  Range 

(51) 

Jack  Randall 

R — June  22 

[25]  M’drama  3927 
Last  Alarm  (61) 
Polly  Ann  Young 
Warren  Hull 

R— July  13 

[~3~|  Western  3956 

The  Golden  Trail 

(62) 

Tex  Ritter 

R — July  13 

HU  Mystery  3910 

Haunted  House  (70) 
R — Aug.  3 

HU  Melodrama  4020 
Hoys  of  the  City 
East  Side  Kids  (63) 

R — Aug.  31 

HU  Melodrama  4024 

Orphans  of  the  North 
(67)  R— Nov.  9 

HU  Western  3957 

Rainbow  Over  the 
Range  (59) 

T.  Ritter  R-Aug.  10 

[~5~|  Melodrama  3908 
Doomed  to  Die  (67) 
Boris  Karloff 

R — Aug.  10 

HU  Mys.  Drama  3913 

Laughing  at  Danger 
(62)  R— Aug.  10 

HU  Western  3958 
Arizona  Frontier 
(55)  R — Sept.  14 

HU  Melodrama  3938 

Missing  People  (69) 
R— Nov.  16 

HU  Western 

Range  Busters  No.  1 
(66)  R — Sept.  14 

HU  Melodrama  3903 
Queen  of  the  Ynkon 

(63) 

Charles  Bickford 
Trene  Rich 

R— Sept  28 

[2]  Drama  3020 

Who  Is  Guilty?  (73) 
Ben  Lyon 

R — Sept.  14 

3E 

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|2l|  Com.  Drama  48 
Captain  Is  a Lady 

(65)  R — June  29 

Virginia  Grey 

Billie  Burke 

Charles  Coburn 

[28]  Musical  31 

New  Moon  (100) 
Jeanette  MacDonald 

Nelson  Eddy 

R — June  22 

[~5~1  Comedy  43 

Andy  Hardy  Meets 
Debutante  (89) 

Mickey  Rooney 

R— July  6 

JlU  Drama  44 

Sporting  Blood 

(82) 

Robert  Young 
Maureen  O'Sullivan 
R — July  13 

HU  Com.  Drama  45 
We  Who  Are  Young 

(79) 

Lana  Turner 

John  Shelton 

R — July  20 

HU  Com.  Drama  47 
Gold  Rash  Maisie 
(82) 

Ann  Sothern 

Lee  Bowman 

R — Aug.  3 

[2]  Costume  Com.  44 
Q Pride  and  Preju- 
dice (118) 

Greer  Garson 
Laurence  Olivier 

|~9~1  Com.  Drama  50 

I Love  You  Again 
(99) 

William  Powell 
Myrna  Loy 

R — Aug.  17 

HU  Comedy  48 

Golden  Fleecing  (68) 
Lew  Ayres 

Rita  Johnson 

R — Aug.  24 

HU  Drama  48 

Boom  Town  (120) 
Clark  Gable 

Spencer  Tracy 
Claudette  Colbert 

R — Aug.  10 

|~6~1  Drama  101 

Dr.  Kildare  Goes 
Home  (79) 

Lew  Ayres 
fe — Sept.  7 

COLUMBIA 

[20]  Drama  1037 

Girls  of  the  Road 

(61) 

Ann  Dvorak 

Lola  Lane 

R — June  It 

[27|  Western  1214 

Return  of  Wild  Bill 
Bill  Elliott 

(67)  R— July  13 

[so]  Comedy  1021 
Out  West  With  the 
Peppers  (81) 

Edith  Fellows 

R — July  13 

HU  Drama  1038 

Military  Academy 

(66) 

T.  Kelly  R-July  13 

HU  Adventure  1110 

I Married  Adven- 
ture (78)  R-July  20 

HU  Comedy  101* 

Blondie  Has  Servant 
Trouble  (70) 

Penny  Singleton 
Arthur  Lake 

R— July  27 

[7~|  Drama  1008 

The  Lady  In  Ques- 

tion (81) 

Brian  Ahern* 

Rita  Hayworth 

R — Aug.  10 

HU  Melodrama  1498 

The  Secret  Seven 
(62)  R— Ang.  24 

HU  Western  2*01 
Durango  Kid  (65) 

R — Sept.  7 

H|]  Com.  Drama  1008 

He  Stayed  for 
Breakfast  (87) 
Loretta  Young 
Melvyn  Douglas 

R— Aug.  13 

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30]  Western  15 

Billy  the  Kid  in 

Texas  (67) 

Bob  Steele 

[3]  Western  It 

Riders  of  Black 

Mountain  (60) 

Tim  McCoy 

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Ivnute  Rockne,  All 

American  (98) 

Pat  O’Brien 

R— OcL  12 

gj]  Comedy  FN569 

Father  Is  a Prince 

(66) 

Grant  Mitchell 

R— Nov.  9 

[l9]  Hist.  Dr.  WB511 

Dispatch  from  Reu- 

ters (90) 

Edw.  G.  Robinson 

R — Sept.  28 

pe[  Com.  Dr.  FN561 

Tugboat  Annie 

Sails  Again  (77) 

Marjorie  Rambeau 

Alan  Hale 

R — Oct.  26 

[Y|  Comedy  FN57© 

Always  a Bride  (60) 

Rosemary  Lane 

R— Nov.  30 

[9]  Drama  FN562 

East  of  the  River 

(73)  R — Nov.  2 

John  Garfield 

Brenda  Marshall 

£e]  Drama  WB513 

South  of  Suez  (87) 

George  Brent 

Geraldine  Fitzgerald 

R— Dec.  21 

£3]  Drama 

Letter,  The  (97) 

Bette  Davis 

Herbert  Marshall 

R — Nov.  23 

| 

^ a 
£ >8^52 

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m3  Sk 

[~7~[  Comedy  FN571 

She  Couldn’t  Say  No 

(63) 

Roger  Pryor 

R — Dec.  28 

WARNER-F.  N. 

£21  — “•  — ' 

Hired  Wife  (96) 

i — Sept.  14 

uj  Melodrama  5051 

Leather  Pushers 

(64)  R— Sept.  7 

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[4]  Drama  5019 

Diamond  Frontier 

(71) 

Victor  McDaglen 

R— Oct.  5 

[H|  Melodrama  5017 

A Little  Bit  of 

Heaven  (86) 

Gloria  Jean 

R — Oct.  19 

£g|  Western  5062 

Law  and  Order  (67) 

Johnny  M.  Brown 

R — Dec.  14 

© _a  S OO 

“Is8" 

2 

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O 7-  _ M . o 
J3°  %Z 

m ni*« 

[Y]  Comedy  5036 

I’m  Nobody’s  Sweet- 

heart Now  (63) 

R — Aug.  10 

[7]  Melodrama  5052 

Devil’s  Pipeline  (66) 

R— Nov.  30 

[~j]  Comedy  5021 

Sandy  Gets  Her  Man 

(66)  R — Nov.  16 

|~g]  Western  5063 

Pony  Post  (69) 

R — Dec.  14 

|16|  oramt  ouxo 

One  Night  in  the 

Tropics  (82) 

Allan  Jones 

Nancy  Kelly 

R— Nov.  9 

— 

M cq  ag  © 

& 3 ► « >3 

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s ® d a 

O'©  U 5- 

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£9]  Comedy  501C 

Bank  Dick,  The  (72) 

W.  C.  Fields 

Una  Merkel 

R — -Dec.  7 

[7T|  Comedy  5024 

Margie  (59) 

Mischa  Auer 

Nan  Grey 

R — Sept.  21 

UNIVERSAL 

2Q|  Act.  urama 

The  Westerner  (99) 

Gary  Cooper 

Doris  Davenport 

R— May  26 

£g  Drama 

Long  Voyage  Home 

(105) 

Thomas  Mitchell 

John  Wayne 

R — Oct.  12 

£9]  Drama 

Black  Ont  (80) 

Conrad  Veldt 

Valerie  Hobson 

R — Nov.  23 

UNITED  ARTISTS 

g]  Cornea;  iuo 

Slsa  Maxwell’s  Pub- 

lic  Deb  No.  1 (80) 

George  Murphy 

Brenda  Joyce 

R— Aug.  31 

2oj  Drama  lie 

Yesterday’s  Heroes 

(65) 

Robert  Sterling 

Jean  Rogers 

R — Sept.  21 

£71  Drama  107 

Brigham  Young — 

Frontiersman 
(113)  R — Aug.  31 
Tyrone  Power 

Linda  Darnell 

7]  Act.  Drama  108 

Gay  Caballero, 

The  (57) 

Cesar  Romero 

R— Sept.  28 

M 

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£§1  Drama  114 

Night  Train  (93) 

Margaret  Lockwood 

Rex  Harrison 

R— Nov.  2 

^6]  Comedy  111 

The  Great  Profile 

(71) 

John  Barrymore 

R — Aug.  24 

|~g]  Melodrama  117 

Mark  of  Zorro  (93) 

Tyrone  Power 

Linda  Darnell 

R — Nov.  9 

[Jjj  Drama  102 

Street  of  Memories 

(70)  R — July  6 

Lynne  Roberts 

Guy  Kibbee 

£g  Comedy  119 

Youth  Will  Be 

Served  (66) 

Jane  Withers 

R — Sept.  28 

£§|  Drama  12( 

Tin  Pan  Alley  (94) 

Alice  Faye 

Jack  Oakie 

Betty  Grable 

R — Nov.  30 

[g]  Drama  118 

Charter  Pilot  (70) 

Lynn  Bari 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R— Nov.  39 

20TH-F0X 

^l^^^medy  108 

Dreaming  Out  Load 

(81)  R — Sept.  14 
Lum  & Abner 

2^  Western  086 

Triple  Justice  (66) 

Geo.  O’Brien 

R— Oct.  19 

|7|  Drama  103 

I’m  StiU  Alive  (72) 

Kent  Taylor 

R — Sept.  21 

[4]  Western  181 

Wagon  Train  (69) 

Tim  Holt 

Ray  Whitley 

R— Oct.  12 

£7)  BurL  Com.  105 

Villain  still  Pursued 

Her  (67)  R-Aug.  3 
Anita  Louise 

Hugh  Herbert 

ggj  Melodrama  107 

Laddie  (70) 

Tim  Holt 

Virginia  Gilmore 

R — Sept.  21 

gjQ  Melodrama  104 

Tney  Knew  What 

They  Wanted  (90) 
Carole  Lombard 

Chas.  Laughton 

R — OcL  19 

[Y[  Comedy  109 

Li’l  Abner  (78) 

Granville  Owen 

R — Nov.  9 

|~g~]  Comedy  106 

Too  Many  Girls  (85) 

Lucille  Ball 

Frances  Langford 

R — Oct.  12 

£5]  Comedy  111 

Mexican  Spitfire 

Out  West  (7S) 

Lupe  Velez 

R — Oct.  12 

£3}  Mus.  Com.  108 

Y ou’ll  Find  Out 

(97) 

Kay  Kyser 

Helen  Parrish 

R— Nov.  23 

£9]  Drama  113 

Remedy  for  Riches 

Jean  Hersholt 

(68)  R — Nov.  23 

[g]  Western  182 

Fargo  Kid,  The  (63) 

Tim  Holt 

R — Nov.  2 

RKO  RADIO 

uj  Melodrama 

Girl  From  Hayana 

(ff9) 

Dennis  O’Keefe 

Glair  Carlton 

R — Sept  14 

HI  Western  051 

Colorado  (67) 

Roy  Rogers 

R — Sept.  14 

3p|  Western  002 

Under  Texas  Skies 

(67) 

Three  Mesquiteers 

R — Sept.  21 

£ej  Western  072 

Frontier  Vengeance 

(57)  R — OcL  19 

Don  ’’Red’’  Barry 

[gj  Mus.  Com.  006 

Melody  and  Moon- 

light (73) 

Johnny  Downs 

R— Oct.  19 

£s|  Mus.  Com.  001 

Hit  Parade  of  1941 

(88) 

Frances  Langford 

R— Oct.  19 

N us 

8 0 . 

31 
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[Y|  Mystery  006 

Who  Killed  Aunt 

Maggie?  (70) 
Wendy  Barrie 

John  Hubbard 

R — Nov.  2 

|~7~|  Mus.  Comedy  007 

Friendly  Neighbors 

(67)  R— Nov.  16 

The  Weavers 

£7]  Western  063 

Trail  Blazers,  The 

Three  Mesquiteers 

(68)  R — Nov.  2 

£5]  Western  041 

Melody  Ranch  (86) 

R — Nov.  30 

Western  073 

Texas  Terrors  (67) 

R — Nov.  30 

£5|  Comedy  018 

Meet  the  Missus 

(68) 

Roscoe  Karns 

R— Nov.  30 

[~5~|  Western  053 

The  Border  Legion 

(58) 

Roy  Rogers 

R — Nov.  30 

0 

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111 

OB 

£q|  Drama  400& 

i Want  a Divorce 

(92)  R — Aug.  17 

Dick  Powell 

loan  Blondell 

27)  Melodrama  4003 

Bangers  of  Fortune 

(80) 

Fred  MacMurray 

Patricia  Morison 

R — Sept.  14 

[4]  Melodrama  4004 

Quarterback  (74) 

Wayne  Morris 

Lillian  Cornell 

R — Oct.  5 

[ll|  Drama  4006 

Cherokee  Strip  (86) 

Florence  Rice 

Richard  Dlx 

R — Oct.  5 

£g|  Drama  4006 

Moon  Over  Burma 

(76) 

Dorothy  Lamour 

R— Oct.  19 

£5]  Drama  4007 

Christmas  in  July 

(72)  R— Sept.  21 
£b|  Documentary 

World  in  Flames 

(61)  R — OcL  26 

[f|  Musical  4008 

Dancing  on  a Dime 

(74) 

Robert  Paige 

R — Oct.  12 

[g]  Musical  4009 

Arise  My  Love  (113) 

Claudette  Colbert 

Ray  Milland 

R— Oct.  19 

£a|  Western  4050 

Three  Men  From 

Texas  (70) 

William  Boyd 

R — SepL  14 

[~6~|  Mus.  Com.  4011 

Night  at  Earl  Car- 

roll's,  A (63) 

Ken  Murray 

R— Nov.  23 

PARAMOUNT 

jj]  Com.  Drama  3914 

Dp  in  the  Air  (61) 

Frankie  Darro 

R— Sept.  14 

igj  Melodrama  4021 

That  Gang  of  Mine 

(62) 

Bobby  Jordon 

R— Oct.  6 

30j  Melodrama  4001 

The  Ape  (62) 

Boris  Karloff 

R — Oct.  26 

Y]  Act.  Drama  4022 

Drums  of  the  Desert 

Ralph  Byrd 

R— Oct.  19 

p7~|  Western 

Trailin’  Doable 

Trouble  (58) 
Corrigan-Terhune- 

King  R — Oct.  19 

[Y|  Com.  Dr.  4010 

OI’  Swimmin’  Hole 

(76)  R — Oct.  26 

M.  Jones 

T.  Moran 

£7]  Western  4061 

Take  Me  Back  to 

Oklahoma  (64) 

Tex  Ritter 

R — Nov.  30 

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West  of  Pinto  Basin 

(69) 

Corrigan-Terhune- 

King 

R — Dec.  7 

MONOGRAM 

5|]  Act.  Drama  102 

Wyoming  (88) 

Wallace  Beery 

Leo  CarlUo 

R— Sept.  14 

2q|  Mus,  Com.  104 

daunted  Honey- 

moon (83) 

Robert  Montgomery 

R — Aug.  31 

£71  Comedy  103 

Strike  Up  the  Band 

(120) 

R — Sept.  21 

27]  Mystery  106 

Sky  Murder  (72) 

R — Sept.  28 

~4~|  Comedy  106 

Dulcy  (73) 

Ann  Sothern 

lan  Hunter 

R — Oct.  S 

[u]  Drama  107 

Third  Finger,  Left 

Hand  (98) 
Douglas-Loy 

R — Oct.  19 

|25|  Comedy  109 

Hullabaloo  (77) 

Frank  Morgan 

Billie  Burke 

R— Nov.  2 

[Y|  Drama  188 

Escape  (104) 

Norma  Shearer 

Robert  Taylor 

R — Nov.  9 

|~8~|  Musical  110 

©Bittersweet  (92) 

Jeanette  MacDonald 

Nelson  Eddy 

R— Nov.  23 

£j]  Drama  111 

Gallant  Sons  (76) 

Jackie  Cooper 

Bonita  Granville 

R — Nov.  16 

£6|  Comedy  113 

Little  Nellie  Kelly 

(100) 

Judy  Garland 

George  Murphy 

R — Nov.  23 

£9]  Drama  115 

Dr.  Kildare’s  Crisis 

(75) 

Lew  Ayres 

Lionel  Barrymore 

R — Dec.  7 

[g~|  Comedy  114 

Go  West  (82) 

Marx  Bros. 

R— Dec.  21 

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Cary  Grant 

Martha  Scott 

R— Sept.  7 

27]  Melodrama  1040 

Glamour  for  Sale 

(59)  R— Oct.  26 

3p]  Drama  1009 

Angels  Over  Broad- 

Way  (80)  R-Oct  12 

30j  Western  2209 

Prairie  Schooners 

(58)  R — Nov.  16 

Bill  Elliott 

Jj  Com.  Dr’ma  *018 

So  You  Won’t  Talk 

(69)  R — Oct.  6 

Joe  E.  Brown 

£7|  Drama  2030 

Nobody’s  Children 

(65) 

Edith  Fellows 

R— Feb.  1 — PG-1S 

£4]  Drama  3038 

Girls  Under  21  (64) 

R — Nov.  30 

Western  2202 
West  of  Abilene  (67) 

R— Aug.  3 

£|]  Comedy  2016 

Blondie  Plays  Cupid 

(68) 

Penny  Singleton 

Arthur  Lake 

R — Nov.  2 

£4]  Western  2210 

Beyond  the  Sacra- 

mento (68) 

Bill  Elliott 

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Ellery  Queen,  Mas- 

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Ralph  Bellamy 
Margaret  Lindsay 

R — Nov.  30 

[5]  Western  2208 

Thundering  Fron- 
tier (57) 

Charles  Starrett 

R — Sept.  21 

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[3]  Mystery  1# 

Secret  Evidence 

(..) 

[3]  Western  16 

Lone  Rider  No.  1 

(•  .) 

George  Houston 

[it]  Comedy  10 

Glamour  Girls  Neve 

Say  No  ( . . ) 

WARNER-F.  N. 

|2i|  Reissue 

Here  Comes  the 
Navy  (86) 

James  Cagney 

Pat  O’Brien 

j2g]  Adv.  Dr.  FN551 

Santa  Fe  Trail  (110) 

Errol  Flynn 

Olivia  DeHavilland 

R — Dec.  21 

|~4~|  M’drama  WB503 

Four  Mothers  (86) 

The  Lane  Sisters 

Jeffrey  Lynn 

R — Dec.  14 

[IT]  M’drama  FN572 

Case  of  the  Black 

Parrot  (60) 

Wm.  Lundlgan 

Maris  Wrlxon 

R — Feb.  1— PG-19 

[is]  Com.  Dr.  WB510 

Honeymoon  for 

Three  (76) 

George  Brent 

Ann  Sheridan 

[25]  Drama  FN556 

High  Sierra  (100) 

Humphrey  Bogart 

Ida  Lupino 

R — Jan.  25 — PG-16 

|T|  Drama  WB520 

leather’s  Son  (57) 

John  Litel 

Frieda  Inescort 

[~8~|  Drama 

Flight  From  Destiny 

(74) 

Thomas  Mitchell 

R — Jan.  4 — PG-4 

[15]  Comedy 

The  Great  Mr.  No- 

body ( . . ) 

Eddie  Albert 

Joan  Leslie 

[22]  Com.  Drama 

Strawberry  Blonde 

(•  •) 

James  Cagney 

Olivia  de  Havilland 

II 

UNIVERSAL 

[X3]  Drama  5008 

Trail  of  the  Vigil- 

antes (75) 

Franchot  Tone 

R — Dec.  14 

|2o]  Drama  S025 

Give  Us  Wings  (62) 
Little  Tough  Guys 
Wallace  Ford 

R — Nov.  16 

|27]  Mys.  Com.  5018 

Invisible  Woman 
(72) 

John  Barrymore 
Virginia  Bruce 

R— Jan  4— PG-1 

[~3~|  Com.  Drama  5030 

Where  Did  Yon  Get 

That  Girl  (65) 

R- — Dec.  28 

[3]  Adv.  Drama  5053 

Lucky  Devils  (62) 

|1q|  Western  6064 

Boss  of  Bullion  City 

(59) 

fip]  Drama  5027 

San  Francisco  Docks 

(66)  R— Dec.  7 

a fi|3 

•a  5 p.  | 

8 3 3S 

a o © 

O cn  d 
n w n 

W © CJ  S 

i J 'd  ^ rt 

C3  rH 

[Ds 

H Comedy 

Buck  Privates  ( . . ) 

Andrews  Sisters 

Abbott  & Costello 

|~7~|  Drama 

Back  Street  ( . . ) i 

Margaret  Sullavan 

Charles  Boyer 

[14]  Comedy 

Meet  the  Chump 

(•  •) 

Hugh  Herbert 

Lewis  Howard 

[21]  Mus.  Comedy 

Nice  Girl  ( . . ) 

Deanna  Durbin 

Franchot  Tone 

jg3|  Drama  5040 

Dark  Streets  of 

Cairo  ( . . ) 

Sigrid  Gurie 

Barbara  O’Nell 

R — Dec.  7 

p7~[  Comedy 

Mr.  Dynamite  ( . . ) 

Lloyd  Nolan 

Irene  Hervey 

[l4|  Comedy 

Model  Wife  ( . . ) 

Joan  Blondell 

Dick  Powell 

UNITED  ARTISTS 

rs 

s 

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fefl 

| & 5 

Si  j s 

d O 

© CJ  ® 

2®  dO 

SI©  6 M £ 

[ip]  Melodrama 

Son  of  Monte  Cristo 

(102) 

Louis  Hayward 

Joan  Bennett 

R— Dec.  7 

[24]  Comedy 

Road  Show'  (87) 

Adolphe  Menjou 

Carol  Landis 

[24]  Drama 

So  Ends  Our  Night 

( . . ) Fredric  March 

Margaret  Sullavan 

R — Feb.  1 — PG-20 

20TH-FOX 

[73]  Mystery  121 

Murder  Over  New 
York  (65) 

Sidney  Toler 

R — Nov.  30 

[2o|  Comedy  122 

Jennie  (77) 

William  Henry 
Dorris  Bowden 

R — Dec.  7 

H Drama  123 

©Chad  Hanna  (88) 
Henry  Fonda 
Dorothy  Lamour 

R — ,Dee.  14 

[~3~|  Drama  115 

Hudson’s  Bay  (95) 
Paul  Muni 

Virginia  Field 

R — Dec.  28 

|io]  Melodrama  124 
Michael  Shayne,  Pri- 
vate Detective 

(77) 

Lloyd  Nolan 

R — Dec.  28 

[77]  Act.  Drama  126 
Romance  of  the  Rio 
Grande  (73) 

Cesar  Romero 

R — Jan.  11 — PG-5 

[24]  Drama  128 

Tall,  Dark  and 

Handsome  (78) 
Cesar  Romero 

R — Jan.  25 — PG-14 

[37]  Drama  127 

Girl  in  the  News 

(77) 

Margaret  Lockwood 

R — Jan.  4— PG-1 

[7~]  Comedy  129 

Ride,  Kelly,  Ride 

( • • ) 

Eugene  Pallette 

Rita  Quigley 

[74]  Com.  Drama  130 

Golden  Hoofs  ( . . ) 

Jane  Withers 

(Buddy)  Rogers 

[27]  Drama  126 

©Western  Union 

(••) 

Robert  Young 

Virginia  Gilmore 

Hi  Mystery  131 

Scotland  Yard  ( . . ) 

John  Loder 

Nancy  Kelly 

[~7~|  Drama 

Tobacco  Road  ( . . ) 

Charlie  Grapewin 

Marjorie  Rambeau 

[m]  Mystery 

Murder  Among 

Friends  (..) 

John  Hubbard 

Marjorie  Weaver 

RKO  RADIO 

|2o|  Drama  114 

No,  No,  Nanette 

(96) 

Anna  Neagle 

Richard  Carlson 

R— Jan.  11— PG-8 

H Drama  112 

Kitty  Foyle  (108) 
Ginger  Rogers 
Herbert  Marshall 

R— Dec.  21 

[3]  Drama  161 

Convoy  (78) 

Clive  Brook 

Judy  Campbell 

R — Jan.  18 — PG-11 

[tq]  Drama  110 

Little  Men  (84) 

Kay  Francis 

Jack  Oakle 

R — Dec.  7 

H Musical  115 

Let’s  Make  Music 
(84) 

Bob  Crosby 

R — Dec.  14 

H Mystery  116 

Saint  In  Palm 
Springs  (66) 

George  Sanders 

R — Jan.  4 — PG-3 

[31]  Comedy  117 

Mr.  and  Mrs. 

Smith  (95) 

Carole  Lombard 

R— Jan.  23— PG-13 

[7]  Western  183 

Along  the  Rio 
Grande  ( . . ) 

Tim  Holt 

R — Feb.  1— PG-21 

[74]  Comedy  120 

A Guy,  a Girl  and  a 

Gob  ( . . ) 

George  Murphy 

Lucille  Ball 

[27]  Com.  Drama  123 

Scattergood  Baines 

(•  .) 

Guy  Kibbee 

[2g]  Drama  118 

Citizen  Kane  ( . . ) 

Orson  Welles 

|~7~|  Drama  121 

Play  Girl  (77) 

Kay  Francis 

James  Ellison 

R — Dec.  14 

N 

pH 

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C _ • p 0 

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A a ® 1 m 
©V  © 

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ms  Is 

REPUBLIC 

[g~|  Comedy  008 

Barnyard  Follies 

(68)  R — Nov.  30 

Mary  Lee 

Rufe  Davis 

© 

cd  Z 

£ © rt 

2 -a  o 

Q Z • 

W m O 

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Itlffl  JK 

H Western  064 

Lone  Star  Raiders 

(57) 

Three  Mesquiteers 
R— Dec.  21 

[27]  Drama  019 

Bowery  Boy  (71) 
Dennis  O’Keefe 
Louise  Campbell 

R — Jan.  4 — PG-2 

[e]  Western  074 

Wyoming  Wildcat 

(56) 

Don  "Red”  Barry 

Julie  Duncan 

R — Jan.  11 — PG-8 

[14]  Western  054 

Robin  Hood  of  the 

Pecos  (59) 

Roy  Rogers 

R— Jan.  18 — PG-10 

[24]  Western  044 

Riding  on  a Rain- 

bow ( . . ) 

Gene  Autry 

R — Feb.  1 — PG-19 

|28|  Comedy  010 

Arkansas  Judge 

(72) 

Weaver  Bros. 

R — Jan.  25 — PG-14 

(37]  Comedy  020 

Petticoat  Polities 

(•  .) 

Higgins  Family 

Roscoe  Karnes 

[14]  Western  075 

Bad  Man  From  Rio 

(•  •) 

Don  “Red”  Barry 

[76]  Western  065 

Prairie  Pioneers 

(•  •) 

Three  Mesquiteers 

|~3~|  Drama 

Citadel  of  Crime 

( ) 

John  Wayne 

Frances  Dee 

1 

PARAMOUNT 

[is]  Western  4012 
Texas  Rangers  Ride 
Again  (68) 

John  Howard 

R — Nov.  9 

H Outd’r  Dr.  3046 
y©North  West 
Mounted  Police 
(126)  R — Oct.  26 

Madeleine  Carroll 

[27 ] Comedy  4013 
Love  Thy  Neighbor 

(82) 

Jack  Benny 

Fred  Allen 

R — Dec.  28 

[3]  Musical  4014 

Second  Chorus  (88) 
Fred  Astaire 

Paulette  Goddard 

R — Dec.  7 

|g5|  Western  4061 

Doomed  Caravan 

(62) 

William  Boyd 

Russell  Hayden 

R — Jan.  18— PG-9 

[77]  Drama  4015 

Victory  (79) 

Fredric  March 

Betty  Field 

R— Dec.  21 

[24]  Comedy  4016 

Aldrich  Family  in 
Life  With  Henry 

(82) 

R — Jan.  25 — PG-16 

[~7~]  Musical  Com. 
You’re  the  One  (83) 
Bonnie  Baker 

Orrin  Tucker 

[74]  Mystery 

Mod  Doctor,  The 

(90) 

Basil  Rathbone 

[2t|  Drama 

©Virginia  (109) 
Madeleine  Carroll 
Fred  MacMurray 

R — Jan.  18— PG-12 

HI  Western  4052 
In  Old  Colorado 

(..) 

William  Boyd 

[Y|  Comedy 

Hard  Boiled  Canary 

(..) 

Allan  Jones 

Susanna  Foster 

MONOGRAM 

[22|  Drama  4003 

Her  First  Romance 
(77)  R— Dec.  28 

[29]  Western  4052 

Rolling  Home  to 
Texas  (63) 

R — Feb.  1 — PG-17 

[~5~j  Western 

Trail  of  the  Silver 

Spurs  (60) 

Range  Busters 

HU  Mystery 

Dead  Man’s  Shoes 

(•  .) 

Wilfrid  Lawson 

Leslie  Banks 

[2p|  Melodrama 
You’re  Out  of  Luck 

(62) 

Frankie  Darro 

R — Jan.  18 — PG-11 

[~6~|  Western 

Ridin’  the  Cherokee 
Trail  (..) 

Tex  Ritter 

[jo]  Air  Drama 

Air  Devils  ( . . ) 

Leo  Gorcey 

Bobby  Jordan 

H Drama 

Sign  of  the  Wolf 
(..) 

z 

■ 

a 

a 

Z 

[jU  Drama  113 

Comrade  X (89) 
Clark  Gable 

Hedy  Lamarr 

R — Dec.  14 

|27|  Comedy  116 

Keeping  Company 

(87) 

Ann  Rutherford 
John  Shelton 

R — Jan.  4 — PG-4 

[3]  Drama  117 

Flight  Command 
(114) 

Robert  Taylor 

Walter  Pldgeon 

R — Dec.  21 

l[^5]  Com.  Drama  118 

Malsle  Was  a Lady 

(79) 

Ann  Sothern 

Lew  Ayres 

R — Jan.  11 — PG-B 

[77]  Drama  119 

Philadelphia  Story 

(112) 

Katharine  Hepburn 

Cary  Grant 

[24]  Comedy  121 

Man  of  Borneo  (78) 
[24]  Historical 

Land  of  Liberty  (98) 
R — Jan.  25 — PG-16 

]3x|  Drama  122 

Come  Live  With 

Me  (..) 

James  Stewart 

R — Feb.  1 — PG-17 

|~7~|  Comedy  123 

Blonde  Inspiration 

(•  •) 

John  Shelton 

Virginia  Grey 

[74]  Drama  124 

The  Bad  Man  ( . . ) 
Wallace  Beery 

Lionel  Barrymore 

|2i]  Drama  125 

Trial  of  Mary  Dugan 

(.  .) 

Robert  Young 
Laraine  Day 

H]  Comedy  126 

Andy  Hardy’s  Pri- 
vate Secretary 
(.  .) 

Mickey  Rooney 

COLUMBIA 

i 

[|]  Drama  2081 

Great  Plane  Rob- 
bery (53) 

Jack  Holt 

R — Dec.  14 

[2oj  Mystery  2033 

Phantom  Submarine 

(70) 

Anita  Louise 

H Outd’r  Dr.  2101 

Arizona  (128) 

Jean  Arthur 

R — Nov.  23 

H Western  2211 

Wildcat  of  Tuscon 

(57)  Bill  Elliott 

[2]  Comedy  2208 
This  Thing  Called 
Love  (98) 

Melvyn  Douglas 
Rosalind  Russell 

R — Dec.  28 

[9]  Western  2204 

Pinto  Kid  (61) 

Charles  Starrett 

H]  Mys.  Dr.  2029 
Face  Behind  the 

Mask  (69) 

Peter  Lorre 

[3]  Melodrama  2028 

The  Devil  Com- 
mands ( . . ) 

Boris  Karloff 

H Western  2212 

Across  the  Sierra 

(58) 

Bill  Elliott 

|78[  Drama 

Adam  Had  Four 
Sons  ( . ) 

Warner  Baxter 

Ingrid  Bergman 

|2o|  Drama 

Meet  Boston  Blackie 

(••) 

Chester  Morris 
Rochelle  Hudson 

H|  Comedy 

Blondie  Goes  Latin 

(..) 

H Western  2205 

Outlaws  of  the  Pan- 
handle (59) 

Charles  Starrett 

1 

DEC. 

14 

DEC. 

21 

DEC. 

28 

IAN. 

4 

JAN. 

11 

JAN. 

18 

IAN. 

25 

FEB. 

1 

FEB. 

8 

FEB. 

15 

FEB. 

22 

MAR. 

1 

MAR. 

8 

MAR. 

15 

Numeral  Is  production  number.  Running  time  follows  title.  First  date  Is  Na- 
tional release,  second  the  date  of  review  in  BOXOFFICE;  both  1940  unless 
otherwise  specified.  The  symbol  between  the  dates  is  rating  from  the  BOX- 
OFFICE  review:  Very  good,  -f  Good,  ± Fair,  5;  Mediocre,  — Poor,  = Very 

Poor,  y Indicates  short  of  the  week.  © Indicates  color  photography. 


SHORTS  CHART 


Prod. 

No. 


Title 


Rel.  Rat- 
Date  ing  Rev’d 


Columbia 


2425.  .Blondes  and  Blunders  (16) 

11-29 

± 

12-  7 

2424.  .Bundle  of  Bliss,  A (18)  .. 

11-  1 

2423.. Cold  Turkey  (16) 

1438.  .Fireman  Save  My  Clmo- 

10-18 

Choo  (18)  

S-  9 

+ 

8-31 

2628.  .Fresh  as  a Freshman  (.  .) 
2426.  .His  Ex  Marks  the  Spot 

1-29 

(18)  

12-13 

2421.  .Pleased  to  Mitt  You  (18). 

9-  6 

1421..Slcinnv  the  Mooeher  (16%! 

9-  8 

2422.. Spook  Speaks,  The  (18).. 
9437.  .Trouble  Finds  Andy 

9-20 

+ 

10-19 

Clyde  (18)  

7-28 

2627.  .Watchman  Takes  a Wife, 

The  (16)  

1-25 

CINESCOPES 

2975.  .Feathers  (Cosmocolor) 

(. .) • 

1-31 

2972.  .Floating  Elephants  (8).. 

10-  4 

+ 

10-19 

2971.. Hobby  Lobby  (11) 

2972.  .Industrial  Green  Island 

8-30 

+ 

9-21 

(10)  

9-20 

297.3 . . Nice  Work  If  You 

Can  Do  It  (9)  

11-  8 

+ 

11-23 

2975.  .©Ocean  Trails  ( . . ) 

1-31 

2974.  .Unusual  Crafts  (9) 

12-25 

1-25 

COLOR  RHAPSODIES 

(In  Technicolor) 

2505..  A Helping  Paw  (7) 

2502..  ©Mr.  Elephant  Goes  to 

1-  7 

Town  (7V2)  

10-  4 

2503  . Mad  Hatter,  The  (7) 

11-  3 

2501.  .Tangled  Television  (7%). 

8-30 

+ 

10-19 

1512..  Timid  Pup.  The  (8) 

8-  1 

8-31 

2506.. Way  of  All  Pests  (..)... 

2-28 

2504.. Wise  Owl  (7) 

12-  6 

12-  7 

COLUMBIA  TOURS 

2556.  .Beautiful  British  Colum- 

bla  (10’/.)  

12-20 

+ 

1-25 

2557.. From  Singapore  to  Hong 

Kong  (De  La  Varre  Prod.) 

(10)  

1-10 

2551 .. Historic  Virginia  (Andre  de 

la  Varre  Productions) 

(10)  

8-16 

2554.  .Islands  of  the  West 

Indies  (10)  

10-25 

44 

11-23 

2553.. Old  and  New  Arizona 

(Special)  (9)  

9-27 

2552.  .Savoy  In  the  Alps  (La 

Varre  Productions)  (10) 

9-13 

44 

10-23 

2555 ..  Sojourn  in  Havana 

(LaVarre  Prod.)  (9) . . . 

11-25 

12-  7 

2651 

2652 

2653 


2 


COMMUNITY  SING 
No.  l..(  Jolly  Tunes — D. 

Baker  (10)  10 

No.  2. . (Popular  Songs — D. 

Baker  (10)  11-8 

No.  3.  . (Melodies  That  Fin- 
ger— D.  Baker)  (10) ...  .12-13 

2654..  No.  4 (Gay  Tunes)  (..)...  1-  1 

2655..  No.  5 (10) 2-7 

Fun  with  Songs — t.  White. 
FABT.ES  cartoons 

2751..  Farmer  Tom  Thumb  (6)..  9-27 

2755..  1.  Happened  to  Crusoe  (..)  3-14 
2752.  .Mouse  Meets  I.ion  (6).... 10-25 

2753..  Paunch  >n’  Judy  (6%) 12-13 

1755.  .Pooch  Parade  (6) 7-19 

2754 . . Streamlined  Donkey  (..)...  1-17 

NEW  YORK  PARADE 
2951 . . New  York  Parade  (..)...  1-24 
PHANTASIES  CARTOONS 

2702..  Happy  Holidays  (6) 10-25 

2705.  .Little  Theatre,  The  (..)..  2-  7 
1706  . News  Oddities  (6) 7-19 

1756..  Peep  in  the  Deep,  A (6V2)  8-23 

2701..  5.hool  Boy  Dreams  (5)...  9-24 
2705.  .There’s  Music  in  Your 

Hair  (..)  3-28 

• Tom  Thumb’s  Brother 

(..)  1-17 

• Wallflower,  The  (..) 11-29 

QUIZ  REELS 

.Take  It  or  Leave  It  (9%)  12-  5 

• Take  It  or  Leave  It 

No.  2 (11)  12-25 

• Take  It  or  Leave  It  No.  3 

(••)  2-7 

.Junior  I.  Q.  Parade  (..)..  3-  7 
SCREEN  SNAPSHOTS 

• No.  10  (9) *-10 

Jack  Oakle. 

• No.  1 (10) 9-  6 

Ken  Murray. 

.No.  2 (9) 10-18 

Don  Wilson. 

• No.  3 (9) 11-22 

Ken  Murray. 

.No.  4 (9) 12-27 

Ken  Murray. 


+ 11-23 


2704. 

2703. 

2601. 

2602. 

2603. 

2604. 
1860. 

2851. 

2852. 

2853. 

2854. 


12-  7 
1-25 


± 8-31 


11- 23 

12-  7 


Prod. 

No. 


Title 


Rel.  Rat- 
Date  ing  Rev’d 


Prod. 

No. 


Title 


Rel.  Rat- 
Date  ing  Rev’d 


2855. 


!-2  1 


rp  1-25 
= 12-  7 

+ 10-19 


.No.  5 (9) 

Bol)  Hope. 

SPECIAL  (HAPPY-HOUR) 

2441. Puss  in  Boots  (reissue) 

(40)  11-21 

SPORT  REELS 

. Ali  the  Giant  Killer  (10%)  12-27 

.Canvas  Capers  (11) 7-19 

.Hunting  Wild  Deer  (9)...  11-22 

.Ice  Capers  (.  .) 1-24 

Master  of  Cue  With  Willie 

Hoppe  (9)  10-  4 

2805.  .Splits,  Spares  and  Strikes 

(■•)  2-21 

THREE  STOOGES  COMEDIES 

Boobs  in  Anns  (18) 12-27 

• Cuckoo  Cavaliers  (17) ....  11-15 
■ From  Nurse  to  Worse  (16)  8-23 
How  High  Is  Up  (16)  7-16 

. No  Census,  No  Feeling  (161  10-  4 
. So  Long  Mr.  Chumps  ( . . ) . 2-  7 
WASHINGTON  PARADE 
Series  2 

.No.  5 (The  Archives)  (11).  7-  4 -f 
. No.  6 (Our  Nat’l  Defense) 

(10)  8-30 

3 

No.  1 (The  Mint)  (10) 10-25 

.No.  2 (U.  S.  Military  Acad- 
emy) (Special)  (10) 12-13  ± 

2903.  .No.  3 (U.  S.  Naval  Acad- 
emy) (Special)  (10)  ....  1-  3 -f 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

CRIME  DOESN’T  PAY 


1-25 


GO-  2.  . 
GO-  1. 


2803 

1809 

2802 

2804 
2801 


2404 
2103 

2401 
1108 

2402 

2405 


1905 

1906 


2901 

2902 


+ 


11-23 

10-26 


12-21 

10-26 


9-13  4f  10-  6 
7-19  + 8-31 


1-17  -1+  1-18 


+ 


1-18 
12-  7 
8-31 
8-  3 


8-  3 


1-18 


1-25 


P- 

P- 

P- 

P-1 

P-: 


GABBY  CARTOONS 

..Constable,  The  (7) 11-15 

..King  for  a Day  (7) 10-18 

HEADLINER 

A0-  3.. Johnny  Messner  and 

Orch.  (11)  12-13 

A0-  2.. Listen  to  Larry  (10) 10-25 

A0-  l..y Moments  of  Charm  of 

1941  (10)  

A9-10.  .Pinky  Tomlin  and  Orch. 

(11)  

MADCAP  MODELS 
(In  Technicolor) 

J0-1.  .Western  Daze  (9) 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS 
Released  Twice  Weekly. 
PARAGRAPH  ICS 

V0-  3 .. CjsBreezy  Little  Bears  (11).  12-27 
V0-  1.. Nature’s  Nursery  (10) ....  10-11 
V9-10.  .Paramount  Pictorial 

No.  2 (11) 9-  9 

V0-  2.. Seeing  Is  Believing  (11).. 11-22 
POPEYE  CARTOONS 
E9-10.  .Doing  Impossikible  Stunts 

(7)  8-2 

E0-  4.. Eugene,  the  Jeep  (7) 12-13 

E9-  9.  .Fightin’  Pals  (8) 

E8-ll..It’s  the  Natural  Thing  to 

Do  (7)  7-28 

E0-  2.. My  Pop,  My  Pop  (7) 10-18 

E0-  1 . . Popeye  Meets  William 

Tell  (7)  

E0-5.  .Problem  Pappy  (7).... 

E9-12 . .Puttin’  on  the  Act 
E9-11 


44 


+ 


+ 


7-12 


(7)... 

. .Wimmin'  Hadn’t  Oughta 


9-20 

1-10 

8-30 


(In  Technicolor) 


T-214.  .Bea 
T-211 . .Capitol  City.  The — Wash- 


T-212.  .Cavalcade  of  San  Fran- 


T-213 . . Old  New  Mexico  (10) .....  10-26 

T-215..01d  New  Orleans  (9) 12-21 

MINIATURES 

M-231.. Rodeo  Dough  (10)  (Sepia)  10-  9 
M-G-M  CARTOONS 
(New  Series) 
(Technicolor) 

IV-  90.  .Bookworm  Turns,  The 

(8)  

W-  94.  .Gallopin’  Gals  (8) 

W-  93.  .Homeless  Flea,  The  (8) 

W-241.  .Lonesome  Stranger  (9). 

W-  92.  .Papa  Gets  the  Bird  (8) 

W-  91.. Romeo  in  Rhythm  (8). 

M-G-M  NEWS  OF  THE  DAY 
Released  Twice  Weekly 
OUR  GANG  COMEDIES 


. . 7-20 
. .10-26 
. .10-12 
. .11-23 
. . 9-  7 
8-10 


11-  9 
1-18 


12-14 


8- 31 

11-  9 

12-  7 
12-  7 

9- 28 
9-  7 


C-29.3.  .Goin’  Fishln’  (10) 

10-26 

11-  9 

L0-1 . 

C-291..Good  Bad  Boys  (11) 

9-  7 

-1- 

9-  7 

L0-2 . 

( -294.  Kiddie  Kure  (11) 

11-23 

4- 

12-28 

C-292.  .Waldo’s  Last  Stand  (11). 

10-  5 

12-  7 

PASSING  PARADE 

+ 

10-19 

(New  Series) 

K-281 . .American  Spoken  Here 

028-1. 

-J- 

(Sepia)  (10)  

11-30 

44 

12-  7 

— 

K-126.  .Baron  and  the  Rose,  The 

(id  

9-  7 

4) 

9-28 

K-128.  .Dreams  (10)  

.11-16 

4- 

12-14 

K-127.  .Utopia  of  Death  (10) 

10-12 

-4 

11-  9 

PETE  SMITH  SPECIALTIES 

04.109. 

S-113.  .Football  Thrills  of  19.39  (10) 

9-21 

41 

9-28 

04,114. 

S-112 . . Please  Answer  (9) 

8-24 

4+ 

9-  7 

04,113. 

S-261 . . QQuicker’n  a Wink 

04.112. 

(Sepia)  (9)  

10-12 

4f 

12-  7 

4- 

8-31 

S-203jytSea  for  Yourself  (10) 

12-21 

44 

1-18 

04,115. 

+ 

10-19 

S-262.  .Wedding  Bills  (10) 

11-30 

+4 

12-  7 

04.110. 

Paramount 


H0- 

H0 

HO 

HO 

S0- 


M0- 

M0- 

FF0 


ANIMATED  ANTICS 

4..  Bring  Himself  Back  Alive 

(7)  12-20 

-1.  .Dandy  Lion,  The  (7) 9-20 

-3.. Mommy  Loves  Puppy  (7). 11-29 
•2.  .Sneak,  Snoop  & Snitch  (7)  10-25 
BENCHLEY  COMEDIES 

1..  Trouble  With  Husbands 

(11)  11-  8 

COLOR  CLASSICS 
(In  Technicolor) 

■5.. Snubbed  by  a Snob  (7)... 

6.  .You  Can’t  Shoe  a Horse- 
fly (7)  

FASCINATING  JOURNEYS 
(Technicolor) 

1 . . ^JRiver  Thames — Yester- 
day (10)  11-  8 

2..  5.cred  Ganges,  The  (11).. 12-27 

FLEISCHER  CARTOONS 

1..  Raggedy  Ann  (19) 12-20 


+ 


12-21 

10-  5 
12-  7 

11- 23 


44  12-  7 


7- 19  + 8-31 

8- 23  + 8-24 


11-23 

1-18 


1-18 

10-26 


8-24 
12-  7 


8-17 
12-  7 
8-17 

8-26 

10-26 

10-  5 
1-18 
8-24 


. 8-17 

44 

9-  7 

Drive  (7)  

8-16 

+ 

8-24 

.10-26 

44 

10-26 

E0-  3.  .With  Poopdeek  Pappy  (7) 

11-15 

O 

12-  7 

. 8-24 

9-28 

POPULAR  SCIENCE 

. 9-  9 

(In  Cinecolor) 

.11-30 

44 

1-18 

J0-1.. (11)  

ft-  6 

+ 

10-  5 

TALKS 

JO-2.. (10)  

.11-  i 

4- 

12-  7 

J0-3.. (10)  

1-  3 

4- 

12-21 

.11-23 

12-14 

GRANTLAND  RICE  SPORT- 

LIGHTS 

. 9-  7 

44 

9-  7 

R0-  6.  o Aerobatic  Aces  (10) 

. 2-  7 

1-18 

R0-  1.. Diving  Demons  (10) 

. 9-  6 

44 

10-  5 

. 9-28 

9-28 

R0-  5.. Feminine  Fitness  ( 10)  ... 

. 1-10 

+ 

12-21 

12-  7 
11-23 


8-17 
10-  5 

12-  7 


-H-  12-21 


RO-  4.  .Marine  Roundup  (10) 12-  6 4- 

R0-  3.  .Motorcycle  Stunting  (10). 11-  8 -(- 

R9-13.  .Sink  or  Swim  (10) 7-12  

R0-  2.  .Sporting  Everglades,  The 

(10)  10-4  ff  11-9 

STONE  AGE  CARTOONS 
B9-  9.  .Fulla  Bluff  Man,  The  (7).  8-  9 ± 8 24 

B9-11.  .Pedagogical  Institution  (7)  9-13  .... 

B9-10.  .Springtime  in  the  Rock- 

age  (7)  8-30  .... 

B9-  8.  .Way  Back  When  a Itazz- 

berr.v  Was  a Fruit  (7) . . 7-26  4-  8-17 

B9-12..Way  Back  When  Women 

Had  Their  Weigh  (7)  . . . 9-27  

UNUSUAL  OCCUPATIONS 
(In  Color) 

1.9-6.  .No.  6 (11) 8-2  ff 

■ No.  1 (11) 9-7  4- 

No.  2 (11) 11-29  + 

Republic 

MEET  THE  STARS 

■ No.  1 (10) 12-24  -|-  12-28 

RKO  Radio 

DISNEY  CARTOONS 
(In  Technicolor) 

.Big  Hearted  Pluto  (..)...  1-24  .... 

Donald’s  Vacation  (8)...  8-9  -|4 

• Fire  Chief  (..) 11-22  44 

.Goofy’s  Glider  (8) 11-  1 -f- 

,Mr.  Mouse  Takes  a Trip 

(8)  . . .10-11  + 11-23 

Pantry  Pirate  (8) 12-27  .... 

Pluto’s  Dream  House  (8).  8-30  9-21 

04.106.  Put-Put  Trouble  (7) 7-19  

04,116.  .Timber  (8)  1-10 

04,111.  .Window  Cleaners  (8) 9-20 

EDGAR  KENNEDY  COMEDIES 

13.403 ..  Drafted  in  the  Depot  (19). 12-20 

13.401.  .Sunk  by  the  Census  (18).  9-  6 

13.402.  Trailer  Tragedy  (17) 10-18 

LEON  ERROL  COMEDIES 
03.704.  Bested  by  a Beard  (20)  ...  7-26 
13,703.  .Fired  Man,  The  (20) 1-10 

1.3.701..  He  Asked  for  It  (18).  9-27 

1.3.404..  Mad  About  Moonshine  (19)  2-21  .... 

13,702.  .Tattle  Talevision  (19) 11-29  

MARCH  OF  TIME 

03.112..  No.  12  (17) 8-  2 4-  8-10 

Spoils  of  Conquest. 

0.3.11.3  ..  ONo.  13  (20) 8-24  44  8-31 

Gateways  to  Panama. 

1.3.101..  No.  1 (19) 9-13  44  9-21 

On  Foreign  Newfronts. 

13.102. . No.  2 (18) 10-4  -f-  10-19 

Britain's  R.  A.  F. 

13. 103..  No.  3 (19) 10-25  ± 10-26 


8-10 

12-14 

12-14 


41-  10-26 


9-21 
11-  9 


9-21 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  1,  1941 


135 


SHORTS  CHART 


ft  

: WHAT'S  IN  THE  NEWSREELS 


^ - ■ 

TUESDAY,  JANUARY  21 

Movietone  News,  No.  39 

Inauguration;  Manchester  bombed;  Greeks  with 
Italian  captives;  Queen  christens  new  warship; 
marines  parade  in  San  Diego;  Ford  trains  sailors; 
troops  sail  for  Newfoundland  base;  music  on  ice; 
skiing. 

News  of  the  Day,  No.  237 
Inauguration;  launch  English  battleship;  refugee 
children  talk  to  parents  in  England;  wrestling 
burlesqued  in  Boston. 

Paramount  News,  No.  42 
Entire  reel  devoted  to  Roosevelt  and  Wallace 
inauguration. 

RKO  Pathe  News,  No.  42 
Inauguration;  press  building  hit  in  London;  14- 
pound  baby  born  in  California;  diving  bell  for 
tourists  in  Florida;  launch  new  British  battleship. 

Universal  Newsreel,  No.  947 
Inauguration;  Kennedy  speech;  Willkie  prepares 
for  Clipper  flight;  Mexican  army  officers  review 
marines  at  San  Diego  base;  skiing. 

THURSDAY,  JANUARY  23 

Movietone  News,  No.  40 
Willkie  flies  to  England;  Kennedy  on  lend-lease 
bill;  Duchess  of  Gloucester  in  auxiliary  air  force; 
General  Metaxas  in  victory  celebration;  army 
changes  aircraft  motors  in  record  time;  parachute 
troops;  fashions;  Sonja  Henie  in  ice  show;  swim- 
ming meet  in  Mexico. 


— v 

News  of  the  Day,  No.  238 

Canadian  troops  on  alert  in  Iceland;  U.  S.  debates 
lend-lease  bill;  Willkie  flies  to  England;  parachute 
troops;  Winthrop  Rockefeller  in  army;  Sonja  Henie 
in  ice  show;  racing  in  Mexico. 

Paramount  News,  No.  43 
Navy  torpedo  boats  off  to  Florida;  Rockefeller 
in  army;  Willkie  flies  to  England;  Kennedy  speech; 
Henry  Ford  gives  school  for  naval  training; 
British  troops  in  Iceland;  British  poised  for  blitz 
in  Egypt;  Turkish  army  maneuvers  for  British 
officials;  British  women  in  training;  wrestling; 
Bob  Feller  signs  new  contract;  Sonja  Henie  in 
ice  show. 

RKO  Pathe  News,  No.  43 

Willkie  off  to  Britain;  British  army  in  Iceland; 
bumper  sugar  crop  in  Florida;  Sonja  Henie  in  ice 
show;  Red  Cross  prepares  supplies  for  Europe; 
flower  queens  crowned  in  Florida;  Ford  presents 
school  to  U.  S.  navy;  wrestling  in  Florida;  motor- 
cycle troops  in  maneuvers. 

Universal  Newsreel,  No.  948 
Canadian  troops  in  Iceland;  parachute  troops; 
mass  production  of  bombers  under  way  on  coast; 
motorcycle  troops  in  action;  Willkie  flies  to  Eng- 
land; build  clippers  for  Britain  in  Seattle; 
Winthrop  Rockefeller  in  army;  Texas  Governor 
O’Daniels  gives  inauguration  barbecue;  children’s 
fashions;  jaloppy  derby;  wrestling. 


Prod.  Rel.  Rat-  Prod.  Rel.  Rat- 

No.  Title  Date  ing  Rev’d  No.  Title  Date  ing  Rev’d 


Mexico,  Good  Neighbor’s 

(7)  

.10-  4 

o 

10-19 

Dilemma. 

1554.  .landing  of  the  Pilgrims 

13,104..  No.  4 (19) 

.11-22 

+ 

12-  7 

(7)  

.11-  1 

+ 

12-  7 

Arms  and  the  men. 

0517.  .Love  in  a Cottage  (7)... 

7-28 

13,105  . No.  5 (19) 

.12-20 

+ 

12-28 

1552.  .Lucky  Duck,  The  (7).... 

9-  6 

Labor  and  Defense. 

1504.. Magic  Pencil,  The  (7).... 

.11-15 

-1- 

12  7 

13,106.  No.  6 (21)  . 

ff 

1-25 

1555.  .©Plane  Goofy  (7) 

11-29 

12-  7 

Uncle  Sam — Non-Belligerent. 

0516.. Rupert  the  Runt  (7).... 

7-12 

PATHE  INFORMATION 

PLEASE 

1505.. Snow  Sian,  The  (7) 

12-13 

04,212..  QNo.  12  (12) 

. 7-12 

ff 

7-13 

1556.  .©Temperamental  Lion,  The 

04.213.. No.  13  (11) 

J- 

8-10 

(7)  

12-27 

14.201.. No.  1 (11) 

9-21 

1502.  .Touchdown  Demons  (7).. 

9-20 

10-19 

14,202..  No.  2 (10) 

.10-  4 

+ 

10-26 

14, 203.. No.  3 (10) 

14,204  . No.  4 (11) 

+ 

11-23 

Universal 

14, 205.. No.  5 (11) 

.12-27 

l.ANTZ  CARTUNE8 

PATHE  NEWS 

(Technicolor) 

(Released  Twice  Weekly) 

5241 . .Crazyhouse  OVz)  

9-23 

PATHE  SPORTSCOPE 

5243 ..  Knock-Knock  (7)  

11-25 



12-  7 

14,302.  .Kentucky  Royalty  (9).. 

. 9-27 

+ 

10-26 

5245.. Mouse  Trappers  (6%).... 

1-27 

14.301 . ((nail  Quest  (9) 

+ 

9-21 

5242.  . O Recruiting:  Daze  (6)  . . . 

10-28 

4+ 

11-  9 

14,305.  .Snow  Eagles  (9) 

.12-20 

5244 . .Syncopated  Sioux  (Ga/t)  . . 

12-31 

14, 304.. Snow  Fun  (9) 

ff 

12-14 

GOING  PLACES  WITH 

14,303.  .Sportsman’s  Partner  (9) 

. 10-25 

+ 

11-23 

GRAHASI  McNAMEE 

04,313.  Trouble  Shooter  (9) 

. 8-  2 

+ 

9-21 

4365.  .No.  80  (9V2) 

8-12 

PICTURE  PEOPLE 

5351..  No.  81  (9) 

9-23 

— 

9-21 

14, 401.  No.  1 (10) 

9-21 

5352..  No.  82  (9) 

10-14 

14,402.. No.  2 (9) 

.10-11 

10-26 

5353.. No.  83  (9) 

11-11 

14,403.. No.  3 (10) 

.11-  8 

4- 

11-23 

5354.. No.  84  (9) 

12-23 

14,404  . No.  4 (10) 

12-  6 

+ 

12-14 

5.355.. No.  85  (9) 

1-20 

14,405.. No.  5 (10) 

5356.  . No.  86  (9) 

2-17 

RAY  WHITLEY  WESTERNS 

5357.. No.  87  (..) 

3-17 

(New  Series) 

5358 . . No.  88  ( . . ) 

3-31 

13,501.  .Bar  Buckaroos  (16) .... 

.11-  8 

O 

11-23 

SPECIAL  TWO  REELERS 

13,502.  .Prairie  Schooners  (i3) . . 

. 1-31 

5110  Swine  With  Bing:  (19).... 

9-  4 

8-  8 

REELISMS 
(New  Series) 


04.613..  Hats  (9)  8-16 

04,611 . .Streamlined  (9)  8-10 

04.612..  Week  End  19) 1-19 


20th  Century-Fox 


8-10 


ADVENTURES  OF  A NEWS  CAMERAMAN 
1201.  .y  Midget  Motor  Mania 


(10)  

.11-  8 

ff 

10-19 

BELIEVE  IT  OR  NOT— 

■RIPLEY 

1601 . .Acquitted  by  the  Sea  (10) 

9-27 

ff 

10-19 

ED  THORGERSEN— SPORTS 

0306..  Action  on  Ice  (9) 

. 7-19 

1303.  .Bowling  for  Strikes  (10). 

. 12-20 

+ 

10-19 

1302.. Lure  of  the  Trout  (9).... 

.10-11 

+ 

12-  7 

1301 . .^Vacation  Time  in  Florida 

(8)  

. 8-10 

-± 

X-17 

FATHER  HUBBARD’S  ALASKAN 

ADVENTURES 

1101.  Eskimo  Trails  (10) 

. 8-  2 

4- 

8-1 7 

1103.. Isle  of  Mystery  (10) 

10-25 

FOX  MOVIETONE  NEWS 
Released  Twice  Weekly 
LEW  LEHR  AND  HIS  DRIBBLE  PUSS 


PARADE 

1401 . .Grunters  and  Groaners  (8).  8-30  -I-  8-17 

1402..  Tale  of  Butch  the  Parrot, 

The  ( . . ) 2-28  .... 

LOWELL  THOMAS  MAGIC  CARPET 
1102 . .©Florida,  Land  of  Flowers 

(9)  9-13  ± 8-17 

1104..  01.  Dominion  State  (10). 11-22  + 12-7 

TERRY-TOONS 

1551..  ©Billy  Mouse’s  Akwakade 

(7)  8-8  — 8-17 

1501..  Club  Life  in  the  Stone 

Age  (7)  8-23  

1503 . . Happy  Haunting  Grounds 

(7)  10-18 

1553..  How  Wet  Was  My  Ocean 


STRANGER  THAN  FICTION 


4385. 

No. 

80 

(9) 

5 

5371  . 

.No. 

81 

(9) 

16 

5372 . 

No. 

82 

(9) 

7 

5373. 

■ No. 

83 

(8) 

11- 

4 

5374 . 

■ No. 

84 

(9) 

2 

5375. 

• No. 

85 

(9) 

6 

5376. 

. No. 

86 

(9) ....... . 

3 

5377  . 

No. 

87 

(•  ■) 

3- 

10 

5378 . 

. No. 

88 

(■•) 

3- 

24 

TWO  REEL  MUSICALS 

Bagdad  Daddies  (..) 2-19 

Gertrude  Neisen,  Ainbassadorettes, 
Fuzzy  Knight,  Johnson  Bros. 

5225.  Beat  Me,  Daddy,  Eight  to 

the  Bar  (17) 1-22 

The  Fashionaires  and  Cath- 
lyn  Miller. 

5221..  Class  in  Swing  (17) 9-11 

5223.  .Congamanla  (17)  10-16  ± 

Jose  Cansino  Dancers, 

Eddie  Durant  & Oreh. 

1231  Hawaiian  Rhythm  (17) 7-17  + 

Harry  Owens  and  His 
Royal  Hawaiians. 

4233..  1 . Dream  of  Jeanie  With  the 

Light  Brown  Hair  (17)  . 8-28  q: 
4110  March  of  Freedom  (21)...  9-  6 

5224.  .Tickled  Pinky  (18)  12-25 

Pinky  Tomlin,  Martha  Til- 
ton and  the  Pickard  Family. 

5223..  Torrid  Tempos  (18) 11-27  qp 

4232.  .Varsity  Vanities  ( 17 Vi)  - - - 8-  7 -j- 

Slx  Hits  and  a Miss, 

Martha  Tilton. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWS 
Released  Twice  Weekly 


7-27 

9-21 


12-7 

7-27 

9-21 


12-  7 
8-  3 


Vitaphone 

BROADWAY  BREVITIES 
6202.. Alice  in  Movieland  (20)...  11-16  ± 12-  7 


Prod.  Rel.  Rat- 

No. Title Date  Ing  Rev’d 


6204..  Dog  in  the  Orchard  (20).  1-25  -f  1-18 
6202  Ed  Snllivan’s  Hollywood 

(20)  11-16  

6201..  Just  a Cute  Kid  (20) 10-  5 

6203..  Love’s  Intrigue  (20) 12-28  .... 

4008.  .Ride,  Cowboy,  Ride  (20)..  9-9  .... 

6205.  .Take  the  Air  (20) 2-22  .... 

5110..  Young  America  Flies  (20).  8-3  .... 

THE  COLOR  PARADE 
(New  Series) 

5410 .. Famous  Movie  Dogs  (10)..  7-27  -f  8-17 

5410..  Movie  Dog  Stars  (10)....  8-17  

5409.  .Valley,  The  (8)  7-20  -f  7-6 

ELSA  MAXWELL’S  BLUE  RIBBON 
COMEDIES 

6102  . Lady  and  the  Lug  (20)...  3-22  .... 

6101..  Riding  Into  Society  (19)..  9-  7 ± 8-31 

HOLLYWOOD  NOVELTY 

6305..  Boar  Hunt,  The  (10) 1-15  

6301 ..  Football  Thrills  (10) 9-28  + 8-31 

6304.  .History  Repeats  Itself  (10)  1-18  .... 

6303 ..  Mexican  Jumping  Beans 

(10)  12-  7 + 12-7 

6302..  5.ark  Hunting  (10) 11-9  

LOONEY  TUNES  CARTOONS 

6601.  .Calling  Dr.  Porky  (7) 9-21  

6607 ..  Haunted  Mouse,  The  (7)..  2-15  .... 

6608..  Joe  Glow,  the  Firefly  (7)..  3-8  .... 

5616.  Patient  Porky  (7) 8-24  ff  8-24 

6609.  Porky’s  Bear  Facts  (7)...  3-29 

6604.  Porky’s  Hired  Hand  (7).. 11-30  o 12-28 

6606.  .Porky’s  Snooze  Reel  (7)...  1-11  .... 

6602.  .Prehistoric  Porky  (7) 10-12  -f  10-26 

6603..  50.r  Puss  (7) 11-  2 .... 

6605.  .Timid  Toreador  (7) 12-21  .... 

MELODY  MASTERS 
6506.  .Cliff  Edwards  and  His  Buck- 

aroos  (10)  3-8  .... 

6503.  .Jan  Garber  & Oreh.  (10)..  2-1  .... 

6502 . .Joe  Relchman  & Oreh. 

(10)  10-26  

6501 . .Matty  Malneck  & Band 

(10)  9-14  ff  8-24 

6504 . . Skinnay  Ennis  & Orcli  (10)  1-4  -f  12-28 

5510..  Woody  Herman  & Oreh. 

(10)  7-27  


MERRIE  MELODIES 


(In  Technicolor) 

6706.  Bedtime  for  Sniffles  (7)  . 11-23  

6713..  Cat’s  Tale,  The  (7) 3-1  

5326.  .Ceiling  Hero  (7) 7-6  .... 

6712.  .Crackpot  Quail,  The  (7)...  2-15  .... 

6709.  Elmer’s  Pet  Rabbit  (7) 1-4  o 12-28 

532.3..  Egg  Collector  (7) 7-20 

6710.  Fighting  69thV2,  The  (7)..  1-18  ff  1-18 

5325  . Ghost  Wanted  (7)  8-10  

6715.  .Goofy  Groceries  (7) 3-29  .... 

6104  Good  Night  Elmer  (7) 10-26  ... 

6703 ..  Holiday  Highlight  (7) 10-12  q 11  9 

6701..  Malibu  Beach  Party  (7)..  9-14  ± 9-7 

6707..  0.  Fox  and  Hounds  (7)  . 12-  7 

6708..  5.op,  Look  and  Listen 

(7)  12-21  ± 12-28 

6711.  .Sniffles  Bells  the  Cat  (7) . . 2-  1 

6702 . . Stagefright  (7)  9-28  -f  11-9 

6714.  Tortoise  Beats  the  Hare 

(7)  3-15  

6705..  Wacky  Wild  Life  (7) 11-  9 + 12-14 

5324  . Wild  Hare,  A (7) 7-27  

SPORTS  PARADE 
(Color) 

6404 . . California  Thoroughbreds 

(10)  1-11  ± 12-28 

6403.  .Diary  of  a Racing  Pigeon 

(10)  11-30  + 12-  7 

6402..  Dogs  You  Seldom  See  (10). 11-  2 -f  8-31 

6405..  Fight,  Fish,  Fight  (10)...  3-1  .... 

6401..  Fly  Fishing  (10) 9-21  q:  10-26 

TECHNICOLOR 

6001..  Flag  of  Humanity  (20)...  10-19  -I-  10-26 

6002..  March  on  Marines  (20)...  12-14  44  12-28 

6003  . Meet  the  Fleet  (20) 2-  8 -f  1-18 

5007..  Pony  Express  Days  (20)..  7-13  -f  7-6 
5008.  .Service  With  the  Colors 

(20)  8-31 

VITAPHONE  VARIETIES 

5706..  All  Girl  Revue  (10) 6-22  


Serials 

COLUMBIA 

1180  ..Deadwood  Dick  7-19  q:  7-27 

15  Chapters.  Don  Doug- 
las, Lorna  Gray. 

1120  ..Green  Archer,  The 10-25  q:  11-  9 

15  Chapters.  Victor  Jory, 

2120  . .White  Eagle  1-31  

15  Chapters.  Buck  Jones. 

REPUBLIC 

081  ..King  of  the  Royal 

Mounted  9-20  ff  8-24 

12  Chapters.  Allan  Lane. 

082  . . Mysterious  Doctor  Satan  12-13  -f  11-23 

15  Chapters.  Robert  Wilcox. 
UNIVERSAL 

5781  . .Green  Hornet  Strikes 

Again  12-24  -f  11-  9 

15  Chapters.  Warren  Hull. 

5681  . .Junior  G-Men  9-1  -f  8-3 

12  Chapters.  Dead  End 
Kids,  Little  Tough  Guys. 

5881  ..Sky  Raiders  4-8  

12  Chapters. 


136 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


The  Industry's  Market  Place  fur  Purchase 
or  Sale  of  Equipment,  Theatres,  Service 


CLEHRII1G  HOUSE 


Classified  Ads  10c  Per  Word,  Payable  in  Advance. 


Minimum  $1.00.  Display  Hates  on  Request. 


GENERAL  EQUIPMENT 

GRAB  THIS  ONE.  Pair  Motiograph 
De  Luxe  Projectors,  Peerless  Lamps,  Lar- 
gen  Sound,  double  channel  amplifier, 
lenses,  new  Da-Lite  screen.  Cash  price, 
no  trade,  $650.00.  WESTERN  THEATRE 
SUPPLY,  Omaha,  Neb. 

TREMENDOUS  SAVINGS.  Rear  shut- 
ters, heavy  duty  Powers  gates,  replace- 
ment parts,  lamphouses,  and  thousands  of 
other  items.  Write  us.  STAR  CINEMA 
SUPPLY  CO.,  440  W.  45th  St.,  New  York 
City. 


NEW  EQUIPMENT 

750  WATT  16mm  PROJECTORS,  $49.50; 
Electresteem  boxoffice  radiators,  $29.50; 
public  address  systems,  complete,  $39.50; 
private  telephones,  pair,  $4.95;  Jensen 
tweeters,  $14.95.  Theatres  completely 
equipped  cheap.  S.O.S.,  636  Eleventh  Ave., 
New  York. 


FEBRUARY  SPECIAL.  $797.50  buys  2 
all-new  complete  projectors,  rear  shutters, 
double-bearing  intermittents,  deluxe  bases, 
2,000-foot  magazines,  when  bought  with 
any  model  DUO  SOUNDMASTER  complete 
sound  system.  It’s  top  quality  at  lowest 
price  in  history.  THE  BALLANTYNE  CO., 
222  No.  16th  St.,  Omaha,  Neb. 


USED  EQUIPMENT 

PAIR  MOTIOGRAPH  DE  LUXE  mech- 
anisms, new  rear  shutters,  perfect  shape, 
$300.00  pair.  Six  Powers  mechanisms,  per- 
fect shape,  $50.00  each  in  pairs  or  $45.00 
each  if  you  take  six.  GRAHAM  BROS., 
546  Lincoln  St.,  Denver,  Colo. 

POWERS  PROJECTORS,  $39.50;  Sim- 
plex intermittents,  $6.95;  optical  systems, 
$4.95;  lenses,  $2.95;  soundheads,  ampli- 
fiers, $9.95;  arcs,  rectifiers,  $24.50;  sound 
projectors,  $59.50.  S.O.S.  CINEMA  SUP- 
PLY CORP.,  NEW  YORK. 


CLOSE  OUTS.  Generators,  Lamps,  Pow- 
ers, Motiographs,  Simplex,  Lenses,  Sound 
Equipment.  SACRIFICE  PRICES.  Steb- 
bins,  1804  Wyandotte,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

FOR  SALE:  Complete  Theatre  Equip- 
ment, including  projection,  RCA  sound, 
upholstered  seats,  cooling;  in  fact,  every- 
thing complete.  Sullivan  and  Moore  The- 
atres, Inc.,  Greenville,  Texas. 


EQUIPMENT  WANTED 

USED  VENEER  CHAIRS.  Good  condi- 
tion. M.  VandenBerg,  Grand  Haven,  Mich. 

WANTED — About  200  good  used  uphol- 
stered chairs.  RCA  or  Simplex  semi-port- 
able sound  projector  and  three  collapsible 
stands.  O.  C.  Johnson,  Rivoli,  Falls  City, 
Neb. 


THEATRES  FOR  SALE 

FOR  SALE — Modern  small  town  theatre. 
Population,  1,000.  Good  equipment.  Rea- 
sonable price.  Ritz,  Lone  Wolf,  Okla. 


AIR  CONDITIONING 

BUY  DIRECT  from  factory.  Save  mid- 
dleman’s profit.  Blowers,  Airwashers,  Vari- 
able Speed  Pulleys,  Air  Deflectors.  CONDI- 
TIONAIRE,  145  Walton  St.,  Atlanta,  Ga. 


FILMS  FOR  SALE 

BUSSA  FILM  EXCHANGE  now  offer- 
ing outstanding  roadshow  attractions  for 
outright  sale.  35mm  sound.  Any  type  of 
picture  you  wish.  Low  prices.  On  sex, 
gangster,  action  pictures,  serials,  westerns. 
Uncle  Tom’s  Cabin  in  sound,  $350.00. 
Friendship,  Ohio. 

BUSINESS  OPPORTUNITIES 

DOUBLE  PARKING  DRIVE-IN  THEA- 
TRES. 30%  more  efficient.  Build  under 
improved  patent.  Exclusive  territorial  fran- 
chises for  sale.  Cash  and  royalty  basis. 
Louis  Josserand,  Republic  Bldg.,  Houston, 
Texas. 

OPERATE  MOVIE  CIRCUIT  in  your 
neighboring  towns.  Will  rent  16  millimeter 
Victor  machine  and  film  program.  Only 
$17.50  a week.  Mertz,  Virginia,  Illinois. 

SEAT  RECOVERING 

ARTIFICIAL  LEATHER  MOLESKIN— 
81c  per  yd.;  Sateen,  60c  yd.  Six  seats 
from  two  yards.  Samples  on  request. 
Commercialeather,  116  Merrimac  St.,  Bos- 
ton. 

SPECIAL  OFFER.  Artificial  Leather. 
Moleskin — 75  cents  yard;  Sateen — 55  cents 
yard.  Samples  on  request.  Manko-Fabrics 
Co.,  53  West  47th  St.,  New  York  City. 

THEATRES  WANTED 

WANTED:  THEATRES  to  lease  out- 
right or  arrange  operating  agreement. 
Western  Pennsylvania  and  Eastern  Ohio. 
B-1322,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas 
City,  Mo. 

THEATRE  WANTED:  Will  lease  thea- 
tre option  to  buy  in  Texas,  Oklahoma  or 
Arkansas.  Hugo  Plath,  6002  Charlotte, 
Houston,  Tex. 

PAY  GOOD  PRICE  for  small  town  the- 
atre. Buy  anywhere.  Delma  Crow,  Box  66, 
Imperial,  Nebraska. 

WILL  BUY  THEATRE  in  town  of  popu- 
lation not  less  than  2,000.  No  competition. 
Must  stand  thorough  investigation.  Give 
full  details.  B-1332,  Boxoffice,  4804  E. 
9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

WILL  LEASE  OR  BUY  good  small  thea- 
tre in  South.  Give  details  for  quick  ac- 
tion. B-1333,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St., 
Kansas  City,  Mo. 

WANTED  TO  LEASE:  Approximately 
400  seat  theatre  in  Indiana,  Illinois,  Ohio, 
Wisconsin  or  Michigan,  with  complete  op- 
erating equipment.  Terms.  B-1334,  Box- 
office,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

WILL  BUY  theatre  in  Arkansas,  large  or 
small  town.  H.  J.  Blocker,  Vandervoort, 
Ark. 


HELP  WANTED 


OPERATORS  AND  MANAGERS.  Movie 
circuits.  ROSHON,  State  Theatre  Bldg., 
Pittsburgh,  Pa. 


THEATRE  MANAGER  WANTED— Have 
splendid  opening  for  young  wide  awake 
live  wire  theatre  manager  not  afraid  of 
work  and  capable  of  delivering.  State  all 
in  first  letter.  If  can  do  art  work,  book- 
keeping or  lobby  work.  Advise  salary,  etc. 
B-1321,  Boxoffice,  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kansas 
City,  Mo. 


SALESMEN  WANTED 

WE  WANT  EXPERIENCED  SALES- 
MEN! Splendid  opportunity  to  make  good 
income  handling  Alexander  streamlined 
Coming  Attraction  PREVIEW  TRAILERS. 
Company  now  serving  thousands  of  inde- 
pendent and  chain  theatres.  Aggressive 
salesmen  will  be  given  good  territories. 
Write  to  R.  E.  Fulham,  Sales  Manager, 
Alexander  Preview  Company,  Colorado 
Springs,  Colorado. 


THEATRE  TICKETS 

UNEXCELLED  QUALITY— 50  rolls  stock 
tickets,  $12.50;  20  rolls,  $5.80.  Special 

printed  roll  or  machine  tickets,  100,000, 
$14.90;  50,000,  $9.40;  20,000,  $6.10.  Ship- 
ping charges  paid  to  1,000  miles.  Cash 
with  order.  Kansas  City  Ticket  Co.,  Dept. 
B,  1717  Wyandotte  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


PRINTING 


BUMPER  STRIPS.  Processed  two  colors, 
ALL  RELEASES  and  Special  Programs. 
6 x 50  inches,  complete  with  metal  fasten- 
ers, 50— $3.00,  100— $5.00.  50%  on  C.O.D. 

Progress  Show  Print,  Bedford,  Indiana. 


THEATRE  GAMES 


IN  PHILADELPHIA,  exhibitors  and  pa- 
trons are  going  wild  over  ZING-O,  the 
thrilling  new  fascinating  Cash  Movie  game, 
with  all  the  features  of  Bingo  and  accumu- 
lating Jack-Pot.  Theatres  are  packing 
them  in  and  are  signing  up  unsolicited  on 
the  basis  of  its  performance  only.  This 
game  is  particularly  suited  for  territories 
where  other  games  have  been  banned  by 
law,  as  we  will  guarantee  its  legality  and 
arrange  for  judicial  ruling.  Representa- 
tives wanted  who  are  financially  respons- 
ible and  can  present  proper  credentials 
which  will  be  investigated  thoroughly.  We 
will  arrange  for  trade  showing  in  each  ter- 
ritory which  will  put  you  right  in  business. 
Write  giving  full  and  complete  details. 
ZINGO  SALES  COMPANY,  1242  Vine  St„ 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 


BINGO  CARDS 

$2.00  per  thousand.  Lots  of  ten  thou- 
sand or  over — 25%  discount.  Cash  with 
order.  Die  cut  numbered  1 to  100  or  1 to 
75.  S.  Klous,  c/o  Boxoffice,  9 Rockefeller 
Plaza,  New  York  City. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  1,  1941 


• Address  copy  to  BOXOFFICE,  4804  E.  Ninth  St.,  Ivnnsas  City,  .Mo. 
Forms  close  Monday  noon  preceding  publication  date. 


BdxomQZ 


NOW  IS  YOUR 
CUSTOMER 
APPROACH? 


Remember  . . . advertising  . . . showmanship  . . . exploitation 
. . . was . . . is . . . always  will  be  the  lifeblood  of  this  business. 


n ATI  on  HI.  .9c**01  SERVICE  * ADVERTISIOG  ACCESSORIES. me. 

nflTIOnflL*^  ACCESSORIES 


P““SS  R,KS“S  NATIONAL  EDITION 


at 


ML  M 


Pag© 


(See 


SEW 


SE«S 


BELOW:  “GWTW”  returns  to  the  Capitol, 
N.  Y.  and  tops  road-show  records!  Held  over! 


m. 


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// 


- • 


Exhibitor.  The  Miracle  of  Show  Business  is  ex- 
en  the  wildest  dreams  in  its  return  at  reduced 
>wds!  New  records!  Holdovers  everywhere!  Put 
ith  The  Wind”  on  your  marquee.  It’s  magic!) 


in.-  * • - 

fat  in  Prices  Brings  Gain 

“Gone  W® 

tered  10,432  n«repn  la,t  Thurs- 
on  the  first  t w yitg  return  en- 
day  and  Capitoi  than  in 

gagement  at  iod  when  it 

the  comparahl  P theatre  in  De- 

f irat  opened  at 

cember,  1939‘  ipt8  were 

Matinee  receiy  i tSi  not 

above  the  ori^fcUrrent  admis- 
withstanding  50  per  cent  re 

and  in«e««  o«ts  ^ e 

15  per  ^nt  Cleveland,  ob  ’ 

reported  ih  Y_  . Bridgep°rt’ 

Worcester,  *’  representative 


I 


PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

ASSOCIATED 

PUBLICATIONS 

BEN  SHLYEN 

Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor -in-Chief 

William  G.  Formby, 
Editor ; Jesse  Shlyen, 
Managing  Editor; 
Louis  Rydell,  Adver- 
tising Manager;  Mor- 
ris SCHLOZMAN,  Busi- 
n e s s Manager;  J. 
Harry  Toler,  Editor 
Modern  Theatre  Sec- 
tion; A.  J.  Stocker, 
Eastern  Represent- 
ative; Ivan  Spear, 
Western  Manager. 

Editorial  Offices:  9 

ROCKEFELLER  PLAZA,  NEW 

york  city;  Publication 
Offices:  4804  east  9th 

<5  ST.,  KANSAS  CITY,  MO.,' 

[W  Hollywood:  6404  hol- 
■ LYWOOD  blvd.;  Chi- 
I cago:  332  south  mich- 

|j  IGAN  BLVD. 

FEBRUARY  8,  1941 

Vol.  38  No.  12 


Shake  Hands, 

THIS  page  is  being  written  and  in  great  and 
undisguised  glee.  Here  is  why: 

Aside  from  a timid  glimmer  here  and  there, 
and  hardly  discernible,  your  occasionally  bull- 
headed reporter  has  been  maintaining  a sort 
of  lone  hand  campaign  on  behalf  of  the  con- 
sent decree  in  direct  opposition  to  the  ex- 
pressed and  fiery  condemnation  of  practically 
all  of  the  exhibitors  in  all  of  America.  That's 
an  order  in  wholesale  and  nothing  to  be  par- 
ticularly comfortable  about.  It's  a time,  too, 
when  a feller  needs  a friend,  if  he  can  find 
one. 

The  news  today  is  that  friend  has  been  found. 

An  old  friend,  too.  John  Lastrun  is  the  name. 

He  is  the  exhibitor  who  runs  a single,  last-run 
theatre  in  a metropolitan  city.  Possibly  he  may 
be  remembered  as  the  theatreman  who  was 
highly  skeptical  about  the  government  suit  and 
even  more  dubious  about  theatre  divorcement. 

For  several  years,  aside  from  whatever  com- 
fort this  column  might  have  been  able  to  mus- 
ter, he  has  been  asking  periodic  questions 
about  problems  which  face  him,  hoping 
against  vain  hope  that  someone  in  this  broad 
land  could  answer  him,  and  would. 

He  is  back  once  more.  "Well,  here  I am 
again — the  littie  guy  still  with  the  last  run  in 
the  metropolitan  neighborhood.  I've  written 
to  you  from  time  to  time  concerning  some  of 
my  problems  and  you  have  been  good 
enough  to  print  my  letters,  but  to  date  no  one 
has  ever  bothered  to  help  solve  my  partic- 
ular squawks,"  Lastrun  writes.  "However,  I 
find  that  problems  have  a way  of  being 
solved  in  the  course  of  time  to  make  room 
for  new  headaches  that  seem  to  spring  up. 

Why  He  Gloats 

"THIS  time  I am  not  writing  about  a prob- 
I lem.  On  the  contrary,  I think  I am  gloat- 
ing. I am  one  of  the  few  exhibitors  who  is 
not  alarmed  by  the  consent  decree.  Without 
knowing  why,  my  first  reaction  to  the  decree 
was  that  it  was  bound  to  do  me  more  good 
than  harm.  As  the  full  import  of  the  block 
of  five  selling  dawned  on  me,  I realized  just 
where  I was  going  to  be  better  off  and  I am 
sure  that  you'll  appreciate  my  optimism. 

"In  my  situation,  I need  four  or  five  pictures 
a week  which  means  that  about  225  pictures 
a year  cover  my  requirements.  In  the  past 
I could  buy  only  the  product  of  four  major 
companies  and  sometimes  five  to  cover  my 
needs.  The  pictures  of  the  other  companies 
were  not  available  to  me  as  I was  not  able 
to  contract  for  the  entire  blocks  of  their  pro- 
ductions. 


Mr.  Lastrun 

"Now,  for  the  first  time  I'll  have  a chance  to 
negotiate  for  all  the  product  that  is  made. 
Of  course,  I won't  be  able  to  buy  it  all,  but 
I'll  certainly  have  a crack  at  the  blocks  of 
five  I like.  I won't  be  compelled  to  indulge 
in  the  seasonal  guessing  games  I had  to  in 
the  past.  Heretofore,  I had  to  determine  in 
advance  which  companies  I was  going  to 
pass  up.  Sometimes  I guessed  reasonably 
well  and  at  other  times  I pulled  some  costly 
boners.  I have  bought  what  looked  swell  on 
paper  and  passed  up  what  didn't  look  so  hot. 
I've  lost  a lot  of  sleep  bemoaning  my  lack 
of  judgment. 

"I  sincerely  believe  that  a lot  of  that  grief 
is  over.  The  amount  of  guesswork  will  be 
reduced  to  a minimum.  I know  that  I'll  still 
makes  mistakes  and  plenty  of  them.  However, 
now,  I'll  make  them  with  my  eyes  more  or 
less  open.  And  what  is  equally  important, 
the  best  pictures  will  be  available  to  me  and 
I won't  be  compelled  to  pass  up  a company's 
product  because  I've  already  bought  up  to 
my  capacity. 

"I  hope  I'm  not  being  too  optimistic." 

We  regard  this  the  viewpoint  of  an  ex- 
tremely practical  man  and  a far  more  con- 
structive and  helpful  leap  at  the  decree  than 
most  of  the  comment  so  indiscriminately  let 
fly  around  the  country.  Lastrun  demonstrates 
an  ability  to  face  the  facts  and,  maybe,  the 
music  as  well.  He  may  not  be  too  certain  of 
his  own  diagnosis  of  things  to  come  but,  then, 
neither  is  anyone  else  and  this  does  not  ex- 
empt the  men  who  drew  up  the  decree. 

On  the  Fundamental 

THUS  and  while  Lastrun  indeed  may  be  too 
optimistic,  perhaps  he  will  not  be.  What  he 
has  done,  nevertheless,  is  to  put  his  finger 
on  a fundamental  which  the  decree  estab- 
lishes. We  hold  it  to  be  most  important  th<r 
blind  selling  is  kicked  out  even  if  block  book- 
ing, unwound  as  it  will  be,  is  not.  The  ex- 
hibitor may  not  elect  to  look  at  the  product. 
That  will  become  his  business,  but  it  is  signif- 
icant it  will  be  there  waiting  for  him  if  he 
so  chooses  it. 

He  will  not  have  to  buy  more  than  five  at 
a clip,  thereby  exercising  the  proper  right  of 
control  over  his  own  playing  time.  This  is  so 
new,  in  fact  it  is  so  startling  that  it  occurs 
to  us  that  exhibitors  generally  do  not  realize 
what  this  can  mean  to  them.  If 
they  did,  their  whole  approach  to 
the  decree  might  undergo  a 
change.  Like  John  Lastrun's. 


K 


INSIDERS  PREDICT  SETTLEMENT 
ALL  GOVERNMENT  SUITS  IN  1941 


Say  "Friendly  Attitude" 

By  Defendants  Only 
Thing  Needed  Now 

By  BILL  ORNSTEIN 
(Copyright,  1941,  Associated  Publications) 

New  York— Insiders,  those  on  the  top 
and  in  the  know  and  who  have  held  assid- 
uously to  an  optimistic  picture  during  the 
trying  days  of  the  negotiating  and  drafting 
of  the  consent  decree,  see  a peaceful  set- 
tlement of  all  pending  government  litiga- 
tion in  the  industry. 

The  attitude  of  the  department  of  jus- 
tice, spokesmen  declare,  is  to  cooperate 
with  the  industry  now  that  so  many  other 
more  important  problems  face  government 
attention.  It  is  felt  all  that  is  needed  to 
bring  about  the  full  peace  is  a desire  on 
the  part  of  the  defendants  to  show  a 
friendly  attitude  and  an  open  mind  on 
compromise,  as  in  the  case  with  “The  Big 
Five.” 

In  Spirit  of  Compromise 

The  men  actually  responsible  for  the  de- 
cree readily  admit  there  are  a number  of 
conditions  in  the  document  which  they  did 
not  want.  But  most  of  all  they  did  not 
want  the  all-industry  suit  to  go  to  trial. 
Hence,  when  they  explained  their  position 
on  certain  demands  by  the  government, 
department  representatives  acceded  on 
some  matters  and  the  industry  conceded 
others.  Ultimately,  a compromise  was 
reached. 

It  is  held  that  the  government  is  con- 
tinuing its  same  attitude  in  regard  to  nego- 
tiations now  under  way  with  attorneys  for 
the  Schine  and  Griffith  circuits.  These 
negotiations,  exclusively  reported  by  Box- 
office,  were  never  denied. 

Differ  on  Expansion 

In  the  case  of  the  Schine  suit,  Willard 
S.  McKay  has  been  to  Washington  on  a 
number  of  occasions  conferring  with 
Robert  Wright  and  others  of  the  depart- 
ment of  justice  on  a modified  decree.  The 
only  important  factor  now  holding  up 
consummation  of  the  pact  is  a difference 
on  the  limitations  of  expansion  to  be  af- 
forded Schine  under  such  a decree. 

The  circuit  does  not  want  its  activities 
curtailed,  which  the  government  is  now  in- 
sisting upon.  But  the  indication  is  a 
compromise  will  be  reached  shortly  and 
this  may  be  along  the  lines  covered  in  the 
decree  for  the  “Big  Five.” 

Attorneys  for  Griffith  in  Oklahoma  City 
also  have  had  consultations  with  the  de- 
partment and  have  secured  a preliminary 
idea  of  what  is  expected  from  the  govern- 
ment. This  circuit’s  expansion  activities 
in  the  last  year  have  resulted  in  a num- 
ber of  additions  which  have  brought  com- 
plaints to  the  department.  The  compromise 
which  is  expected  to  develop  will  slow  new 
acquisitions  somewhat,  but  allowances  will 
(Continued  on  page  20) 


(<  ft 

Top  Hits  of  the  Week 

As  culled  from  first  run  reports  in 
the  sectional  editions  of  Boxoffice. 


Average  is  100  per  cent. 

Gone  With  the  Wind — 

New  Orleans  250 

Kansas  City  250 

New  Haven  225 

Pittsburgh  210 

Arizona — 

New  Orleans  200 

Hudson’s  Bay — 

New  Orleans  200 

Philadelphia  Story — 

Denver  195 

Chicago  175 

This  Thing  Called  Love — 

Pittsburgh  180 

Kitty  Foyle — 

Milwaukee  <dual)  165 

D 


Exchange  Unions  May 
Vote  Local  Autonomy 

New  York — Within  the  next  30  days,  all 
local  film  exchange  unions,  comprising 
backroom  employes,  are  expected  to  vote 
for  local  autonomy,  which  will  give  them 
wider  powers  under  their  IATSE  charters. 
One  unit  has  already  voted  for  the  new 
plan,  this  being  Local  B-51  for  the  New 
York  exchanges. 

Under  the  local  autonomy  idea,  the 
unions  will  have  the  power  to  negotiate 
their  own  contracts  with  distributors  with- 
out calling  in  IA  representatives,  and  also 
will  be  empowered  to  take  whatever  action 
might  be  deemed  necessary  to  bring  about 
their  demands. 

Presently,  all  exchange  unions  are 
classified  as  “B”  units,  which  means  they 
have  no  right  to  negotiate  their  own  deals 
with  distributors.  However,  under  the  new 
classification,  the  unions  will  become  “A” 
units  and  be  given  additional  powers.  A 
majority  of  unions  is  needed  before  the  I A 
will  recognize  them  as  “A”  bodies. 

Dues  for  the  members  of  B-51  will  be  in- 
creased from  $3  to  $6  a quarter  under  the 
“A”  classification,  half  of  the  new  sum  to 
go  to  the  IA  treasury. 

Many  Local  B-51  members  have  been 
dissatisfied  with  Local  306’s  conduct  at  the 
strike  called  two  years  ago  when  the  opera- 
tors’ union  was  negotiating  its  new  deal 
with  major  circuits.  Backroom  employes 
were  called  out  on  strike  for  two  weeks  and 
each  man  was  given  $15  by  Local  306. 

The  local  exchange  contract  with  dis- 
tributors expires  next  December.  By  that 
time  it  is  expected  the  local  autonomy  rule 
will  be  in  effect  and  negotiations  carried 
on  without  “interference”  by  Local  306  or 
the  IA. 


RK0  Completes  Plan 
For  Decree  Selling 

New  York — RKO  executives  have  com- 
pleted a basic  plan  for  simplified  selling 
under  the  decree  and  are  prepared  to  put 
the  system  into  effect  “tomorrow”  if  the 
new  season  were  to  start  then,  it  is  learned. 

The  plan  is  the  result  of  a survey  of  sev- 
eral months  during  which  home  office  ex- 
ecutives have  visited  the  field  and  studied 
each  situation.  An  analysis  of  every  ac- 
count has  been  made  so  that  the  company 
is  in  a position  to  know  from  the  records 
how  much  and  how  little  each  can  afford. 

There  is  no  desire  to  work  any  hard- 
ship on  any  exhibitor,  it  is  asserted,  but 
rather  the  sales  force  will  make  every  ef- 
fort to  cooperate  with  its  customers  as  in 
the  past  and  continue  the  friendliest  of 
relations. 

George  J.  Schaefer,  president,  is  expected 
to  leave  for  the  coast  in  a few  days  with 
Ned  E.  Depinet  to  line  up  new  product  to 
complete  the  current  program  and  also  lay 
plans  for  the  new  session.  Indications  are 
that  most  of  the  1940-41  program  will  be 
delivered  on  schedule  and  that  before  July 
rolls  around  at  least  one  group  of  five  will 
be  ready  for  screening. 

William  Zimmerman,  home  office  attor- 
ney, has  been  and  is  continuing  a tour  of 
exchanges  explaining  the  provisions  of  the 
decree  now  in  effect.  Leo  Devaney,  Depi- 
net drive  leader  and  Canadian  division 
head,  is  completing  his  first  tour  of  the 
country  and  has  been  discussing  the 
decree. 

No  date  has  been  set  for  the  annual 
convention,  but  it  is  understood  home  of- 
fice counsel  will  go  over  the  decree  sec- 
tions again,  stressing  the  important  points, 
such  as  those  which  border  on  contempt 
of  court  for  the  company  and  its  repre- 
sentatives. 

It  is  emphasized  the  company  and  every 
representative  will  live  up  to  the  letter  of 
the  decree. 

More  big  pictures  and  fewer  small  ones 
will  be  the  tenor  of  the  RKO  program  for 
1941-42.  Schaefer’s  trip  to  Hollywood  will 
be  for  several  weeks  and  not  for  a year, 
as  has  been  reported. 

C,  ^ 

Good  Bye  Blues , New 
Tune  on  RKO's  Lot 

Hollywood — Happy  Days  are  Here 
Again  on  the  RKO  lot. 

Early  this  week,  word  was  received 
from  George  J.  Schaefer,  president,  to  re- 
store pay  cuts  which  have  been  in  effect 
since  October  2,  1939.  The  cuts  ranged 
from  10  per  cent  up  for  persons  earning 
$5,000  annually  to  $75,000  a year. 

Vt:  if 


4 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


**♦» 


■ 0^*< 


'I  always  knew  that  if 
they  gave  me  enough 
rope... I’d  be  colossal!" 


!btow/v. 


I’m  right ...  but  wait’ll 
you  see  the  swell 


company  I’m  in 


ersget°"ear' 
OU  FOR  1HAT' 

strawbeR^ 

that  zoomed 

jHf  JOHNNY 


And  wait’H  J 

s* 

,owmW‘om‘ 

ie  to  stardom. 


Famous  flroadway 

s«(Ae  comedian! 


EDWARD  EVERETT  HORTOR 


His  most  screamingly  funny 


Marvelous,  Isn’t  it!  You  don’t 
have  to  bo  a crystal -gazer 
to  see  that  you’re  the  one  to 
cash  in  on  'You’re  the  One'! 


with 

|ERRY  COLONNA  • Lillian  Cornell  * Albert  Dekker 
Edward  Everett  Horton  • Teddy  Hart  • “"r'J-odYu««A<iL,,byMGEPNHEY 


BOARD  SUBPOENA  POWER  "TEETH” 
PRECEDENTAL  IN  FILM  BUSINESS 


— Wide  World 

GEORGE  W.  ALGER 


— Blank  & Stoller 

ALBERT  W.  PUTNAM 


Appeals  Board  Setup  Complete — 


May  Punish  Witnesses 
Who  Fail  to  Appear 
Before  Tribunal 


New  York — Exhibitor  or  other  wit- 
nesses who  fail  to  comply  with  subpoenas 
issued  by  arbitrators  of  the  AAA  “will 
be  guilty  of  contempt  of  court  and  liable 
to  pay  all  losses  and  damages  sustained 
thereby  to  the  parties  aggrieved,  and  for- 
feit $50  in  addition  thereto.” 

The  power  to  subpoena  witnesses  which 
arbitrators  hold  is  said  by  veteran  film 
men  never  to  have  existed  in  the  past, 
either  with  the  Film  Boards  of  Trade,  the 
NRA  or  other  voluntary  groups.  These 
observers  declare  the  subject  of  the  rights 
of  subpoena  had  been  at  all  times  a con- 
troversial one  because  of  the  unusual  na- 
ture of  the  industry,  and  therefore  never 
were  vested  with  earlier  arbitration 
groups.  These  same  sources  see  signifi- 
cance in  the  fact  the  AAA  has  adopted 
such  procedure,  thus  giving  its  system  of 
arbitration  “teeth,”  but  decline  to  dis- 
cuss the  relative  merits  of  the  move  until 
it  comes  into  actual  operation. 

The  AAA’s  power  of  subpoena,  which  is 
revealed  among  28  forms  now  available 
at  31  film  tribunals  throughout  the  coun- 
try, is  known  as  Form  XVII,  and  desig- 
nated as  “Subpoena  Duces  Tecum.”  The 
following  is  the  wording  of  the  form: 

THE  PEOPLE  OF  THE  STATE  OF 
TO: 

GREETING:  — 

I COMMAND  YOU,  that  all  business  and 
excuses  being  laid  aside,  you  and  each  of 

you  appear  and  attend  before 

the  Arbitrator  appointed  in  accordance 
with  the  Rules  of  Arbitration  and  Appeals, 
under  the  Motion  Picture  Consent  Decree, 
at  the  office  of  the  Arbi- 
tration District,  on  the  day  of 

19 at  o’clock  in 

the  noon,  to  testify  and  give 

evidence  in  a certain  Arbitration  now 
pending  before  said  Arbitrator,  then  and 
there  to  be  held  between 


Complainant,  and  De- 
fendant, on  the  part  of and 


that  you  bring  with  you,  and  produce  at 

the  time  and  place  aforesaid  a certain 

now  in  your  custody  and  all 

other  deeds  and  evidences  which  you  have 
in  your  custody  or  power  concerning  the 
premises.  And  for  failing  to  attend,  you 
will  be  guilty  of  contempt  of  court  and 
liable  to  pay  all  losses  and  damages  sus- 
tained thereby  to  the  parties  aggrieved, 
and  forfeit  $50  in  addition  thereto.” 

According  to  veteran  film  men  the  AAA’s 
power  of  subpoena  is  noteworthy  in  still 
another  respect.  This  is  the  right  to  im- 
pose a fine  on  witnesses  who  fail  to  com- 
ply with  the  subpoena,  going  so  far  as 
to  be  held  liable  to  “pay  all  losses  and 
(Continued  on  page  18) 


New  York — Federal  Judge  Henry  War- 
ren Goddard  completed  the  personnel  for 
the  arbitration  appeals  board  with  the  ap- 
pointment this  week  of  Albert  W.  Putnam 
and  George  W.  Alger,  both  of  New  York. 
Former  Federal  Judge  Van  Vechten  Vee- 
der  was  previously  designated  chairman  by 
Judge  Goddard. 

Putnam  and  Alger,  both  well  known  New 
York  attorneys,  the  latter  familiar  to  the 
industry  through  his  services  as  special 
master  in  the  RKO  reorganization  proceed- 
ings, will  serve  for  a period  of  three  years 
at  a salary  of  $17,500  annually. 

Putnam,  who  has  practiced  law  in  New 
York  since  1900,  is  a native  of  Spuyten 
Duyvil,  where  he  was  born  in  September, 
1877.  He  received  his  degree  from  Colum- 
bia and  is  a graduate  of  the  General  Staff 


College  of  the  Army.  His  military  career 
included  a captaincy  in  a machine  gun 
battalion,  and  later  was  a major  of  field 
artillery. 

Putnam  has  been  identified  as  a vice- 
president  of  the  Guardian  Assets  Corp.,  di- 
rector of  the  Rye  Trust  Co.,  the  Atlan  ic 
Coast  Fisheries  Co.,  and  Tingue,  Brown 
& Co. 

Alger,  who  received  his  law  degree  from 
New  York  University  in  1895,  has  prac- 
ticed in  New  York  for  46  years.  Alger 
drafted  the  New  York  Employes  Liability 
Act  and  many  amendments  to  labor  and 
child  labor  laws.  He  has  served  as  chair- 
man of  the  commission  on  the  coat  and 
suit  industry  of  New  York  City,  and  later 
was  director  of  the  industry  under  the 
NRA.  He  is  a native  of  Burlington,  Vt. 


(r  ft 

A Man  With  a Formula — 

New  York — At  least  one  exhibitor  in  the  local  territory  is  planning  to  break  up  his 
circuit  oi  13  houses,  into  three  divisions,  turning  two  groups  of  four  and  live  over  to 
his  partners,  so  that  he  may  come  within  the  interpretation  of  an  independent  ex- 
hibitor under  the  decree. 

According  to  the  decree.  Section  X footnote,  "an  independent  exhibitor  is  one 
wholly  independent  of  any  circuit  of  more  than  five  theatres  and  not  affiliated  either 
by  stock  ownership,  common  buying  or  otherwise  with  a circuit  of  more  than  five 
theatres  and  whose  licenses  are  not  negotiated  by  a buying  combine  or  common 
buying  agent  negotiating  for  more  than  five  theatres." 

The  circuit  involved  feels  it  will  lose  certain  rights  under  its  present  setup  if  the 
number  is  not  split  up. 

"It's  bad  enough  we  have  to  operate  under  the  decree  and  they're  not  going  to 
fool  us  any  more,"  the  exhibitor  involved  told  BOXOFFICE.  "Why  we  should  be  dis- 
criminated against  because  we  have  13  small  houses,  not  affiliated  with  any  booking 
combine,  is  not  surprising.  The  small  exhibitor  is  going  to  find  the  going  tougher, 
and  if  he  thinks  he  has  had  it  hard  up  until  now  wait  until  the  new  selling  season 
starts." 

-- —» 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  8,  1941 


9 


Rom 


\n  B°st0  t^?ToVidc«cC 
„S*-  t°ttl  j\  tV»os® 

_wiW»«v«‘  tfl 

st°V- 


ReK 


Ofll* 

twft 


Adventure,  action  an 

0f  a"  a««  ■ • . hitting  th , 

e entertainment!" 

~ Rafter  Winchell 


Western  Union’  a smash  audiei.™  

— Louella  Parson u 

Cr°*d  has  f 

'hat  **  **'*ern  °i a % rich  k . 


■ * y i"- 

18  • : ■ 


Published  Every  Saturday  by 

Associated  Publications 


Editorial  Offices:  9 Rockefeller  Plaza,  New 
York  City.  Louis  Rydell,  Advertising  Man- 
ager. Wm.  Ornstein,  Eastern  Editor.  Tele- 
phone Columbus  5-6370,  5-6371,  5-6372.  Cable 
address:  “BOXOFFICE,  New  York.” 

Western  Offices:  6404  Hollywood  Blvd.,  Hol- 
wood,  Calif.  Ivan  Spear,  Manager.  Tele- 
phone Gladstone  1186. 

Publication  Offices:  4804  E.  9th  St.,  Kan- 
sas City.  Mo.  Morris  Schlozman,  Business 
Manager.  Telephone  Chestnut  7777. 

Other  Associated  Publications:  BOXOFFICE 
BAROMETER.  BOXOFFICE  RECORDS, 
BOXOFFICE  PICTURE  GUIDE,  published 
annually:  THE  MODERN  THEATRE,  pub- 
lished monthly  as  a section  of  BOXOFFICE. 

ALBANY — 21-23  Walter  Ave.,  M.  Berrigan. 
ATLANTA — 183  Walton  St.,  Helen  Hardy. 
JAckson  5331. 

BOSTON — 14  Piedmont  St.,  Brad  Angier, 
Liberty  9305. 

BUFFALO — Buffalo  Theatre,  G.  C.  Maurer. 
CHARLOTTE — 216  W.  4th,  Pauline  Griffith. 
CHICAGO — 332  S.  Michigan  Blvd.,  Hal 
Tate.  Wabash  4575. 

CINCINNATI — 127  Tremont  St.,  Ft.  Thomas, 
Kv„  Clara  Hyde.  Highland  1657. 
CLEVELAND — 12805  Cedar  Road,  Cleveland 
Heights,  Elsie  Loeb.  Fairmount  0046. 
DALLAS— 408  S.  Harwood,  V.  W.  Crisp,' 
Southwestern  editor.  Telephone  7-3553. 
DENVER — 319  S.  Clarkson  St.,  J.  A.  Rose. 

Telephone  Spruce  0318. 

DES  MOINES — The  Colonade,  Rene  Clayton. 
DETROIT — 4 24  Book  Bldg.,  H.  F.  Reves. 

Telephone  Cadillac  9085. 

HOLLYWOOD — 6404  Hollywood  Bvd..  Ivan 
Spear.  Western  editor.  GLadstone  1186. 
INDIANAPOLIS — 42  West  11th  St.,  Kol- 
man  Hirschman. 

KANSAS  CITY — 4804  East  Ninth  St..  Jesse 
Shlyen,  Midwest  editor.  CHestnut  7777. 
LITTLE  ROCK — P.  O.  Box  253,  Lynn  Hub- 
bard. 3-0156. 

MEMPHIS — 399  So.  2nd  St.,  Carolyne  Miller. 
MILWAUKEE — 210  East  Michigan  St.,  H. 

C.  Brunner.  Kilbourn  6670-J. 
MINNEAPOLIS — Essex  Bldg.,  Maurice  Wolff. 
NEW  HAVEN— 42  Church  St.,  Suite  915, 
Gertrude  Pearson.  6-4149. 

NEW  ORLEANS — 1136  Behrman  Ave.,  J.  W. 
Leigh 

NEW  YORK  CITY — 9 Rockefeller  Plaza, 
William  Ornstein,  Eastern  editor. 
OKLAHOMA  CITY — Box  4547.  E.  W.  Fair. 
OMAHA — 5640  Woolworth.  Monte  Davis. 
PHILADELPHIA — 426  Pine  St.,  Joseph 
Shaltz.  WALnut  08  60. 

PITTSBURGH— 1701  Blvd.  of  the  Allies,  R. 

F.  Klingensmith.  ATlantic  4858. 
PORTLAND,  ORE.— 925  N.  W.  19th  St., 
Harold  Donner.  Broadway  0136. 

ST.  LOUIS — 5149  Rosa  Ave.,  David  F.  Bar- 
rett. Flanders  3727. 

SALT  LAKE  CITY— 167  South  State  St., 
Viola  B.  Hutton.  WAsatch  165. 

SAN  FRANCISCO — 1095  Market  St..  A1 
Scott.  Market  6580. 

SEATTLE — 2418  Second  Ave.,  Joe  Cooper. 
Seneca  2460. 

WASHINGTON— 1426  G St.,  Earle  A.  Dyer. 


IN  CANADA 

CALGARY — The  Albertan,  Wm.  Campbell. 
HAMILTON — 20  Holton,  N„  Hugh  Millar. 
LONDON — 97  Adelaide  St.,  S.,  John  Gore. 
MONTREAL — 4330  Wilson  Ave.,  N.  D.  G., 
Roy  Carmichael.  Walnut  5519. 

REGINA — The  Leader-Post.  Bruce  Peacock. 
ST.  JOHN — 161  Princess  St.  D.  Fetherston. 
TORONTO— 242  Millwood.  Milton  Galbraith. 
VANCOUVER — 615  Hastings.,  C.  P.  Rutty. 
VICTORIA — 434  Quebec  St.,  Tom  Merrlman. 
WINNTPEC — 709  Selkirk  Ave.,  Ben  Lepkln. 


As  Viewed  by  Red  Kann 


Miami  Beach 

|T  WAS  a lush  and  excitement-laden 
I atmosphere  which  Universal  created 
for  the  premiere  of  "Back  Street"  here 
Tuesday  evening  and  it  served  well 
as  a setting  from  which  a generous 
cross-section  of  invited  critics  from 
over  thirty  cities  could  draw  their  stuff. 

Yet  the  salient  and  undeniable  con- 
clusion is  that  "Back  Street"  stands 
on  its  own,  and  well,  as  an  attraction 
that  no  doubt  will  make  its  potency 
felt  even  if  the  sort  of  gala  treatment 
determined  for  it  here  had  been  given 
the  go-by. 

Here,  of  course,  is  a latter  day  ver- 
sion of  Fannie  Hurst's  widely  known 
novel.  All  of  the  great  appeal,  es- 
pecially for  women,  which  dotted  the 
history  of  the  original  has  been  wise- 
ly retained  this  time,  in  recognition 
of  a procedure  frequently  overlooked 
in  Hollywood.  The  procedure:  That, 
once  a story  is  good,  the  chances  are 
all  in  its  favor  that  it  will  continue  to 
be  good  if  the  essentials  of  the  original 
are  not  subjected  to  tampering  in  the 
cause  of  either  modernizing  or  endeav- 
ors to  make  it  different. 

Your  journeyman's  recollection  of 
the  first  version  is  the  treatment  in 
that  case  underlined  the  influence 
which  the  feminine  lead  wielded  on 
the  business  career  of  the  man  in  the 
drama.  Therefore,  she  was  dominant 
in  his  life  on  two  counts.  One,  the 
manner  in  which  she  propelled  him 
toward  greater  heights  in  the  world 
of  business.  Two,  her  great  and  un- 
dying passion  which  proved  content- 
ment enough  although  the  circum- 
stances compelled  her  to  walk  con- 
stantly through  the  back  street  of  his 
life. 

The  first  element  is  subordinated, 
not  entirely  removed,  in  the  1941  edi- 
tion to  allow  an  even  greater  stress 
on  their  spiritual  and  emotional  com- 
patibility. In  another  word,  the  love 
angle  is  the  more  heavily  underlined, 
the  results  stamping  the  new  "Back 
Street"  with  all  of  the  success  at- 
tendant upon  its  predecessor.  There 
might  be  something  further  to  say,  by 
way  of  an  overall  approach.  It  might 
become  repetitious,  too. 

The  atmosphere  of  the  early  days  of 
the  century  is  faithfully  and  nostalgic- 
ally caught  and  maintained.  In  terms 
of  performances,  the  ratings  rank  high. 
Margaret  Sullavan  is  excellent  as  the 


understanding  woman.  Charles  Boyer, 
as  the  man,  is  as  good  as  ever  he  was 
and  there  probably  will  be  some,  if 
not  many,  who  will  view  his  Walter 
Saxel  well  up  among  the  best  roles 
he  has  played. 

Robert  Stevenson,  young  English- 
man now  happily  part  of  the  coast 
production  colony,  again  emphasizes 
the  niceties  of  his  direction  and  his 
ability  to  grasp  a drama  carved  di- 
rectly out  of  the  American  scene  in 
stride.  He  does  very  well  in  this  in- 
stance. 

New  York 

He's  Not  Alone 

A TOPFLIGHT  circuit  operator,  af- 
filiated, currently  wonders  along 
these  lines: 

"I  am  tremendously  concerned 
whether  this  one  appeals  board  locat- 
ed in  New  York  will  be  able  to  grasp 
the  necessity  for  different  lengths  of 
clearance  in  different  situations.  For 
example,  fifteen  days  may  be  a pretty 
fair  clearance  in  that  congested  New 
York  area  and  be  almost  a continuous 
first  run  in  some  of  our  smaller  com- 
munities. 

"You  know,  of  course,  that  from  the 
trouble  we  have  had  making  courts 
understand  the  problems  of  this  in- 
dustry— do  I need  to  cite  the  very  de- 
cree itself? — I think  we  are  in  for  some 
startling  results  when  we  get  the  es- 
timable gentleman  who  has  spent  his 
life  in  maritime  law  trying  to  under- 
stand show  business." 

Our  communicant  certainly  is  not 
alone.  If  it's  company  he  is  looking 
for,  and  he  is  not,  there's  plenty  of  it 
despite  the  perennial  insistence  of  the 
American  Arbitration  Association  that 
its  arbitrators,  being  smart  cookies, 
catch  on  awfully  fast.  The  point  is,  is 
awfully  fast  quite  fast  enough  in  a 
business  like  this  which  deals  in  per- 
ishable goods? 

A final  paragraph,  however,  is  a 
boost.  No  one,  it  is  to  be  supposed, 
will  object  strenuously  if  it  is  printed 
here: 

"But  I do  think  you  are  doing  a fine 
job  in  keeping  the  matter  alive  and 
trying  to  get  some  c’arification  of  pro- 
cedure in  advance." 

Thanks  for  that. 


12 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


NATE  I.  BLUMBERG 


WILLIAM  A.  SCULLY 


CLIFF  WORK 


JOSEPH  PASTERNAK 


MATTY  EOX 


f.  j.  a.  McCarthy 


W.  J.  HEINEMAN 


J.  H.  SEIDEEMAN 


JOHN  E.  JOSEPH 


UNIVERSAL  PLANS  47  FEATURES 
69  REELS  OF  SHORTS,  4 SERIALS 


Chicago — Stealing  the  march  over  his 
competitors,  William  Scully,  general  sales 
manager,  will  announce  to  Universal  dele- 
gates Monday,  the  final  day  of  the  three- 
day  annual  sales  convention  at  the  Black- 
stone,  details  of  the  1941-42  lineup  of  47 
features,  69  reels  of  shorts,  four  serials 
and  104  issues  of  the  newsreel. 

The  feature  lineup  marks  an  increase  of 
two  over  the  current  season  and  will  in- 
clude, as  it  did  this  season,  three  special 
Frank  Lloyd  productions.  These  will  be 
sold  separately  and  apart  from  regular 
contracts.  In  addition,  the  new  program 
will  find  “Hellzapoppin’,”  to  be  produced 
by  Jules  Levey.  The  stage  show  is  now  in 
its  125th  week  at  the  Winter  Garden  in 
New  York  and  is  scheduled  to  close  shortly. 
Levey  is  now  at  the  studio  working  on 
“Butch  Minds  a Baby,”  the  Damon  Runyon 
story  which  is  to  star  Wallace  Beery. 

According  to  Scully,  conducting  the  local 
sales  sessions  which  got  under  way  Satur- 
day, production  costs  will  be  considerably 
increased  next  season  with  individual  bud- 
gets contingent  on  the  stars  to  be  secured 
for  top  flight  pictures.  Deanna  Durbin, 
Marlene  Dietrich,  W.  C.  Fields,  Gloria  Jean 
and  a host  of  other  stars  will  again  find 


the  spotlight  on  the  1941-42  Universal 
roster.  Such  producers  and  directors  as 
Joe  Pasternak,  Henry  Koster,  Alex  Gott- 
lieb and  Frank  Lloyd  will  continue  to  play 
an  important  part  in  the  future  of  the 
company. 

In  the  short  subject  division  there  will 
be  the  usual  15  “Stranger  Than  Fiction” 
and  as  many  “Going  Places.”  Also  two 
series  of  13  single  reelers,  with  a half  dozen 
two-reelers  and  one  special  subject.  There 

ft  ft 

Continues  Westerns 
And  Action  Films 

Chicago — Universal  will  continue  its 
series  of  seven  action  pictures  and 
seven  westerns  in  addition  to  the  47 
other  features  scheduled.  Leo  Carrillo 
replaces  Richard  Arlen  in  the  action 
group,  with  Andy  Devine  and  Dick  Foran. 
This  series  will  follow  the  style  of  "The 
Three  Mesquiteers."  The  second  group  of 
seven  westerns  continues  with  Johnny 
Mack  Brown  in  the  starring  role. 

tS V 


is  no  change  in  the  number  of  shorts  from 
this  season. 

Last  year  the  company  held  a series  of 
regionals,  but  this  year,  with  five  of  the 
majors  selling  under  the  consent  decree 
which  limits  groups  to  blocks  of  five,  ex- 
ecutives decided  to  call  in  all  branch,  dis- 
trict and  division  managers  to  one  general 
session. 

Flexibility  will  again  keynote  the  pro- 
gram. With  this  in  mind  a number  of  pic- 
tures will  not  be  announced  by  Scully. 
However,  there  will  be  a substantial  in- 
crease in  the  number  of  “A’s”  indicating 
the  greatest  outlay  for  the  company. 

The  sessions  also  cleaned  up  details  for 
the  balance  of  the  present  season.  Every 
picture  scheduled  now  has  a release  date. 

Preliminary  plans  for  the  1941-42  sea- 
son were  discussed  at  length  at  studio  con- 
ferences last  month  when  Scully,  J.  Chee- 
ver  Cowdin  and  Joseph  H.  Seidelman  went 
over  the  possibilities  with  Cliff  Work,  Mat- 
ty Fox,  Milton  Feld  and  Joe  Pasternak. 

In  attendance  are: 

From  the  home  office:  J.  Cheever  Cow- 
din,  Nate  J.  Blumberg,  William  A.  Scully, 
Joseph  H.  Seidelman,  Frank  J.  A.  Mc- 

( Continued  on  page  16) 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


13 


"U"  Goes  ihe  Limit 
For  ''Back  Street" 


Miami  Beach — There  was  no  way  to  cal- 
culate the  newspaper  wordage,  but  Uni- 
versal must  have  gathered  plenty  on  the 
world  premiere  of  “Back  Street”  which 
was  held  at  the  Lincoln  and  Cameo  Tues- 
day evening. 

Critics,  press  association  and  syndicate 
writers  from  34  cities  ranging  from  Bos- 
ton on  one  coast  to  Portland  on  the  other 
did  what  they  could  to  make  the  country 
“Back  Street”  conscious. 

The  purpose,  of  course,  was  to  bow  in 
with  the  film.  But  it  went  ahead  of  and 
beyond  that.  In  small  groups,  the  scribes 
descended  on  Miami  and  the  Miami  Bilt- 
more  as  early  as  Friday  night.  They 
trained  in  and  they  flew  in  and  by  Satur- 
day evening  had  completed  their  assem- 
blage. 

Fun  for  All 

Beach  cabanas  had  been  arranged  at  the 
Roney  Plaza.  There  was  golf  on  the  Bilt- 
more  links  and  tennis  for  those  who  want- 
ed it  at  both  hotels.  Aero  cars,  they  called 
them,  conveyed  the  visitors  from  Coral 
Gables  where  the  Biltmore  is  located  ap- 
proximately 15  miles  away  to  the  Beach 
and  many  were  the  round  trips  made 
during  the  week. 

On  Sunday,  there  was  a water  carnival 
in  the  Biltmore  pool  and  that  night  dinner 
and  the  floor  show  at  the  Royal  Palm 
where  Milton  Berle  was  master-of-cere- 
monies.  The  following  day  called  for  a 
fishing  trip  in  a contest  between  the 
“A.M.’s”  and  the  “P.M.’s”  battling  it  out 
from  two  different  smacks.  It  wasn’t  much 
of  a contest  simply  because  the  fish  re- 
fused to  nibble.  Those  who  passed  up  fish- 
ing went  for  a tour  around  Biscayne  Bay 
on  the  Pancoast,  both  schedules  being 
timed  to  tie  in  with  a cocktail  party  for 
Deanna  Durbin  who,  while  she  has  noth- 
ing to  do  with  “Back  Street”  has  a great 
deal  to  do  with  Universal.  In  the  eve- 
ning, the  group  was  escorted  to  the  Beach- 
comber for  Hawaiian  liquor,  Chinese  food 
and  Spanish  rhumba  music.  The  liquor 
turned  out  to  be  different,  the  food  good 
and  the  music  by  Cugat  and  Chavez  tink- 
ling and  loud. 

A Day  at  Hialeah 

An  honorary  police  cavalcade  led  off 
Tuesday’s  program.  It  was  a day  at  Hia- 
leah where  the  visitors  were  guests  of 
the  Stevens  Brothers  at  luncheon  in  the 
clubhouse  and,  of  course,  the  races  which 
included  a “Back  Street  Handicap.”  Fol- 
lowed the  premiere  that  night,  attended 
by  socialites  and  exhibitors  who  are  win- 
ter vacationing  here.  The  Greater  Miami 
Boys’  Drum  and  Bugle  Corps  went  into 
parade  formation,  official  flags  of  the 
various  states  were  unfurled,  Sammy 
Walsh  of  the  Carousel  introduced  Miss 
Durbin  and  Universal  Newsreel  ground 
away.  At  midnight  and  back  at  the  Bilt- 
more, professionals  drawn  from  films, 
stage  and  radio  turned  out  for  the  “Type- 
writer Bowl  Frolics.” 

By  this  time,  it  had  become  increas- 
ingly apparent  a bit  of  rest  and  quiet  were 
in  order.  Wednesday,  therefore,  was  a 


Contributing — 

Jack  Benny,  co-master  of  ceremonies 
of  “America  Calling,”  mammoth  air 
show  emanating  from  Hollywood , 
Saturday  night,  February  8,  for  the 
Greek  War  Relief  Fund,  starts  the  ball 
rolling  with  a contribution  made  to  a 
volunteer  worker  in  the  Fund’s  New 
York  offices.  The  volunteer  is  Nellie 
Rassias,  an  American-Greek.  “America 
Calling”  will  be  heard  over  both  the 
NBC  and  Mutual  networks  for  90  min- 
utes, at  11:15  p.  m.,  E.  S.  T. 


free  wheeling  proposition,  spent  largely  in 
catching  up  on  sleep.  In  the  evening  and 
as  the  finale  to  the  partying,  the  visitors, 
en  masse,  attended  the  Hallandale  Colon- 
ial Inn  where  Sophie  Tucker,  Joe  Louis 
and  Harry  Richman  led  the  floor  show. 
Thursday  officially  closed  the  lists. 

While  the  majority  of  the  newspaper 
visitors  left  on  that  day,  some  arranged 
to  stay  over — on  their  own.  Matty  Fox 
returned  to  New  York  Wednesday  and 
thereafter  went  to  Chicago  for  Universal’s 
sales  meeting.  Frank  J.  A.  McCarthy  and 
William  J.  Heineman  hit  for  the  Windy 
City  directly  from  here.  Joseph  H.  Seidel- 
man,  foreign  sales  manager,  failed  to  make 
the  grade  on  the  trip,  but  Ottavio  Prochet, 
member  of  the  company’s  board,  did  as 
did  Willis  H.  Taylor  and  Budd  Rogers, 
others  of  the  directors.  Charles  D.  Prutz- 
man,  vice-president  and  general  counsel, 
remained  over  with  his  wife  and  returned 
north  at  the  weekend. 

”U"  Moves  Along 

Louis  Pollock,  “U’s”  eastern  advertising 
and  publicity  director,  was  in  general 
charge  of  the  arrangements  at  this  end. 
He  kept  on  denying  he  was  worn  out,  but 
the  more  he  insisted  the  less  convincing 
he  turned  out  to  be.  This  applied  equally 
to  John  Joseph,  national  advertising  and 
publicity  director,  who  had  been  traveling 
with  Miss  Durbin  and  her  party. 

At  any  rate,  Universal  finally  had  moved 
alongside  of  those  other  companies  with 
a national  newspaper  and  trade  paper 
junket  on  the  escutcheon  and  the  reason- 
able conclusion  appeared  to  be  that  “Back 
Street”  was  on  its  way. 


UA  Files  Answer 
In  Goldwyn  Suil 

New  York — United  Artists  has  filed  its 
answer  in  federal  court  to  the  suit  of 
Samuel  Goldwyn  in  which  it  seeks  dis- 
missal of  the  producer’s  action,  asserting 
Goldwyn  comes  into  court  on  his  pleadings 
with  “unclean  hands.” 

The  distributing  company  repeats  much 
of  the  complaint  in  a preliminary  general 
denial,  and  states  that  Goldwyn  is  bound 
by  his  contract  to  Aug.  31,  1945.  It  says 
that  on  Jan.  12,  1939,  Goldwyn  demanded 
of  Pickford  Corp.,  Alexander  Korda  and 
Charles  Chaplin  that  each  execute  a vot- 
ing-trust agreement  for  three  years  giving 
him  all  voting  powers  of  their  stock,  and 
a 100  per  cent  right  to  elect  directors. 
Unless  this  control  was  granted,  Goldwyn 
threatened  to  oppose  all  measures  and  to 
take  steps  to  gain  this  control,  it  is 
stated. 

The  three  owners  thus  approached  re- 
fused, and  Goldwyn  has  continued  to 
harass  and  annoy  the  management  of  UA 
since,  the  defense  asserts.  It  is  claimed 
Goldwyn  released  “false,  malicious  and 
misleading  statements”  about  UA  to  the 
press  and  claimed  that  the  defendant  UA 
had  breached  a contract,  whereas  Gold- 
wyn was  the  actual  one  breaching  the 
agreement  by  approaching  Paramount  and 
Warner.  By  filing  suits  against  UA  the 
company  has  been  forced  to  spend  large 
sums  in  defending  itself,  UA  claims  in  ask- 
ing a dismissal. 


Admits  Goldwyn-UA 
Settlement  Likely 

Hollywood — An  authorized  spokesman 
for  United  Artists  admits  that  settlement 
of  the  UA-Samuel  Goldwyn  suit  is  im- 
minent and  probably  will  be  set  for  a defi- 
nite conclusion  this  week  following  con- 
ferences between  the  producer  and  Murray 
Silverstone. 

The  deal  is  said  to  provide  for  acquisi- 
tion of  Goldwyn’s  UA  stock  by  the  com- 
pany for  a cash  settlement,  and  with- 
drawal of  legal  action  that  would  leave 
Goldwyn  free  to  release  his  future  product 
through  other  channels. 

Grainger  Coastbound ; 

To  Set  Regionals 

New  York — James  R.  Grainger,  Repub- 
lic president,  is  en  route  to  the  coast.  Due 
to  arrive  there  February  20,  he  will  dis- 
cuss next  season’s  production,  sales  plans 
and  plans  for  the  dates  of  regional  meet- 
ings in  Los  Angeles,  Kansas  City,  Atlanta 
and  New  York. 


Assumes  Whalen  Duties 

New  York — Charles  Reed  Jones,  adver- 
tising director  of  Republic,  has  taken  on 
added  duties  with  the  resignation  of  David 
Whalen,  publicity  head.  Jones  will  handle 
both  posts  under  the  new  setup. 


Adapting  “Coney  Island" 
Hollywood — Dwight  Taylor  is  adapt- 
ing “Coney  Island”  for  Producer  William 
Perlberg  at  20th-Fox. 


14 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8 1941 


Hit 


y 


ST.  LOUIS  . . . 
SAN  FRANCISCO  . 
DENVER  . . . . 

SPRINGFIELD,  Mass. 
NEW  ORLEANS . . 
CINCINNATI  . . 
LINCOLN  .... 
CLEVELAND  . . . 
OMAHA  . . . . 


4th  week 
4 th  week 
3rd  week 
3rd  week 
3rd  week 
3rd  week 
2nd  week 
2nd  week 
2nd  week 


jH<we 


PITTSBURGH  . 
ATLANTA  . . 

HARTFORD  . . 

PORTLAND,  Ore. 
DALLAS  . . . 

SPRINGFIELD,  111. 
BUFFALO  . . . 

BALTIMORE  . . 
DAYTON  . . . 


ROSALIND 


. 4th  week 
. 3rd  week 
. 3rd  week 
. 3rd  week 
. 2nd  week 
. 2nd  week 
. 2nd  week 
. 2nd  week 
. 2nd  week 

MELVYN 


RUSSELL'DOUGLAS 


*mh  BINNIE  BARNES  ■ ALLYN  JOSLYN  • GLORIA  DICKSON 


LEE  J.  COBB  - GLORIA  HOLDEN 


Directed  by  ALEXANDER  HALL  ■ A COLUMBIA  PICTURE 


U Announces  47  Flashes  From  the  News  Front 


On  1941-42  Lineup 


(Continued  from  page  13) 

Carthy,  William  J.  Heineman,  Adolph 
Schimel,  Charles  D.  Prutzman,  Bernard  B. 
Kreisler,  James  J.  Jordan,  F.  Thomas  Mur- 
ray, Andrew  J.  Sharick,  Morris  Alin  and 
Henry  A.  Linet. 

From  the  New  York  Exchange:  Jules 
Lapidus,  district  manager;  Dave  Levy, 
branch  manager.  From  Boston,  Paul  Bar- 
ron; from  New  Haven,  John  V.  Pavone; 
from  Philadelphia,  George  E.  Schwartz. 

Oscar  Hanson,  president  of  Empire  Uni- 
versal; Paul  Nathanson,  vice-president  of 
the  same  company;  A.  W.  Perry,  general 
sales  manager,  and  Clair  Hague,  Universal 
representative,  will  represent  the  Cana- 
dian division. 

Studio  executives  include  Work,  Fox, 
Pasternak,  Feld,  Dan  Kelley  and  John  E. 
Joseph. 

District  managers  and  branch  managers 
include : 

District  Manager  David  Miller,  Cleve- 
land; Branch  Managers  Joseph  R.  Kauff- 
man, Cleveland;  Peter  Rosian,  Cincinnati; 
John  J.  Scully,  Buffalo;  J.  J.  Spandau,  Al- 
bany; Pete  Dana,  Pittsburgh. 

District  Manager  Harry  D.  Grahan,  At- 
lanta; Branch  Managers  John  Ezell,  At- 
lanta; J.  A.  Prichard,  Charlotte;  H.  I. 
Mansfield,  Memphis;  W.  M.  Richardson, 
New  Orleans;  Ed  S.  Olsmith,  Dallas;  James 
Hobbs,  Oklahoma  City. 

District  Manager  J.  E.  Garrison,  Kan- 
sas City;  Branch  Managers  Grover  Par- 
sons, Kansas  City;  Harry  Hynes,  St.  Louis; 
Lou  Levy,  Des  Moines;  Otto  Siegel,  Omaha. 

District  Manager  A.  J.  O'Keefe,  Los 
Angeles;  Branch  Managers  C.  J.  Feldman, 
Los  Angeles;  Jack  Langan,  Denver;  R.  O. 
Wilson,  Portland;  C.  R.  Wade,  Salt  Lake; 
Barney  Rose,  San  Francisco;  L.  J.  McGin- 
ley,  Seattle. 

District  Manager  E.  T.  Gomersall,  Chi- 
cago; Branch  Managers  M.  M.  Gottlieb, 
Chicago;  Ed  Heiber,  Detroit;  H.  H.  Hull, 
Indianapolis;  Frank  Mantzke,  Milwaukee; 
L.  J.  Miller,  Minneapolis;  Gordon  Crad- 
dock, special  representative. 

After  the  convention,  Heineman  and 
McCarthy  will  visit  exchanges  under  their 
supervision  for  meetings  with  salesmen 
and  branch  and  district  managers. 


Many  Prominent  Guests 
At  "Back  Street"  Premiere 

Miami  Beach — With  hundreds  turned 
away  because  of  sellouts  at  the  Lincoln 
and  Cameo,  the  twin  premiere  of  “Back 
Street”  marked  a gala  event  Wednesday 
night  for  Universal.  Approximately  150 
film  critics  and  film  executives  from  all 
over  the  country  were  among  the  crowds 
that  gathered  at  both  houses  for  the  event. 
Among  the  prominent  guests  were  Frank 
and  Mrs.  Gannett,  newspaper  publisher; 
Damon  and  Mrs.  Runyon,  George  Ade,  Paul 
Brown,  Albert  and  Mrs.  Warner,  Mana 
Zucca,  A.  H.  Blank,  John  C.  Clark,  Col. 
Abe  Hallow,  Louis  Krouse,  Harry  and  Mrs. 
Richman,  Moe  A.  and  Mrs.  Silver,  Herman 
and  Mrs.  Robbins,  George  Dembow,  Otto 


Gov't  Files  Ascap  Suit 

Milwaukee — The  department  of  justice 
filed  its  original  suit  in  federal  court  here 
Wednesday  against  the  American  Society 
of  Composers,  Authors  and  Publishers  fol- 
lowing breakdown  of  negotiations  for  a 
consent  decree  similar  to  the  document 
recently  signed  by  Broadcast  Music,  Inc. 
The  BMI  decree  is  conditioned  upon  the 
agreement  of  Ascap  to  a similar  pact. 


Would  Stay  Dual  Fees 

Los  Angeles — The  Pacific  Coast  Con- 
ference of  Independent  Theatre  Owners 
will  file  suit  soon  against  Ascap  seeking 
to  restrain  the  association  from  collecting 
“dual  fees”  from  exhibitors.  The  PCCITO 
contends  Ascap  is  not  entitled  to  a repro- 
duction fee,  payment  having  been  made 
earlier  by  producers  for  the  privilege  of 
recording  Ascap  music. 


Illinois  Censor  Bill 

Springfield,  III. — Creation  of  a state 
film  censorship  board  is  proposed  in  a bill 
submitted  the  legislature  by  Rep.  Clinton 
Searle  of  Rock  Island. 


Settle  Bridges  Suit 

Dallas — An  out-of-court  settlement  has 
been  effected  in  the  anti-trust  suit  of  O. 
B.  Bridges  against  the  Interstate  circuit. 
Terms  were  not  disclosed. 


New  Detroit  Delay 

Detroit — Because  of  a busy  court  calen- 
dar, the  Midwest  Theatres  anti-trust  suit 
against  Co-Operative  Theatres  of  Michi- 
gan has  been  put  over  until  March  4.  The 


LeBaron  on  His  Own; 
DeSylva  Successor 

Hollywood — B.  G.  DeSylva  has  been 
named  executive  producer  of  Paramount 
by  Y.  Frank  Freeman  to  succeed  William 
LeBaron,  who  resigned  this  week  as  man- 
aging director  of  the  studio,  a post  he  has 
held  since  1936. 

LeBaron  will  organize  his  own  produc- 
tion unit  to  make  pictures  for  release 
through  Paramount,  his  activity  to  be 
launched  around  May  1 after  he  has  taken 
a vacation. 

Announcement  of  his  resignation  was 
coupled  with  the  explanation  that  when 
Freeman  became  vice-president  in  charge 
of  studio  operations,  LeBaron  agreed  to 
remain  in  his  position  for  two  more  years. 
That  two-year  term  is  now  up  and  Le- 
Baron asked,  and  was  granted,  a release 
from  his  position  in  order  to  concentrate 
on  fewer  pictures. 


and  Mrs.  Brower,  Maxie  Rosenbloom, 
Mrs.  E.  F.  Valentine,  Robert  W.  Wilby, 
David  Milgrim,  Max  A.  Cohen,  N.  B.  Shan- 
berg,  Alvin  and  Mrs.  Grief,  Milton  and 
Mrs.  Chapman,  N.  L.  Nathanson,  Tom  Con- 
nors, Ben  Sherman,  Arthur  Lee,  Willard 
McKay,  Ottavio  Prochet,  and  a host  of 
others. 


companion  suit  of  Jacob  Schreiber,  former 
owner  of  the  circuit  which  is  now  Midwest, 
against  Midwest,  has  been  postponed  until 
March  18  by  Judge  Ira  W.  Jayne. 


Virginia  MPTO  Re-elects 

Washington  — With  Ed  Kuykendall, 
MPTOA  president,  and  Robert  Barton,  at- 
torney, highlighting  the  annual  conven- 
tion with  an  analysis  of  the  decree,  Wil- 
liam F.  Crockett,  president,  and  Benjamin 
Pitts,  vice-president,  were  re-elected  by 
members  of  the  MPTO  of  Virginia  at  the 
Shoreham.  Harold  Woods  is  secretary  and 
Sam  Bendheim,  treasurer. 


Censors  Cut  Fee 

Kansas  City — Reporting  a surplus  on 
hand,  the  Kansas  board  of  censorship  has 
announced  a reduction  of  service  fees  from 
$1  to  50  cents  per  reel.  It  applies  to  all  fea- 
tures and  short  comedies.  The  rate  on  edu- 
cational, scenic  and  cartoon  subjects  re- 
mains at  25  cents.  Effective  February  1, 
the  new  rate  will  continue  until  the  sur- 
plus has  been  dissolved. 


Unify  in  Detroit 

Detroit — Theatre  Owners,  Inc.,  com- 
posed of  circuits  and  independents  alike, 
has  been  formed  here  to  present  a united 
industry  front  in  city  operation.  Restricted 
to  houses  within  the  city  limits,  the  or- 
ganization is  headed  by  William  Henry 
Gallagher,  attorney,  as  president,  and  Ray 
Meurer,  attorney  for  United  Detroit  Thea- 
tres, as  executive  secretary. 


Loew's  Quarterly  Net 
Above  Last  Year's 

New  York — Loew’s  operating  profits  for 
the  quarter  ended  November  21,  1940  were 
$787,774  greater  than  for  the  same  period 
the  year  before,  according  to  an  interim 
report  issued  by  David  Bernstein,  vice- 
president  and  treasurer.  The  amount  per 
share  dividend  was  $14.16  on  the  preferred 
in  comparison  to  $10.19  the  year  before 
and  $1.04  on  the  average  common,  com- 
pared with  71  cents  in  1939. 

Depreciation  and  taxes  for  the  quarter 
ended  November  21,  1940  were  $1,369,010, 
as  compared  with  $1,124,025  in  1939.  Re- 
serve for  contingencies  continues  the  same 
at  $500,000. 

Net  profits  amounted  to  $1,936,245,  as 
compared  with  $1,393,456  for  the  12  weeks 
ended  November  21,  1939. 

The  regular  board  meeting  was  held 
Wednesday  with  routine  matters  discussed. 
A special  session  will  be  called  after  stock- 
holders gather  next  Tuesday.  All  directors 
are  slated  to  be  reelected  and  Nicholas  M. 
Schenck,  president,  is  to  be  given  a five- 
year  extension  of  his  current  contract. 

Directors  of  the  Roxy  Theatre  declared  a 
quarterly  dividend  of  37y2  cents  on  the 
preferred,  payable  March  1,  to  stockhold- 
ers of  February  15. 


ie 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


"Land  of  Liberty" 
Proving  Powerful 

New  York— What  with  a national  ex- 
ploitation campaign  that  is  obtaining 
school,  church,  civic,  patriotic,  business 
and  industrial  organizations’  support, 
“Land  of  Liberty,”  released  nationally  on 
January  24,  is  off  to  a good  start  in  its 
initial  engagements,  17  of  which  were  in 
state  capitals  over  the  nation. 

Cooperation  of  the  various  organiza- 
tional bodies  was  and  is  being  arranged  by 
the  Motion  Picture  Producers  and  Dis- 
tributors of  America.  The  Association  has 
four  men  in  the  field  cooperating  with 
managers  and  the  M-G-M  staff — M-G-M 
handling  the  picture  on  behalf  of  the  en- 
tire industry,  and  the  campaigns  being 
supervised  by  its  advertising  department, 
under  the  supervision  of  Howard  Dietz,  Si 
Seadler,  W.  R.  Ferguson,  Art  Schmidt  and 
Oscar  Doob. 

Schools  are  spotting  the  Hays  office 
“Land  of  Liberty”  posters  on  their  bulletin 
boards  to  announce  local  engagements  and, 
in  many  instances,  dismiss  afternoon 
classes  to  permit  attendance  at  the  show- 
ings. 

Newspapers  Generous 

Newspapers  have  been  generous  with 
their  support.  For  example,  the  Portland 
Oregonian  and  the  St.  Paul  Dispatch  each 
devoted  an  entire  pictorial  page  to  the  film. 
The  New  York  Times  carried  two  banks  of 
stills  from  the  film  across  eight  columns  of 
its  Sunday  film  section,  together  with  a 
story  on  the  production  and  the  New  York 
opening.  In  Richmond  the  picture  was 
shown  under  the  joint  auspices  of  the 
News-Leader  and  the  Times-Dispatch. 

Because  of  the  picture’s  patriotic  theme, 
the  first  big  booking  was  on  January  10 
in  Washington,  where  Carter  Barron  su- 
pervised the  engagement  and  Dan  Terrell 
and  Carlton  Duffus  handled  exploitation. 

The  three  initial  shows  in  New  England 
were  at  the  Loew  Poli  Plaza  in  Worcester, 
Mass.,  managed  by  Robert  Portle;  the 
Loew  Poli  Majestic,  Bridgeport,  Conn., 
managed  by  Morris  Rosenthal,  and  the 
Loew  Poli  at  Waterbury,  managed  by  Ed 
Fitzpatrick.  In  all  three  cities,  civic  groups, 
churches,  manufacturers  and  others  co- 
operated. Harry  Shaw,  Loev/’s  division 
manager;  Lou  Brown,  publicity  chief,  and 
Mark  Larkin  of  the  Hays  office,  worked 
with  the  managers  on  the  campaigns. 

Moss  Handles  New  York 

The  first  southern  showing  was  in  Rich- 
mond, where  the  Wilmer  and  Vincent  of- 
fice gave  it  an  excellent  campaign.  This 
was  handled  by  Frank  O’Brien,  city  man- 
ager; A1  Nowitsky,  advertising  manager, 
and  Bob  Egan,  manager  of  the  Park,  who 
worked  with  Carlton  Duffus  of  Bill  Fer- 
guson’s M-G-M  staff  and  Joe  Shea  and 
Gordon  S.  White  of  the  Hays  office. 

In  the  midwest,  Metro  representatives 
received  the  help  of  Gabe  S.  Yorke  and  I. 
E.  Deer,  MPPDA  men. 

The  New  York  campaign  for  the  open- 
ing at  Loew’s  Criterion  was  in  charge  of 
Charles  Moss,  manager;  Phil  Laufer,  pub- 
licity director,  and  Elliot  Foreman,  Metro 
exploitation  director  for  the  New  York 
area.  The  Hays  office  aided  by  obtaining 
school,  church,  club  and  newsreel  coopera- 
tion. 


What  the  Studios  Are  Doing 


Labor  Scene  Churning 
Again  at  Studio 

Hollywood — After  having  been  restrict- 
ed to  more  or  less  routine  differences  and 
their  adjustment,  the  ever-turbulent  labor 
scene  in  the  film  colony  threatened  to 
develop  a new  controversy  of  major  pro- 
portions when  the  Screen  Cartoonists 
Guild,  an  affiliate  of  the  AFL’s  Brother- 
hood of  Painters,  Decorators  and  Paper- 
hangers,  lodged  a complaint  with  the  Na- 
tional Labor  Relations  Board  charging 
Walt  Disney  Productions,  Inc.,  with  unfair 
labor  practices. 

The  SCG  contends  the  Federation  of 
Screen  Cartoonists,  which  Disney  recog- 
nizes, is  a “company  union”  which  has 
“interfered”  with  efforts  of  the  SCG  to 
organize  a unit  on  that  lot.  It  has  en- 
listed AFL  support,  with  that  organiza- 
tion’s spokesmen  asserting  “steps  will  be 
taken”  to  place  Disney  product  on  unfair 
lists  throughout  the  United  States  and 
Canada  unless  the  SCG  complaint  is  set- 
tled satisfactorily.  Disney  attaches  point 
out,  however,  the  FSC  was  recognized 
nearly  two  years  ago  as  official  bargain- 
ing agent  for  Disney  employes. 

Meantime,  the  Disney  company  held  its 
annual  stockholders’  meeting,  announced 
a $140,000  net  profit  for  the  first  four 
months  of  the  fiscal  year,  declared  it  would 
produce  three  more  features  and  a short 
during  the  year,  and  elected  the  following: 
Walt  and  Roy  Disney,  Gunther  Lessing, 
George  E.  Morris  and  Jonathan  Lovelace, 
to  the  board  of  directors;  Walt  Disney, 
president;  Roy  Disney,  executive  vice- 
president;  Lessing,  vice-president;  Morris, 
secretary-treasurer. 


Minimum  of  52  to  Start 
In  Next  Three  Months 
With  more  vehicles  being  added  daily 
to  guarantee  an  unflagging  tempo,  a min- 
imum of  52  features  will  go  into  produc- 
tion during  the  next  three  months.  Feb- 
ruary schedules  embrace  24;  17  will  roll 
in  March;  11  are  set  for  April  starts. 


No  Arbitration  Cases 
Before  Los  Angeles  Board 

No  cases  have  yet  been  filed  with  the 
Los  Angeles  tribunal  of  the  American  Ar- 
bitration Association,  Clerk  William  H. 
Elliott  reported,  and  no  steps  have  yet 


been  taken  to  organize  a panel  of  arbiters 
under  terms  of  the  consent  decree.  This 
despite  the  fact  arbitration  proceedings 
nationally  were  officially  opened  Feb.  1. 


Golden  Joins  Small; 

Litel  Leaves  Warner 

Max  Golden  resigned  from  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox’s production  department  to  be- 
come production  manager  for  Edward 
Small  . . . John  Litel  has  left  the  Warner 
contract  list  after  five  years  as  a character 
player  and  will  freelance. 


Paramount  Building  Three 
New  Sound  Stages 

To  accommodate  heavy  production 
schedules,  Paramount  has  begun  construc- 
tion of  three  new  sound  stages  and  a 
power  house  . . . Columbia  has  effected 
a commercial  tieup  with  RCA-Victor  on 
“Penny  Serenade,”  embracing  national 
magazine  space,  newspapers,  billboards, 
radio  time,  counter  display  devices  and 
throwaways  . . . Paramount  will  screen 
“The  Shepherd  of  the  Hills”  shortly,  prob- 
ably in  Chicago,  for  field  exploiteers  and 
sales  officials,  after  which  an  expanded 
advertising  campaign  will  be  set  . . . Pre- 
release premiere  of  RKO  Radio’s  “Scat- 
tergood  Baines”  is  set  for  February  14  and 
15  in  Montpelier  and  Barre,  Vermont,  re- 
spectively. 


Warner  Buys  Broadway 
Hit;  New  RKO  Trademark 

Warner  has  purchased  “Arsenic  and 
Old  Lace,”  the  Howard  Lindsay-Russel 
Crouse  stage  hit  . . . Joseph  Poland  sold 
“Cinderella  in  Washington”  to  Republic 
and  “But  Beautiful,”  by  Everett  Freeman, 
went  to  Columbia  . . . Elliott  Nugent  will 
direct  Paramount’s  “Nothing  But  the 
Truth”  . . . Rudy  Vallee,  Glen  Gray  and 
his  orchestra  go  into  Columbia’s  “Show 
Business”  . . . RKO  Radio  will  soon  debut 
a new  film  trademark,  with  two  stream- 
lined radio  towers  replacing  the  old  “dot- 
dash”  single  tower  . . . Harry  Sherman 
has  lined  up  four  features — two  special 
westerns,  two  “Hopalong  Cassidys” — to 
produce  for  Paramount  . . . Producers  Re- 
leasing Corp.  has  added  John  T.  Coyle 
as  a producer  . . . Larry  Darmour  rolls  a 
serial,  “The  Spider  Returns,”  for  Colum- 
bia release  February  15. 


Underseas  Feature  Is 
Financed  by  Barton 

New  York — Otis  Barton,  who  with  Dr. 
William  Beebe,  developed  the  bathy- 
sphere, which  permits  greater  freedom  in 
underwater  photography,  is  personally  fi- 
nancing a new  feature  entitled  “Under  the 
Pacific.”  For  the  past  fortnight  he  has 
been  shooting  scenes  in  the  Hawaiian  Is- 
lands. The  film  will  take  two  years  to 
shoot  and  will  include  underwater  scenes 
from  the  coast  of  Australia  and  the  Malay 
Peninsula.  A leading  lady  is  being  selected 
to  join  the  expedition.  Release  will  be  se- 
cured on  completion  with  a budget  of 
$200,000  set  for  the  production. 


UA,  Columbia  May  Map 
Early  Convention  Plans 

New  York — With  the  return  of  Arthur 
W.  Kelly  from  the  coast,  plans  are  being 
mapped  for  an  early  UA  sales  convention. 

Columbia  is  also  understood  discussing 
such  an  idea  at  conferences  now  being  held 
on  the  coast  among  eastern  and  western 
executives.  Universal’s  midwest  meet  winds 
up  Monday  in  Chicago  after  three  days. 

That  the  “Little  Three,”  designation  for 
UA,  Columbia  and  Universal  as  a result 
of  the  government  suit,  were  watching  the 
majors  and  marking  time  for  early  sales 
meetings  this  year  was  indicated  in  these 
columns  several  weeks  ago. 


BOXOFFICE  : ; February  8,  1941 


17 


Rapid  Strides  Shown  Heavy  Penalties  Support 
in  UniversalRepori  Board  Subpoena  Power 


New  York  — Rapid  strides  are  being 
made  by  Universal,  and  for  the  second 
consecutive  year  operations  show  a net 
profit  of  more  than  $1,000,000.  According 
to  the  latest  consolidated  report,  the  53 
weeks  ended  November  2,  1940  showed  a 
net  profit  of  $2,390,772,  or  an  increase  of 
107  per  cent  over  the  previous  fiscal  year, 
J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  chairman  of  the  board, 
advises  stockholders. 

Gross  income  for  the  year  ended  No- 
vember 2,  last,  totaled  $27,677,627.  Net  in- 
come for  the  12  months  aggregated  $2,954,- 
467.  This  compares  with  a gross  income  of 
$23,878,868  for  the  previous  year  when  a 
net  income  of  $1,628,733  and  a net  profit 
of  $1,153,321  were  reported. 

Retire  7,261  Shares  of  Preferred 

Consolidated  current  working  assets, 
other  cash  and  accounts  receivable,  in- 
cluding restricted  British  sterling,  totaled 
to  $12,953,683  on  November  2 while  cur- 
rent liabilities  were  $4,241,774,  or  a ratio 
of  3.05  to  one.  Net  working  capital  of 
$6,823,563  compares  with  $5,512,194  the 
year  before.  Since  the  beginning  of  last 
year,  the  company  retired  7,261  shares  of 
first  preferred  at  an  average  price  of 
$118.03  per  share,  including  4,591  shares 
purchased  in  response  to  a request  last 
month  for  tenders.  This  leaves  10,739  of 
this  class  of  preferred  outstanding. 

Taxes  totaled  $1,210,648,  or  $267,490 
greater  than  in  the  1939  period,  and  were 
equivalent  to  about  50  cents  on  each  dol- 
lar of  net  profit,  according  to  Cowdin  who 
adds  the  tax  figure  for  last  year  was  97 
per  cent  larger  than  taxes  in  the  1938 
fiscal  year.  Although  the  new  excess 
profits  tax  did  not  apply  last  year,  it  will 
this  year  and  thereby  add  a substantial 
amount  to  tax  payments,  he  further  ob- 
serves. ‘'Your  company  desires  to  pay  its 
full  share  of  taxes,  but  believes  better 
profits  brought  about  by  skilled  manage- 
ment should  not  be  penalized  by  taxation 
aimed  at  war  profits,”  he  told  stockholders. 

Strive  for  Self-Sufficiency 

British  revenue  in  the  period  covered 
was  1,306,187  British  pounds  as  against 
859,084  British  pounds  in  the  1939  fiscal 
year  and  621,476  British  pounds  in  the 
1938  fiscal  year  and  600,032  in  the  1937 
period.  Thus,  a substantial  gain  is  re- 
flected in  that  direction. 

The  domestic  market,  which  always  in- 
cludes Canada,  brought  a gross  of  $18,- 
073,055,  or  an  increase  of  $2,602,535  over 
the  preceding  period.  Cowdin  re-empha- 
sizes an  earlier  statement  in  declaring  all 
effort  is  being  directed  toward  making 
Universal  self-sufficient  in  the  home 
market  and  hopes  “that  this  may  be  ac- 
complished this  year.” 

Greek-Italian  War  Short 
Is  En  Route  to  U.  S. 

New  York — A special  short  subject  of 
the  Greek-Italian  war  in  Albania  will  be 
available  shortly  to  theatres  in  the  United 
States.  Approximately  18,000  feet  of  film 
photographed  of  the  struggle  have  reached 
Egypt,  en  route  to  New  York.  American 
correspondents  in  Athens  will  provide  a 
commentary,  according  to  Thanos  Skouras, 


(Continued  from  page  9) 
damages  sustained”  to  the  parties  to  a 
complaint,  which,  conceivably,  could  run 
into  thousands  of  dollars  if  a subpoenaed 
witness,  for  whatever  reason,  declined  to 
become  involved. 

The  arbitration  form  which  will  un- 
doubtedly become  most  widely  known  and 
circulated  is  “Demand  for  Arbitration,” 
Form  I.  AAA  sources  declare  reports  have 
come  in  from  the  31  film  tribunals  that 
copies  of  this  form  have  been  picked  up 
in  each  tribunal.  However,  this  is  not  to 
be  construed  that  complaints  in  such 
volume  have  been  filed,  since  it  is  felt  at 
AAA  that  the  new  forms  are  being  studied 
for  future  use  as  well  as  for  immediate 
filing. 

Hearings  Not  Expected  Soon 

In  the  latter  respect,  it  is  pointed  out 
that  the  various  phases  or  procedure  to 
take  place  after  Form  I is  filed  consume 
up  to  30  days  prior  to  actual  hearing  be- 
fore an  arbitration  begins,  and  it  is  now 
regarded  as  unlikely  that  the  first  hear- 
ing will  be  under  way  much  before  March 
15.  Form  I is  “Statement  of  claim  and 
relief  sought”  by  the  complaining  ex- 
hibitor. It  provides  also  for  names  of 
other  exhibitors  and  distributors  whose 
property  the  complainant  believes  may 
be  affected  by  an  award. 

Form  II  is  known  as  “Complainant’s 
Submission.”  This  is  his  formal  declara- 
tion that  he  will  abide  by  and  fully  com- 
ply with  the  award  of  the  arbitrator. 

Form  III  is  “Declaration  of  Interven- 
tion.” It  is  designed  for  parties  who  are 
named  in  the  original  complaint,  are 
named  in  the  list  filed  by  a defending 
party,  or  are  exhibitors  or  distributors 
whose  property  may  be  affected  by  an 
award,  and  who  wish  to  become  interested 
in  the  proceeding  as  an  “Intervenor.” 
Form  IV  provides  that  such  parties  will 
abide  by  and  comply  with  the  award. 
Form  V is  routine;  Form  VI  provides  for 
the  transfer  of  jurisdiction  from  one  trib- 
unal to  another,  while  Form  VII  is  for  all 
parties  to  indicate  preference  of  arbi- 
trators. 

Form  VIII  is  the  arbitrator’s  notifica- 


Greek  representative  for  20th-Fox,  RKO 
and  Paramount. 

Ct  ^ 

Arbitration  Board  in 
RCA  Building 

New  York — The  industry's  national  ar- 
bitration appeals  board  comprising  Van 
Vechten  Veeder,  Albert  W.  Putnam  and 
George  W.  Alger  has  selected  offices  on 
the  12th  floor  of  the  RCA  Building  in 
Rockefeller  Center  and  expects  to  take 
occupancy  on  February  12.  The  appeals 
board  will  thus  be  within  one  block  of 
the  new  headquarters  of  the  American 
Arbitration  Ass'n.,  now  located  on  the 
eighth  floor  of  the  U.  S.  Rubber  Co. 
Building,  newest  unit  in  the  Rockefeller 
development. 

I*-  v 


tion  he  has  been  chosen  to  hear  a case, 
compensation  for  which  is  “fixed  at  $10 
per  diem  for  each  day  or  part  thereof 
that  you  attend  a hearing  or  make  an 
inspection.”  Form  IX  deals  with  mutual 
agreement  of  both  parties  to  selection  of 
an  arbitrator.  Form  X is  an  “Application 
for  Revocation  of  Appointment  of  Arbi- 
trator,” which  provides  for  either  side  to 
submit  affidavits  stating  its  allegation  for 
demand  that  an  arbitrator  be  disqualified. 
Forms  XI  and  XII  are  routine  in  connec- 
tion with  revocation  of  arbitrators;  while 
Form  XIII  is  “Notice  of  Hearing,”  which 
states  the  time  a hearing  is  to  start. 

Form  XIV  is  available  for  the  reopening 
of  a hearing  in  cases  where  an  original 
complaint  was  settled  before  it  came  to 
arbitration,  but  settlement  of  which  was 
not  satisfactory.  Form  XV  is  routine  in 
connection  with  Form  XIV.  Form  XVI  is 
the  oath  of  an  arbitrator.  Form  XVII  is  the 
“Subpoena  Duces  Tecum”  referred  to 
earlier,  and  Form  XVIII  is  the  official 
“Subpoena,”  but  without  the  demand  that 
“you  bring  with  you,  and  produce  at 
the  time  and  place  aforesaid  a certain 

now  in  your  custody  and 

all  other  deeds  and  evidences  which  you 
have  in  your  custody  or  power  concern- 
ing the  premises.” 

May  Inspect  Premises 

Form  XIX  is  a notice  that  the  arbi- 
trator deems  it  necessary  to  make  an  in- 
spection of  certain  premises  in  connection 
with  an  arbitration.  Form  XX  is  routine. 
Form  XXI  is  for  an  application  for  ex- 
tension of  time,  and  Form  XXII,  the 
longest  of  all — three  pages — is  a record  of 
the  proceeding  in  condensed,  office  form. 
Form  XXIII  is  the  “Award  of  Arbitrator,” 
Form  XXIV  is  an  application  for  the  ar- 
bitration to  be  reopened  for  a specific  pur- 
pose, Form  XXV  is  routine,  and  Form 
XXVI  is  a “General  Stipulation.” 

Form  XXVII  is  “Notice  of  Appeal,” 
which  provides  for  a deposit  of  $25.  Form 
XXVIII  is  “Record  of  Appeal,”  which  takes 
the  appeals  board  through  each  of  the 
steps  of  the  arbitration  to  an  award  it  is 
being  asked  to  review. 

Republic  Sews  Up  Deal 
For  Texas  Franchise 

New  York — On  his  return  from  Dallas, 
James  R.  Grainger,  president  of  Republic 
Pictures,  revealed  the  company  had  con- 
cluded negotiations  with  William  G.  Under- 
wood and  Claude  C.  Ezell,  Texas  franchise 
holders,  for  the  purchase  of  their  interests. 
Both  men  will  devote  their  time  to  theatre 
interests  and  are  now  understood  building 
up  a circuit  of  open  air  theatres.  Lloyd 
Rust  will  continue  as  manager  of  the  Dal- 
las branch  and  no  changes  in  personnel 
will  be  made,  according  to  Grainger. 

The  purchase  is  in  line  with  Herbert  J. 
Yates  plan  announced  some  time  ago  to 
buy  up  as  many  franchises  as  possible  in 
an  endeavor  to  operate  under  a national 
distribution  system  like  the  major  com- 
panies. 


18 


BOXOFFICE  ;:  February  8,  1941 


w 

■■■  ■ 
ilSI! 


GEORGE  BRENT 
They  Dare  Not  Love 


ill 

i 


CARY  GRANT 

1 Penny  Serenade 


IRENE  DUNNE  FRANCHOT  TONE  /JOAN  DENNETT 

Penny  Serenade  in" A Girl’s  Best  Friend  Is  Wall  Street"  /in  A Girl’s  Best  Friend  Is  Wall  Street" 


i—i 


VIRGINIA  BRUCE 

in  Senate  Page  Boys 

( tentative  title  j 


ERRERT  MARSHALL 

n Senate  Page  Boys 


(tentative  title) 


Martha  scott 

They  Dare  Not  Love' 


in 


ACKIE  COOPER 

"Her  First  Beau" 


JANE  WITHERS 

in" Her  First  Beau" 


WILLIAM  HOLDEN  WARREN  WILLIAM 

u^r  //  //•!■  // 

in  lexas  inf  I cxas 


Predict  Settlement 
All  Gov't  Suits 

(Continued  from  page  4) 

be  made,  as  are  anticipated  in  the  Schine 
deal  now  being  worked  out. 

As  soon  as  these  two  agreements  are 
completed,  the  government  is  slated  to  sit 
down  with  counsel  for  Tony  Sudekum  of 
the  Crescent  circuit  whose  headquarters 
are  in  Nashville  where  that  suit  is  on  file 
in  the  federal  court. 

Meanwhile,  the  government  is  not  en- 
tirely abandoning  hope  on  some  arrange- 
ment with  the  “Little  Three.”  While  the 
final  deal  may  not  result  in  a decree,  some 
sort  of  a working  arrangement,  or  under- 
standing, will  be  forthcoming,  according  to 
those  who  have  been  maintaining  consis- 
tently a settlement  finally  would  be 
reached. 

In  regard  to  UA,  which  always  has  held 
that  its  selling  policy  calls  for  individual 
agreements  on  each  picture,  the  under- 
standing probably  will  be  that  this  plan  be 
continued  with  no  exceptions.  In  many 
instances,  exhibitors  have  told  the  govern- 
ment block  deals  have  been  made  for  all 
of  a UA  producer’s  lineup  or  the  entire 
program.  The  government  will  insist  that 
the  full  block  sales  be  discontinued. 

Sources  at  Columbia  intimate  its  selling 
policy  may  be  changed  to  conform  with 
the  decree  and  that  before  the  year  is  end- 
ed the  company  may  offer  no  more  than 
five  in  any  individual  deal. 

Say  "U"  Will  Stay  Pat 

Universal  executives  say  they  are  not  con- 
templating any  change  in  marketing  meth- 
ods at  this  time,  but  observers  feel  that,  if 
UA  and  Columbia  change  their  plans,  Uni- 
versal will  fall  in  line. 

It  is  pointed  out,  too,  that  both  Uni- 
versal and  Columbia  have  been  selling 
more  two  and  three-year  franchises  in  the 
past  few  months  than  ever  before.  UA  has 
not  been  pushing  the  franchise  idea,  hav- 
ing discontinued  it  several  seasons  ago  be- 
cause of  the  uncertainty  of  deliveries  from 
year  to  year. 

With  Columbia  and  Universal  satisfied 
over  the  number  of  their  franchises,  it  is 
believed  that  exhibitors  who  have  not 
signed  such  agreements  may  begin  to  de- 
mand pictures  in  groups  of  five,  following 
the  order  adopted  by  “The  Big  Five.”  The 
reputed  reason  for  this  is  that  there  will 
be  more  selectivity  for  the  small  exhibitor 
who  will  want  more  choice  in  spotting  his 
shows. 

May  Demand  Previews 

Under  the  decree,  an  exhibitor  dealing 
with  the  “Big  Five”  has  an  opportunity  of 
bargaining  for  any  or  all  of  the  groups  of 
five  trade  shown.  He  is  in  a position  to 
buy  one  or  two,  three  or  four,  or  none  at 
all,  after  he  sees  the  pictures.  Exhibitors 
may  even  demand  Columbia  and  Universal 
trade  show  their  product  before  buying. 

If  the  “Little  Three”  readjust  their  sell- 
ing methods  to  small  blocks,  it  is  felt  the 
government’s  case  against  them  will  be  well 
nigh  eliminated,  for  it  is  the  block  booking 
methods  to  which  the  department  strenu- 
ously objects. 

Judge  Henry  Warren  Goddard,  mean- 


while, has  set  February  17  for  hearing  on 
the  application  by  the  “Little  Three”  to 
dismiss  the  amended  and  supplemental  bill 
of  complaint,  which  was  filed  after  “The 
Big  Five”  settled  on  a decree.  Counsel  for 
the  three  distributors  have  persistently 
maintained  there  is  no  cause  of  action 
against  these  companies  since  they  own  no 
theatres  and  have  many  times  sold  away 
from  the  customers  which  have  been  held 
by  the  government  to  be  “a  monopoly.” 

Preliminary  motions  have  been  heard 
during  the  past  10  days  in  the  Griffith  and 
Schine  cases  in  Oklahoma  City  and  Buf- 
falo. Motions  and  hearings  will  continue, 
as  in  the  big  suit,  until  compromise  settle- 
ments are  reached. 

All  of  the  pending  cases,  according  to 
the  insiders,  are  expected  to  be  cleared 
from  various  court  calendars  by  the  end 
of  the  year. 


Delay  Schine  Suit; 

Try  for  Settlement 

Buffalo — Scheduled  for  hearing  Febru- 
ary 3,  the  government’s  anti-trust  suit 
against  the  Schine  circuit  has  been  post- 
poned indefinitely. 

The  delay  is  the  first  formal  admission 
of  Boxoffice’s  exclusive  story  from  Wash- 
ington on  December  21  that  a settlement 
was  in  work  with  Willard  S.  McKay,  New 
York  attorney  for  Schine,  handling  the 
circuit’s  end. 

Ever  since  the  story  broke  in  Boxoffice, 
local  exhibitors  have  been  trying  to  find 
out  what  disposition  is  being  made  of  the 
suit.  As  matters  now  stand,  it  will  be  a 
week  or  so  before  terms  of  a decree  are 
drafted  in  writing. 

The  main  issues  for  settlement  are  un- 
derstood to  have  been  worked  out  in  the 
past  week  between  McKay  and  Robert  L. 
Wright,  government  attorney,  with  the 
final  drafting  of  the  agreement  now  in 
other  department  hands. 


Gov't  Bill  of  Complaint 
Holds  "Little  Three" 

Oklahoma  City — Not  unexpected,  Fed- 
eral Judge  Edgar  S.  Vaught  has  denied  mo- 
tion by  counsel  for  the  “Little  Three”  to 
dismiss  the  government’s  amended  bill  of 
complaint  in  the  Griffith  Amusement  case. 

At  the  same  time,  the  judge  extended 
the  time  for  defendants  to  answer  or  ob- 
ject to  the  long  list  of  government  inter- 
rogatories until  March  1,  with  indications 
that  unless  something  happened  in  the 
way  of  a settlement  trial  could  be  ex- 
pected in  the  spring. 

The  current  hearings,  while  regarded  as 
important  to  Edward  C.  Raftery,  counsel 
for  Universal  and  United  Artists,  must  be 
continued  until  secret  negotiations  now 
going  on  for  a separate  decree  are  con- 
cluded. Malcolm  McKenzie  of  this  city 
assisted  Raftery  and  also  acted  for  Colum- 
bia. J.  B.  Dudley,  also  of  this  city,  repre- 
sented the  circuit  defendants. 


fi.tlas  Preferred,  75  Cents 

New  York — Atlas  has  declared  a 75  cents 
dividend  on  the  6 per  cent  preferred  stock 
for  the  quarter  ending  February  28,  pay- 
able March  1 to  stockholders  of  record 
February  14. 


National  Theatres 
Delays  Meeting 

New  York — Pressure  of  business  has 
compelled  Spyros  Skouras  to  postpone  the 
annual  meeting  of  National  Theatres  di- 
visional managers,  originally  scheduled  for 
the  week  of  February  10  at  the  Ambassa- 
dor, Los  Angeles.  Tentative  plans  now  call 
for  the  session  to  start  either  February  24 
or  March  3,  with  the  latter  date  most  like- 
ly the  one  to  be  finally  set. 

For  the  past  few  months  Skouras  has 
taken  an  intensive  interest  in  the  Greek 
Relief  Fund  drive,  visiting  various  sections 
of  the  country  and  holding  meetings  for 
the  cause. 

At  the  coast  meetings,  new  policies  will 
be  discussed  as  well  as  an  analysis  of  the 
decree,  as  it  affects  theatre  operation,  by 
Richard  Everett  Dwight  and  Fred  Pride 
of  Dwight,  Harris,  Koegel  & Caskey,  coun- 
sel for  20th-Fox  and  National  Theatres. 

Winners  in  the  recent  drive  have  been 
tabulated  and  will  be  announced  at  the 
coast  sessions.  Arch  Bowles,  northern 
California  zone  head,  has  returned  to  San 
Francisco  after  a few  weeks  here.  David 
Idzal,  managing  director  of  the  Fox,  De- 
troit, made  one  of  his  periodic  trips  to  the 
National  home  office.  Edward  Zabel,  as- 
sistant to  Skouras,  is  back  from  a week  in 
Milwaukee,  and  Milton  S.  Hossfeld,  who 
has  been  vacationing  on  the  coast,  is  due 
back  Monday. 

New  Cash  Quiz  Game 
Launched  by  Circuits 

New  York — A new  Cash  Quiz  game  is 
currently  breaking  in  theatres  in  the  east, 
including  most  of  the  first  run  chains, 
among  them  M&P,  Fabian,  Schine’s,  Rand- 
force,  and  Loew’s. 

A distinguishing  feature  of  Cash  Quiz 
is  that  prizes  are  awarded  the  week  fol- 
lowing participation  in  the  quiz,  with  at- 
tendance compulsory  to  collect  the  prize. 

The  game  is  run  without  a master  of 
ceremonies,  being  shown  on  the  screen  and 
employing  a sound  track  which  is  used  in 
connection  with  a series  of  cartoons  to  ask 
the  questions. 

Patrons  receive  numbered  cards  tabbed 
for  “yes”  and  “no”  answers.  These  cards 
are  collected  by  ushers  and  the  following 
week  the  ones  marked  correctly  are  called 
from  the  stage  and  the  week’s  prize  sum 
divided  among  the  winners.  Unclaimed 
amounts  go  into  a jackpot. 

Second  20th-Fox  Parley  on 
Decree  Set  lor  March 

New  York — A second  conference  on  the 
operation  of  the  decree  will  be  held  by 
20th-Fox  home  office  and  studio  execu- 
tives on  the  coast,  sometime  in  March, 
preliminary  to  the  new  selling  season.  The 
session  will  await  return  from  New  York  of 
Joseph  M.  Schenck,  chairman  of  the  board, 
now  in  the  east  on  personal  business.  Sid- 
ney R.  Kent,  president,  and  Felix  A.  Jen- 
kins, general  counsel,  will  be  among  those 
attending. 

Plans  now  are  being  made  for  indi- 
vidual handling  of  “The  Outlaw,”  produced 
by  Howard  Hughes. 


20 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


Mona  Maris  • Jonathan  Hale 
Directed  by  VINCENT  SHERMAN 

Screen  Play  by  Barry  Trivers 
From  a Story  by  Anthony  Berkeley 
A Warner  Bros.. First  National  Picture 


Starring 

GERALDINE  FITZGERALD 

of  "Dark  Victory" 

THOMAS  MITCHELL 

of  "Gone  With  The  Wind " 

JEFFREY  LYNN 

of  ' All  This,  And  Heaven  Too" 

JAMES  STEPHENSON 

of  "The  Letter " 


"Philadelphia  Story"  Takes 
January  Blue  Ribbon  Award 

A comedy  of  high  society  behind  the  scenes  of  the  forbidden 
Philadelphia  "Mam  Line"  is  M-G-M's  screen  dramatization  of  "The 
Philadelphia  Story,"  which  picture  has  been  selected  by  members 
of  the  National  Screen  Council  as  the  outstanding  film  released  in 
January  and  winner  of  the  BOXOFFICE  Blue  Ribbon  Award  for 
that  month. 

Directed  by  George  Cukor  and  produced  by  Joseph  L.  Mankie- 
wicz,  the  trio  star  players  comprise  Cary  Grant,  Katharine  Hepburn 
and  James  Stewart,  the  supporting  cast  being  headed  by  Ruth 
Hussey,  John  Howard,  Roland  Young,  John  Halliday,  Mary  Nash 
and  Virginia  Weidler. 

Cary  Grant  has  received  previous  BOXOFFICE  Award  plaques 
for  his  performances  in  "Holiday,"  which  won  the  June,  1938, 
Award  and  in  which  Katharine  Hepburn  also  appeared  and  for 
which  she  received  an  honor  plaque,  for  Gunga  Din  (Feb.  1939), 
and  "The  Howards  of  Virginia"  (Sept.  1940).  James  Stewart  has 
received  similar  Award  honors  also  for  "You  Can't  Take  It  With 
You"  (Oct.  1938),  "Mr.  Smith  Goes  to  Washington"  (Oct.  1939), 
and  "The  Mortal  Storm"  (June,  1940).  Virginia  Weidler  received 
two  Award  plaques  last  year  for  her  roles  in  "Young  Tom  Edison 
(Mar.  1940),  and  "All  This,  and  Heaven  Too"  (July,  1940).  George 
Cukor,  who  directed  "Holiday,"  and  Donald  Ogden  Stewart  who 
wrote  the  screenplay  for  that  film,  have  both  received  Award 
plaques  for  their  work  on  that  production. 


Production  Staff 


Executive  Producer 

Louis  I . Mayer 

Producer.. ..Joseph  L.  Maukiewicz 

Director  George  Cukor 

Screenplay 

Donald  Ogden  Stewart 

Based  on  Play  by Philip  Barry 

Produced  by... .Theatre  Guild,  Inc. 
Photography 

Joseph  Ruttenberg,  A.S.C. 


Musical  Score Franz  Waxman 

Recording  Director 

Douglas  Shearer 

Art  Director Cedric  Gibbons 

Associate  Art  Director 

Wade  B.  Rubottom 

Set  Decorations.... Edwin  B.  Willis 

Gowns  by -. Adrian 

Hair  Styles  by... .Sydney  Guilaroff 
Film  Editor Frank  Sullivan 


This  Award  is  given  each 
month  to  the  film  receiving 
the  highest  number  of  votes 
by  the  members  of  the  Na- 
tional  Screen  Council,  whose 
selection  is  governed  by  out- 
standing merit  and  suitabil- 
ity of  the  film  to  whole-fam- 
ily entertainment.  Members 
of  the  Council  include  over 
200  motion  picture  editors  of 
leading  newspapers  through- 
out the  country,  motion  pic- 
ture reviewing  committee  of 
the  International  Federation 
of  Catholic  Alumnae,  and 
state  motion  picture  chair- 
men of  the  General  Fed- 
eration of  Women’s  Clubs. 


Cast  of  Characters 


C.  K.  Dexter  Haven...  Cary  Grant 
Tracy  Lord.... Katharine  Hepburn 
Macaulay  Connor. ...James  Stewart 

Elizabeth  Imbrie Ruth  Hussey 

George  Kittredge John  Howard 

Uncle  Willie Roland  Young 


Seth  Lord.... John  Halliday 

Margaret  Lord Mary  Nash 

Dinah  Lord Virginia  Weidler 

Sidney  Kidd Henry  Daniell 

Edward Lionel  Pape 

Thomas Rex  Evans 


Opinions  on  Current  Productions,  and 
t xploitips  for  Selling  to  the  Public 


FEATURE  REVIEWS 


p. 


Western  Union  F "vestin' 

20th  Century-Fox  (126)  93  Minutes  Rel.  Feb.  21.  '41 

Clear  all  wires — here's  a flash  of  action  entertainment 
which  should  be  a must  on  Page  One  of  everybody's  motion 
picture  theatre  budget.  It  relates  the  stringing  of  the  first 
trans-continental  telegraph  line,  around  which  hazardous 
undertaking  is  spun  such  a yarn  of  hardship,  adventure  and 
romance  as  to  make  the  film  one  of  the  all-time  superest  of 
the  super- westerns.  As  a piece  of  red-blooded,  he-man 
showmanship  the  film  is  close  to  perfection.  The  bankroll 
stops  are  pulled  out  to  their  limits  to  mount  the  production 
and  endow  it  with  the  sweep  and  spectacle  which  have 
become  a necessary  adjunct  to  epics  dealing  with  the 
winning  of  the  west.  The  cast,  although  it  boasts  no  top- 
flight names,  was  shrewdly  selected  and  every  member 
thereof  justifies  his  or  her  (there  is  only  one  her)  place  on 
the  program.  Fritz  Lang's  direction  keeps  the  story  moving 
at  a gallop  all  the  way.  Technicolor  photography  was  never 
used  to  better  advantage  than  in  ensnaring  the  natural 
beauties  of  the  western  plains,  mountains  and  forests, 
against  which  natural  backgrounds  the  feature  was  staged. 
The  screenplay  is  an  adaptation  of  an  original  by  Zane 
Grey  and  chronicles  the  attempts  of  renegades  and  Indians 
to  hamper  the  construction  of  the  "singing  wires"  between 
Omaha  and  Salt  Lake  City. 

Robert  Young,  Randolph  Scott,  Dean  Jagger,  Virginia  Gil- 
more, John  Carradine,  Slim  Summerville,  Chill  Wills. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Prepare  a giant  telegram  with  copy  concern- 
ing the  picture  and  hang  it  above  the  marquee  as  a ban- 
ner. In  cooperation  with  local  Western  Union  offices,  ar- 
range to  have  messenger  boys  wear  armbands  plugging 
the  film.  Install  a modern  teletype  in  theatre  lobby  and  in- 
vite patrons  to  send  messages  to  friends  and  relatives.  Have 
local  Western  Union  managers  place  heralds  advertising 
the  feature  on  all  outgoing  telegram  envelopes.  Give  Robert 
Young  and  Randolph  Scott  the  marquee  credits. 

CATCHLINES:  Fighting  Engineers  of  the  "Singing  Wires" 

. . . Battling  With  Six-Gun  and  Rifle  to  Clear  an  Electric 
Path  Through  the  Wilderness. 


b 2- 


The  Wild  Man  of  Borneo  F Comedv 

M-G-M  (121)  78  Minutes  Rel.  Jan.  24,  '41 

Substantial  and  competent  entertainment  has  been  con- 
cocted out  of  the  original  Marc  Connelly-Herman  Mankie- 
wicz  play.  A period  piece,  the  story  utilizes  smooth  laughing 
matter,  middle  age  and  youthful  romances,  an  introduction 
to  the  world  of  the  sidewalk  pitchman  and  a smartly  cast 
troupe  that  gives  out  creditably.  Medicine  Showman  Frank 
Morgan  leaves  the  road  to  find  his  daughter,  whom  he 
thinks  has  come  into  money.  The  truth  is  otherwise.  Both  go 
to  gas-lit  New  York  and  take  up  residence  at  a theatrical 
boarding  house  run  by  Billie  Burke.  Other  tenants  include 
Donald  Meek,  a bird  imitator;  Bonita  Granville  and  Dan 
Dailey  jr.  Marjorie  Main  is  the  scullery  maid  who  tells 
everyone  off,  but  comically.  Morgan  immediately  senses 
the  gullible  Miss  Burke's  feeling  for  the  theatre  and  proceeds 
to  fill  her  ears  with  the  mullarkey.  He  "assumes"  a solo  kin- 
ship with  Richard  Mansfield.  However,  in  order  to  make 
some  money  he  takes  a job  in  Walter  Catlett's  freak  mu- 
seum where  ultimately  he  is  found  by  the  boarding  house 
menage.  It  then  gets  complicated,  but  Morgan's  natural 
vocal  gift  finds  a way  out. 

Frank  Morgan,  Mary  Howard,  Billie  Burke,  Donald  Meek, 
Marjorie  Main,  Connie  Gilchrist. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Work  up  a spiel  contest  among  the  customers 
with  passes  for  the  winners.  Get  the  doorman  to  dress  loud- 
ly, a la  Frank  Morgan  and  have  him  reel  off  a spiel  on  the 
merits  of  the  film.  Get  a few  oil  burning  carriage  lamps  for 
lobby  atmosphere.  Tie  in  with  shops  for  Miss  Howard's 
costumes.  Distribute  lollypops  with  the  wrapper  imprinted 
"Don't  Be  a Sucker,  See  Frank  Morgan  Expose  All  the  Tricks 
of  the  Trade." 

CATCHLINES:  He  Might  Soft  Soap  You — But  You'll  Come 
Out  Laughing  and  Holding  Your  Sides. 

See  the  "Wild  Man"  in  a Cage  and  Out  ...  In  Hot  Water 
and  Up  a Tree. 


24 


BOXOFFICE 


Back  Street 


A 


Triangle 
Drama 

Universal  ( ) 89  Minutes  Rel.  Feb.  7,  '41 

The  original  version  of  this  well-known  novel  by  Fannie 
Hurst,  of  course,  will  be  remembered  as  an  important  attrac- 
tion. A review  of  the  new  version  with  Charles  Boyer  and 
Margaret  Sullavan  inevitably  gets  under  way  with  the  self- 
tntasi  safe  observation.  "Back  Street"  is  in  the  bag  because  of  its 
'<ro  predominant  appeal  to  women.  Presumably,  the  story  is 
familiar,  telling  as  it  does  of  the  Cincinnati  girl  who  loses 
out  on  marriage  through  a twist  of  fate  but  who  later  meets 
the  man  she  loves  in  New  York.  He  is  married,  and  a 
father;  she  is  a designer  of  clothes.  Their  romance  again 
flourishes  and  remains  alive  over  a period  of  25  years  when 
the  man's  death  is  immediately  followed  by  the  woman's. 
All  through  their  association,  she  walks  the  back  street  of 
his  life,  influencing  him  and  loving  him  but  always  sharing 
him  with  his  family  and  his  worldly  position.  "Back  Street" 
is  a touching  and  tender  story,  very  well  performed  by  its 
two  principals  and  intelligently  and  restrainedly  directed  by 
Robert  Stevenson,  young  British  director  now  in  Hollywood. 
The  supporting  cast  is  in  keeping  with  the  whole.  Production 
trappings  are  excellent  and  expertly  applied  to  the  dramatic 
thread  of  the  drama. 

Charles  Boyer,  Margaret  Sullavan,  Richard  Carlson,  Frank 
McHugh,  Tim  Holt,  Samuel  S.  Hinds,  Frank  Jenks. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Emphasis  on  star  value,  of  course,  is  import- 
ant. The  author  is  worth  stressing,  also.  The  costumes  of  the 
early  part  of  the  century  suggest  a fashion  contest.  The 
press  book  advises  throwaways  made  up  of  pages  of  the 
novel,  but  carrying  an  imprint  about  the  date  of  the  engage- 
ment in  red.  For  those  who  go  in  for  street  ballyhoos,  an 
open  book  effect  carrying  cutouts  of  Boyer  and  Sullavan 
might  be  mounted  on  a truck  for  a tour  of  the  neighborhood. 
Directional  snipes,  if  locally  acceptable  with  the  authorities, 
could  point  to  the  theatre  with  messages  reading  "All  Roads 
Lead  to  Back  Street"  and  then  the  name  of  the  theatre. 

CATCHLINES:  She  Lived  on  the  Back  Street  of  Romance 
. . . The  Story  of  a Woman  Who  Had  to  Steal  Her  Happiness. 

Is  There  a Romance  Like  This  in  the  Back  Street  of  Every 
Man's  Life? 


rea 
It  Pa 


You're  the  One 

Paramount  (4017) 


F 


Western 

81  Minutes  Rel.  Feb.  7,  '41 

Fans  who  have  dumped  carloads  of  nickels  into  the  juke 
boxes  to  hear  Wee  Bonnie  Baker  and  Orrin  Tucker's  orch- 
estra should  be  more  than  satisfied  with  their  first  film  ap- 
pearance. It's  a nonsensical  musical,  giving  Bonnie  plenty 
of  opportunity  to  display  her  talents,  including  a rendition 
of  "Oh,  Johnny,"  which  skyrocketed  her  to  fame  among 
swing  addicts.  The  vehicle,  produced  and  written  by  Gene 
Markey,  is  well  equipped  to  please  most  audiences.  Tucker 
emerges  as  a surprisingly  competent  actor  with  personality 
and  a singing  voice.  Supporting  cast  is  headed  by  Jerry 
Colonna,  whose  screwball  comedy  enlivens  the  proceedings 
considerably.  The  plot  is  very  slight  and  has  a dance 
band-broadcasting  background,  which  provides  ample  op- 
portunity for  the  staging  of  five  musical  numbers.  Colonna 
runs  a resort  catering  to  those  wishing  to  lose  weight.  To 
it  comes  Albert  Dekker,  orchestra  leader,  who  must  drop 
50  pounds  in  order  to  grab  a sponsor.  Rivalry  springs  up  be- 
tween Dekker  and  Tucker  over  the  services  of  Bonnie  as 
singer.  Ralph  Murphy  did  a competent  directorial  job. 

Orrin  Tucker,  Bonnie  Baker,  Jerry  Colonna,  Albert  Dekker, 
Edward  Everett  Horton,  Lillian  Cornell,  Teddy  Hart. 

EXPLOITIPS:  Play  the  Bonnie  Baker-Orrin  Tucker  record- 
ing of  "Oh,  Johnny"  over  the  lobby  p.  a.  system.  Music  store 
tieups  should  be  arranged  not  only  on  past  Tucker-Baker 
records,  but  also  on  the  five  numbers  in  this  picture.  Jerry 
Colonna  has  built  up  quite  a following  via  phonograph 
recordings,  films  and  radio  appearances.  Give  him  support- 
ing mention  on  the  marquee.  Distribute  small  heart-shaped 
badges  as  throwaways,  each  imprinted  with  the  picture  title. 
Hold  an  amateur  contest  for  Bonnie  Baker  imitators. 

/ery  CATCHLINES:  It's  Wee  Bonnie  Baker  . . . The  Lass  With 
* the  Little-Girl  Voice  . . . Who  Made  Herself  the  Nation's 
Sweetheart  With  "Oh,  Johnny." 

She  11  Be  Number  One  on  Your  Heart  Parade  . . . When 
You  See  Bonnie  Baker  of  the  Airlanes. 


February  8,  1941 


21 


An  Interpretative  Analysis  of  Opinions  Deduced 
From  the  Language  of  Lay  and  Trade  Press  Reviews 


The  plus  cmd  minus  signs  indicate  the  degree  of  favor  or  disfavor  of 
the  review.  Where  our  compiler  is  unable  to  form  any  opinion  from 
the  review  the  sign  "o"  is  used.  Blank  spaces  indicate  no  review. 
This  department  serves  also  as  an  Alphabetical  Index  to  feature  re- 
leases. Listings  cover  reviews  appearing  by  the  Saturday  preceding 


date  of  this  issue.  It  will  be  brought  up  to  date  from  week  to  week 
The  meaning  of  the  various  signs  and  their  combinations  is  as  follows: 
++  Very  Good;  + Good;  — Fair;  Mediocre;  — Poor;  — Very  Poor 
In  the  summary  ff  Is  rated  as  2 pluses;  = us  2 minuses. 

(Numeral  preceding:  title  Is  Picture  Guide  Review  page  number). 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8.  1941 


25 


FOR  YOUR  CONVENIENCE 


Indexed  on  the  adjoining  two  pages  are  the  pictures 
reviewed  in  the  new  style  started  January  4.  The  num- 
ber preceding  title  is  your  key  to  the  Picture  Guide  pages,  the  new  reviews  being  added  each  week.  Addi- 
tionally, a Quarterly  Index,  arranged  alphabetically  by  companies,  will  be  published  for  Picture  Guide  use. 


Buck  Privates 


Secret  Evidence 


Universal  ( ) 84  Minutes  Rel.  fan.  31.  '41 

Timeliness  is  this  feature's  greatest  asset.  As  the  first  of 
an  impending  large  number  of  pictures  dealing  with  the 
draft  and  other  phases  of  national  defense,  it  will  doubt- 
lessly strike  a popular  chord  and  register  revenue  scores  of 
husky  proportions.  The  task  of  spinning  a yarn  about  life 
in  Uncle  Sam's  newly  recruited  army  is  undertaken  with  a 
tongue-in-cheek  attitude,  which  keeps  the  motivation  within 
the  established  limits  of  musical  comedy  most  of  the  way. 
Consequently,  during  the  film's  comic  and  musical  mo- 
ments— and  they  predominate — it  is  very  good  entertain- 
ment, approaching  the  riotous  at  times  In  which  depart- 
ments, credit  goes  to  Abbott  and  Costello  and  the  Andrews 
Sisters,  respectively.  When  the  story  veers  toward  its  few 
dramatic,  super-patriotic  and  romantic  interludes,  however, 
it  loses  ground,  attributable  principally  to  weak  perform- 
ances by  the  remaining  members  of  the  cast.  Arthur  Lubin's 
direction,  his  first  "A"  assignment,  is  of  high  calibre. 

Lee  Bowman,  Alan  Curtis,  Bud  Abbott.  Lou  Costello,  the 
Andrews  Sisters,  Jane  Frazee,  Nat  Pendleton. 


Producers  Releasing  Corp.  (107)  G3  Minutes  Rel.  Jan.  3,  '41 

Melodrama  in  which  circumstantial  evidence  almost  con- 
victs an  innocent  man  of  an  attempted  murder,  this  carries 
a heavy  enough  cargo  of  entertainment  to  earn  its  way  in 
the  action  and  neighborhood  houses.  Further,  it  provides  an 
A-l  example  of  how  Producer  E.  B.  Derr  can  squeeze  the 
utmost  out  of  every  budget  dollar  The  cast  is  pretty  light 
as  to  drawing  power,  but  turns  in  satisfactory  performances, 
with  Marjorie  Reynolds  and  Charles  Quigley,  in  the  leads, 
being  particularly  effective.  Quigley  portrays  a rising  young 
assistant  in  the  district  attorney's  office,  in  love  with  Miss 
Reynolds.  When  Ward  McTaggart,  an  ex-convict,  is  seriously 
wounded,  her  brother  is  arrested  and  tried.  Quigley  then  is 
faced  with  the  dilemma  as  to  whether  to  risk  losing  Miss 
Reynolds'  love  or  finding  the  true  assailant.  William  Nigh 
directed. 

Marjorie  Reynolds,  Charles  Quigley,  Ward  McTaggart,  Ken- 
neth Harlan,  Bob  White,  Boyd  Irwin,  Donald  Curtis. 


EXPLOITIPS:  Make  over  theatre  front  and  lobby  to  look 
like  a recruiting  post,  with  a "soldier”  doing  "sentry  duty” 
on  the  sidewalk  in  front.  Hold  a special  "draft”  preview 
to  which  neighborhood  draftees  are  invited  at  courtesy  rates. 
Perhaps  one  of  the  R.  O.  T.  C.  units  could  be  persuaded  to 
present  a drill  team  on  the  stage.  Abbott  and  Costello,  radio 
comics,  and  the  Andrews  Sisters,  renowned  singing  en- 
semble, rate  the  marquee  credits.  Arrange  tieups  with 
music  stores  on  the  Andrews  Sisters'  recordings  and  on  the 
six  songs  contained  in  the  picture. 

CATCHLINES:  It's  a Riot  of  Music  and  Laughter  As  Ab- 
bott and  Costello  Become  Units  in  Uncle  Sam's  Great  Draft 
Army  . . . And  Nearly  Upset  the  Whole  Defense  Program. 


EXPLOITIPS:  Charles  Quigley  has  earned  something  of  a 
reputation  among  action  fans  and  consequently  deserves  the 
marquee  credits.  Hang  a huge  compo-board  question  mark 
above  the  boxoffice  or  marquee  and  snipe  the  neighborhood 
with  posters  containing  a portrait  of  Ward  McTaggart.  cap- 
tioned "Wanted — Dangerous  Criminal."  Ask  police  coopera- 
tion in  arranging  an  anti-crime  display  in  the  lobby,  in- 
cluding fingerprinting  apparatus  and  an  explanation  of  the 
science  of  ballistics.  Promote  an  essay  contest  among  high 
school  students  on  the  question  of  circumstantial  evidence 
and  its  value  and  disadvantages  in  courts  of  law. 

CATCHLINES:  He  Had  to  Choose  Between  the  Woman  He 
Loved  . . . And  His  Professional  Reputation. 


They  Were  Caught  in  the  Draft  . . . And  Found  Life  as 
Rookie  Soldiers  Better  Than  Being  Constantly  Behind  the 
Eight-Ball 


The  Finger  of  Accusation  Pointed  to  a Man  Who  Was  Inno- 
cent . . . But  Couldn't  Prove  It. 


Hotel  Du  Nord 

luno  Films  (SR) 


83  Minutes 


Rel.  - 


Handled  in  the  directorial  tradition  that  created  esteem  for 
French  product  in  this  country,  "Hotel  Du  Nord"  is  a com- 
pelling dramatic  story,  in  the  "Grand  Hotel”  manner.  The 
existences  of  a group  of  prosaic  people  in  a small  pension 
in  Paris  are  jolted  into  emotional  heights  by  the  affairs  of  a 
man  and  a girl.  The  girl  comes  with  a lover  to  carry  out 
a suicide  pact.  The  man,  a criminal,  is  hiding  from 
gangsters  out  to  put  him  on  the  spot  for  framing  them.  The 
girl  survives  a bullet.  The  lover  is  jailed.  When  she  re- 
turns she  finds  in  the  criminal  another  soul  trying  to  find 
itself.  They  go  off  to  Marseilles,  but  she  returns  without 
having  fulfilled  her  part  of  the  bargain  by  going  eventually 
to  Port  Said.  Back  at  the  pension,  the  girl  is  later  reunited 
with  her  released  lover  and  the  criminal  is  murdered  dur- 
ing a July  14th  celebration.  The  girl  is  Annabella;  the  man, 
Louis  Jouvet.  Marcel  Came  seems  to  have  directed  his  story 
in  real  Montmartre  locations.  From  France,  another  fine 
film. 

Louis  Jouvet,  Annabella.  Arletty,  Jean-Pierre  Aumont.  Andre 
Brunot,  Paulette  Dubost. 

EXPLOITIPS:  The  critics  of  foreign  newspapers  published 
in  this  country  have  selected  this  film  as  the  finest  French 
import  of  the  year.  Contact  the  distributor  for  the  informa- 
tion. They  awarded  Arletty,  one  of  the  better  French  ac- 
tresses, the  palm  for  the  best  performance.  Annabella,  of 
course,  is  well  known  here.  Louis  Jouvet  has  a comfortable 
reputation  by  virtue  of  past  performances.  Blow  up  por- 
traits of  the  cast  for  lobby  display.  There  are  English  titles. 

CATCHLINES:  Another  Fine  Dramatic  Offering  . . . Set  in 
the  Heart  of  Paris. 

Two  Souls  Find  Themselves  ...  At  the  Hotel  Du  Nord. 


The  Pinto  Kid 


Columbia  (2204)  61  Minutes  Rel.  Jap.  9.  '41 

A smart  departure  from  the  routine  story  treatment  of  an 
open  air  saga  gives  this  western  a better  than  average  rat- 
ing. Introducing  as  leading  lady,  Louise  Currie,  who  should 
go  places,  the  story  offers  Charles  Starred  as  a rancher 
driving  cattle  from  Texas  to  Kansas,  to  a railhead.  His 
way  is  beset  by  the  local  bigots  who  still  are  fighting  the 
Civil  War  and  a deep-dyed  villain  who  tries  to  frame  the 
hero  with  a murder,  cattle  rustling  and  a bank  robbery  be- 
fore he  gets  his  due.  The  whole  yarn  dovetails  neatly  with 
action  elements  effectively  worked  in;  the  music  by  the  Sons 
of  the  Pioneers  humorously  relieves  the  dramatic  strain. 

Charles  Starred,  Louise  Currie.  Bob  Nolan,  Hank  Bell,  Paul 
Sutton.  Ernie  Adams. 

EXPLOITIPS:  This  one  rates  a little  extra  attention.  Utilize 
the  standard  gags  and,  in  addition,  feature  the  career  of 
Miss  Currie  in  advance  publicity  broadsides.  She  comes 
from  Max  Reinhardt's  Workshop,  has  appeared  in  radio  and 
television  on  the  coast.  She's  good.  The  Sons  of  the  Pioneers 
can  be  tied  in  locally  on  the  radio.  Line  up  the  usual  Star- 
red props.  Consult  the  library  for  books  and  other  material 
relating  to  the  driving  of  cattle  to  railway  facilities  during 
the  days  when  the  west  was  young  and  call  attention  to 
them. 

CATCHLINES:  Gallopin'  Hoofs  Harmonize  With  Blazing 
Guns  ...  As  Texas  Makes  Friends  With  Kansas  . . . And 
Cowboy  Romances  Cowgirl. 

Fists  Flash  as  Guns  Roar  . . . From  Texas  to  the  Kansas 
Line  ...  As  Brave  Hearts  Pound  to  Stirring  Songs. 

Action  and  Romance  Along  the  Trail  From  Ranch  to  Rail- 
road When  the  West  Was  Young. 


February  8,  1941 


REVIEW  DIGEST 


ffVery  Good;  + Good;  — Fair;  + Mediocre;  — Poor:  -Very  Poor 


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Tittle  Men  (RKO)  

Tittle  Nellie  Kelly  (M-G-M). 
Tone  ltider  Rides  On  (PRC) 
Tone  Star  Raiders  (Rep) .... 
Tone  Wolf  Keeps  a Date  (Col) 
Tone:  Voyaee  Home  (UA) . . 
Tore  Thy  Neighbor  (Para). 

Lucky  Devils  (Univ) 

I.uehy  Partners  (RKO) 


Safari  (Para)  ± 

3.. Saint  in  Palm  Springs  (RKO). 
Sandy  Gets  Her  Man  (Univ) ...  + 

26 


- ± ± ff  + 


ff  ff  + 


+ 

+ 


M 

Mad  Doetor,  The  (Para) 

5..Maisie  Was  a Tady  (M-G-M).. 

Margie  (Univ)  

Mark  of  Zorro,  The  (20th-Fox) 

18  . Marked  Men  (PRC) 

Meet  the  Missus  (Rep) 

Meet  the  Wildcat  (Univ) 

Melody  and  Moonlight  (Rep).. 

Melody  Ranch  (Rep) 

Men  Against  the  Sky  (RKO)  . . 
Mexican  Spitfire  Out  West 

(RKO)  

Michael  Shayne,  Private 

Detective  (20th-Fox)  

Misbehaving  Husbands  (PRC). 

Moon  Over  Burma  (Para) 

Mortal  Storm.  The  (M-G-M) 
13.  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  (RKO)... 
Mummy’s  Hand,  The  (Univ) . . 
Murder  Over  New  York 

(20th-Fox)  

N 

Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s  (Para) 

Night  Train  (20th-Fox) 

18.  Nobody’s  Children  (Col) 


No  Time  for  Comedy  (FN).... 
North  West  Mounted  Police 
(Para)  


Oklahoma  Renegades  (Rep) . 
Ol’  Swimmin’  Hole  (Mono).. 


One  Million  B.  C.  (UA) 

One  Night  in  the  Tropics 

(Univ)  

Outlaws  of  the  Panhandle  (Col) 

P 

Passport  to  Alcatraz  (Col) .... 

Pastor  Hall  (UA) 

Phantom  of  Chinatown  (Mono) 
Philadelphia  ‘story  (M-G-M) 

2.3.. Pinto  Kid  (Col)  


Pony  Post  (Univ)  

Prairie  Taw  (RKO) 

Prairie  Schooners  (Col) 

.Pride  of  the  Bowery  (Mono).. 
Public  Deli  No.  1 (20th-Fox)  . . 

Q 

Quarterback,  The  (Para) 

Queen  of  the  Yukon  (Mono)  . . . 


+ 


+ 


Ragtime  Cowboy  Joe  (Univ)  . 
Rangers  of  Fortune  (Para) . . . 
Remedy  for  Riches  (Rl(O)  . . ■ 
Rhythm  on  the  River  (Para) . 

Ride,  Tenderfoot,  Ride  (Rep) 
lO.  Ridin’  on  a Rainbow  (Rep). 

Road  Show  (UA)  ....  

10.  .Robin  Hood  of  the  Pecos  (Rep) 

17.. Rolling  Home  to  Texas  (Mono)  =: 
5.  .Romance  of  the  Rio  Grande 

(20th-Fox)  + 


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Sandy  Is  a Tady  (Univ) 

San  Francisco  Docks  (Univ)  . . . 

Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN) 

Sea  Hawk,  The  (WB) 

Second  Chorus  (Para) 

23.  .Secret  Evidence  (PRC) ..... 

Seven  Sinners  (Univ) 

She  Couldn’t  Say  No  (FN).... 

12..  51x  Tessons  From  Madame 

Ta  Zonga  (Univ)  

Sky  Murder  (M-G-M) 

Slightly  Tempted  (Univ) 

20  . So  Ends  Our  Night  (UA) 

So  You  Won’t  Talk  (Col) 

Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (UA) .... 

South  of  Suez  (WB) 

Spellbound  (UA)  

Spring  Parade  (Univ) 

Street  of  Memories  (20th-Fox) . 
Strike  Up  the  Band  (M-G-M). 

T 

Take  Me  Back  to  Okla.  (Mono) 

11..  Tall,  Dark  and  Handsome 

(20th-Fox)  

Texas  Rangers  Ride  Again 

(Para)  

Texas  Terrors  (Rep) 

That  Gang  of  Mine  (Mono) .... 
They  Knew  What  They  Wanted 

(RKO)  

Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA) 

Third  Finger,  Teft  Hand 

(M-G-M)  

This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col). 
Three  Men  From  Texas  (Para) 
Thundering  Frontier  (Col).... 

Tin  Pan  Alley  (26th-Fox) 

Too  Many  Girls  (RKO) 

Torpedo  Raider  (Mono) 

Trail  Blazers  (Rep) 

Trail  of  the  Silver  Spurs  (Mono) 
Trail  of  the  Vigilantes  (Univ) . 
Trailin’  Double  Trouble  (Mono) 

Triple  Justice  (RKO) 

Tugboat  Annie  Sails  Again 
(WB)  


u 

Under  Texas  Skies  (Rep)  . 
Up  in  the  Air  (Mono) 


24 


+ + + 


+ 


Victory  (Para)  

Villain  Still  Pursued  Her, 

The  (RKO)  

12.  .Virginia  (Para)  


+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

ff 


H- 

+ 

+ 

± 

+ 

± 

8+  4- 

— 

+ 

+ 

4 

42 

7+  6— 

ff 

ff 

ff 

ff 

ff 

ff 

+ 

15+ 

+ 

ff 

ff 

+ 

ff 

+ 

12+  1- 

+ 

ff 

ff 

ff 

ff 

ff 

+ 

14+ 

1+ 

+ 

ff 

+ 

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+ 

9+  3— 

2*2 

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+ 

± 

± 

7+  6- 

rp 

4 

4+  2- 

— 

hP 

- 

— 

— 

ip 

4+10— 

-4- 

— 

± 

+ 

2*2 

+ 

4^ 

8+  6— 

+ 

± 

ff 

+ 

ff 

ff 

10+  2— 

-+- 

2*2 

2*2 

— 

+ 

2*2 

6+  8— 

+ 

ff 

42 

2*2 

9+  6— 

■±2 

2*2 

+ 

+ 

2*2 

2*2 

+ 

8+  6— 

+ 

1+ 

ff 

+ 

ff 

ff 

ff 

ff 

+ 

14+ 

— 

+ 

+ 

+ 

6+  5— 

ff 

ff 

ff 

ff 

ff 

+ 

+ 

14+ 

ff 

+ 

+ 

+ 

6+ 

+ 

+ 

ff 

ff 

ff 

+ 

ff 

12+ 

-f- 

2*2 

— 

2jZ 

+ 

ip 

7+  6— 

— 

+ 

3+  2— 

— 

+ 

— 

— 

5+  8— 

ff 

ff 

+ 

ff 

ff 

ff 

14+  1— 

ff 

ff 

ff 

ff 

ff 

ff 

+ 

15+ 

+ 

+ 

ff 

ff 

ff 

+ 

+ 

12+ 

+ 

ff 

ff 

2*2 

7+  1- 

ff 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

8+  1- 

+ 

— 

3+  5— 

ff 

ff 

ff 

ff 

ff 

+ 

+ 

14+ 

+ 

ff 

ff 

ff 

+ 

+ 

11+  1- 

1+  1- 

+ 

+ 

+ 

± 

5+  1- 

+ 

1+ 

-±_ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

8+  3— 

+ 

+ 

2+2 

± 

7+  4- 

■f 

+ 

+ 

2*2 

6+  2- 

■±2 

- 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

8+  3- 

+ 

+ 

± 

6+  2— 

+ 

+ 

+ 

=*= 

7+  3— 

+ 

-±2 

ff 

ff 

+ 

+ 

9+  1- 

— 

±2 

rp 

± 

6+  7— 

ff 

ff 

ff 

+ 

12+  3— 

w 


Wagon  Train  (RKO)  

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

■± 

6+ 

1— 

Wagons  Westward  (Rep) 

+ 

+ 

2±2 

+ 

— 

2+2 

1+ 

5— 

West  of  Pinto  Basin  (Mono) . . 

± 

+ 

44 

■± 

— 

8+ 

4— 

Westerner,  The  (UA) 

±2 

+ 

+ 

ff 

f4 

4 

+ 

+ 

104- 

1— 

Western  Union  (20th-Fox) .... 
Where  Did  You  Get  That  Girl 

(Univ)  

Who  Is  Guilty?  (Mono) 

Who  Killed  Aunt  Maggie? 

(Rep)  

Wild  Horse  Range  (Mono) .... 

24..  Wild  Man  of  Borneo  (M-G-M) 

World  in  Flames  (Para) 

Wyoming  (M-G-M)  

8 Wyoming  Wildcat  (Rep) 

Y 

Yesterday's  Heroes  (20th-Fox) 

You’ll  Find  Out  (RKO) 

Young  Bill  Hickok  (Rep) 

Young:  People  (20th-Fox) 

11..  You're  Out  of  Luck  )Mono)  . . . 

21..  You’re  the  One  (Para) 

Youth  Will  Be  Served 

(20th-Fox)  

Yukon  Flight  (Mono) 


ff 

+ ± 

2+ 

+ + 


4+  ff 
± + + 

■+■  4-  + 


6+ 

6+  3- 
4+  4- 

8+  2- 
2+  2- 

1+ 


U 

ff 

+ 

+ 

4- 

«+ 

+ 

2+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

8+  1- 

+ 

2+ 

+ 

22+2 

22+2 

+ 

+ 

6+  3— 

ft 

4+ 

ff 

ff 

ff 

+ 

+ 

1«+ 

T 

+ 

2*2 

4+  3— 

+ 

+ 

ff 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

»+ 

ft 


+ 


± 5+  5— 

4+  1- 

± ± 7+7- 

*+ 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


One  Plaint  Before 
Washington  Board 

Washington — Only  one  arbitration  case 
has  so  far  been  filed  in  this  area  under  the 
consent  decree. 

The  case  was  brought  to  the  board  by  an 
exhibitor  almost  as  soon  as  the  local  agency 
opened  for  business.  Formal  papers,  how- 
ever, have  not  yet  been  filed,  and  the  board 
refused  to  make  any  information  public 
regarding  the  matter  until  it  is  officially 
before  it. 

Upon  the  filing  of  the  formal  demand 
for  arbitration  and  the  form  acknowledg- 
ing the  complainant’s  willingness  to  abide 
by  the  arbitration  award,  notices  will  be 
sent  to  the  party  or  parties  named  in  the 
complaint  and  opportunity  will  be  afforded 
interested  parties  to  announce  their  de- 
sire to  intervene.  It  is  not  expected  that 
the  case  will  be  heard  until  late  this 
month. 


Jones  and  Benton  Set  Up 
Atlanta  Booking  Office 

Atlanta — George  M.  Jones  and  L.  D.  V. 
Benton  have  opened  offices  here  as  Jones 
& Benton  for  the  exclusive  purpose  of 
booking  pictures  for  independent  exhibi- 
tors under  the  decree.  There  is  no  inten- 
tion to  handle  the  buying  for  any  theatres, 
states  Jones  who  points  out  exhibitors  can 
make  use  of  the  office  when  in  town  for 
whatever  their  needs  may  require. 

Jones  has  been  active  along  Filmrow  for 
approximately  20  years,  working  with 
major  and  independent  exchanges.  He  has 
already  contacted  various  exchanges  on  his 
idea  and  the  reaction  has  been  favorable, 
he  says. 

Reports  the  office  would  be  set  up  as  a 
form  of  buying  combine  are  strenuously 
denied  by  Jones.  However,  he  will  make 
every  effort  to  attend  all  trade  screenings 
to  report  them  to  his  accounts. 


25  of  37  Eligibles  at 
Equipment  Convention 

Chicago — Of  the  37  independent  dealers 
eligible  for  membership,  representatives  of 
25  are  attending  the  three-day  second  an- 
nual convention  of  Independent  Equipment 
Dealers  Protective  Ass’n  at  the  Congress 
here,  according  to  Harry  Graham,  Den- 
ver, chairman.  Election  of  officers  for  the 
first  time  is  scheduled  to  be  held  Monday. 
Manufacturers  have  been  invited  to  at- 
tend and  some  have  put  in  an  appearance. 


Gabe  Yorke  May  Join 
20th-Fox  Exploitation 

New  York — Gabe  Yorke,  now  in  the 
west  handling  “Land  of  Liberty,”  is  re- 
ported joining  20th-Fox’s  exploitation  staff 
here  under  Rodney  Bush.  He  is  due  within 
the  next  week  or  so  with  his  first  assign- 
ment “Tobacco  Road,”  for  which  an  ex- 
tensive campaign  is  planned. 


Ask  Majors  to  Purchase 
Canadian  War  Bonds 

Toronto — American  distributors  operat- 
ing in  Canada  have  been  asked  to  pur- 
chase $1,000,000  of  Canadian  war  bonds 
with  eight  of  the  majors  to  invest  $100,- 
000  each,  the  balance  to  be  made  up  by 
the  independents,  such  as  Republic,  Mono- 
gram, PRC,  Alliance  and  others. 

Canada  has  no  restrictions  on  remit- 
tances, although  it  is  pointed  out  in  Brit- 
ain last  year  half  of  the  $35,000,000  was 
frozen,  while  in  Australia  50  per  cent  of 
the  $6,200,000  film  revenue  was  permitted 
to  leave  the  country.  In  Canada  the  gross 
revenue  of  film  exchanges  in  recent  years 
has  averaged  more  than  $10,000,000  per 
year  and  the  excess  revenue  for  export  has 
averaged  $6,000,000  for  each  of  the  past 
four  years. 

The  inference  is  that  unless  American 
companies  cooperate  in  the  purchase  of 
war  bonds,  restrictions  may  be  imposed  on 
remittances. 

Remittance  Hearings 
To  Be  Held  Monday 

New  York — Arbitration  hearings  on  al- 
location of  the  new  British  remittance 
plan,  scheduled  for  last  Wednesday,  have 
been  postponed  until  Monday  at  the  Bar 
Association  Building.  Sam  Cohen  of  the 
M-G-M  legal  staff  will  present  his  com- 
pany’s arguments,  while  Joseph  H.  Hazen, 
Warner  attorney  and  aide  to  Harry  M. 
Warner,  will  represent  the  other  seven 
major  distributors. 

Milton  J.  Handler,  Columbia  University 
law  professor,  will  be  the  impartial  arbiter. 
M-G-M  is  protesting  the  allocation  set  up 
by  the  Hays  group,  holding  its  share  of  the 
remittances  should  be  based  on  the  plan 
originally  adopted  by  the  British  govern- 
ment and  not  on  gross  business. 

It  is  understood  all  of  the  companies 
have  received  a share  of  the  new  remit- 
tances, some  as  high  as  half  of  75  per  cent 
of  the  original  allocation. 

Shortly  after  the  hearings,  Arthur  M. 
Loew,  head  of  M-G-M  foreign  activities, 
will  leave  for  the  coast.  He  recently  stated 
he  was  planning  a trip  to  Australia  which 
may  follow  after  his  Hollywood  arrival. 

Eddie  Hyman  Named  Aide 
To  Sam  Dembow  jr. 

New  York — Eddie  Hyman,  for  many 
years  identified  with  the  Century  circuit 
here  and  later  with  Prudential  Playhouses, 
has  been  named  assistant  to  Sam  Dem- 
bow jr.  and  Leonard  Goldenson  of  the 
Paramount  theatre  department  at  the 
home  office.  Hyman  for  the  past  six 
months  has  been  buyer  for  United  De- 
troit Theatres  and  assistant  to  Earl  J. 
Hudson.  He  takes  over  his  new  duties 
March  1. 

Another  change  is  the  shifting  of  Harry 
Royster,  whom  Hyman  succeeds,  to  the 
post  of  operating  head  of  Netco  theatres 
upstate  with  headquarters  in  Poughkeep- 
sie. Royster  succeeds  George  Walsh  who 
resigned  over  a year  ago.  He  will  make 
his  office  with  Harold  Greenberg,  booker, 
effective  March  1,  also. 


Assessment  Value  on 
Criterion  Boosted 


New  York — While  numerous  theatre  and 
theatre  buildings  have  been  reduced  in 
assessment  values  by  the  tax  commission, 
the  Criterion  and  its  accompanying  struc- 
ture has  been  upped  $25,000  to  a value  of 
$6,725,000.  Notable  reductions  are  the 
Paramount  by  $625,000  for  a new  total 
evaluation  of  $11,225,000.  Loew’s  State 
has  been  reduced  $250,000  for  a new  esti- 
mate of  $3,850,000. 

The  Music  Hall  and  RKO  Building  are 
listed  jointly  at  $11,700,000,  which  ap- 
parently is  the  same  as  last  year. 

Other  valuations  for  Manhattan  are: 
Palace,  $1,275,000;  Mayfair,  $1,750,000; 
Roxy,  $4,000,000;  Ziegfeld,  $1,000,000;  New 
Amsterdam,  $920,000;  Times- Apollo,  $1,- 
365,000;  Astor,  $1,700,000;  Globe,  $1,050,- 
000;  Strand,  $3,200,000;  Gaiety,  $2,150,000; 
Rivoli  $1,600,000;  Capitol,  $2,300,000; 
Hollywood,  $1,125,000;  Lincoln  Square, 
$985,000;  Rialto,  $2,825,000. 

In  the  Bronx,  Loew’s  Grand  is  valued  at 
$975,000,  and  the  same  circuit’s  Paradise, 
$1,300,000.  RKO’s  Fordham  is  assessed  at 
$815,000,  while  Skouras’  Valentine  is  listed 
at  $600,000. 

In  Brooklyn,  the  following  are  in  the 
higher  brackets:  Fox,  $3,800,000;  St. 
George,  $187,000;  Loew’s  Kings,  $1,080,000; 
Loew’s  Metropolitan,  $992,000;  Loew’s 
Melba,  $410,000;  Star,  $410,000;  Tivoli, 
$380,000;  Oxford,  $110,000;  RKO’s  Albee, 
$1,700,000;  Paramount  theatre  and  build- 
ing, $3,070,000;  Strand,  $525,000;  Majestic 
$250,000. 

In  Queens,  where  the  Eastern  Studios 
are  located,  the  property  is  down  for  a 
valuation  of  $715,000.  The  RKO  Madison 
is  listed  at  $629,000;  Keith’s  Flushing. 
$770,000;  Loew’s  Valencia,  $1,060,000;  RKO 
Alden,  $430,000;  Merrick,  Jamaica, 
$875,000. 

In  Richmond,  the  St.  George  theatre  and 
building,  $590,000,  and  the  Paramount, 
operated  by  Si  Fabian,  $350,000. 

Illness  Puts  Off  Hearings 
Between  SPG  and  Majors 

New  York — Due  to  the  illness  of  the 
NLRB’s  trial  examiner,  Dan  Baker,  hear- 
ings between  the  Screen  Publicists  Guild 
and  representatives  of  six  majors  have  been 
put  off  until  February  11.  To  date  there 
have  been  seven  sessions  between  the  SPG 
and  majors,  excepting  Warner  and  M-G-M, 
the  latter  two  having  been  granted  ad- 
journments until  a later  date.  Most  of 
the  conferences  have  been  over  whether 
non-salaried  artists,  such  as  free-lancers, 
are  eligible  for  the  collective  bargaining 
unit  for  which  the  SPG  is  seeking  recog- 
nition. 

O'Connor  Again  Heads 
Catholic  Fund  Drive 

New  York — For  the  third  consecutive 
year,  John  J.  O’Connor,  vice-president  of 
the  RKO  circuit,  has  been  named  chair- 
man of  the  Archbishop’s  Committee  for 
the  Laity  for  1941  appeal  in  the  motion 
picture  and  entertainment  industry. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  8,  1941 


N 


26-A 


Urges  2- Way  Campaign 
To  Return  Trade  Health 


By  LEONARD  WEISBERG 

New  York — In  what  a number  of  ex- 
ecutives consider  to  be  the  most  important 
address  before  Ampa  this  season,  Joseph 
Bernhard,  general  manager  of  Warner 
theatres,  urged  publicity  men  (1)  “to 
create  a public  state  of  mind  toward  mo- 
tion pictures  which  would  enable  us  with- 
in the  near  future  to  advance  admission 
prices  at  least  to  the  1929-30  level,  and  (2) 
“to  build  good  will  for  the  industry  as  an 
institution.” 

These  were  Bernhard’s  concise  conclu- 
sions after  observing  the  “friendly  feeling” 
the  public  has  felt  toward  theatres  “is  be- 
ing dissipated.”  In  connection  with  price 
tilts,  he  warned  against  periodic  increases 
for  "big  attractions.” 

The  public,  he  said,  is  presently  paying 
an  average  of  75  cents  per  admission  as 
compared  with  $1  about  10  years  ago.  An 
impediment  toward  raising  scales,  especial- 
ly in  the  lower  brackets,  is  the  current 
defense  tax,  he  added,  “but  despite  that 
fact  we  must,  to  protect  the  financial 
structure  of  our  business,  get  additional 
nickels,  pennies  and  dimes  wherever  we 
can  in  a general  raise  of  admissions  . . 
not  an  occasional  increase  on  big  attrac- 
tions.” 

Hits  Price  Juggling 

Bernhard  declared  he  is  against  these 
advanced  price  attractions  because  “if  this 
up-and-down  price  policy  continues,  and 
it  will  grow  because  every  company  will 
think  that  it  has  a picture  that  is  far 
superior  to  the  ordinary  and  prices  should 
be  raised,  in  no  time  the  public  will  be- 
come price-conscious  to  a dangerous  de- 
gree. 

“Our  customers,”  he  declared,  “will  look 
upon  prices  as  a trademark  of  quality.  Un- 
consciously you  will  be  telling  the  public 
that  when  the  price  goes  up  it  is  a good 
picture;  when  the  price  remains  station- 
ary it  is  not  so  good.  Keep  up  the  juggling 
of  prices,”  he  warned,  “and  you  will  shift 
emphasis  from  entertainment  to  price,  and 
when  the  public  is  guided  by  price,  the  ad- 
vertising man’s  job  becomes  less  import- 
ant.” Bernhard  at  this  point  said,  “I 
should  assume  that  advertising  men  would 
throw  the  weight  of  their  influence  against 
the  juggling  of  admission  prices.” 

He  was  particularly  outspoken  in  his 
criticism  of  those  forces  which  are  rob- 
bing the  industry  of  public  good  wili, 
which,  he  observed,  “we  are  now  in  dan- 
ger of  losing. 

“That  good  will  is  more  precious  than 
ever  because  of  the  competition  which  has 
grown  up  since  motion  pictures  became 
the  great  mass  entertainment  . . . We  don't 
play  outstanding  attractions  52  weeks  in 
the  year  in  a weekly  change  house,  and 
surely  less  in  a two  or  three  change  dou- 
ble feature  house  in  the  neighborhoods. 
Our  steady  patronage  comes  from  the 
good  will  which  keeps  the  people  coming 
to  the  theatre  during  the  weeks  and  days 
when  we  don’t  have  major  attractions. 
They  come  because  they  have  a friendly 
feeling  toward  the  theatres  which  we  must 
not  lose.” 


Bernhard  gave  as  his  opinion  that  “no 
other  business”  is  subject  to  such  a con- 
stant barrage  of  criticism  from  people  in 
all  walks  of  life,  “including  a United 
States  senator,”  which  he  termed  "unfair 
and  unjust.” 

“No  other  merchandise,  no  other  com- 
modity that  the  American  people  buy  is 
discounted  in  advance  of  being  put  on  sale 
by  the  very  newspapers  and  magazines  that 
we  support  with  millions  of  dollars  of  ad- 
vertising every  year.  Before  customers  ever 
get  a chance  to  read  our  advertising,  com- 
mentators from  Hollywood  have  already 
told  them  whether,  in  the  individual  opin- 
ion of  that  commentator,  the  picture  is 
good,  bad  or  indifferent. 

"Wrong  View"  by  Critics 

“As  soon  as  a man  or  woman  begins  to 
write  about  motion  pictures,”  Bernhard 
continued,  “they  immediately  forget  that 
the  industry  is  an  entertainment  factory, 
and  that  the  men  who  run  that  industry 
are  in  the  business  of  manufacturing  en- 
tertainment to  please  the  largest  number 
of  people.”  Critics  are  inclined  to  think  of 
films  as  an  “art,”  he  added,  while  patrons 
are  only  interested  in  entertainment. 

Among  other  forms  of  discreditable  pub- 
licity are  unpleasant  gossip,  imagined 
scandals  and  “subtle”  but  destructive  criti- 
cism carried  by  fan  magazines,  Bernhard 
said.  Observing  he  “would  like  to  read  more 
often  of  some  of  the  good  work  our  indus- 
try is  doing,”  he  added:  “Anything  printed 
in  the  papers  which  makes  Hollywood  dis- 
creditable, and  the  people  who  work  there 
undesirable,  destroys  good  will  and  en- 
courages people  to  lose  the  instinct  to  say, 
‘Let’s  go  to  a movie’.” 

Faith  in  Average  Picture 

Bernhard  indicated  he  has  little  patience 
with  those  who  regard  only  big  pictures  as 
a cure  of  all  the  industry’s  evils.  He  said 
he  is  in  accord  to  a certain  degree  with 
value  of  especially  important  product,  “but 
if  we  had  to  live  on  outstanding  pictures 
alone  this  business  could  not  survive.  It  is 
the  average  pictures,  and  I am  not  talking 
for  the  benefit  of  the  smaller  companies, 
which  constitute  our  bread  and  butter,” 
he  declared.  “Good  pictures — meaning 
smash  pictures — are  just  dessert,  and  the 
kind  of  dessert  that  is  not  served  often 
enough.  Only  a national  movie  habit,  the 
faithful  patronage  of  millions  of  paying 
for  the  average  movie,  as  well  as  the  smash 
hit,  keeps  us  in  business.” 

Hinting  that  average  pictures  are  to  play 
a more  important  role  than  ever,  the  cir- 
cuit head  declared: 

“I  see  picture  after  picture  with  enter- 
tainment value  as  good  as  that  of  pictures 
containing  magic  names,  pictures  which 
occupy  a great  percentage  of  our  screens, 
but  do  not  gross  enough  money.  It  is 
these  pictures  which  require  and  should 
receive  the  concentrated  attention  of  every 
advertising  man  and  every  manager  who 
is  a showman. 

“With  the  loss  of  foreign  revenue  how  do 
we,  as  exhibitors,  know  how  long  Holly- 
wood can  continue  to  pay  the  tremendous 
salaries  to  those  magic  names?  It  is  be- 


Together  in  Spotting 
Main  F eature  First 

New  York — The  RKO  and  Loew’s  metro- 
politan circuits  are  toe-to-toe  in  the  new 
plan  of  presenting  the  main  feature  before 
the  associate  film  in  a switch  of  policy  in 
order  to  get  the  important  unit  of  double 
bills  before  late  audiences  between  9 and 
9:30  p.  m. 

RKO  started  it  on  September  26  in  sort 
of  an  experiment  at  nine  houses.  Loew’s 
followed  suit  by  presenting  a well  ad- 
vertised “Nine  O’clock  Plan”  at  31  houses 
Thursday.  RKO  opened  the  idea  at  one 
more  house  the  same  evening  and  on 
February  12  will  bring  it  to  23  more  units. 
The  score  now  stands:  Loew’s,  31  out  of 
71  houses;  RKO — as  of  February  12 — 33 
out  of  46  houses. 

RKO  Staggers  Programs 

However,  RKO  is  not  rigid  in  its  change- 
over. About  half  the  units  will  stagger  the 
programs  so  that  the  main  film  of  the 
last  show  goes  on  at  9 p.  m„  while  the 
other  half  starts  at  9:30.  Loew’s  is  set  at 
9 p.  m.,  but  may  change  the  Sunday  pro- 
grams in  a few  weeks  so  that  the  top 
film  may  start  at  9:30. 

The  RKO  houses  that  will  be  on  the 
9 p.  m.  schedule  are:  Greenpoint,  Pros- 
pect, Shore  Road,  Bushwick,  Park,  Marble 
Hill,  81st  Street,  Hamilton,  Flushing,  Pel- 
ham, Castle  Hill,  New  Rochelle,  Royal, 
Roosevelt,  White  Plains,  125th  Street  and 
Alhambra.  Those  on  the  9:30  schedule 
are:  Tilyou,  Kenmore,  Dyker,  Madison, 
Republic,  Strand  and  Columbia,  Far  Rock- 
away,  58th  Street,  86th  Street,  Fordham, 
Franklin,  Regent,  Chester,  Richmond  Hill, 
Coliseum  and  23rd  Street. 

Although  independent  chains  in  com- 
petitive zones  with  the  two  major  circuits 
have  taken  no  steps  to  indicate  they  will 
follow,  it  is  known  they  are  watching  the 
situation  to  see  if  there  is  any  merit  to 
the  new  plan. 


Extra  Weekend  Shows 
Held  tor  " Fantasia " 

New  York — Extra  morning  shows  Satur- 
day and  Sunday  with  admissions  scaled  at 
half  price  for  persons  under  16,  have  been 
inaugurated  at  the  Broadway  where 
“Fantasia”  is  on  display.  The  plan  was 
adopted,  according  to  Walt  Disney  offices, 
at  the  request  of  student  and  teacher 
groups.  Next  Tuesday,  the  1,000,000th 
patron  will  be  entertained  by  the  theatre, 
as  a special  attraction. 


cause  of  pictures  with  lesser  names,  but 
high  entertainment  quality,  that  I,  as  one 
exhibitor,  am  ready  to  say,  ‘Mr.  Producer, 
we  will  help  you  build  up  new  names.’ 
And  that  is  your  job,  a tough  one,  I admit. 
I just  present  to  you  the  failure  to  sell 
enough  tickets  for  these  pictures,  but  not 
in  the  spirit  of  hostile  criticism  because  I 
am  sympathetic  to  all  your  difficulties.” 

Bernhard  was  introduced  by  Mort  Blum- 
enstock,  eastern  Warner  director  of  ad- 
vertising and  publicity.  Among  those  from 
the  home  office  who  took  bows,  were  Paul 
Lazarus,  Carl  Leserman,  Clayton  Bond, 
Sam  Schneider,  Harry  Goldberg  and  Ed 
Schreiber.  Attendance  was  over  250. 


26-B 


BOXOFFICE  :;  February  8,  1941 


Governmen  t Door  Not  Sh  u t 
On  Ascap  Settlement 


h a 

And  They  All  Tell 
Stories  of  Their  Kin 

New  York — Joe  Hornstein's  equipment 
office  at  the  Film  Center  boasts  of  the 
following  employes:  A1  Lyons,  brother  of 
Leonard,  famous  syndicated  columnist 
whose  theatrical  pot  pourri  appears  daily 
in  the  New  York  "Post;"  Jerry  Thomas, 
son  of  Harry  H„  local  branch  manager  for 
Monogram,  and  Seymour  Seider,  son  of 
Isador  of  Prudential  Playhouses. 

Lest  we  forget,  Hornstein's  two  sons 
also  are  engaged  in  the  same  office. 

It  ■ ■ >) 

Seeks  Return  Proskauer 
Payment  to  Loew's 

New  York — Ruth  L.  Kirby,  owner  of  10 
common  shares  of  Loew’s,  has  filed  an 
action  against  the  directors  seeking  to  have 
them  return  to  the  company’s  treasury 
$100,000  which  was  paid  to  former  Judge 
Joseph  M.  Proskauer  for  his  services  in 
defending  them  and  the  company  in  the 
minority  stockholders’  suit  in  1939.  Her 
contention  is  that  the  directors,  and  not 
the  company,  should  have  paid  this  sum 
to  the  former  jurist. 

On  March  31,  1939,  Supreme  Court  Judge 
Louis  A.  Valente  ruled  for  the  plaintiffs  in 
the  amount  of  $527,802,  but  at  the  same 
time  cleared  all  directors  of  any  misman- 
agement charges,  holding  the  errors  were 
in  the  method  of  bookkeeping  and  did  not 
reflect  on  any  of  the  individual  defendants. 

Paramount  Starting  on 
Construction  Program 

Hollywood — To  accommodate  a heavy 
production  schedule,  Paramount  has 
launched  a construction  program  at  its 
Marathon  Street  studio,  the  new  buildings 
to  include  three  modern  sound  stages  and 
a power  house.  At  the  same  time  the 
company  reiterated  its  intention  of  con- 
structing an  entirely  new,  $15,000,000  stu- 
dio on  property  in  West  Los  Angeles,  a 
project  which  has  been  temporarily  de- 
ferred because  of  unsettled  world  condi- 
tions. 

The  three  new  stages  will  provide  55,000 
additional  square  feet  of  interior  space. 
The  power  house  will  increase  the  studio’s 
electrical  capacity  from  23,000  to  more 
than  40,000  amperes.  To  make  way  for  the 
new  units,  the  electrical  dock,  sheet-metal 
stage  and  a standing  set  will  have  to  be 
dismantled.  First  of  the  new  stages  is  to 
be  ready  within  four  months,  with  the  en- 
tire project  to  be  completed  in  six  months. 


Osa  Johnson  Weds 

New  York — Osa  Johnson,  whose  latest 
film  is  “I  Married  Adventure,”  took  unto 
herself  a second  venture  in  marriage  this 
week  when  she  married  her  manager,  Clark 
H.  Getts,  at  the  city  hall.  A wedding 
breakfast  followed  the  ceremony  at  the 
Waldorf.  Her  first  husband  was  Martijn 
Johnson,  killed  in  an  airplane  crash  a few 
years  ago. 


Assign  Elliott  Nugent 

Hollywood — Elliott  Nugent  will  direct 
“Nothing  But  the  Truth,”  Bob  Hope-Pau- 
lette  Goddard  co-starrer,  for  Paramount. 


Negro  Pickets  Force 
" Nation " Withdrawal 

New  York — Picketing  by  Negroes  in  pro- 
test to  the  showing  of  the  picture  com- 
pelled Sam  Cummins  to  pull  “Birth  of  a 
Nation”  from  the  Ambassador  the  day 
after  it  opened. 

Similar  demonstrations  at  the  Thalia, 
on  upper  Broadway,  and  at  an  independent 
house  in  South  Orange  also  forced  can- 
cellations shortly  after  opening. 


Dembow  Back  on  Job 

New  York — Sam  Dembow  jr„  Para- 
mount circuit  executive,  returns  to  his  desk 
Monday  after  being  confined  to  his  home 
for  several  weeks  due  to  an  injury  sus- 
tained when  he  was  hit  by  an  automobile 
while  stepping  off  a sidewalk  in  the  Times 
Square  district. 

REVIEW 

FLASHES 

MAD  DOCTOR,  THE  (Para't) — In  most  situ- 
ations this  will  prove  a celluloid  problem 
child.  The  film  is  too  long  to  function  as 
supporting  fare  and  is  not  sufficiently 
meritorious  to  grace  the  upper  half  of  the 
bill  except  in  the  most  unimportant  pro- 
gram arrangements.  Basil  Rathbone,  Ellen 
Drew,  John  Howard.  Director:  Tim  Whelan. 
MEET  THE  CHUMP  (Univ) — If  squirrels  bought 
theatre  tickets,  this  would  undoubtedly 
smash  all  boxoffice  records  because  it  is 
nuttier  than  a 30-cent  drugstore  sundae. 
The  amount  of  human  patronage  it  will 
attract,  however,  is  problematical.  Had 
not  the  designation  been  overworked,  it 
might  be  classified  as  a screwball  com- 
edy, taking  up  where  all  others  left  off. 
It  is  reasonably  funny  in  spots  and  should 
serve  satisfactorily  where  mirthful  support 
material  is  desired.  Ken  Goldsmith  pro- 
duced; Edward  Cline  directed. 

MONSTER  AND  THE  GIRL.  THE  (Para't)— 
While  this  cannot  hope  for  universal  patron- 
age or  acclaim,  it  should  find  takers  in 
profitable  number  among  the  horror  fans 
for  whom  it  will  be  a treat  sufficient  to  sate 
the  appetites  of  the  most  avid  chill-seekers. 
Stuart  Heisler  directed. 

ROAD  SHOW  (UA) — The  action  starts  in  a 
nut  house  and  gets  nuttier  every  foot  of 
the  way.  There  have  been  plenty  of  screw- 
ball comedies  about  allegedly  sane  peo- 
ple, but  this  is  the  first  one  in  which  the 
leading  characters  are  admitted  screwballs. 
There's  no  limit  to  the  number  of  laughs  it 
will  furnish  the  customers  who  like  their 
humor  in  its  broadest  vein.  Properly 
merchandised,  the  feature  should  pay  its 
way  handsomely.  Hal  Roach  produced  and 
directed. 


Washington — Filing  of  the  government’s 
criminal  proceedings  against  the  American 
Society  of  Composers,  Authors  and  Pub- 
lishers in  the  federal  district  court  at 
Milwaukee  will  not  close  the  doors  of  the 
department  of  justice  to  the  music  organi- 
zation should  it  still  desire  to  frame  up  a 
consent  decree,  according  to  Assistant  At- 
torney General  Thurman  Arnold. 

As  filed  in  Milwaukee,  the  information 
charging  Ascap  with  being  an  unlawful 
combination  in  restraint  of  trade  in  viola- 
tion of  the  Sherman  anti-trust  law  con- 
tended, among  other  things,  that  the  fees 
for  licenses  to  commercial  users  of  Ascap 
music  are  fixed  arbitrarily  by  the  society 
to  all  commercial  users,  and  the  society 
has  discriminated  as  to  both  price  and 
terms  among  various  commercial  users  of 
music  so  that  some  users  have  received 
more  favorable  treatment  than  others  who 
are  similarly  situated. 

In  the  consent  decree  ending  the  case 
against  Broadcast  Music,  Inc.,  the  new  or- 
ganization agreed  not  to  discriminate  in 
either  price  or  terms  among  the  users  of 
copyrighted  music  and  to  offer  BMI  com- 
positions for  performance  to  all  users  of  the 
same  class  on  equal  terms  and  conditions, 
with  licenses  on  a pay-when-you-play 
basis,  on  either  a per-piece  or  per-pro- 
gram  schedule. 

Department  of  justice  officials  said  this 
provision  would  be  of  value  to  exhibitors 
using  copyrighted  music,  and  that  a simi- 
lar provision  would  be  incorporated  in  any 
settlement  made  with  Ascap. 

“In  plain  language,”  Arnold  said  in  com- 
menting on  the  suit,  “Ascap  is  charged 
with  exploiting  composers  by  preventing 
them  from  selling  their  music  except  on 
terms  dictated  by  a self-perpetuating  board 
of  directors.  That  board  has  the  power 
arbitrarily  to  determine  on  what  basis 
various  members  of  Ascap  shall  share  in 
the  royalties  from  Ascap  compositions. 

“In  addition  to  discriminating  against 
composers,  Ascap  has  been  using  its 
monopoly  power  to  charge  the  users  of 
music  for  songs  they  do  not  play.  By  this 
method,  anyone  who  does  not  belong  to 
Ascap  is  excluded  from  the  market.  These 
practices  we  consider  not  only  illegal  but 
unjustifiable  on  any  ground  of  fair  dealing. 

“Our  proceeding  is  aimed  only  to  com- 
pel Ascap  to  stop  such  practices.  There- 
fore, the  department  will  continue  to  hold 
the  door  open  to  proposals  from  Ascap 
which  will  eliminate  these  abuses.  It  does 
not  desire  to  prevent  Ascap  from  protect- 
ing the  copyright  privileges  of  its  mem- 
bers.” 

The  filing  of  the  suit  revealed  openly 
what  has  long  been  reported  the  govern- 
ment’s aim — the  reorganization  of  Ascap’s 
internal  management  and  policies  to  elimi- 
nate the  “self-perpetuating  board  of  direc- 
tors” of  which  complaint  was  made. 


New  RKO  Official 

New  York — William  J.  Merrill,  vice- 
president  and  treasurer  of  RKO  Corp., 
has  been  elected  a vice-president  of  RKO 
Radio  Pictures. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  8,  1941 


2G-C 


Rebuttal  in  Flynn's 
Suit  of  Publisher 

New  York — Court  news  of  the  week 
found  the  most  important  development  be- 
ing a rebuttal  by  Harcourt,  Brace,  Quinn 
and  Boden,  publishers,  and  Constancia  de 
la  Mora,  authoress,  to  Errol  Flynn’s  $2,- 
000,000  libel  suit  in  which  actor  claimed 
Miss  de  la  Mora’s  book,  “In  Place  of 
Splendor,”  used  the  suffering  of  the 
Spanish  people  during  the  Civil  war  to 
gain  publicity  for  himself.  The  defend- 
ants pleaded  an  affirmative  defense  hold- 
ing Flynn  was  supposedly  wounded  at  the 
front  while  he  was  miles  away  from  action, 
and  cited  stories  carried  by  the  American 
news  services  at  the  time  to  prove  what 
was  said  in  the  book  was  true  and  not 
libel. 

Application  of  Clara  Dellar  and  Robert 
Louis  Shayon  to  reopen  an  examination 
before  trial  of  Samuel  Goldwyn  in  connec- 
tion with  a $1,000,000  suit  against  the 
producer,  Eddie  Cantor  and  United  Artists 
has  been  denied  by  federal  judge  Murray 
Hulbert.  Suit  claims  the  plaintiff’s  play, 
“Oh  Shah,”  was  plagiarised  in  “Roman 
Scandals.” 

Settle  "Hired  Wife"  Suit 

Producers  Laboratories  discontinued  and 
settled  out  of  court  an  action  against  Uni- 
versal, Universal  Film  Exchanges,  Big  “U” 
Film  Corp.,  and  the  Roxy  Theatre.  The 
action  claimed  Universal’s  “Hired  Wife” 
was  an  infringement  of  the  title  of  its 
picture,  “A  Hired  Wife.”  An  injunction, 
accounting  of  profits  and  damages  had 
been  sought. 

20th-Fox,  answering  a suit  by  Eleanor 
Harris,  authoress  of  the  original  on  which 
“Brigham  Young”  was  based,  claimed 
Miss  Harris  was  not  entitled  to  more 
screen  credit  than  she  received,  due  to 
the  fact  she  sold  the  story  to  20th-Fox 
for  $1,000,  and  was  employed  to  work  on 
the  screen  play  at  $75  weekly.  The  au- 
thoress seeks  damages  of  $50,000,  claim- 
ing Louis  Bromfield  was  given  screen  credit 
while  all  she  received  was  “story  research” 
mention.  She  will  be  examined  before 
trial  in  federal  court  by  the  film  company. 

Suit  of  Katherine  Moog  against  Warner 
started  trial  in  the  federal  court.  Action 
seeks  $75,000  damages  for  alleged  libel 
in  “Confessions  of  a Nazi  Spy.”  Plaintiff 
claims  the  part  played  by  Lya  Lys  in  the 
film  was  meant  to  represent  her. 

Max  Weingarten  and  Michael  M.  Wyn- 
gate  lost  a plea  for  temporary  injunction 
pending  trial  against  Eureka  Productions’ 
distribution  of  “Ecstasy,”  but  Supreme 
Court  Justice  Louis  A.  Valente  ordered 
start  of  trial  of  the  action  for  next  week. 
The  plaintiffs  claim  to  have  acquired  the 
second  five-year  rights  to  the  film  in 
America  from  the  producers.  Also  that 
Eureka’s  rights  expired  in  October,  1939. 
Damages  of  $100,000  are  sought  for  failure 
to  turn  over  prints  and  negatives.  De- 
fendant claims  it  still  owns  the  rights. 
Other  defendants  are  Samuel  Cummins, 
Rose  Chatkin,  and  Jacques  Koerpal. 

Russell  Goldman  has  filed  a supreme 
court  action  against  Harry  Gordon  and 
Samuel  K.  Lackoff  claiming  the  defend- 
ants, employes  of  his  during  1938-40, 
failed  to  turn  over  a patent  developed 
while  in  his  employ  for  a projection  ma- 


Indict  Three  for  Illegal 
Tralticking  in  Films 

New  York — The  U.  S.  attorney’s  office 
has  handed  up  a sealed  indictment  charg- 
ing three  men  with  illegal  traffic  in  films 
and  stating  the  defendants  rented  stolen 
or  surreptitiously  acquired  pictures  to  sell 
to  churches,  schools  and  charitable  insti- 
tutions which  were  under  the  impression 
the  defendants  had  leased  them  legally. 
Defendants  are  Louis  Colasuono,  known  as 
L.  D.  Colson,  heading  Colson  Motion  Pic- 
ture Service,  Bronx;  Antonio  Cardillo,  his 
alleged  partner,  and  Sol  Jaffe,  a photo- 
graphic technician  and  head  of  Movielab 
Film  Labs,  of  1600  Broadway. 

Films  involved  are  M-G-M’s  “Ben  Hur,” 
20th  Century  Fox’s  “The  Littlest  Rebel” 
and  “A  Connecticut  Yankee,”  Warner 
Bros.’  “Dinky,”  and  Sunray  Films,  Inc.’s 
“The  Little  Flower  of  Jesus.”  Defendants 
are  accused  of  having  acquired  35mm 
prints  and  reduced  them  to  16mm,  which 
were  then  sold.  Under  the  indictment  they 
can  be  fined  $11,000  and  sentenced  to 
three  years  each. 

The  investigation  came  about  as  a re- 
sult of  protests  from  major  film  com- 
panies who  complained  that  many  prints 
were  being  stolen.  Over  50,000  prints  are 
exhibited  daily  in  17,000  theatres.  This  is 
the  first  case  of  its  kind  in  the  history  of 
Southern  District  of  N.  Y. 


Million  by  Fleischer  lor 
"Mr.  Bug  Goes  to  Town" 

New  York — The  Max  Fleischer  studio  in 
Miami  is  working  on  what  Paramount,  the 
cartoonist’s  distributor,  is  pleased  to 
characterize  as  the  “first  solidly  dramatic 
modem  story  of  today  in  feature  length 
cartoon  form.”  It  is  supposed  to  be  a 
$1,000,000  production  and  the  story  is  “Mr. 
Bug  Goes  to  Town.”  It  is  for  fall  re- 
lease. The  story  is  an  original  depicting 
the  fight  for  life  by  a community  of  little 
people  who  live  in  a weedy  patch  of  earth 
45  inches  from  Broadway.  The  story  will 
be  told  from  the  insects’  point  of  view, 
with  humans  appearing  only  as  the  in- 
sects see  them. 


Parry  "Kane"  Questions 

New  York — “Citizen  Kane”  will  be  re- 
leased by  RKO  on  February  28,  according 
to  current  plans.  Questions  relating  to  the 
picture  are  met  with  a blank  gaze  at  the 
home  office. 


chine.  He  seeks  to  have  defendants  turn 
it  over.  A counter  action  for  $10,000  dam- 
ages has  been  filed  stating  the  defendants 
had  been  promised  a one-third  interest  in 
anything  they  developed  and  that  Gold- 
man is  seeking  to  deprive  them  of  the  in- 
terest. 

Supreme  Court  Justice  Aaron  J.  Levy, 
refusing  to  dismiss  Leonard  Goldstein’s 
$25,000  suit  against  Mervyn  LeRoy,  de- 
clared that  triable  issues  exist.  Action 
claims  LeRoy  persuaded  Goldstein  to  drop 
a suit  against  Kenny  Baker  and  to  turn 
over  the  actor’s  managerial  contract  to 
him,  promising  compensation  which  was 
not  forthcoming.  The  producer  claims 
Goldstein  had  no  agent’s  license  when  he 
signed  Baker. 


Nearly  Million  to 
Operate  Archives 

Washington — Funds  aggregating  $993,- 
340  are  provided  for  operation  of  the  Na- 
tional Archives  during  the  coming  fiscal 
year  in  the  first  appropriation  bill  to  be 
taken  up  by  Congress. 

The  appropriation  was  for  the  full 
amount  recommended  by  the  budget,  and 
an  increase  of  $60,480  over  that  for  the 
current  fiscal  year. 

Testifying  before  the  House  appropria- 
tions committee  on  the  activities  of  the 
National  Archives,  R.  D.  W.  Connor,  archi- 
vist, reported  that  during  the  last  fiscal 
year  a total  of  2,272,000  feet  of  motion 
picture  film  was  deposited,  giving  a total 
of  4,352,000  feet. 

While  3,800,000  feet  of  this  total  came 
from  government  agencies,  522,000  feet 
was  acquired  from  private  sources,  much 
of  it  in  the  form  of  news  reels,  Connor  ex- 
plained. Included  in  the  pictures  received 
was  the  March  of  Time  film,  “The 
Ramparts  We  Watch,”  a great  deal  of 
which  was  composed  of  films  in  the 
custody  of  the  Archives. 

Aid  Defense  Commission 

The  films  now  on  deposit  are  serving  an 
important  practical  purpose,  the  archivist 
revealed,  the  National  Defense  Advisory 
Commission  being  interested  in  films  of 
the  World  War  period  and  calling  for  an 
average  of  five  showings  a week  of  such 
pictures. 

One  of  the  most  important  problems  con- 
fronting the  Archives  is  the  preservation 
of  pictures,  Connor  said.  About  85  per 
cent  of  the  film  received  is  on  nitrate  base, 
which  constitutes  a fire  hazard  and  has  a 
comparatively  short  life — about  25  years 
for  the  average  picture.  The  Archives  is 
anxious  to  transfer  these  pictures  to 
acetate  base  film,  particularly  as  the  vault 
capacity  for  nitrate  film  is  practically 
exhausted  and  new  vaults  will  have  to  be 
provided  if  acetate  film  cannot  be  used. 

Need  to  Duplicate 

Connor  explained  that  it  will  also  be 
necessary  to  duplicate  much  film  which 
now  is  in  bad  condition.  Some  of  the 
pictures  cannot  be  projected  because  of 
deterioration.  At  the  same  time,  the 
Archives  have  much  negative  film  of  which 
copies  must  be  made  before  it  can  be 
projected. 

At  the  present  time  an  optical  printer 
is  being  made,  which  will  cost  about  $4,500 
as  compared  with  $15,000  if  bought  in  the 
open  market,  and  a step  printer  will  be 
made  this  year,  so  that  the  work  of  copy- 
ing films  can  be  started  in  the  near 
future. 


To  Make  Yiddish  Films 

Hollywood — Louis  Weiss  and  Sam 
Rosen  have  formed  Hollywood  Yiddish 
Film  Corp.  and  will  produce  four  features. 
The  first  will  star  Moishe  Oysher  and 
shooting  will  start  in  February.  Release  of 
the  initial  effort  is  expected  to  coincide 
with  the  Passover  holidays. 


RKO  Sells  Parkway 

New  York — RKO  has  sold  the  Parkway, 
Mt.  Vernon,  to  an  independent  exhibitor. 


26-D 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


(F=- ~~ =-~ == — — — 

Report  Goldwyn 
Joins  Warner 

New  York — Following  settlement  of  the 
suit  against  UA  and  the  sale  of  his  stock 
for  a reported  $300,000  to  David  Selznick, 
Samuel  Goldwyn  is  reported  joining  War- 
ner in  an  independent  production  setup 
similar  to  that  of  Frank  Capra,  fames 
Mulvey  is  expected  to  continue  represent- 
ing Goldwyn  at  the  UA  headquarters  un- 
til his  films  have  been  liquidated.  George 
Z.  Medalie,  Goldwyn's  counsel,  left 
Thursday  by  plane  for  Hollywood  to  wash 
up  the  suit  and  probably  to  confer  with 
Harry  Warner.  Goldwyn's  "Westerner" 
deal  with  Warner  fell  through  because  of 
the  UA  releasing  contract. 


United  Artists  and  Goldwyn  issued  the 
following  statement  in  Hollywood,  Friday, 
confirming  settlement  of  the  suit:  "Nego- 
tiations today  have  been  completed  be- 
tween Samuel  Goldwyn  and  United  Art- 
ists, whereby  United  Artists  has  granted 
Mr.  Goldwyn  his  immediate  release  from 
his  United  Artists  distributing  contract. 
United  Artists  has  also  arranged  for  the 
purchase  of  Mr.  Goldwyn's  stock  in  the 
United  Artists  Distributing  Corp.  Mr. 
Goldwyn's  suit  against  United  Artists 
will  be  immediately  withdrawn." 

^ - — JJ 

"Barbara"  and  Shaw 
Occupying  Pascal 

New  York — George  Bernard  Shaw’s 
dramatization  of  ‘‘Major  Barbara”  by  Ga- 
briel Pascal  for  UA  release  is,  in  Pascal’s 
own  words,  symbolic  of  the  “new  English 
spirit  of  solidarity  and  brotherhood”  crys- 
tallizing the  “one  family”  force  that  has 
been  manifested  since  the  war. 

Pascal  arrived  from  London  aboard  the 
Exeter  with  a print  of  the  film,  which 
stars  Wendy  Hiller  of  “Pygmalion”  re- 
nown. He  expects  to  remain  about  two 
months,  during  which  he  will  go  to  Hol- 
lywood for  further  consideration  of  pro- 
ducing there.  In  any  event,  he  declared, 
he  will  return  to  England  after  the  film’s 
premiere  and  if  conditions  permit  will 
produce  “Doctor’s  Dilemma.”  He  also  has 
scheduled  in  “Devil’s  Disciple”  and  “Saint 
Joan,”  but  whether  he  will  produce  the 
latter  two  in  England  or  Hollywood  de- 
pends upon  the  war. 

The  Hungarian-born  producer  was 
munificent  in  his  praise  of  Shaw,  whose 
vitality  he  pictured  as  being  consumed 
almost  wholly  with  his  desire  to  under- 
stand picture  problems.  In  this  connec- 
tion Pascal  revealed  the  famous  author 
is  writing  an  original  story  with  a locale 
“near  Panama”  for  a film.  Pascal  is  au- 
thority for  Shaw’s  “concession”  that  the 
“picture  medium  is  the  greatest  medium 
of  ayt  today.  He  adores  pictures  today; 
sees  the  future  in  it,  because  it  touches 
the  people.” 


Holdovers,  the  Champs 
In  Broadway  Runs 


— Photo  by  Cosmo-Sileo 

From  the  War  Zone — 

Gabriel  Pascal,  who  recently  com- 
pleted production  of  George  Bern- 
ard Shaw’s  “Major  Barbara,”  as  he 
arrived  aboard  the  S.  S.  Exeter  from 
Lisbon.  He  will  stay  in  New  York  a 
few  weeks  and  then  visit  Hollywood 
before  his  return  to  production  activity 
in  England. 


Kudos  to  Holdovers  at 
Philadelphia  First  Runs 

Philadelphia — Holdovers  dominated  the 
picture  of  downtown  business  last  week, 
with  ticket  machines  clicking  merrily  at 
most  of  the  houses.  Improvement  in 
weather,  slackening  of  the  cold  and  grippe 
epidemic,  helped  bring  the  customers  out. 
“Gone  With  the  Wind”  continued  like  a 
cyclone  at  the  Stanley.  The  Karlton 
stepped  out  of  its  second-run  class  tem- 
porarily to  run  “The  Lady  With  Red  Hair” 
first  run,  because  of  lack  of  other  facili- 


ties. 

Detail  for  the  week: 

(Average  is  100) 

Aldine — Road  Show  (UA),  2nd  wk 45 

Arcadia — Rove  Thy  Neighbor  (Para’t), 

2nd  run  100 

Boyd— Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M),  3rd  wk 120 

Earle — Keeping  Company  (M-G-M),  plus 

“Streets  of  Paris”  on  stage  115 

Fox — High  Sierra  (FN)  125 

Karlton— Rady  With  Red  Hair  (WB)  110 

Keith’s— Kitty  Foyle  (RKO),  2nd  run,  3rd  wk.  .105 
In  its  sixth  week  downtown. 

Stanley — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M), 

2nd  wk 180 

Stanton — Tall,  Dark  and  Handsome  (20  th- 

Fox),  2nd  wk 110 

Better  business  than  in  its  first  week. 


" Scattergood  Baines " 
Debut  at  Montpelier 

Montpelier,  Vt. — RKO  will  hold  the 
world  premiere  of  “Scattergood  Baines” 
here  next  Thursday  at  the  Capitol  and 
which  will  be  attended  by  Gov.  William  H. 
Wills.  Guy  Kibbee,  who  stars  in  the  film, 
arrives  from  the  coast  Monday  en  route  to 
the  New  England  city  for  the  opening. 


New  York  — While  the  business  on 
Broadway  wasn’t  anything  to  get  excited 
about,  it  is  important  because  virtually  all 
of  it  went  into  holdovers  and  that  means 
less  “nut”  to  worry  about.  The  new- 
comers are  at  the  Criterion,  Music  Hall, 
Roxy  and  Strand. 

The  staying  power  of  “The  Philadelphia 
Story”  at  the  Music  Hall,  which  wound 
up  six  record-breaking  weeks  Wednesday 
was  just  short  of  miraculous.  The  last 
stanza  at  about  $82,000  was  just  under  a 
fifth  week  of  $85,000.  “Story”  played  to 
more  than  850,000  persons  and  out- 
distanced “Rebecca,”  the  only  other  film  to 
go  six  weeks  at  the  theatre,  by  a sizeable 
margin  in  this  respect,  as  well  as  in  money. 

“Gone  With  the  Wind,”  playing  a re- 
peat engagement  at  the  Capitol  at  about 
half  the  admission  scale  that  obtained 
when  it  played  the  house  a year  ago  is 
going  great  guns  to  hit  over  $42,000  in  its 
second  week,  which  is  terrific  after  an 
opening  seven  days  at  $53,000. 

The  Roxy  turned  in  a handsome  $40,000 
in  its  second  week  of  “Tall,  Dark  and 
Handsome,”  a figure  few  expected  it 
would  reach.  The  Paramount,  with  a 
grand  benefit  sendoff  for  “Virginia,” 
chalked  up  a profitable  $58,000,  which 
means  holdover.  The  rest  is  just  about 


average. 

(Average  is  100) 

Astor — The  Great  Dictator  (UA) 

17th  roadshow  week 100 

Broadway — Fantasia  (Disney) 

12th  roadshow  week 120 

Capitol — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M) 

2nd  wk 115 

Criterion — Land  of  Liberty  (M-G-M) 90 

Globe — Night  Train  (20th-Fox)  6th  wk 100 

Paramount — Virginia  (Para’t)  plus  stage  show..  110 
Radio  City  Music  Hall — The  Philadelphia 

Story  (M-G-M)  6th  wk.  plus  stage  show....  130 
Rialto — The  Saint  in  Palm  Springs  (RKO) ....  90 

Rivoli— Kitty  Foyle  (RKO)  4th  wk 100 

Roxy — Tall,  Dark  and  Handsome  (20th -Fox), 

2nd  wk.,  plus  stage  show 110 

Strand — High  Sierra  (FN)  2nd  wk., 

plus  stage  show  and  Quentin  Reynolds 115 


Capital  First  Runs  Notch 
An  Above-Average  Week 

Washington— World  premiere  of  “Vir- 
ginia” at  the  Earle,  Para’t  theme  of  the 
historical  state,  draws  native  following 
and  tops  week’s  card.  “Second  Chorus” 
at  the  Capitol,  plus  Hal  Le  Roy  on  the 
stage,  popular  with  dance  devotees.  “Buck 
Privates,”  draftee  comedy  at  Keith’s  time- 
ly and  popular  diversion.  “Mounties”  bil- 
leted in  the  Metropolitan  on  moveover 
still  in  canter,  while  “GWTW”  at  the 
Palace  does  excellent  third  week  business. 


Detail  for  week  ending  February  1: 

(Average  is  100) 

Capitol — Second  Chorus  (Para’t) ; Hal  LeRoy 

on  stage  125 

Columbia — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox),  moveover 

from  Capitol  for  2nd  wk 100 

Earle — Virginia  (Para’t),  plus  stage  show 150 

Keith's — Buck  Privates  (Univ)  110 

Metropolitan — North  West  Mounted  Police 

(Para’t)  125 

Palace — GWTW  (M-G-M),  3rd  wk 110 


KAO  Corp.  Increases  Stock 
Albany — Keith- Albee-Orpheum  Corpora- 
tion, having  offices  in  New  York,  increased 
capital  stock  from  $1,000  to  $50,000.  At- 
torney Louis  Joffe,  1270  Sixth  Ave.,  re- 
corded papers  with  secretary  of  state. 


BOXOFF1CE  : : February  8,  1941 


E 


27 


^ATE  BLUMBERG  was  in  Boston  for  a 
few  days  on  important  Universal  busi- 
ness . . .Bob  Wolff,  RKO  branch  manager; 
Charles  Moses,  independent  circuit  opera- 
tor; A1  Hovel,  his  son  “Huck,”  Joe 
Springer,  Arthur  Baker  and  Harry 
Schwartz  of  Century  circuit  left  over  the 
weekend  for  Key  West  to  spend  a brace 
of  weeks  fishing  . . . Bert  Stearn,  UA  dis- 
trict manager  with  headquarters  in  Cleve- 
land, was  in  town  the  middle  of  the  week 
for  talks  with  Charles  Stern,  local  dis- 
trict manager  . . . Joe  Hornstein  left  Fri- 
day for  Chicago  and  the  Independent 
Theatre  Equipment  Protective  Ass’n  meet, 
which  is  under  way  at  the  Congress  . . . 
Stanley  Hand  of  Altec  is  back  from  a 
Miami  vacation  . . . Phil  Engel,  Warner 
exploiteer,  was  in  Rochester  on  “Flight 
From  Destiny"  . . . Norman  Elson,  Film 
Alliance  sales  manager,  is  on  a trip  which 
includes  Boston,  Chicago,  Milwaukee,  De- 
troit and  Cleveland. 

David  Levy,  local  Universal  branch  man- 
ager, is  back  from  Miami  with  a nut  brown 
complexion  he  managed  to  get  in  14  sunny 
days  . . . Bill  Scully  will  have  Jack  Bowen 
as  his  Florida  vacation  companion  when  he 
leaves  the  middle  of  the  month.  They 
will  head  for  Coral  Gables,  as  usual. 
Incidentally , and  for  the  first  time  it 
comes  out  that  Bowen  used  to  be  a deep- 
sea  diver  . . . E.  K.  “Ted”  O’Shea  got 
back  from  a 16 -day  tour  of  new  M-G-M 
exchanges  in  his  division  and  a few  hours 
later  was  at  the  baths  with  Bowen  and 
Ben  Abner  . . . Herman  Robbins  and  the 
twins  flew  to  Miami  over  the  weekend  to 
join  Mrs.  Robbins  in  the  birthday  cele- 
bration of  the  twins  . . . George  Dembow 
is  back  from  a siesta  on  the  Florida  beaches 
. . . Del  Goodman,  new  Paramount  district 
manager  in  Canada,  and  Bill  Kupper 
lunched  at  the  Hunting  Room  just  before 
Goodman  left  to  take  up  his  new  duties. 
He  was  with  20th-Fox  in  Japan  before  lin- 
ing up  with  Paramount. 

J.  Myer  Schine  spent  a few  days  in  town 
the  early  part  of  the  week  and  plans  to 
head  for  his  winter  home  in  Miami  about 
February  20.  His  chief  booker  and  buyer, 
George  Lynch,  left  Saturday  for  the  south- 
ern resort  and  two  weeks  of  rest  . . . Dave 
Miller,  Universal  district  manager,  was  in 
for  home  office  conferences.  He’s  looking 
forward  to  another  cruise  soon  . . . Mike 
Rosen  of  Loew’s  was  a flu  victim  this 
week  and  Norma  Davis,  J.  J.  O’Connor’s 
secretary,  is  back  on  the  job  after  being 
bedded  by  that  germ  . . . Ruth  Lowenthal, 
RKO  circuit  booker,  had  a housewarming 
Thursday  at  her  Bensonhurst  home  with 
plenty  of  fun  for  the  girls  from  the  office 
. . . Nat  Holt,  Ohio  RKO  district  manager, 
was  in  on  one  of  his  periodic  trips  and 
said  business  in  Cleveland  is  picking  up. 
He  attributes  this  to  the  $190,000,000  de- 
fense orders  in  his  towns. 

Joe  Vogel  gave  Dave  Loew  a party  Sun- 
day at  the  Warwick  at  which  40  friends  of 
the  former  Loew  executive-turned-producer 
attended  . . . E.  M.  Saunders  is  back  from 
a complete  swing  of  his  territory,  the  first 
since  promotions  were  made  by  Bill  Rod- 
gers . . . Dave  Blum  received  three  pairs  of 
binoculars  in  one  day  to  send  to  Sam 
Eckman,  M-G-M  British  head.  The  re- 


€))  A\  ID)  W 


- — Metropolitan  Photos 

With  Ernst's  First — 

Louis  Hyman,  general  sales  manager 
for  Sol  Lesser  and  Ernst  Lubitsch 
Productions,  as  he  arrived  in  New 
York  with  the  first  print  of  “That 
Uncertain  Feeling,”  the  first  by  Lu- 
bitsch as  an  independent  producer. 
UA  will  release. 


sponse  to  the  call  has  been  gratifying 
and  anyone  else  desiring  to  lend  the  glasses 
to  a good  cause  may  communicate  with 
Blum  at  1540  Broadway  . . . Ray  Bell, 
M-G-M  publicity  ace,  will  become  a father 
for  the  second  time  next  month.  His 
wife  and  first  child  are  now  in  W ashington 
in  advance  of  the  blessed  event  . . . Bill 
Scully  attended  the  farewell  dinner  given 
to  Morris  Joseph  in  New  Haven  Monday 
night  . . . Ona  Munson  in  town  from  the 
coast  for  a series  of  broadcasts. 

Mrs.  Spyros  Skouras  has  turned  over 
$5,600  to  the  Greek  War  Relief  Fund, 
which  represents  pledges  made  at  a Christ- 
mas meeting  at  her  home  in  Larchmont 
. . . Tom  Gorman,  Chicago  district  man- 
ager for  the  RKO  circuit,  got  into  town 
Wednesday  on  one  of  his  regular  visits 
. . . Frank  and  Mrs.  Orsatti  have  arrived 
from  the  coast  to  spend  a week  in  these 
parts  . . . Jack  LeVien,  of  Pathe  News  con- 
tact department,  will  report  to  active  duty 
February  11  with  the  Second  Armored 
Division,  Fort  Benning,  Ga.  . . . Sidney 
Schwartz,  traveling  M-G-M  auditor,  is 
en  route  to  South  Africa  on  the  City  of 
New  York  . . . “Dick”  Rowland  was  in 
Cleveland  during  the  week  for  “Cheers  for 
Miss  Bishop”  . . . Hal  B.  Wallis  and  Louise 
Fazenda  are  slated  to  return  to  the  coast 
next  week  after  a few  weeks  here  and  in 
Washington  . . . Will  Hays  has  whipped  the 
flu  and  gone  to  the  coast  . . . Morris 
Leonard,  B&K  attorney,  plans  to  head  for 
South  America  next  week.  Vacation  stuff. 

Jack  Cohn,  A.  Schneider,  A.  Montague 
and  Joseph  A.  McConville  are  on  the  coast 
for  Columbia  studio  conferences  . . . 
Austin  C.  Keough,  recovered  from  a cold, 
is  now  back  in  swing  for  Paramount  . . . 


Lana  Turner  has  returned  to  the  coast 
after  a brief  vacation  in  the  east  . . . 
John  Dored,  Paramount  News  cameraman, 
has  returned  from  the  war  zones  with 
takes  aplenty  of  behind-the-scenes  action 
. . . Nancy  Drake,  South  Orange  model, 
has  been  selected  queen  of  the  Press  Pho- 
tographers Ball  to  be  held  next  Friday 
night  at  the  Astor  . . . Albert  Lewin  de- 
livered a lecture  on  the  problems  and 
technique  of  modern  motion  pictures  at 
Yale  Drama  School  Wednesday  afternoon. 

E.  M.  Saunders,  western  M-G-M  division 
head,  after  a month  on  the  road,  left  with 
the  missus  over  the  weekend  for  a three- 
week  siesta  at  Coral  Gables.  The  Miami 
Biltmore  will  be  his  stopping  place  . . . 
E.  K.  (Ted)  O’Shea  has  plans  all  set  to 
head  for  the  south  some  time  in  March 
. . . Tom  Connors,  eastern  division  manager 
for  M-G-M,  is  due  back  within  the  next 
few  days  from  Miami  and  a tour  of  south- 
ern exchanges  . . . Arthur  Hirsch,  Can- 
adian exhibitor,  was  in  town  during  the 
week  on  one  of  his  usual  visits  . . . Floyd 
Odium  has  returned  from  the  coast,  as 
has  Edwin  C.  Weisl  . . . George  J.  Schaefer 
is  due  on  the  coast  any  day  now  . . . Joe 
Seider  is  reported  building  a new  600- 
seat  house  at  Farmingdale,  L.  I.  . . . Nov/ 
that  the  “Back  Street”  premiere  is  behind 
him,  Lou  Pollock  is  enjoying  his  vacation 
in  Miami  . . . Arnold  Van  Leer  is  now 
in  Philadelphia  as  Paramount  exploiteer 
for  Washington,  Philadelphia  and  Pitts- 
burgh, the  district  given  to  Earle  Sweigert 
recently. 

Rube  Jackter,  between  plugs  for  “This 
Thing  Called  Love,”  which  he  claims  held 
over  in  its  first  14  engagements,  keeps  a 
distant  eye  on  Miami,  where  he  goes  to 
join  his  family  early  in  March  . . . Leon- 
ard Schlesinger  left  for  the  same  resort 
over  the  weekend  . . . Allan  Jones  will  give 
a concert  at  the  Mosque,  Newark,  Monday, 
after  which  he  heads  south  to  continue  his 
tour  . . . Harry  Kalmine,  Warner  circuit 
Pittsburgh  zone  manager,  was  in  town  for 
h.  o.  conferences.  Ditto  Don  Jacocks  of 
Newark  . . . “Skip”  Weshner  has  found  an 
effective  short  cut  to  meet  up  with  former 
acquaintances  by  attending  all  Ampa 
luncheons  . . . Lou  Weinberg,  doctor  defier 
that  he  is,  strolling  along  the  avenue  sans 
overcoat  and  hat,  but  jaws  locked  around 
a well  filled  and  billowing  pipe  . . . Mickey 
Rooney  has  been  declared  leading  boxoffice 
star  in  England  for  1940  by  a poll  of  4,000 
theatres.  The  London  Daily  Mirror,  ac- 
cording to  M-G-M,  carried  a page  one  ban- 
ner line  featuring  the  story  above  war 
news  . . . Harry  Shaw,  Loew-Poli  zone  head, 
was  in  from  New  Haven,  W ednesday , for  a 
business  meeting  at  the  home  office  . . . 
Steve  Pallos  is  in  town  again  after  a three- 
week  stay  on  the  coast  for  Alec  Korda  . . . 
Ben  Kalmenson  also  has  returned  from  a 
visit  to  southern  and  western  Warner 
branches. 

Bill  Heineman  returned  from  that 
Miami  “Back  Street”  junket  with  a beaut 
of  a cold  ...  Ed  Raftery  has  been  in  Kan- 
sas City  the  greater  part  of  last  week  and 
is  not  due  back  at  his  office  until  the  mid- 
dle of  the  week  . . . Bill  Perlberg  and  Jack 
Benny  have  returned  to  the  coast  after 
(Continued  on  page  30) 


28 


BOXOFFICE  ;:  February  8,  1941 


Virginia  MPTO  Elects 
Officers  in  Capital 

Washington — MPTO  of  Virginia  gath- 
ered here  last  Monday  at  the  Shoreham 
Hotel  for  their  annual  midwinter  conven- 
tion, to  discuss  current  problems  of  the 
industry  and  elect  officers  for  the  year. 

They  were  welcomed  to  the  city  by 
Richmond  B.  Keech,  corporation  counsel 
for  the  District  of  Columbia.  Principal 
speaker  was  Colonel  Robert  Barton,  coun- 
sel for  the  association,  who  explained  the 
consent  decree  and  urged  that  exhibitors 
give  it  a fair  trial. 

President  William  F.  Crockett  in  his 
initial  talk  disclosed  that  the  MPTOA  is 
still  hopeful  of  some  cancellation  conces- 
sions from  distributors  operating  under 
the  consent  decree.  As  a possible  minimum 
concession,  Crockett  mentioned  50  per  cent 
of  the  rental  of  one  feature  in  each  block 
of  five.  He  urged,  also  that  the  members 
give  the  decree  a fair  trial. 

Ed  Kuykendall,  president  of  the  MPTOA, 
was  also  present  and  spoke  briefly  men- 
tioning that  there  was  a possibility  of  a 
change  in  the  minimum  on  the  defense 
tax. 

Next  Meeting  in  June 

All  officers  of  the  association  were  re- 
elected, which  included,  in  addition  to 
Crockett,  Benjamin  T.  Pitts,  vice-presi- 
dent; Harold  Wood,  secretary,  and  Sam 
Bendheim  jr.,  treasurer.  New  members  of 
the  board  of  directors  are:  Carter  Barron, 
Washington;  Charles  Denmead,  West 
Point;  Sydney  Bowden  and  Jack  Katz, 
Norfolk,  and  R.  H.  Bolling,  Norton. 

The  directors  voted  to  hold  the  midsum- 
mer convention  at  Hotel  Chamberlin,  Old 
Point,  in  June. 

At  the  banquet  and  ball  which  concluded 
the  meeting,  Crockett  was  presented  with 
a brief  case  and  traveling  bag,  Ben  Pitts 
making  the  presentation  speech.  Carter 
Barron  acted  as  toastmaster  and  intro- 
duced the  special  guests  which  included 
Senator  Byrd,  former  Congressman  Col- 
gate W.  Darden,  Congressmen  Dave  Satter- 
field and  Willis  Bland,  and  State  Senators 
Aubrey  Weaver  and  W.  F.  Fuller. 

Among  those  who  attended  the  meeting 
were: 

Sam  Tabor,  Mervin  Ullman,  J.  G.  Unger,  Helen 
Ulman,  Carl  Thilow,  C.  H.  Taylor,  Sallie  Weir, 
E.  O.  Wilschke,  Sam  Wheeler,  C.  A.  Wingfield, 
J.  B.  Walsh,  Frank  Wolf  jr.,  Dan  Weinberg, 
Paul  Wall,  William  S.  Wilder,  Tommy  Reeves, 
Lloyd  J.  Wineland,  N.  Wasserman,  Henry  Hirsh, 
Jack  Katz,  T.  W.  Kelley,  A.  Frank  O’Brien,  Her- 
man Rubin,  Tommy  Reeves,  Jim  Owens,  Kope- 
land  Ornoff,  Glenn  Norris,  Fred  Rohrs,  M.  E. 
McDonald,  T.  I.  Martin,  Hardie  Meekin,  C.  C. 
Musica,  Bobby  Levin,  George  Loeffert,  Ellison 
Loth,  Albert  Landgraf,  Sidney  Lust,  Jules  La- 
pidus,  Joe  Kronman,  David  Kamsky,  Olmstead 
Knox,  R.  C.  Knewer,  E.  G.  Jackson,  Hunter  Perry, 
Ben  Pitts,  Emmett  Poindexter,  Wade  Pearson, 
Tom  Pitts,  Pete  Prince,  Charles  Roth,  Harry  Roth, 
Sam  Roth,  W.  H.  Rippard,  Lyle  Rippard,  Ken 
Price,  Ivan  Rosenbaum. 

L.  W.  Roberts,  Fred  Rippingale,  Allen  Spar- 
row, Fred  Sandy,  Arthur  Silverstone,  Charles 
Schulman,  S.  H.  Schultz,  Frank  Storley,  Frank 
B.  Stover,  Teddy  Schull,  Dave  Peterson,  Bill 
Smith,  Jack  Allen,  Graham  Barbee,  Stanley  Barr, 
Carter  Barron,  Fred  Beiersdorf,  Rudolph  Berger, 
Louis  Bernheimer,  Oscar  Blumenthal,  Nat  Brown, 
Julian  Brylawski,  T.  G.  Burch,  J.  E.  Burns,  Leo 
Beresin,  John  Caldwell,  Ben  Caplon,  E.  L.  Col- 
lamer,  Robert  Coulter,  Stewart  Tucker,  Max 
Cohen,  Harry  Crull,  Harry  Cohen,  Carlton  Duffus, 
William  Hoyle,  Russell  Hildebrand,  O.  J.  Hill, 
Richard  Harrity. 

U.  Hollingsworth,  Willie  Henderson,  Ed  Haley, 
N.  C.  Haefele,  Nat  Glasser,  Murray  Greenfield, 
Jack  Goldberg,  Sydney  Gates,  Willis  Grist,  A.  G. 


Miami  Interlude — 

Enjoying  the  sun  on  the  beaches  here 
are  Bernard  Kranze,  RKO  branch 
manager,  Albany;  Norman  Goldstein, 
Globe  Poster  Co.,  Baltimore ; Moe 
Grassgreen,  branch  manager  in  Al- 
bany for  20th  Century-Fox,  and  Wil- 
liam G.  Mechanic,  Essex  House,  Miami 
Beach. 


piLMROW  callers:  Morris  Slotnik,  Strand, 
Waterville,  and  Oriskany,  Oriskany 
Falls:  Norman  Pearlman  of  Binghamton, 
operator  of  Greene,  Greene,  and  Leonard 
Kaufman,  booker  for  the  theatre;  Dave 
Rosenbaum,  operator  of  Capitol,  Elizabeth- 
town, and  manager  of  Rex,  Keesville,  and 
New  Hollywood,  Ausable  Forks;  Harry 
Savett,  Adirondack  in  Faust,  Capitol  in 
Antwerp,  and  Port  in  Port  Leyden;  Walter 
Wertime,  Chester,  Chestertown;  Clarence 
Dopp,  operating  Strand,  Johnstown,  and 
other  theatres  in  Mohawk  Valley;  Henry 
Frieder,  Community,  Star  and  Warren, 
Hudson;  Harry  Lamont,  with  theatres  in 
Hudson,  Philmont,  Greenville  and  Athens; 
Walter  Reade  jr.,  Reade  circuit;  Kingsley 
Ryan,  New  Ausable,  Ausable  Forks,  and 
State,  Keesville;  Irving  Liner,  manager  of 
Proctor’s  Troy;  Lew  Rosenthal,  manager 
of  Fabian’s  State,  Schenectady. 

Morris  Wolf  of  Boston,  who  now  has 
Albany  in  his  district,  stopped  at  the  local 
Metro  exchange.  He  was  resident  manager 
here  some  years  ago  . . . Paul  Robert  is 
the  name  of  new  arrival  in  family  of  Her- 
man L.  Ripps,  Metro  manager.  Baby 
and  Mrs.  Ripps  are  still  in  New  York, 
where  they  have  been  visited  by  Herman 
and  brother  Ralph,  an  M-G-M  booker  . . . 
Morris  Cohn  will  not  for  next  year  worry 
about  the  life  of  a film  salesman.  Cohn 
is  in  the  quartemaster’s  department  of 
27 th  (New  York)  Division  at  Fort  Mc- 
Clellan, Ala.  . . . Lou  Weinberg,  Columbia 


Goodman,  Sam  Galanty,  Henry  Gunst,  Mrs.  Bertha 
Gordon,  Jerome  Gordon,  L.  A.  Flowers,  John  Fox, 
Bob  Folliard,  Barney  Frank,  Jake  Flax,  George 
Flax,  J.  Frank  Falls,  Bayliss  Epps,  Charles  Den- 
mead, Marjorie  Dermody,  Goleum  Ketchum,  Mrs. 
Charles  Yerby,  Pierre  Boulogne,  Robert  Campbell, 
Henry  Dusman,  Eddie  Phillips,  J.  E.  Fontaine,  Art 
Jacobson,  Jesse  Smith. 


Planning  to  'Teach" 
Board  of  Appeals 

New  York — Expressing  the  view  that  the 
ITOA  feels  “very  keenly”  over  the  appoint- 
ment of  personnel  to  the  arbitration  ap- 
peals board  that  is  wholly  non-conversant 
with  exhibitor  problems,  Harry  Brandt, 
president,  following  a meeting  at  the  Hotel 
Astor,  informed  Boxoefice  his  organization 
“will  immediately  file  every  conceivable 
type  of  arbitration  case  permitted  under 
the  decree.” 

Brandt’s  concern  over  the  AAA  appeals 
board  personnel  was  expressed  this  way: 
“We  feel  men  with  some  knowledge  of  ex- 
hibitor problems  should  be  on  it.  Why 
take  on  three  men  who  have  to  be  taught 
the  business?  It’s  a far-fetched  idea,  but 
as  long  as  that’s  the  way  it’s  going  to  be, 
we  will  try  our  best  to  make  it  work.” 

The  ITOA  president  is  of  the  opinion  the 
efficacy  of  the  industry’s  new  arbitration 
system  will  not  be  proven  until  it  has 
tussled  with  all  types  of  complaints.  For 
that  reason,  ITOA  members  will  file  a 
batch  of  diversified  cases  and  will  have  the 
benefit  of  ITOA  attorneys  at  hearings. 
In  the  latter  connection,  Brandt  declared 
the  attorneys  will  represent  members  in 
cases  only  where  precedents  are  involved. 

Reminded  that  the  AAA  does  not  recog- 
nize precedents  and  that  each  complaint  is 
tried  on  its  own  merits,  Brandt  replied: 
“We  feel  precedents  mean  something.  They 
always  have  meant  something  in  this  busi- 
ness even  if  the  AAA  doesn’t  feel  that 
way.” 

Enthusiastic  response  to  the  ITOA’s 
eighth  annual  dinner-dance  at  the  Hotel 
Astor  on  March  1 was  reported  by  David 
Weinstock,  chairman  of  the  arrangements 
committee. 


circuit  contact  man,  conferred  with  Branch 
Boss  Joe  Miller. 

Dave  Miller  of  Cleveland,  Universal 
district  manager,  huddled  with  Manager 
Jere  Spandau.  John  Scully,  Buffalo 
branch  manager,  was  here  for  a day  . . . 
Times  Union  and  Knickerbocker  Press  ran 
photographs  of  Critics  Edgar  S.  Van 
Olinda  and  C.  R.  Roseberry  boarding  New 
York  train  for  a week  in  Miami  as  guests 
of  Universal  at  premiere  of  “Back  Street.” 
Times  Union  picture  showed  Murray 
Spector,  of  Universal’s  home  office,  Rose- 
berry,  Van  Olinda,  James  F.  Ronin,  presi- 
dent of  Albany  Chamber  of  Commerce 
(shaking  hands  with  Van  Olinda),  Charles 
A.  Smakwitz,  Warner  Theatres  district 
manager,  and  Jules  Curley,  Warner’s 
Strand  manager  . . . “Back  Street”  opened 
at  Strand  two  days  after  gala  screening  in 
Florida. 

Ray  Powers  and  Jimmy  Moore,  Warner- 
Vitagraph  bookers,  are  working  hard  to 
win  a prize  in  the  Grad  Sears  Drive,  which 
started  December  22  and  ends  April  19. 
At  conclusion  of  first  four  weeks,  Albany 
exchange  headed  the  field  in  Eastern 
district  . . . “High  Sierra”  has  been  piling 
up  sizable  grosses  since  it  broke  in  Albany 
territory.  . . “Philadelphia  Story”  is  another 
big  grosser,  according  to  reports  from  vari- 
ous sources. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  8,  1941 


29 


Arbitration  Districts . . • New  York,  Albany 


— Copyright  American  Map  Co.,  Inc. 


The  New  York  City  board  is  under  the  direction  of  Charles  S.  Wall,  XJ.  S. 
Rubber  Bldg.,  Radio  City.  The  area  includes:  In  New  York,  the  counties  of  Dutchess, 
Ulster,  Sullivan,  Orange,  Putnam,  Westchester,  Rockland,  Queens,  Nassau,  Suffolk, 
Kings,  Richmond,  New  York  and  Bronx.  In  New  Jersey,  the  counties  of  Sussex, 
Passaic,  Bergen,  Warren,  Hunterdon,  Somerset,  Middlesex,  Monmouth,  Hudson  and 
Essex. 

The  Albany  board  has  Robert  Elliott,  the  Standard  Bldg.,  as  clerk.  The  area 
covers  the  upstate  New  York  counties  of  Clinton,  Franklin,  St.  Lawrence,  Jefferson, 
Lewis,  Oneida,  Madison,  Chenango,  Broome,  Delaware,  Greene,  Columbia,  Wash- 
ington, Saratoga,  Essex,  Warren,  Albany,  Montgomery , Schoharie,  Rensselaer , Fulton, 
Otsego  and  Herkimer . 


(Continued  from  page  28) 
conferences  here  on  “Charley’s  Aunt”  . . . 
Robert  Young  has  gone  west,  Hollywood 
way,  after  a number  of  days  in  town.  He 
did  a swell  job  on  the  Kate  Smith  hour 
when  he  repeated  his  film  role  in  “Western 
Union”  . . . Barney  Balaban  plans  to  head 
for  Miami  shores  within  the  next  week  . . . 
Leon  Netter  back  from  the  south  and  none 
the  worse  for  those  numerous  trips  to  the 
field  . . . Hyman  Rachmil,  Brooklyn  edi- 
tor, is  quite  elated  over  the  promotion  of 
his  son,  Lewis  J.,  to  associate  producer  for 
Harry  Sherman.  Up  to  now  he  had  been 
art  director  for  the  Hopalong  Cassidys  . . . 
A.  C.  Bromberg,  Atlanta  franchise  holder 
of  Republic,  has  gone  further  south  to 
Miami  for  his  vacation  . . . Ted  Toddy  of 
Consolidated  National  Film  Exchange,  At- 
lanta, is  in  town  on  a business  trip. 

C.  C.  Moskowitz  celebrates  another  birth- 
day February  20,  and  on  the  following  day 
“Ma”  Moskowitz  will  be  77,  the  event  to 
be  highlighted  by  a rousing  party  . . . 
Harry  Goetz  was  in  Washington  during  the 
week  still  trying  to  work  out  plans  for  the 
production  of  “The  American  Way”  for 
RKO.  He  and  Max  Gordon  will  produce 
“Sister  Eileen,”  current  Broadway  hit,  on 
their  own  with  releasing  plans  to  be  set 
later  . . . Joe  Lee  of  the  local  20 th-Fox  ex- 
change and  Sol  Kelsey,  tax  assessor  at 
Perth  Amboy  and  former  partner  of  Dave 
Snaper’s,  left  Thursday  for  Miami  and  are 
at  the  Tarrelton  . . . Nat  Wachsberger  in- 
tends leaving  for  the  coast  in  about  a week 
on  his  independent  production  plans  . . . 
Jack  Hively,  RKO  director,  is  in  town  for 
a vacation  . . . Jean  Hersholt,  who  cele- 
brates his  35 th  anniversary  next  month  as 
a screen  personality , departed  for  the 
coast  Friday  after  an  extended  vacation  in 
the  east. 


Anti-Discrimination  Bill 
Introduced  in  Albany 

Albany — An  anti-discrimination  bill  has 
been  reintroduced  by  Assemblyman  Daniel 
Burrows,  representing  a Harlem  district. 
The  measure  calls  for  suspension  or  re- 
vocation of  licenses  in  places  of  amuse- 
ment, public  accommodation  or  resorts 
where  the  licensees  do  not  make  available 
to  all  persons  equal  accommodations  and 
privileges,  subject  only  to  the  conditions 
and  limitations  established  by  law  and 
applicable  to  everyone  alike. 

Violators  would  be  charged  with  a mis- 
demeanor and  the  bill  calls  for  a fine  of 
from  $50  to  $500. 


Dividend  Action  Waits 

New  York — No  action  has  been  taken 
by  the  board  of  RKO  of  Delaware  on  the 
preferred  dividend  at  its  meeting  January 
31.  As  of  that  date  dividends  accumu- 
lated and  unpaid  on  such  stock  amounted 
to  $6  a share. 


Cherry  Valley  Dark 

Albany — The  Cherry  Valley  Theatre, 
Cherry  Valley,  is  closed.  Bob  Jenner,  who 
operates  the  New  Hollywood  in  Frankfort, 
was  its  most  recent  lessee. 


30 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


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DELAWARE 


— Copyright  American  Map  Co.,  Inc. 


The  Philadelphia  board  is  headed  by  William  Elliot,  1420  Walnut  St.,  as  clerk. 
The  area  covers:  In  Pennsylvania,  the  counties  of  Tioga,  Lycoming,  Union,  Mifflin, 
Juniata,  Franklin,  Bradford,  Susquehanna,  Wayne,  Pike,  Monroe,  Northampton, 
Bucks,  Mercer,  Montgomery,  Chester,  Delaware,  Adams,  Cumberland,  Lancaster, 
Perry,  Dauphin,  Lebanon,  Snyder,  Northumberland,  Sullivan,  Wyoming,  Lackawanna, 
Schuylkill,  Carbon,  Luzerne,  Montour,  Lancaster,  Berks,  York,  Columbia  and  Lehigh. 
In  Delaware,  the  entire  state.  In  New  Jersey  all  counties  except  Sussex,  Passaic, 
Bergen,  Warren,  Hunterdon,  Somerset,  Middlesex,  Monmouth,  Hudson  and  Essex. 


PlfllJUDELPHIA 

■y^ILLIAM  GOLDMAN  announces  in  let- 
ters to  exchanges  that  he  plans  to 
start  using  films  at  the  Erlanger  with  the 
new  buying  season.  Pointing  out  the  house 
used  to  run  RKO  pictures,  he  stresses  its 
value  as  a downtown  first  run  . . . “Fan- 
tasia” was  screened  for  the  press  at  the 
Aldine  . . . Jimmy  Jones,  long  the  orches- 
tra leader  at  the  Fays,  and,  during  the 
summer,  at  Steel  Pier,  died  suddenly. 

Nate  Milgram  planned  a 10 th  wedding 
anniversary  at  the  Showmen’s  Club  Satur- 
day night  . . . Bill  Fishman,  who  used  to  be 
a checking  expert  for  several  exchanges,  is 
the  papa  of  a boy  . . . Florence  Averell, 
the  girl-in-the-outer -office  at  Metro,  left 
for  Miami  Beach,  Friday.  Dot  Burrison, 
whose  desk  is  on  the  other  side  of  the  ex- 
change, got  the  same  urge,  and  plans  to 
leave  this  week  . . . Boss  Bob  Lynch  is 
taking  things  easy  at  Miami  . . . Nick  Lloyd 
Metro’s  Southern  New  Jersey  salesman,  is 
reported  leaving  to  take  a job  in  the  boom- 
ing machine  tool  industry,  and  Lou  For- 
mato,  former  Warnerite,  is  said  to  be  ready 
to  walk  into  his  shoes. 

Joe  Conway,  Egyptian,  has  taken  over 
the  Boulevard  from  Joe  Hebrew,  the  street 
reports  . . . Murray  Diamond  and  Lou  Fox- 
man  are  distributing  a new  game,  “Lucky 
13”  . . . The  trade  is  eager  to  get  a look 
at  William  Elliot,  newly  appointed  secre- 
tary of  the  local  arbitration  setup.  He 
didn’t  show  up  last  week,  although  he  con- 
tracted for  offices  at  1420  Walnut  St.  The 
room  numbers:  1305  to  1307.  They’ll  prob- 
ably be  familiar  numbers  to  exhibitors  and 
exchange  men  before  long  . . . Morris  Phil- 
lips, former  owner  of  the  Upsal,  is  new 
manager  of  William  Goldman’s  Band  Box. 

It  was  a birthday  party,  with  all  the 
trimmings,  for  Oscar  Neufeld  at  the  Show- 
men’s  Club  Wednesday.  He  was  billed  as 
“The  Mayor  of  Vine  Street”  . . . Charlie 
Dutkin  paid  his  first  visit  to  the  street 
since  he  took  that  up-state  job  with  Dave 
Segal  . . . This  unpredictable  world:  Va- 
riety and  Showmen’s  Clubs  gave  Cecil  Felt 
a big  sendoff  into  the  army,  and  then  the 
khaki-suited  physicians,  giving  him  a last- 
minute  once-over,  found  fault  with  some 
item  or  other  and  sent  him  back  to  civil 
life.  Maybe  it  was  too  much  party. 

Morris  Wax  has  taken  over  the  Lin- 
coln, but  hasn’t  announced  policy  yet. 
Previously  he  denied  reports  he  would  run 
it  as  a burlesker  . . . Metro’s  “Flight  Com- 
mand,” got  a first-class  preview  at  the 
Navy  Yard,  before  Rear  Admiral  A.  E. 
Watson,  commandant,  his  staff,  and  a 
bunch  of  critics  who  felt  a bit  out  of  place 
among  all  the  uniforms  . . . Dick  Kirsh, 
Aldine,  Wilmington,  got  Catholic  youth 
organizations  to  promote  a model  plane 
contest  to  boost  “Give  Us  Wings.” 

Sandra  Lydell,  vaudeville  dancer,  is  su- 
ing the  Fay’s  management  for  $5,000  dam- 
ages on  the  charge  they  used  her  picture 
(showing  her  rather  undraped)  to  promote 
shows  in  which  other  girls,  and  not  she, 
appeared.  It  was  “embarrassment”  and 
“great  humiliation,”  she  asserts,  naming, 
as  defendants,  Edward  Sherman,  president 
of  the  corporation;  Sam  Stiefel,  secretary; 
Allan  Heldcraft,  treasurer,  and  Sid  Stan- 
ley, manager.  Common  Pleas  Court  Judge 


James  C.  Crumlish  issued  a temporary  in- 
junction against  use  of  her  pictures. 

Wally  Leach,  Grand,  Camden,  boosted 
sales  of  Warner  kiddie  checks  by  holding 
a contest  among  the  theatre’s  employes. 
The  prizes,  two  tickets  to  New  York,  went 
to  A.  Pilarchik  and  J.  Arnold  . . . Sid  Pop- 
pay  played  host  to  the  staffs  of  the  Strand 
and  Majestic,  Gettysburg,  at  a Sunday 
night  get-together  . . . Jack  Goldman,  win- 
ner of  the  Ted  Schlanger  watch  for  kiddie 
check  sales,  made  local  papers  when  he 
presented  a set  of  “Kitty  Foyle”  volumes 
to  the  public  library. 


Charles  Smakwitz  Wins 
"Million  B.  C"  Contest 

Albany — Charles  Smakwitz  of  the  Strand 
has  been  selected  winner  of  the  exploi- 
tation contest  conducted  by  UA  for  “One 
Million  B.  C.”  The  prize  is  a new  Buick, 
which  is  to  be  turned  over  to  the  winner 
shortly.  Executives  of  UA  comprised  the 
committee  making  the  selection  of  the  best 
campaign  turned  in.  There  were  more 
than  100  campaigns  from  all  over  the 
country. 


Projectionists'  Club 
Installs  Officers 

New  York — The  “25-30  Club,”  whose 
requirements  are  that  members  shall  have 
been  projectionists  for  at  least  25  years, 
installed  officers  at  a meeting  held  Friday, 
January  31.  P.  A.  McGuire  officiated. 

Officers  follow:  M.  Berkowitz,  presi- 
dent; M.  J.  Rotker,  vice-president;  M. 
Klapholz,  recording  and  corresponding 
secretary;  H.  Weinberger,  secretary  and 
treasurer;  M.  Polito,  sergeant-at-arms;  J. 
Serafine,  J.  Abrams,  A.  Kessler,  trustees. 

H.  Griffin,  vice-president  of  Interna- 
tional Projector  Corp.,  and  Harry  Rubin, 
director  of  projection  of  Publix,  were  ad- 
mitted to  membership. 


Squire  Closed  Again 

New  York — The  Squire  on  Eighth  Ave. 
is  closed  again.  Independent  operators  have 
been  renting  the  house  for  foreign  pic- 
tures for  the  past  few  years,  and  without 
success.  Consolidated  Amusements  gave  it 
up  several  years  back. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


30-A 


— Copyright  American  Map  Co.,  Inc. 


The  W ashington  board  has  Harold  Bullard  Barton  as  clerk.  His  address  is  the 
Dendrike  Bldg.  The  board  covers  the  entire  states  of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  and 
the  District  of  Columbia. 


WASHINGTON 


•[■HE  VIRGINIA  MPTO  frolic  at  the 
Shoreham  last  Monday  evening  smacked 
of  a response  to  an  “all  out”  signal,  with 
every  section  of  the  state  well  represented. 
The  branch  managers  of  both  major  and 
independent  exchanges  in  the  company  of 
their  salesmen,  district  managers,  theatre 
executives  and  circuit  representatives 
joined  with  the  conventioneers  from  the 
Dominion  state  in  making  the  event  a rol- 
licking success.  Carter  Barron,  Loew  zone 
manager,  served  as  toastmaster,  and  intro- 
duced Senator  Byrd,  Congressman  Satter- 
field and  Flanagan  of  Virginia,  and  Ed 
Kuykendall,  national  MPTO  president.  Ben 
Pitts,  Virginia  circuit  owner,  presented 
President  William  S.  Crockett  with  match- 
ing brief  case  and  traveling  bag,  gifts  from 
the  association. 

Fred  Rohrs  arranged  a special  screen- 
ing of  "So  Ends  Our  Night”  for  the  critics, 
the  first  David  L.  Loew-Albert  Levoin  pro- 
duction for  UA  ...  A gala  premiere  of 
“ Queen  of  Destiny”  was  held  at  the  Little, 
the  proceeds  going  to  the  British  Ambu- 
lance Corps  . . . Under  the  sponsorship  of 
the  police  department,  the  traffic  depart- 
ment, and  the  AAA,  the  film  "The  Tip 
Off,”  showing  the  similarity  between  sig- 
nals given  in  football,  baseball,  and  basket- 
ball to  warn  players  of  impending  moves 
by  the  opposing  team  and  the  warning 
signals  given  by  drivers  in  traffic  opened 
Friday  for  a week  at  the  Trans-Lux. 

The  Calvert  of  Prince  Frederick,  Md„ 
formerly  the  Town  Hall,  taken  over  by 
Ike  Weiner  of  Hollywood,  Md.,  was  re- 
opened January  31,  with  Senator  Wilmer 
Johnson,  Louis  Wallman,  speaker  of  the 
house  of  delegates,  and  Hon.  George  Owens 
and  Hon.  James  P.  Munroe  the  honored 
guests. 

L.  Garman,  owner  of  the  Pimlico,  Ava- 
lon, New  Reistertown,  and  Pike,  Pikesville, 


Md.,  advises  that  his  latest  venture,  the 
Uptown  in  the  Pimlico  area  is  nearing 
completion  . . . Henry  Hiser  has  brought 
"Birth  of  a Nation”  back  to  the  Hiser  for 
an  indefinite  stay  . . . Gus  Lampe,  Schine 
zone  manager,  ivas  in  for  a few  days  . . . 
F.  Van  Court  of  the  Royal,  Princeton,  W. 
Va„  is  basking  in  the  sunbeams. 

Jack  Keyser  of  the  Keyser,  Amonate, 
has  changed  his  program  from  three 
changes  to  two  per  week  . . . Curt  Smith 
of  Grundy  is  checking  the  route  for  his 
Florida  junket  . . . Guy  Flannery  of  Rich- 
lands  reports  his  family  is  all  well  again 
. . . Vernon  Carpenter  of  Haysi  has  re- 
opened the  Haysi  now  that  the  flu  has 
flown  . . . Earl  Atkins  of  Clintwood  is  on 
the  sick  list  . . . Spud  Query  is  building  a 
new  home  in  Marion,  Va.  . . . Johnnie  Darst 
of  Dante,  who  takes  charge  of  real  estate 
for  a local  coal  company,  in  conjunction 
with  his  projection  precinct,  opened  the 
doors  of  same  following  the  all  clear  sig- 
nal on  the  flu  epidemic. 

Deanna  Durbin  surprised  the  local  Uni- 
versal family  with  a visit  to  the  exchange 
. . . Columbia’s  Ann  Snyder  is  writing  let- 
ters in  the  sand  . . . Quite  a representative 
group  from  the  Row  attended  the  Balti- 
more Variety  soiree  last  Saturday  eve  . . . 
Clarke  Davis’  cocktail  party  for  the  bookers 
was  quite  the  mirthful  event  . . . Licht- 
yyian’s  Bill  Hoyle  is  doubling  as  a medico 
while  Mrs.  Hoyle  is  battling  the  flu  ..  . 
February  10  marks  the  passing  of  another 
year  for  Malcolm  Taylor  of  the  Scott,  Gate 
City,  and  George  Lawson  of  the  Arcade, 
Crisfield. 

Milton  Smith  of  Northeast  is  anxious 
to  attend  his  son’s  graduation  from  the 
West  Point  of  the  Air  in  Texas  . . . John- 
nie Fox  of  Pocomoke  was  up  for  the  Vir- 
ginia party;  likewise  Jules  Lapidus,  Uni- 
versal district  manager,  and  Arthur  Sil- 


verstone,  UA  district  manager,  both  com- 
ing from  the  big  city  for  the  event  . . . 
Nellie  Robey,  formerly  a cashier  at  the 
Bernheimer  circuit,  entrained  last  week 
for  a period  of  convalescence  at  Will  Rog- 
ers Memorial;  Helen  Inglee’s  mother  ac- 
companied her  and  will  visit  with  Helen  for 
a few  days. 

Warner  theatres’  Charles  McGowan 
made  hurried  trip  to  Philly  . . . J.  Connor, 
home  office  auditor,  is  still  on  the  scene 
. . . Mrs.  Mackie  Smith  has  returned  fol- 
lowing an  illness  . . . Mrs.  Evelyn  Ortel  has 
joined  the  contract  staff  . . . Freddie 
Thomas,  Earle  manager,  is  back  on  the 
job  following  a flu  siege  and  opines  that 
he  will  be  glad  when  summer  comes. 

The  traveling  Thomases  from  Williams- 
burg were  in  our  midst  last  week,  and  we 
mean  Messrs.  McCaskey  and  Halligan  . . . 
Eddie  Fontaine,  Paramount  branch  man- 
ager, succumbed  to  the  epidemic  and  has 
been  confined  to  his  home  . . . Harry  Wil- 
lard and  Don  Widlund,  Jam  Handy  repre- 
sentatives, visited  with  Monogram’s  Harry 
Brown  . . . Sara  Young’s  parents  visited 
with  her  over  the  weekend  while  en  route 
from  Boston  to  the  land  of  sunshine. 

Metro’s  Phil  Bobys  is  on  a periodic 
swing  through  the  Clinch  . . . Dorothy 
Friedenburg  chose  New  York  for  her  mid- 
winter vacation,  and  her  co-worker  Es- 
telle Goldschein  made  the  journey  over  the 
weekend  to  visit  with  her  folks  . . . Lor- 
etta Dieting  comes  from  the  Universal 
branch  in  Des  Moines,  la.,  to  accept  the 
position  of  secretary  to  Max  Cohen,  Uni- 
versal branch  manager. 


Local  306  Dance  Ticket 
Sales  " Satisfactory " 

New  York — Satisfactory  ticket  sales  to 
Local  306’s  dance  to  be  held  February  11, 
are  reported  by  A.  Kessler,  chairman  of 
the  dance  committee.  Proceeds  will  go  to 
the  Sick  Fund  of  the  projectionists’  union. 

With  Kessler  on  the  committee  are  J. 
J.  Caravella,  M.  Rosenberg,  A.  Becker,  H. 
Garfman,  G.  Basson,  G.  Beckman,  D. 
Garden,  M.  Berko witz. 


David  J . Hennessy  Dead 

Newark — David  J.  Hennessy,  pioneer 
theatre  operator  in  this  city,  died  at  his 
home  in  E.  Orange  after  a long  illness. 
He  formerly  was  part  owner  of  the  Empire, 
Paterson,  and  established  the  Rivoli  and 
Iron  Bound  theatres  in  this  city  and  the 
Broad,  Elizabeth.  He  is  survived  by  his 
widow,  Mrs.  Margaret  Donnelly  Hennessy 
and  a brother,  Edward,  of  Philadelphia. 


Philip  W.  Melick  Dead 

Albany — Another  pioneer  in  the  local  in- 
dustry passed  out  of  the  picture  this  week 
with  the  death  of  Philip  W.  Melick,  65. 
He  began  his  career  28  years  ago  when 
films  were  wound  by  hand.  He  also  or- 
ganized Local  324.  He  leaves  a widow,  a 
sister  and  three  brothers. 


Albany  Bookers  Plan  Club 

Albany — A movement  to  organize  a 
Bookers’  Club  is  on  foot  here.  It  would 
be  a social  organization. 


30-B 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


WE  ARE  pleased  to  welcome  a newcomer 
to  Buffalo’s  Filmrow.  He  is  John  Fin- 
ley, newly  appointed  manager  of  Dipson’s 
Twentieth  Century  Theatre,  replacing  Dick 
Kemper,  who  is  now  in  Florida.  John 
first  started  in  the  business  for  Skouras 
Bros,  in  1929  in  St.  Louis.  Then  he  worked 
for  Harris  in  Pittsburgh.  He  joined  the 
Dipson  chain  in  1936  in  Wheeling,  W.  Va„ 
where  he  hired  Don  Harpole,  ex-manager 
of  Dipson’s  Bailey  in  Buffalo.  He  was 
later  transferred  to  Bradford,  Pa.,  and 
managed  the  New  Bradford  for  two  and  a 
half  years  and  last  week  was  brought  to 
Buffalo. 


Gene  Gorman,  also  of  the  Century,  is 
going  to  New  York  for  a few  days  before 
leaving  for  camp  . . . Don  Baecher,  same 
theatre,  is  contemplating  starting  a train- 
ing class  soon  for  ushers  for  local  Dipson 
theatres  . . . Report  has  it  that  when  Dick 
Kemper  returns  to  Buffalo,  he  will  be 
made  district  manager  for  the  Dipson’s 
Buffalo  chain  . . . Edward  Spitznagel,  who 
for  27  years  served  as  credit  manager  for 
the  Jacob  Dold  Packing  Co.r  is  the  choice 
of  the  American  Arbitration  Ass’n  to  serve 
as  clerk  of  the  Tribunal  for  the  Buffalo 
district.  His  offices  are  in  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce  Building.  Spitznagel  was 
schooled  in  the  central  offices  of  AAA  in 
New  York  before  returning  to  Buffalo. 
Anyone  wishing  to  contact  him,  call  Wa 
3277. 

James  F.  Phillips,  junior  executive  at 
Shea’s  Hippodrome,  had  a story  published 
in  the  recent  edition  of  the  Canisiu-s 
Quarterly,  published  by  the  local  college 
which  is  attended  by  most  of  the  younger 
members  of  theatredom  . . . Stan  Mittle- 
fehldt,  service  manager  of  Shea  Theatres, 
is  now  wearing  a “tux”  in  the  evenings  and 
a business  suit  afternoons  . . . According 
to  reports  issued  by  George  A.  Mason, 
manager  of  Shea’s  Great  Lakes,  over 
100,000  patrons  have  witnessed  the  popular 


Arbitration  Districts Buffalo 


— Copyright  American  Map  Co.,  Inc. 

Edward  William  Spitznagel,  with  offices  in  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  Bldg., 
is  clerk  of  the  Buffalo  board.  The  area  covers  the  following  western  New  York 
counties:  Oswego,  Onondaga,  Cortland,  Tioga,  Chemung,  Thompkins,  Cayuga, 
Wayne,  Ontario,  Seneca,  Schuyler,  Yates,  Steuben,  Monroe,  Orleans,  Genesee,  Liv- 
ingston, Wyoming,  Alleghany,  Chautauqua,  Chattaraugus,  Erie  and  Niagara. 


showing  of  “Gone  With  the  Wind,”  which 
is  being  moved  to  the  Hippodrome  where 
John  Carr  is  manager  . . . We  learn  that 
Dewey  Michaels,  operator  of  the  Mercury, 
braved  an  injunction  against  it  to  show 
“Ecstasy.”  It  ran  eight  full  weeks  at  his 
theatre. 

Ed  Frank  of  Shea’s  is  back  after  a brief 
ilhiess  . . . Ralph  Maw,  M-G-M  branch 
manager,  is  also  back  at  his  desk  and  re- 
ports his  secretary,  Minna  Lewis,  is  re- 
covering from  a recent  operation  . . . New 
editions  to  the  sick  list  are  Allene  Dixon, 


Shea  Buffalo  cashier,  and  Viola  Murphy, 
also  of  the  Buffalo  . . . Frank  Hartnette 
of  the  service  staff  is  confined  to  his  home 
with  the  flu  as  is  his  mother  and  father 
. . . Bob  Demming,  Elmwood  manager,  has 
lost  his  father  . . . John  Thompson  of  the 
Buffalo  motored  to  Toronto  to  see  his 
uncle,  who  died  later  of  injuries  sustained 
in  an  accident  . . . Saw  George  Thomas, 
“ex”  of  the  Great  Lakes  in  Niagara  Falls, 
last  week.  He  is  now  employed  by  Campbell 
Soup  . . . While  in  the  Falls,  we  visited 
Billy  Gibson  at  the  Cataract  and  just 
missed  Wally  Leffler  at  the  Bellevue. 


When  " Back  Street " Took  Its  Bow — 

A scene  in  front  of  the  Lincoln  Theatre,  Miami  Beach,  where  Universal’s 
“Back  Street”  had  its  premiere  this  week. 


The  Musicians  Local  43  held  its  annual 
benefit  ball  Tuesday  evening  at  the 
Memorial  Auditorium.  According  to  Ray 
Caldwell,  president  of  the  local,  it  was  the 
biggest  yet  with  40  bands  participating. 
Among  these  were  Richard  Bono  and  the 
Shea’s  Buffalo  Orchestra  and  Edwin 
Glucksman  and  the  Century  Theatre  pit 
band  . . . George  A.  Mason  and  his  staff 
will  be  hosts  to  another  benefit  in  a few 
weeks.  It  is  the  British  relief  benefit, 
sponsored  by  the  Caledonia  Market,  local 
group  in  charge  of  relief.  It  is  officially 
announced  that  Grade  Fields,  famed 
English  comedienne,  will  be  present  with 
her  act.  B.  M.  I.  and  Ascap  have  buried 
the  hatchet  for  that  night,  allowing  their 
tunes  to  be  broadcast  over  the  different 
local  stations. 


H.  F.  Sliter  Schine's 
Valley  District  Head 

Gloversville — H.  F.  Sliter,  director  of 
advertising  and  publicity  for  the  Schine 
circuit,  has  been  appointed  district  man- 
ager of  the  Valley  district  comprising 
Gloversville,  Amsterdam,  Little  Falls, 
Herkimer  and  Ilion.  Sliter  will  make  his 
headquarters  at  the  Glove  here. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  8,  1941 


30-C 


J^EON  ZELLER,  Roxy,  and  wife  are  en- 
joying a Florida  vacation  . . . Raymond 
Shamis,  Real  Art,  back  from  Philly  after 
visiting  his  folks  there  . . . Apollo  was 
broken  into  Friday,  January  24  by  burglars 
who  carried  away  a safe  containing  about 
$240.  They  also  broke  into  two  candy 
machines  strewing  the  contents  over  the 
floor.  Bob  Ashcroft  now  is  looking  for 
a new  safe  . . . Miss  A.  Elliott,  vice-chair- 
man of  the  Maryland  state  censor  board,  is 
out  of  the  hospital  and  back  on  the  job. 

Mr.  McKay,  former  manager  of  the 
Governor  Ritchie  Open  Air  Theatre,  is 
manager  of  Bill  Hicks’  new  Mayfair  . . . 
Joseph  C.  Grant,  Dunbar,  is  recovering 
rapidly  from  his  recent  operation  in  Florida 
. . . John  L.  Kettl,  local  agent  of  the  U.  S. 
Secret  Service,  advises  cashiers  to  be  on 
the  lookout  for  counterfeit  50  cent  coins 
a?id  are  urged  to  watch  for  50  cent  coins 
dated  1917  or  1918  which  appear  to  be 


j^MONG  the  local  folks  who  enjoyed 
themselves  at  the  MPTO  of  Virginia 
convention  in  Washington  were:  Allen 
Sparrow,  Frank  O’Brien,  Sam  Bendheim, 
Dave  Kamsky,  Stewart  Tucker,  Robert 
Coulter,  Elizabeth  Copeland,  Edith  Linde- 
man,  Thomas  Pitts,  Ivan  Rosenbaum  and 
Harold  Wood.  They  all  say  that  it  was  the 
biggest  and  best  to  date  . . . Grover  Finch, 
National  projectionist,  fell  and  sprained 
his  hand,  which  forced  him  to  a leave  of 
about  three  weeks  . . . Ray  Corrigan, 
western  star,  made  personal  appearances 
at  the  Venus  . . . Everett  Worrell  left  the 
service  staff  of  the  State  Theatre  to  enter 
Roanoke  College.  Anthony  Lane  replaces 
him. 

Herman  Rubin  of  Petersburg  paid  us  a 
visit,  also  his  son,  Howard,  and  Herman 
Kaplon,  manager  of  the  Century  there  . . . 


aged.  The  counterfeit  coins  are  somewhat 
lighter  in  weight  than  the  genuine. 

When  Bill  Hicks  opened  his  new  Mayfair 
he  had  Ernie  Woods  make  up  a reel  of 
the  gala  opening,  of  the  crowds  and  cele- 
brities, which  will  be  shown  there  shortly 
. . . Lawrence  Schanberger  opened  "Back 
Street”  Thursday  night  with  a special 
preview  starting  at  8:30  p.  m.  Schan- 
berger stated  this  one  performance  to  be 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Maryland  League 
for  Crippled  Children  and  advanced  prices 
were  charged. 

Ted  Routson,  publicity  chief  at  Hippo- 
drome,  announces  that  six  members  of  his 
Gift-Ted  Club  appearing  on  the  stage  of 
the  Hippodrome  Saturday  morning  joined 
the  Major  Bowes  Show  . . . Rodney  Collier, 
Warner’s  Stanley,  reports  that  the  third 
annual  dinner  dance  of  the  Baltimore 
Variety  Club  held  at  the  Belvedere  Hotel, 
Saturday,  February  1,  was  a huge  success. 


George  Summers,  Neighborhood  Theatre 
home  office,  who  was  out  sick  for  several 
days,  has  now  gone  with  the  National 
Guard  for  a year’s  training  . . . Olga  Brug- 
geman,  cashiered  at  the  Venus  during  the 
illness  of  Gertrude  Peace  . . . Carlton  Duf- 
fas,  Metro  exploiteer,  and  Joe  Shea,  Hays 
office,  were  here  helping  Bob  Eagan  ex- 
ploit “Land  of  Liberty”  at  the  Park  . . . 
Julian  Hord  is  the  new  usher  at  the  Brook- 
land,  replacing  Norvell  Langhorne  . . . 
Mrs.  William  Ballenger,  wife  of  the  man- 
ager of  the  Grand,  is  visiting  relatives  in 
Pittsburgh,  and  how  Billy  misses  her. 

Frank  P.  Cowardin  has  been  re-elected 
president  of  the  Richmond  Musicians  Asso- 
ciation for  another  year.  Marshall  Rotella, 
vice-president;  Carl  Wallnau,  secretary; 
William  Troxell,  treasurer  and  the  board  is 
composed  of  Claude  Elam,  Jay  Kaufman, 
Gordon  Smith,  Randolph  Robertson,  J.  R. 
Boykins,  Nathan  Oppleman,  and  Henry 
Bryan  . . . Tom  Jones  and  Claude  Wilson 
are  very  busy  selling  ads  for  the  program 
of  the  Theatrical  Ball,  to  be  held  at  Tan- 
tilla  Garden  on  February  25  . . . Carring- 
ton Waddell  and  R.  C.  Overbey  were  here 
from  South  Boston. 

(< 

: ROCHESTER  : 

^ —» 

JJOWNTOWN  managers  turned  out  in 
force  for  the  first  annual  All-Sports 
banquet.  At  a special  table  were  Wil- 
liam Cadoret,  Jay  Golden  of  the  Palace, 
Charley  Freeman  of  the  Century,  Lester 
Pollock  of  Loew’s,  Bud  Silverman  of 
Schine’s,  and  Lou  Mayer  of  the  Temple 
. . . Repair  work  has  started  on  the 
exterior  of  the  Temple  building  . . . New 
sign  and  marquee,  to  give  added  brightness 
to  the  main  stem,  is  being  planned  by 
RKO  Palace. 

Dr.  Walter  R.  Clark,  Eastman  technician, 
talked  on  infra-red  photography  before 
local  members  of  the  American  Chemical 
Society  . . . Louis  Levitch,  manager  at  the 
Riviera,  has  been  transferred  back  to 
Buffalo,  his  home  town.  He’ll  be  manager 
of  the  Granada  and  assistant  in  the  Schine 
booking  department  . . . Lester  Pollock  of 
Loew’s  has  been  added  to  the  M-G-M 
Honor  Roll  for  his  campaign  on  ‘“Phila- 
delphia Story”  . . . Palace  is  mapping  a big 
campaign  for  “Western  Union.”  Inci- 
dentally, the  Palace  has  tentatively  switch- 
ed from  Thursday  to  Wednesday  open- 
ings. 

“Grapes  of  Wrath”  returned  to  the 
Little  . . . “GWTW”  is  back  at  Loew’s  and 
playing  to  big  business.  It’ll  be  held  a 
second  week  . . . Clayt  Cornell,  State,  has 
been  shifted  to  Tupper  Lake  . . . Maurice 
Evans  will  give  a lecture-recital  at  the 
Eastman  February  16  for  the  benefit  of 
British  war  relief  . . . Tim  Mix  jr.  and  his 
Oklahoma  Cowgirls  were  the  stage  attrac- 
tion at  Schine’s  Riviera  and  State  over  the 
weekend  . . . Youngsters  got  autographed 
pictures  of  Gene  Autry  at  a special  matinee 
at  the  Temple. 

Hy  Gordon  of  the  Cameo  has  been  trans- 
ferred to  Amsterdam  . . . Maj.  George  W. 
Goddard,  chief  of  the  photographic  labora- 
tory material  division  at  Wright  Field, 
was  here  conferring  with  officials  of  East- 
man Kodak,  Bausch  & Lomb  and  Folmer 
Graflex. 


At  the  Baltimore  Variety  Club  Ball — 

Scenes  of  the  third  annual  dinner  dance  put  on  by  the  Baltimore  Variety 
Club  at  the  Belvedere  Hotel.  At  the  top,  William  C.  Hicks,  chief  barker,  pre- 
sents Dr.  George  E.  Bennett,  famed  bone  surgeon,  with  title  to  a station 
wagon  given  by  the  club  to  transport  crippled  children  to  and  from  the  hos- 
pital for  treatment. 


30-D 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


(Hollywood  Office — Suite  219  at  6404  Hollywood  Blvd.;  Ivan  Spear,  Western  Manager ) 


Awaii  'Citizen  Kane"  Award  Nominees  in  Five 
Decision  by  Schaefer  Classifications  Entered 


Spokesmen  for  RKO  Radio  locally  were 
expecting,  at  mid-week,  that  the  contro- 
versy between  Publisher  William  Randolph 
Hearst  and  Orson  Welles,  producer-direc- 
tor-writer-star of  “Citizen  Kane,”  made  for 
RKO  Radio  release,  would  be  cleared  away 
definitely  in  New  York  by  President  George 
Schaefer  and  the  company’s  board  of  di- 
rectors before  Schaefer  entrained  for  the 
coast.  Schaefer  was  due  in  Hollywood  over 
the  weekend. 

Company  attaches  here  were  predicting 
Schaefer  and  the  directorate  would  decide 
to  let  the  film  go  into  release  in  its  present 
form,  as  per  schedule,  although  Hearst 
representatives  had  threatened  court  ac- 
tion on  the  allegation  that  many  sequences 
in  “Citizen  Kane”  closely  parallel  the  pub- 
lisher’s own  career. 

Despite  reports  to  the  contrary,  the  ban 
on  RKO  Radio  news  and  publicity  in  the 
Hearst  press  throughout  the  country  has 
not  been  lifted,  studio  officials  here  as- 
serted. They  declared  there  have  been  a 
few  scattered  instances  where  publicity 
and  news  on  current  RKO  Radio  product 
has  found  its  way  into  some  of  the  Hearst 
papers,  but  explained  this  was  handled  by 
the  advertising  and  publicity  departments 
of  various  RKO  and  other  theatres  screen- 
ing the  company’s  product  and  which  are 
advertisers  in  the  Hearst  newspapers.  As 
to  general  news  and  publicity  concerning 
the  company,  and  emanating  therefrom, 
however,  none  of  it  has  appeared  in 
Hearst-controlled  media. 

Welles  and  his  general  aide,  Herb  Drake, 
have  been  in  New  York  for  the  past  week 
conferring  with  Schaefer  and  other  RKO 
Radio  executives  on  the  situation.  Mean- 
time it  was  reported  a print  of  “Citizen 
Kane”  had  been  dispatched  to  Hearst’s 
home  at  San  Simeon  for  a special  screen- 
ing to  be  witnessed  by  the  publisher. 


Prepare  50  Transcriptions 
For  " Brotherhood  Week " 

With  transcriptions  made  to  be  sent  to 
more  than  50  nationwide  radio  stations  for 
use  during  “Brotherhood  Week,”  February 
22-28,  Bette  Davis,  Pat  O’Brien,  David  O. 
Selznick  and  Hartzell  Spence,  author  of 
“One  Foot  in  Heaven,”  participated  in  a 
roundtable  discussion  at  Warner  on  behalf 
of  the  Conference  of  Christians  and  Jews. 


Machinery  set  up  by  the  Academy  of 
Motion  Picture  Arts  and  Sciences  in  prepa- 
ration for  its  13th  annual  Awards  ban- 
quet, February  27,  is  rolling  along  smooth- 
ly. Nominations  for  honors  in  five  different 
classifications  already  have  been  made  ac- 
cording to  new  rules  established  this  year, 
while  nominations  ballots  for  acting,  writ- 
ing, direction  and  production  awards, 
mailed  out  last  week,  were  returnable 
February  5 and  the  results  thereof  will  be 
announced  February  10. 

Nominations  for  short  subjects  awards 
include: 

Cartoons,  whether  in  color  or  black-and- 
white  : 

“Snubbed  by  a Snob,”  Paramount-Max 
Fleischer. 

“You  Ought  to  Be  in  Pictures,”  War- 
ner-Leon  Schlesinger. 

“A  Wild  Hare,”  Warner-Schlesinger. 

“Raggedy  Ann  and  Raggedy  Andy,” 
Paramount-Fleischer. 

“Knock  Knock,”  Universal-Waiter  Lantz. 

“Puss  Gets  Boots,”  Metro. 

“Billy  Mouse’s  Akwakade,”  20th  Century- 
Fox. 

“The  Mad  Hatter,”  Columbia. 

“Western  Daze,”  Paramount-George  Pal. 

“Wimmin  Is  a Myskery,”  Paramount- 
Fleischer. 

“Early  Worm  Gets  the  Bird,”  Warner- 
Schlesinger. 

“Cross  Country  Detours,”  Warner- 
Schlesinger. 

“Recruiting  Daze,”  Universal-Lantz. 

“Milky  Way,”  Metro. 

For  the  first  time  since  awards  have  been 
given  for  cartoons,  there  will  be  no  Walt 
Disney  films  in  the  competition.  Disney 
having  announced  recently  he  wishes  to 
have  emphasis  placed  upon  his  feature- 
length  efforts. 

Shorts  Divided 

Short  subjects,  of  1,000  feet  in  length  or 
less,  include: 

“Information  Please,”  Pathe;  “The 
Baron  and  the  Rose,”  Metro;  “All  About 
Hash,”  Metro:  “Moments  of  Charm  of 
1941,”  Paramount:  “Gentleman’s  Part- 
ner,” Pathe:  “The  Happiest  Man  on 
Earth,”  Metro;  “Sacred  Ganges,”  Para- 
mount; “London  Can  Take  It,”  Warner; 
“Henry  Busse  and  His  Orchestra,”  War- 
ner; “Nature’s  Nursery,”  Paramount;  “Un- 
usual Occupations  No.  4,”  Paramount; 


“Meet  the  Stars,”  Republic;  “Fight,  Fish, 
Fight,”  Warner;  “Quicker’n  a Wink,” 
Metro;  “Popular  Science  No.  5,”  Para- 
mount; “Old  Dominion,”  20th  Century- 
Fox;  “Diving  Demons,”  Metro;  “More 
About  Nostradamus,”  Metro;  “Night  De- 
scends on  Treasure  Island,”  Metro,  and 
“Siege,”  Pathe. 

Short  subjects  between  1,000  and  3,000 
feet  in  length: 

“The  Flag  Speaks,”  “You  the  People” 
and  “Eyes  of  the  Navy,”  Metro;  “Service 
With  the  Colors,”  “Teddy  the  Rough 
Rider”  and  “Dog  in  the  Orchard,”  War- 
ner; “Growing  Up,”  Pathe;  “Children 
Must  Learn,”  “Valleytown”  and  “And  So 
They  Live,”  documentaries  from  New  York 
University,  and  “One-Tenth  of  Our  Na- 
tion,” American  Film  Center  documentary. 
Judging  has  already  begun  in  the  pro- 
jection rooms  at  RKO  Radio. 

Art  Direction  Rivals 

Nominated  for  the  art  direction  award 
for  black-and-white  films  are: 

“Arise  My  Love,”  Paramount;  “Arizona,” 
Columbia;  “Boys  From  Syracuse,”  Uni- 
versal; “Dark  Command,”  Republic;  “For- 
eign Correspondent,”  United  Artists-Wal- 
ter  Wanger;  “Lillian  Russell,”  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox; “My  Favorite  Wife,”  RKO 
Radio;  “My  Son,  My  Son,”  Edward  Small- 
United  Artists;  “Our  Town,”  Sol  Lesser- 
United  Artists;  “Pride  and  Prejudice,” 
Metro;  “Rebecca,”  David  O.  Selznick- 
United  Artists;  “The  Sea  Hawk,”  War- 
ner, and  “The  Westerner,”  Samuel  Gold- 
wyn-United  Artists. 

Nominees  for  the  art  direction  award 
for  color  films  include: 

“Bitter  Sweet,”  M-G-M;  “Down  Argen- 
tine Way,”  20th  Century-Fox;  “North  West 
Mounted  Police,”  Paramount,  and  “The 
Thief  of  Bagdad,”  Alexander  Korda-United 
Artists. 

Nominated  for  awards  for  black-and- 
white  cinematography: 

“Abe  Lincoln  in  Illinois,”  RKO  Radio; 
“All  This,  and  Heaven  Too,”  Warner; 
“Arise  My  Love,”  Paramount;  “Boom 
Town,”  M-G-M;  “Foreign  Correspondent,” 
Walter  Wanger-United  Artists;  “The  Let- 
ter,” Warner;  “The  Long  Voyage  Home,” 
Walter  Wanger-United  Artists;  “Rebecca,” 
David  O.  Selznick-United  Artists;  “Spring 
(Continued  on  page  33) 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


31 


In  Recognition  of  Hits — 

David  O.  Selznick  appeared  on  Cecil  B.  DeMille's  Lux  Theatre  radio  program 
February  3 to  receive  from  the  Paramount  producer  and  radio  impresario 
another  accolade  hailing  the  maker  of  “Gone  With  the  Wind”  and  “Rebecca” 
for  his  sustained  record,  established  during  the  past  nine  years,  as  a producer 
with  a “special  consistency  of  high  competence.”  Here  DeMille  (left)  hands 
the  award  to  Selznick.  Judith  Anderson  and  Ronald  Colman,  who  starred  in 
the  radio  version  of  “Rebecca”  on  the  Lux  show  on  which  Selznick  appeared, 
look  on. 


(2lnematlc5 


52  Features  A wail 
Camera  Attention 

No  less  than  52  features,  running  the 
gamut  from  high-budgeted  comedies  and 
dramas  to  the  low-cost  western,  are  slated 
to  go  before  Hollywood  cameras  during 
the  next  three-month  period,  with  more 
vehicles  being  added  daily  to  guarantee  an 
unslackening  tempo. 

February  schedules  will  account  for  24 
of  them,  with  17  to  roll  in  March  and  11 
already  set  for  April  production.  Lineup 
for  the  balance  of  this  month  looks  this 
way: 

Columbia — “Senate  Page  Boys,”  “Her 
First  Beau,”  “Bedtime  Story,”  “Texas,” 
“Show  Business,”  and  “North  of  the  Lone 
Star.” 

Paramount — “Pioneer  Woman,”  “Hold 
Back  the  Dawn,”  “Little  Miss  Muffet”  and 
“The  Parson  of  Panamint.” 

Metro — “Love  Crazy,”  “Dr.  Jekyll  and 
Mr.  Hyde”  and  “Lady  Be  Good.” 

RKO  Radio — “My  Life  With  Caroline” 
and  “Tom,  Dick  and  Harry.” 

Universal — “The  Black  Cat”  and  “Oh, 
Charlie.” 

Twentieth  Century-Fox — “Man  Hunt” 
and  “Sun  Valley.” 

Republic  — An  untitled  Roy  Rogers 
western. 

Monogram — “Trail  of  the  Yukon”  and 
“The  Million-Dollar  Mystery.” 

Warner — “The  Gentle  People,”  “Bad 
Men  of  Missouri,”  “Highway  99”  and 
“Flight  Patrol.” 

For  March,  the  following  activity  is  set: 

Paramount — “The  Night  of  January  16,” 
“Aloma  of  the  South  Seas,”  “Birth  of  the 
Blues,”  “Two  Bad  Angels,”  “Buy  Me  That 
Town”  and  “Nothing  But  the  Truth.” 

Metro — “Get  a Horse.” 

Universal — “Almost  an  Angel.” 

Twentieth  Century-Fox — “Miami.” 

Republic — “Puddin’  Head”  and  an  un- 
titled musical. 

United  Artists — “The  Jungle  Book,”  “The 
Battle  of  Britain”  and  “Strange  Victory.” 

RKO  Radio  — “Horseback  Hurricane,” 
“Deadwood  Days”  and  “Wrapped  in  Cello- 
phane.” 

For  April,  these: 

Paramount — “Sullivan’s  Travels,”  “Henry 
and  Dizzy,”  “Reap  the  Wild  Wind,”  “Dildo 
Cay,”  “Paramount  on  Parade,”  and  “Secret 
of  the  Wastelands.” 

Metro — “The  Yearling.” 

RKO  Radio — “True  to  Form”  and 
“Water  Gypsies.” 

United  Artists — “Niagara  Falls.” 

Republic — “Alibi  at  Midnight.” 


" Community  Sing " Finale 
For  ", Strawberry  Blonde " 

Reaction  of  sneak-preview  audiences  to 
an  old-time  song,  “The  Band  Played  On,” 
as  used  in  Warner’s  “The  Strawberry 
Blonde,”  has  caused  the  studio  to  include 
a novel  “community  sing”  finale  to  the 
picture,  which  stars  James  Cagney,  Olivia 
de  Havilland  and  Rita  Hayworth.  Old 
time  “song  cards”  will  be  inserted  just 
before  the  fadeout,  with  the  words  of  the 
song  printed,  so  the  audience  can  join  with 
the  principal  characters  in  singing  it. 


Jack  Benny  and  Producer  William  Perl- 
berg  of  20th  Century-Fox  have  returned 
from  New  York  where  they  glimpsed 
“Charley’s  Aunt,”  the  venerable  stage  play 
which  Perlberg  is  to  produce  for  films 
with  Benny  as  the  star. 

* 

Walter  F.  Wanger  has  returned  from 
Washington  where  he  was  a dinner  guest 
of  President  Roosevelt  . . . RKO  Radio 
Studio  Club’s  annual  spring  dance  is  set 
for  March  8 at  the  Brentwood  Country 
Club. 

* 

Claudette  Colbert  has  accepted  an  invi- 
tation from  the  Glendale  Ski  Club  to  be 
one  of  three  judges  of  a national  salon  of 
ski  pictures.  Winner  of  the  annual  slalom 
race  at  Sun  Valley,  Miss  Colbert  has  also 
been  requested  to  supply  the  National 
Hobby  Museum  of  New  York  City  with  an 
action  picture  of  her  skiing. 

* 

Producer  David  O.  Selznick  has  been 
spending  several  days  in  Palm  Springs 
working  out  a story  idea  . . . Screen  Actors 
Guild  and  the  American  Federation  of 
Radio  Artists  will  present  their  annual 
“Gambol  of  the  Stars”  at  the  Ajnbassador 
Hotel,  March  17.  Bette  Davis  heads  the 
program  committee;  Porter  Hall  is  chair- 
man of  the  finance  committee;  Robert 
Montgomery  heads  the  reception  commit- 
tee, and  Lucile  Gleason  is  in  charge  of 
tickets  . . . Henry  King,  20 th  Century-Fox 
director,  flew  his  own  plane  in  from  the 
east  to  confer  with  Producer  Lou  Edelman 
on  “A  Yank  in  the  RAF,”  King’s  next  di- 
rectorial job. 

* 

Leon  Schlesinger,  cartoon  producer,  has 
returned  from  a two-week  business  trip  to 


New  York  . . . Ben  Koenig,  motion  pic- 
ture attorney,  has  been  appointed  to  the 
state  social  welfare  board  of  Governor  Cul- 
bert  L.  Olson. 

★ 

Studio  executives  and  costume  designers 
will  figure  prominently  in  the  dinner  and 
style  show  to  be  sponsored  February  13  by 
the  Los  Angeles  Fashion  Group,  with 
Mayor  Fletcher  H.  Bowron  as  honorary 
chairman.  Creations  will  be  submitted  by 
Adrian,  Orry-Kelly,  Travis  Banton,  Edith 
Head,  Vera  West,  Edward  Stevenson,  Irene, 
Dolly  Tree,  Natalie  Visart,  Herschel,  Milo 
Anderson  and  Howard  Shoup,  all  studio 
desigiiers.  Patrons  include  Louis  B.  Mayer, 
Walt  Disney,  Darryl  F.  Zanuck  and  Walter 
F.  Wanger. 

* 

Prior  to  their  departure  for  China,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ernest  Hemingway  were  lunch- 
eon guests  at  Paramount,  which  studio 
will  produce  Hemingway’s  new  novel,  “For 
Whom  the  Bell  Tolls.”  Y.  Frank  Freeman 
was  the  host  and  the  guests  included  Wil- 
liam Le  Baron,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gary  Cooper, 
Jacob  Karp,  Sol  C.  Siegel,  B.  G.  DeSylva, 
William  A.  Wellman,  Preston  Sturges,  A. 
M.  Botsford,  William  Meiklejohn,  Frank 
Capra,  Jack  Moss,  T.  Keith  Glennan,  Wil- 
liam H.  Pine,  William  Dozier,  Julian 
Blaustein,  Paul  Jones,  Louis  Lipstone,  Luigi 
Luraschi,  Edith  Head,  A.  C.  Martin  and 
George  Brown. 

* 

The  tri-annual  ball  game  between  the 
Harry  Sherman  Cowboys  and  the  Para- 
mount Tigers  is  scheduled  for  the  after- 
noon of  February  16.  Producer  Sherman 
is  left-fielder  on  his  nine,  which  has  been 
undefeated  by  Paramount  in  two  seasons. 


32 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


Freeman  s Illness  Delays 
Meeting  of  Producers 


Award  Nominees  in  Five 


Classifications  Entered 


The  annual  meeting  of  the  producers 
association,  scheduled  for  February  4,  with 
election  of  officers  for  the  coming  year  as 
the  principal  topic  of  business,  has  been 
postponed  temporarily  because  of  the  ill- 
ness of  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  association 
president,  ordered  to  bed  by  his  doctors 
with  influenza.  Hays  office  attaches  re- 
ported a new  date  for  the  session  would  be 
set  as  soon  as  Freeman  had  recovered. 

Expected  in  from  New  York  this  week 
was  Will  H.  Hays,  MPPDA  president,  who 
will  spend  several  weeks  in  the  film  colony 
conferring  with  association  members  here. 
He  is  scheduled  to  be  one  of  the  speakers 
at  the  election  meeting. 


(Continued  from  page  31) 
Parade,”  Universal;  “Waterloo  Bridge,” 
Metro. 

Nominated  for  awards  in  color  cine- 
matography: 

“Bitter  Sweet,”  M-G-M;  “The  Blue 
Bird,”  20th  Century-Fox;  “Down  Argentine 
Way,”  20th  Century-Fox;  “North  West 
Mounted  Police,”  Paramount;  “Northwest 
Passage,”  M-G-M,  and  “The  Thief  of 
Bagdad,”  Alexander  Korda-Uhited  Artists. 

Nominees  for  the  film  editing  award: 

“The  Grapes  of  Wrath,”  20th  Century- 


Fox;  “The  Letter,”  Warner;  “The  Long 
Voyage  Home,”  Walter  Wanger-United 
Artists;  “North  West  Mounted  Police,” 
Paramount,  and  “Rebecca,”  David  O.  Selz- 
nick-United  Artists. 

Nominations  for  best  musical  score: 

“Arizona,”  Columbia;  “Pinocchio,”  Walt 
Disney;  “The  Thief  of  Bagdad,”  Alexan- 
der Korda-United  Artists;  “Our  Town,” 
Sol  Lesser-United  Artists;  “The  Howards 
of  Virginia,”  Frank  Lloyd-Columbia; 
“Waterloo  Bridge,”  Metro;  “The  Great 
Dictator,”  Charles  Chaplin-United  Artists; 
“North  West  Mounted  Police,”  Paramount; 
“Dark  Command,”  Republic;  “My  Favorite 
Wife,”  RKO  Radio;  “1,000,000  B.  C.”  Hal 
Roach-United  Artists;  “Rebecca,”  David 
O.  Selznick-United  Artists;  “The  Mark  of 
Zorro,”  20th  Century-Fox;  “The  Fight  for 
Life,”  U.  S.  Films-Columbia;  “House  of 
Seven  Gables,”  Universal;  “The  Long  Voy- 
age Home,”  Walter  Wanger-United  Art- 
ists; “The  Letter,”  Warner. 

Nominated  for  the  best  score  regardless 
of  source  of  music: 

“Arise  My  Love,”  Paramount;  “Strike  Up 
the  Band,”  Metro;  “Second  Chorus,”  Na- 
tional Pictures-Paramount;  “Our  Town,” 
Sol  Lesser-United  Artists;  “Hit  Parade  of 
1941,”  Republic;  “Irene,”  RKO  Radio;  “Tin 
Pan  Alley,”  20th  Century-Fox;  “Spring 
Parade,”  Universal;  "The  Sea  Hawk,” 
Warner. 

Nominees  for  the  best-song  award: 

“Its  a Blue  World,”  from  “Music  in  My 
Heart,”  Columbia;  “When  You  Wish  Upon 
a Star,”  from  “Pinocchio,”  Walt  Disney; 
“Our  Love  Affair,”  from  “Strike  Up  the 
Band,”  Metro;  “Only  Forever,”  from 
“Rhythm  on  the  River,”  Paramount; 
“Would  You  Like  to  Be  the  Love  of  My 
Life,”  from  “Second  Chorus,”  Paramount; 
“Who  Am  I?”  from  “Hit  Parade  of  1941,” 
Republic;  “I’d  Know  You  Anywhere,”  from 
“You’ll  Find  Out,”  RKO;  “Argentine,” 
from  “Down  Argentine  Way,”  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox; “Waltzing  in  the  Clouds,”  from 
“Spring  Parade,”  Universal. 


It's  Bennet's  Birthday — 

It  seems  that  Spencer  Bennet,  who  directs  some  of  the  Tex  Ritter  westerns 
for  Monogram,  had  a birthday.  So  Tex  played  host  at  a party  in  Bennet’s 
honor,  and  here  are  the  guests:  Top  row,  left  to  right — Paul  Parry,  Everett 
Cheatam,  Edward  Finney,  Peter  J.  Friedhoff,  Sam  Wallace,  Louis  S.  Litton, 
Aaron  Klein,  William  Raynor,  Mrs.  Louis  S.  Lifton,  Russ  Bell,  Mrs.  Edward 
Finney,  Frank  Sanucci  and  Harriet  Holt.  Middle  row,  same  order — David 
Field,  Mrs.  David  Field,  Mrs.  Jay  Kline,  Mrs.  Russ  Bell,  Mrs.  Bennet,  Bennet 
and  Harry  Bennet.  Bottom  row,  left  to  right — Ernest  Miller,  Ritter,  George 
Macsas  and  Jay  Kline. 


Paramount  Launches  a 
Construction  Program 

To  accommodate  a projected  heavy  pro- 
duction schedule,  Paramount  has  launched 
a construction  program  at  its  Marathon 
Street  studio,  the  new  buildings  to  include 
three  modem  sound  stages  and  a power 
house.  At  the  same  time  the  company 
reiterated  its  intention  of  constructing  an 
entirely  new,  $15,000,000  studio  on  pro- 
perty in  West  Los  Angeles,  a project  which 
has  been  temporarily  deferred  because  of 
unsettled  world  conditions. 

The  three  new  stages  will  provide  55,000 
additional  square  feet  of  interior  space. 
The  power  house  will  increase  the  studio’s 
electrical  capacity  from  23,000  to  more 
than  40,000  amperes.  To  make  way  for  the 
new  units,  the  electrical  dock,  sheet-metal 
stage  and  a standing  set  will  have  to  be 
dismantled.  First  of  the  new  stages  is  to  be 
ready  within  four  months,  with  the  en- 
tire project  to  be  completed  in  six  months. 


A Board  Director  Visits — 

First-hand  information  on  production  progress  at  Paramount  was  obtained 
by  Ed  Weisl  (left),  member  of  the  board  of  directors,  when  he  visited  the 
Hollywood  plant  from  New  York  recently.  Here  he  is  introduced  to  Madeleine 
Carroll  on  the  “One  Night  in  Lisbon’’  set  by  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  studio  operations. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  8,  1941 


33 


NEASY  lies  the  head  that  wears  a 
crown  . . . 

Which  ancient  observation — prob- 
ably misquoted  — apparently  maintains 
even  when  applied  merely  to  the  royalty  in 
the  realm  of  freelance  pressagentry.  And 
it  explains  why  the  publicity  proletariat 
has  been  enjoying  a field  day  while  verb- 
ally gunning  for  Russell  Birdwell.  The 
guillotine  watchers  seem  to  think  that 
King  Birdwell  has  his  neck  out  as  a result 
of  certain  phases  of  the  publicity  on  How- 
ard Hughes;  his  current  production,  “The 
Outlaw;”  and  his  new  star  discovery,  19- 
year-old  Jane  Russell. 

The  shooting  began  when  Pic,  weekly 
magazine,  printed  in  a recent  issue  four 
pages  about  Miss  Russell,  which  layout 
attracted  quick  lightning  because  it  em- 
phasized in  both  word  and  pictures  her 
youth  and  her  voluptuousness.  The  cavi- 
lers’  case  was  briefed  by  Louella  O.  Par- 
sons, who  termed  the  Russell  photographs 
“disgusting,”  “indecent,”  and  “sugges- 
tive.” LOP  chided  the  Hays  office  for  hav- 
ing permitted  the  photographs  to  be  re- 
leased and  alleged  that  the  “League  of 
Decency  is  up  in  arms — and  rightly  so.” 

The  broadside  of  rebuke  brought  the  fol- 
lowing statement  from  Birdwell: 

“All  of  the  stills  used  by  my  office 
on  the  Howard  Hughes’  production 
‘The  Outlaw’  have  been  approved  by 
Simmon  Levy  of  the  Hays  office. 

“As  everyone  should  know,  however, 
no  publicity  organization — or  any 
other  organization  for  that  matter — 
has  any  control  of  the  great  American 
press — or  the  right  to  even  question 
this  free  press — which  fortunately  is 
free  to  print  whatever  it  wishes  with- 
out submitting  their  photographs  or 


stories  to  the  Hays  office — or  any 
other  office,  other  than  their  own  edi- 
torial sanctums. 

“My  company  will  be  the  last  ever 
to  demand  or  even  suggest  any  censor- 
ship— from  the  Hays  office  or  any 
other  body — on  the  rights  of  maga- 
zines, newspapers  or  any  other  mem- 
bers of  the  American  free  press.” 

One  thing  the  critics  seem  to  have  over- 
looked is  the  fact  that  just  a week  or  two 
previously,  Life  also  devoted  two  pages  to 
the  Hughes  find,  which  Birdwell-planted 
layout  in  that  publication  described  and 
pictured  her  as  the  talented,  sweet,  un- 
spoiled and  charming  miss  she  undoubted- 
ly is. 

Admitting  that  the  shots  in  Pic  which 
emphasized  voluptuousness  were  unfortu- 
nate, unflattering  and  in  bad  taste,  how 
much  of  the  blame  can  be  fairly  laid  at 
Birdwell’s  door  is  a matter  of  personal 
opinion.  It  is  this  department’s  view  that 
his  biggest  mistake  was  in  broadcasting  a 
statement,  ill-advised  and  illogical,  which 
could  serve  only  to  recognize  and  empha- 


size the  criticisms  and  innuendoes  to 
which  he  is  being  subjected. 

Whether  or  not  the  celebrated  Bird- 
wellian  touch  went  astray  in  this  instance, 
let  it  not  be  forgotten  that  he  did  manage 
to  garner  two  of  the  most  desirable  pub- 
licity breaks  for  his  client’s  picture.  One 
cannot  go  to  bat  for  his  accounts  as  often 
as  Birdwell  does  without  hitting  a foul 
once  in  a while.  Which  might  be  a thought 
worthy  of  consideration  by  his  competitive 
critics  who  play  very  safe  by  seldom  fac- 
ing the  pitcher. 

Darryl  ZanucJc,  in  Sun  Valley,  won  a sil- 
ver “sun  and  ski”  pin  for  zipping  down  the 
River  Run  in  one  minute,  43  and  3/10 
seconds. 

Some  of  that  speed  should  have  been 
applied  to  “Chad  Hanna”  and  “Hudson’s 
Bay.” 

RKO  Radio  has  designed  a new  trademark 
which  will  soon  grace  that  company's  re- 
leases, supplanting  the  12-year-old  “dot- 
dash''  single  radio  tower.  A dramatic  cloud 
effect,  plus  two  modern  streamlined  towers, 
will  highlight  the  new  label. 

Production  cost  can  be  saved  by  referring 
to  Perry  Lieber's  department  for  the  "cloud 
effect." 

Heads  of  Hollywood  studios’  foreign  de- 
partments are  cooperating  in  the  collec- 
tion of  binoculars  requested  by  M-G-M’s 
office  in  London  to  be  distributed  by  the 
British  government  to  “roof-top  watchers” 
of  air  raids. 

Which  is  a worthy  cause,  but  they  might 
save  a few  for  the  exhibitors — to  watch 
for  the  cash  customers. 


Super , Syncopation , Supine 


With  the  elite  among  Hollywood’s  re- 
viewers basking  in  Florida  sunshine  (Los 
Angeles  Chamber  of  Commerce,  please  ig- 
nore) as  guests  on  Universal’s  “Back 
Street”  junket,  the  stay-at-homes  experi- 
enced another  meager  preview  week,  the 
highlight  of  which  was  20th  Century-Fox’s 
“Western  Union.” 

Showmen  are  hereby  advised  that  this 
one  is  the  kind  of  action  entertainment 
that  should  be  a “must”  item  on  every- 
body’s motion  picture  theatre  budget.  Re- 
lating the  stringing  of  the  first  trans- 
continental telegraph  line,  it  boasts  a 
screenplay  by  Robert  Carson,  adapted  from 
Zane  Grey’s  story,  which  so  adeptly  spins 
a yarn  of  hardship,  adventure  and  ro- 
mance that  the  film  must  be  rated  one  of 
the  all-time  superest  of  the  super-west- 
erns. The  Harry  Joe  Brown  production  is 
close  to  perfection  as  a piece  of  red-blood- 
ed, he-man  showmanship.  Not  a penny 
was  spared  to  endow  it  with  the  sweep  and 
spectacle  which  have  become  such  a neces- 
sary adjunct  to  epics  dealing  with  the 
winning  of  the  west.  Fritz  Lang’s  direction 
keeps  things  moving  at  a gallop  all  the 
way;  while  Technicolor  photography  was 
never  used  to  better  advantage  than  in 
capturing  the  natural  beauties  of  the  west- 
ern plains,  mountains  and  forests,  against 
which  natural  backgrounds  the  film  was 


unfurled.  Among  a shrewdly  selected  and 
competent  cast  Randolph  Scott  manages 
to  take  the  acting  honors.  Virginia  Gilmore 
is  the  only  feminine  personality  accorded  a 
role  in  the  feature. 

* * * 

Another  bright  spot  was  supplied  by 
“You’re  the  One,”  Gene  Markey’s  Para- 
mount feature,  which  should  more  than 
satisfy  the  fans  who  have  dumped  carloads 
of  nickels  into  the  juke  boxes  to  hear  Wee 
Bonnie  Baker  and  Orrin  Tucker’s  orches- 
tra. It  is  their  first,  and  an  entirely  satis- 
factory, film  appearance,  Tucker  in  par- 
ticular emerging  as  a surprisingly  compe- 
tent actor  with  personality  and  a singing 
voice.  Jerry  Colonna  enlivens  the  proceed- 
ings considerably  with  his  standardly 
amusing  brand  of  screwball  comedy.  Mar- 
key,  who  not  only  produced  but  wrote  the 
vehicle,  supplied  it  with  the  kind  of  ingre- 
dients to  please  most  audiences;  the  very 
slight  plot  provides  ample  opportunity  for 
the  staging  of  five  musical  numbers  by 
LeRoy  Prinz.  Ralph  Murphy  handled  the 
directorial  reins  with  competence. 

* * * 

Rounding  out  the  quartette  were  Para- 
mount’s “The  Mad  Doctor”  and  an  E.  B. 
Derr  production  for  Producers  Releasing 
Corporation,  “Secret  Evidence.” 

The  former  will  prove  a celluloid  prob- 


lem child  in  most  situations.  It  is  too 
long  to  serve  as  supporting  fare  and  not 
good  enough  to  grace  the  upper  half  of 
the  bill  save  in  the  most  unimportant  pro- 
gram arrangements.  Starting  out  as  a 
chiller,  it  veers  to  the  fields  of  psychiatry, 
then  settles  down  to  a routine  of  unmys- 
terious,  endless  and  useless  murders.  The 
story,  as  concocted  by  Howard  J.  Green, 
must  shoulder  the  blame  for  the  feature’s 
frailties — and  they  are  legion.  An  appar- 
ently hard-working  cast  headed  by  Basil 
Rathbone,  and  equally  diligent  direction  by 
Tim  Whelan,  apparently  were  unable  to 
surmount  the  plot’s  multitudinous  vagaries. 
George  Arthur  receives  a dubious  produc- 
tion credit. 

The  latter  entry,  a melodrama  with  a 
courtroom  background,  is  sufficiently  en- 
tertaining to  earn  its  way  in  the  neighbor- 
hood and  action  houses,  and  again  serves 
to  demonstrate  how  well  Producer  Derr  can 
squeeze  the  utmost  out  of  every  budget  dol- 
lar. Light  as  to  drawing  power,  the  cast 
nevertheless  turns  in  satisfactory  perform- 
ances; particularly  effective  are  Marjorie 
Reynolds  and  Charles  Quigley  in  the  leads. 
Brenda  Kline  supplied  the  script  from  an 
original  story  by  Edward  Bennett.  Wil- 
liam Nigh  accounted  for  a neat  job  of  di- 
rection. 


34 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


War  Department  Film 
Needs  Swiftly  Met 


An  unflagging  pace  is  being  maintained 
in  the  production  of  the  series  of  short 
films  for  use  by  the  war  department  in 
the  training  of  Uncle  Sam’s  new  draft 
army.  Now  before  the  cameras  under  su- 
pervision of  the  Academy  Research  Coun- 
cil is  the  second  in  the  group,  on  the  sub- 
ject of  personal  hygiene.  It  is  being  made 
at  20th  Century-Fox  under  the  personal 
guidance  of  Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  Research 
Council  chairman  and  a lieutenant-colonel 
in  the  U.  S.  Army  Signal  Corps’  photo- 
graphic division. 

Irving  Pichel  is  directing,  with  Edward 
Ebele  as  unit  manager,  B.  F.  McEveety  as 
assistant  director,  Virgil  Miller  at  the  cam- 
era, A.  Von  Kirbach  handling  sound,  Lou 
Creber  as  art  director  and  Fred  Sersen  in 
charge  of  technical  effects.  William  Ulman 
jr.  wrote  the  script.  The  Research  Coun- 
cil is  being  assisted  by  Lieut. -Col.  Harold 
V.  Raycroft  of  the  Medical  Corps  and 
Capt.  Charles  S.  Stodter  of  the  Signal 
Corps.  Films  will  not  be  made  available  for 
release  to  the  general  public. 

The  Warner  studio  is  the  first  to  meet 
its  quota  in  the  motion  picture  industry’s 
phase  of  the  Greek  War  Relief  campaign. 
Samuel  Goldwyn,  chairman  of  the  indus- 
try’s permanent  charities  committee,  was 
so  informed  via  a wire  from  Jack  L.  and 
Harry  M.  Warner.  The  war  relief  fund 
was  also  expected  to  swell  considerably  fol- 
lowing the  February  8 benefit  broadcast 
staged  at  Grauman’s  Chinese,  and  in 
which  scores  of  film  names  were  scheduled 
to  participate. 


Next  for  Sherman 

Producer  Harry  Sherman’s  next  feature 
western  for  Paramount  will  be  “The  Par- 
son of  Panamint.”  This  will  be  followed 
by  two  Hopalong  Cassidy  sagebrushers, 
“Secret  of  the  Wasteland”  and  “Contra- 
band Cargo.”  J.  Benton  Cheney  is  script- 
ing all  three. 


New  RKO  Trademark 

A new  RKO  trademark  will  soon  be  seen 
on  the  screen,  supplanting  the  12-year-old 
“dot-dash”  single  radio  tower  effect.  New 
preface  will  have  two  modern,  streamlined 
radio  towers,  a dramatic  cloud  effect  and 
a special  musical  introduction. 


Seeking  Recruits  ^ \ 

In  an  effort  to  gain  recruits  for  the 
U.  S.  Army  Signal  Corps  photo- 
graphic unit,  the  Academy  Research 
Council  and  its  chairman,  Darryl  F. 
Zanuck,  have  prepared  posters  simi- 
lar to  the  above  and  which  are  now 
on  display  in  prominent  locations 
around  the  studios  and  other  spots 
where  motion  picture  workers  con- 
gregate. Men  who  volunteer  will  not 
be  called  upon  to  serve  except  in  case 
of  national  emergency,  Zanuck  em- 
phasizes. 


For  Our  National  Defense  Program 

THE  UNITED  STATES  ARMY 

Will  require  men  experienced  in  still  and  sound  motion  picture  production  lor 
service  in  event  of  emergency. 

The  basic  enlisted  organization  of  the  G.  H.  Q.  Signal  Corps  Photographic  Unit 
is  now  in  process  of  formation.  We  want  to  create  a list  of  qualified  men  who  will 
simply  express  their  willingness  to  serve  in  this  motion  picture  organization  in  case 
of  complete  mobilization  of  the  United  States  Army. 

Those  who  have  reached  their  18th  birthday  and  those  who  have  not  yet 
reached  their  45th  birthday  will  be  eligible  to  join  this  organization. 

This  presents  an  opportunity  for  men  in  the  motion  picture  industry  to  serve,  in 
emergency,  in  the  branch  for  which  they  are  best  qualified. 


THOSE  INTERESTED  MAY  REGISTER  BY  WRITING  THE 

Research  Council 
Academy  of  Motion  Picture  Arts  and  Sciences 

Suite  1217  Taft  Bldg.,  Hollywood,  Calif. 

Giving  Complete  Information  on  Age,  Education,  Present  Position,  Studio  with  which 
Connected,  Number  of  Years  in  Motion  Picture  Industry,  etc. 


We  will  Require  Several  Men  in  Each  of  the  Following  Classifications  to  Com- 
plete the  Tentative  Organization: 

Animation  and  title  supervisors  . . . Camera  repair  supervisors  (motion  picture  and  still) 

. . . Cameramen  (motion  picture  and  still)  . . .Chemists  (motion  picture  and  still  labora- 
tory) . . . Clerks  . . . Cooks  . . . Editors  (picture  and  sound)  . . . Electricians  (motion  picture) 

. . . Laboratory  equipment  engineers  . . . Laboratory  supervisors  (motion  picture  and  still) 
. . . Machinists  . . . Motion  picture  engineers  . . . Motion  picture  camera  department  super- 
visors . . . Negative  cutters  and  assemblers  . . . Photographers  (copy  and  printer)  . . . 
Developers  . . . Projectionists  . . . Sound  recording  and  re-recording  engineers,  supervisors, 
mixers,  maintenance  men,  boom  operators,  recording  and  re-recording  machine  operators. 

YOU  WILL  NOT  BE  REQUIRED  TO  FORMALLY  ENLIST  OR 
ENROLL  AT  THIS  TIME 

This  survey  is  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  information  on  qualified  motion  picture 
men  willing  to  serve  in  time  of  national  emergency. 


For  further  information,  contact  your  studio  Research  Council  Repre- 
sentative, as  listed  below: 

Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  Chairman,  20th  Century-Fox 
Nathan  Levinson,  vice-chairman,  Warner  Bros. 

John  Aalberg,  RKO-Radio 
Bernard  B.  Brown,  Universal 
Farciot  Edouart,  Paramount 
E.  H.  Hansen,  20th  Century-Fox 
John  Livadary,  Columbia 
Charles  L.  Lootens,  Republic 
Thomas  Moulton,  Samuel  Goldwyn 
Elmer  Raguse,  Hal  Roach 
Douglas  Shearer,  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  8,  1941 


35 


Hoi  III  o'  ood — 

— Personnelities 


Barnstormers 

Columbia 

RILL  ELLIOTT  checks  in  from  three-week  p.  a. 
tour  through  the  south  and  midwest,  including 
Memphis,  Hot  Springs,  Little  Rock  and  Tulsa. 

Range  Busters,  Inc. 

KAY  CORRIGAN,  JOHN  KING  and  MAX  TER- 
HUNE,  the  topliners  of  George  W.  Weeks’  “Range 
Busters”  series  for  Monogram,  will  be  the  stars  of 
the  17th  annual  midwinter  Rodeo  and  Fiesta  de 
Los  Vaqueros,  and  grand  marshals  of  the  all- 
western parade  with  Gov.  Sidney  P.  Osborn  of 
Arizona  in  Tucson,  February  21.  The  next  in 
their  film  series,  "Tumbledown  Ranch  in  Ari- 
zona," will  be  filmed  in  and  around  Tucson. 

Universal 

ALLAN  JONES  and  DEANNA  DURBIN  were 
guests  of  honor  at  the  annual  Variety  Club  ban- 
quet and  ball  in  Atlanta,  Ga.,  February  1. 

Blurbers 

Russell  Birdwell 

FLOYD  SCHENCIv  named  business  manager  of 
the  Birdwell  agency. 

Warner  Bros. 

CHARLES  EINFELD  back  on  the  job  following 
a week’s  illness. 

Brieiies 

Columbia 

DOROTHY  THOMPSON,  WYTHE  WILLIAMS, 
LINTON  WELLS  and  WILLIAM  L.  SHIREK  have 
been  signed  to  co-star  in  “What's  the  Shooting 
For,”  first  in  a new  one-reel  series  titled  “Inter- 
national Forum.”  Production  will  be  at  the 
Eastern  Service  studios  in  Astoria,  with  William 
Rowland  directing  and  Burnet  Hershey  as  super- 
vising editor. 

Metro 

ROY  ROWLAND  will  direct  “Tipsters,”  next 
Crime  Does  Not  Pay  short. 

I*HIL  ANDERSON  to  edit  “Adventures  of  a 
Lion  Cub,”  a Pete  Smith  Specialty;  AL  AKST  to 
edit  “Ye  Olde  Minstrels,”  Our  Gang  comedy; 
ADRIENNE  FAZAN  to  cut  “Animal  Psychology,” 
John  Nesbitt  Passing  Parade. 

Next  CAREY  WILSON  short  subject,  being 
scripted  by  Herman  Boxer,  will  be  “The  Man 
Who  Changed  the  World.”  It  is  the  story  of 
James  Hargreaves,  inventor  of  the  spinning  jenny. 

Paramount 

GEORGE  PAL  preparing  “The  Marines  Are 
Here”  and  “Hoola-Boola”  as  the  next  in  his 
series  of  puppetoon  shorts. 

■STERLING  PILE,  vice-president  of  the  com- 
pany, is  here  from  New  York  for  conferences 
with  Pal,  producer  of  a puppetoon  series  for  Para- 
mount release. 

Soundies  Corp. 

CARLOS  FERNANDOS  and  his  orchestra  signed 
to  appear  in  six  rhumba  shorts  for  the  Panoram 
dime-in-slot  machines. 

Vis-O-Graph  Corp. 

RUDY  YALLEE  has  resigned  as  president  of 
the  dime-in-slot  automatic  projection  company 
because  of  conflicting  film  commitments  entered 
into  with  Universal  and  Columbia.  No  successor 
has  been  selected. 


Clefiers 

Metro 

GEORGIE  STOLL  completes  recording  of  “Zieg- 
feld  Girl.” 

Warner  Bros. 

ERIC’H  WOLFGANG  KORNGOLD  composing 
musical  score  for  “The  Sea  Wolf.” 

Loanouts 

Warner  Bros. 

DONALD  CRISP  borrowed  by  M-G-M  for  a role 
in  “Dr.  Jekyll  and  Mr.  Hyde.” 


Meggers 

Paramount 

ELLIOTT  NUGENT  to  pilot  “Nothing  But  the 
Truth,”  the  Bob  Hope-Paulette  Goddard  co- 
starrer. 

ROBERT  SIODMAK,  European  director,  to 
“Little  Miss  Muffet,”  starring  Anne  Shirley. 

David  O.  Selznick 

ROBERT  STEVENSON  to  pilot  “Jane  Eyre,” 
filmization  of  the  Charlotte  Bronte  novel.  United 
Artists  will  release. 

Edward  Small 

RALPH  MURPHY,  on  an  outside  commitment 
from  his  Paramount  contract,  to  direct  an  un- 
titled feature  for  United  Artists  release. 

20th  Century-Fox 

KENNETH  MACGOWAN  to  produce  “Lewis  and 
Clark,”  story  of  the  pioneers  of  the  northwest. 
Randolph  Scott  and  Dean  Jagger,  featured  in 
“Western  Union,”  will  top  the  cast. 

Warner  Bros. 

SAM  WOOD  to  direct  “King’s  Row,”  the  Henry 
Bellaman  novel.  Casey  Robinson  is  scripting. 

Options 

Columbia 

RUDY  YALLEE  draws  a topline  in  “Show  Busi- 
ness,” Irving  Starr  production  which  Sidney  Sal- 
kow  will  direct. 

Metro 

DARRYL  HICKMAN,  boy  actor,  given  long- 
term contract. 

Paramount 

COLBERT  CLARK  signed  as  an  associate  pro- 
ducer in  the  Sol  C.  Siegel  production  unit.  For- 
merly with  M-G-M  and  Republic,  Clark  has  been 
assigned  the  reins  on  “Among  the  Living,”  an 
Albert  Dekker  starrer. 

Republic 

PETER  LORRE  signed  for  the  heavy  lead  in 
“Mr.  District  Attorney.” 

POLLY  MORAN,  featured  in  the  “Higgins  Fam- 
ily” series,  held  for  three  more  pictures. 

David  O.  Selznick 

MARCUS  GOODRICH  given  writing  contract. 
He  is  the  author  of  a new  novel,  “Delilah.” 

Dr.  William  Szekeley 

MARION  MARTIN  joins  cast  of  "New  Wine.” 

20th  Century-Fox 

IRVING  CUMMINGS,  director,  held  for  another 
term.  With  the  studio  and  its  predecessor,  Fox 
Films,  since  1928,  Cummings’  next  assignment  will 
be  “Belle  Starr.” 

NAZIMOVA  given  a topline  in  “Blood  and 
Sand.” 

ARTHUR  C.  MILLER,  cameraman,  held  for  an- 
other term. 

WILSON  ASHLEY  signs  three-picture  writing 
deal.  He  is  a playwright  and  stage  director. 

FRED  SERSEN,  special  effects  department 
head,  held  for  another  two  years. 

ALICE  FAYE  given  new  one-year  ticket. 

Universal 

BELA  LUGOSI  signed  for  a topline  in  “The 
Black  Cat.” 

Warner  Bros. 

WILLIAM  T.  ORR,  featured  player,  held  for 
another  term. 

HOWARD  DA  SILVA,  stage  actor,  given  long- 
term contract  and  a role  in  “Sergeant  York.” 

NOAH  BERRY  jr.  and  WARD  BOND  draw  fea- 
tured roles  in  “Sergeant  York.” 

Scripters 

Columbia 

HOUSTON  BRANCH  to  “Secret  Ship,”  an  Alex 
Gottlieb  original,  for  Producer  Jack  Fier. 

Samuel  Goldwyn 

JOHN  WEXLEY  to  “Macintosh,”  a South  Seas 
story  by  W.  Somerset  Maugham. 

Metro 

AGNES  CHRISTINE  JOHNSON  to  an  untitled 
entry  in  the  “Hardy  Family”  series. 

BRADBURY  FOOTE  to  an  untitled  original. 


Paramount 

SAM  TAYLOR  to  “Henry  and  Dizzy,”  an  “Aid- 
rich  Family”  film  to  star  Jackie  Cooper. 

BERT  GRANET  to  “Joan  of  Arkansas.”  Sol  C. 
Siegel  produces. 

JAY  DRATLER  to  “Dangerous  Holiday,”  from 
a Sidney  Sheldon-Ben  Robert  original,  for  Pro- 
ducer Sol  C.  Siegel. 

Republic 

DORIS  MALLOY  to  an  untitled  Gene  Autry 
western. 

LEONARD  LEE  polishing  “Rookies  on  Parade.” 

HERBERT  DALMAS  to  an  untitled  “Three  Mes- 
quiteers”  western. 

Harry  Sherman 

GERALD  GERAGHTY  to  “Secret  of  the  Waste- 
lands,”  a Hopalong  Cassidy  western  for  Para- 
mount release. 

20th  Century-Fox 

DWIGHT  TAYLOR  to  “Coney  Island,”  to  be 
produced  by  William  Perlberg  from  a story  by 
Edward  Van  Every. 

MAURICE  RAFF  to  “Panama  Blues.”  Lou  Edel- 
man  will  produce. 

JERRY  SACKHEIM  to  “The  Golden  Touch,” 
from  the  Stephen  Longstreet  novel,  which  Ken- 
neth Maegowan  will  produce. 

GEORGE  SEATON  to  “Separate  Vacation,”  for 
Producer  William  Perlberg. 

Warner  Bros. 

AENEAS  MacKENZIE  to  “The  Widow  of  Devil’s 
Island,”  from  a story  by  Nichol  Smith.  It  will  be 
Bette  Davis’  next  starrer  following  her  current 
"The  Bride  Came  C.  O.  D.” 


Sfory  Buys 

Columbia 

"But  Beautiful,”  by  Everett  Freeman. 

Republic 

“Cinderella  in  Washington,”  by  Joseph  Poland. 
It  is  based  on  the  true  story  of  a 13-year-old  girl, 
hoaxed  into  going  to  the  President’s  Birthday  Ball 
in  the  belief  she  had  been  personally  invited. 

Warner  Bros. 

“Partner  Wanted,”  by  Arthur  T.  Horman,  as  a 
Hugh  Herbert  starrer  to  be  produced  by  Ken 
Goldsmith. 

Technically 

Columbia 

GEORGE  MEEHAN  lensing  “Under  Age.” 

Metro 

RICHARD  DUCE  named  unit  art  director  on 
"The  Man  Who  Changed  the  World,”  a Carey 
Wilson  short  subject. 

RAY  JUNE  lensing  “Love  Crazy.” 

Paramount 

FRANK  CAFFEY  named  business  manager  on 
Cecil  B.  DeMille’s  “Reap  the  Wild  Wind." 

ERNESTO  ROMERO  signed  as  technical  advisor 
on  Mexican  sequences  in  "Hold  Back  the  Dawn.” 

LE  ROY  PRINZ  creating  Polynesian  dance  num- 
bers for  “Aloma  of  the  South  Seas.” 

RKO  Radio 

HARRY  MARKER  to  edit  “Repent  at  Leisure.” 

FRED  KNUDSEN  named  film  editor  on  "Rob- 
bers of  the  Range.” 

ELMER  WILLIAMS  to  edit  “Sunny.” 

AL  HERMAN  named  art  director  on  "The  Devil 
and  Daniel  Webster,”  a William  Dieterle  produc- 
tion. 

JAMES  CASEY’  set  as  second  assistant  director 
on  “Robbers  of  the  Range.” 

Republic 

VICTOR  MACKAY  named  art  director  on  “Mr. 
District  Attorney.” 

20th  Century-Fox 

BEN  SILYEY,  production  manager,  checked  out 
for  Sun  Valley  to  line  up  locations  for  “Sun  Val- 
ley.” 

Warner  Bros. 

FRANK  MATTISON  named  assistant  director  on 
“Bad  Men  of  Missouri.” 

ERIC  STACEY  set  as  unit  manager  on  “High- 
way 99.” 

CARL  WEYL  named  art  director  on  “The  Gen- 
tle People.” 

BILL  GUTHRIE,  location  manager,  checks  out 
for  Pensacola  to  pick  up  naval  aviation  shots  for 
“Dive  Bomber.” 

WILLIAM  HOLMES  to  edit  “Sergeant  York.” 

LEE  KATZ  named  assistant  director  on 
“Mother’s  Boys.” 

JACK  SAFER  named  unit  manager  on  "The 
Gentle  People." 

ELMER  DECKER  set  as  assistant  director  on 
“Highway  99.” 

ARTHUR  TODD  lensing  “Mother’s  Boys.” 

JOHN  HUGHES  named  art  director  on  “Ser- 
geant York.” 


36 


BOXOFFICE 


February  8,  1941 


File  Labor  Charge 
Against  Disney 


Walt  Disney  Productions,  Inc.,  is  charged 
with  unfair  labor  practices  by  the  Screen 
Cartoonists  Guild  in  a complaint  filed  by 
the  latter  organization  with  the  national 
labor  relations  board. 

The  complaint  is  aimed  principally  at 
the  Federation  of  Screen  Cartoonists, 
representing  Disney  employes  which  the 
SCG  contends  is  a “company  union,”  and 
through  which,  it  is  alleged,  efforts  of  the 
SCG  to  organize  its  own  unit  in  the  studio 
have  been  “dominated  and  interfered 
with.”  The  SCG  has  the  support  of  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor  in  its  fight 
against  Disney,  with  Aubrey  Blair,  Holly- 
wood organizer  for  the  AFL,  asserting  that 
if  Disney  does  not  agree  to  bargain  with 
the  SCG,  “steps  will  be  taken”  to  place  the 
company’s  product  on  unfair  lists  through- 
out the  United  States  and  Canada.  The 
NLRB  is  expected  to  set  a hearing  date 
within  90  days.  Meantime  Disney  spokes- 
men point  out  that  the  Federation  of 
Screen  Cartoonists  has  been  officially 
recognized  by  the  NLRB  as  the  exclusive 
and  official  bargaining  unit  for  cartoon- 
ists employed  at  the  studio. 

Other  Activity 

The  SCG,  which  holds  a charter  within 
the  Brotherhood  of  Painters,  Decorators 
and  Paperhangers,  scheduled  a mass  meet- 
ing February  6 to  discuss  the  Disney  bat- 
tle. Dorothy  Parker  and  Donald  Ogden 
Stewart  were  scheduled  to  be  the  prin- 
cipal speakers. 

SCG  also  has  an  NLRB  petition  on  file 
seeking  certification  as  bargaining  repre- 
sentative for  employes  of  Walter  Lantz 
Productions,  a cartoon  studio. 

Scarcity  of  work  for  extras  has  caused 
Central  Casting  Corp.  to  inaugurate  a re- 
trenchment move  in  which  two  casting  di- 
rectors have  been  given  30-day  leaves  of 
absence.  A rotating  plan  will  be  employed 
to  keep  two  employes  off  the  payroll  for 
30-day  periods,  but  with  none  losing  his 
job  permanently.  Decision  was  announced 
shortly  after  sponsors  of  a movement 
whereby  extras  were  to  picket  Central, 
charging  some  casting  directors  with  dis- 
criminating against  certain  players,  can- 
celed the  plan  indefinitely.  Meantime  the 
Screen  Actors  Guild-producer  standing 
committee  resumed  its  discussion  of  a 
plan  whereby  so-called  “casual”  extras  are 
to  be  eliminated  from  the  industry  in  an 
effort  to  alleviate  the  current  distressing 
employment  problem. 

Class  A members  of  the  Screen  Actors 
Guild  are  strongly  urged,  in  a letter  di- 
rected to  them  by  the  board  of  directors, 
to  refuse  any  and  all  offers  to  appear  on 
radio  shows  at  payment  below  the  usual 
standard  of  compensation,  and  declares  it 
intends  to  enforce  a rule  adopted  some- 
time ago  prohibiting  members  from  giving 
free  radio  performances  or  accepting  com- 
pensation below  the  usual  standard.  Par- 
ticular reference  is  made  to  the  efforts  of 
a “widely  known  columnist”  to  seek  Guild 
approval  of  plans  for  a new  radio  show, 
which  the  SAG  has  refused  to  approve, 
and  has  instructed  its  members  to  refuse 
to  appear  on  the  program  “unless  such  re- 


fusal jeopardizes  their  contractual  rela- 
tionships with  their  employing  producers.” 

Screen  Office  Employes  Guild  held  a 
general  membership  meeting  to  determine 
whether  or  not  negotiations  for  a closed 
shop  should  be  launched  with  the  indi- 
vidual studios.  Producers  thus  far  have  re- 
fused to  negotiate  an  industry-wide  con- 
tract. 

The  Screen  Readers  Guild,  in  a member- 
ship meeting,  voted  to  ask  wage  increases 
for  readers  employed  outside  the  studios, 
who  are  SRG  members  but  do  not,  under 
existing  conditions,  come  under  terms  of 
the  SRG’s  producer  contract. 

The  Screen  Writers  Guild’s  proposal  to 
license  all  talent  agents  representing  film 
scriveners  was  discussed  at  a meeting  of 
the  Artists  Managers  Guild.  The  SWG  pro- 
ject is  similar  in  scope  to  the  franchise 
agreement  reached  between  the  AMG  and 
the  Screen  Actors  Guild  more  than  a year 
ago. 

Members  of  the  Affiliated  Property 
Craftsmen  Local  44,  IATSE,  are  seeking  re- 
visions in  their  contract  with  the  pro- 
ducers, and  have  opened  negotiations  with 
Pat  Casey,  Hays  office  labor  contact,  seek- 
ing a minimum  six-hour  call,  improved 
working  conditions  and  wage  increases. 


Disney  Reports  4-Month 
Net  Profit  of  $140,000 

A net  profit  of  $140,000  was  shown  dur- 
ing the  first  four  months  of  the  fiscal 
year  by  Walt  Disney  Productions,  Inc., 
stockholders  were  informed  at  their  an- 
nual meeting  here.  This  figure  includes 
all  charges  except  income  taxes,  while  all 
income  from  “Pinocchio”  and  “Fantasia” 
were  applied  to  reducing  the  film  carrying 
value. 

Walt  Disney,  Roy  Disney,  Gunther  Les- 
sing, George  E.  Morris  and  Jonathan  Love- 
lace were  re-elected  to  the  board  of  direc- 
tors. Walt  Disney  was  re-elected  presi- 
dent, with  Roy  Disney  as  executive  vice- 
president;  Gunther  Lessing,  vice-president; 
George  E.  Morris,  secretary-treasurer; 
Oliver  B.  Johnston,  assistant  secretary- 
treasurer,  and  Franklin  Waldheim,  assist- 
ant secretary. 

Walt  Disney  announced  the  production 
program  calls  for  completion  and  release  of 
three  additional  features  during  1941. 
These  include  “The  Reluctant  Dragon,” 
“Bambi,”  and  “Dumbo,  the  Flying  Ele- 
phant.” A new  short  subject,  “How  to  Ride 
a Horse,”  is  also  scheduled. 


Silence  Publicity  Guns 
At  Least  Temporarily 

Those  giant  publicity  guns  which  have, 
with  few  respites  during  the  past  year  or 
more,  been  firing  salvos  in  all  directions 
in  the  form  of  lavish  out-of-town  pre- 
miere and  preview  junkets  to  call  atten- 
tion to  the  film  colony’s  new  product  have 
been,  at  least  temporarily,  silenced.  Indica- 
tions are  the  exploitation  artillerymen  are 
taking  time  out  to  replenish  their  supply 
of  ammunition,  with  a renewal  of  the  can- 
nonade expected  momentarily. 

Last  of  the  current  crop  of  premieres 
was  that  of  20th  Century-Fox’s  “Western 
Union”  at  the  Roxy  Theatre  in  New  York, 


LeBaron  Will  Make 
His  Own  Pictures 

William  LeBaron  has  resigned  his  post 
as  managing  director  of  Paramount  pro- 
duction and  will  formulate  an  independent 
unit  to  make  pictures  of  his  own  exclu- 
sively for  Paramount.  He  has  held  the 
post  since  1936. 

When  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  vice-president 
in  charge  of  studio  operations,  came  to 
Hollywood,  LeBaron  agreed  to  remain  in 
the  position  he  had  been  occupying  for 
two  more  years.  That  two-year  period  is 
now  up,  and  his  request  that  he  be  relieved 
of  his  post  in  order  to  give  his  time  and 
attention  to  fewer  pictures  was  granted. 
LeBaron  will  launch  his  new  independent 
unit  about  May  1,  first  embarking  on  a 
vacation. 

Successor  to  LeBaron  is  B.  G.  De- 
Sylva,  an  associate  producer  at  the  studio 
for  the  past  several  months,  according  to 
an  announcement  by  Freeman. 

DeSylva,  a motion  picture  producer 
since  1929,  worked  for  Fox  Films,  RKO 
Radio  and  Universal,  then  returned  to 
Broadway  to  stage  three  smash  hits  which 
are  currently  running  there. 

Wage  Restoration  at  RKO 

Reflecting  the  opinion  of  at  least  one 
motion  picture  executive  that  business  is 
definitely  on  the  upswing  and  that  con- 
tinued improvement  may  be  expected, 
George  J.  Schaefer,  president  of  RKO 
Radio,  has  ordered  restoration  of  all  sal- 
ary cuts  instituted  in  October,  1939,  and 
which  affected  every  company  employe 
earning  $5,000  or  more  annually.  News  of 
the  restored  wage  cuts  preceded  Schaefer 
to  the  coast,  being  received  here  by  J.  J. 
Nolan  from  Schaefer  while  the  latter  was 
still  in  New  York.  Schaefer  made  no  com- 
ment in  explanation  of  the  move. 

Max  Golden,  who  has  been  a member 
of  20th  Century-Fox’s  production  staff  for 
the  past  year,  has  resigned  to  become  pro- 
duction manager  for  the  Edward  Small 
unit.  He  replaces  Val  Paul,  who  resigned 
some  time  ago. 

John  Litel  has  checked  off  the  Warner 
lot  to  freelance  after  five  years  at  the 
studio  as  a character  player.  He  is  now  on 
loan  to  M-G-M  in  “The  Trial  of  Mary 
Dugan”  as  his  last  commitment. 

M-G-M  has  signed  Milton  Beecher  as 
assistant  to  Kenneth  McKenna,  scenario 
chieftain,  replacing  David  Mathews. 


February  6.  Robert  Young,  featured  in  the 
cast,  made  a personal  appearance.  Film’s 
debut  had  been  delayed  a week  from  its 
originally  scheduled  January  30  opening 
because  the  playing  time  of  “Tall,  Dark 
and  Handsome”  in  the  house  was  extended 
an  extra  stanza. 

Universal’s  “Back  Street”  made  its  bow 
in  Miami,  February  4,  attended  from  Hol- 
lywood by  Matty  Fox,  production  aide  to 
Cliff  Work;  Producer  Bruce  Manning, 
Scenarist  Felix  Jackson  and  Director  Rob- 
ert Stevenson.  Deanna  Durbin  was  the  only 
star  in  attendance. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  8,  1941 


37 


Jack  Cohn,  Montague, 
Arrive  at  Columbia 

Topics  pertaining  to  the  current  and  fu- 
ture production  outlook,  possible  changes 
in  the  sales  setup  because  of  the  consent 
decree,  although  the  company  is  not  a 
signatory  to  that  agreement,  and  other 
matters  brought  Jack  Cohn,  Columbia 
vice-president,  and  A.  Montague,  general 
sales  manager,  here  from  New  York.  Ac- 
companied by  Mrs.  Cohn  and  Mrs.  Mon- 
tague, they  plan  to  remain  several  weeks, 
conferring  with  President  Harry  Cohn  and 
other  studio  executives,  and  also  vacation- 
ing. 

To  set  details  of  the  release  of  “That  Un- 
certain Feeling,”  the  Ernst  Lubitsch  pro- 
duction made  in  association  with  Sol  Les- 
ser for  United  Artists  release,  Louis  Hy- 
man, in  charge  of  distribution  for  the  Les- 
ser-Lubitsch  unit,  has  checked  out  for 
New  York.  Hyman  will  confer  with  UA 
officials  on  plans  for  the  world  premiere, 
probably  to  be  held  in  New  York. 

Also  heading  east  was  Edwin  Weisl, 
member  of  Paramount’s  board  of  directors, 
who  spent  a few  days  here  checking  on 
production  progress  at  the  studio.  He  ac- 
companied Y.  Frank  Freeman,  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  studio  operations,  to 
Hollywood  after  both  attended  the  re- 
cent testimonial  dinner  for  President  Bar- 
ney Balaban  in  Chicago. 

Briggs  a Visitor 

In  for  an  indefinite  stay  is  O.  Henry 
Briggs,  president  of  Producers  Releasing 
Corp.  He  was  guest  of  honor  at  a “red 
apple”  reception  given  by  George  R. 
Batcheller  jr.,  newly  appointed  PRC  pro- 
duction supervisor,  and  attended  by  PRC’s 
local  staff  and  some  400  of  Briggs’  per- 
sonal friends.  Producer  Jed  Buell  served  as 
master  of  ceremonies.  Briggs  is  here  prin- 
cipally to  check  on  progress  being  made  in 
the  expansion  program  he  authorized  be- 
fore leaving  New  York. 

After  several  delays,  George  J.  Schae- 
fer, president  of  RKO  Radio,  was  ex- 
pected in  from  New  York  to  embark  upon 
production  and  budget  huddles  and  check 
over  product  now  in  work  or  completed  and 
awaiting  early  release. 

John  Coyle  Joins  PRC 
Production  Roster 

Further  expansion  of  Producers  Releas- 
ing Corp.’s  production  roster  has  been 
made  with  the  addition  of  John  T.  Coyle 
to  the  staff.  Coyle  has  been  assigned  to 
produce  “Federal  Fugitives,”  rolling  short- 
ly, from  a script  being  prepared  by  Mar- 
tin Mooney.  The  new  PRC  producer  has 
been  affiliated  at  various  times  with 
Pathe,  Mascot  and  Republic,  and  most  re- 
cently with  Cathedral  Pictures.  PRC  has 
also  announced  conclusion  of  a deal 
whereby  it  will  distribute  a series  of  eight 
two-reel  subjects  embracing  various  phases 
of  American  history,  produced  by  Max  and 
Arthur  Alexander  for  the  Academic  Film 
Co. 

Larry  Darmour 

Next  serial  to  be  produced  by  Larry  Dar- 
mour for  Columbia  release,  rolling  about 
February  15,  will  be  “The  Spider  Returns.” 
Starring  Warren  Hull,  it  will  be  directed 


A Mutual  Interest — 

When  Ernest  Hemingway,  author  of 
the  best-selling  ‘‘For  Whom  the  Bell 
Tolls,”  ivas  feted  at  Paramount  during 
a recent  visit,  he  and  Cecil  B.  DeMille 
immediately  plunged  into  a discussion 
of  the  forthcoming  production  of  his 
book,  to  be  undertaken  by  Paramount. 


by  James  C.  Horne.  It  is  a sequel  to  Dar- 
mour’s  “The  Spider,”  made  for  Columbia 
three  years  ago. 

Harry  Sherman 

Harry  Sherman  has  announced  the  next 
three  films  he  will  produce  for  Paramount 
release.  First  to  go  will  be  “Parson  of 
Panamint,”  from  a Peter  B.  Kyne  original. 
Following  will  be  “Secret  of  the  Waste- 
lands” and  “Contraband  Cargo,”  both 
Hopalong  Cassidy  westerns  starring  Bill 
Boyd. 

William  Hawks 

William  Hawks’  United  Productions  will 
roll  “My  Life  With  Caroline,”  starring 
Ronald  Colman,  February  10  with  Lewis 
Milestone  directing.  It  is  destined  for  an 
RKO  Radio  release. 

REVIEW 

FLASHES 

MAD  DOCTOR,  THE  (Para't) — In  most  situ- 
ations this  will  prove  a celluloid  problem 
child.  The  film  is  too  long  to  function  as 
supporting  fare  and  is  not  sufficiently 
meritorious  to  grace  the  upper  half  of  the 
bill  except  in  the  most  unimportant  pro- 
gram arrangements.  Basil  Rathbone,  Ellen 
Drew,  John  Howard.  Director:  Tim  Whelan. 

MONSTER  AND  THE  GIRL,  THE  (Para't)— 
While  this  cannot  hope  for  universal  patron- 
age or  acclaim,  it  should  find  takers  in 
profitable  number  among  the  horror  fans 
for  whom  it  will  be  a treat  sufficient  to  sate 
the  appetites  of  the  most  avid  chill-seekers. 
Stuart  Heisler  directed. 

ROAD  SHOW  (UA) — The  action  starts  in  a 
nut  house  and  gets  nuttier  every  foot  of 
the  way.  There  have  been  plenty  of  screw- 


Product  Assurances 
Follow  UA  Huddle 

Announcements  coming  out  of  two  weeks 
of  executive  huddles  attended  by  such 
United  Artists  executives  as  Murray  Sil- 
verstone,  Arthur  W.  Kelly,  Charles 
Schwartz  and  Monroe  W.  Greenthal  have 
impaled  on  the  lance  of  hard  facts  the 
rumors  of  a possible  UA  product  shortage 
which  railbirds  have  been  circulating  as 
the  result  of  an  implied  producers’  “sit- 
down  strike.” 

Greenthal  has  completed  his  revision  of 
UA’s  advertising  department  alignment 
with  the  appointment  of  George  Glass  as 
western  publicity  - advertising  contact. 
Glass,  vice-president  of  Russell  Birdwell 
and  Associates,  relinquishes  that  position  to 
begin  his  new  duties  February  10.  Glass 
had  been  with  Selznick  International  in 
that  company’s  publicity-advertising  de- 
partment for  three  years  before  joining 
Birdwell. 

$5,000,000  Small  Program 

Developments  which  indicate  that  plenty 
of  UA  product  will  be  forthcoming  during 
the  next  several  months  include: 

A disclosure  that  Edward  Small  is 
launching  a $5,000,000  production  program 
for  UA.  In  divulging  these  plans,  Small 
added  that  within  a week  or  so  he  will  be- 
gin active  production  on  two  of  the  five 
pictures  he  is  preparing  to  make  and  de- 
liver during  1941.  These  include  “The 
Corsican  Brothers,”  scripted  by  George 
Bruce;  “My  Official  Wife,”  by  Ernest 
Vajda;  “Sabotage,”  “She  Was  a Working 
Girl”  and  a fifth  untitled  vehicle  of  a 
topical  nature.  Small  thus  rescinds  an 
earlier  announcement  that  the  shutdown 
of  his  unit  would  continue  throughout  the 
summer. 

Previously  Walter  Wanger  purchased 
“Sundown,”  a novel  by  Barre  Lyndon,  and 
engaged  the  author  to  work  on  the  screen- 
play, indicating  production  would  start 
shortly.  Before  that  time  it  was  reported 
Wanger  probably  would  not  resume  pro- 
duction until  August. 

Another  encouraging  factor  is  David  O. 
Selznick’s  activity  in  the  preparation  of 
“Jane  Eyre,”  from  the  Charlotte  Bronte 
novel,  as  the  first  in  a group  of  three  he 
will  deliver  to  UA  this  season.  Too,  Richard 
A.  Rowland  is  preparing  “The  Battle  of 
Britain”  as  the  initialer  in  a batch  of  three 
he  is  set  to  produce  for  UA  during  the  year. 


Termer  for  Raoul  Walsh 

Hollywood — Warner  has  signed  Direc- 
tor Raoul  Walsh  for  another  term.  His 
next  will  be  “Danger  Zone,”  a Mark  Hel- 
linger  production  to  star  George  Raft. 


ball  comedies  about  allegedly  sane  peo- 
ple, but  this  is  the  first  one  in  which  the 
leading  characters  are  admitted  screwballs. 
There's  no  limit  to  the  number  of  laughs  it 
will  furnish  the  customers  who  like  their 
humor  in  its  broadest  vein.  Properly 
merchandised,  the  feature  should  pay  its 
way  handsomely.  Hal  Roach  produced  and 
directed. 


38 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


'Flight  Command'  Top 
L.  A.  Day  and  Daier 


Los  Angeles — Top  hit  of  the  week  in  a 
day-date  engagement  at  Loew’s  State  and 
Grauman’s  Chinese  theatres  was  “Plight 
Command,”  coupled  in  a dual  bill  with 
“Michael  Shayne,  Private  Detective.” 
Strongly  entrenched  in  second  place  was 
“High  Sierra,”  teamed  with  “She  Couldn’t 
Say  No,”  at  Warner’s  Downtown  and  Hol- 
lywood theatres,  which  made  a strong 
enough  showing  to  be  held  over  for  a sec- 
ond week.  Only  extended  run  otherwise 
was  “Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop,”  which 
carded  a normal  second  stanza  at  the  Four 
Star  and  is  being  held  for  a third. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  29: 


(Average  is  100) 

Chinese — Flight  Command  (M-G-M);  Michael 

Shayne — Private  Detective  (20th-Fox) 125 

Downtown — High  Sierra  (FN);  She  Couldn't 

Say  No  (WB)  115 

Four  Star — Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop  (UA), 

2nd  wk 100 

Hilistreet — Trail  of  the  Vigilantes  (Univ) ; The 

Invisible  Woman  (Univ)  100 

Hollywood — High  Sierra  (FN);  She  Couldn’t 

Say  No  (WB)  115 

Pantages — Trail  of  the  Vigilantes  (Univ) ; The 

Invisible  Woman  (Univ)  100 

Paramount — Victory  (Para’t),  plus  Russ  Morgan 

on  stage  100 

State — Flight  Command  (M-G-M);  Michael 
Shayne,  Private  Detective  (20th-Fox) 140 


Salt  Lake  City  Grosses 
Hold  to  an  Even  Keel 

Salt  Lake  City— After  being  pelted  with 
rain,  dampened  by  snow  and  chilled  by 
near-freezing  temperatures  at  the  end  of 
the  week  just  passed,  Utahn’s  were  sur- 
prised and  pleased  to  enjoy  a full  mea- 
sure of  pre-spring  weather.  Theatre  grosses 
were  good  generally.  The  new  policy  at 
the  Victory  seemed  to  top  all  for  attend- 
ance. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  30: 

(Average  is  100) 

Capitol — Six  Lessons  From  Madame  LaZonga 


(Univ);  Dark  Streets  of  Cairo  (Univ)  95 

Centre — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  100 

Lake — Forbidden  Adventure  (SR)  95 

Rialto — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  (RKO)  100 

Studio — Four  Mothers  (WB),  2nd  wk 95 

Utah — High  Sierra  (FN);  Tug  Boat  Annie 

Sails  Again  (WB)  100 

Victory — Two  Fisted  Ranger  (Col);  North  West 
Mounted  Police  (Para’t),  2nd  run  115 


Public  and  Critics  Give 
Approval  to  "Story" 

Denver — “Philadelphia  Story,”  lauded 
by  all  critics  as  headed  for  best  of  the 
year  ranks,  is  staying  over  at  the  Orpheum 
because  of  a huge  business. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  January  29: 


(Average  is  100) 

Aladdin — Arizona  (Col),  after  wk.  at  Denver. 125 
Broadway — Flight  Command  (M-G-M) ; Keeping 
Company  (M-G-M),  after  wk.  at  Orpheum.. 110 
Denham — Texas  Rangers  Ride  Again  (Para't) . . 50 
Denver — Four  Mothers  (WB) ; Six  Lessons  From 

Madame  La  Zonga  (Univ)  110 

Orpheum — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  195 

Paramount — Road  Show  (UA) ; Romance  of 

the  Rio  Grande  (20th-Fox)  125 

Rialto — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col),  after  wk. 
at  each  the  Denver  and  Aladdin;  Great  Plane 
Robbery  (Col)  125 


" Philadelphia  Story"  and 
"Kitty"  Share  SF  Honors 

San  Francisco — “Kitty  Foyle”  and  “The 
Philadelphia  Story”  finished  in  a dead  heat 
as  far  as  boxoffiee  honors  were  concerned 


this  week.  Both  were  far  ahead  of  the 
other  films  showing  on  Market  Street. 
“This  Thing  Called  Love”  did  excellent 
third  week  business  and  “Comrade  X”  held 
up  well  in  its  third  week.  Weather  was 


perfect. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  29: 

(Average  is  100) 

Fox — The  Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M);  Jennie 

(20th-Fox)  150 

Golden  Gate — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO),  plus  stage 

show  150 

St.  Francis — Comrade  X (M-G-M);  Romance 

of  Rio  Grande  (20th-Fox),  3rd  wk 100 

United  Artists — Captain  Caution  (UA) 110 

Warfield — Victory  (Para’t);  Case  of  the  Black 

Parrot  (FN),  2nd  wk 85 

Orpheum — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col);  Ellery 

Queen,  Master  Detective  (Col),  3rd  wk 110 

Paramount — Four  Mothers  (WB);  She  Couldn’t 
Say  No  (FN)  90 


First  Runs  Notch  Up  a 
Fair  Week  in  Seattle 

Seattle — Among  the  regular  theatres 
business  was  nothing  to  rave  about.  The 
Moore  featuring  Richard  Crooks  for  one 
evening  did  a slam-bang  business  having 
to  place  a couple  of  hundred  chairs  on  the 
stage  to  handle  the  mob.  “Kitty  Foyle”  now 
on  its  first  week  at  the  Fifth  Avenue  takes 
top  honors  for  the  week.  Other  first  run 
and  holdover  attractions  doing  just  me- 


dium business. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  1: 

(Average  Is  100) 

Blue  Mouse — Victory  (Para’t);  Up  in  the 

Air  (Mono)  80 

Fifth  Avenue — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  Tall,  Dark 

and  Handsome  (20th-Fox)  125 

Liberty — Escape  to  Glory  (Col);  Blondie  Has 

Servant  Trouble  (Col)  90 

Music  Box — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M);  Michael 

Shayne,  Detective  (20th-Fox),  3rd  wk 90 

Orpheum — High  Sierra  (FN) ; Where  Did  You 
Get  That  Girl  (Univ)  100 


Palomar — Hold  That  Woman  (PRC) ; Six  Les- 
sons From  Madame  La  Zonga  (Univ),  plus 
Pinky  Tomlin  in  person  on  stage  with  vaude.  90 
Paramount — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox);  Saint 
in  Palm  Springs  (RKO),  2nd  wk 90 


Intermountain  Elects 
New  Officers  for  '41 

Salt  Lake  City — John  Rugar  of  Park 
City,  Utah,  is  the  new  president  of  In- 
termountain Theatres  Ass’n  for  1941. 
Other  officers  include  George  Smith  of 
Magna,  vice-president:  and  Beverly  S. 
Clendenin,  Salt  Lake  City,  general  coun- 
sel, secretary-treasurer. 

On  the  board  of  directors  are  John 
Rugar,  George  Smith,  J.  J.  Gillette  of 
Tooele,  Utah;  I.  H.  Harris,  Burley,  Idaho; 
E.  H.  Steele,  Nephi,  Utah;  Paul  DeMor- 
daunt,  Blackfoot,  Idaho;  and  Walter  Hull, 
Ely,  Nevada. 


Role  for  Jeanette's  Sister 

Hollywood — Marie  Blake,  a sister  of 
Jeanette  MacDonald,  has  been  handed  a 
supporting  role  in  “Caught  in  the  Draft,” 
Bob  Hope  starrer  for  Paramount. 

(i  ■ i) 

Seattle  Prepares 
For  "Blackout" 

Seattle — This  city  will  be  the  first  town 
of  major  importance  to  experience  a 
"blackout."  Test  will  be  made  March  7 
at  10:30  in  the  evening.  Some  7,000  men 
will  patrol  the  streets  while  planes  will 
zoom  overhead.  Theatres  will  continue 
with  their  performances  but  all  marquees 
and  fronts  will  be  in  total  darkness. 
Whole  affair  will  be  broadcast. 

I . V 


No  Complaints  Filed 
As  Yet  in  L,  A. 

Los  Angeles — Insofar  as  this  territory 
has  always  been  considered  an  exhibition 
storm  center,  industry  attaches  will  be  sur- 
prised by  the  disclosure  by  William  H. 
Elliott,  clerk  of  the  Los  Angeles  tribunal  of 
the  American  Arbitration  Association,  that 
no  cases  have  been  filed  with  his  office  as 
yet.  Arbitration  proceedings  were  autho- 
rized to  be  officially  opened  February  1,  on 
which  date  they  were  initiated  in  a num- 
ber of  distribution  centers. 

Furthermore,  Elliott  informed  Boxoffice, 
even  were  a case  to  be  filed  immediately  it 
would  be  unlikely  a hearing  could  be  ar- 
ranged in  less  than  25  or  30  days  because 
of  the  machinery  which  must  be  set  in  mo- 
tion. Hence  he  anticipates  it  will  be  at 
least  a month  before  any  hearing  date  is 
definitely  scheduled.  To  date,  Elliott  add- 
ed, no  steps  have  been  taken  even  to  name 
the  panel  of  arbiters. 

The  AAA  clerk  here  expressed  surprise 
at  the  total  lack  of  cases  filed  with  him 
thus  far,  but  indicated  he  expected  plenty 
of  interest  to  be  displayed  in  the  near  fu- 
ture by  showmen  with  real  or  fancied 
grievances  which  they  may  submit  for 
arbitration  under  terms  of  the  consent  de- 
cree. 

Portland  Exhibitors  and 
Richey  Get  Together 

Portland — H.  M.  Richey,  director  of  ex- 
hibitor relations  for  Metro,  was  in  town 
for  goodwill  talks  last  week.  Lou  Amacher, 
local  Metro  exchange  manager,  arranged  a 
luncheon  for  Richey  and  a number  of  local 
exhibitors,  including  A1  Finke,  Mose 
Mesher,  Herb  Sabottka,  Roy  Brown,  Joe 
Warren,  Joe  Gamble,  O.  J.  Miller,  A1  For- 
man, William  Graeper  sr.,  Jesse  Jones,  M. 
W.  Mattecheck,  Bill  Ripley,  Joe  Sorodka, 
Bob  White  and  Sam  Whitesides. 

Among  things  discussed  were  methods  of 
interchanging  proven  ideas  on  picture  pre- 
sentation and  exploitation  which,  it  was 
pointed  out,  would  prove  to  the  advantage 
of  both  the  exhibitor  and  the  exchange. 

Monahan  in  Charge  of 
Seattle  Arbitration 

Seattle — Joseph  J.  Monahan,  newly  ap- 
pointed representative  of  the  American 
Arbitration  Ass’n  for  the  Seattle  exchange 
district,  has  opened  offices  on  the  fifth 
floor  of  the  Marion  Building.  Office  hours 
from  Monday  to  Friday  will  be  9 a.  m.  to 
5 p.  m.  with  only  a half  day  Saturday. 

Monahan,  in  the  role  of  tribunal  clerk, 
will  sit  through  all  arbitration  cases  called 
for  under  the  consent  decree.  Appeals  must 
be  brought  to  his  attention. 

"GWTW"  Into  Four  Star 
For  Popular  Engagement 

Los  Angeles — “Gone  With  the  Wind” 
will  open  its  first  popular-priced  engage- 
ment in  this  territory  at  the  Four  Star 
February  12. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


W 


38-A 


— -Copyright  American  Map  Co.,  Inc. 


Headed  by  William  H.  Elliott  as  tribunal  clerk,  the  Los  Angeles  board  is  located 
in  the  Van  Nuys  Bldg.  The  area  includes:  In  California,  the  comities  of  Inyo,  San 
Bernardino,  Kern,  San  Luis  Obispo,  Santa  Barbara,  Ventura,  Los  Angeles,  Riverside, 
Imperial,  San  Diego  and  Orange.  In  Arizona,  the  entire  state.  In  Nevada,  Clark, 
county. 


IL<Q«  ANGELES 


QSCAR  OLDKNOW,  western  district 
head  for  National  Theatre  Supply, 
checked  out  for  New  York  to  preside  as 
vice-chairman  of  the  company’s  annual 
meeting.  Arthur  de  Stefano,  manager  of 
the  local  branch,  accompanied  Oldknow 
east  . . . Eddie  Cooke,  Universal’s  office 
manager,  spent  a couple  of  days  at  home 
nursing  a cold  . . . Filmrow  has  just  learn- 
ed of  the  recent  marriage  of  Leslie  Har- 
per, son  of  Glenn  Harper,  operator  of  the 
Corona  in  Corona,  to  Marilyn  Huber  of 
Pomona  . . . Sidney  Gillis,  manager  of  the 
Cinema,  will  have  a new  potential  cus- 
tomer some  time  in  June.  Mrs.  Gillis  is 
expecting. 

Seth  Perkins  is  back  on  the  job  at  his 
San-Val  Drive-In  in  Burbank  after  being 
laid  up  for  several  weeks  with  a serious 
case  of  the  flu  . . . Booking  visitors  in- 
cluded Dave  Cantor,  San  Clemente,  San 
Clemente;  Irwin  Kanowitz  of  the  Union; 
and  Jack  Goldberg,  booker  for  the  Ben 
Bronstein  circuit  . . . Herb  MacIntyre, 
RKO  western  district  manager,  has  re- 
turned from  New  York  where  he  attended 
a sales  session  . . . Al  O’Keefe,  Universal’s 
western  district  head,  and  Charles  Feld- 
man, local  branch  manager,  left  for  Chi- 
cago to  attend  the  company’s  annual  sales 
convention. 


B.  F.  SHEARER  COMPANY 

“Theatre  Equipment  Specialists” 

Heywood-Wakefield  Seats 

Wagner  Silhouette  Letters 

Motiograph  Projectors 

1964  So.  Vermont  RO.  1145 

LOS  ANGELES 


Ruth  Whitney  and  Kay  Ronan,  secre- 
taries at  M-G-M,  tossed  a shower  for 
Kathleen  Gannen,  a co-worker,  at  Ruth’s 
home.  Kathleen  will  become  a bride  soon 
. . . Majestic  exchange  is  being  remodeled 
. . . Bert  Lentz,  Columbia  salesman,  check- 
ed out  for  a tour  of  his  Columbia  territory 
. . . M.  C.  (Mac)  Sinift  has  opened  his 
new  Normandie.  He  also  operates  the  Del 
Mar  . . . Booking:  Jenne  Dodge,  Mission 
and  Mayfair,  Ventura;  Harvey  Levinson, 
operator  of  the  Cozy;  Bill  Kohler,  Valuskis, 
Willowbrook. 

Mrs.  Jerome  Safron,  wife  of  the  Colum- 
bia western  district  manager,  is  home  from 
the  Good  Samaritan  Hospital  where  she 
underwent  an  appendicitis  operation  . . . 
Tony  Moreno’s  “Crazy  Auction”  has  been 
booked  into  the  Central  Theatre.  It  is  a 
new  boxoffice  stimulant  ...  A.  E.  Rice  of 
the  Admiral  in  Hollywood  came  in  for 
bookings.  Ditto  Mrs.  Foster  Jackson,  Elsi- 
nore, Elsinore;  Jack  Berman  of  the  East- 
land  circuit;  and  Al  Galston,  operator  of 
the  Hawaii  and  Marcal  in  Hollywood  . . . 
C.  J.  Latta,  assistant  zone  manager  for 
Warner  in  the  Pittsburgh  area,  was  here 
on  a combined  business-pleasure  trip. 

Alan  Cummings  and  Bill  Brennen  of 
M-G-M’s  home  office  planed  east  after 
spending  several  days  at  the  local  exchange 
. . . Samuel  Tishkoff  has  booked  his  new 
“Adver-Prize,”  a giveaway  stunt,  into  the 
Mayfair  . . . Rene  Amter,  Universal  secre- 
tary, draws  one  of  the  earliest  vacations 
of  the  year — a trip  to  Denver  . . . Here 
for  conferences  with  Marco  Wolf  and  Milt 
Arthur  of  Fanchon  and  Marco  is  Harry 
Arthur,  F&M  operator  from  St.  Louis  . . . 
E.  T.  Gomersall,  Universal  sales  executive 


from  Chicago,  is  spending  a few  weeks  in 
this  territory  . . . Remodeling  has  been 
nearly  completed  at  the  M-G-M  exchange. 
Bookers  have  been  moved  out  from  their 
cages  into  the  main  office. 

Mike  Newman  is  spending  some  time  in 
both  San  Francisco  and  Seattle  exploiting 
new  Columbia  product  . . . Fred  Gage, 
United  Artists  salesman,  is  in  from  a tour 
of  his  Arizona  territory  . . . Booking-.  O. 
W.  ( Ote ) Lewis,  Mission,  San  Gabriel; 
Boris  Posner,  operator  of  the  Arlington  . . . 
Earl  Strebe  has  closed  his  Newport  in 
Newport  Beach  for  the  winter  and  will  re- 
open at  the  begininng  of  the  summer  sea- 
son ...  A.  Molina,  Placentia,  Placentia ; 
Harry  Vinicoff  of  the  Vinicoff  circuit;  and 
Roy  Pawley,  Desert,  Indio,  came  in  to  do 
some  booking. 

Fire  of  undetermined  origin  burned 
several  rows  of  seats  in  Fox  West  Coast’s 
Uptown  Theatre.  Extent  of  the  damage 
has  not  been  determined,  but  the  blaze 
did  not  interrupt  theatre  schedules  and 
the  burned  seats  are  being  replaced  . . . 
Checking  over  theatre  properties  in  San 
Francisco  and  Oakland  were  Charles  P. 
Skouras,  Fox  West  Coast  president,  ac- 
companied by  George  Topper,  Charles  A. 
Buckley,  W.  H.  Lollier  and  Bill  Lyris. 

Arizona  visitors  included  Louis  F.  Long, 
circuit  operator  who  headquarters  in  Saf- 
ford,  accompanied  by  his  head  booker, 
Frank  Plumlee;  and  Charles  Alden,  thea- 
tre operator  from  Globe  . . . Phases  of  the 
consent  decree  were  explained  to  Para- 
mount exchange  employes  in  a session 
conducted  by  Louis  Phillips  and  Claude 
Lee,  of  the  home  office.  Phillips  and  Lee 
are  making  a tour  of  all  Paramount  ex- 
changes explaining  the  decree  and  its 
ramifications. 

Praise  Rose  Keane  in 
" As  You  Desire  Me" 

Kansas  City — “As  You  Desire  Me,”  the 
Resident  Theatre’s  production  of  Luigi 
Pirandello’s  play,  is  running  a second  week 
in  its  performance  here  which  has  at- 
tracted capacity  crowds.  Rose  Keane,  guest 
star  and  former  Kansas  City  girl,  is  ac- 
credited as  the  reason  for  the  play’s  ex- 
ceptional success. 

Of  her  performance  Landon  Laird, 
drama  critic  of  the  Kansas  City  Star,  said: 

“It  is  a pity  that  Rose  Keane  comes  back 
to  Kansas  City  so  seldom  to  display  her 
talents.  Her  undeniable  acting  ability  has 
been  known  to  this  city  since  the  days 
when  she  played  ‘The  Deluge’  and  other 
attractions  for  the  Kansas  City  Theatre. 
In  New  York  she  has  developed  from  a 
better-than-average  ‘home  talent’  player 
into  a person  who  would  fit  into  a Thea- 
tre Guild  production.  Miss  Keane  never 
looked  so  attractive  as  she  does  now,  and 
we  never  have  seen  her  play  a part  so  well. 
She  makes  ‘As  You  Desire  Me’  a success 
by  her  own  efforts.” 

Paramount  in  L.  A . Is 
Playing  a Horror  Duo 

Los  Angeles — A dual  horror  bill  is  play- 
ing the  Paramount,  coupled  with  a “spook” 
stage  show.  On  the  screen  are  Paramount’s 
“The  Mad  Doctor,”  starring  Basil  Rath- 
bone,  and  “The  Monster  and  the  Girl,” 
with  Ellen  Drew. 


38-B 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


$ IE  A T T 1IL  IE 

^HIS  TOWN  is  keeping  its  eye  on  Olym- 
pia while  the  new  gang  of  legislators  are 
convening.  The  former  mayor  of  Seattle, 
Art  Langlie,  is  now  governor  and  one  might 
say  he  is  a Republican  ship  on  Democratic 
waters.  Efforts  of  the  new  crop  may  kill 
the  Washington  blue  law  and  give  back 
beer  parlors  on  Sundays.  According  to  the 
real  blue  law,  if  one  wanted  to  get  real 
nasty,  they  could  close  theati'es,  stop  base- 
ball games,  horse-racing  and  any  other 
“annoyance,”  as  they  term  it.  Joe  Roberts, 
editor  of  the  Amusement  Guide,  and  a 
representative,  offered  a five-dollar  poll  tax 
bill  that  drew  hot  editorials  on  the  front 
pages  of  dailies.  Drumheller  of  Spokane 
has  asked  that  liquor  be  allowed  in  hotels, 
resorts,  boats  and  trains  in  the  state.  The 
present  law  finds  the  state  owning  the 
liquor  stores  and  only  private  clubs  al- 
lowed to  serve  their  members  by  a script 
system.  If  Sunday  beer  and  the  liquor  bill 
should  pass,  local  show-shops  will  take  a 
worse  beating  than  they  are  now  despite 
the  betterment  in  working  conditions. 
Most  beer  parlors  have  small  dance  floors 
and  offer  entertainment  which  makes 
tough  opposition. 

This  is  getting  to  he  a “sneak”  preview 
town.  Following  up  on  the  RKO  idea  at 
the  Fifth,  the  Orpheum  in  conjunction 
with  Universal,  advertised  one  and  sent 
out  invites.  Picture  shown  was  “Buck  Pri- 
vates,” and  the  surprised  audience  howled 
at  the  antics  of  Abbott  & Costello.  Tommy 
McLeod  of  the  Universal  publicity  depart- 
ment aided  the  idea  and  is  now  staying 
over  for  the  campaign  on  “Back  Street.” 
Is  this  something  new?  When  a sneak  pre- 
view is  held  in  a theatre  the  invited  ex- 
hibitor from  out-of-town  is  asked  to  pay 
tax  on  the  invite  at  the  boxoffice.  When 
previews  are  held  on  Filmrow,  there  is  no 
charge  but  there  was  some  squeaks  fol- 

( Continued  on  page  38-F) 


The  Boundaries 


In  Seattle,  the  clerk  of  the  tribunal  is 
Joe  James  Monahan,  with  headquarters 
in  the  Marion  Bldg.  The  area  includes: 
In  Washington,  all  counties  except  Wah- 
kiakum, Cowlitz,  Skamania,  Clarke  and 
Klickitat.  In  Idaho,  the  counties  of  Boun- 
dary, Bonner,  Kootenai,  Benewah,  Latam, 
Nez  Perce,  Lewis,  Idaho,  Clearwater  and 
Shoshone. 


• 

The  Portland  board  is  located  in  the 
Pittock  Bldg.,  with  J . P.  Nelson  as  tribunal 
clerk.  The  area  includes:  In  Oregon  ex- 
cept Klamath  and  Lake.  In  Washington, 
the  counties  of  Wahkiakum,  Cowlitz,  Ska- 
mania,  Clarke  and  Klickitat. 

• 

In  San  Francisco,  the  tribunal  clerk  is 
Charles  Chambers,  with  offices  in  the 
Mills  Tower  Bldg.  The  area  includes : In 
California,  all  counties  north  of  the  south 
boundaries  of  Monterey,  Kings  and  Tulare. 
In  Oregon,  the  counties  of  Klamath  and 
Lake.  In  Nevada,  all  counties  except  Elko, 
Eureka,  White  Pine  and  Lincoln. 


Arbitration  Districts:  San  Francisco,  Seattle,  Portland 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  8,  1941 


38-C 


Arbitration  Districts:  Sait  Lake  aty 


Located  in  the  Continental  Bank  Bldg.,  the  Salt  Lake  City  board  is  headed  by  G. 
Roy  Backman  as  tribunal  clerk.  The  area  includes:  In  Utah,  the  entire  state.  In 
Montana,  the  entire  state.  In  Wyoming,  the  counties  of  Y ellowstone  National  Park, 
Teton,  Lincoln  and  Umta.  In  Nevada,  the  counties  of  Elko,  Eureka,  White  Pine 
and  Lincoln.  In  Idaho,  all  counties  except  Boundary,  Bonner,  Kootenai,  Benewah, 
Latam,  Nez  Perce,  Lewis,  Idaho,  Clearwater  and  Shoshone.  These  counties  have 
Seattle  as  the  tribunal. 


SALT  LAKE 

THE  OLYMPUS  THEATRE  at  Holladay, 

just  out  of  Salt  Lake  City,  has  been 
completely  renovated  and  renamed  the 
Holladay.  It  reopened  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Joseph  Lawrence,  who  operates 
the  Southeast,  Murray,  Rialto  and  State 
theatres. 

Construction  of  the  new  Wasatch  Thea- 
tre at  Heber,  Utah,  is  under  way  by  the 
Intermountain  Theatre  Supply  of  Salt 
Lake  City,  successful  bidders.  Bliss  Titus 
is  owner  and  manager. 

The  newly  inaugurated  policy  at  the 
local  Victory,  offering  a first  run  picture 
with  a second  run,  is  packing  them  in. 
“North  West  Mounted  Police”  is  a hold- 
over as  one  of  the  first  offerings  of  this 
new  policy  . . . “The  Westerner”  is  in  its 
second  week  at  the  Studio  after  a success- 
ful week  at  Ray  Hendry’s  Centre;  both 
Intermountain  houses. 

A belated  “Christmas  Party”  was  held 
at  the  Rialto,  due  to  the  prevalence  of 
colds  up  until  now,  and  so  more  than  500 
newsboys  were  e?itertained  by  the  picture 
“Little  Men”  and  given  refreshments. 
Members  of  Operators’  Local  No.  250  do- 
nated their  services  for  the  show.  The 
postponement  was  at  the  request  of  the 
board  of  health. 

George  D.  Pyper,  manager  for  many 
years  of  the  old  Salt  Lake  Theatre,  will 
discuss  “Old  Utah  Theatre  Days”  here  at 
the  Exchange  Club  shortly. 

Joe  Madsen,  office  manager  for  United 
Artists,  reports  the  Arthur  W.  Kelly  Sales 
Drive  nicely  under  way  here  with  all  of 
the  boys  having  been  in  to  a sales  meeting 
a few  days  ago,  which  meeting  was  also 
attended  by  UA’s  new  division  manager, 
J.  S.  Abrose,  who  came  here  from  the  east, 
and  is  in  charge  of  Salt  Lake,  Denver  and 
Omaha. 

George  Cloward,  manager  for  Ross  Fed- 
eral Service  here,  reports  conditions 
throughout  the  territory  look  promising. 
He  is  just  in  from  Idaho  and  leaves  for 
Southern  Utah  right  away  . . . Sam  Gard- 
ner left  the  local  M-G-M  offices  this  week 
for  a trip  into  Montana.  M-G-M’s  new 
release,  “Come  Live  With  Me,”  was  pre- 
viewed a few  days  ago  . . . “Buck”  Wade  of 
Universal  is  back  from  a successful  trip 
in  the  territory. 

Columbia’s  district  supervisor,  Bob  Hill, 
is  coming  to  Salt  Lake  from  Denver  for  a 
few  days  this  week,  Bill  Seib  reports  . . . 
RKO  Office  Manager  E.  S.  W inward  dis- 
closed that  after  a sales  conference  held 
at  the  local  exchange  a few  days  ago,  Man- 
ager H.  C.  Fuller  left  for  Montana;  Al 
Mabey  for  Utah;  Giff  Davisen  for  Idaho; 
Al  Shepherd  for  Montana,  and  the  new 
addition  to  the  sales  force,  Norman  Sprowl, 
for  Montana,  also. 

Delivery  of  motion  picture  equipment 
costing  $331.85  to  the  Salt  Lake  county  fire 
department  at  Murray,  Utah,  assures  a 
series  of  lecture  and  pictures  for  county 
schools. 

Another  company  has  pitched  camp  at 
Sun  Valley,  Idaho,  to  film  background 
scenes  for  M-G-M’s  production  “A  Wom- 
an’s Face.” 


Theatrical  Federation  to 
Meet  With  Employers 

Seattle — Members  of  the  Seattle  theat- 
rical federation  representing  unions  in  the- 
atres, announced  it  had  arranged  a tenta- 
tive meeting  with  employers  for  Friday 
to  discuss  further  negotiations  on  janitors 
belonging  to  Building  Service  Employes’ 
Union  Local  6. 

Basil  Gray,  labor  relations  representa- 
tive, said  upon  completion  of  negotiations 


At  San  Carlos  Opening 

San  Carlos,  Cal. — Many  Fox  West  Coast 
home  office  employes  from  Los  Angeles, 
headed  by  George  Topper,  treasurer,  at- 
tended the  gala  opening  of  the  circuit’s 
new  San  Carlos  here.  The  1,000-seat 
house  was  constructed  at  a cost  of  $200,000. 


for  janitors,  discussion  of  contract  for 
Theatre  Employes  Local  B-22  would  be 
taken  up.  This  local  includes  cashiers, 
doormen,  and  ushers. 


38-D 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


Arbiiralion  Districts:  Denver 


Several  Colorado  Bills 
Focus  on  Industry 


Headed  by  John  B.  Milton  as  tribunal  clerk,  the  Denver  board  is  located  in  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce  Bldg.  The  area  includes:  In  Colorado,  the  entire  state.  In 
New  Mexico,  the  entire  state.  In  Wyoming,  all  counties  east  of  the  western  boun- 
daries of  Park,  Fremont,  Sublette  and  Sweetwater.  In  South  Dakota,  all  counties 
west  of  the  eastern  boundaries  of  Meade,  Pennington,  Washington  and  Shannon. 
In  Nebraska,  all  counties  west  of  the  east  boundaries  of  Cherry,  Thomas,  Logan, 
Lincoln,  Frontier  and  Redwillow. 


Denver — A half  dozen  bills  affecting 
theatres  have  been  introduced  in  the  Colo- 
rado legislature.  All  of  them  have  been  in- 
troduced by  title  with  the  body  to  be 
filled  in  if  and  when  they  are  reported  out. 
The  bills  would  provide  for  a film  censor- 
ship board,  annual  tax  on  theatre  seats, 
license  for  operating  a theatre,  amusement 
tax,  tax  on  sale  and  rental  of  films  and 
would  require  a licensed  operator  where 
16mm  films  are  shown  publicly.  Another 
bill  would  declare  bank  and  gift  nights 
lotteries.  Three  bills,  patterned  after  the 
Washington,  Montana  and  Nebraska  bills, 
would  be  applied  to  Ascap,  and  another 
would  require  the  licensing  of  authors, 
composers  and  publishers  of  music,  both 
vocal  and  instrumental. 

Gibr alter  Enterprises 
Directorate  Convenes 

Denver — A special  meeting  of  the  direc- 
tors of  Gibralter  Enterprises  was  held  in 
the  Denver  headquarters,  with  the  prin- 
cipal matters  under  discussion  being  the 
consent  decree,  arbitration  and  war  relief. 
Those  attending  were  Chas.  R.  Gilmour,  E. 
J.  Schulte,  W.  H.  Ostenberg,  E.  John  Greer, 
E.  W.  Ward,  T.  F.  Murphy  and  Everett 
Cole. 

All  directors  returned  to  their  homes 
after  the  meeting  excepting  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ward,  who  flew  to  Albuquerque  to  attend  a 
mining  convention.  Schulte  plans  to  leave 
early  this  month  for  Arizona  and  the  coast 
to  spend  several  months.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Os- 
tenberg also  leave  soon  for  a cruise  to 
Panama,  returning  in  April. 


Extend  Irving  Cummings 

Hollywood — Director  Irving  Cummings 
has  been  held  for  another  term  by  20th- 
Fox.  His  next  assignment  will  be  “Belle 
Starr.” 


TACK  BOCK,  Gibralter  booker,  was  taken 
* to  Mercy  Hospital  with  a streptococcic 
infection.  His  condition  is  serious  . . . Ar- 
thur Bratton  is  now  the  manager  of  the 
Ovid,  Ovid,  Colo.,  which  house  he  has 
leased  from  the  former  manager,  H.  H. 
Homer. 


The  Denver  branch  of  National  Screen 
Service  is  determined  to  be  in  the  money 
in  the  present  $16,000  “Par”  sales,  date  and 
collection  drive.  Derek  Sydney,  manager, 
says  the  force  is  working  hard  on  the  drive, 
and  asks  the  cooperation  of  exhibitors  in 
the  territory. 

A thousand  candy  bars,  valued  at  $30, 
constituted  the  loot  at  the  Santa  Fe  Thea- 
tre, for  burglars  who  broke  in. 

Fox  is  remodeling  the  Rialto  at  Wal- 
senburg,  Colo.,  spending  about  $20,000  on 
the  job.  The  place  will  be  given  new  seats, 
a new  front  and  a general  working  over. 

Frank  Culp,  manager  of  the  Tabor,  is  in 
the  hospital  for  an  operation. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


38-E 


(Continued  from  38-C) 
lowing  the  sneak  preview.  Seems  the  fed- 
eral law  says  tax  must  he  collected  for  any 
seat  occupied  in  a place  where  a charge  is 
made.  Article  3 of  the  new  consent  de- 
cree says  that  all  exhibitors  must  be  given 
the  chance  to  look  at  all  pictures  before 
buying.  Might  kill  the  sneak  preview  idea. 
Hope  not.  Audience  reaction  is  a great 
barometer  for  the  life  or  death  of  a pic- 
ture. 

The  March  of  Dimes  wound  up  in  a 
blaze  of  glory  here.  Three  “birthday  balls” 
the  same  night  with  that  English  gal, 
Gracie  Fields,  appearing  at  all  three.  The 
formal  dance  was  held  in  the  Olympic 
Hotel,  the  Movie  Ball  at  the  Trianon,  and 
the  old-timers  did  their  stuff  at  the  Sena- 
tor Ballroom.  The  film  gang  helped  to 
swell  the  dimes  here.  An  auction  was  held 
of  such  articles  as  the  silk  turban  Linda 
Darnell  wore  in  “Daytime  Wife,”  Gene 
Autry’s  autographed  ten-gallon  hat  worn 
in  “Melody  Ranch,”  “Lionel  Barrymore’s 
coat  from  “Dr.  Kildare,”  a ring  worn  by 
Sidney  Toler  of  Charlie  Chan  fame,  and 
many  other  items.  Yes  folks,  Seattle  went 
over  the  top,  thanks  to  you  ...  To  raise 
funds  to  help  defray  expenses  of  the  con- 
vention to  be  held  here  next  June,  the 
Musicians  Union,  Local  493,  will  hold  a 
jam  session  in  the  near  future  at  the 
Moore  Theatre.  Thirty-five  musicians  will 
work  free  during  the  swing  concert. 

Bill  Roberts,  the  singing  star  of  “College 
Rhythm,”  the  “Texans”  and  “ Big  Broad- 
cast of  1939,”  along  with  his  band  have 
opened  a long-term  engagement  at  the 
Olympic  Hotel  . . . George  Blair,  the  one 
and  only  of  the  Rendezvous,  announces  he 
has  taken  over  the  cafe  himself  so  all  com- 
plaints should  be  directed  to  him  (adv). 
For  the  past  few  months,  George  leased 
the  “eating  part”  of  his  store  to  other 
people  and  it  did  not  pan  out  as  planned 
. . . Sir  Thomas  Beecham,  the  new  con- 
ductor of  the  Seattle  Symphony  Orches- 
tra, has  added  a chorus  of  100  voices  to  the 
organization.  This  is  going  to  make  a ter- 
rific attraction  when  the  season  opens  for 
this  type  of  entertainment  . . . Jim  Hone, 
executive  secretary  for  the  Independent 
Theatre  Owners,  who  has  been  spending 
the  last  few  weeks  in  Olympia,  suddenly 
planed  out  for  Los  Angeles  and  expects  to 
be  back  within  a week  . . . Pete  Higgins 
to  Los  Angeles  where  he  was  called  by  the 
passing  of  his  dad  . . . Superior  Judge  Ern- 
est Card  of  Tacoma,  in  ruling  on  demur- 
rers, paved  the  way  for  the  trial  of  radio 
station  KIRO’s  $100,000  libel  suit  against 
the  Tacoma  chamber  of  commerce  and  T. 
A.  Stevenson,  manager,  but  eliminated  the 
chamber  directors  as  defendants.  The  suit 
was  brought  last  summer  by  KIRO  charg- 
ing that  statements  concerning  it  appear- 
ing in  the  Tacoma  Progress,  publication  of 
the  chamber,  were  libelous. 

Mike  Newman,  publicity  ace  for  Colum- 
bia, in  town  to  do  his  chores  on  “This 
Thing  Called  Love”  . . . Cecelia  Schultz  of 
the  Moore  did  a grand  business  with  the 
one-night  appearance  of  Richard  Crooks. 
Not  only  was  the  house  jammed,  but  over 
350  people  were  seated  on  the  stage  be- 
hind the  singer.  Maybe  the  radio  does  help 
at  times  . . . Herndon  Edmonds,  local  Fox 
manager,  has  taken  off  for  a visit  of  east- 


ern Washington  along  with  Archie  Holt  of 
the  sales  staff  . . . Word  from  Ford  Brat- 
cher that  he  is  doing  nicely  with  another 
state  right  picture  and  playing  around 
Boston  . . . Events  happen  quick  at  times. 
Bob  Sellers  was  offered  a nice  spot  with  an 
equipment  house.  Bob  and  a couple  of 
chums  drove  to  Vancouver,  Canada,  for  a 
visit  before  taking  the  job.  While  there, 
the  boys  took  the  notion  to  join  the  Cana- 
dian Air  Force.  Bob,  expert  pilot,  was 
made  an  instructor.  His  first  trip  up  the 
plane  crashed.  They  buried  Bob  in  Port- 
land, his  home  town.  All  this  happened 
within  two  weeks. 

Gordon  Craddock  (of  the  Portland  “Til- 
lie”  fame),  who  has  been  getting  well  in 
San  Antonio,  Tex.,  writes  he  will  be  back 
at  his  desk  as  branch  manager  for  Uni- 
versal in  Indianapolis  some  time  in  March. 
Good  luck,  Gordon  . . . Harry  Blatt  arriv- 
ing on  the  Row  with  a new  car  . . . Bill 
Keating,  who  for  the  past  few  years  has 
been  connected  with  the  Paramount-Pub- 
lix  Theatres,  is  now  handling  the  Colonial 
here  for  Sterling  Theatres  . . . Bill  Duggan 
fr.,  manager  of  the  Monogram  office,  do- 
ing a ten-day  trip  over  the  state  . . . Carl 
Walker,  in  charge  of  Warner  theatres  on 
the  coast,  making  the  rounds  of  theatres 
in  Oregon  and  Washington  and  taking 
time  out  to  say  “hello”  to  his  friends  on 
the  Row  . . . Morrie  Segel,  branch  man- 
ager; Glen  Haviland,  Ward  Pennington, 
Max  Hadfield  and  B.  B.  George  of  the 
local  Paramount  office,  all  to  Portland  for 
meeting  with  Louis  Phillips  of  the  Para- 
mount legal  department  in  New  York.  The 
discussing  was  on  the  consent  decree. 

Dorothy  Holland,  Marjorie  Cromwell  and 
Norma  Acteson  all  back  on  the  job  after 
the  forced  absence  . . . E.  M.  Saunders, 
western  sales  manager  for  Metro,  here 
from  New  York  for  a few  days  . . . Willard 

Apart  in  Seattle  on 
Safety  Proposals 

Seattle — Before  a full  house,  the  city 
council  public  safety  committee  listened  to 
men  in  the  industry  on  proposals  for 
amending  the  city  fire  hazards  relating  to 
theatres. 

Theatre  owners  and  the  film  operators’ 
union  differed  on  what  should  be  placed 
in  the  ordinance.  The  union  withdrew 
earlier  proposals  that  better  ventilation 
and  accommodations  for  the  operators  be 
required,  proposed  that  six  months’  experi- 
ence at  full-time  work  be  required  to  ob- 
tain a city  license  to  handle  the  latest 
equipment  in  the  booth,  and  asked  that  the 
fire  chief  continue  to  have  exclusive  power 
to  grant  the  licenses. 

The  theatre  owners,  through  Attorney 
Warren  Brown,  objected  to  the  six  months 
provision  as  “unnecessary”  and  suggested 
the  health  department  rather  than  the  fire 
department  give  annual  physical  examina- 
tions to  the  operators. 

The  council  committee  did  not  take  final 
action  but  the  conference  will  resume  some 
time  next  week. 


Coughlan,  manager  of  the  Hollywood  in 
Portland  for  Fox-Evergreen,  in  town  over 
the  weekend  . . . Ned  Edris  of  Hamrick- 
Edris  Theatres  in  Tacoma  has  named  Wil- 
liam Tibbetts  manager  of  the  Temple 
there  and  has  transferred  Theodore  Kintz 
to  the  same  town’s  Blue  Mouse  . . . H. 
Flaig  here  from  Chicago  arranging  for  the 
forthcoming  appearance  of  “Dr.  I.  Q.”  at 
the  Orpheum  . . . Bruce  Forbes,  son  of 
Doug  and  Mrs.  Forbes,  in  the  hospital  re- 
covering from  pneumonia  . . . Historic  Fort 
Nisqually,  restored  recently  by  the  Young 
Men's  Business  Club  of  Tacoma,  will  figure 
in  newsreel  shots  when  the  National 
Guard,  with  considerable  ceremony,  will 
enact  a scene  from  the  fort’s  past  history. 
A replica  of  the  original  Hudson’s  Bay  Co. 
charter  will  be  presented  to  the  fort. 

Junior  and  Dorothy  Mercy  and  their 
three  sons,  Frederick,  Richard  and 
Michael,  out  to  the  raiich  for  the  weekend 
. . . Fred  Hansen,  in  charge  of  buying  and 
booking  for  Port  Gamble,  in  town  for  a 
few  days  . . . John  von  Herberg  hosting  a 
family  dinner  in  honor  of  the  birthday  of 
his  daughter,  Charlotte  Durham  . . . Felix 
Jenkins  of  the  Fox  legal  department  in 
New  York  here  for  a visit  with  Herndon 
Edmonds  and  to  advise  on  the  consent  de- 
cree . . . Wilma  McNutt,  former  secretary 
to  Vic  Gauntlett  and  recently  a San  Fran- 
cisco resident,  writes  she  is  in  Phoenix, 
Ariz.,  taking  a vacation  with  her  mother 
and  dad  . . . The  Hal  Daiglers  are  also  in 
Phoenix  taking  time  out.  Hal  is  in  charge 
of  theatre  operation  for  B.  F.  Shearer  . . . 
“Popcorn”  Smith  back  in  town  after  his 
visit  to  Kansas  City  and  way  points  . . . 
Joe  Danz  of  the  Embassy  has  gone  wrong, 
or  maybe  it  was  the  influence  of  a film 
salesman.  Joe  was  seen  smoking  a cigar- 
ette in  company  with  an  exchange  man- 
ager. This  was  his  first  puff  since  the  days 
when  it  was  daring  to  sneak  a smoke  be- 
hind the  barn. 

Mercedes  Harvey,  chief  accountant  for 
Universal,  confined  to  her  home  by  illness 
. . . The  gang  around  the  Northwest  Film 
Club  talking  of  the  injury  to  Vera  Stead- 
man and  recalling  many  of  the  stars  of 
silent  days.  Larry  Semon,  Ford  Sterling, 
Ham  and  Bud,  John  Bunny  and  Flora 
Finch  and  many  others  were  talked  about 
and  the  final  ending  was  that  “all  agreed 
that  comedy  features  with  good  old  hokum 
gags  that  keep  the  audience  in  stitches 
would  help  to  solve  part  of  the  boxoffice 
problem”  . . . The  von  Herbergs  have 
named  their  new  son,  Jensen  von  Herberg, 
which  not  only  honors  Herberg’s  partner, 
Jensen  of  Portland,  but  also  will  “indi- 
vidualize” the  pioneer  firm  . . . Marc 
Bowman,  former  theatre  press  agent  and 
newspaper  man,  in  town  for  a couple  of 
days,  guest  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vic  Keedy  of 
the  Burien  Theatre.  Mrs.  Bowman  ac- 
companied her  hubby,  who  now  is  with  a 
leading  radio  station  in  Portland  . . . Roy 
Peacock  getting  a long  distance  call  fi’om 
Montana  and  rushing  to  get  the  material 
out  by  airmail  . . . Jim  Root,  doing  his 
stuff  behind  the  bar  at  Film  Club,  being 
recognized  by  friends  from  Hollywood. 
Mike  Newman  remembered  him  from  the 
Swing  Club;  likewise  did  Dorothy  (Dun- 
bar) Lawson  . . . J.  T.  Sheffield  off  for  a 
couple  of  visits  to  Butte  and  way  points. 


38-F 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


QHARLIE  SCHLAIFER  back  in  town 
W after  a short  vacation  in  Palm  Springs 
and  Hollywood.  While  in  the  film  capital 
Charlie  witnessed  rushes  of  some  of  the 
films  to  play  the  United  Artists  here  and 
he  reports  a big  season  ahead  for  his 
house.  Schlaifer  has  been  receiving  the 
plaudits  of  exhibitor  and  producer  alike 
for  his  creation,  “U.  A.  Charley”  and  the 
type  of  exploitation  “U.  A.  Charley”  is  used 
to  decorate. 

Susanna  Foster  and  Dolly  Loehr  in  town 
boosting  Paramount’s  forthcoming  ‘‘Hard 
Boiled  Canary.”  This  was  the  girls’  first 
stop  on  a transcontinental  tour  . . . Mar- 
garet Quigley  left  the  B.  F.  Shearer  office 
this  week  to  devote  all  her  time  to  being 
a wife  . . . Everett  Howell  has  moved  into 
his  new  home  in  Porterville  . . . Barney 
Rose  to  Chicago  for  the  Universal  sales 
meeting  . . . “Here  Is  Ireland”  has  moved 
to  the  Larkin  after  five  weeks  at  the  Clay 
. . . Jesse  Lasky  in  town  for  a visit. 

Ed  Stelzrieve  has  taken  over  the  Home 
Theatre  in  Folsom  from  the  Moore  Estate. 
Ed  will  begin  operation  on  the  14th  . . . 
Chan  Carpenter  reports  that  his  indepen- 
dent booking  service  is  meeting  with  ap- 
proval of  the  trade  and  that  he  has  con- 
tracted to  handle  several  houses  . . . Fine 
weather  has  been  the  order  for  the  past 
two  weeks  but  the  boxoffice  on  weekends 
has  not  been  so  good  because  of  the  exodus 
to  the  snow  country  and  to  warmer  climes 
down  the  Peninsula. 

Ingrid  Bergman  planed  into  town  for  a 
conference  with  Ernest  Hemingway  about 
the  female  lead  in  “For  Whom  the  Bell 
Tolls.”  Hemingway  issued  the  statement 
that  Miss  Bergman  would  be  ideal  as  Maria 
and  hope  it  could  be  arranged.  Mr.  H.  also 
cast  his  vote  for  Gary  Cooper  as  Robert 
Jordan  before  he  and  Mrs.  Hemingway 
shipped  out  for  China. 

Inez  Fox  took  over  the  secretary’s  desk 
at  Columbia  vacated  when  Barbara  Cohen 
left.  Janice  Cole  takes  Miss  Fox’s  post  at 
RKO  . . . D.  L.  McNerny  will  leave  his 
branch  manager’s  position  at  United  Art- 
ists in  the  near  future  . . . Universal 
screened  ‘‘Back  Street”  for  circuit  heads 
Tuesday  . . . Charley  Feldman  from  the 
Universal  exchange  in  Los  Angeles,  a visi- 
tor . . . Republic  is  preparing  for  the  big 
James  R.  Grainger  date  and  sales  drive 
which  starts  early  in  March. 

Morris  Ott,  assistant  to  Gerald  Hardy  in 
Fresno,  got  himself  married  this  week  . . . 
P.  H.  Allen  has  remodeled  his  Grand  Thea- 
tre in  Tracy.  The  house  got  a complete  go- 
ing over  including  a set  of  doors  that  were 
conceived  by  Allen  . . . Bill  Cornwall  is 
back  on  the  job  in  Merced  after  an  ill- 
ness . . . The  Row  is  wondering  about  the 
delay  on  the  opening  of  Ed  Levy’s  new 
theatre  in  Dinubia.  Rumors  are  flying  fast 
and  furious  as  to  whether  Ed  will  be  the 
owner  when  the  house  does  open  . . . Louis 
B.  Mayer  came  to  town  to  meet  a horse. 
In  this  case  it  was  Mayer’s  importation 
from  Australia. 

Carl  Scott  has  moved  to  a larger  office 
at  Columbia.  It  seems  Carl  needs  more 
room  to  handle  his  city  salesman’s  orders 
...  Ed  Nelson  is  now  in  Universal’s  ad 


sales  department  . . . The  Embassy  has 
contracted  for  Metro  and  UA  product  for 
subsequent  runs.  This  gives  the  house  all 
the  major  product  . . . J.  H.  McIntyre 
visiting  RKO  on  one  of  his  regular  jaunts 
. . . ‘‘Kitty  Foyle”  started  its  third  week 
at  the  Gate  while  “This  Thing  Called  Love” 
ended  a four-week  run  . . . Harry  Walsh 
off  to  the  Salinas  territory  on  Pacific 
Premium  business. 

Lloyd  Oumbey  planed  out  for  New  York 
and  National  Theatre  Supply  meetings  . . . 
Dan  Noonan  is  building  a new  home  in 
Turlock  . . . The  Piedmont  in  Oakland 
will  run  Ten-O-Win  on  a one  night  a week 
basis  starting  this  Saturday  . . . Gordon 
Allen,  Monogram  salesman,  underwent  an 
appendectomy  this  week  and  is  getting 
along  fine  . . . Warner  previewed  “Straw- 
berry Blonde”  Monday  . . . Monogram 
starts  its  “Lucky  Seven”  playdate  drive  on 
the  22nd. 

The  Paramount  has  been  getting  some 
good  free  publicity  by  building  up  the  local 
girl  angle  on  “Tall,  Dark  and  Handsome.” 
Virginia  Gilmore  is  the  San  Franciscan 
who  has  the  femme  lead  . . . Booking  on 
the  Row:  Joe  Huff,  Sierra,  Stockton; 
Emma  Moore  and  John  Moore,  Moore’s, 
Lincoln;  Bill  Cook,  State,  Winnemucca; 
Charles  Gray,  Newman,  Gustine. 

Will  Sue  lo  Abolish 
Dual  Ascap  Fees 

Los  Angeles — The  Pacific  Coast  Con- 
ference of  Independent  Theatre  Owners 
will  wage  battle  against  the  American  So- 
ciety of  Composers,  Authors  and  Publish- 
ers in  an  attempt  to  rid  showmen  of  the 
dual  charge  they  must  now  pay  for  screen- 
ing films  containing  Ascap  music.  A suit 
will  be  filed  soon  in  federal  court  here. 

Decision  to  war  against  Ascap  followed 
a study  of  the  situation  by  Albert  J.  Law, 
PCCITO  counsel,  spokesmen  for  the  or- 
ganization declare.  Robert  H.  Poole,  gen- 
eral secretary,  explained  the  PCCITO  is 
not  interested  in  Ascap’s  battle  with  the 
networks,  but  is  concerned  only  with  the 
situation  wherein  exhibitors  are  forced  to 
pay  scoring  charges  to  distributors  on 
films  containing  Ascap  music,  and  then 
are  compelled  to  pay  another  charge  to 
Ascap  for  screening  the  film. 

It  is  understood  a majority  of  PCCITO 
members  favor  a fight  against  Ascap.  As 
yet,  however,  organization  attaches  have 
had  nothing  to  say  officially  as  to  just 
what  sentiments  individual  members  of  the 
group  may  entertain. 


Monogram  Contest  to 
Find  "Miss  Arkansas " 

Monogram  will  conduct  a state-wide 
beauty  and  talent  contest  to  find  a “Miss 
Arkansas”  from  February  15  to  April  1. 
State  officials,  newspaper  publishers  and 
circuit  and  independent  theatres  will  co- 
operate and  the  winner  will  be  awarded  the 
feminine  lead  in  a forthcoming  Tex  Ritter 
musical  western. 


g W.  ARDELL,  branch  supervisor  for  Al- 
tec in  Seattle,  stopped  in  at  the  Port- 
land office  on  his  way  home  from  Denver. 
The  local  boys,  Dan  O’Brien  and  L.  K. 
Brisbane,  are  about  fully  recovered  from 
their  Christmas  rush  when  they  had  four 
sound  installations  on  the  same  day — the 
Vista  Theatre,  the  Gaiety,  B.  F.  Shearer’s 
screening  room  and  Howard  Mapes  screen- 
ing room.  They’re  tapering  off  now  with 
Jesse  Jones’  Roseway  and  Bill  Ripley’s 
theatres. 

A.  F.  Cummings,  chief  statistician,  and 
William  Brenner,  head  of  the  checking 
system,  both  of  Metro’s  home  office  staff, 
arrived  Sunday  and  will  spend  a few  days 
at  the  local  exchange. 

Pete  Higgins,  United  Artists  branch 
manager  in  Seattle,  passed  through  on  his 
way  to  L.  A.  to  attend  the  funeral  of  his 
father  . . . Agnes  MacRae  celebrated  her 
birthday  with  a party  at  the  home  of  her 
mother. 

Gus  Berliner,  assistant  manager  of  the 
Paramount  Theatre,  took  the  leap  February 
1,  and  Miss  Ardyth  Shephard  of  Salem, 
became  Mrs.  Gus  Berliner. 

Two  location  site  men,  one  for  Para- 
mount and  the  other  for  Warner,  stopped 
over  in  Portland  and  took  time  out  to  look 
over  Ralph  Wood’s  lobby  displays  at  the 
Circle  Theatre  . . . Mr.  Lamson  of  National 
Carbon  Company  was  a recent  visitor  at 
the  TUSCO  offices. 

Bess  Erskine,  senior  member  (in  point 
of  service)  of  Filmrow’s  inspection  depart- 
ment, has  retired  from  active  work  and  will 
concentrate  on  keeping  her  lovely  home 
spick  and  span  . . . Pearl  Anderson  is  a 
new  addition  to  the  Colwnbia  staff,  having 
taken  over  an  inspection  table  there  a few 
days  ago  . . . Ethel  Olson,  Metro  telephone 
girl,  became  Mrs.  Albert  Anderson  on 
February  1. 

Among  visitors  were  Kenneth  Piercy, 
Prineville;  Ray  Strumbo,  Salem;  A1 
Adolph,  Salem;  Ray  Henderson,  Albany; 
Sam  Whitesides,  Corvallis,  and  Bob  Veness, 
Mill  City  . . . Alex  “Doc”  Singelow,  one  of 
the  old  timers  in  local  film  circles  and  for 
the  past  three  years  salesman  for  UA  in 
Denver,  replaced  Jack  O’Bryan,  recently 
transferred  to  Los  Angeles,  as  salesman  in 
the  Portland  office. 

A group  of  film  men  gave  a dinner  in 
honor  of  state  representative  Robert  S. 
Farrell  jr„  formerly  associated  with  the 
Rivoli  in  Portland  . . . The  local  Republic 
office  is  awaiting  the  visit  of  J.  R.  Grain- 
ger, president  of  that  organization,  about 
the  middle  of  February. 

J.  P.  Nelson,  local  tribunal  clerk  for  the 
motion  picture  tribunal  of  the  American 
Arbitration  Association,  comes  to  the  of- 
fice with  a high  rating  in  his  past  en- 
deavors. He  has  been  credit  man  and 
banker  in  his  past  business  associations. 

Roy  Rogers,  cowboy  star,  stopped  over 
in  Mill  City  on  his  way  to  a fishing  hole. 
Bob  Veness,  local  theatreman,  says  Rogers 
was  impressed  with  Oregon  and  expressed 
a desire  to  make  more  trips  into  the  state. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


38-G 


The  splendid  informative  and  interesting  editorial  content  of  BAROMETER  makes 
it  a "desk"  and  not  a “bookshelf"  publication.  It  has  a year-through,  almost  daily 
utility  value  to  our  entire  circulation  in  every  branch  of  the  industry.  It  is  the 
only  annual  publication  issued  by  a tradepaper — local  or  national — which  cov- 
ers the  field,  being  the  only  annual  publication  reaching  the  entire  industry  and 
paralleling  BOXOFFICE's  wide  circulation. 

Not  only  does  BAROMETER  do  a thorough  job  of  coverage  on  product  for  the 
past  year,  but  also  on  the  physical  phase  of  the  theatre — inside  and  out.  Besides 
there's  a very  good  look  into  what  is  coming  for  the  year  ahead. 

BIGGER  aW  BETTER  THAI  EVER 

Out  This  Month 


38-H 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


Gather  Support  to 
Whip  'Fast'  Time 

Milwaukee — Exhibitors  are  securing  the 
support  of  other  interested  groups  in  their 
opposition  to  the  Murray  bill  in  the  state 
senate,  which  would  permit  municipalities 
to  adopt  daylight  saving  time  if  they  so 
desired. 

Those  who  have  already  gone  on  record 
against  the  bill  include  the  Milwaukee 
Gardeners’  Ass’n,  the  Milwaukee  Co-opera- 
tive Milk  Producers,  the  Wisconsin  Asso- 
ciation of  Stage  Employes  and  Projection- 
ists, the  Wisconsin  Council  of  Agriculture, 
the  Madison  Milk  Producers’  Ass’n,  the 
I TP  A of  Wisconsin  and  Upper  Michigan, 
Saxe  Amusement  Management,  Inc.,  War- 
ner Bros.,  Standard  Theatres,  the  Equity 
Co-operative  Livestock  Sales  Association 
and  the  Central  Labor  Union. 

Principal  proponent  of  the  measure  is 
the  State  Medical  Society  of  Wisconsin, 
which  is  being  supported  in  its  stand  by 
the  Wisconsin  Association  of  Independent 
Unions  and  the  Independent  Association  of 
Golden  Guernsey  Employes. 

Both  sides  aired  their  views  on  the 
measure  at  a public  hearing  February  6 
before  the  state  and  local  government  com- 
mittee of  the  senate  in  Madison. 

L.  F.  Gran,  general  manager,  Standard 
Theatres,  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  oppo- 
sition, has  declared  that  if  the  measure  is 
enacted  it  will  mean  that  many  theatres 
will  be  forced  to  close  because  of  lack  of 
patronage. 

Jim  Levine  Joins  Disney 
As  Midwest  Area  Head 

Chicago — Jim  Levine,  for  13  years  with 
Paramount  and  Publix  in  the  distribution 
and  exhibition  field,  has  been  appointed 
district  manager  for  the  middle  western 
area  for  Walt  Disney  and  will  make  his 
headquarters  here.  Though  he  is  currently 
making  his  temporary  offices  at  the  Sher- 
man Hotel,  Levine  told  Boxoffice  that  he 
plans  on  opening  permanent  offices  short- 
ly either  in  the  Ashland  Block  Building,  or 
the  Garrick  Theatre  Building. 

Levine  said  that  although  five  local 
theatres  were  under  consideration  for 
“Fantasia,”  none  had  been  definitely 
chosen.  It  is  known  that  three  of  the 
houses  are  the  Grand  Opera  House,  legit 
located  in  the  Loop  and  operated  by  the 
Schuberts;  Wood’s,  operated  by  S&S,  which 
played  “Gone  With  the  Wind”  for  a record- 
breaking  Chicago  run  and  the  Apollo,  B&K 
house. 

Here  to  do  advance  work  for  “Fantasia,” 
are  Miss  Toni  Spitzer,  who  handled  pub- 
licity for  the  Disney  film  in  New  York,  and 
Ben  Atwell,  advance  man.  Atwell  has  been 
in  Chicago  in  the  past  working  on 
“Pinocchio,”  and  on  the  special  package 
of  Disney  hits  which  included  “Snow 
White,”  “Three  Little  Pigs,”  “Ugly  Duck- 
ling,” and  a “Donald  Duck”  short. 


"Bucket"  for  Schaefer 

Hollywood — Armand  Schaefer  will  di- 
rect “Jason,  the  Bucket”  for  Republic. 
Stuart  Palmer  is  scripting  from  a story 
by  Frances  Cockrell. 


Swelling  the  Fund — 

A personal  contribution  to  the  Greek  War  Relief  Fund  is  handed  the  Hon. 
Demetrios  Benetatos,  consul  general  of  Greece  in  Chicago,  by  John  Balaban, 
secretary  of  B&K  in  Chicago.  The  occasion  was  the  midwestern  meeting  of 
the  Greek  War  Relief  Assn.  Looking  on,  left  to  right,  are:  John  L.  Manta, 
owner  of  the  Thalia  and  Milo  theatres,  and  chairman  of  the  relief  associa- 
tion’s Illinois  division;  James  E.  Coston,  zone  manager  for  Warner  Theatres; 
Balaban;  Benetatos;  Spyros  Skouras,  national  president  of  the  association 
and  in  charge  of  its  $10,000,000  fund  drive;  Van  A.  Nomikos,  national  vice- 
chairman,  and  head  of  Ahepa  (American  Hellenic  Educational  Progressive 
Assn.),  and  Harry  A.  Reckas,  regional  director  of  the  midwestern  states  for 
the  G.  W.  R.  A.  and  also  president  of  the  Halsted  Theatre  Co.,  Inc. 


Censorship,  Licensing  Says  U.  S.  Frowns  on 
Committee  Proposed  Chicago  Lease  Plan 


Springfield,  III. — Creation  of  a film 
censoring  committee  in  Illinois  is  provided 
in  a bill  submitted  to  the  Illinois  legisla- 
ture last  week  by  Rep.  Clinton  Searle  of 
Rock  Island,  111. 

| The  measure,  first  legislation  to  be  in- 
troduced involving  the  industry,  authorizes 
Appointment  of  a committee  of  three  per- 
sons to  be  known  as  the  Illinois  motion 
tSicture  licensing  committee. 

Power  would  be  given  the  committee  to 
censor  all  moving  pictures  and  license  their 
exhibition.  Violation  of  the  law  would 
carry  a penalty  of  $200  fine  or  one  year’s 
prison  sentence  or  both. 

The  committee  would  be  empowered  to 
issue  license  permits  on  pictures  which  are 
not  obscene,  indecent,  immoral,  inhuman, 
sacrilegious  or  of  such  character  tending 
to  corrupt  morals  or  incite  crime. 

For  the  service  of  previewing  films,  the 
committee  would  levy  a fee  of  $3  for  each 
1,000  feet  of  film  or  fraction  thereof  and 
an  additional  $2  for  each  copy  of  the  film 
submitted  for  approval.  The  committee 
would  be  empowered  to  revoke  any  license 
within  five  days  and  no  refunds  would  be 
permitted  under  such  revocation. 

The  bill  is  similar  to  the  New  York  cen- 
sor law  enacted  in  1927. 

U 

Plan  Legislation 
Against  Triples 

St.  Louis — Counsel  for  the  Better  Films 
Council  here  is  preparing  proposed  bills 
against  triple-feature  shows  for  presenta- 
tion to  the  state  legislature  and  to  the  St. 
Louis  board  of  aldermen.  A similar  mea- 
sure may  be  submitted  to  the  Illinois 
general  assembly. 

Vtr— ■ = =!> 


Chicago — From  reliable  sources,  Box- 
office  has  learned  that  the  department  of 
justice  has  written  to  the  Metropolis  Corp., 
New  York,  saying  that  the  department 
would  consider  it  an  illegal  act  if  Metrop- 
olis leased  the  Oriental  here  to  Balaban 
and  Katz. 

The  Oriental  is  being  operated  by  Jones, 
Linick  and  Schaeffer,  which  is  leasing  the 
house  from  the  32  W.  Randolph  St.  Corp. 
The  Metropolis  Corp.  is  lessor  to  the  32 
W.  Randolph  St.  Corporation. 

Explaining  the  legal  situation  to  Box- 
office  recently,  Morris  G.  Leonard,  coun- 
sel in  charge  of  the  real  estate  depart- 
ment for  B&K  said:  “It  has  been  erron- 
eously reported  in  other  tradepapers  that 
the  offer  to  lease  the  theatre  to  B&K  was 
made  by  the  32  W.  Randolph  Street  Corp. 
That  is  not  true.  The  offer  was  made  by 
the  underlying  lessee,  the  Metropolis  Corp., 
who  is  the  underlying  lessee  of  the  Levi 
Mayer  and  the  John  R.  Thompson  estates. 
The  latter’s  lease,  we  are  advised,  is  im- 
paired becauses  of  the  default  in  rental  by 
the  present  tenant.” 

Aaron  Jones  jr.  of  Jones,  Linick  and 
Schaeffer,  though  admitting  his  circuit  is 
in  arrears  on  rental  to  the  32  W.  Randolph 
Street  Corp.,  said  recently  that  his  com- 
pany now  is  operating  the  house,  and  in- 
tends to  continue  under  the  terms  of  a 30- 
year  lease  with  32  W.  Randolph  Street 
Corp. 


Buy  “Panama  Hattie" 

Hollywood — Metro  has  acquired  “Pan- 
ama Hattie,”  a musical  comedy  by  Her- 
bert Fields  and  B.  G.  DeSylva.  Arthur 
Freed  will  produce  with  Ann  Sothern,  Elea- 
nor Powell  and  Shirley  Temple  heading 
the  cast. 


BOXOFFICE  February  8,  1941 


C 


39 


THE  GRAND  OPERA  HOUSE,  which  has 

been  playing  burlesque  shows  under  the 
direction  of  H.  K.  Minsky  of  New  York, 
was  scheduled  to  close  its  doors  after  the 
last  performance  Thursday,  February  6. 
Minsky  has  returned  to  New  York.  The 
closing  notice  came  as  a surprise  as  ap- 
parently the  theatre  had  been  enjoying 
good  business.  The  town  now  has  but  one 
burley  house,  the  Garrick. 

Packages  of  medical  supplies  will  be  the 
admission  fee  to  the  special  motion  pic- 
ture program  to  be  given  at  Fanchon  & 
Marco’s  Fox,  Missouri  and  St.  Louis  thea- 
tres the  morning  of  Saturday,  February  8. 
The  proceeds  will  be  sent  to  the  Royal 
Northern  Hospital  near  London,  England, 
the  St.  Louis  Bundles  for  Britain  organi- 
zation, sponsor  of  the  show,  has  announced. 
This  hospital  was  bombed  in  recent  raids. 
Under  the  arrangements  the  Fox  will  be 
filled  first.  Then  the  Missouri  will  be  used 
and  if  necessary,  the  St.  Louis  will  put  on 
the  same  show.  Combined  these  houses 
seat  about  14,000. 

Mrs.  Mary  Friedland,  mother  of  Bess 
Schulter,  who  operates  the  Columbia  and 
is  also  interested  in  the  Avalon,  Pow- 
hattan  and  Roxy  theatres,  died  here  last 
week.  A son,  A1  Friedland,  is  an  officer  of 
Local  No.  143. 

Anne  Gwynne,  St.  Louis  girl,  seems  to 
be  doing  very  nicely  out  in  Hollywood.  In 
her  next  picture  “Nice  Girl,”  she  will  work 
with  Deanna  Durbin  under  the  Universal 
banner.  She  is  a native  of  Waco,  Tex.  . . . 
Patrons  of  the  Ambassador  Theatre  were 
asked  to  write  RKO  as  to  how  they  liked 
“Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith.”  Cards  for  the  con- 
venience of  the  customers  were  passed  out 
by  the  theatre. 

Harris  P.  Wolfberg,  district  manager  for 
M-G-M,  is  headquartering  at  the  local 
exchange  . . . “Gone  With  the  Wind”  at 
pop  prices  has  been  held  over  another 
week  at  Loew’s. 

Theatres  on  South  Broadway  in  St.  Louis 
and  in  Lemay  on  Highway  61  are  much 
interested  in  the  report  from  W ashington 
that  the  Jefferson  Barracks  on  the  Mis- 
sissippi River  south  of  St.  Louis  is  to  house 
a 10,000 -man  capacity  induction  camp  for 
the  army’s  air  corps  . . . James  Arthur,  at- 
torney for  the  Fanchon  & Marco  inter- 
ests here,  has  been  spending  several  days 
in  Hollywood  looking  over  the  F&M  opera- 
tions there. 

Patrons  at  the  Fox  Theatre  were  more 
or  less  surprised  when  a customer  arose  in 
her  seat  and  exclaimed  loudly:  “Why, 
there’s  George  Hoffman!”  And  so  it  was, 
only  George  was  billed  as  George  Hay- 
ward in  the  player  lineup  for  “Santa  Fe.” 
The  exclaimer  was  Mrs.  Francis  Curley 
who  formerly  coached  George  at  the  Lin- 
dell  School  for  Thespians. 

The  second  annual  Southwest  Sports- 
men’s Show  opens  a nine-day  run  at  the 
Municipal  Auditorium  on  February  8.  It 
provided  tough  competition  for  local  mo- 
tion picture  theatres  last  year. 

“The  King  of  Kings”  was  shown  in  the 
sanctuary  of  Friedens  Evangelical  and  Re- 
formed Church,  January  31. 


Reel  Fellows  Play 
Host  to  Over  500 

Chicago — More  than  500  film  people 
from  Chicago  and  the  surrounding  terri- 
tory attended  the  first  annual  dinner- 
dance  of  the  Reel  Fellows  Club  held  in  the 
Peacock  Room  of  the  Congress  Hotel, 
January  31. 

The  affair  marked  the  inauguration  of 
the  newly-elected  officers  of  the  recently 
formed  club,  which  is  Chicago’s  first  or- 
ganization of  film  salesmen.  The  one  sad 
note  of  the  affair  was  the  absence  of  Presi- 
dent William  E.  Weinschenker,  Universal, 
who  was  unable  to  attend  because  of  the 
sudden  illness  of  his  wife.  All  the  other  of- 
ficers were  present  at  the  inauguration. 
They  were:  E.  L.  Goldberg,  Paramount, 
vice-president:  Robert  Funk,  treasurer;  A. 
W.  Van  Dyke,  20th-Fox,  secretary,  and 
Percy  Barr,  National  Screen,  sergeant-at- 
arms. 


WILLIAM  E.  WEINSCHENKER 


Chairman  of  the  dinner-dance  commit- 
tee was  Frank  Flaherty;  co-chairmen 
were:  Harry  Goldman,  Irving  Joseph, 
Charles  Lindau  and  Frank  Ishmael. 

Highlight  of  the  evening  was  the  conga 
and  rhumba  dances  in  which  the  guests 
participated.  Another  “highlight,”  and  one 
which  elicited  much  favorable  comment, 
was  the  fact  there  were  no  speeches. 

Willie  Shore,  Chicago’s  popular  come- 
dian, headed  the  all-star  cast  of  top-notch 
night-club  talent  which  entertained  the 
guests.  Music  was  furnished  by  Lou  Dia- 
mond and  his  orchestra. 

Among  those  present  were:  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clyde  Eckhardt,  20th-Fox,  and  party;  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Manny  Gottlieb,  Universal,  and 
party;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sid  Rose,  Warner 
Bros.,  and  party;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Irving 
Mandel,  Republic,  and  party;  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Harry  Lorch,  Republic,  and  party; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joe  Kaufman,  B&K,  and 
party;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lou  Reinheimer,  and 
party;  Mort  Goldberg,  G.  C.  S.  circuit; 
Julius  Goodman  and  Carl  Goodman,  Good- 
man, Goodman  & Harrison;  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sam  Trinz  and  party;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Na- 


THE  IRVING  was  the  center  of  a crime 

wave  twice  within  a week.  First,  the 
office  was  broken  into  with  about  $30  in 
cash  and  several  thousand  tickets  taken. 
Within  the  same  week,  a bandit  held  up 
the  cashier,  Miss  Betty  Rowe,  and  escaped 
with  approximately  $100  . . . Morris  Horo- 
witz, president  of  the  Fountain  Square 
Theatre  Co.,  announces  his  retirement 
from  the  business.  He  will  take  up  resi- 
dence in  Miami,  Fla.  Bennett  E.  Sagalow- 
sky,  former  treasurer,  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  company,  and  Earl  Cunning- 
ham, manager  of  the  three  theatres  oper- 
ated by  the  company,  was  elected  vice- 
president. 

Mrs.  Florence  Wigton,  operator  of  the 
Wigton  at  Legrange,  Ind.,  has  entered  the 
Legrange  Hospital  for  observation  . . . Had 
Hull,  branch  manager  for  Universal,  an- 
nounces his  company  plans  the  erection 
of  a two-story  building  at  517  North  Illi- 
nois St.  The  first  floor  will  be  devoted  to 
the  poster,  shipping  and  inspection  depart- 
ments, while  the  second  will  have  the 
booking,  managers  and  salesmen’s  offices. 
The  building  will  be  air-conditioned  and 
have  fluorescent  lighting. 

Sonja  Henie’s  ice  revue  was  booked  for 
a week’s  engagement  at  the  Coliseum, 
which  resulted  in  an  avalanche  of  repeat 
bookings  of  her  pictures  at  neighborhood 
houses.  Carl  Niesse,  operator  of  the  Vogue, 
invited  Miss  Henie  and  her  troupe  to  be 
his  guests  at  the  showing  of  “Happy  Land- 
ing.” 

The  “Blood  Bank”  established  at  the  In- 
diana University  Medical  Center  by  the. 
Variety  Club  of  Indianapolis,  has  pro- 
vided approximately  1,000  transfusions  in 
the  first  six  months  of  operation  . . . Roy 
E.  Harrold,  operator  of  the  Princess,  Rush- 
ville,  has  been  named  to  the  executive 
committee  of  Allied  taking  the  place  of  Al 
Steffes,  resigned. 

Visitors  on  Filmrow:  C.  W.  Massey, 
State,  Worthington;  Harold  V.  Neese, 
Dana,  Dana;  Lowell  T.  Moore,  Orpheum, 
Mitchell;  William  T.  Studebaker,  Logan, 
Logansport;  Harry  Van  Noy,  Paramount, 
Anderson;  Trueman  Rembusch,  Artcraft, 
Franklin;  Sam  W.  Neall,  Sipe,  Kokomo; 
Roy  Harrold,  Princess,  Rushville;  Art 
Clark,  Indiana,  Bloomington;  Ike  R.  Holy- 
cross,  Paramount,  Anderson. 


than  Wolf;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elmer  Benesch 
and  party;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oscar,  Mrs.  L. 
and  Dr.  David  Brotman. 

An  unusually  large  number  of  out-of- 
town  and  downstate  exhibitors  attended. 
Among  them  were:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Les  Hain- 
line,  Macomb,  111.  and  party;  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
George  Kerasotes,  Springfield;  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Russell  Lamb,  Oregon,  HI.;  Mr.  Ed 
Harris,  Peoria;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adolph 
Szold,  Peoria;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell  Hurt 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abe  Klein  of  the  Alger 
circuit,  Peru,  111.;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gus  Mar- 
chesi  and  party,  Marchesi  circuit,  Amboy, 
111.;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mike  Kirkheart  and 
party,  Lincoln,  111.;  Mr.  Harry  Upton  and 
daughter,  Polo,  111.;  Mr.  Dominick  Frisina 
and  daughter,  Springfield;  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Leo  Bennis,  Freeport,  111.;  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
W.  Weece,  Galva,  111.,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ed  Phelps,  Canton,  HI. 


40 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


The  Boundaries 


Arbitration  Districts: 


MILWAUKEE,  CHICAGO 
INDIANAPOLIS,  ST.  LOUIS 


Where  exhibitors  will  go  to  file  and  an- 
swer complaints: 

CHICAGO— Room  576  (until  room  519 
is  ready  shortly)  Rookery  Bldg.,  209  S. 
La  Salle  St.,  John  P.  Sullivan,  tribunal 
clerk.  The  area  includes,  in  northern  In- 
diana, the  following  counties:  Lake,  Por- 
ter, La  Porte,  Saint  Joseph,  Elkhart,  La- 
grange, Noble,  Steuben  and  De  Kalb.  In 
Illinois,  the  following  counties:  Jo  Da- 
viess, Stephenson,  Winnebago,  Boone,  Mc- 
Henry, Lake,  Carroll,  Ogle,  DeKalb,  Kane, 
Du  Page,  Cook,  Will,  Kendall,  Lee,  White- 
side,  Henry,  Mercer,  Rock  Island,  Hen- 
derson, Warren,  Hancock,  Adams,  Schuy- 
ler, McDonough,  Cass,  Minard,  Mason, 
Pulton,  Knox,  Peoria,  Stark,  Bureau,  Lo- 
gan, Tazewell,  Woodford,  Marshall,  Put- 
nam, La  Salle,  Grundy,  Livingston,  Mc- 
Lean, Champaign,  Vermilion,  Ford,  Iro- 
quis  and  Kankakee. 


INDIANAPOLIS  — Underwriters’  Bldg ., 
Lloyd  W.  Littell,  tribunal  clerk.  The  area 
includes  all  Indiana  counties  except  those 
listed  above  for  the  Chicago  board,  and 
the  following  Kentucky  counties:  Shelby, 
Jefferson,  Bullitt,  Spencer,  Nelson,  Larue, 
Hart,  Barren,  Warren,  Allen,  Monroe, 
Simpson,  Logan,  Butler,  Grayson,  Breck- 
inridge, Hardin,  Meade,  Hancock,  Ohio, 
Muhlenberg,  Todd,  Christian,  Brigg,  Lyon, 
Caldwell,  Crittenden,  Hopkins,  Webster, 
McLean,  Daviess,  Union  and  Henderson. 


MILWAUKEE — Loyalty  Bldg.,  John  L. 
Loell,  tribunal  clerk.  The  area  includes: 
In  Michigan,  the  following  15  northern 
counties:  Gogebic,  Ontonagan,  Houghton, 
Keweenaw,  Baraga,  Iron,  Marquette,  Dick- 
inson, Menominee,  Alger,  Delat,  School- 
craft, Luce,  Mackinac  and  Chippewa.  All 
of  the  state  of  Wisconsin  except  the  fol- 
lowing 17  western  counties:  Douglas,  Bay- 
field,  Ashland,  Burnett,  Washburn,  Saw- 
yer, Polk,  Barron,  Rusk,  St.  Croix,  Dunn, 
Chippewa,  Pierce,  Pepin,  Eau  Claire,  Buf- 
falo and  Trempealeau. 

• 

ST.  LOUIS — Cotton  Belt  Bldg.,  Charles 
Walter  Hudson,  tribunal  clerk.  The  area 
includes:  In  Illinois,  all  counties  except 
those  alloted  above  to  Chicago.  In  Ken- 
tucky, the  counties  of  Ballard,  Carlisle, 
Hickman,  Fulton,  Graves,  McCracken, 
Calloway,  Marshall  and  Livingston.  In 
Missouri,  the  counties  of  Scotland,  Knox, 
Shelby,  Monroe,  Audrain,  Boone,  Cole, 
Maries,  Pulaski,  Laclede,  Texas,  Howell, 
Oregon,  Shannon,  Dent,  Phelps,  Gascon- 
ade, Crawford,  Osage,  Callaway,  Clark, 
Lewis,  Marion,  Ralls,  Pike,  Montgomery, 
Lincoln,  Warren,  Franklin,  Jefferson,  St. 
Charles,  St.  Francois,  St.  Genevieve,  Perry, 
Cape  Girardeau,  Scott,  Mississippi,  New 
Madrid,  Dunklin,  Pemiscot,  Stoddard, 
Madison,  Wayne,  Butler,  Iron,  Reynolds, 
Carter  and  Ripley. 


opyright  American  Map  Co.,  Inc. 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  8,  1941 


41 


A Glittering  Debut 
For  "Fantasia" 

Chicago — The  Chicago  opening  of  Walt 
Disney’s  “Fantasia”  at  the  B&K  Apollo 
February  19  will  be  a glittering  social  af- 
fair with  the  women’s  board  of  Grant 
Hospital  sponsoring  the  premiere. 

Mrs.  Henry  Bartholomay  is  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  arrangements.  Vice- 
Chairmen  of  Mrs.  Bartholomay’s  commit- 
tee are  Mrs.  George  T.  Henneberry  and 
Mrs.  Clarence  T.  Seipp.  The  society  pre- 
miere will  follow  the  press  preview  sched- 
uled for  the  Apollo  February  18. 

A clever  advertising  campaign  is  being 
conducted  in  Chicago  papers  in  connec- 
tion with  “Fantasia.”  Opening  ads  in 
Sunday  papers  on  February  2 were  re- 
prints of  ads  appearing  in  New  York  pa- 
pers. No  Chicago  theatre  or  starting  date 
was  mentioned.  Instead,  comments  from 
leading  New  York  critics  were  played  up. 

To  facilitate  the  selling  of  “Fantasia” 
in  Chicago,  Walt  Disney  has  established 
offices  here  in  the  Garrick  Theatre  Bldg., 
with  Jim  Levine,  for  13  years  with  Para- 
mount and  Publix  in  the  distribution  and 
exhibition  field,  in  charge.  Levine  has 
been  made  district  manager  for  the  mid- 
western  area.  Working  with  him  are  Toni 
Spitzer,  who  handled  the  publicity  cam- 
paign for  “Fantasia”  in  New  York,  and 
Bob  Montgomery,  who  resigned  from  the 
publicity  department  of  Essaness  Theatres, 
Chicago,  to  join  the  Disney  office  as  as- 
sistant to  Miss  Spitzer  in  the  handling 
of  advertising  and  exploitation  for  the 
symphonic  feature. 

Here  in  Chicago  to  supervise  the  in- 
stallation of  the  special  “Fantasound” 
equipment  at  the  Apollo  is  E.  J.  (Dusty) 
Dustin,  sound  engineer  for  RCA.  Dustin 
said  that  he  plans  on  having  60  speakers 
in  the  Apollo — 30  on  stage  and  30  in  the 
auditorium.  In  order  to  expedite  the  in- 
stallation of  the  special  equipment,  it  is 
planned  to  close  the  Apollo  from  February 
9 until  the  opening,  February  19. 

It  is  planned  to  give  two  daily  per- 
formances, seven  days  a week,  with  prices 
at  $1.65  top.  Prices  for  the  special  so- 
ciety premiere,  February  19,  will  probably 
be  $5.00,  $3.00  and  $2.50. 

Some  of  the  B&K  personnel  working 
with  the  Disney  people  in  Chicago  are 
Walter  Immerman,  Bill  Hollander  and 
Sam  Sobel.  The  latter  is  manager  of  the 
Apollo. 


Keegan  Joining  UDT  as 
Assistant  to  Hudson 

Chicago — Jack  Keegan,  associated  with 
Warner  Bros,  distribution  department  for 
16  years,  more  recently  as  district  manager 
in  charge  of  operations  in  Wisconsin,  will 
leave  February  14  to  become  assistant  to 
Earl  J.  Hudson  of  the  United  Detroit 
Theatres. 

Keegan  leaves  the  Warner  circuit  after 
completing  a five-week  period  of  concen- 
trated effort  on  the  improvement  of  opera- 
tions in  the  Racine,  Wis.  theatres  where, 
according  to  James  Coston,  zone  manager, 
his  efforts  have  resulted  in  increased  busi- 
ness. 


"Philadelphia  Story" 
Dominant  in  Chicago 


Chicago — Top  grosser  in  the  loop  is 
Metro’s  "The  Philadelphia  Story”  which 
opened  big  on  January  22,  and  has  con- 
tinued doing  terrific  business  ever  since  at 
the  United  Artists  Theatre.  Still  bringing 
in  the  customers  is  RKO’s  “Kitty  Foyle” 
which  started  its  fifth  week  at  the  Palace 
on  Wednesday,  January  29.  Business  gen- 
erally throughout  the  loop  is  above  aver- 
age, even  though  grosses  on  Sunday,  Janu- 
ary 26  fell  way  off  because  of  a blizzard. 

Detail  for  week  ended  January  30: 


(Average  is  100) 

Apollo — Comrade  X (M-G-M)  125 

Did  good  business  here  in  its  fourth  loop 
week,  after  three  weeks  at  the  United  Artists. 
Chicago — Second  Chorus  (Para’t),  plus  stage 

show  115 

Garrick— Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN)  125 


Had  good  third  loop  week  at  Garrick  after 
two  big  weeks  at  the  Chicago. 

Oriental — Ellery  Queen,  Master  Detective  (Col).  125 
All-star  stage  show  headed  by  Larry  Adler, 
Mitzi  Green,  and  Milton  Watsop  helped  boost 
business  here. 

Palace — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  Saint  in  Palm 


Springs  (RKO)  150 

Big  fifth  week  started  January  29. 

Roosevelt — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox)  90 


State-Lake — A Night  at  Earl  Carroll’s  (Para’t). 110 
Though  picture  had  fairly  good  local  reviews, 
it  was  Cab  Calloway’s  orchestra  on  stage  that 
really  brought  in  the  customers. 

United  Artists — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)..  175 
Loop’s  top  grosser.  Looks  like  it’s  in  for 
lengthy  run  here. 


Stage  Show  Helps  ' Maisie ' 
To  Top  in  Milwaukee 

Milwaukee — In  a week  of  reasonable 
plumpness,  due  in  some  measure  to  rea- 
sonably decent  weather,  “Maisie  Was  a 
Lady”  and  Ray  Noble’s  orchestra  rated 
highest  favor  at  Fox’s  Wisconsin  at  hiked 
admissions.  “Kitty  Foyle”  and  “Let’s  Make 
Music”  fared  equally  well  at  the  Warner 
considering  the  difference  of  10  cents  be- 
tween admission  tops  of  both  houses. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  30: 


(Average  is  100) 

Palace — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col); 

Ellery  Queen,  Master  Detective  (Col) 120 

Riverside — San  Francisco  Docks  (Univ),  plus 

Marcus’  Continental  Revue  on  stage 125 

Strand — Arizona  (Col);  Tall,  Dark  and 

Handsome  (20th-Fox)  100 

Warner — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO);  Let’s  Make 

Music  (RKO)  165 

Wisconsin — Maisie  Was  a Lady  (M-G-M),  plus 
Ray  Noble  on  stage  180 


Indianapolis  First  Runs 
Have  Storm  to  Battle 

Indianapolis — With  the  year’s  worst 
snow  storm,  later  freezing  to  ice,  even 
“Kitty  Foyle”  and  “Thief  of  Bagdad”  did 
little  more  than  average  business.  Percent- 
ages as  follows: 

(Average  is  100) 

Alamo — Wildcat  From  Tucson  (Col);  Friendly 


Neighbors  (Rep)  60 

Circle — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO) ; Remedy  for 

Riches  (RKO)  120 

Indiana — High  Sierra  (FN);  Give  Us  Wings 

(Univ)  80 

Loew’s — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA) ; Nobody’s 

Children  (Col)  120 

Lyric — Barnyard  Follies  (Rep),  plus  Ezra 

Buzzington  and  other  acts  on  stage  95 


Hold  Alice  Faye 

Hollywood — Alice  Faye’s  20th-Fox  con- 
tract has  been  extended  for  a year. 


Mature  Rating  for 
Seven  by  Council 

Chicago — In  films  reviewed  for  the 
period  from  January  4 to  the  25th  inclu- 
sive, the  Better  Films  Council  of  Chicago 
lists  11  in  the  family  category,  with  seven 
classified  in  the  mature  group.  Mrs.  Rich- 
ard M.  McClure  is  president  of  the  coun- 
cil, with  Mrs.  Charles  R.  Holton,  vice- 
president  and  chairman  of  the  previewing 
committee. 

In  the  family  group  are:  “Charlie  Chan 
in  the  Wax  Museum,”  20th-Fox;  “County 
Hospital,”  Laurel  & Hardy;  “The  Face  Be- 
hind the  Mask,”  Films- Alliance;  “Give  Me 
a Sailor,”  Paramount;  “Here  Comes  the 
Navy,”  Warner  Bros.;  “Lilac  Domino,” 
SR;  "Round-Up  Time  in  Texas,”  Republic; 
“Santa  Fe  Trail,”  First  National;  “The 
Singing  Dude,”  Warner  Bros.;  “Sky  Mur- 
der,” M-G-M;  “Under  Western  Stars,”  Re- 
public. 

In  the  mature  classification  are:  “After 
Mein  Kampf,”  Melwyn-Crystal  Pictures; 
“Behind  the  News,”  Republic;  “Beware, 
Spooks!,”  Columbia;  “Comrade  X,” 
M-G-M;  “Kitty  Foyle,”  RKO;  “The  Saint 
in  Palm  Springs,”  RKO;  “Schubert’s  Sere- 
nade,” SR. 

Pictures  given  best  send-offs  were: 
“Santa  Fe  Trail”  and  “Kitty  Foyle.”  Com- 
menting on  the  former,  the  council  report 
said:  “This  ‘must-see’  film  graphically 
shows  the  growth  of  bitter  feeling  over 
the  question  of  slavery  between  the  north 
and  south  . . . Raymond  Massey’s  John 
Brown  is  a masterpiece,  and  the  direction 
and  work  of  supporting  players  outstand- 
ing.” 

Commenting  on  “Kitty  Foyle,”  the  report 
stated:  “Previewers  are  highly  enthusiastic 
in  their  praise  of  Ginger  Rogers’  charac- 
terization, Sam  Wood’s  direction,  the  sup- 
porting cast,  and  the  film  as  a whole.” 

fr~  

: Bally  Field  Day  : 

vs—  I —>) 

Springfield,  III. — Springfield  theatre 
fans  had  a picnic  all  in  the  same  week 
what  with  three  separate  theatre  promo- 
tion ideas  in  progress  at  the  same  time. 

Red  headed  women  from  16  to  60  merely 
by  registering  at  a booth  placed  near  the 
city  square  received  complimentary  tickets 
to  see  Miriam  Hopkins  in  “The  Lady  With 
Red  Hair”  at  the  Roxy.  This  idea  nearly 
backfired  when  400  of  the  flame-tressed 
gals  turned  out,  but  all  thoroughly  en- 
joyed the  show.  The  women  also  received 
discounts  on  purchases  at  several  of  the 
local  stores. 

The  Orpheum,  in  cooperation  with  a 
local  newspaper,  conducted  a contest  to 
determine  the  outstanding  “Springfield 
Story”  told  in  25  words  or  less  in  con- 
nection with  the  showing  of  “The  Phila- 
delphia Story.” 

A “Miss  Anniversary”  hunt  was  staged 
by  the  Orpheum  in  connection  with  the 
anniversary  showing  of  “Gone  With  the 
Wind.”  Contestants  submitted  photographs. 
Honors  went  to  Miss  Maxine  Cowan, 
Petersburg,  111.,  who  was  presented  to  the 
public  on  the  Orpheum  stage  prior  to  the 
first  showing  of  “Gone  With  the  Wind.” 


42 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


pRED  BARTOW,  exploitation  man  for 

Paramount  Pictures  here,  is  in  Traverse 
City,  Mich.,  handling  “Hard-Boiled  Can- 
ary” which  had  its  world  premiere  there 
February  2.  Susanna  Foster,  star  of  the 
film,  and  Dolly  Loehr,  pianist,  were  in 
Traverse  City  for  the  premiere.  Pair  go  to 
Detroit  from  Traverse  City,  and  are  ex- 
pected in  Chicago,  February  13.  Cliff 
Lewis  is  traveling  with  the  Paramount  pair. 

Bernie  Barr,  Universal  shipping  clerk, 
and  Estelle  Bransky,  of  the  Bartelstein 
circuit,  will  he  married  February  16  . . . 
Mort  Singer  in  New  York  for  a week  . . . 
Lou  Holtz,  scheduled  to  play  following  Mort 
Singer  Theatres:  Orpheum  in  Davenport, 
Cedar  Rapids,  and  Sioux  City,  Iowa  . . . 
Reported  that  company  of  “Life  With 
Father,”  now  nearing  the  conclusion  of 
its  first  year  at  the  Blackstone  in  Chicago, 
will  make  a tour  of  midwestern  theatres 
in  spring. 

Bill  Gargan,  leading  male  star  of  “Cheers 
for  Miss  Bishop,”  will  be  on  WGN-Mutual 
“In  Chicago  Tonight”  program  this  Thurs- 
day. Richard  A.  Rowland,  producer  of  the 
film,  also  expected  to  guest-star  on  show 
. . . Sam  Clark,  former  publicity  director 
for  Warner  Pictures  here,  and  now  sta- 
tioned on  the  coast,  expected  in  town 
shortly  on  his  three-month  nation-wide 
tour  in  connection  with  “Meet  John  Doe.” 

Chicago  may  have  another  daily  film 
critic,  if  report  that  a new  morning  paper 
will  shortly  he  launched  in  Chicago  comes 
true.  Right  now  the  Tribune  is  only  morn- 
ing paper.  Current  rumor  says  that  PM 
may  establish  a morning  paper  here  to  he 
called  AM  . . . Bruce  Trinz,  23,  assistant  to 
his  brother,  Jim  Trinz,  manager  of  the 
Clark  Theatre,  has  reported  for  military 
duty  at  Ft.  Sheridan.  Charlie  Teitel  has 
been  transferred  from  Ft.  Sheridan  to 
the  second  division  Coast  Artillery  at  San 
Francisco. 

Erwin  “Shorty”  Sedlack,  assistant  man- 
ager of  Warner  Bros.  Shore,  was  recently 
involved  in  an  auto  accident  in  which  he 
suffered  two  badly  bruised  legs  while  his 
car  was  completely  demolished.  Another 
car  out  of  control  on  the  ice  slid  in  front 
of  Shorty’s  . . . Beth  Morganstern,  secre- 
tary to  Jack  Kirsch,  president  of  Allied 
Theatres  of  Illinois,  is  in  Florida  on  two 
weeks  vacation. 

Canners  Convention  held  their  fifth  an- 
nual theatre  party  at  B&K  Chicago  Thea- 
tre ..  . Felix  A.  Jenkins,  general  counsel 
for  20 th  Century-Fox,  in  Chicago  for  two 
days  to  discuss  consent  decree  with  ex- 
hibitors . . . Irving  Tomback,  publicity  di- 
rector for  World  Playhouse  did  terrific  ex- 
ploitation job  on  “Night  Train”  . . . Talk 
is  that  first  auto  theatre  in  this  vicinity 
will  open  this  summer  in  Indiana  between 
Michigan  City  and  La  Porte.  Another 
drive-in  might  open  this  summer  in  su- 
burban Morton  Grove. 

Goldie  Davidson,  secretary  to  Bill  Hol- 
lander, publicity  director  for  B&K,  an- 
nounces her  engagement  to  Allan  Cope- 
land, Chicago  Tribune  copywriter.  Pair 
plan  an  April  5 wedding  . . . RKO’s  “Kitty 
Foyle”  grossed  $20,000  in  its  third  week  at 


the  Palace  . . . Gene  Rich,  recently  back 
from  Springfield,  reports  that  Charles 
“Chuck”  Brown,  assistant  manager  of  the 
Publix-Great  States  Orpheum  there,  is 
taking  up  golf  lessons  in  preparation  for 
the  coming  season.  “Chuck”  says  he’s  play- 
ing golf  to  help  take  down  his  waistline 
and  that  of  his  boss,  Mort  Berman. 

Nate  Platt  has  lined  up  some  top-notch 
names  for  the  next  few  weeks  at  the  Chi- 
cago Theatre.  Phil  Spitalny’s  orchestra 
comes  in  this  Friday  (IWi),  Jane  Froman 
is  booked  in  for  the  week  starting  the  21st, 
while  Earl  Carroll’s  “Vanities”  show  is 
penciled-in  for  week  starting  28 th  . . . Ann 
Marsters  is  subbing  for  Nate  Gross  on 
“Town  Tattler”  column  while  Nate  is  va- 
cationing in  Florida  . . . Larry  Adler,  who 
finished  two  big  weeks  at  the  Oriental  last 
Thursday,  guest-starred  on  Boxoffice-Jo?/ 
Candy  Shoppes’  “ That’s  Show  Business” 
radio  show  Sunday,  February  2.  Nate  Cap- 
low  of  station  WAAF  now  producing  the 
programs. 

Jack  Kirsch  back  from  Washington  and 
New  York  . . . Jess  Alexander  writing  ma- 
terial for  Bob  Hawk’s  “Take  It  or  Leave 
It”  radio  show.  Columbia  short  based  on 
air  show  had  initial  Chicago  showing  at 
Roosevelt  . . . “The  Merry  Wives,”  Czecho- 
slovakian film,  was  scheduled  to  have  Chi- 
cago premiere  at  the  World  Playhouse 
Saturday  ...  In  advertising  start  of  the 
sixth  and  final  week  of  record-breaking 
“Kitty  Foyle”  at  Palace,  Tom  Gorman 
stated  in  the  newspaper  ads  last  Tuesday: 
“181,769  Chicagoans  Can’t  Be  Wrong!” 
Tom  also  used  following  three  catch 
phrases  in  ad:  “A  bachelor  girl  emotion- 
ally undressed;”  “She  lives  alone  and 
doesn’t  like  it;”  “No  woman  would  admit 
what  it  reveals.” 

Theatres  playing  the  Chicago  Tribune’s 
sports  film,  “The  All-American  Way,” 
benefited  by  house  ad  Trib  carried  on  its 
sports  page.  Theatres  receiving  free  adver- 
tising were:  Studio,  Woods,  Northcenter, 
Devon  and  Crawford.  Also  the  Stadium  in 
Evanston  . . . “Quiz  Kids,”  NBC  show 
originating  here,  which  has  been  made  into 
series  of  Paramount  shorts,  scheduled  to 
broadcast  from  Hollywood  within  the  next 
couple  of  weeks  so  that  Walt  Disney  can 
make  guest  appearance.  Disney  will  plug 
“ Fantasia ” and  his  newest  feature,  “The 
Reluctant  Dragon”  . . . Dick  Beck,  owner 
of  new  newsreel  theatre,  Today,  will  turn 
over  net  proceeds  of  first  day’s  receipts  to 
Greek  War  Relief.  Theatre  scheduled  to 
open  within  next  ten  days. 

John  Smith,  business  agent  of  the  oper- 
ator’s union,  has  moved  his  headquarters 
from  the  Burnham  Building  to  the  Steuben 
Building  . . . Morrie  Parfray,  manager  of 
the  Vogue,  Indiana-Illinois  house  at  E. 
Chicago,  Indiana,  and  winner  of  $750  prize 
in  the  recently  concluded  M-G-M  exploi- 
tation contest,  is  now  at  Ft.  Bragg,  N.  C. 
He’s  an  officer  in  the  army  . . . Another 
military  note:  Melvin  Rainey,  secretary  to 
Dave  Wallerstein,  B&K  district  manager, 
has  joined  army  and  will  leave  B&K  late 
this  month. 

Al  Bachman,  manager  of  the  B&K 
Harding,  scheduled  to  return  to  work.  Has 
been  ill  for  sometime  . . . H.  G.  Bishop,  of 


the  same  circuit’s  Convent  Theatre,  back 
on  job  after  couple  weeks  illness  . . . Jim- 
my Shields  has  been  ill  at  Presbyterian 
Hospital  . . . Herb  Elisburg’s  Studio  being 
considered  as  No.  1 house  for  showing  of 
pictures  when  major  companies  start  sell- 
ing their  pictures  in  blocks  of  five  . . . It’s 
reported  Morris  Leonard  of  B&K  will  leave 
for  a South  American  vacation  this  month 
...  Si  Griever  is  now  booking  Empire  at 
McHenry,  III.  Griever  also  recently  started 
booking  the  Essex,  owned  by  R.  J.  Miller. 

I.  Franklin,  Artkino  representative  here, 
reports  “Mannerheim  Line,”  which  recent- 
ly concluded  successful  run  at  Studio,  is 
playing  at  the  Praga  and  Circle  theatres 
. . . O.  H.  Briggs,  president  of  Producers 
Releasing  Corp.,  conferred  with  Abe 
Fischer  while  in  Chicago  en  route  to  Hol- 
lywood. He  was  very  enthusiastic  about 
future  of  the  new  company.  Plans  on  pro- 
ducing 20  dramas  and  18  westerns  coming 
season  . . . Much  talk  about  Hollywood 
Advertising’s  new  10x15  feet  giant  display 
flags  . . . Frank  Greenland,  now  with  Na- 
tional Screen  general  service  department, 
has  been  transferred  here  from  Des  Moines. 

Nick  John  Matsoukas  is  handling  pub- 
licity for  Greek  War  Relief  Ass’n  here  in 
Chicago.  Offices  are  in  room  715,  77  W. 
Washington  St.  Telephone  number  State 
2274  . . . Andy  Kenney  reports  the  fol- 
lowing Warner  people  on  the  sick  list: 
Harry  Mintz  and  Ted  Turrell,  flu  victims. 
Another  victim  was  Fred  Nichols,  chief  of 
service  at  the  Paramount  in  Hammond. 
Donald  McLaughlin,  usher  at  the  Frolic, 
suffering  from  an  ailment  affecting  both 
legs.  Warner  wives  also  on  sick  list:  Mrs. 
Ted  Turrell,  suffering  from  flu,  while  Bob 
Kennedy  of  the  Symphony  took  his  wife 
to  the  hospital  recently  for  tonsillotomy . 
Ed  Joseph,  Symphony  operator,  who  suf- 
fered broken  jaw  recently,  is  O.  K.  now 
and  back  at  work. 


TRADE  DIRECTORY 

— ■ A Handy  Guide  for  the  Exhibitor 

CHICAGO 


SIGNS  - MARQUEES  AND 
MAINTENANCE 


White  Way  Electric  Sign  & Maintenance  Co. 
Tom  Flannery,  President 
315-17  W.  Walton  Streot 
Phone  DELaware  9111 


THEATRICAL  PRINTING 


PPINTFM^ 


THEATRICAL 
L PRINTING  ' 
f OF  EVERY  \ 
DESCRIPTION 

1225  SO.  WABASH  AVE. 

„ CHiCACO  • VIC  3456 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  8,  1941 


42-A 


More  Giveaways  in 
Milwaukee  County 

Milwaukee — The  number  of  houses  of- 
fering giveaways  in  Milwaukee  county  has 
shown  an  increase  in  recent  weeks  with 
Fox  and  Warner-Saxe  among  those  join- 
ing the  parade.  Currently  more  than  30 
theatres  are  handing  out  some  sort  of 
giveaway  in  the  county  at  least  one  night 
a week  with  many  of  them  following  the 
policy  twice  a week.  The  giveaway  policy 
is  flourishing  the  heaviest  on  Tuesday 
and  Wednesday  nights. 

Even  in  Greendale,  the  government’s 
model  village,  the  Greendale  Theatre  is 
offering  “come-ons”  three  nights  a week. 
The  house  offers  12  baskets  of  groceries 
on  Tuesday  nights  and  free  dinnerware 
on  Thursday  and  Friday  nights. 

Either  vaudeville  or  amateur  shows  are 
being  spotted  in  a number  of  houses.  A 
program  of  vaudeville  is  being  presented 
each  Sunday  night  at  the  Colonial  and 
Hollywood,  independent  neighborhood 
houses,  who  play  the  same  bill  of  one 
show  at  each  theatre.  Fox’s  World  ama- 
teur shows  on  Sunday  nights  while  the 
circuit’s  Riviera  and  Plaza  offer  this  type 
of  entertainment  on  Monday  nights  and 
its  Zenith  on  Saturday  nights. 

Warner-Saxe’s  Granada  also  presents 
amateur  shows  on  Saturday  night  and  the 
Hollywood  and  Colonial,  Parkway  and  Na- 
tional offer  this  form  of  entertainment 
on  Friday  nights.  The  latter  is  also  a 
Warner-Saxe  house.  These  flesh  pro- 
grams are  reported  to  help  perk  up  busi- 
ness somewhat  in  several  of  the  spots 
around  town. 


Variety  Polio  Project 
Triumph  lor  Rosenthal 

St.  Louis — The  announcement  last  week 
that  the  St.  Louis  Variety  Club  has  under- 
taken to  provide  funds  for  a $250,000 
building  for  the  Midwest  Polio  Association, 
the  association  being  adopted  as  the  spe- 
cial charity  of  the  club  during  the  next 
five  years,  culminated  successfully  the  per- 
sonal efforts  of  Barney  Rosenthal,  well 
known  local  film  exchange  man,  on  be- 
half of  the  victims  of  infantile  paralysis. 

Barney,  through  his  connection  with  the 
Variety  Club  and  by  his  personal  efforts, 
has  long  been  interested  in  the  Polio  move- 
ment. About  a year  ago,  speaking  at  the 
dinner  that  was  in  the  nature  of  a cele- 
bration of  the  successful  1940  campaign  to 
raise  funds  for  the  sufferers  from  this 
disease,  he  expressed  the  hope  that  it 
would  be  possible  to  provide  a special  build- 
ing to  provide  needed  facilities  for  the 
rehabilitation  of  its  victims.  He  indicated 
that  it  might  be  possible  to  obtain  the  sup- 
port of  the  Variety  Club  and  others  in  the 
industry. 

Later  when  he  broached  the  subject  to 
Harry  C.  Arthur  jr.,  chief  executive  here 
for  the  Fanchon  & Marco  interests  and 
now  Chief  Barker  of  the  St.  Louis  Tent, 
Barney  found  a whole-hearted  supporter 
for  the  idea.  The  final  result  was  the  five- 
year  program  to  raise  funds  for  the  $250,- 
000  building. 


CJEVERAL  of  the  Fox-Lincoln  staff,  in- 
cluding Ernest  Denk,  doorman;  Orville 
Keirs,  chief  of  service;  Ray  Coe,  assistant 
manager,  and  Bill  Meyer  and  James  Smar- 
jesse,  ushers,  found  the  tobogganing  fine 
at  the  country  club  after  the  theatre 
closed.  They  had  the  hill  all  to  them- 
selves. 

“Gone  With  the  Wind’’  opened  with  a 
bang  at  the  Orpheum  Theatre,  showing  to 
capacity  throughout  the  week.  W.  B.  Potts, 
supervisor  of  Metro  checking,  and  C.  A. 
Oetzel,  M-G-M  representative,  were  on 
hand  throughout  the  week  . . . Local  ex- 
hibitors are  hoping  that  the  banning  of 
all  money  punchboards  in  Sangamon 
county  by  States’  Attorney  Alfred  H. 
Greening  will  result  in  increased  theatre 
attendance. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Kerasotes  attended 
the  “Reel  Fellows”  shindig  in  Chicago. 
Kerasotes  is  general  manager  of  the  Kera- 
sotes chain  . . . Harris  Silverberg  and  Her- 
bert Washburn,  branch  managers  from 

Chicago  Arbiiraiion 
Offices  Are  Open 

Chicago — Offices  for  the  Chicago  arbi- 
tration board  which  will  function  under 
the  American  Arbitration  Association,  have 
been  opened  in  the  Rookery  Building,  at 
209  S.  LaSalle  Street,  with  John  F.  Sul- 
livan, an  attorney,  recently  appointed 
clerk,  in  charge.  Temporary  headquarters 
are  in  Room  576,  with  permanent  head- 
quarters to  be  set  up  in  Room  519.  Latter 
offices  are  expected  to  be  ready  by  March 
1.  Telephone  number  is  Central  9755. 

Opened  on  schedule  on  February  1,  the 
Chicago  office  to  date  has  received  no 
complaints  from  exhibitors. 

John  F.  Sullivan,  the  Chicago  clerk,  is 
33  years  old  and  a native  Chicagoan.  He 
is  married  and  has  two  boys,  John,  age 
eight,  and  Terence,  age  three.  He  was 
educated  at  Loyola  University  and  John 
Marshall  Law  School,  both  Chicago  schools, 
and  received  his  LL.B.  degree  from  the 
latter  institution  in  1936. 

Prior  to  his  AAA  affiliation,  he  was  with 
the  law  firm  of  Orr,  Sullivan  and  Ricks 
(formerly  Cook,  Sullivan  and  Ricks) , for 
the  past  12  years.  For  the  past  three  and 
one-half  years,  he  was  an  assistant  attor- 
ney. He  started  with  the  law  firm  as  legal 
stenographer  in  1929,  becoming  a private 
secretary  to  Boetius  H.  Sullivan,  one  of  the 
partners,  in  1933,  and  in  1937,  became  an 
assistant  attorney.  Sullivan  is  a member  of 
the  Chicago  Bar  Association. 


Organize  in  Indianapolis 
To  Aid  Defense  Program 

Indianapolis — In  order  to  facilitate  and 
systematize  the  industry’s  contribution  to 
the  national  defense  program,  the  follow- 
ing committee  has  been  formed: 

Marc  J.  Wolf,  chairman,  Theatrical 
Managers,  Inc.,  whose  headquarters  will 
be  in  Indianapolis;  William  Connors,  Great 
States  Theatres,  Marion;  Oscar  Fine,  Pre- 
mier Theatres,  Evansville;  Roy  Harrold, 


Chicago  and  St.  Louis  of  the  National 
Screen  Co.,  called  at  the  Kerasotes  office 
during  the  week. 

Chris  Bendsen,  manufacturer  of  theatre 
marquees,  was  making  his  business  rounds 
in  Springfield  . . . Whenever  Max  Tschau- 
der,  manager  of  the  Roxy,  isn’t  to  be 
found,  he’s  likely  exercising  his  new  bowl- 
ing ball  at  one  of  the  local  alleys. 

M.  E.  Berman,  manager  of  the  Or- 
pheum, was  awarded  the  grand  prize  at  a 
banquet  in  Chicago  in  the  Great-States, 
Balaban  & Katz  managers  drive,  for  being 
high  man  in  Illinois  and  Indiana  circuit 
theatres. 

During  the  “Mile  o’  Dimes”  drive,  M.  E. 
Berman  and  Charles  Brown  of  the  Or- 
pheum rigged  up  a booth  inaugurating 
dime  pitching.  Anyone  who  could  pitch  two 
dimes  consecutively  into  the  cup  was 
awarded  a ticket  to  “The  Philadelphia 
Story.” 


J7  J WEISFELDT  is  back  at  his  job  as 
managing  director  of  the  Riverside 
after  a siege  of  the  flu  and  other  complica- 
tions . . . Joseph  Rosenfield,  manager  of 
the  Modjeska,  tendered  a farewell  party 
at  the  house  for  Peter  and  Ronald  Piotrow- 
ski,  two  lively  entertainers  who  have  left 
for  Hollywood. 

Ervin  Koenig  sr  eiter , manager  of  the 
Greendale,  has  been  elected  general  man- 
ager of  all  Greendale  Co-op  enterprises 
for  the  ensuing  year  . . . Nelson  Eddy  and 
Spencer  Tracy  are  on  Gov.  Julius  P.  Heil’s 
list  to  receive  a gift  of  Wisconsin  cheese 
monthly  for  the  next  two  years.  Eddy  was 
also  recently  named  a colonel  on  Gover- 
nor Heil’s  staff. 

Vogue  at  Kenosha  is  now  offering  bar- 
gain days  on  Mondays,  Tuesdays  and  Wed- 
nesdays with  all  seats  selling  for  a dime  . . . 
Plans  are  under  way  for  the  renovation  of 
Warner’s  Majestic  in  Sheboygan. 


Showmen  Help  Sponsor 
Aid  to  Britain  Rally 

St.  Louis — Among  the  St.  Louis  motion 
picture  folk  included  on  the  Committee 
of  100  that  sponsored  the  rally  for  Ameri- 
can Aid  to  Great  Britain  at  the  Municipal 
Auditorium  January  31  were  Joseph  C. 
Ansell,  Louis  K.  Ansell,  Edward  B.  Arthur, 
Harry  C.  Arthur  jr.,  James  H.  Arthur,  C. 
B.  Nelson,  and  G.  L.  Weigand.  The  An- 
sells  are  connected  with  the  Ansell  Broth- 
ers Circuit,  while  the  others  are  in  the 
local  Fanchon  & Marco  organization. 


Princess,  Rushville,  and  president  of  Asso- 
ciated Theatre  Owners  of  Indiana,  and 
Alex  Manta,  Indiana-Illinois  Theatres, 
East  Chicago. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  the  committee  to  act 
as  a clearing  house  for  all  matters  per- 
taining to  theatres  and  their  part  in  the 
defense  program. 


42-B 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


"Divorce,  ” Licensing,  Tax 
Bills  Sight  on  Neb.  Trade 


"Wind"  Unrivalled 
In  Kansas  City 

Kansas  City — “Gone  With  the  Wind” 
dominated  the  field  last  week  with  full 
houses  at  matinees  several  days,  and  not 
many  seats  vacant  at  the  night  shows. 
More  people  were  handled  the  first  week 
than  during  the  first  week  of  the  primary 
engagement  a year  ago.  The  price  was 
reduced,  but,  at  40  cents-56  cents,  was 
higher  than  regular  Midland  schedules. 
Other  first  run  houses  did  business  around 
or  below  average.  Weather  was  bad  at 
the  start  of  the  week’s  runs,  but  mild — 
though  wet — during  most  of  the  week,  and 
not  encouraging  to  theatre-going. 

“Gone  With  the  Wind”  started  on  its 
second  week  January  31.  “Santa  Fe  Trail” 
and  “She  Couldn’t  Say  No,”  after  a fair 
first  week’s  business  at  the  Orpheum,  con- 
tinued there. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  31: 


(Average  is  100) 

Esquire — Tall,  Dark  and  Handsome  (20th- 

Fox)  70 

Midland — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M) 250 

Newman — Second  Chorus  (Para’t) 105 

Orpheum — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN);  She  Couldn’t 

Say  No  (FN) 95 

Tower — Six  Lessons  From  Madame  La 

Zonga  (Univ),  plus  stage  show 70 

Uptown — Tall,  Dark  and  Handsome  (20th- 

Fox)  75 


"Comrade  X"  on  Dual  Bill 
Omaha's  Top  Attraction 

Omaha — Exhibitors  thankful  for  warm, 
mild  weather  with  the  mercury  and  grosses 
both  on  the  upward  swing.  Heavy  snows 
first  part  of  week  hurt  some,  however. 

Top-notcher  was  the  duo  of  “Comrade 
X”  and  “Haunted  Honeymoon”  at  the 
Omaha,  placing  a broad  smile  on  Mana- 
ger Don  Allen’s  face.  Next  in  line  was 
“Maisie  Was  a Lady”  at  the  Orpheum, 
in  a stage-screen  policy  at  tilted  prices. 
Stage  had  Andrews  Sisters,  Three  Stooges 
and  Joe  Venuti’s  orchestra,  and  Ted  Emer- 
son, Tri-States  press  agent,  landed  the 
best  publicity  in  many  years  on  a stage- 
screen  bill. 

“Arizona”  and  “Always  a Bride”  suf- 
fered from  the  competition  in  a second 
week  at  the  Brandeis. 

Detail  for  the  week  ending  February  1: 

(Average  is  100) 

Brandeis — Arizona  (Col);  Always  a Bride  (FN), 


2nd  wk 90 

Omaha — Comrade  X (M-G-M);  Haunted  Honey- 
moon (M-G-M)  150 

Orpheum — Maisie  Was  a Lady  (M-G-M) 100 


Stage  show  featuring  Andrews  Sisters,  Three 
Stooges  and  Joe  Venuti's  orchestra  at  increased 
prices. 

"Second  Chorus"  Plus 
Stage  Doubles  Par 

Minneapolis — With  the  Andrews  Sisters, 
Joe  Venuti  and  his  orchestra  and  the 
Three  Stooges  topping  a stage  bill  and 
“Second  Chorus”  on  the  screen,  the  Or- 
pheum had  a terrific  show  and  did  de- 
servedly sensational  business.  In  its  sec- 
ond week  at  the  State,  “Philadelphia 
Story”  also  continued  to  click  in  big-league 
fashion.  “Screwballs  of  1941”  proved  the 
Minnesota’s  best  stage  show  since  the  the- 
atre’s reopening,  but  suffered  from  the 


Will  Ask  Circuit 
To  Join  Campaign 

Minneapolis  — Minnesota  Amusement, 
the  territory’s  principal  circuit,  and  film 
distributors  here  will  be  asked  to  join 
Northwest  Allied  States  in  a big  campaign 
to  win  the  public  back  to  the  theatres. 
This  was  decided  upon  at  a dinner  meet- 
ing of  Twin  City  members  this  week. 

Eddie  Ruben  is  working  out  details  of 
a big  advertising  campaign  to  give  box- 
offices  the  proper  stimulus.  It  contem- 
plates selling  the  public  the  idea  that 
Hollywood  is  functioning  better  than  ever, 
that  the  average  quality  of  films  today  is 
the  highest  in  the  industry’s  history  and 
that  men  and  women  can  obtain  more  for 
their  entertainment  dollar  now  in  film 
theatres  than  anywhere  else. 

In  line  with  this  there  would  be  a large- 
scale  newspaper  and  billboard  advertis- 
ing campaign,  house  to  house  propaganda 
work,  etc.,  backed  up  by  a succession  of  a 
half-dozen  or  more  of  the  best  releases 
available  in  every  theatre  throughout  the 
territory. 

“If  we  can  enlighten  the  public  and 
make  it  realize  that  pictures  today  are 
better  than  ever  before,  on  the  average, 
our  boxoffice  troubles  will  be  ended,”  de- 
clares Ruben. 


Directs  “Jane  Eyre" 

Hollywood — Robert  Stevenson  will  di- 
rect “Jane  Eyre”  for  David  O.  Selznick. 
UA  will  release  the  filmization  of  the 
Charlotte  Bronte  novel. 


tough  opposition. 

Detail  for  week  ended  February  1: 

(Average  is  100) 

Aster — One  Night  in  Tropics  (Univ) ; Case  of 


the  Black  Parrot  (FN)  95 

Century — Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (LTA) 90 

Gopher — Bank  Dick  (Univ)  90 

Minnesota — Melody  Ranch  (Rep),  stage  show..  70 
Orpheum — Second  Chorus  (Para't),  big  stage 

show  200 

State — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M)  100 

World — Pink  Oomino  (SR)  70 


Des  Moines  First  Run 
Average  Is  Under  Par 

Des  Moines — Business  over  the  week- 
end apparently  was  nothing  to  write  home 
about,  despite  fair  weather.  A little  left- 
over snow  and  ice  which  affected  local 
patrons  not  at  all,  but  may  have  kept  a 
handful  of  out-of-town  trade  away,  can 
hardly  be  listed  as  a factor  at  the  box- 
office. 

Detail  for  week  ended  February  1: 


(Average  is  100) 

Des  Moines — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA) ; The  Bank 

Dick  (Univ)  75 

Orpheum — Santa  Pe  Trail  (FN);  Dreaming 

Out  Loud  (RKO) 110 

Paramount — Trail  of  the  Vigilantes  (Univ); 

Honeymoon  for  Three  (WB) 70 


Lincoln — The  count  is  four  against  the 
industry  in  the  Nebraska  legislature  now. 

Late  bill  arrivals  into  the  law-mill  are 
one  asking  divorcement  of  distributor- 
producer  partnerships  with  exhibitors,  and 
the  other  an  assessment  of  five  cents  per 
square  foot  of  showing  space  on  all  bill- 
boards, money  to  go  for  relief. 

Already  accounted  for  are  two  bills. 
The  first,  a so-called  “luxury  tax”  meas- 
ure puts  a one  cent  tax  on  each  10  cents 
worth  of  an  article,  be  it  theatre  ticket, 
cosmetics,  cigarettes,  or  other  non-neces- 
sities. The  other  is  aimed  at  distributors, 
asking  $1,000  annual  license  fee,  plus  $1 
a reel  for  each  one  distributed  in  the 
state. 

Man  behind  the  gun  on  these  bills  is 
Sen.  E.  M.  Neubauer,  of  Orleans,  Neb., 
and  the  divorcement  and  distributor  li- 
censing enactments  were  sought  by  him 
in  the  1939  session,  but  both  folded  up, 
without  support,  when  argued  in  commit- 
tee hearings.  They  died  in  1939  without 
reappearing  on  the  floor. 

The  billboard  tax  is  an  indirect  slap, 
but  it’s  understood,  as  in  all  such  matters, 
that  the  tax  will  be  passed  on  to  con- 
sumers, a great  many  of  whom  are  the- 
atre-producer advertisers.  On  each  an- 
nual contract  for  boards,  this  would  raise 
the  annual  rental  about  $14  a board  and 
become  a factor  to  think  about  in  out- 
door advertising. 

May  Cost  $300,000 

It  is  conservatively  estimated  by  show- 
men that,  aside  from  the  divorcement  ill, 
the  other  three  might  easily  cost  the  in- 
dustry in  one  way  or  another,  about 
$250,000  to  $300,000  a year  in  Nebraska. 
The  distributor  licensing  and  the  billboard 
share  of  this  would  be  small,  but  the 
penny  tax  for  each  10  cents  or  fraction 
of  each  ticket  would  mount  up  heavily. 
What  the  distributors  and  producers 
would  lose  in  Nebraska  via  a cleavage  from 
exhibitor  operations  is  not  available  for 
estimate  but  would  be  large. 

Hardest  hit  by  divorcement  would  be 
the  A.  H.  Blank-Tri-States  theatres,  with 
holdings  in  Omaha,  Grand  Island,  Hast- 
ings and  Fairbury,  as  a Paramount  part- 
ner. J.  H.  Cooper’s  50-percenting  with 
Paramount  in  Lincoln  would  feel  it,  and 
a few  scattered  theatres  owned  by  Fox- 
Midwest  and  Fox-Intermountain  would 
also  have  to  be  sold  to  new  owners. 

This  is  the  first  year  in  many  that  the 
industry  has  had  no  lobbyist  at  the  state 
house.  In  past  years.  Bob  Livingston,  of 
the  independent  Capitol,  associated  with 
County  Attorney  Max  G.  Towle,  has 
handled  the  job  and  batted  1000  every 
session. 

Only  hope  for  the  amusement  business 
at  this  time,  in  a rising  surge  of  senti- 
ment among  legislators  to  crack  the  trade 
and  hard,  is  that  Gov.  Dwight  Griswold 
has  said  he’ll  veto  any  and  all  attempts 
to  saddle  anybody  in  Nebraska  with  new 
taxes. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


MW 


43 


KAUNAS  CITY, 


Optimistic  Attitude 
Growing  for  Decree 

Des  Moines — Both  exchange  men  and 
independent  exhibitors  in  this  section  seem 
to  have  a favorable  and  hopeful  attitude 
regarding  the  consent  decree. 

Most  of  them  seem  to  feel  that  the  new 
order  of  five-block  booking  will  improve 
the  business  throughout  as  well  as  the 
product.  Although  many  of  them  were  re- 
luctant to  speak  for  the  record,  off-rec- 
ord they  say  they  believe  the  decree  will 
give  the  film  industry  the  shot-in-the- 
arm  it  needs  now  to  combat  competition 
from  other  types  of  entertainment,  and 
will  automatically  weed  out  inefficient 
personnel,  from  the  talent  on  the  screen 
to  the  salesmen  in  the  territory. 

The  consensus  seems  to  be  that  the 
business  as  a whole  has  reached  a point 
similar  to  that  of  the  industry  prior  to 
the  advent  of  sound,  which  provided  the 
stimulus  to  bring  the  public  back  into  the 
theatre  at  that  time. 


Cooperation  on  Decree 
Is  Branton's  Stand 

Des  Moines — The  following  statement 
by  G.  Ralph  Branton,  general  manager 
of  Tri-States  Theatre  Corp.,  is  typical  of 
the  spirit  with  which  even  exhibitors 
originally  opposing  it  are  greeting  the  con- 
sent decree: 

“Now  that  we  have  the  consent  decree, 
there  is  absolutely  no  question  in  our  minds 
but  that  we  must  be  completely  co-opera- 
tive and  make  a genuine  effort  to  make 
it  work.  If  the  decree  is  the  answer  to 
any  of  the  ills  of  the  industry,  we  want 
to  give  it  a chance  to  function  and  prove 
its  worth;  if  it  is  not,  its  failure  will  be 
as  obvious  as  its  possible  success.  Our 
job  now  is  to  do  everything  in  our  power 
to  cooperate  with  the  government  and 
the  film  industry  to  observe  the  consent 
decree.’’ 


Byron  Pulis , Arbitration 
Board  Sec'y  in  Omaha 

Omaha — Byron  E.  Pulis  is  the  full-time 
secretary  of  the  arbitration  board  that 
will  function  for  Nebraska  and  western 
Iowa.  Names  of  the  arbitrators  will  be 
announced  soon,  he  told  Boxoffice. 

Pulis,  who  was  formerly  with  the  Cana- 
dian Pacific  Railroad  in  Omaha  for  11 
years,  is  headquartered  at  1015  Woodmen 
of  the  World  Building.  His  office  will  be 
open  from  9 to  5 daily  and  from  9 to 
1 p.  m.  on  Saturdays.  Questions  about  the 
board’s  operation  should  be  addressed  to 
him. 


Bandits  Get  $1,000 

Minneapolis — The  entire  weekend  $1,- 
000  receipts  of  the  Franklin  Theatre,  an 
independent  neighborhood  house  owned  by 
the  Frank-Woempner  circuit,  were  stolen 
by  two  armed  bandits.  The  bandits 
slugged  and  held  up  Fred  Berg  who  just 
had  picked  the  money  up  for  counting  and 
deposit. 


QJEORGE  SMITH,  recently  appointed 
western  division  sales  manager,  Para- 
mount, made  an  official  visit  to  Kansas 
City  Friday,  January  31  . . . J.  W.  Grant- 
ham, New  Baxter,  Baxter  Springs,  Kas., 
is  leaving  on  an  extensive  vacation, 
through  Old  Mexico. 

John  Egli,  Hickory,  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  was 
on  the  Row,  where  he  had  not  been  seen 
for  a long  time.  But — “everybody  knows 
him,”  “nobody  would  ever  forget  him,”  it 
was  said.  He  stowed  off  just  to  say  “hello” 
and  “goodbye”  on  his  way  to  Florida  and 
Cuba  for  a vacation. 

Vernon  Smith  is  a new  booker  at 
M-G-M;  transferred  from  the  Minneapolis 
office  . . . Johnny  Kloppenstein,  who  with 
his  brother  operates  the  Aladdin,  Mound 
City,  Kas.,  is  reported  recovered  from  an 
attack  of  the  flu. 

A.  A.  Schubart,  manager  of  exchange 
operations  for  RKO,  visited  the  local  ex- 
change, on  his  way  to  Dallas  from  a field 
representatives’  meeting  in  Chicago.  With 
him  was  Johnny  Wangberg,  formerly  of 
the  Kansas  City  office,  now  an  auditor 
for  RKO. 

J.  W.  Shreve,  manager,  National  The- 
atre Supply  Co.,  leaves  shortly  for  his 
annual  business  trip  to  New  York  . . . C. 


W.  Gano,  office  manager,  National  Thea- 
tre Supply  Co.,  called  to  reserve  service, 
has  left  for  his  post  of  duty  near  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  He  is  a second  lieutenant. 

Glen  W.  Dickinson,  remodeling  the 
Dickinson,  50  Highway,  Mission,  Kas.,  has 
bought  equipment  from  L.  J.  Kimbriel, 
Missouri  Theatre  Supply  Co.  From  the 
same  source,  got  sound  and  other  equip- 
ment for  the  Ritz,  Topeka,  Kas.,  a col- 
ored house,  which  Dickinson  recently 
bought  and  is  remodeling . 

Ray  Richardson,  Strand,  Mt.  Vernon, 
Mo.,  is  sporting  a new  Oldsmobile;  and 
the  story  is  told  on  him  that  he  was  not 
aware  that  he  had  bought  an  “8”! 

On  the  Row — Frank  Weary,  Paris,  Rich- 
mond, Mo.;  Bill  Huston,  Kansas  and  Craw- 
ford, Wichita,  Kas.;  Frank  Cassil,  Rialto, 
St.  Joseph,  Mo.;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  H. 
Ghosen,  Uptown,  Sedalia,  Mo.;  Gene  New- 
bold,  Temple,  Yates  Center,  Kas.;  Louis 
Griefe  and  son  Frederick,  Windsor,  Wind- 
sor, Mo.;  J.  Ward  Spielman,  Gem,  Bald- 
win, Kas.;  Jim  Whitted,  Weston,  Weston, 
Mo.;  Hank  Doering,  People’s,  Garnett,  Kas. 

C.  C.  McCollister,  Nomar,  Wichita,  en- 
tering the  roadshow  business,  has  taken 
on  “Souls  in  Pawn”  to  present  as  he 


Tb°  ’\~ea  for  Des  Moines,  supervised  by  R.  Bruce  Wilson  from  offices  in 
the  Walnut  Bldg.,  embraces  all  of  Iowa  except  for  the  counties  of  Lyon, 
Osceola,  Sioux,  O'Brien,  Plymouth,  Cherokee,  Woodbury,  Ida,  Monona,  Craw- 
ford, Harrison,  Shelby,  Pottawattomie,  Mills,  Montgomery , Fremont  and  Page. 

The  Omaha  board  includes  these  17  Iowa  counties  just  mentioned,  plus 
all  Nebraska  counties  east  of  the  western  boundaries  of  the  counties  of 
Keyapaha,  Brown,  Blaine,  Custer,  Dawson,  Gosper  and  Furnas. 

The  Kansas  City  board,  located  in  the  Waltower  Bldg.,  under  John  H. 
Brink,  takes  in  the  whole  state  of  Kansas  and  all  counties  in  Missouri  west 
of  the  eastern  boundaries  of  Schuyler,  Adair,  Macon,  Randolph,  Howard, 
Cooper,  Monteall,  Miller,  Camden,  Dallas,  Wright,  Douglas  mid  Ozark. 


44 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


The  area  to  be  served  by  the  arbitration  board  in  Minneapolis  under  the 
consent  decree  embraces  the  entire  states  of  Minnesota,  North  Dakota  and 
all  of  South  Dakota  except  the  counties  of  Butte,  Meade,  Lawrence,  Pen- 
nington, Custer,  Fall  River,  Washington  and  Shannon.  The  Minneapolis 
tribunal  is  under  the  direction  of  Sheldon  M.  Ostroot,  the  McKnight  Bldg. 


passes  through  Iowa  and  Nebraska  with 
his  Neon  sound  truck  . . . Paul  Hannon 
is  booker  at  RKO  Kansas  City  office,  suc- 
ceeding Leon  Abrams  who  resigned  last 
week. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eugene  Snitz  ( he’s 
booker  at  Columbia)  were  reported  doing 
well  at  noon  February  4.  She’s  in  Menorah 
Hospital  where  a boy  was  born  to  her. 
Asked  for  an  official  statement,  Gene 
said:  “It’s  a lot  easier  booking  pictures 
than  having  babies.” 

News  of  the  death  of  Abe  W.  Riegel- 
man  spread  on  the  Row  where  he  had  been 
well  known.  He  had  been  salesman  for 
20th  Century-Pox  Film  Corp.  in  southern 
Iowa  for  14  years,  his  headquarters  and 
home  at  Des  Moines.  A son,  Dr.  Ralph 
Riegelman,  lives  in  Des  Moines;  one  broth- 
er, Alfred,  lives  in  Kansas  City. 

Catching  up  on  the  illnesses — pleasantly 
scarcer — C.  D.  Whitney,  shipping  clerk, 
National  Theatre  Supply  Co.,  is  reported 
getting  along  fine  after  his  appendix  op- 
eration. 

“In  the  H.  J.  Griffith  family” — Elmer 
Wald,  formerly  assistant  at  the  Ritz,  Chil- 
licothe,  Mo.,  is  now  that  at  the  Kansan, 
Parsons,  Kas.,  replacing  Howard  Stribling, 
who  goes  to  the  Paola,  Paola,  Kas.,  as 
manager  and  Sippi  Ferguson’s  assistant 
. . . Jack  Jeffrey,  formerly  of  Paola,  Kas., 
is  assistant  to  John  Sanders,  Junction, 
Junction  City,  Kas.  . . . R.  V.  McGinnis 
has  taken  up  his  duties  at  the  Carlton, 
Manhattan,  Kas.  . . . Vernon  Watkins  has 
come  from  Oklahoma  City  to  join  the 
booking  department. 

W.  H.  and  W.  K.  Dillon,  operating  the 
Dillon  at  Morehouse,  Mo.,  announce  plans 
(Continued  on  page  48) 


Draft  Allied  Bill 
Against  Decree 

Minneapolis — Work  on  drafting  North- 
west Allied’s  anti-consent  decree  bill  is 
proceeding  at  meetings  of  the  organiza- 
tion’s legislative  committee.  Its  presenta- 
tion to  the  state  legislature  will  await 
the  return  of  President  E.  L.  Peaslee  and 
Harold  Field,  the  committee  chairman, 
from  the  east  and  south,  respectively,  ac- 
cording to  announcement  by  Fred  Strom, 
executive  secretary. 

The  bill  gradually  is  being  whipped  into 
shape  with  special  consideration  being 
given  to  the  matter  of  constitutionality  of 
the  various  provisions,  Strom  explains. 
Northwest  Allied  is  determined  that  any 
law  passed  by  the  legislature  would  be 
surely  upheld  in  the  courts. 

Clauses  in  the  bill  will  provide  that  film 
companies  must  offer  their  entire  sea- 
son’s product  to  exhibitors,  the  same  as  at 
present,  instead  of  selling  it  in  blocks  of 
five  accordling  to  consent  decree  provi- 
sions. The  companies  also  would  be  re- 
quired to  grant  exhibitors  a minimum  of 
20  per  cent  cancellation  privilege  and 
films  objectionable  on  moral,  religious  or 
racial  grounds  could  be  excluded.  Forced 
buying  of  shorts  would  be  prohibited,  too. 

Peaslee  is  expected  back  from  Washing- 
ton next  week  while  Field  probably  will 
end  a vacation  in  the  south  within  a 
month.  This  will  leave  plenty  of  time  to 
push  the  measure  through  the  state  legis- 
lature, Strom  believes.  Organization  heads 
are  confident  the  bill  will  become  a law. 


The  Board  Is  Ready, 
But  No  Customers 

Minneapolis — Although  two  Minneapolis 
independent  exhibitors  have  announced 
that  they’re  going  to  arbitration  in  quest 
of  “relief”  for  product  difficulties,  Sheldon 
M.  Ostroot,  arbitrator  for  the  territory, 
said  that  no  complaints  had  been  filed 
with  him  during  the  first  three  days  that 
the  consent  decree  provision  was  operative. 

Ostroot  has  offices  at  215  McKnight 
Building  here  where  briefs  may  be  filed. 
Thus  far,  he  says,  he  has  received  only 
one  inquiry — from  a South  Dakota  ex- 
hibitor who  wished  to  know  if  the  arbi- 
tration for  theatre  owners  in  his  state 
takes  place  in  Minneapolis. 

Weisfeldt  Awaits  Chance 

In  Minneapolis  last  week,  E.  J.  Weis- 
feldt, Minnesota  Theatre  managing  direc- 
tor, announced  that  he  would  resort  to 
arbitration  in  an  effort  to  obtain  major 
product  for  his  showhouse.  All  of  this 
major  product  now  is  sewed  up  for  the 
local  loop  by  the  Minnesota  Amusement 
Co. — Mort  H.  Singer  pool. 

We’ll  go  to  the  arbitration  board  as 
soon  as  we  get  properly  organized,”  said 
Weisfeldt.  “The  illness  of  our  house  man- 
ager here  has  held  us  up  in  getting  our 
case  together.” 

Weisfeldt  expressed  that  the  Minneapo- 
lis “situation”  can  be  “licked.”  The  fact 
that  the  Aster,  a Minnesota  Amusement 
Company — Mort  H.  Singer,  uses  up  from 
two  to  four  “B”  and  lower  classification 
pictures  a week  on  double  feature  bills  at 
15c  admission  to  5 p.  m.  and  28c  there- 
after is  what  will  crack  the  set-up  here 
open,  in  his  opinion. 

“We  don’t  want  a lot  of  big  ‘A’  pictures,” 
explained  Mr.  Weisfeldt.  “We’d  be  satis- 
fied with  a fair  apportionment  of  the 
lesser  major  releases.  But  we  won't  stand 
idly  by  and  be  left  entirely  out  in  the  cold.” 

Berger  Will  Seek  "Rights" 

Supporting  the  Minnesota  Amusement 
position,  however,  local  film  men  have 
pointed  out  that  there  is  no  overbuying 
by  the  circuit,  that  the  Aster  policy  was 
established  several  years  before  the  Weis- 
feldt interests  entered  the  field  here  and 
that  the  latter  were  well  aware  of  the 
product  line-up  in  Minneapolis  when  they 
entered  this  field. 

Bennie  Berger  is  another  independent 
exhibitor  who  has  announced  his  intention 
to  go  before  the  arbitration  board  to 
learn  if  he  has  any  “rights”  at  his  loop 
sure-seater  World  Theatre  where  he  has 
been  unable  to  obtain  major  screen  prod- 
uct. Because  of  his  picture  difficulties  he 
says  he  now  is  forced  to  use  reissues  at 
the  World.  Berger,  however,  is  vacation- 
ing now  in  Florida  and  the  start  of  his 
case  undoubtedly  will  await  his  return 
to  Minneapolis. 

The  members  of  the  arbitration  board 
along  with  Mr.  Ostroot  will  be  chosen  from 
a list  of  25  Minneapolis  business  men. 


Adapting  Own  Original 

Hollywood — Barre  Lyndon  is  adapting 
“Sundown,”  his  own  original,  for  Walter 
Wanger. 


BOXOFFICE  February  8,  1941 


45 


pLEA  CIRCUS:  Howard  and  Hazel  Dunn 

proudly  announce  that  Patty  can  now 
sit  up,  shake  hands,  and  bounce  a bal- 
loon on  her  nose  six  times  without  miss- 
ing— and  she’s  only  six  months  old!  These 
wire-haired  terriers  must  be  a smart-alec 
breed  . . . Bill  Lansburg  thinks  he  ought 
to  be  exempted  so  he  can  support  his  wire- 
haired  pup,  Tex,  but  if  Tex  is  as  smart 
as  Bill  says,  Tex  ought  to  be  supporting 
Bill. 

The  next  tune  the  Stan  Mayers  and  the 
Harry  Hiersteiners  come  to  the  Colonade 
a-calling,  there’s  gonna  he  trouble  if  they 
don’t  ring  the  Clayton  buzzer  . . . the 
A.  H.  Blanks  are  in  Hollywood,  Florida, 
again  . . . they’ll  be  back  in  about  three 
weeks  . . . Next  time  you’re  in  Art  Stolte’s 
office  up  at  Tri-States,  take  a look  at 
those  very  artistic  pix  hanging  on  the 
south  wall  . . . they  show  some  Canadian 
spots  on  the  lake,  as  well  as  Art  (in 
Silhouette)  and  an  aquaplane. 

Loretta  Morris  is  the  Tri-States  tello- 
girl  whose  name  always  slips  our  mind 
. . . this  time  we  wrote  it  down  on  paper 
and  when  we  got  home  couldn’t  figure 
out  for  two  hours  who  it  was  . . . Loretta 
is  the  girl  who  says  she  usta-was-but- 
isn’t-anymore.  DD  was  out  getting  her 
hair  done.  Harry  Holdsberg  was  so  en- 
grossed in  a note  he  was  reading  that 
he  missed  a couple  of  dirty  cracks  about 
himself  . . . now  he’ll  never  know. 

The  gent  sitting  behind  us  at  the  Des 
Moines  who  warned  us  against  talking  in 
the  theatre  the  other  night  was  Chuck 
lies  . . . Chuck  was  showing  the  little 
woman  a good  time  by  taking  her  to  the 
pictures  . . . Mrs.  Chuck  says  the  Mc- 
Kinneys will  be  back  home  from  their 
southern  exposure  by  the  time  you  read 
this. 

Paul  Shadford,  Des  Moines  Theatre  pro- 
jectionist, can  take  a great  big  bow  for 
his  little  gel,  Virginia,  who’s  new  over  at 
Central  States  . . . she  seems  to  be  a 
bright  child  and  worthy  to  take  Phyllis 
Cunningham’s  place  at  the  Central  States 
greetin’  desk  . . . Phyllis  has  been  moved 
back  into  the  bull  pen  ...  a dangerous 
place  to  be,  Phyllis,  with  that  pretty  red 
hair.  Edith  Cohen,  the  pretty  little  bru- 
nette who  used  to  smile  at  the  custom- 
ers who  came  in  to  see  Stan  Mayer  at 
Fox,  is  now  putting  Ray  Blank’s  syllables 
down  on  paper. 

Paul  Walsh  got  settled  back  in  DM  off 
the  road  just  in  time.  February  4 a little 
boy  with  a red  face  and  needing  a suit 
of  clothes  came  to  live  with  the  Walshes 
. . . Cannonball  Lee  tells  us  they  call  him 
that  because  he  pitched  a nifty  game  of 
ball  for  the  film  boys  once  . . . and  we 
always  thought  it  had  something  to  do 
with  that  deserted  look  on  the  top  of  his 
head. 

When  Harry  Warren  left  the  Balaban 
meeting  in  Chicago,  January  24,  he  went 
on  to  Cuba  where  he  seems  to  be  cruis- 
ing around  a bit  . . . he’s  going  to  Pana- 
ma and  then  home  via  New  Orleans  . . . 
Iola  Lehman  and  Dora  Middlesworth  just 


hauled  in  from  California  where  they  are 
said  to  have  spent  a little  time  with  the 
glamour  boys  . . . incidentally,  one  of  the 
first  cracks  Boxoffice  made  when  she 
started  handling  this  column  several  years 
ago,  seems  to  be  sticking  in  a few  craws 
even  yet  ...  It  seems  that  the  Central 
States  force  still  resent  our  statement 
that  Tri-States  girls  are  the  prettiest  . . . 
sorry,  lassies,  but  we’ve  taken  a second 
look  and  while  you’re  certainly  no 
slouches,  them  Tri-States  babies  got  class! 

Tri-States  is  trying  it  again — a first 
run  at  a suburban  house  . . . This  time 
it's  “Night  Train,”  a British  picture  with- 
out a name  to  sell  it,  but  one  that  from 
our  screening  room  seat  made  “Foreign 
Correspondent”  a panty-waist.  The  pub- 
lic allegedly  has  been  waiting  with  bated 
breath  for  the  appearance  this  weekend 
of  the  “Hard-Boiled  Canary”  kidlets,  Su- 
sanna Foster  and  Dolly  Loehr  . . . But 
the  big  interest  in  the  film  and  news  biz 
is  the  fact  that  the  popular  Cliff  Lewis, 
ex-publicity  chief  for  Paramount,  will  be 
acting  as  herdsman. 

Emil  Franke  made  the  300-odd  DM 
Smiths  conscious  of  their  distinction  by 


^*HAT  man  who  ran  with  $5  in  his  hand 

to  the  courthouse,  and  arrived  breath- 
lessly at  the  motor  vehicle  license  depart- 
ment window  just  as  it  was  being  closed, 
January  31,  was  Bob  Huffman.  He  waits 
and  worries  everybody  until  the  very  last 
minute  of  the  last  legal  day  his  old  auto 
plates  can  be  used. 

The  film  business  now  refers  to  former 
celluloid  salesmen  Hymie  Novitsky  and  Joe 
Rosenberg  as  the  “princes  of  perfume.” 
They’re  busy  putting  the  Connie  Bennett 
line  in  Iowa  and  Nebraska  theatres.  Their 
motto:  “If  your  business  smells — it  might 
as  well  smell  GOOD.” 

Bob  Livingston,  of  the  Capitol  Theatre 
and  the  capitol  building,  got  the  surprise 
of  his  life  at  the  latter  when  he  was  dis- 
cussing the  Sen.  E.  M.  Neubauer  bill  which 
asks  annual  distributor  licensing  at  $1,000, 
and  $1  a reel  tax  on  distributed  film.  He 
thought  it  was  due  to  fold  by  the  way- 
side  as  it  had  in  1939,  but  finds  a big 
number  of  the  legislators  this  time  be- 
lieving it  has  merit. 

Foresight:  When  Bob  Huffman  hired 
Roy  Anderson  around  the  theatres  as  an 
usher  and  handyman , the  full  import  was 
not  realized  until  a few  days  ago.  Ander- 
son, though  young,  is  a golf  pro  in  the 
summer  time,  and  Huffman,  although  he 
doesn’t  look  it,  would  rather  play  golf 
than  eat. 

It  appears  that  Sonja  Henie’s  Nebraska 
appearance  in  Omaha  will  find  her  pre- 
viewing what’s  apt  to  happen  shortly  to 
her  husband.  Ft.  Crook’s  3rd  Infantry 
battalion  of  some  1,400  men  is  going  to 
be  reviewed  by  her.  If  his  low  draft  num- 
ber hasn’t  been  called  yet,  her  husband 
Dan  Topping,  will  be  with  her  on  the  re- 


getting 20  couples  to  review  “Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Smith”  for  the  R&T  . . . Also  on  the 
Orpheum  sector — Clark  Allen  is  in  the 
market  for  a mathematics  textbook  . . . 
Tom  Gorman  neglected  to  look  us  up  last 
time  he  was  in  ...  If  he  does  that  again 
we’re  gonna  publish  the  picture  of  the 
Orpheum  now  lying  dormant  on  our  desk 
. . . It  was  taken  when  some  of  the  lights 
weren’t  working  and  it  reads,  politely: 
“PHEU.” 

Jean  Post  says  that  bird  rumor  isn’t 
true,  and  we’re  inclined  to  think  that 
Jean's  in  a position  to  know  . . . Bert 
Thomas  says  he  got  that  callous  on  the 
end  of  his  forefinger  from  booking  Co- 
lumbia pix  . . . other  versions  are  ram- 
pant . . . Did  we  tell  you  that  Evelyn 
Rosen  is  back  in  town  as  Max  Fader’s 
secretary  at  Pioneer?  . . . Mel  Goodman’s 
Louella  is  convalescing  with  the  flu. 

Universal  had  a party  Friday  up  at  Lou 
Levy’s  apartment  to  say  au  revoir  to 
Loretta  Dieling  (transferred  to  Univ.  in 
Washington,  D.  C.)  and  bonjour  to  Jerry 
Slutzky,  new  booker  from  Indianapolis  . . . 
Loretta  received  one  of  those  cute  little 
apartment  irons  . . . Cleo  Current  will 


viewing  stand  with  post  commander  Lt. 
Col.  K.  M.  Still.  Jack  Burnett,  her  press 
agent,  set  it  with  the  army. 

Sympathetic  reaction:  Did  you  know 
that  Howard  Federer,  in  Lincoln,  and 
Hedy  Lamarr,  in  Hollywood,  came  down 
with  the  flu  the  same  day? 

Stork  stuff:  Chuck  Miller,  program  di- 
rector of  KFAB-KFOR,  is  due  for  papa- 
hood  in  April  . . . R.  H.  Pauley,  who  runs 
the  Turnpike  Casino,  local  dancery,  and 
is  very  much  a friend  of  Theatrerow, 
drew  a brand  new  daughter,  Linda  Lea,  a 
6-pounder,  the  other  day.  Well  aware  of 
Boxoffice’s  service,  he  even  called  the 
Lincoln  correspondent  during  the  waiting 
period  and  asked  if  she’d  come  to  the 
hospital  and  keep  him  company  as  he 
paced  the  corridor  . . . Leland  Mischnick, 
who  used  to  be  on  theatre  jobs  here,  now 
in  Omaha,  has  a tough  time  beating  down 
the  rumors  started  by  Sol  Yeager  that 
he’s  facing  fatherhood  again. 

Salute  to  Shiller:  Now  that  the  Grand 
Island  Independent  has  bought  radio  sta- 
tion KMMJ  there,  Harry  Shiller,  the  the- 
atreman,  will  find  his  newspaper  friend- 
ships won’t  do  him  any  harm  . . . From 
Hollywood:  When  Mrs.  Barney  Oldfield 
started  her  radio  broadcast  series  about 
pictures  for  the  Lincoln  Theatres  Corp., 
Mary  Anderson,  who  remembered  a con- 
versation two  weeks  earlier  when  the  pre- 
miere of  “Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop”  was 
on,  sent  a wire  of  best  wishes. 

Rumor:  Eddie  Shafton,  the  Omaha  Va- 
riety clubber,  is  fronting  for  gals,  30  and 
over,  trying  to  get  them  army  hostess  jobs. 
In  what  department  of  the  Variety  Club’s 
many  enterprises  does  that  fall? 


L INCO  IL  N 


46 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


replace  Loretta.  Jerry’s  young  son  is  now 
out  of  the  hospital  and  the  Slutzky  fur- 
niture has  arrived  in  DM  and  been  de- 
posited at  1172  Harding  Road. 

You  didn’t  know  that  Izzie  Sokoloff 
who  handles  AAI  and  NSA  for  Lou  Patz 
in  Omaha  is  our  DM  Carl  Sokoloff’s 
brother,  either,  did  you?  Bob  Fridley  was 
working  hard  and  all  alone  the  other  eve 
when  we  stowed  up  at  National  Screen 
the  other  eve  . . . That  pretty  little  blonde 
with  Jean  Post  at  the  West  End  was  his 
wife  . . . The  Happier  quads  (Paul,  Bill, 
Frances,  Dick)  were  reduced  to  triplets 
the  night  we  saw  them,  because  Dick  (who 
isn’t  married)  was  confined  at  home  with 
marital  trouble! 

Kennie  Weldon  is  now  a student  booker 
at  Metro,  they  tell  us  . . . Bud  Moran 
went  to  Davenport  February  4;  Mel  Evi- 
don  went  February  5;  say,  what  is  this? 
Get  Jack  Kennedy  to  tell  you  about  the 
story  of  the  little  brown  barrel  he  brought 
from  Mexico  . . . and  we  recommend  the 
story  with  interpolations  by  Lois.  Joe 
Garrison  was  in  from  Kaycee  and  Otto 
Siegal  dropped  around  from  Omaha.  Did 
you  ever  lamp  that  red  and  green  suit 
of  Elmer  Tilton’s?  Did  you  know  that 
there’s  a minister’s  wife  on  the  Row?  She’s 
Dolores  Maine,  and  she  works  for  Lou 
Patz  at  National  Screen  . . . Dolores 
took  Grace  Simons’  job  when  Grace 
stepped  over  into  the  big  shoes  Harry 
Peter  Franz  vacated. 


Spot  for  Connie  Boswell 

Hollywood — Connie  Boswell  has  been 
signed  for  a singing  spot  in  Paramount’s 
“Kiss  the  Boys  Goodbye.” 


Projectionist  Involved  in 
Minny  Theatre  Robbery 

Minneapolis — Louis  Cowan,  Chateau 
Theatre  projectionist,  was  apprehended 
by  the  police  and,  according  to  them, 
confessed  that  he  was  the  “finger  man” 
and  one  of  the  three  participants  involved 
in  the  $800  robbery  of  the  weekend  re- 
ceipts of  the  Chateau  and  Franklin  thea- 
tres, independent  neighborhood  houses. 

The  two  theatres  are  part  of  the  W.  R. 
Frank  circuit.  Fred  Berg,  an  accountant, 
collects  their  receipts.  After  picking  up  the 
money  from  the  two  boxoffices  on  Jan- 
uary 13,  he  was  forced  at  the  point  of 
a gun  into  an  alley  and  slugged  by  the 
two  men  who  fled  with  the  money. 

A tip  to  the  police  led  to  the  arrest  of  a 
23-year-old  bandit  who  incriminated 
Cowan,  who  allegedly  admitted  he  had 
put  the  “finger”  on  Berg  and,  while  two 
of  the  trio  attacked  Berg,  sat  in  the  car 
in  which  the  getaway  was  made. 

Omaha  Trade  Is  Allen  s 
Guest  at  'Smith'  Preview 

Omaha — About  60  exhibitors  and  news- 
papermen from  Omaha  and  the  sur- 
rounding territory  were  guests  of  C.  W. 
(Ching)  Allen,  RKO  branch  manager,  at 
a sneak  preview  of  “Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith” 
at  the  Brandeis.  It  was  the  first  event  of 
its  kind  held  at  the  Brandeis  since  it 
joined  the  Singer  circuit  seven  years  ago. 

Arrangements  were  completed  by  Bill 
Scholl,  RKO  press  agent,  and  Allen.  A 
cocktail  party  at  one  of  the  local  hotels 
followed  the  preview. 


Attractive  Program 
Outlined  by  Variety 

Kansas  City — The  new  administration 
of  the  Variety  Club  of  Kansas  City,  an- 
nounced recently,  got  under  way  promptly. 
Jerry  Zigmond,  chief  barker,  with  the 
board  of  directors  and  chairmen  of  com- 
mittees, held  a successful  session  the  other 
day,  the  outcome  of  which  was  a fine  pro- 
gram, including  some  changes  from  the 
routine  of  the  past  few  years.  For  one 
thing,  four  big  affairs  will  be  distributed 
through  the  year.  First  will  come  an 
event  in  the  club  rooms,  around  the  first 
of  March.  Then  comes  the  notable  out- 
door event,  latter  part  of  June:  the  “Days 
of  ’49,”  with  the  golf  tournament  and 
picnic.  Advanced  to  October  from  late 
November  when  it  has  usually  been  held, 
will  be  the  film  ball.  Then,  just  before 
Christmas,  the  bowling  tournament. 

Social  Schedule 

The  social  schedule  provides  for  a re- 
sumption of  parties  in  the  club  rooms 
every  other  Friday,  for  members,  their 
families  and  guests. 

Regular  business  meetings,  evenings, 
with  dinner,  are  noted  for  the  first  Mon- 
day of  each  month.  On  some  other  Mon- 
days, one  a month  if  not  more,  there  will 
be  luncheon  meetings,  with  speakers.  The 
evening  monthly  dinner  meetings  will  be 
for  members  only;  the  public  is  to  be 
welcomed  to  the  luncheon  affairs. 


SKY  DEVILS  and  SCARFACE 

A DOUBLE  BILL  BOX-OFFICE  SENSATION 

DOING  GREATER  BUSINESS  THAN  EVER  BEFORE 
AND  OUTGROSSING  MANY  NEW  FIRST  RUN  PROGRAMS 

This  Double  Bill  Now  Has  Drawing  Power 
Exceeding  All  Expectations 

HELD  OVER!! 

For  2nd  Big  Week 
Fox  Apollo  — Kansas  City 

Outstanding  Business 

AT  FOX  THEATRES  — TOPEKA  and  PITTSBURG 
and  other  runs. 

Write  or  Phone 

Majestic  Pictures  - Kansas  City 

Elliott  Film  Co. Minneapolis 

Variety  Pictures St.  Louis 


This  Is  a Real  Bet  — Don't  Pass  It  Up 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


47 


Iowa  Not  Untouched 
By  Defense  Outlay 

Des  Moines — Though  business  in  gen- 
eral, including  film  exhibitors,  has  been 
lamenting  the  failure  of  the  national  de- 
fense program  to  hit  Iowa  with  the  same 
force  it  has  some  other  sectors,  contract 
statistics  show  the  state  is  not  entirely 
devoid  of  benefits. 

Biggest  boom  as  a result  of  Uncle  Sam’s 
spending  is  expected  at  Burlington  where 
a shell  loading  plant  is  being  built.  A 
total  of  $44,273,384  is  being  spent  there, 
and  the  city  of  26,000  is  expected  to  have 
a population  of  40,000  within  a few 
months. 

Central  States,  with  three  houses  under 
supervision  of  L.  J.  Wegener  in  the  town, 
has  a toe-hold  on  the  theatre  situation 
in  what  looks  like  a boom  center. 

Throughout  the  rest  of  the  state,  de- 
fense orders  total  $30,432,311.  These  range 
from  orders  for  machine-tooled  parts  for 
machine  gun  units  to  helmet  linings,  can- 
vas covers  for  scabbards  and  even  nozzles 
for  gasoline  cans. 

Transfer  of  the  army’s  7th  Corps  area 
training  camp  from  Lineville,  la.,  to  Rolla, 
Mo.,  doesn’t  leave  Iowa  entirely  out  of 
the  picture.  Two  Des  Moines  firms  have 
combined  forces  to  fill  an  order  for  heat- 
ing ducts  to  be  used  in  the  camp’s  heat- 
ing system. 

Des  Moines  firms  currently  have  gov- 
ernment defense  contracts  totaling  more 
than  $750,000,  with  more  expected. 


\ 1 

| You  Can  Put  Off  Your  Creditors;  j 

I You  Can  Wear  Last  Year's  Suit — | 

I But  you  CAN'T  PUT  J 
[ MONEY  IN  THE  BANK  J 
| Without  PROFITS  ! 

I Help  Yoursell  to  Profits  by 

Using  | 

> SUPERB  \ 
| SOUTH  AMERICAN  CORN  j 

| and  | 

; FLAW  0-NUT  SEASONING  ! 

I Exclusive  With 

| POPPERS  SUPPLY  CO. ! 

, RUBE  MELCHER 

I GR.  0672  1717  Wyandotte  St.  | 

Kansas  City,  Mo.  I 

) Prices  Are  Going  Up!  j 


Must  Pay  Federal  Tax 
On  Student  Tickets 


Minneapolis — It’s  settled  finally  and 
probably  permanently  that  the  territory’s 
exhibitors  must  collect  a three-cent  ad- 
mission tax  on  special  student  20 -cent  ad- 
missions. The  U.  S.  bureau  of  internal 
revenue  has  disregarded  the  exhibitors’ 
protests  in  making  the  ruling.  Instruc- 
tions to  collect  the  tax  have  gone  out 
from  Northwest  Allied  here,  following  a 
conference  in  Washington  between  Presi- 
dent E.  L.  Peaslee  and  department  heads. 

A large  number  of  theatres  in  the  ter- 
ritory are  affected  by  the  ruling  and  ex- 
hiitors  fear  they’ll  suffer  at  the  boxoffice. 
The  houses  in  question  charge  the  20-cent 
admission,  instead  of  the  regular  28-cent 
price,  for  young  people  between  12  and  18 
who  aren’t  eligible  for  the  kiddies’  dime 
admissions.  It  is  felt  that  many  of  these 
young  people,  who  attend  school  or  are 
otherwise  unemployed,  can’t  afford  the  28- 
cent  adult  price  and  the  reduced  price 
bridges  the  gap  between  children  and 
adults. 

It  is  held  by  the  internal  revenue  de- 
partment that  the  “student”  admissions 
are  actually  “reduced”  adult  admissions 
and,  therefore,  taxable  in  the  same  amount 
as  the  adult  25-cent  tickets. 

A number  of  exceptions  to  the  “reduced 
admissions”  tax  are  specified  in  the  rul- 
ing. These  include  bona  fide  employes  of 
the  management,  municipal  officers  on  of- 
ficial business,  a child  under  the  age  of 
12  and  other  persons  whose  admission  to 
the  place  is  required  for  the  performance 
of  some  duty.  Also,  if  there’s  a 20-cent 
section  of  seats  apart  and  separate  from 
the  25-cent  section  and  such  section  is 
available  to  adults,  too. 


Sets  Five  Screenings  in 
Two  Weeks  tor  " Liberty " 

Lincoln — Two  screenings  of  “Land  of 
Liberty”  one  week,  and  three  the  next, 
was  Gabe  Yorke’s  record  in  Nebraska. 
First  two  were  in  Omaha  and  Lincoln,  and 
he  followed  up  in  Grand  Island,  Hastings 
and  Columbus.  He  now  starts  west. 

Best  turnout  for  the  all-industry  flicker, 
for  which,  as  a Hays  office  representa- 
tive, he’s  fronting,  was  in  Lincoln. 


K A Y C IE  IE 

(Continued  from  page  45) 
for  a modern  theatre  building  on  a lot 
'purchased  in  Benton,  Mo.  The  first 
theatre  for  colored  people,  in  Wichita,  to 
seat  500,  is  being  planned. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  L.  Lowe,  theatre  opera- 
tors of  Sterling,  Kas.,  are  moving  to  Le- 
banon, Mo.,  where  they  are  building  a 
theatre  . . . The  Isis,  Lucas,  Kas.,  has  an- 
nounced “no  more  free  shows.”  . . . T.  C. 
Carter,  manager  of  the  Ellinwood,  Ellin- 
wood,  Kas.,  is  to  manage  the  Pix  at  St. 
John  and  assist  with  the  Weber  chain. 

At  the  Fox  Midwest  offices,  Alice  Lei- 
bel,  secretary  to  Harry  McClure,  district 
manager  of  Kansas  theatres,  resigned.  To 
her  former  position  goes  Jane  Moulton, 
from  the  office  of  Lucius  Pope,  purchas- 
ing agent.  To  be  secretary  to  Mr.  Pope, 
goes  Barbara  Clark,  from  the  Plaza,  where 
she  was  secretary  to  Jim  Long,  manager. 

Bob  Hall,  assistant  manager  of  the 
Madrid,  having  had  training,  has  been 
called  to  flying  service  at  Pensacola,  Fla. 
His  brother,  James  Hall,  is  assistant  man- 
ager at  the  Waldo.  . 

On  the  Row — Bob  Martin,  Cozy,  Che- 
topa,  Kas.;  Marvin  Banks,  Lee,  Chetopa, 
Kas.;  Oliver  Williams,  Civic,  Brookfield, 
Mo.;  E.  O.  Briles,  Lyric,  Emporia,  Kas.; 
Mrs.  K.  M.  Blair,  Blair,  Smith  Center,  and 
Blair,  Belleville,  Kas.;  Ray  Cook,  Missouri, 
Maryville,  Mo.;  Glenn  Klock,  Klock,  Neo- 
desha,  Kas.;  F.  P.  Ward,  Hardtner,  Hardt- 
ner,  Kas.;  Elmer  Bills,  Brunswick,  Salis- 
bury, Glasgow  and  Huntsville,  Mo.;  M.  B. 
Pressley,  Globe,  Savannah,  Mo.;  J.  Ledoux, 
Arcadia,  Holton,  Kas.;  R.  O.  Robinson, 
Grant  City,  Grant  City,  Mo. 

The  highlighted  news  around  the  H.  J. 
Griffith  offices  is  the  arrival,  January  23, 
of  a son  for  the  Irwin  W.  Tuckers— so 
now  there  is  a third  generation  of  this 
family  about  to  enter  the  show  business. 
Mr.  Tucker  is  manager  of  the  H.  J.  Grif- 
fith Fayette  at  Fayette,  Mo. 


Praise  Rose  Keane  in 
"As  You  Desire  Me" 

Kansas  City — “As  You  Desire  Me,”  the 
Resident  Theatre’s  production  of  Luigi 
Pirandello’s  play,  is  running  a second 
week  in  its  performance  here  which  has 
attracted  capacity  crowds.  Rose  Keane, 
guest  star  and  former  Kansas  City  girl, 
is  accredited  as  the  reason  for  the  play’s 
exceptional  success. 

Of  her  performance  Landon  Laird, 
drama  critic  of  the  Kansas  City  Star, 
said: 

“It  is  a pity  that  Rose  Keane  comes 
back  to  Kansas  City  so  seldom  to  display 
her  talents.  Her  undeniable  acting  abil- 
ity has  been  known  to  this  city  since  the 
days  when  she  played  ‘The  Deluge’  and 
other  attractions  for  the  Kansas  City  The- 
atre. In  New  York  she  has  developed 
from  a better-than-average  ‘home  talent’ 
player  into  a person  who  would  fit  into 
a Theatre  Guild  production.  Miss  Keane 
never  looked  so  attractive  as  she  does  now, 
and  we  never  have  seen  her  play  a part 
so  well.  She  makes  ‘As  You  Desire  Me’ 
a success  by  her  own  efforts.” 


48 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  8,  1941 


pELIX  JENKINS,  20th-Fox  legal  depart- 
ment head,  here  for  a consent  decree 
confab  with  the  staff  . . . Bill  Grant, 
Warner  city  salesman,  getting  used  to  city 
ways  again  after  a two-week  trip  into 
South  Dakota  . . . Lyceum,  legit  roadshow 
house,  using  Swedish  films  weekends 
again  . . . Irving  Gillman  putting  vaude- 
ville into  his  Gayety  three  nights  a week 
. . . Allen  Usher,  Paramount’s  new  district 
manager,  up  from  Chicago  for  his  first 
visit  with  Ben  Blotcky. 

Out-of-town  exhibitors  visiting  Filmrow 
included  Peter  Campbell,  Val  Halla,  N.  D.; 
Don  Buckley,  Redwood  Falls,  Minn.;  Jack 
Heywood,  New  Richmond,  Wts.;  Ted  Bol- 
nick,  La  Crosse,  Minn.,  and  Paul  Perizzo, 
Blue  Earth,  Minn.  . . . Charlie  Perizzo, 
who  used  to  run  a theatre  in  this  state, 
but  who  now  owns  a showhouse  in  Cali- 
fornia, back  for  a visit  . . . The  Warner 
Club  held  a sleighride  party  . . . Two  flu 
victims,  J.  McFarland  and  Joe  Powers, 
National  Screen  executives,  back  on  the 
job  again. 

Tom  Nolan,  RKO  home  office  auditor, 
in  town  . . . Arch  Zacherl,  veteran  Uni- 
versal salesman,  and  Gilbert  Nathanson, 
Republic  branch  manager,  visited  Iron 
Range  accounts  . . . Dorothy  Piper,  War- 
ner stenographer,  married  . . . Walt 
Disney  representatives  in  town  to  look 
over  Alvin  Theatre  for  “Fantasia,”  but 
haven’t  closed  for  house  yet  . . . “Nickey” 
Goldhammer,  RKO  district  manager,  vis- 
ited Omaha  and  Des  Moines  exchanges 
. . . Moe  Levy,  20th-Fox  district  manager, 
spent  a week  in  Des  Moines. 

Lowell  Kaplan,  Welworth  circuit  book- 
er, recovered  from  flu  and  back  on  the 
job  . . . 20th-Fox  held  invitation  screen- 
ing of  “Western  Union”  . . . “Kelly”  Evi- 
don,  Warner  advertising  and  accessories 
department  head,  went  to  Chicago  to 
bring  his  son  home  . . . Fay  Dressell,  RKO 
branch  manager,  laid  up  a couple  of  days 
by  the  flu  . . . “Hy”  Chapman,  Columbia 
branch  manager,  and  the  wife  have  set 
March  22  as  the  date  of  their  daughter’s 
wedding. 

Universal  office  here  climbing  in  the 
Bill  Scully  anniversary  sales  drive.  It’s 
now  in  seventh  place  nationally  . . . After 
19  years  with  the  company,  Alta  Johnson 
has  resigned  as  RKO  cashier  to  devote 
herself  to  domestic  duties  . . . Elynor 
Foley  resigning  from  Paramount  to  be- 
come a bride.  She  and  her  husband  will 
make  their  home  in  Jamaica  . . . M-G-M 
tossed  a farewell  party  for  Booker  Verne 
Smith  who  has  been  transferred  to  Kan- 
sas City  as  head  booker. 

Bob  Hazleton  resigned  from  the  Harry 
Dickerman  circuit  to  join  the  M-G-M  ac- 
counting department  . . . Columbia’s  “This 
Thing  Called  Love”  spotted  for  the  State 
February  14  . . . Phil  Dunas,  Columbia 
district  manager,  in  from  Chicago  . . . 
Norman  Pyle,  M-G-M  exploiteer,  landed 
lots  of  publicity  for  “Land  of  Liberty”  in 
two  state  capitals,  St.  Paul  and  Bismarck, 
N.  D.  . . . LeRoy  J.  Miller,  Universal 
branch  manager,  visited  northern  Minne- 


sota accounts  . . . Looks  as  though  Mickey 
Coen,  M-G-M  salesman,  has  found  the 
fountain  of  youth.  His  choppers  are  win- 
ning much  admiration. 

M-G-M  exchange  entertained  a team  in 
the  ABC  national  bowling  tournament,  to 
be  held  in  the  Twin  Cities  . . . Joe  Numero, 
theatre  seat  manufacturer,  vacationing  in 
Florida  . . . Mother  of  Charlie  Ruben- 
stein,  independent  circuit  owner,  to  Flor- 
ida on  a pleasure  jaunt  . . . A1  Peretz  of 
Alexander  Film  company,  in  from  Chi- 
cago . . . Abe  Kaplan,  independent  circuit 
owner,  underwent  a minor  operation  . . . 
Suzanne  Larson,  youthful  Minneapolis 
singing  star,  to  appear  at  the  Orpheum 
February  10-12  in  conjunction  with  her 
new  picture,  “Hardboiled  Canary.” 

Word  from  Florida  is  to  the  effect  that 
the  Twin  City  Variety  Club’s  two  patients 
there,  W.  A.  Steffes  and  Theodore  Hays, 
are  getting  along  nicely  . . . E.  J.  Weis- 
feldt,  Minnesota  Theatre  managing  direc- 
tor, in  from  Milwaukee  to  give  the  local 
situation  the  once-over. 


Film  on  Scandinavian  War 

Des  Moines — Sound  motion  pictures  of 
war  in  the  Scandinavian  countries  were 
shown  recently  at  the  Des  Moines 
Gospel  Temple.  The  Rev.  Jens  Petersen 
of  Oslo,  Norway,  brought  the  film  here 
under  auspices  of  the  Des  Moines  Scan- 
dinavian churches. 


EQUIPMENT  AND  SUPPLIES 

Peterson  "Freezem"  Mfg.  & Sales  Co. 

Blowers,  washers,  spray  nozzels,  office  and 
home  units. 

Special  Offer — Priced  to  Sell. 

Why  Pay  More? 

G.  A.  Peterson 

Victor  4075  322  Southwest  Blvd. 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

A.  A.  Electric  Machinery  Co. 

Ernest  Amoneno,  Mgr. 

1117  Cherry  St.  Phone:  Victor  8796 

Holmes  Projector  Sales  Co. 

Projectors  and  Sound  for  the  Largest  and  Small- 
est Theatre.  John  A.  Muchmore  and  R.  H.  Patt. 
1820  Wyandotte  St.  Kansas  City,  Mo.  HA.  7472 

Missouri  Theatre  Supply  Co. 

Distributors  for 

RCA,  Brenkert,  U.  S.  Air,  Heywood-Wakefield 
115  West  18th  St.  708  West  Grand  Ave. 

GR.  2864  Oklahoma  City, 

Kansas  City,  Mo.  Okla. 

Stebbins  Theatre  Equipment  Co. 

1804  Wyandotte  St. 

C.  H.  Badger,  Mgr.  Phone:  GRand  0134 

Southwest  Theatre  Equipment  Co.,  Indp't 
Wichita.  Kas. 

C.  D.  Peck,  Mgr.  Phone  2-2153 


Bad  Weather  Keeps 
None  From  'GWTW' 


Kansas  City — “Gone  With  the  Wind,” 
among  its  other  records,  may  have  set  a 
new  sort  here  in  its  first  week.  Satur- 
day, January  25,  was  the  second  day  of 
this  engagement.  The  weather  predic- 
tion was  “snow  and  colder.”  The  day 
turned  out  to  be  one  of  the  worst  of  the 
year  for  traffic,  because  of  snow  and 
slush.  But — shortly  after  8 a.  m.  Man- 
ager John  McManus  noticing  the  fast  in- 
creasing line,  put  two  cashiers  at  the 
windows.  There  were  two  cashiers  at  all 
times  selling  tickets,  from  8:17  a.  m. 
until  6 p.  m„  and  they  worked  fast.  The 
continuance  of  this  stream  of  people  after 
noon  was  the  more  striking  in  that  the 
snow  made  motoring  and  walking  diffi- 
cult, and  reports  of  traffic  accidents  mul- 
tiplied. Evidently  those  who  were  eager 
to  see  the  picture  did  not  give  any  thought 
to  whether  or  not  they  would  have  trouble 
getting  home. 

There  were  numerous  instances  reported 
of  people  who  had  seen  it  a year  ago, 
going  this  time  too. 


Pilots  “Lewis  and  Clark" 

Hollywood — Kenneth  Macgowan  will 
produce  “Lewis  and  Clark,”  story  of  the 
pioneers  of  the  northwest,  for  20th-Fox. 
Randolph  Scott  and  Dean  Jagger  will  top 
the  cast. 


HOTELS 

HOTEL  MONROE 

MAIN  AT  19TH  ST. 

Two  Blocks  From  Filmrow 
Completely  Renovated  . . Fire- 
Proof  . . Innerspring  Mattresses 
and  Only  1.50  with  Bath  . . . 
$1.00  Without 
CLEAN  AND  FRIENDLY 
Weekly  Rates 

EXHIBITOR  ASSOCIATIONS 

K.  M.  T.  A. 

221  W.  18th  St.  — Harrison  4825 

R.  R.  Biechele,  Pres.  Fred  Meyn,  Sec.-Treas. 

SCREEN  PUBLICITY 

Alexander  Film  Company 

Motion  Picture  Advertising 
E.  L.  Harris,,  Dist.  Mgr.,  Mo.,  Kan.,  Neb.,  Iowa 
239  East  72nd  Terrace 

Phone:  Hlland  2694 

FILM  LABORATORIES 

MISSOURI  FILM  LABORATORIES 

Charles  O.  Siebenthaler 
110  W.  18th  GR  0708 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Complete  Advertising  Trailer  Service 


TRADE  DIRECTORY 

•A  HANDY  GUIDE  FOR  THE  EXHIBITOR 

KANSAS  CITY  TERRITORY 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


49 


A W , SHUCKS! 

From  the  Tall  Corn—  By  KEN  and  RENE  CLAYTON 


BUD'  s the  boss  at  New  Hampton,  now. 

Since  Harry  Hermann  went  back  to 
Warner’s  and  film  peddling  and  Central 
States  partnered  into  his  Fireman’s  Hall 
at  New  Hampton,  Bud’s  blossomed  into 
a manager — yeah,  Mrs.  Harry  Hermann’s 
running  the  show. 


Faye  West  was  scheduled  to  be  met  at 
the  airport  by  Dapper  Don  Tuesday  noon 
. . . The  Wests  started  the  year  right  with 
a western  trip.  Don  had  to  return  to  his 
Central  States  chores  after  a couple  of 
weeks,  but  Faye  used  up  another  fortnight 
of  winter  before  winging  back  to  her  West 
Des  Moines  Lyric. 


Traveling  around  is  another  travel  ru- 
mor. This  time  it’s  M.  L.  Dickson  whose 
Colonial  and  Temple  at  Mt.  Pleasant  are 
operating  so  smoothly  that  M.  L.  is  look- 
ing up  timetables  to  California. 


Renewed  activity  at  the  statehouse 
brings  John  R.  Schales,  the  big  legisla- 
ture man  from  the  Tripoli  Theatre  at 
Tripoli,  in  to  visit  pals  along  the  DM  Row. 


Certainly  we  ducked  when  we  heard 
Charlie  Ricker  was  hitting  the  exchanges. 
The  Iowa  Theatre  exhib  from  Buffalo 
Center  used  to  fly  the  mail  and  he  can 
still  show  you  a slow  roll  if  you’re  hun- 
gry . . . Our  student  pilot  permits  don’t 
even  allow  us  to  tip  our  hats  to  guys  like 
that. 


The  sailfish  can  sail  again.  Life  is  in 
tune  for  the  tuna.  The  bars  are  down  for 
the  barracuda.  Why?  Joe’s  back! 

Ike  Walton,  alias  City  Manager  Ger- 
brach  of  the  Central  States  houses  in 
Ames,  hove  in  from  the  Gulf  stream  with 
tall  tales  (you’ve  been  reading  ’em)  but 
no  fish.  Four  of  the  piscatorial  tribes- 
men are  being  stuffed  and  mounted  down 
in  Florida,  though,  and  when  they  arrive, 
don’t  fail  to  stop  in  at  Joe’s  office  in 
the  Collegian  Theatre.  You’ll  see  fin- 
wavers  prettier  than  the  moonbeams  danc- 
ing on  Biscayne  Bay,  and  bigger  than  the 
stories  they  inspired. 

Joe  visited  his  home  office  in  Des 
Moines  Monday,  happy  as  the  lark  from 
which  he’d  just  returned,  but  he  con- 
fessed to  & Co.  sotto  voce  that  marlin 
(or  the  lack  of  them)  marred  his  trip. 
Don’t  be  surprised  if  he  corrects  that 
situation  off  the  west  coast  of  Mexico 
next  summer. 


No  matter  how  fast  you  whiz  through 
Cresco,  you  can’t  miss  the  new  marquee 
F.  C.  Ingram  hooked  to  his  Cresco  The- 
atre . . . But  you  have  to  stop  in  Mo- 
nona and  go  inside  the  Plaza  to  note  how 
Don  Wolf  has  clarified  visibility  there. 
No  more  zero-zero  for  him. 


Another  remodeler  is  Lee  Henry,  who’s 
face-lifting  his  Stuart  Theatre  at  Stuart 
. . . Lee  was  around  Tuesday  to  inform 
the  world  he’d  have  the  job  done  by 
Easter  which  is — lessee — April  (gosh)  13! 


It  was  the  Washington  Theatre  at  Dav- 
enport, but  now  it’s  the  Time.  It  was 
the  property  of  Harry  Savereide  but  now 
it  belongs  to  Jack  Meyer.  It  was  open, 
but  now  it’s  closed — for  remodeling.  And 
it  will  be  reopened  about  March  1 — with 
SRO  business,  Jack  and  Harry  hoped  dur- 
ing a DM  trip  last  week. 


We  only  hope  Mike  stands  pat — on  that 
invitation  to  stop  and  see  him  at  Anita 
. . . We’ll  be  out  sometime  to  gobble 
popcorn  and  bandy  words  with  as  much 
of  a clatter  as  Brother  Don  can  raise 
with  a can  of  film  in  front  of  your  Anita 
house  at  1 a.  m„  Mr.  Roth. 


If  we  hadn’t  resolved  not  to  mention 
Ed  Mason  of  the  Osage  Theatre  in  Osage 
this  issue,  we’d  tell  you  his  story  about 
starting  a traffic  jam  in  Des  Moines  with 
a motor  boat.  But  if  we  mention  Ed 
too  much,  everybody’ll  start  thinking  we’ve 
got  a grudge  against  him.  (Editor’s  note: 
Well?) 

Steer  Clear  of  Fight  for 
Minnesota  Product 

Minneapolis — The  stage  employes’  union 
had  nothing  to  do  with  the  action  of 
the  Central  Labor  Union,  the  central  body 
of  all  American  Federation  of  Labor  un- 
ions here,  in  going  on  record  to  help  the 
4,000-seat  independently  operated  Minne- 
sota Theatre  obtain  major  film  product. 
William  Donnelly,  the  stage  employes’  bus- 
iness agent,  says  he  wasn’t  present  at  the 
meeting  and  that  his  union  is  “neutral” 
in  the  fight  over  pictures  and  not  taking 
sides. 

The  Minnesota  allegedly  isn’t  able  to 
buy  major  releases  because  practically  all 
of  them  are  tied  up  by  the  Minnesota 
Amusement  and  Mort  H.  Singer  pool. 

In  its  resolution,  the  Central  Labor 
Union  asked  for  “an  investigation  by  the 
authorities”  of  alleged  “unfair  trade  prac- 
tices.” There  also  was  a proposal  for  a 
mass  meeting  at  the  Auditorium  to  bring 
the  matter  forcibly  to  the  attention  of 
the  proper  authorities. 


Ask  Cooperation  on 
Price  Time  Shift 

Minneapolis — S.  G.  Lebedoff  has  been 
named  chairman  of  a Northwest  Allied 
committee  to  call  upon  the  independently 
operated  Minnesota  to  try  to  persuade 
that  showhouse  to  “cooperate”  in  the  mat- 
ter of  a uniform  time  for  changing  from 
matinee  to  night  prices. 

The  Minnesota  upset  the  applecart  here 
by  extending  matinee  prices  to  6 p.  m.  in 
the  face  of  the  fact  that  for  the  past  num- 
ber of  years  there  has  been  an  unwritten 
agreement  downtown  and  in  the  neigh- 
borhoods to  change  from  the  afternoon 
to  evening  scale  one  hour  earlier,  or  5 
p.  m.  All  houses  have  been  living  up  to 
that  unwritten  agreement. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  Minnesota  Amuse- 
ment Co.  can  be  made  to  see  that  it  is 
disrupting  the  local  situation  and  can  be 
made  to  see  the  light,  explains  Lebedoff. 


(0)  M A H A 

SALUTE  to  Walt  Bradley,  Moon,  Ne- 

ligh,  Neb.,  who  held  a President’s 
Birthday  Show  at  his  theatre  for  the  bene- 
fit of  crippled  children.  Tickets  sold  for 
50  cents  each  and  every  cent  will  go  to 
charity.  Walt  dug  down  in  his  pocket  and 
paid  all  operating  expenses  of  the  theatre, 
including  film  rental,  himself.  Walt’s  son 
is  now  at  the  hospital  at  Warm  Springs, 
Ga. 

Flash!  Bill  Yomigclaus,  well-known  Ne- 
braska exhibitor,  and  Mrs.  Youngclaus  are 
inf  anticipating . We’re  told  they  want  a 
boy  and  if  it  is  a boy  they’ll  name  him 
“Eddie.”  That’s  a tip,  Bill,  as  to  the 
source  of  this  story!  . . . Charlie  Prokop, 
former  exhibitor  at  Wahoo,  Neb.,  and  one 
of  the  veterans  in  the  business,  has  been 
having  heart  trouble  but  is  much  im- 
proved, we’re  glad  to  report  . . . Nate  Bragg 
has  closed  the  theatre  at  Guide  Rock, 
Neb. 

Phil  Lannon,  exhibitor  at  West  Point, 
Neb.,  gets  this  week’s  honor  award  for 
the  best  gag.  Phil  closed  his  Nebraska 
Theatre  for  two  months,  January  and 
February.  The  sign  on  the  front  reads, 
“The  Dark  Secret,  with  no  light,  no  heat, 
no  comedy,  no  drama.  A two-month  en- 
gagement” . . . Oscar  Johnson  will  open 
his  new  Oil  City  at  Falls  City,  Neb.,  on 
February  21  and  a lot  of  filmites  are  ex- 
pected to  attend. 

Hymie  Novitsky,  owner  of  the  Filmrow 
cafe  known  as  Hayes  Coffee  Shop,  won’t 
listen  to  his  own  advice.  For  days  he 
cautioned  exhibitors  and  filmites  about 
jaywalking  across  the  street  to  the  Loyal 
Hotel,  because  of  a current  traffic  drive. 
“Walk  around  to  the  intersection,”  says 
Hymie.  In  a hurry  one  day  to  get  to 
the  hotel  barber  shop,  Hymie  jaywalked. 
It  cost  him  a $2.50  fine! 

Now  that  Gene  Blazer’s  home  has  been 
taken  apart  and  put  back  together,  the 
next  thing  on  the  Omaha  Variety  Club’s 
social  calendar  is  a Valentine  Party  on 
February  16,  to  be  held  at  the  club  rooms. 
Last  week’s  party  was  a huge  success. 
Out-of-town  guests  included  Mrs.  Georgia 
Rasley,  exhibitor  at  O’Neill,  Neb.,  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Charlie  Shire  from  Lincoln  . . . 
Harold  Schoonover,  Aurora,  Neb.,  was  on 
Davenport  Street. 

John  Metzger,  exhibitor  at  Beaver  City, 
Neb.,  has  been  reappointed  chairman  of 
the  county  fair  board.  The  event  has  al- 
ways been  a big  affair  under  Exhibitor 
Metzger’s  direction  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Frank  Thomas,  exhibitors  and  apple-grow- 
ers at  Brownville,  Neb.,  have  left  for  six 
weeks  on  the  west  coast  . . . Ike  Rubin, 
Paramount  peddler,  had  a birthday  last 
week. 

Mrs.  Henry  Howes,  formerly  Esther  An- 
derson, came  to  Omaha  the  day  after 
Charlie  Williams  was  stricken  and  stayed 
until  after  the  funeral.  She  worked  for 
Charlie  when  the  MPTO  of  Nebraska  and 
western  Iowa  had  an  office  here  and  later 
worked  in  the  RKO  exchange.  Now  she 
lives  in  Harrisonville,  Mo.  . . . Sam  Bur- 
rus,  Crete,  Neb.;  R.  W.  Brown,  Neola,  la., 
and  Howard  Brookings,  Avoca,  la.,  were 
among  exhibitors  in  Omaha  for  the  Wil- 
liams funeral. 


50 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


Boom  Business  Still  3 Bills  Affecting  Trade 
Holds  in  Cleveland  Pending  in  Michigan 


Cleveland — Boom  times  have  hit  the 
local  first  runs  since  the  beginning  of  the 
year,  but  this  past  week  was  the  biggest 
since  1941  made  its  bow.  Kay  Kyser  at  the 
RKO  Palace  and  “GWTW”  in  its  second 
week  at  Loew’s  State,  scrambled  for  top 
honors,  with  “Kitty  Foyle”  in  its  third 
week  and  “This  Thing  Called  Love”  mak- 
ing enviable  showings.  Kay  Kyser  didn’t 
quite  hit  the  record  he  established  two 
years  ago  at  the  Palace,  but  he  had  ’em 
coming  in  in  droves.  Long  boxoffice  lines 
continued  for  a second  week  at  Loew’s 
State  where  “GWTW”  continued  to  do  sen- 
sational business  and  continued  in  first 
place  throughout  the  country.  It  moves 
to  the  Stillman  for  a third  consecutive 
week  downtown  at  popular  prices. 

Weather  was  average  for  winter,  with 
some  snow.  Hanna  Theatre  drew  only 
moderate  attendance  for  “Ladies  in  Re- 
tirement” starring  Flora  Robson  and 
Philip  Merivale.  Special  month-end  de- 
partment store  sales  brought  hordes  of 
people  to  the  shopping  centers,  to  the 
profit  of  the  theatres. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  31: 


(Average  is  100) 

Allen— Kitty  Foyle  (RKO)  150 

This  picture  has  played  3V2  weeks  downtown. 
First  11  days  at  the  Hippodrome  and  the  rest 
of  the  time  at  the  Allen. 

Hippodrome — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col)....  125 
It  moves  over  to  the  Allen  for  a second  week. 

Palace— Play  Girl  (RKO)  215 

Stage:  Kay  Kyser  and  his  crew  drew  the 
business.  Two  years  ago  he  established  the 
house  record. 

State— GWTW  (M-G-M)  155 

Second  week  at  this  theatre  and  moving  over 
to  the  Stillman  for  a third. 

Stillman — Dr.  Kildare’s  Crisis  (M-G-M) 90 

Circle — The  Baker’s  Wife  (Foreign) 150 

Holding  it  a second  week. 


Cincinnati  First  Runs 
KO'd  by  Weather 

Cincinnati — Sleet,  ice  and  bad  weather 
over  the  weekend  proved  the  knockout  for 
the  Queen  City  shows,  and  Saturday  and 
Sunday  business  was  at  its  lowest.  Im- 
proved conditions  during  the  week  didn’t 
help  business  which  continued  to  drag. 
The  new  week  opened  with  some  improve- 
ment and  better  weather  promises  a re- 
turn of  good  boxoffice.  The  holdovers 
managed  a better  showing  than  the  new 
features. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  31: 


(Average  is  100) 

Albee — Arizona  (Col)  85 

Moved  to  Capitol  for  second  week. 

Capitol — Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA),  2nd  wk 85 

Grand — Road  Show  (LTA)  50 

Keith’s — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col), 

2nd  wk.,  held  over  120 

Lyric — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox),  2nd  wk 70 

Palace — Second  Chorus  (Para’t)  85 

Shifted  to  Keith’s  for  second  week. 

Shubert — Maisie  Was  a Lady  (M-G-M),  plus 
stage  show  90 


Pittsburgh  First  Run 
Crown  to  "GWTW" 

Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh’s  David  O.  Sel- 
nick’s  epic  “Gone  With  the  Wind,”  in  its 
“popular  priced”  engagement  here,  after 
being  successfully  road-showed  for  ten 
weeks  a year  ago  in  the  Warner,  easily  led 


the  field  here  where  it  was  exhibited  four 
times  daily  in  Loew’s  Penn.  Despite  bitter 
winter  weather,  thousands  of  theatregoers 
stood  for  hours  awaiting  entrance,  and  a 
Penn  Avenue  exit  was  used  for  admittance 
at  the  “breaks”  of  the  show.  “GWTW” 
brought  additional  business  to  other  thea- 
tres too  when  many  of  those  who  could  not 
be  accommodated  turned  toward  a differ- 
ent show  shop.  It  was  held  over,  of  course, 
and  was  then  booked  to  be  moved  over  to 
the  Warner.  Columbia’s  “This  Thing 
Called  Love,”  which  won  a grand  news- 
paper “nod”  for  adults,  turned  in  one  of 
the  best  grosses  in  the  history  of  the 
Senator.  “Thief  of  Bagdad”  made  a good 
showing  in  the  Warner  after  a successful 
engagement  in  Loew’s  Penn,  and  was  then 
moved  over  to  the  Ritz.  Singer’s  Midgets 
of  1941  on  the  stage  of  the  Stanley  and 
“You’ll  Find  Out”  on  the  screen  was  under 
average,  and  Universal’s  “Invisible  Woman” 
and  the  same  company’s  “Where  Did  You 
Get  That  Girl”  fared  badly  at  the  Fulton. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  17: 


(Average  is  100) 

Barry — Charter  Pilot  (20th-Fox);  Lone  Wolf 

Keeps  a Bate  (Col)  100 

Fulton — Invisible  Woman  (Univ);  Where  Did 

You  Get  That  Girl  (Univ)  75 

Penn— Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M) 210 

Ritz — Comrade  X (M-G-M),  3rd  d.  t.  wk 110 

Senator — This  Thing  Called  Love  (Col) 180 

Stanley — You’ll  Find  Out  (RKO);  Singer’s 

Midgets  on  stage  90 

Warner— The  Thief  of  Bagdad  (UA),  2nd 

d.  t.  wk 120 


Holdovers  Do  Better  Than 
Newcomers  in  Detroit 

Detroit — Local  business  downtown  con- 
tinued in  the  doldrums,  as  the  flu  took  a 
heavier  toll  of  Detroiters  over  the  past 
week.  Theatres  have  begun  to  be  heavily 
hit,  after  discounting  the  earlier  drops  in 
attendance. 

Lack  of  strong  new  attractions  on  first 
run  screens  was  one  important  factor,  with 
a fair  number  of  pictures  holding  over,  but 
little  new  that  could  draw  the  cash  custo- 
mers in  paying  quantities.  Managers  gener- 
ally have  come  to  agree  that  a good  b.  o. 
picture  is  essential,  regardless  of  weather 
or  health  conditions,  and  expect  the  con- 
tinuing low  grosses  when  they  are  not 
available.  The  holdover  films,  incidentally, 
seemed  to  be  drawing  the  best  trade. 

Detail  for  week  ending  January  30: 


(Average  is  100) 

Adams — Arizona  (Col),  2nd  wk.,  after  8 days 
at  the  Fox;  Where  Did  You  Get  That  Girl 

(Univ)  100 

Cinema — He,  the  A'irgin  Man  (SR);  Mis- 
behaving Husbands  (PRC)  7 0 

Fox — Tall,  Dark  and  Handsome  (20th-Fox); 

Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox)  90 

Michigan — Tugboat  Annie  Sails  Again  (WB); 

Come  Live  With  Me  (M-G-M)  95 

Palms-State — Flight  Command  (M-G-M),  after 
wk.  at  the  Michigan;  Keeping  Company 

(M-G-M),  after  wk.  at  the  Michigan 85 

United  Artists — Maisie  Was  a Lady  (M-G-M); 
Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M),  3rd  wk 110 


Army  Unit  Set 

Detroit — A 1,000-seat  theatre,  erected 
by  the  Army  at  Fort  Custer  near  Battle 
Creek,  will  shortly  be  ready  to  open. 


By  H.  F.  REVES 

Detroit — Theatres  will  be  adversely  af- 
fected by  at  least  three  bills  now  before 
the  legislature,  a checkup  indicates.  None 
of  the  bills  introduced  is  directed  pri- 
marily at  theatres  or  the  amusement  in- 
dustry, but  several,  general  in  intent,  will 
have  important  effects  on  theatres  if 
passed. 

First  of  these  is  House  Bill  No.  15,  which 
would  require  a state  license  for  contract- 
ing or  journeymen  electricians,  and  which 
provides  that  “any  work  involved  in  ser- 
vicing, repairing,  etc.,  of  theatrical  equip- 
ment, such  as  motion  picture  projection 
equipment,  stereopticans,  floodlights,  spot- 
lights, and  other  stage  equipment”  must 
be  done  or  supervised  by  a contractor  or 
operating  engineer  licensed  under  the  act. 
Operators  would  have  to  become  licensed 
electricians  under  the  proposed  amend- 
ment, while  emergency  repairs,  such  as  on 
a burned-out  transformer,  would  have  to 
be  made  by  a regular  contracting  elec- 
trician, and  the  operator  would  have  to 
close  the  show  in  such  a case  instead  of 
making  his  own  repairs  as  at  present. 

This  bill,  aimed  primarily  to  cover  the 
general  electrical  field,  is  not  needed  in 
theatres,  and  an  amendment  completely 
excluding  theatres  is  proposed  by  the  oper- 
ators’ union  and  by  exhibitor  representa- 
tives, led  by  Cooperative  Theatres  of 
Michigan. 

Senate  Bill  44  proposes  a $16-a-week 
minimum  compensation  for  women  and 
girls  wherever  employed,  and  makes  no 
provision  for  part-time  workers. 

Senate  Bill  59  would  allow  Bingo  games 
to  be  conducted  by  churches  and  veterans 
and  fraternal  organizations. 


Crowding  First  Runs, 

But  Snub  Subseguents 

Cleveland — Local  exhibitors  want  to 
know  why  first-run  houses  are  drawing 
such  big  attendance  with  corresponding 
rise  in  grosses,  while  subsequent  runs  re- 
port the  bottom  has  dropped  out  of  their 
business. 

The  flu  epidemic  has  no  doubt  hit  out- 
lying houses  harder  than  downtowns  be- 
cause children  go  to  neighborhood  houses 
almost  exclusively. 

Some  in  local  theatre  circles  also  point 
out  thousands  of  re-employed  people  are 
now  attending  downtown  houses  for  the 
first  time  in  many  years  and  deserting  the 
neighborhoods  which  they  have  been 
patronizing  because  of  the  lower  admis- 
sion scales. 


Named  tor  F.  D . R . 

Pittsburgh — January  30,  which  happens 
to  be  President  Roosevelt’s  natal  day,  was 
a great  day  for  Jack  Adams,  doorman  at 
the  Roosevelt  Theatre  here.  For  on  that 
day  he  became  the  father  of  a IV2  pound 
boy.  The  new  arrival  has  appropriately 
been  named  F.  D.  R.  John  Adams  jr. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


ME 


51 


The  Boundaries 


Organize  in  Detroit  to 
Meet  Local  Problems 


Detroit — A new  exhibitor  organization 
is  taking  shape  here  as  Theatre  Owners, 
Inc.,  after  several  weeks  of  quiet  prepara- 
tory work.  The  new  body  now  includes 
most  of  the  larger  circuits  and  exhibitors 
of  the  city  including  practically  all  first 
and  second  run  houses. 

The  purpose  of  the  organization  is  to 
provide  local  exhibitors  with  one  central 
meeting  place  from  which  to  approach 
common  problems.  Under  the  setup,  ex- 
hibitors will  be  able  to  meet  and  go  over 
any  local  problems  as  they  arise. 

“It  will  be  a common  organization  repre- 
senting all  theatre  operators  in  Detroit  in 
all  matters  affecting  the  industry  as  a 
whole,”  a spokesman  for  the  new  body 

Arbitration  Board 
Set  in  Auto  City 

Detroit — Detroit’s  arbitration  system 
under  the  consent  decree  officially  got  un- 
der way  on  Saturday,  with  opening  of  of- 
fices at  861-863  Penobscot  Building  by  I. 
H.  Yackness,  clerk  of  the  local  tribunal. 
Offices  were  temporarily  across  the  hall 
for  the  first  two  or  three  days  while  re- 
decorating was  in  progress. 

The  setup  provides  a reception  room 
where  a secretary  will  be  stationed,  pri- 
vate office  for  the  clerk,  and  a commo- 
dious hearing  room  which  will  have  a large 
table  with  chairs  for  those  immediately 
concerned  in  the  case  being  heard,  to- 
gether with  folding  chairs  for  spectators. 
It  is  planned  to  have  accommodations 
for  about  50  persons. 

Yackness  had  received  no  complaints  or 
indications  of  intention  to  file  any  up  to 
Tuesday.  He  states  the  office  is  ready  to 
handle  all  complaints  and  that  procedure 
is  outlined  in  the  rules  of  arbitration  sup- 
plementary to  the  consent  decree  which 
may  be  secured  in  pamphlet  form  from  the 
tribunal  office.  (This  was  also  published  in 
Boxoffice,  Nov.  30,  1940).  Telephone  num- 
ber of  the  tribunal  office  is  Cherry  6560. 

Hearing  in  Detroit  on 
Proposed  Sign  Law 

Detroit — A new  hearing  on  Detroit’s 
projected  sign  ordinance  affecting  theatres 
was  set  for  Thursday  by  the  city  council. 
The  projected  ordinance  would  ban  red 
flashing  or  intermittent  signs  unless  they 
are  some  22  feet  above  sidewalk  level.  The 
city  now  has  a new  traffic  engineer,  and 
his  views  on  the  situation  are  expected  to 
be  presented  at  the  hearing. 


Johnny  Finley  to  Buffalo 

Wheeling,  W.  Va. — Johnny  Finley  has 
been  moved  to  Buffalo  from  the  Vic  here, 
to  manage  a neighborhood  house. 


says.  “The  problems  of  individual  theatres 
or  circuits  will  not  be  considered  in  any 
case,  but  only  those  problems  which  af- 
fect all  theatres  equally.” 

Membership  will  be  restricted  to  thea- 
tres within  Detroit.  Suburban  houses  of 
member  organizations  will  not  be  repre- 
sented. Thus,  it  is  pointed  out,  the  or- 
ganization will  be  solely  engaged  with  local 
problems. 

Civic  matters  in  which  the  trade  par- 
ticipates, such  as  charity  drives,  will  also 
be  handled  through  the  organization. 

William  Henry  Gallagher,  prominent 
Detroit  attorney,  has  been  named  presi- 
dent, and  Ray  Meurer,  attorney  for  UDT, 
is  executive  secretary  of  the  body. 

Impractical  to  Buy 
As  Unit— Buermele 

Detroit — Buying  as  a unit  under  the 
consent  decree  might  work  an  injustice  on 
individual  members  of  Cooperative  Thea- 
tres of  Michigan,  Carl  R.  Buermele,  gen- 
eral manager,  said  following  a study  of 
the  statement  issued  by  20th-Fox  on  book- 
ing cooperatives. 

Buermele  said  that  Co-Op  had  never 
bought  as  a unit,  and  that  special  considera- 
tions of  different  member  houses  made 
such  a policy  “impractical  or  impossible.” 

“If  we  bought  pictures  for  all  houses  as 
a unit,”  he  points  out,  “we  might  force 
some  of  our  member-exhibitors  to  buy  pic- 
tures that  they  didn’t  want  for  their  par- 
ticular houses.” 

Co-Op,  incidentally,  usually  signs  with 
practically  every  major  distributor,  or,  as 
last  year,  with  only  one  major  left  out,  in 
order  to  cover  the  houses  in  its  member- 
ship, so  that  no  one  house  could  possibly 
use  all  product  signed  up  by  the  organiza- 
tion as  a whole. 

Bank  Night  Ruled  Lottery 
In  Washington , O.,  Court 

Washington  C.  H.,  Ohio — In  a decision 
handed  down  by  Common  Pleas  Judge 
H.  M.  Rankin,  Bank  Night  as  conducted  at 
Hoy  Simons’  Fayette  Theatre  was  declared 
to  be  a lottery.  Action  had  been  delayed 
for  several  months  awaiting  a decision  by 
the  Ohio  supreme  court  on  the  Troy 
Amusement  Co.  case,  but  the  high  tribunal 
did  not  rule  on  the  legality  of  the  game. 
On  January  15  the  suit  was  reopened  when 
the  theatre  filed  a demurrer  to  prevent 
city  police  from  interfering  with  the  game, 
and  it  was  on  this  petition  that  the  court 
ruled. 

Judge  Rankin  held  that  the  chief  of  po- 
lice could  seize  the  equipment,  but  it  was 
not  to  be  destroyed.  City  Manager  Edwin 
Ducey  said  that,  unless  the  operation  of 
Bank  Night  was  discontinued  voluntarily, 
action  would  be  taken  to  stop  it. 


Where  exhibitors  will  go  to  file  or  answer 
complaints.  (See  map  on  opposite  page): 

CINCINNATI — Chamber  of  Commerce  Bldg., 
Lorenz  L.  Lemper,  tribunal  clerk.  The  area 
includes:  In  Ohio,  the  counties  of  Mercer, 
Drake,  Preble,  Butler,  Auglaize,  Shelby,  Mi- 
ami, Montgomery,  Warren,  Clermont,  Brown, 
Hamilton,  Adams,  Highland,  Clinton,  Greene, 
Clark,  Champaign,  Scioto,  Pike,  Ross,  Pick- 
away, Fayette,  Madison,  Franklin,  Union, 
Fairfield,  Hocking,  Vinton,  Jackson,  Lawrence, 
Gallia,  Meigs,  Athens,  Washington,  Monroe, 
Noble,  Morgan  and  Perry.  The  entire  state 
of  West  Virginia,  except  the  counties  listed 
for  the  Pittsburgh  board.  In  Kentucky,  the 
counties  of  Trimble,  Carroll,  Gallatin,  Boone, 
Kenton,  Bell,  Bracken,  Mason,  Lewis,  Green- 
up, Boyd,  Lawrence,  Martin,  Pike,  Letcher, 
Harlan,  Clark,  Campbell,  Pendleton,  Knox, 
Whitley,  McCreary,  Wayne,  Linton,  Cumber- 
land, Metcalfe,  Green,  Taylor,  Marion,  Wash- 
ington, Anderson,  Franklin,  Henry,  Russell, 
Adair,  Lee,  Wolfe,  Casey,  Boyle,  Mercer, 
Woodford,  Jessamine,  Garrard,  Lincoln,  Pula- 
ski, Rockcastle,  Laurel,  Clay,  Leslie,  Knott, 
Floyd,  Magoffin,  Johnson,  Carter,  Elliott,  Flem- 
ing, Rowan,  Bath,  Montgomery,  Robertson, 
Nicholas,  Owen,  Grant,  Scott,  Bourbon,  Har- 
rison, Fayette,  Powell,  Menifee,  Jackson,  Es- 
till,  and  Madison. 

• 

CLEVELAND— Standard  Bldg.,  Luke  H.  Ly- 
man, tribunal  clerk.  The  area  includes:  In 
Ohio,  all  the  counties  that  are  not  alloted 
above  to  the  Cincinnati  board. 


DETROIT — Penobscot  Bldg.,  I.  H.  Yackness, 
tribunal  clerk.  The  area  includes  all  the  coun- 
ties in  Michigan  except  the  following  north- 
ern counties:  Gogebic,  Ontonagon,  Houghton, 
Keweenaw,  Baraga,  Iron,  Marquette,  Dick- 
inson, Menominee,  Alger,  Delta,  Schoolcraft, 
Luce,  Mackinac  and  Chippewa. 

• 

PITTSBURGH— Investment  Bldg.,  William 
Alexander  Livingston,  tribunal  clerk.  The  area 
includes:  In  Pennsylvania,  the  counties  of 
Erie,  Warren,  McKean,  Potter,  Mercer,  Ven- 
ango, Forest,  Elk,  Cameron,  Clinton,  Law- 
rence, Butler,  Clarion,  Armstrong,  Jefferson, 
Indiana,  Clearfield,  Cambria,  Blair,  Center, 
Huntington,  Allegheny,  Westfall,  Washington, 
Greene,  Fayette,  Somerset,  Bedford  and  Ful- 
ton. In  West  Virginia,  the  counties  of  Han- 
cock, Brooke,  Ohio,  Marshall,  Wetzel,  Monon- 
galia, Preston,  Tucker,  Randolph,  Pocahontas, 
Webster,  Upshur,  Taylor,  Barbour,  Harrison, 
Dodd  Ridge,  Lewis,  Tyler,  Ritchie,  Gilmer, 
Marion,  Morgan  and  Taylor. 


52 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


ARBITRATION  DISTRICTS:  Cincinnati,  Cleveland,  Detroit,  Pittsburgh 


TRIBUNAL  CLERKS: 

(Area  detail  column  3 opposite  page) 

CINCINNATI — Lorenz  L.  Lemper,  Chamber  of  Commerce  Bldg. 
CLEVELAND— Luke  H.  Lyman.  Standard  Bldg. 

DETROIT — I.  H.  Yackness,  Penobscot  Bldg. 

PITTSBURGH — William  Alexander  Livingston,  Investment  Bldg. 


■ — Copyright  American  Map  Co.,  Inc. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


53 


UDT  and  W&W  Will 
Operate  Royal 

Detroit — The  Royal,  largest  of  Detroit’s 
several  new  theatres  of  recent  years, 
opened  Friday.  The  house  will  be  operated 
jointly  by  Detroit’s  two  largest  theatre 
circuits — United  Detroit  Theatres,  which  is 
a Paramount  affiliate,  and  Wisper  and 
Wetsman  Theatres,  independent  circuit 
which  is  the  largest  unit  in  Cooperative 
Theatres  of  Michigan. 

The  Royal  is  a second  run  of  2,500  seats. 
Booking  will  be  handled  independently  of 
either  W&W  or  UDT  regular  bookings,  al- 
though physical  handling,  for  convenience, 
will  go  through  existing  facilities. 

The  house  was  set  to  open  on  December 
27,  and  tickets  were  actually  sold  to  some 
hundreds  of  a crowd  estimated  at  3,000  to 
4,000  when  it  was  announced  the  house 
would  not  open  because  of  refusal  of  the 
management  to  accede  to  IATSE  demands 
to  employ  a stagehand.  This  resulted  in  a 
decision  of  Roger  M.  Kennedy,  IA  vice- 
president,  to  order  the  operators  out  late 
that  afternoon.  The  management  con- 
tended that  since  there  was  no  stage  show, 
there  was  no  room  for  employment  of  a 
stagehand.  The  union,  on  the  other  hand, 
contended  there  was  sufficient  mainten- 
ance work  within  the  stagehands’  jurisdic- 
tion to  justify  employing  one  man. 

The  situation  remained  at  a standstill 
until  the  compromise  settlement  this  past 
week  following  conferences  between  Ken- 
nedy and  Earl  J.  Hudson,  UDT  president. 
Details  of  the  settlement  were  covered  in  a 
joint  statement  issued  by  Hudson  and  Ken- 
nedy following  the  final  conference: 

“Through  a readjustment  of  the  main- 
tenance of  UDT,  which  owns  a 50  per  cent 
interest  in  the  Royal,  such  maintenance 
work  found  to  be  necessary  at  the  Royal 
and  which  is  properly  within  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  Stagehands’  Union,  will  be 
handled  by  a member  of  that  union  who 
is  employed  as  a regular  staff  member  of 
the  UDT  maintenance  department.” 


John  Harris  Signs  Autry 
For  the  Rodeo  Season 

Pittsburgh — Gene  Autry  has  signed  a 
contract  with  John  H.  Harris,  local 
theatrical  and  sports  magnate,  whereby 
the  Republic  star  will  earn  more  than 
$100,000  during  the  rodeo  season  of  March 
and  April. 

Harris,  as  president  of  the  Arena  Man- 
agers’ Ass’n,  stated  that  the  popular  cow- 
boy will  make  appearances  in  ten  or  pos- 
sibly a dozen  cities.  Autry  flew  from 
California  to  New  York  to  meet  Harris  and 
conclude  the  deal.  Republic’s  production 
schedule  is  being  reshuffled  to  give  Gene 
this  leave  of  absence  but  the  Autry  films 
will  not  be  late  in  release. 

Autry  has  made  various  public  appear- 
ances here  at  theatres  and  at  the  “Inter- 
national Rodeo.”  His  last  appearance  here 
at  the  rodeo  was  a record-breaker,  and 
last  October  when  the  Republic  star 
stopped  at  the  county  airport  en  route  to 
New  York  with  “Champ,”  his  horse,  he 
was  greeted  by  5,000  fans. 


Reunion — 

Pictured  together  after  many  long 
years  are  the  pioneers  who  popularized 
motion  pictures  in  the  Pittsburgh  area. 
Richard  A.  Rowland  and  James  B. 
Clark.  Yes,  Rowland  & Clark.  Their 
theatres,  operated  as  one  of  the  first 
important  independent  circuits,  were 
absolute  tops  during  their  many  years 
of  service.  The  younger  generation 
may  not  stir  at  the  mention  of  Row- 
land & Clark  but  the  oldtimers  will 
clip  this  picture  from  Boxoffice  for 
their  memory  book.  The  happy  reunion 
came  about  last  week  when  “Dick” 
Rowland  returned  to  his  home  town  to 
offer  a trade  screening  of  his  new  pro- 
duction for  United  Artists  release, 
“Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop.” 

Subsequent'  Price 
Juggling  Worries 

Detroit — Admission  prices  in  Detroit, 
which  have  gone  unchanged  generally  for 
a year  aside  from  adjustments  when  the 
Michigan  and  Fox  put  in  stage  shows  last 
summer  and  the  general  addition  of  the 
defense  tax,  are  again  in  the  limelight. 

At  present,  focus  of  attention  is  on  the 
subsequent  runs,  right  down  to  typical 
last-run  houses  around  the  15-cent  level. 
Typical  of  the  situation  was  the  move  of 
the  Esquire  sometime  back  of  dropping 
admissions  in  this  big  new  house  to  15 
cents,  apparently  because  of  inability  to 
get  better  run  preference  in  a competitive 
situation. 

Disturbed  by  Trend 

With  plenty  of  local  exhibitors  thinking 
that  prices  should  be  raised  as  soon  as 
business  recovers  enough  to  permit  ad- 
justment to  rising  costs  of  living,  local  in- 
dustry leaders  have  become  disturbed  over 
threats  to  the  existing  price  setup  at  the 
lower  price  levels. 

“Some  theatre  interests  have  been  tak- 
ing over  several  small  houses  and  operat- 
ing for  prices  as  low  as  five  and  ten  cent 
admissions  through  special  coupon  ar- 
rangements,” Carl  R.  Buermele,  general 
manager  of  Cooperative  Theatres  of  Michi- 
man,  says. 

Although  declining  to  name  specifically 
houses  mentioned,  Buermele  continues, 
“This  price  reduction  is  distinctly  contrary 
to  the  policy  of  leading  exhibitors,  includ- 
ing Cooperative.  We  feel  here,  on  the  con- 
trary, that  a raise  is  called  for.” 


Newsreel  House  in 
Cleveland  Bows 

Cleveland — Event  of  the  week  was  the 
opening  of  the  new  488-seat  Telenews  on 
lower  Euclid  Avenue  by  Herbert  Scheftel, 
president  of  the  Cleveland  Newsreel  Thea- 
tre Co. 

Two  elaborate  previews  preceded  the 
formal  turning  over  of  the  theatre  to  the 
public  on  Saturday.  Members  of  the  press, 
civic  officials,  representatives  of  the  cham- 
ber of  commerce,  and  other  important 
groups,  were  entertained  Wednesday  at  a 
cocktail  party  in  the  elaborate  lounge  lo- 
cated on  the  lower  floor  of  the  theatre, 
then  were  taken  on  an  inspection  tour  of 
the  house.  A trade  preview  of  both  the 
theatre  and  films  was  held  at  two  perform- 
ances Friday  night,  one  at  8 o’clock,  the 
other  at  9. 

The  Telenews  was  built  at  a cost  of 
$200,000.  Furnishings  of  the  lounge,  in- 
cluding a permanent  modern  art  display, 
are  said  to  have  cost  $25,000.  The  paint- 
ings— the  work  of  leading  modems — will  be 
changed  periodically,  according  to  Scheftel. 

Admission  scale  is  set  at  28  cents,  tax 
included,  for  adults  at  all  performances 
and  children  10  cents. 

Shows  consisting  of  specially  edited 
newsreels  and  shorts  of  a factual  nature 
will  be  confined  to  an  hour.  Programs  will 
change  weekly  on  Friday. 

Scheftel  will  remain  in  Cleveland  for 
several  weeks  to  see  his  project  properly 
launched.  Publicity  is  in  the  hands  of  El- 
mer Wiener  and  Irving  Ruben,  formerly 
with  Warner  Bros.,  has  been  named  house 
manager. 

Other  Telenews  units  are  now  being 
operated  in  New  York,  Chicago  and  San 
Francisco.  Another  is  about  to  be  built  in 
Detroit. 


Endorses  Telenews' 

One-Hour  Programs 

Cleveland — -The  Cleveland  Cinema  Club, 
in  its  most  recent  bulletin,  officially  en- 
dorses the  new  Telenews,  which  confines 
its  program  to  one  hour  of  short  subjects 
including  newsreel,  travel  pictures  and 
factual  subjects. 

The  bulletin  states  that  the  club  has 
long  urged  a short  reel  theatre  because  (a) 
many  people  genuinely  like  a varied  pro- 
gram of  short  subjects,  including  the  latest 
newsreels,  (b)  fine  shorts  deserve  featured 
advertising  and  library  exploitation,  (c) 
such  a program  is  more  suitable  for  chil- 
dren than  the  standard  ones. 

Warner  Club's  Annual 
Party  Held  in  Canton 

Canton,  Ohio — Annual  Warner  Club 
party  was  held  January  26  at  a night  club, 
with  more  than  40  members  and  guests  in 
attendance.  An  informal  program  of  en- 
tertainment and  a buffet  supper  followed 
the  dancing.  Manager  William  Harwell  of 
the  Ohio  Theatre,  entertained  with  sev- 
eral guitar  numbers.  Among  the  guests 
were  George  A.  Delis,  district  manager  for 
Interstate  Theatres,  with  headquarters 
here;  Ralph  Russell,  assistant  manager  of 
the  Palace;  R.  Jay  Myers  jr.,  and  others. 


54 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


Adjourn  Midwest 
Suit  to  March  4 

Detroit — The  suit  of  Midwest  Theatres 
against  Cooperative  Theatres  of  Michigan, 
one  of  several  theatrical  suits  now  before 
local  courts,  was  postponed  on  Monday 
for  four  weeks  until  March  4 because  of 
pressure  of  other  court  business. 

The  companion  suit  of  Jacob  Schreiber, 
former  owner  of  the  houses  now  constitut- 
ing the  Midwest  circuit,  against  Midwest 
Theatres,  was  postponed  until  March  18 
by  Judge  Ira  W.  Jayne,  presiding  judge  of 
the  Wayne  county  circuit  court.  A trial 
judge  has  not  yet  been  assigned  to  this 
case. 

Both  suits  came  up  last  week  on  the 
same  day  but  in  different  courts,  and  pre- 
sented a slight  problem  for  attorneys  and 
principals  until  the  dual  postponements. 


J^OOKEE,  you  friends  of  Joe  Minsky,  Vita- 
graph  city  salesman  now  learning  the 
art  of  marching  in  step.  His  new  address 
is  Company  A,  112th  Engineers  Combat, 
APO-37,  Camp  Shelby,  Miss.  . . . Colony 
Theatre  will  host  the  Warner  Club  at  its 
Valentine  Party  on  the  14th  . . . Leo  De- 
vaney,  one-time  Universal  manager  here, 
and  now  occupying  the  driver’s  seat  in 
RKO’s  Depinet  drive,  was  in  town  giving 
the  RKO-ers  a pep  talk. 

Mrs.  Lena  Stillwell,  owner  of  the  Bed- 
ford, Bedford,  postcards  friends  from  Hot 
Sprvigs,  Ark.,  where  she  is  vacationing  . . . 
Louis  Eick  of  Martins  Ferry  drove  up  to 
Filmrow  last  Monday  . . . The  Esquire, 
Toledo,  opened  January  30.  Wally  Caldwell, 
formerly  manager  of  Loew’s  Valentine  and 
lessee  of  the  new  Esquire,  staged  a “Hol- 
lywood opening”  with  kleig  lights  and  lots 
of  fanfare.  Among  Cleveland  film  folks 


who  attended  were  Herbert  Ochs  and  Col. 
Harry  E.  Long  of  Pioneer  Pictures  Co. 

Prom  M.  M.  Jacobs  of  Imperial  Pictures 
it  is  learned  that  four  prints  of  “Some- 
thing to  Sing  About”  are  working  the  ter- 
ritory and  that  he  is  getting  representative 
bookings  on  “Murder  at  the  Baskervilles,” 
“I  Demand  Payment,”  “Vengeance  of  the 
Deep”  and  “Hell’s  Crossroads,”  the  lat- 
ter a King  Vidor  production  . . . The  I.  J. 
Schmertzes  of  20th-Fox  are  back  from 
Florida  . . . Steve  Broidy,  Monogram  sales 
manager,  spent  a few  days  here  getting  ac- 
quainted . . . Fritz  Vermes  dons  khaki  on 
February  10  to  join  the  boys  at  Camp 
Shelby. 

Jane  Roberts,  daughter  of  20 th-Fox’s 
district  manager,  George  Roberts,  and  a 
senior  at  Columbia  law  school,  was  a guest 
of  President  and  Mrs.  Roosevelt  at  the  in- 
auguration . . . Meyer  Fine  of  the  Asso- 
ciated circuit  and  his  family  leave  here 
February  14  for  Florida  . . . The  Max  Lef- 
kowiches  of  the  Community  circuit  join 
the  Florida  film  folk  some  time  next  week 
. . . John  Tender  of  Lorain  in  town. 


J^USS  EGRY  and  Bill  Lyzott  of  Altec  are 
back  on  the  job  following  flu  attacks 
which  put  them  in  bed  . . . W.  Conner, 
Altec  district  manager,  and  M.  G.  Thomas, 
district  supervisor,  are  the  latest  additions 
to  the  Queen  City  Variety  Club  . . . Metro’s 
office  manager,  Bill  Weigel,  has  recovered 
from  an  attack  of  appendicitis,  which  con- 
fined him  to  his  bed  for  one  day. 

Stanley  Jacques,  RKO  exchange  man- 
ager, and  Col.  Arthur  Frudenfeld,  general 
manager  of  RKO  Theatres,  headed  rival 
teams  at  the  opening  of  the  Dick  Bray 
Sports  Quiz  program  inaugurated  at  the 
Paramount  as  a weekly  feature.  Wilbur 
Heatherington,  Gus  Boudot  and  Manny 
Trautenberg  aided  Jacques  in  carrying  off 
the  jackpot.  Business  perked  up  consider- 
ably for  the  innovation  ...  A preview  of 
UA’s  “Cheers  for  Miss  Bishop,”  preceded 
by  a luncheon  with  Harris  Dudelson  as 
host,  was  a high  light  of  the  exhibitor’s 
calendar.  Reaction  was  gratifying.  Guests 
also  included  the  local  motion  picture 
council  and  the  press  . . . “Western  Union,” 
20 th-Fox  feature,  was  screened  at  the  ex- 
change  for  the  sales  force. 

Leo  Devaney,  Depinet  drive  captain  and 
RKO  district  manager;  Charles  Boasberg, 
and  Harry  Gittelson,  held  a pep  meeting 
at  the  local  exchange.  The  drive  began 
January  25  and  lasts  until  May  9.  Liberal 
cash  prizes  are  being  offered  and  the  local 
gang  is  out  for  blood.  Exhibitors  puleeze 
take  notice  . . . Columbia’s  Lee  Heidens- 
feld  is  leaving  next  month  for  service  with 
Uncle  Sam  as  a member  of  the  National 
Guard  . . . Louis  Wiethe  has  taken  over 
MacDonald’s  Palace  at  Ada,  Ohio,  this 
being  the  third  of  the  MacDonald  chain 
to  be  acquired  by  Wiethe.  He  also  operates 
the  Bond  here. 

Tony  Sauer’s  party  for  local  bookers  was 
a very  successful  affair.  Thirty-five  book- 
ers, with  several  special  guests,  attended 
. . . “Back  Street”  was  to  have  its  local  ter- 
ritorial showings  in  Dayton,  Lexington, 
Cincinnati,  Springfield  and  Columbus 


where  the  feature  was  booked  to  open  on 
the  1th.  Universal’s  Peter  Rosian  antici- 
pates big  business  on  the  feature  . . . Les- 
ter Rosenfeld  consulted  with  the  F&Y  Con- 
struction Co.  this  week  regarding  his  new 
theatre  to  be  erected  in  Dunbar,  W.  Va. 
It  will  seat  650. 

James  E.  Rogers,  formerly  with  Park, 
Huntington,  expects  to  open  the  Beverly 
at  Huntington,  February  11.  Erected  by 
F&Y,  it  has  approximately  650  seats  . . . 
Mrs.  John  Walters  of  the  Walters  circuit 
has  been  confined  to  her  bed  by  illness 
. . . Maurice  White,  prexy  of  United  Thea- 
tres, is  contemplating  a sojourn  in  Florida 
. . . E.  V.  Dinerman,  RKO  publicity,  is 
back  on  the  job  after  a Miami  vacation 
with  the  Mrs.  . . . Mannie  Shore  has  com- 
pleted all  plans  for  the  construction  of  a 
completely  modern  $65,000  theatre  at  War, 
W.  Va.  The  house  will  seat  1,200  per- 
sons and  is  expected  to  be  in  operation 
in  three  months.  Shore  also  operates  the 
present  house  in  War. 


John  C.  Wein,  RKO,  has  resigned  as 
president  of  Film  Exchange  Employes 
union  to  become  business  manager,  suc- 
ceeding Ira  Becksted  . . . Maurice  Druker, 
who  is  pinch  hitting  for  Everett  Steinbuck 
as  manager  of  Loew’s  State,  wonders 
where  all  the  people  are  coming  from  who 
are  crowding  into  the  theatre  to  see 
“GWTW”  . . . Ted  Teschner,  manager  at 
Loew’s  Stillman,  is  delighted  with  his  new- 
ly decorated  office  . . . The  Scoville,  Essick 
& Reif  office  in  the  Film  Bldg,  is  under- 
going a face-lifting  . . . Mrs.  Dale  Capell  of 
Findlay  and  Carey,  and  wife  of  the  former 
owner  of  the  Carey,  Carey,  died  last  week 
at  St.  Petersburg,  Fla. 


New  Attendance  Plan 

Cleveland — Maurice  Zell,  who  has  pro- 
moted attendance  plans  on  the  west  coast 
for  some  time,  has  arrived  in  Cleveland 
to  market  a new  theatre  stimulant  propo- 
sition, designed  to  create  a home  educa- 
tional desire. 


MAURICE  ZELL 

Is  now  in  CLEVELAND  with  Head- 
quarters at  the  Hollenden  Hotel. 

Write  — Phone  — or  Wire  from  Any  Part 
of  the  United  States 
and  you  will  receive  at  once  the  proper  information  how  you  can 
increase  your  attendance  without  investing  a single  penny.  A SMART 
MANAGER  will  be  the  FIRST  ONE  in  his  location.  Phone:  MAin  4700. 


BOXOFFICE  ; : February  8,  1941 


55 


ID)  IE  T R €>  I T 


^ICK  FLEMION,  PRC  booker  and  son 
of  the  branch  manager,  was  rushed  to 
the  hospital  for  an  appendectomy  . . . 
Carl  R.  Buermele,  Co-Op  general  manager, 
recovering  from  a severe  case  of  flu  . . . 
Jack  Moss  of  DeVry  is  celebrating  his 
third-of-a-century  in  motion  pictures.  He 
started  in  1907  in  Philadelphia  . . . Henry 
Zapp,  Co-Op  booker,  reminiscing  of  his 
days  as  a salesman. 

Jack  Hurford  sr.  of  the  Fox  seen  en- 
joying a lone  Thursday  supper  at  Sam 
Harris’  . . . Ernie  Forbes,  supply  man,  and 
his  wife  are  enjoying  Florida  breezes  . . . 
Charlie  Garner,  veteran  filmite  of  Allied 
Films,  has  recovered  from  intestinal  flu 
. . . Clare  Winnie,  manager  of  the  Wol- 
verine, recovering  from  arthritis,  has  lost 
plenty  of  weight. 

Eddie  Jacobson,  manager  of  the  Park- 
side,  lunching  with  his  almost-mother-in- 
law  . . . W.  Russell  Young  visiting  H.  V. 
Gilbert  of  Allied  Films  . . . Don  Glennie, 
Republic  booker,  has  resigned  to  go  on  the 
road  as  manager  for  his  wife,  well  known 
evangelist  known  as  Donna  Dalrymple. 

A new  independent  exchange  is  in  the 
making  as  soon  as  a couple  of  filmites 
decide  to  make  the  jump  . . . Howard  C. 
Denial,  assistant  manager  of  the  RKO  Up- 
town, lunching  with  his  opposition-to-be, 
Sol  Krim  . . . William  Scharun  is  repre- 
senting Universal  Theatre  Premium  Co. 
He  has  offices  in  the  Fox  Theatre  Bldg. 

UDT  managers  Clark  Field,  Grant  Haw- 
kins and  Frank  Upton  were  winners  in 
the  Barney  Balaban  Drive  . . . Wisper  & 
Wetsman  will  have  their  new  Deai'born 
ready  for  opening  in  about  three  weeks 
. . . Maybe  there’s  nothing  in  a name,  but 
two  of  the  three  high-rollers  recently  in 
the  Nightingale  Club  League  were  Bill 
Fouchey  and  Stanley  Bouchey  . . . Mrs. 
William  Flemion,  wife  of  the  PRC  mana- 
ger, is  back  from  the  hospital  convales- 
cing from  pneumonia  . . . Saul  Sloan,  De- 
troit theatre  builder,  has  registered  the 
name  of  Mercury  for  his  next  one. 

Mrs.  John  R.  McPherson,  wife  of  the 
National  Screen  Service  manager  who  has 
been  in  poor  health,  has  gone  to  Califor- 
nia to  convalesce.  “Mac”  has  had  more 
than  his  share,  with  his  mother  seriously 
ill  as  well  . . . Cliff  Brown  and  Bill  Hen- 
dricks expect  to  be  the  first  UDT-ites 
called  up  for  service  . . . Herbert  Biber- 
man,  director,  in  town  addressing  the  De- 
troit Peace  Mobilization. 

Tom  McGuire,  Co-op’s  publicity  chief, 
up  to  Lansing  for  a day  and  busy  fight- 
ing a bad  cold  . . . Milton  Jacobson,  man- 
ager of  Sam  Mintz’s  Monroe,  is  plugging 
William  J.  Cody  and  Bland  Pugh  for  the 
circuit  bench  . . . Lou  Wisper,  circuit 
operator,  has  been  on  the  sick  list  . . . 
Freddie  Schader,  completing  a nice  job  on 
the  British  relief  show  at  the  Coliseum, 
is  back  captaining  the  Wilson. 

C.  V.  Munz’s  Century  had  a Saturday 
midnight  benefit  for  the  Detroit  Lions’ 
Blind  Benefit  Fund  . . . Ray  Schreiber  had 
a stage  wedding  Thursday  for  two  mem- 
bers of  the  “American  Beauties  on  Parade” 


unit  as  an  added  attraction  at  his  Colonial 
. . . Rumors,  unconfirmed,  that  Jake 
Schreiber,  veteran  Detroit  showman,  may 
sooji  return  to  active  management  pos- 
sibly at  the  new  house  in  Highland  Park 
being  built  by  the  Krims. 

Fred  Strubank,  Republic  salesman,  re- 
ports after  a survey  of  his  territory,  that 
exhibitors  are  unanimous  about  Gene  Au- 
try drawing  more  customers  than  any  oth- 
er star  . . . Ben  Cohen,  circuiteer,  expects 
to  stay  in  Florida  a few  weeks  longer, 
cancelling  his  plans  for  an  early  return 
. . . Alice  Russell,  Film  Building  elevator 
girl,  has  left.  Martha  Rohder  is  the  dark 
lassie  who  takes  you  up;  Violet  Fleming 
is  the  other  vivacious  newcomer. 

Bill  Flemion  has  picked  his  welfare  com- 
mittee for  Variety  Club  from  every  branch 
of  the  industry  . . . Frank  Butterfield, 
manager  of  the  Strand,  Lansing,  and  War- 
ren A.  Slee,  M-G-M  exploiteer,  interviewed 
Gov.  Murray  D.  Van  Wagoner  in  connec- 
tion with  the  showing  of  “Land  of  Liberty” 
. . . F.  E.  “Swede”  Ackerman,  Butterfield 
manager  at  Bay  City,  besides  being  an 
expert  at  sundry  dialects,  he  thmks,  is 
entering  Helene,  his  prize  pussy,  in  the 
big  cat  show. 

Ray  Branch,  Allied  president,  back  from 
Washington  . . . Pearl  M.  Sprott,  Allied 
office  manager,  was  in  Lansing  looking 
over  the  legislature  . . . Joan  Leslie  of 
Highland  Park,  whom  Detroiters  knew  in 
local  shows  as  Joan  Brodel,  will  be  lead- 
ing lady  in  the  forthcoming  “Sergeant 
York”  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harold  Schuc- 
kert,  who  have  a house  at  Caro,  are  va- 
cationing with  Ernie  Forbes  down  Florida 
way. 

ft  ft 

: With  the  " Smiths " : 

^ j 

Detroit — The  premiere  of  “Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Smith”  at  the  Michigan  was  one  of 
the  big  industry  events  of  the  winter  . . . 
C.  E.  O’Bryan,  house  manager,  was  busy 
handling  things  at  the  front  entrance  . . . 
Supervisor  Bob  Corbin  officially  on  duty, 
while  Asher  Shaw  and  Joe  Busic  were  out 
for  a showman’s  holiday  . . . Ralph  F.  Stitt 
also  congregated  at  the  front  door  . . . 
Bill  Hendricks,  UDT  exploiteer,  on  hand 
and  enjoying  himself  . . . Alice  Gorham  of- 
ficially hostess-ing  by  the  door  for  UDT — 
and  sweetly  too. 


Mrs.  Charlie  Perry  attended  with  “the 
girls” — the  chief  was  over  at  Variety  Club 
for  the  directors’  meet  . . . Milton  Cohen 
sitting  right  on  the  center  aisle  . . . James 
F.  Sharkey,  RKO  manager,  and  Mrs. 
Sharkey  had  the  center  front  row  seats, 
and  did  a nice  job  of  hosting  the  whole 
event  . . . Carmen  Morales  on  deck  among 
the  gals  from  RKO  . . . Freddie  Bonnem 
also  assisting  with  the  honors  . . . Among 
others  seen:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eddie  Heiber 
(Universal  manager) ; Art  Robinson  of  the 
Belle  and  the  Mrs.;  John  R.  McPherson 
of  National  Screen  Service;  Charlie  Gen- 
try, Detroit  Times  critic,  and  Art  Koskie 
and  Miss  Bacon  of  the  Butterfield  offices. 


Wheeler  Was  Just 
Too  Much  lor  Her 

Pittsburgh — Pressure  groups  in  the  in- 
dustry are  an  old  story  to  Florence  Fisher 
Parry,  who  conducts  the  “I  Dare  Say” 
column  in  the  Pittsburgh  Press.  On  occa- 
sion, they  have  received  her  relatively 
mild  attention,  but  Sen.  Burton  K. 
Wheeler’s  attack  on  the  industry  for  pro- 
ducing “war  propaganda”  pictures  was 
just  too  much.  So  she  let  herself  go  this 
way  in  stating  the  industry’s  case: 

“I  don’t  know  where  the  movie  indus- 
try draws  its  patience  from!  It  has  been 
the  scapegoat  for  political,  religious,  ar- 
tistic, international,  civic  and  every-other- 
kind-of-persecution  ever  since  it  was  born. 
It  has  spent  more  wealth,  employed  more 
people,  circulated  more  money,  furnished 
more  pleasure,  occupied  more  real  estate, 
created  more  magazines,  paid  for  more 
newspaper  advertising,  engaged  more  read- 
er interest,  encouraged  more  style  trends, 
benefited  more  women  by  making  them 
beauty  conscious  (hence  health  conscious) , 
educated  more  children  (yes  EDUCATED 
them:  the  movies  are  the  greatest  supple- 
mentary education  the  public  schools  have 
today) ; increased  more  general  knowl- 
edge, paid  more  taxes,  solved  more  social 
problems  by  providing  cheap  entertain- 
ment, fostered  more  talent  along  every 
creative  line,  paid  higher  wages  and  sal- 
aries, developed  more  talent  than  any 
other  one  institution,  industry  or  art  on 
earth. 

“Yet  it  is  buffeted  about  in  Congress 
at  every  pretext,  pilloried  by  every  ‘in- 
vestigation’ body;  it  is  ridiculed,  defamed, 
belittled,  misrepresented,  insulted;  it  is  at- 
tacked, censured,  censored,  maligned  . . . 

“Why?  Why?  Why  make  the  movies 
the  scapegoat?” 


Condemn  Drinking  Scenes 
And  War  Glorification 

Columbus — The  glorification  of  war 
and  drinking  scenes  in  films  were  con- 
demned at  the  Ohio  pastors’  convention 
here.  In  a report  approved  at  the  final 
session,  the  pastors  pointed  out,  however, 
that  they  were  not  handing  down  a blanket 
indictment  of  pictures. 


Refurbish  in  Pittsburgh 

Pittsburgh — The  Melrose,  1,100-seat 
house,  is  getting  new  RCA  sound  in  a re- 
furbishing project. 

ft  * 

Drive  to  Enforce 
Detroit  Curfew 

Detroit — A drive  to  enforce  the  curfew 
ordinance  affecting  attendance  of  chil- 
dren at  theatres,  is  under  way.  Opening 
of  the  drive  was  fired  last  week  by  the 
convictions  of  and  fines  assessed  against 
two  Woodward  Avenue  theatre  managers 
in  traffic  court. 

(S  ■ 


56 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


J|MPTO  OP  W.  PA.  was  represented  by 
seven  members  at  the  annual  na- 
tional Allied  directors’  meeting  in  Wash- 
ington last  week.  They  included  Fred  J. 
Herrington,  representative  on  the  board, 
and  Fred  A.  Beedle,  local  prexy;  M.  A. 
Rosenberg,  William  R.  Wheat  jr.,  William 
and  Harry  Walker  and  A.  P.  Way.  Rosen- 
berg, who  was  renamed  to  the  national  Al- 
lied executive  committee,  traveled  to  New 
York  before  returning  here  . . . Billy  Bein 
of  National  Screen  Service’s  Advertising  Ac- 
cesories,  who  has  been  devoting  much  of 
his  time  in  the  local  area,  is  observing  his 
21st  year  in  the  poster  exchange  business. 
He  entered  this  service  field  in  Cincinnati 
in  1920  and  was  a successful  operator  for 
two-score  years.  Bein  sold  his  interests  to 
NSS-AA  a year  or  so  ago  and  at  that  time 
accepted  an  executive  position  with  this 
company. 

Art  Levy  and  Joe  Gins  were  "kings”  for 
the  Variety  Club’s  dinner,  February  3. 
The  Tony  Sterns  were  in  charge  of  the 
January  31  family  night  party.  Variety’s 
national  convention  dates  have  been 
changed  and  set  back  to  May  15-16-17. 
The  place  is  Atlantic  City  and  20  local 
barkers,  those  showing  the  best  yearly 
record  for  Monday  dinner  attendance,  will 
receive  part  expenses  to  the  resort  . . . J. 
F.  O’Donnell,  Monogram  auditor,  has  been 
checking  the  local  branch  accounts  . . . 
Congressman  Samuel  A.  Weiss,  cousin  of 
the  McKeesport  exhibitor,  Al  Weiss,  who 
introduced  the  bill  at  Harrisburg  making 
Pennsylvania  the  first  state  to  observe 
Flag  Day  as  a legal  holiday,  is  working 
for  a national  holiday  in  honor  of  “ Old 
Glory”  . . . Theatres  grosses  are  remain- 
ing on  the  same  general  level  here,  al- 
though the  mills  are  booming  . . . Cecelia 
Carpe  has  resigned  her  20 th-Fox  duties 
and  has  joined  the  government  as  a 
stenographer  in  the  Navy  department  at 
Munhall. 

Local  RKO  gang,  or  “the  quota  wreck- 
ers” as  they  term  themselves,  last  week 
welcomed  Leo  Devaney,  captain  in  the 
Ned  Depinet  drive;  Harry  Gittleson,  editor 
of  RKO’s  house  organ,  Flash,  and  Nat 
Levy,  district  manager,  who  arrived  for  a 
special  conference.  Herb  Greenblatt’s  boys 
bannered  the  exchange  with  “welcomes” 
and  offered  solemn  pledges  of  loyalty  and 
unswerving  determination.  Representatives 
of  NSS-AA,  who  handle  RKO’s  accessories, 
attended  the  special  Depinet  meeting 
which  was  held  at  the  exchange.  “Con- 
voy” was  screened  at  the  end  of  the  ses- 
sion. 

Art  Levy,  Columbia  manager,  was  down 
with  the  flu  and  absent  from  his  office 
. . . M-G-M’s  Pep  Club  celebrated  its  14t7i 
anniversary  recently  with  a party  at  the 
exchange  which  concluded  with  a screen- 
ing. Allan  Tolley  is  president  of  the  club 
. . . Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  R.  Wood,  Apollo  ex- 
hibitors for  a quarter  of  a century,  who 
recently  retired,  are  wintering  in  Florida 
. . . Nick  Petroska,  recently  re-elected 
business  agent  of  the  Charleroi  operators’ 
local,  was  killed  in  an  auto  accident  near 
Romney,  W.  Va.  He  was  an  operator  at 
the  Bison,  Brownsville. 

Milton  Golden,  22,  assistant  manager  at 
the  Squirrel  Hill,  and  son  of  the  old  war 


horse,  Mannie  Golden,  operator  of  the  New 
McClure,  has  received  his  appointment  as 
a cadet  pilot  in  the  U.  S.  army  and  will 
be  called  into  service  by  mid-March  . . . 
Tom  Anas,  a Filmrow  booker  the  other  day, 
reported  that  the  flu  epidemic  has  petered 
out  and  that  Hancock  county  (W.  Va.) 
theatres  are  open  for  business  after  having 
been  closed  for  four  days  and  operating 
for  a week  and  a half  with  children  not 
admitted  . . . Steve  Broidy  visited  here  for 
several  days  last  week  for  the  first  time  as 
Monogram  general  sales  manager.  The 
well-known  Boston  film  man  and  Mark 
Goldman,  local  Monogram  manager,  con- 
ferred on  product  and  grosses. 

Local  educators,  civic  leaders  and  repre- 
sentatives of  the  various  patriotic  and  ser- 
vice organizations  attended  a special  pre- 
view of  "Land  of  Liberty”  last  Monday 
evening  at  Loew’s  screening  room.  The 
Fulton  feature  is  receiving  the  coopera- 
tion of  newspapers  and  at  least  one  radio 
station.  AMPTO  of  W.  Pa.,  by  resolution, 
has  approved  "Land  of  Liberty”  and  has 
urged  all  theatres  to  cooperate  in  every 
way  with  M-G-M  in  the  exhibition  of  this 
feature  . . . Mrs.  Ada  C.  Morgan,  77, 
mother-in-law  of  Kaspar  Monahan,  Press 
drama  editor,  died  in  Shadyside  Hospital 
of  pneumonia. 

The  new  UA  drive  is  being  featured  in 
Abe  Weiner’s  office  with  a horse  race 
board,  which  will  spot  the  various  branch 
exchanges  with  entries  and  which  will  in- 
dicate weekly  progress.  The  Pittsburgh 
horse  is  on  the  outside  line  . . . Nixon  re- 
lighted for  the  week  of  February  3 with 
‘Tobacco  Road”  with  John  Barton  in  its 
“positively  farewell  tour  of  champion  long 
run  play.”  Billy  House  and  Eddie  Garr  will 
be  featured  in  “Hellzapoppin”  the  week  of 
February  10. 


Alvin  Seiler  has  closed  his  Filmrow  thea- 
tre supply  house  and  is  again  operating  at 


To  Youngstown— 

Sid  Holland,  who  has  taken  over  the 
management  of  the  Palace  at  Youngs- 
town, Ohio,  for  Monarch  Theatres. 


his  original  headquarters,  the  Seiler  build- 
ing, Greensburg,  Pa.  . . . Miss  Meercy  Braff 
of  the  M-G-M  exchange  is  co-chairman  of 
the  “Frenesi  Frolic”  to  be  given  February 
10  in  the  El  Chico  restaurant  by  the  Pitts- 
burgh Council  of  Jewish  Juniors. 

NSS-NSA-AA  find  its  quarters,  the  en- 
tire old  Independent  Display  Company 
building,  too  small,  and  Perry  Nathan,  lo- 
cal manager,  is  seeking  a site  for  a new 
Filmrow  building  . . . George  Jaffe,  vet- 
eran city  showman  and  operator  of  the 
Casino,  will  seek  a seat  in  city  council  this 
year  . . . Don  D’Carlo  Entertainment  Ser- 
vice has  moved  to  206  Stanwix  St.  Don’s 
former  office  at  1723  Blvd.  of  the  Allies 
has  been  redecorated  and  is  being  occupied 
by  Shapiro  and  Fineman  as  circuit  head- 
quarters. 

Peg  O’Connell  of  the  Paramount  ex- 
change lost  her  mother  January  24  . . . 
Walter  B.  Urling,  tri-state  circuit  exhibi- 
tor, and  his  family  are  vacationing  in  Flor- 
ida . . . Stanley  stage  show  for  February 
21  will  be  Cab  Calloway  and  his  orchestra 
. . . Dorothy  Goldstein  of  the  Paramount 
office  enjoyed  a fortnight  vacation  in  the 
sunny  south  . . . Saal  Gottlieb  has  an- 
other new  DeSoto. 

Abe  Weiner,  UA  branch  manager,  pre- 
viewed Richard  A.  Rowland’s  “Cheers  for 
Miss  Bishop”  last  Thursday  noon  at  the 
uptown  Rialto  for  members  of  the  trade 
. . . R.  J.  Jeffries,  “the  popcorn  machine 
man”  in  this  area  for  three  years,  recently 
returned  from  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  where  he 
attended  the  annual  convention  of  Manley, 
Inc.  He  has  a lot  of  new  statistics  on  pop- 
corn grosses  which  are  startling  . . . Dave 
Barnholtz  has  been  writing  “letters  to  the 
editor”  appearing  in  the  Press  . . . Rose 
Schoss,  former  Filmrow  employe,  has  re- 
turned to  the  celluloid  colony  and  is  on 
duty  at  the  RKO  exchange. 

Finishing  touches  were  being  put  on  the 
new  Urban,  East  McKeesport,  this  week 
for  N.  A.  Malanos  . . . Minnie  Bishoff  has 
resigned  her  office  duties  at  the  RKO  ex- 
change and  she  is  now  employed  by  the 
Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  . . . C.  J. 
Latta  is  vacationing  in  California  . . . Dr. 
and  Mrs.  C.  P.  Church  of  Mannington,  W. 
Va.,  were  Filmrow  bookers  this  week,  re- 
porting that  they  had  closed  the  Burt  and 
were  operating  only  the  Mannington.  This 
was  Mrs.  Church’s  first  visit  in  several 
months.  She  is  entirely  well  again  after  an 
illness. 

Fred  J.  Herrington,  AMPTO  secretary, 
was  in  Harrisburg  checking  up  on  the 
legislative  situation.  He  was  present  when 
Gov.  Arthur  H.  James  informed  the  gen- 
eral assembly  that  his  budget  for  the  1941- 
1943  fiscal  period  will  put  the  state’s  fi- 
nances in  balance  for  the  first  time  since 
the  depression.  Emergency  taxes,  which 
at  one  time  included  a state  theatre  ad- 
mission tax  but  which  has  been  eliminated 
for  several  years,  will  be  continued.  It 
was  through  the  efforts  of  the  AMPTO 
that  the  state  admission  levy  was  dis- 
continued. Herrington  has  been  grabbing 
all  the  new  legislative  bills  as  they  are  in- 
troduced and  he  has  been  busy  visiting 
members  of  the  House  and  Senate. 


BOXOFFICE  February  8,  1941 


57 


■QNTVERSAL  sneak  previewed  “Buck  Pri- 
vates” at  the  Strand,  to  a well  pleased 
audience. 

All  exhibitors  in  the  Louisville  area  (and 
elsewhere,  we  presume)  were  gifted  this 
week  with  a specially  designed  plaster  ash 
tray  exploiting  a forthcoming  “Million 
Dollar  Serial.” 

The  Irving  Theatre  at  Indianapolis  has 
been  purchased  by  William  Rosenthal, 
operator  of  the  Vogue  here.  Charles 
Doades  continues  as  manager  of  the  Ir- 
ving, which  is  a de  luxe  neighborhood 
house. 

Sammy  Weinburg,  who  operates  the 
Crescent  and  Shelmar  theatres  here,  is 
confined  to  the  hospital  after  an  appen- 
dicitis operation.  He  is  recovering  nicely 
. . . A.  B.  McCoy  of  the  Strand  reports 
that  thieves  broke  into  his  theatre  over 
the  weekend  and  tried  to  open  a safe. 
Their  attempts  were  unsuccessful,  how- 
ever. 

“’Gone  With  the  Wind”  opened  Friday 
at  Loew’s  State  to  far  above  normal  at- 
tendance . . . “Thief  of  Bagdad”  was  held 
at  Brown  for  a second  week,  and  “High 
Sierra”  for  a second  week’s  run  at  the 
Mary  Anderson. 

Negotiations  for  the  purchase  of  the 
Columbia  as  an  army  community  center 
are  still  under  way. 


Panoram  Machines  Help 
In  Drive  on  "Polio" 

Cleveland — Panoram,  the  dime-in-the- 
slot  film  machine  distributed  locally  by 
Midwest  Specialties  Co.,  made  its  first 
public  appearance  last  week  in  the  con- 
course of  the  Terminal  Bldg,  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  infantile  paralysis  fund.  Through 
the  courtesy  of  Urban  Anderson,  president 
of  Midwest,  all  dimes  paid  into  the  ma- 
chine during  its  two-day  “personal  ap- 
pearance” were  turned  over  to  the  fund. 

After  that,  the  Panoram  was  moved  into 
the  lounge  of  the  new  Telenews  where  it  is 
now  permanently  located.  Anderson  re- 
ports another  Panoram  has  been  installed 
in  the  Carter  Hotel,  as  well  as  in  half  a 
dozen  of  the  larger  roadhouses. 


Local  B-5  Dinner-Dance 
Will  Be  Held  Feb.  22 

Cleveland — Film  Exchange  Employes 
B-5  will  stage  a formal  dinner-dance  in 
the  Rainbow  Room  of  the  Carter  Hotel, 
February  22.  Charles  Rice  of  20th-Fox, 
who  is  chairman  of  the  entertainment 
committee,  estimates  that  the  guests  will 
number  approximately  225.  The  union  has 
115  members.  Each  member  is  entitled  to 
bring  one  guest.  Guests  of  honor  will  in- 
clude Harland  Holmden  and  Victor  Well- 
man of  IATSE  Local  160,  Mayor  Blythin, 
Lou  Krause,  IATSE  international  secre- 
tary-treasurer, and  the  president  of  the 
Pittsburgh,  Cincinnati  and  Detroit  em- 
ployes unions. 


Wade  E.  Allen  Variety's 
Installation  Chairman 


Detroit — Wade  E.  Allen,  manager  of  the 
Fine  Arts,  has  been  named  general  chair- 
man for  the  installation  and  initiation  ban- 
quet to  be  held  by  Variety  Club  in  the  Es- 
quire Room,  Book  Cadillac  Hotel,  on  Mon- 
day. 

General  committees  are  headed  by:  John 
Howard,  Paramount  manager,  committee 
for  industry  guests;  Edgar  E.  Kirchner, 
Family  manager,  tickets  and  arrange- 
ments; J.  Oliver  Brooks,  Butterfield  chief 
booker,  initiation.  Entertainment  commit- 
tee is  headed  by  William  Carlson,  Carlson 
Studios,  and  includes:  David  M.  Idzal, 
managing  director  of  the  Fox;  Earl  Hud- 
son, UDT  president,  and  Raymond  Schrei- 
ber,  manager  of  Midwest  Theatres. 

A stage  revue  playing  Schreiber’s  Colo- 
nial will  present  their  routine  in  the  floor 
show  at  the  banquet. 

Spring  Surprise  Party 
For  the  John  Lunds 

Carmichaels,  Pa. — Employes  of  Lund 
theatres  and  friends,  numbering  around 
150,  honored  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Lund  at 
a surprise  party  in  the  Terrace  Hotel  here. 
The  Lunds  were  preparing  to  depart  for 
Florida,  where  they  will  spend  the  winter, 
when  the  party  was  arranged.  Entertain- 
ment was  furnished  by  the  Don  D’Carlo 
agency  and  the  guests  were  presented  with 
a radio  following  the  banquet  dinner.  Wer- 
ner Lund,  son  and  partner,  will  be  in 
charge  of  the  Lund  theatres  during  his 
father’s  absence. 

LaMantia  Bros.  Open  New 
Victory  at  Nanty-Glo 

Nanty-Glo,  Pa. — The  new  Victory  is 
now  open  under  the  ownership  and  man- 
agement of  Philip  and  Tony  LaMantia. 
Seating  448,  the  new  house  features  neon 
lighting  throughout  and  is  modernly 
equipped.  Marquee  and  lobby  neon  lights 
are  supplemented  in  the  auditorium  with 
half  a dozen  neon  wall  fixture  lights  on 
either  side  wall.  Superior  M.  P.  Supply 
Company  installed  all  equipments  and  RCA 
furnished  the  sound. 

Louis  Ponsetta  Acquires 
Woodies  at  Apollo,  Pa. 

Apollo,  Pa. — Woodies  Theatre,  pur- 
chased several  months  ago  from  H.  R. 
Wood  by  Joseph  Cipriany,  has  been  ac- 
quired under  long  term  lease  by  Louis 
Ponsetta,  operator  of  the  Strand  here. 
Ponsetta  assumed  operation  of  the  Wood- 
ies February  2 and  plans  to  operate  both 
the  Strand  and  the  Woodies.  Cipriany  is 
interested  in  a merchandising  business  at 
Clarksburg,  Pa. 

"Fantasia"  to  Open  at 
Wilson  February  18 

Detroit — On  February  18  “Fantasia” 
will  open  at  the  Wilson.  The  first  night 
will  be  reserved  as  a benefit  for  the  De- 
troit Symphony  Society,  with  seats  selling 
at  $5  apiece,  a new  high  in  local  annals  of 
show  business.  The  Wilson  seats  1,400. 


j^DD  OUR  congratulations  to:  Harrold 
Eckert,  dramatic  critic  for  the  Ohio 
State  Journal,  who  was  married  January 
29  to  Thora  Hoagland. 

Clark  Rader,  operator  of  a smalltown 
circuit,  has  moved  his  headquarters  from 
Wilmington  to  Newark  (Arcade  Theatre) 

. . . Reports  again  that  a subsequent  run 
downtown  house  will  be  converted  into  a 
store,  this  time  passed  on  by  WSC  . . . The 
Palace  is  conducting  a patron  poll  on  stage 
shows. 

Capitol  Theatre,  Delphos,  has  listed  with 
securities  exchange  commission  250  shares 
no  par  value  common  stock  at  $25  per.  The 
Ellet  Amusement  Co.,  Cleveland,  has  50 
shares  no  par  value  common  stock  at  $100 
per. 

Legislative  scene:  House  Bill  125,  intro- 
duced by  Ford  of  Fulton  county  (Republi- 
can) ivould  bring  theatres  in  which  tele- 
vised pictures  are  shown  under  the  state 
building  code. 

Lester  Rosenfeld,  Dunbar,  W.  Va.,  ex- 
hibitor, is  planning  a new  theatre  there 
to  be  known  as  the  Welcome.  He  has  com- 
missioned the  local  F&Y  Theatre  Division 
to  draw  the  plans  for  the  600-seat,  $50,000 
project.  Rosenfeld  also  has  the  Best  in 
Kanawaka  City. 


Peter  Mikalarias,  56,  Dies 
In  Connellsville,  Pa. 

Connellsville,  Pa. — Peter  L.  Mikalarias, 
56,  veteran  exhibitor,  died  here  last  week. 
He  had  been  failing  in  health  for  some 
time  and  had  been  bedfast  for  three 
months.  For  three  years  he  had  been 
practically  blind. 

Mikalarias  for  many  years  was  a part- 
ner of  Gust  Marakas  in  exhibition  here. 
Born  in  Greece,  Mikalarias  came  to  this 
country  in  1899;  he  sold  flowers  in  Phila- 
delphia and  two  years  later  he  joined  a 
carnival  with  his  own  candy  concession. 
Later  he  entered  the  candy  business  in 
Harrisburg  and  Lancaster.  His  first  ex- 
perience in  the  theatre  industry  was  in 
Lancaster.  In  1905  he  opened  a confec- 
tionery in  Cumberland,  and  shortly  there- 
after he  came  to  Connellsville. 

Surviving  are  a brother,  John  Mika- 
larias, of  Connellsville,  a sister,  two  half- 
brothers  and  a half-sister,  all  residing  in 
Greece.  Burial  was  in  Green  Ridge 
Memorial  Park  at  Pennsville. 


Henry  S.  Koppin  Services 
Are  Held  in  Detroit 

Detroit — Funeral  services  were  held 
Tuesday  for  Henry  S.  Koppin,  who  died 
in  Toledo.  He  founded  the  Woodward 
Theatre  Co.  about  a quarter  century  ago, 
and  developed  it  until  he  operated  26 
houses,  the  largest  circuit  ever  operated 
under  one  control  in  this  city.  At  the 
time,  his  brother,  George  Koppin,  also  had 
a string  of  about  ten  houses. 

The  deceased  is  survived  by  his  widow 
and  three  other  children,  including  Cal- 
vin, for  whom  the  theatre  of  that  name  in 
Dearborn  was  named. 


58 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  8,  1941 


(c= 


Show  Only  Mild  Interest 
In  Pending  Legislation 


Boston  AAA  Office 
Has  " Customers " 

Boston— Requests  for  arbitration  al- 
ready are  up  before  Henry  de  la  Moran- 
diere,  in  charge  of  the  Boston  headquart- 
ers for  the  American  Arbitration  Ass'n. 
When  the  offices  opened  Saturday  in  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce  Building,  a num- 
ber of  New  England  theatremen  were 
waiting  for  proper  blank  forms  to  enter 
their  requests. 

= — =1) 

Bills  Would  Legalize 
Belting,  Lotteries 

Hartford — Legalization  of  hore-race  bet- 
ting in  Connecticut  under  both  bookmak- 
ing and  pari-mutuel  systems,  and  estab- 
lishment of  a state  lottery  are  proposed 
in  bills  introduced  in  the  general  assembly 
by  Rep.  Edward  Segar,  Democrat  of  Col- 
chester. 

The  Colchester  legislator  declared  that 
his  pari-mutuel  bill  would  be  modeled  after 
one  which,  although  unsuccessful,  gained 
considerable  support  at  the  1939  session 
of  the  assembly.  His  measure  legalizing 
bookmaking  establishments  would  be  sim- 
iliar  to  one  now  pending  in  the  New  York 
state  legislature,  he  said. 

Lotteries  and  horse-race  betting  take 
large  amounts  of  money  out  of  Connecti- 
cut, Segar  asserts,  and  he  believes  it  would 
be  to  the  interests  of  Connecticut  tax- 
payers to  divert  some  of  this  money  to 
the  state  treasury  through  legislation. 


Eight  M&P  Managers  Back 
With  Balaban  Medals 

Boston — Eight  M&P  Theatres  Corp. 
managers  now  are  sporting  silver  medal- 
lions awarded  them  at  the  Balaban  Din- 
ner in  Chicago  which  they  attended  as 
respective  district  prize  winners  in  the 
local  Barney  Balaban  Drive. 

Those  with  the  medals  include  Jack 
Goodwin  of  the  Metropolitan  in  Boston, 
George  Moffit  of  the  State  in  East  Milton, 
A1  Hamilton  of  the  Empress  in  South 
Norwalk,  William  Hartnett  of  the  Em- 
bassy in  Waltham,  James  Dempsey  of  the 
Paramount  in  Lynn,  Morris  Simms  of  the 
Olympia  in  New  Bedford,  Harry  Botwick 
of  the  State  in  Portland,  and  C.  J.  Russell 
jr„  city  manager  in  Bangor. 


Bally  Job  for  Storin 

Hartford — Ed  Carroll,  operator  of  the 
Riverside  Amusement  Park,  announces  the 
appointment  of  Harry  Storin,  formerly  as- 
sociated with  theatres  in  this  area,  as 
publicity  director  of  that  situation. 


Valenti  Succeeds  Frank 

Hartford — Frank  Valenti,  usher  at  the 
Loew’s  Poli  here,  has  been  appointed  chief 
of  service,  succeeding  Jules  Frank,  re- 
signed. 


New  Haven — Thus  far  exhibitors  as  a 
whole  are  evidencing  only  slight  interest  in 
the  current  legislative  bills  at  Hartford, 
and  heated  public  hearings  at  the  last  ses- 
sion on  two-men-in-a-booth  and  Bingo 
will  probably  not  be  repeated.  Since  defeat 
in  the  1937  session  of  new  state  tax  on 
amusements,  nothing  further  has  been  pro- 
posed on  this  score,  although  exhibitors 
feared  such  a bill. 

One  senate  Bingo  bill  has  already  been 
filed,  however,  and  is  referred  to  the  ju- 
diciary committee  as  S.  B.  60.  It  reads: 
“The  selectmen  of  any  town,  the  mayor 
and  aldermen,  or  common  council  of  any 
city,  or  the  warden  or  burgesses  of  any 
borough,  in  which  town,  city  or  borough 
the  playing  of  Bingo  has  been  authorized 
in  accordance  with  Section  155e  of  the  1939 
supplement  to  the  General  Statutes,  may, 
upon  application,  permit  Bingo  to  be 
played  after  the  hour  of  2:00  o’clock  in 
the  afternoon  on  Sundays.” 

The  1939  session  of  the  legislature  made 

Claims  Distributor 
Forced  Hiked  Price 

Northampton,  Mass. — Nathan  E.  Gold- 
stein, president  of  Western  Massachusetts 
Theatres,  declared  here  following  a confer- 
ence with  Mayor  C.  J.  O’Connor  concern- 
ing protests  of  increased  prices  at  the  Cal- 
vin during  the  showing  of  Paramount’s 
“North  West  Mounted  Police,”  that  neither 
the  Calvin  nor  any  other  house  in  his  or- 
ganization had  any  say  in  the  matter  of 
increasing  prices  for  the  picture,  and  that 
his  contract  with  the  distributing  company 
made  higher  prices  mandatory. 

A strong  protest  was  lodged  with  the 
mayor  by  Alderman  Francis  P.  O’Donnell, 
who  claimed  that  raising  prices  for  special 
features,  especially  on  Sunday,  worked  a 
hardship  on  the  working  man  who  usually 
had  only  that  day  with  his  family  for  rest 
and  recreation.  The  alderman  urged  that 
theatres  who  raise  prices  on  Sunday  be 
subjected  to  commensurately  stiffer  license 
fees. 


800-Seat  Theatre  Being 
Designed  for  Concord 

Boston — Plans  have  been  drawn  up  by 
Robb  & Little,  local  architects,  for  a pro- 
posed new  theatre  in  Concord.  Although 
motion  pictures  occasionally  have  been 
shown  in  the  town,  zoning  authorities 
there  have  in  the  past  excluded  a modem 
motion  picture  house. 

Julius  Meyer,  associated  in  the  deal  to 
put  up  a new  $50,000  house  on  Main 
Street,  indicates  that  the  theatre  will 
seat  about  800  and  will  be  put  into  opera- 
tion late  this  year. 


it  legal  for  towns  to  approve  Bingo-play- 
ing, but  by  and  for  the  benefit  of  civic,  re- 
ligious and  other  organizations  of  a simi- 
lar nature  only.  Exhibitors  opposed  this 
discrimination,  but  were  unsuccessful,  and 
have  since  complained  of  the  competition 
of  Bingo.  Representative  Faulkner  has  also 
introduced  a bill  calling  for  creation  of  a 
commission  to  regulate  and  control  Bingo 
in  the  state. 

Anti-Discrimination  Bill 

Alienage,  race  or  color  discrimination  is 
prohibited  in  Senate  Bill  18,  also  referred 
to  the  judiciary  committee.  The  bill  states 
that  all  persons  are  entitled  to  full  and 
equal  accommodations  in  every  place  of 
public  accommodation,  resort,  or  amuse- 
ment, and  specifically  names  inns,  hotels, 
restaurants,  railroad  cars,  street  cars, 
theatres,  motion  picture  .houses,  amuse- 
ment and  recreation  buildings  or  parks.  A 
maximum  fine  of  $100  or  imprisonment  for 
30  days  or  both  are  provided  for  violation, 
as  well  as  liability  to  the  aggrieved  person 
of  from  $200  to  $350. 

Of  interest  to  all  corporations  is  S.  B.  2 
for  the  finance  committee,  which,  if  passed, 
would  affect  state  corporation  tax  pay- 
ment. Section  1 of  this  bill  provides:  “In 
arriving  at  net  incoime  as  defined  in 
Sec.  417c,  whether  or  not  the  tax  paid  is 
taxable  under  the  federal  corporation  net 
income  tax,  there  shall  be  deducted  from 
gross  income  all  items  deductible  under 
the  federal  corporation  net  income  tax  law 
effective  and  in  force  on  the  last  day  of  the 
income  year,  except  (1)  federal  taxes  on 
income  or  profits,  losses  of  prior  years,  in- 
terest received  from  federal,  state  and 
local  government  securities,  and  specific 
exemptions,  if  any  such  deductions  shall 
be  allowed  by  the  federal  government,  and 
(2)  interest  . . . paid  during  the  income 
year.” 

An  Ascap  Measure 

S.  B.  70  states  that  each  person  who  shall 
employ  a minor  under  18  years  of  age  must 
obtain  a certificate  from  the  board  of  edu- 
cation stating  the  age  of  such  minor,  and 
that  such  certificate  must  be  kept  on  file 
for  inspection. 

H.  B.  132  provides  a $20,000  appropria- 
tion for  improvement  and  maintenance  of 
recreational  facilities  at  the  Paugnut  State 
Forest. 

H.  B.  90  concerns  radio  advertising  of 
alcoholic  liquors,  and  is  thus  far  the  only 
radio  legislation  filed.  It  provides  that  no 
permittee  shall  sell,  offer  for  sale,  or  dis- 
pense any  brand  of  alcoholic  liquor  which 
has  been  advertised  over  any  radio  broad- 
casting station  since  July  1,  1941.  A year’s 
suspension  of  permit  is  the  fine  advocated 

A new  bill  has  been  filed  at  Hartford 
which  would  oblige  Ascap  to  pay  a license 
fee  for  the  use  of  Connecticut  radio  and 
orchestras.  The  bill  has  been  laughingly 
branded  radio’s  attempt  to  continue  foist- 
ing BMI’s  “Jeannie  With  the  Light  Brown 
Hair”  on  the  “long-suffering”  radio  audi- 
ence. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


NE 


59 


B CO)  STON 


Limitations  Issue  Will  Be 
Heard  in  Momand  Case 


Boston — A hearing  before  a Master  up- 
on the  issue  of  the  Statute  of  Limitations 
has  been  ordered  by  the  local  U.  S.  Dis- 
trict Court  in  the  local  anti-trust  suits 
brought  by  George  S.  Ryan  against  major 
film  interests  in  behalf  of  Loretta  L. 
Momand  and  A.  B.  Momand.  Ryan  also 
is  representing  the  plaintiffs  in  anti-trust 
actions  in  Oklahoma. 

Federal  Judge  Hugh  D.  McClellan  ruled: 
“Enough  has  been  said  to  indicate  that 
at  sometime  the  issues  raised  by  the 
Statute  of  Limitations  must  be  considered, 
and  that  they  can  be  determined  upon 
much  less  evidence  than  would  be  in- 
volved in  a trial  of  the  whole  case  . . . Ac- 
cording, it  is  ordered  that  the  case  be 
treated  separately  upon  the  issue  of  the 
Statute  of  Limitations,  and  the  filing  of 
objections  to  and  the  answering  of  the 
interrogatories  propounded  by  the  plaintiff 
to  the  defendants  is  to  await  the  trial  of 
this  issue.” 

The  Momand  anti-trust  actions,  seeking 
triple  damages,  contain  the  plaintiff’s  mo- 
tion that  recites  that  the  applicable  statute 
is  that  of  Massachusetts  which,  allegedly, 
provides  a period  of  six  years  in  this  type 
of  case. 

Reference  to  Gov't  Suit 

The  Court  explained,  “During  the  past 
ten  years,  a number  of  suits  have  been  be- 
gun, either  civil  or  criminal,  by  the  United 
States  Government  against  the  motion 
picture  industry.  The  plaintiff  asserts  that 
these  have  the  effect  of  tolling  the  Statute 
of  Limitations  . . . whether  or  not  they 
have  such  effect  depends  upon  whether 

Friends  in  Tribute 
To  Morris  Joseph 

New  Haven — A large,  enthusiastic  group 
of  friends  made  in  long  years  of  associa- 
tion on  Meadow  Street,  as  well  as  in  the 
city  and  state  at  large,  gathered  to  wish 
“Dean”  Morris  Joseph  good  health  and  a 
happy  respite  from  his  almost  29  years  in 
the  film  industry  at  Ceriani’s  Restaurant 
Monday. 

As  a farewell  token  to  the  retiring  Uni- 
versal manager,  the  guests  at  the  lunch- 
eon presented  a portable  typewriter  with 
the  hope  that  he  would  use  it  to  keep  in 
touch  with  the  district  from  his  new  home 
in  Miami  Beach. 

Harry  F.  Shaw,  Loew-Poli  division  man- 
ager, m.c.  par  excellence,  made  the  pre- 
sentation. In  charge  of  the  luncheon  were 
Max  Tabackman,  Samuel  Seletsky,  and 
Herman  M.  Levy. 

Joseph,  who  was  influential  in  having 
New  Haven  established  as  the  only  ex- 
change center  between  Boston  and  New 
York,  and  has  seen  the  growth  of  the 
territory  and  trained  many  of  its  impor- 
tant figures,  said  on  leaving: 

“I  am  happy  to  leave,  and  yet  my  hap- 


or  not  the  present  suit  involves  any  ‘private 
right  of  action  arising  upon  said  laws  and 
passed  in  whole  or  in  part  on  any  matter 
complained  of  in  said  suit  of  proceed- 
ings.’ No  attempt  can  here  be  made  to 
express  any  view  as  to  whether  some  or 
all  the  items  of  damages  alleged  are  barred 
because  the  determination  of  these  ques- 
tions depends  in  part  on  matters  of  evi- 
dence.” 

The  Federal  Court  decided  on  a plaint- 
iff’s motion  for  the  production  of  docu- 
ments, to  reserve  determination  of  that 
motion  until  the  preliminary  issue  of  the 
Statute  of  Limitations  shall  be  decided  in 
the  Court. 

Decision  on  defendants’  obligations  to 
plaintiff’s  interrogatories  was  also  reserved. 

In  both  cases,  the  plaintiff’s  motion 
to  strike  and  to  require  admission  or  de- 
nial of  facts,  stated  in  the  request  for  ad- 
mission of  facts,  was  denied  by  Judge 
McClellan. 

“This  does  not  mean,  of  course,”  the 
Court  added,  “that  a response  may  not 
be  stricken  as  containing  scandalous  mat- 
ter or  for  a like  reason.” 

The  defendants’  responses,  he  also  said, 
“were  to  constitute  sworn  statements 
which  ‘deny  specifically  the  matters  of 
which  an  admission  is  requested  or  set- 
ting forth  in  detail  the  reasons  why  he 
(they)  cannot  truthfully  either  admit  or 
deny  these  matters,’  for  they  do  not.  If 
they  do,  the  facts  are  not  admitted,  and 
the  defendants  by  the  virtue  of  Rule  37 
(c)  may  have  to  pay  the  plaintiff’s  rea- 
sonable expenses  of  their  proof.” 


piness  is  intermingled  with  sadness  and 
regret.  I’ve  spent  the  greatest  part  of 
my  life  here,  and  during  that  period  I’ve 
made  a great  many  friends  and  well- 
wishers.  I hate  particularly  to  leave 
Meadow  Street,  where  I enjoyed  my  long 
record  of  coping  with  the  Connecticut 
exhibitors.  When  I say  ‘cope,’  that’s  say- 
ing something,  because  the  Connecticut 
exhibitors  are  undoubtedly  the  smartest  in 
the  United  States.” 

Joined  "U"  in  1912 

Joseph’s  first  connection  with  Universal 
was  in  May,  1912,  when  he  was  employed 
at  the  “U”  exchange  in  Springfield.  In 
1914,  with  Springfield  closed  as  an  ex- 
change center,  Joseph  was  established  in 
the  New  Haven  Universal  exchange  as 
manager.  His  move  to  Meadow  Street 
was  followed  by  location  of  other  ex- 
changes on  the  Street,  which  is  now  the 
pulse  of  the  Connecticut  film  industry. 

Joseph’s  friends  gave  him  a gala  testi- 
monial dinner  at  the  Taft  on  the  occasion 
of  his  20th  anniversary  as  Universal  man- 
ager here;  on  his  25th  he  was  host  to  hun- 
dreds of  friends  at  a cocktail  party  at  the 
Universal  offices.  He  hopes  his  retirement 
on  a pension  by  the  Universal  company 
will  “serve  as  a precedent  in  the  industry.” 
He  is  succeeded  here  by  John  Pavone,  who 
also  has  a long  record  of  service  in  film 
distribution  in  New  Haven. 


^L  SHEEHAN,  manager  of  the  Colonial 
in  Boston,  has  been  seriously  ill  . . . 
Phil  Engel  of  Warner  was  in  town  . . . 
Norman  Poretsky  of  Wholesome  Film  was 
on  the  sick  list  . . . James  Grainger,  Mono- 
gram executive,  was  in. 

Joseph  and  Max  Levenson  celebrated  the 
third  anniversary  of  the  Brookline  in  the 
Boston  suburb.  John  Markle  tied  in  on  sev- 
eral promotions  for  the  event. 

Phillip  Lavine,  general  manager  of  the 
Ralph  Snider  circuit,  was  out  of  town  on 
business  . . . Nate  Yamins,  Fall  River  ex- 
hibitor, is  in  Florida  . . . Roy  E.  Heffner, 
Bank  Night  assignee,  was  in  Kansas  City 
last  week  . . . Lou  Newmann,  new  Trans 
Lux  manager,  and  Spencer  Rudnick,  his 
assistant,  have  been  working  up  a number 
of  new  publicity  promotions. 

Al  Winston,  former  Trans  Lux  manager, 
is  reportedly  connected  with  the  Ralph 
Snider  circuit  . . . Boston  film  critics  ac- 
cepted Universal  invitations  to  be  the  dis- 
tributor’s guests  for  one  week  in  Miami 
and,  incidentally,  to  preview  “Back  Street” 
there  . . . Ralph  Snider,  circuit  head,  is  in 
Florida. 

Marty  Glazer,  advertising  manager  for 
the  Paramount  and  Fenway,  sank  his  teeth 
into  two  more  first-runs  this  week  when 
“Honeymoon  for  Three”  and  “Behind  the 
News”  hit  the  twin  houses  which  generally 
play  behind  the  Metropolitan  . . . Dorothy 
Gish  and  Louis  Calhern  are  still  in  town 
with  “Life  With  Father”  which  has  set 
up  a new  local  theatrical  record  by  going 
into  its  19th  week. 

Ray  Read,  Heywood-Wake field  execu- 
tive, is  back  at  the  home  office  following 
an  extended  busmess  trip  . . . Moroni  Ol- 
sen, Hollywood  star,  is  conducting  a new 
course  in  the  Technique  of  Motion  Picture 
Acting  at  the  Leland  Powers  School  of  the 
Theatre  locally.  One  classroom  has  been 
for  the  use  as  a motion  picture  studio  and 
the  classes  are  conducted  exactly  as  the 
work  is  done  in  Hollywood,  according  to 
Olsen  . . . Ralph  Austrian  of  RCA  was  here 
last  week. 

Jack  Goodwin,  manager  of  the  Metro- 
politan, and  his  entire  staff  will  handle 
the  house  during  the  12  performances  of 
the  Metropolitan  Opera  Company,  begin- 
ning March  27  and  ending  April  5 . . . 
Merton  Carr,  former  Vermont  exhibitor,  is 
reportedly  taking  it  easy  at  his  Randolph 
home  in  the  Green  Mountain  state. 

Marie  Doherty  of  Keith’s  Memorial  is 
engaged  . . . Jack  Granara,  RKO  publicist 
locally,  has  set  a fencing  tournament  to 
exploit  “Son  of  Monte  Cristo.”  He  has  also 
arranged  for  a father  and  son  night  when 
the  feature  hits  Keith’s  Memorial  . . . 
Granara  has  tied  in  with  I.  J.  Fox,  furriers, 
as  a part  of  his  campaign  on  “Hudson’s 
Bay.” 

Clarence  Finn,  president  of  the  Press 
Photographers  Association  in  Boston,  has 
announced  that  the  organization’s  annual 
dinner-dance  will  be  held  April  14  at  the 
Versailles  Club  . . . Leonard  Kraska,  Fine 
Arts  house  manager,  disposed  of  over  600 
souvenir  programs  during  the  run  of  “Here 
Is  Ireland”  at  the  theatre. 


60 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


CAPITOL  THEATRE  SUPPLY  COMPANY 


NEW  ENGLAND  ORGANIZATION  FOR 
NEW  ENGLAND  EXHIBITORS 


IT  TOPS 


THEM  ALL! 


Wherever 

MOTIOGRAPH 

Mirrophonic  Sound  Projection 
Is  Used 

Exhibitors  Doff  Their  Hats  To  Its 
Superiority. 

Available  in  seven  different  sizes,  all  of  identical 
quality.  One  of  them  has  been  engineered  to  fit 
your  theatre  exactly,  an  important  cost  reducing 
feature. 


28-30  PIEDMONT  STREET 


BOSTON.  MASS. 


AID  Moves  to  Expand 
Film  Buying  Survey 

Boston — Arthur  K.  Howard,  new  Na- 
tional Allied  recording  secretary  and  a 
member  of  the  Allied  Information  Depart- 
ment, commenced  lining  up  of  the  AID 
educational  campaign  last  week  immedi- 
ately upon  his  return  from  the  Allied  con- 
fab in  Washington.  Howard  stated  that 
the  aim  of  the  new  drive  will  be  to  bring 
information  from  more  exhibitors  under 
the  scope  of  the  survey,  making  the  latter 
more  comprehensive. 

Local  organizations,  rather  than  Allied 
States  Association  itself,  will  support  AID 
in  the  future,  inasmuch  as  it  is  felt  that 
with  the  buying  season  extended  to  52 
weeks  of  every  year,  the  information 
handed  out  by  the  body  is  of  much  greater 
importance  than  it  has  been  heretofore. 


Double-Your-Money  Deal 
For  Cinema  Club  Dance 

Boston — Anyone  soberly  not  considering 
the  Boston  Cinema  Club  Fifth  Annual 
Dinner  Dance,  the  best  ever  sponsored  by 
the  local  film  fraternity,  Vice-President 
Bill  Cuddy  stated  last  week,  will  be  given 
double  his  admission  fee. 

Working  to  make  the  March  16  affair  at 
the  Cocoanut  Grove  the  top  of  all  times, 
are  such  Cinema  Club  members  as  Charles 
Wilson  of  Republic,  Tom  Fermoyle  of 
M&P,  Abe  Barry  of  Columbia,  Larry  Her- 
man of  the  Snider  circuit,  Charles  Repec 
of  M-G-M,  and  Dave  Grover  and  Harry 
Smith  of  RKO. 


0 ft 

Defense  Orders 
For  $ 3.743.000 

Springfield,  Mass. — Twenty-seven  Bay 
State  manufacturing  firms  have  received 
orders  totaling  $9,743,000  for  war  sup- 
plies, the  state  statistics  division  an- 
nounces. Boston  firms  received  contracts 
for  more  than  $4,000,000  of  the  total, 
Springfield  $1,138,000,  Worcester  $1,152,- 
000,  Chicopee  $42,000,  and  Northampton 
$3,500. 

IS ■ - - ■ V 

Birthday  Ball  Held  for 
F . D.  R . in  Hartford 

Hartford  — The  Hartford  President’s 
Birthday  Ball  was  held  last  Thursday  at 
the  Hartford  Club. 

Chairman  of  the  ball  was  Jack  A. 
Simons,  local  Loew’s  Poli  manager.  Rudy 
Frank,  publicity  director  for  the  Harris 
Brothers’  State,  and  Wallace  J.  Cooper, 
assistant  manager  of  the  Loew’s  Poli,  were 
in  charge  of  entertainment. 

Other  committees  for  the  ball  were  as 
follows:  Reception,  Morris  Schulman, 
Schulman  Theatres;  George  E.  Landers, 
E.  M.  Loew’s;  and  David  E.  Sugarman, 
WB’s  Colonial.  Concessions:  Walter  B. 
Lloyd,  M&P’s  Allyn;  James  F.  McCarthy, 
WB's  Strand.  Personnel:  Louis  A.  Cohen, 
Loew’s  Poli  Palace;  and  Michael  J.  Daly, 
Daly  Theatres. 


Barhytd  to  Strand 

Holyoke,  Mass. — Don  Barhytd,  manager 
of  the  E.  M.  Loew’s  Court  Square  for  about 
four  years,  has  been  appointed  manager 
of  the  local  Strand,  succeeding  Milton 
Weinstein,  who  has  been  named  manager 
of  the  Victory. 


Trigger  "So  Ends  Our  Night" — 

Plans  for  launching  the  Dave  Loew- Arthur  Lewin  opus  in  New  England 
by  the  Loew  Poli  circuit  are  evolved  in  the  New  Haven  offices  by  man- 
agers and  executives  of  the  circuit.  Left  to  right,  around  the  table : Harry 
F.  Shaw,  division  manager;  Jack  Simons,  manager  Loew’s  Poli,  Hartford; 
Bob  Russell,  manager  Loew’s  Poli,  New  Haven;  Lou  Cohen,  manager  Loew 
Poli  Palace,  Hartford;  Matt  Saunders,  manager  Loew’s  Poli,  Bridgeport; 
Joe  Samartano,  manager  Loew  Poli  Palace,  Meriden;  Lou  Brown,  division 
advertising  head,  and  Oscar  A.  Doob  of  New  York,  head  of  the  Loew < pub- 
licity and  advertising  department. 


Russell  With  Poli 
Chain  22  Years 

New  Haven — For  Robert  E.  Russell,  man- 
ager of  the  Loew-Poli,  Valentine  Day  has 
a special  significance.  It  marks  the  22nd 
anniversary  of  his  association  with  the 
Poli  chain  as  auditor  for  the  entire  circuit 
and  right-hand  man  to  the  late  Sylvester 
Z.  Poli,  auditor  for  subsequent  regimes, 
and  manager  of  the  “A”  house  here. 

In  the  World  War,  Russell  served  in  the 
Navy  commissary  dept.  It  was  after  the 
Armistice  that  he  became  associated  with 
Poli,  colorful  pioneer  in  film  exhibition  in 
Connecticut  and  founder  of  the  present 
Loew-Poli  string  of  houses.  In  a short 
time  he  took  over  all  the  Poli  finances, 
both  business  and  personal. 

In  the  series  of  mergers,  changes,  and 
reorganizations  which  subsequently  in- 
volved the  theatres  and  their  personnel, 
Russell  remained  as  valuable  employe  to  all 
operators.  Under  Harry  F.  Shaw  and  the 
Loew  regime,  he  was  first  auditor  and  in 
charge  of  maintenance  and  upkeep  of  all 
15  houses.  In  October,  1936,  he  took  on 
the  management  of  the  3,000-seat  Loew- 
Poli  Theatre  in  New  Haven,  and  with  his 
thorough  business  background  and  knowl- 
edge of  the  Elm  City,  has  become  out- 
standingly successful  in  this  role  as  well. 


Levine  Opens  Exchange 
On  Meadow  Street 

New  Haven — I.  Levine,  for  many  years 
on  the  distributing  end  on  Filmrow  here, 
has  opened  an  office  on  Meadow  St.,  oper- 
ating as  Inter-State  Film  Co.,  for  the  dis- 
tribution of  Northeastern,  Imperial  and  Se- 
lect attractions.  The  new  product  is  to  in- 
clude two-reel  Chaplins,  and  two-reel 
Shirley  Temple  comedies,  as  well  as  a hor- 
ror duo,  “Face  in  the  Window”  and 
“Torso  Murder  Case.”  Levine  was  local 
manager  of  Grand  National. 


Four  Newsreels  Covering 
Local  Event  to  Bridgton 

Boston— When  four  newsreels  came  out 
last  week  Wednesday  with  shots  of  the 
“Biggest  Bob-sled  in  the  World,”  made 
in  Bridgton,  Maine,  where  C.  F.  Millett, 
operator  of  the  State  is  chairman  of  a 
winter  carnival,  Herbert  Higgins,  inde- 
pendent booker  handling  Millett’s  film 
schedules,  rushed  through  arrangements 
with  the  four  distributors  and  rushed 
prints  of  all  the  reels  on  the  12:30  train 
for  Bridgton.  Millett  collected  plenty  of 
additional  coin  because  of  the  timeliness. 


Flesh  for  Two  Years 

Springfield,  Mass. — The  E.  M.  Loew’s 
Court  Square  here  celebrated  its  second 
anniversary  of  vaudeville  by  offering 
Georgie  Mae  and  an  augmented  stage 
show  to  patrons.  The  theatre  is  the  only 
one  in  New  England  that  has  continuously 
presented  stage  shows  over  a two-year 
period.  E.  W.  Whitford  and  W.  H.  Mc- 
Ghee have  been  handling  the  house. 


62 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


Cr 


: SPRINGFIELD  : 

* ■ = —!> 

TOE  EGAN,  GB’s  Paramount  assistant 
J engineer,  who  has  been  recuperating  at 
home  after  an  operation,  is  expected  back 
at  work  within  a week.  Georgie  Williams 
has  been  filling  in  . . . Lewis  Lambert,  Gar- 
den projectionist,  and  Simone  Sirois,  a 
local  girl,  are  to  be  married  some  time  this 
month  . . . Charlie  R.  Smith,  Broadway 
manager,  was  on  the  sick  list  with  the 
grippe  . . . Charlie  MacKenzi  is  the  new 
usher  at  the  Loew’s-Poli,  succeeding  B. 
Williams  . . . Maurice  Radin,  Peoples’  Can- 
dy Co.,  Worcester,  in  town  last  week  to 
see  Manager  George  E.  Freeman,  Loew’s- 
Poli  . . . James  J.  Bloom,  chief  of  the  ser- 
vice staff  at  the  GB’s  Paramount,  now 
takes  his  day  off  on  Tuesday  . . . Owen 
Holmes,  Garden  projectionist,  filled  in  at 
the  Art  for  Projectionist  Alfred  Bengle 
while  the  latter  was  down  with  the  flu. 
Charlie  Granviller  handled  Owen’s  duties 
at  the  Garden. 

Dorothy  “Dolly”  Cianco  is  the  new  candy 
girl  at  the  Loew’s-Poli,  replacing  Katha- 
rine Hoar,  who  has  been  upped  to  the 
newly-created  post  of  chief  candy  girl  . . . 
Mary  Manning,  receptionist  at  the  Broad- 
way Theatre  building  headquarters  of  the 
Western  Massachusetts  Theatres,  Inc.,  has 
recovered  from  the  grippe  . . . James  Hood 
is  the  new  doorman  at  the  Broadway,  suc- 
ceeding William  B.  Bouvier,  resigned  . . . 
Tony  diCaro,  assista7it  manager  at  the 
Capitol,  reports  fine  business  with  “ High 
Sierra”  . . . Tommie  Robertson,  projec- 
tionist for  the  past  11  years  at  the  Union 
Square,  Pittsfield,  is  dead  . . . Members  of 
the  service  staff  at  the  E.  M.  Loew’s  Mo- 
hawk, North  Adams,  are  now  sporting  new 
uniforms  . . . John  M.  Cooney  of  the  Union 
Square,  Pittsfield,  had  the  grippe  . . . Vic- 
tor Schumway  succeeds  Gordon  Macher  as 
usher  at  the  Broadway  . . . Nathayi  E. 
Goldstein,  president  of  the  Western  Massa- 
chusetts Theatres,  Die.,  was  in  Northamp- 
ton recently. 

Herman  Rifkin,  circuit  head,  recently 
had  a birthday  . . . Ditto  Manager  Freddie 
I.  Frechette  of  the  Garden  . . . William 
“Billy”  Powell,  division  manager  for  Rif- 
kin, is  back  at  work  after  being  out  ill 
for  some  time.  Carl  A.  Jamroga,  Forest 
Park  Phillips  manager,  filled  in  for  Pow- 
ell ..  . Johnnie  Appallasse,  Broadway 
usher,  has  resigned  . . . Broadway  brought 
in  Warner’s  “Here  Comes  the  Navy”  . . . 
Members  of  the  Holyoke  High  School  foot- 
ball squad  were  guests  recently  of  Man- 
ager Paul  Kessler,  Suffolk,  Holyoke  . . . 
Elliott  Preble,  chief  of  service  at  the 
Strand,  Newburyport,  has  been  named  as- 
sistant manager  of  the  Warner,  Lynn,  suc- 
ceeding Frankie  Whalen,  resigned. 

Francis  Faille,  manager  of  the  Para- 
mount, North  Adams,  had  bookmarks  dis- 
tributed in  connection  with  “The  Letter” 
. . . Jane  Pikor  of  the  Center,  Fall  River, 
was  out  on  sick  leave.  Barbara  Plante 
filled  in  ..  . Henry  Smith,  son  of  Edward, 
GB’s  Paramount  manager,  is  slated  to 
leave  Springfield  on  February  12  for  train- 
ing down  in  Albany,  Ga.  . . . Harry  Scha- 
fer, Arcade  projectionist,  had  the  grippe 
. . . Office  equipment  in  the  main  office 
at  the  E.  M.  Loew’s  Court  Square  has  been 
rearranged  . . . Sammy  Kaye  did  SRO  at 


Where  exhibitors  must  go  to 
file  or  answer  complaints: 

BOSTON — Chamber  of  Commerce 
Bldg.,  Henry  de  la  Morandiere, 
tribunal  clerk.  The  Boston 
board  serves  the  entire  states 
of  Maine,  Vermont,  New  Hamp- 
shire, Massachusetts  and  Rhode 
Island. 

NEW  HAVEN — Second  National 
Life  Bldg.,  Oliver  Frederick 
Bishop,  tribunal  clerk.  The  New 
Haven  board  serves  the  entire 
state  of  Connecticut. 


etjford 


— Copyright  American  Map  Co.,  Inc. 


the  GB’s  Paramount  last  Monday,  Tuesday, 
and  Wednesday  . . . Stirling  Hayden,  for- 
mer Gloucester  boy  who  appears  in  Para- 
mount’s “Virginia,”  is  due  back  in  these 
parts  in  a few  days  . . . The  Three  Stooges 
recently  appeared  at  \the  Empire,  Fall 
River  . . . Melvin  M.  Aronson,  assistant 
manager  at  the  Strand,  Westfield,  com- 
mutes daily  to  his  home  in  Springfield  . . . 
Ray  Title,  F&M’s  Art,  Springfield,  was  in 
Boston  on  business. 

O.  D.  Duchain,  projectionist  at  GB’s 
Paramount,  is  planning  to  visit  New  York 
in  a few  weeks  . . . Virginia  Pellin  is  the 
new  assistant  candy  girl  at  the  Forest  Park 
Phillips  . . . Palace,  Pittsfield,  tied  up  with 
Station  WBRK  and  the  Pittsfield  Coal-Gas 
Co.  for  a weekly  quiz  program  entitled  “Sil- 


ver Dollar  Quiz.”  Affair  is  held  every  Wed- 
nesday evening  . . . Malcolm  Robichlea, 
engineer  at  the  Old  Colony,  Plymouth,  died 
recently  of  pneumonia  . . . Ted  Holt,  Loew’s 
New  Haven  maintenance  department,  has 
been  here  checking  up  on  seats  at  the 
local  Loew’s-Poli. 

Samuel  Goldstein  of  Western  Massa- 
chusetts Theatres,  Inc.,  announces  the  en- 
gagement of  his  daughter,  Elma  Estelle,  to 
Arthur  H.  Presto7i.  Weddmg  will  take  place 
in  the  spring  . . . Carl  A.  Jamroga,  For- 
est Park  Phillips  manager,  now  takes  his 
day  off  07i  Wed7iesday  . . . WB’s  Para- 
mount brought  in  “ Victory ” after  an  ex- 
te7isive  advertismg  and  publicity  campaign 
. . . Btisiness  has  been  picking  up  along  the 
local  rialto. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


63 


M IE  W 1111  AY  EM 


DEPARTURE  of  “Dean”  Morris  Joseph 
for  permanent  residence  in  the  south 
after  a long  illness  evoked  many  reminis- 
cences on  “the  good  old  days”  and  the 
old  timers  . . . Joseph  would  have  cele- 
brated his  26th  anniversary  as  Universal 
manager  here  in  May  . . . Bob  Russell, 
who  celebrates  his  22nd  anniversary  with 
the  Poli  houses  on  Valentine  Day,  recalls 
Joseph  as  one  of  the  first  film  notables 
he  knew  in  the  district  along  with  Bill 
Scully  and  Lester  Tobias  ...  At  his  20th 
anniversary  dinner  at  the  Taft,  Joseph 
was  still  being  kidded  about  his  “Foolish 
Wives”  deal  . . . On  his  23rd,  he  told  us 
“.  . . I can  definitely  feel  that  dark  clouds 
usually  do  have  their  silver  linings,”  and 
looked  forward  to  entertaining  his  friends 
on  his  25th  . . . This  he  did  at  a gala 
cocktail  party  at  the  “U”  offices,  with  a 
film  of  himself  and  Mike  Tomasino  show- 
ing the  inside  dope  on  contract-signing, 
as  extra  entertainment. 

William  C.  deMille,  Hollywood  producer, 
speaking  at  the  New  Haven  Open  Forum  in 
the  First  Methodist  Church  here,  pleaded 
for  freedom  of  the  motion  picture,  as  well 
as  freedom  of  the  press  . . . He  said  that 
pictures,  like  plays,  show  the  public  what 
it  is  thinking,  and  help  formulate  the 
ideas  it  already  has  taken  up;  that  pic- 
tures do  not  introduce  new  ideas  or  propa- 
ganda, or  if  they  try  these  things,  they 
fail  . . . Oscar  Doob  of  the  Loew’s  home 
office  came  up  to  the  Poli  division  office 
to  talk  about  “So  Ends  Our  Night,”  going 
into  the  Poli  houses  in  New  Haven,  Hart- 
ford, Bridgeport  and  Meriden  February 
13.  Present  were  Harry  F.  Shaw,  Bob 
Russell,  Jack  Simon,  Matt  Saunders,  Lou 
Cohen  and  Joe  Samartano.  An  extensive 
campaign  was  outlined.  Also  David  L. 
Loew  and  Albert  Leivin,  producers  of  the 
picture,  were  honor  guests  at  a special 
press  luncheon  in  anticipation  of  the  open- 
ing at  the  Hotel  Taft  Wednesday.  Pro- 
fessor Allardyce  Nicoll,  head  of  the  Yale 
University  department  of  drama,  and  Dr. 
William  Lyon  Phelps  were  other  notables 
present.  Lewin  was  interviewed  from  the 
Taft  over  station  WELI,  and  later  spoke 
to  the  Yale  Drama  students  on  motion 
picture  production.  Harry  Shaw,  Lou 
Wechsler,  Lou  Brown  and  Bob  Russell  of- 
ficiated. Lewin  produced  “Spawn  of  the 
North”  and  “Zaza”;  Loew,  “Wide  Open 
Faces,”  “The  Gladiator”  and  “Flirting  with 
Fate.” 

Flue  and  other  germs  continue  to  swell 
the  sick  list  . . . Morris  Rosenthal,  Ma- 
jestic manager,  Bridgeport,  laid  up  with 
a strep  throat  . . . Lou  Brown,  Loew-Poli 
publicity  chief,  was  out  for  several  days 
. . . Harry  Rose  of  the  Globe,  Bridgeport, 
is  a patient  at  Bridgeport  City  Hospital 
as  a result  of  a kidney  ailment  . . . Tim 
O’Toole,  Columbia  manager,  and  Earl 
Wright,  20th-Fox,  just  back  after  serious 
grippe  attacks  . . . Sid  Lax,  Columbia  ship- 
per, also  got  the  bug  for  a few  days  . . . 
Lee  Alderman,  Warner  contract  clerk,  re- 
cuperating from  an  operation  at  Grace 
Hospital  while  Katherine  Bolton  tempor- 
arily relieves  her  at  the  office  . . . Helen 
Platt,  Warner  inspectress,  out  ill  with  an 
infected  jaw  shortly  after  receiving  the 
sad  news  of  her  brother,  Tom  Gannon’s 
sudden  death  . . . Harold  Eskin  a district 


visitor  for  the  first  time  in  two  months 
after  an  illness  in  Florida  . . . Mrs.  Sam 
Badamo,  wife  of  the  College  manager,  an- 
other grippe  patient  . . . Also  Morris 
Mendlesohn,  wife  of  the  Loew-Poli  at- 
torney . . . Bob  Munzner,  College  assistant 
manager,  forced  to  take  short  leave  of  ab- 
sence . . . Morey  Goldstein,  new  Metro 
manager,  insists  those  black  glasses  aren’t 
hiding  something  he  got  peeping  through 
a keyhole,  or  in  any  altercation  with  an 
exhibitor. 

Film  bowling  tournament  at  the  end  of 
the  season  is  the  plan  of  the  committee, 
and  the  boys  are  shaping  up  . . . Loew- 
Poli  ushers,  captained  by  Frank  Manente, 
are  still  undefeated  . . . Next  game  sche- 
duled is  Al  Pickus’  Stratford  team  vs.  Co- 
lumbia at  the  Roger  Sherman  alleys  . . . 
20 th-Fox  beat  Warner,  Ben  Simon,  Sam 
Germaine,  Sal  Popolizio,  Domenick  Somma 
and  Lou  Wechsler  playing  for  the  former, 
and  Larry  Germaine,  Bob  Eliano,  Budd 
Bachus,  Morris  Weinstein  and  Lester  Sar- 
atus,  for  the  latter  . . . Although  Columbia 
won  two  games  out  of  three,  a total  pin 
fall  of  1,552  against  1,527  won  the  recent 
match  with  a Paramount-exhibition  team. 
Tim  O’Toole,  Ben  Lourie,  Edward  Canelli, 
Al  Parizer  and  Al  Pickus  played  for  Colum- 
bia against  Edward  Ruff,  Henry  Germaine, 
Lou  Schaefer,  Herman  M.  Levy  and  Billy 
Burke. 

Local  B-41  of  exchange  employes  met 
for  the  first  official  1941  meeting  at  the 
Hotel  Garde  Monday,  with  Samuel  Zipkin 
of  Universal  presiding  . . . Allied  Theatre 
Owners  of  Connecticut  held  a regular 
meeting  Tuesday  and  reported  only  routine 
business  . . . Thomas  Fitzsimmons,  at- 
torney, has  been  registered  as  lobbyist  for 
the  stagehands’  and  operators’  unions  at 
the  Hartford  legislature  . . . Loew-Poli 
ushers  are  dancing  again,  celebrating  Val- 


Any  Doubters? — 

Earl  Wright,  20 th-Fox  salesman  in 
New  Haven,  here  displays  proof  of 
his  piscatorial  prowess  in  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.  The  catch  weighed  18  pounds. 


entine  Day  with  their  favorite  girl  friends 
at  Seven  Gables  Inn,  Milford.  Committee 
in  charge  includes  Marshall  Blevins,  Jerry 
DeLise,  Arthur  DeFrank  and  John  Santillo. 
Harry  F.  Shaw  will  be  guest  of  honor  and 
what  else  but  m.c.  . . . Also  honor  guests 
are  Lou  Brown,  Bob  Russell,  Nat  Rubin, 
Sam  Badamo  and  Bill  Reisinger  . . . Burn- 
ing question  is  which  celebrity  Nat  Rubin 
will  escort  . . . Bernhart  E.  Hoffman  of 
the  Warner  Theatre  department  has  been 
re-elected  to  the  board  of  the  Jewish 
Family  Service  . . . Dick  Cohen,  book 
premium  and  theatre  program  distributor, 
is  father  of  a 7 pound  12  ounce  boy,  Peter 
Irwin,  born  at  Grace  Hospital. 

Jacques,  new  burlesque  operation  in  Wat- 
erbury,  has  taken  to  radio  advertising  and 
fixed  admissions  at  25-50  cents  plus  tax 
matinees,  and  40-77  cents  plus  tax,  eve- 
nings . . . Lincoln  had  first  New  Haven 
showing  of  “The  Great  Profile,”  coupled 
with  “The  Merry  Wives,”  and  mailed  an 
attractive  color  program  . . . “This  Thing 
Called  Love”  stayed  a second  week  at  E.  M. 
Loew’s,  Hartford,  and  “High  Sierra,”  a 
second  week  at  Regal.  Hartford  . . . “Land 
of  Liberty,”  exploited  several  weeks  ago  by 
the  College  staff,  has  now  been  pushed 
back  to  made  room  for  two  holdover  weeks 
of  “GWTW”  and  one  of  “The  Philadelphia 
Story”  . . . Dick  Cohen  has  sold  the  Pequot 
a 20-week  Standard  American  encyclopedia 
deal,  starting  February  10  . . . Also  the 
Community , Fairfield,  the  21-week  Uni- 
versity of  Knowledge  Wonder  Books  for 
February  9 sendoff;  and  the  Dixwell  Play- 
house, the  Wonder  Books,  beginning  Feb- 
ruary 23  . . . Harry  Gibbs  is  handling  the 
latest  type  theatre  coca-cola  dispenser, 
which  is  going  over  big  in  the  Pickwick, 
Greenwich;  Tower,  Waterbury;  State,  Tor- 
rington;  Capitol,  Meriden;  Park,  Thomas- 
ton,  and  Conde  Nast  Press,  Greenwich. 

Best  wishes  of  the  territory  extended 
to  Hymie  Levine  on  the  opening  of  his 
Inter  State  Film  Co.  Meadow  Street  of- 
fice for  the  handling  of  Northeastern,  Im- 
perial, and  Select  attractions.  Levine  is 
a well-known  figure  on  Filmrow  where  he 
has  served  in  many  capacities  . . . William 
Hutchins,  National  Theatre  Supply,  is  at- 
tending the  national  convention  at  the 
Belmont-Plaza  . . . Second  Lieutenant  Ed- 
die Fitzgerald,  former  assistant  booker  at 
the  Paramount  exchange,  is  at  military 
school  at  Northfield,  Vt.,  after  which  he 
leaves  for  Ft.  Blanding,  Jacksonville. 
Louis  Posner  of  New  York  replaces  him 
. . . Other  Filmrow  employes  have  low 
numbers  and  expect  calls  soon  . . . Local 
Universal  office  is  fifth  in  eastern  divi- 
sion in  the  Bill  Scully  Drive  . . . Perakos- 
Quittner  building  operations  in  East  Hart- 
ford not  yet  started,  and  there  is  rumor 
of  another  new  house  in  the  town  . . . 
Hymie  Schwartz  is  still  operating  at  the 
Hillcrest,  Taftville  . . . College,  New  Haven, 
has  all  new  fixtures  in  men’s  and  ladies’ 
rooms,  first  change  in  the  house  in  many 
a year. 

Bob  Bergin,  former  student  assistant  at 
the  Elm  Street,  Worcester,  has  been  pro- 
moted to  assistant,  succeeding  Max  Nes- 
vetsky,  who  is  now  assistant  manager  of 
of  the  Poli,  Worcester. 


84 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


"Fantasia"  Consensus 
Is  All  lo  the  Good 

Boston — “Fantasia”  opened  an  extended 
roadshow  run  at  the  Majestic  here  last 
week  before  a society,  intelligentsia,  and 
run-of-the-mill  audience  under  the  joint 
sponsorship  of  the  New  England  Town 
Hall  and  the  Institute  of  Modern  Art.  Al- 
though critics  differed  on  their  comments, 
the  only  reaction  at  the  boxoffice  was  an 
ever-increasing  avalanche  of  advance  or- 
ders. The  opening  got  more  front  page 
space  than  usual  as  many  newspapers 
sent  film,  music,  editorial,  and  fashion 
writers  to  cover  the  event. 

Alexander  Williams,  music  critic  for  the 
Herald,  wrote:  “The  whole  thing  has  been 
handled  with  what  amounts  to  a touch 
of  genius,”  but  it  remained  for  another 
music  critic,  Warren  Storey  Smith  of  the 
Post,  to  give  the  film  its  heaviest  and  per- 
haps most  obscure  knocks. 

“Blot  on  Disney" 

Smith  called  it  “a  blot  on  Mr.  Disney’s 
artistic  escutcheon,”  and  added,  “it  is 
hard  to  condone  Mr.  Taylor’s  acquiescence 
and  Mr.  Stokowski’s  participation.” 

Wrote  Smith:  “A  noble  art,  long  secure 
in  its  place  and  position,  is  here  forced 
to  serve  as  the  handmaiden  of  one  that 
is  still  in  the  experimental  stage,  though 
applied  in  this  instance  with  infinite  in- 
genuity— and  also  with  frequent  lapses 
from  good  taste  and  with  a superabun- 
dance of  detail  that  often  irritates  and 
finally  exhausts  the  one  who  would  both 
see  and  hear.  Moreover,  in  many  cases 
the  original  intentions  of  the  composers 
are  treated  with  a sublime  disregard.” 

As  another  paper  explained  it,  “What 
sounds  to  the  sordid  soul  like  a drunken 
man  beating  his  wife  is  to  another  like 
the  roar  of  the  mighty  ocean  beating  on 
rocks.” 

The  Herald,  editorially,  called  Disney  “a 
Walt  Whitman  of  the  screen”  and  added 
that  Disney  “has  given  sound  and  sight 
additional  meaning  . . . science  has  con- 
sorted with  art,  as  mechanical  accom- 
plishments are  almost  as  noticeable  as  the 
artistic. 

“The  orthodox  furrowed  the  brow  and 
raised  the  upper  lip  of  trifle  when  Har- 
vard, Yale  and  other  institutions  saw  in 
Walt  Disney  far  more  than  a funny  drafts- 
man with  a roaming,  entrancing  fancy, 
and  awarded  him  honorary  degrees.  These 
universities  considered  him  a great  cre- 
ative, pioneering  figure — just  as  many 
serious  persons  admire  Fred  Stone  as  a 
great  clown  or  Charlie  Chaplin  as  a truly 
superior  artist.  ‘Fantasia’  vindicates  the 
judgment  of  the  academic  groups.  Every- 
thing considered,  what  artistic  develop- 
ment in  the  history  of  the  stage  surpasses 
it?” 


Circuits  Sign  Kiddie  Deals 

Boston — Kiddie  deals  have  been  con- 
tracted for  by  M&P  Theatres,  Phil  Smith, 
George  Ramsdell,  E.  M.  Loew,  and  Herman 
Rifkin  circuits.  The  deals  are  handled  by 
Joe  Schmuck  who  has  the  Parade  of  Presi- 
dents giveaway  and  another  juvenile  hypo 
built  around  a racing  reel. 


HARTFORD 


TAMES  F.  McCarthy,  WB’s  Strand 
3 manager,  was  in  New  Haven  for  a War- 
ner publicity  meet  . . . New  stage  curtains 
and  screen  have  been  installed  at  the  Lyric 
. . . Jack  A.  Simons,  Loew’s  Poli  man- 
ager, and  Louis  A.  Cohen,  Loew’s  Poli  Pal- 
ace manager,  attended  a division  managers’ 
meeting  in  New  Haven  . . . Frankie  Ram- 
sey, assistant  manager  at  the  Strand,  now 
takes  his  day  off  every  Monday  . . . Doro- 
thy Thompson  will  speak  on  “Our  Ameri- 
can Democracy”  at  Bushnell’s,  February  12, 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Mt.  Sinai  Hospital 
. . . Alice  Erickson,  cashier  at  the  WB’s 
Strand,  has  been  ill  at  home  with  the 
grippe  . . . Ditto,  Charlie  Williams,  WB’s 
Strand  porter. 

“Ice  Follies  of  1941”  is  due  at  the  East- 
ern States  Coliseum,  West  Springfield,  on 
February  10  for  a week’s  run  . . . Proven 
Pictures  brought  back  Columbia’s  “Lost 
Horizon”  . . . Charlie  Repass  of  the  Crown 
and  Martin  Kelleher,  Princess  manager, 
were  in  New  Haven  . . . Three  films,  “The 
Flag  Speaks,”  “Sons  of  Liberty,”  and  “Lin- 
coln in  the  White  House”  were  shown  at 
the  Hartford  Children’s  Museum  last  Sun- 
day . . . “Gone  With  the  Wind”  was  held 
for  three  weeks  at  the  Loew’s  Poli  Majes- 
tic, Bridgeport,  and  Loew’s  Poli  Palace, 
Hartford  . . . Community,  Fairfield, 

brought  back  “Only  Angels  Have  Wings” 

. . . Harry  F.  Shaw,  division  manager  for 
Loew’s  Poli,  and  his  wife,  Flo,  are  reported- 
ly planning  to  visit  Hollywood  in  March 
. . . Palace,  Stamford,  is  again  offering 
flesh  on  Saturdays. 

Manny  Kugell  of  the  Warner,  Bridge- 
port, was  on  the  sick  list  . . . Walter  Mur- 
phy, manager  of  the  Capitol,  New  London, 
tripped  to  Boston  . . . Syd  Conn  of  Con- 
rose,  Inc.,  Hartford,  has  been  in  Miami 
Beach  . . . Webster  brought  back  “Dods- 
worth”  . . . Elyse  Knox,  the  former  Elsie 


Kornbrath  of  Hartford,  will  appear  in 
RKO’s  “Footlight  Fever”  . . . “This  Thing 
Called  Love”  went  into  a third  record- 
smashing  week  at  the  E.  M.  Loew’s  last 
Thursday  . . . M.  Frank  Shaughnessy  of  the 
Academy,  Northampton,  is  recuperating  in 
the  Cooley  Dickinson  Hospital,  Northamp- 
ton, from  injuries  received  in  an  automo- 
bile accident  recently  outside  of  North- 
ampton. 

Joe  Bernard,  chief  of  the  Strand  service 
staff,  had  a cold  ...  Ted  Smalley,  manager 
of  the  Garde,  New  London,  observed  his 
3 6th  birthday  . . . Empress,  Norwalk,  will 
be  recarpeted  . . . Mark  Larkin  of  MPPDA 
has  been  in  this  area  in  connection  with 
“Land  of  Liberty”  . . . Val  Arms,  formerly 
of  Hartford,  has  sold  a drawing  of  Mickey 
Rooney  to  M-G-M  to  be  nationally  re- 
leased with  “Andy  Hardy’s  Private  Secre- 
tary” publicity  . . . Helen  Lee  is  the  new 
relief  cashier  at  the  Loew’s  Poli  Palace, 
succeeding  Valerie  Rudek,  who  has  left  for 
New  York  . . . Mrs.  M.  Oakley  Christoph, 
film  columnist  and  critic  for  the  Hartford 
Courant,  spent  last  weekend  in  New  York 
. . . Tommie  Weaver,  usher  at  the  WB’s 
Strand,  has  resigned  . . . Paul  Amadeo, 
usher  at  the  E.  M.  Loew’s,  was  out  with  the 
flu  ..  . Hy  Fine,  division  manager  of  M&P 
Theatres,  visited  Walter  B.  Lloyd,  man- 
ager of  the  Allyn  . . . In  New  Haven  last 
week  on  business  was  George  E.  Landers, 
E.  M.  Loew’s  manager. 

Many  Hartford  theatre  managers  were 
in  attendance  at  the  President’s  Birthday 
Ball  at  the  Hartford  Club.  Jack  A.  Simons, 
Loew’s  Poli  manager,  was  in  charge  of  ar- 
rangements . . . Eddie  Boggs,  chief  of  ser- 
vice at  the  E.  M.  Loew’s,  has  resigned  . . . 
Tommie  Long,  part-time  usher  at  the  E. 
M.  Loew’s,  has  been  upped  to  full-time 
. . . “The  Philadelphia  Story”  did  SRO 
business  at  the  Loew’s  Poli. 


Leonard  Kraskas  Present 
Richard , Their  First 

Boston — The  gala  world  premiere  of 
“Richard  the  First,”  without  obligations 
to  Shakespeare,  was  released  here  last 
week  Sunday  at  4:50  P.  M„  at  the  Fiske 
House  in  Cambridge.  This,  the  first 
Georgia -Leonard  production  was  in  full 
natural  color  and  starred  Richard  Stephen 
Kraska. 

Producer  was  Georgia  Robins  Kraska 
while  David  Leonard  Kraska  was  assistant 
producer.  The  director  was  Dr.  J.  L.  Hunt- 
ington. George  Kraska,  operator  of  the 
Fine  Arts  in  Boston,  was  general  manager 
in  charge  of  exhibition. 

“The  mammoth  production,”  according 
to  Leonard  Kraska,  house  manager  of  the 
Fine  Arts,  “weighed  in  seven  pounds  nine 
ounces.  The  first  public  showing  will  be 
February  15th  at  the  Kraska  auditorium 
at  53  Gardiner  Road  in  Brookline  with  all 
seats  reserved  in  advance.” 


20th  Anniversary 

Holyoke,  Mass. — The  Victory,  managed 
by  George  Laby,  is  currently  observing 
its  20th  anniversary. 


Sears  Roebuck  Limits 
Coupon  Giveaways 

Boston — Sears  Roebuck  & Co.  will  not 
extend  their  plan  of  profit-sharing  coupons 
as  giveaways  into  New  England,  Arthur 
Rogov,  local  retail  sales  head,  informed 
this  publication.  Sears  Roebuck  put  out 
one,  two  and  five-cent  coupons  at  face 
value  to  exhibitors  in  the  Philadelphia 
territory  and  later  redeemed  them  from 
theatre  patrons  in  part  or  full  payment 
for  merchandise,  the  concern  covering  all 
advertising  costs  on  the  scheme. 


Basic  NBC  Unit 

New  Britain  — Six-year-old  WNBC, 
which  established  a branch  in  Hartford 
several  years  ago,  has  become  a basic 
station  of  the  NBC  Blue  network.  General 
Manager  Richard  W.  Davis  is  proceeding 
with  a new  transmitter  to  take  care  of 
the  daytime  power  increase  from  1,000  to 
5,000  watts,  effective  April  1. 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


65 


JLLNESS  hit  the  managers  of  three  down- 
town theatres  the  same  week.  Harry 
Rose  of  the  Globe  was  taken  to  Bridgeport 
Hospital  with  a kidney  ailment;  Morris 
Rosenthal  was  stricken  so  seriously  with 
the  grippe  that  the  services  of  trained 
nui’ses  were  necessary,  and  Manny  E.  Ku- 
gell  of  the  Warner  tore  a ligament  in  his 
back.  Matt  L.  Saunders  of  the  Loew-Poli 
was  the  only  major  house  manager  to  es- 
cape. 

Jack  Sidney  sr„  jather  of  Jack  Sidney , 
assistant  manager  at  Loew’s  Poll,  is  com- 
pany manager  of  the  Arlene  Judge  unit 
show  . . . William  Pine,  operator  of  the 
Playhouse,  Darien,  has  been  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  Kiwanis  Club  of  that  town  . . . 
John  McCarthy , Loew’s  Poli  engineer,  col- 
lapsed at  work  and  teas  removed  to  St. 
Vincent’s  Hospital.  His  son,  James,  is  man- 
ager of  Warner’s  Strand  in  Hartford  . . . 
Howard  Pettingell,  formerly  manager  of 
the  Warner  here,  is  now  in  Palm  Beach 
as  advertising  manager  for  a Florida  chain. 

Albert  N.  Hamilton,  manager  of  the  Em- 
press, South  Norwalk,  is  back  from  a trip 
to  Chicago  . . . The  Strand  morning  shows 
for  workers  in  the  afternoon  shifts  in  local 
factories  are  proving  popular  . . . Robert 
Finerty,  Loew’s  Poli  doorman,  has  been 
shifted  to  a like  position  at  the  Majestic, 
succeeding  Jesse  Gamwell  . . . Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Samuel  Haddleman  of  the  Colonial  and 
Capitol  are  back  from  a 12-day  vacation  in 
Miami  . . . Harry  F.  Shaw,  Loew’s  New 
England  division  manager,  was  called  here 
by  the  serious  illness  of  his  brother-in- 
law,  Harry  Rose,  Globe  manager. 

Lou  Carroll  of  the  Alhambra,  Torrington, 
booked  in  “ Birth  of  a Nation”  and  “The 
Shark  Woman”  as  a double  feature  and 
did  nice  business  . . . The  Roxy,  New  Brit- 
ain, gives  away  ice  cream  to  the  children 
on  Saturday  while  the  Palace,  Torrington, 
hands  out  comic  books  . . . Morris  Haddle- 
man of  the  Shelton  donated  his  theatre  for 
the  March  of  Dunes  drive  in  that  town  and 
ran  a benefit  matinee  . . . Manny  Kugell 
of  the  Warner  was  in  Stamford  for  a 
wedding. 

A high  truck  backed  into  the  marquee 
of  Mike  Carroll’s  American  and  knocked 
off  a cornice  . . . William  Hatkoff,  who  has 
been  manager  of  the  Capitol,  Danbury,  and 
the  Rialto,  Norwalk,  has  opened  a real  es- 
tate office  in  the  latter  city  . . . William 
Fash  of  Hackensack,  N.  J.,  has  been  named 
manager  of  the  Playhouse,  Ridgefield,  suc- 
ceeding Gerald  Mangone,  who  has  been 
transferred  to  Larchmont,  N.  Y. 

The  Rialto,  Norwalk,  has  launched  a 
bouquet  household  ensemble  deal  . . . The 
Empress,  Norwalk,  plans  to  recarpet  . . . 
Manager  Matt  Saunders  arid  Otto  Esposito 
of  the  Loew-Poli  and  Julia  Farnam,  Cen- 
tral High  School  dramatic  teacher,  were  in 
New  Haven  for  the  David  L.  Loew-Albert 
Lewin  luncheon  at  the  Hotel  Taft  . . . The 
interior  of  the  Playhouse,  New  Canaan, 
has  been  repainted. 

Michael  Carroll  of  the  American  enter- 
tained the  Times-Star  carrier  boys  . . . Ar- 
thur McCloud,  Capitol  projectionist,  is 
back  in  the  booth  after  an  illness  . . . 
Louis  Levy,  Warner  projectionist,  is  back 
from  a Florida  vacation. 


"GWTW"  Earns  Third 
Week  in  New  Haven 

New  Haven  — The  invisible  flu  germ 
made  visible  dents  in  business  this  week 
as  it  hit  whole  families  and  confined  them 
to  their  homes.  “GWTW,”  in  its  second 
week  at  the  College,  withstood  all  odds, 
however,  and  almost  halved  the  first  week’s 
business  at  the  “A”  house  on  this  picture. 
It  will  be  held  a third  week.  “Kitty  Foyle” 
and  the  “Case  of  the  Black  Parrot”  at 
the  Roger  Sherman  also  piled  up  good 
business.  Other  downtowns  went  under  the 
line. 

Detail  for  the  week  ended  January  30: 


(Average  is  100) 

College — Gone  With  the  Wirnl  (M-G-M), 

2nd  wk 225 

Loew-Poli — Chad  Hanna  (20th-Fox);  Maisie 

Was  a Lady  (M-G-M)  80 

Paramount — Life  With  Henry  (Para’t);  Texas 

Hangers  Hide  Again  (Para’t)  90 

Roger  Sherman — Kitty  Foyle  (RICO);  Case  of 
the  Black  Parrot  (FN)  150 


"Wind”  Hub's  Top  Grosser ; 
"Kitty"  to  Filth  Week 

Boston — The  biggest  first-run  noise  of 
the  week  was  that  “Kitty  Foyle”  went 
into  a fifth  week  at  the  Keith’s  Memorial 
in  combination  with  “The  Saint  in  Palm 
Springs.”  Snow  storms  were  no  aid  to  the 


boxoffice. 

Details  for  the  week  ending  January  31: 

(Average  is  100) 

Fenway — Haunted  Honeymoon  (M-G-M); 

Go  West  (M-G-M)  105 

Keith’s  Memorial — Kitty  Foyle  (RKO),  4th  wk. ; 

Tlie  Saint  in  Palm  Springs  (RKO) 60 

Orpheum — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M),  re- 
peat run,  2nd  wk 165 

State — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M),  re- 
peat run,  2nd  wk 140 

Metropolitan— Victory  (Para’t);  Fife  With 

Henry  (Para’t)  100 

Paramount — Haunted  Honeymoon  (M-G-M); 

Go  West  (M-G-M)  115 


Gordon,  Lockwood  Get 
The  State  in  Calais 

Boston — Louis  Gordon  and  Arthur  Lock- 
wood,  heads  of  the  rapidly  enlarging  Gor- 
don & Lockwood  circuit,  extend  their  hold- 
ings into  northern  Maine  with  the  ac- 
quisition of  the  State  in  Calais  from 
Charles  Staples. 

0 ft 

: NEW  HAMPSHIRE  : 

VS  v 

glX  new  bills  have  been  introduced  in 
the  legislature  proposing  laws  fixing 
minimum  wage  and  maximum  hour  stand- 
ards and  otherwise  governing  the  relation- 
ship between  employes  and  employers. 

Employes  of  the  Crown  and  Strand 
theatres  sent  floral  tributes  to  the  funeral 
of  John  J.  Young  at  St.  Anne’s  Church 
in  Manchester. 

“Hoot”  Gibson  and  his  wife  were  recent 
guests  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curtis  Bell  at 
Reed’s  Ferry. 

The  Town  Hall  of  the  new  model  village 
of  Hill,  replacing  a community  of  the  same 
name  wiped  out  in  a flood  control  project, 
has  been  formally  accepted  by  the  board 
of  selectmen. 


0 ' ===^ 

: NEW  BRITAIN  : 

VS — 0 

^ICK  MARLAMES  of  the  Roxy  was  to 
have  returned  this  week  from  a St. 
Petersburg  vacation  . . . More  than  1,800 
persons,  most  of  them  children,  attended 
a show  at  the  local  Strand  for  the  benefit 
of  infantile  paralysis  sufferers.  Total  pro- 
ceeds of  the  show  were  approximately 
$190. 

Pattie  McMahon,  manager  of  the  State, 
is  planning  the  construction  of  a new  home 
. . . Peter  Perakos,  Palace  owner,  reports 
business  pretty  good  of  late  . . . Al  Ire- 
land, Roxy  doorman,  is  quite  a winter 
sports  enthusiast. 

John  S.  P.  Glackin,  Arch  Street;  Phil 
Demas,  Roxy;  Pattie  McMahon,  State; 
and  Peter  Perakos,  Palace,  all  were  in  New 
Haven  last  week  on  business. 


Pin  Newsreel  Wrestling 
Clip  on  Censor's  Floor 

Boston — Scenes  of  wrestling,  dancing 
and  carrion  were  clipped  from  three  of 
the  59  films  licensed  last  week  for  Massa- 
chusetts Sunday  showing  by  the  State 
Bureau  of  Sunday  Censorship. 

A wrestling  clip  was  excluded  in  its  en- 
tirety from  Loew’s,  Inc.  News  of  the  Day 
No.  237.  Scenes  showing  dead  horses  were 
cut  out  of  the  first  reel  of  “Poland  Is  Not 
Lost,”  while  censors  excluded  third  reel 
scenes  of  dead  women  lying  on  the  ground. 
In  M-G-M’s  “Wild  Man  of  Borneo”  fourth 
reel  scenes  showing  girl  dancing  were 
given  the  shears. 


Harry  Smith  in  Charge  of 
Legion  Post  Banquet 

Boston — Harry  P.  Smith  of  RKO  was 
chairman  in  charge  of  the  successful  Past 
Commanders  and  Ladies  Night  held  by 
the  Theatrical  Post  of  American  Legion 
at  a film  district  nitery  here  Monday. 

Among  the  former  commanders  honored 
at  the  well-attended  affair  were  Dr. 
William  Basch,  William  J.  Cotty,  Kenneth 
Forkey,  Col.  Joseph  F.  Gohn,  Patrick  F. 
Healey,  Charles  E.  Heath,  William  H.  Mc- 
Laughlin and  James  H.  Sheeran. 


"Philadelphia  Story"  Is 
Put  on  "Adult"  List 

Springfield,  Mass.— The  Springfield  M. 
P.  Council  classifies  “The  Philadelphia 
Story”  as  a film  for  “adults  only,”  in  its 
latest  analysis  of  product. 

The  following  are  listed  for  the  family: 
“Honeymoon  for  Three,”  “High  Sierra,” 
“Kitty  Foyle,”  “Victory,”  “Gone  With  the 
Wind,”  “Invisible  Woman,”  “South  to  Ka- 
ranga,”  “This  Thing  Called  Love”  and 
“Let’s  Make  Music.” 


Charlie  Brennan 

Hartford — Charlie  Brennan,  manager  of 
the  local  Loew’s  Poli  about  seven  years 
ago,  died  recently  in  Walter  Reid  Hospital, 
Washington,  D.  C„  according  to  word 
reaching  here. 


66 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


" Wind,  ” "Hudson ’s  Bay,  ” 
"Arizona  ” Smashers 


Interslate  Settles 
With  0.  B.  Bridges 

Dallas — The  Interstate  circuit  has  ef- 
fected a settlement  out  of  court  in  the 
O.  B.  Bridges  anti-trust  suit  against  it  and 
the  eight  majors. 

Terms  of  the  settlement  were  not  dis- 
closed, but  were  described  as  “a  figure 
satisfactory  to  Mr.  Hoblitzelle  and  Mr. 
Bridges.” 

The  Bridges  suit  had  been  pending  for 
some  time  and  was  instituted  by  the  inde- 
pendent exhibitor  when  he  operated  the 
Palace  in  Houston.  It  charged  price  fix- 
ing on  the  part  of  the  circuit  to  the  detri- 
ment of  Bridges’  operation. 

The  settlement  winds  up  all  pending 
damage  suits  against  the  circuit. 


Hear  Interstate  Motion  in 
Torgenson  Suit  Monday 

Dallas — Hearing  on  Interstate’s  motion 
before  Judge  W.  H.  Atwell  in  federal  court 
to  have  the  jury  verdict  in  the  Jorgenson 
damage  suit  set  aside  in  favor  of  an  in- 
structed verdict  for  the  defendants,  has 
been  delayed  until  Monday.  In  case  the 
instructed  verdict  is  not  realized,  Inter- 
state will  ask  for  a new  trial,  it  is  be- 
lieved. 

Jorgenson  recently  was  awarded  $4,500 
damages  in  a suit  involving  price  restric- 
tions and  availability. 

Robb  & Rowley  Transfer 
Two  Operating  Heads 

Dallas — Shifts  of  operating  heads  in 
two  Robb  & Rowley-United  towns  have 
just  been  made.  Sam  Stokes,  after  many 
years  as  manager  in  McAlester,  Okla.,  goes 
to  Corpus  Christi  where  he  will  relieve 
Bruce  Collins  as  city  manager.  Collins,  it 
was  said,  will  devote  his  time  to  R&R  real 
estate  in  the  boom  city  and  will  also  look 
after  personal  holdings.  He  remains,  how- 
ever, as  partner  of  the  circuit  in  Corpus. 
To  McAlester  goes  Alex  Blue,  formerly 
assistant  to  J.  P.  Jones  in  Palestine.  Blue’s 
place  is  filled  by  John  Callahan,  a brother 
of  Dave  Callahan,  who  is  the  R&R  man- 
ager in  Waxahachie. 

Shorthose  and  Interstate 
Building  in  Paris , Tex. 

Paris,  Tex. — W.  F.  Shorthose,  local  busi- 
ness man,  is  starting  remodeling  work  on 
a new  independent  theatre  here  which  he 
expects  to  open  within  the  next  few  weeks. 
He  secured  a lease  on  the  location  a short 
time  ago  and  has  purchased  equipment 
for  it. 

Last  Monday,  however,  the  Interstate 
circuit  started  remodeling  of  a store  loca- 
tion they  recently  acquired  which  will 
make  their  fourth  theatre  here.  The  Short- 
hose show  will  make  the  total  five. 


Thurman  Lumpkin  Promoted 

Fort  Worth,  Tex. — Thurman  Lumpkin, 
formerly  of  the  Palace  service  staff  here, 
has  been  named  assistant  manager  of  the 
Camp  Bowie  Theatre  at  Brownwood,  Tex. 


New  Orleans — Decree  or  no  decree,  the 
public  is  tearing  down  the  doors  over  the 
excellence  of  the  films  shown  in  all  houses. 
“GWTW”  came  back  to  Loew’s  after  a 
seven-and-a-half  week  run  at  more  than 
top  prices — but  this  time  at  50  cents  top 
and  packed  them  in.  It  will  go  to  the 
neighborhoods  at  a slight  advance  after 
the  protection  period.  “The  Philadelphia 
Story”  is  underlined.  At  the  Orpheum, 
“Arizona”  proved  that  Southerners  go 
strong  for  the  westerns.  “This  Thing  Called 
Love”  is  being  held  for  a third  week  at 
the  Liberty,  another  Mort  Singer  thea- 
tre. Over  at  the  Saenger,  “Hudson’s  Bay” 
brought  a touch  of  snow  and  ice,  saved  a 
new  world  and  reunited  two  lovers  to  be 
followed  by  “Second  Chorus,”  with  “Vic- 
tory” as  a midnight  show.  Business  has 
been  good  all  over  the  city. 


(Average  is  100) 

Globe — Bitter  Sweet  (M-G-M)  95 

Liberty — That  Thing  Caled  Love  (Col),  2nd  wk.  .100 

Loew’s— Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M)  250 

Orpheum — Arizona  (Col)  200 

Saenger — Hudson’s  Bay  (20th-Fox)  200 

Tudor — Escape  (M-G-M),  2nd  wk 90 


" Santa  Fe  Trail " Is  Most 
Potent  Draw  in  Dallas 

Dallas — Grosses  held  up  on  Elm  Street 
with  “Santa  Fe  Trail”  taking  the  honors 
for  the  week.  However  “GWTW”  opened 
Friday  at  the  Palace  and  this  was  given 
credit  for  bringing  them  downtown  during 


Isley  Builds  in  Mineral 
Wells  and  Brownwood 

Dallas — Theatre  activities  of  Phil  R. 
Isley  continue  to  attract  attention  here. 

He  started  construction  Monday  on  a 
1,000-seater  in  Mineral  Wells  across  the 
street  from  where  Resort  Amusement  Co. 
(Robb  & Rowley),  have  a new  theatre 
under  way.  Isley  also  started  construc- 
tion Monday  on  a new  theatre  in  Brown- 
wood where  he  opened  the  new  Plaza  about 
90  days  ago.  On  February  6,  he  opened  the 
new  Bobby  Walker  in  Abilene.  The  house 
was  named  for  his  grandson. 


Hear  Boyce  House 

Waco,  Tex. — Boyce  House,  widely-read 
Texas  newspaper  columnist  who  served  as 
technical  director  for  M-G-M’s  “Boom 
Town,”  addressed  the  Junior  Chamber  of 
Commerce  membership  on  the  subject, 
“How  I Took  Hollywood  by  Storm.”  His 
speech  was  a humorous  take-off  on  his 
experiences  while  in  the  film  capital. 


the  weekend  rain,  the  first  part  being  fair, 
however.  The  Capitol  put  in  another  dou- 
ble, including  an  Autry,  after  trying  it 
single  the  previous  Saturday. 

Detail  for  week  ending  February  1: 


(Average  is  100) 

Capitol — Phantom  Submarine  (Col)  90 

Played  Tuesday  and  Wednesday. 

Capitol — Michael  Shayne,  Private  Detective 

(20th-Fox)  90 

Played  Thursday  and  Friday. 

Capitol — San  Francisco  Docks  (Univ) ; Kalin* 

on  a Rainbow  (Rep)  115 

Starting  Saturday  going  through  Monday. 

Majestic — Santa  Fe  Trail  (FN)  125 

Held  over  at  the  Tower. 

Palace — Second  Chorus  (Para’t)  100 

Rialto — Lady  With  Red  Hair  (WB)  100 

Played  three  days  ending  Thursday. 

Rialto — No,  No,  Nanette  (RKO)  110 

Played  four  days  through  Monday. 

Tower — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M),  2nd  wk  ..110 


Rain  Dampens  Attendance 
For  O.  C.  First  Runs 

Oklahoma  City — Rain  for  almost  the 
full  week  cut  grosses  down  last  week  with 
indications  of  attendance  having  forecast 
exceptionally  good  business  had  it  not 
been  for  the  dripping  weather. 

Detail  for  week  ended  February  1: 


(Average  is  100) 

Criterion- — Philadelphia  Story  (M-G-M) 135 

Liberty — Here  Comes  the  Navy  (WB);  The 

Great  Profile  (20th-Fox),  95 

Midwest — The  Son  of  Monte  Cristo  (UA) 90 

State — Foreign  Correspondent  (UA)  130 

Tower — Gone  With  the  Wind  (M-G-M) 110 


Fourth  local  week  on  this  run;  two  at  Cri- 
terion. 


Dallas — Republic  Pictures  Corp.  of  New 
York  has  purchased  their  Texas  franchise 
from  W.  G.  Underwood  and  C.  C.  Ezell, 
who  thereby  retire  from  distribution  after 
being  in  that  end  of  the  game  since  its 
earliest  days. 

James  R.  Grainger,  Republic  president; 
J.  E.  McMahon,  company  attorney,  and 
Frank  Soule,  special  representative  for 
Herbert  Yates,  were  here  several  days  at 
the  Adolphus  Hotel  working  on  the  deal 
which  was  finally  closed  Monday  night. 

Lloyd  B.  Rust,  who  continues  as  local 
Republic  manager,  said  there  would  be  no 
changes  whatever  in  the  Dallas  branch  in 
either  personnel  or  service. 

Underwood  operated  Specialty  Film  Co. 
here  for  many  years.  In  June,  1935,  he 
joined  forces  with  Ezell  and  as  a team 
they  built  up  a prospering  business.  When 
Bank  Night  came  along,  they  added  vastly 
to  their  coffers. 

Today  they  are  devoting  their  full  time 
to  building  drive-in  theatres  in  Texas  and 
to  other  theatre  interests. 


Desguin  Installs  Sound 

Punta  Gorda,  Fla. — L.  V.  Desguin  is  in- 
stalling RCA  sound  in  his  New  Theatre. 


Underwood  and  Ezell  Sell 
Republic  Texas  Franchise 


BOXOFFICE  : : February  8,  1941 


S 


67 


— Copyright  American  Map  Co.,  Inc. 


Atlanta — Mortgage  Guarantee  Bldg.,  Detlef  H.  Hansen  jr.,  tribunal  clerk. 
The  area  includes:  In  Georgia,  the  entire  state.  In  Florida,  the  entire  state 
except  for  Escambia  county.  In  Alabama,  all  counties  except  Marengo,  Choc- 
taw, Washington,  Mobile,  Clarke,  Wilcox,  Butler,  Conecuh,  Baldwin,  Escam- 
bia and  Monroe.  In  Tennessee,  all  counties  east  of  the  western  boundaries  of 
Stewart,  Houston,  Humphreys,  Perry  and  Wayne. 

Charlotte — Liberty  Life  Bldg.,  Joseph  C.  Wright,  tribunal  clerk.  The 
area  includes  the  entire  states  of  North  Carolina  and  South  Carolina. 


Arbitration  Office 
Open  in  Charlotte 

Charlotte  — The  arbitration  tribunal 
serving  the  two  Carolinas  as  provided  by 
the  consent  decree  governing  industry  re- 
lations is  now  open  here  at  1315  Liberty 
Life  Building. 

In  charge  is  Joseph  C.  Wright  who  be- 
fore assuming  the  duties  was  connected 
with  the  local  office  of  the  Penn  Mutual 
Life  Insurance  Co.  He  also  has  been  active 
in  the  junior  chamber  of  commerce  and 
other  civic  groups. 

Arbitrators  of  complaints,  Wright  points 
out,  will  be  chosen  from  fields  outside  the 
industry  and  announcement  of  appointees 
will  be  made  within  two  weeks. 


Would  Legalize  Betting 
On  Horses  in  Arkansas 

Little  Rock — A bill  has  been  introduced 
in  the  House  to  legalize  the  placing  of  bets 
on  horse  races  with  licensed  bookmakers. 
The  license  fee  would  be  $50  annually.  A 
tax  of  seven  per  cent  would  be  levied  on 
the  total  amount  of  bets  accepted.  Revenue 
would  pay  the  cost  of  administering  a pro- 
posed federal  food  stamp  plan  in  Arkansas 
counties. 

Another  bill  introduced  in  the  House 
would  increase  the  privilege  tax  on  money 
wagered  in  pari-mutuel  machines  at  horse 
race  tracks  from  the  present  five  to  15  per 
cent.  The  additional  revenue  would  be  al- 
lotted to  payment  of  old-age  pensions. 


New  Daytona  Beach  Unit 
To  Show  Warner  Product 

Daytona  Beach,  Fla.— A permit  for  the 
construction  of  a $50,000  theatre  in  the 
Burgoyne  Block  on  North  Beach  Street, 
has  been  signed  by  George  W.  Steele,  local 
contractor.  The  new  house  will  be  air  con- 
ditioned and  accommodate  about  1,000 
patrons. 

The  property  is  owned  by  W.  R.  Lovett, 
Jacksonville  business  man,  who  will  fi- 
nance the  structure  and  lease  it  to  a New 
York  group.  The  new  theatre  will  feature 
Warner  pictures,  which  have  not  been 
shown  here  in  more  than  a year. 


The  Fire  at  Norton 

Bristol,  Tenn. — Recent  mention  of  a 
fire  in  Bristol,  Tenn.,  was  erroneous.  The 
first  was  not  in  Bristol,  but  in  Norton,  Va., 
60  miles  northwest.  The  New  Norton  was 
destroyed  with  a loss  of  $50,000  to  $60,000. 
The  theatre  was  owned  by  the  King  Cole 
Theatre  Corp.,  which  operates  out  of 
Marion,  Va. 


Book  " Outsider " 

Dallas — “The  Outsider,”  English-made 
film  starring  George  Sanders  and  Mary 
McGuire,  is  booked  for  its  first  run  here 
February  23-25  at  the  Varsity. 


Connors  and  Berger 
Visit  in  Charlotte 

Charlotte — Visitors  here  last  week  were 
Thomas  J.  Connors,  Metro’s  eastern  sales 
manager,  and  Rudolph  Berger,  formerly 
manager  of  the  local  branch,  but  more  re- 
cently in  charge  for  the  company  in  Wash- 
ington. Berger  recently  took  over  his  new 
duties  as  district  manager  of  a territory 
embracing  Maryland,  the  District  of  Co- 
lumbia, Virginia,  the  Carolinas  and  parts 
of  West  Virginia. 

Connors  and  Berger,  accompanied  by 
Manager  Benn  Rosenwald  and  A1  Burks, 
publicist  in  the  local  office,  spent  some 
time  inspecting  the  new  exchange  building 
being  constructed  at  Church  and  Third 
streets  which  will  be  opened  about  March 
1.  They  also  visited  with  independent  and 
chain  operators. 


Dismissal  Motion 
Denied  "Little  3" 

Oklahoma  City — An  order  overruling  a 
motion  for  summary  judgments  of  three 
motion  picture  distributors,  Columbia, 
United  Artists  and  Universal,  has  been  is- 
sued by  Edgar  S.  Vaught,  federal  district 
judge. 

The  motion  sought  dismissal  of  the 
three  companies  from  a government  suit 
filed  principally  against  the  Griffith  com- 
panies here  under  the  Sherman  anti-trust 
act. 


Legnon  Re-equips  Smyies 

Weeks  Island,  La. — A.  Legnon  has  re- 
equipped his  Smyies  here  and  reports  pa- 
tron response  has  been  most  encouraging. 


68 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


ARBITRATION  DISTRICTS:  Dallas,  Memphis,  New  Orleans,  Oklahoma  City 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


69 


Atlanta  Variety  Club 
Holds  Gala  Banquet 

By  HELEN  HARDY 

Atlanta — The  annual  banquet  of  the  At- 
lanta Variety  Club  Tent  No.  21,  was  held 
in  the  Henry  Grady  Hotel,  Saturday, 
February  1,  and  was  indeed  a spectacular 
piece  of  showmanship.  It  was  a thrill- 
packed  evening  of  entertainment  headed 
by  such  celebrities  as  Deanna  Durbin, 
Allan  Jones,  and  Bob  Hawk,  quizmaster 
of  “Take  It  or  Leave  It”  radio  fame. 

Dean  Raimundo  De  Ovies,  chaplain  of 
Atlanta  Tent  No.  21,  opened  the  banquet 
with  the  Variety  prayer  and  Allan  Jones 
sang  “God  Bless  America.” 

William  K.  Jenkins,  Chief  Barker,  spoke 
on  the  origin  of  the  Variety  Club,  and  gave 
a report  of  the  past  year’s  work.  Bob 
O’Donnell  of  Dallas,  Tex.,  first  assistant 
chief  bai’ker  of  the  Variety  Clubs  of  Amer- 
ica, inducted  the  roster  of  officers  and 
directors  for  1941,  which  is  composed  of 
William  K.  Jenkins,  chief  barker;  Harry 
G.  Ballance,  first  assistant;  Charles  E. 
Kessnich,  second  assistant;  Robert  B. 
Wilby,  dough  guy;  Egbert  E.  Whitaker, 
property  master,  and  the  directors,  John 
Ezell,  R.  L.  McCoy,  Paul  S.  Wilson,  Dave 
Prince,  J.  F.  Kirby  and  Willis  J.  Davis. 

The  following  notables  were  introduced 
by  Jenkins:  T.  J.  Conners,  southern  divi- 
sion manager  for  M-G-M;  Mrs.  James 
Durbin,  Deanna’s  mother;  Troy  Chastain, 
chairman  of  the  Fulton  county  board  of 
commissioners;  Lindley  Camp,  secretary 
of  the  state  senate;  Major  Clark  Howell; 
James  Grizzard,  executive  secretary  to 
Mayor  Roy  LeCraw;  Herman  Talmadge 
and  his  mother,  Mrs.  Gene  Talmadge,  wife 
of  the  governor  of  Georgia;  Randall  Evans 
jr.,  speaker  of  the  house  of  representatives; 
Charles  Redwine,  president  of  the  state 
senate;  Mitchell  J.  Hamilburg,  Miss  Dur- 
bin’s manager;  John  Joseph,  director  of 


publicity  and  advertising  for  Universal; 
George  Thomas  of  Universal’s  publicity  de- 
partment; Harry  Graham,  district  man- 
ager and  John  Ezell,  branch  manager  of 
Universal  in  Atlanta,  and  presidents  of  the 
Atlanta  civic  clubs. 

The  evening  reached  a spectacular  cli- 
max when  Jenkins,  on  behalf  of  the  Va- 
riety Clubs  of  America,  presented  the 
Berry  Schools  of  Rome,  Ga„  with  a check 
for  $1,000  as  a tribute  from  the  organiza- 
tion to  Miss  Martha  Berry,  founder  of  the 
institution,  who  was  awarded  Variety’s 
Humanitarian  Award  for  1940,  at  the  an- 
nual convention  in  Dallas  last  spring.  Miss 
Berry,  had  planned  to  attend  but  was  un- 
able to  be  present  due  to  illness.  Miss  Inez 
Henry,  who  accepted  the  check  in  behalf 
of  Miss  Berry,  came  forth  to  “steal  the 
show”  from  all  with  her  touching  story  of 
the  mountain  children  and  how  the  $1,000 
check  would  keep  six  children  in  school 
for  one  year. 

Dean  De  Ovies  made  the  formal  address 
of  the  evening  on  “What  Variety  Can 
Mean  to  This  Community.” 

An  evening  filled  to  the  brim  with  en- 
tertainment that  lasted  for  three  and  one- 
half  hours  (and  seemed  like  30  minutes) 
ended  in  a grand  finale  with  Allan  Jones 
and  Deanna  Durbin  leading  the  audience 
in  the  national  anthem. 


Richardson  Is  Atlanta 
Universal  Manager 

Atlanta — S.  W.  M.  Richardson,  current- 
ly manager  of  the  New  Orleans  exchange 
for  Universal,  has  succeeded  John  T.  Ezell, 
resigned,  as  manager  of  the  Atlanta 
branch.  Ezell’s  plans  were  not  announced. 

No  successor  has  yet  been  designated  for 
Richardson  in  New  Orleans. 


Neeley  Installs  New  Sound 

West  Blocton,  Ala.  — Lester  Neeley, 
operator  of  a number  of  theatres  in  Ala- 
bama, is  installing  new  sound  and  a screen 
in  his  Strand  here. 


Braly  and  Owen  Are 
Feied  al  a Parly 

Dallas — Paramount’s  southwestern  dis- 
trict bade  god-speed  to  departing  District 
Manager  Hugh  Braly  and  welcome  to  their 
new  boss,  Hugh  Owen,  with  a gala  dinner- 
dance  at  the  Jefferson  Hotel,  last  Saturday 
night. 

C.  H.  Weaver,  sales  manager,  was  toast- 
master, and  his  first  act  was  to  call  in  the 
photographer  for  a group  picture.  Shortly 
afterward,  Mrs.  Willie  Simmons  presented 
Mrs.  Hugh  Braly  with  an  arm  bouquet  of 
roses,  a going-away  gift  from  the  girls  of 
district  three. 

With  dessert  out  of  the  way,  the  boys 
from  the  Oklahoma  City  and  Memphis  ex- 
changes were  introduced.  Branch  Manager 
C.  L.  Dees  led  the  Oklahoma  City  con- 
tingent with  Booking  Manager  Sam  Brunk 
and  Salesmen  Nichols,  Rau  and  McKean 
present.  Mrs.  Dees,  Mrs.  Nichols  and  Mrs. 
McKeen  accompanied  their  husbands. 
From  Memphis  were  Branch  Manager 
Bugie,  Booking  Manager  Neel  and  Sales- 

Weaver  introduced  Braly,  who  expressed 
his  appreciation  for  the  cooperation  he 
had  received  from  members  of  the  district. 
Braly  in  turn  introduced  Owen,  who  spoke 
of  his  happiness  at  once  again  becoming 
a Paramounteer. 

Braly  was  presented  a set  of  Hartman 
bags  as  a token  of  esteem  from  the  boys 
of  the  district.  He  departed  for  the  west 
coast  immediately  following  the  party. 

Credit  for  the  affair  goes  to  Toastmaster 
Weaver,  George  Gaughan,  Mrs.  Willie  Sim- 
mons, Lloyd  Hendrich,  Alene  Webb  and 
Sebe  Miller,  who  had  charge  of  prepara- 
tions. 


Awarded  Contract  lor 
Theatre  in  Shellield 

Sheffield,  Ala. — Muscle  Shoals  Thea- 
tres, Inc.,  has  awarded  a contract  to  Daniel 
Construction  Co.  of  Birmingham,  for  con- 
struction of  a new  $75,000  theatre  here  to 
seat  1,000  persons.  Work  is  due  to  start  in 
a few  days  and  to  be  completed  some  time 
next  summer.  It  will  be  named  the  Col- 
bert in  honor  of  the  county  in  which  it  is 
located. 


/.  G.  Long  Remodeling 
Queen  in  Palacios 

Palacios,  Tex. — The  J.  G.  Long  circuit 
is  remodeling  its  original  theatre  here,  the 
Queen.  It  will  get  a new  front  and  be  re- 
seated. The  Queen  only  seats  500.  A few 
months  ago,  however,  Long  opened  their 
new  1,000-seat  Capitol  to  take  care  of  the 
many  thousands  of  soldiers  in  training 
here. 


Reissues  Click 

Dallas — Propelled  by  Louis  Charninsky’s 
unique  showmanship,  Astor’s  “Sky  Devils” 
and  “Scarface”  in  their  streamlined  ver- 
sions grossed  above  average  business  at 
the  Capitol  here. 


Your  SIMPLEX  projector 
Is  GENUINE  — keep  it  that 
way  by  using  GENUINE 
SIMPLEX  replacement  parts. 

They  are  made  only  in  the 
factory  which  built  your 
SIMPLEX. 

NATIONAL  THEATRE  SUPPLY  COMPANY 

Dallas,  Atlanta,  New  Orleans,  Memphis,  Charlotte  and  Oklahoma  City 


70 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


n C.  BROMBERG,  president  of  Republic 
**  Pictures  Corp.  here,  left  Sunday  for 
Miami,  for  a three-week  vacation  . . . 
Lee  Castleberry  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  Thea- 
tre, Nashville,  Tenn.,  has  left  the  hospital, 
where  he  spent  the  past  four  weeks,  and 
is  now  recuperating  at  his  home. 

Muscle  Shoals  Theatres  is  building  a new 
house  vh  Florence,  Ala.  They  recently  com- 
pleted one  house  in  Tullahoma,  Tenn.  . . . 
Manning  & Wink  are  building  a 1,400- 
seater  in  Dalton,  Ga. 

Chas.  A.  Adams,  manager  of  the  Peach- 
tree Theatre,  lost  his  grandmother  . . . 
Mrs.  Solomon  Miller,  wife  of  Solomon  Mil- 
ler, Peachtree  Theatre  Co.,  is  very  ill  at 
Georgia  Baptist  Hospital  . . . Ted  Toddy, 
Consolidated  National  Film  Exchanges, 
Inc.,  has  left  for  a trip  to  New  York. 

Offices  of  Consolidated  National  Film 
Exchanges,  Inc.,  have  been  completely  re- 
decorated at  141  Walton  St.,  N.  W.  John 
Jenkins  has  left  for  a trip  through  Flor- 
ida, while  Mrs.  Jenkins  will  carry  on  in  the 
Atlanta  office  . . . Consolidated  advises  that 
many  contracts  and  play  dates  have  been 
accepted  for  the  new  version  of  ‘‘Birth  of 
a Nation,’’  which  is  doing  sensational  busi- 
ness throughout  the  south  and  has  just 
opened  a New  York  run. 

Miss  Julia  Iverson  Cowles,  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  C.  Cowles,  National  Screen 
Service,  was  married  Sunday,  January  26, 
at  the  famous  Little  Church  Around  the 
Corner  in  New  York  City,  to  Lee  Geith- 
man  . . . Ike  Katz,  P-R-C  district  man- 
ager, is  back  from  a visit  to  his  home  of- 
fice in  New  York,  where  he  attended  a 
special  conference  regarding  forthcoming 
productions. 

Jim  Young  and  B.  S.  Bryan,  Atlanta 
salesmen  for  P-R-C,  have  returned  home 
from  the  territory  and  report  excellent 
business  for  their  organization.  Young  is 
now  covering  eastern  Tennessee  and  north- 
ern Alabama  and  Bryan  has  left  for  a tour 
in  northeast  Georgia. 

J.  E.  Duncan’s  Playhouse  Theatre  at 
Carrollton  will  have  its  formal  opening 
Friday,  February  14.  All  equipment  was 
purchased  from  Capitol  City  Supply  Co. 
Capitol  City  also  reports  the  sale  of  new 
equipment  to  James  E.  Clay  for  his  house 
at  Conyers,  Ga.,  to  be  opened  in  the  very 
near  future. 

Visitors:  W.  R.  ‘‘Bill”  Griffin,  Strand, 
Cullman,  Ala.,  (who  always  gets  in  a little 
golf — with  his  booking) ; Joe  Hackel,  Ritz, 
Jacksonville,  Fla.;  Nat  Williams,  Rose, 
Thomasville,  Ga.;  Glover  Johnson,  Chero- 
kee, Center,  Ala.;  Mrs.  Willingham  Wood, 
Strand,  Washington,  Ga.;  Mrs.  M.  M.  Os- 
man, Strand,  Covington,  Ga.;  L.  J.  Dun- 
can, West  Point,  Ga.,  and  J.  H.  Thompson, 
Martin-Thompson,  Hawkinsville,  Ga. 


SENSATIONAL  lAUGAINS 

IN  NEW  — USED  — FACTORY  RECONDITIONED 
THEATRE  EQUIPMENT 

Factory  Reconditioned  Simplex  Projectors  complete  with  front  shutter  mechanisms 


Double  Bearing  Intermittent  movements — 16"  upper  and  lower  magazines — new 
5 point  pedestals  complete  with  switches  Per  Pair  $500.00 

Simplex  Double  Bearing  Mechanisms,  completely  rebuilt  (Front  Shutter)  Each  195.00 

Simplex  Single  Bearing  Mechanisms,  completely  rebuilt  (Front  Shutter)  Each  165.00 

Five  Point  Pedestal  Stands,  complete — NEW  Each  45.00 

Three  Point  Pedestal  Stands,  complete — REBUILT Each  39.00 

Single  Bearing  Movements  (excellent  condition)  (order  for  spare)  Each  12.00 

New  Powers  Heavy  Duty  Gates  Each  27.00 

Powers  Type  6-B  Mechanisms  with  New  Cast  Iron  Center  Frame 

Roller  Pin  Cross  movement  (1  year  guarantee) — NEW  Each  105.00 

Regular  Powers  6-B  Mechanisms  completely  Rebuilt  like  New, 

Roller  Pin  Cross  movement  (1  year  guarantee)  Each  95.00 

Powers  6-A  Mechanisms  completely  rebuilt  Each  75.00 

Powers  6-B  Stands  complete  with  upper  magazines  Each  45.00 

Powers  6-A  Stands  complete  with  upper  magazines  Each  25.00 

Strong  Utility  Suprex  Arc  Lamps  in  A-l  condition  Per  Pair  300.00 

Ashcraft  Suprex  Arc  Lamps,  completely  rebuilt  (good  as  new)  Per  Pair  320.00 

Low  Intensity  Peerless  Arc  Lamps  with  regular  7 5/s " Reflectors, 

completely  rebuilt  Per  Pair  168.00 

Low  Intensity  Peerless  Arc  Lamps  with  101/,}"  conversion  Reflectors, 

completely  rebuilt  Per  Pair  180.00 

Low  Intensity  Strong  Arc  Lamps,  completely  rebuilt  Per  Pair  175.00 

Low  Intensity  DeLuxe  Morelite  Arc  Lamps,  7 5/s " Reflectors, 

completely  rebuilt  Per  Pair  135.00 

Forest  30  Ampere  Rectifiers,  like  new — 30  Ampere  Capacity  Per  Pair  1OO.00 

Brandt  Automatic  Coin  Machines,  like  new  Each  80.00 

Gold  Seal  2 Unit  Drop  Key  Automatic  Ticket  Machine,  1 year  guarantee  Each  90.00 

Rewinders  (hand)  Each  7.20 

Rewinders  (automatic)  Each  45.00 

Griswold  Film  Splicers  Each  14.50 

8-Reel  Film  Cabinet,  good  as  new  Each  14.50 

35  Amp.  Arc  Spots  Each  42.00 

75  Amp.  Arc  Spots  Each  78.00 

Small  500-1000  Watt  Spots  Each  22.50 

Small  Pyrene  Fire  Extinguishers  for  Booths  Each  7.20 

Automatic  Curtain  Controls — NEW  Each  70.00 

Portable  Film  Cleaning  Machines — NEW  Each  13.50 

Thide  Change  Overs  with  Foot  Switches Each  42.00 

Rewinding  Booth  Tables  Each  21.00 

G.  E.  Mazda  Lamps  with  Transformers  Each  30.00 

Simplex  Mazda  Lamps  with  Transformers  Each  24.00 

New  Aisle  Lights  Each  2.00 

Used  Simplex  Portable  Projector,  complete  with  15-watt  Amplifier, 

Speaker  and  1000-watt  Mazda  Lamp  Each  350.00 

R.  C.  A.  P.  G.  13  Sound  Equipment,  complete  with  Amplifier  and 

Speakers,  completely  rebuilt  for  2 machines  (Simplex)  330.00 

1 — Western  Electric  Universal  Base  Sound  System,  complete  with 

Amplifier  and  Speaker.  Completely  rebuilt  for  2 machines  (Simplex)  480.00 

1 — Syncrofilm  Sound  System,  complete  for  2 machines  (Powers)  250.00 

1000  American  Seating  Company  19",  20"  and  21"  wide  Spring  Cushion 
Chairs,  inlaid  panel  in  back,  cast  iron  standards  (exceptionally  good 

chairs)  Each  2.50 

375  Spring  Cushion  Chairs,  inlaid  panel  in  back,  covered  with  plush 

cast  iron  standards,  18",  19"  and  20"  wide  ...  Each  2.35 

375  Spring  Cushion  Chairs,  with  leather  covered  seat  and  back,  pressed 

steel  standards,  18",  19"  and  20"  wide  Each  2.35 

500  Plain  Veneer  chairs  (very  good  condition)  Each  1.50 

1000  Used  All  Steel  Folding  Chairs  Each  1.25 

Front  Draw  Curtains  made  of  Cardinal  Red  Studio  Quality  Velour  with 


50%  fullness  sewed  in,  trimmed  with  two  rows  of  2"  gold  braid 
across  bottom-webbing,  grommets  and  tie  lines  at  top  and  chain- 
weighted  at  bottom  (13'  high  by  17'  wide  each  half).  Based  on  stage 

opening  18'  high  by  30'  wide  Per  Pair  75.00 

Used  Portable  Machine  Stands,  complete  (made  of  D/z"  pipe  adjust- 
able) for  RCA,  Simplex,  Simplex-Acme,  and  other  makes  of  port- 
able projectors  Per  Pair  25.00 

We  absolutely  guarantee  every  piece  of  equipment  sold  by  this  company  with  a 

money  back  guarantee. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  J.  Woodward,  Strand, 
Winder,  Ga.,  will  leave  this  weekend  for  a 
two-week  vacation  in  Miami  . . . Employes 
of  Republic  Pictures  Corp.,  presented 
George  Jones,  office  manager,  who  has  re- 
signed to  form  the  Jones-Benton  Booking 
Service,  with  a traveling  bag  . . . Johnnie 
Cummings,  salesman  for  Monogram  South- 
ern Exchanges,  has  been  transferred  to 
the  New  Orleans  territory. 


CONSULT  US  FOR  PRICES  AND  DATA  ON  NEW  EQUIPMENT 
EMBRACING  EVERY  ITEM  BEFORE  YOU  BUY 

SOUTHLAND  THEATRE  EQUIPMENT  COMPANY 

INCORPORATED 

P.  O.  Box  952  lackson  5331 

183  Walton  St.,  N.  W.  Atlanta,  Georgia 


BOXOFFICE  ::  February  8,  1941 


71 


Concerning  Florida 


By  A.  JULES  BENEDIC 
Haines  City,  Fla. — We  hie  to  Haines 
City  and  harangue  with  Carl  Floyd,  one- 
time Republic  manager  at  Tampa,  who  re- 
signed recently  to  become  a full-fledged 
exhibitor  in  a tiein  with  L.  A.  Stein  at 
Jacksonville.  The  company  controls  a score 
of  theatres  in  small  towns  equally  divided 
between  Florida  and  Georgia. 

Carl  puts  us  straight  on  this  prosperity 
talk  being  linked  with  the  Peninsula  State. 
He  says  that  some  towns  have  their  full 
measure  of  prosperity,  namely  Starke, 
Jacksonville,  Tallahassee,  Tampa,  Orlando, 
etc.,  but  that  other  sections  seemingly  are 
resigned  to  a humdrum  Floridan  existence, 
with  booms  conspicuous  by  absence. 

New  Theatre  lor  Sebring 
Mr.  Floyd  tells  us  of  a new  theatre  be- 
ing erected  by  the  ci